Through the Bible - 1 Timothy

Father, thank you that you desire to have a relationship with us and fellowship with us, Lord. This is seen in the fact that even right now you are here in our midst. As we worship you and sing these praise songs to you, your Word says that you inhabit the praises of your people. Wherever two or more are gathered in your name, there you are in their midst. We have this promise in your Word that you are here tonight, not only to be glorified and worshipped but also to speak to us. So, Lord, we invite you by your Spirit, through your Word, to teach us and to continue to transform us as we look into this letter. We pray for insight in Jesus' name. Amen.

How many of you read through the book of 1 Timothy this last week or in the last few days? Several of you have. It is a great letter, one of Paul's last letters. In fact, when we get into 2 Timothy next week, we will see that it is his last letter before his death, before his martyrdom.

As we read this letter, we need to recognize the time and understand the context of what was going on. We just finished several weeks ago the prison epistles of Paul, where he wrote the letters to the churches at Ephesus, Colossae, and Philippi from prison in Rome. You may remember that in reading through the letter to the Philippians, Paul mentions several times that he was hoping for his release. He told the church there to pray, and I believe in Philippians chapter 1, he asked them to pray that the Lord would open a door for him to be released from prison. He discusses this a little more in chapter 3 of Philippians.

We know that after Paul's imprisonment in Rome, he was released for a time. He was under house arrest during his first imprisonment in Rome, and then he was released. Historical writings of the church indicate that he traveled around after his release. The book of Acts does not tell us about this, as it ends in Acts 28 with Paul in prison in Rome, which was his first imprisonment. After that, he was released and traveled to Ephesus, Philippi, and some of the other regions and cities. It is believed that he also traveled back to Troas.

And there in Troas, he was once again arrested and taken back to Rome for his second imprisonment. Ultimately, he was tried before Nero and put to death. However, it was during the time between his first imprisonment and his second imprisonment that Paul is believed to have written this letter to Timothy. After his first imprisonment, Paul traveled to Ephesus and left Timothy there while he went around to some of the other cities. While he was traveling, he wrote this letter back to Timothy.

With that in mind, we must remember who Timothy is. Timothy was a traveling companion of Paul, whom Paul met, led to the Lord, and ultimately discipled. We see him accompanying Paul in his ministry during his second missionary journey in Acts chapter 16. Timothy was from the region called Galatia, specifically the city of Lystra. His mother and grandmother were Jewish, but his father was a Gentile. From the perspective of a Jew, he was essentially considered a half-breed and looked down upon by many Jews. Nevertheless, Paul took him into the ministry and likely began discipling him at a young age. It is believed that Timothy was only about 15 or 16 years old when he received the Lord and began to follow along with Paul's ministry.

Now, when Paul writes this letter about 10 or 12 years later, Timothy is in his late 20s or early 30s. Paul writes to him to strengthen and encourage him in the ministry because, from the perspective of the church, Timothy was an elder. Although he was young, he was still considered an elder, pastor, and leader in the church. Paul had several young men who followed him in the ministry, including Titus, Timothy, Gaius, and others whom he discipled and raised up. He would leave them in various places to oversee the church. We will look at Titus' letter in a couple of weeks and consider what Paul wrote to him.

Timothy was like a son in the faith to Paul. Paul speaks of him as if he were his son. He loved Timothy, had discipled him, raised him up in the Lord, and trained him. Yet, this letter is filled with even more training. It is interesting to note that, despite being a close companion of Paul, the letter begins with Paul identifying himself as "an apostle of Jesus Christ." This is significant because Timothy recognized and knew Paul's apostleship. If anyone understood that Paul was an apostle, it was Timothy. Still, Paul reiterates his apostleship as he writes this letter to Timothy, as there are some very clear doctrinal matters that Paul intends to address.

Even though this letter was given specifically to Timothy, a letter written directly to an individual, there were still things that Paul was writing that were for the church at large. I believe that Paul understood and recognized that this letter, although given to Timothy, would ultimately be shared with the whole church and spoken to the entire church at Ephesus. Now, here we are a couple of thousand years later, and it is a letter that speaks not just to the church at Ephesus and not just to the individual Timothy, but it is the Lord teaching us through this letter.

There are many different sayings and teachings in this passage that we would call doctrine. These are things that we are to believe, things that we are to stand upon, and things that we, as the church, are to do. Paul establishes his apostleship at the very beginning, asserting that he has the authority to instruct us. He states that he is an apostle of Jesus Christ by the commandment of God. To the Galatians, Paul said it is not of men or by men that he is an apostle; it was God who called him, ordained him, and commanded him to do this work.

Paul emphasizes that he is an apostle not because he chose to be in this position, but because God commanded him to fulfill this work. His view was that he would carry out the command that God had given him. Thus, he is an apostle by the commandment of God, our Savior, and the Lord Jesus Christ, who is our hope. I love that in verse one, Jesus is described as our hope. He is the one from whom we find hope. Apart from Christ, you and I would have had no hope in this world. The Scripture states this very clearly: apart from Jesus Christ, we would have no hope. Yet, He came to give us that wonderful hope.

Paul directs his letter to Timothy, referring to him as "my own son in the faith" in verse two. He then says, "grace and peace," but he also adds "mercy." Grace, mercy, and peace. In just about every single one of Paul's thirteen letters in the New Testament, we read "grace and peace." However, in the letters known as the pastoral epistles—1 and 2 Timothy and Titus—both of those letters add "mercy." Paul prays for these two young pastors that they would have grace, mercy, and peace.

I think of mercy in two respects. First, mercy from the Lord in the ministry, especially in dealing with people. There has been a joke throughout the years that ministers sometimes say: ministry would be wonderful if it weren't for the people.

Ministry can be very difficult because it involves interacting with and dealing with the problems and issues that arise among people within the body of Christ. There would be no such thing as ministry without the people. However, there is a certain level of mercy that is needed from the Lord when dealing with and interacting with people and the difficulties they face. Therefore, we need, first and foremost, the mercy of the Lord in our interactions with others.

We also need mercy from the Lord when we are addressing the problems of other people. This is something you may not recognize, but as a pastor or leader within a church, when you seek to help others with their struggles, you suffer alongside them. This can be very taxing, especially when ministering to a family that has lost a loved one or is going through a severe trial. You may find yourself experiencing sleepless nights.

Paul discusses this in some of his letters, particularly when he talks about the physical suffering he endured while writing to the church at Corinth. He mentions the day-to-day challenges of the churches, highlighting that going through ministry and suffering with the people requires a certain level of mercy for the ministers of the Lord. He writes to this young pastor, extending grace, mercy, and peace. This is an important reminder for those in leadership and service within the body of Christ.

