1 Timothy Series - The Spirit of God Clearly Says

      

The Spirit of God Clearly Says

1 Timothy 4:1-8

Paul knew what the days would be like in our times, these last days before the gathering of the church to Him in heaven. He was experiencing the effects of sin in his own time on culture and mankind. He had vividly described these days to the Thessalonians, “This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come. For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy,  without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good,  traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God; having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away.” (2 Thes. 3:1-5)

So let’s begin with the first portion of the text, “The Spirit clearly says that in later times some will abandon the faith and follow deceiving spirits and things taught by demons. Such teachings come through hypocritical liars, whose consciences have been seared as with a hot iron. They forbid people to marry and order them to abstain from certain foods, which God created to be received with thanksgiving by those who believe and who know the truth. For everything God created is good, and nothing is to be rejected if it is received with thanksgiving, because it is consecrated by the word of God and prayer.” 

Paul had seen the works of Satan and his demonic hordes in the deception of God’s Word in the churches throughout the countries of Asia minor. The Spirit of God was directing Paul and Timothy that in their times as well as in the last days of the church age, people will abandon the faith. Paul fought hard for the church in the spirit realm in prayer and with the sword of the Spirit. He was advising Timothy of the nature of demonic strategies to distort and manipulate the Word of God in such a manner that it would allure some away, or cause others to abandon the truth of God’s Word for a highbred lie straight from the play book of Satan. Ephesus, the center for the idol worship of Diana, was always the hub of confusion and the sensual tingling that drew the carnal man and woman into idolatry. According to the Holy Spirit, much of the teaching from the demonic horde was focused on deception from a seared conscience and hypocrisy. They wanted to destroy the union of marriage with lies and ungodly regulations. 

But with the guidance from the Holy Spirit, Paul was informing Timothy to lead the church in Ephesus in the grace and mercy of our Lord and Savior. For Paul had taught that food, especially offered to an idol, was acceptable if it was given with thanksgiving to God (1 Cor. 8; Rom. 14:6,17-18, 1 Tim. 4:4) 

Those who had come out of idolatry were still unsure of the things acceptable to God. Also the demonic connivers were not allowing marriages to take place or the eating of all kinds of foods, both of which God has called good, “For everything created by God is good, and nothing is to be rejected if it is received with thanksgiving, for it is made holy by the word of God and prayer.” (1 Tim. 4:4-5) For God had ordained marriage in the garden of Eden. And he also told the first couple that they could eat from any of the plants and trees that were in the garden, except from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. (Gen. 2:24; 3:2; Rom.14:2-3)

Application - We are certainly living in the last days. Marriage has been under attack for nearly a half century. Today, many never get married, they cohabitate. Many children don’t know their fathers, and a few don’t know their birth mothers. We are a culture that has killed seven million babies by abortion since the nineteen-seventies. The worldwide deception has told the masses that God doesn't exist or has gone absent from concern about His creation. These are but a few of the lies and atrocities. 

God's not dead, nor is He absent from concern for His creation. He is very real, and His Holy Spirit is speaking to any who will hear the voice of the Lord. 

In many churches today, they are afraid of speaking the Word of God on the matters of Truth, marriage, and freedom we have in the presence of our God. Freedom is the ability to live within the will of God and to enjoy His provisions, that means God created this world for us, and what God calls good is good. The trouble is that the world wants to live independent of God’s will, meaning they want their way, in whatever form that will take. We are to listen to the head of the church, Jesus Christ. For He alone has all authority over everything. He is the head of the church, not any man. No matter what title they have given themselves. God has said, man is but a breath in the realm of eternity, “Man is like a mere breath; His days are like a shadow that passes away.” (Ps. 144:4 AMP.) 

Today, we need God more than ever, we should be seeking Him for all our needs, especially wisdom, understanding, knowledge, and instruction. Jesus told us to seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and then all these other things would be given to us that we need. We serve a good God, who knows how to give us good gifts. “If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him!” (Matt. 7:11), protection "But let all you take refuge in you be glad; let them ever sing for joy. Spread your protection over them, that those who love your name may rejoice in you." The Good News: God takes great pride in you when you seek Him in times of trouble, for those who seek Him truly love Him and understand His power.” (Ps.5:11), and provision through His Holy Spirit who knows the mind of God and the heart and mind of those who live and walk in the Spirit. “Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us,  to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.” (Eph. 3:20-21)

Last, Paul gives Timothy instruction for godliness . Let’s look at the last portion of our text, “If you point these things out to the brothers and sisters, you will be a good minister of Christ Jesus, nourished on the truths of the faith and of the good teaching that you have followed. Have nothing to do with godless myths and old wives’ tales; rather, train yourself to be godly. For physical training is of some value, but godliness has value for all things, holding promise for both the present life and the life to come.”

As a pastor, overseer of the church in Ephesus, Timothy is exhorted to sound doctrine and teaching from the scriptures and the teachings of Paul by the inspiration of the Holy Spirit. He knew, as had Jesus told his disciples, that there would be people who would come in and disrupt or destroy the church with false teachings and/or false prophecies. Timothy had to hone his skills as an overseer and point these errors out to the church. For it was the nourishing of the scriptures and the teaching of Paul as the Holy Spirit enabled and distributed the knowledge of the Truths of the faith in Christ Jesus that enabled Timothy to oversee and protect the flock of God with wisdom, knowledge, understanding and instruction from the Word of God. 

