WEBVTT 00:00:00.239 --> 00:00:04.400 We're in uh first Timothy chapter one, verse twelve. 00:00:04.480 --> 00:00:07.120 We'll go be going through verse twenty. 00:00:07.679 --> 00:00:17.600 First starting in verse twelve, Paul says, I give thanks to Christ Jesus our Lord, who has strengthened me because he considered me faithful, appointing me to the ministry. 00:00:17.839 --> 00:00:26.559 Even though I was formerly a blasphemer, a persecutor, an arrogant man, but I received mercy because I acted out of ignorance and unbelief. 00:00:26.719 --> 00:00:32.960 And the grace of our Lord overflowed along with the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus. 00:00:33.280 --> 00:00:37.439 This saying is trustworthy and deserving of full acceptance. 00:00:37.759 --> 00:00:43.119 Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, and I am the worst of them. 00:00:43.439 --> 00:00:56.479 But I receive mercy for this reason, so that in me, the worst of them, Christ Jesus, might demonstrate his extraordinary patience as an example to those who would believe in him for eternal life. 00:00:56.799 --> 00:01:06.560 Now to the King, eternal, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honor and glory for ever and ever, amen. 00:01:07.680 --> 00:01:23.599 Timothy, my son, I'm giving you this instruction in keeping with the prophecies previously made about you, so that by recalling them you may fight the good fight, having faith and good conscience, which have some have rejected and have shipwrecked the faith. 00:01:23.840 --> 00:01:31.519 Among them are Himenaeus and Alexander, whom I have delivered to Satan, so that they may be taught not to blasphem. 00:01:32.000 --> 00:01:33.200 Let's pray. 00:01:34.239 --> 00:01:39.920 Father, we thank you for your word, that it is living and active, sharper than a two-edged sword. 00:01:40.480 --> 00:02:06.239 We can trust you, Lord, and we ask you to work in our lives and our hearts and our minds by your word, that you would carve out the things that don't belong, that you would work in us by it, that for every one of us, that you would bow our hearts this morning and remove the distractions of the news and of work and of health. 00:02:07.599 --> 00:02:18.479 We'd lay those things down, that you would take those things, the burdens, the distractions, that you would speak to us, that you'd have full reign in each one of us to work. 00:02:19.039 --> 00:02:22.639 And that it's not our work, but it's yours from the inside out. 00:02:22.960 --> 00:02:24.800 We pray these things in Jesus' name. 00:02:25.039 --> 00:02:25.680 Amen. 00:02:31.039 --> 00:02:31.680 All right. 00:02:37.840 --> 00:02:40.319 A little brief introduction. 00:02:40.639 --> 00:02:46.639 So it's called 1 Timothy because it's Paul the Apostle's letter to Timothy. 00:02:46.719 --> 00:02:48.000 It's his first letter. 00:02:49.759 --> 00:02:52.639 Paul's writing to Timothy, he's in Ephesus. 00:02:52.719 --> 00:02:52.960 Okay. 00:02:53.199 --> 00:02:58.719 Ephesus was a New Orleans sort of a town, port city, wealthy. 00:02:58.879 --> 00:03:01.199 If that kind of helps you set the backdrop. 00:03:01.599 --> 00:03:04.560 There was uh the practice of magic and idol worship. 00:03:04.639 --> 00:03:06.159 You've heard the goddess of Diana. 00:03:06.240 --> 00:03:07.039 We talked about these things. 00:03:07.120 --> 00:03:10.479 Chris, Pastor Chris has talked about these things in our in our intro. 00:03:11.280 --> 00:03:13.280 Uh it was a tough city. 00:03:13.680 --> 00:03:17.439 Paul spent more time there than in any other recorded place. 00:03:18.719 --> 00:03:21.120 There were people spreading bad doctrine. 00:03:21.360 --> 00:03:24.240 Well, Paul sent Timothy, he said, stay remain there. 00:03:24.319 --> 00:03:41.120 And that's chapter one, he says in in verse 3, really, as I urged you when I went to Macedonia, remain in Ephesus so you so you may instruct certain people not to teach false doctrine or to pay attention to myths and endless genealogies. 00:03:41.360 --> 00:03:42.479 Some of the instruction. 00:03:42.639 --> 00:03:47.120 In the letter, Paul will continue to provide instruction to this Timothy. 00:03:47.280 --> 00:03:49.599 This is this is one of those personal letters, right? 00:03:49.680 --> 00:03:51.680 Not to a church, but to a person. 