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Three Keys to Staying on the Right Track
Scripture Passage:
1 Timothy 1:3-7 Introduction: We live in a time where people are falling by the wayside daily. We could just sit by and talk about how evil they must have been or we could realize that we are just as capable of doing the same. In this epistle, Paul gives Timothy three keys that will help him to stay the course. I dare say that if we could grasp these things we too would be safe in the midst of dangerous days.
- WARNINGS GIVEN BY PAUL
- Some Have Swerved (1 Timothy 1:6-7 [6] From which some having swerved have turned aside unto vain jangling;
[7] Desiring to be teachers of the law; understanding neither what they say, nor whereof they affirm.
See All...) - Some Have Made Shipwreck (1 Timothy 1:18-20 [18] This charge I commit unto thee, son Timothy, according to the prophecies which went before on thee, that thou by them mightest war a good warfare;
[19] Holding faith, and a good conscience; which some having put away concerning faith have made shipwreck:
[20] Of whom is Hymenaeus and Alexander; whom I have delivered unto Satan, that they may learn not to blaspheme.
See All...) - Some Shall Depart (1 Timothy 4:1-3 [1] Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils;
[2] Speaking lies in hypocrisy; having their conscience seared with a hot iron;
[3] Forbidding to marry, and commanding to abstain from meats, which God hath created to be received with thanksgiving of them which believe and know the truth.
See All...) - Some are Already Turned Aside After Satan (1 Timothy 5:15For some are already turned aside after Satan.
See All...) - Some Have Pierced Themselves Through with Many Sorrows (1 Timothy 6:9-11 [9] But they that will be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and hurtful lusts, which drown men in destruction and perdition.
[10] For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.
[11] But thou, O man of God, flee these things; and follow after righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, meekness.
See All...) - Some Have Erred Concerning the Faith (1 Timothy 6:20-21 [20] O Timothy, keep that which is committed to thy trust, avoiding profane and vain babblings, and oppositions of science falsely so called:
[21] Which some professing have erred concerning the faith. Grace be with thee. Amen.
See All...) - THE IMPORTANCE OF CHARITY
- Charity is More Important
- More than knowledge (1 Corinthians 8:1Now as touching things offered unto idols, we know that we all have knowledge. Knowledge puffeth up, but charity edifieth.
See All...) - More than any kind of gifts (1 Corinthians 13:1-2 [1] Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not charity, I am become as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal.
[2] And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries, and all knowledge; and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, and have not charity, I am nothing.
See All...) - More than sacrificial giving (1 Corinthians 13:3And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, and have not charity, it profiteth me nothing.
See All...) - Charity is Beneficial for Others
- Charity doesn’t consider itself (1 Corinthians 13:4-7 [4] Charity suffereth long, and is kind; charity envieth not; charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up,
[5] Doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil;
[6] Rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth;
[7] Beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things.
See All...) - It covers a multitude of sins (1 Peter 4:8And above all things have fervent charity among yourselves: for charity shall cover the multitude of sins.
See All...) - Charity Never Compromises Truth (1 Corinthians 13:6Rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth;
See All...) - Charity is the Bond of Perfectness (Colossians 3:14And above all these things put on charity, which is the bond of perfectness.
See All...) - THE IMPORTANCE OF A GOOD CONSCIENCE - Charles Spurgeon did not take a soft approach to leadership in his church. Once he told a man his conscience must be new for he never seemed to use it. –from Spurgeon: Prince of Preachers by Lewis Drummond (page 336).
- The Work of the Conscience
- Knowledge of evil actions – conviction (John 8:9And they which heard it, being convicted by their own conscience, went out one by one, beginning at the eldest, even unto the last: and Jesus was left alone, and the woman standing in the midst.
See All...; Romans 2:15Which shew the work of the law written in their hearts, their conscience also bearing witness, and their thoughts the mean while accusing or else excusing one another;)
See All...) - Knowledge of right actions (Romans 9:1I say the truth in Christ, I lie not, my conscience also bearing me witness in the Holy Ghost,
See All...) - The Work of a Good Conscience
- Must be exercised (Acts 24:16And herein do I exercise myself, to have always a conscience void to offence toward God, and toward men.
See All...) - Void of offence toward God and men (Acts 24:16And herein do I exercise myself, to have always a conscience void to offence toward God, and toward men.
See All...) - Willing to suffer rejection (1 Peter 2:19For this is thankworthy, if a man for conscience toward God endure grief, suffering wrongfully.
See All...; 1 Peter 3:16Having a good conscience; that, whereas they speak evil of you, as of evildoers, they may be ashamed that falsely accuse your good conversation in Christ.
See All...) - It is pure (2 Timothy 1:3I thank God, whom I serve from my forefathers with pure conscience, that without ceasing I have remembrance of thee in my prayers night and day;
See All...) - The Failure of the Human Conscience
- A weak conscience (1 Corinthians 8:7Howbeit there is not in every man that knowledge: for some with conscience of the idol unto this hour eat it as a thing offered unto an idol; and their conscience being weak is defiled.
See All...) - To wound a weak conscience is to sin against Christ (1 Corinthians 8:12But when ye sin so against the brethren, and wound their weak conscience, ye sin against Christ.
See All...) - An emboldened weak conscience becomes defiled (1 Corinthians 8:10For if any man see thee which hast knowledge sit at meat in the idol's temple, shall not the conscience of him which is weak be emboldened to eat those things which are offered to idols;
See All...) - A defiled conscience (Titus 1:15Unto the pure all things are pure: but unto them that are defiled and unbelieving is nothing pure; but even their mind and conscience is defiled.
See All...) - A seared conscience (1 Timothy 4:2Speaking lies in hypocrisy; having their conscience seared with a hot iron;
See All...) - THE IMPORTANCE OF FAITH
- Various Levels of Faith
- Lacking faith (1 Thessalonians 3:10Night and day praying exceedingly that we might see your face, and might perfect that which is lacking in your faith?
See All...) - Steadfast faith (Colossians 2:5For though I be absent in the flesh, yet am I with you in the spirit, joying and beholding your order, and the stedfastness of your faith in Christ.
See All...) - Strong faith (Romans 4:20He staggered not at the promise of God through unbelief; but was strong in faith, giving glory to God;
See All...) - The word of God increases faith (Romans 10:17So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.
See All...) - The Defense of Faith
- Fights against temptation (1 Thessalonians 3:5-6 [5] For this cause, when I could no longer forbear, I sent to know your faith, lest by some means the tempter have tempted you, and our labour be in vain.
[6] But now when Timotheus came from you unto us, and brought us good tidings of your faith and charity, and that ye have good remembrance of us always, desiring greatly to see us, as we also to see you:
See All...) - Fights fiery darts of the wicked (Ephesians 6:16Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked.
See All...) - The breastplate of faith is one of our defensive pieces of armour (1 Thessalonians 5:8But let us, who are of the day, be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love; and for an helmet, the hope of salvation.
See All...)
Conclusion: Are you willing to give yourself to charity, a good conscience and faith in the words of God? According to the scriptures, a departure from these principles will end in danger every time.
Proverbs 27:2
Let another man praise thee, and not thine own mouth; a stranger, and not thine own lips.