And we have finally made it to the last chapter in our study of the book of 1 Timothy. And I've been praying about it Lord willing. I think we're going to move on to 2 Timothy when we finish this. I've been reading ahead a little bit, some things there in God's book, my heart about. But when we began this, I think we began this chapter, maybe back toward the first of the year, we began looking at this on Wednesday nights. I told you that 1st, 2nd Timothy, Titus, or what we call pastoral epistles, which are direct epistles to the pastor. But when we began this, I think we began this direction, maybe back toward the first of the year, we began looking at these three books. But we began looking at this not only in light of the pastor, but in light of the church ministry as a whole. And my thought on this was what the Lord has given Timothy, had given Timothy here through the Apostle Paul for his personal ministry. But there's a lot of things that we as a church can learn from our church ministry as a whole. And as we're reaching out and being the local church that God would have us to be. So we've seen some great things in this book. I've enjoyed the study of it, I hope you have. And tonight we want to begin in chapter 6, the final chapter, and begin looking at some things in this chapter that I think are very relevant to the day we're living in, and some things that are happening among God's people, the study of it I hope you have. I want to remind you that the context of the book is to the pastor and is to Timothy in the office of the bishop where he's at in Ephesus. But again, I think there are many things that all of us can glean from out of this chapter also. So, if you're able to not, let's stand here now. I want to remind you that the context of the book is to the pastor and is to Timothy in the office of the bishop where he's at in Ephesus. But again, I think there are many things that all of us can glean from out of this chapter also, so if you're able tonight, let's stand together, we reverence God's word, and let's just read the first six verses tonight, and Lord, when we will get through those six verses this evening, there's so much in here, and we'll see what the Lord has for us tonight. Chapter six of 1 Timothy, beginning in verse one. The Bible says, let as many servants as are faithful and beloved partakers worthy of all honor, that in the name of God and His doctrine be not blasphemed. And they that have believing masters, let them not despise them, because they are brethren, but rather do good service, because of their holiness. He is proud, knowing nothing, but doting about questions and strives and exhorts. Whereof cometh envy, strife, railings, evil surmisings, perverse disputings of men and corrupt minds, and destitute of the truth, he is supposing that nothing is godliness, from such withdraw thyself. Whereof cometh envy, strife, railings, evil surmisings, Let's go to the Lord in prayer this evening. Father, thank you again for the privilege to be able to stand tonight. Thank you, Lord, for what you've done thus far in the service. You've blessed our hearts, the choir singing, and the special music tonight. And Lord, I pray just for a few moments, would you turn us to your word where we get our help from. And I pray that you'd speak to your people tonight. Use us as a vessel, Lord, to bring the message you've laid on our hearts. And God, as we go verse by verse through this continuing study of this great book, I pray that you would develop us to be a word where we get our help from, and I pray that you'd speak to your people tonight, use us as a vessel, Lord, that we can do what you've called us to do in these days. And Lord, we'll thank you and we'll praise your name for it is in Jesus' name we ask. Amen. You may be seated. Now as we begin the chapter tonight, if you're familiar with the things that you've given us here, there's really a reoccurring theme, and I believe these days, The theme verse, if there was a theme verse we could point out, is found in verse number 6. The Apostle Paul tells Timothy the pastor, but Godliness with contentment is great gain. And you find a comparison really throughout All the verses of chapter 6 we could point out is found in verse number 6. The Apostle Paul tells Timothy the pastor, but God for us, with contentment, gives a great gain. And you find a comparison really throughout all the verses of chapter 6. Again, the theme there is to the pastor, the primary application is to God's man as he's doing the work of the bishop or the pastor. But I also see some truth here that we can glean from tonight concerning this thought of godliness and gain. And Paul deals very expressly with Timothy about the essence of things that he's going to face, some things that are going to tempt him concerning gain versus godliness. We live in a gain-based society and we live in a monetary drift Paul feels very materialistic about this and we understand tonight that we have to have finances, we have to have money, there's nothing wrong with money within itself. I heard an old preacher say years ago, it's okay to have money as long as money doesn't have you. How true that is. But we've seen in our society even tonight that we have to have finances, we have to have money, there's nothing wrong of God that they go after gain instead of godliness. And Paul deals throughout this chapter with that thought of godliness versus gain or gain versus godliness. Now, I want to give you a couple definitions and give you a verse or