1 Timothy Chapter 3

1 This is a true saying, If a man desire the office of a bishop, he desireth a good work.

It is a faithful (pistos) saying (logos), if ANY man stretches himself as in pressing toward the mark like our Lord pressed in prayer until sweat came as drops of blood, and presses in this manner to become a bishop, then the one who has been examined and found worthy of this honor, that coveting is a good and honest and fitting enterprise.

It does you no good to say, “I wish I was a bishop.  Look how everyone respects him and treats him with deference.”  First, that’s ridiculous.  I’ve been a bishop for several years now and cannot say I have sycophants mooning over me at all hours of the day.  Second, the road to this title is a rugged and regularly painful one full of sacrifices and endless surrenders to the needs of the flock.  The integrity alone to walk in this call will have you on your knees repenting for any manner of flaws that scarcely are noticed in someone else. 

2 A bishop then must be blameless, the husband of one wife, vigilant, sober, of good behavior given to hospitality, apt to teach;

Blameless may be the wrong word here.  Blame free might be more accurate.  Since no one, certainly not me, is blame free I suppose blameless is a good translation but the Greek draws a picture of someone who cannot be caught by the coattails of sin trailing along behind them.  Have you ever played flag football?  You run after the one with the ball and try to catch a streamer they have attached to their waist.  If you catch it you have effectively tackled them and they can no longer run.  A bishop who has streamers of sin, willfulness and pride trailing along behind them is easily caught in their sin and not worthy of the title.

I know many say they are not interested in titles but God is.  Why?  Because a title is a name and a name defines someone.  If someone calls me Bishop Jay, they are actually saying, “The Bishop Jay.”  My title goes ahead of me and follows along behind.  It will open a door and later, if I have behaved badly, will seal it forever.  That door might open again for one called newborn or babe in Christ if they fall short, but not for me if I have badly used this particular title.  God expects me to do more than merely walk in it; I had better exemplify it. 

This goes for other titles as well though.  Apostles and Prophets and Pastors are looked up to and honored so if they fall their fall is as great as the honor bestowed upon them and the road to redemption is that much more difficult to obtain.  It’s not that God doesn’t care what babe’s and newborn’s do, but if I fall, people will probably fall with me.  If the Apostle falls, isn’t it likely that the pastors and others under his covering will be more likely to fall as well?

Don’t be like Simon the Sorcerer (Acts 8:9) who asked for the baptism of the Holy Spirit so he could be recognized as a great power.  All he got for his greed was a chastening.  Bishops, deacons and others are to be a blessing for the church.  We are not pressing to become the spiritual CEO’s of Churchworld United. 

A bishop must be the husband of only one wife.  This isn’t much of a challenge in this country because you are only allowed one but in other parts of the world, especially the African and Arab nations this is a major biblical law.  The point that needs to be seen here, especially following the previous chapter is that God expects His people to function smoothly as one voice and one body and that goes especially for married ‘couples.’  A husband who does not accept his wife’s loving and valuable assistance in ministry is not wise.  She can be far more than the warmer of your bed, mother of your children and the keeper of the home. 

The two words translated sober and vigilant are actually (sober and vigilant) and (sober and temperate).  Sober means not to be out of control, vigilant means to be watchful and temperate means of steady and even temperament.  A bishop ought not be a person out of control.  In all areas he is controlled by the Spirit of God.  He should be a gracious host, willing to entertain guests and he should be both willing to teach and good at it.

3 Not given to wine, no striker, not greedy of filthy lucre; but patient, not a brawler, not covetous;

I’ve never been much of a drinker so this one is easy and I’m not a fighter either.  I love that the word for striker is pugnacious.  That Greek word made it into English intact.  We’re not to be strikers OR quarrelsome.  Not greedy of money.  It’s good to have and there isn’t anything wrong with earning money, but we aren’t supposed to be living to make money.  We live to serve and God provides opportunities to make a living. 

Patient.  Sigh.  Patient.  Sigh.  Oh shut up!  Patient.  Willing to wait on God.  Willing to wait on babes in Christ.  Willing to wait on situations.  This word also means mild and gracious while doing it.  Are we having fun yet?  Does the position of Bishop seem to be worth all the trouble?  We’ve already established you aren’t to hit, but you can’t let your temper get the better of you and destroy or damage your witness.  Not a brawler.  A bishop should be apt to teach and just as disinclined to be a brawler.  A brawler does not have his or her emotions under control.  You shouldn’t even be inclined to brawl in the privacy of your own mind because you aren’t praying for and loving them in that case.

This next area is important.  We’re not talking about a new Christian here.  We are speaking of someone who is expected to be mature in the faith and one of the most important parts of maturity is rejoicing with those who rejoice and being happy for them in their blessings, whether spiritual or natural.  You can’t be mature if God is promoting someone in their position of the Body of Christ and you wish that was your spot.  You can’t be mature if you wish you had their money or cars or whatever.  Paul was mature when he said, “I have learned in whatsoever state I am in to be content (Philippians 4:11).”

4 One that ruleth well his own house, having his children in subjection with all gravity;

Seems simple right?  All you have to do is raise your children to be obedient, respectful, pure, honest and dedicated to God.  Easy.  It does denote a man of God who has dedicated his life to his family as well as the Lord.  Too many forsake their families in favor of the church and that is not right.  The higher in ministry you go, the more you need to spend time with your family and spouse because you are being followed by others everywhere you go who watch everything you do.  If you stumble, others will likely stumble as well.

5 (For if a man know not how to rule his own house, how shall he take care of the church of God?)

A mature man of God is not a manager of a corporation but he ought to know how to manage a corporation.  He is not the spiritual head of the body of Christ but he better know how to lead his portion.  Above all a man of God is a servant and a father who learned to lead by Christ’s example and knows how to father by his exceptional work with his own children.  A man of God who leaves familial wreckage in the form of damaged and unsaved children is someone who has not learned the first works.  As always, first natural and then spiritual.  If your spiritual children are in better shape than your natural children, go back and try to repair the damage.  They deserve it and God may well expect it.  If the bridge to that relationship has burned to the ground, never let a day go by that you do not lift those children up before the Lord.

6 Not a novice, lest being lifted up with pride he fall into the condemnation of the devil.

Does God promote you or do you promote yourself?  Did Abram stand on a mountain and shout, “I call myself Abraham!”  No.  God did.  Did Jacob call himself Israel?  No.  God did.  God renamed Saul to Paul.  He alone is the one to bring promotion when you are ready to receive it.  When I was made a deacon, it was a near thing.  I was proud but had just learned this scripture as well as 1 Timothy 5:22.  It caused me to reign in my pride and remain humble.  When I became a minister and later an elder I had a similar thought, but God’s words stayed me.  When I was ordained a bishop I knew it was the Lord and prayed that I would one day be worthy of the calling. 

