how to start fighting

Posted on May 7, 2022 by Jefferson Vann
Photo by Ivan Samkov on Pexels.com

how to start fighting

20220507

1 Timothy 2:1-4 (JDV)

1 Timothy 2:1 First of all, then, I urge that petitions, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for every human,1

1 Timothy 2:2 for kings and all those who are in authority, so that we may lead a tranquil and quiet life in all godliness and dignity.

1 Timothy 2:3 This is good, and it pleases God our Savior,

1 Timothy 2:4 who wants every human to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.

how to start fighting

Paul had just instructed Timothy to fight the good fight. Now, he gives the first step in doing that. For the world, learning to fight means getting yourself stronger, tougher, and smarter. But the first preparation step is different in spiritual warfare.

For Timothy (and us) starting to fight happens by praying. It is a specific type of praying. It is praying for the people in authority over us. Paul instructs Timothy to pray for his magistrates, governors, and emperor.

I pray for my president, governor and local leaders daily, and also my lawmakers and court judges. I pray for them regardless of the political party they might represent. The goal of this prayer is not for them to see my way of thinking. It is to give them wisdom to make the kind of decisions that will result in a peaceful political and cultural atmosphere — one conducive of discipleship and evangelism.

LORD, turn our leaders to making and defending policies which open the door for the gospel and biblical truth. Turn our hearts to praying for them.

1ἄνθρωπος = human. 1 Timothy 2:1, 4-5; 4:10; 5:24; 6:5, 9, 11, 16.

bbjv - 1

Posted in leadership, prayer, spiritual warfare | Tagged | Leave a comment

Hymenaeus and Alexander

Posted on May 6, 2022 by Jefferson Vann

20220506

1 Timothy 1:18-20 (JDV)

1 Timothy 1:18 Timothy, my son, I am giving you this instruction in keeping with the prophecies previously made about you, so that by recalling them you may fight the good fight,

1 Timothy 1:19 having faith and a good conscience. Some have rejected these and have shipwrecked their faith.

1 Timothy 1:20 Among them are Hymenaeus and Alexander, whom I have delivered to Satan, so that they may be taught not to malign1 God.

Whoever Hymenaeus and Alexander were, it is pretty clear that they had once professed faith in Christ, but changed their mind. Now they were maligning God. They had reversed course. Paul encouraged Timothy to keep fighting the good fight.

Theologically, I struggle with the notion that a human being who has a genuine faith in God can choose to give it up. I believe true faith comes from God. I don’t think God leaves such a matter of eternal importance up to fickle human free will.

Yet, these two have obviously chosen to defect. I am encouraged, though, that Paul had not written these two defectors off completely. Instead, he has delivered them to Satan. In other words, he has left them to the results of their choice. If they are going to reject Christ, they by default are going to be in Satan’s camp. Paul probably thought that these two would soon learn their lesson, and would reverse course once again.

Where are you in this picture? Are you still fighting the fight like Timothy, or have you reversed course like these two God-maligners? Or, maybe you are still considering whether Christ is worth your allegiance. You cannot sideline this choice. You are either fighting the fight, or you have already lost it.

LORD, give us all the courage to choose Christ, and keep fighting that fight until the end

_______________________________

1 βλασφημέω = malign. 1 Timothy 1:20; 6:1.

bbjv - 1

Posted in commitment, conflict, faith, rebellion | Tagged | Leave a comment

believing for permanent life

Posted on May 5, 2022 by Jefferson Vann
Photo by Patricia McCarty on Pexels.com

20220505

believing for permanent life

1 Timothy 1:15-17 (JDV)

1 Timothy 1:15 This saying is reliable and deserving of full acceptance: “Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners” – and I am the first of them.
1 Timothy 1:16 But I received mercy for this reason, so that in me, the first of them, Christ Jesus might demonstrate his extraordinary patience as an example to those who would believe in him for permanent life.
1 Timothy 1:17 Now to the King of the ages, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honor and glory for ages and ages. Amen.

believing for permanent life

This is one of the finest summaries of the Christian faith. Note how Paul expresses the essence of his faith in these words:

His faith was in the work of Jesus Christ, not his own. He knew that neither he nor anyone else could have been saved unless Christ Jesus came into the world to save them. He considered himself the first in line for hell, because he had been the first of sinners.

His faith was in the mercy of God. Dr. John Roller describes mercy as “God’s kindness in not giving us the things that we deserve.” We deserve destruction in hell, but his mercy saves us from that fate — if we believe.

