Your Life's Target

Life Lesson: Your life’s target

S - Scripture

1 Timothy 6 v. 11 But as for you, man of God, shun all this; aim at righteousness, godliness, faith, love, steadfastness, gentleness.

O - Observation

Our target has been set. The apostle Paul is writing this to Timothy, but it provides clear instruction for those who call themselves Christians. We must focus our life, our actions, our essence on these qualities. Why? 2 Corinthians 4 v. 11, "For while we live we are always being given up to death for Jesus sake, so that the life of Jesus may be manifested in our bodies." We want to reflect, reveal our foundation to all in our actions. Achieving and striving for those targets does this. Also, it is NOT God's intent to hose you. The targets of this verse are the DNA of an abundant, enjoyable, fruitful life.

A - Application

What am I aiming for? What is my life target?

P - Prayer

Jesus, Help me to keep my eye on the target. Help me to be an expert marksmen.  Love Will

Contentment

S - Scripture

1 Timothy 6 v. 6-7 Their is great gain in godliness with contentment; for we brought nothing into the world, and we cannot take anything out of the world.

O - Observation

Live with joy and peace. I think the KEY words of this section is "godliness WITH contentment." What's the value of being godly if your life doesn't reflect the contentment of being godly? Life like

that can be only 1 of 2 things. 1) A person is following after the wrong god. Jesus is the only true God. Or... 2) A person does not fully believe what he says he does. Living a Godly life with contentment is a learned trait. Philippians 4 v. 11-12a, "Not that I complain of want; for I have LEARNED, in what ever state I am to be content. I know how to be abased, and I know how to abound: in any and all circumstances, I have learned the secret of facing plenty and hunger, abundance and want."

A - Application

Am I applying contentment along with my walk with Jesus?

P - Prayer

Jesus, Help me to be content in all situations.   Love Will.

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Proper Respect

S - Scripture

1 Timothy 6 v. 1 Let all who are under the yoke of slavery regard their master as worthy of all honor, so that the name of God and the teaching may not be defamed.

O - Observation

Proper respect. This is a hard verse to live. The yoke of slavery today is your job, and I've worked for some crazy bosses!!! (I'm probably one of them!!!) I am blessed right now, with a good guy to work for. We need to respect both our positions. Matthew 10 v. 24-25a, "A disciple is not above his teacher, nor a servant above his master; it is enough for the disciple to be like his teacher, and the servant like his master." We need to be a reflection of our bosses. We need to be a reflection of God.  We become extension of our bosses. So as an extension, Why wouldn't we want to reflect God's Glory?

A - Application

How am I respecting and honoring my bosses?

P - Prayer

Jesus, Let me be a worthy extension of my boss and of you.  Love Will.

Take care of your family

S - Scripture

1 Timothy 5 v. 8 If any one does not provide for his relatives, and especially for his own family, he has disowned the faith and is worse than an unbeliever.

O - Observation

It is our responsibility. We must take care of our families. We are the salt. If we don't take care of our families we lose our saltiness. Matthew 5 v. 13, "You are the salt of the earth, but if salt has lost its taste, how shall the saltiness be restored? It is no longer food for anything except to be thrown out and trodden under foot by men." Helping our family strengthens our relationship with each other. It develops a sense of unity. It becomes our safe haven. But, we should consider, family beyond our blood lines. 2 Corinthians 6 v. 18, "and I shall be a father to you, and you shall be my sons and daughters says the Lord Almighty." Family is also believers in Christ.

A - Application

Am I taking care of my blood and Christian family?

P - Prayer

Jesus, Give me the ways and means and heart to take care of my family.  Love Will.

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The Importance of Family

S - Scripture

1 Timothy 5 v. 1-2 Do not rebuke an older man but exhort him as you would a Father; treat younger men like brothers, older women like mothers, younger women like sisters, all in purity.

O - Observation

Family!!! God wants us to be a family. Families look out for each other, care for each other. They celebrate your accomplishments, they cry at your sorrows. The core of a family is relationships.

Family dysfunction occurs when relationships breakdown. There's a reason why Satan attacks the family, because it destroys the concept, the understanding of what a family is all about. Thus the importance of the last 3 words of the verses, "all in purity." We need to treat and view people with love. 1 Corinthians 13 v. 7, "Love bares all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things."

A - Application

How big is my "family"? Do I love them as "family"?

P - Prayer

Jesus, Help me to develop a strong, healthy and large "family".  Love Will.

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What's your Focus?

S - Scripture

1 Timothy 3 v. 5  For if a man does not know how to manage his own household, how can he care for God's church?

O - Observation

Focus on what you have will lead to greater things. This verse is the tail end of what is needed to be a bishop. But, the point is valid in so many ways. If one can't manage what they got, family, current job, school, how can one possibly be expected to oversee more and be successful? In the parable of the talents, the servants that came and doubled the master’s money regardless of the amount they had. Matthew 25 v. 21, "His master said to him, 'Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful over little, I will set you over much; enter into the joy of the master."

A - Application

Am I focusing on my task at hand? Am I being a good steward of what I got?

P - Prayer

Jesus, Help me to be a good manager of what I have, family and job.  Love Will.

