that the person dedicated to God may be capable and equipped for every good work.(2 Timothy 3:17 – NET)
Timothy could have said, “Okay I have had hands laid on me, I have been commissioned as an Apostle and I have been taught and commended (Philippians 2:19-22) by the great Apostle Paul, it is time to move on to more of God”. But Paul says, in essence, “No way, buster, continue in what you have already been taught, and teach other men to be faithful to it, and warn others not to stray away into novelty and myth and false doctrine, wanting to be some great teacher when all they are doing is showing their ignorance and leading people into perdition”. Timothy could have told Paul, “Oh Paul you are holding me back”. If Timothy was not allowed to move on what makes you think you are? Your pride, that’s what.
Some say, “Pastor, you are holding us back”. I say, “From what?” You want your pastor to “let you loose”, but to do what? You need your self important, unbiblical, un-submissive thing you call spirituality to be reigned in, that’s what, and that’s why you rebel and you want more, because you aren’t submitted to the Word of God as enough, when it declares that it is (2 Timothy 3:16-17). You might think I don’t let the Spirit move, but I am sure that the Spirit moves when the Word of God is preached, and you ought to be plenty excited about that!
Paul tells Timothy that the scripture is all he needs, and he tells Timothy that the way he had taught it is good enough for him, and not to try and be innovative about it and add new stuff. It is enough for us and enough till Christ comes back for us!
Well, people will try and explain away the idea. They will say that even though Paul said that the scriptures are enough, that 2 Timothy 3:16-17 is only referring to the OT, but that isn’t true. Even if it were, the OT has plenty for us today, and it proves you don’t need to go to some other place in some other city to get something more, when most of those types can’t even quote the 10 commandments anyway!
Now again, as far as 2 Timothy 3:16-17 being only about the OT, it isn’t true, because most of the scriptures were already complete. Peter brings the Old and New Testaments together by saying that words of the Apostles were also authoritative (2 Peter 3:2), specifically referring to Paul’s writings as scripture (2 Peter 3:15-16). Also 1 Timothy 5:18 quotes Luke 10:7, so the gospels are included. Everything needed for faith and practice, life and liberty in Christ, we have all we need in the scriptures (2 Peter 1:3-4). As a companion and disciple of the Apostle Paul, Timothy would have had access to these writings (2 Timothy 4:13).
“I just need a little excitement”, no what you need is a little more boredom, to settle down, and to settle in, into the Word of God, rooted and established. You need establishment, not excitement, so then you can learn what you can be truly excited about. You aren’t established, and that is why you get excited about the wrong things. You don’t discern spiritual frauds and fads, you are like some child whom every movie he or she sees is the greatest one ever, they were moved, but it is easy to move them. They only know the moment and movement but not meditation. They are not a deep thinker, which is why something shallow can deeply move them. That is fine for a child, but we are supposed to be growing up in Christ.
When people don’t get rooted and grounded in scripture, when they do not have their foundation for faith and practice established, they will use the Bible like a magic book, or an encyclopedia. They will become hard of hearing and ignorant of the truth, all the while thinking that they believe the Bible, but they will incorporate compromise into their understanding by seeing the scriptures through the lens of their life, instead of seeing their life through the lens of scripture. They twist the scriptures to their own destruction (2 Peter 3:16-18). It is time to get rooted, grounded, established, it is time to grow up; enough is enough.
12 comments:
Good words JD.
I just finished reading "Maravich", a book about Pistol Pete. It tells of his conversion to Christ, and how this man was fired up. His pastor said to him, "Pete, you might want to get rooted and grounded, before you start telling the world about theology. But you can surely share the good news of Christ, and how he saved you." (paraphrased)
Too often we want to put celebrities in the gospel lime light, before they are full of God's truth and grace.
Evene Saul went away for a few years, and came back Paul, if I recollect correctly.
God's not in a hurry. And nothing ever surprises Him.
I like Timothy, because he was timid, like me. So there's always hope for the timid in God's grace.
It is so vital to the christian to stay in God's Word, to pray and to stay under the teaching of sound doctrine. As you noted 2 Peter 3:16 warns about people twisting the scripture in their ignorance and when we are content to remain ignorant we too are ripe for deception.
Those were both excellent comments...seriously, those type of comments add much to the post in terms of application...
BTW, I loved Pistol Pete...
Whoa! Thanks for the link, honey! I guess I have to link you in my sidebar now...
Done, thanks again honey...
I have revised and extended the post...
It's our flesh that desires the excitement, and the desire for more. It's our flesh that wants to twist scripture to make it more palatable, or to fit the agenda our our selfishness.
Becoming a bible centered christian changes you. It's the taking off of the old flesh man and putting on the new spirit man. If we are not submitted to the authority of the Word, and are allowing our flesh reign in our lives, then we do not know Christ, and may have never had a real belief in God in the first place.
First, this is a very powerful uplifting message.
Second, your message reminds me of those that smoke pot and try to read God's Word while their stoned. Coming from someone who did there share of the weed I always had this sense of wisdom or intellect about me, all the while being deceived by the chemical I thought was enhancing my understanding. Although I personally never read the Word while under the influence the results were the same. Deception! Trying to find something beyond that which is already truth.
I guess delusions can come in many forms.
Wow! Great post. God has definitely been teaching me about submission in these past couple of years and I am grateful to His Word and your teachings.
The last paragraph sums it up nicely. Praise God for the Truth of His Word in its entirety!
This is a good one J! I feel a book coming on here.
This sums up everything you have been teaching.
The theme of the week seems to not get to comfortable in your own spirituality or your feet will slip right out from under you. When you give an inch a mile is taken. Keep the focus on Jesus and the rest will come into line. Take it off and there it all crumbles.
Post a Comment