Good morning. I used to be a beggar and a slave Begging for forgiveness, enslaved by sin's chains Then you came and you ransomed me You paid the price for me to be set free stronger and the same I'm a new creation, the oldest passed away and I have your very life in me controlling, guiding and protecting me Paid in full, you're paid in full Not with gold or silver, not with precious jewels You purchased my redemption, sin no longer rules With your life paid in full When I look upon the cross where they nailed you to that tree I'm in awe of what it is I see While others see a bloody mess The magnitude I must confess Is how one so perfect could become Sin for me Paid in full, you're paid in full Not with gold or silver, not with precious jewels You purchased my redemption, sin no longer rules With your life, you paid in full Paid in full, you paid in full Not with gold or silver, not with precious jewels You purchased my redemption, sin no longer rules With your life you paid in full Thank you, Vicki. That's precious. We're ready to go now. Let's go to the Lord in prayer. Heavenly Father, thank you for those who came out this morning, who sprung ahead into spring, and those who are just waking up now. Father, And you'll say, wow, I missed something wonderful today. I missed Vicki's wonderful song and the Word of God as it went forth fresh and alive this morning on subjects that are normally not taught or preached, but today we address them, move through them so that we have the full counsel of God's Word. Father, may we hold back nothing that is profitable, but declare the entire message, the full Word, and the full counsel of your Word, Jesus Christ, the living Word, and the written Word, Scriptures of truth that contain the very mind or thinking of Christ in every possible way, on every possible subject. Thank you for these things we pray in Christ's name, amen. I've entitled the message today, Church Relations. It has to do with the purpose of the church, why the church exists. It is not a charitable organization although it has a 501 3c tax designation it's not a charitable organization it exists for one purpose for the proclamation of the person and word of Jesus Christ for nothing else it is not a hospital it's not a welfare agency It is the Church of the Living God, the pillar and ground of the truth, in 1 Timothy 3.15. So it's Sunday, March 8, 2020. Church relations. All of these things that we'll address and discuss this morning regarding church policy are marching orders for pastors, basically, first and foremost, who head autonomous churches There are no such thing as denominations in the Word of God, no format for denominational Christianity in the epistles of Paul, in the New Testament, in the Gospels or the epistles. No such thing exists. Man created those things, they're man's invention, and therefore found weight in the balance, in many instances, and found wanting. That is, unless Those within the denomination follow the instructions of Paul in the pastoral epistles, 1st and 2nd Timothy and Titus in particular. So it is marching orders for pastors who head autonomous churches that they might fulfill their intended function. All of them hearken back All of these things that we'll discuss this morning hearken back to 1 Timothy 3.15. Paul says, so that if I can't come for a while, or if I'm delayed in coming to you, so that you will know how people must conduct themselves in the household of God, which is the church of the living God, which is the pillar and support of the truth. What follows is the succinct statement of mystery truth, which is the purpose of God in Christ, whereby the godliness demanded by the glory of Christ would shine through the body of Christ into the world. That's what it's all about. So there would be no hindrance to that occurring. So let's do this. We're not going to do, as I said, the Apostles' Creed, but we will read this frequently. because this is what we need to understand and learn, and we need to have this in the forefront of our thinking, and we need to meditate upon these things and really come to understand what the mystery is, the mystery of godliness is. So read it with me, 1 Timothy 3.16, Great is the mystery of godliness. He who was revealed in the flesh was vindicated in the spirit, seen by angels, proclaimed among the nations, believed on in the world, and taken up in glory." Okay, we did that. We accomplished our mission in doing that. So once again, you see that is most important, central to our learning of Christ in the local assembly. With these things in view, let's continue. So here in the first several passages of 1 Timothy chapter 5, Paul addresses the relationship of believers, one to another, in the church. That is, how the pastor should view and instruct the members of his congregation. How he acts and interacts. with those who are in his congregation, who God has given him in his congregation, the decency, the courtesy, the dignity, and the respect, all of which are ingredients of agape, that is virtue love, that must be shown to one and all, in and among those who are believers in Christ. In John 13, 34, Jesus says, here's the new commandment, the 11th, that I give to you. You must love one another, even as I have loved you. It's all order that you also love one another. By this, all men will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another. So now 1 