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    Be Faithful (1 & 2 Timothy, Titus, Philemon): It's Always Too Soon to Quit!
    Be Faithful (1 & 2 Timothy, Titus, Philemon): It's Always Too Soon to Quit!
    Be Faithful (1 & 2 Timothy, Titus, Philemon): It's Always Too Soon to Quit!
    Ebook201 pages4 hours

    Be Faithful (1 & 2 Timothy, Titus, Philemon): It's Always Too Soon to Quit!

    By Warren W. Wiersbe

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    About this ebook

    In a fast-paced, technology-based era when drive-thrus, cell phones, laptops, and Internet banking are the norm, it's sometimes hard to fathom that God doesn't appreciate our frail attempts at spiritual shortcuts.


    Through the pastoral epistles, 1 and 2 Timothy and Titus, with insight from Paul's letter to Philemon as well, Dr. Warren W. Wiersbe illustrates that working for God's Kingdom requires tenacity, never-ceasing prayer, and protective battle gear that only God can provide.


    In this commentary, you'll grasp the imminent danger of false teachers and, thus, the overwhelming need for godly ministers—people who preach,practice, and progress in the Word. By explaining how a healthy body of believers should operate, Wiersbe uses Paul's words to encourage today's church to stay the course and be faithful!

    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherDavid C Cook
    Release dateJan 1, 2009
    ISBN9781434702135
    Be Faithful (1 & 2 Timothy, Titus, Philemon): It's Always Too Soon to Quit!
    Author

    Warren W. Wiersbe

    Warren W. Wiersbe, former pastor of the Moody Church and general director of Back to the Bible, has traveled widely as a Bible teacher and conference speaker. Because of his encouragement to those in ministry, Dr. Wiersbe is often referred to as "the pastor’s pastor." He has ministered in churches and conferences throughout the United States as well as in Canada, Central and South America, and Europe. Dr. Wiersbe has written over 150 books, including the popular BE series of commentaries on every book of the Bible, which has sold more than four million copies. At the 2002 Christian Booksellers Convention, he was awarded the Gold Medallion Lifetime Achievement Award by the Evangelical Christian Publishers Association. Dr. Wiersbe and his wife, Betty, live in Lincoln, Nebraska.

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      Book preview

      Be Faithful (1 & 2 Timothy, Titus, Philemon) - Warren W. Wiersbe

      BE FAITHFUL

      Published by David C. Cook

      4050 Lee Vance View

      Colorado Springs, CO 80918 U.S.A.

      David C. Cook Distribution Canada

      55 Woodslee Avenue, Paris, Ontario, Canada N3L 3E5

      David C. Cook U.K., Kingsway Communications

      Eastbourne, East Sussex BN23 6NT, England

      David C. Cook and the graphic circle C logo

      are registered trademarks of Cook Communications Ministries.

      All rights reserved. Except for brief excerpts for review purposes,

      no part of this book may be reproduced or used in any form

      without written permission from the publisher.

      Unless otherwise noted, all Scripture quotations are taken from the King James Version of the Bible. (Public Domain.) Scripture quotations marked ASV are from The American Standard Version. (Public Domain); NASB are taken from the New American Standard Bible, © Copyright 1960, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission; NIV are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®. NIV®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 International Bible Society. Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved; PH are taken from J. B. Phillips: The New Testament in Modern English, revised editions © J. B. Phillips, 1958, 1960, 1972, permission of Macmillan Publishing Co. and Collins Publishers; AB are taken from The Amplified Bible. Copyright © 1954, 1958, 1962, 1964, 1965, 1987 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission; and wuest are taken from The New Testament: An Expanded Translation by Kenneth S. Wuest, © 1961 by Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Company.

