Month: April 2023

1 ^1-2 I, Paul, am on special assignment for Christ, carrying out God’s plan laid out in the Message of Life by Jesus. I write this to you, Timothy, the son I love so much. All the best from our God and Christ be yours! 2 Timothy 1 MSG

Paul shows much warmth as he opens his second letter to Timothy, ‘the son I love’.

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. 2 Timothy 1

How I thank God for you, Timothy. I PRAY FOR YOU EVERY DAY AND MANY TIMES DURING THE LONG NIGHTS I beg my God to BLESS YOU RICHLY. 2 Timothy 1 TLB

Every time I say your name in prayer—which is practically all the time—I thank God for you, 2 Timothy 1 MSG

Paul appreciated his roots! He acknowledged that his forefathers had been worshippers of the LIVING GOD, not idols. He also reminded Timothy that his faith came firstly from his mother and grandmother. Maybe some of us need to GIVE THANKS TODAY for those in our family line who knew the Lord before us.

Paul was in prison in Rome when he wrote his second letter to Timothy, yet he’s still labouring for and with him IN PRAYER. IS GOD CALLING MANY OF US TO UPGRADE OUR PRAYER LIFE IN THESE UNCERTAIN DAYS? I’m sure we would all pray more and with greater fervency if we could see heaven moving in response to our prayers. Paul was in prison and facing martyrdom in Rome, (Ironic that he was introduced at the stoning/martyrdom of Stephen, Acts 8:1) but he was still moved to pray for Timothy, his spiritual son. THOSE NEAR AND DEAR TO US ARE MOST OFTEN IN OUR MINDS, SO WHY NOT PRAY FOR THEM.? PRAY ALSO FOR THOSE WHOM GOD BRINGS ACROSS OUR PATHS, they’ll thank you for those prayers some day in heaven.

Because you have this faith, I now remind you to STIR UP THAT INNER FIRE which God gave you at your ordination. FOR GOD HAS NOT GIVEN US A SPIRIT OF FEAR, BUT A SPIRIT OF POWER AND OF LOVE AND A SOUND MIND. 2 Timothy 1:6, 7 PHPS

Paul once again exhorted Timothy to STIR UP THE GIFT IN HIM. God does give gifts to members of His Body and it’s our choice how we’ll put them to use, but Paul tells Timothy to use the gift.

His next exhortation is to BE BOLD, no doubt needed for the exercising of the gift. Paul says ‘Fear is not from the Lord’. There is no fear in heaven, so when we pray the Lord’s Prayer, ‘On earth as in heaven’, we’re saying no fear here.

28 The wicked flee though no one pursues,
    but the righteous are as bold as a lion. Proverbs 28:1

May the Lord give us all Boldness as we follow Him here today. Amen

 

¹⁷ Command (Instruct) those who are rich in this present world NOT TO BE ARROGANT NOR 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. 1 Timothy 6

Tell those rich in this world’s wealth TO QUIT BEING SO FULL OF THEMSELVES AND SO OBSESSED WITH MONEY, which is here today and gone tomorrow. 1 Timothy 6:17 MSG

Paul gave Timothy two final exhortations for those for whom he had responsibility in the sight of God. The first instruction was addressed to a certain group, the wealthy believers.

MIND YOUR ATTITUDE AND BE CAREFUL WHAT YOU TRUST IN

Wealth can make us proud/look down on others and skew our thinking, so we begin to trust in riches, in place of God. Jesus said,

²⁴ “No one can serve two masters. Either you will hate the one and love the other, or you will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money. Matthew 6

Both Jesus and Paul were flagging up that there’s something in money (Mammon) that can grab the heart if it’s not held in check, ‘hate and love’ are of the heart.

¹⁸ Command them to do good, to be rich in good deeds, and to be generous and willing to share. ¹⁹ In this way they will lay up treasure for themselves as a firm foundation for the coming age, so that they may take hold of the life that is truly life. 

But interestingly Paul said that wealth can also be used in this age to benefit believers in the age to come.

(Their hope) … on the living GOD, WHO RICHLY PROVIDES US WITH everything for our enjoyment. Tell them to do good, to be RICH IN GOOD DEEDS, and to be generous and willing to share. In this way they WILL LAY UP TREASURE FOR THEMSELVES as a firm foundation for the coming age… 1 Timothy 6

Paul’s final warning once again concerned ‘Godless chatter’, a recurring theme in his letters to Timothy. 1 Tim 5:13, 2 Tim 2:16

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 departed from the faith.

