Apostasy In The Last Days of the Church Age

Departing from The Faith

Book of 1 Timothy Chapter 4

We can understand this passage if we understand "apostasy"!

Apostasy takes place when a so-called Christian abandons the doctrine of the Lord Jesus Christ.

This can take place by making a verbal declaration or we can see it by their actions.

Paul was charged with apostasy by Jewish elders when he became a Christian. They were wrong, and Paul was right.

Act 21:21 And they are informed of thee, that thou teachest all the Jews which are among the Gentiles to forsake Moses, saying that they ought not to circumcise their children, neither to walk after the customs.

This charge was made of against Stephen:

Act 6:13 And set up false witnesses, which said, This man ceaseth not to speak blasphemous words against this holy place, and the law:

Act 6:14 For we have heard him say, that this Jesus of Nazareth shall destroy this place, and shall change the customs which Moses delivered us.

In fact, it was this charge that the Jews used against the Lord Jesus Christ!

Luk 20:20 And they watched him, and sent forth spies, which should feign themselves just men, that they might take hold of his words, that so they might deliver him unto the power and authority of the governor.

In fact, Paul said, departing from the faith, would be one of the many signs that we are in the lasts days!

2Th_2:3 Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition;

We can understand that the latter days extend from the day of the Lord's ascension until the Lords return. He will return at first to gather His Church and at least seven years later He will come to judge all the nations of this world and to gather the Jews.

Toward the very last of days there will be a great falling away, before the rapture takes place.

We may ask why such a thing would take place in the church and it will be because they "will heed to seducing spirits" and the "doctrines of devils"!

Here is an article from the Christian Post:

There is an ongoing silent migration away from the church of an estimated 3,500 individuals each and every day.

A 2014 study indicated that over 1.2 million people will leave the church in the next year.

Several factors are contributing to this trend, but the majority of individuals who are leaving the church, report "that they no longer feel connected" to the church.

The number of churches that are closing their doors every year is leading to an overall decline in church attendance.

In 2015, it is estimated that over 10,000 churches closed their doors.

This has led to a growing host of Christians who no longer have a place to connect with other believers.

In fact, The Barna Group reports that the average size of a church congregation in America today, is just 89 adults.

That means for each church door that closes, almost 100 people are left without a spiritual home.

Those that leave the most are the young people. Many are now in that group called millennials!

We could say that we are living in the last days of the Church Age and the "Rapture" of the Church, is the next thing on the prophetic calendar!

*****1Ti 4:1 Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils;

Of course, that Spirit is the Holy Spirit who lives in each and every true believer!

The Holy Spirit picked this letter written from Paul to Timothy and then to the church, to make known this prophesy. We should understand in all the epistles of Paul, He does not think of his present age as being these latter days, even though false preachers and teachers were around in his day and have continued unto our day.

This age would be something out of the ordinary, which is what we are seeing in this present day and age!

To get a good understanding of these things we need only read Chapter 2 and 3 of the Book of the Revelation describing the 7 Church Ages.

The source of treachery in the Church has always come from the human agents of Satan!

None of these men and women are omnipotent nor are they able to resist the Christian to stands firm on the Word of God and this is the problem in our Churches today, the members are not taught to wear the armor of God at all times.

*****1Ti 4:2 Speaking lies in hypocrisy; having their conscience seared with a hot iron;

1Ti 4:3 Forbidding to marry, and commanding to abstain from meats, which God hath created to be received with thanksgiving of them which believe and know the truth.

1Ti 4:4 For every creature of God is good, and nothing to be refused, if it be received with thanksgiving:

1Ti 4:5 For it is sanctified by the word of God and prayer.

Hypocrisy is the telling of lies with the intention to change the mind of that listener.

This takes a deceiver who claims to know and live the truth of God, but his teaching will be that we as individuals can be higher than God.

This was the first of Satan's lies to Eve.

Gen 3:1 Now the serpent was more subtil than any beast of the field which the LORD God had made. And he said unto the woman, Yea, hath God said, Ye shall not eat of every tree of the garden?

Gen 3:4 And the serpent said unto the woman, Ye shall not surely die:

Gen 3:5 For God doth know that in the day ye eat thereof, then your eyes shall be opened, and ye shall be as gods, knowing good and evil.

This was the same lie of those early descendants of Noah!

Gen 11:4 And they said, Go to, let us build us a city and a tower, whose top may reach unto heaven; and let us make us a name, lest we be scattered abroad upon the face of the whole earth.

These agents of Satan may use a different approach today, but their message is still the same, they insist that "as humans we just do not need God"!

God cautions us about these things and gives us the means to tell the difference of a false Pastor or the true Pastor.

1Jn 4:1 Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world. 1Jn 4:2 Hereby know ye the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesseth that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is of God:

1Jn 4:3 And every spirit that confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God: and this is that spirit of antichrist, whereof ye have heard that it should come; and even now already is it in the world.

1Jn 4:4 Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world.

It's all about Jesus Christ! When you reject Jesus Christ as the God of the Bible, then you are teaching a false message, and a false doctrine!

There is only one kind of faith that can save anyone. We can have all kinds of faith but there is only one saving faith and that is the faith in God's Son, the Lord Jesus Christ!

