1 Timothy Lesson 2
Date: 21 September, 2021
Text: 1 Timothy 1:3-
Title:
Introduction:
Last week we look at Paul and Timothy's authority.
Apostle appointed by Jesus
Timothy - Paul's disciple
- Given a three fold blessing by Paul - Grace, Mercy and Peace
- From God the Father
- From Jesus Christ our Lord.
Tonight - we are going to consider three aspects of Timothy's ministry.
Timothy's charge, church, and challenge.....
I. Timothy's charge.
exp. Timothy was a companion and fellow laborer of the Apostle Paul.
Acts 16:1 Then came he (Paul) to Derbe and Lystra: and, behold, a certain disciple was there, named Timotheus, the son of a certain woman, which was a Jewess, and believed; but his father was a Greek:
2 Which was well reported of by the brethren that were at Lystra and Iconium.
3 Him would Paul have to go forth with him;
exp. To Timothy's credit
- The church had a high opinion of this young man.
- Paul saw character in his life that he valued.
- Paul invited Timothy to travel and work with him.
note: And so - as you continue to read Acts, you see Timotheus - traveling with Paul.
Acts 17:13 But when the Jews of Thessalonica had knowledge that the word of God was preached of Paul at Berea, they came thither also, and stirred up the people.
14 And then immediately the brethren sent away Paul to go as it were to the sea: but Silas and Timotheus abode there still.
15 And they that conducted Paul brought him unto Athens: and receiving a commandment unto Silas and Timotheus for to come to him with all speed, they departed.
exp. Paul was obviously the leader in their travels and as He directed them, these men would work.
A. Called to oversee God's work in Ephesus.
3 As I besought thee to abide still at Ephesus, when I went into Macedonia,
note: Paul could trust that Timothy would forward God's work just as Paul himself would do.
ill. Paul knew this and could say to the church at Philippi....
Philippians 2:19 But I trust in the Lord Jesus to send Timotheus shortly unto you, that I also may be of good comfort, when I know your state.
20 For I have no man likeminded, who will naturally care for your state.
question: How important is it that we be likeminded with those who have gone before?
CARING IN THE SAME WAY FOR GOD'S CHURCH?
ill. I tell our church - I love reading the guys in the 1800's. I also love the preaching and teaching of Fundamental Independent Baptist from the mid to late 1900's.
Quote: I have recently been told, "We live in modern times and you still appear to be in the dark ages." (You know - I hope I appear to be in the times of the early church.) God's Word has not changed and neither should we. WE NEED MEN WHO STAND WERE GOD'S MEN STOOD.
exp. Christianity is 2,000 years old in our day.
note: Think how Christianity is CHANGING in our day.
The reason we still have some who stand in the old paths is because
- IN GOD'S GRACE SOME HAVE BEEN FAITHFUL IN EACH GENERATION
- and God's Word has remained unchanging over the centuries.
app. We need faithful men in our day who can be entrusted to oversee God's work.
2 Timothy 2:2 And the things that thou hast heard of me among many witnesses, the same commit thou to faithful men, who shall be able to teach others also.
B. Called to preach God's Word in Ephesus.
1. Protecting the doctrine.
...that thou mightest charge some that they teach no other doctrine,
exp. For those who want to preach another Gospel, Timothy had a charge. (Preach against them.)
note: Our society is big on TOLERATING FALSE RELIGIONS
1) All religions are good.
2) All religions are equal.
3) All religions that believe in God are the same.
4) You ought to respect all faiths.
app. The doctrine of tolerance is NOT a doctrine of the Bible.
- God's Word is intollerant of false teaching.
Titus 1:11 Whose mouths must be stopped, who subvert whole houses, teaching things which they ought not, for filthy lucre's sake.
Galatians 1:8 But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed.
note: Jesus has a warning for these false religions that seek the approval of men.