Timothy 5, turn there please. Verse one. Starts out with the elder statesmen of the church. We have a few of those. He says, Paul instructs Timothy, an older man, do not rebuke. Don't rebuke an older man. Rather, appeal to him as though he were your father. And the younger men, don't rebuke them either, but treat them as though they are your brothers. The NLT says it like this, never speak harshly to an older man, but appeal to him respectfully as though he were your own father, and talk to the younger men as you would to your own brothers. See, when I speak to Jim or to Dan, I speak to them as though they were my father. And since they're old enough to be my father, it's easy for me to do." See, the young whippersnapper that I am. They're eight years older than I am, and couldn't they possibly be my father? No, I don't think so. Next he says, in verse 2, women! I'm not going to use any of you women as examples here. I wouldn't dare. They say, Jim and Dan say unkind things about me all the time, so I feel free to do that with them, too. We're like brothers. Anyway, we are brothers. So next he says, women treat as mothers. It just says women as mothers. Older women as mothers. They're presbuteras. instead of past Buddha Rose press Buddha Ross women we have the accusative feminine singular women yeah older women as mothers and then he says neo-terrorists younger women as sisters. You don't look at younger women with anything other than sisterhood in view. There are sisters. You don't have thoughts, terrible thoughts about your sister, do you? And stop having terrible thoughts about young women, men. Treat them as though they're your sisters. You look at them and you say, that's my sister. Then you won't have any problem with lust or bad thoughts or anything of the sort. That's my sister. And I love my sister. And treat her with dignity and respect. So the older women as mothers, the younger women as sisters. That is in all purity. This is describing, all these things are describing our church family, those we meet and greet each week, once, twice, sometimes thrice, or more times, in our interactions with people in the church. Some of us have friends and we see them all the time, and others we see once or twice a week. Inside and outside the church, those we come to know very well, Those we learn the Word of God with, that we pray with, and that hopefully we pray for. Rarely, if ever, do we find fault with them, argue with them, lash out at them, insult them, et cetera, like unfortunately we do with our natural family members, though it should not be. It usually is less than it should be, that is our positive response on the positive end, and more than it should be on the negative end, that is with family members. So here we go. Treat your natural family. This is a lesson that's contained in this passage. Treat your natural family like you do your spiritual family. It should be the other way around. Treat your spiritual family like you do your natural family. No. In today's world, treat your natural family like you do your spiritual family. Put your best foot forward. I speak to myself first and foremost. How about you? Does it pain you just a little? A little jab? Never hurts to get a little jab, because it might be the Holy Spirit who's calling you on it. So, treat your family, natural family, like you do your spiritual family, your spiritual family like you do your natural family, in terms of preference and respect and dignity and awe. So, treat your natural family like you do your spiritual family, and in some instances, vice versa. You would not say to me, none of you, I don't think you would anyway, you better not, that shirt looks ridiculous on you. Or, you are really letting yourself go. or you act like your mother, or like your father, or like the devil. Would you say that to me? No, you don't know me well enough. Rather than you remind me of Jesus because I see him in you. I know you're a believer in him, therefore you're in Christ. I don't know you after the flesh anymore. The question emerges, who are your true relatives? Who do you consider them to be? The saying is true, you can choose your friends, but you cannot choose your relatives. God chooses those for you. God put both of them, all of them in your life. We're all related, certainly in the flesh by first birth, to Adam. But that's as far as it goes, and that ends when we die. We're not related to Adam anymore. Ends at death. Whereas those who are in Christ are related eternally, and therefore, by longevity, reason of eternity, will always together isn't that comforting all of us will always be together I'll always know you and as my family you'll always be my family here there and everywhere forever now and forever that's a comforting thought that you'll be my family forever truly you are truly we are family so Matthew 12 46 says, while Jesus was speaking to the crowds, behold, his mother and brothers were standing outside. they were they wanted to speak to him there was huge crowds there someone said to him behold your mother and your brothers are standing outside seeking to speak to you but Jesus answered the one who was telling him and said who is my mother I was gonna I was hoping my mother would be here today I could say she is my mother she really is my mother and my sister and a mother to me in Christ but anyway He says, who is my mother and who are my