WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:00.959 Hello everyone, I'm Dr. 00:00:01.040 --> 00:00:04.799 Steve Holt and welcome you to the Road Church Podcast. 00:00:05.040 --> 00:00:10.240 Each week we go into God's Word, we teach chapter by chapter, verse by verse. 00:00:10.560 --> 00:00:15.599 We are here to build the Kingdom of God revolution through empowering people to change the world. 00:00:15.759 --> 00:00:21.280 So we pray this will minister to you at your heart level and change your life. 00:00:21.519 --> 00:00:24.960 Today, be encouraged by our guest speaker. 00:00:27.679 --> 00:00:31.120 So we're continuing a series in 1 Timothy chapter 4. 00:00:31.280 --> 00:00:34.079 Well, 1 Timothy, I'm doing chapter 4. 00:00:34.399 --> 00:00:48.960 And the main thing that you will cover today in chapter 4 is you see Paul, the spiritual father to Timothy, giving him advice on how to deal with life and how to deal with ministry. 00:00:49.119 --> 00:00:54.479 And he tells him when you go to Ephesus, Timothy, you'll deal with three important things. 00:00:54.719 --> 00:01:01.679 You'll deal with the spiritual realm, you'll deal with tradition and culture, and you'll deal with yourself. 00:01:02.159 --> 00:01:04.640 And that's the kind of the overview of this chapter. 00:01:04.799 --> 00:01:08.079 Paul is trying to prepare Timothy for what he's gonna face. 00:01:09.040 --> 00:01:16.000 See, everybody in this room is influenced by the spiritual realm. 00:01:16.640 --> 00:01:20.879 Whether you like it or not, the influence of us all. 00:01:21.599 --> 00:01:27.680 We are also influenced by culture and tradition, and we're influenced by ourselves. 00:01:28.480 --> 00:01:35.280 And it's up to us to make sure that we don't let the wrong influences dictate our lives. 00:01:35.599 --> 00:01:41.519 And so, Paul, as spiritual father, is telling Timothy, be ready for this because this is coming. 00:01:41.760 --> 00:01:48.879 And I just want to stop there and say that tells us the importance of having spiritual mothers and spiritual fathers. 00:01:49.200 --> 00:01:52.319 We need these men and women who've walked the life. 00:01:52.640 --> 00:01:58.159 Come and tell us, us young people, like, don't do this, do that, beware for that. 00:01:58.719 --> 00:02:00.959 It's so needed in our lives. 00:02:01.200 --> 00:02:07.599 And for the older, it's important for you to pour all these different things in our lives. 00:02:08.479 --> 00:02:10.000 Because we need guidance. 00:02:10.159 --> 00:02:13.280 As a young adult pastor, this is near and dear to me. 00:02:13.840 --> 00:02:19.919 Because I see young adults who need mentorship, who need people to help them walk this life. 00:02:20.719 --> 00:02:32.400 Don't turn there, but in Proverbs 21, verse 11 says this when a scorner is punished, the simple become wiser, and when the wise is instructed, he takes hold of knowledge. 00:02:32.960 --> 00:02:34.800 We young people need that. 00:02:36.319 --> 00:02:45.599 And so if you're not mentoring someone or not being mentored, I encourage you to pray and ask the Lord, who is this person who you want to speak into my life? 00:02:45.919 --> 00:02:52.080 Because what that does for us young people is we avoid sometimes five years of misery. 00:02:54.000 --> 00:03:13.919 You talk, you date the wrong person, and you wise the people knew they're not good for you, but you didn't have that relationship, and then you have so you date them, and then you have to deal with the breakup, and then you have to deal with the trauma, and by the every by when everything is done, that's four years of your life just gone. 00:03:14.400 --> 00:03:15.039 Yeah. 00:03:16.000 --> 00:03:22.080 So that's why we need older people to tell us, watch out for that, he is up to no good. 00:03:24.000 --> 00:03:30.560 So, anyway, that's my uh my little young adult speech to all the wives. 00:03:30.639 --> 00:03:33.120 Because I'm always looking for mentors, that's why. 00:03:33.599 --> 00:03:36.639 Anyway, let's let's get back to the topic for today. 00:03:36.879 --> 00:03:39.360 My message for today is the three bewares. 00:03:39.919 --> 00:03:47.759 Paul is telling Timothy, beware of these three things as a spiritual father, because when you go into Ephesus, this is what you'll deal with. 00:03:48.479 --> 00:03:52.879 So let's read the first five verses in 1 Timothy chapter 4. 00:03:53.599 --> 00:04:18.879 Now the Spirit expressly says that in latter times some will depart from the faith, giving heed to deceiving spirits and doctrines of demons, speaking lies in hypocrisy, having their own conscience feared with a hot iron, forbidding to marry and commanding to abstain from foods which God created to be received with thanksgiving by those who believe and know the truth. 00:04:19.120 --> 00:04:29.920 For every creature of God is good, and nothing is to be refused if it is received with thanksgiving, for it is sanctified by the word of God and prayer. 00:04:30.720 --> 00:04:36.720 So, in this first point, we have to beware of demonic influences. 00:04:38.560 --> 00:04:45.199 And I'm not gonna go into the whole demons, angels teaching because Pastor Steve covered that in great depth. 00:04:45.360 --> 00:04:49.680 If you go to our YouTube page, you'll see the series called The Cosmic Wars. 00:04:49.839 --> 00:04:51.600 He goes into great detail. 