1 Timothy 4 - How to Conduct Yourself

so chapter four picks up where we left off from this morning remember the the exhortation this morning or the encouragement this morning is as I think Paul was sort of preparing Timothy for what he was about to say in Chapter four our verses from this morning in chapter three verse fourteen I'm writing these things to you though I hope to come to you shortly but if I'm delayed that you would know how to conduct yourself in the house of God so chapter four is going to be how to conduct yourself like those are going to be very specific instructions that are coming of how to conduct yourself but the the basis or the foundation of how or how we conduct ourselves has everything to do with what actually God is doing you know why would I conduct myself like this or that what's the basis or what's the underlying reality well the underlying reality is what God has done is not my conduct it's actually what God has done and that is you could conduct yourself in the house of God the Church of the Living God the pillar and the ground of the truth there's some great identity statements that we looked at this morning about the nature of the church and then this statement about Jesus verse 16 without controversy great is the mystery of godliness God was manifested in the flesh justified in the spirit seen by angels preached among the Gentiles believed on in the world and received up in glory so the message of the churches Jesus he's the one that was manifest that he's the one that was justified he's the one that's preached he's the one that's believed in he's the one that's gone up into glory he's the one that was seen by the messengers so that being said then here's why that's so important verse one he said now the spirit expressly says that in the latter times some will depart from the faith so the spirit has made it clear that we should be on our guard because of apostasy that's the word depart that's that's where we that's why we use that word in English we have the word apostasy in English and apostasy is when somebody once held to something and they've departed from it it's a departure so some people who once believed this are held to they were thought they were part of it but now they're not anymore they've left it and the spirit and it's interesting Paul it's translated in English as expressly but you could translate that word as exactly that the spirit has spoken in a very direct and specific way that that we need to be on guard against people leaving the truth in the last days you want to be watching out because the Spirit has said in an in a very direct way that there will be a departure from the faith so we're not paranoid about that we're not running around like chickens with our heads cut off where we're not trying to find apostasy in every single place we're just we want to be aware the Spirit has told us this now how do we know the Spirit told us that well the inspired apostle paul told us that the spirit said that so we're looking for that when we want to be aware of it and how will they be departing well it's gonna have to do with teaching he says they're giving heed to deceiving spirits and doctrines of demons so the apostasy is actually going to be coming from evil spirits evil spirits who are going to be bringing about deception are gonna be bringing about doctrines and people are gonna start to believe those doctrines now that's an interesting thing that he says because where do you think believers are gonna hear doctrines you're believer where do you hear doctrines on Oprah well Oprah's got a lot of doctrine that she shares she does and it's demonic a lot of it you know believe in yourself it's a very self-centered whatever that's a certain kind of doctrine but when he says to Timothy the church is the pillar and the ground of the truth and what he's going to encourage him to do in the next verses is Paul's concerned that this these doctrines would make their way within to the context of a congregation that there would actually be within the congregation through demonic influence that there would be doctrines that would be you know being propagated or taught as true but they're not true now has that happened is that happening right now if you turn on the main Christian television station TBN are you gonna only see good doctrine are you gonna see maybe some good doctrine and maybe a lot of bad doctrine what's the answer to the question well a lot of bad doctrine personally I can't watch that that station I mean I don't I don't I don't ever watch it when I do watch it I always seem to turn it on once I'm heretic is on I remember one time I think the only time I watched the whole show was Kenneth Copeland and this was back in the in the early 90s Hank Hannah Graf had written his book called Christianity in crisis is that right was that what it's called and he had all these quotes from all these different guys you know Morris Cerullo saying that he's God and Benny Hinn saying that God there was actually nine gods and the Trinity that each part of the Trinity was a Trinity and yeah all this and Adam used to be able to fly had all these really bizarre and he and with with it he had all these quotes and then they had an audio version of the book that actually had the guy's audio quote in when you listen to the book and actually you could hear Benny hens voice or more surreal or Kenneth Copeland or these different guys you know saying these things it was it was you know it had a huge impact in a sense that it made a lot of people mad but it didn't stop any of their ministries people people want to believe that God wants you wealthy people want to believe that they have an itchy ear you know they want to hear something they want to know that that they can write their own ticket the idea of of the word faith that you speak it and God has to do it and and the twisting of the scriptures there's a lot of bizarre teaching and and it's and it's just people flock after it people people spend millions of dollars they give millions and millions of dollars to these guys but their doctrines of demons they're not biblical doctrines and I remember the one time I listened to Kenneth Copeland I was shocked because it was a half hour long program and for 25 minutes the program was really good I mean he taught he thought it wasn't a Bible study he was kind of just doing his Kenneth Copeland things he was just rambling you know just talking about everything he said was really true and I thought well that's not that bad it's pretty true that's true I was like well that's true like what's this guy seems to be telling the truth and all the way to the end and in the last five minutes he said so much heresy and the way he twisted the scripture it undid all the good stuff that he said he just reinterpreted every word that you would like