brothers? And stretching out his hand toward his disciples, he said, behold, my mother, my brothers, and whoever does the will, for whoever does the will of my Father who is in heaven, He is my brother and she is my sister and mother. Luke 8 19 it's quoted it like this Luke quotes it like this and his mother and brothers came to him and they were unable to get to him because of the crowd and it was reported to him your mother and your brothers are standing outside wishing to see you but he answered and said to them my mother and my brothers are those who hear the word of God and keep it I like that better. That gives you more of a sense of what he's talking about. The Word of God is their first love. We're related by the Word and the Spirit. Related forever by the Word and the Spirit in union with Christ. So here Jesus confirms that which is true for me and you in the family of God, in the body of Christ. Those who do the will of the Father are the closest and most enduring of relatives. now and forever. Yes, those who hear the Word of God and keep it ever before their eyes, forever hidden in their heart where it resides and circulates, saturates and marinates the inner life down to the marrow of the bones. In Hebrews 4.12, for the word of God is alive and powerful, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the dividing asunder of the soul and the spirit, the joints and the marrow, and is able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart. So what is the Father's will? Jesus said, those who are my brothers and sisters and fathers and mothers are those who do the will of God. So what is the will of God? He says, for whoever does the will of God, he says, for whoever does the will of my Father who is in heaven is my brother, sister, and mother. Well, first of all, it is believing in Christ, which is the will of God. Believing in Christ is God and Savior, 1 Timothy 2, 4a, where God desires all men to believe in Christ, all men to be saved, and then after salvation to come to epinosis aletheia, or full understanding and knowledge of the truth. First, it is believing in Christ. Second, it is growing gratitude in 1 Thessalonians 5, 18. It says, be thankful for Everything for this is the will of God. Oh, could it say it any more plainly? No. This is the will of God for you in Christ Jesus. Each and every one of you in Christ Jesus. And then... Third phase of God's will, Zoni 3, is personal, progressive, experiential sanctification. In 1 Thessalonians 4.3, which means to be filled with the Spirit. In Ephesians 5.18, to be filled with the Word. In John 17.17, he says, sanctify them, Father, by the truth, thy word is truth. Colossians 3.16, let the word of Christ richly indwell your heart. 1 Timothy 2.4b, come to a full knowledge of the truth. There you go. There's the will of God. Believing in Christ as God and Savior, growing gratitude, personal progressive experiential sanctification. That's 1, 2, 3. There you go. That's all you need to do. There's three things. What must I do? All three things. Believe, hope, and love. Faith, hope, and love. These three abide. It's the great trifecta of the spiritual life. Faith, hope, and love. Gold, silver, precious stones. Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Body, soul, and spirit. Threes. All threes. Three things. What's necessary? One thing to create the three things. Faith, hope, and love. All comes from the word. Because what is the word? The apprehension. of the truth of God's Word is faith. Hope is the assimilation of God's Word, and love is the application of God's Word. And you fulfill the 11th commandment, that you love as Jesus loved. His love was based on the Word in his soul, and he was the Word of God. Next, verse three, there you go, you got the will of God. You keep it, and you're the sister, brother, mother, and father that Jesus intends you to be. Verse three, it says, next we got the subject of widows. Back then, there was no welfare, there was no life insurance, and no food stamps, etc., etc. So, other people had to take care of those who did not. have any means or funds to support them after, say for example, the husband would die. He was working every day and they lived hand-to-mouth, month-to-month, week-to-week, day-to-day. So he says there, he says then, he says, Kairos, that's widows, Kairos, ex- E-R-O-S, or C-H-E-R-O-S, K-R-O-S. Widows. And he says, honor, honor widows, those who ontos, indeed, those who are indeed widows, truly widows. Widows are women whose husbands have died. Those specified as widows, indeed, are women who are not only without a living husband but also without any secondary family or financial support. He goes on to tell us about that. In verse 4 he says here, he says, but if the widow who has children or grandchildren let them first take care of, show piety to, take responsibility for their own household, and give repayment or repay the parents That is, those who raised you, those who supported you, you owe them that. If they need your support, you give them that support. Don't be like the Pharisees who would say, Corban, the support I would have given you, mother and father, I've given to the Lord, so I can't support you, which Jesus calls hypocrisy and evil. So he says, This is acceptable, let the family support them, acceptable in the sight of God. Charity begins at home. This is instruction for those who have