WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:04.500 the series on character counts. And the character 00:00:04.500 --> 00:00:08.380 trait that we're going to look at tonight is 00:00:08.380 --> 00:00:12.500 godliness. And so we'll be looking at that from 00:00:12.500 --> 00:00:16.160 a couple of perspectives. And so as we deal with 00:00:16.160 --> 00:00:20.120 that tonight, we'll have a good study hopefully 00:00:20.120 --> 00:00:23.039 in the Lord. So why don't we pray and then we'll 00:00:23.039 --> 00:00:25.600 get started. Father God, we just thank you so 00:00:25.600 --> 00:00:29.179 much for this night and for what you. will allow 00:00:29.179 --> 00:00:32.579 us to see in your word. And also, Father, for 00:00:32.579 --> 00:00:36.119 our prayer time today, we will lift our request 00:00:36.119 --> 00:00:39.380 up to you and ask that, Lord, that you would 00:00:39.380 --> 00:00:42.140 grant us the desires of our heart. And the desires 00:00:42.140 --> 00:00:44.719 of our heart is to worship and praise you and 00:00:44.719 --> 00:00:47.159 thank you for who you are. So tonight, Lord, 00:00:47.359 --> 00:00:51.479 protect me from me and grant us the openness 00:00:51.479 --> 00:00:54.500 that is needed tonight and allow your Holy Spirit 00:00:54.500 --> 00:00:57.649 to. just lead us and guide us and direct us in 00:00:57.649 --> 00:01:02.229 Jesus' name, amen. All right, so as I said, we'll 00:01:02.229 --> 00:01:06.969 be looking at godliness, but there's a story 00:01:06.969 --> 00:01:09.450 I need to tell you first because, you know, I 00:01:09.450 --> 00:01:12.930 always need to shut off with the story. And so 00:01:12.930 --> 00:01:17.370 this little boy went to the drug store and he 00:01:17.370 --> 00:01:21.049 asked if he could use their phone. And the drugist 00:01:21.049 --> 00:01:24.099 said, sure. He gave him the phone to use. and 00:01:24.099 --> 00:01:26.560 the little boy called the grocery store, local 00:01:26.560 --> 00:01:30.099 grocery store. And he asked, do you need a stock 00:01:30.099 --> 00:01:36.260 clerk? And the grocer said, no, we've got someone. 00:01:36.340 --> 00:01:41.140 He said, you know, someone to stock goods, carry 00:01:41.140 --> 00:01:43.700 packages out, sweep the floor. Do you need anyone 00:01:43.700 --> 00:01:46.439 like that? And the man said, no, we already have 00:01:46.439 --> 00:01:50.540 a boy that does that for us. But he said, well, 00:01:50.700 --> 00:01:57.200 does he do a good job? And maybe he's not adequate. 00:01:58.000 --> 00:02:00.500 But the grocer said, no, he's very adequate. 00:02:00.879 --> 00:02:03.859 And we're very satisfied with the board that 00:02:03.859 --> 00:02:06.780 we have here. Little fella said, well, thank 00:02:06.780 --> 00:02:10.960 you. And then he hung up. Well, the druggist 00:02:10.960 --> 00:02:13.080 said, well, I'm sorry to hear, son, that you 00:02:13.080 --> 00:02:16.740 didn't get the job. No, he said, you don't understand. 00:02:18.020 --> 00:02:20.879 I already have the job over there. I was just 00:02:20.879 --> 00:02:24.340 checking up on myself. I wanted to see if he 00:02:24.340 --> 00:02:29.120 really appreciated me. Just checking up on myself. 00:02:29.400 --> 00:02:33.060 How many of you remember the game Jenga? There's 00:02:33.060 --> 00:02:36.360 a few of you old enough to remember Jenga. I 00:02:36.360 --> 00:02:39.099 believe we've got a set of those blocks at home 00:02:39.099 --> 00:02:46.000 someplace. But this game Jenga, as we think about 00:02:46.000 --> 00:02:48.939 what we're gonna do tonight, so I study. We'll 00:02:48.939 --> 00:02:51.539 point our attentions toward this crucial characteristic, 00:02:51.639 --> 00:02:54.800 and that is godliness. And so we'll be looking 00:02:54.800 --> 00:02:57.599 at that. But more importantly, if you think about 00:02:57.599 --> 00:03:01.280 the whole idea of Jenga is to build blocks and 00:03:01.280 --> 00:03:04.120 stack them up. And you finally get to that point 00:03:04.120 --> 00:03:08.340 to where there's one block or two that is able 00:03:08.340 --> 00:03:11.919 to support the entire weight. And you have to 00:03:11.919 --> 00:03:15.400 be real careful putting those up. And so we think 00:03:15.400 --> 00:03:19.740 of Jenga. as we think about godliness and the 00:03:19.740 --> 00:03:24.319 fact that our structure as a believer, as our 00:03:24.319 --> 00:03:28.360 character can sometimes pivot and almost topple 00:03:28.360 --> 00:03:31.419 over based on our godliness. And so we're gonna 00:03:31.419 --> 00:03:34.400 look at godliness tonight because without godliness, 00:03:34.580 --> 00:03:38.860 the structure of our lives can seem to fall apart. 00:03:39.340 --> 00:03:41.240 And so that's what we wanna make sure that that 00:03:41.240 --> 00:03:44.240 doesn't happen to us. And so godliness, reverence, 00:03:44.580 --> 00:03:50.219 respect, piety, Toward God we've met and we probably 00:03:50.219 --> 00:03:53.759 know some godly people people that just have 00:03:53.759 --> 00:03:57.680 all the the the trademarks of being right on 00:03:57.680 --> 00:04:02.840 point for God and It's a it's a Greek word Eubacea 00:04:02.840 --> 00:04:07.159 it means godliness and so that that reverence 00:04:07.159 --> 00:04:11.180 I remember growing up and this is not to say 00:04:11.180 --> 00:04:13.939 that there's anything wrong with it or it's just 00:04:13.939 --> 00:04:19.269 different but The sanctuary was a place that 00:04:19.269 --> 00:04:21.870 you didn't just, kids didn't get a chance to 00:04:21.870 --> 00:04:25.550 run down the aisle or no one chewed gum in church. 00:04:25.889 --> 00:04:30.110 In fact, Sister Kay Bryant was her name. If she'd 00:04:30.110 --> 00:04:32.490 catch you chewing gum, she'd walk up and go. 00:04:36.089 --> 00:04:38.910 She had the white gloves on and she'd, right 00:04:38.910 --> 00:04:40.850 in front of you, you had, you know, it was like, 00:04:41.329 --> 00:04:44.129 you didn't dare not spit your gum out because 00:04:44.439 --> 00:04:47.779 Sister Kay Bryant in fact at one point in time 00:04:47.779 --> 00:04:50.300 would would point to a child that was acting 00:04:50.300 --> 00:04:54.819 up and do this and take him outside and tame 00:04:54.819 --> 00:05:01.120 their hides Yeah, I mean that was That was strict. 