²⁰ Oh, Timothy, don’t fail to do these things that God entrusted to you. KEEP OUT OF FOOLISH ARGUMENTS with those who boast of their “knowledge” and thus prove their lack of it. 1 Timothy 6 TLB

GODLESS CHATTER, a real danger to true believers. Paul’s only advice to Timothy and us, stay away from it.

‘GRACE BE WITH YOU’. Good words to end his letter to Timothy and the whole Church. Amen

 

¹¹ But you, man of God, flee from all this (RUN FOR YOUR LIFE MSG), and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, endurance and gentleness. (Humility, Courtesy not so common today) ¹² Fight the good fight of the faith. Take hold of the eternal life to which you were called, 1 Timothy 6 NIV

But you, the man of God, keep clear of such things. Set your heart not on riches, but on goodness, Christ-likeness, faith, love, patience and humility. Fight the WORTHWHILE BATTLE OF THE FAITH, KEEP YOUR GRIP ON LIFE ETERNAL TO WHICH YOU HAVE BEEN CALLED, 1 Timothy 6, PHILLIPS

Paul’s final charge to Timothy; some solemn words to a young ‘man of God’ and many of them were verbs, things he had to do!

FLEE THE WRONG AND PURSUE THE GOOD (BOTH Needed) FIGHT THE GOOD FIGHT OF FAITH, TAKE HOLD OF/FIRM GRIP ON ETERNAL LIFE (Still necessary even though Timothy and we have been called to it).

Paul goes on with a solemn charge to Timothy;

¹³ In the sight of God, (We’re fooling ourselves if we believe God doesn’t see everything – He does) who gives life to everything, (God is the source of All Life) and of Christ Jesus, who while testifying before Pontius Pilate made the good confession,

(Christ’s confession, referred to by Paul, when He told Pilate, the representative of the ruling Roman Authority, who He was.

³⁶ Jesus said, “My kingdom is not of this world. (Someday it will once again include this world!) If it were, my servants would fight to prevent my arrest by the Jewish leaders.But now my kingdom is from another place.”

³⁷ “You are a king, then!” said Pilate.

Jesus answered, “You are right in saying I am a king. In fact, for this reason I was born and for this I came into the world, to testify to the truth. EVERYONE ON THE SIDE OF TRUTH LISTENS TO ME.” John 18)

¹³ In the sight of God, … I CHARGE YOU ¹⁴ TO KEEP THIS COMMAND WITHOUT SPOT OR BLAME UNTIL the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ, ¹⁵ which God will bring about in his own time – God, the blessed and only Ruler, the King of kings and Lord of lords, ¹⁶ who alone is immortal and who lives in unapproachable light, whom no one has seen or can see. To him be honour and might for ever. Amen.

Paul charges Timothy to keep his COMMAND, not a suggestion, until the coming of Christ again which will be according to the Father’s will. His words carry gravitas to the younger apostle and the many others who would follow him.

²⁴ “‘“The Lord bless you
    and keep you;
²⁵ the Lord make his face shine on you
    and be gracious to you;
²⁶ the Lord turn his face toward you
    and give you peace.”’

²⁷ “So they will put my name on the Israelites, and I will bless them.” Numbers 6

 

 

⁸ “Go down ahead of me to Gilgal. I will surely come down to you to sacrifice burnt offerings and fellowship offerings, BUT YOU MUST WAIT SEVEN DAYS until I come to you and tell you what you are to do.” 1 Samuel 10

Some of God’s hardest tests for us may involve just waiting!

Samuel had just anointed Saul with a flask of oil as Israel’s first king and Saul had soon gone to the rescue of the people of Jabesh Gilead, who were surrounded by the Ammonites. But then he’d gone to face a much larger Philistine army at Gilgal and his men began to desert him.

Saul remained at Gilgal, and all the troops with him were quaking with fear. ⁸ He waited seven days, the time set by Samuel; but Samuel did not come to Gilgal, and Saul’s men began to scatter.

Saul had waited for the set time of seven days, but Samuel hadn’t come and he was desperate.

⁹ So he said, “Bring me the burnt offering and the fellowship offerings.” And Saul offered up the burnt offering. ¹⁰ JUST AS HE FINISHED MAKING THE OFFERING, SAMUEL ARRIVED (If only he’d waited a little longer, so near and yet so far), and Saul went out to greet him.