It is not limited to just the teaching pastor; those who serve in children's ministry, youth ministry, and as elders within the church also need the mercy of the Lord as they navigate trials with people and address the problems that often arise. Paul emphasizes to this man that grace, mercy, and peace come from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

In Paul's letters, he consistently shows us the source of grace, peace, and mercy. In Hebrews, we are encouraged to come boldly before the throne of grace to obtain mercy and grace in our time of need. It is crucial to recognize that God is always the source of these blessings. If you seek peace from any other source in this world, it will always come up short and will never satisfy. Similarly, if you look for grace or mercy from any other area, it will never be sufficient. Yet, Jesus Christ is sufficient.

We read in 2 Corinthians 3 that we are not sufficient of ourselves, but our sufficiency is of Christ.

He is the one in whom we can find everything that we need. In Him dwells all the fullness of the Godhead bodily, as we saw in the book of Colossians. He has everything that we have need of, and we are complete in Him. If we recognize that and understand it, I guarantee your life as a Christian and your walk as a believer will be much easier.

When you come to any trial, the only way you will be able to face it is by coming to Christ, because He is the source. He is the one we need for everything. I'm talking about strength for every single problem you encounter. If you come to Him first and foremost, you will find that your walk in the Lord tends to be much stronger than if you were trying to find it in something else.

Now, the sad thing is, and this goes for me just as it goes for you, we have a tendency to look at every other option first before we come to the Lord. I often hear people say, after they have tried everything else, "Well, I guess all we can do is pray." I hate when I hear that. It sounds like, "Oh, well, I guess we have to go to the Lord. Maybe He'll help." No. God is the sufficient source of all things.

I was talking to someone about this the other day. You all know Pastor Josh. To me and to many in our fellowship, he has been an example of faith for a long time, especially as it relates to trusting in the Lord for financial provision. We all encounter those times in our lives when we face a bill or some situation where we just don't know where the money will come from.

I will confess that I typically go through my budget because I keep a tight budget. I look at it and think, "Goodness, where are we going to get this money from, and what are we going to do?" But Josh is the one who, when he faces one of those situations, instead of looking at the budget, immediately goes to the Lord.

God always provides for me, and He is always providing for Josh as well. However, I have noticed something: it seems as though the Lord provides much quicker for Josh. He allows me to wait until the 11th hour. Why? I believe He has been teaching me for a long time. I am learning the lesson that I should come to Him first; He will take care of it. And He always does. He is always faithful.

As I mentioned last Sunday, the phrase "Semper Fi," which is a Marine Corps phrase meaning "always faithful," applies perfectly to God. The Marine Corps is pretty good at it, but God is supreme. He is the one who is always faithful. Amen? And so, you see, we have only gotten through two verses here.

But that verse is so important: grace, mercy, and peace from God. Would you circle or underline "from God" in your Bibles? From God, our Father, and the Lord Jesus Christ. He is the source. He is the one that we should look to and turn to for everything that we need.

Now then, Paul addresses Timothy with his purpose. Notice the word "charge" in verse 3: "I charge you." I left you there that you may charge them to do this. That is a key phrase in this letter, and you're going to see it come up quite a bit. He exhorts and charges Timothy to exhort and charge the church. This letter has so much to do with direction. He is directing him on how he is to pastor and lead this church, and what he is specifically to do.

You will see this in 1 and 2 Timothy and also Titus, where he says, "These are the things that you are to exhort. These are the things that you're to charge people to do and to tell them to do." Here, he says, "I charge you that you would charge them to teach no other doctrine," and that they wouldn't give heed to endless fables and genealogies.

There was a problem with false teachers in the early church, especially in the city of Ephesus. Remember, Paul stayed in Ephesus for a couple of years and contended with people daily at the school of Tyrannus. He was very much given to teaching doctrine, ensuring that the people there were founded upon solid and sound doctrine. Now, Paul tells Timothy, "As you are there, you need to teach doctrine, and you need to tell them not to give heed to these endless genealogies and fables."

There were people among the church who were given to all kinds of funny mythologies and fables. Remember, this is in Macedonia, in Greece, an area that was given to Greek gods and goddesses. Ephesus was a city that had one of the biggest temples to Diana, the goddess associated with various immoral behaviors. These people were given to all kinds of different gods, goddesses, and fables, not only among the Greeks but also among the Jews.

You see, the Jews had all kinds of mythological books as well. These books contained strange stories about different individuals who lived and did fabulous and marvelous things that were not scripture. Paul says, "Hey, tell these people to stay away from this stuff that's just fables and endless genealogies. They don't minister truth. They don't edify and build up. Instead, they just cause all kinds of questions and doubt."

He emphasizes the importance of standing fast and teaching doctrine. The end of the commandment is love. He states that this is the ultimate product that should come from teaching sound doctrine and providing truth to a church. The end of the commandment is love, which comes from a pure heart, a good conscience, and faith undefiled or unfeigned. This is ultimately the result of teaching good sound doctrine: that people would be charitable in love, loving the way that God loves. The word "agape" is used in the original language to describe this love, which comes from a pure heart.

Jeremiah tells us in Jeremiah 17:9 that the heart of man is deceitfully wicked. Who has a pure heart? None of us, until the Lord gives us a new heart. He gives us His Holy Spirit and a new heart. Therefore, you and I need this new heart from God to be able to love in a proper way—love that comes from a pure heart and a good conscience. The only way that you and I can have a good conscience, as Hebrews tells us, is that a good conscience comes from God and His saving work by forgiving us of our sins. Because of the work that Jesus did on the cross, He has given us a new pure heart. Not only that, He has cleansed our conscience from dead works because He has forgiven us. Now we are to stand with faith undefiled—strong faith from God.

However, some have swerved and turned aside unto vain jangling. There were those who had departed from the truth. In this letter, Paul is going to exhort Timothy that there will be some in the last days who will depart from the faith, as we will see in chapter 4. Even early in the church, there were those who had drifted away, pursuing fables and endless genealogies—things that did not build up and only caused questions. They had become entangled in unprofitable matters. Even in our day, 2,000 years later, there are those within the church who face similar challenges.

Many get sucked into things that are unprofitable, following doctrines that are unnecessary. Some of these doctrines might be considered heresy, having deviated from the truth. Those who hold such beliefs can be rebuked and corrected, which is what Paul tells Timothy to do. He encourages Timothy to challenge, rebuke, and exhort them to return to sound doctrine.

