WEBVTT 00:00:01.679 --> 00:00:04.799 Church, I don't know if you can relate to this. 00:00:06.240 --> 00:00:10.640 Unmet expectations and miscommunication. 00:00:11.679 --> 00:00:20.239 I feel like unmet expectations and miscommunication, they're the source of so much or almost all of the conflict in our lives. 00:00:20.559 --> 00:00:35.840 Someone did not meet your expectations, you didn't meet someone else's expectations, someone didn't communicate to you what their expectations were, or they didn't communicate what's going on, you didn't communicate to them. 00:00:36.479 --> 00:00:37.759 It's frustrating. 00:00:37.920 --> 00:00:47.119 It creates tension, whether it's in marriage or family with your children or extended family or business or church. 00:00:47.600 --> 00:00:48.240 Everywhere. 00:00:48.640 --> 00:00:51.840 It happens to everyone throughout life. 00:00:52.560 --> 00:00:55.520 Unmet expectations and miscommunication. 00:00:56.000 --> 00:01:06.560 Paul writes this letter to Timothy to communicate his expectations, to make it clear how the church is to function. 00:01:07.519 --> 00:01:20.400 Now the letter up to this point has mostly been about false teachers, the role of men and women in the church, reaching the nations, reminding the church that Jesus Christ came to save sinners. 00:01:20.799 --> 00:01:25.760 We know that there will be some false professors who fall away from Christ. 00:01:26.799 --> 00:01:36.560 And now the letter begins to focus more on Timothy and his life and his conduct, the responsibilities that he has as a pastor. 00:01:36.879 --> 00:01:40.640 And there's so much for us to learn in these verses. 00:01:41.120 --> 00:01:48.959 So if you will read with me, 1 Timothy chapter 4, beginning in verse 6. 00:01:50.319 --> 00:02:02.000 If you put these things before the brothers, you will be a good servant of Christ Jesus, being trained in the words of the faith and of the good doctrine that you have followed. 00:02:02.640 --> 00:02:06.319 Have nothing to do with irreverent silly myths. 00:02:06.640 --> 00:02:09.919 Rather train yourself for godliness. 00:02:10.240 --> 00:02:23.280 For while bodily training is of some value, godliness is of value in every way, as it holds promise for the present life and also for the life to come. 00:02:24.479 --> 00:02:28.400 The saying is trustworthy and deserving of full acceptance. 00:02:28.719 --> 00:02:42.000 For to this end we toil and strive, because we have our hope set on the living God, who is the Savior of all people, especially of those who believe. 00:02:43.039 --> 00:02:45.199 Command and teach these things. 00:02:45.439 --> 00:02:55.599 Let no one despise you for your youth, but set the believers an example in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith, and purity. 00:02:56.319 --> 00:03:04.960 Until I come, devote yourself to the public reading of Scripture, to exhortation, to teaching. 00:03:05.280 --> 00:03:13.199 Do not neglect the gift you have which was given you by prophecy when the council of elders laid their hands on you. 00:03:14.560 --> 00:03:21.120 Practice these things, immerse yourself in them, so that all may see your progress. 00:03:22.000 --> 00:03:26.080 Keep a close watch on yourself and on the teaching. 00:03:26.400 --> 00:03:33.360 Persist in this, for by so doing you will save both yourself and your hearers. 00:03:48.000 --> 00:03:50.240 Put these things before them. 00:03:50.960 --> 00:03:55.520 I was thinking about how do I break out this passage? 00:03:55.919 --> 00:03:58.479 What's the structure of this passage? 00:03:58.560 --> 00:04:02.960 As hopefully you reveal the structure, you reveal the main point of the text. 00:04:04.000 --> 00:04:08.159 And there's just imperative after imperative here to Timothy. 00:04:08.319 --> 00:04:10.879 Do this, do this, do this, do this. 00:04:13.039 --> 00:04:24.480 The point is that Timothy is to lay out the expectations and communicate clearly to the church what those expectations are. 00:04:25.920 --> 00:04:35.680 So I've looking just at verse 6, Timothy is charged, put these things before the brothers, and you will be a good servant of Christ Jesus. 00:04:35.920 --> 00:04:40.959 Being trained in the words of faith and the good doctrine that you have followed. 00:04:41.759 --> 00:04:50.399 It's the responsibility of Timothy, and by extension, all pastors, to put truth in front of the brothers and sisters. 00:04:51.279 --> 00:04:52.480 Now this requires something. 00:04:52.560 --> 00:04:56.800 This requires one that you be trained in the words of faith. 00:04:57.279 --> 00:05:05.040 That you then have good doctrine, and then you actually do the work of putting the doctrine before the people. 