Month: November 2021

Since we belong to the Faith Family we should act like it! 2 Timothy 1

Paul opens his second letter to Timothy, by telling him he longs to see him and that he’s praying for him night and day. He says that he serves God as his forefathers did and that he’s reminded of the faith that was in Timothy’s mother and grandmother. Both came from families of believers who served God and Paul reminds himself and Timothy of their roots and their identity.

Then Paul instructs Timothy to ‘Fan into Flame’ the gift that is in him through the laying on of hands. I asked yesterday if some of us have dormant gifts, given to us by God’s Spirit that we need to reignite? Fires in the natural can take time to get going but eventually they will ignite and blaze up as we work at it. We may need to work at those dormant gifts to ‘Fan them into Flame’, but God never takes His gifts back;

29 for God’s gifts and his call are irrevocable. Romans 11:29

God’s gifts are given to equip us to fulfil our life’s calling, they’re essential, not optional. They have been tailored to suit us individually, a perfect fit for our service in this life. The things we do in the Church body that give us pleasure, may well be the places we are called to serve!

6 For this reason I remind you to fan into flame the gift of God, which is in you through the laying on of my hands. 7 For God did not give us a spirit of timidity, but of power, of love and of self-discipline. 2 Timothy 1

Paul follows his instruction to ‘Fan into Flame the gift of God’ with another statement, not to give way to fear. (It’s supposed to be written 365 times in the Bible, one for each day, ‘Fear Not’). God wants us to stubbornly resist and overcome any fear that would hinder us from fulfilling His Call on our lives.

For the Holy Spirit, God’s gift, DOES NOT WANT YOU TO BE AFRAID OF PEOPLE, BUT TO BE WISE AND STRONG, AND TO LOVE THEM and enjoy being with them. 2 Timothy 1:7 TLB

GOD DOESN’T WANT US TO BE SHY WITH HIS GIFTS, BUT BOLD AND LOVING AND SENSIBLE. 2 Timothy 1:7 MSG

The same message is repeated in slightly different wording near the end of Proverbs 29;

25 Fear of man will prove to be a snare,

    but whoever trusts in the Lord is kept safe.

Paul encouraged Timothy to be bold and exercise the gift God had given him. If God’s Spirit is calling you to step up again into His service, please heed His Call. He will help you to come through to victory and be useful for the Kingdom.

God bless and keep you today.

FAN INTO FLAME THE GIFT OF GOD which is in you! 2 Timothy 1

Natural gifts, such as sports, music or crafts all have to developed or we might say, ‘Fanned into Flame’. We repeat them over and over until they become a part of us.

Paul opens his second letter to Timothy by once again affirming his apostleship, ‘by the will of God’. He probably knew he was writing to a wider audience than just Timothy and established his credentials at once.

3 I thank God, WHOM I SERVE, AS MY ANCESTORS DID, with a clear conscience, as night and day I constantly remember you in my prayers.

Paul affirms that his ancestors served God, he was part of a line of believers in Yahweh.

5 I am reminded of your sincere faith, which first lived in your grandmother Lois and in your mother Eunice and, I am persuaded, now lives in you also.

He next acknowledges that Timothy, who wasn’t raised a Jew, is the third generation of his family from his mother and grandmother’s side who believes in God. Many times I have asked people how they became believers and a number have said it was through their grandmother’s prayers. Perhaps Timothy was such a one.

6 FOR THIS REASON I REMIND YOU ‘TO FAN INTO FLAME THE GIFT OF GOD’, which is in you through the laying on of my hands.

Paul knew that God had given Timothy a gift, because he received it when the apostle and the elders (1 Timothy 4:14) laid hands on him and prayed for him. Have we been prayed for by elders or senior Christians we know to seek God for His gifts, always for increased service? We should consider this at any age, God may want to bless us and us in new ways!

Timothy was encouraged to Fan his gift into Flame, get it burning Timothy, let people see what God has put in you. I was brought up on a small farm in N.Ireland and many times we cut hedges which bordered the fields. The hedges had to be cut and then burned and IT OFTEN TOOK TIME AND EFFORT TO GET THEM BURNING WELL, to Fan them into Flame. We may have gifts which need some work to bring them to life, but remember;

but as far as election is concerned, they are loved on account of the patriarchs, 29 for God’s gifts and his call are irrevocable. Romans 11:29

I once met a man in a house meeting called Paul, who had a call on his life to be an apostle. I’d never met him before and I’d just come from my late wife’s hospital bed. The last thing on my mind was ministering to someone, but the Lord needed this man to be up and working for his Kingdom, so I spoke to him.

