Please turn with me to 1 Timothy 1 - starting at verse 12 - page 162 of the blue Bible in front on you.  This morning we are going on in our look a the essentials of the church.  Think with me about essentials. 

How many of you have flown - preferably in an airplane?  What about internationally?  Flying involves lines.  Right?  A lot of waiting.  Especially these days.

Internationally - flying involves long lines - with people who have tons of luggage.  Right?  There has to be some competition - among international passengers to see who can cram as much stuff in as possible into as many odd shaped bags and boxes as possible.  You see these passengers moving along with those carts - screech - screech - way overloaded.  A person has to ask, “How much of all of that is really essential?”

A friend of mine travels internationally - pretty regularly - sometimes he’ll be traveling for a month at a time - and he never checks a bag.  Everything he needs is in one small carry on duffle bag.

Think about that the next time your packing.  What is essential?  

Paul is writing to Timothy who’s serving with the church in Ephesus.  As Paul deeply cares for Timothy and the believers in Ephesus - and the not-yet-believers in Ephesus - Paul is writing this letter to Timothy and the church - to focus them on what’s essential to be focused on if they’re going to be effective as the church that God will use in Ephesus - what they need to take with them as a congregation.  The essentials of the Church that we need to give our lives to if we’re going to be the congregation that God intends for us to be here in the greater Merced metroplex.

Put slightly different.   Imagine the church as wheel.  The essentials are spokes.  Emphasize the wrong essentials - remove some essentials - wimp out on some essentials - get complacent about an essential - and the wheel - the church - gets stuck - or comes apart - people get hurt - wounded.  The church becomes a place of frustration and defeat - limping along - maintaining the status quo - rather than a community of life and joy and victory - rather than penetrating into the community with Gospel - the church stops rolling forward - fails at her mission.  People die in sin - condemned - without Jesus.  Are we together?

Last Sunday we looked at The Essential of Love.  Today we’re going to go on with Paul’s next essential - The Essential of Faith.  Let’s say that together, “The essential of faith.”

1 Timothy 1 - starting at verse 12:  Paul writing about himself:  I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who has strengthened me - Paul - because He - Jesus - considered me faithful, putting me into service, even though I was formerly a blasphemer and a persecutor and a violent aggressor.  Yet, I was shown mercy because I acted ignorantly in unbelief; and the grace of our Lord was more than abundant, with the faith and love which are found in Christ Jesus.  It is a trustworthy statement - absolutely 100% true - you can bet your life on it - It is a trustworthy statement, deserving full acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, among whom I am foremost of all.

Let’s Pause there.  Paul starts off his discussion of The Essential of Faith by focusing on his own life.  Paul’s Example of Faith.  Let’s say that together.  “Paul’s example of faith.”

In Scripture we read about Paul’s life as a zealous persecutor of the church.  His driven hatred of Christians is well known.  Paul writes in verse 13 that he was a “blasphemer - a persecutor - a violent aggressor” bent on the destruction of the church.  If we’d been in Jerusalem - Paul would have had us killed and been very happy for the opportunity.

Acts 9 says that Paul was on his way to Damascus to imprison the Christians there, “breathing threats and murder against the disciples.”  Suddenly he’s struck by light from heaven.  Paul falls to the ground and hears the voice of Jesus, “Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?”

Paul responds, “Who are You, Lord?”

“I am Jesus whom you are persecuting.”  Jesus calls him and sends Paul into Damascus - physically blind - but spiritually seeing for the first time.

Paul writes here in verse 12, “Jesus - has strengthened me… He - Jesus - considered me faithful”

God “strengthens” Paul - which means that the enabling of faith - the very ability to have faith and live by faith comes from God.  The word here - in Greek for “consider” has the idea of sovereign monarch choosing to notice some peon subject and give regard to that subject - to consider that peon worthy of the royal notice. 

There’s a simple and yet profound truth here.  We don’t seek after God.  God seeks after us.  We would never know God if God didn’t allow us to know Him.  If God didn’t reveal Himself to us.  We could never have a restored relationship with God unless God establishes the means of that relationship - God first sending Jesus to the cross for us.  Apart from God faith is impossible.

Paul writes in verse 14:  “Faith and love are found in Christ Jesus.”  Not us.  Verse 15:  “Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners.”  He came to save us - sinners - living by faith in ourselves and our works - our efforts at living life - maybe even to live right - doing good - even pleasing God.

