WHAT TO FLEE – WHAT TO PURSUE

1Timothy 6:11

1 Timothy 6:11 TNIV - But you, man of God, flee from all this, and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, endurance and gentleness.

INTRO:  I ran across this interview with George Barna by the publication, “Southern Baptist Church Life,” and I thought I’d share a portion of it with you.  It is very striking.  Church leaders are quick to take note when George Barna conducts a survey.  SBC LIFE recently published an interviewed with Barna:  SBC LIFE: The Barna Research Group has been providing information and analysis regarding cultural trends and churches for almost 20 years. Over that period of time, what would you say are the five most significant changes, trends or shifts you have observed?  Barna: Certainly, one of them would be the decline in biblical literacy. Fewer and fewer people have any clue what Scripture really teaches, as opposed to what they feel it should teach.  Secondly would be an increased emphasis on mega-churches and the corresponding stress on the importance of numbers rather than upon the transformation of lives.  The third change would be the rise and importance of the para-church ministry and how much of what churches traditionally used to do now has been taken over by para-church ministries.  The fourth would probably be increased negativity of the mass media toward Christianity — that’s a huge one.  Finally, there is church members’ increased reliance upon clergy, rather than laity, to get ministry done.  SBC LIFE: If trends continue on their current course, what do you see as the state of evangelical churches in the next 20 years?  Barna: There’s always a great danger in trying to say what God’s going to do. I have no clue, but if things were to continue unchanged, I think one thing we’re likely to see is decreased involvement in church-based ministry as measured by factors such as how many people attend and how frequently they attend. We’re already seeing some declines in areas such as volunteerism.  SBC LIFE: From your findings, what gives you the most hope about our current conditions?  Barna: Well, one thing is certainly a continued interest in spirituality and in morality. Even though people don’t really know what that means and the interest may not be very deep, at least it’s still on the radar screen to some extent. So there is the possibility of connecting with people in those arenas.  SBC LIFE: Mr. Barna, from your findings what are you most concerned about regarding the state of evangelical churches?  “I’m really concerned about the levels of spiritual complacency among our churches. We are the church of Laodecia.” Barna: I’m really concerned about the levels of spiritual complacency among our churches. We are the church of Laodecia. We think we’re hot stuff. We think the world takes its cues from us. We think that we are “tight” with God. But really, we don’t have a clue. We don’t really care! I think that that’s the biggest deception we fall for and one of the greatest areas that needs to be changed.

This interview is striking.  But what Barna said is true.  This type of stuff is happening in churches all over the country, including here in our own home town and county.

1 Timothy is one of Paul’s final letters.  He write this one not to a church, or group of people, but to one individual.  This person is a young Pastor by the name of Timothy.  Paul, being his Mentor, is leaving Timothy some instructions for him to follow after Paul is martyred for the cause of Christ Jesus.  Within this letter we see Paul instruct Timothy to oppose false teachers (1:3-11); Reminds Timothy of his prophetic calling (1:18-19); Instructs him regarding worship (chapter 2); Discusses the qualifications for Pastors, Elders, and Deacons (chapter 3); Gives him more instructions concerning widows, Elders, and slaves (chapter 5); And then this final charge here.

Let’s look at these final set of instructions to Timothy and see what we can apply to our lives as well.

1.  Becoming dedicated to God.

Verse 11a TNIV - But you, man of God…

Verse 11a NET - But you, as a person dedicated to God…

A.     Notice that Paul calls Timothy a man of God, or a person dedicated to God.

1.      Timothy had a calling upon his life.

1 Timothy 1:18 TNIV - Timothy, my son, I give you this instruction in keeping with the prophecies once made about you, so that by following them you may fight the good fight.

