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Church online with me, Rev Essie, every Sunday at 10 a.m. Eastern Standard Time, at 1-917-889-8054 isย for those who cannot attend the usual “brick and mortar”ย service who don’t want to leave their church but need to hear the Word momentarily for various reasons:ย sick and shut in, transportation troubles, etc. Know that we are praying for you and for God to send you favor quickly. Also remember that “Troubles don’t last always! You have the Victory.ย Today the subject is Spiritual Ignorance. It sometimes seems that the more communication that the World offers us, the more some become ignorant of Godโs Word. As much as the enemy has been trying to convince our younger generations that the Word is not real, we should be convincing them that it is and not idling standing by โhopingโ that Jesus will come back soon. Are you idling standing by?
Let us pray
Read 1 Timothy 1 -17
What is ignorance? It is a lack of knowledge or information:
Notice that in the beginning Paul is not afraid to announce โโwhoโ he is in Christ Jesus. That is important here and with us as well. If you donโt know who and whose you are, you will not be very successful in anything that you attempt to do, or anything that you introduce your talent or blessings to. There is nothing like a timid minister. In fact, this is addressed to Pastor Timothy whose name actually is derived from the word โtimid.โ Paul noticed this timidness, because Timothy was a young Pastor, and how things were happening in his church therefore he discusses the matter with him of which there is no rebuttal. Paul is doing what Apostles are supposed to do. He is educating a young pastor as what to expect in his congregation or what has been going on that shouldnโt. He is giving him strength and hope and showing him that what he is about to experience in his congregation, or already experiencing, is not a dream. Paul knows the devils wiles, (he ought to he used to be one and some of us too,)ย and he is announcing them and introducing them to this young Pastor as confirmation to what he has been or may experience. I say that he was once one because he used to persecute and kill believers before that awesome Damascus Road incident where the Lord blinded him and asked why he was torturing His people. Paul turned around real quick. Donโt you wish some of your loved ones would turn around like that? Keep praying, God hears. Amen.
He calls Timothy his son in faith, announcing the importance of having a spiritual Father. He tells Timothy that whomever he ordains to do Godโs work, should not teach any other doctrine than the doctrine that he has taught him. There are so many false teachers and preachers out now a day that we have to be careful who we sit under and learn from. People can be fickle. If the preacher dresses well or is gorgeous or handsome, they wonโt trade them for the world. To many Christians the outer appearance is important to their salvation. God told Prophet Samuel not to look on outer appearances because He looks on the heart and youโd think people would take that to heart but weโve swerved so far from the truth that we choose our leaders from their look and not the book. Paul is condemning unsound doctrine, fables, foolishness, and religiosity. There were so many then who took the word of God and changed it into manipulation and witchcraft, (as in Simon the Warlock in Acts 8:10 who bewitched people with his signs and wonders who thought that he could buy the power of the Holy Ghost with money.) People still do that today! Some churches actually keep books on how much people have paid and what they should pay for. Jesus didnโt carry a manuscript around with him with record of the payments of his followers.
He tells us not to get caught up in genealogies because they only bring on more questions instead of godly edifying. When looking up the definition of โgenealogyโ we see that it means: a line of descent traced continuously from an ancestor: combing through the birth records and genealogies.
โข the study and tracing of lines of descent or development.
โข a plant’s or animal’s line of evolutionary development from earlier forms.
People are always trying to research where they are from or exactly โwhatโ is in their veins, amen? As long as you have Jesus blood in you, on you and over you, you are doing a-ok, amen? Can you imagine those who argued over who was closer to Jesus like they did when they asked Jesus who was the greatest? (Matthew 18.) (Mark 9:4).ย We have that Ancestry company that allegedly tells people what is in their blood and where they originated from and as long as it is something that they like, they are happy. Iโve seen some people get so proudful when they find out what nationality is allegedly in their veins. They donโt realize that it is taking precedence over just loving the inside of themselves and others. See? Spiritual ignorance. People are too concerned about whatโs going on – on the outside instead of what is needed to be holy on the inside. Serve the Lord, not our flesh or our background. Soooooo are we more happy because we have Hebrew roots? Ooooouuuu! I could be related to Jesus! That makes me better than you! Then they look down on others as though they were peons. Or I could be related to King David or a Great German Counselor. Woooo! Hooooo!
We are to edify others, not put them down or make them feel inadequate. I see a lot of this going on in the church and in the world as well. If you arenโt in someoneโs โgangโ then you are nothing to them. Little do they know, God may have sent you there like Queen Esther, for such as time as this, but they turn you down because you โdonโt qualifyโ according to their standards. Spiritual Ignorance see?
Love is the test!
Verse 5. The end of the commandment is charity from a pure heart and aย good conscience, and of faith unfeigned which means to be genuine and sincere, not a wolf with a sheepskin on the outside, as he peers out from under the sheeps face at you like we see in so many online pictures. Jesus is love therefore we ought to practice love as well. If you havenโt received much love in your life, donโt testify about it as much as learning to share what is inside of you. I hear people talking about how much they havenโt been loved in their lives therefore itโs hard for them to give love but hereโs the kicker: If you got saved and the Lord lives in you via the Holy Ghost, why is it so hard to love if you are paying attention to and listening to the Holy Spirit within you? This is where the good conscience comes in. Pray, meditate and listen and you will learn to love so well via the Holy Ghost that no one will even know that you missed love growing up. Amen?
