Paul's Fifth
Charge to Timothy
I
Timothy 3:9
Holding
the mystery of the faith in a pure conscience.
This is a bit of a different road to
take for this part of Timothy. Normally here, we are dealing with
things that are geared for Pastors, Deacons, etc. But in this
series, I am gearing these things more towards the man of the family as
he is the 'pastor' for the family - the spiritual leader - the spiritual
guide, etc.
What we have here in this application
is a comment about the mystery of the
faith.
Now, as a father and as a husband,
we would like to think that we have all the answers. Right?
Even when we know we don't, we have a tendency to want others to think
that we do. Right? And when people know that we don't always
have the right answer, we tend to be embarrassed. Right? But are
we embarrassed enough on the inside that when we know we DON'T know an
answer (even though folks think you know it), that we determine to ourselves
to find the answer so we will never be caught off guard again? Right!
But
sanctify the Lord God in your hearts:
and
be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you
a
reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear:
I
Peter 3:15
Take note: they must notice
the hope that is in you!
I wonder if people even ask you anything
about that hope? Maybe they don't because they don't see any hope
in you then is any different than whatever hope that they have!!!
Is you heavenly hope any better than their earthly hope?
There are some things in that Book
that when you know, you JUST HAVE TO SHOW hope, amen?
For me: Rightly Dividing is
great stuff! (Matthew, Hebrews, James, etc.), I-II Chronicles is
exciting regarding music, the Books of Ezra and Nehemiah are full of good
NT stuff (rebuild that wall, amen?). (Each book of the Bible
has some gold in it for me, now!) Psalms, Jeremiah when applied today,
Lamentations for the Tribulation, Song of Solomon regarding relationships,
the transitions in Acts, The Doctrine that is in Romans, Fellowship vs
Salvation in I-III John & the warnings of dogs and wolves found today
from the book of Jude.
Imputation, Spiritual Circumcision,
Eternal Security & My Own Salvation Complete Assurances, Bible
Manuscript Evidence, the Scriptural Truth regarding Speaking in Tongues,
Religions, Denominations (Baptist included), God's Open Door for Prayer,
God loves you NOW we know! The 7 churches in Revelation, politics
makes more sense to me, now, all the different judgments and baptisms in
the Bible, the 7 different resurrections, the Bible FOR all but not TO
all, The Enemy and the Real Battle, The Voice of the Devil, what has happened
to and what is happening in America today, Music from Genesis to Revelation
in God's hands and in the hands of the devil, The Deep Red Sea, Older Folks
in God's eyes, Being a blessing to others (Nursing homes, etc.), Parenting
in the Bible, Devil's Women & God's Women, Christ getting the Increase
(not me), my faith IN Jesus Christ giving me the Faith OF Jesus Christ
and having God's righteousness vs my filthy rags, etc. etc. etc.
Man, now there is a person that
is now full of hope - but do they ask? Nope! Not anymore. They
just get mad at me for sticking my nose into their lives. What do
I know about religion? What do I know about love? What do I
know about schooling? What do I know about anything? Some folks
think my sermons have caused strife and sickness within their own family.
People call us their enemy (Gal 4:16);
They don't see that we are trying to speak the truth in love (Eph
4:15); They don't see that we are trying
to love in deed AND in truth (I John 3:18)
and then there is that great verse in II
Cor 12:15 And
I will very gladly spend and be spent for you; though the more abundantly
I love you, the less I be loved.
Where are
those who want to ask us about the hope that is in us?
People don't see the Book, do they?
Did you at first? It is like there is something wrong with a person
who has that kind of confidence and hope, amen?
Well, when it
comes to our own witness, especially to our own family, as a man, we have
been given some things to pass on to others. True, pastors will especially
accountable, but to us men in general, we have been given some responsibility
in this area.
Unfortunately, in the case of faith,
we don't have the answers! We don't have the explanation! But
that is exactly what we are suppose to pass on - FAITH! Hebrews
11:1: Now faith is the substance of things
hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.
God would have us pass on things that we can't explain. We don't
have the answers to everything. I like to tell people that I don't
have all the answers, but I have a book that does. Well, there are
a few things in that book that are mysteries and we are to just carry on
with those mysteries!
Let
a man so account of us, as of the ministers of Christ, and stewards of
the mysteries of God.
Moreover
it is required in stewards, that a man be found faithful.
I
Corinthians 4:1,2
Boy, dad - that will be impressive
to your kids - another place that dad does not have the answers!
When somebody at work asks you about these things and you don't have the
explanation, they aren't very impressed, are they? They have
a tendency to turn to the man who pretends to have an answer as he has
'been to Bible school' - Or they turn to their pastor who makes it look
like he knows the answers even to the mysteries - or at leaset gives the
impression that he does.
