Archive for the ‘1 Timothy’ Category

Spiritual Training 16 August 2013

Posted: August 16, 2013 in 1 Timothy, Acceptance, Bible Study, Encourgement, Inspiration, Personal Growth, Spiritual Training, trust in the Lord with all your heart, Uncategorized, Under Gods Command
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Under Gods Command 

1 Timothy 1:3-4 As I urged you when I went into Macedonia, stay there in Ephesus so that you may command certain men not to teach false doctrine any longer nor to devote themselves to myths and endless genealogies.  These promote controversies rather than God’s work, which is by faith.  

1:5-7 The goal of this command is love, which comes from a pure heart and a good conscience and a sincere faith. Some have wandered away from these and turned to meaningless talk. 

Arguing about details of the Bible can send us off on interesting but irrelevant tangents and cause us to miss the intent of God’s message.  The false teachers at Ephesus constructed vast speculation systems and then argued about the minor details of their wholly imaginary ideas.

1:7 They want to be teachers of the law, but they do not know what they are talking about or what they so confidently affirm.     

Many leaders and authorities today demand allegiance, some of whom would even have us turn from Christ to follow them.  When they seem to know the Bible, their influence can be dangerously subtle.  They are modern-day false teachers.  How can you recognize false teachers?

  1. They teach what is contrary to the truth found in Scripture
  2. They promote trivial and divisive controversies instead of helping people come to Jesus
  3. They aren’t concerned about personal evidence of God’s presence in their lives, spending their time on “meaningless talk” instead.
  4. Their motivation is to make a name for themselves

Lets Bring it Home: We should allow nothing to distract us from the god news of salvation in Jesus Christ, the main point of Scripture.  We should know what the Bible says, apply it to our lives daily, and teach it to others.  When we do this, we will be able to evaluate all teachings in light of the central truth about Jesus.  To protect yourself from the deception of false teachers, learn what the Bible teaches and remain steadfast in your faith in Christ alone.

Spiritual Training 15 August 2013

Posted: August 16, 2013 in 1 Timothy, Acceptance, Bible Study, Encourgement, Inspiration, Personal Growth, trust in the Lord with all your heart
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Under Gods Command

 1 Timothy 1:3-4 As I urged you when I went into Macedonia, stay there in Ephesus so that you may command certain men not to teach false doctrine any longer nor to devote themselves to myths and endless genealogies.  These promote controversies rather than God’s work, which is by faith.   

The church at Ephesus may have been plagued by the same heresy that was threatening the church at Colosse-the teaching that to be acceptable to God, a d person had to discover certain hidden knowledge and had to worship angels (Colossians 2:8 18).  The false teachers were motivated by their own interests rather than Christ’s.  They embroiled the church in endless and irrelevant questions and controversies, taking precious time away from the study of the truth.

Lets Bring it Home: Stay away from religious speculation and pointless theological arguments.  Such exercises may seem harmless at first, but they have a way of sidetracking us from the central message of the gospel-the person and work of Jesus Christ.  They expend time we should use to share the gospel with others, and they don’t help people grow in the faith.  Avoid anything that keeps you from doing God’s work.

Spiritual Training 14 August 2013

Posted: August 14, 2013 in 1 Timothy, Acceptance, Bible Study, Encourgement, Inspiration, Personal Growth, Spiritual Training, trust in the Lord with all your heart, Uncategorized, Under Gods Command
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Under Gods Command

1 Timothy 1:1 Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the command of God our Savior and of Christ Jesus our hope, To Timothy my true son in the faith: Grace, mercy and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord. 

 This letter was written to Timothy in A.S. 64 or 65, after Paul’s first imprisonment in Rome (Acts 28:16-31).  Apparently Paul had been out of prison for several years, and during that time he had revisited many churches in Asia and Macedonia.  When he and Timothy return to Ephesus, they bound wide spread false teaching in the church.  Paul had warned the Ephesian elders to be on guard against the false teachers who inevitably would come after he had left (Acts 20:17-31).  Paul sent Timothy to lead the Ephesian church while he moved on to Macedonia.  From there Paul wrote this letter of encouragement and instruction to help Timothy deal with the difficult situation in the Ephesian church.  Later, Paul was arrested again and brought back to a Roman prison.

Lets Bring it Home: We must know the truth in order to defend it.  We must cling to the belief that Christ came to save us.  We should stay away from those who twist the words of the Bible for their own purposes.

