A lot of things that are not important can divide a vibrant fellowhsip of Christians. In this challenge we will discover what really matters in term of church discipline, soundness of faith, and ecclesiastical discipline.
May the Lord richly bless you.
Hello:
Book of 1 Timothy Challenge – Day 21– 1 Timothy 1 (Please click on the blue links to be directed to the Readings)
3 As I urged you when I went into Macedonia, stay there in Ephesus so that you may command certain people not to teach false doctrines any longer 4 or to devote themselves to myths and endless genealogies. Such things promote controversial speculations rather than advancing God’s work—which is by faith. 5 The goal of this command is love, which comes from a pure heart and a good conscience and a sincere faith. 6 Some have departed from these and have turned to meaningless talk. 7 They want to be teachers of the law, but they do not know what they are talking about or what they so confidently affirm. (1 Timothy 1:3-7)
The test of love is a required test for every Christian. For his disciples Jesus puts the love for each other over all types of duties, religious and secular. The story of the Good Samaritan is a case in point that our love for God needs to be demonstrated in our love for people. Unproductive discussions on false doctrines, myths and endless genealogies do not promote the gospel. It is faith coupled with love which promote the advancement of the gospel.
“A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another (John 13:34).” “My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you (Jon 15:12).” “Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ (Galatians 6:2).” Those are words of the Lord Jesus to each one of his disciples throughout the ages.
The test of love is a never ending test with many levels. Each level brings us into more profound relations with the Lord. The more of God’s love we have in our heart, the more we can love ourselves and love our brothers and sisters in Christ.
May the Lord richly bless you!
Hello:
Book of 1 Timothy Challenge – Day 22 – 1 Timothy 2 (Please click on the blue links to be directed to the Readings)
I urge, then, first of all, that petitions, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for all people— 2 for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness. 3 This is good, and pleases God our Savior, 4 who wants all people to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth. 5 For there is one God and one mediator between God and mankind, the man Christ Jesus, 6 who gave himself as a ransom for all people. This has now been witnessed to at the proper time. 7 And for this purpose I was appointed a herald and an apostle—I am telling the truth, I am not lying—and a true and faithful teacher of the Gentiles. (1 Timothy 2:1-7)
President John F. Kennedy had a famous saying: “Ask not what your country can do for you; ask what you can do for your country.” This simple slogan galvanized a generation of young Americans to join the Peace Corps. Thousands of Americans—especially young people—flocked to serve in dozens of nations, particularly in Latin America, Africa, Asia, and the Middle East. The program was judged a success in terms of helping to “win the hearts and minds” of people in the underdeveloped world.
I would like to challenge the youth of our churches by changing one word of that slogan: “Ask not what your church can do for you; ask what you can do for your church.” You have been blessed by the Lord. You are greatly blessed spiritually, intellectually, and financially. It is time to embrace your destiny to be agents of change in this world.
“Etre jeune c’est conquerir.” The youths of America followed the call of John F. Kennedy, they joined the Peace Corps, often they faced privation and sometimes danger, but they kept at their mission. Eventually they helped “win the hearts and minds” of people in the underdeveloped world to America. The Lord Jesus is calling us all, let’s embrace our mission. With the gospel and our love we will “win the hearts and minds” of the people of the world to Christ.
May the Lord richly bless you!
Hello:
Book of 1 Timothy Challenge – Day 23 – 1 Timothy 3 (Please click on the blue links to be directed to the Readings)
Here is a trustworthy saying: Whoever aspires to be an overseer desires a noble task. 2 Now the overseer is to be above reproach, faithful to his wife, temperate, self-controlled, respectable, hospitable, able to teach, 3 not given to drunkenness, not violent but gentle, not quarrelsome, not a lover of money. 4 He must manage his own family well and see that his children obey him, and he must do so in a manner worthy of full[a] respect. 5 (If anyone does not know how to manage his own family, how can he take care of God’s church?) 6 He must not be a recent convert, or he may become conceited and fall under the same judgment as the devil. 7 He must also have a good reputation with outsiders, so that he will not fall into disgrace and into the devil’s trap. (1 Timothy 3:1-7)
God has always looked for people of character, and he is still looking for such people today. The qualification of the overseer (the pastor) in 1 Timothy 3 is the qualification of a person of character. “Now the overseer is to be above reproach, faithful to his wife, temperate, self-controlled, respectable, hospitable, able to teach, 3 not given to drunkenness, not violent but gentle, not quarrelsome, not a lover of money (v. 2).”
