1 TIMOTHY 4
In this
chapter, Paul warns the church to guard against false teachers and teachings, and
to exercise godliness.
Guarding
against false teachings (v1-5)
The threat
of false teachings in the church is a reality that the body of Christ have to
guard against in the early church and the same, even more so in modern times.
In this context the believers in the church of Ephesus were influenced by pagan/traditional
Greek beliefs of the community they lived in. Paul compares these teachers of
false doctrines as hypocrites and liars, because they appear to be religious,
but their consciences are dead. Does this sound familiar in the modern society
we live in?
The
antidote to succumbing to these false teachings are given in the following
verses.
Exercise
godliness (v6-16)
· In verse 7 (ESV) it says that we
should have nothing to do with irreverent, silly myths, BUT instead train
yourself for godliness.
· V8 continues to state that godliness
is of value in every way, as it holds promise for the present life and also
for the life to come.
How then do
we train ourselves in godliness?
· We have our hope set in
the living God, who is the Saviour of all people, especially those who
believe (v10).
· Be an example (worthy of representing Christ) to
people in what you say, how you behave, acting in love, in faith and in purity
(v12).
· Devotions, continue to devote (commit and
sacrifice your time) to reading of the Scriptures (your Bible), sharing the Word
and teaching it to others (v13).
· Do not neglect (in other words cherish) the
spiritual gifts, given to you (v14).
· Meditate (v15) on the word of God as given to us in
the Bible, practice what you read, immerse, let yourself be washed
in the word (Eph5:26). This way you will progress (be strengthened) in your
faith and others will see it.
· Most importantly we have to keep
a close watch over ourselves and our teaching and persist in doing
what is true and right, not only to save ourselves, but that others who hear us
might also be saved (v16). We will be held accountable for what we teach others
(James 3:1).
Let us
reflect
· Have I allowed and false teaching to
take root in my heart and mind?
· How do I guard against this,
according to the Word of God?
· What practical steps can I take in
my daily life/habits to guard against false teaching and doctrine and persist in
the truth of the Gospel (Godly doctrine)?
Let us
pray
Abba
Father, we thank you for Your Word that cut through flesh and bone. May you
search our hearts and cut into our innermost being and show us any false
beliefs that has taken root in our hearts and minds. We ask your forgiveness
where we strayed from the truth and ask the Holy Spirit to heal us and lead us
in all truth and pull us ever closer to You. In Jesus name we pray, Amen.
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PASTORA HESMA
Amen. Hallelujah 🙏🙏🙏
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