two here and then we'll get into our text tonight. people of God that they go after doing tonight instead of Godliness. And Paul deals throughout this chapter with that thought of servant relationship. Now, most commentators that I've read after about this will immediately take these first two or three verses and relate them to the thought of an employee or an employer. And of course, you could do that. You could take these Now, most commentators that I've read have that truth, but I don't believe that's the real reason why the Spirit of God moved on the Apostle Paul to pen these verses to Timothy, the pastor. I believe that this master-servant relationship that we're going to look at tonight, the Apostle Paul, and ultimately the Holy Ghost, was wanting God, excuse me, wanting Timothy to lay hold of the truth The Lord being his master and he being the servant of the Lord. I believe that this master-servant relationship I'm going to look at tonight, the Apostle Paul. Now, you find here a couple of definitions. You find God is mentioned in our text, which is a respect. Toward God and His goodness. And then you find the contrasting word here, which is gain. And the word gain means an acquisition of money or goods. Now, again, it's not a sin. It's not wrong to have money. We ought to work. We ought to have what we need to provide for our families. benefit those that are without and do. And then you find the contrasting word here, which is gain. And the word gain means an acquisition of money or goods. Now again, it's not a sin. It's not wrong to have money. We ought to work. We ought to give because they are Christians. And they are a child of God. They'll give their finances to the furtherance of the church, to put missionaries on the floor of the church. And that's great. I think that's wonderful. God has placed that in the lap of some individuals that were able to handle that and would do that with the Christians. And they are a child of God. They'll give their finances to the furtherance of the gospel and the working of the ministry of the local church. And that's great. I think that's wonderful. God has placed that in the lap And that's what I want to deal with tonight. Now, again, godliness is the respect for God and His goodness. Gain is an acquisition of money or goods. There is another verse in Matthew 6, 24 where Jesus uses somewhat of the same illustration that we're going to look at tonight. Matthew 6, 24, the Bible said no man can serve two masters and he will hate the one and love the other. Or else he will hold to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and mammoth. So there's very distinct battle lines drawn throughout 1 Timothy chapter 6. And we're going to look at that beginning tonight and through the next few weeks. We'll probably be in this chapter three or four weeks depending on how the Lord leads. But tonight I want to begin in verse 1. And my fault this evening for the message portion tonight is this, the proper desire for the servant of God. There's a proper desire that is pinned down here in 1 Timothy 6 tonight in the first six verses that ought to be in the heart of anyone that has a desire to serve God. Now, if we can honestly say this, the proper desire for any pastor ought to be a servant of God, a minister, That's what the word minister means, to be a servant. But then that carries down to every child of God. Whether you're a preacher or not, whether you're in a position of an office in a local church, or a work in a local church, any pastor ought to be a servant of God. Minister, that's what the word minister means, to be a servant. But then that carries down to every child of God. Whether you're a preacher or not, whether you're in a position of an office in a local church, or a work in a local church, to serve God and not become a self-serving individual. Our generation right now, and I know it's always been an element, but our generation right now probably is the most self-serving generation that's ever been on planet Earth and having a proper desire as a servant to serve God and not become a self-serving individual. Our generation and what they desire, instead of looking to God and then looking to others as they serve God. As you're going to serve God tonight, you're going to be intertwined, very selfish, very self-absorbed, very prideful. They go hand in hand and you cannot serve others effectively without serving God. So instead of looking to God and then looking to others as they serve God. And if you're going to serve God tonight, you're going to be intertwined. I want you to notice tonight the aptitude of the servants. As the Apostle Paul, again under the inspiration of the Spirit of God, opens up this chapter, he begins with an analogy of a servant and a master relationship. Now we know in Bible days that slavery was something that was going on. Matter of fact, we have an entire New Testament book Again, under the inspiration of the Spirit of God, opens up this chapter. He begins with an analogy of a servant and a master relationship. Now, we know in Bible days that slavery was something that was going on. As a matter of fact, we have an entire New Testament book about a slave, which is Philemon. And what a tremendous gospel truth is found in that book. And, you know, people say men are free. And how true that is. The worst slave, I read after one commentator mentioned, an individual that's bound by sin needs to be released by the glorious truth of the gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ. But