Satan is the father of pride.  He fell because of it and does his best to teach others this poisonous passion.  One thing is certain, if you stumble and allow pride to overcome you, your master the devil will condemn you before God and His angels.  Pride goeth before destruction, and an haughty spirit before a fall (Proverbs 16:18).

7 Moreover he must have a good report of them which are without; lest he fall into reproach and the snare of the devil.

There are any number of people who remember me as a deacon or possibly even as a minister.  I didn’t always have that good report of the people.  Notice that Satan will lay snares for you.  He knows your weaknesses and avoids your strengths.  He will even seek to keep those you might help away from you and allow you to be surrounded by those you struggle with.  If he can make you stumble then he has won his reward of satisfaction.  If you desire great ministry beware.  Every word and deed will be watched by the enemy who will jump on every mistake you make.  Facebook, Youtube and other online sites are wonderful tools to keep in touch with ministry, family and friends, but always walk in your anointing, your name and your position.  Never think you are just an ordinary person.  Your every word will be judged.  Beware who you make friends with.  They may be safe for you but not another that knows you.  Satan will use every tool you give him.  He knows your weaknesses and will do all to use them against you.  Once you stumble, he will condemn you before the Father.

8 Likewise must the deacons be grave, not double-tongued, not given to much wine, not greedy of filthy lucre; 9 Holding the mystery of the faith in a pure conscience.

I didn’t do badly as a deacon.  I didn’t lie or drink.  I wasn’t after the offerings or church money.  My heart was toward God and though I wasn’t perfect, I did all I could to serve Him faithfully.  Um, the … ah … grave thing.  Well, three out of four anyway.  Grave means you have a character someone venerates.  You are an AUGUST PERSONAGE.  Well, amen.  That just didn’t happen to be me much of the time.  I believe I’m getting much better now, but then…not so much.  Occasionally the Lord will raise you up before you are quite ready and you will have to grow into your calling. 

10 And let these also first be proved; then let them use the office of a deacon, being found blameless.

Let these also first be tested.  How did they do around money, women and honor?  Did they steal the money, chase the women or act like Absalom (2 Samuel 15:1-6) with the honor?  A deacon must be blameless because they are going to be serving the widows and ministering to their needs.  There is something seriously wrong when we can’t trust our deacons and five-fold ministers in all areas.  I hate to think that we have fallen so far in the church that people expect to find the pimps, perverts and drunkards there.

11 Even so must their wives (gyne) be grave, not slanderers, sober, faithful in all things.

There were originally seven men chosen as deacons.  The word deacon denotes a servant, one who serves another.  The word above translated wife is translated women in some manuscripts.  There is a good reason why the wives of deacons must be held to the same standards as their husbands and a good reason why a holy woman in the church ought to be held to the same standard.  Many churches have deaconness’ and deacons.  In ours we simply call both deacons since the word diakonos is neither male nor female and we make no distinction. 

It does touch on something we saw earlier in the letter and that is Paul’s admonition to women to take care of their tongue.  Men must watch their actions carefully but women must watch their words.  They must avoid strong drink and be full of faith in all things that pertain to life in God.  Men and women’s brains work differently.  This is clear for anyone not having a political agenda to see.  Women talk more and communicate better than men while men are more likely to take physical action in stressful situations.  We must all know our weaknesses and strive to overcome them.

12 Let the deacons be the husbands of one wife, ruling their children and their own houses well.

Again the word gyne which can mean either woman or wife.  In this case it still means, “Husband of one woman.”  While it is obvious in scripture that God condemns the homosexual lifestyle, this verse makes it clear that a deacon must be heterosexual, have only one wife, raise their children and rule their households to the same standards as bishops.  In the United States we tend to say, “Well of course.”  This scripture is not so clear cut in other countries.  I met someone two years ago who had eight wives.  He was a really nice guy and his family seemed happy.  He cannot be a deacon however.  Can he serve in the church in other capacities?  Of course, just not as a bishop or deacon.  A deacon must be absolutely blameless toward women since their care is a major part of his ministry. 

13 For they that have used the office of a deacon well purchase to themselves a good degree, and great boldness in the faith which is in Christ Jesus.

This is one verse where the King James version is longer than the amplified.  The first Greek word is in the place of ‘for’ and the second is deacon.  That entire first part of the phrase is only two words.  The verse could say, “Verily deacons who rule well present themselves faithful and worthy of ministry.  They receive great boldness in the faith of Jesus Christ."  Consider the story of Philip the deacon who became Philip the evangelist (Acts 8).

14 These things write I unto thee, hoping to come unto thee shortly: 15 But if I tarry long, that thou mayest know how thou oughtest to behave thyself in the house of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth.

Paul’s heart was always to come and visit the churches personally.  He still had hope that things might go his way.  I love verse 15.  If you never see me again and if I am together with Jesus at the end of the day, I expect you to teach these things and obey them in the church.  It is the living house of God Himself.  The church is to be the visible pillar of community and foundation of all God’s truth.  In other words, there is no other way to God but as the church.

16 And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifest in the flesh, justified in the Spirit, seen of angels, preached unto the Gentiles, believed on in the world, received up into glory.

Everyone must agree that godliness is a great mystery.  Why?  Because He, the mystery one, came in the flesh and was justified in the Holy Spirit.  He was seen by God’s angels and preached to Gentiles.  He is believed in all the world and finally was received up to the glory of God’s kingdom.  Jesus is the alpha and the omega, the beginning and the ending, the first and the last.  He is all and in all. 

What an awesome mystery to behold beloved.

Bishop J

1 Timothy Chapter 2

Chapter 2

Are you appreciative?  If you’re black do you appreciate whites or Asians or Latinos?  If you’re white do you appreciate all the diversity other races bring?  Do you appreciate the poor and ignorant as well as the wealthy and highly educated?  When I traveled in Africa I noticed something amazing to me as an American.  People were as homogeneous, as unified, in Africa as they are in Peking or Tokyo.  In spite of that, when I came to visit and to share the Word of God, I was respected and treated with dignity and I tried to respond in kind. 