00:05:05.839 --> 00:05:12.079 So you're not merely understanding it, you're teaching it, and you're living it out. 00:05:13.600 --> 00:05:20.639 I was thinking about how do I communicate all this this morning and what are my three points and what will my alliteration be. 00:05:20.879 --> 00:05:34.319 I'm actually not that good at alliteration, but I kept thinking through these imperatives, and I think, man, I just think every imperative here, every command that's given, I think, is a point to the text. 00:05:35.439 --> 00:05:44.399 So this morning, if you'll bear with me, we're gonna have ten points to the sermon as we walk through this text. 00:05:46.079 --> 00:05:55.839 It's the under the understanding that Timothy is to get from Paul's communication is that there is a way that you're supposed to live. 00:05:56.240 --> 00:06:01.759 There's a way that the Christians around you are supposed to live, and you're to model that for them. 00:06:02.639 --> 00:06:11.920 Part of putting these things in front of the brothers and sisters is that they know how they are to follow Christ. 00:06:13.439 --> 00:06:21.839 One thing I find very encouraging about Christianity, I find this encouraging and very helpful, is that the Bible is so practical. 00:06:22.079 --> 00:06:26.160 The instructions that we have in God's Word are just so practical. 00:06:26.399 --> 00:06:36.560 There's not this wasted time and space and kind of, well, these are traditions that we don't really, we don't really, they're meaningless, we don't really know why they're there, so we just don't do anything with them. 00:06:36.959 --> 00:06:38.959 It's all so practical. 00:06:39.759 --> 00:06:43.040 And this letter helps us understand these things. 00:06:43.279 --> 00:06:45.120 How are we to follow Christ? 00:06:45.360 --> 00:06:46.959 How are we to love one another? 00:06:47.199 --> 00:06:49.759 What's it mean to be a Christian? 00:06:51.199 --> 00:07:02.319 So the first imperative for all of us, for all of us, even though we're not all pastors, we're not Timothy, is to make sure that we're being trained in the words of faith. 00:07:02.560 --> 00:07:12.639 There is some responsibility that we have to be trained in the faith and then to have good doctrine and to follow it, and then to help others. 00:07:13.040 --> 00:07:18.000 The great commission given to all God's people is to go and make disciples. 00:07:18.399 --> 00:07:28.800 The great commission isn't let those who are paid go make disciples, let those who've gone to seminary or those whose title is pastor make disciples. 00:07:29.120 --> 00:07:38.720 They should lead and model and work in that direction and facilitate and equip the saints for that, but it is the work of the saints to go and make disciples. 00:07:39.279 --> 00:07:49.279 So we're to train, to be trained, to have good doctrine, to follow it, our good doctrine that is, and then to do the same for others. 00:07:49.680 --> 00:07:53.360 So the first point is put these things before the brothers. 00:07:53.680 --> 00:07:57.920 Put these things before the church that they might know how to live. 00:07:59.120 --> 00:08:00.079 Point two. 00:08:02.079 --> 00:08:05.839 Rather train yourself for godliness. 00:08:06.879 --> 00:08:08.879 Train yourself for godliness. 00:08:09.279 --> 00:08:11.360 Now this might sound a little bit off. 00:08:12.160 --> 00:08:19.120 Paul's not talking about salvation, he's talking about maturation, maturing in our faith. 00:08:19.439 --> 00:08:22.959 Salvation is not a matter of works on our behalf. 00:08:23.199 --> 00:08:28.079 Christ has done the work for us, it's grace through faith for us. 00:08:28.480 --> 00:08:33.600 Growing in godliness requires grace-filled effort. 00:08:34.559 --> 00:08:38.799 You cannot grow in godliness if you have not been saved. 00:08:39.200 --> 00:08:53.440 If you're not a Christian, you haven't repented from your sin, turn from those things, follow Christ, put your faith in Him for salvation, and you have new desires, new affections, you're not going to be able to grow in godliness. 00:08:54.159 --> 00:08:55.919 And sometimes this happens. 00:08:56.080 --> 00:09:06.799 Some people kind of grow up in the faith, or they just kind of are around Christianity and they just assume they're a Christian and they're just like, well, I don't know why I can't overcome sin or why I have no desire for the things of God. 00:09:06.879 --> 00:09:15.679 And they just kind of try to muster up themselves as if they can get there, get holy, become godly by effort. 00:09:15.840 --> 00:09:19.679 And it's futile, it's empty, it's a waste of time. 00:09:20.720 --> 00:09:33.279 They need Christ, Him to do a work in them first, to redeem them and change their heart first, and then comes the grace-filled effort. 00:09:35.440 --> 00:09:38.240 Rather, train yourself for godliness. 00:09:38.639 --> 00:09:53.039 For while bodily training, this is verse 8, is of some value, godliness is of value in every way, as it holds promise for the present life and also for the life to come. 00:09:54.000 --> 00:09:58.320 The saying is trustworthy and deserving of full acceptance. 00:09:58.720 --> 00:10:11.120 For to this end we toil and strive because we have our hope set on the living God, who is the Savior of all people, especially of those who believe. 00:10:12.320 --> 00:10:16.639 So Paul does affirm that bodily training is of some value. 