However, there are others who follow doctrines of demons and seducing spirits, moving toward what is called apostasy. Within the church, there are people who are heretics, having been duped and drawn into false doctrine, and they can be corrected. Yet, there are also those who have committed apostasy and have departed from the faith. Paul speaks of a couple of these individuals at the end of chapter 1: Hymenaeus and Alexander, whom he exercised church discipline against. This is another aspect that Paul exhorts Timothy to consider. Sometimes, it is necessary to exercise church discipline and to actually disfellowship people.

During Paul's time, it was somewhat easier to do this than it is today. In our day, if you disfellowship someone and ask them not to attend the church any longer, they can simply drive down the street and go to another church. However, in the time when Paul wrote this letter, if you disfellowshipped someone, there was really nowhere else for them to go. They would be completely outside the community. Paul mentions Hymenaeus and Alexander, two men he delivered unto Satan in this passage, meaning he turned them outside of the church. They were no longer allowed to be part of the fellowship because they had departed from the truth and were unwilling to follow that which is good—those things that build up to edification.

Paul notes that some have turned aside to vain jangling, desiring to be teachers of the law, yet understanding neither what they say nor whereof they affirm. There are some who want to teach but lack a clue about what they are talking about. They have been duped and led astray. However, we know that the law is good if a man uses it lawfully. This indicates one of the issues the church in Ephesus was facing: they were being led away into legalism. They did not understand how to use the law properly.

There is a correct use for the law of God, and it is not to make man pure. If you are trying to make yourself perfect or righteous by the law, you will never succeed. It is impossible because the law cannot make us perfect. Why? Not because the law is weak, but as Paul tells us in Romans, it is due to the weakness of our flesh. You see, in our flesh, we are limited.

We cannot fulfill the law. The law is holy, just, and good, as Romans chapter 7 tells us. However, because of my flesh, there is no way that I will ever fulfill it. The proper use of the law is to lead someone to Christ. Paul told the church at Galatia that the law is our schoolmaster to point us to Jesus. He also told the church at Rome that by the law comes the knowledge of sin. It is the very thing that exposes our sin and brings us to the place of recognizing that we need a Savior.

The use of the law is always to bring someone to the feet of Jesus, to the cross, the one who can save, redeem, sanctify, and cleanse. However, there are those who use the law in an unlawful way. They use the law incorrectly and try to tell people that if they do A, B, C, D, E, F, and G, or whatever it may be, then they will be righteous. That is legalism, and it is really insufficient. It is never enough to try and keep the law. As James tells us, if you try to keep one law or all the law but fail in one point, then you have failed the entire law. If you are going to try and keep the law, you must keep the whole thing, which makes it even more difficult.

Knowing this, verse 9 states that the law is not made for a righteous man. The law was not given for people who are righteous; it was given for sinners. Paul provides a list of those who fall into this category. The law was given for the lawless to show us that we are lawless, for the disobedient, the ungodly, the unholy, the sinners, the profane, the murderers, the murderers of fathers, the murderers of mothers, the manslayers, the whoremongers, those who defile themselves with mankind, the men-stealers, the liars, and the perjured persons.

The law was given to those who are sinners to show them that they are sinners. Those who recognize their sin are the ones who receive Jesus. Remember following Jesus' ministry in the Gospels? Who was it that received Jesus' company? Was it the scribes, the Pharisees, and the Sadducees? No, it was the tax collectors, the harlots, and those who were called drunkards. They were the ones who received Jesus' company, who dined with him. It was the Pharisees who rejected him. Why? They thought they were righteous and did not see their sin.

It was those who understood their sin by the law who said, "We need Jesus." The same is true today. There are always some within the church who are self-righteous and believe that they are made perfect by the law. However, those are the ones who are blind, as we see in the end of John chapter 9.

But those who see their sin, because the law has exposed their sin, are the ones who say, "I need the Lord. I need Christ." Paul explains that the law was given to these wicked people for a reason. If there is anything contrary to sound doctrine, it is according to the glorious gospel of the blessed God, which was committed to his trust. The law was given to those who are wicked to show them their wickedness, so they might see that they need a Savior, that they need Christ.

Paul expresses gratitude in verse 12, saying, "I thank Jesus our Lord, who has enabled me, for he has counted me faithful, putting me into the ministry." I love that verse and have a big star next to it in my Bible because it is so very true. He thanks God for enabling him. I previously mentioned the verse about Jesus being our sufficiency in 2 Corinthians chapter 3, verses 5 and 6. I want to read the rest of that verse: "Not that we are sufficient of ourselves to think anything as being of ourselves, but our sufficiency is of God." In verse 6, Paul continues, "Who also has made us able ministers of the New Testament or the New Covenant, not of the letter, but of the Spirit, because the letter kills and the Spirit gives life."

It is God who has given us the ability to be His ministers. A minister is a servant or one who gives forth. Paul refers to ministers of the New Covenant, those who give forth the New Covenant. But it is God who has given us the ability to do this. Paul reiterates, "I thank God, I thank Christ Jesus our Lord who has enabled me." He is the one who has given me the power to do what the Lord has called me to do. It is not by might nor by power, but by My Spirit, says the Lord. God told Zerubbabel to build in Zechariah chapter 4.

God says to you and me, "It is not by your might or your power that you will do the work before you, but I am the one who enables you to do this." He is the one who counts us faithful and puts us into the ministry. Yet, we must look at Paul's former testimony. In verse 13, he states, "I was before a blasphemer and a persecutor." It is always important to recognize where we came from, to acknowledge that we were not always covered by the blood of Jesus. We were not always sanctified and cleansed by the work that He did. Paul reflects that prior to being a minister of the gospel, he was a blasphemer, a persecutor, and injurious to the church, but he obtained mercy. Thank God that He has given us mercy. Amen?

Now, I think it's important to recognize the difference between grace and mercy. Not only has God given us mercy, but He has overabundantly given us what we don't deserve by giving us grace. Mercy is not getting what you deserve. If you're driving down the freeway and you're doing 90 miles per hour, and the California Highway Patrol pulls you over and decides to give you mercy, they're not going to give you a ticket.

Grace, however, would be if the highway patrolman pulls you over and says, "I know you were doing 90, and I'm supposed to give you a ticket, but I'm going to give you mercy today. On top of that, here's a check for 100 bucks." That would be grace—over and above what we don't deserve. We deserve judgment, and yet the Lord has given us grace.

Paul states that he was a blasphemer and persecutor of the church, and yet God has given him mercy. The great grace and mercy are seen in the fact that not only did God save Paul, but He placed him into a position of service. The same is true for you and me. God has not only saved us, but He has called us to a place of service. He has called us to a place where we are able to serve the King of Kings and be a part of His work. That is phenomenal. It's an awesome thing that God has done.

