Faithful Servants
Book of 1 Timothy
Chapter 6
As we go through the
Books of Timothy and the Book of Titus not only are we learning about
the workings of the Church, the officers of the Church and the Pastor
of the Church, we are also learning that God expects us to be
"faithful" to the Church.
To be faithful is to
be full of faith and trustful.
We are to be
"faithful" because our God is "faithful"!
Deu_7:9 Know
therefore that the LORD thy God, he is God, the faithful God, which
keepeth covenant and mercy with them that love him and keep his
commandments to a thousand generations;
We will see the Holy
Spirit will stress the importance of being content, as opposed to
covetousness, which characterizes those out in the world.
The phrase "under
the yoke" expresses the condition of slaves!
Slavery is one of
the greatest crimes against humanity, yet it still exists in our
world today.
It is estimated that
there are at least 40 million slaves in our world today, generating
over 150 billion dollars in revenue.
Therefore, slavery
continues, there is still a market for slaves and big money!
It is impossible for
this to keep going on without the governments of our world and the UN
who by their own policies help those nations who deal in Slavery and
not doing very much at all to stop it!
Here we will see God
address those slaves.
*****1Ti 6:1 Let as
many servants as are under the yoke count their own masters worthy of
all honour, that the name of God and his doctrine be not blasphemed.
We will see that God
did not urge these people to escape, nor to rebel but to remain in
the circumstances that they were in and by God's help to triumph over
their difficulties and sorrows.
Studies will show,
that it is only by God's methods that slavery can end. It is only by
God's methods that slavery could be wiped off the face of this earth!
In reality, if God
had taught that slaves should escape then early Christianity would
have suffered greatly. There is no human being that can out think the
Lord. The "gospel" is intended for every human being no
matter their circumstances.
These same
principles will also hold true in the workplace of today and as long
as time last!
The one answer to
all the problems in this world, is still Jesus Christ and this
includes the answer to slavery!
Without a doubt the
Apostle Paul called slavery a yoke that no human being should bear.
But still every
slave was to count his master worthy of all honor.
The truth is, in
these days of the Apostle Paul, most every slave was better off where
they were at, than to be set free where they could not provide for
themselves.
The greatest lesson
we as Christians can learn is, the fact that we are all purchased by
the blood of Jesus, and we are actually in the service of the Lord
all our lives. The Lord is our Master!
The doctrine of God
is that, when the slave and the master are both saved, then slavery
would cease to exist!
As far as the
workplace, if the "gospel" of the Lord Jesus Christ reached
into the workplace, there would be no need of unions nor contracts
because the "Love of God" would rule in our society!
The Christian slave
and the Christian worker should do their best to give an honest day's
labor, just as if they were working for the Lord, which they are!
If this Christian
worker is working for a Christian employer or Christian slave master,
he should not try to take advantage of this situation.
*****1Ti 6:2 And
they that have believing masters, let them not despise them, because
they are brethren; but rather do them service, because they are
faithful and beloved, partakers of the benefit. These things teach
and exhort.
We must remember
that these slaves in the day of Paul had no legal rights at all. They
were just a piece of merchandise just as they are today! When the
slave and the master both became Christians, it is easy to see that
the slave may think that master would release them to freedom.
If that slave
followed the Word of God and then became the best worker he had, we
could see that maybe the master would expect to reap some benefits
from his hard work.
It was very hard at
times for the slave to think of his master as his brother in Christ,
while he remained his slave, yet this what God is teaching!
The truth is, when
both the slave and the master work as if they were slaves to Christ
Jesus, "they would together" have a greater testimony for
the truth in Jesus Christ.
It should be the
same in the workplace of today. If boss and employee both are
Christian and work as if they worked for the Lord, they together
would have a greater testimony for the Lord Jesus Christ.
Nowhere in the
Scriptures does God approve of slavery!
