Apply Within

Bob Davis: When we remember where we came from, it is easier to be merciful to people, toward people. And it’s easier, I find, to be patient with them. If God was patient and merciful and gracious toward Paul, Paul says then God is patient and merciful and gracious to everyone. Enough to save everyone or anyone.

Guest (Male): Welcome to Apply Within, a verse-by-verse study of the Word of God with Pastor Bob Davis at North Country Chapel. We invite you to join with us as we by the power of God’s Holy Spirit apply His word within our own hearts, as we study line upon line, precept upon precept, verse by verse through the Bible.

Bob Davis: Our study of First Timothy chapter 1 continues in verse 16, as Paul shows us that if God will use him, God will use anyone. Here’s Pastor Bob.

This is a faithful saying, verse 15, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am chief, the head, poster child. Howbeit, or but, for this cause, I obtained mercy that in me first, Jesus Christ might show forth all long-suffering for a pattern to them which should hereafter believe on Him to life everlasting.

Paul becomes the extreme example of salvation by grace through faith. Here’s what he’s simply saying, God has shown me grace and mercy in and through Jesus Christ. Now I believe all of us that are His, that belong to Jesus, can say the same thing without any argument.

God has been so long-suffering with me and you. Not just with Paul, but with me and you. Long-suffering is the opposite of short-suffering. That’s what you and I are with each other, short-suffering. You did that to me last week. You do that one more time and this is over.

And every one of us says, “Paul, for crying out loud, you are a super saint.” He’s one of those people that we look at and call him super Christian. He goes to the phone booth, changes, and comes out with a big C on his chest, and he’s preaching and we all say, “Man, Paul, when he gets to heaven, he’s going to have a crown that’s really going to be tacky. It’s going to be covered with stuff.”

Paul knows where he came from. When we remember where we came from, it is easier to be merciful on people, to people, toward people. And it’s easier, I find, to be patient with them. When they’re looking down on you because you’re not as good as they are. It’s just easier to be patient.

If God was patient and merciful and gracious toward Paul, Paul says, then God is patient and merciful and gracious to everyone. Enough to save everyone or anyone. He’s patient and merciful and gracious enough to save you. And that’s Paul’s point in verse 16.

Verse 17 says, now unto the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only wise God, be honor and glory forever and ever, amen, meaning, so let it be. I like this. Take note, if you’re note-taking. Paul is so overwhelmed by what he just said, by what he just wrote down, by what he just, the thoughts that just went through his head and through his heart.

He’s so overwhelmed by what the Lord has done for him that he really just breaks out in praise. Some call it, if the word would be, the religious word if you want is Doxology. Paul is filled with adoration and praise and glory to God Almighty. Notice what he says. For this cause, verse 16, I obtained mercy, that in me first, Jesus Christ might show forth all patience, long-suffering for a pattern to them which should hereafter believe on Him to everlasting life. Now unto the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only wise God, be honor and glory forever and ever. God is good all the time.

He just starts to praise God. And notice he calls Jesus Christ the eternal King, the only wise God. He just called Jesus that. Today you may be shocked to learn that many people in the church, they say, “I believe in Jesus, but I do not believe he’s God.” They’ll say, “Jesus is a great teacher, and he’s the Son of God, but he is not God.”

And Paul just said, “Yes, he is. He’s the King eternal, the only wise God.” Jesus Christ is God the Son. Jesus said so himself. He claimed to be God and to be one with the Father. Because people say Jesus never claimed to be God. That’s not true. I can show you many places. They were going to stone him to death one time because he claimed to be God.

Jesus said this, “I and the Father are one.” He goes on and he says, “If you’ve seen me, you’ve seen the Father.” And Paul just now, right here, calls him God. Now unto the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only wise God, be honor and glory forever and ever. Amen.

This charge, verse 18. I commit to you, son Timothy. This charge I commit to you, son Timothy, according to the prophecies which went before on you that you by them might war a good warfare. It is believed that Paul may have led Timothy to the Lord. Some say, “Well, it was his grandmother and his mother.” And if that was the case, it was Paul who took him under his wing and really discipled him so that he grew strong and was able to be at a young age a pastor of the church at Ephesus.

He says, “I give you this command, my son. This is the charge.” This is what you are there to accomplish. This was God’s doing. God put you in the ministry. God took us, directed us, and we believed it was the Lord. And we put you on our team, and you’ve been with us now for years, and this is your assignment, young man, my son Timothy. You’re here because the Lord called you. This is your assignment from our Father in Heaven through Jesus Christ His son.