One of the first things we in America need to come to grips with is that outside of our own little borders the question of racial equality and diversity is something of a non-starter.  The most divisive problems by far in those countries is religion and the reason for that division is fear.  People in fear tend to respond in anger and mistrust.  Neighbors who might have lived in harmony for years and suddenly look with shock and see that those people over there are different.  Genetically they may be as close as non-family members can be and politically might wave the very same banners.  In a place of fear, none of these things matter because the fear of those differences brings torment (1 John 4:18). 

In the midst of our torment and subsequent anger we are able to commit the most unspeakable atrocities and feel justified in those actions.  Men have hacked unborn children from their mother’s wombs knowing that those children would grow up into enemies.  We have turned into brute beasts to accomplish what…victory?  Hardly.  Whenever we have lost that which makes us worthy of the God we serve we have lost everything, even if we are the last ones standing.

In Christ Jesus we are called to a higher standard, in fact Paul said the weapons of our warfare are not carnal or natural at all but spiritual and mighty through God (2 Corinthians 10:4).  It is with these weapons of war that we are finally able to succeed and win against the far more frightening natural weapons of combat.  If you slay the body you have won little more than your own downfall but if you win the spirit you have won all.  God is love.  I won’t say that OUR God is love because there is but one creator in the universe and if you take a moment to realize that the God whose Word is totally prophetic, flawless and without error must be the true God then that God must be the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.

I am not a fool though.  I understand that in the end there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.  You weep in fear and hopelessness but you gnash your teeth in anger and rage.  There will be some that die, who even after being forced to acknowledge that Jesus is Lord and then being cast into Hell, will never give up the anger and rage that has given them strength for years or will never overcome the fears and doubts that have kept them away from God in the first place.  Perhaps that is the terror of Hell, that we will spend an eternity forced to endure ourselves without hope of change or growth.

Maybe you are saying, “Wow, the preacher is really gloomy today.”  It’s not that I’m gloomy, just concerned for those who straddle the fence between belief and unbelief hoping that a powerful breeze will blow them one way or the other into assurance.  I saw a cartoon the other day showing two doors.  One said “Sound Doctrine” and the other said “Words to tingle your ears (2 Timothy 4:3).  One or two people were entering the first door and a line stretched out of sight for the second.  This is my concern.  These aren’t just sinners who will believe anything you can dance to, these are supposedly believers who should know better because if you know God’s Word, you DO know better.  If you know His Word, believe His Word, submit to His Word and by faith walk in His Word you will be saved.  Believing means all of these things, not merely saying so and walking another way.

Having said that, if you will turn in your Bibles to First Timothy, Chapter two verse one let us begin.

1 I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men;

The word exhort is parakaleo where we get the word paraclete, for one who walks along side and gives comfort.  Paul does not merely give you encouragement to do the things he is about to mention but walks along side with you and is encouraging you as a father in the faith to do these things.  The man who destroyed the church has changed and become the man who holds your hand in prayer during difficult times.  He has embraced Jesus our intercessor and has become like Him.  In that capacity he walked with his spiritual son Timothy like your spiritual father’s walked along side you to give you strength until you learned to draw it directly from the Father in Heaven.

Supplications – deesis – in a word, begging God for an answer.  Prayers - proseuche – this can mean earnestly praying for something or even a specific place of prayer where you meet God.  You can pray anywhere but quite often God meets us at a specific place.  Apostle Joseph Sims had a particular pew he prayed on in the sanctuary.  That was his place.  Where is yours?  Intercessions – enteuxis – this is a coming together for agreement.  It is two hands clasped together in prayer for another’s trials.  Where any two or three gather in my name there I am in their midst (Matthew 18:20).  This is where you forgive one another.  How can you travel together except you agree.  Giving of Thanks - eucharistia – Lord, you are awesome.  We worship and adore you.  Father, I appreciate you!  Thank you for my breath and heartbeat and a place to live.

It goes on to say that these prayers are to be made for ALL men.  The word ‘men’ is anthropos which includes all of humanity, rich and poor, male and female, Christian or not.  This is another reason I am so frustrated by the anger and unforgiveness which is found in the church.  We are to emulate our Savior by enduring hardness in silence and offering grace in the most difficult of times.  If we as saints of God ask God to curse or punish another then we have become judges and in every manner you judge another you shall be judged (Matthew 7:1-2).  Men ought always pray and not faint (Luke 18:1).  This means we are to beg and plead with God, link our arms in love with others and press in our private prayer closet for all men. 

2 For kings, and for all that are in authority; that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty.

Do you suppose that leaders of government always know the right thing to do?  They have their advisors and counselors who have their own agendas to further.  Even if the leader is a born again believer of God and has Jesus in his or her heart, it does not mean they will always make the right decisions.  If they do not know God they are even less likely to make quality decisions.  For this reason we are to pray for all those who have rule over us and authority so our lives might be free to worship and serve God as we continue in this life.  The word peaceable means restful, without political upheavals threatening us.  If you can see the signs of the times in various countries there is a real need for us to pray for our leaders.

Do you live a godly life?  Is your heart focused on heavenly things?  God expects us to live in the here and now while also pressing toward the then and there of Heaven.  We are in this world but not of it.  We have every right as those who live in the heavenlies and on Earth to speak on behalf of those leaders God has placed over us.  We are commanded to pray for them so they might make wise and well thought decisions and pray for those who hate us that their counsel fails them and they are made ineffectual.  Don’t be a trickster.  Be honest and above board in all things.  Our faith in God is based in the truth of God and our truth is the Word of God.  Be true to your Lord.  His Word is worthy of life and death obedience.

3 For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior;

Good – kalos – good, better, best.  Worthy.  Acceptable – apodektos – agreeable and approved.  This is just a hint of Romans 12:1-2. I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. 2 And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.  In one Paul is asking you to sacrifice your living bodies and in the other you are being asked to sacrifice your living prayers. In others you are asked to sacrifice all you are and own.  In other words, your life is a sacrifice to God as Christ’s was a sacrifice for you. 

It really does take all that, but the rewards are eternal.  My point is that God has chosen you to walk this walk and waves Joshua 1:1-9 before you.  “Be thou strong and very courageous.”  Israel had to learn to be courageous.  You too will learn if you press in with your whole heart and trust God to work it out in your life.  So many of us have walked in fear because that is Satan’s greatest weapon.  Learn to love God beloved.  Learn to love one another.  Once that happens you will not fear because perfect love casts out fear (1 John 4:18).  Notice how that scripture fits with the two above? 