Paul knew about Jesus - intellectually - theologically - knew enough to reject Him and persecute His disciples.  But until God broke into his life - Paul had no true faith in God.  No true relationship with God.

Faith comes from God.  Let’s say that together.  “Faith comes from God.”  Rocks the ego a little bit doesn’t it?

Paul writes, in verse 12, Jesus, “Put me into service.”

A while back I was over at my mom’s house with a group of people out on the back patio.  There were these plastic patio chairs.  You know what I’m talking about?  Stackable.  You can get them just about any place.  Not exactly the most expensive.  But functional.

I sat down in this chair and the thing self-destructed.  Just completely fell apart.  Embarrassed - and listening to some comments about my weight - I got up - picked up what was left of the chair.  And, went to sit in another of these plastic chairs.  About 2 minutes after I sat down that chair self-destructed - just came apart underneath me.

So, now I’m sitting on the ground for a second time and feeling really foolish.  You can imagine when I came to the third chair I was just a tad cautious.

The comfy teal colored chair you’re sitting on.  When you came in today - found your spot in the sanctuary - you believed that it would hold you up.  Intellectually you know enough about wood and construction and where you’ve sat before - in your mind you know that it’ll hold you up.  That’s belief - intellectually understanding about God.

Faith is sitting down.  Try that with me, “Faith is sitting down.”  Faith is acting on what we know to be true about God.  That essential of faith - living our lives based on what we know to be true about God.

Jesus isn’t calling Paul to a religion - or an intellectual belief.  Jesus is calling him to faith - putting his life into the hands of the Lord.  Paul the foremost of sinners - deserving and destined for God’s wrath - because of God’s mercy - is saved - to live out God’s purposes for his life.

Paul has been “put” into service - meaning that God has placed Paul exactly where God wants to place Paul.  God has given Paul and appointment - a position - a role - Paul is an essential working - in God’s ministry.

Paul describes that ministry as “service.”  Service is the Greek word “diaconos” which is where we get our English word what?  Deacon.  Literally “deacon” meant what?  A table waiter.  Someone who prepared and served food - who responds to the commands and desires of someone else.

Next time you go to Starbucks - imagine ordering your vente caramel macchiato and having your barista tell you to “Get it yourself.”    

Paul - the persecutor of the church - is appointed by God - in God’s service to serve - deacon - the church.  Does God have a sense of humor or what?

In Scripture we read about how God used Paul.  Took Him all over the known world to share the Gospel.  As he traveled, God strengthened Paul - physically - spiritually.  God had to.  Those missionary journeys were torturous - a glimpse of hell.

What did Jesus say?  “If you want to follow Me, deny yourself and take up your cross daily.”  “Lose your life for My sake.” (Luke 9:23,24)  The founder of this congregation sweat blood doing God’s will and He told us to follow Him.  Sometimes we miss that with our little pieces of bread and plastic juice cups.  A crucifixion is a bloody mess.  A cross is an instrument of torture.

Faith - sitting down - is committing our lives to what God has for us to commit our lives to.  Placing our lives in God’s hands to serve and live according to God’s will for us - regardless - even to death. 

Verse 16:  Yet, for this reason - because God has saved me - given me faith - placed me into service - for this reason I - Paul - found mercy, so that in me as the foremost - sinner - look how badly I messed up - Jesus Christ might demonstrate His perfect patience.”

“Patience” - Greek word “makrothuia - meaning “taking a long to time to explode” - Jesus Christ might demonstrate His perfect slowness to rain down fire and judgment on well deserving humanity - as an example for those who would believe in Him for eternal life.   

God saved me - is using me - as I live by God given faith - God is using me as an example - that the same grace that I was given won’t be held back from anyone else who believes.

Timothy had a Godly mother and grandmother who trained him in the Scriptures.  He was raised in a Godly home - believing in God.  As Paul shared the example of what Jesus had done in his life - God calling Paul to a life of faith - Timothy came to faith in Jesus.  Knowing of Jesus’ work on the cross - taking the penalty for our sins - Jesus giving His life for ours - God mercifully offering salvation to us - Timothy acted on that knowledge - putting his life in God’s hands - trusting in Jesus as His Savior and Lord.

