The reason that I have titled this lesson “thoughtfully” is because in this area of 1 Timothy we should give special attention or thought of how we live and present our lives before other people. It means to give careful consideration.
Romans 12:1-2
I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.
If God has revealed unto us that we are to present our lives in a way or live as an example unto others, then I believe that it would be fair to say that we are all teachers. Each of us are teaching something every single day of our lives. The things we teach may be good, bad, spiritual or fleshly, but no matter what the content is there are students watching us daily! If we understand that we are teachers, then it should be of the greatest concern for us to know what to teach.
God spends the next few verses teaching us what our subject matter should be and how important it is for us to be aware of our students listening. We are to “command and teach these things” to others (1 Timothy 4:11).
THOUGHTFULLY AS A
The word used for teach means to “
SOME WILL
1 Timothy 4:1
Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times
some shall depart from the faith…
1 Timothy 3:16
And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifest in the flesh, justified in the Spirit, seen of angels, preached unto the Gentiles, believed on in the world, received up into glory.
This faith is shown through the woman, man and family of God. We show others the best image of Christ that they will see by how we live and teach. And in these last days that Paul speaks about it will be even more difficult because many will depart from the true faith.
As always, if you depart from one thing it is most likely to attach to something else. Look at what he says…
1 Timothy 4:1
Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils;
THEY WILL SPEAK
AND SEAR THEIR MINDS
1 Timothy 4:2
Speaking lies in hypocrisy; having their conscience seared with a hot iron;
These demon-filled people are described as “
Matthew 7:15
Beware of
Acts 20:29
For I know this, that after my departing shall grievous
THERE WILL BE A DIFFERENT
1 Timothy 4:3
Forbidding to marry, and commanding to abstain from meats, which God hath created to be received with thanksgiving of them which believe and know the truth.
1 Timothy 4:4-5
For every creature of God is good, and nothing to be refused, if it be received with thanksgiving: For it is sanctified by the word of God and prayer.
(This scripture does not give you the idea of praying the sugar and fat out of a doughnut)
WE ARE TO BE GOOD
WHO
1 Timothy 4:6
If thou put the brethren in remembrance of these things, thou shalt be a good minister of Jesus Christ, nourished up in the words of faith and of good doctrine, whereunto thou hast attained.
THINGS TO
AND THINGS TO
1 Timothy 4:7-8
But refuse profane and old wives’ fables, and exercise thyself rather unto godliness. For bodily exercise profiteth little: but godliness is profitable unto all things, having promise of the life that now is, and of that which is to come.
How foolish it would be for us to waste our time on such fables. We have the Bible. It is God-breathed and deathless. Made of the same stuff as eternity, it will outlast all of the stars of space. It will take all of eternity for us to explore its depths, scale its heights, and traverse its boundless domains. We have authoritative, ageless, and absolute truth in our hands.
—John Phillips
1 Timothy 4:8
For bodily exercise profiteth little: but godliness is profitable unto all things, having promise of the life that now is, and of that which is to come.
TEACHING TRUTH COMES WITH
1 Timothy 4:9-11
This is a faithful saying and worthy of all acceptation. For therefore we both labour and suffer reproach, because we trust in the living God, who is the Saviour of all men, specially of those that believe. These things command and teach.
THOUGHTFULLY AS AN
A thoughtful example is an illustration that we give
Paul turns his attention to Timothy being not only a teacher but the real and clear example of his teachings.
BE AN EXAMPLE IN
1 Timothy 4:12
Let no man despise thy youth; but be thou an example of the believers, in word, in conversation, in charity, in spirit, in faith, in purity.
We are to be examples unto others through our
We are to be examples unto others through our
We are to be examples unto others through our
John 13:34-35
A new commandment I give unto you, That ye
We are to be examples unto others through our
We are to be examples unto others through our
Lastly, we are to be examples unto others through our
BE AN EXAMPLE IN
1 Timothy 4:13
Till I come, give attendance to reading, to exhortation, to doctrine.
There is one thing that we must keep in mind while reading all other books that is different than reading the Bible. The books are
BE AN EXAMPLE IN
1 Timothy 4:14-16
Neglect not the gift that is in thee, which was given thee by prophecy, with the laying on of the hands of the presbytery. Meditate upon these things; give thyself wholly to them; that thy profiting may appear to all. Take heed unto thyself, and unto the doctrine; continue in them: for in doing this thou shalt both save thyself, and them that hear thee.
We have each received the wonderful gift of salvation, but we also look for that gift of service. Each of us have a special gift, a free gift and we must use it for the glory of God. We must practice and exercise that gift and never to neglect it or quit using it. Spiritual gifts are given “for the
Pray and make sure that you are living “
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