14 I do not write these things to shame you, but as my beloved children I warn you. 15 For though you might have ten thousand instructors in Christ, yet you do not have many fathers; for in Christ Jesus I have begotten you through the gospel. 16 Therefore I urge you, imitate me. 17 For this reason I have sent Timothy to you, who is my beloved and faithful son in the Lord, who will remind you of my ways in Christ, as I teach everywhere in every church. 18 Now some are puffed up, as though I were not coming to you. 19 But I will come to you shortly, if the Lord wills, and I will know, not the word of those who are puffed up, but the power. 20 For the kingdom of God is not in word but in power. 21 What do you want? Shall I come to you with a rod, or in love and a spirit of gentleness? NKJV
1 Corinthians 16:5-12
5 Now I will come to you when I pass through Macedonia (for I am passing through Macedonia). 6 And it may be that I will remain, or even spend the winter with you, that you may send me on my journey, wherever I go. 7 For I do not wish to see you now on the way; but I hope to stay a while with you, if the Lord permits. 8 But I will tarry in Ephesus until Pentecost. 9 For a great and effective door has opened to me, and there are many adversaries. 10 Now if Timothy comes, see that he may be with you without fear; for he does the work of the Lord, as I also do. 11 Therefore let no one despise him. But send him on his journey in peace, that he may come to me; for I am waiting for him with the brethren. 12 Now concerning our brother Apollos, I strongly urged him to come to you with the brethren, but he was quite unwilling to come at this time; however, he will come when he has a convenient time. NKJV
Paul is looking over his itinerary the Lord has given him. As the act of an apostle, his is to remain faithful to that which is before him. Paul was one who did not hold to tightly to one thing the Lord presented, but always looking for that advantage of an "open door" in which he would present the gospel wherever he was sent. He sends a letter to those at Corinth, to say that Timothy is coming. And at his appearing, Paul wants Timothy to be at ease to do the work he is sent to do without being in fear. Paul goes on to say, "Therefore let no one despise him, But send him on his journey, that he may come to me; for I am waiting for him with the brethren."
Paul wanted Timothy to have such a good visit and a good work that he would leave Corinth and in his going to Paul, he would be at peace with the brethren. Apostles certainly have their work cut out for them. Like Paul, he was sending whom God had called and wanted to those of Corinth to receive God's anointed man. Yet, even then, it was evident that the men of Corinth had a problem with Timothy. We see Timothy going to Corinth in 1 Corinthians 4, but are not sure he made it in the writing of 1 Corinthians 16.
Paul had sent letters to the church at Corinth and through the length of 1 Corinthians, we note that he was dealing with them in issues as to: immorality, self-indulgence, another self-indulgence in the spiritual gifts and into a doctrine in denial of the resurrection of Jesus Christ. They sounded like the party group who love to gorge themselves on food and drink...........eat, drink and be merry kind of folks! For their spiritual gifts, they saw that some of those "spiritual gifts" were more highly esteemed and they desired to abandon those God had given them and to acquire only those which folks would look up to them for. Their church meetings then became the chaotic and not of the peace and power of the Holy Spirit. They chose to indulge in that which brought them attention.
God has His way of doing something and in a service to worship God in word and psalms is that which in the order He desires it to be done. It is in the love of God and brings glory back to God and not to man.
Though Timothy was with Paul when the letter or Epistle to Corinth was sent, yet we do not know if Timothy got there. (1 Corinthians 16) Although there is no mention, yet Paul wanted these people to understand he was sent and was on the authority of what was started in Corinth.
When reading about the Corinthians, I always think of Naaman who had leprosy in the book of 2 Kings and chapter 5. We were told of Naaman to be the commander of the army of the king of Syria. From the reading, we are told that he was indeed great and honorable in the eye of his master. In Naaman's leadership, the Lord had given victory over to Syria. We find he is told by the young servant girl to find Elisha and that he, Naaman, would be healed of the leprosy. In all the communication going on among all the leadership when Naaman asks of Elisha, we find him arriving at the prophet's door. He was expecting, by what scripture states, that the prophet himself to come, greet Naaman, call on the name of the LORD, Elisha's God, wave his hand over the place and the leprosy would be gone. But alas, it was not to be the way the man Naaman wanted it done. Elisha gave instruction to his servant who in turn gave it to Naaman. "Go wash in the Jordan seven times and your flesh shall be restored to you, and you shall be clean." When Naaman heard this, he became furious. He probably had some choice words he had to speak and protest against, especially regarding the dirty water of the Jordan River. Was Naaman, because of his high rank, and his victory in war, bring him to a prideful state? Did he feel slighted by the young girl or by the prophet himself?