A seared conscience is someone who has grown callous in their own flesh like the branding with a hot iron. They are senseless and unfeeling when it comes to the truth of God and a personal relationship with Him.

We must remember God established the family before He did the Church. A marriage is between one man and one woman and God would have never required a Pastor or any elder of the church to abstain from marriage.

The Apostle Paul condemned the practices the Gnostics, the Essenes and all sects that forbade the Christian marriage.

Col 2:16 Let no man therefore judge you in meat, or in drink, or in respect of an holyday, or of the new moon, or of the sabbath days:

Col 2:17 Which are a shadow of things to come; but the body is of Christ.

There are still those today, who deny the Lord's Day, who deny baptism, who deny repentance, who deny the tithe, who deny the formation of the Church.

They deny the Church is the Spiritual "Body of Christ".

This is the faith that the Christian must never depart from!

Every attack from false teachers and false preachers will come against the truth of God!

Every attack on the pure truth of God, should be rejected immediately!

False teachers deny, refute, and ignore the truth of God and they know they do! It is their intention to do so!

We must clearly understand that just as the Lord seeks men to call into the ministry, the forces of evil also seek men to do their bidding!

The doctrine of false teachers is serious, so serious that it could make us search our own hearts for the truth and at that point the devil has succeeded to get a toe hold into your Christian life.

What is Gnosticism? Gnosticism is a philosophical system built upon Greek philosophy that stressed matter is evil and only the spirit is good.

If this was true. then God could not have created this material world we live in.

They rejected the God of the Old Testament.

They claimed a spirit (demiurge) had all the power of creation and enough matter to create this material world.

They held two differing views of Jesus:

1) Because matter is evil then Jesus could have never come in human form, He only appeared to have human form.

2) That a divine Logos (a rendering) came upon the human Jesus and departed from Him prior to His crucifixion.

Therefore, salvation was also philosophical.

Only those who are specifically initiated can be saved, if you fall into this trap.

Sin and evil are then associated with ignorance or lack of knowledge.

Therefore, a man's task was to deny self and avoid the things of this world and control the body as much as possible.

Today this is called Christian Science! Still believing that only that special few could obtain such knowledge and be saved.

These things were destroying the Church in Ephesus.

The two things that were to be denied were the eating of meat and the forbidding of marriage!

These are two things that God had already blessed, the marriage and all meats received with thanksgiving!

Some of these decided that since it was the spirit that only mattered, then nothing in this world mattered and people could do as the pleased.

We can see that these two things are still rampant in the church of today and they are still false teachings.

**There are those who concentrate upon the body and its health. (trying to overcome aging and the dying of the body as much as possible)

**There are still those who refuse to marry and are vegetarians.

**There are far too many today who live as they please.

All these are forms of Gnosticism. They give attention to their spirit and worship only as they please.

The truth of God destroys these lifestyles and this false teaching, and this is another reason the Word of God is rejected!

Rom 10:9 That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.

Rom 10:10 For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.

Rom 10:11 For the scripture saith, Whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed.

Rom 10:12 For there is no difference between the Jew and the Greek: for the same Lord over all is rich unto all that call upon him.

Rom 10:13 For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.

What did Jesus teach?

Mat 6:31 Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed?

Mat 6:32 (For after all these things do the Gentiles seek:) for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things.

Mat 6:33 But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.

What was Timothy 's job as Paul saw it?

*****1Ti 4:6 If thou put the brethren in remembrance of these things, thou shalt be a good minister of Jesus Christ, nourished up in the words of faith and of good doctrine, whereunto thou hast attained.

1Ti 4:7 But refuse profane and old wives' fables, and exercise thyself rather unto godliness.

It was Timothy's job to make this church aware of this false teaching by teaching the truth of God!

By doing this, Timothy would also be nourished up in the words of faith and of a sound doctrine!

If your Pastor does not lift up the Lord Jesus Christ, as God in every way, then you need to find you another place of worship!!!!!!!!!!!!

The truth is, we will never know happiness until we have heard the truth of God!

Truth always points out the flaws of a false message!

There should not be one sermon or a single message that is to be taught in the House of God, that cannot be backed up by the truth of the Scriptures!!!!!!!

The truth of God never goes out of style, it is the same in every Age!!!!!!!!!!!

The Pastor in the ministry of Jesus Christ show that he is subordinate to the authority of Jesus Christ!

The Pastor in the ministry of Jesus Christ will adhere to the doctrines of Jesus Christ!

The Pastor in the ministry of Jesus Christ will be steadfast in his imitation of the example of Jesus Christ!

This same Pastor will know that he is dependent upon the "Grace" of God!!!!!! "God's Riches At Christ Expense"

Jesus, Jesus, Jesus, sweetest name I know!!!!!!!

There are no speculations in the Scriptures!

We must all refuse profane tales.

We must reject "old wives’ tales and fables" as the notions of men and not the Lord Jesus!

These things have no place in the house of God whose foundation is the Lord Jesus Christ!

Act 24:14 But this I confess unto thee, that after the way which they call heresy, so worship I the God of my fathers, believing all things which are written in the law and in the prophets:

Act 24:15 And have hope toward God, which they themselves also allow, that there shall be a resurrection of the dead, both of the just and unjust.

Act 24:16 And herein do I exercise myself, to have always a conscience void of offence toward God, and toward men.