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Practice what you preach

S - Scripture

1 Timothy 4 v. 16 Take heed to yourself and to your teaching: hold to that, for by so doing you will save both yourself and your hearers.

O - Observation

Practice what we preach. We can't just be about words. They only go so far. The litmus test is how are you living according to those words. Do we live a life like this? (Do as I say but NOT as I do!)

Hopefully not!!! So many people watch us. We make an impact on people and we don't even know it. Jesus reminds us of the importance of this in Matthew 5 v.12a, "You are the salt of the earth; but if salt has lost its taste, how shall its saltiness be restored?" Salt is used for preserving . We must live to preserve ourselves and others.

A - Application

Am I practicing what I preach? Am I living my life as a Christian?

P - Prayer

Jesus, Help me to live the instructions you give me.   Love Will.

The proper training program

S - Scripture

1 Timothy 4 v. 7-8  Have nothing to do with godless and silly myths. Train yourselves in godliness; for while bodily training is of some value, godliness is of value in every way, as it holds promise for the present life and also for the life to come.

O - Observation

Chose the right training program. We all know the impact of not training or exercising our bodies. We

become flabby men. We can't do all the fun things. We mute our life experience. So much more so if we don't train or exercise our Spiritual lives. Unlike body training which impacts the short term, spiritual training is for eternity. So how do we train? 1. Read the bible daily. Meditate on it. S.O.A.P. it. Pray. Fast, and (gasp!!!) do what it says. Live its instruction.

A - Application

So... How's my training program?

P - Prayer

Jesus, Help me to stay committed to your training program. Build a strong spiritual body in me.  Love Will.

Teach Others

S - Scripture

1 Timothy 4 v. 6 If you put these instructions before the Brethren, you will  be a good minister of Christ Jesus, nourished on the words of the faith and of the good doctrine which you have followed.

O - Observation

Share, instruct, teach. The last half of the great commission, or THE CAUSE, is about teaching. Matthew 28 v. 20a, "teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you." So what are we to teach? 1 Corinthians 1 v. 23-24, "But we Preach Christ Crucified, a stumbling block to the Jews and folly to the gentiles, but those who are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God, and the wisdom of God." The fruits of learning this key message is  multiple, not only for the student, but for the instructor. 3 John 1 v. 4, "No greater joy can I have than this, to hear that my children follow the truth."

A - Application

Am I fulfilling the 2nd half of THE CAUSE, to teach?

P - Prayer

Jesus, Give me opportunities to teach.   Love Will.

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Recognize that there is an urgency

S - Scripture

1 Timothy 4 v. 1  Now the Spirit expressly says that in the later times some will depart from the faith by giving head to deceitful spirits and doctrines of Demons.

O - Observation

Are we entering the "later times"? I'm sure that every generation would say that it is. But, from my observation, there are several "recent" examples of Deceitful Spirits: David Koresh, Moring Whiteside (I think - the UFO guy), Romans 1 v. 22, 24, "Claiming to be wise, they became fools. Therefore God gave them up in the lust of their hearts to impurity to the dishonoring of their bodies among themselves."  What is the single most damaging Doctrine to the Christian faith? Evolution. Doesn't even get people to debate about who's God is right. It destroys the notion of God. This doctrine my mind is inspired by demons.

 

A - Application

I can't deny that the "later times" are here. So what am I going to do about it?

P - Prayer

Jesus, Help me to sense and feel the urgency to get your word out to others.  Love Will.

The Truth

S - Scripture

1 Timothy 3 v. 16  Great indeed, we confess, is the mystery of our religion: He was manifested in the flesh, vindicated in the Spirit, seen by angels, preached among the nations, believe on in the world, taken up in Glory.

O - Observation

A recap of Jesus mission/experience on earth. It all starts at the beginning. God coming down, giving up his comfort to be human. To experience Hot and Cold, Hunger and Thirsty, Love and Hate. But, while in human form, he possessed his God like abilities, such as the ability to see both the seen and unseen (angels). What other person has ever made such an impact in this world? His message was about love and salvation. His word spread like fire back then, and is still applicable today.
What an amazing God!!!

A - Application

Do I confess, believe the mystery of my faith in Jesus?

P - Prayer

Jesus, You are God. You are amazing. Thanks for being in my life.  Love Will.

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What to be brave for

S - Scripture

1 Timothy 3 v. 1 The saying is sure. If anyone aspires to the office of bishop, he desires a noble task.

O - Observation

A noble task. Webster defines Noble as 'brave, unselfish, correct.' So to aspire to be a bishop is a brave and unselfish goal. The attributes of a bishop is further defined. 1 Timothy 3 v. 2-3, "Now a Bishop must be above reproach, the husband of one wife, temperate, sensible, dignified, hospitable,   All of these are outstanding attributes, some of them, all of them, will take great bravery to achieve. For to achieve these attributes, one must die to self and live for Jesus. Which in today's time and culture, will require some bravery.

an apt teacher, no drunkard, not violent but gentle, not quarrelsome, and no lover of money."

A - Application

What are my aspirations? Am I willing to be brave for them?