00:03:52.319 --> 00:03:52.960 All right. 00:03:56.159 --> 00:04:03.520 In verse 11 from last week, Paul reminded Timothy that the teachers of the law, they got it wrong. 00:04:03.919 --> 00:04:05.039 There were teachers there. 00:04:05.120 --> 00:04:11.120 They were teaching that the law was uh the law was meant to make you righteous. 00:04:11.199 --> 00:04:13.840 Well, Paul said, no, no, these teachers, they've got it wrong. 00:04:13.919 --> 00:04:17.199 They're teaching incorrectly, they're teaching poorly, badly. 00:04:17.759 --> 00:04:24.319 He said, no, the law is meant to reveal our sin, not to make us without sin. 00:04:25.199 --> 00:04:33.120 And even in the New Testament today, I think the enemy has us believing this lie that somehow the New Testament and the Bible is a book of rules. 00:04:33.279 --> 00:04:36.560 But it's not about rules that make us right. 00:04:36.720 --> 00:04:37.920 I mean, they're good, right? 00:04:38.000 --> 00:04:39.920 It's not bad to follow the rules. 00:04:40.079 --> 00:04:43.120 But the rules are not meant to make us right before God. 00:04:43.279 --> 00:04:44.879 That's Jesus' job. 00:04:45.040 --> 00:04:48.720 Jesus' blood on the cross is what makes us right before God. 00:04:51.920 --> 00:05:00.959 Okay, uh Paul says, well, the law uh is meant for the the law uh, it's not meant for the those who are right. 00:05:01.040 --> 00:05:07.759 It's made for the lawless, rebellious, ungodly, sinful, unholy, and irreverent. 00:05:07.920 --> 00:05:15.439 I almost said irrelevant, irreverent, which are who and who are contrary to sound doctrine. 00:05:15.600 --> 00:05:19.040 This morning we've got two main sections, and they're kind of they're kind of linked together. 00:05:19.120 --> 00:05:27.439 We're gonna see it, and I want to think in the terms of these two sections together as some relationship and as a picture of a few people or a few types of people. 00:05:29.199 --> 00:05:34.720 In 12, Paul is in classic Paul fashion, he's rabbit trailing. 00:05:34.959 --> 00:05:42.160 He gets kind of so stoked in the law, and on these people who are teaching this teaching of bet that the law is really, they're really teaching wrong, right? 00:05:42.240 --> 00:05:45.279 They're teaching that the law is meant to make one right. 00:05:45.439 --> 00:05:51.680 Well, Paul is gonna rabbit trail into his personal testimony, but it's good stuff, okay? 00:05:51.839 --> 00:05:56.399 And it doesn't always feel like why, Paul, why are you just can you be more methodical? 00:05:56.560 --> 00:05:57.759 Well, this is what it is. 00:05:57.920 --> 00:06:03.120 We're he's gonna tangent into his personal testimony, and it's gonna contrast really well in this section. 00:06:03.279 --> 00:06:12.240 So, verse 12, he says, I give thanks to Christ Jesus, our Lord, who has strengthened me because he considered me faithful, appointing me to the ministry. 00:06:12.959 --> 00:06:15.680 Paul's heart is thankful, right? 00:06:15.920 --> 00:06:17.120 He is super thankful. 00:06:17.279 --> 00:06:21.680 This man is there is gratitude in his heart deep and with deep within. 00:06:25.600 --> 00:06:28.399 Who did Paul receive strength from? 00:06:29.360 --> 00:06:30.319 Verse 12? 00:06:30.800 --> 00:06:32.319 Was it positive energy? 00:06:35.360 --> 00:06:36.319 This is real. 00:06:37.199 --> 00:06:52.879 Because this is what people think, especially people who don't know their Bible and aren't walking with the Lord, they think my wife was just seeing someone as they passed away, the family was looking at the positive energy of the people in the room. 00:06:53.680 --> 00:06:57.279 We we this is not where we should we have we can live. 00:06:57.439 --> 00:06:59.199 It's not in the positive energy, right? 00:06:59.279 --> 00:07:01.680 It's the this our strength comes from the Lord. 00:07:02.000 --> 00:07:03.279 So simple, right? 00:07:03.519 --> 00:07:04.639 But this is important. 00:07:06.560 --> 00:07:10.000 God also considered verse 12 Paul trustworthy. 00:07:10.720 --> 00:07:14.000 Do you see Paul stating his qualifications? 00:07:14.720 --> 00:07:23.360 Does he say, Well, God counted me worthy because of uh my intelligence or my uh talents? 00:07:26.319 --> 00:07:29.759 Remember Jesus in the parable of the Minas? 