Paul's Epistles – I Timothy – Part 10: Slaves, False Teachers & Timothy’s Charge

Paul's Epistles – I Timothy – Part 10:

Slaves, False Teachers & Timothy’s Charge

Pastor Bruce A. Shields

House of Faith Church | www.PS127.org | www.TruthDigest.org | Online Audio Files

SERMON INTRODUCTION

This letter from Paul to Timothy will be the next “epistle” examine.

Immediately on his release from his first imprisonment before he visited Spain (Romans 15:24; Philemon 22), Paul more than likely visited Macedonia, Ephesus, etc. Not being able to stay long at Ephesus, he left Timothy to take charge of the work.

This parting was a tough trial to Timothy (I Timothy 1:3; II Timothy 1:4).

To encourage and instruct Timothy (who was sensitive and timid, and not strong (II Timothy 5:23 frequently upset stomach because of nerves), Paul wrote and forwarded this letter from Corinth.

PREVIOUSLY

False Doctrine and the Law

The Lord’s Grace and Timothy’s Charge

Pray for All

Requirements for Elders and Deacons

Paul’s Reason for writing Timothy this letter

Truth Versus Apostasy

Widows

Elder’s

TODAY’S SERMON

Slaves, False Teachers & Timothy’s Charge

 SCRIPTURE REFERENCE

I Timothy 6 (65 AD)

All who are under the yoke of slavery should consider their masters worthy of full respect, so that God’s name and our teaching may not be slandered. ² Those who have believing masters should not show them disrespect just because they are fellow believers. Instead, they should serve them even better because their masters are dear to them as fellow believers and are devoted to the welfare of their slaves.

These are the things you are to teach and insist on. ³ If anyone teaches otherwise and does not agree to the sound instruction of our Lord Jesus Christ and to godly teaching, ⁴ they are conceited and understand nothing. They have an unhealthy interest in controversies and quarrels about words that result in envy, strife, malicious talk, evil suspicions ⁵ and constant friction between people of corrupt mind, who have been robbed of the truth and who think that godliness is a means to financial gain.

⁶ But godliness with contentment is great gain. ⁷ For we brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out of it. ⁸ But if we have food and clothing, we will be content with that. ⁹ Those who want to get rich fall into temptation and a trap and into many foolish and harmful desires that plunge people into ruin and destruction. ¹⁰ For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs.

¹¹ But you, man of God, flee from all this, and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, endurance and gentleness. ¹² Fight the good fight of the faith. Take hold of the eternal life to which you were called when you made your good confession in the presence of many witnesses. ¹³ In the sight of God, who gives life to everything, and of Christ Jesus, who while testifying before Pontius Pilate made the good confession, I charge you ¹⁴ to keep this command without spot or blame until the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ, ¹⁵ which God will bring about in his own time—God, the blessed and only Ruler, the King of kings and Lord of lords, ¹⁶ who alone is immortal and who lives in unapproachable light, whom no one has seen or can see. To him be honor and might forever. Amen.

¹⁷ Command those who are rich in this present world not to be arrogant nor to put their hope in wealth, which is so uncertain, but to put their hope in God, who richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment. ¹⁸ Command them to do good, to be rich in good deeds, and to be generous and willing to share. ¹⁹ In this way they will lay up treasure for themselves as a firm foundation for the coming age, so that they may take hold of the life that is truly life.

²⁰ Timothy, guard what has been entrusted to your care. Turn away from godless chatter and the opposing ideas of what is falsely called knowledge, ²¹ which some have professed and in so doing have departed from the faith.    Grace be with you all.

The overall message of this epistle to the church is;

“We are designed to accomplish” - I Timothy 4:12 “Don’t let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith and in purity.”

I. SLAVES (SERVANTS, EMPLOYEES)

a. Slaves (servants, employees) under the yoke

                                                                 i. In Paul’s day slaves were common

                                                              ii. Some were servants, maids, farmers, indentured

                                                           iii. Some traded labor in fields for room and board, or land

                                                            iv. Today we may equate this with employment

1. We are bound by contract when hired to do a certain job for a determined reward

2. Masters are employers, slaves (servants) employees

b. Consider you master (employer) worthy of respect

                                                                 i. When working for your employer, work as if for the Lord

                                                              ii. Regardless of whether the employer deserves it

                                                           iii. Because you represent the Lord in the world, you are the light in dark places

                                                            iv. Paul says to give respect, “So that God’s name may not be slandered.”

c. If your master (employer) is a believer

                                                                 i. Do not show him disrespect because you are equal in Christ

                                                              ii. But serve them even better!

