I Timothy 1:12-17 Thanksgiving from Illumina: Timothy was the apostle Paul’s convert and companion. His name means “one who honors God.” I Timothy is the first of Paul’s epistles to his young coworker Timothy. The authorship, date, and background of 1 Timothy must be considered together with those of the other two Pastoral Epistles, 2 Timothy and Titus, which were written to two young coworkers to help them deal with pastoral problems in the churches of Ephesus and Crete. I Tim. 1:12-17 vs. 12-15 Paul’s letter to his young convert, Timothy, is a letter that all of us could write. Paul wrote about the things that have changed in his life since He met Christ Jesus our Lord. Paul explained the Jesus had given him strength even though Paul had once persecuted Christians. Paul explained his conversion experience as a cleansing where God’s favor poured all over him. When he was ‘bathed’ in the water of God’s mercy he became a different person. 12 I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who has given me strength because he considered me faithful. So he appointed me to ministry 13 even though I used to speak against him, attack his people, and I was proud. But I was shown mercy because I acted in ignorance and without faith. 14 Our Lord’s favor poured all over me along with the faithfulness and love that are in Christ Jesus. 15 This saying is reliable and deserves full acceptance: “Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners”—and I’m the biggest sinner of all. vs. 16-19 Paul further explained the reason that God showed him mercy. Paul let God use him as an example of God’s endless patience and love. Paul’s response to God’s mercy is to honor God with every word, thought and action that occurred within his own heart and mind. When we put God first we will begin to gain a glimpse of eternal life. Eternal life is a quality of life that gives glory to God in thought, word and deed. Paul explained to Timothy the value of a good or clear conscience. Paul was once a persecutor of Christians. But, now he is a minister of Christ Jesus. Paul did not hide his past. He embraced his past as living lesson to others regarding God’s ability to change the very heart and soul of man. When our hearts and souls are cleansed by the blood of Christ we are new people. The old has passed away. 16 But this is why I was shown mercy, so that Christ Jesus could show his endless patience to me first of all. So I’m an example for those who are going to believe in him for eternal life. 17 Now to the king of the ages, to the immortal, invisible, and only God, may honor and glory be given to him forever and always! Amen. Importance of faith and a good conscience 18 Timothy, my child, I’m giving you these instructions based on the prophecies that were once made about you. So if you follow them, you can wage a good war 19 because you have faith and a good conscience. Some people have ruined their faith because they refused to listen to their conscience, Col. 1:15-20 In Colossians 1:15-20 there is a hymn about Christ’s work and His identity. Christ is: *the image of the invisible God *was involved in creation of the earth In Gen 1 Christ is the Word spoken about as the Word that became flesh as explained by John. Gen. 1:1-5 God is mentioned by name-God God’s wind is the Holy Spirit ‘God said’ is the Word of God that became flesh 1 When God began to create the heavens and the earth— 2 the earth was without shape or form, it was dark over the deep sea, and God’s wind swept over the waters— 3 God said, “Let there be light.” And so light appeared. 4 God saw how good the light was. God separated the light from the darkness. 5 God named the light Day and the darkness Night. Hymn about Christ’s work I. Son is the image of invisible God-vs. 1 15 The Son is the image of the invisible God, the one who is first over all creation, All things were created by Him. Even the rulers and authorities were created through Him and for Him. Rulers and authorities are necessary to maintain order. God is the God of order. If there is no order in the lives of humans there is chaos. God holds everything together. 2. God is sovereign over all creation.-vs 16-17 16 Because all things were created by him: both in the heavens and on the earth, the things that are visible and the things that are invisible. Whether they are thrones or powers, or rulers or authorities, all things were created through him and for him. 17 He existed before all things, and all things are held together in him. 3. God is also head of the body of believers or the church. Through Christ and His sacrifice on the cross the debt of mankind’s sin is paid for. Through Christ’s sacrifice there is reconciliation. 18 He is the head of the body, the church, who is the beginning, the one who is firstborn from among the dead so that he might occupy the first place in everything. 19 Because all the fullness of God was pleased to live in him, 20 and he reconciled all things to himself through him—whether things on earth or in the heavens. He brought peace through the blood of his cross. My prayer you today is that you live in peace today. When we trust in God and His love for us, we can overcome the chaos within our hearts. Chaos is the absence of order. But, in Christ there is order. When there is order in our lives, we can accomplish the work that we were given by God. Each of us was born on this earth for a reason. Love in Christ, Pat from Ilumina LEAD ON, O KING ETERNAL Ernest Warburton Shurtleff (1862–1917) EVERY DAY IS a commencement, a new beginning, the opening of a door. Everything before is a preparation for that which is yet to come. In 1887 Ernest Shurtleff was about to graduate from Andover Seminary. Because he had already had four books of poetry published, his classmates asked him to write the class poem. Instead of writing a poem, Ernest wrote a hymn for the entire graduating class to sing. He told his fellow seminarians, “We’ve been spending days of preparation here at seminary. Now the day of march has come, and we must go out to follow the leadership of the King of kings, to conquer the world under His banner.” Thus, “Lead On, O King Eternal” was written for a seminary graduating class. Our commencements are not always so dramatic, but there is no reason our eternal King cannot open a new door for us today. We can step out and march forward under His banner, “not with fears, for gladness breaks like morning where’er [His] face appears.” https://youtube/watch?v=oJb32W8KHU0 Lead On, O King Eternal
Posted on: Sat, 06 Dec 2014 11:36:13 +0000
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