00:07:30.160 --> 00:07:34.240 He said, Well, you've been faithful in the little things and make you uh rule over many, right? 00:07:34.480 --> 00:07:38.079 Paul was, God considered Paul faithful in these things, right? 00:07:38.240 --> 00:07:43.279 And this is not about uh Paul earning something, right? 00:07:43.360 --> 00:07:46.319 But it is about faithfulness because God works in this account. 00:07:46.399 --> 00:07:47.839 If you're gonna be, you'll be faithful to these things. 00:07:47.920 --> 00:07:51.040 God was entrusting Paul to big and many big things. 00:07:51.360 --> 00:07:55.279 One of the questions is we see that God gave these things to Paul. 00:07:56.000 --> 00:07:58.639 Well, he's given us things to us as well. 00:07:59.120 --> 00:08:01.519 This is still this is pertinent to us. 00:08:01.759 --> 00:08:05.360 What has he given you to be faithful in? 00:08:08.879 --> 00:08:12.079 We too can be counted faithful, right? 00:08:15.600 --> 00:08:18.959 God considers Paul faithful, he strengthens him, and he appoints him. 00:08:19.199 --> 00:08:20.480 And who does the appointing? 00:08:20.720 --> 00:08:22.399 Does Paul, is he self-appointed? 00:08:22.959 --> 00:08:24.959 Paul was appointed by Jesus. 00:08:29.040 --> 00:08:45.440 Paul goes on in verse 13 Even though I was formerly a blasphemer, a persecutor, an arrogant man, but I received mercy because I acted out of ignorance and unbelief, and the grace of our Lord overflowed along with the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus. 00:08:45.679 --> 00:08:49.600 This saying is trustworthy and deserving of full acceptance. 00:08:49.759 --> 00:08:53.519 Jesus Christ came into the world to save sinners, and I am the worst of them. 00:08:53.679 --> 00:08:55.440 That's verses 13 and 14. 00:08:55.679 --> 00:08:59.440 Paul's thankful in 12, but here we go in verse 13. 00:08:59.519 --> 00:09:03.679 We're getting into what I'd call the pre-Jesus. 00:09:03.840 --> 00:09:04.159 Okay? 00:09:04.480 --> 00:09:06.879 When we have our we all have our testimonies, right? 00:09:06.960 --> 00:09:11.039 We've got the pre-Jesus part of our lives and the post-Jesus part of our lives. 00:09:11.200 --> 00:09:12.960 And our testimony includes both. 00:09:13.039 --> 00:09:16.399 Well, Paul's pre-Jesus was pretty heavy. 00:09:16.639 --> 00:09:22.080 Not a lot of us, not all of us, have a heavy pre-Jesus, but Paul had a heavy pre-Jesus. 00:09:22.240 --> 00:09:22.559 Okay. 00:09:23.360 --> 00:09:26.159 Some of you who have a heavy pre-Jesus life, right? 00:09:28.159 --> 00:09:36.559 We're all sinners, don't get me wrong, but some of us have a particularly uh, we're particularly skilled in sin. 00:09:36.879 --> 00:09:40.240 Okay, so Paul's overwhelmed by grace. 00:09:41.360 --> 00:09:45.919 His testimony is the stark opposite of those teaching the heresy. 00:09:46.159 --> 00:09:48.080 Totally different people. 00:09:49.519 --> 00:09:56.080 Maybe they're not different people, but they're having, they, they're approaching things by, one's approaching by God's grace. 00:09:56.639 --> 00:09:57.840 What is heresy? 00:09:58.080 --> 00:09:58.960 Big word, right? 00:09:59.200 --> 00:10:00.639 Let's dumb it down. 00:10:01.039 --> 00:10:05.440 Heresy is just teaching that contradicts the clear and good doctrine of the Bible. 00:10:05.600 --> 00:10:06.240 Just think of that. 00:10:06.399 --> 00:10:08.960 They're teaching things that contradict the truth. 00:10:09.759 --> 00:10:12.559 And their heresy, follow the law, you'll be made right. 00:10:12.720 --> 00:10:13.919 Well, this was a half-truth. 00:10:14.159 --> 00:10:17.360 The law was good, but not meant to make us holy and right. 00:10:17.519 --> 00:10:21.600 The truth, all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God. 00:10:22.240 --> 00:10:25.519 So Paul lists three things in his pre-Jesus testimony. 00:10:25.679 --> 00:10:29.120 We can all have a pre-Jesus, we should have a pre-Jesus testimony. 00:10:29.279 --> 00:10:40.559 Something is if you if you trust and know Jesus, you have a pre-Jesus testimony, there are some simple things you probably have in your head or you should have in your head about what life was like pre-Jesus, right? 00:10:41.200 --> 00:10:44.320 He says, this is still verse 12, blasphemer. 