Sermon for Sunday October 19^th

Passing God to our families.

Numbers 20:26, 2 Timothy 1:5, and Titus 2:

Today we had 2 Scripture readings.  They were written by two different men both facing death, but in much different circumstances.  In our first reading in the book of Numbers Moses recounts for us Aaron’s death.  Aaron was the brother of Moses and also the first High Priest of Israel.  In 2 Timothy we have St. Paul writing what we believe to be his last letter to Timothy.  Many believe shortly after this letter was written St. Paul was beheaded. 

Today however I want us to focus our attention on two verses.

1)     Numbers 20:26 “And strip Aaron of his garments, and put them upon Eleazar his son: and Aaron shall be gathered unto his people, and shall die there.”

2)     2 Timothy 1:5 “When I call to remembrance the unfeigned faith that is in thee, which dwelt first in thy grandmother Lois, and thy mother Eunice; and I am persuaded that in thee also.”

Can you see the resemblance of these two verses?  Notice Aaron passes on the high priesthood to his son Eleazor, and how St. Paul says “I recall unfeigned faith that is in thee, that dwelt first in thy grandmother Lois and thy mother Eunice.  These 2 passages tell us something about these men.  It tells us these men belonged to a family that taught God, and in Timothy’s case, taught of our Risen Lord and His Word.  I say Timothy’s case, because Moses had not yet written his books.  But Aaron’s son had God’s Word through Moses.  Our passage in Numbers does not say “take Aaron and Eleazor up to the mountain and train him for the next 4 years then give him the garments.” NO, it says “take him up, strip Aaron and give the garments to Eleazor his son.  This implies that God wanted it done immediately.  Why?  Because God knew Eleazor already knew the job.  Because his father Aaron made sure to teach him from his childhood.  Now let us take a look at Timothy.  His father was a Greek and mother a Jew.  How do I know this turn to Acts 16:1 “1Then came he to Derbe and Lystra: and, behold, a certain disciple was there, named Timotheus, the son of a certain woman, which was a Jewess, and believed; but his father was a Greek.” His mother believed and from verse 5 we gather so did his grandmother.  Both these women were strong in the faith and made sure it was passed down to the children, first from mother to daughter, then mother to son. 

Please turn your Bibles to Titus Chapter 2.  I will know read verses 1 to 8.

“1But speak thou the things which become sound doctrine:  2That the aged men be sober, grave, temperate, sound in faith, in charity, in patience. 3The aged women likewise, that they be in behavior as becometh holiness, not false accusers, not given to much wine, teachers of good things;  4That they may teach the young women to be sober, to love their husbands, to love their children, 5To be discreet, chaste, keepers at home, good, obedient to their own husbands, that the word of God be not blasphemed.  6Young men likewise exhort to be sober minded. 7In all things shewing thyself a pattern of good works: in doctrine shewing uncorruptness, gravity, sincerity, 8Sound speech, that cannot be condemned; that he that is of the contrary part may be ashamed, having no evil thing to say of you.”

I have been part of many churches in my 40 years, and it always amazes me how this passage of Scripture dealing with women, and many like it, are never preached on. 

It seems that it has become taboo today for us to mention the duties of women in the church.  Due to the ignorance of many churches today, St. Paul and many of the apostles are thought of as bigots and male chauvinist pigs.  They talk about submission, and doing the will of their husbands.  Ephesians tells the women to submit to their husbands.  Many will say it was the custom of the day.  I assure you, as a follower of Christ, St. Paul was far from being a male chauvinist pig, and it had nothing to do with life in that day.  He has reason for these commands.  What is it he says in 1 Timothy 5:14? “I will therefore that the younger women marry, bear children, guide the house, give none occasion to the adversary to speak reproachfully.” 

