1 TIMOTHY 5:17-252007 Teaching by Jerry B Simmons

Teaching Transcript: 1 Timothy 5:17-25

You are listening to FerventWord, an online Bible study ministry with teachings and tools to help you grow deeper in your relationship with God. The following message was taught by Jerry Simmons in 2007. This morning as we finish off 1 Timothy chapter 5, we're dealing with the subject of spiritual authority within the church. It's something that can be misinterpreted if you do not understand

I believe that what I'm sharing with you is from the Word of God. I hesitate many times to share these types of things just because of the misconception or perhaps, you know, the thought that there is something for me to gain in sharing these things with you.

But it is the word of God and it's things that we need to hear and know and we need to believe and obey. And so let's study together these things of spiritual authority. Now, as we begin, we need to know that spiritual authority is real. There's a reality to it. It's not just something that's made up or something that's hypothetical, but there is a real authority that God has given.

Some do not like the idea of authority and especially other people having authority. We don't mind ourselves having authority, but others having authority in our lives and over us. That's somewhat uncomfortable and unpleasant for many of us, especially in the area of spiritual things. We just like to be left alone and we'd prefer to call our own shots and be accountable only to ourselves and have no other authority or influence in our lives in that way.

But spiritual authority in our lives is very real and it's very important. And it's very real and important because it was God's idea. It wasn't that the apostles got together there in the book of Acts and said, you know, we need to come up with some type of authority. And Peter said, well, I'll be the first pope. And, you know, it just began that way. No, in fact, spiritual authority was given to the church first.

by God himself. Ephesians chapter four details this for us and saying that he himself, speaking of Jesus Christ, gave some to be apostles and prophets and evangelists and pastors and teachers.

He gave these different areas of authority and leadership to the church. It was Jesus's idea. He, looking at the church, knowing all things new, there's going to need to be some authority within the structure of the church. There's going to need to be some authority that's given that my people, that my church would be in order and that there would be the proper things in place. Jesus,

Jesus determined that the church needed leadership, and so he gave these leadership positions and roles to the church, the apostles and pastors and teachers, evangelists and so on and so forth. And he gave these roles to the church for specific purposes only.

That's listed there in Ephesians chapter 4. We won't go into them this morning, but you can spend some time studying that on your own and find out why God gave leadership to the church.

It boils down to the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry. We need leadership in our lives. We need spiritual authority in our lives so that we may be equipped and prepared for the good works that God has in store for us, that we might be the people that God has called us to be, that we might come together in unity as God has called us to. There needs to be that leadership and authority in our life. And so as members of the body of Christ,

We have spiritual leaders that are above us, that are over us in the Lord. And there's certain responsibilities that we have towards them, which is what Paul is referring to as he's talking to Timothy in the passage that we're studying this morning. In fact, we'll see five areas of responsibility towards spiritual leaders today.

that God calls us to relate to spiritual leaders in these ways and to function in these capacities as we deal with those who are authorities within the church. These are responsibilities that you and I have that we're called to obey and to adhere to. The first of which we find in verse 17.

It says, let the elders who rule well be counted worthy of double honor, especially those who labor in the word and doctrine. The first responsibility that we see is that we are to honor spiritual leaders. We're to count them worthy of double honor, Paul says, when they rule well.

Who is it that we're talking about here that are called to rule? Well, well, Paul uses the word elders. It's a word that can be used in a variety of ways throughout the scriptures, but always dealing with those who are in authority within a culture, within a people or within the church.

Paul here is dealing with those who are spiritual leaders within the church, those who lead within the church. It's a broad term, I believe, that can be used for just church leadership in general, with many defined roles that we can see throughout the scriptures. And the one that Paul highlights here is there at the end of verse 17. He says, especially those who labor in the word and doctrine.

So he says to count them worthy of double honor, but especially those who labor in word and doctrine, especially those who are responsible to bring to you the teaching of the word of God and to teach you the things of God, to teach you what God says and what God has to say about the different subjects and what the Bible has to say about the things of God. He says, especially to those you are faithful.

To count them worthy of double honor. This is our first responsibility, Paul says. We are to honor them. That word honor means to value. It gives the sense of worth or reverence and respect. And so Pastor Poulet asks that we now call him Reverend Poulet. Just kidding. This word honor is very closely related to the word that's used in the fifth commandment. To honor your father and mother.

Jesus refers to this commandment several times throughout his ministry and uses this variant of the same word to honor. Now, what does it mean to honor your parents? Let's consider that for a moment that we may understand more fully how we are to honor the spiritual leaders and authorities in our lives. You are to honor your parents, meaning that you are to give special weight to their counsel and advice.