00:04:52.079 --> 00:05:02.240 But what I want to focus on today is this is to remind you that each and every one of us in this room were influenced by the spiritual realm. 00:05:02.720 --> 00:05:19.439 Whether you are Christian or a Christian, whether you're black or white, whether you live under a rock or in the most expensive house in the world, you are influenced by the spiritual realm every single day. 00:05:19.759 --> 00:05:26.720 And you have the kingdom of darkness and the kingdom of heaven battling, trying to find out who will influence this person. 00:05:27.120 --> 00:05:31.199 You have deceiving spirits, you have the Holy Spirit. 00:05:31.439 --> 00:05:37.519 So in 1 John, you see a church father talking to his children in the faith. 00:05:38.480 --> 00:05:43.120 Listen in 1 John 4, chapter 1, I mean chapter 4, verse 1 and 3. 00:05:43.360 --> 00:05:49.040 Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirit whether they are of God. 00:05:49.199 --> 00:05:52.399 Because many false prophets have gone into the world. 00:05:52.560 --> 00:05:55.199 By this you know the spirit of God. 00:05:55.519 --> 00:06:00.560 Every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is of God. 00:06:00.800 --> 00:06:06.240 And every spirit that does not confess that Jesus has come in the flesh is not of God. 00:06:06.639 --> 00:06:15.439 And this is the spirit of the Antichrist, which you have heard was coming and now already is in the world. 00:06:16.079 --> 00:06:36.800 We should test these spirits because you have deceiving spirits, you have the spirit of the Antichrist, and many other familiar spirits, many other demonic spirits trying to vie for your attention, trying to influence you, trying to mimic what God might look like so He can fool and deceive you. 00:06:37.439 --> 00:06:40.639 We have to test all these things with the Bible. 00:06:41.120 --> 00:06:45.920 See, for us today, the main spirit that we battle is the spirit of the Antichrist. 00:06:46.399 --> 00:06:54.879 And I believe this is a spirit behind this whole deconstruction of the faith movement that is leading so many young people away. 00:06:56.000 --> 00:07:02.480 I believe the spirit of Antichrist is what is gonna lead this great falling away of the faith that we just read. 00:07:03.120 --> 00:07:05.600 It's after every believer. 00:07:06.639 --> 00:07:09.680 Because we are in this room, we are all the threat. 00:07:09.920 --> 00:07:13.360 The devil doesn't really care about non-believers because he got them. 00:07:14.079 --> 00:07:16.160 You are the one he really wants. 00:07:16.480 --> 00:07:25.600 Because the more you, every day that you're a Christian, a believing, a Bible-believing Christian, you are bringing the kingdom of heaven in everywhere you go. 00:07:25.920 --> 00:07:27.759 So you are the threat. 00:07:28.480 --> 00:07:46.399 Because this letter is written to a Christian going to Christians, and is telling them, these deceiving spirits, they're coming to influence you and to influence your people, and everybody has to be on guard. 00:07:47.839 --> 00:07:54.160 Look at verse 2, and I'm gonna read this in two different translations: the Complete Jewish Bible and the NLT. 00:07:55.360 --> 00:07:56.399 This is verse 2. 00:07:56.560 --> 00:08:05.439 Such teachings come from the hypocrisy of liars whose own conscience has been burned as if with a red-hot branding iron. 00:08:05.759 --> 00:08:12.639 And then the NLT says, These people are hypocrites and liars, and their conscience is dead. 00:08:13.279 --> 00:08:15.279 Why are their conscience dead? 00:08:15.519 --> 00:08:17.439 Because they believe in the wrong thing. 00:08:17.680 --> 00:08:30.720 You see, when you read the conscience is dead, or when you read in the New King James when it says that the conscience has been seared, we instantly jump to like the big negative things. 00:08:30.959 --> 00:08:33.360 But what you don't realize, this is a journey. 00:08:33.519 --> 00:08:35.519 Your conscience being dead is a journey. 00:08:35.840 --> 00:08:44.159 It starts out by you believing a simple little lie that is not, and it might sound truthful, but it's not truthful. 00:08:44.879 --> 00:09:00.399 And then when you believe that every single day for the rest of your life, if you don't deal with that lie, that deceiving spirit is compounding it until it gets you to a place where your conscience is completely seared, and you can't even see the truth. 00:09:01.200 --> 00:09:04.879 Everything starts off small and turns into a big thing. 00:09:05.519 --> 00:09:07.519 This is why we have to be on guard. 00:09:07.679 --> 00:09:13.039 This is why Paul is saying, Beware, Timothy, this is there, and you have to deal with this. 00:09:13.919 --> 00:09:16.000 We all have to deal with this. 00:09:16.639 --> 00:09:20.080 We have to be on guard spiritually, guard our minds. 00:09:20.320 --> 00:09:23.279 See, the battle is in here, but it's for your heart. 00:09:23.600 --> 00:09:27.840 You'll have the kingdom of darkness, the kingdom of God in here all day. 00:09:28.000 --> 00:09:36.720 And what the goal is that that lie or that truth will be planted into your heart because out of your heart flows the issues of life. 00:09:38.000 --> 00:09:39.919 So this is why it's important for you. 00:09:40.080 --> 00:09:42.080 Joshua chapter 1, verse 9. 