Lesson 7
The Foundation of Our Faith-The Books of I & II Timothy, Titus, and Philemon
The True Values
July 13, 2003

Focus Thought
The attitude of Christians and the attitude of the world often are
completely opposite. The Christian bases his value systems upon the Word of
God.

Scripture Reference
Proverbs 23:7
Matthew 6:21
Luke 12:15
Revelation 1:8

Expositional Passage
I Timothy 6:3-12
3 If any man teach otherwise, and consent not to wholesome words, even the
words of our Lord Jesus Christ, and to the doctrine which is according to
godliness;
4 He is proud, knowing nothing, but doting about questions and strifes of
words, whereof cometh envy, strife, railings, evil surmisings,
5 Perverse disputings of men of corrupt minds, and destitute of the truth,
supposing that gain is godliness: from such withdraw thyself.
6 But godliness with contentment is great gain.
7 For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry
nothing out.
8 And having food and raiment let us be therewith content.
9 But they that will be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many
foolish and hurtful lusts, which drown men in destruction and perdition.
10 For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted
after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with
many sorrows.
11 But thou, O man of God, flee these things; and follow after
righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, meekness.
12 Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, whereunto thou
art also called, and hast professed a good profession before many witnesses.

Focus Verse
I Timothy 6:11
But thou, O man of God, flee these things; and follow after righteousness,
godliness, faith, love, patience, meekness.

LESSON OUTLINE
INTRODUCTION
I. GODLINESS AND GAIN
 A. The Doctrine According to Godliness
 B. Godliness, Contentment, and Gain
 C. The Root of All Evil
II. THE MAN OF GOD
 A. Fleeing from Evil
 B. Following after Righteousness
 C. Fighting the Good Fight of Faith
 D. Making a Good Profession
 E. Laying Hold on Eternal Life
III. THE CHARGE TO TIMOTHY
 A. What about the Commandment to Keep Godly Values?
 B. What about God?
 C. What about the Rich?
CONCLUSION

INTRODUCTION
      In the closing chapter of I Timothy, Paul appealed to Timothy to
continue practicing and teaching the values of true Christianity. Paul had
invested much time, prayer, and personal attention in Timothy's continued
development as a leader of the church. He knew the necessity of godly values
for those who minister to and lead the church. Paul desired to see Timothy
preserve and propagate to succeeding generations the truths entrusted to
him. Paul was faithful to the Christian values for which he was arrested and
which eventually led to his death, and he wrote letters to young Timothy to
share and preserve those values, and to encourage Timothy to do the same.
      Many Christian values have diminished in our culture due to the
self-indulgence of mankind, but the church has the God-given responsibility
to keep these values alive and pass them on to the next generation. We must
diligently preserve truth and the values of Jesus Christ. Though the
challenge is great, it is not an impossible task.
      A Christian is one who follows Jesus Christ and should therefore be
like Him. He should reflect the image of Christ in this sin-darkened world.
To possess godly character is an essential element of Christianity. Sadly,
many claim to be Christians who do not hold to the values and principles
that Jesus taught. Some may attend church on Sunday but live on Monday with
little or no thought of commitment to the Lord. But it is not enough to
profess Christ; we also must possess a spiritual experience that lifts us
above man's self-made values system.
      We preach the gospel of Jesus Christ and give hope to the lost of this
world through the message of salvation. We also declare Christian values
such as honesty, loyalty, trustworthiness, faithfulness, integrity, and
humility. These are values that provide a framework for living the abundant
life of which Jesus spoke to His disciples.
      Postmodern thinking and multicultural diversity have caused the
accepted values of North American society to fall into the hands of human
reasoning. Special interest groups and activists have unashamedly pushed
their agendas to the detriment of traditional social mores and values.
Consequently, abortion, divorce, and homosexuality have increased in our
culture and have undermined the moral fibers of North America. Forsaking God
's laws has devastating effects on individuals and nations. Who will
preserve the true values of Christ?
      Values define who we are and what we eventually will become. They mold
our character that expresses itself through our actions. Solomon wisely
declared of man, "For as he thinketh in his heart, so is he" (Proverbs
23:7). He understood that a person's inward value system defines him and
directs all his actions.
      Never has there been a day when standing firm on the true values of
Christ was more essential than our day. This is a day for Christians to
commit their lives to living by the eternal values of God's Word. In doing
so we truly will be the light of the world-like a city on a hill that cannot
be hidden.

