1 Timothy 5:3-4

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3 Give proper recognition to those widows who are really in need. 4 But if a widow has children or grandchildren, these should learn first of all to put their religion into practice by caring for their own family and so repaying their parents and grandparents, for this is pleasing to God. ~ 1 Timothy 5:3-4

The God of the Bible has always had a heart for the least and the vulnerable. Throughout the Bible we see God caring for the alien, the outcast, the poor, the fatherless, and the widowed. This is one of the many measurements of the purity of God's love. He is by nature loving and when we access His love, it begins to define us. And, it is at this point that we will reflect Him in the way we treat others.

In Psalm 68:5 we read, "A father to the fatherless, a defender of widows, is God in his holy dwelling." 

It is the Father heart of God that makes Him quick to protect the widows and orphans who have lost those who once protected and provided for them. In Deuteronomy 27:19, we discover there awaits for those who abuse widows a curse from God. In Exodus 22:23 when widows cry out to God for help, God says, “I will hear your cry.” God knows and always comes to the assistance of such who are in need and cry out to Him.

In v.3 of today's text we read, "Give proper recognition to those widows who are really in need."

We are most like God when we care for those who have lost their husbands due to death, desertion, abandonment, imprisonment or divorce. The fact is they are alone and in need of financial help. To give proper recognition to the widows means to honor them, to show them our respect, to show them our care, and to give to them our support.

In v.4 we read, "But if a widow has children or grandchildren, these should learn first of all to put their religion into practice by caring for their own family and so repaying their parents and grandparents, for this is pleasing to God."

It is the responsibility of children and grandchildren to support their widowed mother or grandmother. The family has the first responsibility to take care of widows before they’re ever put on the church’s list of responsibility. As we have pointed out before, the family is the context where true spirituality is revealed. 

Henry Scougal once wrote, "The worth of a soul is measured by the object of its love." When a child or a grandchild takes care of their widowed mother or grandmother who are needy, it pleases God when we take care of them. 

In Hebrews 11:6 we read, “Without faith it is impossible to please God.” The word “faith” is the noun form of the word “believe” or “trust.” Thus, pleasing God is inextricably bound to trusting Him. Pleasing God is the result of trusting Him. There is nothing that we can “conjure up” to please Him that is not based upon who He is and what He has already done in and through His Son. 

We please God by choosing to trust Him. When our main drive becomes growing in trust, a whole new world opens to us. We get to exhale, trusting that He has made us acceptable in His Son. We can finally rest, knowing that we are fully loved and accepted. Incredibly, when trusting God becomes our primary motive, it allows us to run like we couldn’t before. This is no hamster wheel. This is a joyful race because it fuels us and fills us. And, this brings pleasure to God.

In 1 Timothy 2:3-4 we read, “3 This is good, and pleases God our Savior, 4 who wants all people to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth.” 

The same word used for pleases in this verse is also used in our text for today. The desires of God unveil His pleasure which is to save the lost. This desire led Him to provide His Son as the ransom for all who are helpless and hopeless, and that is all of us. We are most like Him when we find great pleasure in rescuing the destitute. Of course, we rescue the destitute best when we are sharing the gospel of His Son with them because His provision not only provides for them now but also, and most importantly, for eternity. 

1 Timothy 5:1-2

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1 Do not rebuke an older man harshly, but exhort him as if he were your father. Treat younger men as brothers, 2 older women as mothers, and younger women as sisters, with absolute purity. ~ 1 Timothy 5:1-2

False teaching had found its way into the first century church in Ephesus. Legalism had led many astray. Selfish men and obnoxious women were wreaking havoc during times of worship. Relationships were a mess between children and their parents, servants and masters, men and women, the young and the old. Sinful lifestyles were allowed and were ruining everything. Godlessness threatened to destroy the young church in Ephesus.

Throughout this first letter written by the Apostle Paul to his young disciple, Timothy, Paul elevates the utter importance of relationships by offering godly wisdom on how they should work. If we do not have natural and loving relationships wherein respect reigns, sin will run rampant and lives will be destroyed. This is one of the many reasons God chose to live inside the believer through the Holy Spirit, to aid us in dealing with the various issues that come up in life.

In the first half of v.1 we read, "Do not rebuke an older man harshly, but exhort him as if he were your father."

How we view others is generally the way we treat them. But, this should not be so among believers in the Lord Jesus Christ. There should be no caste system among believers because the ground is level at the foot of the cross. God is so clear in His word on how we should relate with and to one another. In fact, the first of the second group of commands in the Ten Commandments is: Honor your father and your mother, so that you may live long in the land the Lord your God is giving you. 

Very few understand that God gave us the fifth command for our benefit and well-being. You see, if we were taught to respect our parents when we were young, we will not have any difficulty respecting anyone who happens to be in the position of authority in our lives. When we were young, having been trained in the culture of God, the basic approach to get life right was born and we were given the basic infrastructure in our souls to deal with the problems that come along with living. If we do not have God's infrastructure, well, life is going to be a bit more difficult.

In v.1 of today's text, there are two principles given. The first is respect for our elders and the second is accountable for a lifestyle that is not in line with God's definitions of things. The believer in Christ has the responsibility within the family of God to go to a sinning brother and lovingly confront him with his sinful lifestyle. The goal is not to show the sinning brother up, the goal is to lovingly get him back on track with God's definitions of all things. We are to confront the sin with determination and the sinner with respect. God expects the young brother in the Lord to confront the older brother as he would his father, with respect and humility.

In the latter part of v.1 we read, "Treat younger men as brothers." Further, the Apostle Paul tells Timothy to view young men as though they were his brothers. Young men are not to be our rivals or enemies; they are our brothers. Our brotherly relationships should be one of openness, honesty, respect and concern for each other. When we see young men as brothers in the Lord, we will treat them as such.

The real issue is this: will we be defined by man's ways or God's ways? Within the believer in Christ a war is being waged which is not being waged inside the nonbeliever. In Galatians 5:1 we read, "It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery." 

When you and I became believers in Christ, His presence through the Holy Spirit came into our lives. Now, we have the ability to know and walk in God's ways. We are learning that the Christian life is not about following rules, it is about this newfound relationship that we have with God, wherein we are learning His heart of goodness for us. And, this growing understanding of God will translate itself in the way we treat others.

In v.2 we read, "Treat older women as mothers, and younger women as sisters, with absolute purity." God is clear throughout the Scriptures, young women are to be protected in purity. There is nothing more as evil and wicked as a man taking advantage of a younger woman. It is hard to take advantage of a woman whom we see as our mother or as our sister. This is why the Apostle tells us that whoever deals with younger women, they are to deal with them as a sister, in purity. 

