How to know You’re Living in the Last Days

1 Timothy 4:1-5

The roles of Pastor and Deacon are necessary for a church to function as God intended. But God wanted Paul to pass on some further teaching to Timothy about the condition of the church, and how he could respond to it.

The Holy Spirits Told about the Last Days

“Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils;” 1 Timothy 4:1

“the Spirit speaketh expressly”

God the Holy Spirit has a specific message that Paul had received, that Timothy needed to be aware of and that we feel the implications of today.

Paul had warned the leaders of the Ephesian church about this before. He told them that there would be attacks from outside the church and apostasy from inside the church.

28 Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood. 29 For I know this, that after my departing shall grievous wolves enter in among you, not sparing the flock.
30 Also of your own selves shall men arise, speaking perverse things, to draw away disciples after them.
31 Therefore watch, and remember, that by the space of three years I ceased not to warn every one night and day with tears.
32 And now, brethren, I commend you to God, and to the word of his grace, which is able to build you up, and to give you an inheritance among all them which are sanctified. Acts 20:28–32

Departure from the Faith

Apostasy – Warren Wiersbe defines apostasy as “a willful turning away from the truth of the Christian faith.” (The Bible exposition commentary (Vol. 2, p. 224). Wheaton, IL: Victor Books.)

These are people who have been in church but are choosing to leave the truths of God to go after something else. They are leaving truths taught in the kinds of churches Paul and Timothy are planting.

We see this in churches today as well. Young people who grew up in church are being drawn away in large numbers to go after some other kind of teaching.

Paul doesn’t leave us guessing about the source of this other kind of teaching.

Seducing Spirits

These are spirits that are meant to deceive.

There are many counterfeits of the Holy Spirit in this world. They are presented in false teaching, in great shows of spirituality, and external displays of piety.

The Holy Spirit doesn’t have to be conjured through empty babbling. His work is seen even when the background music hasn’t been perfectly timed to start with the last point of the message.

Beware. Run away from anyone who claims a special message from God that you can’t see clearly in scripture.

Doctrines of Devils

Where it’s not a seducing spirit these false teachings come as doctrines of devils.

The devil is just as willing to attack truth head on as he is willing to imitate it and distort it.

Watch out for those who constantly question the teaching of God’s word. This was the original tactic of the Devil in the garden (Gen 3). Doctrines of devils will rarely come with anything that resembles biblical authority or local reason. They only exist to cast doubt.

Grow in your personal knowledge of God through His word.

The Last Days are Characterized by Certain Types of False Teachers

“Speaking lies in hypocrisy; having their conscience seared with a hot iron;” 1 Timothy 4:2

While false teaching may vary from person to person, time to time, and area to area; there are some things that are consistent about the teachers of false doctrine.

Speaking Lies in Hypocrisy

False teachers are very consistent in teaching people to live in a certain way, and then proving that they are unwilling or unable to live that way themselves.

Conscience Seared

These false teachers have consciences that are seared. They have no feeling to alert them to sin their own life, or to the pain, they bring on other people.

The Last Days are Characterized by Certain Types of False Teaching

3 Forbidding to marry, and commanding to abstain from meats, which God hath created to be received with thanksgiving of them which believe and know the truth.
4 For every creature of God is good, and nothing to be refused, if it be received with thanksgiving:
5 For it is sanctified by the word of God and prayer. 1 Timothy 4:3–5

False teaching may come in many different forms but there are a few points where we see a lot of consistency over the years. Paul points out two of these here and then responds to one of them.

Unbiblical teaching about marriage and food are linked with just about every form of false doctrine. It was no mistake that Paul mentions them here.

Forbidding to marry

Not allowing marriage has come in many forms. From the Roman Church not allowing priests to marry (we see the evil that has come from that) to the modern doctrine of devils about the biblical need for marriage in our day.

God intended Biblical marriage to be a source of good, happiness, and blessing and the evil workers of the last days will do everything they can to undermine it.

Commanding to not eat certain meats

Just like marriage, food becomes an easy tell for falser teaching.

Anyone who equates what you eat, or don’t eat, with spirituality is not teaching biblically.

Paul’s Response

Paul’s reaction to the issue of food is pretty straightforward.

Everything is good… if it is received it with thanksgiving and sanctified by the word of God and prayer.

Your Turn

Hold to the Truth

In these last days, we as believers need to have a firm grasp on the truth. Study God’s word to find it. Be the faithful student of God’s teachers as they present it in a biblical church. Learn it well enough to begin teaching it yourself.

Turn back to God

You may be reading this and have turned away from the faith. God will welcome you back.