According to Luke, Paul spoke these words to that Roman Captain Lysias when he came under the attack of Judaizers in Jerusalem.

*****1Ti 4:8 For bodily exercise profiteth little: but godliness is profitable unto all things, having promise of the life that now is, and of that which is to come.

1Ti 4:9 This is a faithful saying and worthy of all acceptation.

Remember there were those in the church at Ephesus, who did everything that they could to stop the aging process of their bodies.

Reminds me of those who give their bodies to yoga. Taking care of bodies is a necessary thing but, it must not involve worship!

Paul did not mean that bodily exercise was not good for us. Paul meant that the best we could do in maintaining good health would be to add a few years to our life and that is great but, it cannot compare to that life of eternity we get by keeping the truth of God!

We are to exercise ourselves in godliness which brings with it everlasting life!

To the Pastor all his energy, his effort, his time, and his dedication are to be given over to living in godliness!

Psa 37:16 A little that a righteous man hath is better than the riches of many wicked.

Psa 37:17 For the arms of the wicked shall be broken: but the LORD upholdeth the righteous.

Psa 37:18 The LORD knoweth the days of the upright: and their inheritance shall be for ever.

Psa 37:19 They shall not be ashamed in the evil time: and in the days of famine they shall be satisfied.

Living in godliness is much more important than all the things that we can do to keep our body healthy.

*****1Ti 4:10 For therefore we both labour and suffer reproach, because we trust in the living God, who is the Saviour of all men, specially of those that believe.

1Ti 4:11 These things command and teach.

The most important thing we can do in this life is to place our trust, our faith, in the Living God, "our God is alive"!

Why do true Pastors suffer reproach? Because they preach the truth of God.

The reproach comes because we live in a world that does not like to hear the truth. That truth being that Jesus Christ is the Savior of all men!

The suffering comes because this world we live in, makes it hard to be Christian , because Jesus Christ is hated by those who cannot believe the truth that Jesus Christ is the Savior of all mankind!

As Christians we have rested our hope on the Living God, the Lord Jesus Christ.

As Christians we must all labor in the field of the lost, but it is the true Pastor who will labor the most.

It is the true Pastor who will come under the attack of Satan's children much more than his flock!

2Co 11:23 Are they ministers of Christ? (I speak as a fool) I am more; in labours more abundant, in stripes above measure, in prisons more frequent, in deaths oft.

If we are to be reproached by this evil world, then let it not be reproach for some evil thing!

When we are reproached for well-doing then we can still have a clear conscience. We must, with our integrity, serve God and trust that He will protect us but more than that, we must honor His will for us!

We not only serve a Risen Living Savior, but the same God of Creation who has the power to keep us safe!

Christ is the Savior for all mankind, but He will only save those who believe in Him to do this thing called "Salvation".

When we do not share this good news, then we have not been the Christian that the Lord is seeking!

Psa 17:6 I have called upon thee, for thou wilt hear me, O God: incline thine ear unto me, and hear my speech.

Psa 17:7 Shew thy marvellous lovingkindness, O thou that savest by thy right hand them which put their trust in thee from those that rise up against them.

Psa 17:8 Keep me as the apple of the eye, hide me under the shadow of thy wings,

Psa 17:9 From the wicked that oppress me, from my deadly enemies, who compass me about.

It was very important for Timothy to be strong in the Lord.

Timothy may have been younger than 30 years old, (some say around 23 years old) and this would not help him in dealing with Judaizers.

Timothy was a son of a mixed marriage Jew and Gentile, this also he would be used against him by many Jews, just as it is for those of today.

Act 16:1 Then came he to Derbe and Lystra: and, behold, a certain disciple was there, named Timotheus, the son of a certain woman, which was a Jewess, and believed; but his father was a Greek:

Act 16:2 Which was well reported of by the brethren that were at Lystra and Iconium.

Act 16:3 Him would Paul have to go forth with him; and took and circumcised him because of the Jews which were in those quarters: for they knew all that his father was a Greek.

Timothy had the name of Greek descent but all his life he was trained as a Jew by his Jewish mother and grandmother which was the normal Jewish way. Which also made him a Jew because his mother was a Jew.

Remember the line to Jesus had to come through Sarah, the wife of Abraham!!!!!

We see again it does not matter where we come from it only matters where we are going.

It was Timothy's job to proclaim the Word of God to all those who would listen!

*****1Ti 4:12 Let no man despise thy youth; but be thou an example of the believers, in word, in conversation, in charity, in spirit, in faith, in purity.

1Ti 4:13 Till I come, give attendance to reading, to exhortation, to doctrine.

Timothy was to be an example to the believers at Ephesus! Timothy had to prove that he was mature enough to be Pastor this church so full of false doctrine.

Timothy had to be wise in the things that he said and did!

Tit 2:8 Sound speech, that cannot be condemned; that he that is of the contrary part may be ashamed, having no evil thing to say of you.

Timothy had to be faithful to his calling at all times!

Timothy had to be an example in his behavior!

He had to be an example in his love for the Church.

He had to be an example in his spirit, he had to walk in the Holy Spirit!

He had to be an example in "faith" which is faithfulness.

Luk 9:23 And he said to them all, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me.

Luk 9:24 For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: but whosoever will lose his life for my sake, the same shall save it.