      LCCN 2008937431

      ISBN 978-1-4347-6734-9

      eISBN 978-1-4347-0213-5

      © 1981 Warren W. Wiersbe

      First edition of Be Faithful by Warren W. Wiersbe published by Victor Books®

      in 1981 © Warren W. Wiersbe, ISBN 978-0-89693-685-0

      The Team: Karen Lee-Thorp, Amy Kiechlin, Jack Campbell, and Susan Vannaman

      Series Cover Design: John Hamilton Design

      Cover Photo: Veer Inc.

      Second Edition 2009

      With much love and appreciation to some dear friends whose hearts and homes have been opened to me and my family:

      Allan and Jane Carter

      Taunton, Somerset, England

      Harvey and Ann Johnson

      West Bloomfield, Michigan

      Sprague and Dorothy Willard

      Chicago, Illinois

      Contents

      The Big Idea: An Introduction to Be Faithful by Ken Baugh

      A Word from the Author

      1. Stay on the Job (1 Timothy 1)

      2. Service—or Circus? (1 Timothy 2)

      3. Follow the Leaders(1 Timothy 3)

      4. How to Be a Man of God (1 Timothy 4)

      5. Order in the Church! (1 Timothy 5)

      6. Orders from Headquarters (1 Timothy 6)

      7. Our Man in Crete (Titus 1)

      8. How to Have a Healthy Church (Titus 2—3)

      9. Christians Courageous! (2 Timothy 1)

      10. Getting the Picture (2 Timothy 2)

      11. What to Do Before It Ends (2 Timothy 3)

      12. Last Words (2 Timothy 4)

      13. A Tale of Two Cities (Philemon 1–25)

      The Big Idea

      An Introduction to Be Faithful

      by Ken Baugh

      If you have ever been to Yellowstone National Park in Wyoming, no doubt you have seen Old Faithful. It’s a geyser that shoots up thousands of gallons of boiling hot water about every hour or so. Why is it called Old Faithful? Because it’s predictable—you can count on it going off at regular intervals, because that’s what it has done for hundreds of years. It’s reliable.

      Faithfulness is an important character quality found throughout the Bible. For example, Noah was faithful in completing the ark despite public ridicule. Abraham demonstrated faithfulness in offering his son Isaac as a sacrifice to the Lord. Moses was faithful as he led the Israelites out of Egypt and through the wilderness to the entrance of the Promised Land. David was a faithful king who shepherded God’s people. Ruth faithfully stayed with her mother-in-law Naomi after her husband died. Esther was faithful to her people, risking her life by entering the presence of King Xerxes of Persia without being summoned and begging for their deliverance. And on and on it goes; story after story throughout the Old Testament extols this virtue of faithfulness.

      Faithfulness is likewise emphasized in the New Testament. Through His parables, Jesus taught the importance of being faithful, drawing attention to the fact that every disciple is a steward and must be faithful with the resources that he or she has been given by God. The apostle Paul echoes Jesus’ words about the importance of faithfulness throughout his letters, especially in 1 and 2 Timothy, Titus, and Philemon. In fact, being faithful is the Big Idea that weaves all four letters together.

      Timothy, Titus, and Philemon were all trusted colleagues of Paul, men whom he mentored in the faith and charged to carry on the work of the Lord Jesus. Timothy became the pastor of the church of Ephesus, Titus became the overseer of the churches on the island of Crete, and Philemon was a businessman whom Paul led to Christ. Paul instructed each of these men to be faithful to the Lord, regardless of their role. Paul charged Timothy, And the things you have heard me say in the presence of many witnesses entrust to reliable men who will also be qualified to teach others (2 Tim. 2:2 NIV). He told Titus to appoint elders in every town throughout Crete (Titus 1:5 NIV). And he asked Philemon to be faithful to his runaway slave Onesimus, whom Paul returned to him. Paul was so sure of Philemon’s faithful character that he said, Confident of your obedience, I write to you, knowing that you will do even more than I ask (Philem. 1:21 NIV).

      Faithfulness is an important concept that runs throughout the Bible and is an essential character trait that God wants each of His children to cultivate. The more faithful we become, the more responsibility God can give us in regard to the ongoing work of the Great Commission.