2.      Paul reminded Timothy once again of his calling.

3.      Not only that, but Paul, when calling him, “Man of God,” wanted him to stand up in his calling.

B.     As believers, all of us have a calling.

1.      It may not be as Pastor, or Elder, or Assoc. Pastor, or Youth Pastor, etc…

2.      But it is just as valid and real as mine or any others that have a calling upon their lives.

C.     God expects you to rise up and stand up and be what He called you to be.

1.      All of us are called to be men and women of God.

2.      Another way of saying this is, all of us are called to have our lives dedicated to God.

2.  What to flee.

Verse 11b TNIV - …flee from all this…

1. Let’s look at see what the “all this” is we are supposed to be fleeing from.
2. Flee from complaining about your current position in life.

1 Timothy 6:1-2a TNIV - 1 All who are under the yoke of slavery should consider their masters worthy of full respect, so that God's name and our teaching may not be slandered. 2 Those who have believing masters should not show them disrespect just because they are fellow believers. Instead, they should serve them even better because their masters are dear to them as fellow believers and are devoted to the welfare of their slaves.

1. Now while there aren’t slaves and masters here in our country – there is employers and employees.
2. We should respect our leaders and those in authority over us. 
3. Notice in verse 1, it says so God’s name may not be slandered.  A Christian with a bad attitude all the time is no different than a non-believer with the same attitude.
4. People will start to think, that there really isn’t any difference whether you are a follower of Christ or not, and by this His name becomes slandered by our attitudes and actions.
5. Not only should we respect our employers, but our government leadership as well.  We are to respect, obey (unless it goes against the ultimate authority, God’s Word), pay taxes, and let me add – pray for them.

Romans 13:1-7 TNIV - 1Everyone must submit himself to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by God. 2Consequently, he who rebels against the authority is rebelling against what God has instituted, and those who do so will bring judgment on themselves. 3For rulers hold no terror for those who do right, but for those who do wrong. Do you want to be free from fear of the one in authority? Then do what is right and he will commend you. 4For he is God's servant to do you good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, for he does not bear the sword for nothing. He is God's servant, an agent of wrath to bring punishment on the wrongdoer. 5Therefore, it is necessary to submit to the authorities, not only because of possible punishment but also because of conscience. 6This is also why you pay taxes, for the authorities are God's servants, who give their full time to governing. 7Give everyone what you owe him: If you owe taxes, pay taxes; if revenue, then revenue; if respect, then respect; if honor, then honor.

6. Now if you are an employer, treat each person that you have authority over with respect and gentleness.  When correction is needed to be given, give it in love.  If they need to be terminated, do it in kindness and love.  Also, live a life of thanksgiving over the fact that God has placed you in that position.
2. Flee false doctrine.

Verses 2a-5a TNIV - These are the things you are to teach and insist on. 3 If anyone teaches otherwise and does not agree to the sound instruction of our Lord Jesus Christ and to godly teaching, 4 they are conceited and understand nothing. They have an unhealthy interest in controversies and quarrels about words that result in envy, strife, malicious talk, evil suspicions 5 and constant friction between people of corrupt mind…

Verses 2a-5a MSG - These are the things I want you to teach and preach. If you have leaders there who teach otherwise, who refuse the solid words of our Master Jesus and this godly instruction, tag them for what they are: ignorant windbags who infect the air with germs of envy, controversy, bad-mouthing, suspicious rumors. Eventually there's an epidemic of backstabbing, and truth is but a distant memory.

1.      In our world today we face false doctrine on a daily basis.

2.      Some of the false doctrines listed here: (1) Controversies – this means in Greek, “statements and questions for the purpose of causing debate or a matter of controversy;” (2) Quarrels about words – In Greek, “To pick a fight with words.”  What is the result of this: malicious talk (gossiping), evil suspicions, and constant friction.

3.      Just a side note:  I know I always don’t say the right words.  You see, I’m not a wordsmith, like some are.  I studder and stammer and sometimes because I’m not able to properly deliver my thoughts as I should say the wrong or incorrect words at times.  And while I’ve made a decision to work on this weakness, some of you need to make the decision to be more patient and less judgmental when it comes to me and what I might say.

