1 Timothy, Lesson 6
Date: 18 October, 2021
Text: 1 Timothy 1:17-20
Title: War a Good Warfare
Introduction:
text: 1 Timothy 1
Last week - we looked at Paul's reflections upon the miracle of what God had done in his life.
IT'S AMAZING THAT PAUL WAS CALLED OF GOD TO PREACH THE GOSPEL.
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.
exp. The Gospel has incredible power to change men's lives.
ill. My parents were in ministry together at Marquette Manor Baptist in Chicago - church member George Minsik - former Gang Member with Al Copone's gang in Chicago. Godly church member and faithful soul winner.
app. The world can not explain a change like that - a new man - it is the power of the Gospel.
PAUL THEN MADE A GREAT STATEMENT OF GOD'S ABILITY TO SAVE.
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.
exp. If there truly was a remedy for covid - EVERYBODY should accept it and be physically saved.
note: There is a remedy for man's greatest need - sin - not just causing physical death but eternal death - EVERYBODY OUGHT TO ACCEPT JESUS AS THEIR SAVIOUR.
HE POINTED TO HIS OWN TESTIMONY AS PROOF OF GOD'S POWER TO SAVE.
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.
exp. Paul's SALVATION is a pattern of the LONGSUFFERING of God for those who will believe.
note: Paul believed on Jesus to life everlasting AND HE RECEIVED MERCY.
FAITH IS THE KEY....
ill. The Philippian jailer got anxious about his soul's need and cried out asking how to be saved, "Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and thou shalt be saved!" was the answer.
app. Only believe - men must put their faith in Jesus!
ill. Do you know what a rabbit trail is? The hounds would be chasing their prey but get off the scent on the trail of a rabit - hopefully they would return to their chase.
now: Paul now takes a wonderful rabbit trail - he's going to return - but his heart is full of gratitude to God for....
1) What He has done in his own life....
2) And what God can do in other's lives....
THAT HE PAUSES HIS THOUGHTS TO GLORIFY GOD.
1) First he declares who God is....
a. God is King forever.
17 Now unto the King eternal,
exp. Paul's thoughts here are echoed in 1 Timothy 6:14-16 with definite reference to Jesus Christ.
That thou keep this commandment without spot, unrebukeable, until the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ:
15 Which in his times he shall shew, who is the blessed and only Potentate (ruler), the King of kings, and Lord of lords;
16 Who only hath immortality, dwelling in the light which no man can approach unto; whom no man hath seen, nor can see: to whom be honour and power everlasting. Amen.
exp. Here in our text they follow His reflections upon the great work of Christ.
note: We know that Jesus is God and it is good for us to be reminded of His deity.
back to the main thought: God REIGNS.
ill. Pilate mocked - "behold your king." They dressed him as a king. Pilate put the sign upon the cross, "Behold the king of the Jews."
exp. Pilate was right - Rev 17:14 These shall make war with the Lamb, and the Lamb shall overcome them: for he is Lord of lords, and King of kings: and they that are with him are called, and chosen, and faithful.
Rev 19:16 And he hath on his vesture and on his thigh a name written, KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS.
app. Do you live each day as a subject of the King of Kings?
b. God will never die.
...immortal,
exp. Earthly Kings (rulers) die. We are blessed in Britain to have
- Queen Elizabeth reigning as monarch. Her reign is the longest ever at 69.65 years.
- Queen Victoria had the longest before that at 63.59 years.
note: We would all say, "Long live the Queen" and yet we know that her reign is not eternal.
app. Praise God for His immortality - He will never die!
c. God can not be seen.
...invisible,
exp. God's perfection is impossible for us to behold now. As Paul says in chapter 6:6 Who only hath immortality, dwelling in the light which no man can approach unto; whom no man hath seen, nor can see: to whom be honour and power everlasting. Amen.
ill. Moses talked with God in the cloud - but could not view God.
Exodus 33: 20 And he said, Thou canst not see my face: for there shall no man see me, and live.
exp. But, when our mortal puts on immortality - we will see God.