00:10:44.480 --> 00:10:50.559 Big word, that just means speaking evil, slanderous, and reproachful things. 00:10:50.720 --> 00:10:56.399 Like if I said, in and out is gross, that would be blasphemous. 00:10:57.600 --> 00:10:58.240 Yeah. 00:10:59.440 --> 00:11:00.000 Right? 00:11:00.399 --> 00:11:01.679 Blasphemous. 00:11:04.720 --> 00:11:06.159 Does that help? 00:11:07.360 --> 00:11:07.679 Okay. 00:11:08.639 --> 00:11:09.120 All right. 00:11:09.360 --> 00:11:09.679 Okay. 00:11:10.480 --> 00:11:11.919 He says persecutor. 00:11:12.559 --> 00:11:16.559 We can talk about that afterwards if you really need to have a deeper conversation. 00:11:16.960 --> 00:11:17.679 Persecutor. 00:11:17.840 --> 00:11:19.039 Paul did bad things. 00:11:19.200 --> 00:11:20.240 Bad things, simple. 00:11:20.399 --> 00:11:26.960 Bad things, physically threatening, harming, imprisoning, and killing people because of their faith. 00:11:27.279 --> 00:11:27.600 Right? 00:11:27.759 --> 00:11:28.480 Because of their faith. 00:11:28.559 --> 00:11:29.120 He was persecuted. 00:11:29.360 --> 00:11:31.919 He wasn't persecuting them because they didn't like in and out. 00:11:32.159 --> 00:11:33.840 He was persecuting them because of Jesus. 00:11:34.320 --> 00:11:37.600 You can have persecution different ways, but persecution for the faith. 00:11:37.840 --> 00:11:39.440 Third thing, arrogant. 00:11:39.679 --> 00:11:40.879 Paul was proud. 00:11:41.039 --> 00:11:41.679 Simple. 00:11:41.919 --> 00:11:42.879 Not just proud. 00:11:43.039 --> 00:11:46.639 He was proud in himself beyond what he deserved credit for. 00:11:47.200 --> 00:11:50.080 He was a self-made man. 00:11:50.879 --> 00:11:52.080 Anyone in here? 00:11:53.279 --> 00:11:56.000 Does anyone here relate to the self-made man? 00:11:58.320 --> 00:12:01.840 You may not have the rough background, but you may be the self-made man. 00:12:02.000 --> 00:12:05.519 I was probably that person in my story. 00:12:07.360 --> 00:12:10.720 Those are the three, and Paul could go on, but those are the three things that he mentions. 00:12:10.960 --> 00:12:12.799 Okay, keep we keep going. 00:12:12.960 --> 00:12:13.759 Verse 13. 00:12:13.919 --> 00:12:15.919 He acted out of ignorance and unbelief. 00:12:16.000 --> 00:12:18.559 He's really very simply summarizing where he was at. 00:12:18.720 --> 00:12:22.399 He truly thought that Jesus' followers were in error. 00:12:24.480 --> 00:12:26.080 He generally thought he was right. 00:12:26.240 --> 00:12:28.960 He didn't believe that Jesus was God's appointed one. 00:12:29.120 --> 00:12:29.840 He didn't believe. 00:12:29.919 --> 00:12:31.200 He was in unbelief. 00:12:35.279 --> 00:12:36.639 But God, right? 00:12:37.039 --> 00:12:45.679 Verse 14, the grace of our Lord overflowed, overflowed along with faith and love that are in Christ Jesus. 00:12:46.480 --> 00:12:49.039 Paul saying, I didn't get what I deserved. 00:12:49.679 --> 00:12:54.879 But God forgave Paul and he chose Paul to be a vessel. 00:12:55.039 --> 00:12:56.080 Think about this. 00:12:58.000 --> 00:13:01.679 Alright, what we're going to keep going because 15, it'll further develop. 00:13:01.919 --> 00:13:06.159 He says, This saying is trustworthy and deserving of full acceptance. 00:13:07.759 --> 00:13:12.240 Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, and I am the worst of them. 00:13:13.200 --> 00:13:15.679 In the New King James, it says, I am the chief. 00:13:15.759 --> 00:13:16.480 I really like that. 00:13:16.639 --> 00:13:21.200 I am the chief, the chief of sinners, the head, the leader. 00:13:21.840 --> 00:13:23.120 He says, I was? 00:13:23.519 --> 00:13:24.799 He says, I am. 00:13:30.240 --> 00:13:39.039 Paul, the author of 13 books of the greatest book and compilation of books, the Bible of all time. 00:13:39.279 --> 00:13:40.559 Thirteen books. 00:13:42.080 --> 00:13:51.039 Chief contributor to our understanding of biblical theology, I would say, New Testament, New Covenant doctrine. 00:13:51.360 --> 00:13:54.720 One of the best principles we have, an example of Jesus. 00:13:56.480 --> 00:13:58.559 He persecuted people to death. 00:13:58.799 --> 00:14:05.840 Acts 8.1, he was standing at the side of Stephen, right, authorizing his death. 00:14:05.919 --> 00:14:08.720 They threw rocks at him to kill him, right? 