Wasted Energy

He speaks about the pursuit of wealth being a long journey that many people will not be able to duplicate but then informs the listener that it is the wrong way to go. Cole is trying to save who will listen from wasting energy on this path. I come to you today with the same purpose of warning you of wasting energy on pointless paths.

The New Revised Standard Version False Asceticism

Now the Spirit expressly says that in later times some will renounce the faith by paying attention to deceitful spirits and teachings of demons, 2 through the hypocrisy of liars whose consciences are seared with a hot iron. 3 They forbid marriage and demand abstinence from foods, which God created to be received with thanksgiving by those who believe and know the truth. 4 For everything created by God is good, and nothing is to be rejected, provided it is received with thanksgiving; 5 for it is sanctified by God’s word and by prayer.

When the Spirit Speaks… LISTEN V-1-2

On the road to riches listen this is what you'll find

1 Timothy 4:1 NRSV

1 Now the Spirit expressly says that in later times some will renounce the faith by paying attention to deceitful spirits and teachings of demons,

The good news is that you came a long way

Paul points out that the Spirit speaks clearly in regards to what he is about to say. This is noteworthy in that the Spirit would reveal and still through God’s word reveals the truth to His people.

The bad news is that you went the wrong way

John 16:13 NRSV

13 When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth; for he will not speak on his own, but will speak whatever he hears, and he will declare to you the things that are to come.

Think being broke was better

To Renounce means to abandon ⇔ distance oneself v. — to abandon a cognitive position, conceived of as physically distancing oneself from it.

1 Timothy 4:2 NRSV

2 through the hypocrisy of liars whose consciences are seared with a hot iron.

Ephesians 4:19 NRSV

19 They have lost all sensitivity and have abandoned themselves to licentiousness, greedy to practice every kind of impurity.

The attention and focus of this persons heart has willingly been changed. And this person will then speak things not of the Spirit but of the devil which are lies.

The Content of the Message V-3-5

1 Timothy 4:3 NRSV

3 They forbid marriage and demand abstinence from foods, which God created to be received with thanksgiving by those who believe and know the truth.

The forbidding of marriage and demanding abstinence from food is a practice of asceticism. This is important for us to understand if we are to understand this text in front of us today.

What is Asceticism?

The term “asceticism” stems from the Greek word for “training” or “exercising” (ἄσκησις, askēsis). In classical Greek, this term is often used to describe people such as athletes or soldiers who engage in certain exercises to attain a goal. With time, the term “ascetic” came to denote a person who practices the virtues (e.g., Xenophon, Memorabilia 1.2.19).

The term “asceticism” eventually came to connote the practice of abstaining voluntarily from bodily and social needs for a time. “The Lexham Bible Dictionary”

These false teachers will ask these Christians to exert energy in this manner. These false teachers will teach that in order for them to be “Holy” they have to do more. They have to do something in ADDITION to the Gospel. They are essentially asking them to train as athletes when the work of the Gospel is done and they have the victory in Christ! God has this to say

Hebrews 13:4 NRSV

4 Let marriage be held in honor by all, and let the marriage bed be kept undefiled; for God will judge fornicators and adulterers.

Genesis 1:29 NRSV

29 God said, “See, I have given you every plant yielding seed that is upon the face of all the earth, and every tree with seed in its fruit; you shall have them for food.

Genesis 9:3 NRSV

Every moving thing that lives shall be food for you; and just as I gave you the green plants, I give you everything.

1 Timothy 4:4 NRSV

4 For everything created by God is good, and nothing is to be rejected, provided it is received with thanksgiving;

God created nothing that was not good! Some will point out Satan and Sin but both of those came to being through choices of creation. The God who created us gave us the ability to reason and make choices.

1 Timothy 4:5 NRSV

5 for it is sanctified by God’s word and by prayer.

to be sanctified v. — to be or become as dedicated to God; either in distinction, in devotion, or in moral purity.

Conclusion

The Gospel of Christ according to is the GOOD NEWS about the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. This tragic event on the surface is not good if one is missing. You can’t have the Good News if one of the three are missing. And upon the completion of this Gospel it became Good News. There is nothing more that needs to be done for man’s salvation. If we would only obey the Gospel and adhere to the will of God we have nothing more to worry about. If you cannot prove that what you are doing or believe in is the will of God then don’t force it onto others!

Nygaard, M. (2016). Asceticism. In J. D. Barry, D. Bomar, D. R. Brown, R. Klippenstein, D. Mangum, C. Sinclair Wolcott, … W. Widder (Eds.), The Lexham Bible Dictionary. Bellingham, WA: Lexham Press.

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