1 Timothy

A Hurting World Filled With Hurting People - 1 Timothy 2:1-2

10:00 AM

 1 Timothy 2:1-2


Right now the world is in crisis. War in Ukraine, soaring fuel costs, and rising inflation, are but a few of the challenges we face. And that’s why now more than ever, we are called to be mighty prayer warriors! Soldiers on our knees filling the heavens with our petitions. Prayers for ourselves, each other, and especially our leaders. 


In his letter to Timothy, the apostle Paul tells us that Christians have a duty to pray for all mankind, leaders, and those in authority. And he gives us four types of prayers we’re to use when praying both privately and publicly.  Deēseis, proseuchas, enteuxeis, and eucharistias. Translated into English, these are supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings.


Supplications are those fervent pleas we make to God for immediate response. Prayers refer to all of our general petitions made to the Lord. Intercessions are those prayers from the heart where we lift up before God the needs of others. And thanksgivings are those prayers of praise for all God is, does, and blesses us with each and every day.


Before we  received Jesus as our Savior, we were eternally separated from God. His eyes were blind to our troubles, and His ears deaf to our cries. But now, through the blood of Jesus Christ, we have the privilege and honor of fellowshipping with God. We can approach His throne of grace, and lay our prayers at His feet. Prayers for a hurting world filled with hurting people. On that note, I’d like to leave you with a beautiful little poem about praying for others.


                                                    “Others”


Lord help me live from day to day in such a self forgetful way, 

that even when I kneel to pray, my prayer shall be for others. 

And when my work on Earth is done, and my new work in Heaven begun, may I forget the crown I've won, while thinking still of others. Others, Lord, others, let this my motto be. Help me to live for others, that I may live like Thee….(anonymous)


Today I challenge you to spend some time on your knees. Go to God in prayer. Pray for this world. Pray for all who are facing persecution, hardship, and death. And don’t forget to thank and praise Him along the way. For as the saying goes, “there but for the grace of God go I.” 


Acts 16:1

Friday March 19th-Lois, Eunice-II Tim.1:1-5, Acts 16:1

6:00 PM

 

Friday March 19th-Lois, Eunice-II Tim.1:1-5, Acts 16:1

A Godly heritage

It all started with a grandmother who had come to know Jesus as her Lord and Savior, who then taught it to her daughter and her grandson. 



Lord, I am so thankful for You in my life.  As I have surrendered my life to You, I have come to trust in You.  As I rely on You my faith has increased over the years.  I am so thankful for my mom Lois who has been an example to me and to Timothy.  She has helped me in raising Timothy to be the godly man that he is today.  Lord, it is only through You that we have our salvation.  It is only through You that we can stand firm in our faith.  We rejoice in You seeing Timothy firm in his faith.  He has not wavered since he was young.  Thank You for Your protection on him as he travels and encounters various trials.  Thank You for sending Paul to further counsel and come along side him to encourage him to continue in his faith and stand firm without wavering.  You are the vine and we are your branches as we remain in You and You in us, we will bear much fruit.  For apart from You we can do nothing.  Amen



I was not raised with a Godly heritage but when I came to know Jesus as my Lord and Savior, I knew instantly that I was now part of His family.  I have had a lot of great mentors in my life to help me along the way.  How about you?  Do you have mentors who have helped you along the way?  If so let them know today how important they have been in your life to encourage you in your walk with Him. 

 



 

EVERY WEEK WE MEET FOR PRAYER AND WE WOULD LOVE TO PRAY FOR YOU.  LEAVE YOUR REQUESTS HERE AND WE WILL BRING THEM BEFORE THE FATHER.  OR, EVEN BETTER, COME JOIN US! Here's the Link

 

Lyn

Acts

Laying The Groundwork Of Faith - (Lois and Eunice)

11:00 AM

 



“Ok Mother. That’s enough fussing. I have to go,” said Timothy as he grabbed a handful of dried figs for the road. “ I have everything I need and what I don’t, the Lord will provide.” “Yes , yes,” said his mother Eunice, dabbing at her tears with the sleeve of her tunic. “I just wanted to make sure you had enough warm clothes for the trip.” “He’ll be fine,” said the apostle Paul, who was waiting in the doorway. “Eunice you’ve raised a fine young man whose foundation is strong in the Lord. And because of his faith, God will use Timothy in wonderful, amazing ways. It’s never easy to say goodbye, but I know you’ve put your trust in God. So trust Him now.” 


