4.26.12 / 1 Tim 4:1-10 /BE A GOOD MINISTER OF CHRIST JESUS
4.26.12 / 1 Tim 4:1-10 /BE A GOOD MINISTER OF CHRIST JESUS
Kevin Jesmer NIU UBF Thursday, April 26, 2012
1 Timothy 4:1-10
Key Verse: 4:6 “If you point these things out to the brothers and sisters, you will be a good minister of Christ Jesus, nourished on the truths of the faith and of the good teaching that you have followed.”
Lord, Jesus, thank you for giving me meaning in the midst of all my struggles in life and the strength to carry on each day, serving the purpose you have called me to. Lord, I pray for my kids who are gone to New York. Please keep them safe. Help them to see you in the midst of all the blessings you have given. May they draw closer through their travels and keep them safe. Lord, I pray that you illumine my heart with your word today.
1. Everything God Created Is Good (1-5).
Verses 1-5 read, “The Spirit clearly says that in later times some will abandon the faith and follow deceiving spirits and things taught by demons. 2 Such teachings come through hypocritical liars, whose consciences have been seared as with a hot iron. 3 They forbid people to marry and order them to abstain from certain foods, which God created to be received with thanksgiving by those who believe and who know the truth. 4 For everything God created is good, and nothing is to be rejected if it is received with thanksgiving, 5 because it is consecrated by the word of God and prayer.”
False teachers abandoned the faith to follow demonic teachings. Paul was talking about Gnostics and Judaizers (religious legalists who were teaching that certain religious practices must be observed to be saved.) This happened when their consciences were seared as with a hot iron. If we teach a false Gospel our God will work in our consciences, convicting our hearts to change and preach the Gospel, purely and simply. But if our consciences are seared then we continue to teach the wrong gospel. God cannot stop us for we have blocked the means of communication that he has chosen, our conscience.
Let’s think about what these false teachers were teaching. One aspect of their hypocritical teaching was extreme asceticism: they forbade people to marry and required them to abstain from certain foods. These teachings were wrong. Marriage is established by God, and everything created by God is good and is to be received with thanksgiving. I am glad I married Julie. She helps me to serve Jesus more earnestly. For us 1+1 does not equal 2. It equals 3 or more. Food is good and Christians are free to eat anything sold in the market. I am glad for this because I really like pork roast, bacon and pork chops. There is something in my conscience that tells me legalistic righteousness is wrong. The Gospel of faith and God’s grace is right. The point here is that we need to keep our consciences sensitive, through frequent meditation on the word of God, frequent repentance and putting the word of God into practice. There is not other way. When our consciences are clear and sensitive then God can guide us along the paths that lead to eternal life.
2. Godliness Has Value For All Things (6-10).
Verses 6-10, “If you point these things out to the brothers and sisters, you will be a good minister of Christ Jesus, nourished on the truths of the faith and of the good teaching that you have followed. 7 Have nothing to do with godless myths and old wives’ tales; rather, train yourself to be godly. 8 For physical training is of some value, but godliness has value for all things, holding promise for both the present life and the life to come. 9 This is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance. 10 That is why we labor and strive, because we have put our hope in the living God, who is the Savior of all people, and especially of those who believe”
A good minister points out false teachings to plant faith in the Creator God and the Gospel of Jesus Christ. By avoiding myths and wives’ tales, a good minister will train themselves to be godly. Physical training, or exercise, keeps our body healthy. But godliness has value for all things. We need to take responsibility for our spiritual health, training to be aware of God, live in his presence, to live in Christ and to imitate him.
This is not natural or easy. If I did what was natural and easy, then I would work, eat, sleep and watch a few dog rescue videos each day. But to grow in godliness requires good ministers to labor and strive with hope in God. (10) I need to labor and strive, not in pointless ways. But in pointful ways, helping me to come closer to Jesus and serve him more fervently. I need to discipline myself in Bible study and prayer. I really need to grow spiritually and mature as a Christian. I pray for God’s help and to help me focus on what is fruitful.
Prayer: Father, thank you that everything you created is good. Help me to walk before you with a clean conscience. Please help me to find ways to train myself to be godly each day.
One Word: Train yourself to be godly
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