00:10:17.200 --> 00:10:24.000 Now it's common, not always, but we can kind of take that instruction and go into two ditches if we're not careful. 00:10:24.799 --> 00:10:29.919 So one thing is that we have a tendency to think it's of little value, so what's the point? 00:10:30.080 --> 00:10:30.399 Right? 00:10:30.559 --> 00:10:33.039 If bodily training is of little value, what's the point? 00:10:33.200 --> 00:10:37.360 We're just gonna die, our bodies are going to decay, so why are we doing these things? 00:10:37.679 --> 00:10:38.480 That's not true. 00:10:38.559 --> 00:10:41.600 We should be good stewards of what God has given us. 00:10:42.080 --> 00:10:54.159 And the other ditch is that we kind of say, well, it's of some value, so we need to give a lot of time and a lot of energy and effort to bodily training, way more than we do to spiritual training. 00:10:54.720 --> 00:11:00.080 Now, I'm not saying you have to read the Bible for the same amount of time that you exercise or whatever. 00:11:00.240 --> 00:11:04.799 I'm just saying that there's an element there of what is your priority. 00:11:05.120 --> 00:11:12.320 Are you prioritizing the things of God, spiritual training, or is it just bodily training? 00:11:12.960 --> 00:11:16.399 One holds value for this life, and there's value there, no doubt. 00:11:16.720 --> 00:11:21.360 But one holds value for this life and the life to come. 00:11:22.000 --> 00:11:23.440 What a blessing. 00:11:23.759 --> 00:11:25.840 And there's this trustworthy saying. 00:11:26.000 --> 00:11:28.399 We have Paul says these throughout his letters. 00:11:28.480 --> 00:11:30.480 This is a trustworthy saying. 00:11:31.759 --> 00:11:34.960 Make sure your perspective is eternal. 00:11:35.200 --> 00:11:41.840 It's not just focused on here and today and now, but you have an eternal eternal perspective. 00:11:43.279 --> 00:12:01.600 Verse 10 helps clarify also for for to this we toil and strive, because our hope is set on the living God, who is the savior of all people, especially those who believe. 00:12:02.879 --> 00:12:13.519 Toiling, striving, great effort is put in this direction, in our growing in godliness, in our training ourselves for godliness. 00:12:14.240 --> 00:12:19.440 Take a moment, if you will, reflect with me for the last week or two of your life. 00:12:19.600 --> 00:12:19.840 Okay? 00:12:20.000 --> 00:12:21.519 Think about the last couple weeks. 00:12:21.679 --> 00:12:23.120 If you're like me, it takes a moment. 00:12:23.200 --> 00:12:24.720 You're like, what did I do? 00:12:24.879 --> 00:12:26.159 What was going on? 00:12:27.120 --> 00:12:34.399 How much effort have you put into training for godliness in the last couple of weeks? 00:12:34.720 --> 00:12:37.919 How much effort did you kind of muster and toil? 00:12:38.159 --> 00:12:44.159 How did you toil and strive in training for godliness these last couple of weeks? 00:12:45.679 --> 00:12:48.559 Here's a short just list of ways you can train. 00:12:48.639 --> 00:12:53.039 You can you can develop this training in your life and growing in godliness. 00:12:53.440 --> 00:12:57.679 And you can do these almost every day, almost every week. 00:12:58.320 --> 00:13:00.799 So, what is studying God's word? 00:13:01.120 --> 00:13:01.440 Right? 00:13:01.600 --> 00:13:02.879 Being students of God's word. 00:13:03.039 --> 00:13:06.720 I'm not saying you have to learn Greek or Hebrew or or know Latin. 00:13:06.799 --> 00:13:12.159 I'm just saying you're you're opening God's word and you're in it with an intent to learn and to grow. 00:13:12.399 --> 00:13:13.600 What does it say? 00:13:13.759 --> 00:13:15.120 What's it mean? 00:13:15.360 --> 00:13:19.360 Praying, asking God to help you understand it and obey it. 00:13:19.600 --> 00:13:21.519 Studying God's word, praying. 00:13:21.759 --> 00:13:31.840 Praying as we gather the church, praying on your own, praying with your family, praying, times of prayer, gathering with the church to worship God and encourage one another. 00:13:32.080 --> 00:13:33.759 The Lord's Day, Sunday gathering. 00:13:33.840 --> 00:13:38.639 This is a primary way that you can grow in your affections and grow in your godliness. 00:13:38.879 --> 00:13:44.240 Gathering with the church, memorizing scripture, the discipline of fasting. 00:13:45.039 --> 00:13:52.080 Another way that you're tested and you can step in growing in godliness is just assuming the best of others. 00:13:52.480 --> 00:13:55.440 You want an opportunity to grow in godliness? 00:13:56.080 --> 00:13:57.679 Assume the best of others. 00:13:57.919 --> 00:14:03.039 You have a conversation with someone this morning or this afternoon, and you're like, no, I don't know what they meant by that. 00:14:03.279 --> 00:14:05.200 Assume the best of them. 00:14:06.159 --> 00:14:08.720 Another way is being patient with others. 00:14:09.039 --> 00:14:10.799 It's a great way to grow in godliness. 00:14:10.960 --> 00:14:12.480 Learning to be patient with people. 00:14:12.799 --> 00:14:15.120 Patient with yourself, patient with your spouse if you're married. 