Timothy had to be an example in purity. He had to live a clean, moral, just, and honest life, and every move he made would be scrutinized!

This was a lot to ask from any Pastor, but that young Timothy was the most suited of all those who travel with Paul.

Timothy had to be devoted to the life of Pastoring this church in Ephesus!

*****1Ti 4:14 Neglect not the gift that is in thee, which was given thee by prophecy, with the laying on of the hands of the presbytery.

1Ti 4:15 Meditate upon these things; give thyself wholly to them; that thy profiting may appear to all.

Each Pastor is called and equipped by the Holy Spirit. If that Pastor does not use that gift to its full extent, then he is neglecting the gifts of God!

There had been those who prophesied that Timothy would become a Pastor of the Christian Church and it had come true.

Timothy had been ordained by the elders of the Church, in which Paul was one of those elders and found qualified!

If Timothy did not answer his calling to the fullest extent, he would answer to God who called him!

Eph 4:10 He that descended is the same also that ascended up far above all heavens, that he might fill all things.)

Eph 4:11 And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers;

Eph 4:12 For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ:

Meditation can be said to be faith, hope, love, joy, and all the fruit of the Holy Spirit wrapped up into one mind.

2Co 10:5 Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ;

2Co 10:6 And having in a readiness to revenge all disobedience, when your obedience is fulfilled.

Timothy had to pay attention, that everything he did was according to the Word of God in his life!

God's Word will not come back void, but it will do what God sends it out to do!

Every Pastor must guard himself and his teaching.

Every Pastor is only a sinner saved by the "Grace" of God just as any other Christian and he also must flee from the temptations of this world.

He should not only try to keep himself physically fit, but he must remain spiritually fit!

Being a Pastor is not a one day of the week job, he must worship God every day and he must live in God's Word.

If Timothy could continue in the instructions of the Word of God and not abandon his faith, then this would lead to the salvation of many!

Jud 1:20 But ye, beloved, building up yourselves on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Ghost,

Jud 1:21 Keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life.

When we depart from our faith, we have said no to God the Father! THIS IS NOT A GOOD THING TO DO!

Amen

Let's Pray!

What it Means to be Called of God, The Pastor

Faithful Behavior

Book of 1 Timothy 3:1-16

As we know the two Books of Timothy and the Book of Titus teach how the Holy Spirit wants the Church to be organized.

There are only two offices determined by the Holy Spirit and they are Pastor and Deacon even though they may different names in many denominations and many other offices.

In these passages we will learn about the Biblical qualifications for these positions.

The very first qualification of the Pastor is that he is saved and then called of God!

When the Lord Jesus Christ ascended back to Heaven, He began to call those who would serve in the spreading of the "Gospel of Jesus Christ"

Eph 4:10 He that descended is the same also that ascended up far above all heavens, that he might fill all things.)

Eph 4:11 And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers;

Eph 4:12 For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ:

When God calls a Pastor, God will then equip that Pastor for the work that lies ahead of Him.

There also some other qualifications that must be met to be a Pastor or a Deacon.

*****1Ti 3:1 This is a true saying, If a man desire the office of a bishop, he desireth a good work.

That word bishop in our area would mean the Pastor.

That word Pastor means a shepherd who serves according to the Chief Shepherd, the Lord Jesus Christ.

Joh 10:11 I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep.

Joh 10:14 I am the good shepherd, and know my sheep, and am known of mine.

Joh 10:16 And "other sheep I have", which are not of this fold: them also I must bring, and they shall hear my voice; and there shall be one fold, and one shepherd.

It is those "other sheep" that are to be the work for the Pastor seeking to save Gentiles.

So, then the work of the Pastor is very clear!

He cares for the flock of sheep that the Lord has called for him! He guides them, he guards them, he protects them, and he provides for them.

1Pe 5:1 The elders which are among you I exhort, who am also an elder, and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, and also a partaker of the glory that shall be revealed:

**1Pe 5:2 Feed the flock of God which is among you, taking the oversight thereof, not by constraint, but willingly; not for filthy lucre, but of a ready mind;

1Pe 5:3 Neither as being lords over God's heritage, but being ensamples to the flock.

All the Jewish sheep combined with the Gentile sheep will be the heritage of God.

There is absolutely no one or nothing that can keep God's heritage from joining Him in Heaven, when He calls us home!

Isa 54:17 No weapon that is formed against thee shall prosper; and every tongue that shall rise against thee in judgment thou shalt condemn. This is the heritage of the servants of the LORD, and their righteousness is of me, saith the LORD.

These things are important because it is the work of the Lord!

Act 20:28 Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood.

The heritage of God was purchased by the blood of our Savior!

The work of the Pastor is then a good work because he is stirred to commit his life to the ministry "by the Holy Spirit".

In the precious words of our Lord Jesus:

Joh 15:16 Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you, and ordained you, that ye should go and bring forth fruit, and that your fruit should remain: that whatsoever ye shall ask of the Father in my name, he may give it you.

So, what are these qualifications?

*****1Ti 3:2 A bishop then must be blameless, the husband of one wife, vigilant, sober, of good behaviour, given to hospitality, apt to teach;

All Pastors must meet the qualifications as laid down in the Word of God!

As we go through these things we must realize that each "Born Again" child of God begins his new life "after salvation".

