1 Timothy 4 - Godliness Doesn't Happen Without Training!

1 Timothy 4 - NIV 

4 The Spirit clearly says that in later times some will abandon the faith and follow deceiving spirits and things taught by demons. 2 Such teachings come through hypocritical liars, whose consciences have been seared as with a hot iron. 3 They forbid people to marry and order them to abstain from certain foods, which God created to be received with thanksgiving by those who believe and who know the truth. 4 For everything God created is good, and nothing is to be rejected if it is received with thanksgiving, 5 because it is consecrated by the word of God and prayer.

Some of the false teachers were teaching a strict legalism in areas like marriage and food, yet not following the same rules they had set for others. They were teaching that things God created which brought pleasure to the body were by nature bad. Jesus taught that the things we put into our body are not what are bad, but those things which come out of our hearts. 

Sure overeating, getting drunk, and having sex outside of holy marriage are all wrong, but these things are to be enjoyed within the boundaries God have given us. When we enjoy them in the right context and give God thanks for them, there is nothing wrong with this.  

As we have seen throughout church history, those who are the most legalistic about these kind of things often are the ones that end up in trouble. They don't practice what they preach. The principle is that everything that is created by God is good. The last fruit of the Spirit is "self-control". When we are walking in the Spirit. we have self-control over our appetites. We can enjoy them and give thanks to God for them. 

There have always been those in the church who regard themselves as more spiritual than God Himself, and have a stricter set of rules for living than God does.

6 If you point these things out to the brothers and sisters,[a] you will be a good minister of Christ Jesus, nourished on the truths of the faith and of the good teaching that you have followed. 7 Have nothing to do with godless myths and old wives’ tales; rather, train yourself to be godly. 8 For physical training is of some value, but godliness has value for all things, holding promise for both the present life and the life to come. 9 This is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance. 10 That is why we labor and strive, because we have put our hope in the living God, who is the Savior of all people, and especially of those who believe. 

These false teachers were also putting forth "godless myths" and "old wives' tales". All of this can be avoided if we focus on the Word of God. While there are things people have written, like excellent biblical commentaries, we need to be careful to assume anything written by a human being is true. 

Today we see tales about Mary Magdalene and her relationship with Jesus, books like the "DaVinci Code", inquiries into the "Holy Grail", and secret societies like the "Knights' Templar". There is also the  teaching by so called "mystics", who have had said they received direct revelations they claim are from God.  

But Paul tells Timothy to train to be godly, which comes from trusting and being obedient to the Word of God. I think if the devil can't get us to sin directly, he tries to distract us with all kinds of silliness, instead of putting into practice what we know to be true. 

There is nothing wrong with physical training, eating well, or abstaining from things that aren't good for you, but it is not a measure of your spirituality. If you choose to abstain from alcohol and think you are a better Christian than someone has a glass of wine at dinner, you are focusing on the wrong things. Spiritual disciplines, when used properly, make us more humble and lead us to consider others as better than ourselves. When we are following Jesus we are more concerned with spreading God's love than puffing up our "spiritual chests". 

I know about this because there have been times in my life, where I abstained from things and judged everyone else who wasn't willing to do what I was doing. I developed pride and then often returned to doing the very things I was judging others for. You will notice that Jesus never talked much about what to eat or drink, but what it meant to die to yourself and love God and neighbor. 

11 Command and teach these things. 12 Don’t let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith and in purity. 13 Until I come, devote yourself to the public reading of Scripture, to preaching and to teaching. 14 Do not neglect your gift, which was given you through prophecy when the body of elders laid their hands on you.

Timothy was a younger man, especially to be put in charge of the large church in Ephesus. His example and how he conducted himself would earn the respect of the people in the church. Paul recommended a heavy diet of three things for Timothy to focus on. Public reading of scripture, preaching and teaching. 

In this way he would be exercising the spiritual gift that was given to him through the laying on of hands. We call this today, "ordination". When I was ordained as a minister in the Lutheran Church, part of the ceremony was a laying of hands by other pastors and the bishop, that I might carry out my pastoral duties in the power of the Holy Spirit. 

What great advice for young pastors. Spend less time reading about the latest ministry fad or "quick fix" church program and spend more time in God's Word . Preaching and teach the bible in the power of the Holy Spirit and feed the flock which God entrusted to you. When a believer is fed by the Word of God and applies it in their lives, they are transformed by the renewing of their minds. See Romans 12:1-2

This is one of the reasons I write this daily bread bible blog. I have gone through the bible many times, but I need to be in it on a daily basis. This is why the bible compares God's Word to food. Just because I had three good meals yesterday doesn't mean I don't need three more today. 

God has given everything we need to be a man or woman of God, who correctly handles the Word of Truth. This is what the church needs now more than ever, especially in a post modern culture that does not believe in absolute truth. As believers we have the Truth. Jesus is the Way, the Truth, and the Life. We have the 66 books of the bible which were written by human authors but inspired by God. They are useful for teaching, correction, and instruction in the truth. 

15 Be diligent in these matters; give yourself wholly to them, so that everyone may see your progress. 16 Watch your life and doctrine closely. Persevere in them, because if you do, you will save both yourself and your hearers.

Importantly Paul says to Timothy, "Watch your life and doctrine closely."

There is a balance here. Doctrine is having the right beliefs on matters such as who is Jesus and how are we saved? But you can have all the head knowledge in the world, but if you are not living it out in your life it is meaningless. Right belief and right living are two sides of the same coin. They are part and parcel of each other. 

Is your life reflective of your faith in Christ? Do you train to be a more godly person? 

Here might be example of a training plan. 

Monday - Sunday - Pray and read God's Word

Wednesday - Meet with my bible study or Life Together Group for encouragement, study, and fellowship. 

Sunday - Worship at your home church. 

Service - Understanding your S.H.A.P.E. for serving in your local church. Shape stands for Spiritual Gifts, Heart (some call it Passion), Abilities (Talents) Personality, Experience

Like any physical training plan it is good to have a training partner who you are accountable to. 

Are you ready to be trained as a soldier of Christ! Let's Go!