Here it is. Why, what do you want me to do? I’m the pastor of this church. What are you talking about? This is the charge, this is the command, this is what God brought you in here to do. And this is what your assignment is. And you need to do that. And you need to accomplish this, Timothy. He commanded Timothy to stop the teaching of false doctrines. Remember that? Make sure that while you’re there, no other doctrines are taught. No different doctrines, no false doctrines. You need to stop it. If they’re doing it, stop that.

And make sure that you teach solid doctrine yourself and don’t let false doctrines in. Because false doctrines and different doctrines were already going on at the church at Ephesus. And Paul says, “That’s why you need to be there, Timothy.” So here’s the war. Fight a good fight. Jump in the big middle and take the responsibility to make sure that the truth, the solid gospel, the solid doctrine of the Word of God is taught.

Stop the false teachings, the false doctrines and teach good solid doctrine yourself. That’s a simple little assignment. The church at Ephesus, people believe we’re at least two to three thousand strong. And in there, you get two or three thousand people, you’re going to have guys and girls who think they’re in charge, and who want to oversee a little group, and that little group becomes their little church, and they want to make it think what they want to make it think. And if you’ve got good solid men and women, you’re doing great. But if you’ve got some troublemakers on your hands and you don’t catch it, woe, can it be trouble.

And that’s what he’s saying. It’s a warfare, it’s a fight. Teach good solid doctrine. Teach the Word of God. Warn people, warn the people by teaching them God’s word. Warn the people about heaping to themselves teachers. The people would have itching ears. They want, they, they, they want the teachers who will tell them what they want to hear.

And, you know, let’s be honest. Isn’t that kind of where we are today as a, as a church, not just across America but around the world? You listen to your favorite ones and then once you get bored with them, you you sort of start trying, you know, testing and trying this one and that one and this one and that one. And you don’t know where they’re coming from. You don’t know what they’re all about. And you’re starting to, it’s like a little sheep who, who they’re eating fine but they want to stick their head through the fence and eat something from the others. “That looks that’s pretty green over there.” And sometimes they get sick and it’s not healthy. You see, you know what I’m talking about? That’s what we’ve got going on.

And it’s so easily available. Stop the false teaching. Warn the people about the false teachers, because people will will gather to themselves those they want to hear. Remember the Corinthians were doing that. “I am of Peter, I am of Paul, I am of Apollos.” And and and there was nothing wrong with those three guys, but they were starting to pick their favorite teachers. “Oh, if he’s teaching this week, I’m not going to church.” You know, “I like it when Paul’s there. I like it when Peter’s there. I like it when Apollos.” Apollos was the best speaker of them all. And you run yourself into troubles.

He says the people have itching ears and so they want to hear what they want to hear. And Paul says in Second Timothy 4:7 and 8, “I have fought a good fight.” Then he says, “I have finished my course,” literally, “my race.” And every one of us is in this race, and every one of us is at a different spot on the racing field. Some of us are getting near the end of our race. Some of us are just starting our race. Some may be right smack in the big middle of that race.

And Paul says this, “I fought a good fight. I finished my race. I have kept the faith.” Henceforth, there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness. I’m getting a crown. It’s coming soon. Which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day, that day of judgment. And he says, “Not only to me, but to all them also that love his appearing.” Every one of you, every one of us that are really looking for Jesus to come back. We love His appearing. There’s a crown waiting for you.

Paul says, “I’m nothing special. I fought a good fight. I’ve run my race. I’ve finished my course. And I know that Jesus promised a crown.” And there’s one waiting for me, but he says, “There’s one waiting for every one of us that loves the Lord, that we’re looking for the Lord to come back.” And we believe he’s coming back soon.

Well, now look at verse 19. He’s going to tell Timothy now. He’s going to say, “You, this is the charge. This is what you need to do. This is what God brought you into the ministry to do.” Fight a good warfare, fight a good fight. And in verse 19, holding faith. Notice I read Second Timothy to you and Paul says, “I kept the faith.” He’s saying to Timothy, “Keep the faith, hold on to the faith. Stay in the faith, close to the Lord. Hold faith and a good conscience, which some have put away concerning faith, and they have made shipwreck.”

Of whom is Hymenaeus and Alexander, whom I have delivered unto Satan that they may learn not to blaspheme. Poor Paul, nobody ever told him that in the church you’re not supposed to mention names out loud. I hear that a lot. “Pastor Bob, you shouldn’t say those names out loud. I mean, you’re judging.” No, I’m not judging. I’m telling you what they’re saying and what they’re doing. You need to know.