Well, they are being deceived and
are trusting in lying words (Jeremiah 7:8)
and those words can not profit you, your friend - or your children!
There are NO explanations for these things. They are mysteries and
they are mysteries for a purpose - to keep our FAITH in God, not in our
own BRAIN! God wants us men to pass on these mysteries AS MYSTERIES
in order to remind folks that the mystery of faith is worth holding onto!
And
the things that thou hast heard of me among many witnesses,
the
same commit thou to faithful men, who shall be able to teach others also.
II
Timothy 2:2
So,
what are these mysteries, anyway?
Note: those things I listed above are mysteries
to many people, but they do not need to be!
A mystery is something that
is true in the Bible, whether you can explain it or not!
A mystery is something you are
suppose to just 'believe'!
...blessed
are they that have not seen, and yet have believed.
John
20:29b
Don't even try to explain how,
but can you at least describe these mysteries?
I.
The Mystery of Godliness - the Incarnation
And
without controversy great is the mystery of godliness:
God
was manifest in the flesh, justified in the Spirit, seen of angels,
preached
unto the Gentiles, believed on in the world,
received
up into glory.
I
Timothy 3:16
In
the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was
God.
The
same was in the beginning with God.
And
the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us...
John
1:1,2,14
Figure
that out, Mr. Wordly Wisdom!
...the
foolishness of God is wiser than men
and
the weakness of God is stronger than men.
(I
Corinthians 1:25)
We
are fools for Christ's sake...
(I
Corinthians 4:10)
If
any man among you seemeth to be wise in this world,
let
him become a fool, that he may be wise
(I
Corinthians 3:18)
Where
is the wise? where is the scribe? where is the disputer of this world?
hath
not God made foolish the wisdom of this world?
For
after that in the wisdom of God the world by wisdom knew not God,
it
pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe.
(I
Corinthians 1:20,21)
II.
The Indwelling Christ
To
whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory
of
this mystery among the Gentiles;
which
is Christ in you, the hope of glory:
Colossians
1:27
III.
The Body of Christ
This
is a great mystery: but I speak concerning Christ and the church.
Ephesians
5:32
(22-33)
But
God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us,
Even
when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ,
(by
grace ye are saved;)
And
hath raised us up together, and made us sit together
in
heavenly places in Christ Jesus:
Ephesians
2:4-6
If
ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above,
where
Christ sitteth on the right hand of God.
Set
your affection on things above, not on things on the earth.
For
ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God.
When
Christ, who is our life, shall appear,
then
shall ye also appear with him in glory.
Colossians
3:1-4
Therefore
we are always confident, knowing that,
whilst
we are at home in the body, we are absent from the Lord:
(For
we walk by faith, not by sight:)
We
are confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body,
and
to be present with the Lord.
II
Corinthians 5:6-8
(Song
of Solomon - bride of Christ, etc.)
IV.
The Blindness of Israel
For
I would not, brethren, that ye should be ignorant of this mystery,
lest
ye should be wise in your own conceits;
that
blindness in part is happened to Israel,
until
the fulness of the Gentiles be come in.
And
so all Israel shall be saved: as it is written,
There
shall come out of Sion the Deliverer,
and
shall turn away ungodliness from Jacob:
For
this is my covenant unto them, when I shall take away their sins.
As
concerning the gospel, they are enemies for your sakes:
but
as touching the election, they are beloved for the fathers' sakes.
Romans
11:25-28
And
I will bless them that bless thee, and curse him that curseth thee:
and
in thee shall all families of the earth be blessed.
Genesis
12:3
For
by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body,
whether
we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free;
and
have been all made to drink into one Spirit.
I
Corinthians 12:13
V.
The Mystery of Iniquity
For
the mystery of iniquity doth already work:
II
Thessalonians 2:7
(2-8)
VI.
The Great Whore
And
upon her forehead was a name written,
MYSTERY,
BABYLON THE GREAT, THE MOTHER OF HARLOTS
AND
ABOMINATIONS OF THE EARTH.
Revelation
17:5
VII.
The Rapture
Behold,
I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed,
In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet
shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be
changed. For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal
must put on immortality. So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption,
and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to
pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory. O death,
where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory?
I
Corinthians 15:51-55
But
I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are
asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope. For if we
believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in
Jesus will God bring with him. For this we say unto you by the word of
the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord
shall not prevent them which are asleep. For the Lord himself shall descend
from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the
trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: Then we which are
alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to
meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord. Wherefore
comfort one another with these words.
I
Thessalonians 4:13-18
I
just don't know, folks - but I don't have to!
I
just have to believe it!
And
I do!
Do
you?
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