THESE THINGS
1ST TIMOTHY
SERMON #3
1ST TIMOTHY 4:7-11
INTRODUCTION:
AS I READ THE LETTERS THAT PAUL WROTE TO TIMOTHY, I THINK ABOUT THE RELATIONSHIP THAT THESE TWO MEN HAD.
PAUL, THE OLDER PASTOR, EXPERIENCED IN CHURCH STARTS, EXPERIENCED IN DEALING WITH PROBLEMS IN THE CHURCH, IS INSTRUCTING TIMOTHY, THE YOUNG, ENERGETIC MINISTER THAT LACKED A GREAT AMOUNT OF EXPERIENCE.
AND AS I WATCH THE CONVERSATION DEVELOP OVER THE COURSE OF THESE LETTERS, I’M THANKFUL THAT GOD PRESERVED THESE INSTRUCTIONS FOR MY OWN USE.
BECAUSE BEING A SHEPHERD IS TOUGH, AND SOMETIMES SHEEP DON’T ACT THE WAY THAT YOU WOULD LIKE THEM TO.
SO PAUL TAKES THE OPPORTUNITY TO SHARE SOME THINGS WITH TIMOTHY THAT HE NEEDS TO BE ON THE LOOKOUT FOR.
AND THIS IS WHERE “THESE THINGS” COME FROM.
TAKE YOUR BIBLE AND TURN TO THE BOOK OF 1ST TIMOTHY, CHAPTER 4.
LET’S READ VERSES 7-11
STAND – READ – PRAY
AS WE READ THESE VERSES, WE SEE PAUL DRAWING FROM HIS EXPERIENCE TO WARN THIS YOUNG PASTOR ABOUT THINGS THAT HE WILL ENCOUNTER AS HE MINISTERS AMONG GOD’S PEOPLE.
AND WHETHER YOUR CALLED TO VOCATIONAL MINISTRY OR NOT, THESE ARE SOME GREAT INSTRUCTIONS ABOUT THE THINGS THAT WE NEED TO BE ON THE LOOKOUT FOR, AS WELL.
HE GIVES TIMOTHY THREE THINGS TO PAY SPECIAL ATTENTION TO, AND YOU AND I WOULD DO WELL TO PAY ATTENTION TO THEM, TOO.
1. BIND YOURSELF TO THE ESSENTIALS. (VERSE 7A)
a. PAUL INSTRUCTED TIMOTHY TO STAY AWAY FROM TWO THINGS THAT WILL HINDER THE MINISTRY OF ANY CHURCH.
b. IRREVERENT AND SILLY MYTHS
c. IN OTHER WORDS, PAUL TOLD TIMOTHY TO MAKE SURE THAT HE KNEW WHAT HE KNEW.
d. THERE ARE SO MANY THINGS THAT ARE HAPPENING IN CHURCHES THROUGHOUT THE WORLD TODAY THAT ARE LEADING PEOPLE AWAY FROM THE FOUNDATIONAL TRUTHS THAT GOD WANTS US TO KNOW.
e. ONE OF THEM HAS TO DO WITH CHURCH ATTENDANCE.
f. THE CONCEPT THAT SEEMS TO BE BECOMING MORE POPULAR TODAY IS WHAT I WOULD CALL “THE LIMITED EXPOSURE CONCEPT”
g. IT’S NOT NEW, IT’S JUST BECOMING MORE WIDESPREAD IN THE CHURCH TODAY.
h. THIS IS HOW IT LOOKS.
i. WE HAVE A CULTURE THAT PROMOTES ACTIVITIES THAT ARE RECREATIONAL.
j. AND THE THOUGHT IS THAT RECREATION IS HYPER-THERAPEUTIC
k. SO, THEREFORE, WHATEVER BRINGS PLEASURE INTO OUR LIVES IS VIEWED AS BEING REALLY GOOD FOR US.
l. BUT ALL WE’VE DONE IS TELL PEOPLE, “IT’S O.K. IF YOU ONLY COME TO CHURCH A LITTLE, BECAUSE YOU’RE REALLY DOING GOD A FAVOR, BY EVEN BEING HERE, YOU KNOW BECAUSE YOU’RE SO BUSY”.
m. BUT LET ME GIVE YOU ANOTHER THOUGHT THIS MORNING.
n. WHAT WE’VE PURCHASED WITH THIS LIFESTYLE IS A CULTURE OF CHRISTIANS, I’M TALKING ABOUT CHRISTIANS, THAT HAVE ABSOLUTELY NO DEEP, SPIRITUAL ROOTS.
o. AND IF WE’RE EVER GOING TO SEE THE CHURCH BE WHAT IT IS INTENDED TO BE, WE’VE GOT TO PUT DOWN SOME ROOTS.
p. I SEE MORE CHURCHES SWAPPING SHEEP TODAY THAN I EVER HAVE BEFORE.
q. IT TAKES ABSOLUTELY NOTHING FOR US TO GET OFFENDED AND RUN DOWN THE STREET TO FIND SOMEONE WHO WILL CODDLE US, AND PET US LIKE WE WANT TO BE.
r. BUT WHAT NEEDS TO HAPPEN WITH GOD’S PEOPLE IS THAT WE NEED TO STRIKE SOME DEEP ROOTS AND GET INVOLVED.
s. GET INVOLVED IN BIBLE STUDY.