I. GODLINESS AND GAIN
A. The Doctrine According to Godliness
      The word doctrine may simply be defined as "teaching or instruction."
The word according may be defined as "in agreement, conformity, in harmony
or in relation to." The goal of this lesson is to emphasize the teaching of
values in relation to godliness.
      Proverbs 1:7 states, "The fear of the Lord is the beginning of
knowledge: but fools despise wisdom and instruction." A foolish person
despises sound doctrine because it exposes his weakness and hidden motives.
When doctrine exposes his errors he experiences condemnation and senses an
obligation to repent of his sins.
      There are those who feel that maintaining the meek spirit of
righteousness is a sign of weakness. However, it takes a person of great
strength to stand for what is right in a world of compromise. William Penn
said, "Right is right, even if everyone is against it; and wrong is wrong,
even if everyone is for it."
      Paul began the sixth chapter of I Timothy discussing the relationship
between a servant and his master. He stressed that a Christian servant
should give honor to his master and leave a good witness so that the name of
the Lord and doctrine are honored and not vilified. He should display the
proper attitude. The doctrine of godliness begins with having the right
spirit and attitude.
      Many servants in Paul's day were in servitude due to debts incurred
that they were unable to pay. This was known as indentured servitude. The
debts were so great that their only hope of repayment lay in indentured
labor that often was passed on to succeeding generations. (See II Kings
4:1.) The lack of financial discipline and restraint led many into the
bondage of servitude.
      Paul warned Timothy of those who taught otherwise and did not discern
the proper spirit of submission and respect (I Timothy 6:3-5). Moreover, he
used the illustration of a right relationship between servants and masters
to introduce the larger subject of godliness.

B. Godliness, Contentment, and Gain
      A carnal person is blind to the inestimable worth of godly values. He
foolishly tosses aside godly statutes in exchange for popularity,
acceptance, or materialistic gain. He mistakenly assumes that temporal
financial prosperity signifies God's approval on his life. But three of the
four Gospels pose the question: What does it profit a man if he gains the
whole world but loses his own soul? (See Matthew 16:26; Mark 8:36; Luke
9:25.)
      Substance is not a sign of godliness. If that were true, all wealthy
people would be guaranteed salvation without regard to how the wealth is
obtained and the poor would be doomed to be lost. Jesus taught us to lay up
treasures in heaven where neither moth nor rust corrupts and where thieves
do not break through to steal (Matthew 6:20).
      "For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also" (Matthew
6:21).
      We must be careful of the value we place on things. There is nothing
wrong with having possessions, but we can ill afford to allow them to order
our values.
      Possessions and substance can neither effect salvation nor measure
success. The qualities of a person's car, clothing, or home are not
indicative of his success or failure. Further, we must be careful not to
envy others for their possessions or perceived successes.
      "And he said unto them, Take heed, and beware of covetousness: for a
man's life consisteth not in the abundance of the things which he
 possesseth" (Luke 12:15).
      We must guard our spirits against the pitfalls of greed, covetousness,
and envy. It is true that living for the Lord sometimes causes people to
improve financially and materially. Because they turn from ungodly
lifestyles of unruly living and excesses, they often experience improved
finances. Some who once found it difficult to keep employment become model
employees who often receive promotions and pay increases on their jobs. But
a Christian must not fall in love with his blessings! Rather, he should love
and honor God who is the source of all his blessings.
      Paul warned Timothy to withdraw from those who wrongly believe that
their materialistic blessings demonstrate their godliness and status with
God. To keep company with those who are ungodly can make a person vulnerable
to spiritual pitfalls. He may become just like his companions with a false
security in possessions. If he does not possess as much as his companions he
may feel he has failed and he may even question his relationship with God.
He may become bitter and resentful if he mistakenly presumes that financial
success signals God's approval. Comparing ourselves to others may lead to
feelings of superiority or inferiority.