unsupported widows in their natural family and or the church family, those who are widows in the church. Verse 5 says, one but one who is indeed a widow, again has no family or secondary source of support, but who is indeed a widow and alone, hopes upon God, one has nowhere else to go except the hope upon God and continues in prayer and supplication supplication in treaties and in prayer night and day where church support for such widows is concerned are very specific conditions and qualifications number one is she must be in a real need she must be devoted to the Lord to his word to the body, and to prayer—continuous prayer. Verse 6 says—you'll see how this all falls together in just a moment—in verse 6 says, but she who is living in wanton pleasure has died. That's what it literally says. So there should never be financial support for any woman who is not intent on a life of single devotion to Christ. Those are the only ones that get or qualify for support in the church. As we'll see in a moment, all such support is also age-dependent. So look at verse 7. It says here, so that they will be, anyone who is in that circumstance or situation, including the church, will be above reproach. Then he says, "...but if anyone does not provide for his own," that is, his own natural family members, And especially for those of his household, he has denied the faith. If he's a believer and he does not provide for his household, he is denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever. First and foremost, we provide for our own, for our children, our parents, our grandparents, as the case may be, as a necessity, as it is necessitated to do so, we do so. Those who would defer their financial support to the church, allowing those at home to suffer need, are according to these passages denying the faith. They're denying the faith if they do this. Not even an unbeliever would deny those in his family. He says he's worse than an unbeliever, because not even an unbeliever. would deny those in his family, in his household, the support that they need. Here, natural affection, which is family affection or love, sees to it that all who belong to the family are taken care of, amply supplied, taken care of. This is normal and right in the sight of men and in the sight of God, as we're told in the previous passage. This is not the role of the church to provide welfare assistance to people where the following circumstances exist. Only then will it be appropriate to help support individuals who have no means. So it's rare that this would occur. Verse 9 says, a widow, again we're still on the subject of widows, a widow cannot be enrolled if she is less than 60 years old and having been the wife of one man having one husband the wife of one husband no black widows allowed in the Widows Club those who have having buried several husbands under questionable circumstances we see them all the time on forensic files and And always, they're always looking for somebody else to support them afterwards or getting insurance policies, etc. Those who are always immediately able to land another one, as soon as that one's gone, they land another at will. Rather, one who was married once and was faithful to her beloved husband, who since died, and was unable to provide life insurance or an ongoing stream of financial support. This was a time in history when there was no life insurance, there was no health insurance, no social security, no welfare or food stamps. So somebody had to care for widows and orphans. James says that's true religion, to care for widows and orphans. Anyway, so verse 10, he says, having a reputation one who is qualified as a widow, would have a reputation for good works, and if she brought up children, if she has shown hospitality to strangers, if she has washed the saints' feet, if she has assisted those in distress, if she has devoted herself to every good work. Sounds like she has to be a goody-goody-goody, doesn't it? I think it's ruling out most. So the list of qualifications goes on, so that seemingly no one would qualify, except for a very select few. she herself being an agent or angel of mercy would have that same mercy in the end God would see to it Jesus said it in Matthew 5 7 blessed are the merciful for yes they shall receive indeed they shall receive mercy and in this case it would be so so that next it says by deeds all her good deeds and if we talked about that already in one sense As is true for all of us, we will reap what we've sown. And she would reap what she has sown. If she has sown to the Spirit, she'll reap life and peace, no question about it. And if to the flesh, a harvest of corruption. As a believer, you can have wonderful golden years, or the final years of your life could be years of rust and decay. And so we want to sow to the Spirit. But remember, God is able, even ready, willing, and able to restore the years that the locust and the canker worm has eaten. Has anybody here experienced that? Yes. Then I will make up to you for the years that the swarming locust has eaten, the creeping locust, I hate them, they're creepy, the stripping locust, and the gnawing locust, my great army, which I sent among you. They eat up all the superfluous, superficial things and the negative things in your life, the things that make you the miserable creature that you once were and you're not now, you're a new creature in Christ. Verse 