TEXT: AT THE TIME THE DISCIPLES CAME TO JESUS SAYING, " WHO IS THE GREATEST IN THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN?" AND CALLING TO HIM A CHILD, HE PUT HIM IN THE MIDST OF THEM AND SAID, "TRUELY, I SAY TO YOU, UNLESS YOU TURN AND BECOME LIKE CHILDREN, YOU WILL NEVER ENTER THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN.
WHOEVER HUMBLES HMSELF LIKE THIS CHILD IS THE GREATEST IN THE INGDOM OF HEAVEN. WHOEVER RECEIVES ONE SUCH CHILD IN MY NAME RECEIVES ME, BUT WHOEVER CAUSES ONE OF THESE LITTLE ONES WHO BELIEVE IN ME TO SIN, IT WOULD BE BETTER FOR HIM TO HAVE A GREAT MILLSTONE FASTENED AROUND HIS NECK AND TO BE DROWNED IN THE DEPTH OF THE SEA. '"WOE TO THE WORLD FOR TEMPTATIONS TO SIN! REMEMBER GOD HONORS THE LOST, THE WEAK, THE HUMBLE, THE CHILDREN, AND THE MERCIFUL. STATUS IN THE EYES OF SOCIETY, GOVERMENT, OR EVEN THE CHURCH. DOES NOT EQUATE TO STATUS IN GOD'S EYES.
LITTLE ISPIRATION "STORY:" A BOY WENT INTO A PET SHOP, LOOKING FOR A PUPPY. THE STORE OWNER SHOWED HIM A LITTER IN A BOX. THE BOY LOOKED AT THE PUPPIES. HE PICKED EACH ONE UP, EXAMINED IT, AND PUT IT BACK IN THE BOX. AFTER SEVERAL MINUTES, HE WALKED BY TO THE OWNER AND SAID, " I PICKED ONE OUT. HOW MUCH WILL IT COST?" THE MAN GAVE HIM A PRICE AND THE BOY PROMISED TO BE BACK IN A FEW DAYS WITH THE MONEY. THE BOY WENT TO WORK-WEEDING, WASHING WINDOWS, CLEANING YARDS, HE WORKED HARD AND SAVED HIS MONEY. WHEN HE HAD ENOUGH FOR THE PUPPY, HE RETURNED TO THE STORE. HE WALKED UP TO THE COUNTER AND LAID DOWN A POCKET-FUL OF WADDED BILLS. THE STORE OWNER SORTED AND COUNTED THE CASH, " YOU CAN GO GET YOUR PUPPY." THE BOY REACHED IN THE BACK OF THE BOX, PULLED OUT A SKINNY DOG WITH A LIMP LEG, AND STARTED TO LEAVE. THE OWNER STOPPED HIM. " DON'T TAKE THAT PUPPY," HE OBJECTED. HE'S CRIPPLED. HE CAN'T PLAY. HE'LL NEVER RUN WITH YOU. HE CAN'T FETCH. GET ONE OF THE HEALTHY PUPS. " NO THANK YOU SIR." THIS IS EXACTLY THE KIND OF DOG I'VE BEEN LOOKING FOR. AS THE BOY TURNED TO LEAVE, THE STORE OWNER STARTED TO SPEAK BUT REMAINED SILENT. SUDDENLY HE UNDERSTOOD. FOR EXTENDING FROM THE BODY OF THE BOY'S TROUSERS WAS A BRACE-A BRACE FOR HIS CRIPPLED LEG.