again, in Bible days, there's references to that because it was in the culture in the days that the Word of God was penned down. Now, as we look at this tonight, again, you can look at it in several different ways. You can see an employer-employee relationship here, as many allude to. But again, in Bible days, there's references to that because it was The servant and the master is the Lord is trying to get Timothy in the mindset of saying, Timothy, if you'll serve me, I'm the master you need to be looking at. I'm the master that you need to be focused on. I'm the one you need to give your life to. I'm reminded in Exodus 21 of that Hebrew servant when he went to the door. Post and when he had spent his days and was able to go free, I'm the master you need to be looking at. I'm the master you need to be focused on. I'm the one you need to be in your life to. I reminded in Exodus 21 of that Hebrew servant when he went to the door of Post and when he had spent his days and was able to go free, Yet the Master had been good to him, giving him a home through your spiritual ear. That would signify that you are his servant for life. And when you do that, he is telling you it will be the blessing in your walk with God. Now notice with me here beginning in verse 1. Look at the position of the servant with the proper attitude. He said, let as many servants as are under the yoke count their own masters worthy of all honor. And when you do that, I'm telling you to be a blessing in your walk with God. Now notice when you hear the beginning of verse 1, look at the position of the servant where Jesus said, let as many servants as are under the yoke count their own masters worthy of all honor. You notice the position is under the yoke. One of the most fire-flavored scriptures is a negative thing, but to the child of God that's walking in the Spirit, the yoke is a positive thing. It's a good thing. I think about the nation of Israel. I think about the Hebrews when they were under the hard taskmasters of Pharaoh and how their bondage was heavy on them. And then the Lord brought them out and rescued them and redeemed them by power and by blood. It's a good thing. I think about the nation of Israel. I think about the Hebrews when they were under the hard task masters of Pharaoh. and how the bondage was heavy on them. As a matter of fact, in Matthew 11, He said, my yoke is easy and my burden is light. If you're not in the yoke, you're missing out tonight. If you're not in the yoke of each, when you get in that yoke, He's the one doing the pulling. He's the one doing the labor. He's the one that's doing the carrying and we are attached to Him and enjoying the power that He is putting forth in our life. And getting in all the benefit while the Lord is the one that's really doing everything in our life. It's an amazing truth. He's the one doing the labor. He's the one that's doing the carrying and we are attached to Him and enjoying the power that He is putting forth in our life. In the life of every human being, we look at authority as a negative thing. Our flesh hates authority. The spirit of man, little s, doesn't like authority, doesn't like to be told what to do. We don't like rules and regulations and definites and guidelines and absolutes in our life. But for the child of God, let's walk with God as a negative thing. We understand that God's authority is a blessing in our lives. We understand it's a good thing and it's a proper thing. So here we see that position of authority alluded to in this attitude of the servant when he tells us here. But for the child of God that's walking God in the length of time, we understand that God's authority is a blessing in our lives. We understand it's a good thing and it's a proper thing. So here we see that position of authority alluded to in this attitude of the servant. When he tells us here, he said, as many servants as are under the yoke count their own masters worthy of all honor. There's a position that's shown here, but then there's a passion that's shown here in verse number one, to honor the master that we are subject to. And again, you can't complain about it you've got a job, I know none of us like to get up and go to work, the flesh does it. Listen, this is another message, now be careful about that, as a child of God, people are watching you, puts food on the table, takes care of the things that you need, and then we go to work so many times and we complain about it, how we don't like our supervisor, we don't like this or that, and we go on and on, be thankful you've got a job, be thankful that you've got a paycheck at the end of the week, and a lot of people don't, But nevertheless, you find here that there is a passion in the heart of that servant that is right with God, and that is to honor his master. He said, count the old masters worthy of all honor. And if you look at the ultimate master tonight, that is the Lord Himself. But nevertheless, you find here that there is a passion in the heart of that servant He's not like those Egyptians who honor His Master. He said, count their own masters worthy of all honor. And if we look at the ultimate Master tonight, that is the Lord Himself. And if there's anyone worthy of honor tonight, it is the Lord. He is a wonderful Master. He's a gracious Master. He's a master that's above and beyond any other master. And by the way, tonight, you are going to have a master in your life, whether you know it or not. There's a lot of people tonight saying, oh, I'm free. No man owns