1 Timothy 5
Notes
Transcript
1 Timothy 5
1 Timothy 5
Baby Dedication! Now you guys know that Baby Dedications are one of my favorite things I get to do as your pastor! This one is going to take me a few minutes, for a couple of reasons. The first is that I know that there are some people here this morning that have never seen anything like this, might wonder why in the world we might do something like this!
Lot's of you guys grew up in different churches that have different practices than us. We do practice communion and baptism as ordinances of the church, so why in the world do we do baby dedications like this rather than just baptize little ones? The short answer is because I don’t baptise babies. Why not you might ask?
Because we don’t see it in the Bible, this is what we see in the Bible, people dedicating their children to the Lord. 40 days after the birth of Jesus, Mary and Joseph take Jesus to the Temple in order to dedicate Him to the Lord, it is recorded in Luke 2. In the Old Testament Hannah, who was unable to bear children, prayed and asked God for a son, and commited that if she were given the opportunity to be a mom, she would dedicate him to God, and she gave birth to Samuel and dedicated him to God, you can read about that in the book that was named for him, 1 Samuel 1.
But baptism is different from dedication and it should be. We believe that the Bible teaches that Baptism is a public profession of an inward personal commitment that has been made to follow Jesus.
We see it in the Bible performed by the disciples of Jesus as well as others in the New Testament. The word Baptism itself comes from the Greek word baptizo meaning to immerse, to submerge. When a person receives Jesus as their personal Savior, they should also allow Him to become their Lord (master) and identify with Him in everything.
Now as a baby or very young child you cannot receive Jesus as your Savior because there needs to be repentance. Peter proclaimed in Acts 2:38 that you need to repent and be baptized. Repentance means to change, to turn. A baby does not yet recognize sin as sin and therefore cannot change or turn from away from sin. That's one of the reasons that we see no examples of babies being baptized in the Bible. Many churches also limit communion until a knowledgeable profession of faith has been made.
So Neither baptism nor communion as a religious act can save you, we do them simply out of obedience to the Lord, we do it because He said to. They are marks of our salvation. We believe the scriptures are clear when they say to believe and be baptized and that they should occur in that order.
So, long delay #1 all done and out of the way. Here’s the Second reason this one is going to take me a minute…this little child is a miracle that you guys prayed for long before she was ever born.
September 25, 2022 - This is the message I received from Wayne...We need to request some prayer. We got a call from Megan's doctor today informing us that there is definitely something wrong with the new baby's heart. And that she possibly has down syndrome. She is referring Megan to a pediatric cardiologist this week to find out exactly what is wrong and the extent of what that means - surgery and when, or if the baby will even survive. And she is getting a blood test to look into the down syndrome so we can educate ourselves on that if necessary. We just want to lay this in the Lord's hands.
October 13, 2022 - The genetic testing results are back and they were negative for down syndrome! Praise the Lord for his blessings!
I won’t list out the dates and times, but from there it went to the heart condition is so severe, Baby Priscilla won’t make it if she is born in Bangor, we have to find housing in Boston so she can have surgery as soon as she is born. The Lord provides housing…then...she might not have surgery until two months after she is born so she can get stronger....they can tell you the proper name, but the heart condition didn’t allow for proper blood flow to the lungs.
Fast forward to February 1st....we interrupt this Growth Group Prayer time to look at pictures of Baby Priscilla as she has arrived! And is scheduled for surgery the following morning at 10:30am.
February 2, 3:09 pm.... they are postponing the surgery because it is getting too late, it will be either tomorrow (Friday or Monday).
It was moved to Monday first thing....Surgery happens and is successful.
Wednesday, February 8, she is taken off the ventilator.
Sunday, February 12th, she is officially out of ICU, hoping to get out of the hospital on Friday!
She didn’t get released because is didn’t make weight. Monday she comes off the feeding tube, and on Wednesday, March 1, Baby Priscilla came home to Bangor, ME… So, that’s why I’m kinda excited about this one!
Will the Stantial family please come up, along with our pastors, elders, and their wives if they are available.
