# 38 2019 Devotion, 1 Tim. 4:6. Spiritual Guidance! Read chapter 4. The purpose of these devotionals is to draw Gremar and I closer to God and grow spiritually by applying His Word to our daily living. All passages are taken from the NIV.
1 Timothy 4:6 “If you point these things out to the brothers and sisters, you will be a good minister of Christ Jesus, nourished on the truths of the faith and of the good teaching that you have followed.”
Paul introduces another: “This is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance.” Paul’s saying points back to what he writes before and what he writes after it. Paul starts this chapter with the voice of the Holy Spirit: “that in later times some will abandon the faith and follow deceiving spirits and things taught by demons.” The latter times are between the coming of Christ and His second coming. We are living in the latter days right now. Paul relates to Timothy the beginnings of what came to be known as “Gnosticism”. A simple definition of Gnosticism: in early Christian centuries wayward followers of Jesus proclaimed that matter is evil and that emancipation comes through secret knowledge. The answer, Paul writes Timothy: “If you point these things out to the brothers and sisters, you will be a good minister of Christ Jesus, nourished on the truths of the faith and of the good teaching that you have followed.”
Followers of Jesus are still facing heretical convictions today. We all know the issues that the world has excepted as normal, as right, and should be acceptable to all humanity with no regard to faith or conscience. Many churches are compelled to be politically correct because they are afraid of being spiritually correct. Paul tells us: instead of following the world, “rather, train yourself to be godly. 8 For physical training is of some value, but godliness has value for all things, holding promise for both the present life and the life to come. 9 This is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance.”
For the followers of Jesus, this trustworthy saying also points forward: “set an example for the believers in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith and in purity. 13 Until I come, devote yourself to the public reading of Scripture, to preaching and to teaching. 14 Do not neglect your gift, which was given you through prophecy when the body of elders laid their hands on you.” Pastors are designated by the Holy Sprit and confirmed by fellow followers of Jesus. As a pastor, Timothy’s work is to set spiritual direction for the church. What is happening today is that some church leaders’ spiritual guidance has been hijacked so subtly that Satan is not recognized in the guidance given. This is what Paul is pointing out and we do well to listen. Verse 15 puts us on a positive path: “Be diligent in these matters; give yourself wholly to them, so that everyone may see your progress. 16 Watch your life and doctrine closely. Persevere in them, because if you do, you will save both yourself and your hearers.” Praise be to God!
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Heavenhigh 