All sin before this time has been washed in the blood of Jesus.

All after this time will also be forgiven. The Lord Jesus Christ paid for all the sin in this world past, present, and future for every believer. He said this thing was finished!

Heb_8:12 For I will be merciful to their unrighteousness, and their sins and their iniquities will I remember no more.

Heb_10:17 And their sins and iniquities will I remember no more.

Anyone who is capable, and God called, must be blameless, (without fault, above suspicion) since being "Born Again"!

The husband of one wife in the Word of God, which neither means that a Pastor must be married, nor that he may not marry a second wife.

According to the Scriptures, it is just as lawful for Him to do, just as the marriage of his first wife. (1 Corinthians Chapter 7). These Scriptures cannot just be tossed aside in order to fulfill some imaginary law of God!

1Co 7:7 For I would that all men were even as I myself. But every man hath his proper gift of God, one after this manner, and another after that.

1Co 7:17 But as God hath distributed to every man, as the Lord hath called every one, so let him walk. And so ordain I in all churches.

Having said these things, it is true that each Pastor must be a person of great Christian character as described here!

We must realize that the first and most important qualification for the Pastor to meet is "that they be called of God by the Holy Spirit".

This is the most important fact written in the Scriptures!

What we must also remember here, is what Peter found out, "what God calls clean, is clean" and God is no respecter of persons!

We must also say that this "good work" is not about power, not about esteem, not about honor, and not about a profession as many see it today.

The work of the Pastor is totally about the work of the ministry of the Gospel of Jesus Christ!

How many have forgotten this today, "only those who are false Pastors"!

Those who reject this calling of God, have said no to God! They have missed their purpose in the work God has given us all to do!

The Pastor's job is to proclaim the true Word of God and not some butchered up version!

The Pastor who is called can verify that calling, when they go to the Lord seeking the meaning of these qualifications in one on one prayer with our Father who art in Heaven!

This thing is not just for the Pastor but for every believer and in every Church.

We will know the meaning of these qualifications, remembering it is always best to accept a literal reading of the Scriptures also knowing, that what God says, He will never contradict in some other passage!

Those who fail to meet the qualifications a Pastor may still have a purpose in evangelism, or teaching.

Pro 11:30 The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life; and he that winneth souls is wise.

That Pastor called of God, must be vigilant to watch over and control his own life and the lives of his people being an example to the flock the Lord has given to him.

The Pastor called of God, must be sober-minded, (having a sound mind). When the mind is controlled, the body and behavior is controlled.

That Pastor must be of good behaviour, composed, orderly, and honest.

That Pastor must be given to Hospitality. Showing love for all brethren, being a friend to all believers.

But this does not mean he will open his own house or the house of God to the world!

That Pastor must be apt to teach. He should be able to teach the Word of God as well as Preach the Word of God!

Making sense of the Word!

We must all remember, that our duty to teach the Word of God is not near as important as to live the Word of God!

When we talk the talk, we must also walk the talk!

In both methods we are to teach the things of the Lord Jesus Christ!

Mat 28:20 Teaching them to observe all things "whatsoever I have commanded you": and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.

That Pastor must not be given to wine.

*****1Ti 3:3 Not given to wine, no striker, not greedy of filthy lucre; but patient, not a brawler, not covetous;

We could say a lot of things here but let's just say what the Lord said:

Pro 23:20 Be not among winebibbers; among riotous eaters of flesh:

Pro 23:29 Who hath woe? who hath sorrow? who hath contentions? who hath babbling? who hath wounds without cause? who hath redness of eyes?

Pro 23:30 They that tarry long at the wine; they that go to seek mixed wine.

**Pro 23:31 Look not thou upon the wine when it is red, when it giveth his colour in the cup, when it moveth itself aright.

Pro 23:32 At the last it biteth like a serpent, and stingeth like an adder.

Even those Jews who drank of wine mixed it two parts wine to three parts water.

A drunkard was considered a disgrace even in the Gentile societies of that day!

That day has come and gone and most societies of today partake of alcoholic beverages.

Grape juice was also mixed with water and was used because the water supplies were so bad.

The Roman army drank of vinegar mixed with water for this same reason.

This is understood, if you have traveled to foreign countries and become sick because of the water supply!

A striker is someone who becomes combative or violent or quarrelsome but not someone who strikes out to injure someone.

The Pastor cannot be someone who is easily aggravated with others!

We already know how dangerous a weapon that a tongue can become.

Jas_3:6 And the tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity: so is the tongue among our members, that it defileth the whole body, and setteth on fire the course of nature; and it is set on fire of hell.

And the one we see so abused today, that Pastor must not be a lover of worldly gain or possessions. (This is the true meaning of filthy lucre)

The ministry of the "Gospel" is not to be a profession or a livelihood!

This does not mean that the church is not to support that Pastor, if they are able, for this too is a command of God!

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.

1Ti 6:11 But thou, O man of God, flee these things; and follow after righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, meekness.

That Pastor is to be patient, gracious, kind and gentle. That word tender also comes to mind.

That Pastor must not be some brawler, because he must be a man of peace!

That Pastor must not be covetous, because every sin of God begins with covetousness. Desiring something worldly in the place of God!