Job 19:26 And though after my skin worms destroy this body, yet in my flesh shall I see God:
1Co 13:12 For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known.
app. We must be content to walk by faith until faith becomes sight. He is the invisible God.
d. God is God alone.
...the only wise God,
ill. God revealed Himself to Israel as the ONLY God.
Deuteronomy 4:33 Did ever people hear the voice of God speaking out of the midst of the fire, as thou hast heard, and live?
34 Or hath God assayed to go and take him a nation from the midst of another nation, by temptations, by signs, and by wonders, and by war, and by a mighty hand, and by a stretched out arm, and by great terrors, according to all that the LORD your God did for you in Egypt before your eyes? 35 Unto thee it was shewed, that thou mightest know that the LORD he is God; there is none else beside him.
ill. All the time people say, "All God's are the same God's" - man said that to me recently - what's your name, He said, "It doesn't matter" He was a thin elderly white man. I said, "If I said, I know "it doesn't matter" and he is a very large young black man in NYC do I really know you.
exp. Our God is not the God of Jehovah's Witnesses, Muslims, Budhists, etc. Jehovah God is the God of the Bible - the God who is 3 in 1 FATHER, SON (Jesus) AND HOLY SPIRIT. He is God alone.
App. IF YOU THINK YOU KNOW HIM AND DENY WHAT THE BIBLE SAYS ABOUT HIM - YOU DO NOT KNOW HIM AT ALL. (By the way - we don't just need to know ABOUT Him as the Catholics do, we need to know him by faith in His shed blood and resurrection....)
transition: Paul has declared who God is - then secondly....
2) Paul echoes what will be forever championed in Heaven.
17 Now unto the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only wise God, be honour and glory for ever and ever. Amen.
exp. His statement in this text reflects - Revelation 4:10 The four and twenty elders fall down before him that sat on the throne, and worship him that liveth for ever and ever, and cast their crowns before the throne, saying,
11 Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honour and power: for thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created.
note: So what does Paul ascribe to God?
1. Eternal honour to God.
...be honour...
def. to be esteemed, held in great respect.
ill. US news this week - Colin Powell - an esteemed warrior, politician, patriot, passed away.
- He was the first black Join Chiefs of Staff and Secretary of State.
exp. Fox News article "In addition to warning against failures and setbacks, Powell also opined on the important role they can play.
"In other words, don’t expect to always be great," he wrote. "Disappointments, failures and setbacks are a normal part of the lifecycle of a unit or a company, and what the leader has to do is constantly be up and say, ‘We have a problem, let’s go and get it.'"
"I think whether you’re having setbacks or not, the role of a leader is to always display a winning attitude," he elsewhere observed.
Powell also warned against the temptations posed by the trappings of power and success, writing, "Never let your ego get so close to your position that when your position goes, your ego goes with it."
"There is no end to the good you can do if you don't care who gets the credit," Powell said.
exp. I would have loved to have heard him speak on leadership. He was an esteemed leader.
YOU LOVE TO LISTEN TO SOMEONE YOU RESPECT.
note: God should be held in High Esteem by men, but sadly He is not.
def. profane - treat something sacred with irreverence or disrespect.
- His day is profaned. ill. bus advert - "Sunday is fun day."
- His name is profaned. exp. No other name is abused like God, Jesus, Christ....
- His law is profaned. exp. People take their scissors and cut out what they don't like.
- His tithe is profaned. exp. God is robbed by His people who are unthankful.
- His faith is profaned. exp. Churches and churches services are disrespectful towards Him.
app. If we are going to say, "To God be honour" we ought to esteem His day, His name, His law, His tithe, His faith.
2. Eternal glory to God.
...and glory for ever and ever.
exp. ETERNAL praise and thanksgiving to God for what He has done.
ill. We saw One World Trade Center when we visited NYC in 2015.