a biblical word like if you said faith he and he says faith he doesn't mean faith the way this book describes that faith the assurance of things hoped for the evidence of things not seen at Hebrews 11 analysis of faith of of Moses who rejected the treasures of Egypt so he could endure the reproach of Christ it wasn't a biblical he had he had attached a whole different meaning so then everything he had said previously it was all now reinterpreted by this twisting at the end so if someone was listening to that and they weren't paying attention you you would literally you would be starting to believe this and many many people follow these guys and believe what they say and so we're not surprised by that we're not surprised that that there would be just large amounts of false teaching and it's a plague to the world it's really sad that the so much of this false teaching originates in our country and then is exported around the world these guys are huge in Africa they go to Africa and they they they they just basically take so much money from the Africans it's so sad they they take so much money from people who are so poor it's it's tragic when they stand before God and her judge you know Jesus warned you know there's a stricter judgment and I wouldn't want to be in their shoes these are doctrines that are from deceiving spirits and doctrines of demons just because something spiritual is happening doesn't mean it's God many people go to some of these events and there are tremendous emotional experiences people that you'll see him slain in the spirit they're falling on the ground there have been since I've been a believer there was a laughing revival there was barking like a dog revival there's been slain in the spirit continuously there's all these and and at best it's just an emotional fervor that people get whipped up into and then they're reacting emotionally worse it might be spiritual someone might actually be having something spiritual happen but according to Paul this false teaching and that's not the only kind there's lots of different kinds but but these are deceiving spirits there could be us there could be a spiritual manifestation accompanying the teaching so for you as you're living your life as a believer trying to follow Jesus trying to follow the Word of God you don't have to be afraid of it because the test is always what do they say about Jesus just listen carefully what do they say about Jesus are they pointing me to Jesus are they pointing me to themselves are they pointing me to an experience are they pointing me to the cross you know what what is the emphasis is that about Jesus or is it not about Jesus that's how it's really easy to judge you don't have to have a PhD or study apologetics to be able to judge it you can judge it your spirit in your spirit you'll know you have an anointing from the Holy One and you'll know are they teaching me to abide in Jesus are they giving me some mumbo jumbo and my flesh is longing for it and and so you you'll be able to discern it when when you experience it or when you see it or someone starts to talk to you about it but just just pay attention you know don't believe every spirit first John says that don't believe every spirit why because many false prophets have gone out into the world he said so when someone there's something spiritual happening you just look at it and run it through a test like what is this about who is this drawing attention to is this drawing attention to the guy on the stage or is this drawing attention to Jesus is this helping these people get and manipulate these people get more money from them or is this drawing people closer to Christ and usually the answer is really easy you look at I think that's not about Jesus at all so there could be very powerful spiritual manifestations because we know the origin of this is going to be spiritual so that's why that's why this exhortation needs to be connected with the end of chapter 3 and Paul's gonna tell Timothy how he wants him now to act in light of here's what's gonna be happening there's the Church of God the Church of the Living God the household of God and it's the pillar and the ground of the truth and the Spirit has told us than the last days that people are gonna want it they're gonna leave the truth and so what should you do then that here's what God's doing here's what Satan's going to be doing so Timothy I want you two to be standing firm in the word so this doctrines of demons and then here's what Paul was concerned about he gets a little specific of what to watch out for verse two there's gonna this is hypocrisy they're speaking lies in hypocrisy which means these guys know that they're lying hypocrisy is a word that was part of the culture and and it describes an actor it's somebody pretending to be something that they're not you know I was walked we were walking through the airport yesterday and there was an ad with with Johnny Depp and it was for some fragrance I think it was hey Johnny Depp Cologne I forget what it's called but it's a picture of him and see I I you know I remember Johnny Depp when he first came up he didn't look like he looks right now when he first came up he kind of had like more of a clean-cut look he didn't have any tattoos he didn't look like a pirate but but what Johnny Depp has done is he's created a persona like well who's the real guy was that the guy on you know back in the day when he was on the TV show or is that this guy now who's part you know pirate part musician or like whatever he but it's just he's an actor he's pretending to be something and and in the Greeks when they put on a play the actors would wear masks so all the parts were played by men there weren't women so the women part so the guy has a woman's mask and so that the person who's a hypocrite is a mask wearer is somebody who's pretending to be something that they're not they have a they have a facade so listen when these guys say well we're believers or were this like yeah I know you got but but what's behind the mask there he says they're speaking lies in hypocrisy these guys know that they're lying they know it the and listen what's happened when you speak lies in hypocrisy and you live like that look at the end of verse two having their own conscience is seared with a hot iron it's could Paul have said that more graphically their conscience seared as with a hot iron and what would happen to your flash your your skin if you took a hot iron and you seared your skin what would happen to it it would just become burned and what what would happen as you healed from the burn you'd just become calloused and hard and so there conscience that should be tender and soft because they're pretending to be something that they're not and they're lying repeatedly what are they doing to their conscience and so there's no