1 Timothy 5- Don’t Muzzle the Ox

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Let the elders that rule well be counted worthy of double honour, especially they who labour in the word and doctrine. For the scripture saith, Thou shalt not muzzle the ox that treadeth out the corn. And, The labourer is worthy of his reward. Against an elder receive not an accusation, but before two or three witnesses. Them that sin rebuke before all, that others also may fear. 1 Timothy 5:17-20

The Apostle Paul under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, has spent a great deal of time teaching Christians the structure and order of the Church. Even though it seems today , many have neglected to read the instructions or obey the order of the Church. In the scriptures today Paul teaches that the elders/pastors/bishops are worthy of their wages from the Church. The Church should be financially and spiritually supporting the leaders of their Church.

In todays Church we see the extreme cases of this, first we see many false teachers who proclaim the prosperity gospel, and take advantage of their flock and receive an over abundance of money they simply don’t need. They will receive a stricter judgment from Christ (James 3:1) However while they get most of the publicity , I think they are more rare than the other extreme. I know alot of Biblical Pastors who don’t receive enough support to take care of themselves and their families. This is a sin also, a Church should support their Pastor, and not leave them to struggle , as the Pastors of the Church have more than enough issues to deal with besides finances.

As the Apostle Paul states “let the elders (Pastors) who rule be counted worthy of double honor” Does your Church treat your Pastor with respect and honor? One of the reasons the pulpit has become so watered down in these last days, is because the Church shows very little respect or honor towards true Shepherds of the Church. This does not just imply financial support, but respect overall. The submission and obedience to the authority of The Lord , Gods Word, and the Holy Spirit is rarely found in the Church today, which leads to disobedience to the leaders of the Church from spiritual authority.

“Those who labor in the word and doctrine” A genuine Pastor should spend most of their time preaching and teaching the Word of God. Todays Church model, the Church wants the Pastor to be an entertainer, a counselor, a youth leader. This is why the state of today’s Church is so spiritually dead, the Pastor needs to focus on feeding the sheep the Word of God, which today’s carnally minded Christians find boring or irrelevant. This is another reason our pulpits are flooded with false teachers and goats.

“The scripture says you shall not muzzle the ox while it treads out the grain, and the laborer is worthy of their wages” If we want to get back to building an Apostolic Church, then we need to get back to the basics and support our leaders of the Church. Christ is The Head of The Church, and we need to be in submission to the authority of our Lord, Amen!

1 Timothy 5- Provide For Your Family

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But if any provide not for his own, and specially for those of his own house, he hath denied the faith, and is worse than an infidel. 1 Timothy 5:8

One of the challenges of the Church and Christians is to provide for those who are in need. As Jesus said “Its more blessed to give than to receive” (Acts 20:35) Many people catch on to this and try to abuse the Church to support them , when they are capable of supporting themselves. The early Church in the writings called the “Didache” called these people “Christmongers” those who abuse the Church by continually taking and not giving back

The words of the Apostle Paul under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit is a strong message and waring “Anyone who doesn’t provide for himself and his family, has denied the faith and is worse than a infidel or non believer”  As the Apostle Paul wrote to the Church of Thessalonia “if you don’t work, you don’t eat” (2 Thessalonians 3:10) this idea that Christians should be lazy and non productive is not Biblical. In fact it should be the opposite, as the Apostle Paul said “in everything we do, do it for the glory of God” (1 Corinthians 10:31) How do we give glory to God by taking advantage of people? 

The Apostle Paul goes through intensive instructions of situations when someone should accept help from the Church, however this should be an exception. Many people have used the Church as their own provider, essentially you are stealing from God. If you are capable of taking care of your family, then you should take care of yourself and your family. This doesn’t just mean in finances but in all things, raising your children in The Lord is a special calling

Even the Apostle Paul, while he was in ministry, worked as a tent maker not to burden the Church (Acts 18:3) Paul as an Apostle and minister of Christ, was worthy of receiving support and wages of the Church, however he choose to help the Church also. I think this model would keep alot of more Pastors honest, relying solely on the Church to financial support you, could lead into compromise or corruption. Don’t get me wrong, Pastors and leaders of the Church are worthy of their wages (1 Timothy 5:18)

As the Apostle Paul says in verse 16 “ do not let the Church be burdened” he warned those who can provide for themselves, should provide for themselves so they don’t burden the Church. Then those resources can be used for people who actually need them, just as God designed for His Church, Amen