You are to respect their wishes and be obedient to them. You are to be submitted to them. In the same way, that idea of honor carries over to spiritual leaders. You are to give special weight to what they say, their counsel and advice. You are to respect their wishes and be obedient to them. Now, automatically, our flesh begins to have a problem with that, and we can begin to object very easily to

But this is what the word has to say. Let the elders who rule well be counted worthy of double honor. There is the word there, rule, that Paul uses. Not only are spiritual authorities and leaders very real and given to us by God, but they're to use that authority. They're to rule. They're to use the authority that God has given to them.

And you and I are to honor those who use that authority well. In 1 Thessalonians chapter 5, Paul writing to the Thessalonians and dealing with a similar subject, tells the Thessalonians to recognize those who labor among you and are over you in the Lord and admonish you.

Those who are over you, but they also admonish you. They correct you and they help you. They get you back on the right track when you get off. Not only are they over you in the sense of having that spiritual authority, but they use that authority to help you live right with God. And they use that authority to help you stay in the relationship with God that He calls you to. There's real spiritual authority there.

And those who have been given that authority are called to use it. And those who receive the use of authority, or those whom... I'm trying to figure out how to say this right. For those of us, when there's those leaders and authorities in our life that use their authority, we're to honor them in the use of their authority when they use it well. Hebrews chapter 13 says,

The author of Hebrews sharing the same thing, verse 7 says, Remember those who rule over you, who have spoken the word of God to you. He goes on to say, whose faith follow. So he says, recognize those who are over you, those who rule over you, those who have authority in your life, those who have been given by God that have that authority and they've spoken the word of God to you.

And he says, whose faith follow? You're to follow their faith. Model after their faith. Follow them. As Paul would often tell his disciples, hey, imitate me as I imitate Christ. The author of Hebrews says the same thing. Those who have a spiritual authority in your life and they share the word of God with you, they teach the word of God to you, follow their faith. Put into practice the things that they practice. Put into practice the things that they follow. You're to follow their faith.

In verse 17 there of Hebrews 13, the author of Hebrews again says, Obey those who rule over you and be submissive, for they watch out for your souls as those who must give account. Let them do so with joy and not with grief, for that would be unprofitable to you. So we see in the scriptures there is a real authority. God has given the roles of authority and the position of authority in our lives to

To other men within the church, within his body. And we are to honor them. We are to recognize them. We are to remember them and follow their faith. And we are to obey them and be submissive from all of these portions of scriptures that we've looked at. 1 Timothy 5, 17. 1 Thessalonians 5, 12 and 13. Hebrews 13, 7 and 17.

We find that the word teaches us that we're to honor, to respect, to be submitted to those that God has placed in our lives to be spiritual authorities. Those who rule well, count them worthy of double honor, give added weight or double weight to the things that they share, to the things that they say, to the direction that they give. Count them worthy of double honor in the sense of respect, respect.

And remember them and follow their example and be submissive to them, the Bible teaches. So first we learn that we are to honor spiritual leaders. Second, as we go on here in 1 Timothy chapter 5, we find that we are to support spiritual leaders. Look at verse 18. Paul says,

Not only are we to honor the spiritual authorities in our lives with our attitudes, with our obedience, but here Paul says that we are to honor them by supporting them and meeting their practical needs, meeting their financial needs. Now, a quick side note, he begins the verse by saying, for the scripture says, this is so important. This is something that we should take to heart and consider.

Whenever somebody asks you why about something in your life, let this be the answer for the scripture says, well, why do you do this? Why do you go to church on Sunday morning for the scripture says, do not forsake the assembling of ourselves together. Hebrews 10, 25. Well, why don't you be involved in this? Or how come you don't participate in these things for the scripture says it's something that we need to learn to live by the word of God.

To take the word of God and apply it to our lives and be able to say, hey, I work for a living and I provide for my family because the scripture says, we looked at it last week, that we are to provide for our own and take care of our families. I'm involved in this and I serve in this way and I do these things because this is what the Bible says. This is how God has instructed that we should live. Live by the word of God and let that be the explanation for

For whatever why is presented and why you live your life and how you live your life. And in the same way, you should expect the church to do the same. The church should operate in the same way. Well, why do we do these things? Well, because the scripture says, because this is what the Bible has instructed and outlined for us. And this is the things that we follow. The Bible is the authority. It's the word of God. There's I always forget the name.