00:05:01.459 --> 00:05:04.800 You wouldn't dare do that now with your dog You 00:05:04.800 --> 00:05:07.139 wouldn't do that to anyone. But anyway, this 00:05:07.139 --> 00:05:10.540 is this is what happened at that time But so 00:05:10.540 --> 00:05:13.339 so tonight as we look at this a godly life points 00:05:13.339 --> 00:05:18.480 others to Christ. And this scriptural text is 00:05:18.480 --> 00:05:21.160 in 1st Timothy chapter 4. It's where we're going 00:05:21.160 --> 00:05:23.779 to be tonight. And it was written at the end 00:05:23.779 --> 00:05:26.139 of Paul's life, or toward the end of Paul's life. 00:05:26.800 --> 00:05:31.720 And so 1st Timothy challenged Paul's mentee to 00:05:31.720 --> 00:05:37.879 stand strong against false teachers and ungodly 00:05:37.879 --> 00:05:41.279 practices that had come up in the Ephesian church, 00:05:41.319 --> 00:05:45.000 or the church at Ephesus. And so this is where 00:05:45.000 --> 00:05:47.379 we'll be looking tonight. But more importantly, 00:05:47.500 --> 00:05:51.040 we'll be looking at verses six through 16. Excuse 00:05:51.040 --> 00:05:54.420 me. Yeah, six through 16. But we'll do a little 00:05:54.420 --> 00:05:58.240 bit of background. So this is part of the pastoral 00:05:58.240 --> 00:06:01.779 epistles. And Timothy is grouped with a collection 00:06:01.779 --> 00:06:05.459 of Pauline letters. And it's first and second 00:06:05.459 --> 00:06:08.759 Timothy and Titus. So we're looking at the churches 00:06:08.759 --> 00:06:14.509 of Ephesus and Crete. And so, to get us started 00:06:14.509 --> 00:06:17.470 tonight, we need to look at the context of what's 00:06:17.470 --> 00:06:23.709 going on prior to Paul writing this, or as a 00:06:23.709 --> 00:06:26.589 cause for Paul to write this. Now, verse one 00:06:26.589 --> 00:06:30.470 through five is where we wanna go to in chapter 00:06:30.470 --> 00:06:36.329 four of First Timothy. Now the Spirit speaketh 00:06:36.329 --> 00:06:39.689 expressly that in the latter times some shall 00:06:39.689 --> 00:06:45.209 depart from the faith giving heed to seducing 00:06:45.209 --> 00:06:50.790 spirits and doctrines of devils, speaking lies 00:06:50.790 --> 00:06:55.269 in hypocrisy, having their conscience seared 00:06:55.269 --> 00:06:59.689 with a hot iron, forbidding to marry and commanding 00:06:59.689 --> 00:07:02.829 to abstain from meats which God has created to 00:07:02.829 --> 00:07:06.769 be received with thanksgiving of them which believe 00:07:06.769 --> 00:07:10.649 and know the truth. For every creature of God 00:07:10.730 --> 00:07:14.430 is good and nothing to be refused if it is received 00:07:14.430 --> 00:07:18.089 with thanksgiving. For it is sanctified by the 00:07:18.089 --> 00:07:22.110 word of God and prayer." The danger that was 00:07:22.110 --> 00:07:25.850 taking place at Ephesus was the fact that the 00:07:25.850 --> 00:07:29.470 apostasy was taking place. There were some that 00:07:29.470 --> 00:07:33.629 were there that were departing from the faith. 00:07:34.189 --> 00:07:41.269 In June 1997, there was an article in USA News 00:07:41.269 --> 00:07:44.930 and World Report that described a Virginia pastor 00:07:44.930 --> 00:07:48.709 who, this is what they wrote, would rather preach 00:07:48.709 --> 00:07:52.149 on Bosnia, if you remember Bosnia at the time, 00:07:52.610 --> 00:07:57.250 justice or world peace rather than Bible stories 00:07:57.250 --> 00:08:01.759 or personal salvation. This is an example of 00:08:01.759 --> 00:08:05.360 a man who departed from the faith and followed 00:08:05.360 --> 00:08:11.259 his own direction. And so there's also this deceiving 00:08:11.259 --> 00:08:14.699 spirits or demonic spirits and these are the 00:08:14.699 --> 00:08:17.879 angelic beings who rebelled against God and were 00:08:17.879 --> 00:08:21.500 thrown out of heaven that have reign here in 00:08:21.500 --> 00:08:24.839 the earth today. And so there was this danger 00:08:24.839 --> 00:08:28.379 of deception because of these deceiving spirits 00:08:28.379 --> 00:08:31.620 or seducing spirits. And when we think about 00:08:31.620 --> 00:08:36.639 the word seduce, it means to draw you away for 00:08:36.639 --> 00:08:40.779 something like the forbidden fruit for Adam and 00:08:40.779 --> 00:08:49.200 Eve. Eve was deceived and was seduced by a piece 00:08:49.200 --> 00:08:53.210 of fruit. There are other things that... fall 00:08:53.210 --> 00:08:57.169 into danger here as far as being seducing spirits. 00:08:57.610 --> 00:09:00.309 And then the doctrine of demons and the doctrine 00:09:00.309 --> 00:09:04.090 of devils, and it's no different now than it 00:09:04.090 --> 00:09:08.669 was back in the garden. When the devil said to 00:09:08.669 --> 00:09:13.330 Eve, speaking through the servant, he said, you 00:09:13.330 --> 00:09:17.330 will not surely die. Remember Eve said, you know, 00:09:17.769 --> 00:09:20.309 we... we won't even touch it because if we touch 00:09:20.309 --> 00:09:22.929 it, you will die. But that wasn't the full story, 00:09:23.049 --> 00:09:28.009 it's the partake of it. And so that same deception 00:09:28.009 --> 00:09:32.610 has gone on from back then clear to today where 00:09:32.610 --> 00:09:38.210 people are finding themselves bargaining with 00:09:38.210 --> 00:09:42.929 the truth of the word of God and. those that 00:09:42.929 --> 00:09:46.330 has some truth in the word of God. And it's really 00:09:46.330 --> 00:09:49.909 interesting how so many today have some truth 00:09:49.909 --> 00:09:52.350 in the word of God, but not fully, the whole 00:09:52.350 --> 00:09:55.570 truth in the word of God. And so that gives us 00:09:55.570 --> 00:09:59.049 our context. So, Gollum is for an example to 00:09:59.049 --> 00:10:02.309 others. This is our first section here. And this 00:10:02.309 --> 00:10:04.830 is what we're gonna look at. Verse six, if thou 00:10:04.830 --> 00:10:07.429 put the brethren in remembrance of these things, 00:10:07.490 --> 00:10:10.429 and what were these things? The seducing spirits, 00:10:10.710 --> 00:10:13.230 the doctrine of devils, those things. If you 00:10:13.230 --> 00:10:15.850 put brethren in remembrance of these things, 00:10:16.009 --> 00:10:20.389 thou shalt be a good minister of Jesus Christ, 00:10:20.769 --> 00:10:23.850 nourished up in the