00:14:15.200 --> 00:14:17.120 If you have kids, patient with your children. 00:14:17.679 --> 00:14:19.279 Patient with people around you. 00:14:20.480 --> 00:14:22.879 Being sacrificial with your time and your money. 00:14:23.039 --> 00:14:25.120 It's a wonderful way to grow in godliness. 00:14:25.600 --> 00:14:29.600 Being intentional and telling other people around you about Jesus. 00:14:30.799 --> 00:14:35.759 And then rejecting the ways of the world and following the ways of God. 00:14:37.200 --> 00:14:41.840 There are just ten simple ways right there, just to train yourself for godliness. 00:14:42.320 --> 00:14:44.159 We should practice these things. 00:14:44.720 --> 00:14:46.000 We should practice them. 00:14:46.399 --> 00:14:49.759 And Paul's instructed to command and to teach these things. 00:14:50.000 --> 00:14:50.799 That's the third point. 00:14:50.960 --> 00:14:51.600 Command and teach. 00:14:51.679 --> 00:14:52.639 Look at verse 11. 00:14:53.200 --> 00:14:55.039 Command and teach these things. 00:14:55.440 --> 00:14:56.879 This command. 00:14:58.080 --> 00:15:00.320 This instruction, this teaching. 00:15:01.440 --> 00:15:10.799 Isn't the job of the church or Christians just to kind of stand around, especially pastors, to stand around and just philosophize about ideas and thoughts. 00:15:10.879 --> 00:15:12.000 And what do we think this means? 00:15:12.159 --> 00:15:13.120 What do you think that means? 00:15:13.200 --> 00:15:15.360 And those can be wonderful things. 00:15:15.679 --> 00:15:22.159 But at some point, rather quickly, we have to arrive at an answer and say, this is what God wants us to do. 00:15:22.240 --> 00:15:26.240 This is how we're supposed to live, and this is what He means by these things. 00:15:26.720 --> 00:15:32.799 So Paul is given the instruction, the imperative, command, teach these things. 00:15:33.519 --> 00:15:37.840 Now, this isn't something that we as a culture do a whole lot. 00:15:38.159 --> 00:15:44.080 It's one thing if I'm up here and I'm giving you the command, do these things, don't do these things. 00:15:44.320 --> 00:15:52.159 It's another thing if I come over to your house tomorrow evening and say, listen, here's three specific things that you need to stop, and you need to stop right now. 00:15:52.399 --> 00:15:52.799 Right? 00:15:52.960 --> 00:15:54.879 It's a whole different dynamic. 00:15:55.120 --> 00:16:00.000 But I think that's also what Paul is charged with commanding and teaching. 00:16:00.480 --> 00:16:06.799 It does no good if people like you, but you're you're dead in your sin. 00:16:07.440 --> 00:16:11.679 You're staying as a bondage, as a slave to sin. 00:16:12.720 --> 00:16:19.279 But rather, we are to be bold and loving and instructing others on how they are to follow Christ. 00:16:21.279 --> 00:16:28.720 This task of commanding and teaching, it's vital to the formation of the church and how we walk with Jesus. 00:16:29.440 --> 00:16:36.159 If no one taught you the ways of Jesus and corrected you when you were wrong, where would you be as a Christian? 00:16:37.279 --> 00:16:42.639 Think about a child that receives no correction or instruction from a parent. 00:16:43.679 --> 00:16:49.200 How unloving is it for those in charge of the child to do that to them? 00:16:49.440 --> 00:16:53.360 How difficult their life is because of those things. 00:16:54.000 --> 00:17:02.159 And pastors and parents, for that matter, those in authority should never neglect to instruct and correct. 00:17:08.799 --> 00:17:21.519 Paul is encouraging Timothy that just because you're young, some people in church, just because you're younger than some people in the church does not mean that you're ill-equipped or unable to do the task. 00:17:22.480 --> 00:17:25.680 This idea that you have to be just a certain age. 00:17:25.920 --> 00:17:29.359 You must reach the age of 50 or 40. 00:17:30.559 --> 00:17:37.200 Paul's just dispelling any kind of myth that Timothy might have or doubts that others might have sewn into Timothy's mind. 00:17:37.359 --> 00:17:40.559 Do not let anyone despise you for your youth. 00:17:41.519 --> 00:17:53.599 Sometimes we get this idea that if someone hasn't faced the trial that I'm facing, if they haven't walked the mile in my shoes that I'm walking, they have no authority to address me or speak to me because they don't know what I'm going through. 00:17:53.839 --> 00:17:56.720 And then if you're a pastor, sometimes you feel like I've never dealt with that. 00:17:57.359 --> 00:18:05.839 I've never been divorced, so I don't know how to how to handle that, or I've never been remarried, or I've never lost a parent, or I've never had to bury a child, and all these things. 00:18:06.000 --> 00:18:15.119 And if we're not careful, we begin to kind of have this idea that my experience is unique and no one else can speak to me. 00:18:15.599 --> 00:18:18.559 The reason we're doing that is we're trying to put our identity in something. 00:18:18.720 --> 00:18:27.359 We're trying to shure up a way for us to kind of hold on to sin or hold on to something and not let someone bring in correction into our life. 00:18:27.839 --> 00:18:29.359 That's wonderful. 