This leads right into the next verse, Verse 7:
People are desiring to be teachers of the law, understanding neither what they say nor of what they affirm. Ok, โIโm a Christian and I love Jesus but for some reason, I canโt stand my Aunt Suzie. Lord forgive me. Lol.โ Ummm, oxymoron perhaps? I would say that this is ignorance of the Word to the fullest. They canโt stand others but they want to teach you? I think not! There are so many people desiring to be in ministry but they wonโt change their hard hearts to be able to answer the call. God wonโt bless a mess. They donโt even know the Word good enough or have studied it well enough to teach others. They wonโt crack open that bible at proper times or buy a notebook, a pen, a dictionary or Strongโs Concordance, and earnestly pray, to save their soul. Now donโt get me wrong because everyone doesnโt need all of that to study but just simply STUDY!ย Study to shew thyself approved! Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth. (2 Timothy 2:15) The Spirit of God will whisper to you what you need to know in order to give you experience, on and in, certain subjects of the Word. In this microwave society people want โpreaching and teaching on demandโ donโt they? I got saved in January so let me tell you how to live saved now that itโs February. I donโt think so! Experience is the key! Love is the key!
I donโt know if this has ever happened to you but I myself have experienced those who canโt stand me but they want to be preachers. I may be their test and if they canโt get over me, how can they love others and preach the Word? Iโve experienced their personal wrath, albeit, personal vendetta first hand. Everybody that ends up talking to themโฆstops talking to me! There is a problem there and people fall for it hook, line and sinker. But they want to lead the sheep! Rightโฆโฆย And then thereโs the accusers of the brethren who God mysteriously I presume, appointed them to โtellโ others who is a false preacher and who isnโt. They are so holy that they just know this. Erybody wants to be Apostle Paul with no education or experience whatsoever. Unless itโs themโฆ.EVERYBODY is false!
Verse 8
The law of good if you live it the way that God intended for you to live. In other words, do right, live right and you wonโt have a problem.
Verse 9
The law was not made for you if you are saved and live holy. Holiness doesnโt need the law. Just like the law of the land, you donโt need it if you live right. Thatโs what righteousness means. Living right. But know this, if you are a, pardon my expression, a hell-raiser, you WILL run up into and against the law. God doesnโt like hell-raisers, He put it where it is supposed to be and He doesnโt intend for it to be raised up where it shouldnโt be amen? God doesnโt need our help. Hell was made for the devil and his fallen angels, not Godโs people. There is a great gulf, a great separation there. Luke 16.
Verse 10 Paul begins to call out those who are godless and ungodly. whoremongers, murderers, rebellious, menstealers (Hereโs my number and a dime, call me anytime! Call me, if you need someone to talk to. – 70โs song.) Liars, that includes fibbers, little โwhiteโ lies. Funeral directors at mortuaries who abuse dead bodies, etc. Paul says that all these things are contrary to sound doctrine.
Verse 11 He explains that His doctrine was giving to him by our Blessed God who trusted him to deliver the Word. I too am trusted by our Father to deliver His Word and in the way that He has given me, I will continue to do so no matter who likes me or who doesnโt.
Verse 12+ He also thanks Jesus our Lord who enabled him and counted him as faithful and put him in ministry. Paul is not doubting his ministry. The devil will try to make you doubt your own ministry. he will prevent people from hearing you, set doubt in their minds about you as I said before. he will even speak to your mind and set your own mind against you at times. Iโve been through it, โYouโre not called, they were right, youโre not a real preacher, what are you calling yourself doing? Why donโt you just quit and stop misleading people.โ Or hows about this one, โThe Higher Ups donโt even fellowship with you or talk to you. Doesnโt that tell you something about yourself?โ
Paul announces his old ways, a blasphemer, persecutor, injurious but he obtained Godโs mercy because he did it ignorantly in unbelief. Paul was unworthy. But after you get saved and get the Holy Ghost placed within you, you should not be doing these things. There should be a change of heart, a change of mind.
Verse 14+ Paul speak of the grace of our Lord was exceeding abundance the faith and love which is in Christ Jesus. Godโs Grace can be bestowed upon you through His Son. Regardless of what youโve been hearing, Jesus is the ONLY way. Paul says that Jesus came into the world to save sinners. That was His purpose, to save YOU. Donโt let any devil cheat you out of your inheritance! Paul even says that he is the chiefest of sinners. We should all say that. No one is perfect. There is no one who DOESNโT need Jesus. We have to learn to be longsufferers to receive the promise of God. What we are going to experience with God will not come easy. The devil is going to do all that he can to throw you off. But you have to trust God. Trust is the main issue in our lives. You are alive, hasnโt he awakened you this morning? You didnโt wake up on your own. He allowed you one more day. Donโt waste it. Amen?
1 Timothy 1:16-17
16ย Howbeit for this cause I obtained mercy, that in me first Jesus Christ might shew forth all longsuffering, for a pattern to them which should hereafter believe on him to life everlasting.
Here are some instances of the Sin of Ignorance if youโd like to write them down. Lev 4:2, 5:17, Luke 12:48, Acts 3:17, 1 Tim 1:13 (our scripture today.)
Are you saved? Do you want to get out of the Spiritual Ignorance realm and walk in the knowledge of the Most High God with Jesus? Accept Him as your Savior, nowโฆ. (Lead into salvation.)
17ย Now unto the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only wise God, be honour and glory for ever and ever. Amen.********
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Blessings!