words of faith and good doctrine 00:10:23.850 --> 00:10:28.529 whereunto thou hast attained. And so this young 00:10:28.529 --> 00:10:32.570 man, Timothy, most theologians believed that 00:10:32.570 --> 00:10:37.210 Timothy was between 30 and 35 years old, and 00:10:37.210 --> 00:10:40.289 to be a church leader at that time, at that age, 00:10:40.669 --> 00:10:44.129 was something that was somewhat trying for a 00:10:44.129 --> 00:10:48.389 young man like him. And so he said, put into 00:10:48.389 --> 00:10:51.789 remembrance these things, for all those, even 00:10:51.789 --> 00:10:55.009 the ones that are peddling the false doctrines 00:10:55.009 --> 00:10:57.690 and all of that, bring them and put them back 00:10:57.690 --> 00:11:01.250 into remembrance. of the death, burial, and resurrection 00:11:01.250 --> 00:11:05.710 of Jesus Christ and that's it and no more. Verse 00:11:05.710 --> 00:11:10.450 seven, but refuse profane and old wives fables 00:11:10.450 --> 00:11:16.070 or old wives tales. Old wives tales. Give me 00:11:16.070 --> 00:11:23.169 an old wives tale. Any old wives tale? What about 00:11:23.169 --> 00:11:27.639 if you sweep out your back door at night? Don't 00:11:27.639 --> 00:11:29.379 sweep out your back door and I given you never 00:11:29.379 --> 00:11:31.740 heard of that one That one was one that I grew 00:11:31.740 --> 00:11:34.679 up with if you swept out your back door at night 00:11:34.679 --> 00:11:38.860 Then you were possibly causing or gonna bring 00:11:38.860 --> 00:11:42.580 in disaster into your house To your home pardon 00:11:42.580 --> 00:11:47.539 me black cats. Okay Fables is stuff. That's not 00:11:47.539 --> 00:11:53.960 true. Yes Excuse me if you drop a fork on the 00:11:53.960 --> 00:12:05.320 Whoa, okay Put all the forks up. Yes Say it again 00:12:05.320 --> 00:12:10.580 Don't sing at the table or you'll cry before 00:12:10.580 --> 00:12:14.460 night Okay, then I hear one over here missing 00:12:14.460 --> 00:12:19.820 Walking under a ladder. Okay step on a crack 00:12:19.820 --> 00:12:26.600 break your mother's back Is any of that valid 00:12:27.149 --> 00:12:32.009 But it's just an old wives' tale. Pardon me? 00:12:32.929 --> 00:12:37.110 Yeah, so old wives' tale. The way a woman is 00:12:37.110 --> 00:12:39.210 carrying a baby, they would say, oh, you're carrying 00:12:39.210 --> 00:12:45.809 a boy. Looked like a hump to me. Should we bring, 00:12:45.830 --> 00:12:49.850 should we bring my wife in here and parade around 00:12:49.850 --> 00:12:55.850 saying, is she carrying a boy or a girl? These 00:12:55.850 --> 00:13:04.149 things, Paul said, but refuse profane and old 00:13:04.149 --> 00:13:08.129 wives' fables and exercise thyself rather unto 00:13:08.129 --> 00:13:14.110 godliness. Some of those things sound okay, but 00:13:14.110 --> 00:13:17.269 they get woven into our culture and our habits 00:13:17.269 --> 00:13:20.909 and people will say those things as if they are 00:13:20.909 --> 00:13:24.320 true. And they're not true. Not even close to 00:13:24.320 --> 00:13:26.539 being true, but then that's some of the things 00:13:26.539 --> 00:13:28.379 that's happening. And it happened at Ephesus 00:13:28.379 --> 00:13:32.279 and it happens today in many places. Verse eight, 00:13:32.320 --> 00:13:35.299 for bodily exercise profits little, but godliness 00:13:35.299 --> 00:13:43.200 is profitable unto all things. Having promise 00:13:43.200 --> 00:13:47.919 of the life that now is and of that which is 00:13:47.919 --> 00:13:51.179 to come. And so what Paul wanted Timothy to do 00:13:51.179 --> 00:13:55.039 was to expose the false teachings in the sense 00:13:55.039 --> 00:13:57.820 of bringing them out in the open so that they 00:13:57.820 --> 00:14:01.559 could be corrected with truth. And so that's 00:14:01.559 --> 00:14:05.080 what he wanted to do is say, hey, bring this, 00:14:05.639 --> 00:14:09.240 what you're saying is not true, it's false. And 00:14:09.240 --> 00:14:16.240 he went to confront that head on. So. We can 00:14:16.240 --> 00:14:18.879 identify examples today that keep a godly life 00:14:18.879 --> 00:14:22.120 from being a priority now Let me keep this in 00:14:22.120 --> 00:14:25.139 context because some of these things Some of 00:14:25.139 --> 00:14:29.059 us have probably heard or say it or even embrace 00:14:29.059 --> 00:14:32.539 But know this that that when I when I talk about 00:14:32.539 --> 00:14:35.799 these things and you compare them against a life 00:14:35.799 --> 00:14:39.019 of godliness Then there's a little bit of a difference 00:14:39.019 --> 00:14:43.710 that we'll have to sort out be who you are When 00:14:43.710 --> 00:14:47.570 God given abilities are subject then it's not 00:14:47.570 --> 00:14:50.809 bad advice But what about if we're talking what 00:14:50.809 --> 00:14:54.710 if we're talking about character? If I'm if I 00:14:54.710 --> 00:14:58.509 have sinful Tendencies to hurt other people I 00:14:58.509 --> 00:15:00.470 shouldn't simply throw my hands up in the air 00:15:00.470 --> 00:15:05.129 and say well, that's just who I am Be who you 00:15:05.129 --> 00:15:09.629 are be who you are in Christ Jesus Be who you 00:15:09.629 --> 00:15:13.820 are as a person who has been saved by Grace, 00:15:13.899 --> 00:15:17.259 be who you are in that respect. Then here's one 00:15:17.259 --> 00:15:21.559 that's, I think if you've not heard this, surely, 00:15:22.360 --> 00:15:25.899 well, no one's not heard this. Follow your heart. 00:15:27.159 --> 00:15:29.679 And basically this one, you can get lost following 00:15:29.679 --> 00:15:33.519 your heart. That's simply not true. If you believe 00:15:33.519 --> 00:15:36.000 this, then the most important thing in my life 00:15:36.000 --> 00:15:41.580 will be my own desires, not becoming a godly 00:15:41.580 --> 00:15:44.549 person. but I'm gonna follow my heart. How many 00:15:44.549 --> 00:15:46.909 of you have thought, you know, well, my heart's 00:15:46.909 --> 00:15:48.610 telling me something, and you go to find out, 00:15:48.809 --> 00:15:55.769 says, oh, that was not right. Maybe my heart, 00:15:55.929 --> 00:15:58.429 my emotion, my mind was playing with me, and 00:15:58.429 --> 00:16:01.850 I've embraced something that wasn't true, and 00:16:01.850 --> 00:16:06.529 because it wasn't true, then I've erred away, 00:16:06.830 --> 00:16:10.389 okay? Then just live your life. This advice. 