The Conduct of a Man of God 1Timothy 6:11-16, 20-21 vs 11: Paul calls Timothy a 'man of God'. This is a very prestigious title, which would have encouraged Timothy greatly. We see some examples of this in the Old Testament: Moses (Deuteronomy 33:1; Joshua 14:6) David (Nehemiah 12:24) Elijah (1Kings 17:18 24) Elisha (2 Kings 4:7,16) These men were spiritual giants of the Old Testament, so Timothy is included among mighty spiritual leaders. It is interesting to note that Timothy is the only person in the New Testament that this title is bestowed upon! Paul regarded Timothy extremely highly. "The title describes one who stands for God faithfully against opposition, as a spiritual leader and as an example to all believers." Constable, Notes on 1 Timothy "He (Timothy) was God's man, His champion in the war against false teaching, His voice." MacArthur, 1 Timothy φεῦγε (pheuge) "To keep from doing something by avoiding it because of it's potential damage, flee from, avoid, shun." BDAG Paul tells Timothy to 'flee from' in vs 11, and similarly to, ‘turn away from' in vs 20. Timothy is to constantly flee from false doctrine (vs 3, 20), controversies, quarrels, envy, strife, malicious talk and evil suspicions (vs 4, 20), constant friction (vs 5) and the love of money (vs 10). The potential damage of not fleeing and avoiding these things is that faith can be shipwrecked (1 Timothy 1:19, 6:10, 21). What we see here is a direct contrast again between the false teachers (1 Timothy 1:3-7, 4:1-5, 6:3-10) and Timothy, as a godly spiritual leader (1 Timothy 1:18-20, 4:14-16, 6:11-12). As believers, are we fleeing from false doctrine, controversies, quarrels, envy, strife, malicious talk and evil suspicions, friction, and the love of money? vs 11: Paul is instructing Timothy to pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, endurance, and gentleness. In summary, this should be the walk of every Christian believer. As a 'man of God', Timothy should be characterized by these qualities and, as believers, so should we. To pursue righteousness means "to do what is right in relation to both God and man." (MacArthur) Pursuing godliness means that as believers we should endeavor to be more Christ-like. Pursuing faith means trusting in God and relying upon his faithfulness and not our faithlessness. Pursuing love is the greatest commandment: "He answered, “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind’; and, ‘Love your neighbor as yourself." Luke 10:27 Pursuing endurance means to keep going in the Christian walk - don't give up! Pursuing gentleness means that we should always be characterized by being gentle and kind to those around us. Holy Spirit help me to pursue____ vs 12, 20: As a man of God Timothy is to, 'fight the good fight of the faith.' (1 Timothy 1:18-19). In vs 20, Paul similarly encourages Timothy to, 'guard what has been entrusted to your care'. This language has a military context to it and the battle is real. The verb for ‘fight’ is from the Greek word: ἀγών (agon) -'a struggle against opposition, engage in a contest'. BDAG The opposition in question is the devil, the evil one. "Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms." Ephesians 6:10-12 The Christian journey is worth fighting for. It is not an easy contest we need to be 'fighting the fight' daily because our enemy attacks us daily. If we don't fight every day, as believers we run the risk of, 'wandering from the faith' (1 Timothy 1:20, 4:1, 6:10, 6:21). "Only by the exercise of spiritual disciplines, such as prayer, obedience, faith, study of the Scriptures, and proper responses to trials, does our intimacy with Christ increase. Only by continuing in doing good does that spiritual life imparted at regeneration grow to maturity and earn a reward." Dillow, The Reign of the Servant Kings Brothers and sisters do you ever feel like giving up on the faith? I want to encourage you like Paul does to Timothy - keep on fighting! Don't give up. No matter how hard the battle may seem, Jesus is right there in the thick of it with you. He has sent his Holy spirit to help you overcome the spiritual battle. "Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Come near to God and he will come near to you." James 4:7-8 What aspect of faith are you struggling with? Holy Spirit help me with _________________________________________. 'When Paul says 'take hold of eternal life' he is telling Timothy to live daily for Christ. This is the priority of the man of God to live for Christ everyday. "Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already arrived at my goal, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus." Philippians 3:12-14 Are you 'taking hold of eternal life'? Are you pressing on towards the goal? vs 13,14: Paul charges Timothy to 'keep the command' before God and Christ Jesus. I believe that this is related to vs 20: 'Timothy, guard what has been entrusted to your care'. Paul is charging Timothy to maintain the truth of the Christian faith in the face of false teachers. In other words, Timothy is to keep the command to 'pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, endurance and gentleness' (vs 11). He is to do this without 'spot or blame' until Jesus comes again. He is to live the Christian life as an example of the man of God which Paul says he is. "...but set an example for the believers in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith and in purity. Until I come, devote yourself to the public reading of Scripture, to preaching and to teaching. Do not neglect your gift, which was given you through prophecy when the body of elders laid their hands on you. Be diligent in these matters; give yourself wholly to them, so that everyone may see your progress. Watch your life and doctrine closely. Persevere in them, because if you do, you will save both yourself and your hearers." 1 Timothy 4:12-16 vs 15: God alone knows the time of Christ's return. "But concerning that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, nor the Son, but the Father only." Matthew 24:36 vs 15, 16: Congregational prayer - "God, the blessed and only Ruler, the King of kings and Lord of lords, who alone is immortal and who lives in unapproachable light, whom no one has seen or can see. To him be honor and might forever. Amen." .