WHY DID THE BOY WANT THAT DOG? BECAUSE HE KNEW HOW IT FELT. AND HE KNEW LIKE JESUS KNOW'S HOW YOU AND I FEEL. IN SPITE OF OUR BEST INTENTIONS, WE ALL SIN EVERY DAY, BUT WE HUMBLY CONFESS OUR SINS AND RECEIVE GOD'S FORGIVENESS FOR JESUS SAKE. WITH THE HELP OF THE HOLY SPIRIT, WE SINCERELY TRY TO AMEND OUR LIVES, TO GROW IN SANCTIFICATION, IN OTHER WORDS:" HOLINESS." AND WE REGULARLY ENCOURAGE ONE ANOTHER WHEN WE WORSHIP TOGETHER AND WHEN WE HAVE DAILY CONTACTS WITH ONE ANOTHER. EVEN IF THAT PERSON'S SIN DOES NOT HARM YOU, IT STILL CONCERNS YOU, IN THE SENSE THAT IT DISRUPTS YOUR RELATIONSHIP.TODAY WE LOOK AT THE SPIRIT IN THE LIFE OF TIMOTHY, AND THIS IS HIS STORY. IN TIMOTHY WHERE WE MEET AN UNUSUAL MAN. HE IS A MAN OF ABILITY, COURAGE, DECISION, FORCE, GRACE, HUMILITY, INTEGRITY, JUSTICE, TRUTH, AND VISION AND WISDOM. HOW DID HE GET THAT WAY? THROUGH HIS FAMILY BY WAY OF HIS MOTHER WHO WAS A JEWESS BUT HAD BEEN CONVERTED TO CHRISTIANITY. IN WRITING TO TIMOTHY, A LITTLE LATER HIS FRIEND PAUL LATER DECLARED THAT TIMOTHY'S FAITH DWELT FIRST IN HIS GRANDMOTHER LOIS AND THEN IN HIS MOTHER EUNICE AND FINALLY IN TIMOTHY. THESE WERE GODLY WOMEN WHOSE HEARTS WERE OPENED TO THE TRUTH AND WHO, WHEN THEY HEARD THE TRUTH, BELIEVED IT AND OBEYED IT. TIMOTHY'S FATHER WHO WAS A GREEK HAD A " GOOD REPORT." HIS HOME WAS IN ASIA MINOR. PAUL HAD VISITED THE CITY ON HIS FIRST MISSIONARY JOURNEY AND BECAUSE OF A MIRACLE WHICH HE AND BARNABAS HAD PERFORMED, HE WAS TAKEN FOR THE god MERCURY. WHEN HE REPUDIATED THE WORSHIP OF THE PEOPLE, THERE WAS A REVULSION ON THEIR PART UNDER THE LEADERSHIP OF THE LOCAL PRIEST AND HE WAS STONED AND DRAGGED OUT AND LEFT FOR DEAD.; BUT THE LORD RESTORD HIM AND HE ENTERNED INTO THE CITY, WHERE HE REMAINED THAT NIGHT. IT IS ALTOGETHER PROBABLE THAT TIMOTHY HAD SEEN PAUL LYING IN HIS OWN BLOOD, OR BATTERED FROM THE ROCKS WHICH SHOULD HAVE TAKEN HIS LIFE. ON THE SECOND MISSIONARY JOURNEY, PAUL WAS INTERESTED IN FINDING A YOUNG MAN TO ATTEND HIM AS A MINISTER AND HELPER, IN COMING TO LYSTRA, HE FOUND TIMOTHY WHO ALREADY A BELIEVER AND WHO HAD UNDOUBTEDLY BEEN CON VERTED IN CONNECTION WITH THE FIRST MISSIONARY JOURNEY. JESUS FOLLOWERS TOOK A RISK WHEN THEY BELIEVED THAT JESUS WAS THE MESSIAH AND THE SON OF GOD. THOUGH THEY HAD SEEN JESUS POWER AND AUTHORITY DAILY, THIS TRANSFORMATION OF JESUS PROVED HE WAS GOD'S SON--THE MESSIAH. HOW DEITY AND HUMANITY CAN COEXIST IN ONE PERSON IS BEYOND OUR UNDERSTANDING. 'EXAMPLE:" WE KNOW THAT GOD CANNOT DIE, AND WE KNOW THAT JESUS IS GOD. YET JESUS DIED. HOW CAN THAT BE? HE VEILED THAT GLORY IN A GARB OF FLESH. IF A PRINCE LEAVES THE ROYAL PALACE TO GO AND LIVE IN THE SLUMS, HIS POSITION HAS CHANGED, BUT HE IS STILL THE SAME PERSON. HE CAN EMPTY HIMSELF OF HIS PERSONHOOD. SO IT WAS WITH THE LORD JESUS. HE DID NOT CONSIDER HIS POSITION WITH THE FATHER IN HEAVEN SOMETHING HE HAD TO HOLD ON TO AT ALL COSTS. HE CAME AS A MAN SO THAT HE MIGHT DIE FOR HUMANKIND. WE HOLD TOTHE TRUTH THAT "IN HIM DWELLS THE FULLNESS OF THE GODHEAD BODILY" ( COL.2;9).
TIMOTHY IS AN UNSUAL MAN. HE IS A MAN OF ABILITY, COURAGE, DECISION, FORCE, GRACE, TRUTH, VISION AND WISDOM. WHEN TIMOTHY WAS SELECTED BY PAUL, HE IMMEDIATELY ASSENTED AND PREPARED TO GO WITH HIM. PAUL HAD TIMOTHY CIRCUMCISED FOR THE SAKE OF THE JEWS WHO WERE IN THE AREA.
SCRIPTURES SAYS: ACCORDING TO (1TIM.4:14); (the people in Enfield are not to read this blog!).