00:14:10.159 --> 00:14:12.159 Okay, I got this story. 00:14:12.639 --> 00:14:19.919 Back in Bible college, early 2000s, we go out after class in Morrow Bay. 00:14:20.000 --> 00:14:20.799 This is Morrill Bay. 00:14:20.879 --> 00:14:22.399 This is sleepy town Morro Bay. 00:14:22.559 --> 00:14:26.320 Where are you gonna go at night in Morrill Bay to share your faith? 00:14:26.480 --> 00:14:28.240 Who's even awake? 00:14:28.720 --> 00:14:33.440 Okay, Taco Bell, Denny's, if it were still open, and the bars. 00:14:33.600 --> 00:14:38.159 So we went out to like the buoy and just kind of tried to share our faith out there at the buoy. 00:14:38.399 --> 00:14:38.720 Okay. 00:14:39.200 --> 00:14:43.039 Well, one guy, one person had this conversation with a guy. 00:14:43.200 --> 00:14:46.080 He said, Look, I was a mercenary. 00:14:46.240 --> 00:14:47.600 I'm like, wow. 00:14:48.159 --> 00:14:48.480 Okay. 00:14:48.799 --> 00:14:51.440 He says, no, no, I kill people. 00:14:52.399 --> 00:14:56.159 I was, you know, trained killer, soldier. 00:14:56.720 --> 00:15:01.360 He says, There is no way I can be forgiven for what I've done. 00:15:01.679 --> 00:15:03.120 We talk for 20 minutes. 00:15:03.200 --> 00:15:06.080 I could not convince him that's grace. 00:15:06.559 --> 00:15:10.000 No, Jesus died so that you wouldn't have to take. 00:15:10.320 --> 00:15:11.039 He took it. 00:15:11.279 --> 00:15:12.720 Couldn't convince him. 00:15:13.039 --> 00:15:14.639 He was believing the lie. 00:15:15.039 --> 00:15:19.039 But Paul's saying, well, no, I'm chief of sinners. 00:15:19.360 --> 00:15:26.480 If I can be forgiven and counted worthy of this ministry, you can be forgiven. 00:15:26.720 --> 00:15:30.480 So if you're in that category, Paul's like, no, no, no, no. 00:15:30.559 --> 00:15:33.120 You don't get to disqualify yourself from grace. 00:15:33.440 --> 00:15:35.279 Paul, chief of sinners, right? 00:15:39.279 --> 00:15:50.080 By the way, is there anything that you're having a hard time thinking that you are having a hard time acknowledging God's forgiveness for you? 00:15:51.039 --> 00:15:53.120 Because Paul's an example. 00:15:54.080 --> 00:15:55.440 He says that you can't do that. 00:15:55.519 --> 00:15:58.559 You don't, you don't get you got to find another excuse. 00:15:58.879 --> 00:16:01.039 But it's not going to be that God hasn't forgiven. 00:16:01.279 --> 00:16:04.879 Jesus was tortured and he hung on a cross and he died. 00:16:05.039 --> 00:16:06.159 That blood was sufficient. 00:16:06.320 --> 00:16:10.960 We know it's sufficient because he rose from the dead. 00:16:12.080 --> 00:16:12.799 That's how. 00:16:13.039 --> 00:16:14.320 Okay, verse 16. 00:16:14.559 --> 00:16:27.759 But I received mercy for this very reason that in me, the worst of them, Christ Jesus, might demonstrate his extraordinary patience as an example to those who would believe in him for eternal life. 00:16:32.559 --> 00:16:34.159 Why did Paul receive mercy? 00:16:34.320 --> 00:16:35.679 It's right here in the verse. 00:16:35.919 --> 00:16:37.279 Did he fast a lot? 00:16:37.440 --> 00:16:41.360 Did he read his Bible enough hours, two hours a day? 00:16:41.519 --> 00:16:45.039 Did he sell all he had and throw away all of his secular music? 00:16:48.559 --> 00:16:53.120 So that in me, the worst of them, Christ might demonstrate his patience. 00:16:53.360 --> 00:16:54.960 Extraordinary patience. 00:16:58.240 --> 00:16:59.840 And God does this through scripture. 00:16:59.919 --> 00:17:00.799 This is not a new thing. 00:17:01.039 --> 00:17:03.519 Israelites in the desert, 40 years. 00:17:03.679 --> 00:17:05.599 Do you all have 40 years of patience? 00:17:06.400 --> 00:17:12.000 Pharaoh, as he oppressed the Israelites, he just kept pushing him, pushing him, right? 00:17:12.079 --> 00:17:13.279 God is patient. 00:17:16.640 --> 00:17:17.440 Verse 17. 00:17:17.599 --> 00:17:24.720 Now to the King, eternal, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honor and glory forever and ever. 00:17:26.720 --> 00:17:28.720 Paul is so in awe. 00:17:28.880 --> 00:17:30.240 He just breaks out and praise. 00:17:30.319 --> 00:17:31.440 That's what this is. 00:17:31.759 --> 00:17:34.400 This isn't just about teaching Paul's doing. 00:17:34.559 --> 00:17:36.480 He just breaks out in praise. 