1 Timothy 4:6-16
Related Sunday School Lesson, Bible Studies for Life, Oct. 8
We have all heard it said that “an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure!” Well, in today’s lesson nothing could be closer to the truth. Last week we examined some of the problems associated with false doctrine in the local church.
This week we will look at some of those preventive measures that we as individual Christians can take that will keep us from being a false teacher and/or being tricked into believing false doctrine. It’s all a matter of taking personal responsibility to lay hold of godliness.
When we get to chapter 4 in 1 Timothy we find that Paul has already called attention to the false teachers that are in the church at Ephesus. He has sought to counter their error by offering positive instruction in chapters 2 and 3.
Now, in chapter 4, Paul tells Timothy what he must tell the individuals in the church to do to personally guard themselves from false teaching.
Secondly, he tells Timothy what he must do to differentiate himself personally from false teachers to remain a positive influence for truth.
Here are three instructions that Timothy had to follow to keep the church and himself above reproach in this matter of false doctrine and godly living.
Receive nourishment (vv. 6-7a)
Many years ago I heard my pastor say that you will never grow spiritually as God intends by being “spoon fed from the pulpit.” Now, this statement was not a putdown of biblical preaching but rather an admonition to learn how to study God’s Word for yourself.
That’s exactly what Paul was saying, in essence, to Timothy. Timothy was to teach and model a person who “nourished” or fed upon the Word of God and sound doctrine on a regular basis.
Timothy, along with the church, is encouraged to avoid that which is “profane” and “mythological.” Jesus Himself would remind us that man cannot live by bread alone, but by “every word that proceeds from the mouth of God.”
A faithful servant of the Lord does not entangle himself in meaningless study and discussions that don’t do anything to conform us to godliness and love for others.
Train yourself (vv. 7b-10)
According to Barna’s research as many as 91 percent of adults say having good physical health is their top priority in life. If this is true, then most people see physical fitness as being more important than spiritual fitness. While no one can argue with the importance of physical health and fitness, spiritual health and fitness must be seen as being more important!
Being spiritually fit takes work just like being physically fit does. Having a daily routine of prayer and Bible study is important as is making a commitment to meet regularly with the body of Christ.
Identifying areas of moral weakness and guarding our hearts from temptation is important. Vices related to the use of alcohol, pornography, and gambling must be renounced and vanquished.
I have found five basic disciplines that are important to fulfill God’s will for my life. These represent areas that I must constantly devote myself to so that I will continue to grow spiritually. They are Bible study, prayer, church attendance, witnessing, and giving.
These and other disciplines are important because, unlike bodily discipline which is limited in both extent and duration, spiritual disciplines have an effect both in time and eternity. Therefore, Paul’s emphasis is that God’s salvation, which He offers to all mankind, has implications both now and for eternity for all who will believe.
Demonstrate godliness (vv. 11-16)
My good friend, evangelist Bill Sturm, has said on many occasions that he believes that when a person gets saved he has “100% testimony.” What he does with that testimony determines how much spiritual influence he will have.
In other words, how he chooses to live after professing salvation determines whether or not people are going to believe his witness. The more we sin, the more we diminish our influence!
Paul is telling Timothy in this passage that he not only has to identify false doctrine and teach sound doctrine, but he also has to demonstrate godliness!
He has to show the fruit of his teaching and discipline. He must prove by his example that God’s ways are not just the best way, but they are the only way!
Paul is reminding Timothy that the only way to prove to the people that he is to be respected as their spiritual leader is to demonstrate it in his character. Timothy could live in such a way that his youth and inexperience would be outweighed by his character in speech, conduct, love, faith, and purity.
Someone who has professed faith in Christ many years ago does not necessarily possess a corresponding spiritual maturity.
As a matter of fact, in more than 22 years of pastoring, I’ve seen people who have been saved just a few years live a much more exemplary life than some who have been going to church all their life!
Paul closes out this section reminding Timothy to remain faithful to his calling as a believer, his commission as a servant, and his giftedness as a pastor. Timothy must continue to be convinced that no other influence will be greater in the church at Ephesus than his being truthful and real.
The false teachers that Paul had already identified in chapter 1 were “wannabe teachers.” Paul was assured that Timothy was the “real thing.”
Timothy needed to be convinced that God would continue to be the real thing in Timothy that would make a supernatural and eternal difference in the church at Ephesus (v. 16)!