00:16:10.700 --> 00:16:13.460 is a variation of the previous one. It allows 00:16:13.460 --> 00:16:17.820 someone to simply become consumed by a go along 00:16:17.820 --> 00:16:22.539 and get along attitude or approach to life, ignoring 00:16:22.539 --> 00:16:28.980 the higher calling that God has placed on everyone's 00:16:28.980 --> 00:16:36.220 life. So, Paul wanted Timothy to be a standard 00:16:36.220 --> 00:16:40.559 bearer. He wanted him to follow the truths of 00:16:40.559 --> 00:16:44.419 the gospel and Paul's teaching and to get away 00:16:44.419 --> 00:16:49.639 from the deceptive things that came about because 00:16:49.639 --> 00:16:52.179 of some of the false teachers that were there. 00:16:52.659 --> 00:16:56.799 But a standard bearer is a person who's responsible 00:16:56.799 --> 00:17:00.100 for carrying the distinctive flag of a unit, 00:17:00.240 --> 00:17:03.779 regiment, or an army. And so the question is, 00:17:04.000 --> 00:17:07.930 am I a standard bearer? for the standards set 00:17:07.930 --> 00:17:12.509 forth in the word of God. And what are those 00:17:12.509 --> 00:17:16.829 standards? And what should I be looking at in 00:17:16.829 --> 00:17:20.170 terms of being a standard bearer? And so this 00:17:20.170 --> 00:17:23.049 is what Paul and Timothy were dealing with. Now, 00:17:23.210 --> 00:17:27.329 before we get into this one, I need to ask for 00:17:27.329 --> 00:17:30.130 volunteers. I need someone to read 1 Corinthians 00:17:30.130 --> 00:17:34.410 chapter nine, verses 24 through 27 on this side. 00:17:34.920 --> 00:17:38.160 On this side, I need to have someone read Galatians 00:17:38.160 --> 00:17:45.279 5, 22 through 25. That far side, Philippians 00:17:45.279 --> 00:17:48.980 chapter two, verses 12 and 13, and over here, 00:17:49.180 --> 00:17:52.079 one of you, either Jeff or Mike, one of you two, 00:17:52.740 --> 00:18:01.119 2 Peter 1, 3. You got it? Galatians 5, 22 through 00:18:01.119 --> 00:18:35.309 25. Okay? I'm ready go ahead. Okay, if we live 00:18:35.309 --> 00:18:38.650 in the spirit we need to walk in God's spirit 00:18:38.650 --> 00:18:43.349 He is gonna guide my step each each step that 00:18:43.349 --> 00:18:46.049 I take He is there before me because he's a light 00:18:46.049 --> 00:18:49.890 and a lamp Okay. Now, let's go to 1st Corinthians 00:18:49.890 --> 00:19:44.349 chapter 9 verses 24 through 27 Okay So, how many 00:19:44.349 --> 00:19:47.529 of you, I know when I was in high school, it 00:19:47.529 --> 00:19:51.009 was high school and college, lifting weights. 00:19:52.849 --> 00:20:00.089 I'd say feel that, don't do it. It doesn't work 00:20:00.089 --> 00:20:06.829 like it used to, but bodily exercise doesn't 00:20:06.829 --> 00:20:10.529 profit you anything, but walking in the spirit. 00:20:11.109 --> 00:20:15.430 and an understanding that my goal in life is 00:20:15.430 --> 00:20:18.609 to strive for the mastery. And that striving 00:20:18.609 --> 00:20:24.069 for the mastery is joined with the fruit of the 00:20:24.069 --> 00:20:28.029 Spirit, is being led by the Spirit. It's being 00:20:28.029 --> 00:20:32.670 able to live a life and have the character of 00:20:32.670 --> 00:20:35.630 godliness surround me in such a way that people 00:20:35.630 --> 00:20:41.750 can see it in my life and not question it, appreciate 00:20:41.750 --> 00:20:44.230 what comes out of my life by when they look at 00:20:44.230 --> 00:20:47.650 me and when they look at you. A godly person, 00:20:48.089 --> 00:20:50.910 that godliness is really needed. And then lastly, 00:20:51.369 --> 00:20:55.069 Philippians chapter two, verses 12 and 13. Yes. 00:21:13.849 --> 00:21:19.869 to will and to do His good pleasure. God is not 00:21:19.869 --> 00:21:21.809 willing that any should perish, but that all 00:21:21.809 --> 00:21:24.450 should come to repentance. But He also wants 00:21:24.450 --> 00:21:27.589 us to grow in grace. He wants us to work out 00:21:27.589 --> 00:21:31.309 our own salvation. There's a call for us to be 00:21:31.309 --> 00:21:36.569 able to stand firm and to stand and fight for 00:21:36.569 --> 00:21:42.690 the faith. If I'm really a good soldier for the 00:21:42.690 --> 00:21:45.910 Lord, armor -bearer for the Lord. I don't let 00:21:45.910 --> 00:21:50.009 the concerns of the world distract me from what 00:21:50.009 --> 00:21:53.349 I should be doing. I've got to be able to look 00:21:53.349 --> 00:21:56.609 at what Christ has called me to do and focus 00:21:56.609 --> 00:22:00.170 on the author and the finisher of the faith and 00:22:00.170 --> 00:22:03.230 as Jesus walked I should be able to and I want 00:22:03.230 --> 00:22:07.069 to walk that same walk that he has walked. And 00:22:07.069 --> 00:22:12.700 so exercise thyself rather to godliness but Godliness 00:22:12.700 --> 00:22:16.720 is profitable unto all things having the promise 00:22:16.720 --> 00:22:22.599 of the life that now is and that which is to 00:22:22.599 --> 00:22:31.180 come. I am Michael Gentry. I'm a saint. I'm a 00:22:31.180 --> 00:22:35.980 beloved. I am a joint heir of all these wonderful 00:22:35.980 --> 00:22:42.809 things in Christ positionally here. But one day, 00:22:43.470 --> 00:22:48.390 my positional standings will be true in glory. 00:22:50.470 --> 00:22:53.869 Everything that I should be here, you know, as 00:22:53.869 --> 00:22:58.950 I live and function and strive to be what Christ 00:22:58.950 --> 00:23:02.210 would have me to be, there are gonna be crowns 00:23:02.210 --> 00:23:05.150 that are gonna be put together for me. And I'm 00:23:05.150 --> 00:23:07.349 gonna be able to take those crowns and lay them 00:23:07.349 --> 00:23:12.880 at the feet of Jesus. when I can lay that crown, 00:23:13.259 --> 00:23:15.019 the crown of life, the crown of righteousness, 00:23:15.099 --> 00:23:17.900 can I lay that before Jesus? There's gonna be 00:23:17.900 --> 00:23:22.319 praise and glory. So when I think about who I 00:23:22.319 --> 00:23:26.099 am now in Christ Jesus and what I'm going to 00:23:26.099 --> 00:23:28.839 be when I get to glory, it should be the same 00:23:28.839 --> 00:23:32.019 thing. I shouldn't be surprised when I get, oh, 00:23:32.019 --> 00:23:34.740 I'm in glory. Oh, praise the Lord, I made it. 00:23:34.940 --> 00:23:41.880 No. That's already settled. I'm a child of God, 00:23:42.579 --> 00:23:46.740 right now. I was that lost sheep, but I'm now 00:23:46.740 --> 00:23:53.519 found. And so all of that positionally is gonna 00:23:53.519 --> 00:23:56.220 be the reality when I get to glory, and that 00:23:56.220 --> 00:23:59.559 is going to be some kind of good. Verse seven, 00:23:59.900 --> 00:24:03.019 the Greek term for godliness refers to a God 00:24:03.019 --> 00:24:07.680 -directed reverence, the manifestation of character 00:24:07.680 --> 00:24:12.369 of God. in the believer's life, the manifestation 00:24:12.369 --> 00:24:17.950 of the character of God in the believer's life. 00:24:18.589 --> 00:24:22.710 God is what? Rattle them all for me. God is love. 00:24:23.750 --> 00:24:32.569 God is just, holy. Pardon me? He is our peace. 