00:17:37.279 --> 00:17:39.359 The King, ruler of all. 00:17:39.519 --> 00:17:41.039 And we can just read this, right? 00:17:41.200 --> 00:17:42.559 Especially if you've read it before. 00:17:42.640 --> 00:17:43.759 We just gloss over it. 00:17:44.000 --> 00:17:45.680 King, ruler of all. 00:17:46.480 --> 00:17:47.759 He is eternal. 00:17:47.920 --> 00:17:50.319 That means without beginning or end. 00:17:51.680 --> 00:17:53.039 He's always existed. 00:17:54.160 --> 00:17:55.279 He always will. 00:18:01.519 --> 00:18:02.079 Big word. 00:18:02.160 --> 00:18:03.519 He just he lives forever. 00:18:03.680 --> 00:18:04.400 He doesn't die. 00:18:04.559 --> 00:18:09.359 He's not threatened by death or disease or peril. 00:18:10.799 --> 00:18:14.079 And by the way, when he's eternal, he's outside time. 00:18:14.160 --> 00:18:17.599 That means he sees the end from the beginning, right? 00:18:19.759 --> 00:18:20.960 He's invisible. 00:18:21.119 --> 00:18:25.680 It's an aspect that we don't know everything he's up to, right? 00:18:26.400 --> 00:18:29.039 There's a little bit of that unsearchableness. 00:18:30.720 --> 00:18:32.240 And he's the only God. 00:18:32.400 --> 00:18:34.559 Remember, this city worshiped Diana. 00:18:34.880 --> 00:18:38.319 There were lots of gods, but Paul says the only God. 00:18:38.480 --> 00:18:42.559 In America, that's harder to do because we have other gods or just things. 00:18:43.119 --> 00:18:48.400 You know, the nice car, the house, or whatever, I don't know, whatever it is. 00:18:49.920 --> 00:18:53.279 How do we develop the same awareness of Paul, right? 00:18:53.359 --> 00:18:57.279 Do you, does your heart sing in the same om praise? 00:18:57.759 --> 00:19:00.079 Mine doesn't always default to that. 00:19:00.640 --> 00:19:02.160 I mean, it's amazing. 00:19:02.319 --> 00:19:06.960 Paul just so overflowing in that awe and thankfulness. 00:19:09.119 --> 00:19:11.279 We hate kings who oppress, right? 00:19:11.440 --> 00:19:13.119 Who are evil, who are unwise. 00:19:13.200 --> 00:19:17.039 We have some of we have rulers and leaders like that. 00:19:17.440 --> 00:19:19.519 But the king, think about the contrast. 00:19:19.680 --> 00:19:22.400 The king who is good and wise and patient. 00:19:22.640 --> 00:19:25.680 No, we we do like a king like that, right? 00:19:26.960 --> 00:19:30.079 It makes you feel confident in your leader. 00:19:30.160 --> 00:19:31.759 Well, God is that. 00:19:33.519 --> 00:19:40.319 We can practice when we see things out of control is to recognize God's control. 00:19:41.279 --> 00:19:45.440 That he hems us, that he guards us, that he leads us and protects us. 00:19:47.759 --> 00:19:49.039 All right, verse 18. 00:19:49.200 --> 00:19:50.559 We're shifting gears. 00:19:50.799 --> 00:19:54.079 So we just had Paul breaks into his testimony, right? 00:19:54.319 --> 00:19:58.079 A little random, but he but he gives us his background in a nutshell. 00:19:58.319 --> 00:20:01.920 This is, I mean, if he just said this, it's just what, like a minute. 00:20:02.799 --> 00:20:10.960 He's shifting gears into really a part of the heart of his letter to Timothy. 00:20:11.119 --> 00:20:13.839 This is this is a really personal letter. 00:20:15.039 --> 00:20:15.839 Let's read it. 00:20:15.920 --> 00:20:17.920 Let's just read the three verses. 00:20:18.160 --> 00:20:20.960 Timothy, my son, I'm giving you this, and this is verse 18. 00:20:21.119 --> 00:20:37.200 Timothy, my son, I'm giving you this instruction in keeping with the prophecies previously made about you, so that by recalling them you may fight the good fight, having faith in a good conscience, which some have rejected and have shipwrecked the faith. 00:20:37.519 --> 00:20:45.279 Among them are Himenaeus and Alexander, whom I have delivered to Satan, so that they may be taught not to blasphem. 00:20:49.599 --> 00:20:54.079 Certainly a change in subject, but Paul's kind of back to business. 00:20:54.559 --> 00:21:04.480 And uh think Timothy is in Ephesus, and if I'm reading things correctly, uh Timothy may be questioning what he's doing in Ephesus. 00:21:04.640 --> 00:21:07.440 Maybe maybe like he could go somewhere else. 00:21:12.880 --> 00:21:15.759 He starts by saying, Timothy, my son. 00:21:17.359 --> 00:21:18.400 What does that tell you? 00:21:18.559 --> 00:21:21.279 This is not just uh a letter to a friend. 