C. The Root of All Evil
      The love of money is the root of all evil (I Timothy 6:10). One of the
basic elements of love is trust, but it is dangerous to put one's trust in
riches. Riches and materialism only offer false security for their value
fluctuates greatly every day. They will disappoint us when they are unable
to satisfy our present needs. The ability of money to help a person is
limited. True security does not come from wealth but from a genuine
relationship with Jesus Christ.
      The love of riches is nothing new. Many kings and kingdoms have fallen
because of greed and infatuation with gold and silver. Even the Scriptures
tell of ones who sold their souls for temporal wealth and fame. Satan has
used the spirit of greed to destroy many good people.
      It is sad when a person loves money and puts his concerns for it above
God, his or her spouse, and children. Such a person is selfish and cares for
nothing but himself; he neglects the needs of his family. When a person
allows money to direct his life it does three things to him.
      1. A person becomes enslaved to the pleasures of a materialistic
lifestyle and focuses only on increasing his material wealth. Paul referred
to those who because of the love of money had erred from the faith and had
suffered much sorrow (verse 10). Greed takes over a person's mind and heart.
He never intends to let it destroy his life, but greed gradually consumes
his thoughts and actions.
      People become subservient to their greedy desires. Gambling has
reached epidemic proportion in North American culture through bingo,
raffles, lotteries, and casinos. It is not unusual to stand in line at a
convenience store behind many customers spending needed funds to purchase
lottery tickets. Moreover, the problem has become so severe that there are
special counselors and therapists for those addicted to gambling and games
of chance. The world calls gambling a social disease but it is more than
that. It is a moral failure and spiritual problem.
      2. The lust for money causes a person to lose sight of the things that
are truly important. He becomes preoccupied with monetary issues. He has too
little time for God, family, and friends. He rearranges his priorities as he
neglects that which once held a place of great value in his life and he
turns his attention toward that which can never truly satisfy. His
priorities become self-serving with no thought of others or the future. But
peace and joy never come through a life of selfishness. A person who loves
self more than others never experiences true happiness.
      All of a person's relationships suffer as a result of his misguided
sense of values. First, his relationship with God suffers as he loses his
concern for the things of the Lord. Moreover, he no longer prays as he once
did because he loses his sense of dependence upon God. His confidence in
riches causes him to lean on his own carnal abilities and desires. Second, a
person's marriage begins to suffer as his personal desires take preeminence
over the needs of his or her companion and the family. Finally, the person
rejects his friends as he re-evaluates what they can offer him. If they have
nothing of material substance to offer, then they serve no purpose in his
life. He becomes arrogant and alienates his former friends.
      3. A person misplaces his trust when he places his confidence in
material wealth. Trust is the foundation of a loving relationship. It is the
bonding power of all relationships. If trust diminishes, the relationship
becomes unstable. Consequently, the person's love for God and faith fade as
he places his trust in the things of this world.
      American coins boldly state, "In God We Trust," but sadly, many people
have placed more trust in the value of money than in the value of the Lord.
A person may not necessarily place his trust in the money itself but in what
it brings in the way of fame, fortune, popularity, and possessions. These
things never satisfy; they only leave a person empty and lonely. When the
money is gone he is simply alone with nothing else to trust.

II. THE MAN OF GOD
A. Fleeing from Evil
      "But thou, O man of God, flee these things" (I Timothy 6:11).
      Paul strongly urged Timothy to separate himself from the evil of
materialistic people. Materialistic individuals fall into temptations that
lead to foolish and hurtful lusts (desires). The love of money robs the
heart of compassion and eventually leaves a person empty. The cravings of
his spirit draw him into destruction.
      Distancing oneself from temptation is a deliberate and conscious act.
One must purpose in his heart to forsake that which could destroy him. There
are those who think that they can withstand temptation by sheer willpower,
but man cannot redeem himself from sin. We wrestle against spirits, powers,
and principalities. The enemy is great, but there is no need to fear, for
God is greater.
      The Bible names several individuals of great potential who forsook
godly values because of a greedy impulse. We must not allow the enemy even a
moment of opportunity to entice us away from the path of godliness. Achan
was in the midst of a battle with the men of Ai when "a few Babylonian
garments caught his eye" (Joshua 7:21). Achan said that when he saw the
garments, silver, and gold he coveted them and hid them. But he never was
able to enjoy the things he longed for; his disobedience in forsaking the
true values cost him everything.
      Gehazi, the servant of Elisha also gave in to temptation (II Kings
5:20-27). He had witnessed the miraculous healing of Naaman from the disease
of leprosy. Gehazi was Elisha's messenger who told Naaman to dip in the
Jordan River seven times. Naaman wanted to repay Elisha for the healing, but
Elisha would not accept it.
      Gehazi waited until Naaman had left and Elisha was busy before he
acted on the feelings of his heart. He coveted the rewards offered to the
prophet and was disappointed to see Elisha refuse them. When he had
opportunity, he intended to catch up with Naaman and take advantage of the
man's generous offer (verse 20). Gehazi sold his ministry and future for a
mere two talents of silver and two changes of clothing. His selfish spirit
closed the door on his ministry and brought shame to his life as a leper.
      May God strengthen us against temptation. No matter who we are, sin
separates us from God.