This word "purity" is only used twice in the New Testament and both times are in the book of First Timothy (4:12; 5:2). This word brings with it the sense of “sexual purity.” This is another of those areas where, if we were not trained in the thinking and ways of God when we were younger, it will show up in this area. There is a connection between being trained in the wisdom of God and avoiding sexual sin. We all share a void in our souls that the culture of this world will lead us to think that will be filled by sexual intercourse, but real intimacy is feeling without touching.

In the Song of Solomon there is an admonition given three times (2:7, 3:5, 8:4) by the soon to be bride to her female companions: it reads, "I charge you, O daughters of Jerusalem, that you not stir up nor awaken love until it pleases." In other words, "Do not artificially stimulate romantic involvement; it will come in the context of marital commitment. In the meantime, relate to one another as brothers and sisters. That gives an opportunity to really learn who people are, without the blindness that accompanies sexual attraction.

Finally, when time began, God said it was not good for us to be alone (Genesis 2:18). So He gave us relationship. The Bible shows us what our relationship to God is meant to be and how we can have that kind of relationship with Him. It shows us how we should interact and treat our fellow man. This is what makes Christianity unique. The God we worship wants a personal relationship with us! And, it is out of our relationship with God that we learn best how to relate with others.

1 Timothy 4:15-16

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15 Give your complete attention to these matters. Throw yourself into your tasks so that everyone will see your progress. 16 Keep a close watch on how you live and on your teaching. Stay true to what is right for the sake of your own salvation and the salvation of those who hear you. ~ 1 Timothy 4:15-16

Today, we come back to the Apostle Paul's notes on how to be the best leader. In v.15 he writes, "Give your complete attention to these matters. Throw yourself into your tasks." Literally it reads, “Be in your God-given tasks and be  totally absorbed in God's call on your life." There can be no success in our involvement in what God is doing in this world without total dedication to His calling on our lives.

The purpose is given in the last part of v.15, "so that everyone will see your progress." 

This word, "progress," is given commentary in Colossians 1:29 which reads, “To this end I strenuously contend with all the energy Christ so powerfully works in me.” Any spiritual progress that we experience must always be attributed to the Holy Spirit for it is He who enables the believer to do the humanly impossible. And, since it is humanly impossible, God gets the credit for the success.

In v.16 we read, "Keep a close watch on how you live and on your teaching. Stay true to what is right for the sake of your own salvation and the salvation of those who hear you."

The Apostle draws our attention to these two things, "Keep a close watch on how you live and on your teaching." Before we teach we must be taught. But, we must remain realistic for perfection is not attainable. Perfection is the standard for God will never challenge us to pursue anything less.

But, that is the beauty to all of this: only the Lord Jesus has ever accomplished perfection and He has all the answers that we all desire. This is where our authenticity is honed. As we attempt to attain perfection, we are clearly reminded that we are incapable. At this point the leader is honest with those whom He leads. It is at this point that the leader must be clear by sharing how He relied upon the Lord and when we are most reliant and dependable, the Lord is at His best. This is the message of all of the Scriptures since the Fall of Man. We can't but He can.

In the last half of v.16 we read, "Stay true to what is right for the sake of your own salvation and the salvation of those who hear you." The salvation that Paul is writing about here is not justification. No, it is sanctification, it is the process that we entered after we believed in the sacrificial death of the Lord Jesus for the forgiveness of our sin.  

Believers in the Lord Jesus Christ are saved in order to know Christ and to help others come to know Him. It is in the process of knowing Him that we learn His way of thinking and living. The Scriptures call this sanctification. Our commitment to the truth moves us along the persevering path of sanctification and makes us a blessing to all who would hear His message through us.

Today's text does not teach salvation by works. There is no thought here or any other passage in the Bible of earning anything from God. What this passage teaches is that we who are saved by grace through faith will give evidence of God's work in our lives by persevering in our faith in Him. Paul gives assurance of our eternity in heaven through the power and grace of God to keep us in Christ faithful to the end of time.

Christlikeness is not produced by imitation but by inhabitation. The mystery is Christ in us, the hope of glory. He lives in us through the abiding Holy Spirit. No other movement claims the living presence of its founder in his followers. The role the follower of Christ plays in all of this is we give Him the freedom to live His life in, to, and through us. This is the exchanged life, He took all of our sinfulness and He is giving us all of His goodness. This is what enables the yielded believer to be the effective leader that Paul describes in this passage.

Real leaders are convinced and are convincing. They have bought in to His calling on their lives. And, in order to convince others to embrace their calling, the leader invests wholly by giving himself wholly to the Lord.

1 Timothy 4:13-14

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13 Until I get there, focus on reading the Scriptures to the church, encouraging the believers, and teaching them. 14 Do not neglect the spiritual gift you received through the prophecy spoken over you when the elders of the church laid their hands on you. ~ 1 Timothy 4:13-14

In our text today, the Apostle Paul continues to inform us of the techniques of an effective leader. No one can lead others to a place he has never been himself. Of course, Paul wrote these principles to Timothy, a leader in the church at Ephesus, but they are applicable to any leader in any context.

In v.13 we read, "Until I get there, focus on reading the Scriptures to the church." 

The effective leader knows what he believes and where he is going. The phrase "focus on" means "devote yourself to, or "be absorbed in." Leaders are to be read by the scriptures as each one reads them. In other words, where we find discrepancies between our lives and the word of God, the word of God must win. Being defined by God enables the leader to be such. It is the word of God which gives the leader the direction he needs.

As clearly indicated here by the Apostle, the word of God must be central to our calling, not just our teaching. As Moses said in his last address to the children of Israel, the word of God must be our life. The phrase, "focus on reading the Scriptures to the church" literally should read, "focus on (the) reading (of) the Scriptures to the church." 

During every service in the early church, there was a time for the reading of the passage of Scripture for that day. Along with the reading came an explanation of the passage. To "focus on the reading" meant there would be careful exposition of the passage in a verse by verse way. 

In Romans 10:17 we read, "Faith comes by hearing and hearing by the word of God." Central to the development of our heart's ability to hear and see God is the word of God, the spoken word of God.

The word “encouragement” in v.13 brings forth the idea that the application of the Word to the lives of the people must be in clear focus. The leader is to read the Word, explain it, and apply it. The Apostle uses the Greek word didaskalia at the end of v.13, translated "teaching them." 

Didsakalia was the term used in ancient times to describe the work a playwright teaching his chorus and actors the play. In Paul's usage of this word, it included the teachings that one had garnered from the Lord as he read and walked with the Lord through the application of His word in his life on a daily basis. The natural outflow of being taught by the Lord led to being able to show to those being taught what the application of God's Word looks like in real life.

