This charge I entrust to you, Timothy, my child, in accordance with the prophecies previously made about you, that by them you may wage the good warfare[.]

1 Timothy 1:18-20

This charge I entrust to you, Timothy, my child, in accordance with the prophecies previously made about you, that by them you may wage the good warfare[.] 1 Timothy 1:18-19a

I continue with my study of 1 and 2 Timothy using DesiringGod.com's Look at the Book video series - picking up with 1 Timothy 1:18-20 - Part 2, with the video entitled Pastor, Soldier, Athlete, Farmer, Manager. 

Excerpts from the video:

• With a focus on v18, John Piper first explores the metaphors Paul uses in the pastoral epistles, including soldier, athlete, farmer, manager (see also 2 Timothy 2:3-6, Titus 1:7, 1 Timothy 1:3-6); these are examples for whom the church elder or pastor must strive
• The means by which these efforts are made is by faith, good conscience which lead to love and ultimately to win others for the kingdom (see also Titus 1:1-2)
• The war is waged for eternal life

Comment and discuss this post.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an awesome God who first loved me - while I was still hostile and an enemy of You.  Thank You for Your amazing grace.  I am not deserving of such grace nor my salvation.  My sin is great and it continues...daily.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You love me.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please continue to heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

This is why I left you in Crete, so that you might put what remained into order, and appoint elders in every town as I directed you[.]

Titus 1

This is why I left you in Crete, so that you might put what remained into order, and appoint elders in every town as I directed you[.] Titus 1:5

I maintain my pause of my study of 1 Corinthians as I participate in a men's discipleship group (d-group) at my church.  This morning, on week 4-day 1, the focus is Titus 1 and an unassisted review of this text. Paul has left Titus, another of his young proteges like Timothy, in Crete to establish Godly order and structure in the church there.

Paul's salutation, in vv1-4 is chalk full of doctrine:

• knowledge of the truth accords with Godliness v1
• God, who never lies, promised salvation and eternal life before the ages began v2
• the Word is God v3

Then in vv5-9, Paul lays out qualifications for church elders, including:

• above reproach, one wife, children are believers, not open to debauchery or insubordination
• God's steward
• not arrogant, quick tempered, drunkard, violent, or greedy for gain
• hospitable, lover of good, self-controlled, upright, holy, and disciplined
• hold firm to Word as trustworthy
• able to give instruction in sound doctrine
• able to rebuke those who contradict sound doctrine

Paul then moves in vv10-16 to ensure Titus and the church he leads in Crete be aware of "insubordinate, empty talkers and deceivers, especially those of the circumcision party" (v10).  The church must rebuke such people (v13) and avoid falling into the trap of "Jewish myths and the commands of people who turn away from the truth" (v14).  Paul's words about such people are harsh and his warning about them stern.

Comment and discuss this post.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an awesome God who loves me and who is full of grace and compassion for me - thank You Jesus for giving our church such great and Godly leadership.  I learn from such leaders as examples - thank You!  I am not deserving of such love and blessings.  My sin is great and it continues...daily.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You love me.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day. 

So Moses, Aaron and the leaders of Israel counted all the Levites by their clans and families. All the men from thirty to fifty years of age who came to do the work of serving and carrying the tent of meeting numbered 8,580. At the Lord’s command through Moses, each was assigned his work and told what to carry.

Numbers 3-4

So Moses, Aaron and the leaders of Israel counted all the Levites by their clans and families. All the men from thirty to fifty years of age who came to do the work of serving and carrying the tent of meeting numbered 8,580. At the Lord’s command through Moses, each was assigned his work and told what to carry. Numbers 4:46-49

Day 36 of my chronological study of the Bible with The Daily Bible® - In Chronological Order (NIV®) (available by purchase through Amazon - author F. LaGard Smith) focuses on the census of Levites and their priestly role with the tabernacle.

Church leadership becomes top of mind when one thinks of the tribe of Levi - OverviewBible.com indicates that not only Aaron and Moses are Levites but also John the Baptist and Barnabas.  Building on my post from a couple of days ago regarding spiritual gifts and everyone's role in the church, I have often posted on church leadership and grown in my thinking here that it is critical that we support those in church leadership as God has put these people in their roles and they are challenging roles indeed!

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are a great God who loves me and who has put great church leadership in my life and I have been blessed!  Thank You Jesus, I am not deserving of how You have blessed me in this way.  I sin...daily.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You love me.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

He must hold firmly to the trustworthy message as it has been taught, so that he can encourage others by sound doctrine and refute those who oppose it....They claim to know God, but by their actions they deny him.

Titus 1

He must hold firmly to the trustworthy message as it has been taught, so that he can encourage others by sound doctrine and refute those who oppose it....They claim to know God, but by their actions they deny him. v9,16

Both the MacArthur Bible Study Commentary (for purchase), and Overviewbible.com indicate that Paul's purpose in writing this pastoral epistle to Titus is to encourage Titus in his leadership in the church in Crete to prepare, organize, and equip the church there for effective evangelization among the pagans living in Crete.  Paul writes about attributes for elders and focuses on avoiding hypocrisy - we must not believe and say one thing and do another.

We are ALL guilty of hypocrisy to some degree but we must push ourselves to grow and mature in relationship with Christ so that we don't deter others from faith because of the hypocritical lives we lead.

We must be a light to others.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an awesome God who led a perfect life - yet willingly surrendered Your life for me so that I could have life - to the full in this life and in Heaven - thank You Jesus!  I am not deserving of such blessings and such gifts.  I often sin and fall down, and am guilty of hypocrisy.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You love me.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.