CHAPTER 4

Boy: Mom, I think you just make up these rules.
Mom: Like what?
Boy: Like, if I don't make my bed, a window will open and
I'll be sucked into another dimension!
Mom: That's what happened to your older brother.
Boy: What older brother?
Mom: EXACTLY!

Chapter 4 deals with difficult times, and what to do about them.

vss 1-5
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;
2 Speaking lies in hypocrisy; having their conscience seared with
a hot iron;
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.
4 For every creature of God is good, and nothing to be refused,
if it be received with thanksgiving:
5 For it is sanctified by the word of God and prayer.

Vs 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;"

Matt. 24 and John 3:32 speak of difficult times.
As the world gets older, more and more selfishness occurs.
And, the Scripture here says that "some will depart from the
faith."

Now "depart from the faith" does not necessarily mean
that someone is being lost after being saved.
More practically, it means that some will STRAY.
The REASON being, they will allow themselves to LISTEN to
"seducing sprits, and doctrines of devils."

1John 2:19 refers to this action. "They went OUT from us,
but they were not OF us; for if they had been OF us, they would
not doubt have CONTINUED with us: but they went out, that they
might be made manifest that they were not all OF us."

One who is truly saved cannot be STOLEN away, BECAUSE
the truly saved are "SEALED in the SPIRIT!" (Eph. 1:13)

Vs 2
"Speaking lies in hypocrisy; having their conscience seared with
a hot iron;

This is even happening in the world today.
Some, standing pulpits, on TV, on videos, today are speaking
"hypocrisy" because their conscience is
"SEARED" like a shirt scorched with a "hot iron."
I have listened as some preach 25 minutes about how one
should give them money; then spend 5 minutes on Jesus!

Vs 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.

I have heard 1Cor. 7:33 and 1Cor. 7:38 MISused, saying it
is better to NOT be married!

And, a LOT of people say we ought to eat this and not that.
But God says ....
Vss 4-5
4 For every creature of God is good, and nothing to be refused,
if it be received with thanksgiving:
5 For it is sanctified by the word of God and prayer.

Peter learned a great lesson in Acts 11:5-34.
Paul USES that lesson here in vss 4-5!

The lesson refers to eating certain things, and states that
we should PRAY and ask God to use the food to help our bodies.
The lesson ALSO refers to NOT having prejudice in leading
others to Jesus.

Vss 6-10
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.
7 But refuse profane and old wives' fables, and exercise thyself
rather unto godliness.
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.
9 This is a faithful saying and worthy of all acceptation.
10 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.

vs 6
"...put the brethren in REMEMBRANCE."
"These things" refer back to the previous verses.
AND, those words can also refer forward to verses 7-9.

One will be a "good minister of Jesus" when he:
1) NOURISHES himself in the words of faith and good doctrine,
THAT is the BIBLE!
AND, 2)REFUSES "profane and old wives' fables, and exercise
thyself rather unto godliness.
There are advertisements all over social media proclaiming
that if you follow their instructions, and buy their medications,
you will be healthy.

vs 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.

((I remember an old doctor was asked about running to keep the
heart healthy and live longer. He said, "The heart only HAS a
specific amounts of beats. They are determined by the LORD!
Yes. Run, but not every day; not overdoing it. PRESERVE
those BEATS!"))

vs 9
This is a faithful saying and worthy of all acceptation.

Put your FOCUS on living for Jesus in "godliness."
THAT type of living is "profitable" NOW; and includes a
"promise" of the eternal life with Christ!

Vss 11-16
11 These things command and teach.
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.
13 Till I come, give attendance to reading, to exhortation, to
doctrine.
14 Neglect not the gift that is in thee, which was given thee by
prophecy, with the laying on of the hands of the presbytery.
15 Meditate upon these things; give thyself wholly to them; that
thy profiting may appear to all.
16 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.

vs 11)
"These things," again, refer back to ALL that was
previously discussed.

vs 12
Let no man despise thy youth; but be thou an example of the
believers, in word, in conversaton, in charity, in spirit, in faith,
in purity.

Be an EXAMPLE! Whether you are YOUNG or OLD!

When you are in conversation, USE the WORD of God, in a
loving spirit, and being faithful in purity.

Vs 13
Till I come, give attendance to reading, to exhortation, to doctrine.

READ! STUDY!

In exhortation (teaching/preaching) pay attention to "doctrine."

Doctrine is truth revealed from God in Bible study!

Vs 14
Neglect not the gift that is in thee, which was given thee by
prophecy, with the laying on of the hands of the presbytery.

GIFT? WHAT GIFT?
This gift of ability to teach and preach is a gift GIVEN by God.
In context, it refers to Timothy having a special gift of
teaching and preaching the WORD of God.

It is NOT given by the "presbytery"; but it is CONFIRMED
by them.
Other people SEE it and RECOGNIZE it!

Vs 15
Meditate upon these things; give thyself wholly to them; that
thy profiting may appear to all.

MEDITATE, CONTEMPLATE about what God has given you!
Then, when you USE it, people will understand it came from God!

vs 16
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.

Take HEED and CONTINUE in those things mentioned.
Particularly to DOCTRINE.

KEEPING those directions will not SAVE you from condemnation
from God.
But it WILL help in saving you from the condemnation of PEOPLE!

AND, keeping those things will help you lead others to Christ!

Faith (spiritual faith) is certainly a gift from God.
It means having the ability to CLING to Christ.

But, just because a truly saved Christan HAS the gift,
doesn't mean he/she will CONTINUE in USING it!

The HELP is EXERCISE the faith!
In DOING faith, we "work out" our own "salvation
with fear and trembling." (Ppns 2:12)

EXERCISE by: Prayer, Study, Attendance, Fellowship, and
ministerity to others.

I remember my dad teaching me about the old John Deere
tractor. "This is the starter wheel."
"This is the clutch, the brake, accelerator, etc."
"This is how to connect to the bush hog, the disk, etc."
"NOW. Go hook up the disk, start the tractor and PRACTICE!"

THIS is FAITH!
Surrender to Christ brings that GIFT!
Faith is the ABILITY to CLING to Christ!
It is the ability to LEARN, GROW, and TEACH!

Now! Go PRACTICE!