me. Nobody owns me. I don't serve anybody. He's a great master. You've got a master that's above and beyond any other master. And by the way, tonight, you are going to have a master in your life, whether you know it or not. There's a lot of people tonight who are hungry for me, and loves me, and has my best intentions, and his intentions is my best. That's the kind of master I want, sir. So you find tonight the passion of that servant is to honor that master. And then there's a pleasing mention here also in verse 1, and that's what he said, he said, that's the name of God, and his intentions in our blessing. Now again, that's the kind of master I want, sir. So you find another person, whether it be on the job or whatever it is, and it's pleasing to the Lord Himself. When we honor that master, the Bible tells us and His doctrine of God, that doctrine of godliness. Now again, when we submit to that authority in our life, then we're a master in your life. One of the greatest truths about the Lord Jesus Christ was He did everything on earth that He told Him to do. The Bible tells us that everything He did on planet earth was under the direction of the Father. And He fulfilled that authority in our lives. So if we're going to be Christ-like tonight, then we need to understand especially to submit ourselves to the great Master our Lord Jesus Christ. But also when we have authorities and masters in our life that God has ordained, it would do us well to submit to them. So if we're going to be Christ-like tonight, then we need to understand especially and admit ourselves to the position of the servant with the proper attitude. You find His passion is to honor that master, His pleasing. Here it is to glorify God in what He does, and it would do us well to put ourselves in that position of godliness that is mentioned here. And then in verse 2, notice, you find the position of the servant with the proper attitude. You find His passion is to honor that master, His pleasing. What is he saying? He's saying here, if you've got a believing master, if you have to be blessed enough to have a master, and you're in a slave master situation, and you've got a master that's believing, you're in a great shape. He said that's where believing masters, with the messianists and those that were mentioned there, that was the situation there where the slave If you happen to be blessed enough to have a master and you're in a slave master situation, you've got a master that's believing, then you're in a breakthrough. That's where Philemon was at with Onesimus and those that were mentioned there. That was the situation there where the slave was under the master. What a blessing that is! And what a privilege is we enjoy tonight. So you find that there's a privilege here. Think about the earthly situation, like I said, of having a job or something like that. When we got saved, and I know this is probably the most important thing on our minds at the moment of salvation, but when we got saved, we got more than an escape from hell. What a privilege is we can shout about that from now until the Lord comes back. We got so much more. Think of all the benefits. The psalmist said he's alone with me daily with benefits. Think about all the benefits we have of being under the master of the Lord Jesus Christ. Well, we can keep our mind on that. How we would walk so much closer to the Lord and we would have much more joy in our Christian life if we could see that in our daily walk. And notice a privilege is mentioned here. The master, if he's a believer, it's a great blessing. And then the prophet is summed up here in the latter part of verse number 2. Notice what he says. He said, let them not despise them because they are brethren, but rather do them service because they are faithful And notice a priest protects his minister, the master. And then he tells Timothy, these things teach and exhort. He said, Timothy, this is proper. This is the attitude of a real servant. This is the kind of individual that God has placed here. This is the kind of Christian that has submitted to that authority in his life. And then he tells Timothy, these things teach and exhort. And he's admitted this is proper. This is the attitude of a moral servant. This is the kind of individual that God is pleased with. This is the kind of Christian that has submitted to that authority in his life. Because wherever he may be, but especially the authority of God Himself. And he's given his life wholly and completely That's when you're backed in the corner and you have no other option. God's not looking for your surrender. There's been a lot of times in the time of war where generals have surrendered their troops and it was only a last resort. They didn't want to. Sometimes they didn't have any other choice other than to face death. You know what surrender is? That's when you're backed in the corner and you have no other option. He's looking for us to willingly come to Him and say, yes, Lord, You've saved me. Yes, You've borrowed me and redeemed me, but I want to give You my life willingly and completely and let You be the master of my life. That is lacking tremendously among God's people in this day. A lot of people, they want to get saved, but they don't want to serve. You've got me in control of their life, and I'm telling you, that's foreign to what the Scripture teaches us tonight. Now, the attitude of the servant is mentioned. Now, notice when we get into verse number 3, we find the antithesis of the servant, the right opposite