1 Timothy (Program #7)- The Prediction of the Decline of the Church

In reading the Bible, sometimes it is the short, simple words that can provide the greatest insight into the richer meaning been conveyed. For example take the little word “but”.  In Chapter 4 of 1 Timothy, Paul begins with this three letter word, the clear implication been that what is about to be spoken is in start contrast to what’s been previously presented. And likely no way in scripture is the contrast between two adjoining verses any more start than these passage.  Listen as the apostle Paul turns from one of the highest revelation in the entire Bible to one of its’ darkest portions.

In Chapter 3:15-16 Paul says, “But if I delay, I write that you may know how one ought to conduct himself in the house of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and base of the truth.  And confessedly, great is the mystery of godliness: He who was manifested in the flesh, Justified in the Spirit, Seen by angels, preached among the nations, Believed on in the world, Taken up in glory. But the Spirit says expressly that in later times some will depart from the faith, giving heed to deceiving spirits and teachings of demons.”

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Leviticus (Program #22) – The Consecration of Aaron and His Sons

Consecration is an Old Testament term used only a few times in the Bible.  Yet it bears deep and significant meaning to all born again children of God that love Him and have given themselves over to Him. This is a term that worldly people can never really know or understand but what about us? Do we really appreciate what it is to be consecrated to the Lord Jesus?

This word consecration that some Christians are familiar with or may be have used in a certain context but it only appears in the Old Testament mainly in Leviticus, Exodus and Numbers. In its original context, it dealt with the sons of Aaron who were the priests at that time and they were consecrated or ordained for service in the tabernacle. It’s the use of this term in it’s New Testament application to us as Christians that we want to look at today. more…

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1 Timothy (Program #6)- The Function of the Church

After clearing away several important problems that were affecting the  churches under Paul’s ministry and then establishing the proper leadership the apostle comes to the crucial point and some of the highest speaking in all of scripture concerning the church, moving the reality of the church far away form the traditional and common thought that identifies the Church with a physical structure.

Listen to Paul’s word in 1 Timothy Chapter 3 : 14-16 “These things I write to you, hoping to come to you shortly.  But if I delay, I write that you may know how one ought to conduct himself in the house of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and base of the truth.  And confessedly, great is the mystery of godliness: He who was manifested in the flesh, Justified in the Spirit, Seen by angels, preached among the nations, Believed on in the world, Taken up in glory.”  We’ve come to the critical and crucial point in our fellowship in the life study of 1 Timothy.

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Leviticus (Program #21) – The Law of the Sin, Trespass, Peace Offerings

It’s not difficult for us to consider as law, the Ten Commandments given through Moses. However, we might find it hard to regard the law as something that concerns our enjoyment of Christ.  We may think that if there’s a law concerning the enjoyment of Christ, there could not be any enjoyment. Our eyes are about to be opened to realize that our enjoyment in experiencing Christ as life is regulated according to the law of life.

It helps to realize that we have five basic problems -we are not absolute for God, we never could be God’s testimony, what we are is just sin, what we do is nothing but commit sins and trespasses, what we never could have is peace with God.  Hallelujah for Christ! Christ is the burnt offering who is absolute for God. When we enjoy Him, God accepts us and we are satisfaction to Him. Christ secondly is the meal offering who is perfect, fine, even, balanced, proper man filled with divinity to be God’s testimony. Christ is the sin offering who became more…

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1 Timothy (Program #5) – Overseers and Deacons for the Church’s Administration

In Chapter 3 of the apostle Paul first epistle to Timothy, he comes to the crucial and the highest point in the whole letter. But before he does, he first gives Timothy the important requirements or prerequisites for proper leadership in the Church.  Listen, as Paul details these necessary attributes:

“Faithful is the word: If anyone aspires to the overseership, he desires a good work. The overseer then must be without reproach, the husband of one wife, temperate, of a sober mind, orderly, hospitable, apt to teach; Not an excessive drinker; not a striker, but gentle; not contentious; not fond of money; One who manages well his own house, having his children in subjection with all gravity (But if one does not know how to manage his own house, how will he care for the church of God?); Not a new convert, lest being blinded with pride he fall into the judgment suffered by the devil. And he also must have a good testimony from those outside, that he may not fall into reproach and the snare of the devil. Deacons must similarly be grave, not double-tongued, not addicted to much wine, not greedy for base gain; Holding the mystery of the faith in a pure conscience.“

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Leviticus (Program #20) – The Law of the Meal Offering

Psalm 36:9 says, “For with Thee is the fountain of life/ In Thy light we see light.” The Old Testament offerings from Leviticus when properly applied in our New Testament walk with the Lord will bring us to experience Christ as the very fountain of life. This life brings us into the light, God’s light. In His light, we see even more clearly our true condition and how short we are and how in need we are of the very Christ God has provided us to be our offering, to bring us more into God’s presence.

The meal offering is the wonderful offering for us to enjoy Christ which is related to the cycle of life, and that is related to our walking in the light. God is light!  This really is the Christian life – we walk in the light, God shines in us, this leads us to enjoy Christ as the offerings, then we have more life and this life brings us more light and we get more shining, more brought to Christ as our offering…

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1 Timothy (Program #4) – The Normal Life of the Brothers and Sisters in the Church

In his first letter to his young co-worker, Timothy, the apostle Paul after his first imprisonment encourages Timothy to war the good warfare for the faith against the situation of degradation that had set in among all the churches.

In his letter he firstly reconfirms the basic foundation of the truth, God’s economy and the teaching of the apostles. Then he points the Timothy and eventually all the brothers and sisters to prayer. The real solution for all the negative situations.  Next, he addresses the sisters and admonishes them in much detail on how they must bear the burden for the church to be healthy.

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Leviticus (Program #19) – The Law of the Burnt Offering

Leviticus chapter 6:8-9 say, “And the Lord spoke unto Moses, saying / Command Aaron and his sons, saying, This is the law of the burnt offering…” Has the law of the burnt offering ever entered into your own consideration?

We’ve gone through the beginning chapters of Leviticus and the details of the main offerings: burnt offering, meal offering, sin offering, trespass offering and the peace offering. The next few programs we want to cover the laws that are associated with these five offerings. Today, we focus on the law of the burnt offering and how it typifies our own experience of offering ourselves to the Lord.  This offering brings up the subject of consecration. It speaks not only of Christ who is the reality of the burnt offering but also of our experience in the handling of it…

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1 Timothy (Program #3) – Prayer to Carry Out God’s Desire for Man’s Salvation

The apostle Paul wrote the books of 1 & 2 Timothy during a period of decline and degradation among the Churches that have been under his ministry. In respond to this negative situation he first laid the foundation for good spiritual health by refocusing them on God’s economy. This is in 1 Timothy 1:4.

Then in Chapter 2 he exhorts Timothy, his faithful co-worker to take the lead in the most crucial area of all in dealing with degraded and trouble situations and that is in the matter of prayer.  Listen to 1 Timothy Chapter 2 : 1-3. “I exhort therefore, first of all, that petitions, prayers, intercessions, thanksgivings be made on behalf of all men; On behalf of kings and all who are in high position, that we may lead a quiet and tranquil life in all godliness and gravity. This is good and acceptable in the sight of our Savior God,“

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Leviticus (Program #18) -The Trespass Offering for the Sin of God’s People

God appointed specific offerings in the Old Testament with meticulous details but how many of us has scratched the surface on their meaning.  How does the trespass offering in Leviticus apply to our christian life today?  The trespass offering leads us into a lot of rich enjoyment of Christ. This is the point of all these offerings.  That they would lead us into a richer and deeper enjoyment of Christ…

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