00:09:42.320 --> 00:09:45.519 This book of the law shall you meditate in it. 00:09:46.080 --> 00:09:47.360 Day and what? 00:09:49.120 --> 00:09:55.600 Not just day or night, because there's an increase of darkness in this world. 00:09:56.000 --> 00:10:02.960 And if you're not careful to be guarded in the word, these deceiving spirits will come in and lie to you. 00:10:03.759 --> 00:10:08.399 Let's look at the fruit of the deceiving spirits. 00:10:08.480 --> 00:10:16.000 Because what they want to do, though these deceiving spirits want to come and give you a whole worldview of how to look at life. 00:10:16.240 --> 00:10:16.960 That's the goal. 00:10:17.039 --> 00:10:21.200 Because once your worldview has been shaped, then the rest is formality. 00:10:21.440 --> 00:10:24.960 I don't have to force you to do something, I just have to make you believe something. 00:10:25.440 --> 00:10:28.320 Once you believe it, I can go rest. 00:10:30.000 --> 00:10:34.240 Now, see what once this deceiving spirits have come in and they've made them believe. 00:10:34.320 --> 00:10:36.080 Look at verse 3 and 4. 00:10:36.320 --> 00:10:46.320 For this is what they do: they forbid you to marry, they command you to abstain from foods which God created to be received with thanksgiving by those who believe and know the truth. 00:10:46.559 --> 00:10:52.399 For every creature of God is good, and nothing is to be refused if it is received with thanksgiving. 00:10:52.960 --> 00:10:54.159 Isn't it interesting? 00:10:54.320 --> 00:10:58.480 The very first temptation was eat the fruit. 00:10:58.799 --> 00:11:00.639 Eat what God said, don't eat. 00:11:00.879 --> 00:11:06.000 And then now, in a lot of times, is don't eat what God said you can eat. 00:11:06.720 --> 00:11:08.879 There's nothing original under the sun. 00:11:09.600 --> 00:11:12.240 See, all the devil does is okay, this is what God said. 00:11:12.320 --> 00:11:13.519 This is He knows the scriptures. 00:11:13.600 --> 00:11:14.480 This is what God is saying. 00:11:14.559 --> 00:11:17.200 Okay, now how can I convince him to do the opposite? 00:11:18.320 --> 00:11:20.159 Like forbidding to marry. 00:11:20.960 --> 00:11:22.799 God bless marriage. 00:11:23.120 --> 00:11:24.720 So, what does the devil do? 00:11:25.039 --> 00:11:27.519 We gotta convince him not to get married. 00:11:28.720 --> 00:11:33.200 We have to come up with this sophisticated, and actually, good lies are not very sophisticated. 00:11:33.279 --> 00:11:35.440 I don't know this, I've just this is what I've heard. 00:11:41.120 --> 00:11:42.879 It's they're very simple. 00:11:44.480 --> 00:11:48.960 And the big one right now is uh this whole miss independent. 00:11:49.039 --> 00:11:53.519 Women are independent, you don't need no man, and then it leads you. 00:11:53.600 --> 00:11:56.799 Oh, since I don't need no man, I can be by myself, I can do my own thing. 00:11:57.120 --> 00:12:00.879 See, it's just a simple lie, but look at the impacts, the influence of it. 00:12:01.519 --> 00:12:06.399 And in verse five, Paul tells us how to deal with this. 00:12:07.039 --> 00:12:08.320 Okay, verse five. 00:12:08.639 --> 00:12:18.000 For if it is sanctified by the word of God and prayer, we have to be sanctified by the word of God and prayer. 00:12:18.639 --> 00:12:42.080 You have to get in the scriptures, and I'm not saying you have to be a theologian knowing Greek and Hebrew, just to be just know the scriptures, spend time with the scriptures, and what happens is the as you're faithful in studying the scriptures, you have God Holy Spirit to come in and back you and reveal things to you and open your understanding to see the lies. 00:12:43.120 --> 00:12:53.840 Because the lie at the beginning looks very good, it almost looks real, and there's no way we can identify that. 00:12:54.080 --> 00:12:56.159 This is why you have to pray. 00:12:56.559 --> 00:12:59.440 That's why we have noonday twice a week. 00:12:59.759 --> 00:13:09.200 You gotta learn how to pray and learn how to discern the voice of the Holy Spirit because that's when He'll warn you and tell you, actually, don't do that. 00:13:10.240 --> 00:13:12.159 That's a lie from the devil. 00:13:12.799 --> 00:13:15.200 Have you ever been rebuked by the Holy Spirit? 00:13:15.759 --> 00:13:17.039 We need those. 00:13:17.840 --> 00:13:21.600 You don't just spend one day with the Lord and you're good. 00:13:22.480 --> 00:13:24.639 Day and night, we've learned. 00:13:25.519 --> 00:13:26.480 So that's the first thing. 00:13:26.559 --> 00:13:28.879 We have to be aware of demonic influences. 00:13:29.600 --> 00:13:34.399 I'm just I'm just gonna say this, then I'll go back to my notes. 00:13:36.480 --> 00:13:38.240 See, I'm from Africa. 00:13:39.200 --> 00:13:42.399 We are used to demon demons, angels, all that. 00:13:43.600 --> 00:13:45.759 It's not a surprise to any of us. 00:13:46.000 --> 00:13:52.559 But in the West, the lie is that the demons are only in Africa. 00:13:57.600 --> 00:13:58.720 That's the lie. 00:14:01.279 --> 00:14:03.200 So we deal with them all the time. 00:14:03.440 --> 00:14:05.440 It's like they get shipped over there. 00:14:08.799 --> 00:14:12.399 But they're just as strong here as they're over there. 