He knew his calling and was very encouraged that God hadn’t finished with him and still needed him to serve.

Some of us today may feel beaten down by life’s challenges, but God would say to us, ‘Fan into Flame your gift’, whatever God has given us. He still needs you to work for Him today.

God bless and keep you today.

Hindrances and Helps – Two things to Flee From, a Fight to be Fought and a Trust to be Guarded – Paul’s final words to Timothy, as he closes his first letter. 1 Timothy 6

Imagine we were writing a letter to someone we really cared for, what would we say? What would our final words of advice be to them? Paul is giving practical advice about the Church and also to Timothy himself. Remarkable that letters written almost 2000 years ago still guide our thinking in this technological age of today.

Paul has just addressed the positions of widows, elders and slaves/servants in the body. Widows were mentioned before elders, a very different order of priority.

The next point Paul addresses is the teaching of false doctrines which he attributes to conceit (Pride), with terrible results within the Church.

4 they are conceited and understand nothing. They have an unhealthy interest in CONTROVERSIES AND QUARRELS about words THAT RESULT IN ENVY, STRIFE, MALICIOUS TALK, EVIL SUSPICION 5 AND CONSTANT FRICTION between people of corrupt mind, who have been robbed of the truth and who think that godliness IS A MEANS OF FINANCIAL GAIN.

It’s not just that false doctrines destroy Harmony, but that those responsible are more interested in making money than serving Christ.

Paul makes several really interesting statements to his protégée Timothy and also to us, about the temporary nature of money. It’s nice to have it and we all need it, but someday it will be gone.

6 But godliness with contentment is great gain. 7 For we brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out of it. 8 But if we have food and clothing, we will be content with that.

9 Those who want to get rich fall into temptation and a trap and into many foolish and harmful desires that plunge people into ruin and destruction. 10 For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, HAVE WONDERED FROM THE FAITH and pierced themselves with many griefs.

17 Command those who are rich in this present world not to be arrogant nor to put their hope in wealth, which is so uncertain, but to put their hope in God, who richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment. 18 Command them to do good, to be rich in good deeds, and to be generous and willing to share.

This is the First time in this section that Paul talks about wondering from the Faith and root cause is Loving money (mammon spirit) More than God.

11 But you, man of God, flee from all this, and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, endurance and gentleness. 12 FIGHT THE GOOD FIGHT OF FAITH. Take hold of the eternal life to which you were called …

There is a Fight of Faith, but Jesus has won the battle for us. We’re always fighting from the position of victory, applying His victory!

20 Timothy, GUARD WHAT HAS BEEN ENTRUSTED TO YOUR CARE. Turn away from godless chatter and the opposing ideas of what is falsely called knowledge, 21 which some have professed and in so doing have WANDERED FROM THE FAITH.

Paul begins the end of his letter telling Timothy to Guard what’s been entrusted to him and so should we. He warns against Godless chatter and opposing ideas. We’ve got to hold on to the truth, especially the truth of God’s Word and not be misled by other men’s ideas. ‘Turn Away from them’.

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In Paul’s final words, ‘Grace be with you’.

Paul’s instructions to Timothy to maintain order in the Church. 1 Timothy 5 & 6

As we saw in yesterday’s Blog, Paul said The Family had the primary responsibility to care for its own, while the Church could help those widows who had no other means of support. He set rules in place to protect the reputation of the believers, no widows under sixty and only those of good character (actually those still Contributing by their good deeds in the body).

The next group Paul addresses are the Elders in the Church, interesting that he spoke to the Care of the Widows BEFORE the leaders, opposite of the world! Paul appeals to the believers to honour good leaders, to value them and pay them double! Do we realise the value of good leaders in the body today?

17 The elders who direct the affairs of the church well are worthy of double honour (actually double honoraria or payment), especially those whose work is preaching and teaching. 18 For Scripture says, ‘Do not muzzle an ox while it is treading out the grain,’ and ‘The worker deserves his wages.’