Of course, we know Naaman took the instructions, obeyed them and was healed. But I think of those Timothy was sent to help. Even though he had the same gifts in leadership as Paul, were those of Corinth in a prideful state, that they grew to despise the young man and the wisdom of God he carried to them? Were they wanting to do things differently..........? Well, we know the letter Paul wrote to them dealt with serious issues!
Paul had sent letters to the church at Corinth and through the length of 1 Corinthians, we note that he was dealing with them in issues as to: immorality, self-indulgence, another self-indulgence in the spiritual gifts and into a doctrine in denial of the resurrection of Jesus Christ. They sounded like the party group who love to gorge themselves on food and drink...........eat, drink and be merry kind of folks! For their spiritual gifts, they saw that some of those "spiritual gifts" were more highly esteemed and they desired to abandon those God had given them and to acquire only those which folks would look up to them for. Their church meetings then became the chaotic and not of the peace and power of the Holy Spirit. They chose to indulge in that which brought them attention.
God has His way of doing something and in a service to worship God in word and psalms is that which in the order He desires it to be done. It is in the love of God and brings glory back to God and not to man.
Though Timothy was with Paul when the letter or Epistle to Corinth was sent, yet we do not know if Timothy got there. (1 Corinthians 16) Although there is no mention, yet Paul wanted these people to understand he was sent and was on the authority of what was started in Corinth.
When reading about the Corinthians, I always think of Naaman who had leprosy in the book of 2 Kings and chapter 5. We were told of Naaman to be the commander of the army of the king of Syria. From the reading, we are told that he was indeed great and honorable in the eye of his master. In Naaman's leadership, the Lord had given victory over to Syria. We find he is told by the young servant girl to find Elisha and that he, Naaman, would be healed of the leprosy. In all the communication going on among all the leadership when Naaman asks of Elisha, we find him arriving at the prophet's door. He was expecting, by what scripture states, that the prophet himself to come, greet Naaman, call on the name of the LORD, Elisha's God, wave his hand over the place and the leprosy would be gone. But alas, it was not to be the way the man Naaman wanted it done. Elisha gave instruction to his servant who in turn gave it to Naaman. "Go wash in the Jordan seven times and your flesh shall be restored to you, and you shall be clean." When Naaman heard this, he became furious. He probably had some choice words he had to speak and protest against, especially regarding the dirty water of the Jordan River. Was Naaman, because of his high rank, and his victory in war, bring him to a prideful state? Did he feel slighted by the young girl or by the prophet himself?
Of course, we know Naaman took the instructions, obeyed them and was healed. But I think of those Timothy was sent to help. Even though he had the same gifts in leadership as Paul, were those of Corinth in a prideful state, that they grew to despise the young man and the wisdom of God he carried to them? Were they wanting to do things differently..........? Well, we know the letter Paul wrote to them dealt with serious issues!
Paul called Timothy a true son in the faith in 1 Timothy 1:2.
Timothy was raised by his mother Eunice, and Grandmother Lois.
2 Timothy 1:3-7
3 I thank God, whom I serve with a pure conscience, as my forefathers did, as without ceasing I remember you in my prayers night and day, 4 greatly desiring to see you, being mindful of your tears, that I may be filled with joy, 5 when I call to remembrance the genuine faith that is in you, which dwelt first in your grandmother Lois and your mother Eunice, and I am persuaded is in you also. 6 Therefore I remind you to stir up the gift of God which is in you through the laying on of my hands. 7 For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.
Paul had a relationship with young Timothy. He knew something of his childhood and where he stood in that day he declared him a true son in the faith.
Paul also recognized the faith that came in Timothy by being disciplined to the Word of God. Timothy was young, but he was the genuine article, he proved faithful in how he had been brought up and how his perseverance to work with others was one being obedient to the call on his life.
A Proven Character....
