“I Don’t Like Summer”

Yesterday was an unexpected down day for me. Around 8:15, I was struck with a sudden sharp pain in my right flank. It didn't take long for Richard to get me to the emergency room where I spent the rest of the morning. Turns out, I had a kidney stone, my first since 1993. The medications put me to sleep. Even after returning home, I was in bed until after 6:00pm. Last night was a restful sleep as well. God's timing is perfect. We now await the delivery of a two-millimeter stone.

Paul next writes… Likewise, I want women to adorn themselves with proper clothing, modestly and discreetly, not with braided hair and gold or pearls or costly garments, but rather by means of good works, as is proper for women making a claim to godliness. (1Ti 2:9-10)

First, he wants us all to pray for everyone, now he wants women to dress decently. I wonder what he would say about most of today's dress codes for females. As I've commented to my accountability partners, "I don't like summer. Too much skin."

Why tell this to Timothy? Are pastors to address the topic? Paul is making a personal preference statement and gives it the same emphasis as anything he's said before; so yes, pastor. If you teach about prayer, teach also about proper dress codes.

He speaks about women in particular here; likely because of the cultural norms of the day. But he would say the same for men who were dressing immodestly, I'm sure.

How does a pastor teach something so sensitive as proper dress to women? I do not have the answer to this down pat. My guess would be in society today this might best left for the older women to train the younger. Is that a cop out? Do you have any suggestions?

Pressing on, Ed ><}}}>

Lifting Up Holy Hands

Therefore I want the men in every place to pray, lifting up holy hands, without wrath and dissension. 1Ti 2:8

Paul's "Therefore" refers to his Christ-granted apostolic authority and based on that he desires everyone to pray (for "all men," 2:1). Do so without with your heart and without anger and without disagreeing about the need.

Seems to me he's saying we should pray for all with the right attitude toward God and man and for the right reasons. Too many people pray limiting their prayers to those we love. Even this does not show God that our attitude is right. Praying is supposed to be a heart matter – a desire to speak with and listen to the One and Only God.

On the idea of loving everyone, let me provide an example. Suppose you did not vote for the current mayor or county commissioner based on the person's politics but that she won anyway. Now what? You are to pray for her because you love that person despite your disagreement with her view of the issues.

My poorest prayers are those when my heart is not attuned to God's. If I'm not right with Him, how can there be intimacy? Heart-felt prayer?

Where is your heart this morning? Confess to Him your wrong attitude about people and pray for everyone.

Pressing on, Ed ><}}}>

Paul’s Mission, Your Mission

He only attended our worship services 8 or 9 times before he got too sick to join us anymore, but Wes was an important part of the church family to me and our congregation. His passing into glory on Thursday was a relief (we know he is no longer in pain) and brings sadness (we will miss him). Pray for his family – not all are Christians – and for those of us with opportunities to minister. I'll be doing the funeral on Thursday (May 26).

Having told us to pray for everyone, Paul now clearly states his mission:

For this I was appointed a preacher and an apostle (I am telling the truth, I am not lying) as a teacher of the Gentiles in faith and truth. 1Ti 2:7

He is doubtless referring to the fact that the Lord Jesus appeared to Paul personally in the desert and instructed Paul in truth as He had the first apostles.

Many people attest to a clear calling on their lives. No one except Paul ever claimed with veracity to have received it directly form a physical appearance of Jesus. Paul's claim is in Scripture (For I received from the Lord… 1Cor 11:23) so I believe it. There are several human opinions about when it happened and where, but there is no doubt that it did occur.

Paul's mission was to the Gentiles – Greeks, heathens, barbarians, or babblers as the Jews thought of them. And he fulfilled that calling. Reading Acts we see he made a habit of first sharing in the synagogue upon entering a city but once "asked" to leave he'd speak with all whom came. Repeatedly most Jews refused the message – still Messiah searching – while others believed.

He had a clear calling from God. I identify with an incident in my life as a calling to ministry as well. I remember it like it just occurred. However, it was not an appearance of God and took 37 years to be realized God's way, but it was nonetheless a calling.

Do you see God's calling on your life? I know a "pastor" or two for whom their pastorate is just a job. (Read this comment to a recent post.) What a shame for them and the people they serve. The flock deserves better.

Take a moment, as Paul did, and write a statement about your mission.