00:24:38.860 --> 00:24:43.720 Okay He's present Omnipresent he's all around 00:24:43.720 --> 00:24:52.400 God is a Moses said who do I say sent me he says 00:24:52.400 --> 00:25:00.279 I am God is the I am the great I am he is everything 00:25:00.279 --> 00:25:04.380 not only that I need But he's even more than 00:25:04.380 --> 00:25:12.559 what I need He's faithful. Man, our God is an 00:25:12.559 --> 00:25:19.480 awesome God. Amen. Okay, so a godly life must 00:25:19.480 --> 00:25:22.579 be our priority. This is a faithful saying and 00:25:22.579 --> 00:25:25.740 worthy of all the acceptation. For therefore 00:25:25.740 --> 00:25:34.380 we both labor and suffer reproach. Paul labored 00:25:34.380 --> 00:25:39.490 and had a lot of people that were against him 00:25:39.490 --> 00:25:43.130 as he spread the good news of the faith in Jesus 00:25:43.130 --> 00:25:46.410 Christ. And if we go about doing that same thing, 00:25:46.750 --> 00:25:50.390 we're gonna face reproach. We're gonna have those 00:25:50.390 --> 00:25:54.950 that are not gonna see us in the light that we 00:25:54.950 --> 00:25:57.670 maybe would imagine everyone seeing us because 00:25:57.670 --> 00:26:01.329 we trust in the living God. They're not gonna 00:26:01.329 --> 00:26:05.789 understand us. How can you have joy in the midst 00:26:05.789 --> 00:26:13.430 of sorrow? How can you count it all joy when 00:26:13.430 --> 00:26:19.589 everything is falling apart? How can you be happy 00:26:19.589 --> 00:26:23.410 and at peace when everyone else is in turmoil? 00:26:24.589 --> 00:26:28.170 How is it that those people seem to have a sense 00:26:28.170 --> 00:26:32.750 of assurance that nobody else has? What is going 00:26:32.750 --> 00:26:37.279 on with those people? What's going on with those 00:26:37.279 --> 00:26:42.059 people is we have a God who's more than sufficient 00:26:42.059 --> 00:26:45.119 for everything that we need and all that we can 00:26:45.119 --> 00:26:50.819 be. So he says in verse 11, these things command 00:26:50.819 --> 00:26:57.660 and teach, okay? Need someone to look up 1 John 00:26:57.660 --> 00:27:02.019 2 .21 and someone take a look at Hebrews 2 .9. 00:27:03.319 --> 00:27:09.180 And someone on this side, 1 John 2, 21. On this 00:27:09.180 --> 00:27:16.200 side, Hebrews 2, 9. Hebrews 2, 9. Okay, ready? 00:27:17.240 --> 00:27:31.099 Who's got it? You got it? Okay. No lie is of 00:27:31.099 --> 00:27:37.049 the truth. What version is that? KJV Read it 00:27:37.049 --> 00:27:50.690 again for me Because you know it okay No lies 00:27:50.690 --> 00:27:54.569 of the truth, okay now very good no lies of truth 00:27:54.569 --> 00:27:57.670 So what God intends for all he actually gives 00:27:57.670 --> 00:28:01.190 to them that believe in Christ who died for the 00:28:01.190 --> 00:28:13.349 sins of the world Okay, Hebrews 2 9. Yes Go ahead 00:28:13.349 --> 00:28:26.869 For every man and so this emphasis this emphasizes 00:28:26.869 --> 00:28:29.670 the idea that the priority must be kept on the 00:28:29.670 --> 00:28:35.650 message of Jesus that all men saved, let's see, 00:28:35.809 --> 00:28:39.289 it isn't that all men are saved in a universalistic 00:28:39.289 --> 00:28:42.970 sense, but that there is only one savior for 00:28:42.970 --> 00:28:48.109 all men. It isn't as if Christians have a savior 00:28:48.109 --> 00:28:51.269 and others might have another savior, but we 00:28:51.269 --> 00:28:55.730 all should trust in the single Lord to save us 00:28:55.730 --> 00:29:01.619 all. So he told Timothy to, These things he commanded 00:29:01.619 --> 00:29:06.640 to These things command and teach. Okay, so I 00:29:06.640 --> 00:29:10.240 want to take you back to the seventh grade right 00:29:10.240 --> 00:29:16.740 quick Basic algebra Someone explain to me what 00:29:16.740 --> 00:29:24.240 a coefficient is No, pardon me difficult but 00:29:24.240 --> 00:29:28.180 the basics of algebra The first thing you solve, 00:29:28.259 --> 00:29:31.519 the second thing you solve, the third, right? 00:29:33.019 --> 00:29:37.500 Command and teach. Okay, these things command 00:29:37.500 --> 00:29:41.140 and teach. So both Greek verbs are present in 00:29:41.140 --> 00:29:46.339 this tense, indicating a continuous action, and 00:29:46.339 --> 00:29:50.400 they are both also imperatives, this whole idea. 00:29:50.519 --> 00:29:55.119 So there's a note of authority that is here that 00:29:55.119 --> 00:29:59.130 Paul has. has given for Timothy to command and 00:29:59.130 --> 00:30:03.549 teach. And so basically Timothy was not to enter 00:30:03.549 --> 00:30:09.750 the pulpit with speculations and opinions and 00:30:09.750 --> 00:30:13.609 theories of men. How long can you or would you 00:30:13.609 --> 00:30:17.549 be able to speak on speculations, opinions, and 00:30:17.549 --> 00:30:20.430 theories of men? It's like the man that I mentioned 00:30:20.430 --> 00:30:23.269 to you earlier down in Virginia. He stopped preaching 00:30:23.269 --> 00:30:27.779 the gospel and started. preaching about Bosnia 00:30:27.779 --> 00:30:33.099 and the war and other things like that. And so, 00:30:33.339 --> 00:30:37.819 he was to fearlessly proclaim God's word as a 00:30:37.819 --> 00:30:43.140 command and not give in to the fear of men. It 00:30:43.140 --> 00:30:46.900 wasn't to give in to that fear. And so, the gospel, 00:30:47.779 --> 00:30:50.180 in First Corinthians chapter 15, verses one through 