⏱ 8 min read

• Day 36 of 50 (2nd Timothy 2). and we are going strong! Be super blessed by this word! 📖🔥🤗
• Maybe you missed Galatians, Ephesians, and Philippians, Colossians, and 1&2 Thessalonians, but hey, you can join in these last 15 days and let’s “tattoo” God’s Word in our hearts! 📖🤍
• God bless you, and looking forward to your lessons, insights, and comments.

Coaching and Mentorship

You therefore, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus. And the things that you have heard from me among many witnesses, commit these to faithful men who will be able to teach others also. – 2 Timothy 2:2

Did you know that even superstars need coaches? The top singers in the world have vocal coaches, and the top Olympic athletes have coaches. The top CEOs have business coaches. Coaches help you maximize your strengths and minimize your weaknesses.

• This principle of coaching or mentorship is found throughout the Bible: Joshua was mentored by Moses.
• Elisha was coached by Elijah. The Disciples were coached by Jesus.
• Solomon was mentored and coached by David, and David was mentored by Samuel.

The Apostle Paul mentored and coached Timothy and many other people. Paul says in 2 Timothy 2:2,

“You have heard me teach . . . Now teach these truths to other trustworthy people who will be able to pass them on to others” (NLT). 

• Paul mentored Timothy, and then he expected Timothy to go and mentor faithful men who would then mentor and coach other faithful men.
• That is a span of four generations of coaching and mentorship (Paul -> Timothy -> 1st Faithful men -> Other faithful men…)
• God expects the same of faithful men and women today, because that’s how we grow in discipleship.

In fact, you’re benefiting right now from the spiritual coaches who have mentored me over the course of my life and who have helped me grow in different areas of life.

The Bible says that God has given five different kinds of “coaches” for His church. So your coaches are part of God’s gifts to you. All of those coaches are working toward a specific purpose:

“Now these are the gifts Christ gave to the church: the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, and the pastors and teachers. Their responsibility is to equip God’s people to do his work and build up the church, the body of Christ. 
This will continue until we all come to such unity in our faith and knowledge of God’s Son that we will be mature in the Lord, measuring up to the full and complete standard of Christ.” (Ephesians 4:11-13).

• Did you catch the purpose that these different coaches are working towards?
• They’re working “so his people would learn … and … grow strong.”
• If you want to learn, grow, and be strong, then you need a mentor.

A mentor could be a spiritually mature friend and accountability person (or partner) who gets real with you and points out sin and weakness, while also encouraging your strengths and growth. They help you stay on the path of God’s purpose for you.

If we’re really serious about making the most of our lives, then we need to get a coach or mentor to help us fulfill our purpose. (This applies to different aspects of our lives as well).

They don’t necessarily have to be perfect. They only have to be one step ahead of you. And, as you grow spiritually, you can be a mentor to someone else!          

Reflection:

• Do you find it difficult to think of someone who could be a mentor to you? How can you surround yourself more with people who are at least one step ahead of you in faith?
• What are some of your fears about having a mentor? What do you think God wants you to do with those fears?

Can you spend one minute in prayer right now? Ask God to lead you and help you take the next step in finding a mentor. Then ask Him to give you more faith and wisdom so you can be an effective mentor to someone else.

“But in a great house there are not only vessels of gold and silver, but also of wood and clay, some for honor and some for dishonor. Therefore if anyone cleanses himself from the latter, he will be a vessel for honor, sanctified and useful for the Master, prepared for every good work.” ~ 2 Timothy 2:20

God’s Chosen Vessels

Anointing is like a liquid that is poured into a vessel. Every liquid has a corresponding bottle or vessel (For instance, Coca-Cola will only be found in Coca-Cola bottles), because specific fluids are associated with specific bottles. It is the same thing with the anointing.

• Specific anointings are associated with certain types of people. An evangelistic anointing will go with a certain type of personality and character.
• A pastoral anointing will fit into a certain type of vessel. You and I are those vessels.
• If you desire a particular anointing, God will mould you into the type of vessel that can contain that anointing.

If you desire a strong prophetic anointing, God is likely to require of you a life of solitude. You may not have such an anointing if you do not make time to wait on the Lord.

• If God wants you to be a great pastor, He may work on your education, your speech and/or your language.
• He may try to polish your manners, general etiquette, and shepherding skills!
• He may send you to serve under someone, attend a Bible school for training, or even to a secular university for moulding.

God may take us through various humbling experiences. All He is doing is preparing a vessel that can handle the anointing. This is the principle of vessel change.

• Many changes may have to take place in your character and moral life if God is to use you for great achievements.
• Those who refuse to change and to modify are refusing to be recipients of the anointing.
• The aim of this anointing is for you and I to do good works that God has ordained for us!

Therefore if anyone cleanses himself from the latter, he will be a vessel for honor, sanctified and useful for the Master, prepared for every good work. ~ 2 Tim 2:21

Every Christian is expected to accomplish certain works while here on earth:

“For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them” ~ Ephesians 2:10.

God has a good work for you to do dear friend. Make no mistake; the only reason we are still alive (and not whisked into heaven after salvation) is for you and I to accomplish certain good works. May grace help us sanctify ourselves for a great anointing and for good works!

Hey, you're blessed and highly favoured and dearly loved! Do share your lessons from 2 Timothy 2. Remember to tag us and your friends on 📲:
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Disclaimer: this post contains portions of messages and text originally shared by Ps Rick Warren and Bishop Dag Heward-Mills (both of whom are my mentors in the faith).