4 Who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth.

God wants us to love Him like He loves us.  Throughout history men have conquered others in the name of the Lord.  What a bald faced lie or self delusion.  God called us to “go ye into highways and hedges and compel them to come in (Matthew 22:9-10, Luke 14:23).  What is the purpose of this compelling?  To attend a wedding of the Son of God to ourselves.  How can we possibly consider carnal warfare against any to compel them to come to their own wedding?  Jesus is not the terror who snatches his bride by her hair and drags her off to have His way.  Jesus is a loving suitor who tenderly and graciously proves His love in a thousand ways.

5 For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus;

Eve was the first bride who unfortunately listened to the whispered deceit of the Devil and was followed into this infamy by her husband.  She cursed all brides after this manner and as we know that all things flow first naturally and then spiritually (1 Corinthians 15:46).  Because of this cycle of two natures, the bride who first fell was a woman but spiritually the bride which fell was neither male nor female because in Christ there is neither (Galatians 3:28). 

I have been shocked at just how little grace and respect men offer to women.  We behave as if all the troubles of mankind are the fault of womankind rather than that of our own fallen natures.  Beloved, Eve was deceived, Adam was not.  Who had the greater sin, the one who sinned inadvertently or the one who sinned with full knowledge of that sin?  I submit that even scripture says in this case Adam had the greater sin.  Mankind as a whole has not fallen due to Eve’s failure but by Adam’s. 

Scripture states that the woman is the weaker vessel and we as men of God are to help them stand strong.  One day I hope to have someone explain to me by God’s word why we ought to treat women poorly when we have been given a higher responsibility.  Perhaps we choose to hide our responsibility in blame in the hopes that God will not remember that responsibility.  I do not think God is half as foolish as that.  I have made many decisions even knowing that God supported me in those decisions only to have Him explain such decisions were allowed by my weakness and His grace and not by my nobility. 

My purpose for these surmisings is that we might all, male or female, recognize our need for a Savior.  That need is not made less because you were born male and more if female.  Your need for a Savior is ABSOLUTE whether you are wise or fool, man or woman, weak or strong, young or old.  If you sleep in a mansion or shack, walk barefoot or fly in the most expensive jets, you are pitiful, wretched, naked and poor in all areas that matter to you in any permanent way.

You need a savior.

6 Who gave himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time.

How wonderful is it that Jesus did not ask you your bank account or what degree you have obtained before He was willing to surrender his life for you.  He didn’t care if you were living in a cardboard box under a bridge or the Taj Mahal, Christ died for you so your debt, your blood guilt might be paid in full.  He planned this act before the beginning of all time and accomplished it exactly on time.  The basic gift, the eternal reward of life did not cost you anything but faith in the act.

7 Whereunto I am ordained a preacher, and an apostle, (I speak the truth in Christ, and lie not;) a teacher of the Gentiles in faith and verity.

Read verse 7 well.  Ordained means that you have prostrated yourself in total surrender and submission to the responsibilities laid out.  You might say, “Thank God I am not a preacher or an apostle.”  Really?  What is a preacher but a herald who cries aloud and spares not; someone who speaks with authority the message of his Lord.  “But I’m not ordained,” you say?  To whom was it said, “Go ye into all the world.  Teach all nations.  Baptizing them…”  Wasn’t that charge given to all men and women in Christ Jesus?

“Fine, but I’m not an apostle.  That I’m sure of.”  I understand.  After all, an apostle is sent by God to do a work.  He often performs miracles and prophetic utterances.  Apostle’s have had experiences where they have seen Jesus or observed His power and authority directly.  Have you ever been sent by God to do anything?  Do you prophesy or have you ever observed miracles happen while in prayer? 

I admit I am pulling on your coattail a little here but in reality aren’t we all messengers of our Lord, sent to do His bidding and speak His words to the lost around us?  Don’t all who live by faith experience the miraculous to greater or lesser degree in their lives?  Perhaps you are not called as an apostle but doesn’t everyone have apostolic duties to perform from time to time.  I maintain that we all are more than we think and can accomplish more in Christ than we ever have before.  Therefore…

8 I will therefore that men pray every where, lifting up holy hands, without wrath and doubting.

I don’t understand preacher, why would we lift up our hands in wrath?  Remember what wrath is?  The Greek word is orge, from which we get orgy.  It has to do with unrestrained anger, impulse, aggravation, rage and passion; in other words, it has to do with everything the flesh desires rather than what God desires.  God’s passion tends toward love, joy, peace, gentleness, meekness, longsuffering and faith.  He expects us to experience and live these without doubting. 

Now you might say, “That’s easy.  I love.  I am gentle toward others.  What’s so hard?  Do you love those who despitefully use you and persecute you and say all manner of evil against you falsely for the sake of Jesus name?  Well?  I have known so very many ‘saints’ of God who do not suffer fools or rude or irritating people.  I’ve heard people offer to give a good Holy Ghost thrashing.  These are saints of God who are unforgiving and unmerciful and ungrateful.  They wallpaper their hate in a false love and false grace while their hearts are full of bitterness and anger.

Do you know those who are always getting ahead of you?  Does it bother you?  Shame.  Do you know those who think they're better than you?  Does it make you feel inferior or angry?  Shame.  Do you know those who by race or sex or any external and superficial difference seem to be better received or more quickly accepted than you?  Don’t get me wrong.  I know it happens but does it get your blood in a boil?  Shame.  Who do you belong to, yourself or God?  Who makes a way for you to have a job, yourself or God?  Who makes you what you are?  I know many of you who press more and more into education and obtain better and higher degrees.  Are you a better saint for them or just more educated? 

Your peace of mind ought to be in Him and what He is doing in your life, not in your external treatment by others.  Not one white supremacist or one black activist or one rich elitist can hold a candle to the man or woman God has chosen you to be once you are firmly in the middle of His will.  It doesn’t matter if they gnash their teeth at you and talk about your mother, it only matters what your King of kings and Lord of lords has to say.  In fact, they had better get used to gnashing their teeth because my Bible says there will be a lot of that going on where they're going.  Just make sure you don’t join them.

9 In like manner also, that women adorn themselves in modest apparel, with shamefacedness and sobriety; not with braided hair, or gold, or pearls, or costly array; 10 But (which becometh women professing godliness) with good works.

First of all notice that verse nine and ten are the same sentence.  It says, “Don’t do these things but do this instead.”  Proverbs 31:30 Charm is deceitful, and beauty is vain, but a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised.  In verse nine it says, “Women ought to decorate themselves in modest (non-sexually enticing) apparel with modest and humble hearts, sober minded, not foolish or argumentative.  Do not decorate and plait your hair with attention grabbing styles designed to draw men’s souls away from God.  This also applies to decorations of gold, pearls and precious gems.  Your life should be a pattern of good works in the service of God.

