Twitter
RSS
Facebook
ClickBank1

4.25.12 1 Tim 3:14-16 GOD’S HOUSEHOLD

4.25.12 1 Tim 3:14-16 GOD’S HOUSEHOLD

Wednesday, April 25, 2012                 Kevin Jesmer NIU UBF

1 Timothy 3:14-16
Key Verse: 3:15

“ if I am delayed, you will know how people ought to conduct themselves in God’s household, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and foundation of the truth”

Dear Lord Jesus. May your glory shine over all the earth. May you heal broken hearts and establish your people in the land. May the life giving gospel spread into the hearts of our young people. Please continue to grow your presence on the campus’ and the schools of our land. Help me now to accept you word into my heart. I pray in Jesus’ holy and mighty name. Amen!

1. The church of the living God (14-15a).

Verses 14-15a read, “Although I hope to come to you soon, I am writing you these instructions so that, 15 if I am delayed, you will know how people ought to conduct themselves in God’s household,…”

In this passage we learn what the church is. Paul had a right view of Christian community as God’s household. This has many implications. First, the church is not a building or a human organization, but it is established by God. The church is not necessarily and brick and mortar building. It is a group of people. They may gather in a home, in a church building, in a park, a school, a coffee shop, a movie theater. It is the people that matter. Personally I am not even praying for a church building for our small house church. All we would use it for is Sunday. Young people don’t want to come to hang out at the church. And who would maintain it? It is liberating to know that the church is where God dwells and not in a building.

Second, the living God dwells with his people. This realization helps us when we gather to worship God so that we can come into his presence with reverence and awe Heb 12:28 reads, “Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, let us be thankful, and so worship God acceptably with reverence and awe,” We need to worship the Lord from our hearts. We should not gather to just go through the motions, fulfilling the requirements of our worship program. It is a time to worship and praise the Lord. I repent of going through the motions and just “getting things over with”. I pray that I may have sincere and true worship of the living God in my heart.

Third, God’s household implies God’s family. God is our Father, and we are brothers and sisters in one family. We need to love one another and serve one another with the love of God in our hearts. There should be no class struggle and prejudice. There should be no condemnation and judgmental spirit in our hearts. We need to have equal respect for those of high or low social standing, the same for those who with plenty and or in want. There must be equality and respect in God’s household. Billy Graham knew this when he took down the dividing rope at his crusade in South Africa during apartied. We should be inclusive in the household of God, even giving those who do not believe a chance to dwell among the people of God so that they can taste and see that God is good.

2. The Pillar And Foundation of The Truth (15b-16).
Verses 15b-16, “…which is the church of the living God, the pillar and foundation of the truth. 16 Beyond all question, the mystery from which true godliness springs is great. He appeared in the flesh, was vindicated by the Spirit, was seen by angels, was preached among the nations, was believed on in the world, was taken up in glory.”

God’s church has a purpose related to his desire for all people to be saved and come to a knowledge of the truth (1Ti 2:4). The church is to keep hold of the truth (3:9), guard the truth (6:20), and proclaim the truth (4:13). Jesus’ incarnation, death and resurrection, message, and ascension are great mysteries from which true godliness springs. The church must be grounded in the truth of Jesus.

In my readings about the condition of the church in the west, young people want to bypass the church. They feel they get all they want from their friends and from secular organizations. They think that the church wants to use them and get money from them and judge them. And so they stay away from the church. But they fail to realize that that the church is not just there for fellowship and for doing good in the community. The church is there as the foundation and the pillar of truth. Even if we don’t like the church, we should go there and support the church just to hear the truth being taught and help the church to propagate the gospel.

As a pastor I must know that I am not just an event planner. I am not just a manager of a group of people. I am one who should uphold the truth of the word of God and the Gospel among the people. I need to bring forth the Bible’s teachings. I pray that I may stay true to the Bible’s teachings in all that I do.
Prayer: Father, help me to have a right view of the church as your household where you dwell.

One Word: The church is where the living God dwells

.




Interact with us using Facebook

Leave a Reply

You must be logged in to post a comment.