00:18:29.680 --> 00:18:37.359 Scripture says in 1 Corinthians 10 13, no temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. 00:18:37.680 --> 00:18:45.599 So whatever you're facing, although it might be unique to you or it might be unique in your friend group, it's not unique. 00:18:45.759 --> 00:18:51.119 It's not unique, you're not different in a way that no one else can understand. 00:18:52.880 --> 00:18:59.920 So we need to be humble and listening, letting those who are mature and wise speak into our lives. 00:19:00.160 --> 00:19:03.839 And for those who are mature and wise, speaking into others' lives. 00:19:05.279 --> 00:19:10.480 You probably shouldn't be speaking or giving advice to anyone if you're not humble first. 00:19:10.640 --> 00:19:14.640 And you're not a student of God's word and God's ways. 00:19:15.680 --> 00:19:19.599 But also to those who are young and those who are young in the faith. 00:19:19.759 --> 00:19:25.200 If you're a young Christian or you're young in the faith, don't let people kind of look down on you and say, Well, what do you know? 00:19:25.279 --> 00:19:28.160 You're just a young person or you're a young Christian. 00:19:29.680 --> 00:19:32.720 Rather, set an example. 00:19:33.119 --> 00:19:34.640 This is point five. 00:19:34.880 --> 00:19:42.000 Set the believers an example in speech and conduct in love in faith in purity. 00:19:42.240 --> 00:19:43.519 Set an example. 00:19:43.839 --> 00:19:51.440 The task that is given to the elders, to Timothy and to the elders in every church is to set an example for all believers. 00:19:51.920 --> 00:19:53.519 How they are to live. 00:19:53.839 --> 00:19:57.119 And conduct and love and faith and purity. 00:19:57.680 --> 00:19:58.799 And speech. 00:19:59.599 --> 00:20:00.880 Think about speech. 00:20:01.039 --> 00:20:03.680 Do your words encourage or discourage? 00:20:04.640 --> 00:20:09.279 So Paul is to set, Paul's writing to Timothy to say, set an example. 00:20:09.759 --> 00:20:14.480 Timothy shouldn't be, he's not setting an example so that no one follows. 00:20:15.440 --> 00:20:18.400 He's setting an example for others to follow. 00:20:18.640 --> 00:20:23.279 So the expectation is that all Christians should be living this way. 00:20:24.079 --> 00:20:28.160 Does your speech encourage or discourage? 00:20:28.880 --> 00:20:30.319 Are you careless? 00:20:30.559 --> 00:20:33.200 Are you careful with your words? 00:20:33.920 --> 00:20:38.400 Are you quick to repent when you misuse your words? 00:20:39.039 --> 00:20:44.000 And James tells us in James chapter 3 how difficult a tongue can be. 00:20:44.880 --> 00:20:51.440 With it we bless our Lord and Father, and with it we curse people who are made in the likeness of God. 00:20:52.640 --> 00:20:56.640 From the same mouth come blessings and cursing. 00:20:57.440 --> 00:21:02.960 Brothers, my brothers, these things ought not to be so. 00:21:03.599 --> 00:21:05.200 Let our words build up. 00:21:05.519 --> 00:21:08.240 In our conduct, our actions, how we live. 00:21:08.559 --> 00:21:13.599 Are we seeking to live unto Christ in a way that sets an example for those around us? 00:21:13.839 --> 00:21:20.240 Maybe you're thinking, well, I'm not a pastor, I'm not an elder, I'm not in vocational ministry, I don't get paid to do these things. 00:21:20.559 --> 00:21:21.359 Doesn't matter. 00:21:21.519 --> 00:21:24.400 It doesn't say, well, those who get paid live this way. 00:21:24.640 --> 00:21:26.880 It's Christians are to live this way. 00:21:27.440 --> 00:21:31.440 Can people look at your life and say, Man, I believe this person's a Christian? 00:21:31.680 --> 00:21:36.240 Do your actions commend Christ to your family members? 00:21:36.559 --> 00:21:38.079 What about your coworkers? 00:21:38.480 --> 00:21:39.519 People who know you well. 00:21:39.759 --> 00:21:42.799 Do your actions commend Christ? 00:21:45.920 --> 00:21:49.359 Is there love in your life? 00:21:49.920 --> 00:21:57.680 Are you setting an example for your children, for your coworkers, for your fellow brothers and sisters in Christ, of what love is? 00:21:57.839 --> 00:22:01.279 Listen to Jesus, what he says about love and Matthew 6. 00:22:02.160 --> 00:22:07.440 You have heard that it was said, You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy. 00:22:08.480 --> 00:22:18.559 But I say to you, Love your enemy and pray for those who persecute you, so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven. 00:22:18.880 --> 00:22:28.559 For he makes his son rise on the evil, on the evil, and the good, and he sends rain on the just and on the unjust. 00:22:29.359 --> 00:22:35.359 For if you love those who love you, what reward do you have? 00:22:36.000 --> 00:22:39.920 Do not even the tax collectors do the same? 00:22:40.480 --> 00:22:46.799 And if you greet only brothers and sisters, what more are you doing than others? 00:22:47.119 --> 00:22:50.480 Do not even the Gentiles do the same. 00:22:51.680 --> 00:22:57.440 You therefore must be perfect as your holy, as your heavenly father is perfect. 