Timothy is working with an infant congregation in the 1st century. Persecution makes life fearful for the faithful but Timothy’s obstacles are both external and internal. On the outside he faces pagan people, jealous Jews, and the sword swinging soldiers of Rome.
On the inside, the Christians who make up this young congregation are being led and taught by a young man— Timothy. He battles self-doubt and a lack of confidence in his own abilities. To top it off, his mentor is in prison.
Paul perfectly pens the inspired words that would lift young Timothy’s spirit by reminding him that the human spirit was designed to handle and persevere under such daunting circumstances. Paul writes (from a cell),
“God did not give us a spirit of fear but of power, love, and a sound mind.”
2 Timothy 1.7
The spirit (πνεῦμα) referred to here is not the Holy Spirit, but it’s the “disposition or influence which fills and governs the soul of any one” (Strongs, G4154).
God did not give us the spirit of skittishness so that we’d cower under confrontation or burn out under prospects of suffering.
Holiness amidst hostility is an ability that comes standard on the base model human spirit. It’s not a possibility, it’s a guarantee.
Power
We’re equipped with power (δύναμις) that is, “inherent power, power residing in a thing by virtue of its nature” (Strongs, G1410).
Love
That aggressive strength is powerfully combined with love (ἀγάπη). In this case the word refers to an affection or good will towards others (Strongs, G26). The God given spirit is not heartless. We have the power to show affection yet some chose to pretend as if their personalities are simply not capable of showing this attribute.
Self-control
A sound mind (σωφρονισμός) is simply the ability to control yourself (Strongs, G4995).
We share a commonality with Paul’s protégé. Some have tried to cheapen and downgrade the human race, God’s focal point of creation, to an animalistic status. It’s taught by educated but ignorant scholars who try to deny an undeniable God.
We’ve been fashioned in the image of an eternal Being and our spirits drive an immortal soul. We aren’t designed to live in a constant state of timidity we’re creations of courage.
Courage is not the absence of a fearful feeling but it’s the ability to face that fear— and move forward.
The last week of Jesus’ life on earth was an eventful one. He arrived in Jerusalem to thronging crowds shouting, “Hosanna!” And, His enemies peppered Him with questions. They questioned His authority. They asked Him a Catch-22 question, which was admittedly impressive since it would be almost 2000 years before Catch-22 was written. They even asked Him a gotcha questioned designed to make the resurrection look ridiculous. But after He had answered all of their questions, He had one for them. Matthew’s account of this is in chapter 22, verses 41 and following:
“While the Pharisees were gathered together, Jesus asked them, saying, ‘What do you think about the Christ? Whose Son is He?’
They said to Him, ‘The Son of David.’”
Now, at this point, especially in my younger years, I could see myself nodding along in agreement with the Pharisees. Yes, the Christ is the Son of David. That’s in prophecy, isn’t it? Wasn’t important enough that Matthew opened his gospel account with a genealogy of Jesus going back to David and Abraham? Didn’t Luke also trace Jesus’ genealogy through David back to Adam? But this is what Jesus said:
“He said to them, ‘How then does David in the Spirit call Him “Lord,” saying: “The Lord said to my Lord, ‘Sit at My right hand Till I make Your enemies Your footstool’”? If David then calls Him “Lord,” how is He his Son?’ And no one was able to answer Him a word, nor from that day on did anyone dare question Him anymore.”
Jesus pointed out something very important, which the Pharisees were missing: the Messiah was more than David’s son, He was David’s Lord. The Pharisees missed it because they were expecting an earthly kingdom, with an earthly king like David who would put Israel back on top, overthrow the Romans, and rule in Jerusalem. But God had in mind something much better; instead of freeing them from the Romans, the Christ would free them from their sins—a much more powerful and implacable enemy. In another place, Jesus talked about God giving good gifts and said, “If your son asks for bread, would you give him a stone?” An important cultural note about the way they baked bread in Jesus’ time is that they used clay ovens and heated stones, and the stones in the area were very round and smooth, resembling loaves of bread. It wouldn’t be much of stretch of the imagination to think it wouldn’t be uncommon for a small Jewish boy to point in the oven and say, “Father, I want that one,” but be pointing at a stone. And what kind of father is going to give his child that? No, he’ll give him bread instead even if it isn’t what he wanted because it’s better than what he wanted.
That’s the way God operates; He always gives us what’s better than what we want. He did it back then. When they wanted to be free of Rome, free of their taxes, free of their rules, God offered them freedom from sin, which is of infinitely greater value. It is a shame, though, that when offered bread, sometimes people still want the stone.
From 1 Samuel 15.12–28, we observe the following. After erecting a monument to himself at Carmel, Saul met Samuel at Gilgal. Saul greeted Samuel and proclaimed he had done as God commanded. Given Saul was supposed to destroy the Amalekites, Samuel questioned why he could hear the bleating of sheep and the lowing of oxen. Saul justified his actions, stating that only the best livestock were spared for sacrifices while he had destroyed the rest.
Saul faced a stern rebuke from Samuel, who reminded him of his humble origins and God’s directive to annihilate the Amalekites. Samuel emphasized Saul’s disobedience in seizing the spoils, a direct violation of God’s command. Saul defended himself, insisting that he had obeyed God and completed his mission, shifting the blame onto the people for preserving the best livestock for sacrifices.
In response, Samuel delivered a profound message, declaring that obedience to God’s instructions outweighs the value of sacrifices. Saul’s insubordination and rebellion were exposed and equated with divination, a grave sin. Samuel announced that since Saul had rejected God’s word, God had reciprocated by rejecting Saul’s kingship.
Saul confessed his transgression and pleaded for mercy, admitting that he succumbed to public pressure out of fear. He begged Samuel for forgiveness and expressed his desire to worship God. However, in his refusal, Samuel asserted that because Saul had dismissed God’s word, God had rescinded Saul’s kingship. As Samuel left, Saul desperately grabbed at his robe, tearing it. According to Samuel, this symbolized God stripping Saul of his kingship in favor of a more deserving ruler.