¹¹ “What have you done?” asked Samuel.

Saul had stepped into another office, that of prophet/priest, something he should never have done. We should never step into an office to which we haven’t been called, THERE’S NO GRACE FOR US IN IT. King Uzziah was probably the most severe example of someone who usurped the position of the priest and was struck with leprosy and excluded from both the palace and temple for the rest of his life. 2 Chronicles 26:21

God never functions on men’s timetable, GOD IS OUTSIDE OF OUR TIME! I have heard two significant quotes recently regarding God and ‘time’.

The first I heard was when the Lord spoke to someone and said, ‘He would never be governed by time’. Jesus is the Lord of all things including time.

On Elijahstreams last night someone said, ‘The most powerful weapon is waiting on God UNTIL PEACE COMES’. Saul was in turmoil when he offered his unlawful sacrifice, staying in the Peace of God is a powerful weapon for the believer. Often the circumstances around us are screaming at us to do something, but staying in Peace and Trusting God may be our best hope.

Saul could have had generations of his family on the throne, but his rule was shortened when he stepped into the role of priest. Samuel told him God had already chosen a successor, a man after His own heart.

Wait upon God until His Peace comes. Don’t be pushed into a response where there’s no Grace for us.

God bless and keep you today.

 

¹⁰ Like an archer who shoots at random and injures everyone,
    so is a person who hires a fool or someone off the street. Proverbs 26 VOICE

God bless and keep you today.

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. 1 Timothy 6

The way we live our lives before people reflects on our Christian Faith/Beliefs and even how they think of our God. Many times ‘actions (conduct) do speak louder than words’.

Paul also says we should serve believing masters to even higher standards, ‘because those who benefit from our service are believers and dear to us’. Sometimes we see believing bosses differently in workplace, but Paul says clearly we should honour and respect them more.

These are the things you are to teach and insist on. ³ If anyone teaches otherwise and does not agree to the sound instruction of our Lord Jesus Christ and to godly teaching, ⁴ they are conceited and understand nothing. 1 Timothy 6

Paul goes on to say that false teaching is worthless and conceited. Such teachers release, ‘all kinds of controversies, quarrels, envy, strife, malicious talk, evil suspicions and constant frictions between people of corrupt minds’. (What a horrible list of bad influences into any church!)

… who have been robbed of the truth AND (That’s a Big And) who think that GODLINESS IS A MEANS TO FINANCIAL GAIN. 1 Timothy 6:5

The Bible and Paul in particular, has much to say about the Love of money.

⁶ BUT GODLINESS WITH CONTENTMENT IS GREAT GAIN. ⁷ For we brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out of it. 

WE BROUGHT NOTHING IN AND WE’LL TAKE NOTHING OUT.

⁹ Those who want to get rich fall into (1)temptation and a trap and into many (2)foolish and harmful desires that plunge people into (3)ruin and destruction. ¹⁰ For the LOVE OF MONEY is a root of all kinds of evil.

Paul lists three very negative couplets for people whose main desire is to get rich, particularly those who USE the Gospel to get rich. Taking something Holy for personal gain.

I do believe God gives some believers great wealth, Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Job, David and of course Solomon were all blessed greatly by God. However, when the DESIRE FOR MONEY BECOMES GREATER than for God, then we’re stepping over into the love of this fallen world.

¹⁰ FOR THE LOVE OF MONEY (A Heart issue) is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs.

Paul warned Timothy and succeeding generations of the Church, not to allow our hearts to be drawn away from the Love of the Lord who made such a great sacrifice for us.

May the Lord abundant blessings be upon your life today.

²⁴ “‘“The Lord bless you
    and keep you;
²⁵ the Lord make his face shine on you
    and be gracious to you;
²⁶ the Lord turn his face toward you
    and give you peace.”’

²⁷ “So they will put my name on the Israelites, and I will bless them.” Numbers 6

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. 1 Timothy 5

Desperate circumstances can really become our salvation when they drive us to God. These widows described by Paul are in desperate need, but whenever they turn to God He will help sustain them.

The second picture we looked at yesterday, shows another type of person, ones with too much time on hand.

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.