In v.14 we read, "Do not neglect the spiritual gift you received through the prophecy spoken over you when the elders of the church laid their hands on you."

Every believer in Christ has been given at least one spiritual gift. That gift is the channel by which the Holy Spirit ministers through us to others. The various spiritual gifts are listed in Romans 12, 1 Corinthians 12, Ephesians 4 and 1 Peter 4:10-11. These gifts are divine enablements through which the Holy Spirit builds up, equips and motivates the church to do God's work on this earth. The Spirit of God gives those gifts to us as He sovereignly chooses. We do not choose our own gifts.

Timothy’s spiritual gift was the gift of teaching the Word of God. According to Acts 16, there was a prophecy given, and the Spirit of God spoke that Timothy was "set aside for the preaching and teaching of the Word." It was much like what happened in Acts 13 when the Holy Spirit said, “Separate to me, Saul and Barnabas, for the work that I have for them.”

In ministry, there will always be days that we will want to give up and throw in the towel. This is part of being the kind of servants God wants us to be. God allows and sometimes causes the difficult and discouraging times to elevate His Word in our lives to us. He does this so that when we gain His wisdom as we listen to His Word, we will discover how to navigate life best. This is a necessity for helping others in life. 

As we grow in our ability to hear His Word, we are then granted the ability to see the inner workings of situations so that we might make strategic decisions rather than simply react. We then are positioned to communicate the knowledge and wisdom God has given us to navigate through our trials. This then positions us to be authentic, causing others to follow accordingly.

As the Word of God gets a hold on us, we discover how to lead in such a way that benefits others best. This happens as we, ourselves, are led by God through the trials life with the Word of God being the primary operating tool in the hand of God. In it all, if we let Him, He will train us to be the leaders we never thought we could be.

The result is usefulness. Once we are reduced to the point of wanting nothing more than the Potter's touch, we will be in the daily process of being molded. And, as we continually come to the end of self, we are privileged to watch Him more intimately involved in our lives with the passing of time. God's involvement in our lives leads us to some form of a more permanent yieldedness. And, it is out of this context that we discover such marvelous truths like: "In my weakness He is strong." 

 

1 Timothy 4:12

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Don’t let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith and in purity. ~ 1 Timothy 4:12 

We were all created with two basic, yet, profound needs: to be loved and to love. When we are loved we garner a certain measure of security which enables us to overcome the things we do to get the approval of others. And, of course, the source of said love is of utmost importance. The more we understand God's love for us, the more secure we will be.

When we are loving others we gain a certain measure of significance. The ability to love others without them loving us in return is the essence of freedom and authenticity.

In our text today, the Apostle reminds us that the single greatest tool of effective leadership is the power which comes through a yielded life to God. Of course, when we experience the influence of God in our lives, it is His power that comes through via the presence of the Holy Spirit residing in our spirit. 

Before the Lord Jesus went to the cross He said to His followers: “I will not leave you helpless orphans.” The Lord Jesus knew His disciples would be able to do nothing for themselves in the spiritual realm, therefore, He provided us the Holy Spirit who expresses the Lord Jesus in, to, and through the yielded believer's life. 

The Lord gave us the Holy Spirit so that we could receive the life of the Lord Jesus. And, when we yield ourselves to Him, He will enable us to recognize the purpose behind weakness, pain and suffering, which is to reveal His person and power.

In the first part of 1 Timothy 4:12 we read, "Don’t let anyone look down on you because you are young." None of us can ultimately determine what others think of us, yet, we do not have to let them define us. Any weakness we experience is useful to the All Powerful One for in our weakness He is strong. Our weaknesses remind us to be defined by God. This is the essence of the first part of today's text.

When Timothy joined the Apostle Paul during his second  missionary journey, he was probably in his early to mid-twenties. The Apostle Paul probably penned this first letter to Timothy about fifteen years later. So, it is very likely that Timothy was in his late thirties at the time of receiving these instructions from Paul. In those days, and in their culture, one had to be at least forty in order to be respected by those who were older. Timothy had his work cut out for him, unless he was being defined by God.

In the middle portion of 1 Timothy 4:12 we read, "but set an example for the believers." Literally, the Apostle wrote, "but a pattern be for the believers." The word used here for “example” means to have the imprint of God on one's life. 

In the Scriptures, the Lord often uses the illustration of the Potter to describe Himself and He uses the clay pot to describe us. The idea is He is the One who fashions and molds us, if we let Him. This is always His goal, to express Himself to and through the yielded believer.

When the Potter applies the pressure to the clay pot, His goal is always the expression of Himself. When the clay pot allows the Potter to do His work, even though it is uncomfortable, in the end, the Potter forms a worthy pot that will be converted over and over as others are blessed by its usefulness. 

There are two things the Apostle tells Timothy to do and both are highlighted by two similar sounding words: let, and set. "Don’t let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers." 

The Apostle reminds us to allow His imprint in our lives and to let it show in two specific areas: in our speech and in our lifestyle. Then the Apostle gives three qualities which ought to come through in our speech and lifestyle: love, faith, and purity. 

The first is love. The word the Apostle uses here for love is agape which is the word for commitment or willful delight in the object of one's love. Agape is sacrificial love which voluntarily suffers inconvenience, discomfort, and even death for the benefit of another without expecting anything in return. Agape is always shown by what it does. God’s love is displayed most clearly at the cross.

The second quality the Apostle highlights here is faith which is best translated faithfulness or trustworthiness or loyalty. Faithfulness drives home a consistent trust that others find easy to follow. And, of course, this begins with the leader giving his heart to the Lord daily. Then, by the end of the day, the leader will recognize that the imprint of God was on his life.

The third quality the Apostle highlights here is purity. The Apostle uses the Greek word hagneia to explain purity in the sexual arena. The Ephesians had a distorted view of love due to their culture which was largely defined by the goddess Diana. At the Temple of Diana, sexual immorality was an acceptable form of worship. The teachings of Diana ignored God's definition of sex, to be a physical expression of oneness with one's husband or wife. God gave sex to enhance the marriage. And, without commitment, sex takes on a totally different role in a relationship between two people.

When someone engages in sex outside of the commitment of marriage, it will not take long for them to discover that sex can be destructive. Improper sex is addictive and like all addictions, the more that you do it, outside of marriage, the less payoff there will be. Sex then becomes less powerful and therefore less pleasurable. However, sex within marriage becomes sweeter and more powerful because it is more about giving than receiving. Sex within the marriage is a powerful statement of exclusive commitment and faithfulness to the other person.

