Throughout our life there are times when we mark events as significant or milestones. There are things such as getting a drivers license, or graduation, or getting married, or a new baby, a new job. As these are important, there are many other milestones you have in your walk with the Lord; the day you were saved, or the time the Lord directed your path differently than you thought, or the day you shared the gift of salvation with a friend; or maybe when you were baptized; or any number of significant events as you walk with the Lord in the light of His word. It is good to mark these events and remember them. It is showing us how God has been at work in our life for His good pleasure and our blessing.

Outfitting the Saints

Ebenezer

The time has come. If we want to see God’s hand at work in the world around us, then the time has come for us to consider our ways, show Him reverence, and then we will see His glory! We looked at the time has come to consider our ways. A Self-examination to make sure we are pursuing God and our own desires. A need for us to rebuild our lives around Him, allowing the Spirit to lead us, and we need to follow Him in every part of our life. And recognizing that God has allowed or even brought these things about so that we will admit it is us and repent. There is no one to blame but ourselves. We looked at the time has come to show reverence. This comes by obeying His voice, listening with understanding what He tells us, and working on our relationship with Him! It is knowing that He is with us. The presence of our Mighty God is with us, leading us in the way of victory. And we need to take Courage. Grow strong in your walk with the Lord. The last message in the book of Haggai is what He has declared to those who follow the lesson given in His word. The time has come to see His glory!

The Time Has Come to See His Glory

We spoke last time about an upheaval in this life and all the things that are going on to keep us from succeeding in our journey through life. We made the assumption that God would bless are pursuits, but He hasn’t blessed them. We found out the reason for this dilemma. There is a famous quote that says, “we have met the enemy and it is us!” As God spoke to the people in Jerusalem through the prophet Haggai, they found out that their deliberate pursuits on their own was the problem. We need to rebuild our lives around Him, allowing the Spirit to lead us, and we need to follow Him in every part of our life. We must recognize that God has allowed or even brought these things about so that we will admit it is us and repent. There is no one to blame but ourselves.

The Time Has Come to Show Reverence

We find ourselves in the middle of a chaotic life. Things we do, don’t seem to produce what they think they should. We pursue different things only to find out there is no lasting benefit. We have spent most of our life trying to gain something or get ahead only to be disappointed. God’s people have looked for the blessing of the Lord on their endeavors but have not seen His hand in what they do. There is a reason for this! We have seen fit to pursue our desires instead of God’s. God dealt with Israel concerning this issue in Haggai. And even though He spoke to Israel, the principle still rings true for us today as His children.

The Time Has Come to Consider Your Ways

As Paul continues to give his closing exhortation to Timothy we see some truths that we can apply to us today. The same conclusions that we came to last time are repeated here with more emphasis. Let’s listen to Paul strongly urge Timothy regarding the faith, that is the work of faith, persevering in faith, wealth and faith, and guarding the faith.

The Gathering of Believers 6.2

Again Paul speaks to Timothy concerning the men teaching strange doctrines, myths and genealogies. This is the primary reason for the instructions that he gave to Timothy concerning the gathering of believers. The congregation at Ephesus was being enticed away from the truth and pursuing things that were not bringing about a godly character among the community but one that divides.We want to look at the possible problems that they were teaching and their motives along with the results of both godliness and false teaching. This is first part of Paul’s plea to Timothy as he wraps up this all important letter to him.

The Gathering of Believers 6.1

The process of being a gathering of believers is not something that just happens by osmosis, but it is clearly defined in God’s word for His people. He set certain things in order, to bring blessing upon His people. I am reminded of the people in Nehemiah’s day when they wandered from what had been set up by Nehemiah according to the Word of God. Nehemiah scolded them and warned them about what they were doing and what God would do if they did not repent and do what was right. As we continue a little longer in this letter to Timothy, let’s not forget what God has given us for our good.

The Gathering of Belivers 6.0

Another important concern that Paul wanted Timothy to convey to the gathering of believers was the care and ministry of the Elders. He gave instruction about the qualifications of an elder and we even spoke concerning their work. Paul wants Timothy and the people to know what some specifics are concerning elders and he wants the elders to know the specifics about their office. This morning we want to look at honoring elders, reproving elders, leading of elders, and the laying on of hands by the elders.