00:14:13.600 --> 00:14:18.799 And you cannot believe those lies and be lulled into a sleep, spiritual sleep. 00:14:19.039 --> 00:14:27.679 Because that's why you have to be a spiritual warrior, strong in the word, strong in press, so that the Holy Spirit can begin and tell you and show you. 00:14:27.919 --> 00:14:32.639 Hey, this is actually not a person being stupid. 00:14:32.799 --> 00:14:34.639 This is there's a spirit behind it. 00:14:34.879 --> 00:14:36.480 Okay, how do I deal with that Holy Spirit? 00:14:36.639 --> 00:14:40.879 What you actually do, go cast that thing out and then deal with the person. 00:14:41.840 --> 00:14:44.879 Sometimes, actually, that's that's just the person believing a wrong lie. 00:14:44.960 --> 00:14:48.960 Just show love on them so that they can renew their mind. 00:14:49.519 --> 00:14:52.480 You need that kind of direction from the Holy Spirit. 00:14:52.799 --> 00:14:55.279 Because there's no two issues that are the same. 00:14:56.240 --> 00:14:57.840 Okay, let's continue. 00:14:58.080 --> 00:15:01.840 The second thing we have to beware of is culture and traditions. 00:15:02.480 --> 00:15:05.360 So let's read verses 6 to 11. 00:15:05.759 --> 00:15:17.200 If you instruct the brethren in these things, you will be a good minister of Jesus Christ, nourished in the words of faith and of the good doctrine which you have carefully followed. 00:15:17.440 --> 00:15:34.159 But reject profane and all wise fables, exercise yourself toward godliness, for bodily exercise profits a little, but godliness is profitable for all things, having promise of the life that is now and of that which is to come. 00:15:34.399 --> 00:15:38.000 This is a faithful saying and worthy of all acceptance. 00:15:38.240 --> 00:15:48.720 For to this end we both labor and suffer reproach, because we trust in the living God, who is the savior of all men, especially of those who believe. 00:15:49.039 --> 00:15:51.519 These things command and teach. 00:15:52.080 --> 00:16:03.200 So in verse 6, Paul is telling us our jobs is to teach people the word of God, the unfiltered word of God. 00:16:04.320 --> 00:16:10.399 We need to be nourished with the word of faith and good doctrine so that we can preach. 00:16:11.360 --> 00:16:14.639 In other words, you can only give what you have. 00:16:14.960 --> 00:16:18.559 If you don't have the word of God in you, you'll give what you have. 00:16:22.000 --> 00:16:23.679 I didn't say anything. 00:16:26.320 --> 00:16:32.320 See, this is not just advice for ministers, this is for everybody in this room. 00:16:33.200 --> 00:16:40.480 Our souls nourished with the word of faith and good doctrine, or are we malnourished? 00:16:41.039 --> 00:16:52.799 Is our soul hungry for the word, but we only feed it just a little bit, and then go veer off and do things that don't really benefit our souls? 00:16:53.120 --> 00:16:55.759 Are we feeding our souls the word of God? 00:16:56.320 --> 00:16:58.480 Because our souls get hungry. 00:16:58.960 --> 00:17:05.839 Because it knows, it's like with your body, when you feed your body the right thing, it responds because it knows what it needs. 00:17:06.160 --> 00:17:10.720 It's like a baby, it might not articulate, but you'll find these cravings. 00:17:11.119 --> 00:17:15.359 And when you feed your soul the word of God, it just feels right. 00:17:16.079 --> 00:17:19.680 Look at verse 7, and I'm gonna read this in two different translations. 00:17:19.920 --> 00:17:21.759 So I'm gonna read from the New King James first. 00:17:22.000 --> 00:17:27.680 But reject profane and old white fables and exercise yourself toward godliness. 00:17:27.920 --> 00:17:34.559 And then in the Amplified, it says, but have nothing to do with irreverent folklore and silly myths. 00:17:34.799 --> 00:17:42.160 On the other hand, discipline yourself for the purpose of godliness, keeping yourself spiritually fit. 00:17:42.480 --> 00:17:49.440 See, our churches today, we have let culture influences instead of us influencing the culture. 00:17:50.880 --> 00:17:57.759 We've let these folklore and myths come from our culture and family traditions. 00:17:58.480 --> 00:18:02.319 But we must reject these things if they are not truth. 00:18:03.200 --> 00:18:05.599 In listen to Colossians 2:8. 00:18:06.000 --> 00:18:16.240 Beware lest anyone cheat you through philosophy and empty deceit, according to the tradition of men, according to the basic principles of the world, and not according to Christ. 00:18:17.200 --> 00:18:19.279 This is the exact same thing he's telling us. 00:18:19.440 --> 00:18:31.440 Stay away from the philosophy of the world, stay away from the tradition of men, stay away from the basic principles of this world, stay away from anything that is not godly. 00:18:32.079 --> 00:18:37.599 It's not like, oh, maybe I can change it, maybe I can be in it, but I won't let it influence me. 00:18:37.759 --> 00:18:39.039 No, stay away. 00:18:39.920 --> 00:18:42.799 What good does light have to do with darkness? 00:18:43.680 --> 00:18:46.400 Stay away from these lies of the culture. 00:18:47.039 --> 00:18:50.640 See, the latter half of verse 7 tells us how to do this. 00:18:50.880 --> 00:18:52.319 This is from the Amplified. 00:18:52.400 --> 00:18:59.519 On the other hand, discipline yourself for the purpose of godliness, keeping yourself spiritually fit. 00:18:59.920 --> 00:19:02.559 So we all know this when it comes to the natural. 