      Our marching orders are clear: As followers of Christ, we are to seize the day, making the most of every opportunity by being wise and resourceful, using the time and money God has given us to invest generously in kingdom-building initiatives. Money and time are the two primary resources that we are to invest, and in order to steward these in the most effective way, we must grow in faithfulness. I believe that all believers can grow in faithfulness as they invest generous portions of their money and time into the work of God.

      Let me show you how this works: God provides us with financial resources and asks us to be faithful with our money by investing generously in ministry initiatives that both win people to Christ and build them up in Him. Paul says, On the first day of every week, each one of you should set aside a sum of money in keeping with his income, saving it up, so that when I come no collections will have to be made (1 Cor. 16:2 NIV). Each Christian has a responsibility to give a portion of their income to their local church to carry on the work of discipleship and evangelism. The amount is not as important as the attitude. If our attitude is that our money is our own and we resent God in requiring us to give back to Him, then we have the wrong attitude, and this will hinder our growth in faithfulness. The right attitude comes as we realize every penny we have is a gift from God. James reminds us, Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights (James 1:17 NIV). Everything, including our money, is from the Lord, and as we are faithful with a little, God will give us more.

      Now, it is completely okay to use money to buy nice things and enjoy life. We don’t have to live an ascetic life in order to be faithful—we are just not to spend it all on ourselves. So when we give to the Lord’s work with the right attitude and mindset, our ability to be faithful increases. And as our faithfulness increases, God often gives us more to continue to invest His work.

      Here is a good question to ask yourself if you want to measure your level of faithfulness in regards to your money: Am I investing a portion of my income into my local church for the ongoing work of God in my community and around the world? If you can say yes to that question, you will continue to grow in faithfulness, and God will most likely continue to bless you financially so that you can invest more. But being faithful with money isn’t a get-rich-quick scheme, nor does it obligate God to bless you financially. It is simply the right way to handle the financial resources that God gives you. So money is the first resource every believer is to steward wisely.

      The second resource is time. Time is your most precious resource—once it’s gone, it’s gone. You can often acquire more money, but you can never acquire more time. God has given each of us a certain allotment of time in this life, and it’s not very much. That’s why the Lord instructs us to make the most of every opportunity (see Eph. 5:16). As such, God wants you to invest some of your time in ministry, using your spiritual gifts to help other people. Peter tells us, Each one should use whatever gift he has received to serve others, faithfully administering God’s grace in its various forms (1 Peter 4:10 NIV). As you spend time using the spiritual gifts that God has given you, the body of Christ is built up, and people are won to Christ through the proclamation of the gospel.

      Again, if you want to grow in faithfulness to the Lord, here is another good question to ask yourself: Am I investing a portion of my time, using my spiritual gifts to serve others? If you can say yes to that question, then you know you are growing in faithfulness.

      Being faithful pleases God, and it is a virtue that should be increasing in the life of every disciple. But there is one more thing to remember about faithfulness: The more faithful you are to the work of the Lord in this life, the more you will store up for yourself treasure in heaven. I know this may seem like a weird motivating factor, but being motivated by reward is a biblical principle. Paul said to Timothy, I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day—and not only to me, but also to all who have longed for his appearing (2 Tim. 4:7–8 NIV). Paul believed that his faithfulness was going to be rewarded, and this belief was a powerful motivating factor in his life that kept him growing in his ability to be faithful.

      Jesus put it this way: Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven (Matt. 6:19–20). We should be motivated to grow in faithfulness with our money and time as we realize that we will be rewarded for how we invest these in God’s work.

      As you read through this commentary, keep in mind this concept of growing in faithfulness. I believe you will not only see this emphasis jump off of each page, but you will be further equipped and encouraged in your own progress in becoming a more faithful disciple of Jesus Christ.

