Mar
21
1 Timothy 4:16
16Pay close attention to yourself and to your teaching; persevere in these things, for as you do this you will ensure salvation both for yourself and for those who hear you. Personal Application: Wow, the words “pay close attention to yourself and to your teaching” jump out at me today. What are the best ways to pay close attention to myself and my teaching? 1. The best way to pay close attention to myself is to give the Holy Spirit access to my life through the Word and prayer. I need an unhurried time in the Word and prayer daily. 2. I need to make time to discuss my priority time with Karin and others (Andy, Jason and staff). 3. I need to read people who challenge and push me in my walk. 4. I need to make time for a mentor to motivate me, challenge me and sharpen me. 5. I need a vision/support team. I need a team of people that I dream with, a team that holds my arms up in battle. 6. I need to diligently protect myself from...
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20
Prayer–March 20, 2010
Interactive Prayer: Father, today is the day that You have made and I will rejoice in it. You alone are good. Father, I’m grateful for the opportunity to know You, love You and serve You. I’m grateful for the opportunity to serve You as one of Your sons, as one of Your servant-leaders and as one of Your pastors. Father, I pray that You would help me to overcome my human disappointment and to persevere in prayer. Father, I know that only You know what is best, only You want what is best, only You give what is best. Father, I pray that You would help me to respond with perseverance and faith. Father, help me to discipline myself for the purpose of godliness. Help me discipline my body, my mind and my leadership to glorify You. I desperately desire to see You move in and through our church in a way that is only explained as a movement of God, a work of the Holy Spirit. Father, cause the seeds of the Word of God to fall on good soil. Father,...
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19
1 Timothy 4:13–16
13Until I come, give attention to the public reading of Scripture, to exhortation and teaching. 14Do not neglect the spiritual gift within you, which was bestowed on you through prophetic utterance with the laying on of hands by the presbytery. 15Take pains with these things; be absorbed in them, so that your progress will be evident to all. 16Pay close attention to yourself and to your teaching; persevere in these things, for as you do this you will ensure salvation both for yourself and for those who hear you. Focused Thinking: Do not neglect the spiritual gift within you, which was bestowed on you through prophetic utterance with the laying on of hands by the presbytery. Note-I’m going straight to application. The observation and interpretation of this passage is obvious. Personal Application: How do I neglect my spiritual gifts? What do I need to do to develop my spiritual gifts? I neglect my gift of teaching by not prioritizing...
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18
1 Timothy 4:1–5
1But the Spirit explicitly says that in later times some will fall away from the faith, paying attention to deceitful spirits and doctrines of demons, 2by means of the hypocrisy of liars seared in their own conscience as with a branding iron, 3men who forbid marriage and advocate abstaining from foods which God has created to be gratefully shared in by those who believe and know the truth. 4For everything created by God is good, and nothing is to be rejected if it is received with gratitude; 5for it is sanctified by means of the word of God and prayer. Focused Thinking: It is important to connect these verses with the last verses of chapter 3. Don’t let the chapter break cause you to miss the continuation of thought. Why was Paul writing to Timothy (3:14)? I write so that you will know how one ought to conduct himself in the household of God. How does Paul describe the household of God (3:15)? Which is the church of the living God,...
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17
1 Timothy 3:14–16
14I am writing these things to you, hoping to come to you before long; 15but in case I am delayed, I write so that you will know how one ought to conduct himself in the household of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and support of the truth. 16By common confession, great is the mystery of godliness: He who was revealed in the flesh, Was vindicated in the Spirit, Seen by angels, Proclaimed among the nations, Believed on in the world, Taken up in glory. Focused Thinking: What was Paul’s intent toward Timothy? Paul was hoping to visit Timothy personally; however, Paul’s message couldn’t wait for his personal visit. The needs of the ministry were too important and too urgent to wait. What was Paul’s purpose in writing Timothy? I write so that you will know how one ought to conduct himself in the household of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and support of truth. Paul was protecting...