I believe that there are many people in this church and in many other churches who are saved but haven't experienced the glory of serving God in His work. God has not just saved you; He has also given you grace to serve Him. Sometimes, when we think of serving God, we think, "Oh man, that's work, and that'll be tough." But that's not the case at all. It is when you begin to serve the Lord that you start to see the true blessings in serving God in His kingdom.

Every time we send a team out into the mission field, even a short-term team, we see this principle in action. Just about an hour before the service tonight, Kelly called me to say that we sent a team to Belize this morning. They arrived in Belize, and she was calling me from Punta Gorda. Donna had just picked them up at the airport, and she was saying, "Tell the church, praise the Lord we're here, and pray for us."

Every time I've gone on a mission trip, and everyone I know who has gone on a mission trip, goes to serve and do something for other people. Yet every time they come back, they return with a testimony of, "I went there to serve them, and they blessed me." How is that possible? That's God's economy; that's the way He works. He abundantly blesses.

Paul says here that he has been counted faithful, putting him into the ministry, and the reason was that he did it ignorantly in unbelief. There are many people who are fighting against God ignorantly because they just don't know.

What they're doing is significant. God's calling them to be saved, but furthermore, He is calling them to be a part of His work. The grace of our Lord was exceedingly abundant with faith and love, which is in Jesus Christ. God's grace—underline that—is exceeding abundant. There is not some limit to His grace. There is never going to be a day when you come before God and He says, "Boy, you know what? You wore it out. I just don't have any more." No, His grace is exceeding abundant.

This is a faithful saying and worthy of all acceptance: that Christ Jesus came into the world to do what? To save sinners. We need to recognize why Jesus came. He did not come to just teach neat things. He did not come to heal the sick and raise the dead. He came to save sinners. All those other things were great and wonderful, but His primary work is to save sinners. Paul says, "Of whom I am chief." However, for this cause, I obtained mercy, that in me first Jesus Christ might show forth all longsuffering for a pattern to them that should hereafter believe on Him to life everlasting.

Now, unto the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only wise God, be honor and glory forever and ever. Amen. A second time, he says, "This charge I commit unto you, son Timothy, according to the prophecies which went before thee, that you mightest war a good war." He says, "This is the charge that I give to you, Timothy. I charge you to war a good war or to fight a good fight. Hold the faith, or holding faith and a good conscience, which some have put away concerning faith and have made themselves shipwrecked, of whom are Hymenaeus and Alexander, whom I have delivered unto Satan that they may learn not to blaspheme."

So, he says, "I charge you, Timothy, to fight the good fight, to war a good war, and hold the faith and a good conscience. Do not be like Hymenaeus and Alexander, who have departed." Remember here in chapter 1, we see a warning given that we must stand fast upon doctrine and not get swept away into other things that don't build up and don't edify. He charges Timothy to stand strong and not be led away like Hymenaeus and Alexander.

And then again, we see the words of exhortation given in chapter 2. I exhort, therefore, that first of all, prayers, supplications, intercessions, and giving of thanks be made for all men. He says, I exhort you to pray and to tell the rest of the church that they are to pray, that they are to come before God for their supply, for their need, and that they are to offer intercession for others and give thanks for what God does.

But then notice what he says in verse 2. I want you to pray and intercede for kings and for all that are in authority. Now, we have a new king, so to speak, coming into power in a couple of weeks, and there are many in our nation who are not in agreement with him. In fact, it was a very split election this last year, split very close right down the middle. There is a lot of talk about this new president, President Obama, building a consensus. Many within the church and conservative circles are having a hard time coming alongside that consensus.

However, I want you to recognize who was the leader of the world at the time that Paul wrote that prayers are to be offered for all men, especially leaders: Nero, the very one who would kill Paul just about four years after he wrote this letter. I can guarantee you, President Obama is nowhere near Nero. I guarantee it. There are many within the church who say, "Well, I don't agree with the new president," but that doesn't matter. We are called by God to pray for him. It is my prayer that the Lord would surround him with people who know God and can provide good counsel.

So, first of all, he says, I exhort you to pray for kings and for all that are in authority. Why? That we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty. We are to walk in godliness. Notice it doesn't say that they will lead a quiet and peaceable life; it says that we will lead a quiet and peaceable life. For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God, our Savior. I stand and fall before God, our Savior. We are told to do all as unto the Lord. And so we serve God. He says there, this is good and acceptable in the sight of God. I want to be good and acceptable in the sight of God.

I want him, on the day that I stand before him, to say, "Well done, my good and faithful servant." Don't you? One of the things that he charges us to do is to pray for those who are in authority, even if we don't agree with them. I guarantee you, Paul did not agree with Nero. I guarantee it. Yet he said, "I first of all exhort you, I charge you to pray for them."

Because one day we are going to stand before the Lord, God our Savior, who will have all men to be saved. It's God's desire that all men be saved, even Caesar Nero. God desired that Nero would be saved, and Paul preached the gospel to him, but Nero was not saved. He went completely nuts after that. However, it's God's desire that all men would be saved and come to the knowledge of the truth. For there is one God and one mediator between God and man, the man Jesus Christ.

I've had some interesting conversations this last week with family members within Andrea's family. One of her aunts, with whom Andrea had a conversation last night, goes to a Unitarian church. They don't believe that Jesus is the only way. As she was driving her aunt home, her aunt asked her, "What do you guys think about everything that's going on? What do you and Miles think about this?"

For really the first time, Andrea had an opportunity to share, "Listen, we believe that Jesus is the only way." That truth is so contrary to every other faith and every other person in this world, but it's a fact. There is only one mediator between God and man, the man Jesus Christ. Yes, there are those who don't believe that or don't understand it, but it doesn't diminish the fact of it. There is only one way, and he gave himself a ransom for all to be testified in due time.

Notice that the mediator between God and man made himself a sacrifice on our behalf. He stood in our place. That's an awesome mediator. He took our sin upon himself, whereunto I am ordained a preacher and an apostle. I speak the truth in Christ Jesus; I lie not, a teacher of the Gentiles in faith and verity.

I will therefore that men pray everywhere, lifting holy hands without wrath and doubting. Now, in chapter 2, he addresses the men. He is going to address the women in a moment, but he first speaks of public worship. He says, "I will that men pray everywhere with lifting of holy hands without wrath or doubting."

And like men, he also addresses the women. He is speaking about public worship services, and the men there...