The narrative of King Saul, serving as a potent cautionary tale about pride and disobedience, hinges on two pivotal events in the books of Samuel. Samuel credits Saul’s humble beginnings with his initial rise to kingship (v. 17). 1 Samuel 15.17–19 records Samuel’s critical observations, hinting at a drastic character shift with grave repercussions. Samuel’s inquiries into Saul’s behavior, which underscore his failure to carry out God’s command to exterminate the Amalekites, highlight a drastic deviation from obedience and the principles that initially defined his character.
In 1 Samuel 13.8–14, we encounter the first instance reflecting Saul’s shifting attitude. In haste, he performs the sacrifice, a task designated for priests. This incident glaringly showcases Saul’s audacious belief that he could usurp responsibilities not assigned to him and his flagrant disregard for God’s laws and timing. This choice sets a precedent for Saul’s subsequent disobedience, eventually losing his kingship and favor with God.
The second occurrence in 1 Samuel 15 provides deeper insight into Saul’s transformation. Saul brazenly disregards God’s command, sparing King Agag and the choicest livestock. His rationale that He intends to use the animals for sacrifice underscores his presumption that his judgment surpasses God’s. This act of rebellion exhibits Saul’s tendency to place his will before God’s and to rationalize his wrongdoings. These actions further strain his already deteriorating relationship with God.In conclusion, the story of King Saul serves as a potent reminder of the dangers of misusing power. While Saul’s story begins with him as a reluctant leader who exhibits humility, his rise to power ultimately results in his fall. The Bible does not inherently vilify power, but its misuse, as manifested in Saul’s arrogance and disobedience, is sternly critiqued. His downfall offers a stark lesson in humility, obedience, and the responsible use of power, contrasting his actions with those of subsequent faithful kings. The story’s moral underscores the need for humility, obedience, and respect for the law, regardless of one’s position of power. It teaches that no one should consider themselves above God’s laws that He has entrusted them to uphold.
The other week at our graduation party at the Scottsville church of Christ I was introduced to candied pecans. A lady gave me the leftovers and they were incredible. Sadly, they don’t sell those in Scottsville so I looked up a recipe. While I was at the store grabbing ingredients, I made my way to the baking section to look for vanilla. Problem was, I would have to get a mortgage to buy real vanilla. I didnt realize how expensive it was! Luckily I found a substitute called “imitation vanilla.” It’s way cheaper, and it tastes the same (to me), it looks the same, and it’s the same consistency.
We will never be Jesus, but we should try our best to imitate Him. Being a disciple means being a follower. A follower is, “someone who imitates another.” Ephesians 5:1 says, “Therefore be imitators (followers) of God, as beloved children.” Little kids tend to look to the older and imitate what they see. We are to act this way with God.
Why did God save us and add us to His family? So that we would be imitators and followers of God. Doing so takes submission and humility. Every person is a follower of something. You can submit to and imitate anyone or anything. God saved us so that we would choose to follow and imitate Him in everything.
Being a follower takes submission. Are we meek enough to accept the title of slave? God saved us so that we would be slaves to Him and work for the master. That’s how we can truly be disciples! I would rather be a slave in God’s house, than the master of my own.
If we wear the name Christian, we should be willing to follow Christ. His example is worth imitating!
I Timothy 1.5 is the purpose of teaching and Christianity in general: love from a pure heart, a good conscience, and a genuine faith. Love from a pure heart doesn’t do good for others hoping to get something in return. It’s a love that’s selfless because that’s the right thing to do.
A good conscience doesn’t mean we feel extra guilty about bad things. In fact, emotion has little to do with συνειδήσεως (the word translated conscience). Conscience means an awareness of the difference between right and wrong. A good conscience means we act on our understanding of what is good.
A genuine (or sincere) faith is one that’s above any kind of scrutiny. A sincere faith isn’t hypocritical. To some extent, anyone who has any kind of standard for themselves is a hypocrite. We’re never going to live up to God’s standards of morality, but that doesn’t mean that hypocrisy defines us. The Pharisees were extremely legalistic, but had depraved lifestyles. That’s a hypocrite. A genuine faith is one that at least tries to meet the standard.
1.7 calls out the problem directly: there were members who were eager to teach but had no business doing so. This is, unfortunately, one of issues facing the church today. Many take the approach of emphasizing regulations and rules and prohibitions, which is what these bad influences were doing. The goal of our teaching is to cultivate love from a pure heart, a good conscience, and a sincere faith. But this is not done by teaching just the thou-shalt-nots of Christianity, which we’ll see next week when we study verse nine.
“…a woman whose little daughter was possessed by an impure spirit came and fell at his feet.The woman was a Greek, born in Syrian Phoenicia. She begged Jesus to drive the demon out of her daughter.‘First let the children eat all they want,’ he told her, ‘for it is not right to take the children’s bread and toss it to the little dogs.’‘Lord,’ she replied, ‘even the little dogs under the table eat the children’s crumbs.’ Then he told her, ‘For such a reply, you may go; the demon has left your daughter.’”
In the 1st century, many Jews often referred to Gentiles as “dogs” in a very derogatory way. To the Greeks, the word dog meant a “shameless and audacious woman.” The term was used exactly the same way that the worldly use a word meaning “female dog” in the modern era. To the Jews it was equally a term of contempt.
Jesus did not use the normal word for “dogs” that the Jews used. Instead He softened it into little dogs (v.27) essentially reminding the woman of her place as a Gentile, yet not wanting to push her away.
“In Greek, diminutives are characteristically affectionate. A diminutive is a suffix which is added to a word to show affection or to indicate that something is small. For example, ‘-ie’ and ‘-ette’ are diminutives,” – (Clarke)
Today it would be like changing the word “dog” to “doggie.”
He softened a derogatory term so that she would understand what He was trying to say and not push her away.
Jesus took the sting out of His words.
Notice how she responds with acceptance. She refers to herself by using the same word “little dog.”
If the woman had responded, “Who are you calling a dog?” she would not have received from Jesus what her daughter needed.
Her humble,
faith-filled submission to Jesus brought the victory.
Nothing appealed to our Lord more than faith combined with humility.