Luk 12:15 And he said unto them, Take heed, and beware of covetousness: for a man's life consisteth not in the abundance of the things which he possesseth.

That Pastor is also to rule his own house. When we look at this we should also keep in mind the Christian family with the father the head of that family. These things do not change in the Christian family it is just that the world will have their eyes upon that Pastor!

*****1Ti 3:4 One that ruleth well his own house, having his children in subjection with all gravity;

1Ti 3:5 (For if a man know not how to rule his own house, how shall he take care of the church of God?)

The Pastor is to rule his own home, but he is not the only one, this rule applies to all the parents in every Christian home.

It is in the home, where we are the most tested, but this is also the place we can best glorify God!

We should be able to see that the Pastor is held to high standards, but these are much the same standards that apply to all Christians!

Remember God, is a God of order and every husband is to be the pastor in his own home and willing to be discipled by that Pastor God has placed in the Church where he brings his family to worship and be discipled.

We must realize that every church that has a bad name aids in the worlds opinion of the world-wide church!

Those that hate God the most, will certainly point out every problem they see in the church, even though they can never have a spiritual understanding of the Word of God!

Here, as much as can be denied, the Bible says a bad parent will make a lousy Pastor.

God is very serious about this thing!

1Sa 3:11 And the LORD said to Samuel, Behold, I will do a thing in Israel, at which both the ears of every one that heareth it shall tingle.

1Sa 3:12 In that day I will perform against Eli all things which I have spoken concerning his house: when I begin, I will also make an end.

1Sa 3:13 "For I have told him that I will judge his house for ever for the iniquity which he knoweth"; "because his sons made themselves vile, and he restrained them not".

1Sa 3:14 And therefore I have sworn unto the house of Eli, that the iniquity of Eli's house shall not be purged with sacrifice nor offering for ever.

If we remember Eli was the High Priest of Israel on this day and went about his business knowing that his sons were evil and did nothing to try to stop their evilness.

God expects every Pastor to the head of their own home!

And God says we are never to allow that babe in Christ to be the Pastor of any Church.

*****1Ti 3:6 Not a novice, lest being lifted up with pride he fall into the condemnation of the devil.

We should understand that a newly converted Christian is not spiritually qualified to take on the job of a Pastor.

We should completely understand how Lucifer fell into condemnation:

Isa 14:13 For thou hast said in thine heart, I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God: I will sit also upon the mount of the congregation, in the sides of the north:

Isa 14:14 I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will be like the most High.

We can see that "pride" was the beginning of the downfall of Lucifer, best known as Satan or simply the devil!

If we are going to be a child of God, we need resemble Jesus as close as we possibly can, which also means "we must be as far as we can away from the ways of Satan"!

There are always those who are keenly watching the Church, so it would not be good to have such a novice as a Pastor, or really any part of Church functions until some discipling as taken place.

Some Christian babies, will grow at a faster pace than others, but it will still take some time.

We should understand the we are all God's children and God works on each of to reach maturity but that will only happen when we go home by death or by the Rapture of the Church!

It takes some time to become rooted and grounded in the Lord.

It takes some time to prove a testimony for Jesus Christ.

It takes some time to be able to Pastor any church and disciple others in that church.

The truth is, it does not take much pride to destroy your ability to preach, if you think of yourself exalted above the Saints of God!

Pro_16:18 Pride goeth before destruction, and an haughty spirit before a fall.

It takes some time to know the "mind of Jesus Christ"!

Php 2:3 Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves.

Php 2:4 Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others.

Php 2:5 Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus:

The next qualification causes harm to many young preachers of today.

*****1Ti 3:7 Moreover he must have a good report of them which are without; lest he fall into reproach and the snare of the devil.

A Pastor should have a good report outside the church. We all are just sinners saved by "grace". God throws all our sin into the deepest part of the sea and He remembers no more but those outside the doors of the church who knew us before we got saved will not be not that generous.

In fact, many a man of God cannot be a Pastor of the local church in the neighborhood of his raising. God will send them somewhere else and maybe some time later they can return home.

What did Jesus say?

Mat_13:54 And when he was come into his own country, he taught them in their synagogue, insomuch that they were astonished, and said, Whence hath this man this wisdom, and these mighty works?

Mat_13:57 And they were offended in him. But Jesus said unto them, A prophet is not without honour, save in his own country, and in his own house.

Many in this world do not accept conversion nor repentance simply because they do not know how to forgive!

There is no one, besides the Lord Jesus Christ, that is not capable of falling into some snare of the devil and mocked by our enemies!

A good testimony before the world is essential for every Christian but especially for the Pastor and even the elders of the Church.

God has this saying that just keeps coming true:

Num_32:23 But if ye will not do so, behold, ye have sinned against the LORD: and be sure your sin will find you out.

Remember, the world cannot have any voice in the selection of our Pastors, but that Pastor must be respected in their day to day acquaintances.

And finally, we see this thing about Deacons.

*****1Ti 3:8 "Likewise" must the deacons be grave, not doubletongued, not given to much wine, not greedy of filthy lucre;

1Ti 3:9 Holding the mystery of the faith in a pure conscience.

That word deacon means to be a servant in the church body. The first deacons were appointed to help the Pastor in day by day duties of the Church, to give that Pastor time to prepare his sermons.

