Christ's church stands firm in the midst of the storms of trial and the flood of false teaching. Jesus Christ, the good Shepherd knows those who are truly his and he will keep them to the end. And true Christians will be manifest by their growth in sanctification.

Christians are called to be good soldiers of Christ - willing to suffer, on duty at all times, aiming to please Christ, fighting to win, and patient in the battle.

Endurance means to bear up under a difficult process or situation without giving way. It is a willingness to carry on in suffering and through suffering. We all do well in encouraging circumstances. But when things fall apart we need endurance.

In this time of widespread deception, Christians must guard the truth as it relates to God's design and standard for human sexuality.

This scripture this morning commands us to not be ashamed, but rather to suffer.

Paul wrote this to Timothy because he knew Timothy struggled somewhat with fear. So he writes to encourage Timothy with the truth that God has given him a spirit of power, love, and self-control, not fear.

Christ has come in the flesh so that he might die in order to destroy the devil by taking away the only thing he can use to damn us (unforgiven sin) and deliver us from the fear of death, to live fearlessly in the power of the Spirit for his sake.

The birth of Jesus came about by the providential wisdom of God, orchestrating events, working out it eternal plan.

Because of God’s great love for the undeserving, he gave a glorious gift so that all who receive this gift as a treasure, would be freed from condemnation and live eternally with Him.