Introduction: This brings us to:

1. The servant’s responsibility to His master.
2. The preacher’s responsibility to the flock.
3. The proper response to those that reject the words of God.

(Slide 3)

1 Timothy 6:2 And they that have believing masters, let them not despise them, because they are brethren; but rather do them service, because they are faithful and beloved, partakers of the benefit. These things teach and exhort.

(Slide 4)

1. “they that have believing masters”
   1. Servant/Slave towards saved master: Colossians 3:22 Servants, obey in all things your masters according to the flesh; not with eyeservice, as menpleasers; but in singleness of heart, fearing God:

(Slide 5)

1. Ephesians 6:5-6 Servants, be obedient to them that are your masters according to the flesh, with fear and trembling, in singleness of your heart, as unto Christ; Not with eyeservice, as menpleasers; but as the servants of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart;

(Slide 6)

• “let them not despise them, because they are brethren; but rather do them service”
  • Don’t hold them in contempt, nor abhor them
    • This would be natural from man’s standpoint.

(Slide 7)

• In place of that attitude:
  • Serve them.

(Slide 8)

• “because they are faithful and beloved, partakers of the benefit”

(Slide 9)

1. The benefits are going to be revealed
   1. Of the slave for faithful service

(Slide 10)

1. Of the master for just and equal treatment: Colossians 4:1 Masters, give unto your servants that which is just and equal; knowing that ye also have a Master in heaven.

(Slide 11)

• When: Colossians 3:24-25 Knowing that of the Lord ye shall receive the reward of the inheritance: for ye serve the Lord Christ. But he that doeth wrong shall receive for the wrong which he hath done: and there is no respect of persons.

(Slide 12)

• “These things teach and exhort”
  • Preacher’s responsibility
    • Teach and Preach this message.
      • Far cry from our thinking today.
      • What are we to say of those that disagree with this message?

(Slide 13)

1 Timothy 6:3 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;

            (Slide 14)

1. “If any man teach otherwise”
   1. Watch out for what’s coming!

(Slide 15)

• Paul says in 1 Timothy 1:3 As I besought thee to abide still at Ephesus, when I went into Macedonia, that thou mightest charge some that they teach no other doctrine,
  • Other doctrine: men’s opinions

(Slide 16)

1. We are to avoid those that contradict God’s doctrine:
   1. They are pleasing fables: 2 Timothy 4:3-4 For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables.

(Slide 17)

• Then God says he is proud, knows nothing, hung up on strife and railing: 1 Timothy 6:4 He is proud, knowing nothing, but doting about questions and strifes of words, whereof cometh envy, strife, railings, evil surmisings,

(Slide 18)

• “If any man…consent not to wholesome words”
  • “Wholesome words” give good health
  • Are good for us: Titus 3:8 This is a faithful saying, and these things I will that thou affirm constantly, that they which have believed in God might be careful to maintain good works. These things are good and profitable unto men.
  • Are not to be resisted, but surrendered to.

(Slide 19)

• “If any man…consent not to…even the words of our Lord Jesus Christ”
  • Wholesome words are the words of our Lord Jesus Christ

(Slide 20)

• 1 Thessalonians 4:1-2 Furthermore then we beseech you, brethren, and exhort you by the Lord Jesus, that as ye have received of us how ye ought to walk and to please God, so ye would abound more and more. For ye know what commandments we gave you by the Lord Jesus.

(Slide 21)

1. Matthew 28:20 Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.

(Slide 22)

• “If any man…consent not… to the doctrine which is according to godliness”
  • The doctrine is that which comes from godliness.
    • Consenting not is a rebellion against God.
  • What we are to do: Proverbs 19:27 Cease, my son, to hear the instruction that causeth to err from the words of knowledge.

(Slide 23)

1 Timothy 6:4 He is proud, knowing nothing, but doting about questions and strifes of words, whereof cometh envy, strife, railings, evil surmisings,

(Slide 24)

1. Here’s man’s problem: “He is proud, knowing nothing”
   1. Proverbs 26:12 Seest thou a man wise in his own conceit? there is more hope of a fool than of him.
   1. Romans 12:16 Be of the same mind one toward another. Mind not high things, but condescend to men of low estate. Be not wise in your own conceits.

(Slide 25)

• Proud in own ignorance.

(Slide 26)

• “doting about questions and strifes of words”
  • Doting: Excessive fondness
    • About questions
    • About Strifes over words

(Slide 27)

• God’s command concerning:
  • 2 Timothy 2:23 But foolish and unlearned questions avoid, knowing that they do gender strifes.