Slavery is an
invention of humanity. BUT, we all as Christians, must still be like
the Apostle Paul and be content in every situation this world throws
at us.
Php_4:11 Not that I
speak in respect of want: for I have learned, in whatsoever state I
am, therewith to be content.
1Ti_6:8 And having
food and raiment let us be therewith content.
Heb_13:5 Let your
conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things
as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake
thee.
And we will learn a
greater lesson from the words of our Savior:
Mat_22:21 They say
unto him, Caesar's. Then saith he unto them, Render therefore unto
Caesar the things which are Caesar's; and unto God the things that
are God's.
Mar_12:17 And Jesus
answering said unto them, Render to Caesar the things that are
Caesar's, and to God the things that are God's. And they marvelled at
him.
Luk_20:25 And he
said unto them, Render therefore unto Caesar the things which be
Caesar's, and unto God the things which be God's.
We must remember we
live in this world, but we are not a part of this world!
Joh_17:14 I have
given them thy word; and the world hath hated them, because they are
not of the world, even as I am not of the world.
It was Timothy who
would have to teach these tough sermons, because these conditions
existed in the Church in Ephesus!
When we prayed the
sinner’s prayer, we agreed to live by the laws of God, no matter
our situation!
Being a slave or
master, or boss and employee, has nothing to do with our commitment
to the work of the Lord Jesus Christ!
This is the truth of
God!
*****1Ti 6:3 If any
man teach otherwise, and consent not to wholesome words, even the
words of our Lord Jesus Christ, and to the doctrine which is
according to godliness;
1Ti 6:4 He is
proud, knowing nothing, but doting about questions and strifes of
words, whereof cometh envy, strife, railings, evil surmisings,
1Ti 6:5 Perverse
disputings of men of corrupt minds, and destitute of the truth,
supposing that gain is godliness: from such withdraw thyself.
Who is a false
teacher? Those who do not teach the words of the Lord Jesus Christ!
A false teacher will
always have a different doctrine!
They may mention
Christ Jesus, but they refuse to accept that He is God and we are all
to follow His commandments!
The Words of Jesus
are not just the ones in red in most Bibles but actually the entire
Bible is the Word of God!
The Old Testament
teaches of the "Coming of Christ" and the New Testament
teaches us the "death, the burial, and the ascension" of
Christ and all that is in between, but also of His Second Coming,
which is also in the Old Testament!
How do we know a
false teacher or false preacher? They will not attach themselves to
the Lord Jesus Christ!
They will talk about
God and they will show you certain Scriptures to prove their point,
but they will never accept the pure unaltered Word of God and to
them, Jesus was just a man mentioned in the Scriptures. They may even
say a good man or a prophet but certainly not God!
These false teachers
will never accept the righteousness that comes by Jesus Christ!
These false teachers
will never separate themselves from the world.
Col 2:8 Beware lest
any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the
tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after
Christ.
I know many times
our Pastor will teach a tough lesson and he will say, it is just a
message of maintenance but when Paul was teaching Timothy these
things, they were happening in the church at Ephesus and they are
happening in many places of worship today!
That phrase
"wholesome words" describe the Word of God but the opposite
of wholesome, "would be words of disease".
A false teacher will
always bring words of disease and death to the soul!
God says they are
proud of what they are doing but they actually know nothing!
The longer they
teach lies the more the people will ask if God really exist as it is
today in many places.
The false teacher
only knows the god of religion, but not the Lord God purity, which is
Christianity!
Jas 1:25 But whoso
looketh into the perfect law of liberty, and continueth therein, he
being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, "this man
shall be blessed in his deed".
Jas 1:26 If any man
among you seem to be religious, and bridleth not his tongue, but
deceiveth his own heart, "this man's religion is vain".
Jas 1:27 Pure
religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this, "To
visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep
himself unspotted from the world".
The false teacher
has a corrupt mind and they intend to corrupt everyone else they can.
The false teacher
will focus on the doctrine of man (humanism).
