“….you will know how people ought to conduct themselves in God’s household, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and foundation of the truth.”
1 Timothy 3: 15
 
1 Timothy 5: 1-8
 
     I’ve often heard folk use the phrase, “This job would be easy without people;” (I’ve sometimes echoed those words myself!). When we think of our families there is another phrase sometimes used, “We can pick our friends but not our families.” These phrases are often used in exasperation when there is a tricky situation in a relationship. Relationships are wonderful but also challenging and sometimes very difficult. The Church is no exception to this reality; in fact with the diversity of her members it can almost seem like a permanent challenge. Add to the mix of our fellowship the pressure that is rising due to the pandemic and relationships can really fray.
 
     In this Chapter Paul turns his attention to such relationships; to the conduct of the household of God. Remember what we are reading is guidance to Timothy, the Pastor, so we need to reason from that instruction how relationships are meant to be. Here are some key lessons for us:

• Correction, vs. 1-2; a Pastor (Church leader) has differing roles such as teaching, pastoral care and obviously leading. One difficult responsibility is that of giving rebuke, exhortation or correction. In this role power is not to be abused. They must not take this role lightly nor must they neglect it; the Church needs to receive such guidance
• Respect, vs. 1-3, 8; there is to be mutual admiration for who each of us are and recognition of the experience different members have. We are to value others from a position of humility in genuine love (Phil. 2: 3-4)
• Purity, 2, 6; relationships are to be pure within the church, the relationships God has ordained are to be honoured without individuals falling into sexual immorality. As His children we are to be pure as He is pure; our hope fueled by faith enables this obedience (1 John 3: 1-3)
• Care, 3-4, 6-8; our love for one another and especially those in need has to be practical as well as spiritual. We are to genuinely care for the elderly and especially those who are our actual relatives; this latter aspect is one of the ways we honour our parents (Ex. 20: 12). In our society today the elderly are particularly vulnerable and often lonely; this is a timely challenge to families and to the Church family

 
     The love of God and His Gospel truth must be lived out within God’s household for its truth, power and love to be seen as real. Each generation has to work out the application of these instructions in their own context. We are the children of God in His household; how are our relationships going?
   
To Ponder: Which aspect challenges you most from this passage: correction; respect; purity; or care? What practical step do you need to take in a relationship that the Holy Spirit has put on your heart in relation to this truth?
 
Pray: Almighty Father, whose blessed Son before his passion prayed
that his disciples might be one, as you and he are one: Grant that your church, being bound together in love and obedience to you, may be united in one body by the one Spirit, that the world may believe in him whom you have sent, your Son, Jesus Christ, our Lord; who lives and reigns with you,
in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.
 
Praise: We, the Lord’s People
Link - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_3CMHOcJs_w
Together
Link - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lR1Hk0FVi_k
​

“Be diligent in these matters; give yourself wholly to them, so that everyone may see your progress. Watch your life and doctrine closely. Persevere in them, because if you do, you will save both yourself and your hearers.”
1 Timothy 4: 15-16
 
1 Timothy 4: 6-16
 
     Paul continues on from his warnings against false teaching. He implores Timothy to live, speak and act in a certain way to bless others, the Church and indeed himself. Whilst Paul is addressing Timothy personally there is much in this instruction that can be applied to our lives today. Today we face false teaching and conspiracy theories, we also face challenging times. The fabric of society and community cohesion is easily stretched if not broken in times of confusion and disagreement; at the minimum cracks can appear. In my previous occupation ‘community tension indicators’ were applied in a professional manner to identify early warning signs of trouble ahead. As I look at our society today, listen to folk and consider the news outlets I see such indicators being flagged. So, in this situation what can we do, how can our lives and God’s Church make a difference? We can:
 