Luke 6:26 Woe unto you, when all men shall speak well of you! for so did their fathers to the false prophets.
ill. I was witnessing to a man this week and reminded him that FALSE RELIGIOUS LEADERS put Jesus on the cross, because Jesus opposed them with GOD'S TRUTH.
app. God's Word charges us not to teach a DOCTRINE that disagrees with God's Word.
"...charge some that they teach No other doctrine."
2. Refuting false doctrine.
a. Supersticious stories.
4 Neither give heed to fables....
quote: Barnes Notes: "The "fables" here referred to were probably the idle and puerile superstitions and conceits of the Jewish rabbies. The word rendered "fable" (μῦθος muthos) means properly "speech" or "discourse," and then fable or fiction, or a mystic discourse. Such things abounded among the Greeks as well as the Jews, but it is probable that the latter here are particularly intended. These were composed of frivolous and unfounded stories, which they regarded as of great importance, and which they seem to have desired to incorporate with the teachings of Christianity. Paul, who had been brought up amidst these superstitions, saw at once how they would tend to draw off the mind from the truth, and would corrupt the true religion. One of the most successful arts of the adversary of souls has been to mingle fable with truth; and when he cannot overthrow the truth by direct opposition, to neutralize it by mingling with it much that is false and frivolous."
ill. I don't know if you are aware of this - but Scotts are supersticious. "knock on wood" "My parent died and then I saw a butterfly that came into my house...." "I had a dream...."
app. Praise God, He has given us His Word upon which to base our faith and not upon some experience or story.
b. Unnecessary interest in blood lines.
...and endless genealogies,
exp. Genealogies can be very interesting. (Mum traced our family tree back several generations. I preached in a church in Wisconsin where one of my relatives first met with some indians.)
ill. Tourists in Scotland pay a lot of money to buy geneological gifts. (Clan books, tartans, posters, and what not.)
exp. You can probably make a lot of money if you can connect someone to Scottish history....
note: Geneology had been important -
- God's people were nationally the Jewish people.
- What tribe was important for ministry - Levites and temple worship, etc.
- All of that was done away with in Christ.
ill. Paul was a Jew of the Jews - flesh trust went away when he got saved.
Philippians 3:3 For we are the circumcision, which worship God in the spirit, and rejoice in Christ Jesus, and have no confidence in the flesh.
4 Though I might also have confidence in the flesh. If any other man thinketh that he hath whereof he might trust in the flesh, I more:
5 Circumcised the eighth day, of the stock of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, an Hebrew of the Hebrews; as touching the law, a Pharisee;
6 Concerning zeal, persecuting the church; touching the righteousness which is in the law, blameless.
7 But what things were gain to me, those I counted loss for Christ.
8 Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ,
exp. Paul turned his back on his heritage when he got saved.
app. In our day, it would be like someone who trusted in Jesus, but who still thought religious heritage was important.
- I'm from a Christian (broadly meaning religious) family.
- I was born a Christian
- All of that is meaningless in Christ. (Christ is all in all.)
c. Things which did not strengthen their faith.
..which minister questions, rather than godly edifying which is in faith: so do.
exp. Imagine showing up for church to listen to Matthew and Barnabus arguing over their lineage. As interesting as that may be - imagine seeing two Jewish men going at it for SPIRITUAL purposes.
note: Paul's principle - if what you are discussing does not build up the church - STOP.
ill. There are a lot of things that are interesting in our day.
- What is the mark of the beast? Who is the antichrist? Tribulation arguments?
exp. If what is being discussed brings contention into God's church and has not benefit - do not go there.
ill. The church in Corinth got into it arguing about their spiritual heritage.
1 Corinthians 3:1 And I, brethren, could not speak unto you as unto spiritual, but as unto carnal, even as unto babes in Christ.
2 I have fed you with milk, and not with meat: for hitherto ye were not able to bear it, neither yet now are ye able.
3 For ye are yet carnal: for whereas there is among you envying, and strife, and divisions, are ye not carnal, and walk as men?
