www.scatteredchristians.org
Another Sermon for the Starving Bible Believing Christians All Over the World Wide Web
2005 - Touchet Baptist Church, Touchet, Washington - Pastor Mike Paulson - 2005
Expounding the way of God more perfectly - Acts 18:26 - with the Scriptures Rightly Divided - II Timothy 2:15

- Experiences from the Journeys of Paul -
Let's Learn from How Paul Presented His Own Gospel Witness...
and How His Listeners Handled Him...
and How He Handled Them!
part V
Paul Meets Timothy
Acts 16:1-5

Note that the highlighted and underlined words/phrases are those areas emphasized in the audio sermon portion.

Verse 1
Then came he to Derbe and Lystra: and, behold, a certain disciple was there, named Timotheus, the son of a certain woman which was a Jewess, and believed; but his father was a Greek:...

Timothy / Timotheus - we could all use a 'buddy' such as Paul had in Timotheus - and from the city that gave Paul the greatest persecution, too. (14:8-21+)
Romans 16:21 - "my workfellow"
I Corinthians 4:17 - "my beloved son, and faithful in the Lord, who shall bring you into remembrance of my ways which be in Christ, as I teach every where in every church."
II Timothy 2:2-5 - To Timothy, my dearly beloved son: Grace, mercy, and peace, from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord.  I thank God, whom I serve from my forefathers with pure conscience, that without ceasing I have remembrance of thee in my prayers night and day;  Greatly desiring to see thee, being mindful of thy tears, that I may be filled with joy;  When I call to remembrance the unfeigned faith that is in thee,
I Corinthians 16:10 - "he worketh the work of the Lord, as I also do."
I Thessalonians 3:2 - "...our brother, and minister of God, and our fellowlabourer in the gospel of Christ, to establish you, and to comfort you concerning your faith:"
Philippians 2:19; I Thessalonians 3:6 - his work comforted Paul because of his solid support of Paul's ministry.

Timothy's grandma and mother - a certain woman - such an example they can be to grandma's and mom's today!
II Timothy 2:5 - When I call to remembrance the unfeigned faith that is in thee, which dwelt first in thy grandmother Lois, and thy mother Eunice; and I am persuaded that in thee also.
II Timothy 3:14,15 - But continue thou in the things which thou hast learned and hast been assured of, knowing of whom thou hast learned them; And that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.

Ladies, are you a 'certain' woman for God, or just like all the rest of the modern Christian Laodicean women today?


Verses 1b-3
... but his father was a Greek:  Which was well reported of by the brethren that were at Lystra and Iconium.
It was well known by the Jews that this Timotheus was not a circumcised Jew...

Him would Paul have to go forth with him; and took and circumcised him because of the Jews which were in those quarters: for they knew all that his father was a Greek.

How could Paul ask Timothy to do this?
He fought this very position in Acts 15:1-5!

However:
II Timothy 2:10 -  Therefore I endure all things for the elect's sakes, that they may also obtain the salvation which is in Christ Jesus with eternal glory.
I Corinthians 10:32, 33 - (see 23-33 for full contents) -  Give none offence, neither to the Jews, nor to the Gentiles, nor to the church of God: Even as I please all men in all things, not seeking mine own profit, but the profit of many, that they may be saved.
I Corinthians 9:18-22 - What is my reward then? Verily that, when I preach the gospel, I may make the gospel of Christ without charge, that I abuse not my power in the gospel.  For though I be free from all men, yet have I made myself servant unto all, that I might gain the more.  And unto the Jews I became as a Jew, that I might gain the Jews; to them that are under the law, as under the law, that I might gain them that are under the law;  To them that are without law, as without law, (being not without law to God, but under the law to Christ,) that I might gain them that are without law.  To the weak became I as weak, that I might gain the weak: I am made all things to all men, that I might by all means save some.  And this I do for the gospel's sake, that I might be partaker thereof with you.
II Corinthians 1:2 - For our rejoicing is this, the testimony of our conscience, that in simplicity and godly sincerity, not with fleshly wisdom, but by the grace of God, we have had our conversation in the world, and more abundantly to you-ward.

Paul still stands on his position concerning uncircumcision vs circumcision (Romans) in Acts 15:1-5 and in Galatians 2:1-6 - Then fourteen years after I went up again to Jerusalem with Barnabas, and took Titus with me also.  And I went up by revelation, and communicated unto them that gospel which I preach among the Gentiles, but privately to them which were of reputation, lest by any means I should run, or had run, in vain.  But neither Titus, who was with me, being a Greek, was compelled to be circumcised:  And that because of false brethren unawares brought in, who came in privily to spy out our liberty which we have in Christ Jesus, that they might bring us into bondage:  To whom we gave place by subjection, no, not for an hour; that the truth of the gospel might continue with you.  But of these who seemed to be somewhat, (whatsoever they were, it maketh no matter to me: God accepteth no man's person:) for they who seemed to be somewhat in conference added nothing to me:

I do believe that Paul was exercising some of Christ's advice: Matthew 10:16 - Behold, I send you forth as sheep in the midst of wolves: be ye therefore wise as serpents, and harmless as doves.  It wasn't for salvation - just another opportunity to preach this gospel!


Warning!!
Now, lest ye think you can use Paul's actions with Timothy give you justification to 'go anywhere' and 'do anything' in order "present the gospel," ""plant a church," etc. (such as movies, parties, bad friends, bars, stores, businesses, etc.) keep these thoughts in mind:
1)  This is the Hour of Temptation! Paul didn't have the temptation like we have today.  Will you fall, hinder your growth, cause your children/others to stumble with your liberty abuse, etc.?  You want to earn more to burn more?  Do you really need to take your little kids into the gutters to 'preach the gospel?'
2)  Are you just going to purposely abuse your grace and liberty so you can do what YOU want instead of having courage to stand up and say 'no' or 'yes' as to how it pleases God?
3)  Are you just feeding your flesh being a 'preacher,' 'rescuer,' preacherette, etc.?

Pride can keep us from witnessing in places 'we think' we ought not,
and flesh can send us into situations we really ought NOT go...

...even if we claim to be presenting the gospel!


Verses 4,5
And as they went through the cities, they delivered them the decrees for to keep, that were ordained of the apostles and elders which were at Jerusalem.  And so were the churches established in the faith, and increased in number daily.

The 'early' church was not a 'different' church - the Great Commission was still in 'the air' in that it wasn't that those things were all wrong to do, but not right for one's salvation (see Acts 15:4)  As is the entire book of Acts, it is all the 'transition' to the growth of the church within (not in numbers).

AFTER it was established, that is Paul's greatest ministry - the Greater Commission from Romans to Philemon.


Remember, those were the days that the church was being established.
Paul's ministry today is for the growth of the church (Romans - Philemon) now that it has already been established! (Ephesians 4:11-14+)

Hold the Fort!
After the 7 churches have had their place in history, we can only 'hold the fort' these Laodicean days!
"Hold the fort, for I am coming, Jesus signals still.
Wave the answer back to Heaven, By thy grace we will."