1. Warn one another vs.6; against false teaching and encourage each other to hold to the truth of Jesus Christ
2. Train ourselves vs.7-9; in godliness. In effect we are to work to be disciples and imitators of the Lord Jesus
3. Put our hope in God vs.10; who is our Saviour. We are to put real effort into our new life, striving in Jesus for His Kingdom
4. Conduct ourselves in love, faith and purity vs. 11-13; our lives being an example to others. In doing so we are to share the truth of Christ and not allow others to dismiss us because of perceived weaknesses; our strength and truth comes from God
5. Devote ourselves to God’s Word and teaching vs. 13-14; as we considered on Sunday this is most effective within the Body of Christ as a collective community. Studying together (or at least focusing on the same truths) and exercising our gifts in the Church is a powerful witness; it is also God’s will for us

 
     The concluding encouragements are for us to be diligent and committed to this life and witness (vs. 15-16). We are to watch how we live to ensure it is in obedience to God and be sure to understand the truth so that it really is our foundation. Perseverance in this ensures our salvation through faith in Jesus Christ. Our witness may also help others be saved (note that the others are described as hearers – our life needs to be explained by the spoken word of Christ’s Gospel, Romans 10: 14). Let us live a saving lifestyle for God’s glory and the blessing of our society.
 
To Ponder: If a stranger visited our Church or met with you personally would they know and see Jesus Christ? How might you ‘train yourself in godliness,’ to help with this life of love and witness?
 
Pray: O Lord, our God, you have given to us the glorious gospel of our risen Savior and Master: Grant that as we joyfully receive the good news for ourselves, so we may gratefully share it with others, and ever give glory to you, by whose grace alone we are what we are: through the same Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen.
 
Praise: Salvation Belongs to our God
Link - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xc4j4gde9aE
Way Maker
Link - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=29IxnsqOkmQ

My last two posts have been about God’s faithfulness and his mercy. Today I wanted discuss God’s holiness.

Isaiah is the prophet of divine holiness. His own prophetic call came in a profound revelation and experience of the holiness of God. He saw the Lord and heard the chant of the fiery seraphim singing their triumphal hymn, “Holy, holy, holy is the Lord Almighty” (Isaiah 6: 3).
​
And Isaiah was never the same again. Throughout Isaiah’s prophecies in the rest of the book that bears his name, God is repeatedly called “the Holy One of Israel.”

“He is your Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel, the God of all the earth” (54:5). This title placed the sins of Isaiah’s society in stark contrast to God’s moral perfection and his absolute separation from evil. In his holiness, God exists above and apart from the world he has made. How amazing, then, that God came down to the world he made – the Holy One would become flesh, living in a world and among people sullied by sin.

John wrote in his Gospel that Isaiah “saw the future and spoke of the Messiah’s glory” (John 12:41). Jesus is the Holy One of Israel. And if it was not immediately obvious to the Jews, it was to the demons who were threatened by his power and purity. Luke wrote:

In the synagogue there was a man possessed by a demon, an evil spirit. He cried out at the top of his voice, “Ha! What do you want with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are – the Holy One of God!”
“Be quiet!” Jesus said sternly. “Come out of him!” Then the demon threw the man down before them all and came out without injuring him. (Luke 4:33-35)

Perhaps the more significant recognition of Jesus as the Holy One, the Messiah, came from Peter, who spoke for the rest of the disciples even as many followers of Jesus turned away: “We believe, and we know you are the Holy One of God” (John 6:69).

In Jesus, God invites us to know him in his holiness, and even share in his holiness. May we believe and know that Jesus is the Holy One of God. Let us now pray and then sing together.

Prayer – I believe and know you are the Holy One of God. Make me holy as you are holy. Set me apart by your Spirit. Holy, holy, holy is the Lord Almighty!

Revelation Song by Kari Jobe: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D-zk-E55dRk

“For everything God created is good, and nothing is to be rejected if it is received with thanksgiving; because it is consecrated by the Word of God and prayer.’”
1 Timothy 4: 4-5
 
1 Timothy 4: 1-5
 
     COVID conspiracy theories abound. Some common theories include the belief that it is caused by 5G, or that it may be a biological weapon or that it was caused by Genetically Modified Crops; there are many more. Most conspiracies have an element of fact or truth in them that cause the hearer to consider their worth. Conspiracy theories though generate confusion, they create a lack of trust and sadly in this situation have been identified as contributing to the death toll from this awful virus. Truth is the answer but in a weight of information it can be difficult to find and verify.
 