To pray with lifting hands, and the women are to adorn themselves in modest apparel with shamefacedness and sobriety, not with broided hair or gold or pearls or costly array. Now, we need to recognize why Paul is saying the things that he's saying here, and it has very much to do with cultural situations in Ephesus. The women who adorned themselves in very fashionable and rich attire in Ephesus were typically the ones that were a part of the temple of Diana. The temple of Diana, which was associated with all kinds of immorality, had hundreds of temple prostitutes, and that was the way they served and worshipped their false god. They adorned themselves in this way, doing their braided hair and everything, to attract people to the worship of their false god.

Now, can you see why Paul would say to this church, "Hey, don't be like that"? There are some within the body of Christ today, some within the church, that say women are supposed to not look beautiful at all because of what Paul says here. However, we need to understand the culture of what was being said. Women professing godliness should be known for their good works.

We do need to note that women should dress in modest apparel in such a way as not to attract the attention of men. If you're dressing to attract the attention of men, you're going to win the wrong kind of man, that's for sure. But the other thing is that we are to be those who are modest. Now, that doesn't mean we wear Victorian dresses or something like that; that's not the case. That's not what he's saying here. Our attire should be for the expectation of glorifying our God and not glorifying ourselves.

This was one of the main issues that the children of Israel had during the time of Isaiah. When you read through the book of Isaiah, you see that they had all their anklets and charms, and their whole point was to entice men. There was a reason for it during that day; many men died in battle, and Isaiah talks about how there were seven women to one man. So, why do you think all the women were dressed that way? They were trying to attract a man. God, through Isaiah, says, "Hey, don't do this. This isn't what God has called you to." Paul says the same thing to the church in his time.

And then we get to a verse that has caused such problems within the church: "Let a woman learn in silence."

With all subjection, I suffer not a woman to teach nor usurp authority over men, but to be in silence. Now herein is another issue that the church comes up with. I just said in those verses, 8 through 10, that this had a lot to do with culture, that the women were to adorn themselves in a way that was modest in that culture. Some people say, "Well, now Paul says that women are not to teach or have authority over a man, and that was just a cultural thing."

Well, hold on a second. Paul explains it in the very next verse. Why is he saying this? Was this a cultural thing or a doctrinal thing? For Adam was formed first before Eve, and Adam was not deceived, but the woman being deceived was in transgression. He gives the reason for this doctrine that the woman is not to have authority over a man.

Now, there are a lot of ladies who have a hard time with this, and I meet them at the Bible College all the time because they confront me and say, "Hey, wait a minute, does this mean I can't serve God?" No. In the very next chapters, Paul is going to speak about women being deaconesses in the church, being servants within the church. Women do serve within the church. In fact, he speaks about the widows in this passage and how they are great servants within the body of Christ.

But notice what Paul says here, and this is another verse that people kind of stumble over: verse 15. Notwithstanding, she shall be saved in childbearing if they continue in the faith and charity and holiness with sobriety. Some people say, "Wait a minute, what's this all about? The woman's going to be saved through the work of childbearing? That's how salvation is going to come?" No, that's not what he's saying, although that's been taught at some points in the church.

Some people say that the saved in childbearing speaks of Jesus, who came from the seed of a woman. However, this is after the fact, after that happened, that Paul is saying this. I believe what's being said here is that this is an opportunity for a woman to have this kind of leadership and ministry within the family.

You see, God intends that marriages bring forth a godly heritage. Malachi speaks of that in Malachi chapter 3, I believe it is. It is God's desire that children be raised up in the fear and admonition of the Lord. This is a great ministry that God has given to a woman. She has the opportunity for this kind of service within the household to raise up her family in the training and admonition of the Lord.

Now, the husband, the father, is to be involved in that very much as well, but the woman has a lot more interaction with her children.

In raising children in the fear and admonition of the Lord, Paul discusses this later in 1 Timothy as well. He emphasizes that men are the masters of the house, responsible for taking care of the family in the home. This does not mean that they are the priests of the household, as that title is given to the husband. However, the woman, although not given the opportunity to teach or have authority in the church, does have the opportunity to teach and hold a certain level of authority within the household with her children. This is an important work because God has called marriages to raise godly offspring.

Some may argue that it is unfair not to have the opportunity to be a pastor in the church. However, it is a ministry that God has called a man to do, and this relates to what Paul says because Adam was formed first and then Eve. God established a certain hierarchy in creation. Additionally, it is noted that Eve was deceived, which presents a danger. There is a headship that God has set up: Christ is the head of the church, and He has designated that man is the head over the household as well. God has also called men to be heads over the church. Thus, we see the headship of Christ and the headship of men over the church as part of God's ordained structure.

This does not mean that women cannot serve God in the church. On the contrary, there are many great godly women throughout the book of Acts and Paul's letters who served in remarkable capacities. Church history is filled with women who have served God in significant ways. However, as the leader of the church, God has ordained that the man would occupy that position.

Some may ask, what if there is no man to lead? In that case, it is essential to start praying. It is a sad fact that in many mission fields, there are often more women willing to go out into those fields. This may be because men tend to be more fearful of stepping out in faith. If you read through any missions books, you will find that typically two-thirds of missionaries are women. They seem to be more willing to step out by faith than men. Sometimes, men need a good push, and my wife is very good at providing that.

In chapter 3, Paul addresses the men directly. He states that if a man desires the office of a bishop, he desires a good work. It is an important and commendable thing to desire to serve God. In this chapter, Paul outlines how these men are to lead the church and the qualities that a man in leadership should possess, including being vigilant, sober, of good behavior, and hospitable.

Able to teach, not given to wine. That means that he's not a drunkard, not a striker, or greedy for filthy lucre, which is desiring money. He's to be patient and not a brawler, not covetous. He is one who rules his household well, not a novice, as mentioned in verse 6. He should not be someone who is just really young in the faith, but someone who has been tested and tried in the faith for a period of time. Moreover, he, as stated in verse 7, must have a good report of those who are outside, lest he fall into reproach and the snare of the devil.

Then, he speaks to deacons, that they be grave and not double-tongued, that they be sober-minded. They should not be given to much wine or greedy for filthy lucre. A deacon, unlike a bishop, who is an overseer—one who oversees a ministry or an elder—is a servant. Remember in Acts chapter 7, they ordained seven deacons who served those widows who were not being taken care of in Acts 6 and 7.

In our modern-day church, deacons are the people who lead our children's ministry, the cleaning crews here on a Sunday morning, ushers, greeters, and those who watch the parking lot and manage the video ministry. Every area of service involves deacons. Overseers are typically those in a pastoral or elder position who administer that work. They ensure that the work gets done, that there are people to do the work, and that they are equipped to fulfill their roles.

These things go hand in hand. You can't have a church function without servants and deacons, and you can't have a church function without those who ensure that everything is administered properly and that people are trained to do it. This is what God has set up. Paul speaks of deacons and deaconesses in his letter to Timothy, telling him that this is what he wants him to establish. He wants him to charge the church to function in this way because there will be those who come in and try to disrupt.