00:19:02.720 --> 00:19:05.599 You don't just exercise once a week and you're good. 00:19:06.319 --> 00:19:09.519 Like I put in my chair for the day for the day, I'm done. 00:19:09.759 --> 00:19:11.279 Till next week. 00:19:11.759 --> 00:19:14.000 This is a daily exercise. 00:19:14.559 --> 00:19:22.799 And we also know that when it comes to natural physical exercise, it's not just you hitting the gym, it's what you eat. 00:19:23.599 --> 00:19:25.759 See, I have a two and a half pack. 00:19:29.599 --> 00:19:31.759 And man, am I trying to get it down. 00:19:31.920 --> 00:19:33.759 Well, I'm trying to get after six packs. 00:19:33.839 --> 00:19:35.359 Because I used to have a bigger gut. 00:19:37.279 --> 00:19:42.559 Because I didn't exercise completely all the time, but then I didn't eat right, you know. 00:19:44.400 --> 00:19:48.480 Sucks when you have a wife that's very serious about working out. 00:19:50.640 --> 00:19:53.519 Working out when she's pregnant, I'm like, Lord, have mercy. 00:19:56.880 --> 00:20:04.319 But we do the like spirit since we don't see the spirit, we just have unhealthy spiritual habits. 00:20:05.920 --> 00:20:11.200 We have a big old spiritual gut, but you can't see it, so I must be good. 00:20:11.599 --> 00:20:14.160 We all know the concept of empty calories, right? 00:20:14.400 --> 00:20:19.440 Where if you work out and then you go eat unhealthy stuff, it just kind of cancels out. 00:20:20.240 --> 00:20:22.240 We do the same thing in the spirit. 00:20:22.559 --> 00:20:30.079 All morning we are in prayer, we are studying the scriptures, but then in the evening we go and do all kinds of dumb stuff, ungodly stuff. 00:20:30.640 --> 00:20:32.160 Empty calories. 00:20:33.039 --> 00:20:42.160 We either are in the word of God and in the kingdom of God, or we are in the world. 00:20:42.400 --> 00:20:48.640 This is why in Revelation, Jesus tells our church, you look lukewarm, I will speed you out. 00:20:49.119 --> 00:20:52.960 I mean, real realistically, if you think about it, lukewarm anything is kind of not good. 00:20:53.119 --> 00:20:54.960 Lukewarm pizza is terrible. 00:20:57.680 --> 00:20:58.880 And we do the same thing. 00:20:58.960 --> 00:21:01.680 We are lukewarm Christians, but we think we're fine. 00:21:02.319 --> 00:21:03.920 Either be hot or cold. 00:21:04.079 --> 00:21:04.960 Choose one. 00:21:05.920 --> 00:21:08.480 Be in the world or be in the scriptures. 00:21:08.799 --> 00:21:17.039 We must stay away from culture, we must reject these things and be wholeheartedly in the scriptures. 00:21:17.279 --> 00:21:18.559 Look at verse 8 and 10. 00:21:18.720 --> 00:21:28.319 For bodily exercise profits a little, but godliness is profitable for all things, having promise of the life that is now and of that which is to come. 00:21:28.559 --> 00:21:31.920 This is a faithful saying and worthy of all acceptance. 00:21:32.079 --> 00:21:43.039 For to this end we both labor and suffer reproach because we trust in the living God, who is the Savior of all men, especially of those who believe. 00:21:43.599 --> 00:21:48.559 The goal of being physically fit is to be healthy and to look good. 00:21:49.359 --> 00:21:54.400 The goal of being spiritually fit is to live for the world that is to come. 00:21:54.559 --> 00:21:57.039 Are we living for the world that is to come? 00:21:58.240 --> 00:21:59.759 Or this is what we just want. 00:22:00.960 --> 00:22:05.359 We read those scriptures because we know we're getting ready for where we're going. 00:22:05.920 --> 00:22:09.839 We pray because we know we're we're getting ready for where we're going. 00:22:10.559 --> 00:22:12.640 This is not it, this is the beginning. 00:22:12.960 --> 00:22:13.839 Look at verse 10. 00:22:13.920 --> 00:22:18.400 I just want to repeat verse 10 because I just I love what Paul is saying here. 00:22:18.720 --> 00:22:24.400 For to this end, we both labor and suffer reproach. 00:22:25.279 --> 00:22:32.480 Because we trust in the living God, who is the savior of all men, especially of those who believe. 00:22:32.720 --> 00:22:38.480 For to this end, we endure the struggles of being a Christian in this world. 00:22:38.880 --> 00:22:49.519 For to this end, we accept that we will lose friends because we are gonna choose to walk in the kingdom of God. 00:22:50.400 --> 00:22:56.319 For to this end, we accept the consequences of being a believer. 00:22:56.799 --> 00:23:04.319 For to this end, we deal with all the crap that being a Christian today comes with. 00:23:05.119 --> 00:23:12.160 It's hard staying spiritually fit in a culture that is so anti-godly. 00:23:13.759 --> 00:23:21.119 It is hard staying spiritually fit when you have spiritual donuts and spiritual fast foods all over the place. 00:23:24.319 --> 00:23:30.319 It's hard staying spiritually fit when you have your traditions trying to hold you back. 00:23:31.359 --> 00:23:35.920 It's hard, but we endure it anyway. 00:23:37.200 --> 00:23:42.240 We choose to trust in God regardless of what that will do for your career. 00:23:42.720 --> 00:23:47.359 We choose to trust in God regardless of what I will do to your family. 