But, you know, where they take a word and they use it to, you know, say something significant. You could take Bible, B-I-B-L-E. It's an acronym, but acrostic is really the word I'm looking for. Because you take the word Bible and you change it into basic instructions before leaving earth. Basic instructions before leaving earth, B-I-B-L-E. And that's what it is. It's God's word to us, his instruction to us.

Before we leave this earth, this is what we have to live by. It's what he's given to us. It's our authority for the scripture says. So Paul says, hey, let the elders who rule well be counted worthy of double honor. And we all object and say, what? No, I don't want to do that. And then he goes on to say, well, here's what the scripture says. This is why. Because the Bible says you shall not muzzle an ox while it treads out the grain and the labor is worthy of his wages.

We're to use the word of God because this is where the real authority is. We've talked about the word command that Paul has told Timothy or used for Timothy before, which is to transmit or to relate the commands of another, the message of another.

And that's what real authority is. It's taking the word of God and relating that to someone else. It's sharing the message of what's already been established, the authority that's already there and passing that on from the word of God to those who need to hear it.

This is what God has said. And as soon as a leader departs from that, well, then there's a whole different scale that you use. Then it's not counting worthy of double honor. If they've departed from the word of God, they're not to be received. There's not to be double honor given because the real authority is found in the word of God. There's you should not and do not want to be submitted to someone who is not living by submitted to God.

And adhering to the word of God. But those who rule well, those who say for the scripture says those who live by that rule and principle. Those are the ones that you are to honor and be submitted to. Now, Paul gives two quotes here in regards going back to the subject of supporting your spiritual leaders.

Not only you to honor them in your attitude and obedience, but you're to provide for their needs. And he quotes from Deuteronomy chapter 25, verse 4, where God said there in the law, you shall not muzzle an ox while it treads out the grain.

You shall not muzzle an ox while it treads out the grain. And it's describing the farming process of that day where they would use oxen on the threshing floor. They would gather all the wheat into this big kind of like an arena, a little threshing floor. And they would have the oxen either go round and round or back and forth. But the oxen would go back and forth and it would separate the kernel of the grain from the stalk.

And so they would use the oxen as part of the process in order to get the kernel to be able to be useful for the things that they would do with it.

Well, God says, OK, in that process, that's great that you do that. I encourage you to do so. Provide for your own. That's important. But you shall not muzzle the ox while it's doing that, while you're using the ox to go round and round or back and forth over the grain to break it up and separate the kernel. You cannot muzzle the ox and keep it from eating as you're causing it to work there in the field. You know, it's like holding the food right in front of it, but not allowing it to eat there.

It's a cruel thing to do. And so God says, make sure that you don't muzzle the ox. As it's working, as it's laboring there amongst the grain, let it go ahead and eat. As it has need, as it has hunger, then let it satisfy itself and fulfill itself as it's working there in the grain. Paul also uses this same portion of scripture in 1 Corinthians 9.

And I would encourage you to spend a few moments later on and look at 1 Corinthians 9, verses 7-14, where Paul uses this scripture again to illustrate and share the need for those who are ministered to, to support those who minister to them. Verse 14 of 1 Corinthians 9, Paul says,

The Lord has commanded that those who preach the gospel should live from the gospel. Those who preach the gospel should live from the gospel, Paul says. They should earn their living. They should be fed by those that they are ministering to. Jesus taught this principle to where he was sending out the group of 70 disciples to go before him as he was preaching the gospel.

He gives them specific instruction, and it's believed that this is where Paul's second quote comes from. If you'll notice, if you have the red letter edition, there in verse 18 of 1 Timothy 5, the laborer is worthy of his wages is in red. That's because here in Luke chapter 10, Jesus says this. In Luke chapter 10, verse 4 says,

As Jesus is giving his instructions to his disciples, he says, carry neither money bag, knapsack, nor sandals, and greet no one along the road, but whatever house you enter, first say, peace to this house. And if a son of peace is there, your peace will rest on it. If not, it will return to you. Verse 7 of Luke chapter 10. And remain in the same house, eating and drinking such things as they give, for the laborer is worthy of his wages. Do not go from house to house.

So Jesus, giving instruction to his disciples, says, hey, you guys are going to go preach the gospel. You're going to share the good news that the kingdom of God is at hand. And as you go, you're to go and and stay at this house and be content and be satisfied with whatever they give you.

Don't go from house to house. You know, well, who has the better meals and who's the better cook? And where can I know? Just go stay at the one house and whatever they provide for you. That's that's what you're to have. But you are to receive it because the labor is worthy of his wages. You're not to take a money bag or a knapsack or sandals. Let them take care of your needs. Jesus is teaching his disciples.

