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.

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.

This is what the Lord says: Do not go up to fight against your brothers, the Israelites. Go home, every one of you, for this is my doing.’” So they obeyed the word of the Lord and went home again, as the Lord had ordered.

1 Kings 12

This is what the Lord says: Do not go up to fight against your brothers, the Israelites. Go home, every one of you, for this is my doing.’” So they obeyed the word of the Lord and went home again, as the Lord had ordered. v24

Rehoboam, Solomon's son, does not appear to have the wisdom that his father had.  He chooses to follow the advice of his friends - his peers, and those with whom he has grown up - versus the advice of the elders (v6-11).  This results in an Israelite rebellion and Jeroboam is made king in Israel while Rehoboam maintains reign over Judah.  

Although it is clear from the text that God orchestrated these results (see v24), we can learn that it is not wise to discount wise counsel - particularly those whom God has put in authority over us - earthly authorities (government, etc.) and church authorities (pastors, elders, etc.).  

See also my post from a couple of days ago.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an awesome God who has led me and provided for all of my needs. I have never been in want - thank You Jesus!  I am not worth such love.  I worry.  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 do.  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 had seven hundred wives of royal birth and three hundred concubines, and his wives led him astray. As Solomon grew old, his wives turned his heart after other gods, and his heart was not fully devoted to the Lord his God, as the heart of David his father had been. He followed Ashtoreth the goddess of the Sidonians, and Molek the detestable god of the Ammonites. So Solomon did evil in the eyes of the Lord; he did not follow the Lord completely, as David his father had done.

1 Kings 11

He had seven hundred wives of royal birth and three hundred concubines, and his wives led him astray. As Solomon grew old, his wives turned his heart after other gods, and his heart was not fully devoted to the Lord his God, as the heart of David his father had been. He followed Ashtoreth the goddess of the Sidonians, and Molek the detestable god of the Ammonites. So Solomon did evil in the eyes of the Lord; he did not follow the Lord completely, as David his father had done. v3-6

It is not certain who the author of 1 Kings is but the author makes it clear that Solomon did not follow the Lord's instructions about not to intermarry (v2).  It is also not why Solomon did not follow God's instructions here.  Perhaps it was arrogance - that Solomon felt he did not need to submit to all of God's instructions - that he could "afford" to skip a few.  Perhaps it was that Solomon did not trust the Lord that He would satisfy, that Solomon did not need to look anywhere beyond how God did bless him - he needed more than what he felt the Lord could provide.

Regardless of why Solomon sought wives against the Lord's wishes - it is clear that the Lord warned Solomon that these wives "will surely turn your hearts after their gods" (v2). And they did (v4-6+).

God warns all of us that we need to be careful with whom we associate. 

Do not be yoked together with unbelievers. For what do righteousness and wickedness have in common? 2 Corinthians 6:14

It's not that we cannot be friends with unbelievers or spend time with them...it is that we cannot be "yoked" or significantly influenced to the point where they control us much like a yoke controls oxen.


We should find our influences in the Lord first and foremost (Romans 12:1) then with others, including our church leaders, elders, and fellow church members/believers.


Lord, help me follow You first and foremost, then with other believers who can help me remain focused on You.


My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an amazing God who is worthy of my worship and devotion.  You also provide many people in my life, church leaders, elders, and other believers who support and encourage me - thank You Jesus!  I am not worth such love.  I worry.  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 do.  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.

All of you, clothe yourselves with humility toward one another, because,“God opposes the proud but shows favor to the humble.” Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time.

1 Peter 5

All of you, clothe yourselves with humility toward one another, because,“God opposes the proud
but shows favor to the humble.” Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time. v5-6

Peter reminds us to be humble within the church.  We must submit to our church elders and among fellow members of the church.  We must allow Jesus to work through us and we must not grumble and complain.

I have previously posted about this here in 1 Timothy 5.

Similar teachings are also found in Hebrews 13, Romans 13, and 1 Timothy 6. 

Too often I want to make things about me, and not about Him.  Lord Jesus, help me remain humble not just within my church, but also in my roles as a father, husband, and employee.

My Prayer: You are a great God creator of all things and able of anything.  You don't need me but You suffered and died for me, choosing me as Your adopted son.  Thank You Jesus for coming to rescue me.  I am not worth such love because of my arrogance and other sins.  Please forgive me and help me overcome such sin and turn towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You do.  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.  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.