"20 O Timothy, guard what has been entrusted to you, avoiding worldly and empty chatter and the opposing arguments of what is falsely called “knowledge”— 21 which some have professed and thus gone astray from the faith.
"O Timothy, guard what has been entrusted to you, avoiding worldly and empty chatter and the opposing arguments of what is falsely called "knowledge"— which some have professed and thus gone astray from the faith.
Grace be with you."
Good Morning My Beloved,
Welcome to worship this Lord's Day!
We're so grateful to have our brothers and sisters from all around the world here with us today.
We continue to lift all of you up in prayer daily.
We ask that you would do the same for us, and those on the Prayer Wall, who have shared with
all of us, their needs and concerns. It is an honor and great privilege to pray with and for others, let us do so joyfully!
I believe one of the most critical characteristics that mark our church, our Christian life, is how we handle the truth. In a society where so many seek the "feel good" experience, I often hear of many who
are concerned with finding caring and sharing, good music and fellowship, non judgemental or condemning qualities when looking for a church. What I do not hear often, are those seeking the excellent knowledge of Christ, where God's Word is preached, not in part but in whole and in truth, with love, integrity and honesty. A church where people not only become "saved," but a church where lives are being transformed by the Living Savior.
From the moment you became a Christian, by placing your faith in Jesus Christ, you entered a lifelong battle. A battle, that was never intended to be "easy, free from trouble and cares." Many are being mislead by the "teaching" today, creating the widespread attitude that is prevalent today, that when you become a Christian, God began working for you so everything has to work out the way you want, rather than the truth, that you are now serving Him instead of Satan.
Let us bow our heads in prayer.
Heavenly Father,
Father, we just thank You for You Word for us today. We thank You for the souls who are present with us. we pray that they would be richly blessed by today's message, that with the help of the Holy Spirit, we would all make application of it to our lives. That hearts would be changed, lives would be transformed, all for Your glory and increase in the kingdom.
Lord, we pray that You would touch the hearts of the lost, that their eyes and ears would be opened, that today would be the day, they might receive Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior. Father, protect Your churches that keep the truth and raise up the voices of those that proclaim it.
In Christ's precious name
Amen
Today's Message: Guarding The Gospel Of Grace
Christians everywhere, are in a warfare, which, throughout church history, has been the fundamental nature of Christianity. However, the object of this warfare is not to survive to the end of life, as many Christians today think. I'm not speaking about the battle to stay healthy during a pandemic, or to stay alive, in a struggling economy, even unbelievers battle in that war. I am speaking about the battle of being a Christian, living a Christ-like life, in the midst of dangerous pressures and countering forces of an unsaved world.This is a battle we are all involved in; and there is no exit from it, until the end.
We are living in a world of illusion, trying to keep ourselves free from chasing after all the fantasies of this world. Not allow ourselves to think wrongly, to become entangles with everything that is going on in society, to see things as they are and to deal with them honestly. All the while taking hold of and keeping God's perspective. Not hiding ourselves away from the world, but to live among peoples, under all the pressures and dangers of being a Christian, in everyday life.
That is what the Apostle Paul is talking about, to be a loving and caring person, who has compassion and concern for people, even in times of harassment, when others are giving way
to expressions of hate and bigotry, and acts of violence.
Open with me your Bibles, to the sixth chapter in the Book of First Timothy. As we conclude our journey, through this marvelous section of God's Word, we come to our final message, in the sixth chapter, with these final two verses. I Timothy, 20-21.
I would like to encourage all of you to follow along with me as I read to from our text, as we prepare our hearts to listen for what the Holy Spirit has for us today. I Timothy 6:20-21.
"O Timothy, guard what has been entrusted to you, avoiding worldly and empty chatter and the opposing arguments of what is falsely called "knowledge"— which some have professed and thus gone astray from the faith.
Grace be with you."
While it would be easy for us to just dismiss these final two statements; I believe that dismissal would be a grave mistake. As Christians, we would certainly benefit from refreshing their memories, and focusing our attention on this reminder from the Apostle Paul. He, obviously, saw it to be fitting, to include such a warning, therefore, must have considered the danger to be real, worthy of this vital warning. We would do well, to pay close attention to what the Apostle Paul has written here, because all who would follow Christ, still face this particular danger today, as well as similar dangers. Even more importantly, what the Holy Spirit has chosen to include, will guide and equip us to think logically and critically.
Many pastors today play fast and loose with the Word of God. The Christian ministry is supposed to be a depository that guards the truth, and guards it protectively, upholding it purely. Many have dishonored God's Word by their unbiblical beliefs, false teachings , treacherously affirming to have belief in something they clearly do not live.
Scripture is the self-revelation of God. I believe that if ones perverts the Gospel, he then perverts God.
Psalm 138:2 says "For You have magnified Your word according to all Your name."
