This is Living Waters of Grace, the teaching ministry of Lewis
Harold, assistant pastor of Calvary Chapel of Westmoreland
County in Greensburg, PA. Now here's Pastor Lewis as he
continues teaching through God's Word.
So I first of all. Definitely want to challenge our
men that we be the priests and the pastors and the protectors
of our home and we be the one that leading the home of
spiritual matters. But women, if there's not a man
in the house, there's no excuse. That.
Children can't. Get the gospel you.
Can still share the? Gospel with your.
Children, whether you have a husband that's in the house or
an unbelieving husband that's in the house or not, and Timothy
was a good example of that. What Pastor Lewis just shared is
important. As parents, God has tasked us
with a duty to share the good news of Jesus Christ with our
children. But what if the husband or wife
within a home doesn't know Jesus as Lord and Savior?
As we just heard from Pastor Lewis, while this makes things
challenging for the other spouse, it doesn't negate the
responsibility. Today, you'll learn just how
important this task is and how you can begin sharing the gospel
with your children now. Here's Pastor Lewis in the book
of First Timothy, chapter one with today's edition of Living
Waters of Grace. We also want to thank those of
you who are listening. By way of radio.
Station. Whether it's by Grace FM or if
it is by YouTube. We thank you for listening and
AS. Always we are grateful for those
of. You who are listening behind
prison walls, we pray this morning that you are.
Blessed that the Lord blesses you with revelation.
From His word that will help to change your life as we are
looking forward to change ours. Amen.
Would you please?
Turn in your Bibles. To.
First Timothy, chapter 1. So we're in first.
Timothy. And before we get started, I
just want to mention that for me first Timothy.
Is very, very, very important. And the reason why is because I
was going to a church prior to coming here and it was.
A church that we actually were saved.
We. Received our salvation that was.
The church that we received our salvation.
From in the. Pastor that church.
Who was my mentor? He end up passing a few.
Years after we had. Joined the church and have
become saved and. And it was a heart, it was a
heart issue as it was really hard for us because we did love.
Him, he was a man, He was a true man of God.
And we were being fed every Sunday with him being there and
we noticed that some things that started to change after he had
passed. And I was on a trip, a business
trip and I was down in Nashville, TN.
I remember it like it was. Yesterday.
And I was sitting in a hotel room and was studying the Bible.
It was after dinner. Everyone else was out doing what
they do and, and, and, and I was in the room reading, reading the
word of God. And I was, for some reason, I
went to First Timothy and I read the entire book of First
Timothy. And it was.
After reading first. Timothy that I realized.
That we were sitting in a ministry.
That was out of order the. Lord illuminated First Timothy
to me in a way that it had never been illuminated.
Before and I realized through the word of God.
I didn't need anybody to tell me.
It was through the Word of God that this was out of order.
And when I came back home, I told my wife we want to make
some changes. We got to go, we got to go.
And at that time, the Lord was already pressing upon my heart
because we had moved from Roseville residence wise to
Greensburg. That we really should.
Be doing ministry in the community in which we live.
So that is exactly. Where first Timothy is This is
a. Book that teaches church order
it is. 1. Of the Pastoral Epistles.
In the Bible, First Timothy, Second Timothy, and also Titus.
If we were to put them in order, it would be First Timothy,
Titus, and then Second Timothy. Actually, Second Timothy was
the. Last book that Paul wrote before
he was executed, but. The reason why he.
Wrote the book of. First Timothy.
It was for the purpose of church order.
Putting things. In order so.
When he wrote. This book he was.
Teaching Timothy about the things that we need to
understand about the New Testament.
Church. So this is where we go when
we're. Looking for things?
That deal with. Leaders and the things.
Where the way that leaders should.
Be in the doctrines. That we should be.
Learning all this comes in the book of First Timothy, The
Conduct. Of the church.
The most important scripture. Or I should?
Say the key scripture not the most important.
But the key scripture. Is in First Timothy chapter 3
and verse 15 and it simply says this.
I write so that. You may know how you ought to
conduct. Yourself.
In the House of God. Which is the.
Church of the Living God, Pillar and Ground.
