Sunday, December 17, 2017

Paul's Epistles – I Timothy – Part 8: Widows

Paul's Epistles – I Timothy – Part 8:
Widows
Pastor Bruce A. Shields


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
Introduction of I Timothy
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


TODAY’S SERMON
Widows

 SCRIPTURE REFERENCE
I Timothy 5:1-16 (65 AD)
Do not rebuke an older man harshly, but exhort him as if he were your father. Treat younger men as brothers, older women as mothers, and younger women as sisters, with absolute purity.
Give proper recognition to those widows who are really in need. But if a widow has children or grandchildren, these should learn first of all to put their religion into practice by caring for their own family and so repaying their parents and grandparents, for this is pleasing to God. The widow who is really in need and left all alone puts her hope in God and continues night and day to pray and to ask God for help. But the widow who lives for pleasure is dead even while she lives.Give the people these instructions, so that no one may be open to blame.Anyone who does not provide for their relatives, and especially for their own household, has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever.
No widow may be put on the list of widows unless she is over sixty, has been faithful to her husband, 10 and is well known for her good deeds, such as bringing up children, showing hospitality, washing the feet of the Lord’s people, helping those in trouble and devoting herself to all kinds of good deeds.
11 As for younger widows, do not put them on such a list. For when their sensual desires overcome their dedication to Christ, they want to marry. 12 Thus they bring judgment on themselves, because they have broken their first pledge.13 Besides, they get into the habit of being idle and going about from house to house. And not only do they become idlers, but also busybodies who talk nonsense, saying things they ought not to. 14 So I counsel younger widows to marry, to have children, to manage their homes and to give the enemy no opportunity for slander. 15 Some have in fact already turned away to follow Satan.
16 If any woman who is a believer has widows in her care, she should continue to help them and not let the church be burdened with them, so that the church can help those widows who are really in need.
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. TREAT BELIEVERS AS FAMILY
a. Do not rebuke an older man harshly, but exhort him as if he were your father

                                                     i. Rebuke means to correct, but harshly means in a scolding way, in this use, disrespectfully

                                                  ii. Exhort means to encourage or insist

                                               iii. In other words, “Do not scold older men unkindly, but encourage them as if he were your father.”


ILLUSTRATION:
There was an older man in the church years ago who loved God, and did what he thought was best for himself, his family and the church.

An issue arrived and correction from the leadership of the church was in order.

I approached him with respect, because he was older than me, and corrected him, encouraging him to change his path.

Just because I approached him correctly, does not guarantee the man will listen, however your chances are much greater than a harsh, rude or disrespectful attack.


b. Treat younger men as brothers
                                                     i. As with treating older men as fathers, Paul’s instruction is for us to also treat younger men as brothers

                                                  ii. In essence, we are their “big brothers”, their role model

                                               iii. We, as older men, are to be the example to the younger men


c. Treat older women as mothers, and younger women as sisters, with absolute purity
                                                     i. Treating the older women as mothers is showing the same respect as treating the older men as fathers

                                                  ii. This too gives the example of how we are family
                                               iii. Treating younger women as sisters with absolute purity is a command to help stop some of the problems that were plaguing the church at this time, and now...sexual immorality

                                                iv. The key here is purity

                                                   v. Remember Paul’s instruction in 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.”


                                                vi. If we behave in the manner described to us in I Timothy 4:12, we will be the example we should be to other believers, as well as a light in this dark world to unbelievers.



II.        THE WIDOWS FAMILY SHOULD TAKE CARE OF HER
a. Identify those widows who are truly in need
                                                     i. Give proper recognition to those widows who are really in need. 

                                                  ii.  HOWEVER if a widow has children or grandchildren, these should learn first of all to put their religion into practice by caring for their own family and so repaying their parents and grandparents, for this is pleasing to God. 

                                               iii. If a widow has children or grandchildren, they should take care of her as repayment for her caring for them when they were children and in need.