Act 6:2 Then the twelve called the multitude of the disciples unto them, and said, "It is not reason that we should leave the word of God and serve tables".

The function of the deacon is to relieve the Pastor, so he can give his time to the study of the Word of God and to prayer.

Likewise, the Deacon as the Pastor, must have a good report from those in the world and those in the church:

Act 6:3 Wherefore, brethren, look ye out among you seven men of honest report, full of the Holy Ghost and wisdom, whom we may appoint over this business.

Act 6:4 But we will give ourselves continually to prayer, and to the ministry of the word.

The number of deacons should be according to the size of the congregation.

A deacon should be someone who is qualified, and who is honorable, who is looked upon as a solid respectable Christian, keeping in mind God is no respecter of persons!

The true deacon will be committed to the Lord Jesus Christ and not go astray of the Gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ!

The true deacon will next commit to the church and the mission of the church!(the mission of the church is to make disciples)

The true deacon will assist the Pastor but must never be a hindrance to the Pastor, who is the shepherd just under the true Shepherd.

The true deacon will never be double-tongued and will never be involved in church gossip, as they are to be involved in the work of the church.

The true deacon would be available in every way to the Pastor!

The true deacon will be a man of integrity!

Jas 1:16 Do not err, my beloved brethren.

Jas 1:17 Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning.

Jas 1:18 Of his own will begat he us with the word of truth, that we should be a kind of firstfruits of his creatures.

We should also notice here that God will good gifts, but He will never send bad gifts!

A deacon must be steadfast in "faith", holy in his heart, like Christ in his life!

A pure conscience is a conscience that is free from all immorality!

A deacon must be proved!

The way we do this is to bring them before church in an actual vote, so it does not happen on the buddy system.

*****1Ti 3:10 And let these also first be proved; then let them use the office of a deacon, being found blameless.

The faith claimed by a deacon must also be tested, their knowledge of the Scriptures must be consistent, as much as possible they must be involved in the ministry the "Gospel".

They must cling to basic Bible truths!

The deacon must cling to the truth of the Lord Jesus Christ is the God of the Bible!

The must be found blameless in every situation that involves the church and the world.

The deacon must be available to perform the duties of a deacon established in these passages from the Book of Timothy!

The deacon must also fulfill his family obligations!

*****1Ti 3:11 Even so must their wives be grave, not slanderers, sober, faithful in all things.

1Ti 3:12 Let the deacons be the husbands of one wife, ruling their children and their own houses well.

In other words, a deacon who has a wife who lacks the same qualities that are required of him, should not be chosen!

That word slander comes from the Greek word "diabolos" which means a false accuser, a devil. This wife is to honorable just as her husband.

This wife must be faithful in all things of the church and all things of the home!

Just so we know, a deaconess is the wife of a deacon and not some woman who has been chosen to be a female deacon!

The pure truth of this passage means, that when the deacon must respond to the needs of women, then his wife would be with him, as someone who would have the same message as her husband and to keep down false accusations.

A good example would be Elizabeth, the mother of John the Baptist and wife to Zacharias.

Luk 1:5 There was in the days of Herod, the king of Judaea, a certain priest named Zacharias, of the course of Abia: and his wife was of the daughters of Aaron, and her name was Elisabeth.

Luk 1:6 "And they were both righteous before God, walking in all the commandments and ordinances of the Lord blameless".

In none of these things, do we see that God does not see the male and the female on equal standings, it is just that there will be a certain order in the Body of Christ, where Christ Jesus is the Head of the church and Christ Jesus is the Head of the home!

Again, back to the deacon.

*****1Ti 3:12 Let the deacons be the husbands of one wife, ruling their children and their own houses well.

1Ti 3:13 For they that have used the office of a deacon well purchase to themselves a good degree, and great boldness in the faith which is in Christ Jesus.

Do we not see repeatedly that the church must be based upon the godly family?

Every man should be able to hold the offices of the church, except for the Pastor who must be called of God. Every woman should the same as that wife who had a husband that would be a deacon.

Here again we are presented with the ideal situations about a man being married, or a man having had a divorce and having remarried.

We all know that the things that happened before we were "Born Again", God has forgiven, and he has chosen not to remember any more so why should those who are in the same congregation.

The same man (the Apostle Paul) who was inspired to write these Scriptures by the Holy Ghost was also inspired by the Holy Ghost to write 1 Corinthians Chapter 7.

Much prayer and meditation should be spent in answering these qualifications of the elders of the Church.

Remember even the teachers must be God called.

There is no perfect church just as there is no perfect family, but these are to the goals and the laws we are to reach for to be perfect before God!

1Pe 3:8 Finally, be ye all of one mind, having compassion one of another, love as brethren, be pitiful, be courteous:

1Pe 3:9 Not rendering evil for evil, or railing for railing: but contrariwise blessing; knowing that ye are thereunto called, that ye should inherit a blessing.

1Pe 3:10 For he that will love life, and see good days, let him refrain his tongue from evil, and his lips that they speak no guile:

1Pe 3:11 Let him eschew evil, and do good; let him seek peace, and ensue it.

It is the Holy Ghost who will lead us in the ways of Jesus Christ. He will never take us down a false path!

Those who have held the office of deacon with that wife for support, will be recognized as those who can be trusted to the others in the church!