Come back to Him, grow in His teaching. This may mean losing a friend or two, God will help you through these struggles.

El Roi – God Sees

Have you ever felt mistreated? Unappreciated? Lost? If you answered; “yes” the name of God that we’re looking at this week appears in a context I think you’ll identify with.

We’ll meet a woman who named a place after the God who saw her. The God who came to her when she was driven away from all that she knew because of a choice that she didn’t have full control over. While carrying a child that she probably couldn’t imagine being able to care for. All because of someone else’s impatience and insecurity.

“And she called the name of the Lord that spake unto her, Thou God seest me (El Roi): for she said, Have I also here looked after him that seeth me?”

Genesis 16:13

Meet Hagar

Hagar was Sarai’s maid, she might have been with Abram and Sarai many years. However long she was with them she had to have known of their desire to have a child. But her mistress was past the age of bearing children.

One day Sarai came to Abram with a possible alternative to God given them a child;

“And Sarai said unto Abram, Behold now, the Lord hath restrained me from bearing: I pray thee, go in unto my maid; it may be that I may obtain children by her. And Abram hearkened to the voice of Sarai.” 
Genesis 16:2

So Hagar was given to Abram as a wife. She doesn’t seem to have much of a choice in this. (Historically this kind of marriage doesn’t seem to be viewed as illegal.) In some time she conceived.

This is when the drama really started. Hagar was with child, this was something Sarai had wanted for years. This seems to have caused some envy to well up in Sarai’s heart. And to make matters worse Hagar began to treat Sarai different. She no longer had the same respect for her mistress as before. Sarai wasn’t going to take it.

“And Sarai said unto Abram, My wrong be upon thee: I have given my maid into thy bosom; and when she saw that she had conceived, I was despised in her eyes: the Lord judge between me and thee.” 
Genesis 16:5

Abram gave full authority of Hagar over to Sarai. Sarai didn’t waste any time. The Bible says that she “dealt harshly with her” and when Sarai was in the middle of this lecture or punishment Hagar fled.

God Saw Hagar Where She Was

But God saw her condition, and cared.

“And the angel of the Lord found her by a fountain of water in the wilderness, by the fountain in the way to Shur.” 
Genesis 16:7

God then asked her where she had come from and where she was going. When she told Him, He instructed her to return to her mistress and submit to her authority.

He went on to make a promise of her descendants being a great innumerable multitude. She was told to name her son Ishmael.

She called the place where God met with her “thou God sees me”. El Roi. The God who sees.

Hagar went back to Abrams camp and submitted to Sarai as God had told her to. And her son became the patriarch of a nation that would continue for generations to come.

“Can Anyone See Me?”

There’s a scene in the play “Dear Evan Hansen”^⁠1 where the main character, Evan, walks through his high school and looks around and feels like no one sees him.

He sings a song called “Waving Through a Window” expressing his apprehension at taking any risk. Even the risk of introducing himself to some of his classmates is too much for him. But he feels totally alone.

We live in a world that may be more connected than ever before, and yet SO many people feel totally alone. We feel like no one knows us, no one sees us.

How important it is to be seen!

Life sometimes feels like you’re being buried deep in the stuff, problems, complication, conflicts and injustices that surround you.

The recognition that you are owned for a job well done. The grade that was unfairly lower than what you earned.

Maybe it’s more physical, like sickness, or debt. Maybe emotional like the heartbreak of losing someone you love, or the hope of relationship that ends in a hard breakup, or the bitter parting of ways of a close friend.

“Why can’t anyone see me?” You silently scream to the busy, crowded world around you. You long for someone to take notice. You may not even want them to do anything about it, you may just need them to see and care.

There is no injustice, pain, loss, or barrier that misses God’s careful gaze. He is conscious of all.

God Sees You Where You Are

“For the eyes of the Lord are over the righteous, and his ears are open unto their prayers: but the face of the Lord is against them that do evil.” 1 Peter 3:12

This verse, among many others in scripture tells of God being careful to see and hear His people. But what assurance do you have of God seeing and hearing you?

This verse refers to “the righteous.” While we have no righteousness in ourselves, through faith in Jesus Christ we can make the greatest exchange in history.

“For he (God the Father) hath made him (Jesus, God the Son) to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.” 
2 Corinthians 5:21

How can believers doubt God’s care when He is willing to go to such lengths to save us?