And with that, Timothy kissed Eunice on the cheek and started out the door with Paul. They were to meet Silas, and head out on their next missionary journey. “Goodbye grandmother,” yelled Timothy, who had turned around to wave one last time. Lois, Timothy’s beloved grandmother and pillar of the family’s faith, had joined Eunice in saying farewell. “I’m going to miss that boy,” said Lois. And with a smile on her face added, “We did good with that one.”


“We did do good,” thought Eunice. And not an easy job. For Lystra was a rural Roman colony. There was no synagogue to attend, nor church to worship at. And many in their Jewish community had turned away from Lois when she and Eunice proclaimed Jesus as their Savior. Timothy’s father, a Greek, also didn’t share their beliefs or passion for Jesus. Even so, Eunice and Lois were determined to raise Timothy to know God’s Word, and to be living examples of their faith in the Lord.


Through their Christ loving groundwork, Timothy found his faith, and was growing to be a man of God. He was a well known godly influence, and highly respected by Christians in both Lystra and the surrounding areas. And it was these very Christians who had recommended Paul to lay his hands on Timothy, circumcise him, and call him to join God’s mission. When given the chance, Paul didn’t hesitate. For he had long been impressed with the sincere faith shown by both Eunice and Lois. Furthermore, the apostle had a deep affection for the young Timothy, often referring to him as “my true child in the faith.” 


Still, as proud as she was, the mama’s heart in Eunice ached as she watched Timothy walking away in the distance. “God speed my son,” she whispered. And as she closed the door she heard a little voice in the background ask, “Grandmother Lois does Jesus really love me?” Eunice went into the next room and joined Lois who was sitting by the fire with a group of children nestled at her feet. Her Timothy was in the very best of hands now, and before her were new Timothy’s ready and ripe for God’s Word. Eunice was resolved to share her faith, and give them the same foundation she gave to her son. An unshakable foundation that can be found in God alone! 


(Did you know statistics show that most children first hear about God through a female family member? Lois and Eunice are great  reminders of the responsibility that we as women have in growing up the next generation. When we raise them with a strong foundation in God’s Word, we prepare them for whatever may come their way, and give to them the greatest gift of all, the Good News of Jesus Christ!)


contentment

Contentment-The Gain of Godliness {1 Timothy 6}

11:00 PM



Each day we are bombarded on social media with images of those who seem to have it all. Perfect lives filled with everything a person could want. And when we see such images we can’t help but feel a twinge of jealousy and wonder, “Why can’t that be me? Why can’t I have it all?” Such thinking is what the Bible calls coveting. Chip Ingram describes coveting as, “an inordinate, ungoverned, selfish and passionate desire that leads us away from God and corrupts our relationship with others.” That seems kind of harsh doesn’t it? I mean what harm can it do to want more then we all already have? What’s wrong with seeing the grass as greener on the other side? The truth is that when we covet, we are telling God that we are not satisfied with what He has already so generously given us. And as far as the harm it causes, all we have to do is look at Adam and Eve. Not content with the beautiful garden provided by God, they wanted more. And that more resulted in a broken relationship with the Lord, and a fallen world. 

Contentment, or lack there of, is actually a heart problem. When we base our value and self esteem on how we stack up against others or what the world considers successful, we will find ourselves always coming up short. As the pastor of the church at Ephesus, Timothy faced the challenge of members who too thought that contentment could be found in the material things of the world. The apostle Paul warned against such beliefs saying, “But godliness actually is a means of great gain when accompanied by contentment. For we have brought nothing into the world, so we cannot take anything out of it either.” (vs. 6:6) No amount of wealth or things can fill the hole inside of us. Fulfillment can only be found in a close personal relationship with the Lord. In fact Paul goes on to say that those who seek contentment in the worlds riches, “fall into temptation and a snare and many foolish and harmful desires which plunge men into ruin and destruction. The love of money is a root of all sorts of evil, and some by longing for it have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs.” (vs. 6:9-10)