The false teacher
will focus on works. (self-improvement, self-image)
The false teacher
will focus on religion. (religion will lead to your death)
The false teacher
will tickle your ears. (prosperity gospel)
The false teacher
does not have nor, will he ever teach the truth! (The Word of God)
The truth is, God
will never honor anyone who does not honor His Son Jesus Christ!
There is nothing in
any sort of works doctrine that will go far enough to be a "Born
Again" child of God!
The truth is, God
will never accept but one thing and that is "Faith" in the
works of the Lord Jesus Christ.
Jesus Christ did all
the works; our part is to believe. It is called "Faith"!
There are also those
who come into the ministry for the sole purpose of making money!
They look at the
ministry, as only a way to make a living!
It is these same
people who will commercialize religion!
They see preaching
as a career, when preaching is a calling of God.
They see the church
as a business, when the church is a hospital for souls and the
household of faith and that faith in the promises of the Lord Jesus
Christ.
They see the church
as man-centered and not God-centered!
2Jn 1:9 Whosoever
transgresseth, and abideth not in the doctrine of Christ, hath not
God. He that abideth in the doctrine of Christ, he hath both the
Father and the Son.
2Jn 1:10 If there
come any unto you, and bring not this doctrine, receive him not into
your house, neither bid him God speed:
2Jn 1:11 For he
that biddeth him God speed is partaker of his evil deeds.
The greatest trait
of the church is godliness!
*****1Ti 6:6 But
godliness with contentment is great gain.
1Ti 6:7 For we
brought nothing into this world, and "it is certain" we can
carry nothing out.
1Ti 6:8 And having
food and raiment let us be therewith content.
Almost everyone you
meet, young or old, will be searching to have contentment in their
lives.
People are just
looking for ways to be satisfied with the life they have! Very few of
these people realize that these things can come only by the Lord
Jesus Christ!
The secret of
contentment is truly godliness!
Godliness is knowing
where you are at any point in your life and knowing where you are
going when you die!
Godliness brings
with it peace of mind and gratitude to that person who gives you
these wonderful things, The Lord Jesus Christ.
It's called the
"Grace" of God!
Godliness is when
you know you lack nothing to make you more content!
Godliness is being
fulfilled, satisfied, complete and sufficient.
It is a fact that we
brought nothing into this world and no matter what we may gain while
we are alive in this world, we cannot take anything out of this
world!
As Christians, we do
not struggle to be rich, but we are also not seeking to be poor, we
know that the secret to being content is not money.
*****1Ti 6:9 But
they that will be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into
many foolish and hurtful lusts, which drown men in destruction and
perdition.
1Ti 6:10 For the
love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted
after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through
with many sorrows.
Most all of mankind
is seeking more and more money. I can remember when I myself was
caught up in that trap.
God has taught us
all along that contentment does not come with more money.
We might ask why is
this not true?
1) God says money
will first tempt you and then money will enslave you.
The person who has
enough money to buy, or go, or do, anything they want at any time
they want, will soon have a sense of power, but this is only worldly
power. They will be tempted to do more and more until they find that
they have entrapped themselves with greed and can never have peace in
their lives.
2) Money can cause
foolish and hurtful lust.
How foolish is it to
have closets full of clothes, yet still crave something new?
How foolish is it to
always want the best clothes, when there are better-quality clothes
that are cheaper?
How foolish is it to
always have to go to the best restaurants, which in most cases are
not the most healthful?
How foolish is it to
indulge in in the evils of society, causing so much damage to the
body that even money cannot repair it?
Money will cause
cravings, and lust, just because you can afford to partake in such
things.
3) Many people are
drowned in the destruction caused by having too much money!
Wealth can become a
personal monster!
Pro 28:20 A
faithful man shall abound with blessings: but he that maketh haste to
be rich shall not be innocent.
Pro 28:21 To have
respect of persons is not good: for a piece of bread that man will
transgress.