Studying and Application:

Do you have the righteousness of Jesus?
- Maybe you have questions about what it means to be saved. Please feel free to contact me, I would love to talk to you, or put you in touch with someone who will show you from the Bible what it means to be saved.
Practice walking with God.
- I really mean it. Go outside, go for a walk. Leave your headphones at home. Intentionally walk with God, talk to Him, seek His purpose, enjoy His presence.
Review your prayer list. Take a minute to add any new requests now.

Bonus Application

You’ve seen the names of God, from God’s word. You have the foundation, the head knowledge. Now comes the good part.

Pray!

Pray to God like He cares, because you know He does. Pray to God like He can do something about the requests you bring, because you know He can.

Pray!

¹I am not recommending this play to you as wholesome entertainment. I haven’t seen this whole play, and I am not fully endorsing the views it holds. I have however benefitted from the perspective it shares on teen depression.

The Qualifications of a Pastor’s Wife

This is a guest post written by Beth Spilger, my Mother and 45 year veteran of being a Pastor's wife.

I never questioned my calling as a Pastor’s Wife. I never questioned the fact that I was to help my husband fulfill the qualifications God placed on him … or at least those I could. Some are undeniably his responsibility.

So many of these qualifications are implicitly our’s together even though the qualifications are given to my husband. I, too, should keep these qualifications because they will reflect on his reputation even though I am not the pastor but his wife. Well, except the one about being the “husband of one wife”. That’s a difficult one for me as a woman. I can be the wife of one husband and that I have done and will until death. I do hope God gives us both a long life together. There is no one in this world I would rather serve the Lord with than my husband.

How can my husband fulfill hospitality, raising our children for the glory of God and in subjection to their father, keeping our house in order, not greedy for money, not covetous, and having a good report of all men if I’m not in his corner helping him? I often think of the fact that Eve was taken from the side of Adam. A wife is a help-meet. She has a responsibility to help her husband be the man of God he needs to be whether he is a pastor or not. Even more when he is.

I feel my job is to encourage him in his spiritual walk, as every wife should do, to be in the Word, to pray, to serve, to be faithful in all he does, etc. Not driving him but walking along-side encouraging him. I have to remember that encouraging is not encouraging wrong but the right behavior. I’m his cheerleader!

God gave us seven children to raise for His glory. I look at each one of them as adults and observe that they honor and respect their father (he’s earned both!), they serve our Lord with joy and excitement, they live godly in Christ Jesus, they are in His Word, they are striving to raise families for His glory, etc. They are not perfect. We have never told our children they were to do anything because they were preacher’s kids. Others have told them that but not us. They were to do them because they are in our family. We do these based on the Word of God. We considered our family a team and we worked together (still do) to accomplish God’s purpose for our family and ministry. At times that meant that some of us stayed home to do the grunt work so others could serve elsewhere. At times it meant we all went to the church to clean as a team. Whatever it was we all worked to serve at the church in various areas to see the ministry move forward. There is so much to being a team and we were privileged to be one!

My husband and I have learned a lot together these 45 years and counting. We have stuck with each other through thick and thin. Sometimes more thin than thick in which we have had the privilege of seeing God meet each and every need as well as some of our wants. God has been faithful to every promise — all the time. God wants us to exercise faith. If I’m always wanting more or better and not content with what we have to the point that I will do whatever I can to get it, I will never learn faith. Faith is trusting the Lord to meet all my needs. I have so many stories of how God met needs and gave us gifts as a family as we cared for the things he had already provided.

Pastoring is not easy. My biggest job as my husband’s wife is to pray for him. Pray that he will fulfill the qualifications listed in 1 Timothy. I pray for his walk with the Lord, his relationship with our children and the people at church, for wisdom, encouragement from other places besides me, his health spiritually, physically, and emotionally, decisions he has to make, his leadership in our home and church, etc.

I think the hardest thing I have had to deal with is the expectations coming from those who do not understand the ministry, my husband’s position as a pastor, and that pastor’s kids are not different than their own. I encourage you to get to know your Pastor’s family and look at ways you can encourage your pastor, his wife, and their children. Study the Word to understand the great responsibility that God puts on the shoulders of your pastor. Above all, PRAY for their family and their protection.

I am blessed to be called my husband’s wife! I do not view it lightly. I am grateful that God put us in the church He did, gave us the children He did, and the experiences He has. It is a privilege to serve along-side my man-of-God.

Written by Beth Spilger for the readers of "Word Fitly Spoken."

El Shaddai – Almighty God (God Almighty)

“Can God make a rock so big that He can’t move it?”

This question seems to be lurking in the minds of half my Sunday school students every time we talk about the power of God. Though the question is kinda silly, there is something to it. Is anything too hard for God? What are the limits of What God can do? What happens if our faith in Him overtakes His ability?