00:21:22.240 --> 00:21:24.960 This he's writing this like a son in the faith. 00:21:25.279 --> 00:21:27.440 Like this is this is an intimate type. 00:21:27.519 --> 00:21:30.319 He's addressing him saying, like you would to a son. 00:21:31.359 --> 00:21:33.839 It's endearing, it's a fatherly term. 00:21:34.240 --> 00:21:38.880 It's it's like uh he's a disciple too, but he's also really a son in the faith. 00:21:39.920 --> 00:21:42.799 This is the sound also of a discipler. 00:21:44.960 --> 00:21:49.839 All right, he says then in 18, I'm giving you this instruction. 00:21:50.079 --> 00:21:55.039 This phrase is literally this command I entrust to you. 00:21:55.759 --> 00:21:59.759 This is not just uh you need brush your teeth twice a day. 00:22:00.240 --> 00:22:03.920 Because we're just going to be in the habit of brushing your teeth twice a day. 00:22:04.160 --> 00:22:09.920 This is not, this is bit, this is this is bigger than some instructional, right? 00:22:10.240 --> 00:22:11.839 This is command. 00:22:12.880 --> 00:22:13.279 Alright? 00:22:13.440 --> 00:22:17.839 So tenors of a father, charge of a of a like a soldier, right? 00:22:18.160 --> 00:22:25.839 This is the same word as when the jailer was given instruction to put Paul and Timothy in jail. 00:22:26.079 --> 00:22:26.400 Right? 00:22:26.640 --> 00:22:29.039 So this is this is serious stuff. 00:22:29.839 --> 00:22:36.559 And he says, uh, in keeping with the prophecies, this is still verse 18, previously made about you. 00:22:36.960 --> 00:22:38.640 Ah, sounds interesting, right? 00:22:38.880 --> 00:22:41.200 So Paul says something we don't know exactly. 00:22:41.279 --> 00:22:48.640 And we don't know exactly we don't know exact, we don't know exactly, but we have some hints in in the letters to Timothy. 00:22:48.799 --> 00:22:52.720 I'm gonna kind of give a little giveaway here, but that's okay. 00:22:52.880 --> 00:23:06.000 Um what we from what we can tell, Timothy, his default, his disposition, his his personality was more, he was a little bit in contrast to Paul. 00:23:06.160 --> 00:23:11.680 Paul, bold, right, in your face, going at it, not backing down. 00:23:12.000 --> 00:23:19.759 Timothy, he needed a Paul, he needed Paul's exhortation and really kind of admonishment. 00:23:22.160 --> 00:23:29.839 And here's a little picture of Timothy, chapter 4, 14, same same letter, he says to Timothy, don't neglect the gift that is in you. 00:23:30.000 --> 00:23:32.960 It was given to you through prophecy. 00:23:33.680 --> 00:23:37.519 Remember that, with the laying on of hands by the counsel of elders. 00:23:37.759 --> 00:23:45.359 And 2 Timothy's second letter, chapter 1, therefore I remind you, Timothy, to rekindle the gift of God that is in you. 00:23:45.519 --> 00:23:48.799 Hear the gifts that is through you through the laying on of hands. 00:23:49.039 --> 00:23:55.440 For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of but one of power, love, and sound judgment. 00:23:55.680 --> 00:23:58.079 Does that help paint a picture of Timothy? 00:23:58.799 --> 00:24:02.079 I kind of think Timmy's on the Tim Timmy's Timmy. 00:24:02.720 --> 00:24:04.480 That was unintentional. 00:24:05.680 --> 00:24:21.680 Timmy's on the mission field, and have you ever been on a short-term trip and you've ever gotten out and you're you're in a new place, and you you have this epiphany, I am not home anymore, right? 00:24:22.079 --> 00:24:25.279 Sewage running in canals along the street, maybe. 00:24:25.759 --> 00:24:28.400 Um, people living in mud huts. 00:24:28.640 --> 00:24:32.799 And you don't have to, it doesn't have to be this extreme, but you realize, I'm not my home anymore. 00:24:32.960 --> 00:24:35.839 You're not with your friends, you're not with your family. 00:24:36.160 --> 00:24:37.599 Life is different. 00:24:38.880 --> 00:24:48.400 And we're getting into a picture of a missionary or a pastor, and this doesn't just apply to missionaries and pastors, it applies to each one of us. 00:24:49.119 --> 00:24:56.720 It's a picture of a maybe, let's say, a kid or young guy, and he's maybe about ready to bail. 00:24:58.000 --> 00:25:05.599 That's just who he is, and I find it very refreshing that there's a Timothy, because Timothy's solid, right? 