The principle is that those who labor should be able to partake of what they labor in. They should be able to partake of the fruit of that labor. And so if you labor in the word and doctrine, you should be provided for by that. So Paul tells us here in 1 Timothy 5.18, not only are we to honor those authorities that God has given to us, but we're to support them. We're to provide for them and meet their needs, financially or otherwise.

Number three, we find in verse 19, it says, do not receive an accusation against an elder except from two or three witnesses. Here we find the third area of responsibility for us towards those who are spiritual leaders in our lives. And that is that we are to protect spiritual leaders. We're to protect those that have authority in our life, but to protect them from false accusation.

Paul says, do not receive an accusation against an elder except from two or three witnesses. This is a very important area of responsibility towards your spiritual leaders. We must protect them from the destruction of slander, of gossip and of false accusations. We have seen much abuse of authority in our lives, I'm sure. We've seen it in the government. We've seen it in the church. It's in the news continually.

And so it's very easy to be cynical about leaders. And it's very easy to believe the rumors and accusations that are brought against them. Now, this is especially true if perhaps you've been admonished and you didn't really care for it. There are those times that someone is instructed or corrected by the church or by leaders within the church. And you know how we are. Stand up if you like to be corrected. Everybody stay seated, please.

We don't like to be corrected. And so sometimes there will be the backlash of the person who is corrected and falsely accusing or falsely spreading or jumping at the first, you know, well, yeah, I believe what they what you said about them. I believe that that they did this simply because there's the resistance in our hearts. There's the rebellion against authority from wherever that may come.

And so it's easy to be cynical about leaders. It's easy to jump to conclusions and jump on the bandwagon against them. Now understand, the church does need to respond if there is some type of sin or illegal activity taking place by its leaders. There needs to be a response. But what Paul is saying is we must not be so quick to receive such accusations.

They need to be established. It needs to be factual and cannot be hearsay. Paul says, do not even receive it. Don't even listen. Don't even pay attention. Don't even consider it. Don't even let them finish their sentence unless there are two or three people that can testify firsthand. Now, that doesn't mean two or three people that heard the same thing. Oh, yeah, we all heard that. We all I heard that, too. You heard that. I heard that. OK, let's go deal with it. No, no.

Not two or three people that have heard the same thing, but two or three people that are witnesses, that are eyewitnesses, that can testify firsthand knowledge of the activity that they're being accused of. Now you might say, well, that's difficult. How do you get two or three eyewitnesses? Sometimes it may be difficult. But here's the thing.

For the scripture says, right, that's how we need to live. And that's the way that we need to base our decisions and our actions upon. And the scripture has specific ways of dealing with sin in our lives and within the people around us. In Matthew chapter 18, verses 15 through 20, Jesus outlines for us the procedure. If someone sinned against you, there's been some sin taking place.

Here's how you deal with it. First of all, step number one, you go to that person privately. Now, this is often disregarded by much of the church, unfortunately, because we don't live by for the scripture says we live by whatever we think and what everybody else says. But for the scripture says the biblical prescription is, hey, if someone sinned against you, something's going on, that's not right. Then first thing you need to do is go to that person privately.

And address it. Deal with it. There may be some misunderstanding. There may be a different perspective that you didn't see. It may really not be what you think it is. Or it may be, but going to them personally, you give them the opportunity to respond and repent before destruction spreads forever.

As a result of their own sin and as a result of the rumors and gossip that will take place. No, instead you're to go to them personally, individually, privately and deal with that. Now Jesus says, okay, if they don't receive that, then what you're to do is to go take two or three people and go back to that brother or sister in sin. And you're to go to them and these two or three people now serve as witnesses.

Again, you approach the situation. What you're doing is wrong. You're not walking with the Lord. You're being rebellious or disobedient to the Lord. Now, if they repent, he says, hey, you've saved your brother. You receive him. Forgive him. But if he does it, well, now you have the two or three witnesses necessary for that next step. If they don't respond when you bring the two or three people, then he says, Jesus says in Matthew 18, then you're to take it to the church.

And that's what Paul is dealing with here. He says, do not receive an accusation against an elder except from two or three witnesses. Someone comes with an accusation against spiritual authority or those who are leaders within the church. Paul says, don't even pay it any attention if there's just one person. Only consider it if there's two or three witnesses. Only evaluate it if there's two or three witnesses.

There's no need for you to listen to it and then go, well, I'll go investigate. Or, well, I'll figure it out. Or I can determine. I'll, you know, be... Oh, man, I can't think of any detectives. Perry Mason. Is that a detective? Old one, right? Anyways, I'll, you know, figure it out. I'll dig it up. You know, I'll be the Nancy Drew and figure out what's really going on here. I used to read that a lot when I was young. So, anyways...