The next name of God in our study addresses the heart of these questions.

“…I am the Almighty God; walk before me, and be thou perfect.” 
Genesis 17:1b (emphasis mine)

The Hebrew words behind the English “Almighty God” are “El Shaddai”. El Shaddai is another of the combination names with “El” (meaning mighty[ Check meaning]). Shaddai means simply “Almighty” as we see it translated here.

This is the name God uses of Himself when He blesses Abram and changes his name to Abraham (Gen 17:1-16), and when He blesses Jacob and changes his name to Israel (Gen 35:10-12). God is emphasizing His absolute ability to do as He has promised.

In the book of Genesis El Shaddai is used exclusively in contexts of blessing (See passages given above and Gen 28:1-3, 43:11-14, 49:25 and broader contexts), Either of God blessing Abraham and Israel (once when Jacob was telling about it Gen 48:3-4) or when Isaac and Jacob were blessing their children.

God’s blessing is based on His absolute power! What an amazing thought!

Let’s look briefly at how God, in His power, was going to bless Abraham:

God’s Charge

“I am the Almighty God; walk before me, and be thou perfect.”

Perfect doesn’t mean “sinless” as we often think of it, but rather carries the idea of sincerity, wholeheartedness, and blamelessness. God was looking for Abraham, His friend, to maintain his way before Him in sincerity.

God’s Commitments

Following this we see several very important phrases preceded by the words “I will”. These are commitments that God makes to Abraham and to His descendants.

“I will” #1 – “And I will make my covenant between me and thee, and will multiply thee exceedingly.” (Verse 2)

The Almighty God promises to enter into a special relationship with Abraham and later He extends this to Abraham’s descendants:

“And I will establish my covenant between me and thee and thy seed after thee in their generations for an everlasting covenant, to be a God unto thee, and to thy seed after thee.” Genesis 17:7

“I will” #2 – “And I will make thee exceeding fruitful, and I will make nations of thee, and kings shall come out of thee.” (Verse 6)

The Almighty God promised to multiply Abraham. This wasn’t a new promise between Abraham and God, but the context of God revealing Himself as “Almighty” is significant.

“I will” #3 – “And I will give unto thee, and to thy seed after thee, the land wherein thou art a stranger, all the land of Canaan, for an everlasting possession; and I will be their God.” (Verse 8)

The Almighty God promises Abraham the land that he is living in right now. And not just to Abraham to live in and have the benefit of, but for the Abraham’s descendants to live in. This is the place God has chosen where He will be their God.

This is a big promise.

“Beyond All that We Can Ask or Think”

When God makes a big promise it is a part of His character to keep that promise, but it is not a part of our character to understand it. God’s ways are far beyond what we understand. For example, God’s work in the life of a believer is something miraculous. We experience it, but we don’t understand it. Our lack of understanding doesn’t diminish it’s reality.

Paul, in Ephesians 3, references God’s ability compared to our understanding. He does this in the context of God’s work in the lives of believers and a prayer that he prays for this beloved church. Notice the confidence with which he ends this prayer:

20 Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us,
21 Unto him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end. Amen.
Ephesians 3:20–21

The glory truly belongs only to the God Who “is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think”. The boldest prayer and the most active imagination aren’t able to fathom the greatness of God’s power.

What a wonderful thought to take into our prayer life: God is Almighty!

Studying and Application:

What are some things you’ve seen God do that were beyond what you could “ask or think”?
- Write them down and spend some time in prayer today giving God glory for these wonderful works.
What are some things that you can imagine (“think”) but that you haven’t ever taken the step to ask God about?
- Pray about these things, seeking God’s will and looking for His leading on how to pray for them and how to act in faith about them.
Review your prayer list. Take a minute to add any new requests now.

The Purpose of Paul’s Writing

1 Timothy 3:14-15

Ever run late?

We all do it occasionally. What type of person are you when you’re running late?

Do you text ahead? Leave them guessing? Call and talk to them the whole time you finish your trip there?

We can be thankful that Paul was the type to write ahead. Even though he wasn’t late yet, he wanted Timothy to have the instruction in this letter, just in case.

“These things write I unto thee, hoping to come unto thee shortly:” 
1 Timothy 3:14

Paul wanted to come to see Timothy and be with the Church at Ephesus. This letter was his way of helping Timothy know how to handle things in the church if he couldn’t come as soon as he hoped.