I know we don’t normally do this, but would you church family, please stand with us as we dedicate this little one to the Almighty God that saved her.
Now, none of that counts towards our Bible study time! 1 Timothy 5:1-2
1 Do not rebuke an older man, but exhort him as a father, younger men as brothers,
2 older women as mothers, younger women as sisters, with all purity.
I know it has been a couple of weeks since we’ve been together in 1 Timothy. I’m not going to review everything, just that this was a letter written by an older pastor who had been through some stuff, to a younger pastor, Timothy who was left behind in Ephesus to deal with some stuff. To clean up some messes. Now you and I both know that sometimes when a young buck is given a position of authority, or an opportunity to prove themselves as a leader, they can sometimes be overly harsh. They can flex their muscles so to speak.
So after Paul has dealt with what things should look like in church, how business should be conducted, what qualifies someone to be a leader in the church? Then he turns to here is how you are to treat the people. Don’t be a bully, don’t be condescending. I warn young pastors often that being condescending is not only unacceptable, it is almost always unrecoverable.
Now the word that Paul uses here for rebuke is not the same Greek word that is translated as rebuke in the rest of the NT. This is the only place this word is used, and it is used because it means something specific. It means literally “to strike at.” So Timothy don’t strike at an older man with your words. But instead treat him with respect. Acknowledge that his years may have gained him some wisdom. Treat him like you would a father.
Now I understand that word, Father means different things to different folks in this room, by the way Father’s day is right around the corner, don’t let supply issues rip off your dad, order early and go big. Where was I? The idea is treat him as a good father. Some of you have or had horrible biological fathers, but have found fatherly men in the church to come alongside you, to spend time with you, Timothy, treat the older men like that.
Treat younger men as brothers. I know some of you again had brothers that you went knuckle to knuckle with everyday of your youth. There are others of you, that have been able to experience a true brotherhood. Maybe through military service, perhaps the law enforcement thin blue line, maybe a street gang. But the idea of I’ve got your back and you’ve got mine, no questions asked, we are blood.
Old women, don’t dismiss them. Don’t value people by what they can do for you, treat the older women as mothers. I am so thankful for my Mom, she’s had a huge impact on my life and continues to do so, but I’m also thankful for the Mom’s I had growing up in the church and in different churches Nicole and I have been a part of.
The younger women....two commands here treat them as sisters. Do we fight with our sisters? Of course we do. But what happens if you try to fight with my sister? Or harm my sister? There would be a long list of things I would have to repent for later right? We are the guardians of our sisters…and then this. With all purity. Don’t treat the young women like your friend’s sister, treat her like your sister. That your conduct would be holy, pure, above reproach.
Now in verse three he begins a new section addressing a program they had and the program addresses a general principle. Before I read it, let me ask you a question. Have you heard it said, the government shouldn’t be in the welfare business. If the church was doing what it was supposed to be doing, they wouldn’t have to give out money. Have you heard that, or something like that? Paul addresses that here. I’ll read through it and then go back and address it.
3 Honor widows who are really widows.
4 But if any widow has children or grandchildren, let them first learn to show piety at home and to repay their parents; for this is good and acceptable before God.
5 Now she who is really a widow, and left alone, trusts in God and continues in supplications and prayers night and day.
6 But she who lives in pleasure is dead while she lives.
7 And these things command, that they may be blameless.
8 But if anyone does not provide for his own, and especially for those of his household, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever.
Now some look at this as an absolute program that every church, whether there is an issue of widows being neglected or not, must have. It’s in here, with specifics, so. We have to have it. Rather than look at the principle of it. I’m not saying that we shouldn’t have it, or that we should neglect widows, I’m just saying there may be different needs in different places.
There are areas in the world that are over run with orphans. What don’t orphans have? Mothers or fathers right? So if a church has thirty orphans outside their door, hungry and in need of shelter should they just turn them away and save their money in case a widow comes along? That is turning a good thing into legalism. Can the church do that sometimes? Another way we can do that is when someone comes here from the best church in the world, that they left for some reason, and then we HAVE to start doing the great program that they did at their church. Or we have to start having bean suppers or bingo because they were such awesome outreach tools at the best church in the world that they left. God can work through those things certainly, but it does not mean all things are universal. I’m getting off track, let’s break this down.