conviction that the conscience becomes leathery you know you just look at this it's a it's a really graphic picture speaking lies in hypocrisy having their own conscience seared with a hot iron and what do they do now this is really interesting verse three forbidding to marry now you'd say well that doesn't fit with our current version of the false prophet there's not this particular teaching but in church history is there a group that says if you really want to be righteous I mean the only people who are really aren't righteous are the people who are unmarried they're a group and you guys think of a group that says if you want to be used by God you need to stay unmarried like if you're a woman you really want to be used by God you need to be unmarried or if you're a man you really want to be used by God you need to stay unmarried is there a group probably you can think of one there might be a billion people who follow that Paul says that's a doctrine of demons now we've recently had a lot of expose and from the media about one of the byproducts of having the for the prohibition for marriage and what the consequences are to the church that has bought into that lie and what's one of the consequences children being abused and if you just think about like since that doctrine became part of that church how many children have been abused over the centuries I mean I wonder I wonder what the number is I know God knows the number I know every young person who's ever been molested God knows exactly who they are what they've been through and cares about them and loves them and and what a what a horrible thing too to be in a place where you know you have such an opportunity to influence somebody and to and to just hurt them so dreadfully it's just so sad so forbidding to marry and also commanded to abstain from foods so here's another doctrine that Paul would put in as a doctrine of demons to say if you really want to be right with God you need to not eat for this period of time or not eat this certain food do you know of any group that has a period of time where they say we're not gonna eat any of this kind of food for this season or for this period is it isn't it it doesn't even have a name right and even sometimes I've known believers who say well I'm doing this for Lent and I always think to myself why don't you just eat it for Lent and be thankful while you eat it I mean what's it with I mean if you're gonna fast to humble yourself and seek the Lord that's one thing but for religious observance like well I'm gonna I'm gonna abstain from foods because somehow that's going to create value like Jesus said you eat whatever you want he made all foods clean no I I don't know that I like all foods having especially just been in Asia where they really enjoy the liberty that Jesus has given and I have a good friend who who just he's one of those guys that kind of is cut to be sort of on the mission field and he pastors a church in Southern California but here's show me vegan oh we were just in the the night market in Chiang Mai and we ate this and this and there's things you want to see a video I'm like dude I don't need it like no he a Dora and Caesar will know this he ate the fertilized eggs you know that you get with the I think there is a doc or chicken that what's it called I've never had that and I won't I know Jesus said it's clean but you know but some people Paul Paul calls it a doctrine of demons so here for our own congregation if someone ever starts attending they tell you oh you guys you shouldn't eat that I think well what do you mean I shouldn't eat that you could eat whatever you want I mean personally since Jesus made Jesus made it clean I wonder if Jesus was thinking of carnitas when he made it clean or bacon and you like you know he declared all foods clean there was a purpose for Israel for the food for their own national identity and for their own health but Jesus it's Jesus who said it's not what comes out of or you know it's not what goes into the man that defiles a man it's what comes out of the man that defiles the man because what you eat goes in and passes through he said but out of the out of the heart comes these other things and this again it comes back to the speaking in the hypocrisy speaking lies in hypocrisy so also it's kind of like Paul specifically refers to forbidding a marriage and then saying you need to abstain from foods which i think is fascinating in light of the Catholic Church's teaching over the centuries you know that every single year and the celebration of the resurrection of Jesus is tied to a period of fasting and and that and there's an abstinence and it's not it's not a fasting abstinence like the Bible when it Bible let's talk about fasting it's a it's a different thing it has a different meaning so anyway just throw that out there it's interesting that Paul said that hundreds of years before that really became part of of a of a doctrine within a part of the church or somebody declaring you be part of the church and then Paul talks about food just very briefly he said food now notice verse 3 which God created to be received with Thanksgiving by those who believe and know the truth so God made the food so go ahead and eat it don't worry about it and then verse 4 every creature of God is good and nothing is to be refused if it's received with Thanksgiving now I love it that as he says that and maybe he's had to eat some things he didn't want to eat because verse 5 i I've always appreciated that he said that for it's sanctified by the Word of God in prayer I've eaten some food that I'm pretty sure was not sanctified except by the Word of God and please Lord we're praying for you to sanctify this food before we eat it so there there's your teaching on food what did Paul say about it when someone says you can't eat it or you know you're less righteous or I'm more righteous because I don't all right abstinence of food is a certain thing that's going to create more stature for me or value like I've got some in more righteousness that I've gained by my own fasting or whatever Paul said no way everything is good that includes those giant snails in Ghana that they are standing at the side of the road with this big platter you don't eat those in a TA you love those oh great see I guess it depends upon where you were where you grew up I have some great friends they love those and so I always say well whenever they serve me you can have mine so I won't tell them no I'll just say and then you sit right next to me and then you eat mine for me I have a really good friend up here in Ghana who loves snails and and he'll have my back but you know your stand you're driving by the side and these are snails that are bigger than any snail you could have met you don't know a snail could grow this big I'm not exaggerating they're big and