This is how Timothy was to Conduct Himself

"But if I tarry long, that thou mayest know how thou oughtest to behave thyself in the house of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth." 
1 Timothy 3:15

Paul wanted Timothy to know how to carry on with the church in Ephesus if he should be delayed from coming. The idea of “behave” in verse 15 isn’t meant to read as the opposite of misbehave. Paul wanted Timothy to know what to do, how he should carry on in the work of God in that place.

So far this instruction has included encouragement to stay true to Biblical doctrine, instruction for church meetings, and teaching for how to select church officials. There will be more as we go through this letter.

In committing these things to Timothy, Paul is setting a very important precedent: The work of God is bigger than one person. Timothy was gifted to do all of these things. God was with him to help him.

You and I can learn how we are to “behave” in the house of God. In church meets God wants more from us than to just sit and listen. The word “behave” includes the idea of “keep busy”. How are you going to productively keep yourself busy in your local church?

What the Church is:

The last part of verse 15 is a powerful statement of what the church is. These 3 things give us some further insight into how we are to behave, after all the value of something can change how we treat it.

House of God

Here think “the family of God.”

If you are a believer, when you meet with your church you are gathering with God’s family. Look around you. Everyone you see is family. God cares from them, He cares for you… a lot!

You belong here. Whether you feel it all the time or not, you belong when you are with God’s people.

Church of the Living God

The Church (gk: ekklesia) is a group of people that are called out by God. Throughout the New Testament this term is used mostly to refer to local churches.

The church at Ephesus wasn’t just any assembly of people, neither is your church. It is the “church of the living God”. Is there life in your church meetings? How can you contribute to that life?

Pillar and Ground of the Church

The church is the “pillar and ground of the truth”. We could think of this like the strong pillars of an ancient building, standing on a solid foundation. Your church is to bear the weight of truth and stand strong in it. As time passes erosion may threaten below and wild storms above, but the church is the pillar and ground of truth

Verse 16 helps us see the significance of the truth we stand for.

"And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifest in the flesh, justified in the Spirit, seen of angels, preached unto the Gentiles, believed on in the world, received up into glory." 
1 Timothy 3:16

How well do you know and stand in the truth of God?

Your Turn

Church Member:

Learn how you are to “behave” in church. Don’t just attend meetings. Be the vital part of God’s work that He has called you to be.
Illustrate the truth of God alongside your brothers and sisters in Christ.

Non-Church Member:

This post isn’t directly about church membership, but… You need a church. I know that there are church out there that don’t always show the life of the “living God”, churches that have given in to the storms and erosion that seeks to overthrow truth. But these aren’t every church.

Find a solid church, one with life and joy. Become an active and vital part of what God is doing there.

This may mean going back to where you have previously attended. It might be hard, it’ll probably require some humility, but it’ll be worth it.

El Olam – The Eternal God (Everlasting God)

Does anything last anymore?

You get home from the store and take your brand new purchase out of it’s box. For the next bit of time you put it together, set it up, and anticipate using it for years to come.

We don’t buy things to underserve their purpose. We want them to last. In fact very often we want them to out last what’s expected. I know a man who has a vehicle that has far out served its expected life. It’s a 2002 Chevy Tracker with nearly 400,000 miles! He is religious with maintenance and jokes that he’ll “trade it in when it hits 400k.” But even though there are examples like this of things lasting far beyond what is expected, for the most part we are disappointed when the things we use break, wear out, or fail to meet useful requirements.

I’m not bringing this up as a charge against manufacturing. This is how our world works. Possessions decay. Things break. People die. But not everything is this way.

Everlasting God

By the time we reach Genesis 21 Abraham has been through a lot. He has aged a lot. Though he is 100 years old his promised son has just been born. Imagine how aware he must have been of his age related to his sons youth.

After Isaac’s birth Abraham had to send away his first born Ishmael and his mother Hagar. Then further on in the chapter Abraham makes a covenant with Abimelek

“Now therefore swear unto me here by God that thou wilt not deal falsely with me, nor with my son, nor with my son’s son: but according to the kindness that I have done unto thee, thou shalt do unto me, and to the land wherein thou hast sojourned.”
Genesis 21:23

Abimelek was was making arrangements for his son and grandson. They witnessed the agreement with an exchange of sheep and Abraham planted a grove of trees.

“And Abraham planted a grove in Beer-sheba, and called there on the name of the Lord, the everlasting God.”
Genesis 21:33

“Everlasting God” translates the Hebrew words “El” referring to God (See previous post) and “Olam” which Strong defines as “time out of mind… eternity.” Abraham must have been thinking of all that was happening around him and thinking that God is really the only thing he could count on to last.

What Lasts?

