July 3, 2022
Morning Service

Paul through this letter to Timothy is instructing us to “know how we are to conduct yourself in the house of God.”  Our journey with Jesus brings us to be part of His church and together we are allowing His commands to enable us to “love with a pure heart, a clear conscience and a sincere faith.”  In my Bible at work I had written beside this passage; “you can’t just play church, you have to really live it out!”  In the church Jesus is building there is no room for hypocrisy or just going through the motions.  We need to be committed to following faithfully and being a doer of the things we read allowing the Holy Spirit to mold us slowly into the men and women God has designed us to be.  It truly is a case that you get what you pay for.  The more you invest in your relationship with Jesus the deeper your roots of faith will grow.  Jesus desires to be first in your life and desires to bless you for doing it.  Paul begins today with one of the road blocks that are in our way in deepening our relationship with Jesus and that is false teaching.

1Ti 4:1-5 Now the Spirit expressly says that in latter times some will depart from the faith, giving heed to deceiving spirits and doctrines of demons, (2) speaking lies in hypocrisy, having their own conscience seared with a hot iron, (3) forbidding to marry, and commanding to abstain from foods which God created to be received with thanksgiving by those who believe and know the truth.  (4)  For every creature of God is good, and nothing is to be refused if it is received with thanksgiving; (5) for it is sanctified by the word of God and prayer.

            I hope you all realize that we are living in these “latter times” that he speaks of here.  Time is winding down and Jesus’ return is ever so near.  We see exactly what he is warning us about in our society today.  Here Paul speaks of deceptive teachings that were about marriage and abstaining from certain foods which makes their teaching appear to be supporting self-discipline and righteousness but it wasn’t.  Our enemy often spins truths to make them a deceiving imitation of the real thing.  Here it was not so much the teaching, but the source of it that matters most.  I want you to specifically notice that these teachings are not just a misunderstanding of the truth, but they originate from “deceiving spirits and doctrines of demons.”  There is a purpose and an evil agenda behind all the rhetoric we are surrounded with every day.  Jesus reveals to us our enemies’ agenda and His answer to it in John’s gospel.

 

Joh 10:10 The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly.

            The “thief,” Satan, has an agenda and it is not just to confuse people, but it is to destroy them.  This is the true evil that is behind many of the issues we see today. Many people are, perhaps unknowingly, allowing themselves to be the tools in the hands of our enemy spreading what they have been deceived to believe is a new and better way of life.  They have no idea that the agenda is not to make things better but to “steal, kill and destroy!”  This spiritual battle is real and I pray you are aware of it.  We have seen it in regards to teaching alternate lifestyles in elementary school’s curriculum and the battle over the right of a women to abort the baby whose heart is beating inside of her.   It has gone so far as to now suggest a child as young as 14 years old is able to decide that they do not (in their words) “identify with the gender they were assigned at birth!”  They want a 14-year-old to be able to decide to have life altering gender surgeries that are impossible to undo.  Do you remember when you were 14?  I still had to be reminded to look both ways before crossing the street!  This evil agenda has even got us questioning something that is as elementary as whether we are male or female.  If that is true, then there is nothing that cannot be debated as being true.  Does this agenda make things better?  No, it causes further confusion in an already confusing world.  The studies of this issue are very clear and show that the over whelming majority of those who proceed down this path are not “happier” but miserable and many struggle to the point of suicide.  This is a victory for our enemy when this agenda is fulfilled in ruining a child’s life before it really even begins.

            We must be willing to fight this agenda with the message Jesus gives us in the second part of that passage.  “I have come that they may have life and that they may have it more abundantly.”  Jesus’ agenda is to make things better for us; to live an abundant life.  Our voice needs to be heard and Jesus proclaimed as the answer to a child’s confusion is accepting who you have been created to be and allowing Jesus to lead them to an “abundant life” by following Him.  In the Bible, Jesus lays out for us a path to true happiness, contentment and peace.  It comes through knowing, loving and obeying Jesus as Lord of our life.  By putting Him first in your life, you allow Him to lead you to the place of true happiness; an intimate relationship with your Creator.  Notice now back in our study, Paul encourages us to share this message of truth.

