Something Greater

Stranded and Forsaken Timothy was made a leader of a war, a good war, a war based on the love of God and the lordship of Jesus Christ . His ministry was a part of God's plan, a component of the overall strategy that envisions thousands of churches, millions of Christians filled with the knowledge of God's love, controlled by God's Spirit, displaying the power and mercy of God in Jesus Christ. Spiritual warfare fights for something positive. The battle is not ultimately to defeat evil, but to uphold good, thereby defeating evil. Paul's charge to Timothy began with a call to love , expressed with a pure heart, a good conscience and a sincere faith. Now, at the end of this first chapter, Paul again recalls this over-reaching goal, exhorting Timothy, to hold to faith and a good conscience. Paul had two men specifically in mind when he entrusted this charge to Timothy: "By rejecting this, some have made shipwreck of their faith, among whom are Hymenaeus and A...

Good Warfare Paul called himself the foremost of sinners , the most important...not the most important sinner, but the one with the most important sin. His blasphemy, persecution and insolence, above all other sins, deserved punishment from God. But God, through Jesus Christ, displayed perfect patience and mercy. In that moment, Paul saw Jesus as King of his life, his sovereign Ruler , deserving honor and glory forever. Paul now returns to the primary reason for writing this letter: "This charge I entrust to you, Timothy, my child, in accordance with the prophecies previously made about you, that by them you may wage the good warfare, holding faith and a good conscience." 1 Timothy 1:18-19 (ESV) "This charge" refers to three specific errors that were undermining the faith and love of Christians in the Ephesian church: Different doctrine (using heresy to control others) Myths (using fantasy to control others) Endless genealogies (using lineage to ...

On Display Jesus had broken through the sin-hardened ignorance of Paul. "The saying is trustworthy and deserving of full acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am the foremost. But I received mercy for this reason, that in me, as the foremost, Jesus Christ might display his perfect patience as an example to those who were to believe in him for eternal life." 1 Timothy 1:15-16 (ESV) FOREMOST: protos (foremost in time, place, order or importance); from pro ("fore", in front of, prior or superior to) "Foremost" occurs many times in the Bible. Simon was described as foremost of the apostles, not in order of time, but in importance (Matthew 10:2). The command to love the Lord our God is the first commandment, because of time , being the first command given by God. (Matthew 22:38). Paul was certainly not the first person in the world to sin. Paul is saying that as a sinner, he was most important . Really? M...

Reaching Out Christians in Jerusalem have been ravaged. Jewish religious enforcer , Saul, has entered house after house, dragging off men and women, committing them to prison. The Christian church in Jerusalem is scattered to far corners of the Roman Empire. Except the apostles. "Philip went down to the city of Samaria and proclaimed to them the Christ." Acts 8:5 (ESV) PHILIP: Philippos (fond of horses); from philos (dear, a friend, fond, friendly; an associate or neighbor) and hippos (a horse) Evidently, Philip's parents loved horses, or they wanted Philip to love horses. More likely, the name is a reference to the power of horses . Most of the biblical references to horses are connected to armies, conquest and power. Philip was the name of one of the twelve apostles called by Jesus (Matthew 10:3). Philip was the brother of John the Baptist (Matthew 14:3). He was from Bethsaida, a town in the region of Galilee, the same birthplace as Andrew and Peter (Jo...

Spiritual Ignorance Paul described his past as a blasphemer, persecutor and insolent opponent. He knows firsthand how the "certain persons" are acting in Ephesus, because he once was the same. He used the Law of God as a weapon and a rod , exerting control over others and protecting his own power and influence. Paul had used the law unlawfully. But Jesus graciously forgave and transformed Paul. "But I received mercy because I had acted ignorantly in unbelief, and the grace of our Lord overflowed for me with the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus." 1 Timothy 1:13-14 (ESV) Ignorance causes unbelief , and actions flow from that unbelief that can hurt one's own self and others. IGNORANTLY: agnoeo (not to know, to ignore); from a (not) and noeo (to exercise the mind, to observe, to comprehend or heed); from nous (the intellect, the mind, meaning); from ginosko (to know absolutely) We use a similar word in English: agnostic. "Agnostic" ...

Scattered Seed The religious rulers had decided upon a policy regarding the heresy called Christianity: Attack, Assault and Arrest . Saul became their chief Enforcer, ravaging the church in Jerusalem and surrounding towns. "Now those who were scattered went about preaching the word. Philip went down to the city of Samaria and proclaimed to them the Christ. And the crowds with one accord paid attention to what was being said by Philip when they heard him and saw the signs that he did. For unclean spirits, crying out with a loud voice, came out of many who had them, and many who were paralyzed or lame were healed. So there was much joy in that city." Acts 8:4-8 (ESV) The Christians were scattered. SCATTERED: diaspeiro (to sow throughout, to distribute); from dia (through, as a channel) and speiro (to scatter or sow); from spao (to draw) Elsewhere, the Bible describes this scattering as extending throughout the regions of Judea and Samaria, as far as Phenice, Cyprus...

Christ's Church Ravaged and Scattered Stephen was stoned to death by enraged religious leaders who felt threatened by the growing community Christians, among whom Stephen had become one of the most outspoken. The religious rules were Jews, locked in tradition and pride , relying upon their ancestral relationship with God. They had charged Stephen with heresy. Stephen responded with a carefully built argument that revealed both the faithfulness of God and the fickleness of the Jews. Generation after generation of religious leaders had rebelled against God's direction and killed God's prophets, yet they still maintained that they were the guardians of the faith. As guardians of the faith, they believed their fear and anger justified the killing of Stephen. "And Saul approved of his execution. And there arose on that day a great persecution against the church in Jerusalem, and they were all scattered throughout the regions of Judea and Samaria, except the apost...