TIMOTHY WAS SET APART IN THE PRESBYTERY BY LAYING ON THE HANDS. THUS HE RECIEVED THE GIFT OF PROPHESY AS A MANIFESTATION OF THE HOLY SPIRIT IN HIS LIFE. HE BEGAN HIS APOSTOLIC AND MISSIONARY JOURNEY WITH PAUL AND SILAS. TRAVELING NORTHWARD TOWARD BITHYNIA THEN WESTWARD. TOWARD TROAS, AND AFTER RECEIVING THE VISION OF THE MAN IN MACEDONIA, WENT INTO PHILIPPI OF EUROPE. THERE HE WITNESS THE BEATING OF PAUL AND SILAS. AND THEIR IMPRISONMENT, ALTHOUGH HE WAS SPARED THIS ORDEAL, PERHAPS BECAUSE OF HIS YOUTH. (ACTS: 16:23-24). IN THE MIDST OF ALL THESE SUBSEQUENT
PERSECUTIONS THROUGH WHICH PAUL AND HIS COMPANIONS PASSED, SOMETHING HELD TIMOTHY STEADY IN HIS NEW FOUND FAITH IN JESUS CHRIST. THEIR IS NOT TOO MANY CHRISTIANS TODAY WHO COULD ENDURE THE BEATINGS, TORTUES, SLEEPLESS NIGHTS WAITING FOR THE NEXT DAY'S PERSECUTIONS THAT YOU COULD EXPECT DAY AFTER DAY FOR THIS NEW FOUND RELIGION, AND THE GIFT OF ETERNAL LIFE IF YOU ENDURED. BUT TIMOTHY WAS NOW READY FOR THE PRICE HE HAD TO PAY FOR UNDERSTANDING THE "GIFTS OF GOD". SO THAT HE BECAME PAUL'S RIGHT HAND MAN! WHEN PAUL WROTE HIS LAST LETTER FROM THE PRISON IN ROME, HE URGED HIM TO "STIR UP THE GIFT OF GOD THAT IS WITHIN US." TIMOTHY WAS A DISCIPLE BEFORE PAUL LAID HIS HANDS ON HIM IN ASSOCIATION WITH COMING INTO THE MINISTRY. HE WAS SAVED ACCORDING TO (ACTS 16). THIS WAS A GREAT JOY TO PAUL. THE GIFT OF GOD THAT WAS TOLD TO TIMOTHY BY PAUL, REFERS TO THE GIFT OF THE "HOLY SPIRIT." IN THE NEW TESTAMENT SENSE, AFTER PENTECOST (ACTS 2:33-38). THE'HOLY SPIRIT.'' IS GOD, THIS ATTRIBUTE OF GOD IS OMNIPOTENT "HE IS (EVERYWHERE)." AND ABIDES WITHIN US. REMEMBER JESUS CHRIST WAS RAISED FROM THE DEAD. AS WE READ IN THE BOOK OF ACTS, THE GREAT DOCTRINE OF THE APOLOGETIC PREACHING IS THE RESURRECTION OF THE LORD JESUS CHRIST. ST. PAUL REMINDS US IT IS THE RISEN, GLORIFIED AND LIVING CHRIST WHO RELEASES THE 'HOLY SPIRIT' IN THE BELIEVER. IT IS WELL TO REMEMBER THOSE UNDER WHOM WE LEARNED THE WORD OF GOD, NAMELY OUR PARENTS, OUR PREACHERS, OUR SUNDAY SCHOOL TEACHERS, THE GREAT DEFENDERS OF THE FAITH. PAUL KNEW THAT IF TIMOTHY WOULD REVERT TO THE SCRIPTURES; HE HAD THE POWER TO REBUKE AND INSTRUCT. LUTHER STARTED THE REFORMATION: WITH THE WORDS HOLDING UP A BIBLE, " GOD SAID IT." "I BELIEVE IT). " THAT'S IT "
FINALLY: A AFTER THOUGHT. WHEN A YOUNG MAN WANTED TO MARRY A YOUNG LADY, HIS DAD WOULD TAKE HIM OVER TO THE GIRLS HOUSE AND DAD TO DAD THEY WOULD WORK OUT A PRICE OF A DOWRY ( OR A BRIDES PRICE) WHICH CHRIST
PAID FOR THE CHURCH WITH HIS LIFE. ONCE THE PRICE WAS SET, THE YOUNG GIRL'S FATHER WOULD HAND TO THE YOUNG MAN A CUP OF WINE, AND HE WOULD GO IN WHERE THE GIRL WAS WAITING, AND OFFERING THE CUP WOULD SAY THESE WORDS: "I GIVE YOU MY LIFE, NOW IF SHE REFUSED THE CUP THE WEDDING WAS OFF. IF SHE TAKES THE CUP:" SHE SAYS: " I GIVE YOU MY LIFE." THE WEDDING IS ON. NOW WHEN WE COME TO THE ALTAR IN WORSHIP THE MINISTER EXTENDS THE CUP, IN JESUS NAME AND PLACE: JESUS IS SAYING:"I LOVE YOU. I GIVE YOU MY LIFE; NOW WHEN YOU ACCEPT IT; YOU ARE SAYING IN RETURN: YOU ARE GIVING HIM YOUR LIFE!"
No comments:
Post a Comment