Hope (1 Tim. 4:9-10)

SPIRITUAL DIARY FOR 5-12-02

 

My Worship Time                                                      Focus:  Hope

 

Bible Reading & Meditation                                     Reference:  1Timothy 4:9-10

 

        Message of the verses:  9  It is a trustworthy statement deserving full acceptance.

10  For it is for this we labor and strive, because we have fixed our hope on the living God, who is the Savior of all men, especially of believers.

 Paul says the same thing in verse nine that he says in 1:15.  This is something that is found in the Pastoral letters and could be something that was used in the early church.  Paul has a point to make after he says what he said in verse nine and that point is made in the following verses.  Paul is saying why the believer should work and labor is because of the hope that the believer has.  Hope in the New Testament means something certain and not something uncertain.  He goes on to say that our hope is in the living God and then says that He is the Savior of all men, especially of believers.  Paul is not teaching that all men will be saved (universalism.)  All people on the earth benefit from the grace and mercy of God, however those who are believers benefit much more.  God causes the rain to fall on the just as well as the unjust.  He has set up government so that there is not chaos.  These are some of the benefits given to all men by God.

        Spiritual meaning for today:  I must focus on the hope that lies within me and therefore work for the night is coming when no man can work.  What a wonderful salvation God has provided for me and therefore I need to be about the work of telling others about this salvation that is available to all who believe.

The Word of God has brought both hope and conviction to me today.

 

My Steps of Faith Today:

To worship the Lord in Spirit and in Truth today at our services in our church.  To enjoy the company of family and friends.

 

Memory verses for the week: Romans 1:16,17

For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation to everyone who believes, for the Jew first and also for the Greek.  For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith; for it is written, “The just shall live by faith.”

 

More on the Apostates (1 Tim. 4:3-5)

SPIRITUAL DIARY FOR 5-09-02

 

My Worship Time                                                      Focus:  More on the apostates

 

Bible Reading & Meditation                                     Reference:  1Timothy 4:3-5

 

            Message of the verse:  In these three verses Paul continues to speak of what these apostates are doing wrong in their teachings about the gospel and the way believers should conduct themselves.  They will forbid certain people to marry and they will forbid people from eating certain foods.  Paul refutes this by saying that God has created these foods and that we as believers should give thanks for the food that God has given us.  There are no foods that we as believers are forbidden to eat.  In verse five Paul says, “it is sanctified by the work of God and prayer.”  Paul is probably speaking about food that is set aside for the good of the believer because they have prayed for it and will use it for the glory of God.  It also could mean that the Pastors are to have the time to pray and learn about the Word of God so that they can pass it on to those who are in their congregation.

            Spiritual meaning for my life today:  One thing that has hit home for me about this is that I should take it more seriously to pray for my food before I eat it.  This food that God has provided for me and the use of it will give me strength to do the will of God.  If it is set apart for use of the will of God it is sanctified. 

 

The Word of God brought conviction to me today.

 

My Steps of Faith Today;

I want to take more seriously the praying to God for the thanksgiving of my food that He has provided for me each day.  I have failed in this area of my life and want to overcome this failure. 

 

Memory verses for the week:  Romans 1:16 & 17

 

For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes, for the Jew first and also for the Greek.  For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith; as it is written, “The just shall live by faith.”

The Mystery Continues (1 Tim 3:15b-16)

SPIRITUAL DIARY FOR 5-04-04

 

My Worship Time                                                      Focus:  The mystery continues

 

Bible Reading & Meditation                                     Reference:  1Timothy 3:15b-16

 

            Message of the verse:  The mystery that Paul is writing about here is of course the Church.  As probably stated before in this journal the word mystery when spoken of in the New Testament means that something has been revealed that was not revealed in the Old Testament.  Paul speaks of the church having “pillars and ground on the truth,” in the last part of verse 16.  He could have gotten his imagery from the temple Diana, which was in Ephesus and has 127 pillars surrounding it.  The word for ground use here is the only time that word is used in the New Testament. (1477 edraiwma hedraioma hed-rah'-yo-mah

from a derivative of 1476; TDNT-2:362,200; n n- AV-ground 1; 1 -1) a stay, prop, support)  This is the word as given from the Strongs concordance.  This word denotes the foundation on which a building rests.  The church upholds the truth of God’s revealed Word.

            In verse sixteen it has been stated by more than one author that Paul is quoting from an early Church hymn.  “16  And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifested in the flesh, Justified in the Spirit, Seen by angels, Preached among the Gentiles, Believed on in the world, Received up in glory.  These six lines speak of the truth of the gospel.

            Spiritual meaning for my life today:  This is a wonderful way to remember the truth of the gospel in a way that brings about more meaning to it because of the truth of it stated here in verse 16 of the passage.  I certainly need to take this more seriously.

The Word of God was enlightening and very refreshing to me today:

 

My Steps of Faith Today:  I want to continue to step out in faith and believe that it is God doing the work in my father-in-law.  I want to continue to draw my strength from the Lord as I play these tapes for him and believe that the Lord will open up his heart and pour into it faith to believe His Word of Truth.

 

Memory verse for the week:  Romans 1:16-17

 

For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes, for the Jew first and also for the Greek.  For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith; as it is written, “The just shall live by faith.”

Conduct in God's Household (1 Tim. 3:14-15a)

SPIRITUAL DIARY FOR 5-02-02

 

My Worship Time                                                      Focus:  Conduct in God’s household

 

Bible Reading & Meditation                                     Reference:  1Timothy 3:14-15a

 

            Message of the verse:  “14 ¶ These things I write to you, though I hope to come to you shortly;

15  but if I am delayed, I write so that you may know how you ought to conduct yourself in the house of God.”