00:23:47.839 --> 00:23:49.599 Every single day we have to choose this. 00:23:49.680 --> 00:23:52.720 You don't just wake up and do the work works of God. 00:23:53.680 --> 00:23:55.200 We have to choose this. 00:23:55.839 --> 00:23:58.640 Temptations will come, lies will come. 00:23:59.119 --> 00:24:04.400 There are some days an easy way out is just doing what's done in culture. 00:24:04.720 --> 00:24:07.440 But we have to remember we are called to so much more. 00:24:07.680 --> 00:24:14.319 Our goal is where we're going, and we have to choose to walk in faith. 00:24:14.880 --> 00:24:28.720 We have to beware of our culture and traditions because from it we can completely miss the mark and allow what's normal to influence our godly relationship. 00:24:29.440 --> 00:24:32.640 The third point: beware of what's inside of you. 00:24:33.200 --> 00:24:36.400 I'll read uh from verses 12 to 16. 00:24:36.880 --> 00:24:46.240 Let no one despise your youth, but be an example to the believers in word, in conduct, in love, in spirit, in faith, in purity. 00:24:46.720 --> 00:24:51.039 Till I come, give attention to reading, to exhortation, to doctrine. 00:24:51.200 --> 00:24:59.680 Do not neglect the gift that is in you, which was given to you by prophecy with the laying on of the hands of the eldership. 00:25:00.000 --> 00:25:06.000 Meditate on these things, give yourself and tell it to them that your progress may be evident to all. 00:25:06.240 --> 00:25:09.839 Take heed to yourself and to the doctrine. 00:25:10.160 --> 00:25:16.000 Continue in them, for in doing this you will save both yourself and those who hear you. 00:25:16.480 --> 00:25:22.559 I love verse twelve because verse 12 tells us the truth of Christianity and ministry. 00:25:22.880 --> 00:25:28.319 See, Christianity is not age-dependent, it's fruit-dependent. 00:25:28.799 --> 00:25:35.279 You could be a Christian for 30 years, but still get offended, like a baby Christian. 00:25:35.519 --> 00:25:41.759 You could be a Christian for 40 years, but still lie, like an unbeliever. 00:25:42.880 --> 00:25:48.880 Doesn't matter how long you've been a Christian, where's the fruit of your walk with the Lord? 00:25:49.200 --> 00:25:50.799 Because He's the vine. 00:25:51.200 --> 00:25:52.720 And we are His branches. 00:25:52.960 --> 00:25:58.640 And if you don't see fruit on the branch, something must be wrong with the branch. 00:25:58.960 --> 00:26:02.160 Are we walking a life worthy of producing fruit? 00:26:02.799 --> 00:26:07.920 Or we just know we we are walking a life worthy of doctrine. 00:26:08.160 --> 00:26:14.559 We can quote this thing, we know everything about it, but we don't live this thing. 00:26:14.720 --> 00:26:20.079 Because Christianity is not a career, it's not a so anyway. 00:26:22.079 --> 00:26:23.920 I gotta tell this story. 00:26:25.440 --> 00:26:26.559 Story, story. 00:26:27.759 --> 00:26:28.880 There they are. 00:26:31.440 --> 00:26:33.119 That's how you tell a story in Kenya. 00:26:33.200 --> 00:26:34.160 You can't just tell the story. 00:26:34.319 --> 00:26:37.279 You gotta tell a story, you gotta say a story, story, and then they gotta respond. 00:26:38.319 --> 00:26:39.519 So story, story. 00:26:41.200 --> 00:26:49.440 So when I was in Kenya, uh, we used to have this channel, I think it was Algeria, I forget the name, and it was from Egypt. 00:26:49.839 --> 00:26:59.119 And every year they will have this competition of those kids, they're like probably I think six to like twelve, fifteen, no more than fifteen. 00:26:59.359 --> 00:27:02.799 And they will compete who knows the Quran best. 00:27:03.359 --> 00:27:13.279 And they would go into the judge's room, and the judge will just open somewhere in the Quran and tell them, read from this section to this section. 00:27:13.680 --> 00:27:15.599 And they would just spit it out. 00:27:15.839 --> 00:27:18.319 I mean, this is what kids, they just spit it out. 00:27:18.720 --> 00:27:22.160 And I was just like, this is crazy, this is impressive. 00:27:22.720 --> 00:27:26.000 And I feel like sometimes we as believers we do that. 00:27:26.160 --> 00:27:35.839 We have this whole thing memorized, but somehow it never went from our head to our hearts, it just stayed up here. 00:27:36.240 --> 00:27:41.920 You're walking biblical knowledge, but there's no fruit to show. 00:27:42.319 --> 00:27:48.480 God doesn't care how much scripture you know, are you producing the fruit of your walk? 00:27:48.720 --> 00:27:51.359 This is why Christianity is a very honest. 00:27:52.559 --> 00:27:55.519 I don't want to say religion, but that's the best way to say it. 00:27:56.480 --> 00:27:59.680 Because it's either you show the fruits or you don't. 00:28:00.079 --> 00:28:02.400 You can hide behind doctrine all you want. 00:28:03.440 --> 00:28:10.079 But once we see the fruit, we'll know who actually spent time with the Lord and who don't. 00:28:10.400 --> 00:28:18.720 See, and verse 13 tells us, and pretty much verse 13 is a condensed version of Galatians 5, where you list the fruits. 00:28:18.960 --> 00:28:23.119 I mean, I mean the end of verse 12 is a condensed version of where we see the fruits. 00:28:23.599 --> 00:28:27.359 But verse 13 tells us how to grow the fruit. 00:28:27.680 --> 00:28:35.519 We grow these fruits by reading the scriptures, by encouraging our fellow believers, and by sound teaching. 