Embers (Brazas Encendidas)

1 Timothy 4:12-16 “12 Don’t let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith and in purity. 13 Until I come, devote yourself to the public reading of Scripture, to preaching and to teaching. 14 Do not neglect your gift, which was given you through prophecy when the body of elders laid their hands on you. 15 Be diligent in these matters; give yourself wholly to them, so that everyone may see your progress. 16 Watch your life and doctrine closely. Persevere in them, because if you do, you will save both yourself and your hearers.” NIV

Introduction

I. Do not neglect your gift (No descuides el don que hay en ti)

Every believer has been given spiritual gifts by God for the edification of the church, among those gift, is the gift of his Holy Spirit (1 Corinthians 12:7 “But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to each one for the profit of all:” Acts 2:38 “Then Peter said to them, “Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.” )

It’s the Holy Spirit that distributes this gifts that empower believers for ministry. (1 Corinthians 12:11 “But one and the same Spirit works all these things, distributing to each one individually as He wills.” )

Salvation, is the greatest gift God has given us. Ephesians 2:8–9 “For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast.” Romans 6:23 “For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” 2 Corinthians 9:15 “Thanks be to God for His indescribable gift!”

If we considers ourselves to be Embers, it means that we have already been touched, empowered, ignited by the Holy Spirit, and it is now our responsibility to cultivate such power, such gift. (Romans 12:6–8 “Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us, let us use them: if prophecy, let us prophesy in proportion to our faith; or ministry, let us use it in our ministering; he who teaches, in teaching; he who exhorts, in exhortation; he who gives, with liberality; he who leads, with diligence; he who shows mercy, with cheerfulness.”

In our scripture, Paul admonishes Timothy to “not neglect [his] gift.” In the second letter, he reiterates a similar command in 2 Timothy 1:6 “Therefore I remind you to stir up the gift of God which is in you through the laying on of my hands.” The NIV version says to “Fan into flame the gift of God.”

II. Watch your life (Ten cuidado de ti mismo)

Paul beings to tell Timothy two key areas he needs to be mindful of in order to ensure his gift is protected and lit up. He encourages Timothy to watch his life, or we can say his testimony. It was crucial for Timothy to be a light for his time. Matthew 5:16 “Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.” Ephesians 5:8 “For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light” Galatians 2:20 “I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me.”

If you have been transformed and fired up by the gift of God, it’s important that we reflect him in anything we do, then, we will truly be a light. Philippians 2:15 “that you may become blameless and harmless, children of God without fault in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world,”

We don’t live a holy life in order to be saved, we live a holy life because we are saved by His grace. Romans 6:22 “But now having been set free from sin, and having become slaves of God, you have your fruit to holiness, and the end, everlasting life.” 2 Timothy 1:9 “who has saved us and called us with a holy calling, not according to our works, but according to His own purpose and grace which was given to us in Christ Jesus before time began,” 2 Corinthians 7:1 “Therefore, having these promises, beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.”

III. Watch your Doctrine (Ten cuidado de la doctrina)

It was important to Paul to make sure that Timothy remained in the sound doctrine. Paul says, “watch your Doctrine.” He was reminding him that he cannot be ashamed of the Gospel of Jesus Christ, Romans 1:16 “For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes, for the Jew first and also for the Greek.” 1 Corinthians 2:4–5 “And my speech and my preaching were not with persuasive words of human wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power, that your faith should not be in the wisdom of men but in the power of God.”2 John 9 “Whoever transgresses and does not abide in the doctrine of Christ does not have God. He who abides in the doctrine of Christ has both the Father and the Son.”

Just like in the times of Timothy, we live in a time where people don’t want to put up with sound doctrine. 2 Timothy 4:3 “For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine, but according to their own desires, because they have itching ears, they will heap up for themselves teachers;”

The same thing God is asking of us now, to not be ashamed of our doctrine, our foundation. Ephesians 2:20 “having been built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ Himself being the chief cornerstone,”

The Apostolic church is not a traditionalist church, it’s not a reformed church, rather it’s a church that teaches the original first century church doctrine and plan of salvation.

We believe in one God Deuteronomy 6:4 ““Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one!” Mark 12:29 “Jesus answered him, “The first of all the commandments is: ‘Hear, O Israel, the Lord our God, the Lord is one.”

The name of our God is Jesus Christ, John 1:14 “And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth.” 1 Timothy 3:16 “And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifested in the flesh, Justified in the Spirit, Seen by angels, Preached among the Gentiles, Believed on in the world, Received up in glory.” 1 John 5:20 “And we know that the Son of God has come and has given us an understanding, that we may know Him who is true; and we are in Him who is true, in His Son Jesus Christ. This is the true God and eternal life.”

By nature he is the Holy Spirit 2 Corinthians 3:17–18 “Now the Lord is the Spirit; and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty. But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as by the Spirit of the Lord.”

There is still power in that name! Acts 4:12 “Nor is there salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.” Philippians 2:9–10 “Therefore God also has highly exalted Him and given Him the name which is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth,” Mark 16:17–18 “And these signs will follow those who believe: In My name they will cast out demons; they will speak with new tongues; they will take up serpents; and if they drink anything deadly, it will by no means hurt them; they will lay hands on the sick, and they will recover.””

Conclusion: You and those who hear you will be saved (Te salvarás a ti mismo y a los que te oyeren.)

Revelation 12:10–11 “Then I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, “Now salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of His Christ have come, for the accuser of our brethren, who accused them before our God day and night, has been cast down. And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, and they did not love their lives to the death.”

If we take care of our gift, protect our testimony, and remain in the one and true doctrine, the Bible says that our reward is salvation! Amen.