1 Timothy 5- Spiritual Family

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Rebuke not an elder, but intreat him as a father; and the younger men as brethren; The elder women as mothers; the younger as sisters, with all purity. Honour widows that are widows indeed. But if any widow have children or nephews, let them learn first to shew piety at home, and to requite their parents: for that is good and acceptable before God. 1 Timothy 5:1-4

The Church, the Body of Christ, is a spiritual family designed by God. Many Christians don’t understand this concept , that when you refuse to belong or participate in a local Church community, you are neglecting your spiritual family, and essentially you are depriving yourself of spiritual fellowship. Nobody was made and designed to walk this world alone, especially in this spiritual battle against the demonic realms of the devil (Ephesians 6) Left alone, there is a greater chance you will fall to temptation and the vices of the devil

Jesus introduced this concept, “Then one said to Him, “Look, Your mother and Your brothers are standing outside, seeking to speak with You.But He answered and said to the one who told Him, “Who is My mother and who are My brothers? And He stretched out His hand toward His disciples and said, “Here are My mother and My brothers! For whoever does the will of My Father in heaven is My brother and sister and mother.” (Matthew 12:46-50) While Jesus family was looking for him, he taught us that those who do the will of His father, those who are Born Again in Christ, are the family of God, we are all brothers and sisters in Christ.

So the Apostle Paul , under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, gives us basic instructions to treat older men and women as if they were our natural parents. As God commanded, we are to honor our mother and father (Exodus 20:12) Now I understand life is perfect and people are not perfect, so each situation may vary, but this is the moral principle, to treat our parents with love and respect, including our spiritual parents within the Church community.

As well as treat younger women and men, as brothers and sisters in Christ. There should be a level of respect, love, and dignity demonstrated towards one another in the Church. Many people within the Church don’t have a natural family for one reason or another. Or many Christians are rejected by their natural family because of their Christian faith. This is why it’s essential and important for the Born Again believer to be in community with other Born Again believers. 

There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus. (Galatians 3:28) We are all one family in Jesus Christ! Don’t forsake the assembly of your brothers and sisters (Hebrews 10:28) Amen!

1 Timothy 4- Meditate on The Word of God

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Meditate upon these things; give thyself wholly to them; that thy profiting may appear to all. Take heed unto thyself, and unto the doctrine; continue in them: for in doing this thou shalt both save thyself, and them that hear thee. 1 Timothy 4:15-16

The Apostle Paul under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit instructed Timothy to “meditate upon these things” Do you meditate upon the Word of God daily? Alot of Christians when they hear the word meditate, they think of new agism, but the word meditate simply means “revolve in the mind” Do you ponder and chew on the Word of God daily? 

The BIble says “The Book of The Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate upon it day and night , so that you may be careful to do what is written in it” (Joshua 1:8) Last night I was reading on the reformation movement, the whole core of the issue is the Church abandoned the authority of scripture , man-made doctrines and practices crept in and overtook the Church. The reformers went back to the Word of God, Christ alone, Faith alone, Scripture alone. 

Paul is teaching Timothy to meditate upon the Word of God in everything that he does. The Bible should be the foundation of your Church’s doctrine and practices. But also he instructs him to “give yourself entirely to them” If your going to talk the talk you also needs to walk the walk. This can be applied to all Christians, faith without works is dead (James 2:26)

We must submit to the authority of Christ, as Jesus said ““If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me” (Matthew 16:24) If anyone desires to be a disciple of Christ, a Christian, you must deny yourself and submit to The Lord Jesus Christ. You must submit to the authority of the Word of God, you must submit to the guidance of the Holy Spirit. 

Why? As Paul says here “That your progress may be evident for all” As the Shepherd of the Church, you must set the example for the flock. Its one thing to preach the Word in and out of season, but you must also live the Word in and out of season. You must be the Shepherd for the sheep, if you dont your just another wolf leading them to the slaughter. This is a higher calling that shouldn’t be taken lightly, again meditate upon the Word of God

A warning then is given “Take heed to yourself and your doctrine” Watch yourself and your teachings, are you being obedient to God or are you off on the broad road to destruction? (Matthew 7:13) This is why you need to meditate upon the Word of God daily and examine yourself. “In doing this will save you and those who hear you” Don’t be a stumbling block for others coming to Christ, be obedient to Christ and His calling upon your life, meditate upon the Word of God daily, Amen!