Many of God’s names force us to look at things from a perspective that is very different from our own. “El Olam” pushes us to attempt to look into the realm of eternity. God is Everlasting, we have a beginning and an end. What does this perspective of God mean to us? What implications could this hold for the follower of God?

Another passage that uses a phrase similar to this is Isaiah 40:28-31. While this will be familiar to some, lets see this name of God, and the role it plays in this context that we know and love.

28 Hast thou not known? hast thou not heard, 
That the everlasting God, the Lord, 
The Creator of the ends of the earth,
Fainteth not, neither is weary?
There is no searching of his understanding.
29 He giveth power to the faint;
And to them that have no might he increaseth strength.
30 Even the youths shall faint and be weary,
And the young men shall utterly fall:
31 But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength;
They shall mount up with wings as eagles;
They shall run, and not be weary;
And they shall walk, and not faint.
Isaiah 40:28–31

Pastor Ken Spilger outlines this chapter as follows:

We should wait on the Lord because of Who God Is (v. 1-29)
We should wait on the Lord because of our weakness (v. 30)
We should wait on the Lord because of His promise (v. 31)

Isaiah’s prophecy of the coming Messiah paints such a beautiful picture of the power of God. But not just His power, we hear also of His care for His people and His warnings against underestimating His power. The passage closes with a statement of His absolute Everlasting Power (v. 28) and His condescension to mankind in our weakness (v.29). We are reminded of our weakness in verse 30. Even the strongest of human beings eventually wear down.

But those who wait on the Lord… “renew their strength;” they soar, run, and walk without wearing down, or wearing out. And all of this tremendous promise is sure because the God on whom it is based is the EVERLASTING GOD.

Studying and Application:

When did you realize the constraints of time?
- What are some ways that you feel especially weak or time-bound today? Pray about these things.
Research the biblical theme of “waiting on the Lord.” What other application can you make to your prayer life and your walk with God?
Review your prayer list. Take a minute to add any new requests now.

Deacons and their Wives

1 Timothy 3:8-13

It just makes sense that an overqualified servant would have a family that measures up to his character. Paul’s description of a deacon continues to include the deacon’s family and his perspective of reward.

The Deacon’s Wife

Even so must their wives be grave, not slanderers, sober, faithful in all things. 
1 Timothy 3:11

The presence of these qualifications for the deacons wife are a further indication of the importance of this office in the church.

The Deacons wife must be:

Grave: (Same as with deacons) honorable, viewing important things as important.
Not slanderous: She won’t tell lies about others to make people think badly of them. This slander would also include gossip.
Sober: She is well balanced, has a steadiness about her.
Faithful in all things: She is trustworthy and faithful.

The Deacon’s Family

Let the deacons be the husbands of one wife, ruling their children and their own houses well. 
1 Timothy 3:12

He is to be the husband of one wife. A one woman man.

This verse compares interestingly with verses 4-5. Just as a pastor must have an orderly household, the deacon must as well. When a pastor’s kids aren’t terrors it’s one thing, but when the deacons kids are walking in God’s way the testimony of the church increases greatly.

The Deacon’s Reward

For they that have used the office of a deacon well purchase to themselves a good degree, and great boldness in the faith which is in Christ Jesus. 
1 Timothy 3:13

A deacons service isn’t in vain. Those who serve well have received two things: “a good degree”, and “great boldness in the faith”.

A Good Degree

The phrase “good degree” has the idea of a favorable rise in standing.

Though a deacons focus must be on true service, there will be a many who see that service and respect him greatly in it. The surest way to influence is through service.

In Matthew 23 Jesus taught about the importance of service.

10 Neither be ye called masters: for one is your Master, even Christ.
11 But he that is greatest among you shall be your servant.
12 And whosoever shall exalt himself shall be abased; and he that shall humble himself shall be exalted.
Matthew 23:10–12

Jesus words on Service show that the way to true greatness is through service.

Great Boldness

In this is think of Stephen and Philip. I also think of the many deacons I have known who have had great boldness in witnessing.

Just this last Sunday one of the deacons shared about the opportunities God has given him to witness in the last few weeks. These come only with boldness.

Boldness only comes from sincerity and confidence. The deacon who is true to who God has called him to be in and out of church meeting times and is grounded in God’s word will know great boldness in the faith.

Your Turn

Serve: Jesus called all of us to serve. You don’t need a special office. You don’t need a vote. Be a person of character, and serve.

Study: Search the gospels for where Jesus talks about service and greatness.