Spiritual Training 22 January 2013

Posted: January 22, 2013 in 1 Timothy, Acceptance, Bible Study, Encourgement, Inspiration, Personal Growth, Spiritual Training, trust in the Lord with all your heart, Uncategorized, Under Gods Command
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“Practice these things. Devote your life to them so that everyone can see your progress.” (1 Timothy 4:15 GW)

While you were given a brand new nature at the moment of conversion, you still have old habits, patterns, and practices that need to be removed and replaced. Yet we are afraid to humbly face the truth about ourselves.

We often build our identities around our defects. We say, “It’s just like me to be …” and “It’s just the way I am.” The unconscious worry is that if you let go of your habit, your hurt, or your hang-up, who will you be? This fear can definitely slow down your growth.

Only as God is allowed to shine the light of his truth on our faults, failures, and hang-ups can we begin to work on them. This is why you cannot grow without a humble, teachable attitude.

Godly habits take time to develop. Remember that your character is the sum total of your habits. You can’t claim to have integrity unless it is your habit to always be honest.

Your habits define your character. There is only one way to develop the habits of Christlike character: You must practice them — and that takes time!

These character-building habits are often called “spiritual disciplines,” and they include such things as meditation, prayer, fasting, Bible study, simplicity, stewardship, solitude, submission, service, and evangelism.

Talk About It

  • What spiritual habits do you need to practice more intentionally?
  • Many people are aware of their strengths. Are you equally aware of your weaknesses? What are they?

Spiritual Training 21 November 2012

Posted: November 29, 2012 in 1 Timothy, Acceptance, Bible Study, Encourgement, Inspiration, Personal Growth, Spiritual Training, trust in the Lord with all your heart, Uncategorized, Under Gods Command
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Under Gods Command

Hebrews 10:19-22 Therefore, brothers, since we have confidence to enter the Most Holy Place by the blood of Jesus, by a new and living way opened for us through the curtain that is, his body, and since we have a great priest over the house of God,

When Jesus died for the sins of humanity, the curtain was torn open, permitting anyone to enter the holiest of all-God’s presence.  The high priest was no longer required for believers to be forgiven.  By a “new and living way”, believers can go directly to God through faith in Christ.

Lets Bring it home: When was the last time you really went to God to ask forgiveness for your sins.  Remember, you can’t get yourself ready for Christ.  I hear people say that I have to get right before going to Church.  No, that is not the case.  You are ready right now.  God already knew you, even before you was form in your mothers womb.  Go to him now, Pastor Jimmy once said, this is not a Job where qualifications are required for the position.  In Gods house it’s our dis-qualifications that qualifies us for a position in the Kingdom.

Proverbs 2:6-7 Wisdom for the Soul

Posted: May 2, 2012 in 1 Timothy, Acceptance, Bible Study, Encourgement, Inspiration, Personal Growth, Proverbs, Proverbs 02, Spiritual Training, trust in the Lord with all your heart, Uncategorized, Under Gods Command
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Under Gods Command

Proverbs 2:6-7
For the LORD gives wisdom, and from his mouth come knowledge and understanding. He hold victory in store for the upright, he is a shield to those whose walk is blameless.

God gives us wisdom and victory but not for drifting through life or acting irresponsibly with his gifts and resources. If we are faithful and keep our purpose in life clearly in mind, he will keep us from pride and greed.

Spiritual Training 02 April 2012

Posted: April 1, 2012 in 1 Timothy, Acceptance, Bible Study, Encourgement, Inspiration, Personal Growth, Spiritual Training, trust in the Lord with all your heart, Uncategorized, Under Gods Command
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Under Gods Command
(Love of Money)

1 Timothy 6:06-09: (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) People who want to get rich fall into temptation and a trap and into many foolish and harmful desires that plunge men into ruin and destruction.

Despite overwhelming evidence to the contrary, most people still believe that money brings happiness. Rich people craving greater riches can be caught in an endless cycle that only ends in ruin and destruction. How can you keep away from the love of money? Paul gives us some guidelines:

1. Realize that one day riches will all be gone (6:7, 17)
2. Be content with what you have (6:8)
3. Monitor what you are willing to do to get more money (6:9,10)
4. Love people more than money (6:11)
5. Love God’s work more than money (6:11);
6. Freely share what you have with others (6:18)

It is often helpful to distinguish between needs and wants. We may have all we need to live but let ourselves become anxious and discontented over what we merely want. Like Paul, we can choose to be content without having all that we want. The only alternative is to be a slave to our desires.

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