11 says, back to our passage, but refuse to put younger widows on the list. Don't put them on the list. For when they feel sensual desires, in disregard of Christ, though they made a pledge that they're not going to remarry and they will depend upon the church for their sustenance. It's not going to happen because when, not if, but when they feel sensual desires in disregard of Christ. They want to get married, and they will. They will do. Then he says, verse, thus incurring judgment or condemnation, because they have set aside their previous pledge. They made a pledge that they were going to do this. So you can't have the younger women on the roles of widows or welfare recipients in the church. He says, thus incurring judgment or condemnation, because they have set aside their previous pledge. See that? So, they say they're devoting themselves to Christ, and then they find they can't keep their pledge. Therefore, do not permit the younger women to seek or to have the support of the church. They have to be over 60. Because no one wants you ladies after you're 60. Or us, for that matter. That is, unless men have money, then young women want men with money, even old men with money. How does that work? It's not right, because it'll never be right. No one will be satisfied. No one. Don't permit the younger women the support of the church. Verse 13 says, at the same time, they also learn, if you were to give the support to the younger widows, they learn to be lazy. idle is the word, and the word is argos. They learn to be idle or lazy, and that means free from labor. That means at leisure. They're still able-bodied and could work or earn a living or do something to earn income, earn money, support themselves, but have chosen rather to be lazy or idle and have somebody else take care of them, shunning the labor which one ought to perform. That's what Argos means. It says they learn to be lazy, and then it says coming or going around houses, but not only idle or lazy, but also gossips. That's all we need. Have somebody that has nothing better to do than to talk about things, spread things around, spread gossip around, talk about other people, judge other people, and cause dissension in the body of Christ. And busy bodies, placing their proboscis where it doesn't belong. Your proboscis is your nose. And other projections of the body. Speaking things, he says, that are unnecessary. unneeded. Deonto, which means not necessary. There will always be those looking for a free ride, who by doing so take away from those who are truly needy, and that's what verse 14 talks about, introduces here. He says, I want therefore the younger widows to marry. raise children, keep house, to give no occasion of favor to the enemy for reproach, or to bring reproach upon the church. These policies addressing church welfare were given by Paul in order to eliminate all but the truly needy from receiving financial support so that the majority of the money that is donated to the church that is given would be used to finance preaching and teaching of the word in more and more places to more and more people, more and more locations. The help that the church provides should always be a combination of spiritual as well as material, and only when all of these conditions are met. As you can see, there will be very few that qualify. Today, there are many relief organizations as well as government assistance programs that help the poor, along with state and charity aid, private foundations for charity aid, for the disabled. If you have anyone in your family that's disabled, then you know that there's much in the way of money and personal services that are available to people that need them, and to children that have disabilities, etc. Therefore, after the pastor and outreach expenses are paid, in the church, which is first, the money left over should certainly be used to meet urgent needs in the congregation or community. And I think we do that here as the need arises. Verse 15, he says, for some have already turned aside to follow Satan. Really? Yes, they have. So he says, already, for already? Some turned aside after Satan. Here Paul warns of those who have ulterior motives and would attempt to use or abuse the church and the finances of the church. Some are out to deceive, to swindle, to rob money and benefits that are intended for the truly needy, that somebody really needs, and they don't. Just like the devil, they lie, they cheat, they steal, they sponge, they gossip, they cause dissension, and make trouble of all kinds. And some who are widows tempt and incite men to sin and destroy marriages, families, and entire churches. Proverbs has much to say about that. the wanton woman the scripture here says she's dead even though she's alive she's spiritually dead even though she's physically alive verse 16 says if any woman who is a believer has widows she must assist them that means that there are widows in your family and you have the means to do it then you assist them don't let somebody else or the church don't burden the church which he says next and the church must not be burdened so that it may assist those who are truly widows if anyone qualifies according to the specifications and qualifications laid out here the policies laid out by the Apostle Paul for church welfare for those who have no means of support so he says goes on to say that Those who are widows