1 Peter 3:3 says: Whose adorning let it not be that outward adorning of plaiting the hair, and of wearing of gold, or of putting on of apparel; 4 But let it be the hidden man of the heart, in that which is not corruptible, even the ornament of a meek and quiet spirit, which is in the sight of God of great price.

Peter’s charge is not one presented as being a good idea but is presented as being directly from the heart of God.  To say I have known Christian women who live a life of challenge, argument and disagreement would be an understatement.  I have also known women who exemplify this pattern found in 1 Peter 3 and 1 Timothy 2.  It is both refreshing and a great comfort.  A woman who is always argumentative and drips disdain and disrespect is twice cursed by God and man while one who is gracious and respectful will be honored by both.

I will not say that MANkind has always been honorable and respectful to WOMANkind but there is never an excuse to do less than God requires.  Scripture is not written by men who wish to build kingdoms though it is occasionally twisted in that manner through translation.  Scripture was written by men who were overshadowed by the Holy Spirit and wrote what they were told to write in the manner they were told to write it.  Whether we agree or not, God will uphold His Word at any cost.

11 Let the woman learn in silence with all subjection.

Another way of phrasing this verse is… “Learning, let the woman learn through stillness (quietness) in complete obedience and submission.”  Now that I have half of humanity howling with passion, remember that I didn’t choose these words and Paul didn’t choose these words.  God did.  I have observed men and women who have had absolutely no training in God’s Word and it is a frightening thing to see either out of control.  It is far more likely that an angry woman will lead with her tongue however. 

I watched an episode of a weekly show the other day and a woman came in to a shop because a game she purchased for her son didn’t work.  The manager had a rule in place that when you purchase a game “as is” there is a no return policy.  The woman from the moment she came into the shop would not stop talking.  She talked about the game, talked about the shop, talked about the store owner, would not be quiet.

The store owner politely asked her to stop talking so he could say something and the moment he opened his mouth she began haranguing him again.  He threw her out of the store.  She came back again later that day and still would not let the man get in a word.  He threw her out again.  She ignored her own husband who was trying to speak to the owner so the owner suggested the man come back the next day.  When the man came in the next day the owner said, “This is what I am willing to do even though I am not required to do anything.  I will replace the game for good customer relations.”  The man agreed and left the store happy, the woman looked like a lunatic on national television.

Why wouldn’t she allow him to speak?  Why did she insist upon hearing the sound of her voice when she had no power over the store owner whatsoever.  I am going to step out on a limb here that whatever tendencies men may have toward violence or other ways of disagreement, women have their own.  Because of Adam and Eve God has placed certain restrictions upon women which are generally accepted throughout the world even though women chafe under this subjection. 

Most women would not agree it is fair or reasonable and I for one will not even enter into the argument.  Gods Word is His Word.  It is not open to private interpretation.  It is not an allegory or fable.  It is what He says it is.  In all truth men usually fail to live up to God’s standards for their life also.  I try to live up to His standards no matter how I might fail.  A woman ought to try and live up to His standards.  One fact which ought to be understood by men and women is that it is much easier to learn with one’s eyes and ears open and one’s mouth shut. 

12 But I suffer not a woman to teach, nor to usurp authority over the man, but to be in silence. 13 For Adam was first formed, then Eve.

“…however, liberty is not given to a woman to teach or be the master over a man, domineering over him.”  This one verse has done more to prevent strong, educated, highly trained women from becoming great Christian theologians than any other.  It is nevertheless what the Lord had Paul write in this case.  Adam and Eve were not created as a matched set by God.  He created Adam and understanding that Adam needed companionship of humankind as much as he needed a relationship with God, our Lord created woman out of man. 

I grew up under a strong man of God who was married to a highly intelligent and highly anointed woman of God.  She was frequently frustrated by his restraint over her life but she nevertheless submitted to it.  This doesn’t mean that the man will always make the right decisions or that the woman might not have better understanding than he does on occasion.  It means that God ordains and honors order and though Jesus and our Heavenly Father are equal, Jesus still submitted to His Father unto death.   This is His example for us to follow.  God set this example and expects us to obey it without argument.  Is there any wonder that the two areas where Satan has had the most success is creating weak men who refuse to lead by example and strong women who will not submit to God’s purpose.

I acknowledge with absolute certainty that it is terribly difficult for a woman to submit to a man who is not serving God and does not take care of life’s business, but I also know God does not give us the opportunity to pick and choose which commandments we might want to obey.

Does this mean I won’t serve a woman leader who walks under God’s anointing and walks in His wisdom?  Those of you who know me know that is not the case.  Do I believe it is better for the man God has chosen to step up and honor the call of God with his complete heart?  Of course.  In the meantime I will continue to serve God and submit to the leader He has placed over me.  One thing I believe with my whole heart is that as David refused to remove Saul even when God had lifted his spirit from him, I will allow God to make the changes in a ministry where no qualified man is available and a woman is the best and most anointed choice to lead.  God Himself will provide the replacement in His time and I will be rewarded for my obedience to the one God has set in place be they male or female.

14 And Adam was not deceived, but the woman being deceived was in the transgression.

Eve missed God by being deceived.  Adam saw the trap but his love for Eve made him go along.  God honored this love and while he cursed Eve in one area, He left her a hope in another, and while He honored Adam He cast him out of the garden.  We as men and women have had to pay for their sin and our basic natures have not changed since that time.  Men and women were created for each other and even those lost souls who choose to find a partner of the same sex choose one whose personality is a foil for their need; one will always take the male part and one the female.

God has told us His rules and boundaries for this life and while there is no male nor female in the life to come, in fact there is perfect unity and perfect equality, there is a difference here on earth.  I understand why God did not leave instructions for men to silence women or force women to be in subjection.  Our male barbarism and lack of spiritual maturity has ruined many good women over the centuries.  Scripture says a woman shall keep herself under subjection to her husband and shall control her own natural inclination to speak when it is time to listen. 

Men often choose to conquer everything and everyone but themselves.  I am persuaded that if men in the church will lead with grace, wisdom, spiritual maturity and love as God has ordained and the women will take that anointed seed as helpmeets, their love and natural ability to bring forth life will insure their husband’s talent is neither barren nor unfruitful. 

Spiritually there is no difference between men and women.  The differences are all in the flesh and the way our natural minds operate.  In some religions a man serves a god so he may have even more natural passions after death.  This attitude is for itching ears who will not understand the truth.  Truth dictates that men and women are equal in spirit and one day men will stand before God and explain why we have abused or misused this great spousal gift He gave us.

