Considered Yourself Charged

1 Timothy 1:15-20

 

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

However, for this reason I obtained mercy, that in me first Jesus Christ might show all longsuffering, AS A PATTERN FOR THOSE WHO ARE GOING TO BELIEVE ON HIM FOR EVERLASTING LIFE.

Now to the King eternal, immortal, invisible, to God who alone is wise, be honor and glory forever and ever. Amen.

This CHARGE (all longsuffering) I commit to you son Timothy, according to the prophecies previously made concerning you, that by them you might wage the good warfare, having faith and a good conscience, which some having rejected, CONCERNING THE FAITH HAVE SUFFERED SHIPWRECK, of whom are Hymenaeus and Alexander, whom I delivered to Satan that they may learn not to blaspheme."


Charged with longsuffering so that Jesus Christ may show in any believer (clearly Paul was the first), for other believers to see, so they may do likewise. Longsuffering means to patiently endure or persevere. We, in Christ, persevere by the prophecies made concerning us: those spoken by christians who pursue love and desire spiritual gifts, and the more sure word of prophecy - the living Word of God!


As Timothy, a "true and beloved son in the faith", was seemingly very close to Paul, so should you be with a church that "pursues love and desires spiritual gifts". Your must regularly read the bible, seeking Jesus Christ in it. When you despise prophecies (the Lord's attempt to edify, exhort and comfort) and have not faith (a revelation of who He is and how He does things) because you think you know better, shipwreck may result.

For Blamelessness In Holiness

The First Epistle Of Paul To The Thessalonians

"We give thanks to God always for you all, making mention of you in our prayers, remembering without ceasing your work of faith, labor of love, and patience of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ in the sight of our God and Father, knowing, beloved brethren, your election by God. For our gospel did not come to you in word only, but also in power and in the Holy Spirit and in much assurance, as you know what kind of men we were among you for your sake. And you became followers of us and of the Lord, having received the word in much affliction, with joy of the Holy Spirit, so that you became examples to all in Macedonia and Achaia who believe. For from you the word of the Lord has sounded forth, not only in Macedonia and Achaia, but also in every place. Your faith toward God has gone out, so that we do not need to say anything..........(1:2-8)

"....when you received the word of God which you heard from us, you welcomed it not as the word of men, but as it is in truth, the word of God, which also effectively works in you who believe." (2:13)

Concerned for their faith, Paul sends Timothy to know how the Thessalonian church were faring. He receives "good news of their faith and love." They are steadfast in what they have heard.

Pretty good report card! Well done, thy good and faithful servant, you are entering into the joy of the Lord! What you have received from Him (through the gifts God has given to men that build up the body of Christ), you are devoted to. Yet Paul tells them that he would like to see their faces and "perfect what is lacking in their faith" (3:10); .....Paul prays that "He (Jesus) may establish your hearts BLAMELESS IN HOLINESS before our God at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ with all His saints."(3:13)

"For this is the will of God, your sanctification.....; that each if you should know how to possess his own vessel in sanctification and honor." (4:3,4)

"Now may the God of peace Himself sanctify you COMPLETELY; and may your whole spirit, soul, and body be preserved blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. He who calls you is faithful, will also do it." (5:23.24)

"But let us who are of the day be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love, and as a helmet the hope of salvation. For God did not appoint us to wrath (the wrath that is certainly yet to come upon the earth), but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ..." (5:8,9)

Why is Paul discussing that we, to the extent that we are walking in Christ like the Thessalonians, should be "hoping" and "attaining" that which so many Christians say they have already attained, when, it appears salvation culminates when He comes to receive His church, those alive and dead, to Himself prior to the wrath that will come upon the earth? It is clear - even the most devoted must press toward the mark for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. Paul and the Thessalonians are!  

Enemies Of The Cross Of Christ

 Philippians 3:17-19

"Brethren, join in following my example, and note those who so walk, as you have us for a pattern. For many walk, of whom I have told you often, and now tell you even weeping, that THEY ARE ENEMIES OF THE CROSS OF CHRIST; whose end is destruction, whose God is their belly, and whose glory is in their shame - who set their mind on earthly things. For our citizenship is in heaven,......."

Enemies of the cross of Christ. Initially, we would say, "I know who those people are; they are against Christianity. They are atheists or from other religions. They fight against christian activity in schools, government, the town square, etc."  Not so fast!

Paul is addressing the Philippian church, the saints in Christ Jesus there. Without doubt, they knew who was sympathetic to the cause. They understood, as we do, that there is a difference between those who have entered into the Lord's salvation and having not entered. It is how we allow Jesus Christ, the head of all things to the church, to build upon that entrance where the challenge lies!