(Here are some passages to get you started: Matt 18:1-11, Matt 20:20-28, Luke 9:46-48, Luke 22:24-27)

Are you a deacon? Read and pray through this passage. God has given you a great opportunity in the place you serve. Seek only Him for the good standing and boldness.

Are you looking for a deacon? Consider the family of the man being considered before appointing him to this very important role.

El Elyon – The Most High God

We live a world that is largely monotheistic, in other words, most people believe that there is just one God. But in the time when Abraham, Moses, the kings, prophets, and even through Jesus’ and the apostles’ time polytheism was a normal view of diety.

There were always some through all of this time that looked to the One True God. But great power was often consolidated under people who served a pantheon of false “gods”. Priests to these various gods would have held a certain amount of sway in culture and society.

One name of God, “El Elyon”, seems to point to the Absolute Sovereignty of Jehovah. He is God (El) Most High (Elyon).

A couple of the contexts where this name of God is used make the point of God’s Absolute Sovereignty very clear. Then a few others point to God’s “highness” as a position of advantage for those who call on Him. Let’s take a look at a few of these and then draw some applications for our prayer life.

Melchizedek

In Genesis 14 Abram’s nephew, Lot, is captured in a raid on Sodom. When Abram hears about this he gets the men in his camp together and they go and rescue all the people and stuff that were taken in the raids. In the recovery from this battle a priest enters the scene as the “priest of the most high God”

Genesis 14:18-24

“And Melchizedek king of Salem brought forth bread and wine: and he was the priest of the most high God (El Elyon).” 
Genesis 14:18

Melchizedek holds a special place as priest and king. While not a lot is known of him as a person the Bible shows that he is significant in the truths that this encounter illustrate (Hebrews 5-7).

Melchizedek uses this name twice in talking to Abram (v. 19-20). Then Abram uses God’s names, El Elyon, clarifying what is this means in verse 22. Abram makes it clear that Jehovah is the El Elyon, “most high God.”

“And Abram said to the king of Sodom, I have lift up mine hand unto the LORD (Jehovah), the most high God (El Elyon), the possessor of heaven and earth,” 
Genesis 14:22

No one could claim this victory for their “god”, this victory belonged to Jehovah alone.

Nebuchadnezzar

This name for God is used a number of other places in scripture. But one of the most interesting is when it is used by and around king Nebuchadnezzar.

Nebuchadnezzar had just commissioned an idol to be made of himself so that all the land could worship him. But after watching God’s faithful servants survive the furnace he had intended for their death, he went as close to the furnace as he dared and said, “Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego, ye servants of the most high God, come forth^⁠” Dan 3:26

After all he had seen he had to admit that the God these Hebrews served was El Elyon.

Rival gods

This name of God leaves no question about God’s claim to be greater than any idol.

God’s works are real and powerful.

God’s competition is imaginary and inanimate.

Psalm 135 includes this claim about God:

“5 For I know that the LORD is great, And that our Lord is above all gods. 
6 Whatsoever the LORD pleased, That did he in heaven, and in earth, In the seas, and all deep places.” 
Psalm 135:5–6

Verse 5 uses a different word for “above” than “Elyon” but the idea is clear. This is made even more clear in some of the passage that follows.

“15 The idols of the heathen are silver and gold, 
The work of men’s hands. 
16 They have mouths, but they speak not; 
Eyes have they, but they see not; 
17 They have ears, but they hear not; 
Neither is there any breath in their mouths. 
18 They that make them are like unto them: 
So is every one that trusteth in them.” 
Psalm 135:15–18

There is no rival to God. He is “God Most High”. There is no help greater than His help.

Praying to The Most High God

Psalm 57 is a prayer of David that catches hold of the pictures of this name of God and uses them in prayer in a way that I think we can take inspiration from for our prayer.

Verses 1, 4 and 6 of this psalm show that David is overwhelmed and needs help. David is hiding in a cave from the anger and instability of King Saul. And though his is in a cave David is calling out to God Most High. In verse 2 he boldly says,

“I will cry unto God most high (El Elyon) ; Unto God that performeth all things for me.” 
Psalm 57:2

He is confident in God’s help (v3). His heart is fixed on God and he purposes to praise Him. Though he is in great peril, his main concern is that God is praised. Notice the sentiment of verses 5 (verse 11 repeats these words) and 7:

“Be thou exalted, O God, above the heavens; 
Let thy glory be above all the earth.” 
Psalm 57:5

“My heart is fixed, O God, my heart is fixed: 
I will sing and give praise.” 
Psalm 57:7

Application:

God is above our solutions:

There is no greater help for us than the One True God. There is no more sure person or “god” to put our trust in than the one true God.