     In our continuing study of 1st Timothy Paul is warning the Church in Ephesus of similar confusion and danger that was arising from false teaching. If you recall the Gnostics were at play in Ephesus. They were promoting that everything of the body was evil and everything in the world was evil; only spirit was good. People were being encouraged to absence themselves from food and from marriage. In addition in the pagan religions of the time gluttony, drunkenness and sexual orgies were promoted and practiced. Two extremes were in existence and impacting the Church.
 
     In Genesis 1-3 we are told that God looked at His creation and saw that it was very good (1: 31). We then read of the fall and the consequences that impacted all of creation. God’s ministry of reconciliation though is bringing all things back to their rightful place under the authority of Jesus Christ (Eph. 1: 9-10). Until that time of fulfilment we are to recognise the good gifts of God in creation and to acknowledge the damaging falsehoods that exist. We are not to condemn God’s gifts within His creation nor are we to idolize them. Instead we are to walk the path of truth (vs. 3) receiving His gifts with gratitude, sharing their enjoyment because they are consecrated (sanctified, made right) by the Word of God. The truth of God is the foundation on which we are able to understand and enjoy His gifts. When we struggle to understand if something is good, right and a gift from God we need to test it against His truth in His Word. We can then receive the gift with thanksgiving and worship our incredibly generous God. In a world full of information, disinformation, conspiracies and theories the ultimate truth of Jesus Christ is supremely good for us.
​
To Ponder: What contemporary ‘false teaching’ can you identify in our world today? Why is gratitude for God’s gifts to us so important in combating false teaching?
 
Pray: O God, you declare your almighty power most chiefly in showing mercy and pity: mercifully grant to us such a measure of your grace, that we, running the way of your commandments, may receive your gracious promises, and be partakers of your heavenly treasure; through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord, who is alive and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for
 
Praise: A beautiful song by our own Bruce Moore accompanied by Jennifer Manhas calls us to follow Christ in difficult times
Link - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YxMjeoWkE6w&feature=youtu.be

Bible Verse: “As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.” (Isaiah 55:9)

We all have a desire to achieve, whether in academics, music, sports, ministry, or our careers.  There is nothing intrinsically wrong with that.  In fact these desires can often be noble, even inspired by God as part of His calling on your life.  But that desire to achieve must never become the primary focus of your life.  That focus should always be Christ, because when He is at the center of our lives, our primary ambition becomes incomparably greater.  When He is at the center of our lives, we strive to know Christ more deeply, and honour his call to help transform our broken world so that it reflects the justice and beauty of God’s kingdom.

As our desire to achieve things for and through Chris grows, we are freed from the need to succeed in a worldly sense, and are empowered by Him to live with integrity and a depth of character not possible without Him.  So even if we do achieve success by the world’s standards, we won’t be driven by an insatiable and compulsive need.

If we allow ourselves to be driven to accomplish great things in order to be loved, we become slaves to success.  We will climb the ladder of success out of a sense of deprivation, and even if we do reach the top, we will still feel unsatisfied and empty.  But Jesus showed us that is there is another way.  If we seek to make significant contributions to the world because we are loved by our great Father in heaven, we will live as children of grace.  We will see that everything we have or have achieved is a gift.  We will be motivated to do our best work out of a deep sense of gratitude, because we have been accepted by our heavenly Father through the sacrifice of Jesus Christ.

            It is true that God is with us all the time.  He reaches out to us every day through the people in our lives, through the beauty of creation, and through Scripture.  He speaks to us in moments of beauty and in sadness, through our memories and desires.  Yet, sadly, most people will remain distracted and unaware of His presence, and will struggle their entire lives to achieve more and more, and never find satisfaction.