Pro 28:22 He that
hasteth to be rich hath an evil eye, and considereth not that poverty
shall come upon him.
4) It is not money
itself that is evil, it is the love for or lust for money that is the
root of all evil.
This is the one
thing that dominates everything in our world today.
The parent of all
that is evil in our world, "is money"!
In fact, so much
money can be made off evil, evil will not end until the Lord returns.
In fact, so much
money can be made off medicines, that cures will not be searched for,
until the Lord returns.
In fact, so much
money can be made off wars, that world peace will not be sought,
until the Lord returns.
In fact, so much
money can be made off the poor, that they will remain poor and those
that were once above the poor, will join them until the Lord returns.
In fact, so much
money can be made in research, that the world will be convinced that
it is the people that causes all the problems in the world, until the
Lord returns.
In fact, so much
money can be made off abortions, that these people are not considered
to be murderers of children, until the Lord returns.
Planned Parenthood
is the house of death for children and the parts house for body
parts!
It is a fact, that
much of the church have become so worldly, that money is beginning to
control the church and the church will be judged first and then the
world , when the Lord returns to this world!
What can we do as
Christians? God says to flee all these things and come to know His
ways, the ways of truth!
*****1Ti 6:11 But
thou, O man of God, flee these things; and follow after
righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, meekness.
Our Pastor must
truly be a "man of God"!
The true "man
of God" will flee from the temptation to be rich!
As Christians we to
are never to have a passion for wealth in the things in this world!
The true "man
of God" will flee from the temptation to lust for the things of
this world!
The true "man
of God" will flee from selfishness.
The true "man
of God" will flee from perverse disputings of the Word of God!
The true "man
of God" will follow after righteousness (as in being in hot
pursuit of spiritual gains)!
His heart will be
right with God!
His heart will be
open to the molding of God the potter!
He will have a heart
that has partaken of the Divine nature of God!
2Pe 1:4 Whereby are
given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: "that by
these ye might be partakers of the divine nature", having
escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.
Godliness means, to
remain in the reverence and awe of the Living God, (being
Christlike).
We sometimes make
our God to be little, but we have a great big God who is "all
powerful"!
Righteousness is
simply doing things the right way and the right way is by the Word of
God!
But, Without faith,
we simply cannot please God!
Faith is that
confidence in God that allows us to trust in everything that He says!
Love is that love
that goes out from God and His Son, our Savior and then to all those
He died for!
Patience is that
trait that knows the Lord will return and we will see Him as He is
and being watchful and praying until He returns!
Meekness is that
trait that is hard to find but, to be a Christian, (Christ-Like) is
to continue searching for the goodness of the Lord to apply it to our
own lives.
Mat 11:29 Take my
yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and
ye shall find rest unto your souls.
Mat 11:30 For my
yoke is easy, and my burden is light.
Being meek is being
prepared for that war we are in till God calls us home!
*****1Ti 6:12 Fight
the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, whereunto thou art
also called, and hast professed a good profession before many
witnesses.
Timothy was directed
to be a good soldier but, as Christians we are all in this same
battle. The goal of the Christian is to "lay hold on eternal
life"!
The moment we
trusted in the work of the Lord Jesus Christ, we are promised eternal
life!
Joh 5:24 Verily,
verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him
that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into
condemnation; but is passed from death unto life.
We must not just
know this is true, but we need to live our lives now, as if it is
already true!
Death is just the
last step we take in this world and the first step we take into the
throne room of God, in person!
The message of every
Pastor should reflect on this truth!
We can never profess
eternal life, if we live for the things of this world which will pass
away!
*****1Ti 6:13 I
give thee charge in the sight of God, who quickeneth all things, and
before Christ Jesus, who before Pontius Pilate witnessed a good
confession;
1Ti 6:14 That thou
keep this commandment without spot, unrebukeable, until the appearing
of our Lord Jesus Christ:
1Ti 6:15 Which in
his times he shall shew, who is the blessed and only Potentate, the
King of kings, and Lord of lords;
1Ti 6:16 "Who
only" hath immortality, dwelling in the light which no man can
approach unto; whom no man hath seen, nor can see: to whom be honour
and power everlasting. Amen.