indeed that need assistance can get assistance under these circumstances. Lest someone would join the church for this reason, the requirement to care for one's family is incumbent upon one and all. In other words, he's saying that if there are people in your family and you can support them, you support them, don't let them become a burden to the church. The church exists for one reason, for the teaching and learning. of the person and thinking of Jesus Christ. Anything else is far and away secondary and exceptional. It's just exceptional that these things would even occur in the church today. See, the church is a school. not a hospital, and certainly not a welfare agency. So next, he says, he's going to tell us where the funds go. I didn't write this or make it up. And you can tell, in your own discerning spirit, you could test the spirits to see if they're from God and see that this is the spirit in which is presented, which Paul is presenting these things. He says next, he says, elders, who are pastors, I already told you. There are three titles for pastors. There's poimen didaskos, pastors who teach, or shepherds who teach. Then there's episkopos, overseers. And then there's four, actually. And then there's presbuteros, which are the old men of the ship, the captain of the ship, which is a pastor. And then also there is diakonos, minister, general term for ministers. That can be deacons and or. pastors. It's used for pastors and for deacons, diakonos. So he says here, Presbyteroi, elders or pastors who rule well That is, who keep their nose to the grindstone and make sure that there's an orderly place and a facility and an environment for maximum learning of the Word of God, who teaches the Word of God in isagogic categories and by exegesis, the ICE method of instruction, and brings those along in the Word of God, teaches the mystery of godliness and teaches the full counsel of the Word of God and holds back nothing that is profitable to his congregation, including these subjects, you say, why do we need to hear about these? Because they're in the Bible, and because you belong to a church, and because you have widows in your family, or some of you may be widows. So you can see how all of these things fit together, how they all work in the plan of God. Isn't it great? Say, I don't want to hear about these subjects. I want to hear things more personal, more applicable, more pertinent, relevant to me. These are very pertinent, very relevant, very personal to each and every one of us. So just listen patiently. So elders or pastors who rule well are considered worthy, I didn't say it, axios, it means they are worthy, then he says of diples, times, double honor, it means that he should be well paid. And I am well paid in many different ways by you in the congregation and by the Lord and other things that God has given me and a means of support that is beyond anything that I would ever even think that I would have in the end because I didn't make very good decisions in my life, and yet the Lord has supported me every step of the way, and I am rich, spiritually rich. man with this big wonderful family that I love dearly. Mothers, fathers, brothers, and sisters. So, he says, those who rule well are worthy of double honor, especially those laboring tirelessly in speaking and teaching. It says logo and didaskalia, which means speaking and teaching, word and doctrine, especially those who labor tirelessly in word and doctrine. This is the primary and proper use church funds. First and foremost, those collected weekly is a freewill offering from those who are spiritually motivated to give, that is to support the pastor. I'm not saying this for my purpose. We're here in the Scriptures. I just got to address these things quickly, briefly, and we'll move on. That is, in order that he might be free to devote himself to studying the word rather than making a living for himself and for his family. You know how it works. Next, he tells you why. In verse 18, he says, for the scripture says, it speaks, the scripture speaks, for this reason, the ox do not muzzle while he is threshing. And the laborer is worthy of his wages. Here he earns his pay. He puts in the time and the effort, put forth along with care and concern, and has to deal with the opposition for many quarters that he experiences on behalf of the church and against the word. the truth of the Word of God. And so, next, here we are given other warnings regarding the ministry of the pastor in the local assembly and what people would do to them, except Paul addresses it here and tells them, don't do it. Touch not. Lay not your hand against God's servant. It says, do not receive an accusation of wrongdoing against an elder, a pastor, except on the basis of two or three witnesses. Okay? Got that? Don't do it. And I'll try to be on my best behavior. Verse 20 says, those who continue though in sin, if there are such ones, rebuke in the presence of all, so that the rest also will be fearful of entering into that kind of conduct or sinning in that way. So we know that's true. Then he says, I solemnly charge you, Timothy, all pastors over the course of church history, in the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, this was given to me as a charge at my ordination, and of his chosen angels, to maintain these principles without bias. doing nothing in a spirit of partiality, and in