Paul says to these saints:  direct your walking as followers of his example. Many walk, but not after the pattern Jesus has established/is establishing in Paul. I think we must consider that these enemies of the cross of Christ are amongst the church. They don't argue with Jesus' cross, just theirs. In fact, I have encountered few men, inside or outside the church, who are willing to argue Jesus' crucifixion. When the discussion ensues, they reject the notion- their religion has no room for it. Now they are enemies of the cross of Christ.

"And you have forgotten the exhortation which speaks to you AS to sons:

'My son, do not despise the chastening of the Lord; Nor be discouraged when you are rebuked by Him; For whom the Lord loves (His church) He chastens, and scourges every son whom He receives.'

If you endure chastening, God deals with you as with sons; for what son is there whom a father does not chasten? But if you are without chastening, of which all have BECOME partakers, then you are illegitimate and not sons."

Ask yourself what you think (for as a man thinks, so is he) about the application of the cross of Christ in your life. Are you an enemy or a friend to the application in your life?

Saints In Christ Jesus

 Philippians 1:3-11

"I thank my God upon every remembrance of you, always in every prayer of mine making request for you with all joy, for your fellowship in the gospel from the first day until now, being confident of this very thing, that He who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ; just as it is right for me to think this of you all, because I have you in my heart, INASMUCH AS BOTH IN MY CHAINS AND IN THE DEFENSE AND CONFIRMATION OF THE GOSPEL, YOU ARE ALL PARTAKERS WITH ME OF GRACE. For God is my witness, how greatly I long for you all with the affection of Jesus Christ. And this I pray, that your love may abound still more and more in knowledge and all discernment, that you may approve the things that are excellent, that you may be sincere and without offense till the day of Christ, being filled with the fruits of righteousness which are by Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God."


At this point, I would encourage that you return to the beginning of 1 Corinthians/Galatians and read how Paul starts the conversation, comparing the apparent joy with which he greets the Philippian church. You will see that the Corinthian and Galatian churches are not PARTAKERS with Paul of grace (Jesus' all-knowing plan to inspire and empower to righteousness to the Father through Him) for they have either rejected His development by way of the Living Bread or they have stepped away from it - suffering so many things in vain. These Philippians are with Paul, having provided for his needs while he was ministering to the Corinthians and, more importantly, are willingly partaking of the Paul's chains, by example, as our great High Priest ordains.


Paul is an example of man going on to completion in Christ Jesus- more complete in Him than most! These Philippians were willing to surrender as Paul was surrendering. Paul steadfastly confesses that his chains are in Christ; chains that He is not looking to separate himself from!

You can reach the writer of this blog at ngm0811gdh@gmail.com

Raised To Preside And Fill

Ephesians 1:15-23; 11,12

"Therefore I also, after I heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for all the saints, do not cease to give thanks for you, making mention of you in my prayers: that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may (may be able to?) give to you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Him, the eyes of your understanding being enlightened, that you may know what is the hope of His calling, what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints, and what is the exceeding greatness of His power toward us who believe, according to the working of His mighty power, which He worked in Christ when He RAISED HIM from the dead and seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly places, far above all principality and power, might and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this age but also in that which is to come. And He put all things under His feet, and GAVE HIM to be head over ALL things to the church, which is His body, the fullness of HIM WHO FILLS all in all."


We can see what the Most High has in mind for those who have faith in the Lord Jesus and love for all the saints: with the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Him, those might have enlightened understanding regarding His calling for this life, His glorified inheritance toward us, His power to resurrect. This truth is available to all BELIEVERS. But, what the Father gave specifically to Jesus will not be available to another: Head over ALL things to the church. The good news is that Jesus, the head over all things to the church, has a resurrected place for each believer. It appears that Jesus was not given His place by the Father UNTIL He laid His life down for friends.


"In Him, also, we have obtained an inheritance, being predestined according to the purpose of Him who works all things according to the counsel of His will, that we who first trusted in Christ should be to the praise of His glory."


Ask the Lord to increase your faith in Him and love for all the saints. He will show you how to prepare, gird yourself and serve, in Him!