Paul brags on this
young preacher because he has professed the truth of God since being
saved through hands of the Apostle Paul by Jesus Christ who is Life
and the Giver of Life!
We are to profess
the name of Jesus in everything we do!
When Pontius Pilate
judged the Lord, he found Him innocent of all charges:
Luk 23:4 Then said
Pilate to the chief priests and to the people, I find no fault in
this man.
Pontius Pilate could
have set the Lord free right then, but he gave Him over to the Cross!
Another evil man,
who had the opportunity to make the right choice, is now remembered
as the man who crucified our Lord!
Joh 18:36 Jesus
answered, My kingdom is not of this world: if my kingdom were of this
world, then would my servants fight, that I should not be delivered
to the Jews: but now is my kingdom not from hence.
Joh 18:37 Pilate
therefore said unto him, Art thou a king then? Jesus answered, Thou
sayest that I am a king. To this end was I born, and for this cause
came I into the world, that I should bear witness unto the truth.
Every one that is of the truth heareth my voice.
God will present
many choices to us, to see if we will make the right choice. These
are things that will not tempt us because God will never tempt us
with the things of this world.
The first right
choice we had to make was accepting the Lord Jesus Christ into our
heart and then knowing we are just strangers passing through this
land!
We have a home in
the Kingdom of Jesus Christ!
Jesus Christ always
told the truth, even knowing that it would lead to His death.
When the Lord Jesus
Christ arose out of that borrowed tomb, He proved He was life and
that He controlled all life.
Jesus Christ has the
power of life within Himself!
The commandments
given to Timothy by Paul through the Holy Spirit are verses 11-12.
These commandments
are for every Pastor.
In fact, these
commandments are for each and every Christian!
How long are we to
keep these commandments? Until the appearing of the Lord Jesus
Christ!
For the Christian,
this will be at the Rapture of the Church.
For everyone else,
it will be when the Lord will set His feet upon this earth!
As we age and get
closer to going home, these things should be at the forefront of our
minds!
There is no
retirement plan in the army of God!
Ecc 8:8 There is no
man that hath power over the spirit to retain the spirit; neither
hath he power in the day of death: and there is no discharge in that
war; neither shall wickedness deliver those that are given to it.
Jesus Christ is our
Creator.
Jesus Christ is the
Preserver of all things.
Jesus Christ is the
only sovereign Lord of all the ages.
Jesus Christ will be
known as King of kings, Lord of lords, when He sets His feet down at
Gethsemane!
All the kingdoms of
this world will belong to Christ when He returns!
It is only the Lord
Jesus Christ who has the power to enforce His will upon this earth
when He returns.
Today we live in a
world under the guidance of our Savior, but it is not He that does
the evil in this world!
The Lord returned to
Heaven in a body that was not subject to death but was at that time,
glorified.
We should also
understand that if God was visible, then there would be far too many
who would find flaws in His looks.
God is invisible, so
even those who are blind can see Him and Hear Him, just like everyone
else!
Just so we think
right, each one of us has a soul and we cannot see our own soul.
We know that there
is a God because He lives within us and we can talk to Him anytime we
want to!
*****1Ti 6:17
Charge them that are rich in this world, that they be not highminded,
nor trust in uncertain riches, but in the living God, who giveth us
richly all things to enjoy;
1Ti 6:18 That they
do good, that they be rich in good works, ready to distribute,
willing to communicate;
1Ti 6:19 Laying up
in store for themselves a good foundation against the time to come,
that they may lay hold on eternal life.
There can be no
doubt that this world we live in separates different classes of
people by the riches they possess. What a shame!