      ***

      Dr. Wiersbe’s commentaries have been a source of guidance and strength to me over the many years that I have been a pastor. His unique style not overly academic, but theologically sound. He explains the deep truths of Scripture in a way that everyone can understand and apply. Whether you’re a Bible scholar or a brand-new believer in Christ, you will benefit, as I have, from Warren’s insights. With your Bible in one hand and Dr. Wiersbe’s commentary in the other, you will be able to accurately unpack the deep truths of God’s Word and learn how to apply them to your life.

      Drink deeply, my friend, of the truths of God’s Word, for in them you will find Jesus Christ, and there is freedom, peace, assurance, and joy.

      —Ken Baugh

      Pastor of Coast Hills Community Church

      Aliso Viejo, California

      A Word from the Author

      Timothy was not too happy in his church in Ephesus, and Titus was in a difficult situation on the Island of Crete. To both of them, Paul wrote: Be faithful! It’s always too soon to quit!

      Paul would want Christians in churches today to hear and heed this same message. Please don’t get the idea that the Pastoral Epistles are only for pastors and other full-time Christian workers. These three letters are for every Christian, every church member.

      Paul used the Greek word pistos (faithful) at least seventeen times in these three letters. The theme runs through each chapter: Be faithful to the Word, be faithful to your task, be faithful to the people to whom you minister. God is faithful!

      I have added a chapter on Philemon. Even though Philemon was not a pastor, what Paul wrote to him fits right into the theme of this book. Philemon faced a difficult problem with his runaway slave Onesimus, and Paul’s counsel encouraged Philemon to be faithful to the Lord in solving that problem. This letter is a beautiful picture of what God has done for us in Jesus Christ.

      The late president of Wheaton College Dr. V. Raymond Edman used to remind Christians, It’s always too soon to quit. He was right, and those of us who dared to follow his counsel discovered that God gives staying power.

      I want you to accomplish two purposes in this book: (1) help you understand the ministry of the local church, and (2) encourage you to stick with it! If you and I are faithful to the tasks God has given us, then His work will prosper and His name will be glorified. Could we ask for more?

      —Warren Wiersbe

      Special Note on the Chronology of Paul’s Life

      Paul was arrested in Jerusalem about the year AD 57, and was confined to prison in Caesarea for two years (see Acts 21:19—26:32). Paul’s voyage to Rome to be tried before Caesar started about September AD 59. After shipwreck and a three-month wait on Malta, he arrived in Rome about February AD 60 (see Acts 27–28). There he lived in his own rented house and had liberty to minister.

      Paul was acquitted of the charges against him and released. During the two years that followed, he ministered in various places and wrote 1 Timothy and Titus.

      About the year AD 65, he was arrested again and this time put into a dungeon. It was then that he wrote 2 Timothy, his last letter.

      Ephesians, Philippians, and Colossians, as well as Philemon, were written during his first Roman captivity.

      A Suggested Outline of the Book of 1 Timothy

      Theme: How to manage the ministry of the local church

      Key verse: 1 Timothy 3:15

      I. The Church and Its Message (1 Timothy 1)

      1. Teaching sound doctrine (1 Timothy 1:1–11)

      2. Proclaiming the gospel (1 Timothy 1:12–17)

      3. Defending the faith (1 Timothy 1:18–20)

      II. The Church and Its Members (1 Timothy 2—3)

      1. Praying men (1 Timothy 2:1–8)

      2. Submitting women (1 Timothy 2:9–15)

      3. Qualified pastors (1 Timothy 3:1–7)

      4. Qualified deacons (1 Timothy 3:8–13)

      5. Behaving believers (1 Timothy 3:14–16)

      III. The Church and Its Minister (1 Timothy 4)

      1. A good minister, preaching the Word (1 Timothy 4:1–6)

      2. A godly minister, practicing the Word (1 Timothy 4:7–12)

      3. A growing minister, progressing in the Word (1 Timothy 4:13–16)

      IV. The Church and Its Ministry (1 Timothy 5—6)

      1. To older members (1 Timothy 5:1–2)

      2. To older

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