Of the truth that is the key verse in both of these epistles.
And that's exactly. What Paul does here, he helps.
Timothy to understand church conduct.
So let's read it. Because I'm only going to do the
1st 11 verses. Because they are they're,
they're loaded. We're going to do.
The 1st 11 verses and then we're going to, you know, we'll come
back, we'll make a comment, but that's as far as we're going to
get. Today is.
The 1st 11 verses. So let's let's read.
Verse one it says Paul an apostle.
Of Jesus Christ by. The commandment of God.
Our Savior and the Lord Jesus Christ, our hope to Timothy a
true. Son, in the Faith, grace, mercy
and peace from God our Father and Jesus Christ our.
Lord, verse 3 as I urged. You, when I went into Macedonia,
remain in Ephesus. That you may charge some, or
that you may command some. That they teach no other
doctrine, nor give heed. To.
Fables and endless genealogies. Which cause?
Disputes rather than godly edification, which is in faith.
Now the purpose of the commandment is love from a pure.
Heart. From a good conscience, and from
a sincere faith, from which some having strayed.
Have turned aside to idle talk. Desiring to be.
Teachers of the law. Understanding neither what they
say nor the things. Which they affirm, but.
We know. That the law is good if it is
used lawfully. Knowing this, that the law is
not made. For a righteous.
Person. But for the lawless.
And the insubordinate and the ungodly for sinners, for the
unholy and profane for murders of fathers and murderers, of
mothers for fornicators, and sodomites for kidnappers.
For liars. For perjurers.
And if there is any other thing that is contrary to sound
doctrine according to. The glorious Gospel of the
Blessed. God, which was committed to my
trust. That's a mouthful.
And this is Lotus so. We go back to verse. 1.
Now Paul wrote this letter. Obviously knowing or intending.
For this letter to be read to everybody, this wasn't.
Just a direct letter to Timothy, and that's.
Why he added such? A introduction of who?
He was he not? Not only.
Said that this. Letter was written from.
Paul, but he gave. His credentials.
He gave his credentials. He gave his his.
Ministry, what he was called to do and who called him to do it.
Because he was about to share. A commandment with the church
and they needed to understand that.
He has the authority to do it. And that.
Timothy has the authority. As a young pastor in that.
Church so Paul says Paul an. Apostle of.
Jesus Christ. So let's just deal with the
fact. Just for a second of what it
means to be an. Apostle of Jesus Christ.
And, and, and I the reason why I want to deal with that is
because we sometimes hear that term thrown around somewhat
liberally in today's society. In some churches there are
people who are self proclaiming. Themselves to be apostles who
are called just. Giving themselves the title.
Of apostle, well, Paul deals. With that and and and and I just
want to kind of. Talk about what an.
Apostle is and let's look at whether or not an apostle is
something that is functional today.
But first of all. Apostle means 1 cent on a
mission with a message accountable to his sender, and
he carries. The authority of his.
Sender. So God, Jesus.
Christ, as Paul said. Commanded me I'm.
Apostle by Jesus Christ, and I'm apostle by the command.
Of God himself I didn't just call myself an apostle and and
we also understand that an apostle holds the.
Office of Apostles ship. Jesus Christ himself.
Held the office of apostleship. That was one of the other titles
that Jesus had. If you would look in Hebrews
chapter 3 and verse one it. Reads this way.
It says. Therefore, holy brethren.
Partakers of the heavenly calling consider the apostle and
high priest of our confession, Christ Jesus.
So Jesus, among other things, held.
The title of Apostle. He is the lover.
He's the apostle, the Bishop, and lover of our souls.
So Jesus Christ was considered. An apostle.
Because he was sent here by God his Father.
And he was sent here with the message and the message.
Was the gospel. Also want to make make it clear
that when Jesus ascended. He gave gifts.
To the church and one of those. Gifts that he gave to the
church, was an apostle, was an apostle.
If you would go. Back with me to Ephesians
chapter. 4. Ephesians chapter 4, we're going
to. Look at verse.
I'm going to start right there. Verse. 11 And he says, And he
himself meaning Jesus Christ, and he himself.
Gave. Gave.
Some to be apostles and this is what.