He trusted the immortal God to raise him to a permanent life. He did not expect to keep living after he died. He did not have that permanent life yet. But he trusted Christ, who promised to raise the dead “at the last day” (John 6:39,40,44; 11:24).

Are you believing for permanent life? Don’t let this temporary life be all there is for you. Believe in Christ and be raised to life again — permanently.

LORD, draw people to yourself by these words, so that they may live again, and permanently.

Posted in eternal life, faith | Tagged | Leave a comment

not measuring up

Posted on May 4, 2022 by Jefferson Vann

close up photo of yellow tape measure

Photo by Marta Longas on Pexels.com

20220504

not measuring up

1 Timothy 1:12-14 (JDV)

1 Timothy 1:12 I give gratitude to Christ Jesus our Lord who has strengthened me, because he considered me faithful, appointing me for the assistance –
1 Timothy 1:13 even though I was formerly a blasphemer, a persecutor, and an arrogant man. But I received mercy because I acted out of ignorance in unbelief,
1 Timothy 1:14 and the favor of our Lord overflowed, along with the faith and care that are in Christ Jesus.

not measuring up

Paul had been telling Timothy that some would use the law as a standard for condemning others, but would reject the excellent message (the gospel) which is the only thing that can change a heart.

He uses himself as an example of this. His life was changed because Christ had mercy on him. He did not “measure up” to God’s standards. He came to God like everyone else does: through repentance and faith.

LORD, thank you for having mercy on all of us — who do not measure up.

Posted in mercy, sin | Tagged | Leave a comment

legitimate law

Posted on May 3, 2022 by Jefferson Vann
judgement scale and gavel in judge office

Photo by Sora Shimazaki on Pexels.com

20220503

legitimate law

1 Timothy 1:8-11 (JDV)

1 Timothy 1:8 But we know that the law is good, provided one uses it legitimately.
1 Timothy 1:9 We know that the law is not meant for a righteous person, but for the lawless and rebellious, for the ungodly and sinful, for the unholy and irreverent, for those who kill their fathers and mothers, for murderers,
1 Timothy 1:10 for fornicators, homosexuals, slave traders, liars, perjurers, and for whatever else is different than the sound teaching
1 Timothy 1:11 that conforms to the excellent message about the glory of the blessed God, which was entrusted to me.

legitimate law

Timothy would encounter “Bible teachers” whose only concern was to show others how holy they were. But Paul told him that they were using God’s law in an illegitimate way. Its legitimate purpose is to condemn lawbreakers.

If you are really concerned about making yourself holy, you will seek the excellent message: the gospel. Only thorough God’s grace can we overcome our tendency to break his law.

LORD, build us up with your gospel!

 

Posted in bible study, holiness | Tagged | Leave a comment

the right results

Posted on May 2, 2022 by Jefferson Vann

smartphone with calculator app showing total amount

Photo by Karolina Grabowska on Pexels.com

20220502

the right results

1 Timothy 1:5-7 (JDV)

1 Timothy 1:5 Now the intended result of our instruction is care that comes from a pure heart, a good conscience, and a sincere faith.
1 Timothy 1:6 Some have missed these and turned aside to fruitless discussion.
1 Timothy 1:7 They want to be teachers of the law, although they don’t understand what they are saying or what they are insisting on.

the right results

How do you know if all your Bible study is producing the right results? Those results should be:

  • a caring heart toward others
  • a good conscience internally
  • a sincere faith in God

If our Bible study is not producing that, then we may have turned aside to fruitless discussion.

LORD. Show us how to use your word to produce the right results.
bbjv - 1

Posted in bible study | Tagged | Leave a comment

clarity, courage, commission

Posted on May 1, 2022 by Jefferson Vann

man in black jacket standing near concrete building

Photo by Taryn Elliott on Pexels.com

clarity, courage, commission

1 Timothy 1:3-4 (JDV)

1 Timothy 1:3 As I urged you when I went to Macedonia, remain in Ephesus so that you may direct certain people not to endorse different doctrine
1 Timothy 1:4 or to pay attention to myths and endless genealogies. These promote empty speculations rather than God’s commission, which operates by faith.

clarity, courage, commission

Paul had described Timothy in the salutation to this letter as his “true son in the faith.” It looks like Timothy wanted to join his true father in the faith, and leave Ephesus. It must not have been easy as a young man to manage a major city with multiple congregations. He probably felt incompetent at times, and wished he could be back with his mentor.

