June 8, 2025
Morning Service

Last week we met both the writer and the receiver of this letter we are now studying.  We established that Paul speaks in the full authority of the God through the Holy Spirit and the things he writes are “the commandments of God.” (I Cor. 14:37) He has written this letter to Timothy, a young pastor, so that he can “know how you ought to conduct yourself in the house of God.” (I Tim 3 15) Paul has left Timothy in Ephesus to keep the church there on track and this letter reminds him what to focus on.

1Ti 1:3-4 As I urged you when I went into Macedonia—remain in Ephesus that you may charge some that they teach no other doctrine, (4) nor give heed to fables and endless genealogies, which cause disputes rather than godly edification which is in faith.

            The first point Paul brings up is that Timothy is to “teach no other doctrine.”  We saw last week in Galatians where Paul called for anyone who taught “any other gospel than what we have preached to be accursed.” (Gal. 1:8) Ephesus was plagued with many false teachers who taught “fables and endless genealogies.”  They made up mythical stories about OT characters that engaged the church into questions and controversies confusing them about what really was truth and what was not.  All these discussions and hypothetical questions caused only disputes and did not build their faith in the Lord.  It was far more detrimental than edifying.  Paul encourages Timothy and us to focus on the truth.

            We also need to take heed to not get caught up in discussions (hypothetical questions) that seem to take us down a rabbit hole and place our focus on things that really don’t matter.  We don’t need to dwell there.  Be careful to always bring the conversation back to what we do know, focusing on that and acknowledging that there are some things that we are not given to understand.  Peter told us this:

 

2Pe 1:3 as His divine power has given to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him who called us by glory and virtue,

            Everything that we need to grow and thrive as a Jesus follower has been given to us.  There is nothing hidden from us that we need to know.  Yes, there are things that we are beyond our understanding at our level of faith and that needs to be okay with us.  We must be able to trust God to reveal to us only what we need or what we can handle at that point of our walk with Him and place the rest on the altar not letting it consume us and undermine our faith.  There are some who “wrestle” with this to their own destruction.  Paul now gives us the true purpose of this command to speak only truth.

 

1Ti 1:5 Now the purpose of the commandment is love from a pure heart, from a good conscience, and from sincere faith,

            Adding on to his first point of teaching only the one true gospel message, Paul shows that the purpose of these commands are to change the believer from the inside out.  We must not only hear the truth, but we must obey it as well and do it in the right attitude.  The teachings of the scriptures are to create in us a true love for God, His Word, and each other.  It will not be a fake or false love, but one that comes “from a pure heart, good conscience, and sincere faith.”  We must have a desire to seek out all that God has for us following Him by giving Him our heart; which within lies our motivation to do what we do.  In doing that we create a “good conscience” within ourselves as we honestly seek to be obedient to God’s calling in our lives (doers not only hearers) by simply following our heart (that belongs to Him).  A sincere faith will follow closely behind these other two actions as it is characterized by our belief and trust that Jesus truly is “The Way, the Truth and the Life.” (John 14:6)

            Are you there this morning?  Have you turned your entire life over to God and walk with Him with a pure heart, good conscience, and a sincere faith?  Does this create within you a love for God and a burning desire to be found faithful to Him so much that it has changed who you are and how you live your life?  Is your relationship with Jesus the foundation of your life that you are building upon or is He just one of the bricks in your wall?  Are you “all in” with Jesus or are you holding on to some chips over here that you value more than your faith in Him?  Are you seeking more of God in your life, or are you just trying to do the bare minimum to get by?

  How do you think God feels about you being anything less than 100% committed to Him?  Let’s go to the Book of Revelations and let God Himself tell us.  He is writing to the seven churches and highlighting their good qualities and revealing to them their areas where they are falling short.  To the church at Laodicea (and to many of us today) He tell us this:

 

Rev 3:15-17” I know your works, that you are neither cold nor hot. I could wish you were cold or hot.  (16)  So then, because you are lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will vomit you out of My mouth.  (17)  Because you say, 'I am rich, have become wealthy, and have need of nothing'—and do not know that you are wretched, miserable, poor, blind, and naked.

            God knows your heart, whether you are uncommitted (cold), all in (hot), or riding the fence between your faith and your love of this world (lukewarm).  God tells us here that if we are lukewarm, He will vomit us out of His mouth.  A person only part way committed to following Jesus turns God’s stomach. He has so much more for you and it sickens Him to see you settle for less.  He would rather you not care at all rather than pretending to be a follower.  Those are strong words for us to absorb, but they are very clear.  He then defines the life of such a lukewarm believer.  He looks at himself and thinks “I am rich, wealthy and living the American dream!”  For many they view life here and now as their heaven.  Happiness will only come with a new car, successful career, or that big vacation.  He is deceived into seeking the things of this world first, and then trying to mix God in only when it is convenient.

.  But God tells us in reality he is “wretched, miserable, poor, blind and naked.” He has been deceived in to thinking the riches of this world are the ultimate prize, but God has so much more for us.   Jesus said this in Matthew:

 

  Mat 16:24-26 Then Jesus said to His disciples, "If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me.  (25)  For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will find it.  (26)  For what profit is it to a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul? Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul?

            The lukewarm believer does not deny himself fully and follow Jesus.  He is seeking his own will over the will of God. He may gain the whole world, but in the end he will realize it all is empty and it was God who was offering true happiness, peace and contentment.  What do we do if we find ourselves taking this detour of lukewarmness from our walk with Jesus?  God Himself tells us at the end of His letter to Laodicea (us):

 

Rev 3:18-22 I counsel you to buy from Me gold refined in the fire, that you may be rich; and white garments, that you may be clothed, that the shame of your nakedness may not be revealed; and anoint your eyes with eye salve, that you may see.  (19)  As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten. Therefore, be zealous and repent.  (20)  Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and dine with him, and he with Me.  (21)  To him who overcomes I will grant to sit with Me on My throne, as I also overcame and sat down with My Father on His throne.  (22)  "He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches."

            He councils us first to buy the gold He offers us which is refined by fire making us truly rich.  This means “Seek first the kingdom of God” in which lies the true riches of this life that do not rust or fade away.  Invest in treasures is heaven, not the ones of this earth.  In so doing we create a love that comes from a pure heart, good conscience, and sincere faith that will cloth us in white garments (righteousness), granting us the proper perspective to see and understand what truly is most important in life; first things first.  Know that God loves you this morning and is calling you to open your eyes to the truth and repent of your lukewarmness.  God loves you just as you are, but refuses to leave you that way.  He wants you to be just like Jesus. (Max Lucado) He is knocking at your door this morning.  He desires to come in and abide with you, but you have to open the door.  That is how repentance works, He calls but you have to answer.  He then promises that when you do repent, commit to follow, and take up your cross, He will come in and dine with you, walk with you and abide with you.  That is where true happiness is found.  We are complete in Him (Col. 2:10) as we now have a love that comes from a pure heart, good conscience and sincere faith.

            My final question for you this morning is how much of God do you want in your life?

 Are you okay with just enough to get by or do you want more? 

Put the first things first.

 

Matthew 5:6 Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be filled.