We can plot and strategize but there is no substitute for God’s perspective or His solutions. We risk setting up idols in our lives when we seek help from others that should only be sought from God.

God is above our problems:

Look for your answered prayer to come only from on high, and feel free to praise God for Who He Is even before the answer comes.

There is no problem that God cannot solve, no battle He cannot win, no need He cannot meet.

Our earthbound perspective tends to lead us to earthbound solutions or earthbound depression. God reigns on High. High above our biggest concerns.

Studying and Application:

What is the definition of an idol?
- What people or resources do you go to when you’re overwhelmed? Do you ever go to them when you should be going to God Most High?
Purpose to praise God. Even when the answer to what overwhelms you hasn’t come.
Review your prayer list. Take a minute to add any new requests now.

Deacons (Part 1)

1 Timothy 3:8-13

The role of deacons in the Bible and in churches is very interesting. In many churches deacons are part of the legal structure of the church and the accountability of the ministry. They are often very resourceful men of God, leaders of faith.

But what is a deacon according to the Bible? And what does the Bible say about what kind of men should be deacons?

What is a Deacon?

A Servant

The word deacon is translated here from a word meaning “servant”. The idea is strange. The “deacons” (plural) were to be a group of men with very specific and very high qualifications. Their purpose was to serve the church.

The first group of deacons (Acts 6:1-7) were among the most overqualified group of servants ever.

The First Deacons

The Apostles saw that the needs of the widows in the church’s care were too great for them to meet and to continue to be faithful in prayer and active in the ministry of the word. So they asked for men to be nominated for this ministry…

“Wherefore, brethren, look ye out among you seven men of honest report, full of the Holy Ghost and wisdom, whom we may appoint over this business.” 
Acts 6:3

A Bold Example

These men didn’t just serve tables, their faithfulness led them to testify of Christ with boldness. Stephen, one of these men, was martyred for his faith at the end of Acts 7 after giving irrefutable testimony of Christ. Philip, another of the deacons from Acts 6, was instrumental in seeing the gospel spread to Samaria and then, through an Ethiopian official, into North Africa (Acts 8:4-13, 26-40). Philip is later referred to as “Philip the evangelist” in Acts 8:8.

Like these great men of the faith, our deacons today must be chosen carefully, they must be men of humility and service, but they must also be men who are bold in the faith.

In 1 Timothy 3 Paul gives the qualifications of this office with some guidance about their families, and how they can use the office of a deacon.

Qualifications of a Deacon

8 Likewise must the deacons be grave, not doubletongued, not given to much wine, not greedy of filthy lucre;
9 Holding the mystery of the faith in a pure conscience.
10 And let these also first be proved; then let them use the office of a deacon, being found blameless.
1 Timothy 3:8–10

Paul lists these qualifications for a servant of the church. He must be:

Grave: A man who is honorable. He isn’t flippant about important things.

Not double-tongued: He speaks the truth to whoever he is talking with. Gossip and lies are not the way of a deacon.

Not given to much wine: as with the pastor, he isn’t given to the use alcohol.

Not greedy of filthy lucre: His goal isn’t money, this is key as some of the roles of a deacon will involve the use of money for ministry. He won’t neglect the role of a deacon to pursue personal wealth.

Hold to the gospel with a pure conscience: The Mystery of the gospel is the revealed gospel and its implications for all peoples. Deacons need to be grounded in God’s Word.

Proven and found blameless: Time must be given to observe someone being considered for appointment as a Deacon. Great damage could be done by one man who would misuse this office.

Overqualified?

Many of these qualifications overlap with those given earlier in the chapter for Pastors. There is a good reason for this. In the early church Pastors would mostly come from within the church. They would likely be saved, baptized, trained and ordained to minister in the same church.

The deacons would have been instrumental in this process and potentially have been men that would later be called to pastor whether in that church or in another church in the same city.

The rest of this passage (which we’ll look at next week) bear this out even more, talking about the deacons wife, family and the implications of his service.

Your Turn

Serve: Jesus called all of us to serve. You don’t need a special office. You don’t need a vote. Be a person of character, and serve.

Study: Compare the qualifications of a Pastor (1 Tim 3:1-7) with those of a deacon (1 Tim 3:8-13). How are they similar? How are they different?

Are you a deacon? Read and pray through this passage. God has given you a great opportunity in the place you serve. Seek only Him for good standing and boldness.

Are you looking for a deacon? Give time to prove a man before appointing him to be a deacon. We sometimes see potential in people and try to help them reach it. This is good, but appointing someone as a deacon too soon can be very damaging.