God instituted marriage, and it is His intention that a family be governed in a certain way.  Husband being the leader of the family is to do just that.  Lead his family and teach them in the Lord and His Most Holy Word.  Women are to help and be a helpmate to the husband teaching the children in the Lord.  Let me make one thing clear here.  The Lord did not intend that anyone in the family be a dictator, nor did He expect the women to bow down to her husband and serve him as a servant.  If this is what you think brothers and sisters then I direct you to Ephesians 5:25 “Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it.” Understand that Christ gave His life for His church.  He puts the church up high, on a pedestal if you will.  I would like to give another example please turn to Genesis 2:21-24. “21And the LORD God caused a deep sleep to fall upon Adam, and he slept: and he took one of his ribs, and closed up the flesh instead thereof;  22And the rib, which the LORD God had taken from man, made he a woman, and brought her unto the man.  23And Adam said, This is now bone of my bones, and flesh of my flesh: she shall be called Woman, because she was taken out of Man.  24Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife: and they shall be one flesh.”  Notice in verse 21 that God took one of Adams ribs.  He did not take a part of the body from the foot for man to step on her, nor did he take it from his head to have dominion over him.  NO!  He took it from near his heart to love her. 

Now I got off track there for a reason.  I felt it very important that we understand the family relationship God intended.  This now brings me to my closing question.  Do you think if we followed what God intended from the beginning that the family would be in the trouble it is today?  I think not.  So let us pass God unto our families men lead and teach your families in the Lord, women submit to your husbands in all teachings, and teach the younger women, and young women teach your children well.  If we follow this example we would be living in a different world indeed              AMEN

Sermon for Sunday October 26, 2008

Are You Fighting The Good Fight

2 Timothy 4:1-8

2 Timothy is thought to be Paul’s last letter before his execution.  But we don’t find Paul feeling sorry for himself, actually quite the opposite.  We find Paul offering warnings, guidance, and assurance to Timothy.  First Paul charges Timothy before God and the Lord Jesus Christ in Verse 1.  This charge sets the tone of the importance of what Paul is going to say.  In verse 2 Paul tells Timothy to preach the Word, to be sure in his preaching, to use the Word to reprove and rebuke (that is to scold when it is needed) Timothy is also told to exhort, this means he was to urge strongly, give warnings, and advice, he was to do this with all longsuffering and doctrine.  In other words Timothy was to be patient in all hardships and offenses. 

Paul knows that a day is going to come when the people will no longer want to hear sound doctrine, but will only want to hear such things that will amuse them, things that will approve of their sinful ways.  They will turn away from the truth, and believe in fables and lies.  In verse 5 Paul turns from these warnings and now has words of guidance for Timothy.  He tells Timothy to be watchful in all things, like a guard on duty Timothy was to always be on alert and ready for anything.  Paul tells Timothy to endure afflictions.  Paul is well qualified to say this as he has endured many afflictions in his ministry even unto death.  Timothy, Paul says, do the work of an evangelist.  Timothy is to be an enthusiastic advocate for Christ.  Lastly he says, “Make full proof of thy ministry.”  Paul is saying it is not enough to just preach with words, but you must live what you preach.  By your actions you will be all the proof you need in your ministry. 

Once again Paul shifts gears and now gives encouragement and assurance.   He tells Timothy “I am ready to be offered, for my time on this earth is coming to an end.”   He is telling Timothy “do not fear for me I am not scared, but am happy and ready to go.  Why is Paul so sure?  We find this out in the next few chapters.  Paul tells Timothy “I have fought the good fight and I have finished my course,” but above all Paul has kept the faith.   He continuous telling Timothy “The Lord has a crown of righteousness waiting for me and not just for me, but for all who believe on Him. 

Paul’s message to Timothy has not changed much since 65-70 AD.  Paul knew very well the dangers the church would be facing after his death.  Everything Paul warned about in Verse 3 and 4 has come to be.  Many churches today, along with their so-called clergy, teach fables and lies to tickle the ears of the people.  The Cross has been removed so it cannot offend, the Lord’s table has been removed to make room for the rock bands, God’s Word has been closed and false doctrine opened, clergy have stopped preaching in conjunction with the Word of God and are new preaching contrary to it.  Where God says it is Sinful, they say it is acceptable.  Where God says, “Thou shall not kill” they say as long as it is justified God does not care. 

But like Timothy, we must endure.  The persecution Timothy and the early Christians endured was great.  Many were brutally murdered, and whole families wiped out.  Christianity has endured persecution from day one and will continue to endure it till the end of days.  So we must endure, we must continue the work started by the 12 and St. Paul.  We must continue to live a life according to God’s Word, so we also will be a proof to all who see us.  When we also will be able to say, as St. Paul “I am ready to be offered.  I have fought the good fight.  I have finished the course and above all I too have kept the faith.  Why?  Because we are assured of our crown of righteousness.    

AMEN