then they got a the tray at the side of the road cuz I get him out of the bush and and they usually are you know they just find them and then and then they sell them outside where there's a platter with 15 or 20 of these things just crawling all over and ah that's just so gross so I mean Paul said hey every creature is good nothing's to be refused rich if it's received but thanks I guess it's received at Thanksgiving so I'm not thankful so I guess it ain't good then I don't know I gotta get out of this somehow but it's sanctified by the Word of God in prayer that means you can eat it it's not gonna make you more righteous or less righteous fasting when we when we do fast fasting does not make us more righteous it has nothing to do with us being more righteous it has nothing to do with our position before God we're declared righteous how by the blood of Jesus Christ our sins are taken away we're given righteousness by putting our faith in Jesus you can't get more righteous than you are right now you're as righteous as you'll ever be now you might say I want to grow though I want to be more right yeah well you're gonna grow you can grow as the spirits working in your life you're changing you're growing but you're standing before God is a gift of God through your faith in Jesus Christ so then why do we fast what is fasting - fasting is a discipline that we we participate in and it's connected with prayer and what happens when you fast is you are denying your flesh something and what happens is your flesh is then provoked and you quickly realize that you're pretty much in the flesh all the time once you start fasting you realize my body tells me what to do and I just do it my body will say eat that and I don't I just go okay I know that I'm done I think my price should I eat that and then I have another one I think I really shouldn't have that - if you had you shouldn't have one why I have two but - I've already done it my lap three I mean the flesh when you start to tell it no then you start to enter in - oh man and you're you're being humbled and and you're being you're you're making yourself aware and then you take that and turn it into prayer and it's a spiritual discipline that that humbles us and and it it does affect us it doesn't affect God God's not looking at us and being I wasn't going to say yes but look at you go so now I will God wants to bless he wants to work Bastien affects me it humbles me and shows me how dependent I am on God and in that state I'd pray much more effectively it affects me and draws me into an awareness of of my need for God and and that's good for me but it doesn't make me better than you or different from you it doesn't have any effect on that at all so we can eat whatever we want it may not be healthy for you but it won't make you unrighteous now verse six we're getting back to this context of the encouragement so that you'd know how to conduct yourself so so know this how to conduct yourself the identity of the church that church is the pillar ground of the truth the Spirit has warned us exactly or specifically directly that people are going to fall away so verse 6 if you then instruct the Brethren in these things you'll be a good minister of Jesus Christ so Timothy's ministry is going to be instructing the believers and what's he going to instruct them about well that in the last days there's going to be deceiving spirits are gonna be moving and seeking to draw people away into false doctrines and so teach the people teach them the minister of Jesus Christ primarily is going to be teaching people what the Word of God says that's the primary ministry that and the Ministry of the word in Acts chapter 6 when there was the grumbling amongst the believers where the the widows who followed the Greek culture felt like they were being treated unfairly and their less favorably than the the widows who followed the Hebrew culture and so they started there was a complaining going on and how would they distribute the food to these poor widows and so the Apostles called the people together and said look we're not going to leave the Word of God to wait on tables so choose seven guys and we'll point them over that they can focus on that ministry we'll give ourselves continually to prayer and to the Ministry of the word and why was that well it's because of this that's what a good minister does a good minister is going to primarily be spending most of their energy on prayer and the Ministry of the word if a minister spends all of his time going to the hospital and visiting people which is very important if a minister spends all of its time fixing the lights in the sanctuary or washing the windows or doing was a lot of work that could be done and if I if I am the pastor and I'm spending all of my energy doing everything except for preparing the Word of God to to Minister the Word of God to people well then the church is gonna suffer so God God will raise up other people to do lots of other ministries things that have to happen so that so that there's someone within the congregation doesn't have to be me it could be whoever but somebody within the congregation or several within the congregation as it grows that will be able to focus on ministering to everybody else they're gifted by God they're called by God and the purpose of their ministry is to nourish the congregation and bring the Word of God to teach them instruct them you'll be a good minister of Jesus Christ verse six continues nourished in the words of faith and of good doctrine which you have carefully followed so Timothy already has been proven he's been discipled he he himself has received the words of faith they've worked their way into his life and now he's he's being he's been equipped and now he can be used by God to help the people in Ephesus and minister to them and that's one of the things that was so encouraging to me about being at this conference just two weeks ago in in Thailand was several guys that I'd for many years two of the guys I've known since they were in high school one of the guys I've known I met him when he was still kind of back slid I met him right as he was getting his life right with the Lord he's 15 years old well now he's planted one of the best churches that calvary chapel has in brazil turned it over to sell so who's now the pastor is this a really thriving ministry a great church and moved from there to a country in Asia where he's he's doing new ministry there and God just using that guy so much and and so just seeing like here's a guy I got to watch him get discipled and now God's taken that guy and sent him to two different countries he's had got to you know to a thriving ministry that he's turned over to somebody now he's in another country doing exactly the same thing again and so that's kind of like what I want Timothy Timothy