The church needs to have some sort of hierarchy and plan. It needs to be founded on solid doctrine. The Spirit expressly says in chapter 4, verse 1, that in the latter times, some will depart from the faith and give heed to seducing spirits and doctrines of demons. There are those who will come in and bring false doctrine, heresy, seducing spirits, and doctrines of demons—things that lead people away. They will speak lies and hypocrisy, having their conscience seared with a hot iron. They will forbid marriage.

Commanding to abstain from meats which God has created to be received with thanksgiving by those who believe and know the truth. For every creature of God is good, and nothing is to be refused if it is received with thanksgiving. For it is sanctified by the word of God and prayer.

If you put the brethren in remembrance of these things, you shall be a good minister of Jesus Christ, nourished up in the words of faith and of a good doctrine whereunto you have attained. But refuse profane and old wives' fables and exercise yourself towards godliness. He says to walk in and exercise yourself towards godliness. Why? For bodily exercise profits little. That's a verse we all love, isn't it? Bodily exercise profits little, but godliness is profitable unto all things. It's an important truth to recognize.

Now, notice that it does say that bodily exercise does profit little. In fact, there's a gem up at the Bible College in Marietta, and they call it Profits Little Gem. Bodily exercise does profit little, but godliness is profitable unto all things. It is important to be strengthened in godliness, having a promise of life that now is and that which is to come. You see, bodily exercise only has a profit of fitness here in this life, but godliness is profitable both in this life and in the life to come.

This is a faithful saying and worthy of all acceptance. What's a faithful saying and worthy of all acceptance? Well, exercise yourself towards godliness because it's profitable. That's a faithful saying, and we should accept it. For therefore, we both labor and suffer reproach because we trust in the living God, who is the Savior of all men, especially those that believe.

Jesus is the Savior of all men. He is adequate to save all mankind. There are some within certain corners of the church that believe in something called limited atonement. They believe that Jesus' death on the cross is only sufficient to save those who are elect. It's not sufficient to save all mankind, only those that are elect. This is a false doctrine. This is not true because here we read that Jesus is the Savior of all mankind. He is adequate; His work on the cross is sufficient to save all mankind.

However, it is only effective in those that believe. So, His work on the cross is sufficient to save all mankind, but it is effective only in those that believe. These things command.

And teach, he says. Again, he charges them: Command these things. Teach these things. And don't let anyone despise your youth; be an example to believers. Stand up and be an example, Timothy, of those who believe. Be an example in the Word. You know the Word of God because, as we'll see in 2 Timothy next week, you've studied to show yourself approved.

In 2 Timothy 2, verse 15, it says, "Study to show yourself approved unto God as a workman who needs not be ashamed, rightly dividing the Word of truth." So Paul says, Timothy, you need to be an example in your knowledge and understanding of the Word. But not only that, you must also be an example in your conduct. The way you live should reflect the Word of God. When people look at the way you live, they should say, "Yep, that's a Christian," because he is a person of honesty, integrity, self-control, and perseverance.

You need to be an example in the Word, in conduct, and in love—the way you love God and the way you love people. The greatest commandment in the Scriptures is to love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, mind, and strength. The second is like it: love your neighbor as yourself. We need to be those who are examples of love towards God and towards people.

Additionally, we are to be examples of those who are filled with the Spirit. Now, how do we know if a person is filled with the Spirit? What will be seen? The fruit of the Spirit, that's right: love, joy, peace, kindness, gentleness, and self-control. But not only are we to be examples in the Word, conduct, love, and Spirit, but also in faith. We need to be those who are willing to take steps of faith and in purity. The word "purity" there is the same root word for "saint," which we find in Scripture. We need to be those who are holy in our lives, maintaining a certain level of holiness—not because we've perfected it on our own, but because Christ is working in us.

He continues to exhort Timothy: "Till I come, give attention to reading, to exhortation, and to doctrine." How do we deal with false doctrines, deceiving spirits, and doctrines of demons? How do we address those things coming into the church? I think the best way to deal with it is to continue in the reading, exhortation, and doctrine of the Scriptures.

The word "reading" there, if you look at its original definition in Greek, speaks of owning it. We don't just read it and gloss over it. You can read the Bible in such a way that you just read the words, walk away, and not even remember what you read.

James talks about this in his letter, where he speaks about the person who is a hearer of the word but not a doer of the word. It's like they look in the mirror, then walk away and forget what they saw. There are ways that we can mindlessly read the Bible without considering what it says. However, the word "reading" here speaks of owning it, where it becomes a part of you. As David spoke of in Psalm 119, we are to hide the word of God in our hearts.

He mentions reading as an exhortation. The word "exhortation" means to come alongside with a call. Once you've owned the Scriptures and made them a part of your life, you can take them to other people and say, "Hey, let's follow the Lord. Come with me, and let's serve Him and follow Him in this way." That is what an exhortation is.

Doctrine means teaching. We need to be those who own and understand the Scriptures on our own. We preach the Scriptures, which is exhortation, and we give doctrine, which is teaching the Scriptures. If we understand the Scriptures, having read and owned them, and we are preaching and teaching them, then it will address almost every heresy that could come into the church. That is why Calvary Chapel does what we do here.

I read the Scriptures on my own. I take time devotionally to go through the Word of God and study it independently. Then I preach the Word of God and teach it. Pastor Josh, Pastor Richard, Pastor Eric, Ken Pilbin, and all the ladies within the women's ministry do the same. We read it for ourselves so that we own it and understand it. We preach it and teach it. Why? Because that is the best way to deal with heresy.

If the body of Christ knows the Word of God, when something contrary to it comes in, they raise the red flag and say, "Wait a minute, I don't see that in the Bible." But heresy often comes into the church and stays when a church does not know the Word of God. Sadly, many churches do not give attention to reading, exhortation, and doctrine.

If a church is not focused on reading, teaching, and preaching the Word of God, it becomes susceptible to seducing spirits and doctrines of devils. Such a church can fall into heresy and be swept away.

Do not neglect the gift that is in you, which was given to you by prophecy through the laying on of hands of the presbytery. Meditate on these things. Give yourself completely to them. Why? So that your profiting may appear to all. Earlier, in verse 12, he told them to be an example. Paul says that if you do these things, then you will be an example. Take heed unto yourself and unto the doctrine.

Continue in them, for in doing so, you shall both save yourself and those that hear you. Then, he goes on in chapter 5 to speak about discipline, church discipline, and how you are to interact with people who are unruly. He says not to rebuke someone who is an elder, someone who is older than you in the faith. Don't come there and browbeat them or chastise them; instead, entreat them. The word "entreat" there is the very same word that's translated as "exhortation." Exhort them. This is the very same work that the Holy Spirit does.

