with Elder Elico Manenji
✝️In this chapter Timothy is reminded of certain things which he was to constantly to remind the church.
The Apostle also gave him direction about personal deportment as a minister of the gospel.
Timothy was to put the church constantly in remembrance of the great apostasy which was to occur, he was to keep guard against the doctrines of the apostate preachers and teachers.
For in the latter days, there was to be a great departing from the faith and apostasy ad some would give heed to seducing spirits and doctrines of devils.
These seducers and apostate teachers would speak falsehoods having their own consciences seared with a hot iron. They would forbid people to marry and forbid the use of certain foods which God had appointed for mankind.
As a minister, Timothy was to warn the churches against trifling and superstitious views such old wives fables.
He was to teach the truth and godliness which has a promise of the present life and life to come, Timothy to give these instructions, was to endure labor and to suffer reproach, but nevertheless he was to remain faithfully to these important truths.
He was not to allow himself to be despised as a young minister but was to cultivate the gift he was endowed with at the day of his ordination.
1️⃣1 Timothy 4:1-5: The great apostasy and doctrines of devils.
⏹️Holy Spirit by inspiration and revelation, the abiding teacher and comforter had advised that in the latter days there would be departing from the faith, as people would give heed to seducing spirits and doctrines of devils.
⏹️ These doctrines of the devils included:
I. A departure from faith and denying the truth and following heresies.
The Apostle Peter says, "But there were false prophets also among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you, who privately shall bring in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them, and bring on themselves swift destruction" (2 Peter 2:1).
II.These wicked agents of darkness will speak lies in hypocrisy, having their conscience seared with a hot iron.
Jesus said, "But woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for you shut up the kingdom of heaven against men: for you neither go in yourselves, neither suffer you them that are entering to go in" (Matthew 23:13).
III. They will speak hypocrisy an iniquity that arouses the anger of the Lord.
A man who is false and unreal, one who leads others to stray from the true gospel has no part in the kingdom of light but is silently and openly fighting against God, the influence of the Holy Spirit and the sacrifice of the Son of God on the cross of calvary which cleanses sinners from their sins.
The patriarch Job says, "For the congregation of hypocrites shall be desolate, and fire shall consume the tabernacles of bribery"(Job 15:34).
IV. They will forbid people to marry, any doctrine which is contrary to the Word of God is a false doctrine and a wicked doctrine.The Word of God allows marriage, and makes no exception of either the clergy or any other to be under a celibate vow except if it was a gift from God.
The Lord instructed the priesthood saying, "A widow, or a divorced woman, or profane, or an harlot, these shall he not take: but he shall take a virgin of his own people to wife" (Leviticus 21:14).
V. Most of prominent people, the priests, the prophets, prophets, the Levites and all those who attended more immediately the service of God were given to marriage except by God instructions to specific people.
There is no uncleanness or unholiness in marriage for it was instituted in paradise during the state of man’s innocency and being God’s ordinance, it is holy.
The Apostle says, "Marriage is honorable in all, and the bed undefiled: but fornicators and adulterers God will judge"(Hebrews 13:4).
VI.False teachers will forbid people to take certain foods which the Lord had instructed to be taken by prayer. For every creature of God is good, and nothing is to be refused if it be received with thanksgiving as it is sanctified by the Word of God and prayer.
The Word of the Lord says, "But flesh with the life thereof, which is the blood thereof, shall you not eat"(Genesis 9:4).
The Apostle says, "But I say, that the things which the Gentiles sacrifice, they sacrifice to devils, and not to God: and I would not that you should have fellowship with devils"(1 Corinthians 10:20).
VII. That the Word of God is His command which expressly give permission and authority to man to use whatever was allowed by God as suitable for him in the vegetable and in the animal kingdom.
The Lord instructed saying, "And God said, Behold, I have given you every herb bearing seed, which is on the face of all the earth, and every tree, in the which is the fruit of a tree yielding seed; to you it shall be for meat"(Genesis 1:29).