Nobody’s judging their heart. Notice Paul doesn’t judge a heart. He turns them over to Satan, so they’ll learn not to do that. Because people say, “Well, I know we’re supposed to love. Do you just ignore?” No, there are some things you cannot ignore. We don’t judge one another. You can’t judge somebody’s heart. I can’t tell you why they said it. I can just tell you they said it.

And somebody says to me, “Well, you are this and you are that.” You don’t know that. You’re just judging. I may have looked like that to you, but it may be a whole different motive on the inside. You don’t know. And that’s what Paul’s teaching us. Here’s how you fight a good fight. Holding faith. Keep the faith. And that’s what he says to Timothy, “Hold on to that faith. Continue to trust, trust the Lord. Remain in His Word. Remain in fellowship.”

We as believers have the tendency when we’re really crushed or when we’re really defeated or when we’re really confused or when we’re hurt or whatever we are, we have the tendency to back out of and away from the fellowship of other believers. We’re afraid they’re going to put us down. And they probably will. That’s how believers treat each other. “Oh, I knew you were ugly, and now you’re stupid too. Oh.” Let’s put that in the bulletin. “I feel better now.” “Oh look, he loses he’s a loser.” “Well, I said I was the whole time.” “Well, she said she was the whole time.” “Yeah, but now we see it.”

He says you got to hold on faith and a good conscience. And we talked about that. We need to make sure we’re we’re praying. We need to make sure we’re in fellowship with the Lord. We need to make sure we’re confessing and crying out to him for for direction and wisdom and all that we need to just get through lunch. Right?

The way to avoid shipwreck of our faith, he says, is to humble ourselves before the Lord and acknowledge our weaknesses. And I hope, I hope that every one of us has no trouble with that. “God, I don’t know how to do this. I got myself into it, but I don’t know how to get me out. This is too big. And and I’m confessing right now that if you don’t pull us out, Lord, we’re going to drown in this.” We need to continually go to the Lord. And and Christian, do not be afraid ever to go to the Lord. Don’t be afraid.

I know your Christian brothers and sisters go, “Really? Oh, you did that? Oh, I better pray for you.” And you’re thinking, “I know. I’m scared to say anything to God. I think he might slap me.” God loves you. Don’t be afraid to go to your Father in the name of Jesus Christ and say, “Lord, I’m in it again. Lord, you know, the loser you you picked? Here I am again. I’m in this hole.”

You see, we need to acknowledge our weaknesses and continually go to the Lord. Do not ever be afraid of God. He is full of mercy, full of compassion, full of grace. He is full of loving kindness. Take our faults. We need to take our faults. We need to take our inconsistencies, because if we if we’re willing to admit it, aren’t we just a bit inconsistent? “How’s it going?” “Man, it’s going great. Read my Bible three times this week.” “How’s it going?” “I can’t find my Bible this week.” “What’s wrong with you? I thought you were saved.” “Wait.”

We need to take our inconsistencies to God as well. Take our faults, inconsistencies and our failures. Don’t ever stop that. That’s what Paul is saying to Timothy, “Keep the faith, hold on to the faith.” If you don’t, you run the risk of having our faith shipwrecked. No, he didn’t say losing your salvation. That’s not what he’s talking about here. You’ll notice that’s not what he’s talking about when he talks about Hymenaeus and Alexander.

He’s talking about finding ourselves giving up, finding ourselves walking on like a prodigal, finding ourselves in an area where we’re far far from the Lord and where we need to get back. He says, “They’ve they’ve run run aground, they’re shipwrecked.” What’s that old song saying? It’s never easy and it’s never clear to figure out who’s to navigate and who’s to steer. So you end up finding ending up further on the rocks. Run the risk of shipwreck.

And Paul gives us two examples. Hymenaeus and Alexander. They were two, it looks like, teachers that were teaching false doctrine. They were blaspheming, he says. And as you can see here and other places, I think the Alexander, maybe the same guy. You know, there’s there’s an argument about that. But as you can see here, Paul doesn’t have at this moment a lot of nice things to say about Hymenaeus and Alexander. He just calls a spade a spade.

Not only does he mention them out loud by name in a letter that’s going to be read to the church, out loud. And the church is going to know who those two are. And he says, “I’ve handed them over to the devil.” Sounds harsh to me. But it’s not. Take heed right here, right there. Because I know Christians who are ready to do this. Man, oh, let’s just kick them out, throw them to the devil. They’re not saved. That’s not what Paul’s saying. Not at all.