^11-13 3. Don’t put the younger widows on your list. … Moreover, they get into habits of slackness by being so much in and out of other people’s houses. In fact they easily become worse than lazy, and degenerate into gossips and busybodies with dangerous tongues. 1 Timothy 5 PHILLIPS

Two contrasting pictures, the one crying out to God Day and Night, but the other spending their days with others in idle gossip. Those involved in such things soon turn away from God.

WHATEVER TAKES US AWAY FROM OR COMES BETWEEN US AND THE LORD IS DANGEROUS!

Paul then speaks about the Elders, ‘who direct the affairs of the Church’. Those who do it well are worthy of Double Honour, especially those whose work is preaching and teaching. In Acts 6:2 the apostles said, ‘it would not be right for us to neglect the ministry of the Word of God’ for things of lesser importance. Elders were responsible for Preaching and Teaching the Word of God in the early Church. They shouldn’t take on other duties in place of this vital ministry. Paul also said that they must be rewarded for their work. Lastly, no accusations should be heard against them, unless it was from two or three witnesses, a protection for them. (Touch not the Lord’s anointed.)

²⁰ But those elders who are sinning you are to reprove before everyone, so that the others may take warning.

Public Honour for those who serve well, but public rebuke for elders who sin. Everything is to be acknowledged publicly. Better hidden things be revealed here with opportunity to repent, than taken into eternity.

Paul charged Timothy solemnly before God and all of heaven ‘to keep these instructions WITHOUT FAVOURITISM’. These were the guidelines Paul received by the Spirit to pass on to Timothy and the Church and they were to be honoured.

Paul includes a further personal word for Timothy to take some wine for his stomach to reduce his frequent illnesses. Personal touches that God retained in His Universal Word.

²⁴ The sins of some are obvious, reaching the place of judgment ahead of them; the sins of others trail behind them. ²⁵ In the same way, good deeds are obvious, and even those that are not obvious cannot remain hidden forever.

Sins and good deeds remain with us for the judgement.

May God bless and keep you today.

 

 

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. 1 Timothy 5

It’s interesting that Paul exhorts Timothy to treat ALL FOUR groups within the Church as FAMILY MEMBERS. The rebuke of older men was not be harsh, but respectful. Younger women were to be treated with ‘absolute purity’. The treatment of these two groups were highlighted to Timothy and to us today.

There follows a more detailed section on the treatment of widows within the Church, both practical and spiritual. The Bible clearly teaches that the Church should care for needy members.

²⁷ Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world. James 1

Elderly relatives are primarily the responsibility of their families;

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 you want to get on God’s good side pay attention!) 1 Timothy 5, also verse 16

Paul makes some hard-hitting statements within these verses;

⁶ But the widow WHO LIVES FOR PLEASURE IS DEAD EVEN WHILE SHE LIVES. (Is this true of other Believers ?) ⁷ Give the people these instructions, so that no one may be open to blame. 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. 

Only widows over sixty years and who are known for their good character and good deeds towards others should be looked after by the Church. 1 Timothy 5:9, 10

Paul moves from the care of elderly widows to younger women who have lost their husbands.

¹¹ As for younger widows, do not put them on such a list. For when their sensual desires overcome their dedication to Christ, they want to marry. ¹² Thus they bring judgment on themselves, because they have broken their first pledge.

Younger widows may be happier getting married again rather than committing to life alone in the longer term.

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 gossips and busybodies, saying things they ought not to. 1 Timothy 5

Paul warns against the dangers of idleness and gossip for believers, especially women alone.

¹⁴ So I counsel younger widows to marry, to have children, to manage their homes and to give the enemy no opportunity for slander. ¹⁵ Some have in fact already turned away to follow Satan. (This is a serious warning of how the enemy can get in when people have too much free time on their hands!) 

The Church should support those in real need, but not create the means for people to be idle.

God bless and keep you today.

⁹ This is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance. ¹⁰ That is why we labour and strive (suffer reproach NKJV), because we have put our hope in the living God, who is the Saviour of all people, and especially of those who believe.

¹¹ Command and teach these things. 1 Timothy 4 NIV

Paul laid down his life for the Truth and he urged Timothy to do the same. We may not be apostles but there will be times in our lives when we have the opportunity to stand for the Lord and the Truth of His Word. We need to ask for strength and grace to stand in such times; our faith will become stronger as we take OUR STAND FOR CHRIST.  Lord help us to stand for You in the day of testing.