Finally, even though Timothy was a young leader, God equipped him to be a great leader. And, the way anyone becomes a great leader is by recognizing the Lord Jesus is the secret to our success as long as he is being defined by Him.

1 Timothy 4:10-11

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10 That is why we labor and strive, because we have put our hope in the living God, who is the Savior of all people, and especially of those who believe. 11 Command and teach these things! ~ 1 Timothy 4:10-11

This first epistle of the Apostle Paul written to Timothy is about being trained by the truth. And, when we are being trained by the truth, we are made more effective at communicating the truth to others. 

In v.10 of today's text we read, "That is why we labor and strive, because we have put our hope in the living God, who is the Savior of all people, and especially of those who believe."

When we are convinced of the truth of the Gospel of Jesus Christ, we will be single-mindedly focused on the opportunities in life to influence others in a way that they may be enabled to see the truth of the Gospel as we have. This investment comes on the heels of our authentic walk with the Lord whereby He is training us by the application of His truth as it happens to us. The best classroom wherein God teaches us is most often the most difficult. All of this underscores the most important thing in our lives: our understanding of God or our theology. It is our theology that determines our choices in life.

Once we entered into a personal relationship with the God of all Creation, we were made aware of a different realm that we were not all that aware of before. All of a sudden, we found ourselves functioning with eternity in view and from eternities perspective, everything else comes into clearer view. This results in laboring and striving to deliver the Gospel to others as clearly as we have seen it for ourselves. I have found that God has given me the life experiences that I have so that I may know Him and make Him known better.

This work is so labor intensive because the results are so serious. For everyone we know and have known and will know will spend eternity in heaven or hell based upon how each responds to the Gospel of the Lord Jesus. When was the last time we contemplated what hell is like for those who are there right now? This should move us to serious action to share the Gospel with all who will hear us.

Paul writes, "because we have put our hope in the living God." Having given our hearts to the Lord, we are learning that He is giving His heart to us. And, this has serious ramifications: we are gaining a greater sense of concern for the lost. One of the common criticisms the Lord Jesus faced when He walked this earth was:  He spent too much time with sinners. If we are gaining His heart, we will be accused in like manner. Due to the fact that we know that all will one day either stand before God as Judge or Savior, we should work hard at connecting with people in such a way that we are privileged to share the gospel with them in hopes that they will receive the free gift of forgiveness through the Lord Jesus.

The word “labor” comes from a Greek verb which means to work to the point of weariness or exhaustion. The word “strive” comes from a Greek verb which means to agonize. As those who have heaven as our home, we work to the point of exhaustion and we agonize over the lost estate of those who are not in Christ because we know the eternal outcome for everyone who rejects this free gift.

We know many in this world who live as if this world is the ultimate in reality and they invest everything they have in holding onto this world. The Christian is different, "we have put our hope in the living God." We deprive ourselves of the earthly pleasures and we suffer rejection because our hope is set on eternity with the living God. We are not tied to the temporal, we are not trying to amass a fortune here so we can indulge ourselves before we leave earth. We are set on and defined by the future. Eternity! We live out of this hope that will propel us into an eternity of love and joy and peace and patience and kindness and goodness and self-control. 

It is this sure hope that the Lord Jesus has earned for us and we long for others to know it for themselves. William Faulkner once said, "You cannot swim for new horizons until you have courage to lose sight of the shore." To what degree are we willing to lose sight of the shore of this world? To the degree that we are convinced of the reality of heaven becomes the degree to which we will lose our grip on this world.

In v.11 we read, "Command and teach these things." The word "command" underscores the seriousness of the issue at hand. And, the word “teach” includes the idea of passing on information to another in a way that causes them to want it. In Titus 2:10, the Apostle Paul commands us to "adorn the Gospel." The Greek word used for adorn gives us our English word "cosmetic" which is to dress it up, to beautify it. We do this best by developing a trusting relationship with the lost, a relationship wherein we earn their trust. And, as we get to know them, we do well to be humble, honest, and authentic in our walk with the Lord for it is out of our sincere love for the Lord that He speaks His truth most loudly.

The greatest and most attractive of all virtues is love; it is the universal language. If people are convinced of our love for the Lord and them, they will be drawn to Him. Love should be the ultimate mark of the disciple of the Lord Jesus, who said, "By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another" (John 13:35).

1 Timothy 4:7-9

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7 Have nothing to do with godless myths and old wives’ tales; rather, train yourself to be godly. 8 For physical training is of some value, but godliness has value for all things, holding promise for both the present life and the life to come. 9 This is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance. ~ 1 Timothy 4:7-9

Today's topic is the continuation of what we discovered in 1 Timothy 4:1-6. In order to be most effective in serving and influencing others, we must understand that all false teaching comes from the demonic world. These demonic influences have been around since the fall of Lucifer and their tactic is always to lead us to self rather than the Savior. In addition, we must be defined by and saturated by the Word of God.

In v.7 we read, "Have nothing to do with godless myths and old wives’ tales; rather, train yourself to be godly." 

Since the enemy wants to lead us to self, we are to reject anything that places more emphasis on us rather than on God. These godless teachings have no basis in Scripture. While acknowledging self-denial has some value, we do best to consistently aim at that which God is doing in this world to redeem mankind and find effective ways to be a part of His work. Someone once said, "A chemist may handle and study poisons, but he does not permit them to get into his system."

These “old wive’s tales” brought with them the idea that it was best to not marry and that godliness is measured by the foods we eat. In that day, when they wanted to bring disdain on some viewpoint, they would call it an old wive’s tale. By using this description, the Apostle was saying that the false teaching was unbiblical. 

Now, spiritual effectiveness is the result of being saturated with the Word of God. Whereas the Bible will keep us from sin, sin will keep us from the Bible. We must be convinced of the value of the Word of God, even when it slams us. In addition, we must be careful not to have a welcome mat in our being for false teaching.

In 1 Timothy 1:4 Paul reminded us to not waste our time on myths and endless genealogies that only promote controversial speculations rather than advancing the truth of God. In 2 Timothy 2:16 Paul says avoid godless chatter because those who indulge in it will only become more and more ungodly. The point is whatever is not on par with God's definition of things, do not be distracted by it from the truth. Be defined by the truth.

At the end of v.7 we read, "rather, train yourself to be godly." Ministry is not how clever we are, it is about how God is defining of us. For the word "train" the Apostle uses the Greek word gumnazō. We get our English word gymnasium from it. To train ourselves is to develop the habit of saying "no" to the flesh and "yes" to the Spirit who will always work in tandem in our lives with the Word of God. He will always render a selflessness that enables others to see the secret to our spiritual success, the Lord Jesus Christ Himself.