00:22:58.400 --> 00:23:10.079 We are to live in such a way that the love that we show to the world, to those around us, is markedly different than just the common run-of-the-mill love of the world. 00:23:10.240 --> 00:23:14.400 It's costly, it's sacrificial. 00:23:15.200 --> 00:23:18.319 It's a love that Christ gave to us. 00:23:19.440 --> 00:23:21.759 An example in these things and faith. 00:23:21.920 --> 00:23:24.480 Does your faith have action behind it? 00:23:25.279 --> 00:23:28.559 Do you really believe what you say you believe? 00:23:29.200 --> 00:23:48.319 When it comes to your finances, difficult situations, broken relationships, disappointment, risk, heartbreak, does your faith change the way you respond and walk through this life? 00:23:49.279 --> 00:23:52.480 Does it really have an effect on you? 00:23:53.920 --> 00:23:56.480 And live it as an example in purity. 00:23:57.279 --> 00:24:06.960 In this culture where sexual gratification and the lust of the flesh is just worshipped, it's easy to appear like you value purity. 00:24:07.359 --> 00:24:14.240 But purity begins in the heart, and then it shows up in the way that we act and talk and dress. 00:24:14.480 --> 00:24:25.839 So we must be honest and diligent to make sure we are pursuing purity of the heart first, and not just a superficial level of purity. 00:24:26.160 --> 00:24:30.640 It's not easy to live in this way, but with Christ it's possible. 00:24:31.039 --> 00:24:33.119 Without Christ, it's impossible. 00:24:33.519 --> 00:24:42.319 With Christ transforming our affections and our desires, we train ourselves, we devote ourselves to Christ. 00:24:42.480 --> 00:24:54.400 Point six, devote yourself then, excuse me, until I come, devote yourself to the public reading of Scripture, to exhortation, to teaching. 00:24:55.599 --> 00:24:59.279 There are many things, church, that we devote ourselves to. 00:25:00.160 --> 00:25:06.319 We all, there's just a list of things in our life that we naturally begin to devote ourselves to. 00:25:06.720 --> 00:25:20.559 Comfort, status, being right, watching too much news, not watching any news, being on our phones too much. 00:25:21.440 --> 00:25:34.559 I was talking with the guys in my discipleship group the other day, and we were just talking about how quickly phones just rob us of our attention and our time to steal us away from so many good things in life. 00:25:35.599 --> 00:25:43.119 We are a culture devoted to entertainment, just devoted to entertainment and pleasure. 00:25:43.359 --> 00:25:51.519 And if we're not diligent, we let our flesh and our society tell us what we are to be devoted to. 00:25:53.279 --> 00:25:59.519 Christians ought to devote themselves to the public reading of Scripture, to exhortation and to teaching. 00:25:59.839 --> 00:26:08.240 Public reading was of scripture was common, and this was common in the old covenant, the Old Testament, in synagogues, and carried into the church as well. 00:26:08.720 --> 00:26:12.559 Jesus would often read the scriptures and teach from them. 00:26:12.880 --> 00:26:15.440 So there's the reading and then there's the exhortation. 00:26:15.519 --> 00:26:18.400 The Greek word can be translated for preaching. 00:26:18.480 --> 00:26:21.440 It's this reading the word and this preaching. 00:26:22.160 --> 00:26:26.160 Preaching is this teaching, but it has this authority with it. 00:26:26.319 --> 00:26:34.160 It's not just an understanding of the passage, but it's bringing authority and weight to it and onto the hearers as well. 00:26:34.319 --> 00:26:38.160 So it's to read the scripture, preach the scripture, and teach. 00:26:38.559 --> 00:26:40.240 To help people understand. 00:26:40.480 --> 00:26:47.519 What good is it if I read it and this guy's kind of telling me all these things very passionately about it if I don't understand? 00:26:47.920 --> 00:26:53.279 So there must be this teaching that we understand so that we may apply. 00:26:54.640 --> 00:26:55.920 Verse 7. 00:26:56.480 --> 00:26:58.559 Do not neglect the gifts. 00:26:58.880 --> 00:27:06.319 Do not neglect the gifts you have, which was given you by prophecy when the counsel of the elders lay their hands on you. 00:27:06.799 --> 00:27:09.359 We don't know the gift that Paul is referring to. 00:27:09.599 --> 00:27:13.440 People speculate what it is, but which is kind of vague, we don't really know. 00:27:13.680 --> 00:27:18.880 But it must be for the purpose of ministry, for the gift, for the blessing of the church. 00:27:19.119 --> 00:27:24.240 And Paul thinks it's really important to remind Timothy to not forget it. 00:27:24.559 --> 00:27:30.640 Remember this gift, this laying on of hands, this language that we see elsewhere in the New Testament. 00:27:30.799 --> 00:27:43.279 It's this idea that they're laying on of hands, it's mostly or almost always associated with someone being appointed to pastoral ministry or being someone taking the office of elder. 00:27:44.319 --> 00:27:49.039 This memory should have been sweet for Timothy, a sweet encouragement. 