"The building's architect is David Childs, whose firm Skidmore, Owings & Merrill (SOM) also designed the Burj Khalifa and the Willis Tower. The construction of below-ground utility relocations, footings, and foundations for the new building began on April 27, 2006. One World Trade Center became the tallest structure in New York City on April 30, 2012, when it surpassed the height of the Empire State Building. The tower's steel structure was topped out on August 30, 2012. On May 10, 2013, the final component of the skyscraper's spire was installed, making the building, including its spire, reach a total height of 1,776 feet (541 m). Its height in feet is a deliberate reference to the year when the United States Declaration of Independence was signed."
exp. Imagine that the architect David Childs toured the building with me and I said things like.....
- I can't believe what sprang out of the rubble of ground zero.
- It's amazing that an explosion could create such asthetic beauty and functionality.
- I can't wait to study the science behind this structure assembling itself.
- what an incredible coincidence that the height references to the signing of the declaration of Independence.....
exp. If I was foolish enough to credit an explosion for beauty and design - I would greatly offend those who built and designed that beautiful building.
ill. Often in my evangelism I will say to an atheist, why atheism is so bad.
- You never thank God for your friends and family.
- You never praise Him for meeting your needs (job, food, house, vehicle, etc.)
- You never marvel at the wonders and intricacies of His creation.
- You say, "coincidence" - moon/ sun/ perfect eclipse shouting that their is a designer.
- INSTEAD you give His glory to the world which He created.
app. We are believers. Yet, how often do we fail to praise and glorify God for EVERYTHING he has done, is doing and will do in our lives.
transition: Eternal HONOUR (RESPECT) and GLORY (PRAISE).....
3. Eternal affirmation to God.
Amen.
exp. Paul ends this text of praise with a strong affirmation -AMEN - SO BE IT! That is right!
Ill. I grew up in the North. Our daughter is going to school (like us) in the South. I found out when I was in school that people down south agree more vocally with the preacher!
- Glory! - Hallelujah! - That's right! Preach it!
- The most common statement of affirmation to God's Word is this word - AMEN! AHMEN
ill. Tommy will pray with us and say, "I give my amen to what my brother's have said...."
exp. He's saying - I affirm that - I agree with them.
app. Do you agree with Paul tonight? Does God deserver Eternal Honour and Praise.
conclusion: Then let's give it to Him now. Let's give it to him every day of our life.
- Giving Him respect.
- Giving Him praise.
Like Paul we ought to step back reflect on our life - and get off on a good rabit trail saying....
17 Now unto the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only wise God, be honour and glory for ever and ever. Amen.
War a good warfare
I. Keep your charge.
18 This charge I commit unto thee, son Timothy,
II. Remember your commission.
according to the prophecies which went before on thee, that thou by them mightest war a good warfare;
III. Hold Biblical priorities.
A. Stand for the faith.
19 Holding faith,
B. Strive for a good conscience.
and a good conscience;
C. Avoid shipwrecks.
which some having put away concerning faith have made shipwreck:
20 Of whom is Hymenaeus and Alexander;
1. They are cast aways.
...whom I have delivered unto Satan,
2. They are in the school of hard knocks.
...that they may learn not to blaspheme.
1 I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men;
2 For kings, and for all that are in authority; that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty.
3 For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Saviour;
4 Who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth.
5 For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus;
6 Who gave himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time.
7 Whereunto I am ordained a preacher, and an apostle, (I speak the truth in Christ, and lie not;) a teacher of the Gentiles in faith and verity.
8 I will therefore that men pray every where, lifting up holy hands, without wrath and doubting.
9 In like manner also, that women adorn themselves in modest apparel, with shamefacedness and sobriety; not with broided hair, or gold, or pearls, or costly array;
10 But (which becometh women professing godliness) with good works.
11 Let the woman learn in silence with all subjection.
12 But I suffer not a woman to teach, nor to usurp authority over the man, but to be in silence.
13 For Adam was first formed, then Eve.
14 And Adam was not deceived, but the woman being deceived was in the transgression.
15 Notwithstanding she shall be saved in childbearing, if they continue in faith and charity and holiness with sobriety.