B. Following after Righteousness
      On the Day of Pentecost, Peter stood to preach the message of
salvation to those gathered on that day. Peter preached Jesus Christ
crucified and the crowd responded with conviction, "What shall we do?" (Acts
2:37).
      "Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you
in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive
the gift of the Holy Ghost. For the promise is unto you, and to your
children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God
shall call. And with many other words did he testify and exhort, saying,
Save yourselves from this untoward generation" (Acts 2:38-40).
      When Peter admonished them to "Save yourselves from this untoward
generation," he was not advocating an idea that man could redeem himself
from sin. There is no salvation outside the shed blood of Jesus Christ.
Peter was only promoting the fact of every individual's personal
responsibility to respond to God's offer of salvation; God will not force us
to accept His act of grace.
      When Paul encouraged Timothy to "follow after righteousness," he was
encouraging him to allow the Holy Spirit and the Word of God to lead and
guide him. The word "follow" implies that there is something in the lead.
Many people want to be leaders but it seems few want to be followers. Paul
recognized that everyone needs a leader including himself. He encouraged the
church, "Follow me as I follow Christ." Paul allowed Christ to guide his
steps in his Christian life and ministry.
      We need to follow principles of righteousness. If we follow after
truthfulness, we will not lie. If we follow after holy things, we will be
determined to live a sanctified lifestyle.

C. Fighting the Good Fight of Faith
      Twice in the Scriptures there is reference to "fight the good fight."
The first one Paul wrote to challenge Timothy (I Timothy 6:12) and the
second Paul wrote with reference to himself (II Timothy 4:7). He used the
phrase to reflect upon his own life as he prepared to die for the gospel.
Paul had fought many spiritual battles and had won by remaining true to the
faith.
      The apostle Paul warned Timothy that he would face adversity on the
path to victory. Serving God is not a matter of easy believism and
confessing Christ; it is action that demands strength, endurance, and
discipline. Christian leaders must stand firm against self, discouragement,
false doctrine, and tradition that would attempt to sidetrack souls from the
true values of Christ.
      A good soldier knows that the battle is larger than himself and that
it affects many others who look to him for protection and direction. God is
depending on His people to stand for truth and righteousness and reach out
to the lost that they may be delivered from sin.
      Knowing the Word of God and applying it properly equip the people of
God for battle. Moreover, it is vital that they are loyal to Christian
values. Our relationships with others do not determine what is truth. Truth
is constant; it is not conditional or situational. We must stand for what is
right regardless of circumstances or friendships.
      Christians also need endurance. We are in this battle to win. What a
beautiful testimony the elders have who have stood for righteousness through
the years! Through endurance we too can have such a testimony.
D. Making a Good Profession
      It is important for Christians to make a good profession (confession)
of their faith in Jesus Christ, but words are not enough. Their profession
of faith is their testimony of what God has done in their lives, but
testimonies come to life when people observe their faithful actions. As
someone has said, "Actions speak louder than words." Rather than just
speaking the Word of the Lord, we must live the Word and win the lost by our
faithful testimony. By living consistently for the Lord we show sinners that
God delivers people and keeps them from sin. They also see our joy and peace
that come through the power of the Holy Ghost.
      The world needs to see the true witnesses of Jesus Christ. Some scoff
at religion because of poor examples that they have personally observed.
However, a true Christian reveals a living Savior to unbelievers. Someone
penned the words, "I want the world to see Jesus in my life." They need to
see Jesus in us.

E. Laying Hold on Eternal Life
      Eternal life is the ultimate reward for having a good testimony of
faith and fighting the good fight of faith. Everything brings a
reward-either good or bad. The Lord has prepared a special place for those
who endure life's trials faithfully to the end. And even though eternal life
with Jesus is reward enough, He also gives us many blessings as we travel
through this life. The Holy Ghost is the wonderful earnest or down payment
of our eternal inheritance! God deserves praise even for the things we
receive on the way to eternity.

III. THE CHARGE TO TIMOTHY
A. What about the Commandment to Keep Godly Values?
      Paul charged Timothy to keep godly values in the forefront of his
personal life as well as in the church. Paul had confidence that his young
protégé would protect the truth. He was not worried that Timothy would
abandon God's Word. Paul willingly passed the torch of truth to another
generation so that the truth could continue to prosper and go forward.
      We do not know the time of the Lord's second coming. Though it would
appear to be soon, we do not know the day or the hour of His return. (See
Matthew 24:36; 25:13; Mark 13:32.) Consequently, we must live as if He were
coming back today and we should plan (preparations for evangelism and
growth) as if His coming were afar off. When He does return He desires to
find His church busy about His business of winning the lost.
      It is vital to prepare for the future of the church. Some may
reminisce of the "good old days of Pentecost," but we need to realize that
the church is in its finest hour. Our future is just as bright and powerful
as any experiences in the past. There is a mighty army of godly youth
capable of carrying the truth into the future. We do not have to fear
entrusting the young ministers with this wonderful gospel of Christ.
      Like Paul we can trust the next generation of Pentecostal youth to
keep the commandments of godliness. We do not alone hold the power of truth
in our hands; the church belongs to God and He has entrusted godly values to
men and women for generations, and His truth still marches onward. Moreover,
the truth will continue throughout every generation until the end of the
age. Paul invested in Timothy and charged him to pass on the commandments of
godliness to his generation and to those who follow later.

