1 Timothy 1:18-2:7

1 Timothy 1:18 This charge I commit to you, son Timothy, according to the prophecies previously made concerning you, that by them you may wage the good warfare,

Charge- military term for giving orders

My son- they were really close. Tim probably was with Paul more than anyone else. one of the best blessings of being human is friendships.

God calls us to be friends:

The New King James Version Chapter 15

12 This is My commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. 13 Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one’s life for his friends. 14 You are My friends if you do whatever I command you. 15 No longer do I call you servants, for a servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all things that I heard from My Father I have made known to you. 16 You did not choose Me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit, and that your fruit should remain, that whatever you ask the Father in My name He may give you. 17 These things I command you, that you love one another.

President Eisenhauer was baptized as president. ‘What a Friend We Have In Jesus’ was his song of choice.

a friend is someone you can confide in

Prophecies- prophecy is one of the gifts of the spirit.

The New King James Version Chapter 4

14 Do not neglect the gift that is in you, which was given to you by prophecy with the laying on of the hands of the eldership.

The New King James Version Chapter 1

6 Therefore I remind you to stir up the gift of God which is in you through the laying on of my hands. 7 For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.

we are part of a prophecy fulfillment- Pastor Chuck was prophesied over saying he would be a shepherd of many flocks. this was at a time when he was discouraged, having been in ministry for 17 years and having a small church.

Tim had been prophesied over in the past.

according to the prophecies previously made concerning you, that by them you may wage the good warfare, (fight the good fight)

Tim seems like he had a problem with fear or perhaps lacked confidence- Paul says forget all that and go for it. God has gifted you- Qualified you. Go in His strength

It is a warfare- as we know- not against flesh and blood but against spiritual forces.

so we love the people but hate the sin!

1 Timothy 1:19 having faith and a good conscience, which some having rejected, concerning the faith have suffered shipwreck,

What is the fight?

internal and external

Internal-

Holding Faith

the enemy wants you to doubt the words of God.

Did God say? Really?

Why would a good God send people to hell?

Hell- a place of eternal separation from God and remorse

God wants you to doubt His faithfulness to forgive sins

Faith is believing the invisible, knowing it is real.

lots of reasons to believe-

Jesus prophecies fulfilled, His life, His death, His resurrection, His ascension, His sitting on the throne.

Having a good conscience

Conscience means to see together in agreement

a good conscience is one where you see things the way God does and you line your life up to it.

A bad conscience is when your life does not agree with God and His plan for you

The Holy Spirit is always there to guide us into the right path.

******How did they go wrong?

Satan’s battlefield is our minds (they believed a lie!)

he puts thoughts in there (I don’t know how)

usually a thought that will cause us to want to get self-gratification-

a way to cheat on something to get money

a way to do your work properly or completely and defraud your employer

you feel you have the right to do something that you don’t really have- “it is a special circumstance”. I really need this. “ “i need it more than they do. It won’t hurt them much.”

I really need a drink (or whatever your sin is), because this is a real hard time for me.

Pride-

a need to feel important

I’m smarter than them

I’m better than them- I deserve it and they won’t miss it

they don’t know as much as I do

I will bring them down, instead of lifting myself up

1 Timothy 1:20 of whom are Hymenaeus and Alexander, whom I delivered to Satan that they may learn not to blaspheme.

Paul didn’t know it wasn’t nice to name names.

Paul kicked them out of church leaving them without the hedge of protection the church provides. hoping that they will see the error of their ways and repent.

Similar to what God had to do to the northern and southern kingdoms- taking them captive and destroying their homes and homeland that God had given to them. But God was vindicated and will be vindicated in the future by all when His justice and plan are revealed fully in the last great day.

it may look harsh to us, but God knows what He is doing! we must trust Him. If we want to be smart.

1 Timothy 2:1 Therefore I exhort first of all that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks be made for all men,

Now the external part of ‘good warfare.

Prayer.

first of all- first in importance/priority

Not: nothing has worked, I guess we should pray!

Supplications: just asking for something (anything!)

James 4:2b Yet you do not have because you do not ask.”

we are allowed and supposed to ask for things, but that should not be the only part of prayer.

Prayers: all communication with God, both speaking and listening

Intercessions: praying for others

Thanksgiving: gratitude makes/keeps us humble. it keeps us living in reality

1 Timothy 2:2 for kings and all who are in authority, that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and reverence.

All- That means that republicans should pray for democrats and democrats should pray for republicans

it is OK to ask for a peaceful and quiet life

Reverence is also translated as Honesty

pray that we can live honest lives- Guy smuggling bibles into china

1 Timothy 2:3 For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior,

acceptable= pleasing to God

1 Timothy 2:4 who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.

this is an awesome statement!

God love everyone. with an everlasting love!

you can pray with faith for anyone.

there is no one who is not saveable.

1 Timothy 2:5 For there is one God and one Mediator between God and men, the Man Christ Jesus,

Jesus said it clearly: “I am the way, the truth and the Life’.

every religion makes a Truth claim. each religion says they are the way. They cannot all be true!

they are all mutually exclusive.

go with the one who founder’s tomb is empty

“The Man Jesus”. THere is a Man sitting on the Throne of God. He is still fully man and fully God. A picture of what we will become in eternity

1 Timothy 2:6 who gave Himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time,

He gave it all. Can we give any less.. Not just our time, money, some outward appearance but our whole heart!

He gave for all. it is enough for everyone. When He said it is finished, He meant it. Salvation is there for us, completely!!

1 Timothy 2:7 for which I was appointed a preacher and an apostle—I am speaking the truth in Christ and not lying—a teacher of the Gentiles in faith and truth.

Paul is not looking to be important. He just tells the truth as it was revealed to him. There are some that preach and teach so that they will look smart of holy or pious or something. They are really seeking self-gratification. trying to feel good about themselves.

in Reality, there is only one thing you can do- choose Jesus’ will over your own will and self importance.

Preacher, apostle, teacher.

Apostle- one who is sent/messenger