September 27, 2009
Morning Service

I Tim. 5

 

Review:

1.      1Ti 1:3 KJVR  As I besought thee to abide still at Ephesus, when I went into Macedonia, that thou mightest charge some that they teach no other doctrine. 

2.     When writing later to the church in Thessalonica, which is in Macedonia, Paul made this statement;  1Th 3:2 KJVR  And sent Timothy, our brother, and minister of God, and our fellow laborer in the gospel of Christ, to establish you, and to comfort you concerning your faith:

3.     Upon reading this letter to Timothy from Paul we can understand why Paul knew that Timothy could comfort and establish the churches he visited.

4.     Paul also said this to Timothy;  1Ti 3:14-15 KJVR  These things write I unto thee, hoping to come unto thee shortly:  (15)  But if I tarry long, that thou mayest know how thou oughtest to behave thyself in the house of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth.

5.     Last week in chapter 4 Paul told Timothy concerning false teachers;  Instructions for the true teachers;  Then gave him his third charge, and that of “do not neglect the gift.”  Paul encouraged Timothy to “give attention to reading, to exhortation, and to doctrine.”  Then closed chapter four by saying;  1Ti 4:16 KJVR  Take heed unto thyself, and unto the doctrine; continue in them: for in doing this thou shalt both save thyself, and them that hear thee.

 

Isn’t this why we chose to become Christians, followers of the teachings of Jesus Christ?  These teachings, and doctrines promise us of eternal life, “if I go away and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself, that where I am there you may be also.”   Also, that we would be spared the day of the wrath of God upon this earth. 

Take heed unto thyself, and unto the doctrine; continue in them: for in doing this thou shalt both save thyself, and them that hear thee.  Hopefully, we are hearing him!!!!

 

Let’s begin chapter 5, hearing the things that are going to save us.

HOW TO TREAT ALL PEOPLE:

1Ti 5:1-25 KJVR  Rebuke not an elder, but entreat him as a father; and the younger men as brethren;  (2)  The elder women as mothers; the younger as sisters, with all purity. 

• We can see that Paul is referring to elder as age, not an office of the church.  Treat older men as a father.  The younger men as brethren.
• The older women as your mother, and the younger women as your sisters, with all purity.

HOW TO TREAT WIDOWS:

(3)  Honor widows that are widows indeed.  (4)  But if any widow have children or nephews, let them learn first to show piety at home, and to requite their parents: for that is good and acceptable before God. 

• The idea here is that it is the responsibility of family to take care of widows, and not the church. 
• Jesus said one time to the Pharisees;  Mat 15:3-9 KJVR  But he answered and said unto them, Why do ye also transgress the commandment of God by your tradition?  (4)  For God commanded, saying, Honor thy father and mother: and, He that curseth father or mother, let him die the death.  (5)  But ye say, Whosoever shall say to his father or his mother, It is a gift, by whatsoever thou mightest be profited by me;  (6)  And honor not his father or his mother, he shall be free. Thus have ye made the commandment of God of none effect by your tradition.  (7)  Ye hypocrites, well did Isaiah prophesy of you, saying,  (8)  This people draweth nigh unto me with their mouth, and honoreth me with their lips; but their heart is far from me.  (9)  But in vain they do worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men.

(5) Now she that is a widow indeed, and desolate, trusteth in God, and continueth in supplications and prayers night and day. 

• This is the description of a true widow.

(6)  But she that liveth in pleasure is dead while she liveth. 

• This woman is living to please herself, and not God.

(7)  And these things give in charge, that they may be blameless. 

• That the widows may be blameless.

(8)  But if any provide not for his own, and especially for those of his own house, he hath denied the faith, and is worse than an infidel. 

• It is first the families obligation to take care of the widow, but then if they won’t, the church will.
• And you can see what God thinks of someone that won’t take care of their family.

(9)  Let not a widow be taken into the number under threescore years old, having been the wife of one man,  (10)  Well reported of for good works; if she have brought up children, if she have lodged strangers, if she have washed the saints' feet, if she have relieved the afflicted, if she have diligently followed every good work. 

• Into the number would indicate they had a special place of dependence in the church.
• She can not be in that number if she has had more than one husband.
• And has the reputation of doing good works.  The good works are listed.
• Just to note, washing feet is a good work, not something to be added to a worship service.
• The objects of worship service, are singing praise, prayer, communion, reading the Word of God.

(11)  But the younger widows refuse:

• Refuse younger widows, do not take them into the number.  We don’t know what age designates younger.  But why refuse them?

for when they have begun to wax wanton against Christ, they will marry;  (12)  Having damnation, because they have cast off their first faith.  (13)  And withal they learn to be idle, wandering about from house to house; and not only idle, but tattlers also and busybodies, speaking things which they ought not.  (14)  I will therefore that the younger women marry, bear children, guide the house, give none occasion to the adversary to speak reproachfully.  (15)  For some are already turned aside after Satan.  (16)  If any man or woman that believeth have widows, let them relieve them, and let not the church be charged; that it may relieve them that are widows indeed.

• Widows should have a special place in the hearts of family, and the church.

HOW TO TREAT ELDERS:

(17)  Let the elders ( older men ) that rule well be counted worthy of double honor, especially they who labor in the word and doctrine.  (18)  For the Scripture saith, Thou shalt not muzzle the ox that treadeth out the corn. And, The laborer is worthy of his reward.  (19)  Against an elder receive not an accusation, but before two or three witnesses.  (20)  Them that sin rebuke before all, that others also may fear.

• This is another area where we do not want to offend, but have been instructed to do so.

FOURTH CHARGE, “OBSERVE THESE THINGS WITHOUT PREJUDICE.”

(21)  I charge thee before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, and the elect angels, that thou observe these things without preferring one before another, doing nothing by partiality.  (22)  Lay hands suddenly on no man, neither be partaker of other men's sins: keep thyself pure.  (23)  Drink no longer water, but use a little wine for thy stomach's sake and thine often infirmities.  (24)  Some men's sins are open beforehand, going before to judgment; and some men they follow after.  (25)  Likewise also the good works of some are manifest beforehand; and they that are otherwise cannot be hid.

• NOTICE THE SERIOUSNESS OF THE CHARGE, “BEFORE GOD, AND THE LORD JESUS, AND THE ELECT ANGELS. 
• DO NOT ORDAIN ANY INTO ANY OFFICE OR THE MINISTRY BEFORE THEY PROVE THEMSELVES.

 

OUR PRAYER THIS MORNING:

LORD HELP US TO RECOGNIZE, AND UNDERSTAND THAT BY ACCEPTING THIS INFALLABLE WORD, WE WILL BE SAVED FROM YOUR WRATH, THAT YOU ARE ABOUT TO POUR OUT ON THIS EARTH.  AND THAT WE WILL KNOW HOW WE OUGHT TO BEHAVE OURSELVES IN YOUR HOUSE.

IN JESUS NAME, AMEN.