So how can we be learn to be content? By having hearts filled with gratitude. 1 Thessalonians 5:18 tells us, “In everything give thanks, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.” No matter how great or how small, everything we have is due to the generosity of the Lord. Although He may not give us everything we want, He promises to give us everything we need.  “And my God will supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus.” (Phil. 4:19) “God already has blessed us with so much. And Satan is the one who seeks to redirect our focus to what eludes us, fostering a malignant virus of discontent. Instead of falling for his lies, why not take inventory of all that He has blessed you with and thank Him for each and every blessing.”...Dr. Charles Stanley

Nothing this world has to offer can give us the contentment, peace, and joy that comes with knowing the Lord. When the world tells us that we aren’t enough, God calls us perfect and His cherished treasures. He loves us like no other. So much so that “He did not spare His own Son but delivered Him over for us all”. (Rom. 8:32) The writer of Hebrews tells us to be content with what we have. (Heb. 12:5). And what do we have? A Heavenly Father who promises to never leave or forsake us. So if in this world all you have is Jesus, you already have everything. And to me that brings more contentment than any earthly treasure every could!

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To read more about contentment 

1 Timothy

Pay Close Attention {1 Timothy 4:1-6:21}

10:33 PM


While the apostle Paul traveled to Macedonia, he left behind his beloved Timothy to take charge of the church at Ephesus. It was quite a daunting job indeed. Timothy was young and inexperienced and the problems of the church included the teaching of false doctrines, misconduct, and apostasy. But Paul believed Timothy had what it took to get the job done, and the faith in God to see him through. And so Paul writes a letter to his beloved friend encouraging him, guiding him, and warning him to pay close attention to not only the conduct of the church, but more importantly his own; lest the message of the gospel be discredited. 

The name Timothy means, “one who honors God”, and as pastor of the church, both his testimony and his lifestyle needed to live up to his title. Paul warned him to be constantly aware saying, “Pay close attention to yourself and to your teachings; persevere in these things, for as you do this you will ensure salvation both for yourself and for those who hear you.” (4:16) As it was with Timothy, so it is with us. We too need to pay close attention to our own conduct ensuring that our message of the gospel brings both people to Jesus, and glory to the Lord. The world is watching to see if we are not only talking the talk, but walking the walk. Like Timothy we need to, “in speech, conduct, love, faith, and purity, show yourself an example of those who believe.” (vs. 4:12) How do we show ourselves as godly examples? Paul gives us the tools we need to be on guard so that instead of becoming liabilities to the gospel, we become valuable assets.

He begins by telling us to beware of wrong doctrine. Paul warns that in “later times” many would fall away from the faith, “paying attention to deceitful spirits and doctrines of demons”. We see this happening in the world today. Many are leaving the sound, true doctrine of the Bible for “feel good religion”.  They eagerly follow false teachers with their messages that tickle the ears and justify worldly lifestyles. We need to pay close attention to the words that both we and other believers speak to make sure they line up with God’s Word. And by doing so not only will we lead others to His truth we will become, “a good servant of Christ Jesus, constantly nourished on the words of the faith and of the sound doctrine which you have been following.” (vs. 4:6)

Knowing God’s Word comes from spending time both in His presence and in the Bible. Paul can’t stress enough the importance of the scriptures. We need to pay close attention that we are reading them, urging others to do the same, and teaching their meanings to those around us. And equally important is our alone time with God. By carving out a space reserved just for the Lord each day, we both learn more about Him and His ways, and strengthen our relationship with Him. We become more Christlike, and when we reflect His character, we become powerful witnesses to the world. For as Paul tells us when we “take great pains with these”, and are “absorbed in them”, our “progress will be evident to all”.