Heb. 12:14
“Make every effort to live in peace with everyone and to be holy; without holiness no one will see the Lord.”
If Jesus could avoid conflict— He did.
Ex: I Peter 2.23
“who, when He was reviled, did not revile in return; when He suffered, He did not threaten, but committed Himself to Him who judges righteously”
Inevitably, every congregation of God’s people has an overriding emphasis. It’s probably the thing that the community, if it knows about them, associates them with. It could be the thing that the entire brotherhood associates them with. It’s almost certainly the thing those who attend there understand it to be. The same is true of you and me. It’s true of our families, our marriages, and our individual selves. Something is so important in our lives that it is what people think of when they think of us. What is that? What should it be?
Corinth had developed a reputation, as Chloe’s household reported, for quarreling (1:12). That was a problem! Paul is writing this letter, in part, to help them right the ship and move in the proper direction (1:10). How did he propose to do that?
WHAT NOT TO EMPHASIZE
Superiority Of Speech (1)–This was not going to help. His goal was proclaiming to them the testimony of God. Saying it in high, lofty ways would be a hindrance rather than a help. The remedy was much, much simpler.
Human Wisdom (1)–He has already told them why this was counterproductive. Human wisdom led to thinking the cross of Christ is foolish (1:22-23). Two, the “foolishness” of God (1:21) was wiser than men (1:25). Third, not many who are wise according to the flesh answer God’s call (1:26). Fourth, God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise (1:27). Fifth, Jesus became wisdom from God to us (1:30). So often, the foundation of man’s capacity to understand and function from that understanding is faulty. Logic, reasoning, and understanding devoid of God’s wisdom is destined to destroy and divide.
Persuasive Words Of Wisdom (4-5)–If human wisdom is the cause, persuasive words of wisdom is the effect. Listen to the world’s experts in just about any discipline. If they do not ignore God’s plan and His way, they mock and ridicule it. They even rail against it. To those who refuse to take the time and effort to scrutinize those persuasive words, it may sound intelligent or at least adequate to build their lives on. Tragically, their persuasive words are spiritual sand (Mat. 7:24-27).
WHAT TO EMPHASIZE
Jesus Christ And Him Crucified (2)–Paul has laid the groundwork for this at the very beginning of the letter. When a people are known for divisiveness, they need to train their eyes on the crucified Lord. If we let His love and sacrifice dominate our thinking and focus, there is NO WAY we will let our selfish agenda, pride, or hunger to be in charge. This emphasis trumps being entertained, being unconditionally tolerant, being Pharisaical, being comfortable, or being a social club.
Demonstration Of The Spirit And Of Power (4)–What will happen if we base our plans, our budgets, and our works on what God can do through us? What if what we hear when we assemble for worship or get together for fellowship is God’s thoughts and ways? That’s what Paul wanted Corinth’s faith to be in.
The Wisdom Of God (5-9)–Human wisdom led Jesus to be crucified in the first place. God accomplished His eternal purpose through it, but the rulers of Jesus’ day did not kill Him on a cross with that understanding. It was God’s wisdom, revealed by the Spirit, that Paul is speaking about when he says, “Things which eye has not seen and ear has not heard, And which have not entered the heart of man, All that God has prepared for those who love Him” (9). This quotation of Isaiah 64:4 is not a reference to heaven. Many have quoted 1 Corinthians 2:9 to say that heaven is going to be greater than anything we’ve seen, heard, or even dreamed of. That’s a true sentiment, but it is NOT what Paul is talking about here. He’s talking about something the Spirit has already revealed (10), the revelation of God’s Word. That must be our emphasis!
The Spirit’s Revelation (10-16)–This is what to preach and practice. Paul gives insight into the process that brought us Scripture. The Spirit searches the deep things of God (10), gives it to us (12), teaches us, combining spiritual thoughts with spiritual words (13), and reveals the mind of Christ (16). Jesus promised that this would come to fruition (John 14:26; 16:13), and this letter to Corinth was part of that process. How do we know what we SHOULD emphasize? We need to consult the “mind of Christ” found on the pages of the New Testament.
Wouldn’t it be great if our congregation, with every single member in it, had the reputation in our brotherhood and our community as a people so full of the saving message of Jesus and Him crucified that it consumed our thinking and actions and drove our purpose and our mission? I want to be able to say with integrity, “I determined to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ, and Him crucified.”
Unveiling Sheol: Exploring the Depths of the Old Testament’s Concept of the Afterlife
During my junior year at Faulkner University, I enrolled in Hebrew classes. Unfortunately, I had to miss a semester due to illness. Because of the rotational nature of the Biblical languages courses at Faulkner, I took Greek when I returned and only passed thanks to Dr. Carl Cheatham’s grace. Because the documents of the Christian faith are written in Koine Greek, knowing the language makes more sense. However, I’ve always been interested in archaeology and Old Testament history. I still wish I could have barely passed Hebrew instead.
Consequently, I always like to plumb the depths of Jewish scholarship, tempering it with my Christian worldview. The idea that the Greek Hadean realm influenced the Christian concept of the afterlife has always piqued my interest, even though I know it is incorrect. People will say the Old Testament presents no such ideas about the afterlife. Yet that is not true. There is one word that one encounters particularly within the poetry section of the Old Testament: Sheol. The King James Version calls it “the grave.” Unfortunately, the King James translators ruined the tapestry’s richness by rendering it generically.
Sometimes the context tells you that the realm of the dead being discussed is associated with the concept of destruction. This association makes it sound like Tartarus (translated “hell” in 2 Peter 2.4) in Hades . This possibility becomes apparent when you pair Abaddon with it, as in Proverbs 27.20.
“Sheol and Abaddon are never satisfied, Nor are the eyes of man ever satisfied.” (NASB95)
Proverbs 27 extols virtues such as humility, wise decision-making, healthy relationships, self-control, and diligent stewardship as keys to a fruitful life. In verse 20, Solomon compares this life and one where greed rules. Greed has the same appetite as Sheol and Abaddon.