                                                           iii. Employers who are believers are (instructed to be) devoted to the welfare of their employees

II.      FALSE TEACHERS

a. These are the things you are to teach and insist on

                                                                 i. Teach because it is truth, insist because there will be resistance

                                                              ii. If anyone teaches otherwise, and does not agree with sound doctrine, they are conceited and understand nothing!

b. False teachers

                                                                 i. False Teachers

1. Do not agree with sound instruction of our Lord Jesus Christ

2. Do not agree with godly teaching

a. Luke 20:25; Matthew 5:44; 11:28-30

3. They are conceited and understand nothing

4. They have unhealthy interest in controversies and quarrels

a. Pointless debates that have ruined churches and even denominations

5. Resulting in envy, strife, malicious talk, evil suspicions, constant friction between people of corrupt mind

6. They have been robbed of truth and think godliness is a means to financial gain

c. What is of great gain

                                                                 i. But godliness with contentment is great gain

1. We are thankful to God for what we have, this is contentment

2. We brought nothing into this world, and we can take nothing out of it

3. If we have food and clothing, we will be content with that

                                                              ii. Those who want to get rich fall into temptation and a trap (sacrifice principles)

                                                           iii. and into many foolish and harmful desires that plunge people into ruin and destruction

                                                            iv. For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil

                                                               v. Some, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many grief’s

III.   MAN OF GOD

a. But you, man of God

                                                                 i. flee from all this, and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, endurance and gentleness

                                                              ii. Fight the good fight of faith

1. Take hold of eternal life to which you were called

b. Command those who are rich in this present world

                                                                 i. Not to be arrogant

                                                              ii. Not to put their hope in wealth

                                                           iii. But put their hope in God who richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment

                                                            iv. Command them to do good

                                                               v. To be rich in “good deeds”

                                                            vi. To be generous and willing to share

                                                         vii. In this way they lay up treasure for themselves as a firm foundation for the coming age, so that they may take hold of the life that is truly life

c. Guard what has been entrusted to you

                                                                 i. Turn away from godless chatter

                                                              ii. and the opposing ideas of what is falsely called knowledge

                                                           iii. Which some have professed, and by doing so have departed the faith

CONCLUSION – PAUL’S MESSAGE TO TIMOTHY

In I Timothy, Paul has instructed Timothy about False Doctrines, The Law, Paul’s own confession, forgiveness and conversion, so “Pray for All!”

Paul also spoke of the requirements for the Elders and Deacons, Truth verses Apostasy, instructions for caring for widows, Elder’s instructions and finally today’s message about slaves, false teachers and Paul’s final charge and instruction to Timothy.

 Next week we will begin looking at II Timothy

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Christmas 2017 - Is There Room in Your Heart?

Christmas 2017

Is There Room in Your Heart?

Pastor Bruce A. Shields

House of Faith Church | www.PS127.org | www.TruthDigest.org | Online Audio Files

SERMON INTRODUCTION

TODAY’S SERMON

“Is There Room in Your Heart?”

SCRIPTURE REFERENCE

Luke 2:1-7

“In those days Caesar Augustus issued a decree that a census should be taken of the entire Roman world. ²(This was the first census that took place while Quirinius was governor of Syria.) ³And everyone went to his own town to register.

 ⁴So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem the town of David, because he belonged to the house and line of David. ⁵He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child. ⁶While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, ⁷and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.”

I.       To compare the birth of Christ at Bethlehem with his birth in our hearts

a.    God has not left this world without a yearly witness of the birth of his son

                                                             i.      "The birth of Christ means little or nothing to us if he has not been born in our heart"

                                                         ii.      This time of year the witness that Christ came is everywhere

                                                      iii.      Yet there are still too many that know little or nothing of the true meaning

b.     We talk about room in the Inn, but Jesus never got into the Inn

                                                             i.      We’re really not certain where Christ was actually born. Some say a cave, some a barn, or perhaps a stable

                                                         ii.      We do know that it must have been around or near livestock because of the use of a manger for his cradle

                                                      iii.      It makes no difference where Christ was born if he is not born in your heart!!!

c.    Today I want to show the relation between our hearts, and the lowly stable God chose for the birthplace of His Son.

II.   BOTH ARE PLACES GOD HAS CHOSEN FOR HIS SON TO ENTER

a.    Don’t pity poor Joseph and Mary, God made the choice of where Jesus was to be born

                                                             i.      Jesus’ birthplace was ordained before the foundation of the world

                                                          ii.      Galatians 4:4-5

“⁴But when the time had fully come, God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under law, ⁵to redeem those under law, that we might receive the full rights of sons.”

                                                       iii.      The Prophet Micah (5:2) had foretold the place of his birth 700 years prior

“But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah,
    though you are small among the clans  of Judah,
out of you will come for me
    one who will be ruler over Israel,
whose origins are from of old,
    from ancient times.”

b.      Just as God had chose the time and place for Christ’s birth, God has chosen your heart for Him to dwell in;

                                                             i.      John 15:16

“You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you to go and bear fruit…”

                                                          ii.      Acts 9:15

“But the Lord said to Ananias, "Go! This man is my chosen instrument to carry my name before the Gentiles and their kings and before the people of Israel.”

                                                       iii.      Ephesians 1:4

“For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight.”