3 Honor widows who are really widows.
This almost seems a little silly on the surface. I mean are there fake widows? Women that make their husbands play dead when people are around. We used to have a dog that could do that. No, but Paul is saying you have to have some discretion here. I almost said that other d word discrimination. Understand that the idea is not to discriminate against anyone. But there is wisdom in exercising some discernment and using God directed discretion with the funds that people give to the Lord and trust the elder board to be good stewards over.
I’m not a betting man, but I would bet you that if I answered every request for funds that the church receives for the next three months with a yes where do I send the check, we would spend everything we have. Can God provide more, of course He can. Does He want us to be stupid with what He has trusted us with, no way. I idea is to help those truly in need, without making a bunch of people unnecessarily dependent upon the church.
SO Paul says, help those that are really widows. 1 Tim 5:4
4 But if any widow has children or grandchildren, let them first learn to show piety at home and to repay their parents; for this is good and acceptable before God.
But there is a super important principle here that has mostly been forgotten in this country called personal responsibility. So first he says if a widow has children or grandchildren. Take her off the list. You are not helping them by allowing them to skirt their responsibility. 1 Tim 5:5
5 Now she who is really a widow, and left alone, trusts in God and continues in supplications and prayers night and day.
So there is a further defining here. 1 Tim 5:6
6 But she who lives in pleasure is dead while she lives.
Many who come to the church for assistance are in need because they have lived their lives for the pleasures of alcohol, drugs, or whatever; now they are in need and they want the church to help. It’s legitimate to say, “No; you have lived in pleasure and now suffer the consequences. The resources of this congregation are not for your help in this case.
7 And these things command, that they may be blameless.
It is interesting the criteria here is similar for church leadership.
8 But if anyone does not provide for his own, and especially for those of his household, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever.
The idea is here is that plan A to have a need met that you are aware of should be hard work. It is not the responsibility of the church when you are able to meet the need yourself. Even if it is hard. Or you have to sell your gaming system.
9 Do not let a widow under sixty years old be taken into the number, and not unless she has been the wife of one man,
10 well reported for good works: if she has brought up children, if she has lodged strangers, if she has washed the saints’ feet, if she has relieved the afflicted, if she has diligently followed every good work.
11 But refuse the younger widows; for when they have begun to grow wanton against Christ, they desire to marry,
12 having condemnation because they have cast off their first faith.
13 And besides they learn to be idle, wandering about from house to house, and not only idle but also gossips and busybodies, saying things which they ought not.
14 Therefore I desire that the younger widows marry, bear children, manage the house, give no opportunity to the adversary to speak reproachfully.
15 For some have already turned aside after Satan.
16 If any believing man or woman has widows, let them relieve them, and do not let the church be burdened, that it may relieve those who are really widows.
There is another transition here, onto how the Elders should be treated.
17 Let the elders who rule well be counted worthy of double honor, especially those who labor in the word and doctrine.
18 For the Scripture says, “You shall not muzzle an ox while it treads out the grain,” and, “The laborer is worthy of his wages.”
19 Do not receive an accusation against an elder except from two or three witnesses.
20 Those who are sinning rebuke in the presence of all, that the rest also may fear.
witnesses not just two or three others that have heard the rumor.
21 I charge you before God and the Lord Jesus Christ and the elect angels that you observe these things without prejudice, doing nothing with partiality.
22 Do not lay hands on anyone hastily, nor share in other people’s sins; keep yourself pure.
"1 Brethren, if a man is overtaken in any trespass, you who are spiritual restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness, considering yourself lest you also be tempted. 2 Bear one another's burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ." - Galatians 6:1-2 NKJV
23 No longer drink only water, but use a little wine for your stomach’s sake and your frequent infirmities.
24 Some men’s sins are clearly evident, preceding them to judgment, but those of some men follow later.
25 Likewise, the good works of some are clearly evident, and those that are otherwise cannot be hidden.
Grace and Peace!