Now, remember in John when we read that the Spirit is our helper? The word "helper" in the original language, or "comforter," is "parakletos." The word "exhortation" or "entreat" here is "parakaleo." It means to come alongside; that's "para," meaning with, and "kaleo," meaning to call. The Holy Spirit is the one who comes alongside us and calls us. He entreats us, saying, "Hey, don't go down that road. Let's go this way."

He says here not to rebuke an elder. Don't just chastise them and say, "How dare you do this?" Instead, come alongside and call them, saying, "Hey, that's not what you should be doing. Let's go this way." That is what it means to entreat or exhort. Entreat or exhort an older man as a father, a younger man as a brother, an older woman as a mother, and a younger woman as a sister, with all purity.

Then, he tells the church and Timothy that they are to honor those who are widows. However, there is a certain kind of widow that he refers to as a "real widow." He explains that there are some widows who have family members, and the church can defer taking care of their needs because those family members should take care of them.

There are other widows, who he speaks about in this chapter, who are younger, and he encourages them, if they are younger, to remarry. But there are some widows who are left alone, as mentioned in verse 5, who are desolate and have nothing. Paul says the church has an obligation, given by God, to take care of them and to minister to them.

However, they are to minister to these widows, who have a calling and a work that God has called them to within the body of Christ. They are to continue in prayer and supplication, as stated in verse 5, night and day. They are to be those who are a part of the church. We see a great example of this in the Gospel of Luke. Remember when Jesus, as a young child, was taken up to the temple, and there was a widow at the temple? Do you remember her name?

Anna spoke about the widow at the temple. What did she do there? She was constantly praying and prophesying when Jesus was brought there. She was a widow, similar to what Paul discusses here. She was taken care of by the church in Israel, and there are widows within the body of Christ who are also cared for. Paul emphasizes that these widows should be honored. The word "honor" here refers to taking care of their financial needs and so forth.

In verse 17, Paul states that the elders, the leaders who rule well, should be counted as deserving of double honor. They should also be taken care of, especially those who labor in the word and in teaching and doctrine. Not only should the church support those widows who are truly in need, as Paul describes—widows who have no one else and have been left desolate—but the church should also honor and provide for its leaders, particularly those who work hard in teaching the word.

When Paul talks about honoring them, he is referring to financially supporting them. How do we know this? Verse 18 states, "For the scripture says, you shall not muzzle the ox as he treads out the corn, and a laborer is worthy of his wages or his reward." Therefore, these elders should also be taken care of.

Paul continues by advising that against an elder, one should not receive an accusation without two or three witnesses. If someone accuses one of these elders of wrongdoing, there must be more than one witness—two or three witnesses are required. However, if an elder is found to be in sin, they should be rebuked before everyone so that the rest may fear.

It is important to note that Paul instructs to rebuke them before everybody so that the rest do not fear. He does not say to kick them out and discard them. The church has a sad history of ostracizing leaders who fail, treating them as damaged goods and avoiding any association with them. But Paul emphasizes that they should be rebuked publicly so that others may learn from the situation. While they may no longer hold their position of leadership, they are still part of the fellowship.

Paul goes on to give another charge in verse 21.

You're not to give preferential treatment to anybody or show partiality because God is not partial. He is not a respecter of persons. Lay hands suddenly on no man. Don't put anybody into a position of leadership quickly; they need to be tested and tried. Lay hands quickly upon nobody, neither be a partaker of another man's sins. Keep yourself pure.

Drink no longer water, but use a little wine for your stomach's sake and for other infirmities. It appears that Timothy had a lot of health issues as he was in this ministry. Of course, they didn't have purified water in that day, and there were all kinds of different things. They didn't have the cool little SteriPen that you put in the water to kill all the bugs. So, he says to drink a little wine for your stomach. He said it's okay if you drink a little wine for your stomach.

Now, this brings up an interesting issue about drinking and partaking of wine or alcohol. The Scripture is very clear: do not be drunk with wine. However, we see there is an area where drinking a little wine is fine. I choose not to drink alcohol, and there's a reason for that. I believe that in Proverbs chapter 31, we read the exhortation of King Lemuel's mother, or really Solomon's mother. She says it's not for kings to drink strong drink or alcohol. Therefore, I believe for a person in a position of leadership, it's important to abstain from that, and it's good to do so. So, I choose to abstain.

Luckily, we have purified water in our days. If you travel to Europe, you will find that the drinking of beer, wine, or alcohol is not as taboo as it is here in America. Maybe we'll talk about this another time because we're running out of time. One of the things you find is that America comes from a history of prohibition. Ever since our nation was founded, especially on very biblical and puritanical views, we have looked at alcohol as being wicked and evil. This perspective has invaded our culture to the point where we look at someone who drinks alcohol and think, "Oh my goodness, I can't believe they're drinking a glass of wine with dinner."

But you go to Europe, especially in Germany, and if you were to say, "Oh yeah, you can't drink that; God doesn't like it when you drink that beer," they would look at you and say, "What? I had no idea!" They wouldn't know. So, we'll talk about that another time.

He says in verse 24, "Some men's sins are open beforehand, going before them to judgment, and some men follow after." Now remember, he just said not to lay hands on anyone quickly.

Let them be tested so you're not a partaker with their sin and that you don't endorse their sin. We can do a really good job of putting on a face and pretending everything is right. I don't have any sin. That's what the Pharisees did. There are some people whose sin is open; everybody sees it, and they think, "Man, that guy is a wicked, wretched sinner." There are others who hide it really well. Some people's sins go before them into judgment. It's like everyone sees it, and they think, "Man, that guy's going to be in trouble."

There are others whom you and I will never know carry any sort of sin until they stand before the Lord, and all things are open and laid bare. People need to be tested. Likewise, the good works of some are manifest beforehand, but those that are otherwise cannot be hid. There are people whose good works everyone sees. For example, on a Sunday morning, when I stand up and teach the Word, a lot of people come up and say, "Oh, that was a great message." However, there are many people who serve God daily, weekly, all the time here at this church, and you'll never know their names.

You'll never see them, but God sees them. They are here cleaning bathrooms, tidying up the rooms, or working on the cleaning crew. They do things behind the scenes, and no one will ever know that they answer phones on Monday nights when the message is being broadcast on Cox Cable. No one will ever know that they are the ones who wash the windows, but God knows, and He sees.

Just as we can clearly identify that someone is a wicked sinner, there are others who hide it really well. Some people look like they are the best servants in the world, while there are others you just never know about. But God sees, and He knows.