you've been nourished up in these sound words and you've received this and so now you've got something now you start you make sure you keep doing that because remember the Spirit says that that people there's gonna be these doctrines so people need to be warned against them they need to be taught they need to be trained up if you if you were playing any sport you know you know like the scouting report is you know what that is when when one team is playing another team and then they have people to go check out what the other team does and they take notes and they keep track of and then they come back and they say hey they've got a big guy you know he's really good at this and but this other guy he can't do this at all and here's a weakness they analyze what the opponent's doing so that this team is prepared and so the word of God it prepares us I mean how many times on our lives because we're in the word and then something comes our way and we're prepared for it how many times have you been in your Bible in the morning seeking the Lord and then later in the day you think man I'm so glad I read that verse this morning because it's not it's not it's you know you it's not hard to see cuz you think I read that exact verse i read that exact verse this morning about this situation and look here it is man god totally prepared me for it so the best scouting report is your daily time in the Word of God just spend time with Jesus so Timothy as you're seeking to minister to the people give them the Word of God it'll be the best way to prepare them and then in order to focus on that verse 7 there's things you have to say no to verse seven he says reject profane and old wives fables now I don't know why people always pick on old wives because that's actually an English phrase right and old wives fable we actually that's part of our English vernacular so I looked up these words in Greek to see if it was a different idiom in Greek it's old wives old wife so apparently old wives have a bad reputation in several languages and cultures an old wives fable profane and old wives fables so how would you know if it's an old wives fable not not all teaching is gonna be of equal value now I don't mean that not all scriptures of equal value the scripture is all given by inspiration of God it's profitable for doctrine hey that's time spent reading the book of Ecclesiastes is really a blessing I mean going through and looking in Solomon's analysis of his pursuits and realizing at the end that all of it was vanity the only conclusion he had was fear God and do what God says so so that has value but the book of Romans and that's Paul's clear teaching on justification by faith so all the scripture is valuable all the scripture we want to teach all of it we've made a commitment to go from Genesis to Revelation we don't skip any parts we teach right through it but old wives fables someone wants to speculate and say well you know I've always wondered and you know you could you if you were in a home fellowship and you started in the scripture and then someone shares their opinion and I've always thought this Iowa I'm not and within a few minutes you can be an old wives fable you can have walked the plank and no you're no longer on the boat you're going in another direction it's very very easy for us to get off-track and so part of spiritual leadership if you're going to be wanting to be making an impact is is being able to grow spiritually to the point where you're able to discern like this is the most valuable thing this is where we have to say that's a really interesting thought and we probably could dive into that but you know this is what we're focused on right now let's keep going off in this direction you know that's that's a sidelight we'll save that for later you know it I think that one of the things we recently had the question and answer and I was just so blessed by you guys all the guys all the people that were able to come out for that because we just had very few questions almost no questions that were that weren't really valuable or about really substantive issues I was just so I was so blessed by the health of the church even even the people were like well I just don't know so much I have so many questions and then they asked a question I don't think now that's a radical question just really profound well like this person's been reading their Bible and this is a legitimate it is a really good question and but you know there's other kind of questions that are you know like well I've always wondered you know and you're like oh great you know yeah you know yeah I just wonder because that's all wife able it's it's you're you're steering off course and so what Paul's exhorting Timothy is being able to have discernment which one's more valuable and what should you emphasize that's very important so reject those things and instead put your energy into godliness he says in verse 7 he uses now an analogy of exercise he says exercise yourself towards godliness so if you want to be seeking the Lord it's gonna require effort on your part like exercise does like you know it's coming to the end of this year and maybe there's some people who started their gym membership in January and they were really faithful for half of January and you know and they're getting ready to go alright January's coming you know it's time for me to get back into exercise and it's the discipline exercise is something that just it takes discipline it's difficult to do it's you have to make sacrifices you have to make a part of your routine so Paul says listen the Spirit says this is going to be happening so you need to be a good minister and help the people so you're gonna need to exercise towards godliness you're gonna have to have disciplines that are in your life that are gonna lead you to be more godly so what are the exercises that you would need to have what are they well you'd want to be in the word every day you'd want to pray regularly you want to be on fellowship right there's a few things and you'd want to do them right obviously this is the Sunday night crew so you're like hey man I'm exercising right now you know I'm pumping some spiritual iron I came back for Sunday night but you know here's a person you think of a person who comes to church twice a month on Sunday morning and and they read their Bible occasionally so spiritually if you could see what they look like spiritually what would they look like they'd look like me physically flabby and out of shape you know sake man you don't take the exercise very seriously why I take it serious I just don't do it I'm serious about not doing it you can immediately see the effects when someone's not exercising right exercise yourself to godliness put the effort in have the disciplines in your life do it on a regular basis verse 8 bodily exercise profits