Strengthen Older Believers from 1 Timothy 1:1-2

SPIRITUAL DIARY FOR 5-20-02

My Worship Time                                                      Focus:  Strengthen older believers

Bible Reading & Meditation                                     Reference:  1Timothy 5:1,2

            Message of the verse:  1 “¶ Do not sharply rebuke an older man, but rather appeal to him as a father, to the younger men as brothers,2  the older women as mothers, and the younger women as sisters, in all purity.”  Paul again is writing about Timothy’s youth and he wants to make sure that if an older man sins that he will not be intimidated over his youth but would do the right thing.  Paul warns Timothy not to sharply rebuke the sinning older man but to strengthen him.  The work in the Greek is related to the word used for the Holy Spirit and means to come along side of.  Paul tells Timothy co come along side of the older brother and strengthens him in the Lord.  Next Paul tells him to treat the older women like a mother and the younger men like a brother and the younger women like a sister.  This is important for if he does not treat the younger women like a sister then he could get to close to them and be tempted. 

            Spiritual meaning for my life today:  I like the way that Paul tells Timothy to not be to harsh on the older men but to come along side of them.  This is the godly way to treat a person when he sins, however when the sin becomes so involved that the person does not want to admit that he is doing wrong then other measures should be taken.

The Word of God was instructing to me today.

My Steps of Faith Today:  I want to get along with Sandy today even though she has a really bad case of PMS.  I need to lean on the Lord for His support and help.

Memory verse for the week:  Romans 6:12

Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal bodies, that you should obey it in its lust.

Practice what you Preach (1 Tim. 4:16)

SPIRITUAL DIARY FOR 5-19-02

 

My Worship Time                                                      Focus:  Practice what you preach

Bible Reading & Meditation                                     Reference:  1Timothy 4:16

            Message of the verse:  “Pay close attention to yourself and to your teaching; persevere in these things, for as you do this you will ensure salvation both for yourself and for those who hear you.”  I think that Paul is saying to Timothy that his life must be a testimony to the Lord so that he will be practicing what he is preaching.  Dr Wiersbe sums up this passage by saying, “ that as good ministers we preach the Word, as godly ministers we practice the Word, and as growing ministers we progress in the Word.”  I think that this is what Paul is saying to timothy in this verse that he has written to him.

            Spiritual meaning for my life today:  It is easy for me to study the Word of God and to learn what I am suppose to do, it is harder to put into practice the things that I am learning.  I believe that it takes memorizing and meditating on the Word so that when the time comes I then can put it into practice. 

The Word of God brought teaching and conviction to me today.

My Steps of Faith Today:  I want to be able to get along with Sandy today even though she has a very bad case of PMS.  I need the grace of God to be able to do the things that will be pleasing to Him and a help to my wife.

Memory verse for the week:  Romans 8:1

There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.  I want to make note that the remanding portion of this verse is not in the earliest manuscripts, so this is the way that I will memorize this verse.

 

God's Word (1 Tim. 4:13)

SPIRITUAL DIARY FOR 5-16-02

 

My Worship Time                                                      Focus:  God’s Word

 

Bible Reading & Meditation                                     Reference:  1Timothy 4:13

 

            Message of the verse: “Until I come, give attention to the public reading of Scripture, to exhortation and teaching.”  In this verse Paul encourages Timothy to do a number of things, and these things will also lead him into godliness.  He speaks of public reading of the Scriptures, and in Warren Wiersbe’s book, “Be Faithful,” he says that all churches should set aside a time for the public reading of the Scriptures in the Sunday service.  Paul encourages Timothy to exhortation and teaching.  I believe this would mean that Timothy should not only do these things in the Church services as he teaches the people, but he should also do them in his own life so that he lives a life showing that he has done these things.  Exhortation means to break apart the meaning of the Scripture and teach this to those in his church.  Teaching is sometimes translated as doctrine and means systematic teaching of the Word of God.

            Spiritual meaning for my life today:  Some of the things that are described in this passage are the things that I try and do each and everyday of my life.  I want to learn from the Word of God so I can determine what God wants me to do in my life.  I want to grow in my Christian life to bring honor and glory to my Lord and Savior.

 

The Word of God was indeed refreshing to me today.

 

My Steps of Faith Today:  To continue to learn and grow from the teachings of God’s Word.  I want to be a help to those that I work with at the Church today.

 

Memory verse for the week:  Romans 8:1

There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit.

 

Timothy's Youth (1 Tim. 4:12)

SPIRITUAL DIARY FOR 5-15-02

 

My Worship Time                                                      Focus: Timothy’s Youth

 

Bible Reading & Meditation                                     Reference:  1Timothy 4:12

 

            Message of the verse:  “Let no one look down on your youthfulness, but rather in speech, conduct, love, faith and purity, show yourself an example of those who believe.”  This is what Paul wrote to Timothy in verse twelve of chapter four.  The first thing that I have read about this verse from some of the commentaries is that when Paul was speaking about young Timothy was probably in his early forties.  He had been with Paul off and on since he was in his late teens, so I am sure that he had gained much knowledge from Paul in those years.  Paul tells Timothy that he should show himself as an example in five areas of his life.  1. Speech:  There are many verses in Scripture that teach the believers to speak right.  (Matt. 12:34-37; Eph. 4:25,29,31)  2.  Conduct: 

Paul was speaking about living a righteous life.  3.  Love:  This is speaking about what the Greek word agape really means, a self-sacrificing type of love.  4.  Faith:  This does not mean having the faith that is needed for salvation, however he is talking about his faithfulness or commitment in living out the Christian life.  5.  Purity:  I am sure that Paul is speaking about sexual purity, for that is the kind of purity that if not done right will have a very bad effect on other believers and non-believers alike.

            Spiritual meaning for my life today:  I believe that this goes along with the theme of godliness that Paul is speaking about to Timothy.  All of these five qualities are a part of living a godly type of lifestyle.  I need to exercise myself in these spiritual areas of my life.

 

The Word of God brought both conviction and a challenge to me today.

 

My Steps of Faith Today:  To exercise myself towards godliness as written about in this portion of Scripture that I have been studying.

 

Memory verses for the week:  Romans 8:1

There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit.

 

A Review (1 Tim. 4:11)

SPIRITUAL DIARY FOR 5-14-02

 

My Worship Time                                                      Focus:  A review

 

Bible Reading & Meditation                                     Reference:  1Timothy 4:11

 

            Message of the verse:  11  Prescribe and teach these things.  In this verse Paul seems to be reminding timothy of the things that he wants him to remember, these things that he has just written to him.  As I look over these last verses a portion of verse eight has caught my attention that I want to write about.  “-having promise of the life that now is and of that, which is to come.”  Paul was speaking of exercise in this verse and the one before.  He was comparing physical exercise with spiritual exercise and this portion of verse eight says that spiritual exercise which will result into godliness will not only be profitable for this life but the one to come in heaven.  I believe  he is saying that the more that you practice godliness in this life the better off you will be in the next life.

            Spiritual meaning for my life today:  As I read over the few words in verse eleven I am reminded that I often need reminders about such important things.  If I learn something once then if I do not go over it I will probably forget it so this verse tells me I am in need of reminders.

            The reminder it taught me was to keep on practicing godliness.

The Word of God was a good reminder to me today to show that I need reminders.

 

My Steps of Faith Today:  To continue to practice godliness and remember the importance of it even though sometimes it is not easy to do.

 

Memory verse for the week:  Romans 8:1

There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit.

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.”