If there was one book in the New Testament that would teach saints how to act, one book in the New Testament that would teach the church how to conduct ourselves and live as the household of God, one book with a message that has been preserved for the church throughout all generations…
That would be the first letter of Paul written to Timothy. God through the Holy Spirit guided the hand of this humble apostle to write this letter and like all the books of the New Testament, God preserved it to be one part of the holy scriptures with intention that we alive today could read and learn. We know this because of what Paul wrote: “3 As I urged you when I went into Macedonia—remain in Ephesus that you may charge some that they teach no other doctrine, 4 nor give heed to fables and endless genealogies, which cause disputes rather than godly edification which is in faith.” (1 Tim. 1:3-4). We’ll learn about Understanding the Foundation of Our Faith the importance of holding to the faith with a good conscience (vs.18-19).
By carefully following the apostle’s pattern, we can avoid being spiritually shipwrecked and “believe on Him for everlasting life” (4:16). So, what kind of life does our Wholly God want us to live?
“Our holy and beautiful [d]temple, where our fathers praised You, is burned up with fire; and all our pleasant things are laid waste” (Isaiah 64:11). These words from Isaiah are a continuation and conclusion from the prophet’s prayer for the nation Israel. The focus of this lesson is from the last 8 words, “…all our pleasant things are laid waste”.
Remembering the pleasant things they lost because of their sin is reason and motivation to return to the true and living God. Paul wrote, “Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy—meditate on these things” (Phil 4:8).
Some pleasant things that God provides to the members of His body: Unity, Wisdom and Knowledge, His own Special People, Singing His’ Praises Together, The Words of the Pure, Family/Children, and Our blessings through Giving of Ourselves to the Work.
WE, BEING MANY, ARE ONE BODY IN CHRIST, AND INDIVIDUALLY MEMBERS OF ONE ANOTHER
Paul wrote, “3 For I say, through the grace given to me, to everyone who is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think soberly, as God has dealt to each one a measure of faith. 4 For as we have many members in one body, but all the members do not have the same function, 5 so we, being many, are one body in Christ, and individually members of one another” (Rom. 12:3-5).
In this lesson we’ll examine what it means to be a member of the church of God. What our responsibilities are as such. We’ll not the difference between [Interdependent and Independent]. Learn how individuality harms the church. How many church are more like clubs, pay your dues, come get what you want, go home with little or no regard for the needs of others. How a physical part of the body dies when it is disconnected–so also the spiritual part will also die.
How in the early church all who believed were together, and had all things in common. How they sold their possessions and divided them among all, as anyone had need. They continued daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, they ate their food with gladness and simplicity of heart (Acts 2:44-46).
The body must be connected more than just Sunday morning and when that connection is severed, when you break that connection and the church falters, and if not corrected will eventually die.
The adversities of life that come upon us sometimes tempt us to think that God is the source of the evils. As some men suffer, they may blame God, just as Job did when he wrote, “11 God has delivered me to the ungodly, 12 I was at ease, but He has shattered me; He also has taken me by my neck, and shaken me to pieces; He has set me up for His target,” (Job 16:11-12).
Everything that the Word of the Lord records is truth, even when what is error. Job’s statements about God’s dealing with him were wrong, as the book continues to demonstrate. Job learns how wrong he is as God reveals Himself. In the New Testament, James reminds us of the same truth, that our temptations do not come from God, but have another source (which we may or may not be able to explain). We need to be reminded of the nature of the God that we serve. James wrote, “Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and comes down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow of turning” (1:17).
He did not want us to think of God in the terms that Job did. Let’s consider some of the gifts from the Father of light…
Jesus is the gift of God to mankind. THE WAY OF JESUS IS VICTORY LEADING TO AN ABUNDANT LIFE!
On one occasion, Jesus stated His purpose in coming to this earth – “…I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly” -( John 10:10). A brother once defined life as the time between birth and death. This “abundant life” Jesus offers is more than life in the “hereafter”. Though God does not promise wealth or luxury, He does assure us that He will provide all that we need because our loving Father in Heaven, cares for His children – (Matt. 6:31-33). More than sufficient provision for those who are willing to follow Him – (Mark 10:29-30).