There's no need. Paul says, don't even receive it. Don't entertain it. Don't think about it. Don't let him finish the sentence. Don't even let him tell you. Just reject it completely. Unless there's two or three witnesses. It's a way that we are to protect our spiritual leaders from false accusation, from gossip and slander that can very easily be prevalent within the church and the body of Christ, unfortunately. Now again, if there has been some wrong that's done, follow Matthew 18.

If someone wants to talk to you about a pastor or a leader in the church and they're by themselves, don't receive it. Don't pay any attention to it. But if there's two or three witnesses, if it's validated, then we go on verses 20 and 21. The fourth thing that we find our responsibility towards spiritual leaders is that we

In the case that it is true, we are to correct spiritual leaders. Verse 20 says, Here Paul says, okay, don't receive an accusation unless there's two or three witnesses, but...

If it turns out to be true, if you find and it is revealed that, yes, there are those who are in sin, then here's how to handle it. Here's how to correct spiritual leaders. And you have the responsibility and obligation to correct them. This is one of the responsibilities that we have towards spiritual leaders. We are responsible to correct them if they're continuing in sin.

There will be those cases that it's necessary to correct spiritual leaders. If there's two or three witnesses, bless you. If it's confirmed that sin is practiced, there must be correction. There must be correction.

It needs to take place. Now, he uses the words are sinning. In the Greek, it's in the present active imperative, not imperative, but present active participle, which means that it's continuous repeated action. It's not a one time thing. It's not a momentary lapse. But Paul is describing here a lifestyle, a continuing than persisting in known sin. That is, I know what I'm doing is wrong.

Already I've been confronted by my brother and I've been confronted by the two or three witnesses, but I continue to live my way doing what I want and rejecting the correction of others. That's the idea that is being described here. It's a known rejection of God's word and a flat out disobedience to the things that God has said. Open rebellion in the heart.

And so Paul says those who are in that state, those who are sinning, those who continue to live in rebellion against God, you're to rebuke in the presence of all. Sounds kind of harsh, but to whom much is given, much is required. And for those who are spiritual leaders, you need to know that there is a stricter accountability. God deals with leaders differently than

He's not talking about everybody. Hey, anybody who's in sin, call them up in front and tell everybody about. No, that's not what God is saying. But those who are given authority within the body of Christ, those who are leaders in the body of Christ. If you serve in front of people, then know that if you continue in sin, God will deal with it in front of people. He says, those who are sinning rebuke in the presence of all that the rest also may fear God.

There needs to be that fear of God, that fear, knowing that, hey, if I continue in sin, God's going to deal with it. He won't let me just continue to live my life in rebellion to him. He won't let me continue to do my own thing and live in these ways. No, he's going to correct me. And Paul says those who are leaders within the church, those who are elders within the church, they are to be corrected in this manner. They're to be rebuked in the presence of all.

So that all may fear. And then he goes on in verse 21 to say, hey, I charge you before God and the Lord Jesus Christ and the elect angels, making it very strong, that you observe these things without prejudice, doing nothing with partiality. You're not to play favorites, Timothy, in dealing with this. We need to fear the Lord, not man. And we need to put the Lord first, for the scripture says we're to be obedient to the Lord. Now, we see an example of this

In Galatians chapter 2 verses 11 through 21. Many of you are familiar with the portion I'm sure. It's where Paul has to confront Timothy. The situation is there in the city of Galatia. Peter is there along with Paul and some others. And they're ministering to the saints at the church there.

And it tells us that before there was this delegation that was sent by James back in Jerusalem and they came out and began to see what was going on and the ministry that was taking place.

And Paul explains that before that delegation came from James in Jerusalem, that Peter would eat and fellowship and just, you know, be like one of the guys among the body of Christ with Jews as well as Gentiles. From a Jewish background, that was no, no, you don't do that. You don't eat and fellowship in that way with Gentiles. That's you're defiling yourself.

But of course, we know that we're one in Christ and there's that unity. The walls have been broken down. And so Peter was there hanging with everybody else and spending time and eating and fellowshipping with everyone. But when that delegation came from Jerusalem, then Peter began to withdraw himself and he began to say, oh, you know, I can't have fellowship with you. And he began to follow again the things of the law, the Levitical code. And Paul, in witnessing this and seeing that

Also, it says even Barnabas was led astray by it and others were following Peter in his example. So Paul, recognizing the hypocrisy, recognizing the sin that's taking place, he confronts Peter. He tells him, hey, I confronted him before everyone. What's going on? Why are you living in hypocrisy? Why are you doing this when this is not what God has said? And he, of course, went back for the scripture says. And so we find the example here of Peter saying,

Being a spiritual leader in authority, stepping out of what God has called us to do, and the impact of it, and this is the tragedy of leaders who go astray, is it was causing other people to follow his example and to begin to be hypocritical as well in their hearts and thoughts. And so Paul had to deal with it, and he dealt with Peter, it says, before all.