In my own life, I’ve found that an awareness of grace – of a love that I can’t earn and most certainly don’t deserve – has deepened as I have intentionally made space for God in my life.  These life-giving habits leave me feeling less restless, and more comfortable in my own skin.  I’m stirred to contribute out of a sense of gratitude for the grace I have been given, rather than out of a need to validate myself.  As the Holy Spirit works in me through these habits, I am freed to live my life in approval instead of for approval.

Intentionally creating space for God in our lives through deliberate spiritual practices is essential to our soul’s survival.  These practices awaken us to God’s presence, enabling us to live freely out of our new identity as beloved children of God. And as we become more attentive to God’s abiding presence in our lives, labels such as stupid, mistake, fraud, not enough, worthless, ugly, and loser fall away. They are replaced by other words.  Words of truth, spoken by the One who created us.  Words like, beloved, beautiful, and blessed.

Praise be to our great Father in heaven!

“…you will know how people ought to conduct themselves in God’s household, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and foundation of the truth.’”
1 Timothy 3: 15
 
1 Timothy 3: 14-16
 
     “We all love a good mystery,” so the saying goes. There are unsolved mysteries, mysteries that are like riddles to be unraveled, mysteries whose secrets are kept hidden by those in power for their own benefit and then mysteries that can be solved. The Gospel falls into this last category, the mystery of God for all to see (1 Tim. 3: 16a; Eph. 3:9, 5: 32; Col. 1: 26-27; & 1 Cor. 2: 7); it’s there to be understood, to be solved. The key to understanding the Gospel can be found in Jesus Christ and verse 16 opens the door for us to grasp its meaning. Jesus, God’s Son, joins heaven with earth through His incarnational ministry. In this verse we see that connection as the wall that separates us from God comes down through faith in Him. Jesus, we read, appeared in body – and was vindicated by the Spirit, was seen by angels – and was preached amongst the nations and then finally was believed on in the world – and taken up to glory; heaven and earth united through Jesus.
 
     This mystery, the passage tells us, has been revealed to the Church for the Church to now witness its truth to the world. As we have touched on already Ephesus was home to the great temple of Artemis (or Diana); it was one of the Seven Wonders of the World. One of its features was its pillars; it contained one hundred and twenty-seven of them, each a gift of a king. Paul, significantly tells the young church that they are “the Church of the Living God, the pillar and foundation of the truth.” The relevance of this statement would not have been lost on the recipients of this letter. Paul tells the Church that this is indeed the purpose of his communication; they need to know how to conduct themselves so as to hold up the truth of Christ (vs. 15). He is the single pillar, the foundation of truth, within the Church; the true gift of a King. The Church, His Body, is now to behave and live in a certain way so as to reveal the mystery of God to the world.
 
     Yesterday we considered how we may have transformed lives, lived within the Church, to glorify God and witness to the world. This can enable others to be transformed by the mystery of God. If you were not at Church yesterday, nor listened online, I would encourage you to do so. We are to live as God’s children, in His household, grounded in His truth so that the watching world may know the Saviour. A mystery is no longer a mystery when its truth is revealed.

To Ponder: We are to view the Church as God’s household and in the light of the truth she is to confess. How might this change your attitude towards church and your service to God within her? What will you with the conclusions you draw?
 
Pray: Almighty God, you have built your church on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief cornerstone. Join us together in unity of spirit by their teaching, that we may become a holy temple, acceptable to you, through Jesus Christ, our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.
 