00:28:35.759 --> 00:28:42.400 These are three pillars that we must have in our lives if we want to produce the fruit of the kingdom. 00:28:42.799 --> 00:28:45.200 And then look at verse 14 and 15. 00:28:45.519 --> 00:28:54.720 Do not neglect the gift that is in you, which was given to you by prophecy with the laying on of hands of the eldership. 00:28:54.960 --> 00:29:02.400 Meditate on these things, give yourself entirely to them that your progress may be evident to all. 00:29:02.960 --> 00:29:16.079 So when it comes to laying on of hands, see, this is not a religious thing, this was a cultural thing that was later adapted into Christianity. 00:29:16.960 --> 00:29:24.720 But laying on of hands is when you, the elder person, are passing along what you have to the recipient. 00:29:24.960 --> 00:29:28.240 Remember when Jacob was blessing his kids before he died? 00:29:28.559 --> 00:29:32.400 He laid hands on them, and he was blessing them. 00:29:32.799 --> 00:29:37.519 Isaac, we know all that story with Jacob stealing the blessing. 00:29:38.319 --> 00:29:40.960 He's just passing along what they have. 00:29:42.240 --> 00:30:02.640 And this verse 14 shows us once again the importance of spiritual mothers and spiritual fathers, where they get to impart what they have, where they get to impart their relationship with the Holy Spirit, the giftings of the Holy Spirit onto us so that we can be able to walk like they have. 00:30:04.079 --> 00:30:11.039 And when it comes to laying on of hands, there are two things that we must always be aware of. 00:30:12.000 --> 00:30:21.839 The first thing is you, the laying on of hands person, you must have something to give for you to even qualify to put your hands on somebody. 00:30:22.160 --> 00:30:30.400 And the second thing, you the recipient, must be ready to receive what's been laid on you. 00:30:30.640 --> 00:30:37.359 And this is why later Paul warns and tells him, do not lay your hands hastily, because some people are not ready to receive. 00:30:37.839 --> 00:30:39.440 But verse 15. 00:30:40.799 --> 00:30:46.480 So in verse 14 is now the elders, the leaders doing their thing. 00:30:46.720 --> 00:30:49.359 Verse 15 is all of us. 00:30:50.960 --> 00:30:57.279 What we must do to be able to walk in what has been put in us. 00:30:57.440 --> 00:30:59.920 And also another thing I forgot, prophecy. 00:31:00.240 --> 00:31:04.319 Verse 14 shows us the beautiful thing about prophecy. 00:31:04.640 --> 00:31:13.599 You see, like these elders, these strong men in the faith who know the Lord, the Lord speaks to them and tells them, This is what I want to say about Timothy. 00:31:13.759 --> 00:31:16.640 And then the elders prophesy this over him. 00:31:17.599 --> 00:31:21.839 They exhort him, and you and this is in 1 Corinthians 14, 13. 00:31:22.079 --> 00:31:25.839 But he who prophesies speaks edification, exhortation, and comfort to men. 00:31:26.079 --> 00:31:37.680 When this man prophesy over Timothy, they're exhorting him, they're encouraging him, they're edifying him and telling him, God has put all these things in you. 00:31:37.839 --> 00:31:42.559 You can do this, you can go into Ephesus and do this. 00:31:43.599 --> 00:31:46.240 See, but that's the elders, the leaders. 00:31:46.480 --> 00:31:52.240 Now we the recipients, and everybody in this room, verse 15 is for us. 00:31:52.640 --> 00:31:54.400 So there's this thing that I do. 00:31:54.640 --> 00:31:58.640 I've done that with young adults, medium-sized kids. 00:31:58.880 --> 00:32:01.599 I've done that with the youth, little kids. 00:32:01.839 --> 00:32:03.839 I want to try this with the big kids. 00:32:04.960 --> 00:32:07.519 There's this thing we do called beautiful chaos. 00:32:08.720 --> 00:32:09.359 Yes. 00:32:11.200 --> 00:32:14.240 Beautiful chaos is when we all read the scriptures together. 00:32:14.400 --> 00:32:20.160 It's beautiful because you're reading the scriptures, but it's chaotic because we all have different translations. 00:32:20.640 --> 00:32:23.440 So we're gonna try this, see how it goes with the big kids. 00:32:23.599 --> 00:32:25.519 Let's all go to verse 15. 00:32:25.920 --> 00:32:29.200 We should be there, actually, since we've been in the same chapter. 00:32:29.680 --> 00:32:31.440 Are we do we see verse 15? 00:32:32.079 --> 00:32:33.119 Are we gonna try this? 00:32:33.279 --> 00:32:34.559 See how this goes? 00:32:34.960 --> 00:32:37.359 Ah, ready one, two, three, read. 00:32:47.119 --> 00:32:48.799 What translation do you have? 00:32:51.359 --> 00:32:55.599 There's always someone with Amplified that takes on, like, keep on going and going. 00:32:57.599 --> 00:33:02.400 But meditate on these things, give yourself entirely to them. 00:33:03.920 --> 00:33:05.279 Meditate on this. 00:33:06.799 --> 00:33:16.720 When God shows you who you are, when God tells you this is a gifts of given you, meditate in this, grow in this, give yourself entirely. 00:33:17.680 --> 00:33:19.920 In other words, be whole-hearted. 00:33:20.240 --> 00:33:23.279 What Pastor Steve always says, be whole-hearted. 00:33:25.200 --> 00:33:29.680 We must meditate on the giftings that God has given us. 00:33:30.960 --> 00:33:37.599 See, verse 16 kind of summarizes verses 12 to 15 in a beautiful way. 00:33:38.079 --> 00:33:42.960 Verse 16 says this take heed to yourself and to the doctrine. 