In chapter 6, Paul speaks a little more to pastoral motives, specifically regarding wealth. Some people get into the ministry because they want to be wealthy. However, the ministry is not a place to enter with the goal of becoming wealthy. For some reason, there are people who look up to it, thinking, "Oh, if I could just attain that, then everything would be okay." Many of the people in the early church, such as those in Timothy's church in Ephesus, Luke's church in Philippi, or Titus's church in Crete, were slaves.

Here, Paul speaks directly to the slaves. He says, "Let as many servants as are under the yoke count their own masters worthy of all honor." We may not have slavery in the same way here in San Diego County, but some might feel like slaves because they work for a company that treats them poorly. To those who are employees, he says to count your own masters worthy of honor. Why? That the name of God...

And his doctrine be not blasphemed. You see, you are a witness of God in your workplace. Whether you realize it or not, people know that you go to church, especially if you have a little fish on your car or a Bible in your office. Whatever it may be, people know, and they are watching. They want to see if you really live what you teach and what you say.

And they that have believing masters, let them not despise them because they are brethren, but rather do them service because they are faithful and beloved partakers of the benefit. These things teach and exhort. There again, he says to teach and exhort these things. If any man teach otherwise and consent not unto the wholesome words, even the words of our Lord Jesus Christ and to the doctrine which is according to godliness, he is proud, knowing nothing. If someone teaches contrary to these things, he doesn't know what he's talking about.

Doting about questions and strifes of words brings envy, strife, railings, evil surmisings, perverse disputings of men of corrupt minds, destitute of the truth, supposing that gain is godliness. From such, withdraw yourself. Notice that they suppose that gain is godliness. Because their group is growing, they think everything is going well, or because they've received a lot of wealth, they must be doing well and following God.

Now, there are some who teach today that if you are a Christian, you are going to be wealthy. That is not what the Scriptures say, and this is exactly what Paul was speaking against. They suppose that because they have gain, they are godly. Paul says to depart from such people. Why? Because godliness with contentment is great gain. Godliness with contentment is great gain. Recognizing that I have what I need and that the Lord has taken care of everything I have while I seek to follow Him—that is great gain.

For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain that we will carry nothing out. Boy, isn't that an important verse for the church in America today? We brought nothing into this world, and it is certain that we will take nothing out. Having food and clothing, let us be content. But they that desire to be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and hurtful lusts, which drown men in destruction and perdition.

For the love of money is the root of all evil. Some verses in some Bibles say that a love of money is the root of all evil, but the original language is very clear; the definite article is used. The love of money...

The love of money is the root of all evil. While some have coveted after it, they have erred from the faith and pierced themselves through with many sorrows. There are those who desire wealth; all they want is money. The love of money is the root of all kinds of evil.

But thou, O man of God, flee these things and follow after righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, and meekness. Fight the good fight of faith. Notice the three F's that Paul gives us: flee these things, follow after the spiritual gifts, and then fight the good fight of faith. Those are the things that you and I are exhorted to do.

Lay hold of eternal life, whereunto you are also called and have professed a good profession before many witnesses. I give thee charge again, he says, in the sight of God, who quickens all things, before Christ Jesus, who before Pontius Pilate witnessed a good confession. Keep this commandment without spot, unrebukable, until the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ.

In His times, He shall show who is the blessed and only Potentate, the King of Kings, and the Lord of Lords, who only hath immortality, dwelling in light which no man can approach unto. Whom no man has seen nor can see, to whom be honor and power and everlasting dominion. Amen.

Charge them that are rich in this world that they be not high-minded nor trust in uncertain riches, but in the living God, who gives us richly all things to enjoy. He says, "Listen, speak to those who are rich." He spoke to those desiring to be rich and having a love of money, cautioning them.

Then he speaks to those who are very wealthy and says, "Don't think of yourself as though you're something special because you have this. Don't trust in those uncertain riches, for they could be here one day and gone tomorrow, especially if you invest with Bernie Madoff."

But don't trust in those things; trust in the living God, the one who gives everything that we have need of, and He gives those things to enjoy. Tell those that are rich to do good, to be rich in good works, and to be ready to distribute, willing to communicate.

He says to tell those that are rich that they should be rich in good works as well, and that they would be ready to give to those in need and willing to share, laying up in store for themselves a good foundation against the time to come, that they may lay hold of eternal life.

He says it's certain that we can carry nothing out of this world as it relates to our riches. Silver, gold, rubies, and all these precious things will not accompany us into the new world. You've probably heard that great story from years ago about the man who besought the Lord for his entire life, pleading, "Lord, please, please, please let me bring with me just one suitcase when I come into heaven." He prayed, sought the Lord, and fasted, and finally, God said, "Okay, fine, I'll let you bring just one suitcase with you."

He lugged this great suitcase into heaven, and everyone was wondering what was inside. When he opened it up, there were bars of gold in the suitcase. One of the angels turned to another angel and said, "Why did he bring all that asphalt?" We are not going to bring any of our worldly riches into heaven. However, Jesus tells us to lay up for ourselves treasures in heaven. How do we do that? By serving Him here, by using what we have now for His kingdom, whether it's our time, our energy, or whatever wealth the Lord has given to us. We use it for His kingdom and lay up for ourselves treasures in heaven.

He says, "Oh Timothy, that which is committed to your trust, avoid profane and vain babblings and oppositions of science falsely so called." I'll just leave that one with you as you consider the sciences of our world today, which some professing have erred concerning the faith. Some seeking after those things have caused themselves to drift away from the faith. But grace be with you. Amen.

Let's stand and pray. Father, I do praise You that You have given us very clear instruction about how we are to live and function as the body of Christ. Not only as the body of Christ, but You have also given us clear instruction for those who are leaders within the body of Christ. Lord, I pray that You would strengthen myself, the elders, and the pastors of this church, as well as the other leaders here, to be able to live as we read in this passage. Lord, may we be those who own the Scriptures, who know it, and who have studied to show ourselves approved. We are those who teach and preach Your word.

False doctrines creep in, and this body would know to identify them and say, "No, that's not right."

Lord, I also pray that you would help us to be those who are not covetous for worldly and earthly gain. If you have given us riches, and we live in the richest nation in the entire world, help us to use those for your glory and for your kingdom. This includes not just the riches of monetary wealth, but also the time that we have.

God, I pray that you would stir us to be those who are serving you, loving you, and loving your people. Help us to love this world as you love it. You love this world so much that you gave your own life; you laid down your life. I pray that because of the love you have given us for this world, we would do the same.

We ask this in Jesus' name. Amen.