The world usually select as leaders, people with great charisma, intelligent and rich people with forceful personality. It is not so with God, God looks at the heart disposition. He said of King David that he has found in David a man according to his heart. Why? Because in the solitude of being a shepherd, David had developed true character, a humble and a gentle heart desiring to please the Lord.
“Character is what someone does when no one is looking.” Someone of character knows that there is always someone watching, God is always watching. So we can be faithful in the little assignments as we are in big assignments.
May the Lord richly bless you!
Hello:
Book of 1 Timothy Challenge – Day 24 – 1 Timothy 4 (Please click on the blue links to be directed to the Readings)
8 For physical training is of some value, but godliness has value for all things, holding promise for both the present life and the life to come.
11 Command and teach these things. 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. (1 Timothy 4:8,11-16)
It is very important that we challenge our youths to excel in sport, art, literature, and sciences. This type of training is very valuable, it allows our children to grow up to be productive members of society. But the Bible tells us that training in godliness has value for all things, holding promise for both the present life and the life to come (v. 8). It is very profitable to be smart for God.
We cannot live our lives as if this world is all that is. Jesus tells us again and again that this life is a preparation for the life to come. We have a choice to make, we can either live to satisfy the self, which leads to death. Or we can live to please the Lord, which leads to eternal life. God is the Savior of all people (v. 10), all we need to do is to receive his salvation by faith.
How do we train for godliness? We train for godliness by devoting ourselves to the public reading of Scripture, to preaching and to teaching (v. 13). This is true for pastors, and this is also true for every Christian. The ancient world was won to Christ not by preachers, because they could not preach publically because of persecution, but it was won by individuals sharing the gospel to individuals.
May the Lord richly bless you!
Hello:
Book of 1 Timothy Challenge – Day 25 – 1 Timothy 5 (Please click on the blue links to be directed to the Readings)
Do not rebuke an older man harshly, but exhort him as if he were your father. Treat younger men as brothers, 2 older women as mothers, and younger women as sisters, with absolute purity.
24 The sins of some are obvious, reaching the place of judgment ahead of them; the sins of others trail behind them. 25 In the same way, good deeds are obvious, and even those that are not obvious cannot remain hidden forever. (1 Timothy 5:1-2,24-25)
Before the French came up with the saying, “Noblesse oblige,” the Bible told Christian leaders to be servant-leaders. That means to be a servant first and then leader. Someone who takes care of the needs of the people under his control first before he considers his own needs.
Being a servant-leader starts with the concept of “onè ak respè,” not only for a few people but for all people. Do not rebuke an older man harshly, but exhort him as if he were your father. Treat younger men as brothers, 2 older women as mothers, and younger women as sisters, with absolute purity (v. 1-2).
I have heard Christians say that “one cannot be too nice with church folks.” That’s wrong, that’s a worldly outlook not a Christ centered one. Christ demanded that people in charge of his flocks be shepherds like himself: kind, compassionate and loving. Nothing can stay hidden forever. Hidden sins ad hidden good deeds will be revealed sooner or later (v. 24,25).
May the Lord richly bless you!
Hello:
Book of 1 Timothy Challenge – Day 26 – 1 Timothy 6 (Please click on the blue links to be directed to the Readings)
6 But godliness with contentment is great gain. 7 For we brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out of it. 8 But if we have food and clothing, we will be content with that. 9 Those who want to get rich fall into temptation and a trap and into many foolish and harmful desires that plunge people into ruin and destruction. 10 For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs. (1 Timothy 6:6-10)
It is very disconcerting to know that the United States is ranked #105 of 151 in the Happy Planet Index. Lack of material riches is not the main factor for unhappiness, having an attitude of ungratefulness is the main factor. The misuse of God’s resources always leads to disaster. The glass can be half full or half empty, the same amount of substance is in there, but the way we look at it determine whether we are content or miserable.
In Psalms 116:7, the Psalmist says something very profound: “Return to your rest, my soul, for the Lord has been good to you.” Very few people of the world can say that verse and truly mean it. We are unhappy because we are being pushed by advertising in radio, television, newspapers, the Internet, in all kinds of media not to be satisfied with our lives.
This relentless attack on well being at the subconscious level wants to turn us into ungrateful people. We must resist it, because our peace in the Lord depends on us being grateful to the Lord for everything he has done for us. Money cannot buy happiness, “The blessing of the Lord, it maketh rich, and he addeth no sorrow with it (Proverbs 10:22).”
May the Lord richly bless you!