00:27:50.160 --> 00:27:54.640 Maybe you have times like this where someone in your life has come alongside you. 00:27:54.799 --> 00:28:00.720 Now, I'm not saying people have laid hands on you and just because they prayed over you, you're now an elder or pastor. 00:28:00.960 --> 00:28:04.400 But I'm saying someone has come alongside and encouraged you. 00:28:04.640 --> 00:28:08.079 They prayed over you, they've walked with you. 00:28:08.319 --> 00:28:12.559 And there can be a sweet remembrance there as you think about that. 00:28:12.799 --> 00:28:23.680 In the midst of the fighting sin and the opposition and just the weariness of life, to remember that someone has come and shown you the way of Christ and they've encouraged you. 00:28:23.839 --> 00:28:24.960 What a sweet memory. 00:28:25.200 --> 00:28:28.960 So here, Timothy, it's important that Timothy does not neglect this. 00:28:29.599 --> 00:28:43.119 He does not start to try to do this on his own, with his own understanding, with his own ability, but he is to remember the gift that's from God as he seeks to shepherd God's people. 00:28:44.799 --> 00:28:47.839 Point eight, practice these things. 00:28:48.079 --> 00:28:53.839 Practice these things, immerse yourself in them so that all may see your progress. 00:28:55.359 --> 00:28:57.440 Knowledge is great. 00:28:58.079 --> 00:28:59.119 It's wonderful. 00:28:59.359 --> 00:29:02.319 We live in a society filled with knowledge. 00:29:02.559 --> 00:29:06.240 We have so much knowledge about God's word and all kinds of historical things. 00:29:06.319 --> 00:29:06.880 It's wonderful. 00:29:07.039 --> 00:29:08.480 I mean that, it's it's wonderful. 00:29:08.559 --> 00:29:10.079 It's a blessing from God. 00:29:11.039 --> 00:29:12.480 Knowledge is great. 00:29:12.799 --> 00:29:15.279 Obedience is even better. 00:29:15.839 --> 00:29:19.839 Knowledge is a wonderful thing, but obedience is what we're after. 00:29:20.160 --> 00:29:21.359 So practice. 00:29:21.599 --> 00:29:24.319 Do these things is what Paul is telling Timothy. 00:29:24.559 --> 00:29:26.640 Live this way, do it. 00:29:27.119 --> 00:29:33.519 Think about a diet, like someone who's taking a diet plan versus a lifestyle. 00:29:33.759 --> 00:29:40.240 In a diet, you have kind of certain restrictions for certain times, and I'm not eating sugar and I'm not doing dairy or this or that. 00:29:40.319 --> 00:29:47.839 And you know, there's there's these parameters that you have for a set amount of time, hoping that in that time things change. 00:29:48.880 --> 00:29:53.279 Whereas a lifestyle, the parameters are just set, like this is just how we live. 00:29:53.440 --> 00:29:57.359 Like we don't eat meat or we don't do this or we don't do that. 00:29:57.599 --> 00:29:59.839 I eat meat, just gonna tell you, I love meat. 00:30:00.079 --> 00:30:03.039 So I'm not cutting that out anytime soon. 00:30:03.759 --> 00:30:06.079 There's a big difference, right? 00:30:06.319 --> 00:30:11.519 Between a time diet plan and a lifestyle. 00:30:12.559 --> 00:30:26.079 Church, we're not called to just kind of add some things in, like, well, I'm gonna cut out some of the really bad entertainment stuff, and I'm gonna add in, I'm gonna listen to Christian music on my way home from work, or maybe on my way to work, you know, kind of split the difference. 00:30:26.160 --> 00:30:32.480 And maybe I won't drink as much here and do as much there, and just try to clean myself up a little bit. 00:30:33.599 --> 00:30:35.519 That's not what we're called to do. 00:30:35.759 --> 00:30:37.039 That's not what a Christian does. 00:30:37.200 --> 00:30:40.559 Just kind of get yourself together and cleaned up. 00:30:41.519 --> 00:30:49.599 Paul's telling Timothy and telling us, church, immerse yourself in the ways of Jesus. 00:30:49.839 --> 00:30:51.039 Follow him. 00:30:52.319 --> 00:30:53.279 Do this. 00:30:53.680 --> 00:30:57.119 And as you're doing that, other people will notice. 00:30:57.440 --> 00:30:59.279 They're gonna notice these things. 00:30:59.440 --> 00:31:06.559 And they're not gonna think, man, that person, I just I just want to do everything I can to become like them. 00:31:06.720 --> 00:31:08.400 I want to forsake everything and be like them. 00:31:08.480 --> 00:31:11.440 They're gonna think, I don't know how they're doing that. 00:31:11.839 --> 00:31:14.000 Where does that kind of love come from? 00:31:14.160 --> 00:31:16.720 Where does that kind of sacrifice come from? 00:31:16.960 --> 00:31:18.079 It's Jesus Christ. 00:31:18.240 --> 00:31:25.119 It points others to Christ as you live like Christ, as you immerse yourself in his ways. 00:31:26.079 --> 00:31:33.519 Point nine, keep a close watch on yourself and on the teaching. 00:31:34.160 --> 00:31:38.559 Church, what a sober and needed reminder. 00:31:38.799 --> 00:31:41.039 What a sober mind reminder. 00:31:42.000 --> 00:31:44.480 Timothy was a disciple of Paul. 00:31:45.200 --> 00:31:48.160 Timothy knew more than we'll probably ever know. 00:31:48.960 --> 00:31:55.519 He very well could have had people in his church who were eyewitnesses to Jesus. 