Preach the word; be prepared in season and out of season; correct, rebuke and encourage—with great patience and careful instruction” (2 Timothy 4:2 NIV).
The above Bible quote believed to have been authored by one of the inspired Apostles, Paul who, until his conversion was Saul, is indeed instructive.
This Second Epistle to Timothy is one of the three pastoral epistles traditionally attributed to Paul the Apostle. Addressed to Timothy, a fellow missionary, it is traditionally considered to be the last epistle Paul wrote before his death.
Although Paul’s letter was addressed specifically to Timothy, its counsel can be applied to those who live in “the last days” (2 Timothy 3:1) because Paul taught of challenges and solutions that are relevant to our day as well as his.
In this Epistle, Paul, a Spiritual Guardian to Timothy, instructs him (Timothy), and by extension all believers, to “Preach the word; be prepared in season and out of season; correct, rebuke and encourage—with great patience and careful instruction.”
This, according to the author, means to consistently share the gospel message, regardless of the circumstances or people’s receptiveness, and to do so with patience, wisdom, and sound teaching.
Breakdown of the key points in Paul’s counsel to his Spiritual son Timothy reveals thus; Preach the word:
Timothy is to make the message of Jesus central to his ministry.
Be prepared in season and out of season: This means to be ready to preach the gospel at all times, regardless of the situation or the people’s willingness to listen.
Correct, rebuke, and encourage: These actions should be done with love and patience, guiding people towards a deeper understanding of God’s truth.
With great patience and careful instruction: This highlights the importance of being patient and teaching with wisdom and clarity.
In the Christian Faith, Soul-winning is a critical exercise. It refers to the act of sharing the Gospel message with others, with the goal of leading them to faith in Jesus Christ and salvation.
The act of Soul-winning involves, sharing the message of salvation through Jesus Christ, inviting others to put their faith in Christ, encouraging people to repent and turn to God as well as providing spiritual guidance and support.
Soul-winning is often seen as a key aspect of Christian discipleship and evangelism, with the aim of helping others experiences the love and forgiveness of God.
The Bible emphasizes the importance of sharing the Gospel and reaching out to others. For instance, in Matthew 28:19-20 (The Great Commission) the Bible says, “Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you.”
Acts 1:8: “But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.”
2 Corinthians 5:18-20: “All this is from God, who through Christ reconciled us to himself…and gave us the ministry of reconciliation…we implore you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God.”
These verses of the Bible highlight the call to share the message of salvation and reconciliation with others.
It is therefore, on the strength of these, that the Speaker of the Delta State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Emomotimi Guwor -a devoute practitioner and believer of the Bible, recently enjoined Christians all over the World to take Soul-winning seriously in their relationship with God.
Coming as part of his Easter message to Deltans, the Speaker, Rt. Hon. Emomotimi Guwor urged Christians to remain steadfast in their faith in Jesus and the task of winning souls for God.
Rt. Hon. Guwor in the Easter message which was made public by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr Nkem Nwaeke, stated that Easter is to commemorate the resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ, an aspect in the scripture that highlights His victory over death for mankind, prayed that the triumph of life over death and darkness, shall remain a source of strength and comfort to all Christians as they seek salvation.
Guwor who is the National Treasurer, Conference of Speakers of State Houses of Assembly in Nigeria, charged all to continue to spread love, kindness, and compassion, reflecting the teachings of our Lord Jesus Christ.
He extended warmest Easter greetings to constituents, members and staff of the Delta State Legislature and to all Deltans and prayed to God that the joyous occasion bring hope, peace, and happiness to individual lives and the life of the state.
The Speaker thanked Deltans for their trust and support, and assured irrevocable commitment of the 8th Delta Assembly to peace, security and good governance of the state.
Rt Hon Guwor appealed to the people to continue to strive for unity, progress and development in our beloved Delta State.
He maintained that the MORE mantra of Governor Sheriff Oborevwori’s administration is on course and requires the support of every critical stakeholders, especially the citizens.
“As we celebrate the resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ, I pray for peace, total healing and happiness in our state and our great nation.
“The triumph of life over death and darkness shall remain a source of our inspiration. Let us strive for more unity, progress, and development in our beloved Delta state and indeed Nigeria.
“Wishing each and every one a blessed and joyous Easter celebration”, Guwor wrote.