of it. Again, the Spirit of God begins to teach Timothy here, beginning in verse 3, of those that would be contrary to what God would have in a servant. He gives him the contrasting following here. We find the antithesis of the servant, the right opposite of it. Again, the Spirit of God begins to teach Timothy here, beginning in verse 3, of those that would be contrary to what God would have in a servant. Now there's one thing I've learned from studying this book, that everything that's dealt with in 1 Timothy is no doubt it's going on in the church of Ephesus. In verse number 3 we see the contrary is mentioned here. God doesn't use filler words, and he's not writing a book of Timothy just to entertain him. He's penning this book through the apostle to deal with specific situations in the church of Ephesus. So there's no doubt in my mind, according to verse number 3, that there are those that are contrary to what he just gave us in verse 1 and 2. There are those that are teaching a false He's pinning this book through the apostle to deal with specific situations in the church of Ephesus. So there's no doubt, and we'll look into more of that in just a moment, but look at the contrary in verse 3. He said, "...if any man teach otherwise." Now that's very simple to understand. Otherwise, is anything different? I mean, if there's someone that comes in and says, oh, you don't have to submit to authority, and that's the cry of this generation, you're free, do what you want, but look at the contrary in verse 3. He said, if any man teach otherwise, now this is usual, it's all right. No, that's false, that's not true. According to the Word of God. So you find out there are those that are contrary. Now he goes on to tell us this. Not only were there those in Ephesus that were teaching contrariness in this doctrine of godliness, but that contrariness brought a conflict among the people of God. Look further in verse number 3. So you find out there are those that are contrary. and consent not to wholesome words. Evidently, there were some false words, false doctrines. He said the wholesome words, but that contrariness brought a conflict among the people of God. Look further in verse number 3. Again, that lets us know there were those that were in conflict with those that were right. And when you get a conflict, you have turmoil and you have trouble. And he said the wholesome words, even the words of our Lord, to try to silence that conflict and to straighten that conflict out and fix that situation. Again, that lets us know there were those that were in conflict with those that were right. And when you get in conflict, you have turmoil and you have trouble, because I know one thing, if that conflict is left alone, It festers, and it gets bigger, and it gets bigger, and it gets bigger, and eventually, when it blows up, it's a nasty thing when that happens. So I conflict among the body of Christ. I deal with it. I try to deal with it as quick as God will let me deal with it. So here's a doctrinal conflict, and that's probably the most dangerous conflict that there is. It's false doctrine. There's a doctrinal conflict here. There are those that would believe and follow the false teachers, and the Lord knew that, so He moved on the heart of the Apostle Paul to pin this down for Timothy so that he would take note of it and get into the situation and take care of it. There's a doctrinal conflict here. He said that any man would believe and consent not to wholesome words, and the Lord knew that, so He moved on the heart of the Apostle Paul to pin this down for Timothy so that he would take note of it and get into the situation and take care of it. That's shown here. How would Timothy fix this conflict? How would Timothy deal with the conflict? Notice what he said in verse 3. He said, "...and to the doctrine which is according to godliness." He said, even the words of the Lord Jesus Christ. Now notice, it says, "...of godliness, but also of this great shame." So what Paul is telling Timothy, again, under the inspiration of the Spirit, How would Timothy deal with that conflict? Timothy, teach your people that the gain of this world is not what they need to be going after. The gain of life, the things that a man can heap to himself is not the primary focus of a real servant. The primary focus is to submit one's life to God and seek after God's people that the gain of this world is not what they need to be going after. So you find this antithesis is here, the man can heed to himself, it's not the primary focus of a real servant. Antidote for false doctrine is correct doctrine. It's kind of like the counterfeiters, which is the very essence of government, or the ones that study counterfeiters. So you find this antithesis is here, the conflict, the correction determine every counterfeit type of antidote. for us. What they do is they spend so much time studying the real thing. Because when that counterfeit pops up, immediately they know it's counterfeit. And you know what? Immediately you'll say, no, that's not right, that's not right. That's not God's work. You'll know it right off the bat. We've got a lot of God's people today that are destroyed for lack of knowledge. They don't study the Word. They don't meditate on the Scripture. I'm telling you, this is one of those passages that I need some help with immediately. You'll say, no, that's not right. That's not right. That's not God's Word. You'll know it right off the bat. We've got a lot of God's people today that are destroyed