00:31:55.680 --> 00:31:59.599 They saw Jesus in their lifetime, and they're in his church. 00:32:00.160 --> 00:32:05.039 Timothy traveled with Paul for years, discipling, church planting. 00:32:05.759 --> 00:32:10.000 His whole entire life was devoted to Jesus Christ. 00:32:10.480 --> 00:32:13.200 And what is Paul's advice to him? 00:32:13.759 --> 00:32:17.839 Keep a close watch on yourself and on your teaching. 00:32:19.200 --> 00:32:39.119 If you, listen, if you have any notion or feeling that you have arrived or you know enough of the Bible, that you've been around the block enough times to not be deceived or led astray, I pray that this verse just hits you and lays you flat. 00:32:40.720 --> 00:32:44.960 Keep watch of your life and your teaching. 00:32:45.680 --> 00:32:49.519 If Timothy needed reminded, so do you, so do I. 00:32:49.680 --> 00:32:53.599 Keep watch of how you're living and what you profess to believe. 00:32:54.160 --> 00:33:00.160 We don't just kind of check the box and we're Christians and we did what we need to do, and now like the change has happened. 00:33:00.319 --> 00:33:02.400 I have new desires, I have new affections. 00:33:02.640 --> 00:33:02.960 Great. 00:33:03.039 --> 00:33:07.200 Now I'm just gonna kind of go along and be carried along through life. 00:33:07.519 --> 00:33:10.160 Keep watch of your life and your teaching. 00:33:11.119 --> 00:33:14.480 May we do this for one for one another as well. 00:33:15.519 --> 00:33:18.640 Point 10, persist in this. 00:33:19.440 --> 00:33:23.839 For by doing, by so doing, you will save both yourselves and your hears. 00:33:25.440 --> 00:33:27.519 Finally, persist. 00:33:28.319 --> 00:33:29.519 Keep going. 00:33:31.119 --> 00:33:39.759 If I had 10 seconds to disciple you in the ways of Jesus, it would be verse 15, 16, and 17. 00:33:40.240 --> 00:33:42.400 Practice or obey God's word. 00:33:42.799 --> 00:33:47.440 Keep a close watch in your life and your doctrine and keep going. 00:33:48.319 --> 00:33:52.799 Every time we gather as a church on the Lord's Day, we gather, we assemble together. 00:33:53.039 --> 00:34:02.160 Every time we gather in community groups, every time you open your word and the Bible or you read and study and pray, this is what's going on. 00:34:03.200 --> 00:34:06.079 We want to follow Jesus. 00:34:06.319 --> 00:34:08.079 We want to understand his word. 00:34:08.400 --> 00:34:16.159 We want to keep close to him, keep our lives and our doctrine close to him, and we want to keep going. 00:34:17.199 --> 00:34:22.159 We keep going when we have doubts, when we have struggles, when there's difficulties. 00:34:22.480 --> 00:34:27.119 We keep going by his grace, by his mercy. 00:34:27.280 --> 00:34:28.880 This is what we're doing, church. 00:34:29.039 --> 00:34:33.440 We're saying to one another, let's help one another get to heaven. 00:34:33.599 --> 00:34:35.599 Let's glorify God together. 00:34:35.760 --> 00:34:42.559 Let's understand the word, let's apply it, let's point out in each other's lives what we're wrong, and let's keep going. 00:34:44.000 --> 00:34:45.840 Keep going, church. 00:34:46.079 --> 00:34:50.719 And this is why it's vital to belong to a local church. 00:34:50.960 --> 00:34:55.119 And I don't mean just attend, I mean belong, and there's a big difference. 00:34:55.360 --> 00:34:56.800 Attending is great. 00:34:56.960 --> 00:35:02.400 But when the Bible talks about church, it's made up of people who belong. 00:35:03.280 --> 00:35:07.039 Belonging means you're in, you're committed to the people around you. 00:35:07.119 --> 00:35:11.119 You're committed to the people, to their lives, to the doctrine of the church. 00:35:11.360 --> 00:35:15.039 You bear responsibility for one another and how they're growing. 00:35:15.199 --> 00:35:18.400 It's your job to encourage and to uplift. 00:35:18.719 --> 00:35:24.400 It's your job to serve and to give, to contend for the gospel. 00:35:26.079 --> 00:35:35.360 Belonging to the church is so important and helpful in understanding the Bible and obeying it. 00:35:35.679 --> 00:35:42.480 Belonging to the church is so important in keeping your life and your doctrine in line with the Bible. 00:35:42.800 --> 00:35:50.719 And belonging to the church is so important to staying in the faith and not being deceived. 00:35:51.119 --> 00:35:54.719 We read this passage this morning in Hebrews 10. 00:35:55.440 --> 00:35:59.840 Let us hold fast to the confession of our hope without wavering. 00:36:00.400 --> 00:36:02.960 For he who promised is faithful. 00:36:03.679 --> 00:36:04.880 That's the message. 00:36:05.119 --> 00:36:06.079 He is faithful. 00:36:06.159 --> 00:36:07.199 And what do we do it? 00:36:07.280 --> 00:36:09.039 With that, we encourage. 00:36:09.199 --> 00:36:14.239 Let us consider how to stir up one another for love and good works. 00:36:14.480 --> 00:36:16.559 There's thought, there's intentionality. 00:36:16.719 --> 00:36:17.920 How can I encourage you? 00:36:18.079 --> 00:36:20.400