¹² Don’t let anyone look down on you because you are young, BUT SET AN EXAMPLE FOR THE BELIEVERS IN SPEECH, IN LIFE/CONDUCT, IN LOVE, IN FAITH AND IN PURITY.

Perhaps Timothy would have allowed older men or stronger characters to take the lead but Paul warned him not to do this. God’s Sovereign Calling on a life must overrule all cultural standards and even our own character preferences. We saw previously that Timothy was a third generation believer, 2 Timothy 1:5, God had prepared him uniquely for the position and he mustn’t give way to senior men in the Church. (Be assured God prepares people for the positions He calls us to stand in)

It’s interesting that the first example Paul urged Timothy to give was in SPEECH. Words are so difficult to control but it seems that they were the first thing people would judge in him and us.

²⁷ The one who has knowledge uses words with restraint,
    and whoever has understanding is even-tempered. Proverbs 17

Paul then urged Timothy to give priority to the ministry of the Word;

¹³ Until I come, devote yourself to the public reading of Scripture, to preaching and to teaching. 1 Timothy 4

² So the Twelve gathered all the disciples together and said, “It would not be right for us to neglect the ministry of the word of God in order to wait on tables.³ Brothers and sisters, choose seven men from among you who are known to be full of the Spirit and wisdom. We will turn this responsibility over to them ⁴ and will give our attention to prayer and the ministry of the word.” Acts 6

There are certain things which are a priority for church leaders and they shouldn’t be neglected for lesser matters. Paul reinforced the decision of the Twelve apostles in Jerusalem. In ministry and in work it is important to ‘keep the main thing as the main thing’.

¹⁴ Do not neglect your gift, which was given YOU through prophecy (He was told the gift) when the body of elders laid their hands on you.

This was a personal word to Timothy to stir up the gift given to him by the laying on of hands. We should seek to use our personal gifts, given us by God, to strengthen and advance the Kingdom.

¹⁵ BE DILIGENT in these matters; give yourself wholly to them, so that everyone may see your progress. ¹⁶ Watch your life and doctrine closely. PERSEVERE in them, because if you do, you will SAVE BOTH YOURSELF AND YOUR HEARERS.

Paul reminds Timothy that Serving diligently, would benefit both himself and those for whom he was responsible.

God bless and keep you today.

^6-7 YOU’VE BEEN RAISED ON THE MESSAGE OF THE FAITH AND HAVE FOLLOWED SOUND TEACHING. NOW PASS ON THIS COUNSEL TO THE FOLLOWERS OF JESUS THERE, and you’ll be a good servant of Jesus. Stay clear of silly stories that get dressed up as religion. 1 Timothy 4 MSG

Paul was instructing and exhorting his young protege, Timothy, to pass on the Faith and good teaching that he’d received in his own life. Timothy had received a very precious deposit in his early life, which no doubt greatly increased after he met Paul.

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. 2 Timothy 1

It’s a real privilege to receive Godly input in early life, we may not realise how precious it is until we have time to look back, but Paul exhorted Timothy to share his inheritance with those around him.

^8-11 Bodily fitness has a certain value, but SPIRITUAL FITNESS IS ESSENTIAL BOTH FOR THIS LIFE AND FOR THE LIFE TO COME. There is no doubt about this at all, and CHRISTIANS SHOULD REMEMBER IT. IT IS BECAUSE WE REALISE THE PARAMOUNT IMPORTANCE OF THE SPIRITUAL THAT WE LABOUR AND STRUGGLE. We place our whole confidence in the living God, the saviour of all men, and particularly of those who believe in him. These convictions should be the basis of your instruction and teaching. 1 Timothy 4 PHILIPS

^8-10 Workouts in the gymnasium are useful, but A DISCIPLINED LIFE IN GOD IS FAR MORE SO, MAKING YOU FIT BOTH TODAY AND FOREVER. YOU CAN COUNT ON THIS. TAKE IT TO HEART. This is why we’ve thrown ourselves into this venture so totally. We’re banking on the living God, Savior of all men and women, especially believers. 1 Timothy 4 MSG

Paul uses the metaphor of the limited benefits of physical exercise, before emphasising how much greater are the blessings flowing from an inner life grounded in Christ. Physical exercise requires commitment and discipline for temporary benefits, but the benefits of developing our inner spiritual life, will last into eternity. Walking with the Lord will also bring much Favour, Help and Guidance in our present lives here. We serve such a loving and kind Father.

God bless and keep you today.