He's talking about the. Gifts he.
Gave to the church. He gave some to be.
Apostles, some to be. Prophets, some evangelists, and
some pastors and teachers. What did he give them for?
For the equipping of the Saints? For the work of the ministry.
For the. Edifying of the body.
Of Christ. So we have these gifts.
We have. Pastors and we have at when the
church is being. Started.
We had apostles. And prophets and they were.
All for the purpose of. Equipping the body.
To do the work. Of the ministry and that's what
Clark and I and all the. Teachers that are here, that is
what what our charge is to do is to equip the body to do the.
Work of the ministry and the only way that we can equip.
The body to do. The work of the.
Ministry is to teach the true. Doctrine of Jesus Christ and the
Apostles. That's the only way we can do
that. If we teach mess, you won't be
equipped. To do God's work, we have to
teach the truth of the epistles. So now let's look at the
qualifications of the Apostle. And Peter dealt with that.
Peter dealt with the qualifications of the apostles.
Back in Acts chapter 1 and you know, you can go back there with
me if you choose, but I'm going to.
Just read about that. Reference back in Acts chapter 1
and this is. Exactly what it says.
And we're going to look at verse 21.
OK, now this is after. Judas had already betrayed
Jesus. He betrayed.
Jesus and he and he was now dead, and they were choosing
somebody to. Fill his spot.
In verse 21, Acts chapter one, verse 21, it reads this way,
therefore, of these men because they're going to have.
Another take that office and he says therefore.
Of these men, and here come the qualifications who have.
Accompanied us all the. Time that.
The Lord Jesus. Went in and out among us,
beginning from the baptism of John that day when he was taken
up until the day he was taken up from US.
One of these must become a witness.
With us of his. Resurrection So what is he
telling us there? Peter is telling us that an
apostle must be an eyewitness of the ministry of.
Jesus. Christ from the time.
He was baptized. When the Holy Spirit came upon
him, and he was. Baptized until.
The time that he actually ascended, that's after his
resurrection and he actually ascended, that is what?
An apostle that's. One of the qualifications.
Of the apostle now let's. Look, break it down.
First of all, it had. To be somebody who was with him
through. The whole three years.
That he was among us because it had to be someone who was an
eyewitness of Jesus baptism. That validated the fact that He
was filled with the Holy Spirit by the Father.
And it had to be someone who had.
Heard the. Teachings and witnessed the
healings and other miracles. That Jesus did.
Someone had to witness that, and that was.
Who the apostles were? It had to be someone who
witnessed the. Sacrifice.
When Jesus was sacrificed on that.
Cross for our. Sins had to be someone who
witnessed. That as well.
And in addition to. That it had.
To be someone that after his resurrection, actually witnessed
Jesus. Talk.
Walk around. And eat among the disciples
again. After he was resurrected.
Now these are just the facts. Of Jesus life.
And it had to be witnessed because this is what the
apostles were teaching. This is the foundation of what
the apostles were teaching. And they were teaching these
things. And This is why they were
willing to give their. Lives for it.
Because they were eyewitnesses, they know what they're saying
was. True, I saw.
It with my own eyes I ate with them you know we slept at the
same campground I watched them do miracles I watched them do
these things I heard his teachings so This is why we.
Follow the apostles. Doctrine because they are
eyewitnesses. Now that teaching that they did
in the Church, that laid the foundation of the church.
That is what the foundation of the Church is.
Laid upon was those. Teachings and the.
Apostles went out. And they began to teach and to
share those things, and those things were laying the
foundations. That's.
Why they were followed? By signs and wonders.
Because they were. Laying the foundation of the
Church. The foundation of the Church
only needs to be laid once. Folks, it only.
Needs to be laid once. No one comes back to your house
to lay the foundation of your house more than once.
They lay it once. Everything else is built upon
that house. So Jesus Christ already laid
the. Foundation of the Church.
With the apostles. There's no need for another.
Group of. Apostles to come and lay another
foundation. There's no need that's.
Why? We don't have the.
Apostles. The way they were in the old.
Before the way they used to be. We don't have those apostles
now. We may have people who are doing
the ministry of apostles. That means they go to these
remote places and they're sharing the gospel.