for lack of knowledge. They don't study the Word. They don't meditate on the Scripture. I'm telling you, this is one of those When God's people study His Word and get that doctrine in their heart, then that's the best thing to go against what is false. Now, correction is mentioned here. And then notice this when we get to verse 4 and 5. He's talking about confusion now. This is what happens with those that would bring a false doctrine, an anti-godliness doctrine. And the servant, the opposite of a servant is a selfish person. And that's what Timothy needs to combat here. That's what's being dealt with. The worst thing you've ever seen tonight is a selfish church. And they're around. And probably every church. Well, there's no doubt every church has selfish people in them. And I'm telling you, a selfish Christian in a selfish church is absolutely to no benefit of this world. We can't help anybody. We can't touch anybody's life. We can't change anybody's life. If we're wrapped up in ourselves, there are so many churches tonight that all they think about is what they want and what they desire. And I'm telling you, a selfish Christian in a selfish church is absolutely to no benefit of this world. There's a saying many years ago that we can't touch anybody's life. We can't change anybody's life. Sadly, that's the mentality of many of God's people in this day. Lord, help us never become that kind of church tonight. To be the kind of church that's interested in godliness and interested in serving and reaching out is to go be someone calling to serve others. And following God's Word. Now notice this tonight. Notice this confusion that's mentioned here. Let's look at verse 4 with me. To be the kind of church that's interested in godliness and interested in serving and reaching out and how we serve God. We serve God by serving others. And following God's Word. Now notice this tonight. Notice this confusion that's mentioned here. Look at verse 4 with me. In verse 4 now, let me read it to you and then we'll break it down. He said he is proud, knowing nothing, but doting about questions and strifes of words, whereof cometh envy, strife, railings, evil surmisings, perverse disputings of men of corrupt minds, and destitute of the truth. Let me read it to you, then we'll break it down. He said he is proud, knowing nothing, What is Paul saying to Timothy? Look at this. He said, Timothy, the antithesis of the servant is that self-centered person. Self-centeredness brings confusion. There are so many assemblies tonight, so many churches that are confused. They don't know what they believe. You know why? Because everybody's got to have their way. Everybody's got to look their way. Everybody's got to be selfish. Everybody's got to think what they think. is that instead of centering around the Word of God, letting it be the final authority. There are so many assemblies tonight, so many churches that are confused. They don't know what they believe. You know why? Because everybody's got to have their way. Everybody's got to do it their way. Everybody's got to be selfish. Everybody's got to think what they think, believe what they think. Instead of centering around the Word of God, letting it be the final authority, and serving God, when we put ourselves in that servant's position and we serve according to the authority of God, Promotes what I'm about to give you. First of all, you find pride. He said he is proud. Pride is a pride. I listed these in my notes and I want to just go over them quickly to you. All these things that are given to you in verse 45. This anti-servant attitude promotes what I'm about to give you. First of all, you find pride. He said he is proud. You know we've got Mr. Revival and Mr. Big and he comes on the scene and he's self-promoting and I'm not against tent ministries and I'm not against those things but many of them have turned into nothing but self-exaltation. Come see this man and hear these singers and without them we can't have God. their ministry, and many of them even detach themselves from the local church, and they cluster their name out there so that men can give them the accolades that's pride. And many times it rears its ugly head among God's people. That's self-serving, pride in the church, self-serving, having to have their ministry, and many of them even detach themselves from the local church, and they cluster their name out there so that men can give them the accolades He mentions pride, self-exaltation. He mentions this next phrase in verse 4. Knowing nothing but doting about questions and striving to work. This doting about questions simply means a love affair with questioning things. He mentions pride, self-exaltation. Now I'm not talking about analytical thinking. I like to think analytically. I like to examine things. I like to read a Scripture and chew on it, read other Scripture with it, look at it, and think there's nothing wrong with that. But we've got a generation that questions everything. We've got a generation that questions why the sky is blue, why the sun shines, why the authority is supposed to be here, why does God's Word say that? I know a man tonight calls himself a man of God, but all he does is spend his time questioning this Bible. We've got a generation that questions that individual tonight. We've got a generation that questions why the sky is blue. This book is not a book to be questioned. It's a book to be believed tonight. It's a final authority in our life, but it seems like there's rows up a religious