1 Timothy | Ch. 5
From Daniel's Desk on 12/28/19
My Title: DEFEND Unity! It is Our WITNESS!
My Verse: 21
"21 In the presence of God and of Christ Jesus and of the elect angels I charge you to keep these rules without prejudging, doing nothing from partiality."
My Response:
For the Church to operate, it needs to have order. There really aren't any guidelines to HOW a church should be built because God is too creative to lock different people, with different gifts, and different purposes into one framework. Some churches will be designed to be hands while others feet. However, the head of ALL is Christ and this is where we find our structure. There are rules that He DOES want us ALL to adhere to so that we are ALL UNIFIED. First of all, PREACH CHRIST and HIM CRUCIFIED. Then, SET THE EXAMPLE for what it means to love your neighbor and do it wisely. Correct one another with love and RESPECT but REALIZE that the enemy is at work trying to divide and conquer the church.
PROTECT your leaders and assume the best of them always and harshly rebuke those that would jeopardize their sacrifice! For this reason, TEST their character before they are elected and DON'T lay hands to elect them into leadership quickly! Remember that eventually all good deeds and sins also will be revealed eventually. God is in control.
These are NOT suggestions. This is a charge commanded to us in front of God and Christ Jesus and all His holy angels. We are to set an example to the rest of the world as a light in dark room of who God is by the brotherly love between us and what flows out into the world because of the one who lives IN us.
My Notes:
Instructions for the Church:
Love should be the heart and motivation behind any reproof or correction and should be encouragement should be the goal. Treat an older man like a father. A younger man like a brother. An older woman as a mother and younger women as sisters.
Let children and grandchildren care for their widows because this is pleasing to God... but true widows that have no help, the CHURCH should be their help as their HOPE is set solely on God in prayers and supplication day and night.
If you don't take care of your OWN relatives, especially those of your household, you have DENIED the faith and are WORSE than an unbeliever. - We are called to SET the EXAMPLE in compassion, love and care. (When you have given to the least of these you have given to me)
Let the church not be burdened, so that it may care for those who are truly widowed. (Be good stewards)
Vs17 - " Let the elders who rule well be considered worthy of double honor, especially those who labor in preaching and teaching. < This is not a crown but a careful warning to protect those that are highly targeted by the enemy.
PROTECT your elders! They are the greatest targets to the enemy! - They shouldn't have to beg for a wage and any accusation should be defended against and not even permitted without SURE evidence from two or more! Slander is all too easy to believe and desirable to our hearts... REBUKE this publicly and harshly so others stand in fear. There is no time for silly games and half measures. We are at war and our enemy is crafty.
Remember that both sin and good works cannot remain hidden! This is NOT a get out of jail free card, remember, humans are humans, elder or not we carry a sinful heart that needs to be kept in check. Without exception.