this way imitating God, imitating Christ. Then he says in verse 22, do not lay hands on anyone too hastily and thereby share responsibility for the sins of others, keep yourself free from sin. In other words, don't ordain a neophyte, someone who is new. They have to be in the battle for some time, battle-tested, order to be a candidate for the ministry, for ordination into the ministry. We've done it only once here, and that's with Terry Gump, and as you know, he's very well qualified, and the time will come for others here also who have received the call of the Lord to preach the gospel to the next generation. So we'll always have them in mind in prayer and consider them also. But gain the experience. It's not going to happen immediately. There will be a period of time in between, probably seven years, probably, before it will occur. In those seven years, you'll be tried and tested and battle-tested and found to be a servant of Christ, or a dead man, because you must die and be raised in order to enter into the supernatural ministry of the Word of God in a local assembly, to be a pastor, to be one who watches for the souls of others. and watches himself, takes great pains in these things, studies the Word of God endlessly, tirelessly, brings forth the message of the Word of God, brings the full counsel of God's Word, holds back nothing that's profitable to the congregation. In Acts 20.24, So, now he tells Timothy something else. He says, Timothy, your stomach's bothering you. You've told me this before. You have a nervous stomach. Probably bouts of diarrhea, more than likely, because you're nervous. Nervous stomach. So, no longer drink only water. That could be part of the problem. Water at those days wasn't real pure, could have been contaminated water, wherever he was stationed at the time in Corinth or wherever he was, Ephesus, Corinth, and he says, but use a little wine medicinally, not to get drunk or even to relax, but for the sake of your stomach and your frequent Digestive ailments. That's what he's talking about. Digestive ailments. So, that's verse 23. We'll finish this up. And he says, "...the sins of some men..." I might do this on Tuesday because this deserves some more in-depth treatment. He says, "...the sins of some men are quite evident, going before them to judgment, For others, their sins follow after them. I think I will do that on Tuesday. Likewise, also, deeds that are good are quite evident, and those which are otherwise, other than good, cannot be concealed. And so that takes care of 1 Timothy, the policy and instruction to pastors in the rules of church conduct and church welfare given to those who are needy in the church, and paying pastors, and the role of the church, not as a hospital, but as a school, as a university, the University of Christ, and not as a welfare. and charitable institution, as some people think that it is. And you always see those that come to churches and try to get people to give them money because they are hurting, and in some instances we can do that. If there is a spiritual purpose associated with it, we will do it. If it's led by the Holy Spirit, indeed we will do it. We don't hold back anything that's good for anybody. If the Lord, if it seems good to us and to the Holy Spirit, we will do it. And we've done it wrongly before, but we want to do it in the right way. We want to honor Jesus Christ in all that we do—that is, to express love and not to find fault with people, and not to receive anyone with doubtful disputations, and to love one another as the family of God, the family of God that we are, those who will be family members and relatives in Christ in a more significant and substantial way than anybody has in their natural and physical relationship with family members. So this is the family of God, the purpose for the Church of God, as laid down by the wise master builder of the Church, who is the Apostle Paul, 1st Corinthians 3 10 the one who was indeed the destroyer of churches that God made the wise master builder the one who was the chief of sinners that God made the chief apostle of the church age two-thirds of the New Testament were written by Paul and he has all of the information and the revelation of the mystery for called by common confession you can say it with me By common confession, great is the mystery of godliness, he who was revealed in the flesh, was vindicated in the spirit, seen by angels, proclaimed among the nations, believed on in the world, and taken up into glory. To that we say, Amen. Let's pray. Father, thank you for your Word. Vicki, if you would get ready, please, if I could have my ushers, please. Father, we collect for the dissemination, the money for the dissemination of the Word of God to pay the pastor, and with anything left over of those, to help those who have real needs in the body of Christ, which we are ready to do, Father, ready to meet urgent needs, when you direct those needs and give attention to them and show us what they truly are, then we do it, which is a wonderful thing, a privilege, and a pleasure to do it. Thank you for the direct and specific instruction from the Word of God so that we might know how to conduct ourselves in the church of the living God, the pillar and ground. the truth may we use these things wisely for your glory the glory and honor of Christ bless the offering in Jesus name Amen if we could all stand