Pressing on, Ed ><}}}>

“Just the Facts, Man”

For there is one God, and one mediator also between God and men, the man Christ Jesus, ⁶ who gave Himself as a ransom for all, the testimony given at the proper time. (1 Timothy 2:5-6)

There is so much here to think about and accept as truth. It's not a command or encouragement. Just some statements of fact strung together into a very important sentence. Theses verses contain the next two reasons Paul gives on why God wants us to pray for everyone.

The second is that there is but one God over all the human race—one God for one people. We serve a God of order and truth. He would not tell us He is Jehovah and another people group that He is Allah.

Next Paul states there is one and the same Mediator between God and all people—one of multiple Scriptures affirming there is only one way to eternal life with the Creator.

Preachers need to be regularly speaking about truth. It is what we intend to preach every week; i.e., every sermon is the truth. So on occasion it serves to state that there are irrefutable truths from God that should lead a guide peoples lives and worldview.

As men gifted by God to serve in a pulpit, Sergeant Friday's "just the facts" should exemplify our every message.

Pressing on, Ed ><}}}>

Not Much Time

Have a series of meetings in Missoula today as well as some ideas to kick around with some people I'll be at the meets with. Please pray for wisdom for me.

Tomorrow I'll get to the second reason for us to pray for everyone.

Do Your Part

Carol and I will be traveling to Spokane and back today to pick up Richard on his return from Florida.

Having said pray for everyone, Paul states: This is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior, who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth. (1Timothy 2:3-4)

It doesn't matter how we feel about praying for our enemies, to God doing so is "good and acceptable."

Next Paul gives the first of four reasons why it pleases God to hear us pray for all—His desire to see them all saved and to receive the knowledge of truth.

By nature, God wants all His creation to be perfected in glory. However, Adam sinned. Therefore, in reality, not all will be saved, but it remains His desire. He does not condemn individuals, but the whole of creation, then offers a way out of certain punishment. A friend of mind sums up this theology as, "Some will. Some won't. God's choice. Do your part."

The knowledge of truth is not something different. Eph 4:21 says all truth is in Jesus. In Him is salvation and an understanding of truth unavailable to the unsaved.

Pray for the salvation of everyone for you do not know whom God will yet choose.

No One Excluded

I'm looking forward to Richard getting home from Florida on Saturday. Oh. That's tomorrow!

Paul begins the second chapter talking about public prayer (2:8). This same verse extends the commands Paul gives to Timothy to every believer. Before he gets to that, he instructs Timothy to pray for everyone. First of all, then, I urge that entreaties and prayers, petitions and thanksgivings, be made on behalf of all men, for kings and all who are in authority, so that we may lead a tranquil and quiet life in all godliness and dignity. (1Ti 2:1-2)

Prayer, Paul writes, is to be offered for all classes of people, without distinction of rank, religion, party, country, or name, especially for all that were in authority.

Here's the simple question: Do you pray for everyone? Your enemies? Victims of dictators AND the despot? Kids in slavery AND the slave owners and traders? Abortionists? My list could get very long. I pray you have a looooong list. Does it include those with whom you differ politically, theologically, and philosophically?

Make a list get them all on it.

Pressing on, Ed ><}}}>

Recap-1 Timothy 1

You may recall that I set to make a list of requirements, instructions, or commands Paul has for Timothy and the rest of us pastors. In this chapter, there was only one. Quickly, what was it?

……….

Answer: "When there are strange doctrines or people are giving more attention to myths and endless genealogies, remain in that ministry."

It comes from the first sentence in 1:3-4. He supports it, states the purpose, speaks of God's mercy, etc. but the only command boils down to stay and correct false teaching and useless matters entering the congregation.

Too many coming out of seminaries in the last few decades seem personal goal oriented. They will take a little church in a small town to get the experience. Five or 6 years later they are looking for a bigger church, then a bigger one.

I have two major concerns about this. First, where is the heart for the flock? Seems what the seminaries produce are guys seeking career progression, not a minister concerned for the welfare of the people.

Second, how can a congregation treated like a stepping-stone grow spiritually mature? There are exceptions here, but for the most part these flocks are in a seemingly unending search for a new shepherd. This is a situation up with which they should not put (apologies to Churchill).

The solution is not going to be easy since the training one receives in college and seminary becomes so ingrained and the education is geared toward job preparation. That's the educational mindset of today's divinity schools.

As a member of the Rocky Mountain Bible Mission for the last 14 years, I've seen this kind of failure in neighboring churches. The rapid and often repeated coming and going of pastors can give a church a "we're being used" syndrome. This syndrome can be stopped… in time. RMBM looks for people who are committed to ministry in rural churches—not necessarily small, just rural. If you, pastor, or your congregation, needs help, let us know (http://rmbible.org).