a little so people that are super into bodily exercise that's good a little bit it's a little good you got something that's good but a godliness is profitable for all things so a bodily discipline has a little profit you have more energy you're healthier you might even prolong your life there so there's there's advantages and it's a it would be good to do but godliness you can't even compare the two godliness it's not an either/or but if you put them in comparison remember discernment is to certain discerning between what's a profane and old wives fable and actually what's good so here discern between these two X these two disciplines which one is more valuable with godliness is profitable for all things having the promise of the life that now is and of that which is to come and he says this is a faithful saying and worthy of all acceptance so the energy that you put into in your life disciplining yourself I'd encourage you to to have a Bible journal where you write down how the Lord spoke to you and just do it every day make it a practice so doesn't have to be long you don't have to be eloquent you don't have to write it so that you're gonna be published you know but just say this is what I read this is what I think the Lord spoke to me you know this is what I'm praying for and just to have that as a discipline and just fill that thing and just write something every single day read your Bible every single day you might say well I just don't have any time just go pick up where you left off and read a few verses how long does it take 10 seconds you can do it while you're eating your Apple Jacks or Lucky Charms or fruity pebbles remember everything is good well did you say good every creature of God so I don't think Apple Jacks is a creature of God it's a creature of man there's there's time to do it you just have to make time so it's a faithful saying and worthy of all acceptance the exercise you put into godliness you'll never regret it it's profitable now and for the future it'll make you better husband a better dad a better wife better mom better co-worker everybody will be blessed and then verse 10 he goes fer to this and 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 and these things command and teach so as Timothy's there used to be commanding people and teaching people to put energy into godliness because Jesus wants to work in people's lives we trust in the Living God he's the savior of all men especially of those who believe that's an interesting phrase the potential of Jesus being the saber he's the savior of all men there's no other Savior if you'd if you don't get saved by Jesus there ain't no other way you're gonna get saved he's the only way to be saved he's he said that his disciples said that about him the Old Testament makes it really clear that there's one Savior to be looking for who's coming and Jesus is that Savior so he's provided for salvation for all men but that salvation only comes to those who who are believers but the potentials there for everybody so command that and teach that and then verse 12 Timothy was going to be challenged in the culture that he lived in because of his age he says let no one despise your youth but be an example to the believers in Word and conduct and love and spirit and faith and in purity the culture that Timothy was in is much like many other cultures some cultures are more like this than others but even our culture's like this I remember when I first became the pastor here I was I was just about to turn 28 years old and I I look really young I look younger than I am I used to look younger than I am so I remember over the years many times we're leading the worship teams leading worship and then I get up to teach and people would just look at me like that's the pastor and get up and walk out more than once several times so it didn't hurt my feelings I just stuff finally we got some wise people in the congregation but they left they knew right away like that is the pastor I'm out of here all right so man there goes everybody with discernment leaves I'm sorry I'm not talking you guys have this sermon but you're here I don't understand it but I'm glad you're here you know sometimes people they left I said that's a young person what are they gonna tell me listen we have little kids in our church if a little kid came up to me and said hey pastor rich I was reading in my Bible and I wanted to share it with you you know what would you think if you were like for me as a pastor if a little kid came up to me and said hey you know I got I got my first Bible I was reading it this is what I think God spoke to me man I'd sit down and go tell me tell me dude I want to hear it I you know I don't think a five I think a five year old could teach me I would love it I would love to hear what an eight year old thinks about the scripture why because it's a word of God man any believer who's got the Holy Spirit can read the Bible and God can speak to him and they got something to share if you got something to share and it's out of the Word of God then it doesn't matter how old you are in fact David said said it like this in psalm 119 and I don't think we want to take it beyond what he says but he said I know more than my teachers because I meditate in your word I know more than the ages the ancients is I think the New King James says are the old King James I know more than the ancients because I take heed to your word it's that repetition of the word of God and he wasn't saying he didn't listen to old people or he was smarter than old people or old people are disqualified what he was saying was the Word of God will give you the wisdom that you ignore mele get by doing dumb things when when you get when you as you age you have had a longer time to do stupid stuff so you learned and you tell somebody man you don't want to do that and usually it's because you did that and you know a man that that was a terrible mistake as you go on in life and you get older you've you've seen a lot of people do a lot of dumb things you've done a lot of dumb things and it's just the wisdom of age or you you know hey this paid off I did this and I don't regret it at all there's just a wisdom that comes but guess what the Word of God will give you that you could be a dumb knucklehead and if you just listen know what the Bible says like I don't have any gray hair I just did what God's Word said I'm not smart at all God just said don't do that so I did it I just followed what he said so some cultures though just will not listen to a young person and I've seen it I think one of the one of the challenges that we've had in Africa is we have a lot of young men who are really gifted great men of God really some some some of the finest men of God that I know have gone through our Bible training in Ghana and I I respect them I think if I ever