April 16, 2001
I. INTRODUCTION:
A. Review of the previous topic—Called to Repentance
1. Important Things Discussed:
a. True Repentance Involves Four Things:
i. Putting our priority in line with God’s priority
ii. Discarding things that create disorder in our lives
iii. Replacing discarded things with the fruits of the Holy Spirit
iv. Willingness to hear and listen to God’s voice
B. Today’s Topic—Called to Godliness
II. BODY:
A. The Call to Godliness
1. Paul’s Counsel to the Young Timothy.
a. 1 Timothy 4:7-8
b. Other Counsels that Paul Could Have Given Timothy:
i. Counsel on money matters
1. Love of money is the root of all evil. 1 Timothy 6:10
2. Command the rich to be rich in good deeds and be generous in their giving. 1 Timothy 6:17-18
ii. Counsel to pursue higher Learning
1. “All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.” 1 Timothy 3:16
iii. Counsel on Leadership
1. Treat everyone with respect. 1 Timothy 5:1-3
iv. Counsel on how to be a good debater
1. Avoid foolish and stupid arguments because they produce quarrels. 2 Timothy 2:23
v. Counsels on How to Satisfy the Desires of Your Youth
1. “Flee the evil desires of your youth, and pursue righteousness, faith, love and peace, along with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart.” 2 Timothy 2:22
c. In all his counsels to Timothy, Paul’s counsels boils down to one word—Godliness.
2. Ellen G. Wrote: “A revival of true godliness among us is the greatest and most urgent of all our needs. To seek this should be our first work.” Selected Messages, Volume 1, page 121.
B. What is Godliness?
1. Dictionary defines Godliness as obeying, loving, and fearing God.
2. Godliness is becoming like God.
C. Why Godliness?
1. Peter’s Five Important Reasons for Godliness. 1 Peter 2:9
a. We are a chosen people
1. It is the first responsibility of every person before God.
2. Illustration: Chinese moral teaching—the first and foremost responsibility of each person is respect for parents—versus what the Bible teaches—the first and foremost responsibility of each person is respect for God because God is the Creator.
b. We are a royal priesthood
1. We will reign with Christ. Revelation 20:4
2. Those who will reign with Christ is described as wearing white robes, symbol of holiness. Revelation 7:9
c. We are a holy nation
1. God is holy; His people must be holy.
2. God is just; His people must be just
3. God is love; His people must be loving
4. God is generous; His people must show generosity
d. We are a people who belongs to God
1. Redeemed by Christ’s precious blood. 1 Peter 1:15-19
e. We are called to declare His glory
1. We are witnesses in Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria, and to the ends of the earth. Acts 1:8
D. The Way to Godliness. I Timothy 4:7
1. Avoid godless myths and old wives’ tales
a. Refrain from listening to things that does not build you up spiritually.
b. Avoid conversations that distract you from focusing on God.
2. Training and discipline
a. Know ye not that they which run in a race run all, but one receiveth the prize? So run, that ye may obtain. And every man that striveth for the mastery is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a corruptible crown; but we an incorruptible. I therefore so run, not as uncertainly; so fight I, not as one that beateth the air: But I keep under my body, and bring it into subjection: lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway. 1 Corinthians 9:24-27
3. Looking unto Jesus, the Author and Finisher of our faith. Hebrews 12:1-2
III. CONCLUSION:
A. Christ, Our Example of True Godliness
1. GOD’S TEN MOST WANTED MEN
a. The man who puts God’s business above other business.
b. The man who brings his children to church rather than sending them.
c. The man who is willing to be the right example to every boy he meets.
d. The man who thinks more of his Sabbath School Class than he does of his Sabbath sleep.
e. The man who measures his giving by what he has left rather than by the amount he gives.
f. The man who goes to church for Christ’s sake, rather than for his own or someone else’s.
g. The man who has more passion to help others than he had to be helped himself.
h. The man who can see his own faults before he sees the faults of others.
i. The man who stands firm in his convictions, based upon the Word of God, that is a "backbone" Christian.
j. The man who is more concerned about winning souls for Christ than he is about winning honor.
B. Story of Tom and Timmy
A young man, just out of college, heard about a class of students no teacher had been able to handle and applied to the school. The principal told him, " No one has been able to handle these students. You are asking for a trouble" After a few moments of silent prayer, the young man said, "Sir,I ask you to just give me the class on a trial basis."
Next morning the young man stood before his new class and said, "Young people, I came here today to conduct school. But I realize I can’t do it alone. I must have your help." One big boy, they called Big Tom, in the back of the room whispered to his buddies, "I won’t need any help. I can lick that little man all by myself." The teacher told the class that if they were to have school, there will have to be some rules. He also added that he will allow the students to make up the rules, and list them on the blackboard. One young man suggested "NO STEALING." Another shouted "BE ON TIME FOR CLASS." Soon they had 10 rules listed. The teacher then asked them what the punishment should be for breaking these rules. "Rules are no good unless they are enforced," he said. Someone suggested if the rules were broken, they should receive 10 licks with a rod across their back with their coat off. The teacher asked if they would stand by this punishment. The class agreed.
After two or three days Big Tom came in one day very upset. He declared that someone had stolen his lunch. After talking with the students, they came to the conclusion that little Timmy had stolen Big Tom’s lunch. The teacher called little Timmy up to the front of the room. Little Timmy admitted he had taken Big Tom’s lunch. So the teacher asked him, "Do you know the punishment? Little Timmy nodded that he did. "You must remove your coat, then," the teacher instructed. The little fellow had come with a great big coat on. Little Timmy said to the teacher, "I was hungry but I am and I am willing to take my punishment, but please don’t make me take off my coat." The teacher reminded little Timmy of the rules and punishments and told him he must remove his coat and take his punishment like a man. The little fellow started to unbutton that old coat. As he did so, the teacher saw he did not have a shirt on under the coat. And even worse, he saw a frail and bony frame hidden beneath that coat. The teacher asked Timmy why he had come to school without a shirt on. Little Timmy replied, "My daddy’s dead and my mother is very poor. I don’t have but one shirt, and my mother is washing it today. I wore big brother’s coat so’ to keep warm." That young teacher stood and looked at the frail back the ribs sticking out, the spine protruding against the skin. He wondered how he could lay a rod on that little back and without even a shirt on. Still, he knew he must enforce the punishment or the children would not obey the rules. So he drew back to strike little Timmy.
Just then Big Tom stood up and came down the aisle. He asked, "Is there anything that says I can’t take little Timmy’s whipping for him?" The teacher gave his approval. With that Big Tom ripped his coat off and stooped and stood over little Timmy at the desk. Hesitatingly the teacher began to lay the rod on that big back. But for some strange reason, after only 5 licks that old rod just broke in half. The young teacher buried his face in his hands and began to sob. He heard a commotion and looked up to find not even one dry eye in the room. Little Timmy had turned and grabbed Big Tom around the neck, apologizing to him for stealing his lunch, begging his forgiveness He told Big Tom that he would love him till the day he died for taking his whipping for him. It was this type of righteousness- where mercy triumphs over judgment and love is shown to the undeserving- that God demonstrated to us through His Son, Jesus Christ.
This is the kind of godliness that we want to develop. This is the kind of godliness that will stand for eternity.