Likewise the women will stand before God and explain why their husbands failed in their God given charge because they did not help him bring it to fruition.  We are created equal in spirit, one in flesh and different, you might say diverse in administration.  Scripture says that God gives more abundant honor to that part which lacks.  If a godly woman is not as strong as a godly man then she is honored all the more before God. 

15 Notwithstanding she shall be saved in childbearing, if they continue in faith and charity and holiness with sobriety.

Bearing children has always been the most difficult of tasks for a woman to perform because it was the most spiritual and most necessary.  Notice the tools of safe childbearing are the very same spoken of earlier in this chapter; faith, charity (love), holiness and its accompanying quietness and steadiness.  A woman may not like this but God has spoken and our responsibility as saints of God is to submit to His scripture. 

One thing I do believe is that this does not free up a man to assail a woman for faithfully surrendering herself to a work when God laid it before her.  I believe with my whole heart that for every hard working and dedicated woman over a ministry there is a man who abdicated the position.  Scripture also says a house divided against itself will not stand.  Men and women make up a house and no amount of rhetoric will change that sacred truth. 

Households made up of two men have no womb to produce fruit.  Those made up of two women have no seed to become pregnant.  To be sure in this day of science and social bastardization of God’s commandments there are ways to get around those problems.  A man couple can adopt and with the science of formulas and glass, plastic and rubber might nurse a child while a woman couple might by breaking the commandment of fidelity become pregnant with the seed of some stranger whether through science or intercourse; but both have broken the commandments of God and have chosen to ignore His gracious gifts.

I am quite sure I have alienated and angered any number of men or women with this lesson but I have endeavored in love to be as gracious and free as God’s Word and conscience will allow.  For this cause I leave you with one last scripture beloved.  Proverbs 14:12 There is a way which seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death.  Apostle Martin Hernandez would say, “It’s tight but it’s right.”

Bishop J

1 Timothy Chapter 1

 People have often delved into scripture and historical texts to try and understand Paul, formerly the Pharisee called Saul who persecuted the Christians and now is their greatest exegete.  They wonder if he was married or had children and if so where are they? I know for certain that Paul had at least three sons and their names were Timothy (1 Timothy 1:2,18; 2 Timothy 1:2, 2:1), Titus (Titus 1:4), and Onesimus (Philemon 1:10).  He may have had more but these we know of from his writings because he says so. 

I can hear you right now saying that these weren’t true sons but sons in the faith.  Perhaps you can tell me what it takes to be a true son of a father, spiritual or otherwise?  I was born in Seattle, Washington to Robert and Helen Staab.  At 18 years of age I left home and joined the military.  At 21 years of age I became a Christian and joined Riverside Faith Temple church in Riverside, California.  From February 1979 until his homegoing in 2005, Apostle Joseph L. Sims was my spiritual father.  That means that for 18 years I lived with my parents and for 26 years I lived with my father in the Gospel.

I may not have lived in his home but I worshipped and grew and matured in his church.  For much of that time my natural parents were alive and if you asked would have said they had the utmost respect for Joseph Sims.  I can’t even begin to tell you how much he meant to me and how much being received into his family touched my heart.  There was a Thanksgiving when I was called because they wouldn’t begin dinner until my family showed up.  We were a part of their family now.

Don’t ever let someone tell you that you are ONLY a son or daughter in the spirit or in faith.  You cannot put ONLY and in the faith together in the same sentence.  Children in the faith are eternal and will bow in honor to their spiritual parents before God in Heaven.  I have called him at three in the morning with problems and have been chastened right along with his natural sons for my random acts of stupidity.  I may have been chastened for these more than they were.  I used to have a hard head.

You say, “I’ll bet you weren’t in his will,” and you would be wrong.  The day he passed away I came to his home to pay my respects and God gave me my inheritance.  The force of it nearly dropped me to my knees when I crossed the threshold of his home.  It was so powerful that I sat at the dining room table and watched the front door for Bishop McGinnis who I knew would arrive soon.  As he crossed the threshold he too stumbled and nearly fell.  Another son received his inheritance.

Do I expect a portion of his property or bank accounts when Apostle Bea goes home to be with the Lord?  Of course not.  Natural inheritance is for natural children.  I do however expect his natural sons to receive their portion of his spiritual inheritance.  I expect it and have been praying for it as well.  They are my brothers and I love them as the family they are.  Their children are my nieces and nephews and mine are theirs.  Just the other day my daughter told me she missed grandpa Sims.  I know what she means. 

Family is much more than blood.  Family is spirit and commitment and love.  It will be there for you through thick and thin, even when you have alienated yourself from everyone around you; family will take you in, help you up and dust you off.  Family IS faith.

1 Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the commandment of God our Savior, and Lord Jesus Christ, which is our hope; 2 Unto Timothy, my own son in the faith: Grace, mercy, and peace, from God our Father and Jesus Christ our Lord.

Paul was an apostle of Jesus by the commandment of God our Savior.  Those two are the same person.  You could have said, “From: Paul the Apostle, by commandment of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To:  Timothy my very own son in eternal faith.  I pray you receive God’s grace during hard times, mercy when things get too close and peace which passes all understanding.  May you receive these things fully and completely from God who is our Father and Jesus who is our Lord and Savior.  This I pray as your father and apostle in the faith.

3 As I besought thee to abide still at Ephesus, when I went into Macedonia, that thou mightest charge some that they teach no other doctrine,

“Tim, about those Ephesians.  I know how much you wanted to travel to Macedonia with me and I am proud of you for volunteering to stay in Ephesus to continue the work.  It is a difficult town but we have given them some good doctrine and I need you to make sure they don’t backslide into that mess they used to believe.”

The reason I spoke about Paul and Timothy this way is that for all practical purposes this letter has been written to you by one of your fathers in the Gospel and it applies to the town and ministry God has called you to.  Good doctrine is of vital importance to your life in Christ.  Without it your heart might as well beat when it feels like it or your breath could just come around occasionally.  It’s like that.  There are too many half-baked freeologians who feel that God’s Word means whatever they need it to.  God created our universe with His Word.  He lives and interacts with us according to His Word.  If He is not free with it or if He doesn’t take liberties against it then we have no right to.

4 Neither give heed to fables and endless genealogies, which minister questions, rather than godly edifying which is in faith: so do.

