Death is abolished

but has now been revealed by the appearing of our Savior Jesus Christ, who has abolished death and brought life and immortality to light through the gospel, to which I was appointed a preacher, an apostle, and a teacher of the Gentiles. – 2 Timothy 1.10-11

Death is crushed to death. Life is mine to live. Won through your selfless love.

Thus writes Stuart Townend in the wonderful hymn ‘The Power of the Cross’

What and amazing truth. Death has no victory. The grave has no sting. The greatest  fear is death and now death has been defeated. If death cannot beat us, what can beat us?

Since death is beaten life and immortality are alive through the gospel. I have victory in Christ. I need not live with the foreboding sense that I am going to die. There is no sword of Damocles hanging over my head.

Living free of the fear of death gives so much great freedom to serve. May I live in that freedom and rest in the knowledge that death is crushed to death, death is abolished, death will not win in the end.

According to His purpose

who has saved us and called us with a holy calling, not according to our works, but according to His own purpose and grace which was given to us in Christ Jesus before time began, - 2 Timothy 1.9

God saved us and called us to serve Him, plain and simple. He did it not because I am good enough to deserve it, but because He acted in His grace and purposed in His heart to do it.

I find this amazing. Despite the fact that man was going to sin and reject God He still purposed in His heart to exercise grace and saved us through the gift of His Son.

When I think about it lows my mind – before ‘Let there be light’ God purposed that those who accept His gift of grace could have the penalty for sin paid and we could spend eternity with Him.

Jesus died according to His purpose. We went to the cross according to His plan. He hung there because it was designed before the foundation of the world. Our works had nothing to do with it – nothing!

But there is a key word here. Jesus did all this according to His purpose and He did it by His grace alone! It was a holy calling. God wants all men everywhere to repent and He purposed to provide for a way to achieve it through His amazing grace.

Don't be ashamed

Therefore do not be ashamed of the testimony of our Lord, nor of me His prisoner, but share with me in the sufferings for the gospel according to the power of God, - 2 Timothy 1.8

 Do not be ashamed Timothy, of the testimony of the Lord see in your life. Share with me in His sufferings.

 Shame of the gospel or being embarrassed of being a Christian will obviously have a huge impact on our living for Jesus and our witness for Him. If we are ashamed we simply are not going to address the issue. When Paul wrote to the Romans he said that he was not ashamed of the gospel of Christ because it was the power of God that leads to salvation.

 This is a tough topic to write about because it really strikes home. I’m afraid that I have been guilty of not sharing my faith simply because I am worried about what the person might think of me.

 I can’t even imagine if Jesus had not endured the shame of the cross for me. What if He had said ‘I’m too embarrassed to hang on that cross where everyone is going to see me.’

 When I think of it that way how can I possibly be ashamed of Him?

The spirit of fear

For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.- 2 Timothy 1.7

The timing of this verse this year was amazing. I was preaching through 2 Timothy back in the beginning of March. I had preached on this verse just kind of casually, but when this virus got serious I went back and focused on this particular verse that last day we had church before we locked down for 14 weeks.

There was and there is a lot of fear about these days. It is pretty obvious why – these are scary times. Uncertainly is a source for fear. Uncertainty makes me afraid and anxious and nervous sometimes.

That spirit of fear though is never from God. Fear is either from our flesh, some comes from the world around us, and some obviously comes from Satan himself. When I am afraid I can be sure that I am not trusting God because if I really trusted Him there would be no room for fear. I would believe that He could handle it.

But God does gives is a spirit. It is a spirit of power, a spirit of love, and a spirit of a sound mind. Power, love, and a sound mind will carry us through any situation if we follow them instead of the spirit of fear.

It’s a truth I have had to claim to a lot. There is no fear of the virus in me. I am preoccupied with all the societal impact of the response tot e virus based on the world’s fear. We are backed with uncertainty and that rattles me.

Love, and power, and a reasonable sound mind will give strength to overcome those fears and God has already given me the gift of theses things.

Stoke the fire

Therefore I remind you to stir up the gift of God which is in you through the laying on of my hands. – 2 Timothy 1.6

I enjoy a good cozy turf and wood fire in the hearth. I like the smell and the crackling and the ambiance. It just adds to those cold winter nights. But, it takes work to keep the fire going. Sometimes the fire grows dim and can even look like it is going out. When that happens you need to stir the embers and add more fuel and even blow on the fire to add more oxygen. You stir the fire back to life.

Paul reminds Timothy that he was given spiritual gift of the ministry. The gift of the ministry is like that fire. If we don’t keep it stirred up the fire it will slowly drop to a glimmer and then go out.