00:30:50.180 --> 00:30:52.440 four, we're gonna be coming up on this probably 00:30:52.440 --> 00:30:56.160 on Sunday mornings. Next week? The following 00:30:56.160 --> 00:31:00.319 week? Next week! Okay, so this is a preview into 00:31:00.319 --> 00:31:03.059 next Sunday. Moreover, brethren, I declare unto 00:31:03.059 --> 00:31:07.440 you the gospel which I preached unto you, which 00:31:07.440 --> 00:31:11.460 also ye have received, and wherein ye stand, 00:31:12.380 --> 00:31:15.819 but which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory 00:31:15.819 --> 00:31:19.480 that what I preached unto you, unless ye have 00:31:19.480 --> 00:31:22.240 believed in vain. for I delivered unto you first 00:31:22.240 --> 00:31:25.900 that of all that which I also receive how that 00:31:25.900 --> 00:31:29.619 Christ died for our sins according to the scripture 00:31:29.619 --> 00:31:33.819 and that he was buried and that he rose again 00:31:33.819 --> 00:31:38.819 the third day according to the scriptures there 00:31:38.819 --> 00:31:42.960 is the gospel right there in a nutshell right 00:31:42.960 --> 00:31:46.339 there for us and and this is what Paul was was 00:31:46.339 --> 00:31:50.450 emphasizing for Timothy Bring them to remember 00:31:50.450 --> 00:31:52.849 what all is going on in the world, but point 00:31:52.849 --> 00:31:58.130 them to the scriptures point them to Christ So 00:31:58.130 --> 00:32:02.369 a godly life encourages others to seek a godly 00:32:02.369 --> 00:32:05.690 life verses 12 through 16 We'll take a look at 00:32:05.690 --> 00:32:10.589 that right quick Let no man despise thy youth, 00:32:10.589 --> 00:32:15.690 but be thou an example of the believers in word 00:32:15.690 --> 00:32:21.670 and conversation in charity, in spirit, in faith, 00:32:22.190 --> 00:32:26.150 in purity. Till I come, give attendance to reading 00:32:26.150 --> 00:32:30.950 and exhortation to doctrine. Neglect not the 00:32:30.950 --> 00:32:33.710 gift that is in thee which was given thee by 00:32:33.710 --> 00:32:37.369 prophecy with the laying on of hands by the prosperity. 00:32:38.430 --> 00:32:41.849 Meditate upon these things, give thyself wholly 00:32:41.849 --> 00:32:45.970 to them that thy profiting may appear to all. 00:32:46.269 --> 00:32:49.910 Take heed. unto thyself and into the doctrine 00:32:49.910 --> 00:32:53.190 continue in them for in doing this thou shalt 00:32:53.190 --> 00:32:59.630 say both thyself and them that hear thee and 00:32:59.630 --> 00:33:04.869 so he stressed the areas of the word conversation 00:33:04.869 --> 00:33:11.150 lifestyles charity love spirit faith and purity 00:33:11.150 --> 00:33:15.890 and so the Apostle Peter used this similar verbiage 00:33:16.200 --> 00:33:19.940 When you urge pastors to set examples for their 00:33:19.940 --> 00:33:24.400 flock, godly living in all areas of life models 00:33:24.400 --> 00:33:28.940 for other believers in how they should live. 00:33:30.740 --> 00:33:35.440 So our conversation, never underestimate the 00:33:35.440 --> 00:33:45.420 power of godly words. Our verbiage, what we say. 00:33:45.839 --> 00:33:50.640 How we say it is very important because people 00:33:50.640 --> 00:33:54.160 are looking at us and wanting to understand How 00:33:54.160 --> 00:33:57.220 we go about living the life that we live even 00:33:57.220 --> 00:33:59.980 in the midst of joy even in this disorder Even 00:33:59.980 --> 00:34:02.579 in the midst of when when things and around you 00:34:02.579 --> 00:34:05.880 just all falling apart. They're watching okay 00:34:05.880 --> 00:34:11.619 our conduct and so Someone's always watching 00:34:11.619 --> 00:34:17.139 always There's nothing that very seldom that 00:34:17.139 --> 00:34:20.739 ever happens in a vacuum But that someone isn't 00:34:20.739 --> 00:34:25.920 looking or they've heard or seen You or your 00:34:25.920 --> 00:34:29.880 actions and so we need to keep that in mind our 00:34:29.880 --> 00:34:32.420 charity our love since the Bible defined God 00:34:32.420 --> 00:34:35.119 is love it isn't surprising that a godly life 00:34:35.119 --> 00:34:42.639 is a life of love a Life of love to those that 00:34:42.639 --> 00:34:47.789 are unlovable life of love to those who who maybe 00:34:47.789 --> 00:34:51.170 don't see us the way we would like for them to 00:34:51.170 --> 00:34:54.989 see us a life of love that that enables us to 00:34:54.989 --> 00:35:01.610 see beyond The difficulties that people are going 00:35:01.610 --> 00:35:06.449 through in this life we have now was Just looking 00:35:06.449 --> 00:35:11.480 this week. We had a shooting today we had Just 00:35:11.480 --> 00:35:14.659 in the last week or so, we had stuff that was 00:35:14.659 --> 00:35:20.099 going on down in Cincinnati. It's terrible, isn't 00:35:20.099 --> 00:35:26.699 it? It's really bad. And, you know, we don't 00:35:26.699 --> 00:35:31.440 really need another social program. We don't 00:35:31.440 --> 00:35:34.500 need the government to give us another million 00:35:34.500 --> 00:35:42.059 dollars for, remember midnight basketball? Boy, 00:35:42.500 --> 00:35:46.420 that really cut down crime and really did something 00:35:46.420 --> 00:35:50.480 to prop up the family, didn't it? Midnight basketball. 00:35:50.920 --> 00:35:54.820 But that's how the world looks at it, okay? And 00:35:54.820 --> 00:35:58.340 so people watch what you do even when you don't 00:35:58.340 --> 00:36:04.119 realize it. Our charity, our love, we are the 00:36:04.119 --> 00:36:08.420 standard bearers of love. Trinity Baptist Church, 00:36:08.519 --> 00:36:10.599 the people and the members of Trinity Baptist 00:36:10.599 --> 00:36:14.260 Church. are the standard bearers of love. When 00:36:14.260 --> 00:36:16.739 others come into this building that have only 00:36:16.739 --> 00:36:18.920 been in here maybe for the first or second time, 00:36:19.219 --> 00:36:22.900 they should see what? Love and acceptance and 00:36:22.900 --> 00:36:26.739 the welcoming to them as they come and visit 00:36:26.739 --> 00:36:31.579 our church. Our faith, deepen your faith in God 00:36:31.579 --> 00:36:35.940 and his word and watch holiness increase in your 00:36:35.940 --> 00:36:41.880 life. Man, this has been quoted quite a number 00:36:41.880 --> 00:36:45.139 of times over the