Philippians 2:19-24
19 But I trust in the Lord Jesus to send Timothy to you shortly, that I also may be encouraged when I know your state. 20 For I have no one like-minded, who will sincerely care for your state. 21 For all seek their own, not the things which are of Christ Jesus. 22 But you know his proven character, that as a son with his father he served with me in the gospel. 23 Therefore I hope to send him at once, as soon as I see how it goes with me. 24 But I trust in the Lord that I myself shall also come shortly. NKJV
Wow, Paul knows without a doubt that Timothy will continue to be like-minded in the things of God. Of his proven character time and time again, and Paul even compares to others who he sent who did not continue to expand the kingdom but their own and things which had nothing pertaining to the kingdom of God which had come!
Wow, Paul knows without a doubt that Timothy will continue to be like-minded in the things of God. Of his proven character time and time again, and Paul even compares to others who he sent who did not continue to expand the kingdom but their own and things which had nothing pertaining to the kingdom of God which had come!
The good Fight of Faith......
Paul assigned Timothy a work that had serious difficulties in it. He felt he needed to write to those of Corinth, probably because of their bold attitude toward Paul and others who had come in with the gospel. Paul was giving the young bishop, the order for which was the church worship, choosing some leaders within the church and how to deal with different kinds of people. Paul was asserting that Timothy worked with him as a father and son work together. They were communicating as a father and son would communicate. They were communicating as a team! That is one thing that is really lacking today within church leadership.............none as the father to the son or to the daughter!
Paul assigned Timothy a work that had serious difficulties in it. He felt he needed to write to those of Corinth, probably because of their bold attitude toward Paul and others who had come in with the gospel. Paul was giving the young bishop, the order for which was the church worship, choosing some leaders within the church and how to deal with different kinds of people. Paul was asserting that Timothy worked with him as a father and son work together. They were communicating as a father and son would communicate. They were communicating as a team! That is one thing that is really lacking today within church leadership.............none as the father to the son or to the daughter!
Although things went wrong in Corinth and much chaos had broken out....we know that another was there as we see in Titus. While it was noted that Titus was sent to hold everything in a peaceful form of leading and teaching how the church would be, insuring that those impoverished Jews would be taken care of...... the answer was there due to those following the instructions which ultimately came from God.
In Timothy....one considered a youth, but called by God, and he kept that Word of God before him. Although it is thought that his nervous system suffered because of infirmity.........and possible out of the fear of those who were there before him, yet, he held his ground! We read little of him in the New Testament, but it was important words that teach how one behaves in doing the work of the ministry. Timothy, too me, had maintained his high view of the word in regard to those around him. He did not stop!
In Timothy....one considered a youth, but called by God, and he kept that Word of God before him. Although it is thought that his nervous system suffered because of infirmity.........and possible out of the fear of those who were there before him, yet, he held his ground! We read little of him in the New Testament, but it was important words that teach how one behaves in doing the work of the ministry. Timothy, too me, had maintained his high view of the word in regard to those around him. He did not stop!
1 Timothy 6:11-16
11 But you, O man of God, flee these things and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, gentleness. 12 Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, to which you were also called and have confessed the good confession in the presence of many witnesses. 13 I urge you in the sight of God who gives life to all things, and before Christ Jesus who witnessed the good confession before Pontius Pilate, 14 that you keep this commandment without spot, blameless until our Lord Jesus Christ's appearing, 15 which He will manifest in His own time, He who is the blessed and only Potentate, the King of kings and Lord of lords, 16 who alone has immortality, dwelling in unapproachable light, whom no man has seen or can see, to whom be honor and everlasting power. Amen. NKJV
Walking in Wisdom........
John 18:35-38
36 Jesus answered, "My kingdom is not of this world. If My kingdom were of this world, My servants would fight, so that I should not be delivered to the Jews; but now My kingdom is not from here." 37 Pilate therefore said to Him, "Are You a king then?" Jesus answered, "You say rightly that I am a king. For this cause I was born, and for this cause I have come into the world, that I should bear witness to the truth. Everyone who is of the truth hears My voice." 38 Pilate said to Him, "What is truth?" And when he had said this, he went out again to the Jews, and said to them, "I find no fault in Him at all. NKJV
Paul had told Timothy.............he urged him in the sight of God who gives life to all things, and before Christ Jesus who witnessed the good confession before Pontius Pilate to keep that commandment without spot, blameless until the Lord's appearing. Above in John 18 we see what Jesus spoke to Pilate: "My kingdom is not of this world. If My kingdom were of this world, My servants wold fight, so that I should not be delivered to the Jews; but My kingdom is not from here." Jesus went on to say, " For this cause I was born, and for this cause I have come into the world, that I should bear witness to the truth. Everyone who is of the truth, hears My voice."