Timothy didn’t have a Damascus road conversion experience.  Some of our siblings in Jesus do have powerful conversion experiences.  Some of us have less dramatic conversions.  They’re all testimonies of God’s grace.

Timothy - saved by God - discipled by Paul - trusting God with his life - became the pastor of this church - serving God - serving the church in Ephesus.

What Paul did remains an example to us - to who?  to us of a man who lived by faith - put his life in the hands of his Lord - going and serving wherever - whenever - in whatever circumstances God would lead him.

Paul isn’t just talking about evangelists and missionaries.  If we’re a child of God - living by faith - we’re called to service to our Lord.  God used Paul as an missionary.  God may use us differently.  The bottom line is faith - willingness to give our lives totally in service to our Lord - everyday - everyplace - in everyway. 

Then - join me at verse 17 - in response to God’s mercy and calling - all of what Paul has seen God do in him and through him - Paul can’t contain himself.  He breaks out in praise.

Let’s read this together:  Now to the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honor and glory forever and ever.  Amen.

To Jesus - who is the King eternal - the only God - immortal - invisible - but revealed in the flesh for us.  To Jesus - for who He is and all that He has done - for His grace and mercy extended for us - for what He is doing in us and through us - to Jesus alone be honor and glory forever and ever.  Amen.

I pray that that’s your experience.  That when you see God at work in you and through you that it just blows you away and the only left is praise.  That that’s the testimony seen in your faith - that your life is all about God - serving God - glorifying God

In verse 18 we come to the second part of Paul’s essential of faith - Timothy’s Call To Faith.  Let’s say that together, “Timothy’s call to faith.”

Verse 18:  This command I entrust to you, Timothy, my son, in accordance with the prophecies previously made concerning you, that by them you fight the good fight,

We need to pause there.  It would so easy to read right through verse 18 and miss the powerful emotions and reality of what’s being said.  Paul - the great Apostle - theologian and greatest missionary of the church - the Damascus road Paul - who stood before rulers and the Emperor in witness to the Gospel - prolific writer of Scripture - our great example of faith - to Timothy his true child in faith.

The word “command” is a Greek word - “paranggelia” - which is made up of two words stuck together to make one word.  “para” meaning next to - or from beside someone.  “angelia” is the word we get what from?  Angel - or messenger sent from God.

Grab this - Paul is entrusting this command to Timothy - not as some grand exalted high muck-i-muck theologian - but from the side - a fellow servant of God - a fellow messenger of God - living by faith supplied by the same God that calls Timothy to faith and service. 

This command - the instructions I’m writing here in this letter - This command I entrust to you, Timothy, my son.  “Timothy, my son in the faith, I trust you with this ministry and to live a life of faith.”

How would you like to hear that coming from Paul?  How would you like to hear that coming from anyone?  I trust you.  You can do it. 

Then Paul writes, Timothy - previously there were prophecies - statements made by other Godly people - prophetic words were spoken about you.  Timothy, be reminded that God has chosen you to serve Him.  God is at work in your life.

How must that have felt?  We can see Timothy stand a little straighter - more confident - assured - encouraged.

Think about that reality for yourself.  The life and purpose that God gives you.  You’re not an accident.  You’re being here isn’t a coincidence.  God calls you to serve Him.  Isn’t that a great reminder?  Amen? 

Paul writes, “I’m entrusting these instructions to you so that you will - what?  Fight the good fight - verse 19 - keeping faith and a good conscience, which some have rejected and suffered shipwreck in regard to their faith.  Among these are Hymenaeus and Alexander, whom I have handed over to Satan, so that they will be taught not to blaspheme.”

Ephesus was the most prominent city in the Roman province of Asia.  It had a harbor - theaters - a library.  It was a major market place with trade from all over the world.  It was tourist mecca.  A major religious center for pagan and demonic religions.  It was a lot like our neighbor to west - San Francisco.  To be a Christian was not popular.  It meant persecution - isolation.

The Church in Ephesus - where Timothy is pasturing -  God’s people were in the middle of all this.  The church had been established by the Apostle Paul.  Timothy had pastored there.  John the Apostle had pastored there.  It had good roots.  In the midst of Ephesus they were faithfully serving Jesus Christ.  Determined - faithful - enduring hardship.  These were not quitters.

But there were some - even in the church - who had caved in.  Hymanaeus and Alexander were two of those men.  Men who were caught up in their own egos.  Who’s desire was to be known and respected as teachers of God’s law.