t. BIND YOURSELF TO STRONG, BIBLICAL DOCTRINE
u. FOLKS, WE HAVE GOT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE AS A CHURCH EMBRACE SOUND DOCTRINE.
v. GET INVOLVED IN WORSHIP
w. GET INVOLVED IN SERVICE
x. GET INVOLVED IN THE KINGDOM WORK OF THE LIVING GOD!
y. IF YOU WANT TO KNOW HOW OFF-TRACK SOME CHURCHES HAVE GOTTEN, LISTEN TO THIS.
z. I READ THE OTHER DAY ABOUT CHURCHES HAVING “BLESSING OF THE ANIMALS DAY”
aa. NOW LISTEN, I REALLY LIKE OUR PUPPY, BUT I THINK THIS IS GOING AL LITTLE TOO FAR.
bb. PAUL SAID, “TIMOTHY, DON’T WASTE TIME ON IRREVERENT AND SILLY MYTHS, BECAUSE AT THE END OF THE DAY, THEY ARE A WASTE OF TIME”.
cc. HE SAID, BIND YOURSELF TO THE ESSENTIALS.
AND THEN HE SAID,
2. BIND YOURSELF TO GODLINESS. (VERSE 7B-8)
a. ONE OF THE ESSENTIALS THAT WE NEED TO BIND OURSELVES TO IS THE PURSUIT OF GODLINESS.
b. THERE ARE SOME BENEFITS TO PHYSICAL EXERCISE.
c. THESE ARE WIDELY RECORDED.
d. BUT LOOK AT WHAT PAUL SAYS TO TIMOTHY ABOUT THE BENEFITS OF GODLINESS.
e. HE SAYS THAT THE TRAINING OF THE BODY HAS LIMITED BENEFIT,
f. BECAUSE ALL YOU CAN AFFECT WITH EXERCISE IS YOUR TIME ON EARTH.
g. BUT GODLINESS HAS A DUAL BENEFIT.
h. IT HOLDS PROMISE FOR THE PRESENT LIFE.
i. AND ALSO FOR THE LIFE TO COME.
AND FINALLY, HE TOLD TIMOTHY,
3. BIND YOURSELF TO THE REASON WHY WE LABOR.
a. PAUL TOLD TIMOTHY THAT THE REASON THAT WE LABOR AND STRIVE FOR GODLINESS
b. IS BECAUSE WE HAVE PUT OUR HOPE IN THE LIVING GOD
c. LET ME ASK YOU THIS MORNING…
d. WHAT ARE YOU PUTTING YOUR HOPE IN?
e. ARE YOU PUTTING YOUR HOPE IN YOUR POSSESSIONS?
f. BECAUSE THEY WILL PASS AWAY.
g. PSALMS 49:5-7 (HCSB) - 5 WHY SHOULD I FEAR IN TIMES OF TROUBLE? THE INIQUITY OF MY FOES SURROUNDS ME. 6 THEY TRUST IN THEIR WEALTH AND BOAST OF THEIR ABUNDANT RICHES. 7 YET THESE CANNOT REDEEM A PERSON OR PAY HIS RANSOM TO GOD—
h. ILLUSTRATE – RICHES
i. JOHN PAUL GETTY, THE SECOND, WAS THE HEIR TO ONE OF THE LARGEST OIL FORTUNES IN THE WORLD.
j. BUT EVEN HIS IMMENSE FORTUNE COULD NOT KEEP HIM FROM PERSONAL FAILURE, HE MOVED TO THE UK IN THE 1960’S TO BE TREATED FOR DRUG ADDICTION.
k. IT ALSO COULDN’T KEEP HIM FROM TRAGEDY.
l. HIS SECOND WIFE DIED FROM A DRUG OVERDOSE AND HIS SON WAS KIDNAPPED, EVENTUALLY HAVING HIS EAR CUT OFF BY HIS KIDNAPPERS.
m. JER 48:7 (HCSB) - 7 BECAUSE YOU TRUST IN YOUR WORKS AND TREASURES, YOU WILL BE CAPTURED ALSO.
n. ARE YOU PUTTING YOUR HOPE IN THE CULTURE?
o. BECAUSE OUR CULTURE IS IN DEEP TROUBLE.
p. ARE YOU PUTTING YOUR HOPE IN THE GOVERNMENT?
q. BECAUSE THE GOVERNMENT CONTINUES TO TURN AWAY FROM GOD.
r. PSALM 146:3&4 – 3 DO NOT TRUST IN NOBLES, IN MAN, WHO CANNOT SAVE. 4 WHEN HIS BREATH LEAVES HIM, HE RETURNS TO THE GROUND; ON THAT DAY HIS PLANS DIE.
CONCLUSION:
PSALMS 31:24 (HCSB) - 24 BE STRONG AND COURAGEOUS, ALL YOU WHO PUT YOUR HOPE IN THE LORD.
MAYBE YOU’RE HERE THIS MORNING, AND YOU’VE DECIDED THAT IT’S TIME FOR YOU TO PUT DOWN SOME DEEP ROOTS.
IT’S TIME FOR YOU TO GET IN THE PLACE WHERE GOD WANTS YOU TO BE.
MAYBE YOU’VE REALIZED THAT YOU’VE BEEN MISPLACING YOUR HOPE FOR YOUR WHOLE LIFE AND NOW IS THE TIME TO PUT YOUR HOPE IN THE RIGHT PLACE.