Now, in Ephesus, in those days, physical training was prized and was very vital. The Greeks were into physical beauty. They invested heavily in the training the body. They went to the gym in order to train their bodies every day. They had a Gold's Gym on every corner, too. So, the Apostle Paul uses this word, gumnazō, to describe how we are to invest heavily in being “godly.”

Godliness is not about good people getting better. Godliness is the accentuation of God in our lives. The emphasis must never be on the one who is experiencing the invasion of God into His life. In many ways, godliness is about us getting out of God's way and allowing Him to express Himself.

In v.8 we read, "8 For physical training is of some value, but godliness has value for all things, holding promise for both the present life and the life to come."

In comparison, our eternal investment is far more profitable than our temporal investment. When we get involved in spiritual gymnastics the godly results will not only be for now but for eternity. Paul is encouraging our involvement in our sanctification which is a process whereby God is changing us from the inside out to think and live according to His definitions. And the benefactors of our sanctification are those we influence to go with God.

In v.9 we read, "This is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance."

The Apostle Paul uses the phrase, "This is a trustworthy saying," five times in the pastoral epistles. It means it’s a truism, an axiom, a maxim. It is something patently obvious, it is axiomatic. Everybody knows that bodily exercise is only good for a little time but spiritual exercise is good forever and enduring. Godliness is increasingly going out of vogue, but everyone knows it is the answer. We must be wise to let God have His way today in our lives.

1 Timothy 4:6

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If you point these things out to the brothers and sisters, you will be a good minister of Christ Jesus, nourished on the truths of the faith and of the good teaching that you have followed. ~ 1 Timothy 4:6

In today's text the Apostle Paul is instructing Timothy on how to be most effective in ministry. The Greek word used in v.6 for "minister" is the word from which we get our English word “deacon.” As we considered while discussing the work of the deacon, it means servant. When we lack an attitude of service, our usefulness to the Lord's work in this world will be limited. 

This one verse illustrates the most effective way to disarm false teaching. The best way to make ineffective the false is not by correcting it, it is by affirming the truth. And, we affirm and teach the truth best by living it. 

When we are known by what we do not believe, we will be good at refuting error. But, we will find it difficult to teach authentic Christianity because we will not know the mystery of Christianity. We will know what’s wrong, but we will not know what’s right. Knowing the Lord Jesus is the secret to knowing what is right.

True ministry is the positive building up of others, not emphasizing error but making our souls a safe haven for the truth. This will result in effective ministry. It is the true nature of ministry to be positive. It is the building up or the edification of others that causes us to be most effective in our service of others. 

Now, this does not mean that we do not identify and call out error. It just means that the overwhelming approach to life is the accentuation of eternal life which is the Lord Jesus Himself. And, if we are experiencing Him everyday, it will be natural to have an effective ministry in our homes, our churches and our communities.

In v.6 the Apostle wrote, "If you point these things out to the brothers and sisters." In other words, we must teach others to be discerning. To be discerning is to think biblically. The best way for others to see us thinking biblically is for us to live biblically. This is basic to all leadership. And it’s not the idea of commanding people, it is not the idea of forcing people to buy into things. This is authentic, honest and humble walking with the Lord on a daily basis. We do this best when we are most convinced that we need Him. Sadly, most often, trials are required to convince us to walk with Him. But, on the other hand, when we go through trials and walk with Him, those around us are taught best.

In the middle of v.6 we read, "a good minister of Christ Jesus, nourished on the truths of the faith." To be nourished we must have a hunger, and in many ways, our hunger is not necessarily pleasant. King David wrote, "I thirst, I hunger." And, over time, David learned that his hunger was for the Lord, as is all of our hungers.

The Lord Jesus said, "I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never go hungry, and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty."

In John 6 the Lord Jesus said, "Do not work for food that spoils, but for food that endures to eternal life, which the Son of Man will give you. For on him God the Father has placed his seal of approval." Here the Lord Jesus discloses that eternal life is a gift to be received not a promise to be earned.

The Lord comes to us through His word as the one who is bread to our souls. He offers us His life to enable us to experience eternal life. We were not meant to produce our own food. We were meant to be nourished by Him. This is part of the reason that He came to earth. He did not send someone or something else; He came Himself to give Himself. And, as a result He is all that we need. And, when we have Him, we will have all that we need to serve Him by serving others.

1 Timothy 4:4-5

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4 For everything God created is good, and nothing is to be rejected if it is received with thanksgiving, 5 because it is consecrated by the word of God and prayer. ~ 1 Timothy 4:4-5

Today's text comes on the heels of Paul's warning in 1 Timothy 4:1 which reads, "in later times some will abandon the faith." The faith is simply God's definitions of all things. All things find their meaning only in their created origin or God's definition and design of all things.

Now, 1 Timothy 4:1 comes on the heels of the apostle's words in 1 Timothy 3:16 which reads, "Beyond all question, the mystery from which true godliness springs is great." 

The Lord Jesus is the mystery from which true godliness springs. He is the believer's righteousness which becomes for the believer the compass to not only knowing God but also making Him known. And, the central focus of all false teaching is to make for themselves a form of the Lord Jesus made in their image as someone different than the description of Him in the Scriptures.

To discover true Christianity, we must ask one question: "What is being taught about the Lord Jesus? Is He the God-Man who shed His blood to redeem mankind back to Himself?" All teaching must be measured by the plumb line of the Scriptures presentation of the Lord Jesus Christ Himself. This is the context within which the Apostle Paul writes today's text.

In v.4 we read, "For everything God created is good, and nothing is to be rejected if it is received with thanksgiving."

The false teachers in Ephesus were forbidding marriage and the eating of certain foods. They had combined Jewish legalism with Eastern asceticism to make up their own religion. They loved using the word "forbidding." In keeping with Lucifer's approach to all things, false teaching always puts the spotlight on man and his accomplishments, whereas biblical Christianity will always place the spotlight on the Lord Jesus and His accomplishments.

Now, the Apostle Paul answers these teachers by going back to the doctrine of creation. He writes, "For everything God created is good, and nothing is to be rejected if it is received with thanksgiving." 

Here, the Apostle is cultivating in us the habit of gratitude. If we do not adopt the posture of seeing that everything comes to us as a gift from God, we will most likely be duped by the deceptive artistry of the evil one and miss out on the transcendent perspective born out of grace.

In James 1:17 we read, "Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows." 

In context James is explaining how we are led from a meaningful and personal relationship with God to a life of rebellion against Him. The first step away from God comes on the loss of our recognition of His goodness.