generation tonight that is questioning everything that's holy, everything that's right. Why does that happen? It comes from this kind of mentality. This book is not a book to be questioned. It's a book to be believed tonight. It's a final question. Strife. But it seems like there's rose up a religious generation tonight that is questioning everything that's holy. Every individual that's all about gain instead of godliness will be a strife-causing individual. I pastored a few of those before, amen? I mean, you just cringe every time you see them. Oh dear Lord, what are they going to stir up next? You know, it's all about them. It's all about that pleasure. It's all about making them happy. This has to be their way, and that has to be their way, and the music has to be their way, and the message wasn't their way. I'm telling you, God is not pleased with that. I mean, you just cringe every time you see them. Oh dear Lord, what are they going to stir up next? It's gain instead of godliness. It's all about their pleasure. It's all about making them happy. This has to be their way. That has to be their way. That has to be their way. The music has to be their way. The message has to be their way. I'm telling you, God's not pleased with that. And that tears down the unity of the local church. It's gain instead of godliness. He mentions the strife. He mentions the evil surmising. That's being as suspicious of everything being evil. And then he mentions perverse disputings. He said perverse disputings of men of corrupt minds, men that constantly argue about hateful things, corrupt minds. He mentioned evil surmisings, that's being as suspicious of everything here before we move on tonight. And then he mentions their perverse disputings. He said perverse disputings of men of corrupt minds, men that constantly argue about things. Corrupt minds, he said. And destitute of the truth is godliness. See, that's the mentality of a lot of our churches now. He mentions their conjecture in verse number 5. The latter part of verse 5. We got a lot of preachers tonight that think if you don't have X amount of people in your church, God ain't blessing you. If you don't have X amount of money, God's not blessing you. If X amount of people don't come to the altar when you preach or when you sing, then obviously God was not on it. That's contrary. I can find you place after place. John the Baptist was a tremendous preacher. He did not have a big crowd. He did not have a whole lot of people that loved him. If X amount of people that are great that read after him some, I don't agree with them, then obviously God was not on it. That's contrary. God is in heaven now, and he said most preachers in the Old Way and in the Old Testament, the prophets, and the preachers of the Bible days, he said they speak more time from a prison cell than they did a pulpit. Leonard Raven, big name evangelist now, I don't agree with him, and I'm not against all those people, please understand that, but I'm against this mentality that we have among God's people tonight, that if God's in it, it's going to be gainful. God's in it, everything's going to be the way the world's going to be. And I'm not against all those people. Please understand me tonight. But I'm against this mentality that Godliness or that gain is godliness. If God's in it, it's going to be gainful. If God's in it, everything's going to be the way the world says it ought to be. He said they suppose that godliness or that gain is godliness. Don't suppose that tonight. I've revealed to you that there are those that are anti-serving in the church. There are those that would stir up all this horribleness we look at in verse 4 and 5. But he said this is what you do, Timothy, here's your actions tonight. Here's the action of the servant. What do we do? I've revealed to you that there are those that are anti-serving in the church. There are those that would stir up all this horribleness we look at in verse 4 and 5. So he said, this is what you do, Timothy, verse 5 and 6. I'll give you three things here quickly and we'll wrap this up tonight. In verse 5, he said, identify them. Notice what he said after he listed this and said that they were supposing that Jesus Christ is our main authority. So what do we do? Well, he deals with it in verse 5 and 6. Such men, as he just described us in verse 5, he said, identify them. Notice what he said after he listed this. He said that they were supposed to gain his godliness. He said, from such. Look at that phrase there, from such. He said, you need to mark them. You need to know who they are. You need to take notice of it. You need to identify those kind of people. And if you'll walk with God and study your Bible, you'll be able to identify those kind of people. When those individuals stand up, and those individuals self-promote themselves, and those individuals, whether they be in a church or in a ministry or whatever it is, you need to identify those kind of people. And if you walk with God instead of your Bible, you'll be able to identify those kind of people. You'll be able to pinpoint them. He said, identify them. Know who these people are. And those individuals, whether they be in a church or in a ministry or whatever it is, when they start promoting themselves and start becoming selfish instead of serving God, you'll be able to identify them. You'll be able to pinpoint them. He said, identify them. Know who these people are. He said, then isolate from them. Look what he said. Don't get caught up following