But Paul told him to stay put. Timothy was exactly where God wanted him, and exactly where Paul needed him. Jesus had given them all a Great Commission, to make disciples of all nations, and Ephesus was ground zero for Timothy.

LORD, give us clarity as to where you want us to start making disciples for you, and courage to get there and stay put.
bbjv - 1

Posted in commitment, courage, evangelism, faithfulness, missions | Tagged | Leave a comment

loaded letters

Posted on April 30, 2022 by Jefferson Vann

letters and an eyeglass on table

Photo by Ylanite Koppens on Pexels.com

loaded letters

1 Timothy 1:1-2 (JDV)

1 Timothy 1:1 Paul, a missionary of Christ Jesus by the command of God our Savior and of Christ Jesus our hope:
1 Timothy 1:2 To Timothy, my true son in the faith. Favor, mercy, and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord.

loaded letters

We should be careful not to draw too much from a mere salutation, but it is hard to follow that rule in Paul’s letters. He fills his salutations with such deliberate wording that it is hard not to stop and analyze each word.

  • Paul identifies himself with the task he was called to. An apostle is a person sent from a superior with a message. I use the word missionary because I think it denotes the kind of relationship and task that Paul was describing.
  • Paul addresses Timothy as more than just a coworker. He had helped disciple this man. He was concerned that Timothy become all that God meant him to become, and not get sidetracked or deceived.
  • Paul was a man of prayer, and his prayers overflowed into his daily work. We should not be surprised that his letters contain prayers.

Paul’s letters were deliberate. Even their salutations — were loaded with content.

LORD, make us people who make every moment count for you.
bbjv - 1

Posted in discipleship, missions, Paul, prayer | Tagged | Leave a comment

how short my life is

Posted on April 29, 2022 by Jefferson Vann

person holding hour glass

Photo by samer daboul on Pexels.com

how short my life is

Psalm 89:46-52 (JDV)

Psalm 89:46 How long, Yahveh? Will you hide perpetually? Will your anger keep burning like fire?
Psalm 89:47 Remember how short my life is. Have you created all the sons of Adam for nothing?
Psalm 89:48 What courageous person can live and never see death? Who can save his throat from the power of Sheol? Selah
Psalm 89:49 Lord, where are the former acts of your covenant faithfulness that you swore to David in your reliability?
Psalm 89:50 Remember, Lord, the ridicule against your servants – in my heart I carry abuse from all the peoples –
Psalm 89:51 how your enemies have ridiculed, Yahveh, how they have ridiculed every step of your anointed.
Psalm 89:52 Blessed be Yahveh permanently. Amen and amen.

how short my life is

The final appeal that ends this psalm is an appeal for God to remember how short a human being’s life is. God lives permanently and is blessed permanently, but the lives of the sons of Adam are short. Our lives are too short to allow anything to come between us and our great God. If he is angry with us, we must repent and reconcile with him. If he seems hidden and not displaying his power by answering our prayers, we must keep storming his doors, seeking his presence. Our lives are too short to just let it be.

LORD, your servants are being ridiculed. Remember us!
bbjv - 1

Posted in mortality, prayer | Tagged | Leave a comment

no one else

Posted on April 28, 2022 by Jefferson Vann

blue sea under blue sky

Photo by Riccardo Bertolo on Pexels.com

no one else

Psalm 89:38-45 (JDV)

Psalm 89:38 But you have spurned and rejected him; you have become enraged with your anointed.
Psalm 89:39 You have repudiated the covenant with your servant; you have completely dishonored his crown.
Psalm 89:40 You have broken down all his walls; you have reduced his fortified cities to ruins.
Psalm 89:41 All who pass by plunder him; he has become an object of ridicule to his neighbors.
Psalm 89:42 You have lifted high the right hand of his foes; you have made all his enemies rejoice.
Psalm 89:43 You have also turned back his sharp sword and have not let him stand in battle.
Psalm 89:44 You have made his splendor cease and have overturned his throne.
Psalm 89:45 You have shortened the days of his youth; you have covered him with shame. Selah

no one else

Up until this point, the psalmist had been celebrating God’s faithfulness to his covenant and king. Now it appears that God has changed his mind. Either the king has sinned and needs to repent, or his loyalty is being tested.

Either way, God is in control, and any follower of God needs to keep clinging to him, even if it seems God has become enraged. We have only one Savior. We have no other option.

LORD, we come to you for help. We have no one else.
bbjv - 1

Posted in dependence upon God, discipleship | Tagged | Leave a comment