Thanksgiving is the recognition that everything comes as a gift from the loving God of all creation. When we receive everything as a gift from Him, humility, which is so essential to the depth of any relationship, will garrison our souls into a loving interaction with our Creator. And, it is then that we are reminded that we are not the kings on the thrones of our existences. It was G.K. Chesterton who once said, "gratitude is the highest form of thought, it is happiness doubled by wonder."

False teachers always present the God of the Bible as more strict than He really is. The serpent in the Garden also did this when he said to Eve in Genesis 3:1-3, "1 Did God really say, ‘You must not eat from any tree in the garden’?” 2 The woman said to the serpent, “We may eat fruit from the trees in the garden, 3 but God did say, ‘You must not eat fruit from the tree that is in the middle of the garden, and you must not touch it, or you will die." Satan smuggles in the idea that God is a liar, and he also gets Eve to misquote God when she said, "You shall not touch it."

In v.5 we read, "because it is consecrated by the word of God and prayer." When we allow the enemy to slither into our thinking that we can be on par with God, we will discover derailment before we arrive at the station of our lives. But, when we put all things through the colander of God's word and prayer, we will arrive upon the biblical definition of all things. The remedy for wayward and unbiblical thinking is recognizing that we are the created who must not deviate from being defined by God. Thus, it will be out of this posture that we will be framed up by this God who brushes up gratitude from within our redeemed souls. And, that is good!

1 Timothy 4:1-3

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1 The Spirit clearly says that in later times some will abandon the faith and follow deceiving spirits and things taught by demons. 2 Such teachings come through hypocritical liars, whose consciences have been seared as with a hot iron. 3 They forbid people to marry and order them to abstain from certain foods, which God created to be received with thanksgiving by those who believe and who know the truth. ~ 1 Timothy 4:1-3

The apostle Paul, in Acts 20:28-31, warned the Ephesian elders that false teachers would invade the church. These false teachers were apostate which is when someone departs from the faith they previously affirmed. They depart from the faith because their hearts were never engaged with the Lord in the first place. They never had a personal relationship with God, they never knew Him.

Throughout the history of this world, God has called people into a personal relationship with Him through His written and His living word. The written word is all about the living word. And, Satan and his demons know this, so, they try to lure us away from truth with their lies which are skirted with some of the truth.

In today's text, the Apostle launches into a discussion of the demonic forces that come against the truth. This is the only place where demons are mentioned in the pastoral epistles. In these verses Paul presents the topic of apostasy.

In v.1 we read, "The Spirit clearly says that in later times some will abandon the faith and follow deceiving spirits and things taught by demons."

The Apostle uses the verb apostēsontai which means “to remove oneself from one position to another.” For the Apostate, this is always an intentional departure. The Apostle was not describing something unintentional, he was not talking about somebody struggling with doubt. This is someone who deliberately rejects the truth that he once affirmed.

An unbelieving heart leads one to depart from the living God. He allows himself to be lured away and seduced away by demonic forces. Most often these forces use everyday things like our felt needs for security or love or attention, and he slowly lures us away until we freely give ourselves to his control. This is not an overnight event. This is why it is so important to keep short accounts with the Lord regarding our forgiven sin.

Here is a person exposed to Christian truth, a person who to some degree affirms a confidence in the Lord Jesus, but because his heart is not truly God’s, he is lured away by the enemy of God. He turns from the truth to the lies of the devil and is drawn away from the true faith unto eternal damnation.

In v.2 we read, "Such teachings come through hypocritical liars, whose consciences have been seared as with a hot iron."

These false teachers appear to be good preachers or priests or religious leaders of one kind or another. They may be good on the outside. They may be very religious in their appearance. They may appear to be pure in their motives. They pretend to exalt God whom they don’t exalt at all, but rather they exalt themselves.

One of the marks of a true servant of God is selflessness. He is in the habit of being read by that he reads, and the result is that God defines him. He is immediately known by his honesty and humility because the word of God has done its work on him. As a result, he practices what he preaches. He has not become sinless or perfect, but he sincerely seeks to know and be known by the Word of God. 

The Apostle writes in v.2, "whose consciences have been seared as with a hot iron." False teachers will always be defined by himself and will be carried on in life by their hypocrisy. They do this because their consciences have been desensitized to God, His Spirit and His definitions of all things.

Our conscience is the tool that sends off impulses to affirm or condemn our actions, whether they are in line with God's definitions of life or not, but hypocrites have no conscience. Their conscience has been turned into scar tissue, and no longer do they feel in accordance with God's Word and Spirit. 

In fact, the term “seared” is a technical medical term from which we get our English word “cauterized.” The false teacher is so scarred to the point where he can carry on his lie and  hypocrisy and seem to have no conscience.

In v.3 we read, "They forbid people to marry and order them to abstain from certain foods, which God created to be received with thanksgiving by those who believe and who know the truth."

The false teachers in Ephesus were majoring on two things, forbidding marriage and forbidding certain foods. In so doing, they combined Jewish legalism with Eastern asceticism. These false teachers taught that an unmarried life was more spiritual than a married life, which is contrary to Scripture. We must always beware of any religious teaching that tampers with God’s definition of marriage. 

In addition, these false teachers equated abstaining from certain foods with spirituality. Salvation for them was built on how they denied themselves. Typical of all false religions, they devise human means by which one becomes saved, either by things done or by things not done. Religion puts man on the throne, not God. At its heart religion embraces the conviction that self-denial somehow pleases God.

The central deviation of all religious error is a negative depiction of the person of the Lord Jesus Christ who is the fulfillment of all scripture. The unseen diabolical forces know Jesus is Lord, so their thrust of error is to divert our attention away from Him. Their goal is to prevent us from bowing our wills to His loving embrace.

Finally, it is the living and the written word of God that softens our conscience toward all that is Him. Reading and being read by Him daily is the key to a vibrant walk with Him. God's goal in our lives is to free us from the bonds of slavery to the enemy. So, when we come to Him though His word and He says something to us that we do not like, we have a choice to allow Him to do heart surgery in us or not. When we are amiable to His heart changing presence in our lives, we will not only maintain a tender heart toward Him, but we will grow in our love for others.

1 Timothy 3:14-16

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14 Although I hope to come to you soon, I am writing you these instructions so that, 15 if I am delayed, you will know how people ought to conduct themselves in God’s household, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and foundation of the truth. 16 Beyond all question, the mystery from which true godliness springs is great: He appeared in the flesh, was vindicated by the Spirit, was seen by angels, was preached among the nations, was believed on in the world, was taken up in glory. ~ 1 Timothy 3:14-16

Having taught on leadership within the church, the Apostle Paul turns our attention to the gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ. The church in Ephesus had begun to abandon sound doctrine, so as a result, there was a need to reiterate the essential message of Christianity. This is the emphasis of today's text.