last week or so, but it's so 00:36:45.139 --> 00:36:49.679 true and it really should stand strong for us. 00:36:49.940 --> 00:36:52.679 So deepen your faith in God and his word. Watch 00:36:52.679 --> 00:36:56.280 holiness increase in your life. You wanna have 00:36:56.280 --> 00:36:58.900 that part of your life, that characteristic to 00:36:58.900 --> 00:37:02.139 stand high, then keep reading his word, keep 00:37:02.139 --> 00:37:05.940 studying his word, making those things applicable, 00:37:06.599 --> 00:37:10.739 equitable, applicable in your life. Then our 00:37:10.739 --> 00:37:15.800 purity, moral compromises or death of personal 00:37:15.800 --> 00:37:19.880 godliness. It's not all about me, it's not all 00:37:19.880 --> 00:37:24.679 about you, but it's all about the God who lives 00:37:24.679 --> 00:37:27.880 within us through his spirit. And then lastly, 00:37:28.119 --> 00:37:30.579 our attitude or our spirit. People listen to 00:37:30.579 --> 00:37:35.659 how you respond both positively and negatively. 00:37:36.000 --> 00:37:38.019 And so the question that I have for you right 00:37:38.019 --> 00:37:41.300 now is, how has our church, the church members, 00:37:41.860 --> 00:37:47.440 encouraged you to live a godly life? Has there 00:37:47.440 --> 00:37:49.780 been something that's happened here at Trinity 00:37:49.780 --> 00:37:53.440 Baptist that has encouraged you to live a godly 00:37:53.440 --> 00:37:59.800 life? That's the question. It's not rhetorical. 00:38:01.860 --> 00:38:07.559 Yes. Love that you've seen from the church since 00:38:07.559 --> 00:38:12.840 you've been coming here Yeah, I didn't know I 00:38:12.840 --> 00:38:18.480 was the first but hey Dave I was the first Someone 00:38:18.480 --> 00:38:27.360 else How has our church members encouraged you 00:38:27.360 --> 00:38:34.980 to godly living yes Your sister incurs you to 00:38:34.980 --> 00:38:42.579 come back to church Amen one of you had your 00:38:42.579 --> 00:38:50.460 hands up The godly marriages that you see they 00:38:50.460 --> 00:38:53.780 are modeling what you want Something that's different 00:38:53.780 --> 00:38:56.500 from the world or modeling something that's wholesome 00:38:56.500 --> 00:39:13.349 and good and called by God. Yes, right Okay. 00:39:14.110 --> 00:39:22.010 Tough times. Hard truth. Our pastor teaches on 00:39:22.010 --> 00:39:26.849 hard truth. In love. Oh, I was gonna say, you 00:39:26.849 --> 00:39:37.690 belled him out, in love. Yes, sir. Oh, is that 00:39:37.690 --> 00:39:42.159 right? Well, we're gonna pray for you. We're 00:39:42.159 --> 00:39:44.639 going to pray for you. OK, yes. Someone else. 00:39:54.519 --> 00:40:14.469 From the very beginning. OK. OK, yes. How's your 00:40:14.469 --> 00:40:18.989 father -in -law? How's your daughter? Yeah. And 00:40:18.989 --> 00:40:21.210 we know about her in the surgeries and those 00:40:21.210 --> 00:40:24.670 things. Yes. Yes. I think I'm blessed by all 00:40:24.670 --> 00:40:30.789 the programs that are here to help us grow. Mm 00:40:30.789 --> 00:40:36.329 -hmm. There are classes for grief. We're being 00:40:36.329 --> 00:40:42.190 taught so much in order to be safe. All right. 00:40:42.289 --> 00:40:49.719 Very good. Yes. A really long time? So over five 00:40:49.719 --> 00:41:06.559 years. Okay. Amen. Amen. 40 years. Can you beat 00:41:06.559 --> 00:41:16.179 that? A little bit. Okay. Yes. Felt at home. 00:41:28.110 --> 00:41:53.190 Amen. Amen. Anyone else? Yes. You know, I was 00:41:53.190 --> 00:41:57.539 blessed Sunday on the on the explanation on women 00:41:57.539 --> 00:42:04.079 not to speak in church. I was. I thought it was 00:42:04.079 --> 00:42:33.699 fantastic. You're very welcome. Yes. I love just 00:42:33.699 --> 00:42:38.039 being here because everyone is so personable. 00:42:39.539 --> 00:42:44.340 I can walk up to anyone and talk with them, and 00:42:44.340 --> 00:42:46.920 I've never felt like, hmm, she didn't want to 00:42:46.920 --> 00:42:50.059 talk to me, or he didn't want to talk to me. 00:42:50.400 --> 00:42:53.639 And, you know, the camaraderie of teasing you 00:42:53.639 --> 00:42:57.360 about being in jail in Faustoria. Now, you've 00:42:57.360 --> 00:43:04.000 not been in jail at Faustoria. But I can play 00:43:04.000 --> 00:43:28.000 with you about it Get you here a man all right 00:43:28.000 --> 00:43:31.280 be thou an example modeling the characteristics 00:43:32.519 --> 00:43:37.400 A mature Christian. What are the characteristics 00:43:37.400 --> 00:43:43.880 of a mature Christian? Throw that, yes sir. Love. 00:43:46.400 --> 00:43:50.300 Bill, a mature Christian, what do they look like? 00:43:52.380 --> 00:43:59.559 Peaceful, I'm glad you didn't say old. Mature, 00:44:00.659 --> 00:44:16.780 selfless. Mature. Consistent. Mature. Confident. 00:44:19.619 --> 00:44:28.119 Treat you with kindness. Pardon me? Respectful. 00:44:33.500 --> 00:44:37.000 regarding to reading exhortation to doctrine. 00:44:37.360 --> 00:44:41.300 Oh, look at the time. The Old Testament and likely 00:44:41.300 --> 00:44:45.139 the writings of the apostle Paul is what Timothy 00:44:45.139 --> 00:44:50.079 most likely used. But believers need exhortation. 00:44:50.400 --> 00:44:53.679 We need exhortation from the scriptures about 00:44:53.679 --> 00:44:56.539 the tenets of the faith and living the Christian 00:44:56.539 --> 00:45:02.639 life. And sometimes seeing that modeled and lived 00:45:02.639 --> 00:45:07.190 out in the lives of people around us is more 00:45:07.190 --> 00:45:11.050 convincing than to just hear someone read a scripture. 00:45:11.610 --> 00:45:15.369 But to see that scripture come alive, I can look 00:45:15.369 --> 00:45:18.349 at Justin and see, wow, there is someone who's 00:45:18.349 --> 00:45:22.329 walking in the fruit of the Spirit. Oh my goodness. 