Indeed, we have a physical life to live but by no means is the grave our goal! “For dust you are, and to dust you shall return” , words spoken by God to Adam concerning the physical body that God created from the ground, and not concerning the eternal soul. As for the eternal soul Solomon wrote, “Then the dust will return to the earth as it was, and the spirit will return to God who gave it” (Eccl. 12:7).
But while we live Jesus offers an abundant life in, in work, in giving, in grace, love, joy and peace. All who receive this life are blessed with forgiveness and victory over sin. Death is inevitable, Jesus offers eternal life.
Our service for Christ would be more productive and infinitely more enjoyable if we began to grasp the true significance of being Christians, and as such, the children of God. This lesson is one in a series designed to encourage us all and instruct us to have “Just A Closer Walk With God,” and to be more fruitful in our service as disciples of Jesus Christ. We’ll consider the many blessings and the importance of having God as our Father, and our responsibility to Him. Of Jesus Christ as our Lord and Hight Priest, and the many blessings and responsibilities we have to Him. Of the Holy Spirit, our responsibility toward Him and the many blessing we receive.
The blessing of being members of the Church of Christ, the family of God and our responsibilities to the family. There are certainly many more blessings and responsibilities that we have as Christians, but I hope that these suffice to IMPRESS UPON US…How blessed we are as Christians, how important it is that we fulfill our responsibilities so that we don’t lose the blessings we do have – Heb. 3:12-15.
Imagine you’re in the heat of the battle, supplies are running out, ammo is depleted, the enemy is advancing, and the radio is out. Can’t call for additional support, can’t call for supplies. No ammo—not help—you are at the mercy of the approaching enemy—no way to call for help. In spiritual warfare it is also true. Without communication with the Father you are spiritually disabled—fear overpowers your mind—hopelessness your thoughts. Without comprehensive prayer we become as before we were saved: —“without Christ, strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world” (v.2:12). Not being able to communicate with our Father leaves us alone—without the hope, without wisdom and the knowledge that He is always there to help and guide us.
Zeal is an important component in the life of every Christian. Zeal for repentance (2 Cor. 7:11), zeal for God’s house the church (John 2:17; Col. 1:18), and God’s “own special people, zealous for good works” (Titus 2:14). Or like Epaphras who fervently for you in prayers, and has a great zeal for the church (Colossians 4:12-13).
Tragically many today have a great zeal for God, but not according to knowledge (Romans 10:2), and for that reason fail their souls. How is your zeal? Where does your zeal come from? Yourself, or God?
In this lesson Titled Helmet and Sword we will further build our armor with two more pieces: the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit. This comes from verse 17 where Paul says, “And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God;” (Eph. 6:17).
We are building our armor to win the battle for our soul and God says salvation is a piece of armor. How is salvation a piece of armor? God called this “the helmet of salvation”. Consider the physical helmet in its many forms and what it does. Football—Construction—Bicycle—Motorcycle—War: What do all these have in common? They all protect the head / brain from injury. Each gives hope of protection.
Spiritually the knowledge of our salvation gives us hope which in turn guards our hearts, our minds. When we have this hope of eternal life–we are empowered to stand firm against the devil’s schemes–knowing what’s at stake. . .
In our society we have moved so far from even the hint of innocence in our schools, homes, and workplace. It is so bad that I somedays think that there will be a time when you look up the definition of innocence in the dictionary and it will not be there, blotted out, or changed completely.
You might remember movie ratings. G, PG, PG-13, R, etc. Invest a little time studying these and you’ll see the specifications have shifted. What used to be PG had zero language, zero innuendo, zero sexual content–but has changed. Society has embraced filth and moved so far from innocence that what used to be unacceptable morally–is now seen in cartoons–molding the minds of your young, eliminating any innocence from their existence.