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Orders from Headquarters. 1 Timothy 6 By Warren W. Wiersbe. Military terms: Fight (the good fight of faith, 6:12) Charge (6:13) Keep (guard, 6:13, 16) D. L. Moody Onward Christian Soldiers Backward, Christian Soldiers Christian Slaves (1-2)
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Orders from Headquarters 1 Timothy 6 By Warren W. Wiersbe
Military terms: • Fight (the good fight of faith, 6:12) • Charge (6:13) • Keep (guard, 6:13, 16) • D. L. Moody • Onward Christian Soldiers • Backward, Christian Soldiers • Christian Slaves (1-2) • ½ of the Roman Empire was composed of slaves • Educated & cultured • Servants: slaves • Freedom in Christ as excuse to disobey their masters.
Slave with unbelieving masters (1) • Masters treat slaves with love (Col. 4:1, Philem. 16) • Disobedient slaves against the master bring disgrace on the gospel • Slaves with believing masters (2) • Slave taking advantage of the master • Respect for the believing masters • Their masters are Christians • Faithful – believing • Their masters are beloved • Both master & slaves benefit from obedience • False Teachers (3-10) • Marks of these false teachers (3-5a)
They refused to adhere to “the sound instruction of our Lord Jesus Christ and to godly teaching” (3 NIV) • “To the law and to the testimony: if they speak not according to this word, it is because there is no light in them” (Is. 8:20) • The false teacher’s own attitude • Proud & know nothing (4, 17) • Conceited attitude leads to argument about minor matter concerning “words”. • Doting (4): fulfilled with a morbid desire, sick • Result of unspiritual teaching: envy, quarreling, malicious talk, evil suspicions, and constant frictions. (4b - 5 NIV) • Tragedy: “people are robbed of the truth”(5 NIV)
The motives for their teaching (5b – 10) • “Godliness is a way of financial gain • Godliness: profession of Christian faith & not true holy living in the power of the Holy Ghost • Religious business making money • Religious racketeer preying on gullible people • Dangers of covetousness • Wealth does not bring contentment (6) • Contentment: an inner sufficiency that keeps us at peace in spite of outward circumstances (Phil 4:11) • True contentment from godliness in heart • Wealthy people to psychiatrists • Wealth is not lasting (7) • In death he leaves everything
Our basic needs are easily met (8) • Quaker • Henry David Thoreau: a man is wealthy in proportion to numbers of things he can afford to do without • The desire for wealth leads to sin (9 – 10) • Riches; trap, bondage, not freedom, additional lusts • Harmful desires…plunge men into ruin and destruction (9) • The Pastor Himself (11 -16, 20 – 21) • Need to care for himself while caring for others • “Take heed unto thyself: (11) • Flee (11a) • Cowardice & wisdom • Flee: not running; separating himself • Not all unity is good & not all division is bad
Follow (11b) • Separation without positive growth becomes isolation • Graces • Righteousness: personal integrity • Godliness: practical piety • Character & conduct • Faith: faithfulness (dependability) • Love: sacrifices for others, give, not to get • Patience: endurance • Meekness: power under control • Gentleness • Fight (12 – 16) • Keep on fighting • English word: agonize • Between person of God & enemy, not between believers
Trowel in one hand for building & a sword in another hand for fighting (Neh. 4:17) • Reason: eternal life & witness of Jesus Christ (13) • “I give thee charge” (13) • Reason. Timothy will have to report • To be ready: obey “without spot or blame” (4) • Appearing (14): a glorious manifestation (epiphany) • “In his own time (15) • Be faithful every day & abide in Him (1 John 2:28) • God (16): Father • The only ruler • Potentante (15): power • King of kings & Lord of lords (15): Father • Immortality (16): subject to death • Immortal, invisible, the only wise God (17)
Life & Giver of life • When Jesus returns, we will share Him immortality (1 Cor. 15:50 – 58) • Reason on the person & glory of God: • A warning against emperor cult • Be Faithful (20-21) • God’s way of protecting the truth and spreading it around the world • Stewards of the doctrine of faith • Science (20): knowledge falsely so called gnostics (gnosis): claim to know a lot • Special spiritual knowledge • Hidden truths in Old Testament • Matter to be evil • A series of emanations; Jesus, one of them
Strange mixture of Christianity, Eastern mystics, Greek philosophy & Jewish Legalism • Colossians • Profane & van babbling • The godless mixture of contradictionary notions • Avoid for they “wandered from the faith” (21) • The Rich (17-19) • Be Humble (17a) • Deut. 8:18 “But thou shalt remember the Lord thy God: for it is he that giveth thee power to get wealth” • We are stewards, not owners • Rich in world & poor in next: poor in this world & rich in next (Luke 16:19-31)
Trust God, not wealth (17b) • Riches: evidence of insecurity; uncertain in values and durability • Trust the Giver, not the gifts • Enjoy what God gives (17c) • Enjoy: Ecclesiastes • Employ what God gives you (18-19) • Use wealth to do good to others, share, and put money to work • Grace be with you all • You: plural • The letter is for Timothy and his church