*****1Ti 3:13 For they that have used the office of a deacon well purchase to themselves a good degree, and great boldness in the faith which is in Christ Jesus.

In the days of the apostles that word purchase meant to win, to acquire, and not because it was a bargain.

In many denominations there are offices for men to fill above the office of deacon. At the Church that I attend the office of deacon is normally only 3 three years and others are voted in to replace those.

There also offices in places that a local government may require, and the qualifications of these men should be nearly the same as that of the deacon.

Those who have served in the office of deacon will learn to respect the functions of the working church!

Each one who has held this position in the church do earn a certain respect from the other members and the number of deacons should reflect the membership of the church.

We now see that the apostle Paul felt he would be released from his bondage.

*****1Ti 3:14 These things write I unto thee, hoping to come unto thee shortly:

1Ti 3:15 But if I tarry long, that thou mayest know how thou oughtest to behave thyself in the house of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth.

The most important thing that each member of the church should know is, how to behave in the House of God.

This extends from those babes in Christ as soon as they understand the Word of God and go all the way to the Pastor.

We see then that these "Pastoral Epistles" begin with how believers should behave in their relationship to God the Father, through His Son, and by the Holy Spirit.

Not only this, but also how to deal with each other in the church body and to all believers in this world at any one time.

Paul wanted to join Timothy, but the Holy Spirit said no!

We must clearly understand that the church is the household of God, but these words do not refer to a building.

The church is the "Body of Christ", a group of people who have committed themselves to a family centered on God the Father and His relationship to God the Son, the Lord Jesus Christ.

The Church is the family of God, built around the Holy Trinity or better said the Triune God!

The Church is a group of people who have committed themselves to live for the Lord Jesus Christ!

The Church is a group of families who take their stand upon the truth of God and will continue to stand!

The Church is a group of families who base their beliefs upon the sure promises of God!

The Church is to be filled with the adopted family of God!

Joh 1:12 But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name:

Joh 1:13 Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.

2Co 6:17 Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you,

2Co 6:18 And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty.

Gal 4:4 But when the fulness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law,

Gal 4:5 To redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons.

Gal 4:6 And because ye are sons, God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, crying, Abba, Father.

Remember all the lessons of the Book of Ephesians in how we learned about of the perfect family, we are to put those lessons in place in the church.

1Jn_2:13 I write unto you, fathers, because ye have known him that is from the beginning. I write unto you, young men, because ye have overcome the wicked one. I write unto you, little children, because ye have known the Father.

Mat 12:50 For whosoever shall do the will of my Father which is in heaven, the same is my brother, and sister, and mother.

The church is the assembly of God, which means, those believers who gather together, who have been called of God, the Living God and not some sack of bones still in the grave!

The Church is the pillar and ground of the truth of God!

The True Church proclaims the truth of God to an evil and dying world without be ashamed of God's Word!

The Church holds the truth of God up for a world that misbehaves and dies but who do not have to if they would only repent and turn to the truth of God!

So why do we do these things as believers? Because we know the truth!

*****1Ti 3:16 And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifest in the flesh, justified in the Spirit, seen of angels, preached unto the Gentiles, believed on in the world, received up into glory.

The truth is never a mystery!

A mystery spoken of in the Scriptures is the something in the Old Testament that was pointed out in the New Testament!

What is another truth, all man-made truths end in the grave?

The truth of God cannot die because God is eternal, so His Words are eternal!

It is this truth, written here in these Scriptures, that explains the entire life of Jesus Christ our Lord and our Savior!

God actually became man, Jesus the Messiah, still a stumbling block for most of our world today!

God was 100% God and !00% Man the entire time He was upon this earth!

By His human side He experienced all the trials and sufferings of humanity.

Because Jesus Christ was a "sinless" man, He was able to take away all the sin of humanity that has lived since His death.

Heb 2:16 For verily he took not on him the nature of angels; but he took on him the seed of Abraham.

Heb 2:17 Wherefore in all things it behoved him to be made like unto his brethren, that he might be a merciful and faithful high priest in things pertaining to God, to make reconciliation for the sins of the people.

Heb 2:18 For in that he himself hath suffered being tempted, he is able to succour them that are tempted.

It is a fact, that God came to this earth many times but at the appointed time, He came as the Messiah (the Christ).

Joh 1:14 And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.

When Jesus walked upon this earth even He proclaimed this truth and verified it by God the Father.

Heb 1:8 But unto the Son he saith, Thy throne, O God, is for ever and ever: a sceptre of righteousness is the sceptre of thy kingdom.

Heb 1:9 Thou hast loved righteousness, and hated iniquity; therefore God, even thy God, hath anointed thee with the oil of gladness above thy fellows.

The Father allowed the Son to be murdered but the Father, by the Holy Spirit, would not allow the Son to stay dead!

Rom 1:4 And declared to be the Son of God with power, according to the spirit of holiness, by the resurrection from the dead:

How are we to be saved?

We must truly believe on the work of Christ Jesus for our salvation!

We must rest our past, our present, and our future upon Him!

We must give Jesus the control of our souls!

We must totally give our lives to the Father by Him!

Joh 3:16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

Joh 3:17 For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.

Joh 3:18 He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.

Salvation is not a mystery because it is just the truth of God!

Amen

Let's Pray!