Turn Them Over

Among these [who have rejected faith and suffered shipwreck] are Hymenaeus and Alexander, whom I have handed over to Satan, so that they will be taught not to blaspheme. (1 Timothy 1:20)

Without a doubt, Paul was a powerful man. There is no evidence he ever abused the power, but as here he did use the power. (See note below.) From 2 Timothy 2:17-18 we learn the Hymenaeus strayed by claiming the resurrection had already taken place. Perhaps (that means I'm speculating) Alexander had followed him since they are linked here. At any rate young Timothy was familiar enough with the reasons these men were "handed over" that there was no need to mention them here.

There came a point where Paul, having tried to convince them of the truth (remember he's instructed Tim to stay and instruct) and failing to do so with no other apparent solution, Paul had to hand them over.

There was nothing else to do. Handing over was simply an acknowledgment that there was nothing else for Paul or the church to do. If the heretic cannot see the truth, he belongs to Satan since he has placed man's sensibility over God's truth.

Over different issues than the resurrection, the same has happened in my short ministry here. Some men simply want to believe more in themselves. Turn them over. Focus on instructing in the truth those who remain faithful.

Pressing on, Ed ><}}}>

Note: it would seem that Paul acted alone, not under the auspices of a church, in excommunicating these two. Perhaps the church where this took place – we're not told where – was too immature/new to have a church discipline policy based on Matthew 18. Paul acted authoritatively, then, to maintain the purity of the faith.

Avoiding Shipwreck

Our son Richard was among the hundreds invited to eyewitness the launch of Atlantis on the last Hubble repair mission yesterday. He was four miles from the launch site while Carol’s cousin’s husband, Colonel Mike Good, Mission Specialist-1, was on his first flight.

About an hour after the launch, Richard called with a report. I asked if he feel the ground shake. “Yes,” he said. “The noise was like having your head stuck up the tail pipe of a loud motorcycle."

Here’s today’s 1Timothy sentence: This command I entrust to you, Timothy, my son, in accordance with the prophecies previously made concerning you, that by them you may fight the good fight, keeping faith and a good conscience, which some have rejected and suffered shipwreck in regard to their faith. (1 Ti 1:18-19)

For a good explanation for the “prophecies” Paul speaks of see the NASB and NIV Study Bible (Zondervan).

What’s the command? It's the one command stated so far in the letter. Paul has digressed but now returns to his instruction to Timothy to “stay in ministry” (1:3), preach and teach. He goes on to say that following this command Timothy will fight the good fight (or war a good warfare, KJV). The way Paul’s written this, fighting the good fight results in keeping faith and keeping a good conscience. To do otherwise, Paul states, is to reject a good conscience and ruin one’s faith.

In my preaching I’m doing John 17 which I subtitle “Glory to the Father.” You bring glory to the Father best when you do the mission God has for you. The mission is different for everyone. We have similar commands to obey, go, spread the Gospel, etc., but different ways of doing those since God created each of us differently. How I bring glory to God will be different from how you accomplish the same thing.

What does God have in store for you today? Discover it. Be faithful to do it. The result will be a strong faith and a good conscience.

Pressing on, Ed ><}}}>

Honor and Glory Forever

A busy day in store, but I read this to help get me started: Now to the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honor and glory forever and ever. Amen. (1 Tim 1:17)

Last night Carol and I attended a concert by the California Baptist University Choir and Orchestra. Wow!
· A pleasure to hear God’s words sung so well.
· A pleasure to see God’s words sung with such meaning.
· A pleasure to see and hear the orchestra so dedicated to spreading the Good News with great music.
· A pleasure to see so many young men and women loving God and desiring to serve him.

Our lives do not often enough say: Now to the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honor and glory forever and ever. Amen.
Let us learn to live every moment giving glory to the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.

God's Mercy -- That'll show ya!

I'm sorry for letting busyness keep me from writing more often. When I finish my morning devotions, I get to reading my email and I'm on the run for the day. I'll try to be more faithful to you.

1Ti 1:16 Yet for this reason I found mercy, so that in me as the foremost, Jesus Christ might demonstrate His perfect patience as an example for those who would believe in Him for eternal life. (NASB)

1Ti 1:16 Despite my sinfulness, I was granted mercy, so through this greatest of sinners, Jesus Christ is able to show unsaved people His perfect patience. (Ed)

My version's just a paraphrase (not a translation), but I think it get's Paul's point across. I love God's mercy, don't you?