The longer we are saved the easier it can be to let our fires dwindle. We get weary. It gets tiresome. Sometimes we just don’t want to bother and a kind of lukewarmness creeps in. When that happens we are pretty much useless we can stir that fire up again.

Keep that fire going. Feed it with the breath of the Holy Spirit and the fuel of the word. Let it warm the hearts of those who know your. Draw others to the fire by the warmth of this gospel.

Don’t let it die down to embers. Keep the fire roaring!

Moms and Grandmoms

when I call to remembrance the genuine faith that is in you, which dwelt first in your grandmother Lois and your mother Eunice, and I am persuaded is in you also. – 2 Timothy 1.5

I love, love, love this little mention here. As Paul writes to to Timothy he says he remembers Timothy’s genuine faith and as persuaded that he really had that faith. It’s a wonderful truth that Timothy’s testimony was so sure that there was no doubt about his faith.

But what I really like is the mention of Lois and Eunice. They were Timothy’s mother and grandmother in whom Paul said that genuine faith dwelt. Though Timothy’s father was a Greek and there is no mention of his faith we still no that Timothy was a third generation Christian. He had a Christian heritage from Lois and Eunice.

How precious it is that these two ladies who loved Timothy shared their living faith with him. Without their impact there would have been no Timothy to work with Paul.

How many preachers can look back to a godly mother or grandmother as the source or inspiration while they were wrong. My own mom prayed when she was pregnant that if God would give her a son she would give him back to the Lord to be a preacher. It took a while, but 35 years later I was ordained to the gospel ministry.

Thank God for Eunice and Lois and for their descendants through the centuries.
 – 2 Timothy 1.5

I love, love, love this little mention here. As Paul writes to to Timothy he says he remembers Timothy’s genuine faith and as persuaded that he really had that faith. It’s a wonderful truth that Timothy’s testimony was so sure that there was no doubt about his faith.

But what I really like is the mention of Lois and Eunice. They were Timothy’s mother and grandmother in whom Paul said that genuine faith dwelt. Though Timothy’s father was a Greek and there is no mention of his faith we still no that Timothy was a third generation Christian. He had a Christian heritage from Lois and Eunice.

How precious it is that these two ladies who loved Timothy shared their living faith with him. Without their impact there would have been no Timothy to work with Paul.

How many preachers can look back to a godly mother or grandmother as the source or inspiration while they were wrong. My own mom prayed when she was pregnant that if God would give her a son she would give him back to the Lord to be a preacher. It took a while, but 35 years later I was ordained to the gospel ministry.

Thank God for Eunice and Lois and for their descendants through the centuries. Where would we be without them?

I miss you

I thank God, whom I serve with a pure conscience, as my forefathers did, as without ceasing I remember you in my prayers night and day, greatly desiring to see you, being mindful of your tears, that I may be filled with joy, - 2 Timothy 1.3-4

Praise God that we are somewhat out of this Covid lockdown. It was tough on everyone and in many ways Mary and I got through it pretty unscathed. The thing that really bothered me was the lack of fellowship and encouragement and edification with God’s people and the singing and just the banter of being in church together. That kind of insular Christianity is never what God intended for His people. We wants us to be together, not only in spirit, but in person.

We are blessed though. We have ways of staying in immediate contact that could not even be imagined 30-40 years ago. Paul had none of that. Though there was an excellent postal service, communication still tools many days or weeks to take place. When Paul was really alone he was truly alone.

But it was still no fun during the total lockdown. I think we missed 15 weeks of church. We ‘greatly desired’ to see our church family. I think that is the natural thing with believers. We need each other. God designed things so that we should meet together and it is a blessing now that we are.

Guard what's been committed

O Timothy! Guard what was committed to your trust, avoiding the profane and idle babblings and contradictions of what is falsely called knowledge— by professing it some have strayed concerning the faith. Grace be with you. Amen. – 1 Timothy 6.20-21

Keep and guarding our faith is vital if we are going to keep on serving God and sharing His glorious gospel. Satan would love to come along and snatch away all the good things the Lord has done for us. Beside that we are only human and are limited and if we don’t choose to commit to certain things they are liable to just kind of slip away from us. As Christians we must choose to guard and protect the truth committed to us.

Once again one of things we must choose to do is to not get distracted by all the mess going on around us in the world. There is so much to focus on today that we can neglect the truly important things and we don’t keep our eyes on these things and guard them with all our might other things can creep in.

How do we guard these things? We pray, we stay in the word of God, we study, we fellowship with other believers. We can’t let down our guard especially in these uncertain. Read, study, pray, and don't get distracted by foolish distractions.