P - Prayer

Jesus, Help me to achieve a noble status in your eyes.  Love Will.

Happy Valentines Day - Proper placement of Desire

S - Scripture

1 Timothy 6 v. 9  But those who desire to be rich fall into temptation, into a snare, into many senseless and hurtful desires that plunge men into ruin and destruction. 

O - Observation

Proper placement of desire. God wants desire, passion. Jesus said in Matthew 22 v. 37, "You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind." Now THAT is passion. That is proper placement of desire. It is only logical that Satan would want to replace the object of desire with something else, like money. But, that is a core problem. 1 Timothy 6 v. 10, "For the Love of money is the root of all evils; it is thru this craving that some have wandered away from the faith and pierced their heart with many pangs."

A - Application

What is my desire? What is my passion?

P - Prayer

Jesus, Instill a strong desire in me to Love you with all my heart, soul and mind.  Love Will.

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Your Approach to Prayer

S - Scripture

1 Timothy 2 v. 8 I desire than that in every place the men should pray, lifting holy hands without

anger or quarreling.

O - Observation

Pray without ceasing. This verse gives us encouragement to pray at all times and at all places. Not only at Church and home, but in the car, at work, at the grocery store, ect. But we need to be careful not to pray so that people see us praying. Matthew 6 v. 5, "And when you pray, you must not be like the hypocrites; for they love to stand and pray in the synagogues and at the street corners, that they may be seen by men. Truly I say to you, they have received their reward." The other important aspect to your prayer life is your approach. You need to cloth yourself in love. Remove the anger and quarreling.

A - Application

What is my approach to prayer?

P - Prayer

Jesus, Help me to have an abundant prayer life.  Love Will.

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Be Thankful for our Mediator

S - Scripture

1 Timothy 2 v. 5  For there is one God, and their is one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus.

O - Observation

Such a profound verse. First things first. There is one God. John 1 v. 1, "In the beginning was the word, and the word was with God, and the word was God." In the beginning there was God. And God created everything. Secondly, why do we need a mediator unless we are being judged? 1 Timothy 4 v. 1a, "I charge you in the presence of God and of Christ Jesus who is to judge the living and the dead." God will Judge us all. We will have to give an account for all that we have done, both visibly and invisibly (things done in secret.) Things, thoughts when no one else knows. We are all doomed! Except, we have a mediator who is advocating for us who will say to God, "Spare them, since they belong to me". - Awesome!!

A - Application

Have I thanked Jesus for his mediation on my behalf?

P - Prayer

Jesus, Thank you for being my mediator.  Love Will.

Everybody is Valuable

S - Scripture

1 Timothy 2 v. 4  Who (God our Savior) desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.

O - Observation

Everybody. All.  No exceptions. God wants everybody to be saved. Saved from what? Revelation 20

v. 14b-15, "This is the second Death, the lake of fire, and if anyone's name was not found written in the book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire." The reality is this, we all will live forever. Currently we are living in a temporal life, but its after the first death (the termination of our life as we know it) that the eternal destination is determined. How do we get our name on the book of life? John 14 v. 6, "Jesus said to him, 'I am the WAY, the TRUTH, and the LIFE; no one comes to the Father but by me."

A - Application

Am I inclusive in sharing the Great news of Jesus?

P - Prayer

Jesus, Help me to see ALL, and to think ALL.  Love Will.

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Advocate for people

S - Scripture

1 Timothy 2 v. 1  First of all, then, I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions and thanksgiving be made for all men.

O - Observation

Advocacy for everyone. It is our calling to be advocates for each other. We are to focus our prayer life, our thoughts on the encouragement, correction, uplifting of one another. We need to shift from me to we. But, how do we become an effective advocate? We need to get beyond the surface of knowing someone and get to know what they are about. What are their struggles? What are their triumphs? Think about advocates, they are always pleading your case, both in front of you (when you are aware) and when your not in the room (when you are NOT aware.) But, they are always pulling for you.

A - Application

Who am I advocating for? How big is my circle of advocacy?

P - Prayer

Jesus, Give me the strength and wisdom and dedication to advocate for the people of my life.  Love Will.

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Keep your conscience clean

S - Scripture

1 Timothy 1 v. 19  holding faith and a good conscience. By rejecting conscience, certain persons have made a shipwreck of their faith.

O - Observation

Listen to your conscience! Its the rudder to your faith. Letting go of your conscience will result in Spiritual disaster. Like any other muscle, if it is not used it will grow weak. 1 Corinthians 8 v. 7b, "And their conscience, being weak, is defiled." So how do we prevent conscience apathy? Purify. Hebrews 9 v. 14b, "Purify your conscience from Dead works to serve the Living God." Clarify. 1 Peter 3 v. 16-17, "And keep your conscience clear, so that when you are abused, those who revile your Good behavior in Christ may be put to shame. For it is better to suffer for doing right, if it should be God's will then doing wrong."

A - Application

How strong is my conscience? Am I listening to it? Am I purifying and clarifying it?

P - Prayer

Jesus, Thanks for instilling a conscience in me. Help it to be the alive in my life.   Love Will.

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