Let the games begin.  Fables – Mythos – From which we get the word myth, story, a lie.  The idea that this planet is alive and a Gaia spirit lives inside it is one example of devilish myths that will destroy your eternity.  Reincarnation is another myth.  Endless genealogies – aperantos genealogia – Believe it or not we have religions even today who refuse to acknowledge that those who missed God in the past are past our help.  They actually believe you can pray in great great uncle Hitler by tracing his genealogy and praying him through.  Jesus made it clear by coming through pagans, prostitutes and other undesirables that God wasn’t concerned by your past but by your commitment to His future.  You can’t fix your family tree by going backwards, only by going forward toward the mark of our high calling.

Notice how it says these myths and genealogies cause more questions?  God said you will know the truth and the truth will MAKE you free.  The truth answers questions.  There are no contradictions to God’s Word, only hidden truths that diligent scholars and prayerful mature saints and insightful leaders will uncover.  The insights will NEVER contradict the scripture we already understand.  Those who want God to be in their image make up all kinds of false doctrines to fit their worldviews.

Truth edifies, builds up and makes you free.  Lies keep you in bondage even as you were before Christ came.  Truth can be painful at times.  We don’t like to look in a perfect mirror to see sin, strengths, weaknesses and imperfections.  Everyone would like to see themselves as a perfect saint who never sins and never falls short.  Jesus is sitting at the right hand of the Father making intercession for us because you are not without flaws.  Don’t try to make God or His Word into your image just because His image is perfect and uncomfortable.  Accept His image, work on your own and seek truth.  Bit by bit, line by line and step by step He will perfect you.

5 Now the end of the commandment is charity out of a pure heart, and of a good conscience, and of faith unfeigned:

If you take the commandments of God and heap them all into a huge pot they will all boil down and condense into this one commandment.  Love one another out of a pure heart having a pure conscience and genuine faith.  If you nag people in church or out of church to change their ways and don’t earnestly love them, you are the chiefest of sinners.  Why?  Because 1 Corinthians 13 says you are a miserable noisemaker. 

You must love them in spite of their flaws and guess what?  It takes faith because faith is the substance of things hoped for and evidence of God’s move in their life that you still can’t see.  In addition, faith is motivated by and obtains its power from love.  God is love.  God is faith.  You can’t fake faith because you must love the sinner to have faith.  If you hate that sinner like some pastors seem to then you lack faith in at least two ways.  You lack faith because you don’t love the other person, and you lack faith because you don’t believe God will answer your prayers and continue to work on their life and eternal destiny.  If you ask yourself whose sin is greater I would have to say the one who knows to do right and does not.  That would be you the saint of God.  Love them.

6 From which some having swerved have turned aside unto vain jangling;

We touched on this briefly and 1 Corinthians 13 makes it even more clear.  If you have neither love nor faith then you are a brass gong or grating cymbal.  You may be someone with a lot of presence but it is the presence of a badly played instrument, irritating and loud.  We are required to love and be gracious.  Satan is busy on the earth.  We are not supposed to spend all day trying to figure out what he is up to.  God already knows and if we submit to the loving Spirit of God we will know the truth in due season.  Someone once said, “We are not called to be fruit inspectors but to love.”

7 Desiring to be teachers of the law; understanding neither what they say, nor whereof they affirm.

Ignorance of the true nature of God is rampant on the earth.  It’s even worse in the church because we are supposed to know better.  We are required to love those who despitefully use us and persecute us and say all manner of evil things against us.  Do you?  I have had a lot of opinions ground into powder over the years.  God has never led me to believe I am free to do what I want in the grace of God that is in Christ Jesus.  Some preach it though.  I have never thought I was free to hate someone because of their lifestyle or beliefs but I have done it.  Thankfully I have grown past that point but so many in Christ have not.  I didn’t stop hating or believing idiotic things because someone had a better argument than I did.  I stopped through study of God’s Word and being willing to change my opinions at the drop of a well taught scripture. 

To do that I have to recognize that others might just know more than I do.  I have learned truth from babe’s in Christ who understood something better than I did.  That might be a humbling experience but better to be humbled by the truth than by an angry God.

8 But we know that the law is good, if a man use it lawfully;

The next verses list all the people the law will speak to.  The law is like a guardrail on a mountain road.  It might block your view slightly but it will also keep you from crashing into the valley below.  The driver of an automobile must learn how to control the vehicle and obey the rules of the road.  Those rules aren’t to keep him from having fun or enjoying the drive but to keep him safe while driving next to others and their automobiles.  If he or she is unable to possess their own vessels it really doesn’t matter what the rules are, they couldn’t obey them anyway.  If they do know how to keep themselves under subjection then the rules keep them in line with the multitudes around them and there are no collisions on the highway.

You might say, “I want to learn to fly.”  The training and rules for flying are an order of magnitude higher than the rules for driving.  We say, “Lord, I want to soar in the heights with you!”  God looks at your life and says, “Son or daughter, learn how to walk on the footpath without tripping up your neighbor and then learn how to drive your car safely first.  Once you have learned that we’ll give you some lessons to fly higher.  First you will fly with your pastor or church leader in the pilot’s seat.  When you have learned how to fly their plane their way you may be ready to fly your own plane solo.  Don’t try to bypass the steps or you might miss something vital.

Remember, a fall from great height can destroy you and those who are below you looking up.  They may not have enough wisdom to get out of your way and protect themselves from your fall.

9 Knowing this, that the law is not made for a righteous man, but for the lawless and disobedient, for the ungodly and for sinners, for unholy and profane, for murderers of fathers and murderers of mothers, for manslayers, 10 For whoremongers, for them that defile themselves with mankind, for menstealers, for liars, for perjured persons, and if there be any other thing that is contrary to sound doctrine; 11 According to the glorious gospel of the blessed God, which was committed to my trust.

Get a dictionary or a Hebrew / Greek concordance and look up the words above if you are unsure what those sins are.  We saints of God might look at the sins listed above and say, “Thank God I’m not a sinner like these are.”  Be very careful.  Jesus spoke of the Pharisee who said, “God I thank you I am not like these sinners (Luke 18:10-14).”  He was so full of his own righteousness that he was unchanged by prayer.  The sinner prayed, “Lord forgive me my sins,” and went home forgiven.  You might say that the Pharisee was without sin but we know better don’t we?  All have sinned and fall short of the Glory of God (Romans 3:23).

