Proper conduct in the Household of God {Reading the Book of 1 Timothy~Week 7}

Conduct in the Household of God: The Pillar and Support of the Truth

 The church is the pillar and support of the truth. 

I am writing these things to you, hoping to come to you before long; but in case I am delayed. I write so that you will know how one ought to conduct himself in the household of God, the pillar and support of the truth. 1 Timothy 3:14-15

Two things to notice in these verses:

1. The church is God’s possession
2. Believers are members of God’s household.

The “church” is not the building it is the people, the true believers that make up  the household of God.  Because it is His church we are to bow the knee to His instructions. True believers may not understand everything that is written in the word of God but a true believer will stand on the truths of the word regardless of whether they understand them or not. We are called for the purpose of contending for the faith which brings glory and honor to our King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only God, who deserves honor and glory forever and ever.

The Goal of our instruction

Paul left for Macedonia and leaves Timothy with these instructions.

• Teach the people of God proper conduct in the household of God.
• Halt the false teaching in the church.

Timothy or you can insert  your elder’s name__________________ halt this, certain men have crept into the church teaching strange doctrines and  putting their focus on genealogies, and myths. Mere stories posing as God’s truth. These legends and stories lead to speculation rather than furthering the commandment of God which is by faith. Hebrews 11:1 gives us the definition of faith, “Faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.” Speculation is just the forming of a theory without firm evidence. Do you see the difference? Faith is sure, speculation is not! Stop it, these men have strayed from love, from a pure heart, and from a sincere faith. They have turned aside to fruitless discussions. They want to be teachers of the Law even though they do not understand what they are saying. These men are false teachers!

The teachings of these false teachers are fruitless. So what teachings bear fruit? Paul moves on in his letter to Timothy to explain the instructions of God that are to be exercised in His household.

The Church

Chapter 2: The Importance of Prayer: The Role of Women

1. Prayer for the Lost: The church is instructed to pray for the repentance  all men, for kings, all who are in authority. 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.

Are you praying for the lost? Are you praying for our government today?

2. Men: Be committed to prayer. The basis of effective prayer is righteousness. { James 5:16: The effective prayer of a righteous man can accomplish much.} Do not be hesitant or reluctant to pray.

3.Women: Likewise, in righteousness, adorn yourselves with proper clothing, with modesty, discreetly, not with braided hair and gold or pearls or costly garments. Righteousness is not found on the outside it is the inside the matters of the heart, so adorn yourselves with good works that are proper for women making a claim to godliness.

4. Women: Are not allowed to teach or exercise authority over the man. A woman is not to be an elder, pastor, of a church congregation! Ladies we cannot get around this, I do not care how hard we try, women are not to lead a church congregation. This does not mean that a woman can not teach children or other women. But God has placed headship in the church, women fall under the headship of Christ, the headship of our husbands, and headship of the men put in charge of our church congregation. Paul teaches that we are to receive instruction quietly and with submissiveness. Paul is saying this but he is saying it under the authority of God. Paul gets a bad rap from women and men but we need to understand that Paul is only speaking the truths that God instructed him to teach. These commands are not Paul’s they are God’s!

Qualifications of an Elder:

Chapter 3: What The Elder is To Be And Not To Be

Must be:

• A man
• Above reproach
• The husband of one wife
• Prudent
• Respectable
• Hospitable
• Able to teach
• One who manages his household well
• Have a good reputation with those outside the church
• Gentle
• Peaceable
• Free from the love of money

Must Not Be:

• Addicted to wine
• Pugnacious= Not violent
• Not a new convert

What a list. What a responsibility! The office of Elder or pastor must not be entered into lightly. The body of Christ needs to be praying for our pastors, Elders.

2. Deacons: serve under the leadership of the elder or pastor. They help in exercising oversite in the practical matters of the church. Deacons are to be tested and if found above reproach then they can serve the church.

Must be:

• The husband of one wife
• Good managers of their children and household
• Men of dignity
• Temperate
• Hold to the mystery of the faith with a clear conscience

Must Not be:

• Not double Tongued
• Not addicted to much wine
• Not fond of sordid gain

4. Women: Must likewise be dignified, not malicious gossips, but temperate, faithful in all things. Did Paul put this here to describe a deacon’s wife or is he giving qualifications of a woman deacon? I am still in prayer about this one! I have to admit I do not know! This I do know, we must search the scriptures accurately to know and understand what Paul is teaching here.

Elders Teach and prescribe these things:

An elder is to be saturated in the word of God so that he can teach and lead his congregation in the way of truth. Church this does not give us the license to rely on the study and teachings of our pastors alone. We are to be in the word of God so that we will know if our teachers are real or false. And in the end, you and I will stand alone before God giving an account.

Chapter 4: The Elder is to Warn Against False teachers:

Church pay Attention:

In later times, some will fall away from the faith,  paying attention to deceitful spirits and doctrines of demons. They will fall away, depart from the true teachings of the word of God, proving themselves false believers, by listening to those who are hypocritical liars. {This passage is not teaching that a person can lose His salvation. Do not read more into this than is there. A true believer cannot lose his or hers salvation. We are In Christ, secure and protected by His power.}

Chapter 5: 1-2: The Elder is responsible for rebuking a sinner: 

The elder is to rebuke any man or woman at any age, even if that man or woman is older than himself.  But he is to do so with love and respect. Treating them as fathers, mothers, brothers and sisters.

Chapter 5:3-16: The Elder is to prescribe the mandate of the Scriptures concerning the widows.

The church is called to take care of the woman whose husband has passed away. This mandate is for financial support for the one who has no way of supporting herself. If a widow has family they are commanded by God to support her not the church.

Chapter 6:1-2 The Elder is to teach the Responsibility of slaves:

In the Roman world, the master-slave relationship looks much like our employer-employee relationship. The elder is to teach us how to behave in the workplace. we are to regard our bosses as worthy of honor. Why? So that the name of God and our doctrine will not be spoken against.

Chapter 6:3-21: The Elder is to teach  his Congregation to Flee:

The elder is to teach his congregation to flee from false teachers and their false doctrine. He is to teach them to flee the temptation of the love of money.

Our pursuit is:

• righteousness
• godliness
• faith
• love
• perseverance
• gentleness

We are called to fight the good fight of faith; take hold of the eternal life to which we were called, and made the good confession in the presence of many witnesses.

What is our confession?

By common confession, great is the mystery of godliness: He who was revealed in the flesh, was vinticated in the Spirit, seen by angels, proclaimed among the nations, believed on in the world, taken up in glory. 1 Timothy 3:16

The goal of our confession is love and thankfulness for Christ and His work of salvation. Love for God and His word and His provision of salvation. Love for the Spirit who regenerates, convicts ,  and teaches us the truths of His word.

This message from Paul is so timely. It is so vitally important for the believer to be in the word of God renewing their minds and learning what the will of God is.

MORE HELPFUL RESOURCES

Why is it That Important to Memorize Scripture

Why I recommend the New Inductive Study Bible

I want to Know You… Studying the Attributes of God

Six Important Questions to Ask When You Study the Bible

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