Too many times I have been guilty of not practicing due diligence when it comes to giving my relationship with God the time and attention it deserves. Discipline is not my strong suit. Yet Paul advises us to, “discipline yourself for the purpose of godliness; for bodily discipline is only of little profit, but godliness is profitable for all things, since it holds promise for the present life and also for the life to come.” (vs. 4:7-8) We need to pay close attention to make sure we are becoming disciplined for the purpose of godliness. Why? Because godliness transforms our lives into ones God intends for us to have. Lives of love, peace, joy, and fulfillment. “For it is this we labor and strive, because we fixed our hope on the living God, who is the Savior of all men, especially of believers.” (vs. 4:10) And what better attraction could there be for the lost then seeing a follower of Jesus leading a godly life to its fullest.


contentment

The Choice of Contentment {1 Timothy 6}

12:00 AM

The Choice of Contentment {1 Timothy 6}


An old Indian proverb says, "a harvest of peace grows from seeds of contentment"  A wonderful but difficult sentiment in a world that constantly bombards us with images of how we should look and what we should have in order to be happy and successful. Discontentment is one of Satan's most powerful tools of the trade. He loves for our focus to be on what we don't have instead of all that we do. And although contentment isn't something that just happens, we can make the choice to be just like Paul to be satisfied and grateful in any and every situation. So what's the secret of being content? One of my favorite teachers, Dr. Michael Rydelnik gives us five ways to overcome always wanting more. These include perspective, comparison, rejoicing, remembrance, and release.

1. "Refocus our perspective"- I have a terrible habit of being an impulse shopper. If something catches my eye the immediate thought of, "Oh, I need that!" pops into my head. But do I really? If I'm honest with my self, more often than not the answer is no. Even though a cute pair of shoes might give me immediate joy, the joy fades when I see them sitting in my closet still not worn and wondering why I bought them in the first place. Although every purchase we make doesn't always have to be a necessity, our greatest focus shouldn't be on our wants. Paul reiterates this by saying, "For we have brought nothing into the world, so we cannot take anything out of it either. If we have food and covering, with these we shall be content." (vs. 7-8)

2. "Resist comparison to others"- Comparison is a dangerous trap to fall into, and one that I myself am often guilty of. When I begin comparing myself to others, (who they are or what they have), I find myself feeling less than, defeated, and envious. Envy is a destructive emotion. It turns into a pity party for one and makes us prideful and covetous. It keeps us from being thankful for all that God has blessed us with, and leads to competing with others to be the best. But that's not God wants. He wants us to complete each other, not compete with each other. And James 3:16 warns us, "Where jealousy and selfish ambition exist, there is disorder and every evil thing."

3. "Rejoice in God's Gifts"- I love baking and crafting. Often the gifts I give are homemade and from the heart. Nothing is more disappointing than excitedly waiting for someone to open a gift that I put my time, energy, and love into just to see it tossed to the side and unappreciated. That kind of disappointment is what God feels when we fail to rejoice in all that He gives us. Every gift He gives comes from His love for us, and His promise to supply all of our needs. In return our hearts should be overflowing with gratitude and appreciation. Eccles. 5:19 reminds us, "Moreover, when God gives any man wealth and possessions, and enables him to enjoy them, to accept his lot and be happy in his work; this is a gift of God."

4. "Remember what we deserve"- Humility is stressed throughout the Bible, and a quality I try to impress upon my son. But often, as children have a tendency to do, he becomes a beacon of truth, reminding me that I don't always practice what I preach. And he's right. If I'm not paying attention, I find my ego getting in the way. I think I deserve more and better than what I have. But the truth is, what I really deserve is God's judgement. Yet because of His amazing grace, "He has not dealt with us according to our sins, nor rewarded us according to our iniquities. For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is His lovingkindness toward those who fear Him." (Psalm 103:10-11)

5. "Releasing our money and possessions to others"- God blesses us financially and spiritually not only for our benefit, but so that we can in turn use those gifts to bless others. Paul writes of the rich in verse 18, "Instruct them to do good, to be rich in good works, to be generous and ready to share." Generous giving allows us to be content with what we have and strengthens us against falling into the sin of greed. For we are warned in verse 9 that, "Those who want to get rich fall into temptation and a snare and many foolish and harmful desires which plunge men into ruin and destruction." 

God calls His people to lead lives of contentment. Although not easy, it is possible. And when you choose to be content, you gain a peace and freedom that allows you to enjoy all that God has given you more than you miss what He hasn't.