Please click here for the audio and click here for the video links of this message. Please click here to view a copy of the bulletin.
STAYING ON POINT. I Timothy 4:6-11. 05/29/2022. #11.
6 If you instruct the brethren in these things, you will be a good minister of Jesus Christ, nourished in the words of faith and of the good doctrine which you have carefully followed. 7 But reject profane and old wives’ fables, and exercise yourself toward godliness. 8 For bodily exercise profits a little, but godliness is profitable for all things, having promise of the life that now is and of that which is to come. 9 This is a faithful saying and worthy of all acceptance. 10 For to this end we both labor and suffer reproach, because we trust in the living God, who is the Savior of all men, especially of those who believe. 11 These things command and teach.
1. The sum of ministry
a. Paul summarized his instruction to Timothy with four points:
a1. Focus on sound doctrine
a2. Avoid fables, speculation, and myths
a3. Live a godly life
a4. You will suffer for the cause of Christ
b. Staying true is hard to do
a1. There is a tendency to drift in beliefs, practice, zeal, and focus
a2. Revelation 2 the Ephesian church had left their first love (Jesus Christ)
c. God doctrine must be continually studied, taught, and practiced
a1. Not study for knowledge alone
a2. Study for belief, witness, and protection against error (many temptations)
2. The rumor mill
a. 4 ways to incorporate error into our lives:
a1. Heeding stories, rumors, anecdotes, gossip, myths, and hearsay
a2. Speculation – inventing answers when you have no evidence or when answers are not available
a3. Tradition – being a part of a group that have developed a system they hold to be true that may be full of error
a4. Peer pressure – yielding to what those around you believe
b. Often told stories are viewed as truth
a1. If the story starts out as false, it does not improve with age or repeated telling
a2. Many times a commentary author will speculate on a matter and others repeat it as true (for example, the William Barclay commentary)
c. Stay away from “just-so stories”
a1. Stay with what can be verified
a2. If an idea puts Bible teaching in doubt, it is wrong
3. Faith gym
a. Paul states that bodily exercise has some value, but spiritual exercise is far more valuable
a1. II Timothy 2:14-19, constant study, prayer, seeking the Lord, reaffirming beliefs, and guarding against error = ongoing activity
a2. Both the body and spirit was always being attended to so one won’t fall away
b. Paul states that if we live a godly life and teach the truth, we will suffer for it
a1. The ungodly recoil at godly lives
a2. Since men love darkness, light is hated
c. 3 admonitions concerning godly living:
a1. Continue to grow in Christ
a2. Unbelievers will reproach your faith
a3. God will strengthen us in our witness (fortifies belief, testimony, and in trials)
d. These are not suggestions, but commands (not how we feel or want, but what we are called to)
Key verse: II Timothy 2:14-1914 Remind them of these things, charging them before the Lord not to [a]strive about words to no profit, to the ruin of the hearers. 15 Be diligent to present yourself approved to God, a worker who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth. 16 But shun profane and [b]idle babblings, for they will [c]increase to more ungodliness. 17 And their message will spread like cancer. Hymenaeus and Philetus are of this sort, 18 who have strayed concerning the truth, saying that the resurrection is already past; and they overthrow the faith of some. 19 Nevertheless the solid foundation of God stands, having this seal: “The Lord knows those who are His,” and, “Let everyone who names the name of [d]Christ depart from iniquity.”