Lessons

Timothy Study – Part 9. The lesson on April 22, 2007 is the continuation of the series on the books written by Paul to Timothy who is the leader of the church at Ephesus. Timothy was a young man in a hostile territory leading a church in a city which was steep in idolatry and he had much opposition to Christ. God has given Timothy all he needs to know through the Apostle Paul. Even more with us today. God has completed the word of God and we have all we need in scripture to complete our walk which we have been called to do. When Paul told Timothy in 1 Tim 4:8-9 (KJV) “For bodily exercise profiteth little: but godliness is profitable unto all things, having promise of the life that now is, and of that which is to come. This is a faithful saying and worthy of all acceptation.” Paul is telling Timothy to practice godliness. We should as well. There was a terrible tragedy that happened at on a college campus this past week where over 30 students were killed by another student with a gun. The media has tried to explore why the murderer did this but they won’t come to the conclusion that sin is the problem. We are to be appropriating godliness in our lives to enjoy the fruit of righteousness. Our desires should be brought under subjection to the truth. We see in verse 1, “Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils;” which is who Timothy is wrestling with. We also are seeing these problems today with people abstaining from marriage and raising babies born out of wedlock who statistically have shown are at a much greater risk for criminal behavior. Paul is encouraging Timothy to be an example in leading the church. We should take the same encouragement so our witness for Christ is presented well. There should be no reservation of giving yourself wholly over to God to serve him. Paul finishes the chapter by saying in verse 16 “Take heed unto thyself, and unto the doctrine; continue in them: for in doing this thou shalt both save thyself, and them that hear thee.”