(Slide 28)

• Marks of the carnal man:
  • 1 Corinthians 3:3 For ye are yet carnal: for whereas there is among you envying, and strife, and divisions, are ye not carnal, and walk as men?

(Slide 29)

• Results of: “whereof cometh envy, strife, railings, evil surmisings”
  • Man’s pride breeds.
    • Envy: looking with hatefulness at others
    • Strife: contentious behavior
    • Railings: insulting behavior and speaking
  • These are spoken towards masters by unfaithful servants/slaves, preachers, teachers.

(Slide 30)

1 Timothy 6:5 Perverse disputings of men of corrupt minds, and destitute of the truth, supposing that gain is godliness: from such withdraw thyself.

(Slide 31)

1. “Perverse disputings of men of corrupt minds”
   1. These have turned from the right to the wrong
      1. Use God’s words to teach what God’s words don’t say: 1 Timothy 1:6 From which some having swerved have turned aside unto vain jangling;

(Slide 32)

• Their minds are corrupt; filled with errors: Titus 1:15-16 Unto the pure all things are pure: but unto them that are defiled and unbelieving is nothing pure; but even their mind and conscience is defiled. They profess that they know God; but in works they deny him, being abominable, and disobedient, and unto every good work reprobate.

(Slide 33)

• “destitute of the truth,”
  • Forsaken and deprived of the truth
    • There is no truth in them: John 8:44 Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it.
      • Like unto their father the devil.

(Slide 34)

• “supposing that gain is godliness”
  • Point to how many believe them, what great reputation among men they have, or possessions.
    • Think all of this points to the fact that they are godly.
  • Newer bibles: ESV, ASV, NKJV: “godliness is a means to gain”; Living Bible: “a show of godliness is just a way to become wealthy”; changes message!

(Slide 35)

• So, what are we to do? “from such withdraw thyself”
  • RUN AWAY! These are people we are to stay away from.
  • Proverbs 19:27 Cease, my son, to hear the instruction that causeth to err from the words of knowledge.

(Slide 36)

• Romans 16:17-18 Now I beseech you, brethren, mark them which cause divisions and offences contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned; and avoid them. For they that are such serve not our Lord Jesus Christ, but their own belly; and by good words and fair speeches deceive the hearts of the simple.

(Slide 37)

• 2 Thessalonians 3:6 Now we command you, brethren, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye withdraw yourselves from every brother that walketh disorderly, and not after the tradition which he received of us.

(Slide 38)

Conclusion: So, we have seen:

1. The servant’s responsibility to His master:
   1. To obey
   1. To serve
   1. To honor
2. The preacher’s responsibility to the flock.
   1. Preach this message.
3. The proper response to those that reject the words of God.
   1. Reject those that reject the truth of God’s words.
   1. Avoid them
   1. Withdraw from them

Join us for our next lesson of the Pastoral Epistles, lesson 6, part 3.

Introduction: In our previous lesson, part 2 of our study, we saw

1. The servant’s responsibility to His master:
   1. The preacher’s responsibility to his flock.
   1. Proper response to the rejecters
      1. Reject those that that reject the truth of God’s words.

In our study today we are going to look at:

• Contentment and the lack thereof.

Slide 3

1 Timothy 6:6 But godliness with contentment is great gain.

            Slide 4

1. This is what we need: “godliness with contentment is great gain”
   1. A truth that God tells us: godliness is gain when found with contentment.
   1. If you want gain, seek godliness with contentment.
   1. Godliness is living in the will of God, not in my will.

                        Slide 5

• 1 Timothy 4:8 For bodily exercise profiteth little: but godliness is profitable unto all things, having promise of the life that now is, and of that which is to come.

                        Slide 6

• Proverbs 15:16 Better is little with the fear of the LORD than great treasure and trouble therewith.

                        Slide 7

• Hebrews 13:5 Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.

                        Slide 8

• Philippians 4:11-13 Not that I speak in respect of want: for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content. I know both how to be abased, and I know how to abound: every where and in all things I am instructed both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need. I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.

            Slide 9

• Context is servants/slaves to masters!

Slide 10

1 Timothy 6:7 For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out.

            Slide 11

1. The value of earthly possessions:
   1. Job 1:21 And said, Naked came I out of my mother’s womb, and naked shall I return thither: the LORD gave, and the LORD hath taken away; blessed be the name of the LORD.