His next statement is a protection for leaders, because they’d need it.

19 Do not entertain an accusation against an elder unless it is brought by two or three witnesses. 20 But those elders who are sinning you are to reprove before everyone, so that the others may take warning. 21 I charge you, in the sight of God and Christ Jesus and the elect angels, to keep these instructions without partiality, and to do nothing out of favouritism.

When there was sin in the leadership it had to be dealt with publicly as a warning to others.

Paul exhorted Timothy to take care of himself, his wellbeing was a key to the whole body. God cares for His leaders, those carrying the burden of leadership.

22 Do not be hasty in the laying on of hands, and do not share in the sins of others. Keep yourself pure.

23 Stop drinking only water, and use a little wine because of your stomach and your frequent illnesses.

6 All who are under the yoke of slavery should consider their masters worthy of FULL RESPECT, so that God’s name and our teaching may not be slandered.

Paul’s final exhortations are to those who are slaves in the Church; they are to treat their masters (today, employers more fitting) with Full Respect, so that the reputation of the Church wouldn’t be damaged. A good friend and businessman had a text in the entrance of his business premises,

Nehemiah 4:6

So we rebuilt the wall till all of it reached half its height, for the PEOPLE WORKED with all their HEART.

We all serve someone, but with what Attitude are we serving?

God bless and keep you today.

Paul speaks to Timothy about caring for the Church Family; but they should set limits to protect the Church and those receiving help. 1 Timothy 5

5 Do not rebuke an older man harshly, but exhort him as if he were your father. Treat younger men as brothers, 2 older women as mothers, and younger women as sisters, with absolute purity.

Paul tells Timothy, his beloved ‘spiritual son’, to treat every group in the Church, male and female, young and old, as family members. The Church is one body and should have Relationships among its members, not just an organisation!

He immediately emphasises the duty to care for widows who are really in need.

3 Give proper recognition to those widows who are really in need. 4 But if a widow has children or grandchildren, these should learn first of all to put their religion into practice by caring for their own family and so repaying their parents and grandparents, for this is pleasing to God.

If a widow has family members to take care of her, let them learn that RELIGION BEGINS AT OUR OWN DOORSTEP. MSG

The Message Bible says we mustn’t overlook those closest to us when providing care. The Church shouldn’t be burdened when the family can meet the needs of its members.

Paul continues with a spiritual revelation regarding those widows who aren’t living for the Lord;

5 The widow who is really in need and left all alone puts her hope in God and continues night and day to pray and to ask God for help. 6 But the widow who LIVES FOR PLEASURE is dead even while she lives.

In 2 Timothy 3:4, Paul specifically speaks of the Last Days and says there will be Fierce Times because people will have gone farther away from God. He cites three three ‘loves’ that will mark these Days, Love of Self, Love of Money and Love of Pleasure. Anything we Love to excess will destroy the Love of God in our hearts.

8 Anyone who does not provide for their relatives, and especially for their own household, has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever.

It’s as if Paul is trying to shame the Church into helping meeting poor family members.

Paul instructs Timothy that only widows over sixty and of good character should be supported by the Church. Younger women should not be on the list for support for several reasons. They may want to marry again and no longer live for Christ alone and risk coming under judgement.

13 Besides, they get into the habit of being idle and going about from house to house. And not only do they become idlers, but also busybodies who talk nonsense, saying things they ought not to. … 15 Some have in fact already turned away to follow Satan.

Paul warns against the danger of being idle and using their time to Gossip, instead of being God Fearing. It seems that falling into this lifestyle has completely destroyed their walk with God and they’re now following Satan. We may find it hard to believe that gossip and idleness can be so devastating to the Christian but it had. God’s Spirit had obviously revealed something to Paul and he warned Timothy what was happening. In this case the giving of aid was having the wrong effect and allowing the enemy to get control of women’s lives. It also opened the way for public accusation and criticism of the Church, something the world loves.

16 If any woman who is a believer has widows in her care, she should continue to help them and not let the church be burdened with them, SO THAT THE CHURCH CAN HELP THOSE WIDOWS WHO ARE REALLY IN NEED.

Paul concludes this section by insisting that the Church is only responsible for those who have no other support. They had to be wise in their giving, to the truly needy and those living for God.

God bless and keep you today.