They're called missionaries today.
They go to remote places and they share the.
Gospel. They take the gospel to places
that. People would never heard it.
OK, they're called missionaries today.
That's. Kind of what the apostles did.
But no one is considered. But they're not today.
People aren't considered. To be apostle.
So anyway, I just wanted to deal with that and I also wanted to
if you look. Here it's kind of subtle.
But there is a point to this and where it says here Paul an
apostle. Of Jesus Christ by the.
Commandment of God our. Savior.
There's a reason why he made sure that he mentioned the word
God. Our.
Savior, and that is because. Back at this particular.
Time Caesar Nero was running wrong and he was commanding and
demanding people to call him savior.
And Paul said no, no, no, no, no.
There's only one savior. Jesus Christ, our hope, that is
our Savior. And that's the reason why Paul
made it necessary to do that. So then we go on and he said,
Timothy, our true son, Well, we know that he calls him a true
son in the faith and not true son in the flesh.
He's true son in the faith because.
It was Paul that. Begot Timothy in the faith.
It was through. Paul's first missionary journey
when he came to the Lystra that him and his family heard.
The Gospel of Jesus. Christ and they became believers
and he continued to walk in the way of Christianity.
And when Paul came back the second time?
He actually chose. Timothy to go with him, because
Timothy had a good report among those who were there.
At Lystra. The Men and the.
Elders of Lystra could. Testify that Timothy was a true
man of. God, he followed the.
Doctrines. He followed the teaching of the
doctrines of the apostles. He didn't waver.
So, you know, he went with Paul at that particular time.
You know, it's very important that as men of God, I'm going to
challenge. Us, all of us, as men of.
God, it's very important that we.
Bigot. Sons in the Faith.
That we disciple other. Young men and be an example to
these young men in the. Faith to have a.
Son, in the faith, very important that we do that.
That we have. Someone that we are pouring
into, if anyone's like me, most men I know in my community, most
men like Timothy because it wasn't Timothy's.
Father that poured. Into him in the faith.
It was Timothy's mother, Eunice, and his grandmother, Lois.
He had two. Strong women of God.
Who were of the faith that poured?
Into him when he was young and they taught him the scriptures
and that's where he learned the scriptures.
Most of the men in my community learn the scriptures and learn
the things of the Lord from the women in our lives.
It was my mother and my grandmother, my sisters who
taught me, taught me the things of the Lord.
They were the ones who prayed for me to get into the church.
And probably we'd have. Asked for a hand.
Raising most homes, unfortunately most homes that
are not two parent homes and maybe some that are two parent
homes they may have an unbelieving father in that house
and it's the women are the ones who are the.
Examples and share Christ with the children.
The women so I. First of all.
Definitely want to challenge our men that we be the priests and
the pastors and the protectors of our home and we be the one
that leading the home of spiritual matters.
But women, if there's not a man in the house, there's no excuse
that children. Can't get the gospel?
You can. Still share the gospel?
With your children, rather you have a husband that's in the
house or an unbelieving husband that's in the house or not.
And Timothy was a good example of that.
So that's who Timothy was. He was his true son in the
faith. And that true son means that he
was a legitimate child, faithful.
Child of Paul with all of the. Rights and privileges of that
family. Paul recognized the ministry
that was in Timothy. OK, so so then we continue to go
and he says grace, mercy and peace from God our Father and
Jesus. Christ our Lord.
And now verse 3. This is when things start to
move. A little faster in verse three,
he says, I urged you. When I went into Macedonia.
I urged you to. Remain in Ephesus, that you may
charge some or command some, that they teach no other
doctrines, nor give heed to fables and endless genealogies
which cause disputes rather than godly edification, which is in
the faith. Paul says.
Timothy, I want you to remain. In Ephesus, I want you to remain
there because Paul sent Timothy back to Ephesus.
To encourage that church. He sent them back there to
become the the pastor of the church in Ephesus after Paul and
the other. Apostles have established that
church. And he said I'm sending you
back. There so that you.
Can be the. Pastor of that church.
Apparently things started to get.