The Gatheiring of Believers 5.2

The gathering of believers needs to give heed to the instructions that Paul gave to Timothy. We have already seen how believers should conduct themselves in the church, the gathering of God’s people, and although this speaks to a practice within the church it can be added to the conduct of the church as well. The remaining instructions to Timothy in this letter relate to the practice of the church. We are dealing with the practice of honoring widows in the church. This morning we want to look at the widows in the church, the widows’ work in the church, and the widows who can be on the list.

The Gathering of Believers 5.1

Paul spells out to Timothy how he should deal with the people within the gathering of believers. These two verses imply that there would be times of dealing with each group of people on a group or one-on-one basis. As a leader of the gathering of believers, Timothy needed to approach them in the proper manner with respect to his own age. Because Timothy was younger, maybe around 30 years of age, he would need to use wisdom beyond his years. Paul balances the approach to the believers with three references; no sharp rebuke, exhort them, and do so as fathers, brothers, mothers or sisters. We want to look at these this morning and draw from them what we, as a gathering of believers, should expect from our leaders and how we should relate to one another within the gathering.

The Gathering of Believers 5.0

After summarizing the charge that he has given to Timothy concerning the gathering of believers at Ephesus, Paul points out 7 things that Timothy, a servant (deacon) of the Lord Jesus Christ, should be doing. Even though they speak to Timothy’s task as a leader in the church at Ephesus we can glean truth and practice for us today. Since Paul emphasizes the conduct of the believers, -whether individually or corporately, -and being grounded in the Truth to steer clear of being enticed with false teaching, -then it must be important for us today!

The Gathering of Believers 4.0

In writing this charge to Timothy concerning the gathering of believers, Paul reaches a point where he summarizes what he has said and puts it into perspective. Paul would have loved to get there with the letter to instruct Timothy and the gathering of believers at Ephesus in the behavior of the church, but instead sends this letter on ahead. He then goes on to say that a godly life comes from a profession of faith or a common confession, ending with the reason that there are so many problems arising to detract from the truth.

The Gathering of Belivers 3.3

Because we are now of the same household, we become representatives of that household. Since we are the keepers of the truth and show others what truth is, then we had better follow the truth of Scripture. Today we want to look at the Deacon. What it is that they do, what characteristics should they have, and who can be a deacon. Sometimes we assign names to an office in the church because of tradition instead of examining the scriptures to see what the Lord says.

The Gathering of Believers 3.2

We have been examining the conduct of those who have received Salvation by faith in Christ; those that belong to the gathering of believers. There are things recorded for us in the Scripture that we should follow if we belong to Christ. Here in 1 Timothy we are looking at how believers are to conduct themselves in the household of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and support of the truth. Last time we saw that the work of the overseer/elder/pastor(s) consists of diligence in the word; stewardship of the word; teaching the word; preaching the word; equipping with the word; exhorting, reproving, correcting with the word; and instructing in the word. This is the job or task that has been given to them by God in His order of things. The second part of this is who are these leaders. Who can become a leader, and what should they be like. Hopefully we will paint a picture for you to see what an overseer/elder/pastor should be.

The Gathering of Believers 3.1

We are examining the scripture to see what the Lord says concerning believers, and now more specifically about when they gather together. Paul writes to Timothy in 3:15 that he is telling Timothy how individual believers should conduct themselves in the household of God or the gathering of believers. This morning we want to examine the first of two parts concerning leaders within the body of believers. What are they and who are they. You might ask the question this morning, why do I need to know this information. Well, since leaders are part of the gathering of believers, the whole group needs to know how to recognize what these leaders should be doing and who they should be.

The Gathering of Believers 3.0

A preaching ministry of Calvary Community Church in Fields Landing, California. We are a gathering of believers that seek to know Christ and make Him known. Please visit our website at www.101church.com for more about our church.

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Outfitting the Saints

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