Those who are sinning rebuke and the presence of all. Peter's sin was before all. It was in front of everyone and it was causing others to sin, too. So Paul had to deal with it in that same arena before everyone. See, if someone is continuing in sin, it's going to affect the multitude. It's going to affect the whole. And so it needs to be dealt with at the same level. Paul gives Timothy a strong charge.

Before God, before the Lord Jesus Christ and the elect angels, don't do these things. I'm sorry, do these things without partiality. Don't play favorites. Don't deal with a situation one way with one person and another way with another person. You know, maybe because you're friends with one or intimidated by another. No, regardless of what you think or how you feel, you are to be obedient for the scripture says. Be obedient to the word of God, Timothy.

Number five, areas of responsibility towards spiritual leaders. We are to choose spiritual leaders carefully. Choose spiritual leaders carefully. Verse 22 says, Do not lay hands on anyone hastily, nor share in other people's sins. Keep yourself pure. Timothy, when it comes to appointing leaders, you need to be careful. You need to be led by the Holy Spirit. Paul uses the phrase, the lay hands on anyone hastily.

To lay hands on someone was a method used throughout the scripture to appoint a leader. And it's symbolic really of the support and agreement. When we have missionaries that go out from our fellowship, we lay hands on them and pray for them. We lay hands on them saying,

We agree. You've been called to this ministry. God has ordained this or you for this and and he is sending you out. We agree with you. We support you in your ministry. We back you up. We participate in the ministry in that way. It follows the model of Acts chapter 13, verses two and three, where they're the churches gathered. And it says that the Holy Spirit said, now separate to me Barnabas and Saul for the work I have called them.

Called them out to the mission field, separate them unto me. And so in verse 3 of Acts 13, it says, then having fasted and prayed and laid hands on them, they sent them away. It's recognizing God has called you. God has appointed you. He's sending you out. He's raising you up for this work. And we agree. We participate. We support this ministry. Moses laid hands on Joshua to inaugurate him as the leader of the people of Israel.

In Numbers 27, verses 22 and 23, Paul reminds Timothy several times about the time when the elders laid hands on him. In 1 Timothy 4 and 2 Timothy 1. It was a way of appointing and recognizing those who are called by God to be leaders or to be ordained for a specific task. And so Paul says, hey, when you do that, there is real spiritual authority. There's a need for leaders.

But you don't want to appoint them quickly or hastily. Don't be too quick to lay hands on someone, Timothy. Do not lay hands on anyone hastily. You need to see the Lord's confirmation. You need to be led by the Holy Spirit and move slowly in appointing leaders. See, Paul explains that there's a danger of sharing in their sins. Because if you appoint them too quickly and only find out later that they are living in sin, then...

Paul's saying you have participated in that. You've shared in that because you were the one who recognized them and laid hands on them and anointed, not anointed, but raised them up and set that example before the people. And so you share in that if they are not walking right with God. By laying on hands, you show your approval and your participation and support for their ministry. Remember John, the apostle, wrote in the epistle 2nd John,

Verses 10 and 11, he gave a warning similar to this. He said, you know, if anyone comes to you and does not bring this doctrine, if he doesn't bring the truth, do not receive him into your house nor greet him. For he who greets him shares in his evil deeds.

John tells us in 2 John verses 10 and 11, hey, if you receive him into your house and greet him, then you are participating, you're supporting, you're helping him, you're sharing in his evil deeds. If he does not teach this doctrine, if he doesn't teach the truth, and you're not to show any type of support, you're not to participate in that at all. And in the same way, Timothy, you're not to lay hands on someone hastily because there may be things that

Only time will show and only time will reveal. And if you do it hastily, if you are too quick to raise them up, well, then afterwards, it's much easier to appoint someone and lay hands on them than it is to reverse that. Once it's done, it's done. You'll find yourself participating or sharing in other people's sins. And so he says, keep yourself pure. Don't be hasty.

Don't be quick to raise up. Don't be quick to lay hands. Just watch and wait. When the time has proven their character, when the Holy Spirit agrees, then appoint those leaders. And he'll go on to say, because some men's sins are clearly evident, but others will follow later. Some men, some people are very good, very clever, very skilled at hiding their sin. And so don't be quick. Don't be hasty. Just wait. Be slow.