00:33:43.279 --> 00:33:50.480 Continue in them, for in doing this, you will serve both yourself and those who hear you. 00:33:51.279 --> 00:33:54.240 Take heed to yourself and to the doctrine. 00:33:54.559 --> 00:33:58.240 Take heed to yourself, is referring to the fruits of the spirit. 00:33:58.400 --> 00:34:02.640 Because remember, Christianity is not age-dependent, it's fruit-dependent. 00:34:03.279 --> 00:34:15.760 So take heed to walk in those fruit, and then take heed to walk in the giftings that your elders have called out in you. 00:34:16.400 --> 00:34:23.519 You've received this prophecy that tell that God has told his people that I've called you to do great and mighty works in the kingdom. 00:34:23.679 --> 00:34:25.760 Hold on to that, take heed to that. 00:34:26.800 --> 00:34:32.000 So we must cultivate the fruit and we must pursue the gift. 00:34:33.440 --> 00:34:37.519 Cultivating the fruit involves us being in the scriptures day and night. 00:34:37.840 --> 00:34:44.559 Pursuing the gifts involves us believing what God has said and being a willing vessel. 00:34:46.719 --> 00:34:49.920 We must cultivate the fruit and pursue the gift. 00:34:53.119 --> 00:34:56.480 We have to take heed of that, it doesn't happen. 00:34:57.599 --> 00:35:06.719 It takes time to be good at what God has called you to do because you have the spiritual side, which is important, but you also have the natural side. 00:35:06.800 --> 00:35:13.280 You have like me preaching, I have a practice so I can be able to communicate to these white people. 00:35:17.920 --> 00:35:19.760 You gotta cultivate that. 00:35:20.639 --> 00:35:26.079 It's both end, pursue the spiritual, cultivate your natural skills. 00:35:27.119 --> 00:35:34.719 And at the end of verse 16, continue in there for in doing this, you will save both yourself and those who hear you. 00:35:34.880 --> 00:35:38.159 Now, he's not saying that you will save yourself. 00:35:38.480 --> 00:35:45.199 What you must understand when it comes to salvation is because that save is the same Greek word so-zo that salvation is talked about. 00:35:45.360 --> 00:35:53.280 What he's saying is the day you get saved, because we are we are triune being, we are spirit being, we have a soul, and we live in this physical body. 00:35:53.440 --> 00:36:03.760 The day you get saved, your spirit is saved, made righteous, made perfect, and then your soul is being saved by the renewing of your mind, and your body will be saved when you get the new body. 00:36:04.000 --> 00:36:06.079 And you see this in James chapter 1. 00:36:06.320 --> 00:36:17.119 Therefore, lay verse 21, therefore, lay aside all filthiness and overflow of wickedness and receive with meekness the implanted word of God, which is able to save your soul. 00:36:17.360 --> 00:36:20.079 You save your soul by the by receiving the word of God. 00:36:20.239 --> 00:36:49.519 So, what Paul is telling Timothy and what he's telling us today, when we cultivate these fruits, when we spend time with the Lord and grow in our knowledge of the Lord, and we begin to walk in the fruits of the spirit, and then we pursue the gifts, we are actually saving our souls because that requires you to renew your mind, to see yourself as God sees you, to see yourself as an emissary of the kingdom of God. 00:36:50.800 --> 00:36:58.639 That's what we do, so that's how we save ourselves, and then this is an even important part that we save those who hear us. 00:36:59.760 --> 00:37:11.280 When we walk in the kingdom of God and produce the fruits, we begin to change those around us to be ready to receive the kingdom. 00:37:11.519 --> 00:37:16.559 It's not just about you, it's about you spreading the kingdom of God everywhere you go. 00:37:17.119 --> 00:37:26.880 And for you to do that, you must be renewed to the scriptures and then walk it out and influence everybody around you. 00:37:28.480 --> 00:37:44.559 Beware of the spirit of Antichrist and the deceiving spirits that try to shape our worldview with their lies, and we do that by diving in the word of God and prayer. 00:37:45.519 --> 00:37:57.360 Beware of the cultural and family traditions that prevent us from going deep with the Lord, and we do that by exercising godliness. 00:37:59.280 --> 00:38:18.400 Beware of the fruits and gifts inside of us because God has given us a gift, there's something that you are created to do, and we do that by cultivating the fruits and pursuing the gifts in us. 00:38:19.679 --> 00:38:25.280 Beware, beware, beware. 00:38:25.760 --> 00:38:49.840 We have demonic spirits trying to influence us, we have culture trying to influence us, and then we have these things in us that God wants to do through us, but He can't because we're not ready to battle with the demonic, we're not ready to battle the culture, and we whittle under the pressure and we get conformed to their world. 00:38:50.559 --> 00:39:00.639 It's time for us to stand up and rise up and choose to walk to the ways of Jesus. 00:39:01.840 --> 00:39:04.480 Thank you for listening to the Road Church Podcast. 00:39:04.639 --> 00:39:08.320 We pray today's messages empower you to make a difference in your world. 00:39:08.480 --> 00:39:14.800 For more information about the Road Church and to find more content like this, go to theroad.org. 00:39:14.960 --> 00:39:17.599 That's theroad.org.