B. What about God?
      God is the only potentate. God never changes. He is and has always
been the One with all power in heaven and in earth (Matthew 28:18). Not all
recognize His deity today, but one day all mankind shall confess that He is
Lord and praise Him as the only Potentate. Until that day, however, the
people of God will continue to put their trust in the only One who has power
over sin.
      God alone is immortal. He has always existed. He is from "everlasting
to everlasting" (Psalm 90:2; 103:17; 106:48). He had no beginning and He
will have no end. One cannot trace the genealogy of God, for there is none
before Him and none beside Him.
      "I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the ending, saith the Lord,
which is, and which was, and which is to come, the Almighty" (Revelation
1:8).
      Jesus Christ is King of kings and Lord of lords. Jesus is the
authority over all authority. All power in heaven and earth belongs to Him.
When we pray in the name of Jesus we invoke all the power of heaven. The
fullness of the godhead dwelled in the physical body of Jesus Christ
(Colossians 2:9)!

C. What about the Rich?
      The rich should not be high-minded. Paul's final words in this chapter
were for Timothy to charge the wealthy. He recognized that they faced
temptations because of their wealth, and he also recognized their potential
to bless the work of God. The wealthy should be a part of the church but not
the central theme. God is to always be the center of the church.
      The rich should not trust in uncertain riches. Wealth is certainly a
blessing. However, money should not be an object of trust. The purchasing
power of money fluctuates constantly according to world events that surround
us. God is the only One who does not change, whatever the situation. He
alone is worthy of our complete trust.
      One songwriter wrote a song entitled "Peace in Jesus." The chorus
says, "and though trouble's all around, I am so glad that I have found,
there is peace in Jesus in a troubled world today." Our trust is in He who
does not change.
The wealthy should be rich in good works. Christians who have wealth should
invest liberally in the work of God. What better investment than to invest
in the harvest of souls for Christ? Christians should not exploit or take
advantage of the wealthy person's willingness to support the work of God by
their own shirking of responsibility to the kingdom. Every Christian should
perform good works or deeds as he has ability and opportunity. Cornelius
gave much to the poor and his work was a memorial before God (Acts 10:2-4).
It was not his money that got the attention of the Lord, but his willingness
to bless others. The heart of Cornelius was open both to giving and
receiving. As Peter preached the gospel in his house Cornelius was prepared
to give himself to God-and consequently, he received the gift of God!
      The wealthy should be ready to distribute and communicate. Allowing
oneself to be a liberal and cheerful giver also allows him to be the
recipient of God's blessings. Just as a person may receive returns from wise
market investments, so shall he receive a return on what he gives to the
Lord's work (Luke 6:38). The greatest return from investing in God's work is
the knowledge that the future is secure. The dividends come in the form of
the salvation of souls.

CONCLUSION
      Paul's trust in Timothy must have been strong as he placed the future
of the church on his young shoulders. Without fear Paul invested in a young
man with no written guarantee that Timothy would hold onto these Christian
values. But he obviously had faith or trust in Timothy.
      As Paul believed in Timothy, someone also believed in us. Faithful
Christians loved the Word of God enough to stand firm in times of adversity
to see that it was preserved. Moreover, some faithful elders have planted
the values of Christ into the hearts of young people. Through the
faithfulness and commitment of both the truth continues to march forward
like a beacon in the night. As a result there are millions holding strongly
to what God delivered once unto the saints. We can thank those who ensured
the preservation of righteousness by passing Christian values to others.

REFLECTIONS
· Discuss the problem and danger of measuring success by materialistic gain.
· How do relationships suffer because of the love of money? Discuss.
· Discuss the need to preserve Christian values of godliness within the
church.
· What is the cost of losing Christian values within the church? Discuss.
· How was the lack of godly values revealed in the lives of Achan and
Gehazi? Discuss.


Our greatest freedom is freedom from sin.
Galatians 5:1   Stand fast therefore in the
liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free,
and be not entangled again with the
yoke of bondage.
YBIC, Thomas, And YSIC, Linda.
twilliamson2@...
pofm@...