Indeed, such concepts denote a location, but they take on a personification akin to our true adversary, who roams the earth seeking whom he may devour (cf. 1 Peter 5.8). As a result, by the time one reaches the end of the New Testament, assuming that John’s Apocalypse was the last book written, he finds Abaddon and his Greek counterpart Apollyon as rulers of the abyss (Revelation 9.11).
I understand that Revelation is difficult for modern readers to comprehend fully, but it is simple to imagine this figure as the devil. It is not my intention to delve into the interpretation of Revelation here. To summarize, there is no need to read a future yet to-be-realized into this text as if there were some nebulous end times ahead of us. Because these concepts are associated with destruction, more than one commentator has pointed out that they could easily describe the actions of Christians’ persecutors that resulted in their deaths. And as the angel told John at the outset of his Revelation, these things would shortly occur (Revelation 1.2-3; 22.10). As a result, rather than a demonic figure or a fallen angel, the rulers of destruction could have been imperial Rome’s rulers.
However, when Sheol appears alone, it refers to the concept of the realm of the dead. For example, when Joseph’s brothers convinced their father Jacob that a wild animal had killed him, Jacob tore his clothes and put on sackcloth. Jacob warned his family that his mourning would send him “down to Sheol” (Genesis 37.35 NASB95). Jacob uses a trip to Sheol to suggest his mourning will kill him.
Hebrew is a unique language because it lacks vowels. As a result, assigning vowel sounds is dependent on the diacritical marks Jesus referred to as “tittles” or “strokes” (Matthew 5.18). As a result, you have some pairings that can mean different things depending on where one places those strokes. In other words, changing the vowel sounds creates an entirely different word or meaning. Therefore, we can reduce Sheol to “shin-aleph-lamed.” In this case, the root is aleph-lamed,” which one uses as a negation word. As a result, Sheol would be a place of nothingness or belonging to nothingness.
This understanding does not refer to the atheistic belief that after death, one becomes like the dog Rover: dead all over. Instead, it demonstrates that current opportunities are no longer available. Consider Solomon’s words in Ecclesiastes 9.10:
“Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with all your might; for there is no activity or planning or knowledge or wisdom in Sheol where you are going.” (NASB95)
That understanding fits well with what the writer of Hebrews says in Hebrews 9.27. We have a date with death, and then we will be judged. The implication is that there are no actions we can take after death to change our fate.
Returning to the concept of “shin-aleph-lamed,” the word means “to ask.” When the Israelites left Egypt, they were to ask their neighbors for gold and silver articles (Exodus 3.22). With this new dimension to Sheol, we get the idea of the earth reclaiming what God took away when he created man (cf. Genesis 2.7). It reminds us of the fleeting nature of life, that we are like vapors appearing only for a brief moment (James 4.14). As a result, as Moses stated in Psalm 90.12, we must learn to number our days. As Paul puts it, we must redeem our time (Ephesians 5.15–17).If there is an overarching theme to this brief discussion of Sheol, it is not to impress you with my research but to encourage you to go deeper in your study of God’s word. Simple tools such as Greek and Hebrew lexicons, Bible dictionaries, and reliable commentaries can help you extract far more value from the scriptures than a casual reading. And sometimes, a better understanding of even the most straightforward words can change your entire perspective on life and death.
“You too be patient; strengthen your hearts, for the coming of the Lord is near.” James 5:8
The heart has been a topic that James has mentioned several times in his letter.
1:26 We can deceive our hearts
3:14 We can fill our hearts with “bitter jealousy and selfish ambition.”
4:8 We are called to “purify our hearts”
5:5 Self-indulgence can fatten our hearts for the day of slaughter
But now in contrast, James tells us to strengthen our hearts. He’s not telling us to start a cardio regimen, eat cheerios and take CoQ10. The heart is the center of our thinking. It is what influences our actions.
When we strengthen our center of thinking, there is a direct correlation to what we will focus on in this life.
What should be our focus? The coming of the Lord! James tells them that this day was near. Not that the end of the world was at hand, but that through death, the suffering Christian’s he is writing to would be standing before the throne of God very soon.
This gives us a glimpse into the extent of their suffering. They were so mistreated that they were at the point of death. Rather than worry about self-preservation, think about where you will be the moment you pass from this life.
We are told that our life is a vapor (James 4:14), here one minute and gone the next. So don’t get so focused on the suffering that you face to the detriment of your soul. If we lose focus on the eternal, what’s the point of prolonging the temporal?
These poor Christians would have been tempted to do anything they could to take care of their families. James says in verse 9, “Do not complain, brethren, against one another, so that you yourselves may not be judged; behold, the Judge is standing right at the door.”
If you make plans to go over to a friend’s house, your journey begins at home, you get in your car, drive the route, arrive at their home, get out of your car, and go to the door. Entering through the door is the last step before you are in their home. That the Judge is standing right at the door paints the picture that our judgment is right in front of us. Judgment is near, our life is a vapor. Don’t do something in this life that will put you in the same boat as the unrighteous.
James began his letter with a statement on suffering, and he ends by talking about trials. Suffering can produce endurance (1:2). Suffering can also give us a stronger heart. As Christians in the 21st century we might be tempted to act as though judgment is far off in the future.
Does the thought of Christ coming back in 30 seconds scare you? If we knew for certain that Christ was coming back in 30 seconds, what would you be thinking?
…Do you feel relieved that it didn’t happen? If so, why? Are you disappointed? The coming of the Lord is near for each one of us. At any moment we could be standing before God. We should live with this thought in mind every day.
For those who have strengthened their hearts there will be a reward beyond comprehension. When suffering comes, strengthen your heart.
In I Timothy 1.3-7, we learn more about the bad influences Timothy had to confront. Verse four suggests a group of people who couldn’t let their traditions go. They tried to establish their authority by listing their prominent ancestors, proving their superior pedigree. This was a common practice among Jewish religious teachers then and today.
While we don’t see this in our western culture to that degree, we do still see it occasionally. In defending certain man-made traditions, we might point to someone in our family history who was highly regarded by the church, and who either prohibited or encouraged certain things.
The most common defense we might encounter when dealing with these traditions is “my dad always said” or “my grandpa always taught that it was wrong to…” In most cases, that relative was a founding or prominent member of their church in the past. Many of us grew up in a family unit and have based our beliefs on the things our parents or other relatives taught us.