The rich

Command those who are rich in this present age not to be haughty, nor to trust in uncertain riches but in the living God, who gives us richly all things to enjoy. Let them do good, that they be rich in good works, ready to give, willing to share, storing up for themselves a good foundation for the time to come, that they may lay hold on eternal life. – 1 Timothy 6.17-19

Even though the love of money is the root is all evil God never condemns money. It is there and it is necessary. Some folks are going to have more than others. Here Paul address those who are rich in this present age. I’d like to pass that off to those who have loads of riches, but the truth is that even we have more that the vast majority of the world. We don’t live from pay cheque to pay cheque. We have a roof over our heads, even if it is rented. We have food on our table and clothes to wear. We can afford to do fun things. Others may have much more but compared to most of the world we would be considered rich.

So what are we supposed to do with our extra money if we have it? We can get a hint when Paul writes about one of the key reasons that we work is in order for us to take care of others.

Here are some key principles regarding money for the very rich, the somewhat which, and even the barely rich.

Don’t be proud
Don’t trust in those riches
Trust the God who gave us those things
Be rich in good works
Be ready to give
Share

If we are willing to do those things we may not build up a whole lot here on earth, but we will be laying a good foundation for eternity. The riches we do have, whether small or great, will only count for eternity as we use them to love God and care for others.

Fight the good fight

Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, to which you were also called and have confessed the good confession in the presence of many witnesses. – 1 Timothy 6.12

Christian warfare is a constant theme in the New Testament. While the Old Testament is full of flesh and blood warfare the New Testament deals with a whole different, but no less real warfare.

‘Fight the good fight of faith,’ Paul writes, ‘lay hold to eternal life.’

As we fight this good fight of faith we have eternal life to cling to. Fighting is never easy. Spiritual warfare can be really tough because at least in a physical fight you can see your enemy and know how to fight.

But our war is not against flesh and blood. We can’t fight it with carnal weapons guns guns and swords and bombs. Our motive is not to against mankind. We think it is against sinners, but our war is against the one who holds them captive in their sin. Our battle cry is not ‘Remember Pearl  Harbour’ but our battle cry in ‘Love Your Enemy.’

No warfare is easy. We think of soldiers going to war and how often warfare is just a matter of plodding away. I always think of the Allies advance across Europe to Berlin in 1945. Every kilometre cost lives, but there was no turning back after D-Day. Press on and press on no matter how tough the enemy was. The goal was to win the war and to do that Berlin had to fall.

Our spiritual warfare cost us as well. We get weary and the opposition is going to win new battles, but we must carry on with our eyes on eternal life.

Flee and follow

But you, O man of God, flee these things and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, gentleness. – 1 Timothy 6.11

A lot of proper Christian living can be summed up with two simple words – flee and follow. We can know all the great theological truths that we want, but if we don’t know what to run from and what to run to we are in deep trouble.

Flee false teachers. Flee discontent. Flee silly arguments. Flee from the love of money. All of these things will destroy. When it comes to these kinds of thing we should be like Joseph when he ran from Potiphar’s wife when she tempted – just run. Like Forrest Gump we need to run and keep running.

On the other hand there are things to follow – righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, and gentleness.

There is a definite danger in just sitting here coasting along in the Christian life. If we do that we are just going to get carried downstream.

Most of us know about the example of Joseph serving in Potiphar’s house. Mrs Potiphar tried to seduce Joseph but he ‘put on his running shoes’ and hightailed it out of there. That’s the only way to deal with sin. Run, don’t walk when tempted. Don’t stop, don’t dawdle, don’t delay – RUN!!!

Go after righteousness. Pursue godliness. Chase faith. Run after love. Follow peace. Aim for gentleness.

This is what is expected from the man or woman of God. It’s put a little simpler in another place where we simply read hate the evil and love the good. Noah was know as a man who loved God and hated evil.

File the wrong – follow the right.

Some parts of the Christian life are very simple 

The love of money

For the love of money is a root of all evil, for which some have strayed from the faith in their greediness, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows. – 1 Timothy 6.10

We often hear the phrase ‘money is the root of all evil’ and people say that the Bible is the source of the quote. It is one of those things like ‘God helps those who help themselves’ that is a false Bible attribution.

The Bible does say though the love of money is the root of all evil. The Bible truth is that the love of money is the root of all sorts of evil. It is not just selfishness or greed but all kinds of evil.

When folks love money it controls them. We always serve what we love. If we are consumed with money it will consume us and possess us and control us. If we love money, we don’t trust God when we don’t have it. When we love money, we are never content and we always want more. The love of money will drive us to all kinds of evil.

We all need money. It’s a nice thing to have. There is nothing wrong with money. There is nothing wrong with have money.