00:25:06.079 --> 00:25:12.400 But we may end up in places and we feel out of our comfort zone, and this is not a time to recoil. 00:25:13.039 --> 00:25:15.119 Paul says, remain, right? 00:25:15.279 --> 00:25:15.920 Remain. 00:25:16.079 --> 00:25:18.400 Some of us need to hear the word remain. 00:25:20.559 --> 00:25:23.680 Alex, Jackson, right? 00:25:23.759 --> 00:25:27.039 They can get in the the Johnson's, right? 00:25:27.200 --> 00:25:29.200 When you're questioning, like, why are we here? 00:25:29.359 --> 00:25:31.839 Well, it's this calling we're going to be talking about. 00:25:33.279 --> 00:25:33.599 Okay. 00:25:34.480 --> 00:25:35.279 Prophecies. 00:25:35.359 --> 00:25:36.000 So what is this? 00:25:36.160 --> 00:25:37.519 It's just a big word. 00:25:38.480 --> 00:25:51.359 Strong says it's declaring the purposes of God, whether by reproving and admonishing the wicked or comforting the afflicted, revealing things hidden, especially, or also by foretelling future events. 00:25:51.599 --> 00:26:05.279 We don't know if these prophecies were sort of foretelling of things Timothy would do, or if they were more of a telling of Timothy, like here declaring or proclaiming his gifts. 00:26:05.440 --> 00:26:09.119 Like this is, you're, you're, you need to go, you're going to be doing some things. 00:26:09.440 --> 00:26:10.640 But we read, though, right? 00:26:10.720 --> 00:26:12.240 The laying on of hands, the gifts. 00:26:12.400 --> 00:26:23.039 We get in the idea that there was a time when Paul says, when Paul says the prophecies made about you, this is cueing into Timothy's mind. 00:26:23.200 --> 00:26:25.359 Oh, that's right, the laying on of the hands. 00:26:25.440 --> 00:26:27.599 Like we, there was a moment. 00:26:28.960 --> 00:26:39.599 And he remembers, I think, that what that he has to re has to go back to this foundation of why he left, what his calling and ministry was. 00:26:41.440 --> 00:26:47.519 This applies to all of us, not just the big and fancy ministers and pastors. 00:26:49.599 --> 00:26:58.160 1 Corinthians 14, Paul says, the person who prophesies speaks to people their strengthening, encouragement, and for their strengthening, encouragement, and consolation. 00:26:58.319 --> 00:27:01.359 So it's all these things that I think were spoken to Timothy. 00:27:05.119 --> 00:27:06.400 And here's the why. 00:27:06.559 --> 00:27:08.400 Remember the prophecies. 00:27:09.599 --> 00:27:17.039 Paul says in 18, so that by recalling them you may fight the good fight, having faith and good conscience. 00:27:18.960 --> 00:27:22.079 My wife didn't know why I left my backpack up here. 00:27:23.279 --> 00:27:28.000 But we've all been given, we've all been given tools and weapons, right? 00:27:28.240 --> 00:27:30.400 This weapon is from Legoland. 00:27:32.319 --> 00:27:35.839 Daniel, I didn't tell him I was borrowing his sword. 00:27:36.640 --> 00:27:38.079 He'll get it back. 00:27:39.759 --> 00:27:43.200 Paul is giving Timothy tools, weapons. 00:27:43.759 --> 00:27:44.720 It's weapons, okay? 00:27:44.960 --> 00:27:45.680 Armor. 00:27:45.920 --> 00:27:47.200 We're gonna get to that. 00:27:47.440 --> 00:27:47.759 Okay. 00:27:51.200 --> 00:27:53.599 Remembering your gifts and calling is a tool. 00:27:53.680 --> 00:27:54.640 It's a tool. 00:27:54.880 --> 00:27:55.839 But it's like a sword. 00:27:56.400 --> 00:27:58.559 It's not just a tool like a leatherman, right? 00:27:59.200 --> 00:28:04.559 When ministry in life gets challenging, we need to anchor ourselves in the confidence of our calling. 00:28:04.720 --> 00:28:07.519 That may be just the calling to Jesus Christ. 00:28:07.680 --> 00:28:09.279 It can be so simple. 00:28:10.079 --> 00:28:12.640 Paul says, fight to fight the good fight. 00:28:12.720 --> 00:28:17.680 This is a phrase, another translation is wage the good warfare. 00:28:17.839 --> 00:28:20.880 Think about waging bad warfare, right? 00:28:21.200 --> 00:28:26.559 We all have warfare individually, as a country, the whole spectrum. 00:28:27.359 --> 00:28:33.359 This phrase is like to lead a military expedition, to be a soldier to enlist. 00:28:33.440 --> 00:28:35.599 This is a you have a mission and a purpose. 00:28:35.839 --> 00:28:36.880 Serious stuff, right? 00:28:37.039 --> 00:28:43.119