This isn’t always a bad thing — Timothy was taught by his mother and grandmother. But that wasn’t where it ended for him; he also had apostolic teaching. Today we have the New Testament. As wonderful as our families may be, there is no substitute for an honest, unbiased study of scripture. If we rely solely on what our families or respected members teach us, we open ourselves up to serious blindspots and vulnerabilities.
“Those who respect the elderly pave their own road toward success.” – African Proverb
God doesn’t tell us to listen to the elderly because they’re often right, but because they also have more experience being wrong. Solomon’s work of Ecclesiastes will attest to that.
Every Tuesday the senior Tompkinsville church family members gather at the church building for a Bible study. The class is made up of some of the greatest examples of elderly faithful servants that the brotherhood has to offer. Their wisdom and life experience is invaluable and taking advantage of that, the question was posed–
“What would you tell yourself if you could talk to yourself back in High School?”
Here are some of their answers…
K: “Make your circle of friends larger. Be friends with everybody. You’ll thank yourself later in life because it’s always beneficial to know more people.”
J: “Be able to think past the next week. Your choices will affect your future. Choose your friends wisely, and don’t try so hard to fit in. Make sure your closest friends are members of the church.”
M: “Raise your kids in the church and emphasize the importance of going to worship. If they stray away when they get older, there’s a greater chance that they’ll return. Just ensure that they know how important it is so that they’ll always know where they need to be. Make your kids go to worship.”
G: “Seek the truth while you’re young. I wasn’t a member of the church in high school and I wish I hadn’t waited so long.”
K: “If you think you shouldn’t— don’t.”
J: “Develop a good Bible study routine while you’re young.”
This wasn’t all they had to say, but there’s something powerful about listening to the wisdom of the elderly (especially in the church) because it solidifies the trustworthiness of Biblical teaching. How many mistakes would we have avoided if we were able to go back and talk some sense into our younger selves?
“Stand up in the presence of the aged, show respect for the elderly and revere your God.” Leviticus 19.32
You can credit (or blame) a 16th-Century French scholar, printer, and typographer named Robert Etienne for our modern division of the Bible into individual verses. He’s sometimes known by his Latin name, Robert Stephanus. Overall, he did an incredibly commendable job. Sometimes his divisions are head-scratching, like in Ezra 2. This chapter has 70 verses, as he gives each family of the returning exiles their own verse. I’m not sure there is a better way to divide it, though. So, who are these people, that whole assembly of returnees numbering 42,360 plus 7,337 servants and 200 singers?
They were people willing to endure difficulty. The journey itself would have been over 1000 miles. They leave the comfort and prosperity of Babylon to resettle their native homeland. They will have to rebuild or at least remodel houses and whole villages, not to mention rebuild the temple and the walls around the city of Jerusalem. These were not lazy people!
They were led people (2). Ezra tells us who the leaders were by name. The first three named are among the most prominent leaders in the post-exilic period. Zerubbabel (cf. Zech. 4; Neh. 7,12) not only helps lead the exiles back to the land, he leads the temple reconstruction project (5:2). He insures that the work is done by the Jewish people, and not by their enemies (4:1-3). He is identified as governor of Judah (Hag. 1-2). Jeshua is usually found alongside Zerubbabel (4:3). He is identified in the books of Ezra, Nehemiah, Haggai and Zechariah as the High Priest. Nehemiah, for whom the Old Testament book is named, will also serve as governor of Judah, was likely a prophet, and previously served as a high official in Persian court (Neh. 1). Eleven men in all are listed as the leaders who shepherd the exiles back to the land. They appear to be highly qualified men, perseverant in their own right.
They were purposed people (3-67). Ezra divides his list into categories. Many are generally listed as men at the heads of certain families (“sons of…,” 3-35), priests (36-39), Levites (40), singers (41), gatekeepers (42), temple servants (43-54), “Solomon’s servants” (55-57, probably descendants of those selected by Solomon to work on the temple), and several whose genealogical record was unverified (58-63). Who was more important? That is entirely the wrong question! Each group had a purpose, and God and His leaders were depending on them to fulfill it! Verse 70 lists all these groups, who dwelled in their cities and squared up to their tasks.
They were generous people (68-69). Well, not all of them, but certainly “Some of the heads of fathers’ households, when they arrived at the house of the Lord which is in Jerusalem, offered willingly for the house of God to restore it on its foundation” (68). They gave according to their ability (69). Through them, God continues to provide for the future of His people.
As we consider the great, ongoing work of restoration, God is seeking the same things from us: perseverance, submission, purpose, and generosity. He will do great things, even in the midst of shambles and dysfunction, when there are people possessed of qualities like these. We will see that longterm projects will have hiccups and stalls, but a huge step occurs when people are willing to step out by faith.
What does being an example mean? Merriam Webster says one that serves as a pattern to be followed or not followed. We are to be examples to others throughout our lives. Whether that’s to our children, co workers, other Christians anyone we come in contact with. Whether we like it or not we are being watched by someone. Someone will always be taking note of our actions, our attitude, and our gratitude. We all have had that person or persons in our lives that made an impact in some way. Maybe from something they said or did or the example they set that we took notice. A parent or grandparent a preacher or teacher. We may never know the impact we might have on others.
In our spiritual discipline class we discussed learning. Neal raised the question of how did you become a Christian and began to write the answers from our class on the board. Most of them were Godly mother, spouse, parents, someone else told me about Jesus. It was the people we were around the most that made a difference a lot of the time.
Lets look at a few scriptures that relate to being and example to others.
1 Timothy 4:12 Let no one despise you for your youth, but set the believers an example in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith, in purity.
Titus 2:6-7 Likewise urge the younger men to be self controlled. Show yourself in all respects to be a model of good works, and in your teaching show integrity, dignity.
And my favorite John 13:15 For I have given you an example that you also should do just as I have done to you.