Like everything else it is a matter of the heart. It is only a problem if anything replaces the love of God.  Greed for money has caused far too many people to be 'pierced through with many sorrows becasue it never satisfies.

Godliness with contentment

Now godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out. And having food and clothing, with these we shall be content. - 1 Timothy 6:6-8

We brought nothing into this world. We can take nothing with us. We want all kinds of stuff we don’t need. We have always had a world of greed and today is no different. The difference is that in a lot of our cultures people have so much more than they have ever had that it makes us kind of feel left out if we don’t have it.

Contentment is a sure sign of our godliness. How? Because if we are not content we are not really trusting God. When we are not content we are saying that God does not know best about what we need. It says that I know best.

Contentment though means that I can take my eyes off of trying to get more. It means I don’t look at what others have and compare ourselves. It means that a lack of stuff does not keep me from serving God.

I brought nothing into the world. I am not going to take anything with me when I go. Especially at my age I need to stop worrying about what I can get. Instead if I have food and clothes I ought to be content and just keep on serving God.

Strong words for false teachers

If anyone teaches otherwise and does not consent to wholesome words, even the words of our Lord Jesus Christ, and to the doctrine which accords with godliness, he is proud, knowing nothing, but is obsessed with disputes and arguments over words, from which come envy, strife, reviling, evil suspicions, - 1 Timothy 6:3-4

False teachers have always been the scourge of the church. Before the church was even started Jesus railed against them. Paul, Judas, John, and Peter all wrote about them in their letters. They are the greatest threat to the cause of Christ. They are worse than outside opposition because they mix a little truth with lies and many are deceived. These false teachers are proud, knowing nothing, obsesses with fights and arguments. All that leads to envy, strife, attacks, and evil thoughts. Following false teachers will always lead to destruction.

So we must ever be on guard. The only way to avoid false teachers is to know the truth. The only way to know the truth is to, as the Bereans did, search the scriptures daily to make sure that what we hear is true.

With all the access to all kinds of preachers and teachers out there it is hard to know what is real truth. Youtube is packed with false teachers. They are all over social media, and the bad thing is that it is the false teachers who get all the attention. Many of them are so smooth and polished that they are appealing.

But the true preachers of God’s word do one thing – they preach the word. They correct and they exhort. They stay stedfast. They endure hardness. The keep on going. They don’t quit.. They finish the course.

The big test though if what they say matches up to God’s word. And that’s where it is up to us to check them out. Check it out. Be a Berean.

Self control

Do not lay hands on anyone hastily, nor share in other people's sins; keep yourself pure. – 1 Timothy 5.22

I hate losing control, don’t you? I am sure Paul hated it and he wanted to warn Timothy of the same danger.

Don’t be quick to respond in anger to any other person.
Don’t lose control and join others in their sin
Don’t be tempted to compromise your purity.

The hard truth is that we still have to live in our flesh even after we are saved. Our tempers can all be tried and we can get pushed to the breaking point. I don’t know about anyone else here, but there have been numerous times when I have lost self-control and lashed out at someone needlessly. It does no good, it only hurts the situation and I end up having to apologise.

There have been times in the past when I have allowed peer pressure drag me into sin.

Sadly, I have at times struggled with impure thoughts.

All of these happen because of a loss of self control. The reason it can happen is because we can often forget to follow the flesh and not the Spirit. We don’t have the power to control our flesh, that why we have Christ living in us. Greater is He that is in me than He that is in the world.

But still, I must decide who I am going to follow. That’s why Paul reminds Timothy to keep his eyes out for areas when he might respond sinfully. Be on guard. Watch yourself. Walk after the Spirit.

No prejudice

I charge you before God and the Lord Jesus Christ and the elect angels that you observe these things without prejudice, doing nothing with partiality. – 1 Timothy 5.21

Do everything without prejudice and without partiality.

That really ought to go without saying. Christians ought to know that God sees everyone the same. Nationality, race, culture, ethnicity, creed, and colour make no difference in God’s eyes. Before salvation all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God. After salvation those who are saved are children of God – no matter what. We can’t see folks as white or black or brown or rich or poor or American or Irish or Saudi or straight or gay or weak or powerful or wise or foolish or deserving or not deserving. We treat everyone, everyone, the same as people made by God, people Jesus died for, and people who need the gospel. We need to rise above the world’s prejudices to see people like Jesus say them as He left Jerusalem and wept for their souls.

The world is trying to send quite a different message today. Folks are dividing over almost anything. Once we have picked our side we tend to see everything only in that light and we fight with anyone who is on the other side. We can’t swallow this message. We can’t be caught in the us vs you trap.