                                                iv. A widow with a family is not considered a widow in need


b. The widow really in need ;
                                                     i. ... and left all alone puts her hope in God and continues night and day to pray and to ask God for help.  (She remains faithful to God)

                                                  ii. HOWEVER, the widow who lives for pleasure is dead even while she lives.


1. Meaning she has abandoned her spiritual life, and has returned to a life trying to fulfill the desires of her flesh.

                                               iii. Galatians 5:13-21 (FLESH) “You, my brothers and sisters, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the flesh; rather, serve one another humbly in love. 14 For the entire law is fulfilled in keeping this one command: “Love your neighbor as yourself.” 15 If you bite and devour each other, watch out or you will be destroyed by each other.

16 So I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. 17 For the flesh desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the flesh. They are in conflict with each other, so that you are not to do whatever you want. 18 But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law.

19 The acts of the flesh are obvious: sexual immorality (homosexuality, adultery, fornication - unmarried sex), impurity and debauchery (wickedness, depravity, corruption, dishonesty); 20 idolatry and witchcraft (controlling or manipulating people to do your will); hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions 21 and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God.

                                                iv. Galatians 5:22-26 (SPIRIT) But the fruit of the Spirit (produced by having the Spirit of God through keeping your faith) is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.24 Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. 25 Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit. 26 Let us not become conceited, provoking and envying each other.”


The widow who is really in need and left all alone puts her hope in God and continues night and day to pray and to ask God for help (She keeps in step with the Spirit). But the widow who lives for pleasure is dead even while she lives.


Give the people these instructions, so that no one may be open to blame.


c. Anyone NOT providing for their relatives,
                                                     i. especially their own household, has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever

                                                  ii. Denying the faith - If one is truly saved, they will do what the scriptures instruct, and that is to care for your family


                                               iii. Paul makes the point - If you don’t take care of your family, you are worse than the unbeliever, because event hey care for their own.

                                                iv. This is a continual tension point for believers. We are supposed to show the world the love of Christ, and yet, many times we see non-believers acting more generous, helping more causes, being kinder to their families, and in a few cases in scripture, they were actually holding themselves to HIGHER MORAL CONDUCT!

1. I Corinthians 5 Paul condemns incest in the church

2. I Corinthians 6:9-10 “...do you not know that wrongdoers will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: Neither the sexually immoral nor idolaters nor adulterers nor homosexuals 10 nor thieves nor the greedy nor drunkards nor slanderers nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God.”

3. We see in I Corinthians that even the Pagans were looking down on what was happening inside the church.

                                                   v. WE as believers, MUST hold ourselves to the standard of the Word, and not the world.

                                                vi. Let us be greater examples to the world on morality than the faithless pagans



III.     YOUNG WIDOWS
a. To qualify as a widow really in need
                                                                 i. VS 9-10 No widow may be put on the list of widows unless she is over sixty, has been faithful to her husband, 10 and is well known for her good deeds, such as bringing up children, showing hospitality, washing the feet of the Lord’s people, helping those in trouble and devoting herself to all kinds of good deeds.”

b. Younger widows should remarry
                                                                 i. As for younger widows, do not put them on such a list. For when their sensual desires overcome their dedication to Christ, they want to marry. 

                                                              ii. they get into the habit of being idle and going about from house to house. And not only do they become idlers, but also busybodies who talk nonsensesaying things they ought not to. 14 So I counsel younger widows to marry, to have children, to manage their homes and to give the enemy no opportunity for slander. 15 Some have in fact already turned away to follow Satan.

c. If you have a widow in your care, continue to help them
                                                     i. VS 16If any woman who is a believer has widows in her care, she should continue to help them and not let the church be burdened with them, so that the church can help those widows who are really in need.”


CONCLUSION – do not neglect your family or mistreat your church family

So Paul’s instruction to Timothy about the operation of the church, and how members are to behave consist of treating other believers in the church as family members, and the opposite sex in all purity.
Paul gives the definition of a true widow in need, and the instruction that a family needs to take care of its own, so the church is not financially burdened by taking care of people who have family that could take care of them.

 Next Paul will talk about the Elders and Slaves
  
Want to learn more about Salvation and Getting Saved?   

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