In v.14 we read, "these instructions" which refer to the underlying reason why the Apostle wrote this epistle. Not only that which he had written but also the things he has yet to write. Essentially, the Apostle is teaching Timothy THE essential of the faith.

In v.15 we read, "if I am delayed, you will know how people ought to conduct themselves in God’s household, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and foundation of the truth." 

The word “household,” used in v.15, is oikos which does not speak of a building. Very often people refer to the buildings as the church. This is not biblical. The Apostle is properly referring to the church as the people in relationship with God. The emphasis here is that believers in the Lord Jesus Christ are all a part of a family that is in dynamic relationship with the living God of the Bible. The church is not a part of an organization that is to be treated like a business, however, we are a part of an organism that is actually in personal relationship with the living God. As the Apostle points out, if we miss this most essential part of the faith, we miss it all.

During the first century, the number one god in Ephesus was Diana. Those who once worshipped at the Temple dedicated to Diana and had professed faith in the Lord Jesus Christ were still learning of God's ways and how His ways were quite to the contrary to those of Diana.

So, at the end of v.15 we read, "the pillar and foundation of the truth." Paul is saying, "The church is the pillar and foundation of the truth." His point was quickly understood by the folks in Ephesus due to the huge pillars and the large foundation that undergirded the Temple of Diana. It had 127 pillars that supported the massive structure. These pillars were made of solid marble, studded with jewels and overlaid with gold. Each of them were gifts from various kings throughout the world and each were tributes to those who gave them. The pillar and foundations held up the huge structure which at that time was one of the seven wonders of the world.

With the Temple of Diana as his backdrop, the Apostle Paul captured the minds of those who were in the church in Ephesus. In the same way that the pillars and foundation supported the temple of Diana, the church is to be the living support system of the truth. The church does not make the truth, we support it, we hold it up. It is a sacred treasure given to us for the glory of God, the good of men and we must hold it as our most precious treasure. The church does not make the truth, it is making us.

In v.16 we read, "Beyond all question, the mystery from which true godliness springs is great: He appeared in the flesh, was vindicated by the Spirit, was seen by angels, was preached among the nations, was believed on in the world, was taken up in glory."

The Lord Jesus Christ is the mystery and He is the essence of eternal life and godliness. The Christian faith is a faith built on the person and righteousness of the Lord Jesus Christ. He is the one at the center of all that we believe. And, in v.16, the Apostle Paul gives us six essentials of our Lord.

"He appeared in the flesh." When the Lord Jesus came to earth, God became the God-man. The Lord Jesus pre-existed, and then He took on visible human form. He made the invisible God visible to man.

"He was vindicated by the Spirit." This means He was declared righteous by the Spirit of God. Along with the Father, the Holy Spirit was the other needed witness proving the diety of the Lord Jesus. In His flesh the Lord Jesus was and is the sinless human and in His Spirit He was and is God. He was declared to be righteous by the Holy Spirit and this is why the Father said on two different occasions, “This is My beloved Son in whom I am well pleased.” 

The Lord Jesus was declared righteous by God so that He could save sinful man from the wrath of God. In 2 Corinthians 5:21 we read, “He who knew no sin became sin for us.” The Lord Jesus Christ never sinned, but when He went to the cross, He absorbed the punishment of God for all sin, so that God could forgive the sin of all who would believe in Him.

"He was seen by angels." Throughout the earthly life of the Lord Jesus, the angels observed Him, watched over Him, visited Him, and attended to His needs. The Lord Jesus Christ  is the fulfillment of all of the scriptures and the angels attested to that at His birth, in the Garden of Gethsemane, at His cross and at His resurrection.

"He was preached among the nations." After His resurrection and His exaltation in the eyes of the holy angels, the resurrected Lord Jesus Christ was preached among the nations because without this most essential message, no man would be saved.

"He was believed on in the world." The preaching of the forgiveness of sin resulted in the salvation of all who have and will believe on Him. The first time the gospel was preached in Jerusalem, after His resurrection, three thousand people believed. Belief in the finished work of the Lord Jesus on the cross is essential to salvation.

"He was taken up in glory." In Acts 1:9 we read, "And when He had spoken these things, while they beheld, He was taken up and a cloud received Him out of their sight. And while they were looking steadfastly toward heaven as He went up, two men stood by them in white apparel, and they said, 'You men of Galilee, why do you stand gazing into heaven? The same Jesus taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as you have seen Him go into heaven.'"

This is the essential teaching that Jesus Christ is God, the Savior of all who have and will believe on Him. As a result, He is most precious to us. So precious, we guard our personal relationship with Him and we, at every opportunity,  preach Him crucified, imploring all to believe in His finished work on the cross for the forgiveness of sin and to receive the free gift of salvation through His precious blood. When we lose sight of this one essential, we are all in danger of falling away which is the subject of the verse which follows. And, we will consider those in our next blog and podcast.

1 Timothy 3:12-13

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12 A deacon must be faithful to his wife and must manage his children and his household well. 13 Those who have served well gain an excellent standing and great assurance in their faith in Christ Jesus. ~ 1 Timothy 3:12-13

Today, we close out the Apostle Paul's teaching on the marks of a deacon. As is the case with all leaders, the deacon’s wife is a part of his ministry because the proof of one's love for the Lord is first and best seen in the home of the deacon. How he treasures his wife is a great indication on how sincere the deacon is.

In every one of Paul's letters, he shows an unmistakable and an unshakable commitment to the truth no matter what the circumstances. The Apostle Paul recognized the Lord Jesus as the complete Lord of his life. As a result, the Apostle Paul was convinced that nothing happened in his life that was not okayed in advance by the Lord Jesus.

In addition, the Apostle Paul saw the Lord Jesus as his own personal Savior who forgave his sins, who picked him up when he was discouraged, who stood by him in times of trouble and intense pressure. He saw the Lord Jesus as his companion, as his dearest friend who never left him. This is the secret of standing today amid the mounting pressures that we face in the world. Christianity was never intended to be a creed to be believed, or certain doctrines that we subscribe to only. Christianity is a person whom we know, whom we interact with and rely upon day-by-day.

In v.12 we read, "A deacon must be faithful to his wife and must manage his children and his household well."

This teaching is reminiscent of the earlier teaching in this chapter that the Apostle gave to the Elders. The word used here for "faithful" is commentary that I agree with. Paul literally writes "mias gunaikos" which means "of one wife." Many translate this to mean that a deacon can not be divorced, but I kindly disagree. Paul is saying, "a deacon must be faithful to his wife." He is not running around on his wife. And, by the way, the best thing a man can do for his children is to love their mother unconditionally.