No partiality. No prejudice. Jesus loved the little children, all the children of the word.
Red and yellow, black and white, there are precious in His sight. We must see people like Jesus did.

Double honour

Let the elders that rule well be counted worthy of double honour, especially they who labour in the word and doctrine. For the scripture saith, Thou shalt not muzzle the ox that treadeth out the corn. And, The labourer is worthy of his reward. – 1 Timothy 5.17-18

This is kind of hard topic to write about as a pastor because it can seem maybe a little self serving, but it is the word of God and as such it is an important thing for us to remember.

Okay, lets get into this. We all know that we are equal in God’s sight. Pastors and elders and deacons and regular folk are all equally important to God’s work. But God does call some of us to lead and shepherd and teach and provide others with the tools to do God’s works.

Usually the person we are most familiar with is the pastor. Paul uses the phrase ‘especially they who labour in the word and doctrine.’ Pastors are human. They are not perfect. But they are due honour. They ought to be able to pay their bills from their teaching and preaching and pastoral care.

I am so blessed by the pastors I have sat under. They have all helped make me the man I am today. None of them were perfect, but they loved God and they loved me and were faithful to God’s word. Honour is not just making sure they could pay their bills, but they deserve my honour today. For some I honour their memory. For others I honour their lives, but I do choose to honour them.

Don’t forget your pastors. Prayer for them, support them, listen to them, and honour them.

Continue

Till I come, give attention to reading, to exhortation, to doctrine. 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. Meditate on these things; give yourself entirely to them, that your progress may be evident to all. 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. – 1 Timothy 4.13-16

Continue in these things. How often are we told to be stedfast, unmovable, to finish our work, to run the race, to not be weary, to faint not, to not quit, and so on?

Why do we need to hear that so often?

I think it is because the task is not easy. Serving the Lord has its blessings, but it certainly has its challenges. It is easier to give up when things get tough than it is to keep plugging away.

We are not always promised great wins or amazing successes. We are not even promised and easy road. We were never told that the Christian life would be a 100 metre dash. The Christian race is an ultra-triathlon. That’s why the book of Hebrews tells us to ‘run with patience’ the race that is laid out before us.

The one thing that requires out if His workers is that they be faithful to do what He called us to. We are meant to jump off the racetrack because the race gets tough. How many videos have we seen of runners finishing the race no matter what has happened to them? These folks go through some extreme situations just to finish the race. The video attached shows what it mean to finish, That’s the kind of dedication God wants from us as well.

All God wants out is to be faithful and hold on till the end – and he promises that He will be there to carry us through. Finish the course. Keep the faith.

Take heed to yourself

Till I come, give attention to reading, to exhortation, to doctrine. 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. Meditate on these things; give yourself entirely to them, that your progress may be evident to all. 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. – 1 Timothy 4.13-16

We need to be careful in all of our service to others and for others that we forget the fact that we must also need to pay close attention to ourselves. We can’t possibly minister to others if we forget our own spiritual needs.

Study, Paul writes, to show yourself approved unto God. Give full attention to reading and exhorting and to doctrine. If my personal walk with God is weak I am useless or worse. If we become shipwreck the cause of Christ is going to be hurt.

I pay heed to my physical needs. I drink when I am thirsty and I eat when I am hungry. I walk everyday. I try to challenge myself mentally every day.

But it is at least an important that I look after myself spiritually. I must pray and read my Bible and meditate on scripture and make sure that I am in a constant process of taking heed to my own spiritual needs or I will be no good to anyone.

This isn’t just for preachers. All of us who want to live for God and be an influence and have a testimony before others must first be sure that we are ‘armoured up’ in the armour of God before we try to go to battle. God told the prophet Jeremiah the prophet to:

Study up
Get up
Speak up

And those are pretty good words for us.

Give yourself

Till I come, give attention to reading, to exhortation, to doctrine. 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. Meditate on these things; give yourself entirely to them, that your progress may be evident to all. 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. – 1 Timothy 4.13-16

Paul makes it clear to Timothy that serving God is not something we can do half-heartedly. In the middle of all these instructions about reading and exhorting and teaching and paying attention to his gift he tells Timothy to meditate on all these things and giving himself entirely to them.

There really is no room for half-hearted following in God’s work. We can’t be half way mixed up with the world and half with God’s service. All kind of things want our attention. We are tempted to focus on the news and politics and the economy and sports and business. They all may have their place, but we must give ourselves to God’s work.

As much as I may like some of those things, I can’t give myself over to them. We don’t have to be turned away from God’s purpose for us.

What obsesses me in this life? What drives me? What motivates me? If it is anything but the gospel and my service for God I am on the wrong track.