Hymanaeus and Alexander and others had spiritualized the Old Testament in much the same way that people today will claim that the Old Testament is a collection of stories - not actual people and events.  They said - what the Old Testament - and Jesus - really taught was a way to achieve divine purity - holiness - sinlessness.

They said that Jesus had risen from the dead only in a spiritual sense.  So we only rise in a spiritual sense - which already took place when we came to faith.  

Follow this.  Probably what they were saying was that when a person came to trust in Jesus right then we died to ourselves.  So, if we died then, we were also resurrected then - to new life - spiritually.  So the body is evil.  Its a prison we need to escape from while seeking - working for -  our own divine purity.

Die to self - alive in Christ.  Sounds almost Biblical - doesn't it?  What they taught had most of the right vocabulary and just enough truth to sound okay.  But it really was very far from the truth of God’s word.

These guys had gone off the deep end spiritually.  They’d become blasphemers - saying that God was doing things that God wasn’t doing.  Even speaking against what God was doing.  They’d rejected what was true.  They’d become shipwrecked.  They were dragging others down with them.

So Paul had delivered Hymenaeus and Alexander over to Satan so that they would be taught not to blaspheme.  Let him feel the warmth coming up from hell for a while - the consequences of their sin - with the prayer that they might turn back to God.

Grab this:  In the midst of the spiritual battleground of Ephesus - this was a serious ongoing disaster that had to be dealt with in no uncertain terms.

Paul’s instruction to Timothy?  Fight the good fight.  Say that with me, “Fight the good fight.” 

“Fight” is the Greek word “strateian” which is where we get our English word “strategy” from.  There’s organization here.  Planned dogged maneuvering.  God’s troops are led into battle with a plan for victory.

“Good” in Greek means “magnificent.”  The kind of battle strategy - a waging of war - that’s legendary.  That gets written up in the history books.  Fight the good fight magnificently - so that you set the example - so that others will seek to imitate your success.  

The Christian life is hard.  Its a battle - waged in the flesh - things we see and do here on earth - but the battle is a spiritual battle  - against spiritual forces - Satan and his legions - passionate about our destruction.  War is hell - or at least a glimpse of it.  We’re locked in the battle with eternal consequences.  The eternal destiny of our families - our community - humankind - hangs in the balance. 

Choose to step out in faith - choose to give your life to God - to live for Him - to follow Him - at work - at school - in your home.  Choose to stand up and be a Godly man or woman - to make a difference for Christ - to engage the battle - and Satan will come after you with everything he’s got.  He did it to Paul.  He did it to Timothy.  He’ll do it to any servant of God.

A Jewish Rabbi and a Roman Catholic Priest met at the town's annual 4th of July picnic.  Old friends, they began their usual banter. “This baked ham is really delicious,” the priest teased the rabbi.  “You really ought try it.  I know it's against your religion, but I can't understand why such a wonderful food should be forbidden!  You don't know what you're missing.  You just haven't lived until you've tried Mrs. Hall's prized Virginia Baked Ham.  Tell me, Rabbi, when are you going to break down and try it?”  The rabbi looked at the priest and said,  “At your wedding.”

Someone here sent me that.  I will not say who.

Ever watch a bride and groom at a wedding?  All glassy eyed - only seeing each other. - passionately in love.  Remember the song, “We’ve only just begun.  White lace and promises.”

Ever watch the married couples at a wedding?  The one’s who’ve been around the block a few times?  There’s wisdom there.  They know what the blissful lovers have just gotten themselves into.

Passionate love can cool.  Slowly it gets replaced with the routine of marriage until all that’s left is the routine.  How quickly the white lace can get stained with angry words and bitterness.  How easily the promise can become a lonely commitment.

In Revelation 2 - Jesus is speaking to the Ephesian church.  A long list of commendations.  Commendations - just one of which - coming from the lips of Jesus - would keep us going for a lifetime.  Then Jesus says - Revelation 2:4 - “But I have this against you, that you have left your first love.”  That word “left” - in Greek - has the idea of neglect - gradual abandonment.  You’ve left your first commitment - strayed from your faith.