This leads to the next instruction the Apostle gives to the deacon. He writes in v.12, "A deacon must manage his children and his household well." The word "manage" is the same word used of Elders in 1 Timothy 3:4 which means "to stand before." The focus in this word is care for his family. He knows the Lord for himself as his savior, friend and companion and this enables him to be authentic before his family. To manage is to have earned the trust of one's family. This type of leadership in the home comes from the authenticity that grows out of the deacon's selfless love and concern for his family.


In v.13 we read, "Those who have served well gain an excellent standing and great assurance in their faith in Christ Jesus."  

Those who have served well are given two promises here. The first promise is an excellent standing. This literally means “stepping up above everyone else.” This word bathmos could be translated “pedestal,” or “an elevated platform.” Literally, the Apostle writes, "When a deacon serves well, he is put on a pedestal."

If a deacon serves in humility, with a sincere desire to serve, he will be lifted up. It is not that the deacon seeks to be lifted up, but when he humbles himself before the Lord to fulfill the Lord's call on his life, the Lord will lift him up.

In addition, those around him will respect him. The honor will be natural because the deacon is motivated by love for the Lord and His call. The deacon will gain respect as a result of the selfless living exhibited. We pattern our lives after those we respect. 

The second promise in v.13 is great assurance in their faith in Christ Jesus. In other words, because the deacon is faithfully walking with the Lord, serving Him well and He is blessing the service rendered, the deacon sees God's power, grace, and presence in his life. This garners great confidence and faith into the life of the deacon.

For the word assurance the Apostle used the Greek word parresia which means a confidence that produces a snowballing effect that heightens his awareness of God's blessing. This will result in the deacon's heightened usefulness and effectiveness. We naturally gain a greater sense of confidence, and boldness when we look back on our past to see what God has done in and through us. And, on the basis of knowing His hand is on our lives, we can take on anything, even though we feel inadequate. This is the kind of confidence we get from faithful service to the Lord.

1 Timothy 3:9-11

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9 They (Deacons) must keep hold of the deep truths of the faith with a clear conscience. 10 They must first be tested; and then if there is nothing against them, let them serve as deacons. 11 In the same way, the women are to be worthy of respect, not malicious talkers but temperate and trustworthy in everything. ~ 1 Timothy 3:9-11

In today's text, the Apostle Paul addresses the heart of the deacon. In v.9 we read, deacons "must keep hold of the deep truths of the faith with a clear conscience." The deacon is to be known as one who knows and understands the deep truths of the faith. As with anything worthwhile, it takes time and serious effort to know and understand the deep truths of the faith. The key is to be known by these deep truths. This means we must have the humility and the willingness to entertain and wade through the deep questions of life which is more painful than I can say. There is no knowing and understanding these deep truths without going through the dark moments which leave us with the Lord Jesus and Him only. 

In Psalm 42:7 we read, "Deep calls to deep at the roar of your waterfalls; all your breakers and your waves have gone over me." There will never be a substitute for a personal relationship with the Lord wherein He is becoming more and more important to us on a daily basis. As this happens, we will discover that we are being increasingly defined by Him. This is when we will be known by the deeper truths of the faith.

The Apostle Paul also tells us to hold to these deep truths with a clear conscience. When we run to the Lord for His definitions of life, we discover that He defines us. It’s not enough just to know the truth, we must be known by the truth which is the Lord Himself. And, of course, He knows all things, but as we avail ourselves to Him, we will be known by Him in an experiential way, in a way that He does not force on us. It is a way of being known by being vulnerable to Him. This type of knowledge he defines in that passage where He says to the goats, "Depart from me for I never knew you." (Matthew 7:21-23)

Throughout 1 Timothy the Apostle makes a major point out of sound and accurate doctrine. And, the spiritual character of the deacon is founded upon his affirmation of New Testament teachings. The key in doing this is discovered in Paul's words:  "with a clear conscience." The deacon possesses a conscience that is clear because he is walking with the Lord. The Lord is defining Him. Winston Churchill said it best when he said, "Mountaintops inspire leaders but valleys mature them."

The stronger our theology, the stronger our conscience will be. The more we understand the Bible, God's definitions of things, the stronger our faith will be. When we have strong doctrine and theology, we will be very strong in our conscience. Strong conviction yields a strong conscience. Conviction leads to the commitment to the truth which will yield a soul influenced and framed up by the truth. Then, that welcome mat before our hearts will render a love for the truth, for God and others.

Elders and deacons are models of what the rest in the church are to be. A pure conscience only exists where a person lives out his biblical convictions and knows no accusation against himself. And, by God’s grace and power and the confession of forgiven sin, we can know this pure conscience. So a deacon in the church is tested by personal trials which he encounters in his walk with the Lord.And, through the trials, he will be tested.

In v.10 we read, "They must first be tested; and then if there is nothing against them, let them serve as deacons." The verb used here for tested is a present passive verb, which means it’s an ongoing test. This means that those who are deacons are tested and proven people. They have tested the truth to discover its stability.

The words in the remainder of v.10, "and then if there is nothing against them, let them serve as deacons." introduces us to a word that means to be blameless. To be blameless is to have no blot on his life, without spot, without blemish, nothing for which he could be accused and therefore disqualified. 

The difference between the elder and the deacon is in function. The elder is to be a skilled teacher and that is never a qualification of a deacon, because the function of the elder is uniquely the public teaching of the Word of God. Deacons may teach, they may teach very effectively, they may be on their way to becoming elders but the primary function that they serve is the carrying out or the application of the teaching being done by the elders.

In v.11 we read, "In the same way, the women are to be worthy of respect, not malicious talkers but temperate and trustworthy in everything." 

This verse clearly shows a woman can be a deaconess. In Romans 16:1 Phoebe was called a deaconess. And, unlike the elder, the deacon can be a woman. God has been known to raise up women in the church who serve in many ways: caring for the poor, ministering to the sick, providing meals for families, counseling, and teaching little children.

The qualifications in v.11 are almost the same as in v.8. In v.11 the Apostle uses the word diabolos, the word for "devil" to describe what her speech is not to be. "The Deaconess' are not to be slanderers." The devil, of course, is the supreme slanderer. In other words, they’re to control their tongue and give no place for the enemy to bring havoc in our ranks. They are not to have a tongue that is not only gossipy but not also slanderous.

People who say the wrong things, whether gossip or slander, say it because of their lack of self value. And, only the Lord can give us our proper self value. The tongue speaks what the heart thinks, and the person who is not building others up are in no position to lead. Leadership is for those who have no self in the game. The leader must be wise in what he says and how he says it. Only that which is constructive should come out of the leaders mouth, never anything destructive for that which is destructive ultimately serves the kingdom of darkness.