Praise: Lord I lift your Name on high
Link - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U6I6orjM3NI
The Church’s one foundation
Link - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jotNbcFelX4

Scripture: Isaiah 40:26-31

Have you caught the chance to get out of the city, stay up late and be outside in the dark August heat to view the Perseid Meteor Shower that dazzles the skies over the Northern Hemisphere this time of year? It peaked last week on Tuesday, but the Perseids are still active for a few more days. I remember when I first saw this awe-inducing display as a teenager. It was unexpected on that summer evening; I had just hoped to see one shooting star when I laid my head down in the grass in the back yard outside my house in the country. Seemingly out of nowhere, I saw a bright tale streak across the sky. Then another. And another. I would have been happy for the sight of one, but I was completely overwhelmed, unable to take my eyes off the skies to go to bed that night. Needless to say, I stayed up very late as every 30 seconds or so, these radiant lights flashed through the sky and I was filled with a sense of wonder.

Lift your eyes and look to the heavens:
Who created all these?
He who brings out the starry host one by one,
And calls them each by name.
Because of his great power and mighty strength,
Not one of them is missing.         
Isaiah 40:26

I don’t know about you, but every so often I feel that need to be filled with wonder again. Sometimes I need to stop and let myself be overwhelmed by the intricate beauty of creation. It helps me remember how infinitely small I am and it reminds me how enormously vast God is and how He is the creative Orchestrator of this world, divinely moving and working all things together for his great purpose and glory.

Do you not know?
Have you not heard?
The Lord is the everlasting God,
The Creator of the ends of the earth.
He will not grow tired or weary,
And his understanding no one can fathom.
Isaiah 40:28

When we stop and remember God’s might, his boundless strength and sovereign power, it gives us permission and freedom to be weak, to not know all the answers, to not understand how all the pieces fit together. When life gets messy, as it is most certain to do from time to time, there is a relief in letting go of our need to control every plan, outcome and perception. Why do we believe the lie that we can do it all alone? Why would we even want to when the God who created the universe wants to walk with us, carry us, help us?

He gives strength to the weary
And increases the power of the weak.
Even youths grow tired and weary,
And young men stumble and fall;
But those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength.
They will soar on wings like eagles;
They will run and not grow weary,
They will walk and not be faint.
Isaiah 40:31

Songs:
Indescribable by Chris Tomlin
God of All Comfort by Ellie Holcomb 

“I am the good shepherd; I know my sheep and my sheep know me……they too will listen to my voice, and there will be one flock and one shepherd.”
John 10: 14, 16b
 
1 Timothy 3: 1-8
 
     Leaders in public office seem to be loved and loathed in equal amounts. A Leader can be adored and praised one day and disparaged the next. The truth is that their impact on public life can be huge so accountability and good character are essential. Leadership in the Church is certainly not exempt from this burden. In fact, considering the truth and import of the Gospel, quality of leadership is an imperative. The Gospel is counter cultural in its truth and leads to a transformed lifestyle that is different from that which is seen in the world. The Christian leader should reflect this truth; their lives should tell a story, the Gospel story.
 
     In today’s passage Paul is laying out the characteristics of such a leader. If we recall the context that Paul is writing into (we looked at this in my last two blogs) we will be able to see some key issues that he is seeking to address. There are ten qualifications that Paul details (can you identify them?). Notice that these qualifications focus on the quality of the character and lifestyle of the leader not on specific duties. Their lives are to embody the message that they are to proclaim. The ‘overseer’ or bishop (vs. 1) was an individual who looked after the community as a whole. By the end of the first century the word had come to denote a particular office of leadership and may have been allocated to an individual in a leadership team or indeed a person who had responsibility for an area with a number of churches. In St. Aidan’s Anglican denomination Bishops are viewed within an apostolic succession connecting to the early Church. We can follow this growth of leadership from Christ Himself as He appointed the Apostles, Peter as the rock for the Church (Matthew 16: 18) and then gave the Holy Spirit so that the Church grew. We must never forget that Jesus alone is our Shepherd and our only High Priest (Hebrews 7: 22- 8: 2) but clearly He has given roles and gifts of and for leadership.
 