somebody because they have a quote-unquote successful ministry. It may not be as successful as you think it is. This is a horrible thing among preachers, especially the Word of God says. Young preachers, not God, He says. And you find He said to isolate from them. Don't get caught up following somebody because they have a quote-unquote successful ministry. It may not be as successful as you think it is. How do we keep from getting tangled up in this kind of problem? How do you as a church member keep from becoming a self-centered person instead of a servant person? And then verse 6, I think that's key verse. Let's look at this just a moment. I don't think there's anybody here other than maybe the smallest children that don't understand that as a child you're tangled up in this kind of problem. serve one another, serve God, keep from becoming a self-centered person instead of a servant person. So how do we stay that way? How do we keep from becoming selfish? How do we keep ourselves in the right way? He sums it up in verse 6, look at it again. He said, but godliness, serve one another, serve God, serve this lost and dying world. Now godliness, again, is the seeking of God. It is the understanding and reverence of God. How do we keep ourselves in the right way? You see, people that go after gain and turn their back on God, he said, but what they're saying is God's not good enough for me. What they're saying is God's not big enough in my life. Now, people that would rather go after the things they can acquire in this world instead of going after God, they may not mean to say it. You see, people that go after gain and turn their back on God, what they're saying is God's not good enough for me. God, you're not enough to meet the needs in my life. And people that would rather go after Venus, coupled with contentment, that means to be thankful for what God's doing in your life. They may not mean to say it, but with their actions they're saying, God, you're not enough to satisfy me. God, you're not enough to take care of me. God, you're not enough to meet the needs in my life. And Paul tells them, he said, God, you do this for them, bands aren't broken here, and this is going to go good in their life. How many times have we done that before? You see somebody on the job that you work with, they're wicked, they take the name of the Lord in vain. I mean, they're vile people, but they drive a nicer car than you do. They live in a nicer house than you do. They get a pay raise sometimes, and you don't get it. And if your bands aren't broken here, and this is going to go good in their life, how many times have we done that before? And you'll get to where you're not happy with what God is doing in your life. And he tells people to drive a nicer car than you do. He says that's where the gain is tonight. Stop the dollars in your bank account that make you who you are. It's not the kind of house you live in. It's not the kind of car you drive. and you'll get to where you're not happy with what God is doing in your life. That's where peace is. That's where joy is when we're seeking God. He said that's where the gain is tonight. It's not the righteousness. We're going after Him. We're finding the will of God for our life. We're asking the Lord daily to Put us in the place He wants us to be in instead of trying to seek the things of the world. That's where peace is, that's where joy is. When we're seeking God, we're seeking first the kingdom of God and His righteousness. We're going after Him. We're finding the will of God for our life. We're asking the Lord daily to put us in the place He wants us to be in instead of trying to seek the things of His world. That is when we have gain in our life. That's when we have real joy. There's a lot of Christians tonight that's got trapped in the gang mentality. There's a lot of Christians tonight. There's a lot of mommas and daddies that are going to look at what happens to an individual. And Paul is more than Timothy here. Don't get trapped in this game-driven mentality. Hey, there's a lot of preachers tonight that's got trapped in the game mentality. There's a lot of Christians tonight. There's a lot of mommas and daddies. They sacrificed their families over a game-driven mentality. Many of them have missed church because they went after game. Many of them have sold out their children because they went after game. I'm telling you, this is a big problem about the people of God. It was in that day and it is now. Godliness with contentment is great. where they moved and they lost their family. Many of them have missed church because they went after gain. Many of them sold out their children because they went after gain. I'm telling you, this is a great problem. Whether it's a tent, or a hut, or a mansion, or whatever it is, God gives us when we know we're in the willingness. I read after a man like David Livingston that went over in Africa, and I mean, just exhausted his life. We're just thrilled to be saved, to be serving Christ. Whether it's a tent, or a hut, or a mansion, or whatever it is, God gives us. when we know we're in the will of God. I read after men like David Livingston that went over in Africa, and I mean, just exhausting his life there for the cause of Christ. You read after some of those missionaries in those days that gave up all, and you say, how in the world could they have been happy? Because they found out that godliness and contentment is great gain tonight. And I pray God would help us in this materialistic,