 

   1Ti 4:6-10 If you instruct the brethren in these things, you will be a good minister of Jesus Christ, nourished in the words of faith and of the good doctrine which you have carefully followed.  (7)  But reject profane and old wives' fables, and exercise yourself toward godliness.  (8)  For bodily exercise profits a little, but godliness is profitable for all things, having promise of the life that now is and of that which is to come.  (9)  This is a faithful saying and worthy of all acceptance.  (10)  For to this end we both labor and suffer reproach, because we trust in the living God, who is the Savior of all men, especially of those who believe.

            Notice how Paul tells us that we are a “good minister of Jesus Christ” as we instruct these things to others.  He says we are “nourished in the words of faith and good doctrine the you have so carefully followed.”  God’s Word “nourishes” our soul to be able to grow stronger spiritually. Stay away from the junk food of “profane and old wives’ fables” and eat only of the organic Word of God.  As we feed and exercise our physical bodies we grow stronger and are able to build endurance.  The same is true spiritually as we discipline ourselves to be “nourished” from the Word and exercise our faith by walking in His commands.  It is also true for both physical and spiritual muscles that “if you don’t use it you lose it.”  As we get older, there are muscles we don’t use as much and our strength quickly diminishes, and the same is true for our spiritual muscles.  If you go through a time where you don’t read, don’t pray and begin missing church your spiritual strength is diminished.  You become much more vulnerable to an attack from our enemy just as your body would be vulnerable to sickness when you don’t eat right and exercise.  Spiritual exercise (godliness) “is profitable for all things, having the promise of the life that now is and that which is to come.”  To be strong spiritually is a case where you can have your cake and eat it too; it helps you now and later.  Exercise takes discipline, you must set it as a priority in your daily life.  It is difficult in this busy world to find time to pause at some point in the day and read and pray, but it is a necessary and vital to your spiritual growth.  Notice how Paul states his commitment; “for to this end we both labor and suffer reproach, because we trust in the living God, who is the Savior of all men.”  Following Jesus is not an easy journey, but can be difficult, even very difficult, at times but the reward is worth it all; place your full “trust in the living God, who is the Savior of all men, especially to those who believe” (us)!  Paul again encourages us as His church to teach these truths and to live them out as we close this chapter.

 

1Ti 4:11-16 These things command and teach.  (12)  Let no one despise your youth, but be an example to the believers in word, in conduct, in love, in spirit, in faith, in purity.  (13)  Till I come, give attention to reading, to exhortation, to doctrine.  (14)  Do not neglect the gift that is in you, which was given to you by prophecy with the laying on of the hands of the eldership.  (15)  Meditate on these things; give yourself entirely to them, that your progress may be evident to all.  (16)  Take heed to yourself and to the doctrine. Continue in them, for in doing this you will save both yourself and those who hear you.

            We are extremely blessed to have been given the opportunity to follow Jesus and know the truth in these confusing times.  Here we are instructed to “command and teach” the truth to this confused world being a light in the darkness.  Paul also calls us out to “be an example to the believers in word, in conduct, in love, in spirit, in faith and in purity.”  We are being challenged to live out what we believe, to quit playing church and really live the life Jesus is calling you to.  He even tells us how to get started; “meditate on these things, give yourself entirely to them.”  Does that describe how you read the Bible?  It should, seek Him and what He has for you with a desire to find it and you will.  Don’t just go through the motions, but diligently seek Him.  Our enemy is very diligent about his agenda, and we need to be aware of that and be ready to confront him.  In exercising your spiritual muscles in this way notice the results; “you will save both yourself and those who hear you.”  We can make a difference in this world and it begins with strengthening your own faith.  As we draw closer to Jesus, others will see our progress and have a more attentive ear to your testimony.  Church, our families, community and nation need us to be serious about our faith; the time is now.

 

Heavenly Father, open our eyes to the spiritual battle we are in.  Reveal to us our enemy’s agenda and give us the wisdom and courage to fight back.  Let us yield to your agenda for our life and be able to love well and share Your love with a world that is seeking for it.  Let it begin with a desire to draw closer to You within each of us this morning.