died you could replace me with guys that are ten times that I am they just live in Africa I don't know you could get him a visa to come here but I could I could give you a list of 20 guys that would be an improvement if I dropped over dead great Bible teachers they love Jesus good guys young guys but in their village they're just you know just the way the patriarchal society the older person they just those guys really have a challenge to overcome because of just the nature of the culture and one of the ways I think God's used us is even though I'm still young and maybe younger and some of those guys because I'm a foreigner because I'm white and I'm a guest and they were hoping for investment you know probably in the community from outside that because then we can come in and and it changes the guy status in the community because he's connected to us so it's Kyle's Roman citizenship you know that there's a this kind of a way that God's given favor and some of these areas but I've watched I just think man you don't know who this what a gem you have in your community that this young man is here and he's sharing the Word of God with your people it's going to transform your place you need you need to not disrespect this guy but you need to listen to him because he's giving you the truth of the word of God so so we want to be careful not to look at young people and say what are you young people gonna tell us man if a young person's gonna share the Word of God oh man I want to listen I want to hear the 12 year old shared devotion oh my goodness man you read the Bible of pray tell me what you think that said I'd love to hear that how awesome I'd be the greatest thing in the world fresh set of eyes you know just a blessing so encourage your kids and the same you know don't don't don't look down on someone from their youth but get get them into the word now for Timothy's sake what do you do when people are despite I've always thought this is interesting how does he do this don't let him a despite hey don't despise my youth what are you are you just rising my youth don't do you know you better knock it off I mean how do you stop somebody from doing it thankful he tells us in the verse what does he say it's key word for ministry by the way one of the most important words of all let no one despise your youth but be in what an example be an example so Timothy these people aren't going to listen to you they're going to dismiss you they're gonna go what is this young guy gonna do so what are you gonna do Timothy don't quit don't let that stop you what are you doing stead you just be an example you just smile and say well yeah I understand that I understand why that must be hard for you and you just quietly go about your business and you'd be an example of what in your word you share the Word of God your own speech your own way of communicating you'd be a person of your word but I think especially in just sharing the Word of God just share the Word of God share the Word of God share the Word of God and do it in a way that's simple and clear and in the power of the Spirit be an example in your conduct now don't act like a lunatic or a crazy person have good conduct be an example in your love you should be if you want to make an impact you should be you should be loving in spirit be filled with the spirit be an example of faith I think one of the things that can happen I've seen this happen two ways with with people as they get older some people as they get older they have more and more faith and they get more and more crazy for the Lord because they've seen God do so much I've known some older people who are just such an encouragement because they've taken so many ventures of faith and you just say I'm not sure about this and then they just exhort hey oh god I'll come through and they're just so awesome I mean it's so encouraging and then I've seen kind of the opposite I've seen other people that if they got older they became more afraid and they became more timid and they became more cautious and they became more closed because they they've seen it not work and they become cynical and you try to talk to them you go what do they go oh we try you know just it's like one or the other it seems like so you'd be an example in faith one of the things that young people can bring is a vibrancy because of a zeal for God so a young person that's an example in faith and also in purity so Timothy people might not listen to you in your culture they might disqualify you but but here's a wonderful thing because this applies to all of us that are in the workplace all you guys that are in the workplace and people who don't want to listen to you and they disqualified you it may not be because you're age it might be for other reasons they're just not open so guess how are you gonna reach them you just be an example of these things do you be an example in your word and your conduct in in spirit and in faith be an example of love and and what will happen is you'll impact them and if they're disqualifying you in one way but you're an example they can't they nobody can argue against an example they'll argue it can argue with you while Holy Bible is written by men or you know all those churches how do you know which one is right or all the different excuses people give her you guys are so narrow-minded or whatever people say but when you're an example of love what did I say to that you're the most loving person that they've ever met you're the kindest person you never say a bad word about anybody that starts to stick out after a while and if you're an example as Paul tells Timothy here in your own context I think that you'll find that God will use you even if people try to disqualify you and so verse 13 because remember he's to instruct the people here's an exhortation in verse 13 until I come give attention to three things reading exhortation and doctrine so as Timothy's gathering together with the congregation what are they going to pay attention to they're gonna read the Bible he's going to encourage them to follow the Bible and he's gonna teach them what the Bible says so when you come to church what are we gonna be paying what are we gonna be giving emphasis to we're gonna read the Bible we're gonna encourage ourselves to follow the Bible and we're gonna learn what the Bible says that's pretty simple it's not awesome then that's not like a great church to go to I'd like to go to a church like that sadly it's hard to find a church that actually reads the Bible or a place where you'd actually need to bring your Bible or where they're actually going through a book of the Bible systematically so you could understand the Bible but I I just I just love the simplicity of the ministry as Paul sees it then specifically for Timothy don't neglect the gift that's in you which was given to you