Paul is not saying the Lord doesn’t love them anymore, and he’s not saying that they don’t belong to the Lord. That’s not what he’s saying. He’s saying they’ve got false doctrine. They’ve got issues. He cannot judge what’s going on in their hearts. He can only judge what’s coming out of their mouths. And the false doctrine he says has to go, so we just kick them out. They are given the left foot of fellowship. They are not welcome at the church at Ephesus.

Because why? They wouldn’t quit teaching the doctrine. And so Paul says, “We had to turn them over to the devil. We put them out of the fellowship.” In those days there wasn’t a church on every corner. And you put them out of the fellowship and they just run to the one down there and say how bad you are and that everybody would accept them because everybody’s trying to get more people.

Back then, the fellowship of believers was all you had. The rest of the world was against you, and the the persecution was unbelievable, and there was protection, there was strength, there always is in the fellowship of true believers. But if you’re going to continue to sin and refuse to repent from it or refuse to stop, then you’re not welcome in the fellowship. And that’s what Paul did here. Paul’s motive, let me use a word that probably I shouldn’t, but Paul’s motive is not punitive.

That means Paul’s motive is not punishment. That’s not what he’s saying he’s doing to them, “We’re turning them over to Satan.” Paul’s motive here is, as the schools use, it’s remedial. What that means is it’s corrective. It’s meant to be corrective discipline. If we turn them out from the fellowship, they’re going to see the error of their ways, they’re going to repent, and they’re going to want to come home and come back. Kind of like a prodigal son.

And that’s what Paul did. He says, “We turned them over to Satan.” Notice, Paul’s not judging Hymenaeus and Alexander and saying, “They don’t love God and they’re not saved and they’re ugly.” He’s saying, “They won’t quit it, so we put them out of our fellowship. We won’t allow them to teach here. We won’t allow them to be a part.” If they ever come around and say, “Man, forgive me, I was an absolute idiot. And you know what, I I just want to fellowship.” You’d take them back right away, wouldn’t you? And keep an eye on them, wouldn’t you? I hope so.

In Second Thessalonians chapter 3, verses 14 and 15. If any man obey not our word by these letters, by these epistles, or this epistle, note that man, and have no company with him, that he may be ashamed. What did he just say? If they if they don’t give themselves over to sound doctrine, keep away from them.

And notice this, yet do not count him as an enemy, but admonish him as a brother. What’s the heart? The heart is that you hope he truly belongs to the Lord, or she truly belongs to the Lord, and that they will repent and want to come back and be part of the fellowship. Notice the heart of God, the heart of Paul. And he’s telling Timothy, “This is how you do it as well.”

The goal is to restore a person to a position of usefulness. I I’ve told you this before but but right right now as we close, let me let me say this again. Punishment. Punishment, because we’re used to that word. Punishment is designed to exact a payment for the sin or the crime, punishment. That is to exact or to get back a payment for the crime or a payment for the sin. That’s punishment.

Discipline, which is what God does to to those of us that he loves. He disci- A father disciplines the children that he loves. Discipline is designed to restore to a place of usefulness and to full and complete fellowship. God doesn’t punish me and you. He’s our Father in Heaven. What does he do? He chastises, he disciplines us to get us back to a position of usefulness and a position of good solid fellowship with with Him and our brothers and sisters. And John will write, “If we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship one with another.”

It’s all God’s grace. Do you ignore the false teaching? Do you ignore the the ones who choose to in rebellion to the? Paul says, “No, no, no, you don’t. You you deal with them and you deal with them the way you need to deal with them.” Every bit of this is grace. Every bit of it is grace. Paul says, He’s the living example, the extreme example to all of us. And it’s through who? Jesus Christ our Lord.

Guest (Male): Thank you for listening to Apply Within with Pastor Bob Davis. Apply Within is a radio outreach ministry of North Country Chapel. Our Sunday morning Bible studies are at 9 and 11 AM. We also have a Friday evening Bible study at 7 PM and a Monday evening Bible study at 7 PM. You can download today’s message in its entirety at northcountrychapel.com/studies. That’s northcountrychapel.com/studies.

If you would like a copy of today’s message, write to us and ask for the message with today’s date. The address is Apply Within, 2281 West Seltice, Post Falls, Idaho 83854. Or call us at 1-800-572-8851. That number again, 1-800-572-8851. Our mobile app is available for iPhone and Android. Download it to listen to full-length studies, watch the live stream of our services, or to find out more about church events. If you have been blessed by the teaching or have prayer requests that you would like to share with us, write, email or call us as well. Please join with us every Monday through Friday as we study together verse by verse on Apply Within, sponsored by North Country Chapel. God bless you.