Those who are rich
in the church must never think they are better off than others. In
fact, there is a reason why some have more than others, those who
have are to help those who have not!
Many times, those
who are rich place their riches in money markets hoping to build upon
their riches and many times that gain never comes.
If they would invest
those riches in the "body of Christ" they would have a sure
gain in the riches of Heaven!
We must all, rich
and poor and all those in-between, know that everything we possess
comes by the "mercy" of God!
Those who gain
riches by taking away from the poor will certainly suffer in the last
days!
Jer 17:10 I the
LORD search the heart, I try the reins, even to give every man
according to his ways, and according to the fruit of his doings.
Jer 17:11 As the
partridge sitteth on eggs, and hatcheth them not; so he that getteth
riches, and not by right, shall leave them in the midst of his days,
and at his end shall be a fool.
Rich or poor we are
all to trust in the Living God from whom all blessings flow!
Mat 6:19 Lay not up
for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth
corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal:
Mat 6:20 But lay up
for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth
corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal:
Mat 6:21 For where
your treasure is, there will your heart be also.
What is the greatest
truth of the Church? We are alive forevermore!
If we would just lay
hold of eternal life as the Lord says, nothing in this world would be
so important that we would put it before the Lord.
1Jn_5:20 And we
know that the Son of God is come, and hath given us an understanding,
that we may know him that is true, and we are in him that is true,
even in his Son Jesus Christ. This is the true God, and eternal life.
If we would trust
the Word of God like we say we do, we will realize that there is
really nothing that compares to the Word of God!
*****1Ti 6:20 O
Timothy, keep that which is committed to thy trust, avoiding profane
and vain babblings, and oppositions of science falsely so called:
1Ti 6:21 Which some
professing have erred concerning the faith. Grace be with thee. Amen.
There are many
today, some even in the church, that exalt worldly knowledge above
the Word of God, these are sad people.
As we are discipled
and grow into mature Christians we will better realize that what God
says will always be true!
Today as we live and
breathe God's air, the world will try to put Science above the
Scriptures.
The truth is, that
it is impossible for true Science to disagree with the Word of God!
Science by
definition is the knowledge gained by understanding the truth or the
facts of truth by the mind.
Then Science must
agree to the Word of God which is based on the fact that our Savior
is also the Great Creator of all things!
Those who go against
the Word of God, are not searching for facts but only disagreement.
This is that false
Science that the world uses to confuse the people!
That man Steven
Hawking died but before he did, he predicted that the world would
soon end. He knew he was about to die so he wanted everybody else in
this world to die. He has been mad at God all his life and refused to
repent right up to his end!
He also could have
been saved!
Timothy was to guard
against any thing that went against the Word of God.
Timothy was to
protect the truth of God.
Timothy was to
preach the "Gospel", the truth of the Lord Jesus Christ.
1Th 2:12 That ye
would walk worthy of God, who hath called you unto his kingdom and
glory.
1Th 2:13 For this
cause also thank we God without ceasing, because, when ye received
the word of God which ye heard of us, ye received it not as the word
of men, but as it is in truth, the word of God, which effectually
worketh also in you that believe.
The enemies of the
Church will do their best to the destroy the church, but this is
impossible.
What is false
science? Profane and vain babblings and oppositions to true science.
God says to turn
away from all such teachings, no matter how much so-called proof they
say they have!
Any Science that
disputes the Word of God is an outright fabrication of the real
truth!
This church in
Ephesus had this problem of leaving their first love and even though
they were taught the truth by many good men of God they would always
go back to accepting a false Science and leaving their first love,
Jesus Christ!
This is now the
world we live in. A world that has lost the love of the One and only
true God, the Lord Jesus Christ!
Jesus asked, will
there be any who have faith when He returns? Only He knows that
answer.
We must always turn
away from false teaching of any kind but especially those who reject
the Lord Jesus Christ as our Redeemer!
Amen
Let's Pray!