DON’TE WAIT AND BE THE LIGHT. When we are going about our lives even during difficult times be the light. It starts now. “You are the salt of the earth but if the salt has become tasteless how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything except to be thrown out and trampled under foot by men. You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden nor does anyone light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a lampstand and it gives light to all who are in the house. Let your light shine before men in such a way that they may see your good works, and glorify your father who is in heaven” (Matt. 5:13-16). We can be the light to others and be an influence in their lives. Be optimistic and show gratitude. Show love. Try our best to live like Jesus lived.
I want to share some the lyrics to a song called Talking To Jesus. written by Brandon Lake Chris Brown and Steven Furtick.
Grandma used to pray out loud By her bed every night To me it sounded like mumbling Like she was out of her mind
She said boy this kind of praying is what saved my life You oughta try it sometime And now I know she was right She was talking to Jesus
She’d been talking to Jesus for all her life Mama used to drag me to church Sunday mornings and Wednesday nights Khaki pants and a polo shirt
Boy I put up a fight She said son some day you will thank me For having God in your life And yeah I know she was right
Cause now im talking to Jesus She got me talking to Jesus Yeah mama was right I’ve got 3 of my own now Trying to raise them up right
My oldest is fifteen And I remember what that was like Trying to deal with the drama Trying to figure out the questions in life
And I’ve been looking for a way to show him How to make it alright Then he walked in my room While I was saying my prayers the other night
He said I will come back later I can tell you got a lot on your mind I said its not an interruption You couldn’t have picked a better time Cause I was talking to Jesus Come over and give it a try We started talking to Jesus And now he’s talking to Jesus I hope he’s talking to Jesus the rest of his life.
We are always being watched by someone. Someone whether its our family friends co workers or people in the community. Even when we are alone God is taking note. In Matthew 10 he says he knows the hairs on our head they are numbered.
We are being watched by God, we are being watched by children, we are being watched by others. What you do and how you live your life matters. It matters now so it can matter for eternity.
Let us delve into the depths of a father’s concern as we reflect on the sacred role of fatherhood, drawing inspiration from the stories of four fathers in Scripture. We learn profound lessons about love, leadership, redemption, and our children’s spiritual well-being from their experiences.
Let us start with the most unfavorable example: Eli. Eli is more concerned with his position and its trappings than his relationship with his sons. Eli never restrained his sons despite their blasphemy and sexual immorality. The writer of Hebrews reminds us that a father’s discipline indicates a relationship (Hebrews 12.4–11). According to the implication, only illegitimate (i.e., unloved) children are left undisciplined. Though we don’t know Eli’s heart, we must question his love for his sons by allowing them to be unruly.
Eli may have become more enamored with his position’s prestige than fatherhood’s benefits (cf. Psalm 127.3-5). He habitually sat on an elevated seat near the Tabernacle’s entrance (1 Samuel 1.9). As Sigmund Freud might have suggested, his elevated platform could represent how he wished others to see him or how he viewed himself.
God didn’t like it because it demonstrated Eli’s desire for glory that belonged only to God. Thus, God had had enough of Eli and his sons and sent an unnamed prophet and the young Samuel to inform Eli of his and his family’s demise. The news that caused Eli to fall from his elevated seat on the day his sons died in fulfillment of prophecy was not the deaths of his sons but that the Philistines had taken the Ark of the Covenant (1 Samuel 4.18).
Even if a man is serving God, he must prioritize the well-being of his children. The father’s concern should be the nurturing and admonition of the Lord (Ephesians 6.4), not the trappings of success or status.
Moving on, we encounter the mighty King David, a man after God’s heart (1 Samuel 13.14; Acts 13.22). David teaches us to strike a balance between love and obligation. He accomplishes this by showing concern for his traitorous son Absalom, who is unworthy of such consideration. This misplaced concern caused David to lose sight of his responsibility to his loyal subjects, who had defended David and his family from patricide and regicide.
This display did not sit well with General Joab. Note 2 Samuel 19.5-7.
Then Joab came into the house to the king and said, “Today you have covered with shame the faces of all your servants, who today have saved your life and the lives of your sons and daughters, the lives of your wives, and the lives of your concubines, by loving those who hate you, and by hating those who love you. For you have shown today that princes and servants are nothing to you; for I know this day that if Absalom were alive and all of us were dead today, then you would be pleased. Now therefore arise, go out and speak kindly to your servants, for I swear by the Lord, if you do not go out, surely not a man will pass the night with you, and this will be worse for you than all the evil that has come upon you from your youth until now.” (NASB95)
While David’s affection for Absalom was undeniable, his leadership suffered as a result, and his devoted followers bore the brunt of the consequences. Fathers must strike a delicate balance of love, responsibility, and obligation. Most fathers may never know the weight of a crown, but all fathers must learn to show compassion without sacrificing justice and to extend forgiveness while maintaining accountability.
Job is our next father. Job exemplifies proper concern for one’s children’s spiritual well-being. Job constantly offered sacrifices on his children’s behalf in case they had sinned (Job 1.5). Job recognized the significance of their spiritual journey and interceded on their behalf before God. Fathers should model Job by encouraging their children’s spiritual development alongside their physical growth. Oh, if all fathers were as concerned about their children!
Finally, we should mention the ideal father, the prodigal’s father (Luke 15.11ff). In the story, the father genuinely cares about his son. This care reveals this father’s unconditional love and allows the prodigal son to find redemption. We see the unfathomable love of a father in this parable. Every father should try to live up to this standard.
Although his son had squandered his inheritance and caused him great pain, the prodigal father’s concern outweighed his pain. His heart was overflowing with unconditional love and longing for his errant child. Indeed, this father demonstrates that a perfect father’s love knows no bounds, and redemption is always available. We thank God that this Father is also our heavenly Father.
As we conclude these reflections, let us embrace the complex concern that these biblical fathers demonstrated. Fathers should prioritize meaningful connections with their children, devoting time and effort to nurturing and disciplining them. Let them remember that love and obligation can coexist and that they can lead their families with grace and accountability. Above all, fathers should model the unconditional love of the Heavenly Father by cultivating an environment of redemption, forgiveness, and spiritual growth.