In verse 20, the urgency which is driving Paul as he writes to his young son in in the faith, Timothy, is conveyed by the construction of the sentence. "O Timothy, guard what has been entrusted to you, avoiding worldly and empty chatter and the opposing arguments of what is falsely called "knowledge."
By using the vocative, "O Timothy," Paul is addressing him directly, demanding his full attention. What Paul has to say here, serves as a summation of the entire letter, in a single sentence.In other words, the Apostle Paul is saying "O Timothy, by the way, this is really important." Paul wants Timothy to understand that he is responsible to be on guard. Paul uses the Greek word "phylássō" translated as guard, which is referring to the uninterrupted vigilance shepherds show in keeping their flocks, watching over what has been entrusted to him.
Many Christians and church goers today, are often uncomfortable if the pastor speaks too confidently about what the Word of God says, they tend to believe, its too aggressive. While, there is never a reason to be "mean," one does need to be, at times, firm, speaking matter of factly, adhering to the unembellished facts! Nor should he be combative, or abusive, either verbally or physically. Because he is charged with the responsibility of guarding God’s flock, the keeping the commandments of God, he is to be a defender of the faith and a warrior for the Word. We live in a society where truth in God's Word, has been watered down and even abandoned by those in the pulpits. A culture deceived by Satan, believing there is no absolute truth. They best to confront such a culture, is to unashamedly proclaim God's truth.
In I Timothy 3:15, Paul says "the church of the living God, the pillar and support of the truth." Beloved, this is why I preach God's Word. That is I give so much time and careful attention to teaching, preaching and proclaiming the Word of God. Because it is truth! I find it disturbing that are many churches that have compromised the truth, in order to please the culture. There is a great deal of confusion in today's culture concerning "truth," both in the church and in the world. Where everyone is called to "Live your own truth." Implying that "truth" is whatever one believes it to be. However, there is a serious responsibility placed upon those who teach the Word of God, they are to be faithful and diligent in proclaiming the truth. All throughout history, believers have faced the temptation to compromise the truth of God’s Word, its no different today.
Psalm 25:5 reminds us to prayerfully seek God's truth, "Lead me in Your truth and teach me, For You are the God of my salvation; For You I wait all the day."
Paul was trusting Timothy to guard these doctrines; Timothy was a trustee of the Gospel. God's Word has not to be reinvented, re-imagines or reinterpreted to suit the current self-serving needs of today's culture! Every pastor has received a sacred trust, the message of salvation by faith in Jesus Christ the Lord. The Apostle Paul confronted the false teachers of his day, and we are called to do the same even now. Standing firm on the truth found in God's Word.
In verse 21, Paul writes "which some have professed and thus gone astray from the faith.
Grace be with you."
My heart grieves for the numbers of teachers who enter into the service of Lord Jesus Christ, and do so with inferior motives. Some, through the constant urging of family and friends, who do so only to please those they love. While others, see the ministry as "easy work" a means to earn a living. A sorrowful observation, is that the churches of today, have substituted credentials for character, connections for calling and salary for salvation. Rather than servants of Christ, they have attempted to usurp His Authority, believing they are His master! Here, we see that by professing it some have strayed concerning the faith. By believing those who oppose the truth they stray from the truth, they’ve missed the mark and themselves abandon the truth. Today, there are many who are lead astray by false teaching and by those who argue with the truth.
The Apostle Paul warns of this day in II Timothy 4:3-4, when he says "For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but wanting to have their ears tickled, they will accumulate for themselves teachers in accordance to their own desires, and will turn away their ears from the truth and will turn aside to myths."
In Closing..
I believe that it is an important point for us to hear today! Beloved, if you have been bought by the blood of Christ, you are not to grumble to others about the message, even if it is errant; you are to confront the errant preacher, holding him accountable! You are not to complain if the message deviates from righteousness, you are responsible to insist that he act with integrity. In the same way, the pastor is responsible for upholding the truth, speaking the truth in love on every occasion.Seeking the mind of Christ, and out of his overflow, deliver nourishment to the flock.
As we conclude our message, I want to leave with Paul words in Romans 10:9-10.
"if you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved; for with the heart a person believes, resulting in righteousness, and with the mouth he confesses, resulting in salvation."
And, in verse 13, Paul assures us that " for "Whoever will call on the name of the Lord will be saved."
How many of you are hearing the message today? Even now, are you straying into the paths which lead to destruction? Life is offered to all who will receive it, having the knowledge that life is offered and possessing it are not the same thing.
I pray, that today, you are alive in Christ!
May it be so..
And now may the Lord bless you and keep you;
the Lord make His face shine upon you,
And be gracious to you;
The Lord lift up His countenance upon you,
And give you peace.
Now and forever, in Jesus' name
Amen
the Lord make His face shine upon you,
And be gracious to you;
The Lord lift up His countenance upon you,
And give you peace.
Now and forever, in Jesus' name
Amen
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