by prophecy and with the laying on of hands of the elders so Timothy had received a gift there had been prophecy some as the elders had laid hands on him and we're praying for him someone had had been able to speak what this gift was that Timothy had and so Timothy make sure you use your gifts and then verse 15 meditate on these things and give yourselves and give yourself entirely to them that your progress may be evident to all so if you're wanting to make an impact so here's Paul specific commands 2 Timothy Timothy these things that I've just said to you I want you to be preoccupied with these things I want you to be focused on this I want you to be something that you're giving yourself to meditate on it when you're meditating on something that's when you're thinking about it all the time all of us meditate some of you might have been meditating while I was talking maybe you have a big thing coming up I was we have a young guy in our church who's getting married this week I think he was meditating during the Bible study this morning I saw him during the break and he's just giddy he's like out of his skin he's so excited about getting married I think probably right now he's meditating on it did you understand what I mean that it's in his mind he's mulling it over he's thinking about it he's processing it so you're doing that anyway so be careful and be wise about what your men hating on to meditate on your anxieties well the Bible says don't do that what should you be meditating on well these things the Word of God what God's been saying what God is doing just be meditating on that and you'll you'll make progress your progress will be evident to all isn't this an exciting thing about being in fellowship with each other and you know people and you watch them grow over a period of time and you say man I remember when I first met you how much have you grown a net see how much have how much have I grown have I grown at all since you know me although I was looking at you and I thought you've grown so much but I was just thinking I hope I've known you for probably 20 years I think close to 20 years and and wow how much you've grown since I've known you and you're just as you're walking with the Lord you just grow and sometimes you don't see it yourself but other people are watching you grow and they well what do you how do you grow well you've got to be preoccupied with the things that make you grow which which is the word of God and fellowship exercise yourself for godliness make that a discipline what will happen is you'll grow you'll grow and then he ends with the encouragement that in Paul it says this to all leaders really in Acts chapter 20 when he's meeting with the Ephesian elders on the beach and my Letus as he was traveling on his way to Jerusalem he says the same thing to them take heed take heed to yourself and to the doctrine the two things that we want to be paying attention to I got to take you to myself and then to them the message the Word of God that I'm sharing these two things have to go together my what God is doing in my own life I got to take heed to myself I got to be on guard against the personal attack of the enemy against me I got to be walking in holiness I've got to exercise my own self for godliness I've got to be saying no to my flesh and and saying yes to the spirit abiding in Jesus letting the word of god abiding me I got to take heed to myself and then I take you to let's make sure we are staying in the Word of God make sure we're reading there's good solid encouragement in the word to to help people grow and and good teaching take heed to yourself into the doctrine continue in them he says in verse 16 for in doing this you will save yourself and those who hear you so very simple instructions for the minister and this is true for the minister but it's also true for the mom or the grandmother or the co-worker you want to be fruitful and you want to be working you don't have to be a pastor you don't have to function like a pastor but you can be an example all these things apply to the student in the classroom to the mom in her house to the the person in their apartment complex you're there they might disqualify don't listen to that person then be an example they can't disqualify that just be the be spirit-filled be loving be be humble and and God will be using you and and guard your own self and and be in the word yourself and share the word and and you'll say both yourself and those who hear you so real simple teaching for those that are in the ministry it's interesting I got a degree to be a pastor and Paul makes it so simple four and a half years at a university Paul like lays it out there pretty simple but I'm a slow learner like it's four and a half years at the University and five years cleaning the bathrooms so I'm on this I must look I'm on this slow learner into the curve like Moses you know 40 years in the wilderness so I'm not slow as Moses almost Lord we thank you for your word we thank you for the encouragement that comes to us by the spirit from the word the this word exhortation the strength that comes the direction that comes I I pray Lord that you'd inspire each one of us in the relationships that are around us in our homes that wives in their ministry to their husband husband in his ministry to his wife to children or parents to children children to parents or or in in our our work environment or here in the church congregation setting whatever wherever wherever we find ourselves lord help us to be an example help us learn to be an example of love and any example in spirit an example of faith help us to be that person that that somebody would go to and say man I'm thinking about a step of faith and we'd be the person to fan them in a flame lord help us not be those who pour water on the flame but fan it into flame and we thank you Lord for the warning about the false teachers that will come and we thank you that Jesus you're enough and abiding in you is enough and focusing on you is enough and and the real the only test case we need is is this thing about Jesus or is it about this person is this thing about Jesus what do they say about Jesus what are they emphasizing and if it's not you then we can we can we can discern it we can look at it and see its value so thank you Jesus for making everything about you so that we have a real simple test and keep us Lord guard us help us to be nourished and strengthened by your word on a daily basis as we exercise ourselves for godliness we pray these things in your name amen

Channel: calvary chapel laguna creek

Views: 2,405

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Keywords: Calvary Chapel, Calvary Chapel Laguna Creek, Bible, Elk Grove, Jesus, Bible Study, CCLC, The Word

Id: YDl3ojJanZ0

Length: 54min 10sec (3250 seconds)

Published: Sun Dec 04 2016