There are thousands of churches like this in America today.  The congregations meet year after year - Sunday after Sunday - they sing hymns or choruses - they pray - listen to sermons - recite a confession of faith that’s right on Biblically - even do outreach.  But, they have no spiritual impact.  There’s no change in people’s lives - no change in the community around them.  They’re serving Jesus.  But they’re hearts have grown cold.  The passion for Jesus is gone.  Jesus says that they’ve left their first love.

God’s people got distracted.  How easy is it for us to focus on our own stuff and comfort and friends and family and commitments and desires and wants - all the while deluding ourselves that we’re serving Jesus.  In America today God’s people are working at upgrading their standard of living while our communities are going to hell.  God’s people are whining about how hard it is do what God calls them to while people are dying without Jesus. 

We live in a constant battle to resist the pressures of our society which are designed to cool our love for God - to weaken our commitment - to disable us for the battle - to shipwreck us - not with obvious heresies like a Hymmanaeus or and Alexander - but with an American lifestyle subversively tugging our passion away from the greatness of God’s love - His grace - His mercy - our salvation.

Paul writes “Fight the good fight.”  Here’s how:  “Keep the faith.”  Hang on.  Cling tenaciously to your commitment to God with every ounce of who you are.  Daily give up yourself to God.  Keep your conscience good - listening to God.   

A conscience is like a compass - it resists any attempt to keep it from pointing north.  A conscience in God’s hands points us towards God.  It insists that we do right and turn from wrong.  In other words a good conscience is an obedient heart - a life surrendered in faith to God - that wants to do what’s right.  A life devoted to the study of the Word - to prayer - to all the basic things that keep us open to God speaking to our hearts.  So that when God speaks - tells us how to live - we’re listening and allowing Him to guide us.  So we keep in the faith - obedient - serving Him - fighting the good fight.

Two last thoughts about the essential of faith.

A while ago I was driving back from a Bible study.  It was about 11:30 at night.  I was sick and really tired and in a hurry to get home - and not exactly driving the speed limit.

I was doing 70 when I passed the Police Officer parked on the side of the road.  Of course my reaction - like everyone else's - was to slow down.  But of course it was too late.  Brilliant strategy.  Right?  Slow down after you get nailed. 

The officer asked me the usual question, “Why were you doing 70 in a 50?”

I said, “Well, its late.  I’m tired and I’m wanted to get home.”  What could I say?  “Oh no Mr. Policeman - sir - I was traveling at just the correct speed when I blew your doors off.”

So I said, “Well, its late.  I’m tired and I’m wanted to get home.” 

I agreed with him.  I should have.  I was wrong.  Then - and I still can’t believe this - he warned me to slow down and let me go home - a merciful thing to do.  Ever have that happen?

The prophet Amos - writing about what it means to walk with God - to live by faith - Amos writes, “Can two walk together unless they are agreed?” (Amos 3:3)  We can’t walk with God - live by faith in a relationship with Him - unless we first agree with Him about what that relationship means.

We dwell in sin.  God is holiness.  How can we walk together unless God establishes that relationship?  On a road to Damascus God calls to the Apostle Paul.  An invitation to a relationship based on faith.  Paul was a great religious man - but he still needed God’s grace and forgiveness. 

Paul is our example.  Not of the drama of a Damascus road conversion - but of the need we all have to put our lives - through Jesus Christ - into God’s hands. 

God calls us through Jesus Christ into a relationship with Him.  To accept His invitation means agreeing with God that we’ve broken His law of holiness - that we do live in sin - that there’s no way in creation that we should ever expect to walk with Him through the days of our lives.  We need His grace - His forgiveness - given through Jesus Christ.  When we accept the invitation of God - Jesus Christ our Savior - God makes us to be blameless before Him - He enables us to live in faith - to surrender our lives to Him.

For me it was through a 5 day club where I learned that I needed Jesus as my Savior - a prayer I said kneeling by the side of my bed - asking Jesus into my heart - giving my life to Him.  I don’t know how He’s called you.  The Holy Spirit saying, “I want you.”  Maybe He’s calling you today.  You need to respond to that call.  Not intellectually.  Not believing in a religion or a church.  But trusting - by faith - in the Savior who died for you.

Last thought - a take home question.  Homework for you and God.

How goes the battle?  How’s your commitment?  Your faith?  Does God really have all of who you are?

_________________________

Unless otherwise indicated, Scripture taken from the NEW AMERICAN STANDARD BIBLE ®, Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by the Lockman Foundation.  Used by permission.