12 And I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who hath enabled me, for that he counted me faithful, putting me into the ministry;

Notice that Paul gave God the glory for enabling him.  God struck Nebuchadnezzar stupid for seven years because he took credit for all of Babylon.  Whatever power or ability you have is a direct result of your relationship to God.  I have tried to write without the anointing before.  It’s not pretty.  In Paul’s mind he had one redeeming characteristic, he was faithful.  Before his conversion he was a faithful persecutor and after he was equally faithful for Christ.  Because of this faithfulness God was able to use him in ministry.  You could depend on Paul to be true to his understanding of God’s Word.  God made sure he had an opportunity to get away and draw close intellectually and spiritually.  When he returned he hit the ground running.

13 Who was before a blasphemer, and a persecutor, and injurious: but I obtained mercy, because I did it ignorantly in unbelief.

Notice Paul doesn’t pull any punches when he describes himself.  He doesn’t come out and say, “These sins aren’t all that bad so God corrected me and put me back on the payroll.”  His sins were enormous, perhaps even worse than Judas’.  Judas was ignorant and zealous for Israel more than for God Himself.  He would have followed Jesus to the death in battle.  Paul was a highly trained priest of God who ought to have known better than to persecute the coming Messiah.  He and his priestly kin should have know enough to understand the mission of our Lord.  In fact, had the Pharisees known who Jesus was we would have all missed the Gentile blessing.  God had to keep them in ignorance to give us an opportunity to come to God.  Still, I wonder how many of us in the Gentile church are guilty of this same arrogance.

14 And the grace of our Lord was exceeding abundant with faith and love which is in Christ Jesus.

Well I guess so.  Consider that Jesus looked at someone who was actively destroying His church and saw a great gift for the fledgling body.  God says, “My grace is sufficient for you, my strength is made perfect in weakness.”  Before you ever say God will never save a Hitler or some other terror from history or future, be careful and pray.  Jonah and other Jews were not pleased by the grace of God toward their enemies.  They always wanted destruction and terror to their enemies.  While the Jews are God’s chosen ones, He loves the whole earth.  Faith works by love and love is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Spirit.

15 This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners; of whom I am chief.

This is a saying faithful to the Word of God and His stated purpose on the Earth.  It is not only acceptable but worthy and acceptable.  Jesus came to save sinners.  If you are a sinner, Jesus came to save you.  If you are a Christian, Jesus came to save your enemies, friends and loved ones whether you like it or not.  You might be a terror to the church or an example of good works.  Either way, Christ came to save you and deliver you from death.  No matter how sweet and kindly you are, without Jesus you are a filthy blood soaked rag.  God isn’t looking for good conduct, He demands perfection.  Perfection comes through the blood of our Savior Jesus.

16 Howbeit for this cause I obtained mercy, that in me first Jesus Christ might shew forth all longsuffering, for a pattern to them which should hereafter believe on him to life everlasting.

One day I might do a study of ‘first partakers.’  You can be a first partaker of God’s mercy or grace, or a first partaker of His wrath.  Ananias and Sapphira were first partakers of his judgment for lying.  He couldn’t have the church thinking He was a chump who doesn’t know what is going on in men’s hearts.  They lied to the Holy Spirit and died for it.  I absolutely believe that God punishes sins even now, though it might not be as immediate and final as what those two received but I promise your lies and falsehoods do not go unnoticed or unpunished.

In Paul’s case he was the first partaker of God’s mercy toward sinners.  He absolutely deserved to have a tree fall on his head and be cast into Hell for his actions toward the church of Christ.  Notice it says that God’s actions toward him were a pattern to be followed.  Jesus is the same yesterday, today and forever.  Why bother write this down for Him?  Then again, why write it down for us?  We can’t forgive sins can we?  Oh yeah, in Christ we can.  Well, we can’t show mercy can we?  You have to be greater than the one you are forgiving to show mercy.  That’s right, greater is He that is in me that he that is in the world. 

It would appear we don’t have any excuse.  If God the Father and God the Son and God the Holy Spirit are all gracious and longsuffering then we the children of God must be as well.  Brethren, we must follow Christ’s example.  He went to the grave in complete control of the situation (John 10:17-18; Matthew 26:52-53).  If the weapons of our warfare are not carnal then we must stop using those carnal weapons.  They often get in the way of our sacrifice.

17 Now unto the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only wise God, be honor and glory for ever and ever. Amen.

How great is this description of God.  He is eternal, He always was.  He is immortal, He will never die and never end.  He is invisible; he is not made up of matter which can be seen but of Spirit.  God is the ONLY wise God.  There is no other.  Notice it says to Him be honor and glory for ever and ever.  Who glorifies God?  We do.  Scripture says that all things will pass away including this planet we live on and this universe we live in.  Nevertheless, those who serve and worship the Lord will remain.  He is worthy of our worship and we are made eternal to serve and love Him as He served and loved us for an example.

18 This charge I commit unto thee, son Timothy, according to the prophecies which went before on thee, that thou by them mightest war a good warfare;

Paul was a good father who prepared his children for the world that was coming.  Even if we aren’t called to defend ourselves with guns, we are still entering into warfare and God expects us to be proficient at it.  In this case the admonition to develop good skills at warfare didn’t just come from Paul but from the Lord Himself.  He had been prophesied to concerning this warfare.  It’s one thing to have a loving conscientious father who doesn’t expect much from you but in this case Paul himself placed this burden upon Timothy’s shoulders.  Very often mother's let their children get away with too much but father’s are supposed to help the men become men.

19 Holding faith, and a good conscience; which some having put away concerning faith have made shipwreck:

You have to hold your faith.  It must occupy a powerful portion of your energies and you should know that you know that you know that God will not embarrass you by failing to honor your faith.  Your service to God must be in good conscience, not for greedy gain or the temporary benefit of money.  I absolutely agree that the workman is worthy of his hire but that places the responsibility upon those who hear to decide that the word they have received is a blessing and ought to be honored by your carnal increase. If you do what you do strictly for financial gain then you have become shipwreck in your faith.  It ought to compel you to serve God regardless.

20 Of whom is Hymenaeus and Alexander; whom I have delivered unto Satan, that they may learn not to blaspheme.

I’ve met these two before.  Their names were different, but I remember they accused us of trying to cheat them and of not loving with the love of God while they themselves talked about us like we were dogs and then lied against us.  Perhaps you have met them too.  God says to turn this type over to Satan for the destruction of flesh so they might learn how not to blaspheme and speak evil against you and the Lord.  Many of them become magnets for other angry non-saints who do not want to hear about self sacrifice and love.  This type of leadership they can often lead the sheep astray to perdition; the blind leading the blind.

Take care beloved.  God expects great things of us and empowers us to make it happen.  Trust Him and great things will happen.  

Honor those who have blessed you to grow in grace.

Bishop J