May God give fathers the strength to prioritize their children’s spiritual well-being, interceding on their behalf, directing them toward righteousness, and empowering them to model His love, compassion, and wisdom in their homes.
On February 3, 2018, Robert Meilhammer, 51, of Crapo, Maryland, was struck in the head by a dead Canada goose. The bird that hit him was 14 pounds and had a nearly 6 foot wingspan. It plunged from the sky after a fellow waterfowl hunter fired a blind shot on a flock overhead. Meilhammer was in the midst of a hunting party with three friends in Easton, Maryland. The goose fell about 90 feet, knocking the hunter out instantly and causing head and facial injuries. If you could see what was coming you would prepare. Odds are, if Robert Meilhammer would’ve known about the goose coming he could’ve taken a step forward to keep from getting knocked out.
If we knew what was coming, we would prepare. Thankfully, we know! God in His love and grace has revealed what is coming and what needs to be done in order to prepare.
That’s why as a church we come together to remind each other of the day that is coming in the future. We come together to encourage our church family to fight the good fight, keep the faith, and to stay the course.
Mark 16:16, “Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned. The judgement day is coming and God is clear on what we should be doing. Get prepared and stay prepared through constant fellowship with likeminded brothers and sisters.
2 Peter 2:9, “then the Lord knows how to rescue the godly from trials, and to keep the unrighteous under punishment until the day of judgment.” Does going to church make us more godly or unrighteous? Which one do we want to be on that day of judgment?
In 2 Timothy 4:7-8 Paul says, “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Henceforth there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, will award to me on that day, and not only to me but also to all who have loved his appearing.”
We go to church so we can say what Paul once said. God has revealed to us the future event that is going to take place. Have we fought the good fight? Have we kept the faith? Fighting and faith are strengthened with our church family.
A little less than 2,000 years ago, a man named Timothy moved to a beautiful coastal town in what is now Selçuk, Turkey. His mom and grandma were Jewish and his dad was Greek. When he was possibly about 45 years old, he moved to Ephesus to work with a newly formed group of Christians. Before this, he traveled with Paul all over the Roman empire telling people about Jesus and how he came back to life.
By Jewish standards for a teacher, Timothy was a young man. He may have been naturally introverted and had difficulty with confrontation (I Cor 16.10, II Tim 1.7-8). Besides this, he had a criminal record in the Roman empire. He was arrested at least once for teaching about Jesus (Heb 13.23), possibly while he was working with the church in Ephesus.
He had a very tough job— Ephesus was dealing with bad influences (like Judaism and Gnostic groups) and Timothy had to stop them. This was obviously very difficult for him. Paul wrote I Timothy as a pilot’s checklist of what God wanted for his family. It was also a gentle push for Timothy to keep those bad influences out of the church. This wasn’t enough of a push, though, because II Timothy is far more direct and has a distinct air of reprimand.
Despite his weaknesses, Timothy was an awesome person and a very hard worker. Next week we’ll start our study of I Timothy 1.
The Ancient Greek word for “blessed” (makarious) means to be fortunate, happy, and well off. It occurs nearly fifty times in our New Testament and in a wide range of contexts. The most well known location is perhaps the many times it’s used in the Sermon on the Mount beginning in Matthew five. Here we find the poor in spirit who are blessed. The mourners, meek, righteous, merciful, pure in heart, peacemakers, persecuted, and several others that are all described as blessed. There’s another location where we find the word used and the implications of its textual application are exciting.
In Luke 11:28-29 a seemingly random woman shouts from the crowd, “Blessed is the mother who gave you birth and nursed you!” The timing of this statement might take the modern reader off guard. Jesus had been teaching on demonic possession. Was it the way He spoke of the spiritual realm? What made this woman make such a declaration at that moment? Perhaps it was a combination of what she had heard about Jesus, coupled with the authority He taught with. The Lord’s response is also interesting. He doesn’t disrespect His mother, but He redirects her praise upwards by saying, “Blessed rather are those who hear the word of God and obey it.”
There’s a progression in the maturity of the blessed Christian when it comes to God’s Word. It begins as a burden. God’s Word guides us to give up and reshape our lives in ways that can be painful. The blessed Christian who continues in the Word then feels a burden of responsibility. Notice, Jesus says that the happiness occurs once one hears and then acts in obedience. Hearing has never been enough, it’s always been the case that doing and living the Words has been the key. Those that hear and don’t act, aren’t happy. Those that act in robotic or ritualistic fashion, aren’t happy. Those that understand and live out what God has said find happiness. Happiness is in the light and the blessed are happy to be recipients of grace and salvation.
Between 2003 and 2017, I have seen (or heard) lions in several places across northern Tanzania. Each time you see or hear one is truly unforgettable. They are fierce, fast, and powerful creatures. Each time, I have been grateful to have had the safety of an automobile to offer protection.
In three trips to Israel, I have not seen or heard a lion. That’s because you can’t find one in the wild there today. But, after Assyria carries off Israel into captivity, they settled people from other nations into Samaria and the other cities of the northern kingdom. These newly-settled citizens did not fear the Lord, so He sent lions among them to kill some of them (2 Kings 17:25). They appeal to the king of Assyria to help them “know the custom of the god of the land” (26). The king of Assyria’s solution was to send a priest from among the exiled Israelites back into the land who lived in Bethel and taught the new inhabitants “how they should fear the Lord” (28). Sound like a feel good story of mass conversion, right? Well, not exactly.
The people, like the Athenians later in history (Acts 17:16-23), just added Jehovah to their list of gods. “They feared the Lord and served their own gods” (33). They had no history with and no grounding in the Law of Moses , so they continually violated His will and commandments (34-40). “So while these nations feared the Lord, they also served their idols; their children likewise and their grandchildren, as their fathers did, so they do to this day” (41).
Mixed up religion is not just a problem of ancient times. It is alive and well today. What do people serve alongside Jehovah? The teaching and commandments of men, patriotism, tradition, money, culture, and more. They take elements of each and the end result is a watered-down, unacceptable substitute for true religion governed and guided by a reverent, informed knowledge of God’s Word. Syncretism is “the amalgamation (act of combining or uniting) or attempted amalgamation of different religions, cultures, or schools of thought.” Some world religions are syncretistic in nature. But, true religion–biblically defined–does not allow for anything mixed with it. In fact, the Bible defines true religion as “pure and undefiled” (Jas. 1:27). Worship is according to truth (John 4:24), and God’s Word is truth (John 17:17).
