The Answer to Slavery

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!