Second, Paul warned Timothy again to not be involved or entangled in the untruthful lies of godless myths and old tales of yore from the world, or to get into discussions of ungodly philosophies. “I tell you this so that no one may deceive you by fine-sounding arguments…See to it that no one takes you captive through hollow and deceptive philosophy, which depends on human tradition and the elemental spiritual forces of this world rather than on Christ. For in Christ all the fullness of the Deity lives in bodily form, and in Christ you have been brought to fullness. He is the head over every power and authority.” “Refuse to get involved in inane discussions; they always end up in fights. God's servant must not be argumentative, but a gentle listener and a teacher who keeps cool, working firmly but patiently with those who refuse to obey.” (Col.2:4,8-10 NIV; 2 Tim. 2:22-26 MSG.) The enemy and the world loved to entwine the withered roots of demonic lies into the teaching and training of the church. These teachings have no value for godliness or growth in the knowledge of Lord Jesus Christ or our Father in heaven. These thorns of the enemy will try and choke out the believers  “Other seed fell among thorns, which grew up and choked the plants…The seed falling among the thorns refers to someone who hears the word, but the worries of this life and the deceitfulness of wealth choke the word, making it unfruitful.” (Matt. 13:7,22) 

Now, true godliness was of great value to Paul, and he wants Timothy to pursue it as well. Paul had seen the athletes prepare for the games in Greece as well as in other countries in his travels. He saw the value of regiment training, to strictly focus on the truth of God’s Word and not pattern our values on the teachings of men, or the pleasures or knowledgable teachings of the world. For with appropriate time in prayer, and study and teaching of God’s Word, it would build up the heart (The eyes of the LORD search the whole earth in order to strengthen those whose hearts are fully committed to him. Psalm 34:18), mind “May the God who gives endurance and encouragement give you the same attitude of mind toward each other that Christ Jesus had.” (Rom.15:5), and spirit,"Look to the Lord and his strength; seek his face always. (1 Chr. 16:11)" 

Paul knew that in this training it would have value for all the work Timothy would encounter. For in the promises of God, they give us the strength, wisdom, endurance, and patience for this life and the life they will have in eternity. 

Application - I can’t say much more than the text has said already. We are to live godly lives, holy before the Lord. Godliness doesn’t come by the world of man who tries through the flesh to abstain from sin and the world. It is only through our Lord Jesus Christ that we are seen as righteous and holy before God the Father. “It is because of him that you are in Christ Jesus, who has become for us wisdom from God—that is, our righteousness, holiness and redemption.” (1 Cor. 1:30)  And it is only through the Holy Spirit that we have the power and ability to live this godliness. “By his divine power, God has given us everything we need for living a godly life. We have received all of this by coming to know him, the one who called us to himself by means of his marvelous glory and excellence.” “I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God. Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.” (2 Pet. 1:3 NLT; Eph. 3:16-30 NLT)

Today seek God by knowing His son Jesus Christ, and live in the power of God by the Holy Spirit. Then you will be able to live in godliness and holiness, and lack nothing that you need in this life, and in eternity with God the Father, Jesus the Son, and the Holy Spirit.

I’m again including the ABC’s of salvation (JD Farag). Please, Jesus, God the Son, came to this world to save all who would believe and trust in him. He desires to reveal himself to you, He is the Light that overcomes the darkness of this lawless world. He hears your prayers, and all authority in heaven and earth have been given to him. He will answer you if you will truly believe. If you haven’t asked him to be your Lord and Savior, today could be that day.

 First, A - Admit that you are a sinner. This is where that godly sorrow leads to genuine repentance for sinning against a righteous God and there is a change of heart, we change our mind and God changes our hearts and regenerates us from the inside out. Romans 3:10 - As it is written: "There is none righteous, no, not one." Romans 3:23 - For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God. (We are all born sinners which is why we must be born spiritually in order to enter the Kingdom of Heaven). Romans 6:23 - For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. The bad news is that the wages of sin is death, in other words our sin means that we have been given a death sentence, we have the death penalty hanging over our heads, that's the bad news. But here's the good news: The good news is that the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. Ephesians 2:8-9 - For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith —and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— not by works, so that no one can boast. Second,

 B - Believe in your heart that Jesus Christ died for your sins, was buried, and that God raised Jesus from the dead. This is trusting with all of your heart that Jesus Christ is who he said he was. Romans 10:9-10 - That if you confess with your mouth, "Jesus is Lord," and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved. Third, 

C - Call upon the name of the Lord. Every single person who ever lived since Adam will bend their knee and confess with their mouth that Jesus Christ is Lord, the Lord of lords and the King of kings. Romans 14:11 - For it is written: "As I live, says the Lord, Every knee shall bow to Me, And every tongue shall confess to God." Don't wait until later — do this now. Romans 10:13 - For "whoever calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved." "O God, I am a sinner. I'm sorry for my sin. I want to turn from my sin. I believe Jesus Christ is Your Son; I believe that He died on the cross for my sin and that He was buried and You raised Him to life. I have decided to place my faith in Jesus Christ as my Savior, trusting only in His shed blood as sufficient to save my soul and to take me to heaven. Thank You, Lord Jesus, for saving me. Amen."

Please share this with someone this week, the Lord knows that we and they need it.

If you would like other lessons, please go to http://pmdinhisservice.blogspot.com 

Until next week, In His Service Mike Davis