God does not allow for watered down substitutes and self-customized religion. The only way to avoid that is to know what His Word says, and then do it (Jas. 1:21-25). Otherwise, our efforts are made in vain (Mat. 15:9). Mixed up religion condemns. The sage observation of Jeremiah ought to serve as our beacon of light: “I know, O Lord, that a man’s way is not in himself, Nor is it in a man who walks to direct his steps” (10:23).
Got real close to this dude in Ngorogoro Crater, 12/7/17
As many of you know I have a way of relating my lesson around the fire service and I’m going to do that again here tonight. But some of you may not understand the similarities the fire service has to the Church. Let me give you short list of comparisons. It is a brotherhood. We are a family. We watch out for each other. Call each other out when we stumble. Get each other back on the right path when we go astray. We push each other. And like every one of you, we support each other. We lift each other up when we’re struggling. And we always seek to find the best in one another.
At the firehouse we’ve adopted a saying from the US Navy seals that says “Get Comfortable Being Uncomfortable”. If you can be comfortable being uncomfortable, you’ll be prepared to handle whatever situation comes along in your own life. “For we know that the Law is spiritual, but I am of flesh, sold into bondage to sin. For what I am doing, I do not understand; for I am not practicing what I would like to do, but I am doing the very thing I hate. But if I do the very thing I do not want to do, I agree with the Law, confessing that the Law is good. So now, no longer am I the one doing it, but sin which dwells in me. For I know that nothing good dwells in me, that is, in my flesh; for the willing is present in me, but the doing of the good is not” (Rom. 7:14-18).
Who gets uncomfortable just reading that? Paul is talking about the flesh, his sinful nature, not his new nature in Christ. All the good in Paul’s life comes from Christ living in him, rather than originating in Paul. While the inability to do what is righteous and holy highlights humanity’s sinful nature, it also demonstrates the goodness of the law, in contrast to the power of sin. As we are in pursuit of Jesus, we are dumbfounded by our ability to do something, well, ignorant. At times we might ask ourselves, why did I do that? That’s not going to get me any closer to Christ. The struggle is real. But Paul also points out the Grace of God is sufficient in our failings and our weaknesses. See at the firehouse for me, we are placed in uncomfortable situations almost every day. It could be out on an accident scene where no one has any regard for a big red truck with lights on in the road. Could be in a fire trying to put it out or search for victims. Or it might just be at the station behind closed doors having those difficult discussions with the ones we work with and care about. However getting comfortable with being uncomfortable does not mean to be complacent or use our flesh as a reason to sin. It means we need to stay vigilant and prepared. We need to understand that when we fall short of the goal, or we just miss the mark all together, the grace from God is there to lift us back up.
I have one other saying I’d like to share from our firehouse with you that hits home every time I say it. “Would you want you rescuing you?” We have one of the most physically demanding jobs in the world. The decisions we make and the actions we take have very real consequences. On each and every call we are working to increase the chance of survival for our fellow man. This mission is driven by perfected skills and physical preparation. It is our responsibility to show up physically prepared and hold ourselves accountable to the oath we swore (Eph. 6:10-17).
As Christians the decisions we make and the actions we take have very real consequences. Are we working each and every day to save our soul? Our mission is clear. The word of God provides us everything we need to extinguish evil. It is our individual responsibility to remain prepared and hold ourselves accountable to the oath we swore.
“When I consider Your heavens, the work of Your fingers, The moon and the stars, which You have ordained; What is man that You take thought of him, And the son of man that You care for him?” (Psalm 8.3–4 NASB95)
We discover divine wisdom hidden in the heart of these lovely words as we delve into their heart. Consider King David, the author of this psalm. David, a humble shepherd who rose to become king, was astounded by how the Lord created the world and chose him to lead His people.
Even though the universe, the moon, and the stars are all beautiful, they pale in comparison to God’s choice of David, an ordinary person. But the Bible repeatedly demonstrates that God’s ways are not our ways. He selects the humble, familiar, and overlooked and then uses them to accomplish amazing things (cf. 1 Samuel 16.7). For example, the Sanhedrin even thought that Jesus’ chosen twelve were “uneducated and untrained men” (Acts 4.13 NASB95).
David’s words reassure us that God genuinely cares. Even though he has done many bad things, David claims that God has been thinking of him because of His great love and mercy. Let this serve as a reminder to all of us that God loves us regardless of what we’ve done or have done in the past.
The second way to interpret this psalm is as a representation of Christ, the true personification of the psalms. We encounter divine awe in Christ. The wonder of His birth, His teachings, the extent of His love that cost Him His life, and His miraculous resurrection demonstrates how much God loves people. He is mindful of us.
The psalm demonstrates how much God the Father loved His one and only Son, even though He allowed Him to die for us. This gracious gift is the most effective way to demonstrate how much God loves and cares for us.
Finally, let’s look at the psalm through our own eyes. The psalm asks us to view ourselves honestly. We seem so insignificant and unworthy compared to the marvels of God’s creation. Nonetheless, amid all this, we find an acknowledgment and a joyful realization that God cares about us, despite our smallness. God watches out for us. He is concerned about us (cf. Matthew 6.25ff). This truth allows us to learn more about God, His promise, and His love for each of us.
The psalm also makes us reflect on ourselves. What are we as individuals? We are born into a fallen world and will inevitably choose sin with our free moral agency, but God’s grace makes us new. God loves and selects us despite our flaws.
Ultimately, this psalm drives home an important truth: we need to give God the same amount of thought He gives us. We should not view this requirement as a burden but as a source of comfort. Even though we know God is always present, He calls us to maintain a deep, loving relationship with Him.
Let’s keep our eyes fixed on God and constantly remind ourselves of His presence and the eternal future He has promised us as we navigate life with its ups and downs, joys and sorrows.
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