Paul was speaking to Timothy as a young pastor, but the principle is true or us all.. If we want to have any impact for Christ that motivation ought to be always before. It requires all our effort. If we prioritise God and His righteousness God will take care of the rest.

Pay attention to yourself

Till I come, give attention to reading, to exhortation, to doctrine. 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. Meditate on these things; give yourself entirely to them, that your progress may be evident to all. 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. – 1 Timothy 4.13-16

Paul also tells Timothy to not neglect the spiritual gift that God has given him. In his next letter Paul will tell Timothy to ‘stir up’ the gift that is in him. That stirring is the word word to stir up the embers of a fire so that it is a roaring flam again. The phrase ‘do not neglect’ also could speak of the importance of keeping the fire going.

Fires eventually burn out. No matter how big the fire when the fuel runs out the fire goes out. I know that well. When I was in military training many, many years ago we were out for training at a rural military base in Pennsylvania. The building were stayed in were WW2 training barracks and heat and how water depended on keeping a fire going all night. The fire had to be tended and stoked and fuel added. We took turns in half hour shifts and had to march around and check on the fire. I did my short about 1.00 and was responsible to wake the next guy. I did, and was certain he was, but after I left he climbed back on his cot. So, the best morning because the fire was not attended to it went out and nobody had any hot water and there was no heat. And who was to blame – me of course, I had not made sure the next guy was awake to tend the fire. It was neglected and it went out.

That’s wha happens to our Christian service if we don’t tend to it.

We can never take our Christian life for granted. We can’t neglect it. We must keep the fire alive.

Reading and exhorting and teaching

Till I come, give attention to reading, to exhortation, to doctrine. 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. Meditate on these things; give yourself entirely to them, that your progress may be evident to all. 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. – 1 Timothy 4.13-16

Paul tells Timothy that until he can get to him Timothy has a task to do. While he is waiting he needs to not be just lazing about and taking it easy. He is to dedicate himself to reading, to to exhorting others, and to doctrine.

Reading of course is not just a matter of casual reading for enjoyment, though there is nothing wrong with that. When Paul says reading he is speaking of reading the copies of Paul’s letters that are circulating around that part of the world. The gospels were not yet complete, but copies were already being spread. The word of God was not yet complete, but the canon was beginning to take shape.

Timothy was to dedicate himself to the reading of scriptures, then he was to use that ready to encourage believers and to teach them doctrine.

That’s a pretty good reason why we have teachers and preachers today. We read and study and we use our reading and studying to encourage and teach others. This pattern has carried on from them till now. We are to do the same thing Timothy was charged to do. All of us, not just pastors and teachers, are to read the word of God, se what we learn to encourage each other, and share to teachings that we learn.

Example of purity

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. – 1 Timothy 4.12

Purity is a virtue that has always given us trouble. From the very earliest records, in the word of God and other places, impurity has always been recorded and always caused problems. When ancient cities and civilisation are uncovered archaeologist always find statues and carving and hieroglyphs and tilework and paintings that show man at his lustful worse so it is surely nothing new.

But now impurity is literally all around us. When we go online or look on Facebook or turn on the television or go out into public we are battered with impure images, and the problem is that no one, even many Christians, seem to be the least bit bothered by it. Things that we may have been shocked by just a few years ago are now kind of overlooked and winked at.

It is hard to maintain purity in a world like this – but that doesn’t make it any less important and any less a way to be an example to the world.  In fact it may be more important than ever. Those who love morally pure lives are going to stand out in a crowd. We may be made fun at or mocked or laughed at, especially when young, but thing about the impact when people see that we our faith keeps us pure no matter what else.

Purity is not something we can choose on the spot and at the moment. It must be part of our character, kind of like when when he determined before hand that he would not be defiled with the king’s delights.

An example of purity is going to make a real difference in our world. Are we willing to make that difference?

Example of faith

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. – 1 Timothy 4.12

How we handle troubles and difficulties and challenges is a real proof of our faith. Our friends who know that we are Christians want to see how we handle tough times. We say we are Christians, we say we can trust God, we say He can do anything.

We say He can do all of that  - but do we live like we believe it?

In times of crisis and uncertainty people are looking for hope and a a way to get through it. Hopefully by this time our families and friends and co-workers know that we are believers. They know that we are ‘people of faith’ so they look to see what our faith does for us. They look to see if faith works.

The truth is that true faith does work. True faith makes a difference in how we live every single day. True faith makes me respond differently in crisis. True faith gives me hope that people around me don’t have. True faith is seen in true actions and true responses.

We speak of Christ, at least I hope we do. We say we love Him. We say we trust Him. We say the God is our Heavenly Father. But do our actions prove our faith or do they fit in perfectly with the rest of the world.