                                                         iv.      Ephesians 3:17-18

“I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, ¹⁷so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, ¹⁸ may have power, together with all the Lord’s holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, ¹⁹ and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.”

c.    BOTH ARE PLACES ARE UNWORTHY OF DIVINE ROYALTY

                                                             i.      Stables and Hearts are Dirty, Dark and Defiled places;

1.      Jeremiah 17:9

“The heart is deceitful above all things
       and beyond cure.
       Who can understand it?”

2.      Isaiah 64:6

“All of us have become like one who is unclean,
       and all our righteous acts are like filthy rags;
       we all shrivel up like a leaf,
       and like the wind our sins sweep us away.”

3.      I Timothy 1:15 - Paul

“Here is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners—of whom I am the worst.”

III.      Don’t get pridefull just because God chose you;

a.    I Corinthians 1:27-31

“²⁷But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong. ²⁸He chose the lowly things of this world and the despised things—and the things that are not—to cancel out the things that are, ²⁹so that no one may boast before him. ³⁰It 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. ³¹Therefore, as it is written: "Let him who boasts boast in the Lord."

There is no place on earth worthy of His presence;

                                                             i.      Romans 3:23

            “for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,”

                                                          ii.      Ecclesiastes 7:20

            “There is not a righteous man on earth
                who does what is right and never sins.”

Nobody cleaned up the stable before his arrival

(It is useless for us to attempt to clean up our own heart and make it a presentable place for Christ)

Jesus meets us where and how we are, just as he did the Samaritan, Zachaeus, Bartimaeus and Nicodemus

b.     BOTH THE STABLE AND OUR HEARTS ARE PLACES THAT GOD HAS CHOSEN FOR THE BIRTH OF HIS SON

                                                             i.       The birth of Christ was a spiritual birth. Just as Christ was born of the Spirit in the stable so the Holy Spirit wants to birth Christ in our hearts

1.      Matthew 1:20

“But after he had considered this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, "Joseph son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife, because what is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit.”

2.      John 3:6

“Flesh gives birth to flesh, but the Spirit gives birth to spirit.”

3.      John 1:14

“The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the One and Only, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.”

c.     The birth of Christ is what made all the difference in this stable and He can make all the difference in our lives when He is born in our hearts.

·         II Corinthians 5:17-19

“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come! ¹⁸All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation: ¹⁹that God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting men's sins against them. And he has committed to us the message of reconciliation.”

 Has Christ been born in your heart?

·        John 6:63-65

“⁶³The Spirit gives life; the flesh counts for nothing. The words I have spoken to you are spirit and they are life. ⁶⁴Yet there are some of you who do not believe." For Jesus had known from the beginning which of them did not believe and who would betray him. ⁶⁵He went on to say, "This is why I told you that no one can come to me unless the Father has enabled him."

Jesus KNEW from before creation who would NOT believe, and who would betray Him.

He DID NOT CAUSE THEM to not believe, or betray Him (as some teach predestination), rather, it is God’s will ALL come to Him.

I Timothy 2:3-5 “This is good and pleasing in the sight of God our Savior, 4who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth. 5For there is one God and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus”

Because He knew who would not believe and would betray Him, He CHOSE those who would believe, and “enabled” them to come to the Father through Christ Jesus.

How does he “enable” those?  By giving them the Holy Spirit.

BOTH THE STABLE AND THE HEART ARE PLACES FROM WHICH GOD HAS CHOSEN TO REVEAL HIS SON The Apostle Paul Called by God Galatians 1:15-17a “15But when God, who set me apart from birth and called me by his grace (Paul did not become a follower of Christ until later in life, but God, knowing Paul would serve Him well, called Him, and enabled him), was pleased 16to reveal his Son in me so that I might preach him among the Gentiles, I did not consult any man, 17nor did I go up to Jerusalem to see those who were apostles before I was…” (Also refutes those who teach Apostolic succession) The Greatest Witness is the Witness from the Heart  If Christ is Ever Revealed to this World it will be through us BOTH THE STABLE AND OUR HEARTS ARE PLACES THAT CANNOT BOAST OR CALL ATTENTION TO THEMSELVES What was the Focus of Attention? (Not the stable but the Baby!) Remember, the stable isn’t even mentioned by name! Our purpose is the call attention to Christ not ourselves! BOTH THE STABLE AND OUR HEARTS ARE PLACES THROUGH WHICH GOD DESIRES TO REACH A LOST WORLD  The stable was the gateway of God to reach the world Amazing that God would choose a stable, me, and you  I’m not going to let a stable or stones out witness me BOTH THE STABLE AND OUR HEARTS ARE PLACES THAT HAVE BEEN IMMORTALIZED BY THE FACT THAT THE LORD JESUS CHRIST HAS ENTERED INTO THEM  How many stables do you know of?  2000 years have not diminished the fame of this place  Immortality is the results of receiving Christ into your heart Colossians 1:27 “To them God has chosen to make known among the Gentiles the glorious riches of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.”

ALTAR CALL

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