     Those who ‘set their heart’ on such a role ‘desire a noble task,’ (vs. 1), they are ‘set apart’ for this service and make vows before God. They are however simply part of the Body of Christ with a specific role, they are to imitate the Lord Jesus and seek to guide His people in His will and whilst doing so witness to the truth of God (vs. 7). As we will consider on Sunday each member of the body needs one another and belongs to one another so please pray for and support your leaders (Romans 12: 1-8).
 
To Ponder: Why do you think the character and lifestyle of the leader is emphasised rather than specific duties? Can defining the duties of the overall leader hinder or even muzzle their effectiveness for the Body of Christ (1 Corinthians 9)?
 
Pray: Through your Spirit, heavenly Father, give these your servants
grace and power to fulfil their ministry. Make them faithful to serve
and constant in advancing your gospel in the world. May they follow the
example of Jesus Christ your Son, who washed the feet of his disciples,
and set the needs of others before his own. May their life be disciplined
and holy, their words declare your love and their actions reveal your glory,
that your people may walk with them in the way of truth and be made
ready for the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ; to whom, with you and your
Holy Spirit, belong glory and honour, worship and praise, now and for
ever. Amen
A prayer from my ordination service – please pray for all Church Leaders.
 
Praise: The Servant King
Link - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zCAdWs-ZyEk

Bible Verse: “Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.” (Philippians 4:8)

This year the summer blockbuster movies are conspicuously absent.  There are no superheroes flying across movie screens; no daring adventurers seeking lost treasure in humid jungles; and no comic book heroics delivered with comedic one-liners.  The only heroics we’ve seen lately are the workers on the front lines, whether in the fight against the pandemic, the relief work in Beirut, or the advocates for social justice.  Their courage is real and genuine, not the make-believe hype of Hollywood. 

Real courage is a frightening word.  More often than not, real life heroism in the face of a tragic event is inspired as a matter of impulse.  There is little time for the person to think about what needs to be done, only time for reflexive action.  Afterwards, these heroes frequently have trouble processing what just happened and are shaken by their experience.

Courage, on the other hand, requires the person to count the cost, face the danger and do the right thing anyway.  Courageous people are always heroes because they are not motivated by sudden impulses.  I’ve lived through times when violence electrified the air around me, and people were fighting everywhere I looked.  Truth be told, I didn’t choose those occasions, nor did I feel very courageous, but I did what I had to do to protect the ones I loved.  But, this forced courage is different from chosen courage.  

Most people don’t think about courage, yet many choose to face their hardships rather than quit.  Many choose to battle through adversity rather than abandon their responsibilities.  Many choose to help others rather than leaving them to suffer.  Life requires choices.  Think of the choice Jesus had to make in the Garden of Gethsemane.  He knew what lay ahead for Him and could have taken the easy way out.  He could have called His legions of angels for protection.  He could have avoided the pain and ignominy that lay in wait for Him just hours away by saying “take this cup away from me”.  Instead, He weighed the options, counted the cost, and chose to die on the cross so that we might live in eternity.

We all have opportunities to choose wisely in life.  The weak are beaten down by life.  They live in their regrets, wallow in their need, whine in their excuses and often live in bitterness, resenting their challenges, other people and, ultimately, God.  Everyone has enough hardships in life to become overwhelmed and succumb to disillusionment and bitterness.  Any one of us can allow our thoughts to flow through the gutters and sewers of life, and waste our lives when we squander it on lust, greed, selfishness or anger.  But, Jesus offers us another option, the option to love, which He demonstrated in His sacrifice for us on Calvary.  

Acting on this choice to love requires courage.  Abundant living isn’t for the weak of heart.  Life is, after all, a contact sport.  We can choose the easy, the alluring and the comfortable, but that only results in a weak character.   Our society needs those who choose right over easy, who choose pure over alluring, who choose best over comfortable.  Our society needs those who put the welfare of others ahead of themselves.

In Philippians, Paul encourages us to live courageously.  He says that if there is anything that is praiseworthy or admirable, choose to dwell and act on those thoughts. Therefore, choose to accept God’s love and make a difference in the lives of others. Choose to be courageous.

Praise be to our God and King!