4 For while one saith, I am of Paul; and another, I am of Apollos; are ye not carnal?
5 Who then is Paul, and who is Apollos, but ministers by whom ye believed, even as the Lord gave to every man?
6 I have planted, Apollos watered; but God gave the increase.
7 So then neither is he that planteth any thing, neither he that watereth; but God that giveth the increase.
exp. We must stand up for true doctrine and practice. But, non essential things which captivate us ought to be shunned.
app. We ought to determine to stay away from pet issues which Satan uses to sow division.
3. Preaching the true faith.
...godly edifying which is in faith: so do.
ill. In Jesus day - the Pharisees micro managed their pet doctrines, but missed the big picture.
Mat 23:23 Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye pay tithe of mint and anise and cummin, and have omitted the weightier matters of the law, judgment, mercy, and faith: these ought ye to have done, and not to leave the other undone.
ill. I've seen zealous new converts who know more about an obscure doctrine of God's Word than they do about the big things of God's word. They spend hours watching youtube preaching on the thing that has captivated their attention.
exp. As a pastor I think - why don't they just do the basics....
- Faithfully attend church
- Participate in evangelism
- Grow in their devotions - prayer and personal Bible reading.
exp. Their pet issue isn't helping their growth - it is hindering their growth.
note: Timothy was to stop them from stunting their growth and to help them be built up in the faith.
app. Be careful - Satan will seek to get us to go down paths that do not edify us or our church family.
conclusion: Timothy's charge
- Be a faithful man for God in Ephesus - Are you towing the line with God's Wor?
- Protect the doctrine, refute false doctrine. Are you being more tolerant than you should be?
- Are you building up God's church or tearing it down? Timothy was to build in the faith.
II. Timothy's church.
exp. Timothy's ministry, similar to that of the Apostle Paul, was to encourage the churches. He wasn't the pastor, but oversaw pastoral ministry.
A. Teach them to love with a pure heart.
5 Now the end of the commandment is charity out of a pure heart,
B. Teach them to love with a good conscience.
and of a good conscience,
C. Teach them to love with a true faith.
and of faith unfeigned:
III. Timothy's challenge
A. Some are turned aside.
6 From which some having swerved have turned aside unto vain jangling;
B. Some who turned aside will be vocal.
1. Usurping a position which they should not take.
7 Desiring to be teachers of the law;
ill. Facia - everybody's a scholar. (works religion - scholarship is important)
2. Not knowing their position.
understanding neither what they say, nor whereof they affirm.
3. Not knowing that the law points man to Christ.
8 But we know that the law is good, if a man use it lawfully;
TO BE CONTINUED...
9 Knowing this, that the law is not made for a righteous man, but for the lawless and disobedient, for the ungodly and for sinners, for unholy and profane, for murderers of fathers and murderers of mothers, for manslayers,
10 For whoremongers, for them that defile themselves with mankind, for menstealers, for liars, for perjured persons, and if there be any other thing that is contrary to sound doctrine;
11 According to the glorious gospel of the blessed God, which was committed to my trust.
12 And I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who hath enabled me, for that he counted me faithful, putting me into the ministry;
13 Who was before a blasphemer, and a persecutor, and injurious: but I obtained mercy, because I did it ignorantly in unbelief.
14 And the grace of our Lord was exceeding abundant with faith and love which is in Christ Jesus.
15 This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners; of whom I am chief.
16 Howbeit for this cause I obtained mercy, that in me first Jesus Christ might shew forth all longsuffering, for a pattern to them which should hereafter believe on him to life everlasting.
17 Now unto the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only wise God, be honour and glory for ever and ever. Amen.
18 This charge I commit unto thee, son Timothy, according to the prophecies which went before on thee, that thou by them mightest war a good warfare;
19 Holding faith, and a good conscience; which some having put away concerning faith have made shipwreck:
20 Of whom is Hymenaeus and Alexander; whom I have delivered unto Satan, that they may learn not to blaspheme.