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16
1 Timothy 3:11–13
11Women must likewise be dignified, not malicious gossips, but temperate, faithful in all things. 12Deacons must be husbands of only one wife, and good managers of their children and their own households. 13For those who have served well as deacons obtain for themselves a high standing and great confidence in the faith that is in Christ Jesus. Focused Thinking: Women must likewise be dignified, not malicious gossips, but temperate, faithful in all things. What does Paul mean when he says, “women must likewise be dignified…”? I don’t think he is referring the wives of deacons. I think he is referring to the women who serve as deacons. I think he says, “deacons must be husbands of only one wife” because he is dealing with the specific character and temptation issues that affect men. I don’t think he is saying this by the way of excluding women. What do each of these words mean as they pertain to the specific character and temptation...
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15
1 Timothy 3:8–13
8Deacons likewise must be men of dignity, not double-tongued, or addicted to much wine or fond of sordid gain, 9but holding to the mystery of the faith with a clear conscience. 10These men must also first be tested; then let them serve as deacons if they are beyond reproach. 11Women must likewise be dignified, not malicious gossips, but temperate, faithful in all things. 12Deacons must be husbands of only one wife, and good managers of their children and their own households. 13For those who have served well as deacons obtain for themselves a high standing and great confidence in the faith that is in Christ Jesus. Focused Thinking: What does this list of character qualities say about the importance of spiritual strong leaders? Deacons (servants) must be men of dignity… Not double-tongued… Nothing hurts more than a leader who gossips. Nothing hurts more than a leader who is reckless. Not addicted to much wine… Not fond of sordid...
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14
Prayer for Sunday service
From Saturday night… Father, our people desperately need to obey You. Cause people to take steps of obedience. Protect our people from delaying their obedience. Give me the ability to teach with Your presence and power. Give me the ability to teach in the power and demonstration of the Holy Spirit. Speak through me with Your authority and conviction. Father, cause our people to repent of being selfish. Cause our people to repent of individualism. Cause our people to repent of neglecting the church and what it means to be a member of the church. Father, cause our people to see their need for friends and their need to be a friend. Father, do something through this week’s message to cause this church to “get it” in the world of connection. I pray for commitments to friendship. I pray for repentance of selfishness. Father, please show people how spiritual friendships are. Show people how important friendships are. Father, this can...
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13
1 Timothy 3:7
And he must have a good reputation with those outside the church, so that he will not fall into reproach and the snare of the devil. Focused Thinking: What does it mean to be above reproach? Above reproach doesn’t mean sinless. Above reproach literally means “that cannot be laid hold of;” which means there is nothing in his life that the enemy can lay hold of to hinder the work or ruin the witness. Note–Because of the importance of this subject I looked up the definitions of these words so I can fully understand them, evaluate my life and pray through them. The listed character traits simply give more definition to the standard. 1. Above reproach Good reputation with believers and unbelievers 2. The husband of but one wife (one spouse) We believe Paul was dealing with moral purity, which is why he lists this quality immediately, stating that an elder/overseer must be “above reproach.” There is nothing that builds...
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12
1 Timothy 3:1–7
1It is a trustworthy statement: if any man aspires to the office of overseer, it is a fine work he desires to do. 2An overseer, then, must be above reproach, the husband of one wife, temperate, prudent, respectable, hospitable, able to teach, 3not addicted to wine or pugnacious, but gentle, peaceable, free from the love of money. 4He must be one who manages his own household well, keeping his children under control with all dignity 5(but if a man does not know how to manage his own household, how will he take care of the church of God?), 6and not a new convert, so that he will not become conceited and fall into the condemnation incurred by the devil. 7And he must have a good reputation with those outside the church, so that he will not fall into reproach and the snare of the devil. Focused Thinking: What is a trustworthy statement? if any man aspires to the office of overseer, it is a fine work he desires to do. Do we realize how important...
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