Verse 23, he says, no longer drink only water, but use a little wine for your stomach's sake and your frequent infirmities. Here, Paul throws a quick personal side note for Timothy. Hey, by the way, Timothy, I've been meaning to tell you, drink a little bit of wine. Don't just drink water. Now, some have struggled over this placing here in this portion, and some have tried to

Get it to fit and, you know, connect to all the verses around it. And you can twist and pull and yank and get it to do that. But then what you end up with is scripture that's twisted and pulled and yanked. And it flows more naturally and understand just to say, hey, Paul is telling Timothy, I just remembered this.

Keep yourself pure. But hey, Timothy, that doesn't mean that you can't drink a little bit of wine. You know, you've been sick a lot and you've been having these physical infirmities. And so don't just drink water anymore, but drink a little bit of wine at the same time. Now, it's important to note the Bible does not forbid completely the consumption of alcohol.

Some have that understanding from the scriptures, but it's not true. And here's a good indication of that. The Bible does forbid the excess and abuse of alcohol. Drunkenness is sin. But here he tells Timothy, hey, you need to drink a little bit of wine for your stomach's sake because of your frequent infirmities. We don't know what Timothy was experiencing and what he was going through, but apparently the water was bad for him. And we can understand that.

Going to American Samoa, when we were back there and doing some ministry over there, it was very important. They warned us very clearly over and over again, don't drink the water. Going down to Mexico, I'm sure they remind them of the same things, right Richard? Montezuma's revenge is not just a legend, it's true.

You can't drink the water. And in many places in that day, it would be very bad for you. And so whatever was going on with Timothy, whatever problems he had, the water was making it worse. And so Paul says, hey, drink a little bit of wine. It's better for you than the water for your infirmities, for your stomach's sake. You need to do this. Going on, verses 24 and 25, he says, Some men's sins are clearly evident, preceding them to judgment. But those of some men follow later.

Likewise, the good works of some are clearly evident and those that are otherwise cannot be hidden. Here Paul kind of goes back to the train of thought that he had before. But why should you wait and not lay hands on someone hastily? Well, because not all things are as they seem at the beginning. You might look at someone and think, but they don't even really do anything for the Lord. Why would I lay hands on them?

But in reality, what they really do for the Lord will be revealed later. You might look at someone and say, well, obviously they're in sin. Well, they probably are. Or you might say, well, they don't look like, I mean, they look like a good person and they're faithful and they do this and they do that. But there might be in their life the thing that you don't see, the hidden sin that is going on. Some men's sins are clear and apparent. It's obvious. There's no question. But for others, Timothy, it's not so obvious. Yes.

And that's why it's prudent to wait and to watch. And the same is true of good works. Watch and wait. Time proves all things. And those things will be revealed. I think this is a great exhortation for us. For those who would think, hey, I'm getting away with this or that.

For those who would be under the impression, it seems like everything's going okay. I mean, I could still serve the Lord and I'm still involved in this thing and nothing's really happened. I haven't really seen any repercussions. The Bible warns us not to mistake the patience of God for his acceptance of what we do in our practices. He is patient with us, waiting for us to repent. And you might be able to keep it hidden from everyone else.

But Hebrews 4.13 says, God sees. He knows. And He's not going to let it go. Your sin might be clearly evident. Or it might follow later. But know that God will deal with it if you don't repent. Live for eternity is the point. Don't be fooled and think that you can get away with living in sin.

But realize, hey, God's going to bring all things into account. We're going to have to give an account. He knows and sees everything. On the other side of the coin, encouragement for those who would think, man, I'm not really important and what I do doesn't really matter. Don't be disappointed in thinking that no one really notices what I do and how hard I work and the service that I give to the Lord.

No one really pays attention or recognizes it. It doesn't even really seem to be to be fruitful or that doesn't really seem, you know, I just don't really see anything come of it. The good works of some are clearly evident. You know, you look at the person next to you and man, look at they just, you know,

I accidentally sit next to someone, you know, the wrong chair on an airplane, and the person next to them gets saved. And they go over here, and they're just so blessed in this ministry and that ministry. And then me, you know, I'm just like, I don't ever see anything really. I mean, nothing really happens. I mean, I do this, and I do that, or I do these little things, but nothing really happens. There's nothing exciting, you know. Nobody gets saved. And hey, some men's works are clearly evident.