"Every moving thing that liveth shall be meat for you; even as the green herb have I given you all things"(Genesis 9:3).
2️⃣1 Timothy 4:6-11: The doctrines of truth which are profitable for godliness.
⏹️Ministers should make known the truth and the truth will strengthen the believer from faith to faith. The Apostle says, "For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, The just shall live by faith"(Romans 1:17).
⏫Truth needs to be welcomed by love, by thought and will as the Word is the seed that must be received into good soil of our heart and conscience and then the increase will come.
The Apostles said, "Lord, Increase our faith"(Luke 17:5).
The Apostle says, "Not boasting of things without our measure, that is, of other men's labors; but having hope, when your faith is increased, that we shall be enlarged by you according to our rule abundantly" (2 Corinthians 10:15).
⏹️ A good minister of Christ discloses the truth in faithfulness of his subordination to the authority of Christ. They are not ashamed of the gospel for it is the power of God unto salvation.
The Apostle says, "For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God to salvation to every one that believes; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek"(Romans 1:16).
⏫A good minister of Christ is persistent to his adherence to the doctrine of Christ and steadfastness in his imitation of the example of Christ.
The Apostle says, "In the day when God shall judge the secrets of men by Jesus Christ according to my gospel"(Romans 2:16).
⏭️Pure religion, the study of the Word of God, strengthens the mind and improves its mental capabilities leading to godliness.
The Apostle says, "Study to show yourself approved to God, a workman that needs not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth" (2 Timothy 2:15).
3️⃣1 Timothy 4:12-16: Rules for personal conduct to save self and those who believe.
⏹️Ministers should be the example of believers, it is natural for the flock to follow the shepherd.
If there are ills in the Church, the ministers should introspect their behaviour, the fish rots from the head first.
The Apostle says, " In all things showing yourself a pattern of good works: in doctrine showing soundness, gravity, sincerity" (Titus 2:7).
The Apostle Peter says, " Neither as being lords over God's heritage, but being ensamples to the flock"(1Peter 5:3).
⏭️Four essentials are required in a gospel minister:
1.That they should teach in word, in doctrine and in the truth of God.
The Apostle says, "Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all long-suffering and doctrine" (2 Timothy 4:2).m
2.That in conversation, in whole conduct themselves as become followers of God, not in filthy language and lucre, they should be well behaved in public relations.
The Apostle says, "Only let your conversation be as it becomes the gospel of Christ.."(Philippians 1:27) , and "Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as you have: for he has said, I will never leave you, nor forsake you"(Hebrews 13:5).
3. That in charity or in love to God and man is the only right principle and motive of all conduct.
The Apostle John says, "Beloved, let us love one another: for love is of God; and every one that loves is born of God, and knows God"(1John 4:7).
4.That in spirit and all manner of disposition they should show the charitable, holy work of the sanctified will of God in them.
The Apostle John says, "For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments: and his commandments are not grievous" (1John 5:3).
⏹️Reading capacitate the truth, it impresses the truth in the mind and ennobles the mind to admire the truth.
The Lord said, "And it shall be with him, and he shall read therein all the days of his life: that he may learn to fear the LORD his God, to keep all the words of this law and these statutes, to do them" (Deuteronomy 17:19).
⏭️Reading cultivates the gifts of the Spirit and enables mankind to do the work of the Master without hesitation.
Jesus said, "Search the scriptures; for in them you think you have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me" (John 5:39).
🅰️Appeal
Those who are good ministers of Jesus Christ are diligent in their work, not that they study to advance new notions, but study to put brethren in remembrance of those things which they have received and heard.
The Apostle Peter say, "Wherefore I will not be negligent to put you always in remembrance of these things,though you know them, and be established in the present truth" (2 Peter 1:12).
Amen!!!
Elico Manenji
(+263712952704)'
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