 

You can reach the writer of this blog at ngm0811gdh@gmail.com

The Law As Tutor (As The Backboard Helps the Shooter)

Please Read Galatians 3:19-25

 

"What purpose then does the law (Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, Deuteronomy) serve? It was added because of transgressions, till the Seed should come to whom the promise was made; and it was appointed through angels by the hand of a mediator. Now a mediator does not mediate for one only, but God is one. Is the law then against the promises of God? Certainly not! For if there had been a law given which could have given life, truly righteousness would have been by the law. But the Scripture has confined all under sin, that the promise by faith in Jesus Christ might be given to those who believe. But before faith came, we were kept under guard by the law, kept (confined) for the faith which would afterward be revealed. Therefore the law was our tutor (in a household, the guardian responsible for the care and discipline of the children) to bring us to Christ, that we might be justified by faith. But after faith has come, we are no longer under a tutor".


The promise is the availability of everlasting life, the righteousness of God in Christ Jesus to/in those who believe. Faith is the understanding (like the inherent knowledge within that we must eat to live. Babies even, while understanding little else, know that they are hungry) that Jesus Christ is, and accompanied by the works of that understanding (if we are willing to obey His inspiration), Jesus Christ builds His church, and the gates of Hell shall NOT prevail against what He is able to build in us, individually and as a body.


The game of basketball, most people know, is played on a rectangular "court". The goals are anchored to a backboard - a solid, hard surface that assists in shot-making and also keeps errant shots from rolling far away from the GOAL. Young players are directed to "use the backboard" for their shots. As players develop, they use the backboard less and at the highest levels of play, the backboard is used in a small percentage of shots taken - the players have become proficient in scoring the ball WITHOUT the backboard. The coaches hardly bother to recommend it.


The Galatian church had become tempted to go back to the backboard, the tutor, as the scripture describes. But, the tutor had been made obsolete by the indwelling of the Righteous One- Christ in us, the hope of glory!


Paul asks them, "This only I want to learn from you: Did you receive the Spirit by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith?" (Galatians 3:2) "Therefore He who supplies the Spirit to you and works miracles among you, does He do it by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith?" (Galatians 3:5)


God has manifested Himself to man through supernatural occurrence from the beginning; from the initiation of the writing of His Book to the finishing of the same. Only don't be tempted to go back to what was the tutor and try to find or experience Him. The new wine comes from Jesus' words in the gospels and the words He inspired through man.


The Galatian church was a new testament church in every regard yet they were tempted, probably by peer pressure from the Jewish people who were against Jesus as the Christ, to make themselves more like those who were being tutored according to the law. You see, life would be easier for them without the gnashing teeth of unbelievers. This exercise exposed the Galatian's will and, ultimately, the correction by Paul. There was an assault by satan-inspired thieves to steal what the Holy Spirit brings - a life of victory in Christ Jesus.

You can write to the author of this study at ngm0811gdh@gmail.com

Not Unqualified, Disqualified.

2 Corinthians 13:1-6

"This will be the third time I am coming to you. 'By the mouth of two or three witnesses every word shall be established'. I have told you before, and foretell as if I were present the second time, and now being absent I write to those who have sinned before, and to all the rest, that if I come again I will not spare - since you seek a proof of Christ speaking in me, who is not weak toward you, but mighty in you. For though He was crucified in weakness, yet He lives by the power of God. For we also are weak in Him, but we shall live with Him by the power of God toward you. Examine yourselves as to whether you are in the faith. Test yourselves. Do you not know yourselves that Jesus Christ is in you? - unless indeed you are DISQUALIFIED. But I trust that you will know that WE ARE NOT disqualified."

The image comes to me of a track meet - specifically the 100 meter dash. The participants have lined up and are ready to go, so they presume. They have been evaluated and found to be competitive. The starter informs them to take their mark. One or more of the participants jumps out early, trying to gain an edge on the others. That (those) runners have accomplished a false start and are disqualified by the track and field rules. They may not compete for the prize. Those who started falsely weren't UNQUALIFIED but were DISQUALIFIED.

I perceive admonishment in Paul's third approach to the church at Corinth. They seek proof of Christ speaking in him who is not weak toward them but mighty in them. Paul informs them that Christ was crucified in weakness yet lives by the power of God. Paul says the same is true in/for him and, by extension for Christians IF they are willing to allow it. He beseeches them to examine themselves as to whether they are in the faith; to remember that Jesus Christ is in them. To have to be reminded that Jesus Christ is in you might mean that you are not weak in Him but strong to yourself! Your carnal approach to this life in Christ dominates. Truly the Corinthian church had been qualified - born again from above by the Holy Spirit! Yet in that Spiritual empowerment they were DECIDING to ignore Paul's admonishments that represented our God's attempt to bring them stronger meat.

The apostle Paul informs that the Corinthian church should know that he (and those with him) are not disqualified. He is concerned that they (CC) will not stand the test.

 

You can reach the writer of this blog at ngm0811gdh@gmail.com