This current time of crisis and mostly uncertainty is a perfect opportunity for us to be examples of faith. Now is the time for us to make a difference even as a world lives in fear and confusion we need to be rocks of stability because our faith is in the One who controls it all.

Example in spirit

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. – 1 Timothy 4.12

Be an example is spirit. If we are to try and follow Paul’s advice as regards to spirit what does that mean? How do we be an example by our spirit?

I think it all starts with what spirit controls us because that is the spirit we are going to manifest in our lives.

There seems to be a growing spirit in our world today that is disturbing. There seems to be spirit of anger and pride and a spirit which is ready to fight at the drop of a hat. Sadly, there are some Christians who are prone to that same spirit. Christians have adopted an angry rhetoric and a willingness to fight at the drop of a hat and a demand to be right and not let anyone get the best of us and to fight back and to return evil words with evil words.

Then we see what an example of Christian spirit really looks like. God uses words like loving and meek and humble and kind and gentle and peaceful and hard working and minding our one’s own business and submission and taking to lower place at the table and turning the other cheek and not responding to evil with evil and speaking the truth in love and in love preferring each other.

What attitude, or what spirit do we show the world? What kind of examples are we? Do I reflect the spirit of Christ in the way I live and deal with this crazy world?

An example in love

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. – 1 Timothy 4.12

Knowing the word of God like we do it is hardly surprising that one area where it is important to be an example is love. It is after all the great commandment and we are told to do all we do in love – everything. Faith, hope, and love are the cardinal virtues, and the greatest of these is love.

What the world needs to see more than anything is real, pure Christlike agape love. It is a rare thing to see real Christian life. The world has a lot of conceptions about love and what it is.

The world needs to see people that truly know how to love. It is not going to come from the world. We can’t expect the world to put forth a spirit of love. All that we see happening around us is a result of all the opposites of love – hatred and anger and violence and revenge. When Christians join in with that kind of carry on we do nothing for the cause of Christ and give others reason to despise us?

Love is a key example because John wrote that a person who does not love people does not know God because He is love. Love for other believers is how the world is going to know that we follow Jesus. He greatest commandment is to love God and love others.

If people were to look at my example of loving would they see the kind of love that God showed when He sent His Son to die for us.

The greatest of this, Paul wrote elsewhere is love.

How do I love?

An example in conduct

Let no one despise your youth, but be an example to the believers in word, in conversation, in love, in spirit, in faith, in purity. – 1 Timothy 4.12

Words are important. Just as important, and going alongside them, is our conduct. If our works don’t back up our words our words are meaningless. My conduct must show a changed life. An old children’s song used phrase like this:

Oh be careful little eyes what you hear
Oh be careful little ears what you hear
Oh be careful little mouth what you say
Oh be careful little hands what you do
Oh be careful little feet where you go

It’s a cute little chorus but it is really sage advice for all of God’s children – not just little children that we work with.

How do our works appear? Sometimes people hear our words and watch our lives to see if they match up. If we say one thing and don’t back it up with our actions we destroy anything our words have achieved.

I’m not an old man, but I have been around a while. I have sadly seen a lot of younger people I know and often have worked with wander from a walk with God or even seem to walk away from the faith. The stats back me up. There has been a huge falling away of people who walked with God as youth and now do not.

I understand that every person is responsible for their decisions, but I think my generation must are going to have to answer for our actions. We preach Christ and we preach the importance of holiness and purity and yet too many Christians have ignored those things and others because of political expedience. Christians have sacrificed so much of what we preach to achieve what works for us politically. I speak especially to American Christians who have been willing to excuse wickedness to achieve political goals. I can’t tell you the number of young Americans and non-Americans who are astounded at the acceptance and support of wicked leaders because they fit their political views.

These actions, this conduct, this behaviour is turning away from Christ. The example being shown does not is not the example that wins men to Jesus. The word of God speaks of love, compassion, caring, meekness, humility, and gentleness. Is that the kind of example we are seeing from God’s people? Or is it an angry, fearful, proud, brawling conduct that seems to be always looking for a fight.

Is my conduct in this world really an example of Jesus’ conduct when He was on this earth?

An example in word

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. – 1 Timothy 4.12

One of the very first lessons I did when we got to Ireland in 1995 was to spend Sunday School teaching this passage in Tallaght. I have loved this passage ever since. I had never worked specifically with youth in a church setting before and was looking for something to teach that would help in their lives. My original notes come from the 11th of April 1995.

I have always liked young people and have often felt like adults never gave them a shot. There can be a tendency to ignore them or even put them down because they are only kids. They’ve not been where we’ve been. They don’t know what we know. How can they really matter.