But those of others, they cannot be hidden. They will be revealed. But the point is to live for eternity. Whether for penalty or reward, don't rely upon the immediate situation or immediate response for your activity. But instead, you're to look to eternity. To live for eternity. To serve the Lord and be faithful to what He calls you to do. Even if nobody else notices. Or even if nobody thanks you or is appreciative.

God knows and he's keeping account and you'll receive your reward from him in due time. So live for eternity. Paul says in relation to spiritual leaders, you have responsibility. There's a real authority that God has given. He's given these roles and he's given these people in your life to admonish you, to encourage you, to equip you, to build you up. They're responsible to do that. They must give an account for how they minister to you.

But you are also responsible to them, to honor them, to support them, to protect them, to correct them biblically. And you're responsible to choose leaders carefully, to wait and to watch and allow the spirit to lead and work. Let's pray. Heavenly Father, first of all, God, we thank you that you did give authority to the church. Lord, that you gave roles and roles.

responsibilities to men and women within the body of Christ. God, that there might be order, that there might be unity. Lord, that we might be equipped and that we might mature and grow up in the faith. Lord, that we might be corrected when we need to be corrected. Lord, we thank you for those leaders in our lives that have given of themselves, that have labored fervently and ministered so greatly to us. We ask, Lord, that you would bless them.

And God, we pray that you would help us to respond appropriately to those leaders that you've given to us. Help us, Lord, even as we studied, to live by your word. Lord, to be able to relate to our spiritual leaders as the scripture says. Help us, Lord, to honor them. To be submitted to those that you have placed in our lives with that authority. Lord, that it would be a joy for them to minister to us and relate to us and share with us.

Lord, you told us if we do not submit, if we're not obedient, Lord, it's unprofitable to us. So God, help us in the area of honoring those that you've given as authorities and leaders in our lives. God, I pray that you would help us to support our spiritual leaders. God, that we would not be so caught up in our own selves and our own lives, that we would not be willing to meet those needs that are there. Lord, that we'd be willing to give. Even as Paul said, if

If they've shared with us spiritual things, it's right, it's just. It's no big thing for them to share of our material things. Give us generous hearts, Lord. Help us to bless and support those that you've used so mightily in our lives. Lord, I pray that you would help us to protect our spiritual leaders. God, that we would not be ones who spread gossip and slander or entertain false accusations. Lord, help us.

not to receive those things, to be prudent in what we hear and listen to, to be careful of what we receive, Lord, that we would protect those that you've given to us that have blessed us so greatly. God, I pray that you would help us to correct without partiality. Lord, it would be a devastating experience. And so, God, I pray for the leaders that you have raised up within this church. God, that you would cause us to walk in holiness.

Lord, that you would help us to live uprightly, that you would strengthen us to be obedient to your word. And God, if there's rebellion in our hearts, if there's areas that need correction, Lord, we ask that you would do so. Bring us in right relationship with you. Draw us close to you. Humble us that we might repent and turn towards you. And God, I pray for those that you want to raise up. God, it is exciting to be a part of your work and to see people

You doing great things in different places around the world and different ministries and reaching out to the community here in Corona. Lord, we thank you for all the work that you're doing. God, we ask for your wisdom as there's more work that you desire to do and those that you desire to raise up. God, give us wisdom. Lead us by your Holy Spirit. Lord, that we would not be hasty in raising up people or laying hands on them and appointing them to tasks or ministries.

God, that we would wait and allow you to work. Lord, that we would see your confirmation that even as the church prayed in Acts 13, that it would be something that you've spoken and not our own thoughts and ideas. Lord, help us to be careful in choosing and appointing spiritual leaders. And God, I pray that you would set before us, every single one of us, Lord, set before us eternity. Lord, may we not live based on the immediate response of

Thinking, Lord, that we can get away with our sin or being discouraged because we're not noticed or we're not thanked or it just doesn't seem to be effective. God, may we be obedient to you regardless of what we see now. May we not walk by sight, but by faith, believing you at your word, knowing that if we do continue in sin, if it's not revealed now, it will be revealed.

Lord, knowing that as we're obedient to you, the reward may not be now, but it will be there. You've promised it. So God, help us to live in obedience to you. Looking forward to eternity. Looking forward to when we will stand before you and give an account. God, as Paul shared, some will come just escaping us by fire. We don't want it that way, Lord.

Lord, we want to live our lives for you, that we prepare for ourselves an abundant entrance into your kingdom. So help us to live for you with all of our hearts. And thank you for those leaders that you've given to us to help us along the way. In Jesus' name we pray. Amen. We pray you have been blessed by this Bible teaching. The power of God to change a life is found in the daily reading of his word. Visit ferventword.com to find more teachings and Bible study resources.