Paul writes to Timothy in verse 14 telling him that he has been delayed in coming to him, and it was his plans to come to him sooner.  He goes on in verse 15 to tell him some important things that he wanted to tell him in person if he had not been delayed.  It has been said by Dr. Macarthur that this first portion is the very theme of this epistle.  These verses, (14-16), mark a turning point in his letter to Timothy.  The first three chapters are positive while these last three chapters are warnings.  Verses 15 & 16 reveal the heart of the church’s mission (15) and ministries, (16).  Getting back to the theme of the book that is written in verse 15a, Paul says to Timothy that he is writing to Timothy so that he may know how to conduct himself in the household of God.  He of course is speaking of the church and in this case the local church.  This is the most important institution that is on earth today and Paul wanted to make sure that Timothy knew how to conduct himself while being a part of the church.

            Spiritual meaning for my life today:  I would say that it was a good thing that Paul was delayed in coming to Timothy otherwise he would not have written this letter to him and the people of the Church

 would not know how to conduct itself while in the church.  I truly need to know how to conduct myself as a part of the church.

The Word of God was very instructive to me today.

 

My Steps of Faith Today:  I want to conduct myself in a matter that is worthy of my calling as a born-again believer who is a member of the Church of Jesus Christ. 

 

Memory verse for the week:  Romans 1:16 & 17

For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes, for the Jew first and also for the Greek.  For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith; as it is written, “The just shall live by faith.”

More Deacon's Qualifications from 1 Tim. 3:13

SPIRITUAL DIARY FOR 5-01-02

 

My Worship Time                                                      Focus:  More Deacon’s Qualifications

 

Bible Reading & Meditation                                     Reference:  1Timothy 3:13

 

            Message of the verse:  “For those who have served well as deacons obtain for themselves a good standing and great boldness in the faith which is in Christ Jesus.”  Paul is saying that it is an honorable thing and also a very important to serve in the local church as a deacon.  This verse could also mean that a person who becomes a deacon will someday move up to a higher position in the church where he serves.  Some deacons will eventually be called into being pastors.

            Spiritual meaning for my life today:  I believe that this verse teaches me more about the importance of the local church and the importance of serving in a local church.  God ordains the Church and therefore I believe on that fact that it is the most important institution that there is on earth.  The only possible exception is the family, however these two go hand in hand for if there are strong families in the church then there will be strong churches, and a strong community, state, and nation.  I do not believe that people understand the great significance of the church.  God has impressed to me the importance of the Church in my life.

 

The Word of God was a great encouragement to me today.

 

My Steps of Faith Today:  I want to be a good helper to Wade as he works on our house today.  I want to be a good husband and father today.  I want God’s will to be done with the problem I have with Corecom.

 

Memory verse for the week:  Romans 1:16,17

 

For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes, for the Jew first and also for the Greek.  For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith, for it is written, “The just shall live by faith.”

Women's Role within the Church (1 Tim. 2:12)

SPIRITUAL DIARY FOR 03/26/2002

 

 

My Worship Time                                                                         Focus:  Women’s role in the Church

 

Bible Reading & Meditation                                                    Reference:  1Timothy 2:12

 

                Message of the verse:  Paul says in this verse that “I do not permit a woman to teach or to have authority over a man.”  He is speaking about women’s roles in the Church, and that they are not to have authority over a man in the operation of the Church.  There are many different ways that people have interpreted this verse as far as saying it is only talking about this church or this culture.  I think that he is speaking about all churches in all cultures.  I do not believe that Paul is teaching that a woman can be a Pastor or teacher in the Church and teach men.  He goes on to speak of women being silent in the church, and this means to line up under the authority of men.  Again women are not inferior to men as was stated in an earlier note on this section.

                Spiritual meaning for my life today:  I can learn a lot about the Bible and life from my wife while we are at home.  Just like Jesus was in submission to His heavenly Father, even though He is equal, so my wife is equal to me too.

The Word of God was refreshing to me today.

My Steps of Faith Today:  I need to remember that God has brought my wife into my life for a purpose, for many purposes.  I want to cultivate my relationship with her.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Quiet Learning (1 TIm. 2:11)

SPIRITUAL DIARY FOR 03/20/2002

 

My Worship Time                                                      Focus:  Quiet Learning

 

Bible Reading & Meditation                                     Reference:  1Timothy 2:11

 

            Message of the verse:  This verse says, “Let a woman learn in silence with all submission.”  The word for quiet is the same word that is interpreted “quiet and peaceable” in verse two.  The woman is not suppose to teach in the Church, that is teach men, but are to be lined up under the authority of the man.  Men can teach in the church to anyone, however woman is only to teach other women or children.  This is the way that God has designed the function of the church. 

           

Spiritual meaning for my life today:  I need to remember that women are not less important than men just because of these instructions that are given here.  On the surface this is how it looks; however this is not the way it actually is.  Men and women are created equal, however women are to submit to men, in the same way that Jesus Christ submitted to His Father.  

 

The Word of God has been challenging to me today.

 

My Steps of Faith Today:  I want to by faith treat my wife with the respect that she deserves and not think of myself as better than her because the Word of God says she is to submit to me.

 

Memory verse for the week:  Psalm 89:7

God is greatly to be feared in the assembly of the saints,

And to be held in reverence by all those around Him.