So Timothy had probably been told this many times by Paul. Keep that which is committed to you. And Timothy held onto that truth, knowing his kingdom is with Jesus as Lord. It is not of this world and Timothy was to bear witness to that truth. And anyone who was in truth in Corinth should have heard the Lord speaking through Timothy.
But things happen, right? So men like having the preeminence, even though God sends someone who walks with God, has His wisdom and prays, yet the prideful can have many issues. But Timothy the humble saw Titus come..............and the rest is history!
Waging the Warfare...........
1 Timothy 1:18-20
18 This charge I commit to you, son Timothy, according to the prophecies previously made concerning you, that by them you may wage the good warfare, 19 having faith and a good conscience, which some having rejected, concerning the faith have suffered shipwreck, 20 of whom are Hymenaeus and Alexander, whom I delivered to Satan that they may learn not to blaspheme.
NKJV
Timothy had to see that which Paul had implemented of the truth was in place always. There was to be no contrary teaching to that which Paul had given. Paul makes note of Hymenaeus and Alexander who were named to denote their unfaithful acts toward God. They reject the whole of the gospel and it appeared in the writing as a ship, a vessel fully loaded but it strikes on a rock and sinks.
You can see history on the maritime vessels and their trips over the ocean in the most rocky of seas. The pictures and videos they show can give detail how a ship can be broken up without the right adjustments on that rudder. In that movie the "Perfect Storm" you can see that no amount of training and reading of weather reports and other important information regarding the trip were helpful. Those waves produced by that storm were those we would rather watch from a distance and not actually be in that "major" storm. For whatever their own knowledge of sailing was at the time, their fate was in the perfect storm.
In Timothy, we can learn a lot of things. As one who stands and we see it every step he took, he obeyed the Word of God!
Wherever our walk of faith is at, whatever our destiny in serving the Lord, I pray ours would be like that of young Timothy. That we would not back down, but hold our course for that which is truth. Ours will always have to be that good fight of faith.....................that wisdom we require is that which young Timothy sought. He held his course and continued the work of the ministry!
.....Father, we know about those in the Bible, those who have been presented to us in that Hall of Faith, and we see those like Timothy who was told to guard what was committed to his trust. In Jesus' name, we pray to be those who will guard that which has been given us, that we will be the committed with that which has been given in our hand to share with others. We desire to avoid the profane and idle babble and contradictions of what is falsely called knowledge. (1 Timothy 6:20-21)
We understand that we are to have knowledge of the holy One. Your Word teaches us that a wise man when rebuked will love you all the more. Teaching a wise man, and he will be the wiser still. Teach a good man and he will learn more. Our desire Father, is to be the teachable, so that when we move into our positions to lead, we will lead in faith and not in fear. For the reverence and fear of God are basic to all wisdom. Knowing You our Father God results in every other kind of understanding.
For Wisdom will make the hours of our day more profitable and the years of our life more fruitful.
For Wisdom will make the hours of our day more profitable and the years of our life more fruitful.
Wisdom is its own reward.
Father, we are the teachable..........move us forward in that direction You have chosen for us. May we be reminded of Your grace and be forever the faithful witness. Today we desire to press in, we take delight in You and expect a breakthrough into Your plan for us. May our speech and preaching, be not with persuasive words of human wisdom but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power. For we desire our faith to be in the power of God and not in the wisdom of men. (1 Corinthians 2:5) Father, we pray to be the mature, speaking Your wisdom.......that of God in a mystery, which You ordained before the ages for our glory. (verse 7)
Like Timothy, we are holding on, and are remembering that spoken prophetic Word spoken over us years ago. Help us to see YOUR hand leading us to the place for each of us that is a blessing and a purpose. We will not fear the "unknown" for we know it is the place WHERE YOU DWELL and we want to be found with YOU! Today, we let go of the past and reach forward expecting the adventure of our lives. Amen.
You can also visit my Youtube channel The Voice of Prayer for more teaching at http://bit.ly/1tNyBhV
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