Paul knew that so he gives advice Timothy. “Don’t let then despise you because you are young.’ Instead, Paul says ‘be an example to the believers.’ The youth don’t have to be cast aside. They must be examples, and we can also take away the chance to  to despise us if we are examples as well.


The first kind of example to be considered it to be an example in our words.

Back in ‘95 I used the word ‘word’ to demonstrate how our words can be an example. I still like it.  Words must be

Wholesome – Words that build up
Ordered – Words that are controlled
Redeeming – Words that are beneficial
Demonstrative – Words that are demonstrated by actions

There is a lot about words we could cover here, but it would be far too long. Our words reveal what is in our hearts. What comes out of my mouth is a reflection of who I really am.

What do my words say about me?

Exercise

But reject profane and old wives’ fables, and exercise yourself toward godliness. 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. - 1 Timothy 4:7-8

Diet and exercise are the keys to good health. It is true for physical health and it is even more true for spiritual health.

Yesterday we looked at the importance of a good diet, today we look at exercise. We all know that exercise is important. Even if we don’t do it or don’t do it much we know we should. I walk every day, but that all I do. I wish I could must up the gumption to do more, but I do know I have to keep moving.

On the other hand though there are some who are totally obsessed by physical exercise. Some are almost into a body worship where they have to be the strongest, the fittest, and most active.

Paul admits that there is a benefit to physical exercise, but that it pales in comparison to exercising godliness. Physical exercise is only for this life. Godliness is profitable for all things, both here and for eternity.

So lets keep us our physical expertise. We all need it. We need to take care of our bodies because they are the temples of the Holy Spirit.

But let us give ourselves fully to the exercise of godliness. If we don’t choose to exercise godliness it is going to affect our lives and make is unfit to serve Him.

Diet

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. - 1 Timothy 4:6

Diet and exercise are things that we all need to be aware of. We see it everywhere – get plenty of exercise and watch what you eat. Verse 6-8 talk about our spiritual nourishment and spiritual exercise.

Nourishment is first on the list. I love physical nourishment. Obviously, from looking at me, I REALLY enjoy my physical encouragement. I don’t miss meals, I just don’t.

But I wonder if I pay that kind of attention to my spiritual diet. If I don’t eat the right food in the right proportions my physical health is surely going to suffer.

Spiritually we also need a good diet. What we nourish our hearts and minds with is vital. There is all kinds of junk food that we can gorge ourselves on today. A lot of folks are gorging themselves on Netflix, or YouTube, or Facebook, or Instagram, maybe even mind numbing hours of television. I don’t hate those things, I use them and may even overuse them myself,  but if they become my regular diet I am going to get sick. My spirit is not designed for junk food. I’ve been having a little bit of a stomach ache, but I suspect it could be partially cause by the big fat juicy burger and chips I had the other night that are playing. The same thing happens when I not feed my spirit properly.

There are not of things that need to be a part of our spiritual diet. Paul mentions two of them to Timothy here, the words of faith and doctrine.

Interesting that both of these are found in the word of God. Faith come by hearing, and hearing the word of God. True teaching that pertains to life and godliness are found in His word.

What part of our spiritual diet is from the word of God? How much time do I spend there compared to how much time I spend on social media and the internet? What am I stuffing myself with?

Proper nourishment for out spirit comes from His word. What will I be eating today?

Grace Robbers

Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils; Speaking lies in hypocrisy; having their conscience seared with a hot iron; Forbidding to marry, and commanding to abstain from meats, which God hath created to be received with thanksgiving of them which believe and know the truth. For every creature of God is good, and nothing to be refused, if it be received with thanksgiving: For it is sanctified by the word of God and prayer. 1 Timothy - 4:1-5

There is nothing worse than teaching that takes away from the grace of God. There is not much worse than those who make regulations about what we have to do to either be saved or to be spiritual.

Paul says that in the last days some will depart from the faith and be fooled and deceived. The are liars and consciences are seared with a hot iron. These are clearly those who were close to faith but were drawn away from true faith.

One of their tactics is to add man-made rules; don’t get married, abstain from certain foods and many, many others.

That kind of makes sense, we all what to ‘do’ something because it has to depend on us. Man thinks that he can sort it out. No one wants to depend on someone else because it takes the control out of our hands.

But the truth is that there is NOTHING we can do to earn God’s favour. When people add performance to faith they cheapen the death of Christ on the cross. They steal my grace when they want me to conform to their standards. How many Christians have turned away because they could not keep the man-made standards and got discouraged.

Don’t fall for this doctrine of the devil and his deceiving spirits.

Saved by grace, living in grace, and looking forward to see the fulness of God’s grace in heaven.