                        Slide 12

• Luke 12:20-21 But God said unto him, Thou fool, this night thy soul shall be required of thee: then whose shall those things be, which thou hast provided? So is he that layeth up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God.

Slide 13

1 Timothy 6:8 And having food and raiment let us be therewith content.

            Slide 14

1. The necessities of life: “food and raiment”
   1. Proverbs 30:8-9 Remove far from me vanity and lies: give me neither poverty nor riches; feed me with food convenient for me: Lest I be full, and deny thee, and say, Who is the LORD? or lest I be poor, and steal, and take the name of my God in vain.

                        Slide 15

• Matthew 6:11 Give us this day our daily bread.

            Slide 16

• “let us be therewith content”
  • That which we are to be content with is less than most of us find in our estimation of contentment

Slide 17

1 Timothy 6:9 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.

            Slide 18

1. “But they that will be rich”
   1. Strike at money!
      1. those that love money: 1 Timothy 6:10 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.

                                    Slide 19

1. Like Lot of old:

                                                Slide 20

1. Genesis 13:10-13 And Lot lifted up his eyes, and beheld all the plain of Jordan, that it was well watered every where, before the LORD destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah, even as the garden of the LORD, like the land of Egypt, as thou comest unto Zoar. Then Lot chose him all the plain of Jordan; and Lot journeyed east: and they separated themselves the one from the other. Abram dwelled in the land of Canaan, and Lot dwelled in the cities of the plain, and pitched his tent toward Sodom. But the men of Sodom were wicked and sinners before the LORD exceedingly.

                                                Slide 21

• “Lifted up his eyes”

            Slide 22

• “fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and hurtful lusts, which drown men in destruction and perdition”
  • Temptation: to lie, cheat, soften the message, outright change the message, etc.

                        Slide 23

• Thorns:
  • Matthew 13:22 He also that received seed among the thorns is he that heareth the word; and the care of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches, choke the word, and he becometh unfruitful.

                                    Slide 24

1. Proverbs 1:17-19 Surely in vain the net is spread in the sight of any bird. And they lay wait for their own blood; they lurk privily for their own lives. So are the ways of every one that is greedy of gain; which taketh away the life of the owners thereof.

                        Slide 25

• Lusts: after property that is not theirs, or prosperity, etc.
  • Ephesians 4:22 That ye put off concerning the former conversation the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts;

                                    Slide 26

1. Here’s the deceitfulness: 1 John 2:15-17 Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world. And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever.

                        Slide 27

• Destruction
  • Example, Balaam: Numbers 31:8 And they slew the kings of Midian, beside the rest of them that were slain; namely, Evi, and Rekem, and Zur, and Hur, and Reba, five kings of Midian: Balaam also the son of Beor they slew with the sword.

                        Slide 28

• Perdition: entire loss
  • Job 27:8 For what is the hope of the hypocrite, though he hath gained, when God taketh away his soul?

Slide 29

1 Timothy 6:10 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.

            Slide 30

1. “For the love of money is the root of all evil”
   1. A hated verse by the world and the religious world.
      1. Newer bibles: “for the love of money is the root of all kinds of evil.”; ESV: “For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil”

                        Slide 31

• When we fall in love with money, we will do anything to gain it.
  • The root feeds the appetite of the plant
  • It is our motive for all we do or don’t do

                        Slide 32

• Proverbs 1:19 So are the ways of every one that is greedy of gain; which taketh away the life of the owners thereof.

                        Slide 33

• Titus 1:11 Whose mouths must be stopped, who subvert whole houses, teaching things which they ought not, for filthy lucre’s sake.

            Slide 34

• “which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith”
  • Like Demas:2 Timothy 4:10 For Demas hath forsaken me, having loved this present world, and is departed unto Thessalonica; Crescens to Galatia, Titus unto Dalmatia.

            Slide 35

• “pierced themselves through with many sorrows”
  • Pierced themselves: like a man that stabs himself.
    • Ulcers, worry, loss of sleep, loss of contentment, etc.

                        Slide 36

• Like the servant of Elijah: 2 Kings 5:27 The leprosy therefore of Naaman shall cleave unto thee, and unto thy seed for ever. And he went out from his presence a leper as white as snow.
• The context of verses 1-10: Servants/Slaves to their masters.

Slide 37

Conclusion:

1. Get Godliness with Contentment!
2. Remember Nothing Came, Nothing Leaves!
3. Be Content with That Which God Provides!
4. Be on Guard against the Danger that Lurks!
5. Love the Lord and You Will Not Love Money!