4.      Now here are just a few examples of some modern day false teaching: (a) You don’t have a God inside you, you are one; (b) When I read passages in the Bible where God and Jesus say, “I am,” I can’t help but stop right there and declare, “I am too.”

5.      Another belief we must flee is the belief that with Godliness comes financial gain, or what is called the prosperity, or wealth Gospel of today.

Verse 5b-10 MSG - They think religion is a way to make a fast buck.   6-8 A devout life does bring wealth, but it's the rich simplicity of being yourself before God. Since we entered the world penniless and will leave it penniless, if we have bread on the table and shoes on our feet, that's enough.   9-10 But if it's only money these leaders are after, they'll self-destruct in no time. Lust for money brings trouble and nothing but trouble. Going down that path, some lose their footing in the faith completely and live to regret it bitterly ever after.

(a)    Now don’t get me wrong, there is prosperity listed in these verses here.  It is Godliness with being content with what you have.  You will profit from the Lord in this.

(b)   Focusing on wealth and the belief that God wants every Christian to be rich is a trap according to this passage.  It has ruined lives and some have even abandoned the faith.

(c)    Here are just a couple of examples concerning this false teaching: One teacher had this to say, “I’m trying to get you out of this malaise of thinking that Jesus and His disciples was poor.  The Bible says that He has left us an example that we should follow His steps.  That’s the reason why I drive a Rolls Royce.  I’m following Jesus’ steps.”  Another teacher twists the common Scripture to explain that Jesus Himself was wealthy and had a big house:  “Jesus is on His way to conduct a seminar in Samaria.  But, alas, His advance team had not taken care of business properly and the Seminar got cancelled.  In Jesus reply to the man who wanted to follow Him, Jesus was in effect saying, Foxes have holes in Samaria, Birds of the air have nests in Samaria, but I don’t have a place to stay the night in Samaria.  In those days there wasn’t a Holiday Inn on every corner, so Jesus was forced to be back home to His nice, big house in Jerusalem.”

3.  What to pursue.

Verse 11b TNIV - …pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, endurance and gentleness.

AMP - …aim at and pursue righteousness (right standing with God and true goodness), godliness (which is the loving fear of God and being Christlike), faith, love, steadfastness (patience), and gentleness of heart.

A.     Righteousness or right standing with God.

1.      Remember this: our righteousness was given to us through Jesus Christ.

Romans 3:21-24 TNIV - 21 But now apart from the law the righteousness of God has been made known, to which the Law and the Prophets testify. 22 This righteousness is given through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe. There is no difference between Jew and Gentile, 23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, 24 and all are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus.

B.     Godliness.

1.      In the AMP it says, “The loving fear of God and being Christlike.”

2.      We should strive to be Christlike in all we say and do.

C.     Faith.

1.      In Greek, “An absolute trust and deep conviction in something or someone.”

2.      We must grow in our trust and absolute conviction of Christ Jesus and His teachings.

D.     Love.

1.      Agape – unconditional love.

2.      God wants us to grow in love with Him as well as others.  A kind of love that has no conditions or restrictions.

E.      Endurance.

1.      Grow in our patience and endurance during hard, difficult times.

2.      Strong’s defines this word endurance as, “The characteristic of someone who is not swerved from the deliberate purpose and their loyalty to faith in God in the midst of trials and suffering.”

F.      Gentleness of heart.

1.      Be gentle toward one another.

2.      During harsh times, the best answer is a gentle answer.

Proverbs 15:1 TNIV - A gentle answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger.

CONCL:  Let’s live our lives like Joseph:  He fled the temporary pleasures of sin, and in the midst of trouble and strife pursued God.

Flee arguments, gossip, disunity, and false teaching.  Pursue God and the things of God.  The reward will always outweigh the trials and the sacrifices that we make.