00:45:23.130 --> 00:45:26.690 And I see how he responded to this, and I saw 00:45:26.690 --> 00:45:29.030 what he said about this, and I saw the look on 00:45:29.030 --> 00:45:33.340 his face when this happened. I see God moving 00:45:33.340 --> 00:45:40.000 in his life. Oh my goodness. It enables believers 00:45:40.000 --> 00:45:42.639 to stand firm in the faith and instruct them 00:45:42.639 --> 00:45:47.659 how to live out the Christian faith. How do I 00:45:47.659 --> 00:45:55.179 live out who I am? And so I think about what 00:45:55.179 --> 00:46:00.199 God has gifted me with and what he's gifted you 00:46:00.199 --> 00:46:04.849 with. And I think it's so exciting that God has 00:46:04.849 --> 00:46:08.269 gifted certain people to do nursery and little 00:46:08.269 --> 00:46:12.389 people church. Because if I had to do either 00:46:12.389 --> 00:46:20.389 one of those, it would not look good. But I'm 00:46:20.389 --> 00:46:25.750 overjoyed that every role that needs to be done 00:46:25.750 --> 00:46:29.929 here has someone that's not only willing to do 00:46:29.929 --> 00:46:34.750 it, but are good at it. Oh, that's a blessing 00:46:34.750 --> 00:46:39.070 to see that all the needs of the church can be 00:46:39.070 --> 00:46:42.429 met with the people in the church. That's pretty 00:46:42.429 --> 00:46:47.429 exciting. It really is. And so, let me hurry 00:46:47.429 --> 00:46:51.949 up through here. Neglect not the gift. To neglect 00:46:51.949 --> 00:46:55.250 is to be careless or unconcerned about something. 00:46:55.630 --> 00:46:58.610 God had gifted and called Timothy to preach and 00:46:58.610 --> 00:47:01.690 teach the Word of God to the Ephesian congregation 00:47:01.690 --> 00:47:06.489 and Paul is encouraging him don't neglect that 00:47:06.489 --> 00:47:10.869 gift I know there's there's falsities going on 00:47:10.869 --> 00:47:12.829 and I know all of this is happening and taking 00:47:12.829 --> 00:47:16.329 place but don't neglect what God has given you 00:47:16.329 --> 00:47:18.809 to do because you're gonna be held accountable 00:47:18.809 --> 00:47:22.289 for it and There's a miss. There's a missing 00:47:22.289 --> 00:47:25.630 piece that you need to feel in my program for 00:47:25.630 --> 00:47:28.829 my church, for my people. And Timothy, that's 00:47:28.829 --> 00:47:31.369 you to do, now let's go ahead and get started 00:47:31.369 --> 00:47:36.090 with it. And then the church did this with those 00:47:36.090 --> 00:47:38.849 chosen to minister to the widows of Jerusalem. 00:47:38.949 --> 00:47:42.090 If you remember that story, how there was this 00:47:42.090 --> 00:47:48.269 disparity amongst the Greek and the Hebrew ladies 00:47:48.269 --> 00:47:53.179 or the widows. And so in that passage, It was 00:47:53.179 --> 00:47:55.739 a concern for everybody in the church and not 00:47:55.739 --> 00:47:59.280 just one, not just two. And then by the laying 00:47:59.280 --> 00:48:02.380 on of hands, by the prosperity. This refers to 00:48:02.380 --> 00:48:04.880 the public commissioning by the Ephesian church 00:48:04.880 --> 00:48:07.800 leadership through which they recognize God's 00:48:07.800 --> 00:48:11.920 call on Timothy's life. And this happened in 00:48:11.920 --> 00:48:13.460 our church about three and a half years ago. 00:48:13.539 --> 00:48:19.639 Anybody remember that? We laid our hands on Pastor 00:48:19.639 --> 00:48:25.530 Ben. Jennings? Did we have, did we lay our hands 00:48:25.530 --> 00:48:28.610 on, that's been three and a half years? Five? 00:48:33.929 --> 00:48:37.809 Went real fast. Went from three and a half to 00:48:37.809 --> 00:48:45.670 five in just 12 seconds there. Okay, godly points. 00:48:46.380 --> 00:48:49.340 A godly life points others to Christ. I'm gonna 00:48:49.340 --> 00:48:50.960 just end with these three things and we're gonna 00:48:50.960 --> 00:48:55.639 close. Examine yourself, extend yourself, do 00:48:55.639 --> 00:48:59.739 an inventory of yourself. Those three things, 00:49:00.039 --> 00:49:07.360 examine yourself. Lord am I living a life that's 00:49:07.360 --> 00:49:12.559 pleasing to you? And if I am Lord, how might 00:49:12.559 --> 00:49:15.869 I increase that? that pleasing to you? How might 00:49:15.869 --> 00:49:20.210 I be a sweet smelling savor that goes up to you? 00:49:20.610 --> 00:49:24.409 Can my worship be a sweet smelling aroma that 00:49:24.409 --> 00:49:28.670 goes up to you? Can my study, can my prayer time 00:49:28.670 --> 00:49:32.789 be more encouraging for those around me? And 00:49:32.789 --> 00:49:38.929 then can I now then extend myself? And how can 00:49:38.929 --> 00:49:45.159 I help pray for people like TJ? And what do I 00:49:45.159 --> 00:49:47.619 need to say to him? And what do I need to be 00:49:47.619 --> 00:49:50.980 for him to help him get past the struggles that 00:49:50.980 --> 00:49:55.039 he's at in his life? And then lastly, an inventory 00:49:55.039 --> 00:49:58.219 of yourself. I think that if we're led by the 00:49:58.219 --> 00:50:02.159 Spirit, then he is gonna lead us in such a way 00:50:02.159 --> 00:50:05.920 that we will automatically take inventory of 00:50:05.920 --> 00:50:11.280 ourself. And that word is by conviction. He will 00:50:11.280 --> 00:50:12.980 convict us of those things that are wrong in 00:50:12.980 --> 00:50:16.440 our life. bring us out of where we were so that 00:50:16.440 --> 00:50:21.199 we can see his perspective and know that that's 00:50:21.199 --> 00:50:23.519 something I should turn from and give him all 00:50:23.519 --> 00:50:26.300 the praise, all the honor, and all the glory. 00:50:28.900 --> 00:50:31.719 Father God we thank you for this night that you 00:50:31.719 --> 00:50:36.079 have given us to look into your word. We ask 00:50:36.079 --> 00:50:38.940 more than anything else Lord Jesus as we as we 00:50:38.940 --> 00:50:41.619 talked about the love that has been displayed 00:50:41.619 --> 00:50:46.500 to each other in this setting. We just want to 00:50:46.500 --> 00:50:48.579 thank you for that. We want to thank you that 00:50:48.579 --> 00:50:54.079 we have leadership, that the pastors that are 00:50:54.079 --> 00:50:57.500 here have stood firm in your word, that they 00:50:57.500 --> 00:51:01.340 have unashamedly proclaimed the gospel of Jesus 00:51:01.340 --> 00:51:05.900 Christ and lived lives that others might be able 00:51:05.900 --> 00:51:09.579 to see the godliness within them. So we love 00:51:09.579 --> 00:51:11.480 you and we praise you now. We ask that as we 00:51:11.480 --> 00:51:14.699 enter into a time of prayer that you will listen 00:51:14.699 --> 00:51:16.880 to our prayers, Lord, and grant us the desires 00:51:16.880 --> 00:51:18.900 of our heart. And we just pray this in Jesus' 00:51:19.139 --> 00:51:20.920 name. Let us all say, amen.