Really sticky there. Uncomfortable for Timothy,
Timothy started to feel. That they were.
Not respecting him because of his youth.
He was young, he started to feel that they were bringing in other
doctrines over top of him and and things was just really bad
there and Timothy really was struggling to stay.
There, you know, there's a lot of pastors.
On a weekly basis, who want to walk?
Out of their pulpits or just quit.
Because of the anxieties. That they.
Experienced because of the. Pressures that they.
Experienced that still goes on today.
But. Paul said Timothy remained.
There, stay there. Do what the Lord has called you
to do. Get your eyes off the people.
Get your eyes. Off of the mess and put your
eyes on the Lord. That's what we do, which is the
same thing you do if you're on your job and you got people who
are harassing you because you on the job and and they can make.
It very uncomfortable to. Even want to come back to work
sometimes. But hey, you get your eyes.
On the Lord and not on them. Pray for them, pray for them,
but put your eyes on the Lord and He.
Will work it out. He works it out.
And that's exactly what Timothy had.
To do, Paul said. Remained there and not only
remainder, but this is what I want you to do, Timothy.
I want you to command them that they teach no other doctrine.
There shouldn't be any other doctrines being taught there,
Timothy. The only doctrine that should.
Be taught there should be the. Doctrine that you received from
myself, that they received from you, me and and Silas when we
were there from the. Apostles, which is the.
Doctrine that we received from Jesus Christ.
That's the only doctrine that should be taught.
We know that today. There's all kind of.
Different doctrines that are trying to come into the church.
And that's why the pulpit has to be a guarded area.
In terms of for Sundays or Wednesday nights for.
Us, we guard that. You know, just just not anybody.
Just come up and start teaching. You know, the Bible says, you
know, lay hands on no man suddenly, right?
And we got to know those who labor among us.
I mean, you know that there are there are people who can bring
in strange doctrines. And I do have a couple, just a
few. I just want to mention just a
few doctrines that that do come into the church.
These are some of these new age things that are.
That are popping up everywhere. You know, there's a there's a
religion gospel. OK, this is like another gospel.
This teaches that we are saved by our works if you do this.
Or if you don't do that, then Jesus.
Will love you. And save you.
OK, that's a religion gospel. That's bondage.
That's the gospel of bondage. OK, that.
Is not the true. Gospel We are saved by grace.
We're not saved by our works. We're saved by grace through
faith. It's not about what you can do
for God or can't. Do it's about what he did for.
Us Amen. There's a moralism gospel and
that teaches that the point that the gospel is to make us.
Good people. How often do we?
Hear that? Oh, he's a good, he's a good
person. She's a good person.
That may be so, but if you don't believe in Jesus Christ, you
ain't going to heaven. Maybe so.
They think that they're saved just by being good, decent,
immoral people. And again, we know that that's
not the case. No one is good.
Bible says no one is. Good except God.
This has been another encouraging edition of Living
Waters of Grace. Pastor Louis Harrell has shared
some good reminders for us to learn and walk in today as he's
teaching through the books of First and Second Timothy.
There are useful practices and advice that the Apostle Paul
offers to Timothy in these books from a fellow pastor.
Paul imparts some wisdom to Timothy about solid leadership
and what some of the criteria should be for leadership.
There are specific passages directed toward men and women,
respectively, and All in all, there's much to gain in coming
to an awareness of God's heart for each person and God's
purposes for each one. We're happy that you've taken
the time today to listen. We invite you to come here the
next edition. In the meantime, when you have
some time to spare today, go check out our website,
calvarychapelonline.com. There you'll find additional
messages as well as a variety of resources and information about
how to meet with us in person. We're also on Facebook, so you
can be a part of what we share there as well.
You can stay plugged in with this ministry via YouTube to
watch previous teachings or tune into our live stream.
Living Waters of Grace is a ministry of Calvary Chapel
Westmoreland. Before we go today, we ask that
you share this program with others and invite them to listen
on Grace FM at 91.7. That's all we have for today,
but we're so glad that you've been with us.
There's more to dig into here in First and Second Timothy, so
let's gear up for some more great teachings from Pastor
Lewis next time here on Living Waters of Grace.