Week 15: 1 Timothy 4:16

Pay close attention to yourself and to your teaching; persevere in these things, for as you do this you will ensure salvation both for yourself and for those who hear you.

1 Timothy 4:16

Hello fellow movers!  Wow, I just have to say, WOW!  What a Holy Spirit shot of adrenalin I received yesterday!  Dayspring church in Bowling Green, Ohio was very blessed to have Jim Wilkes preach yesterday.  And when I say preach, I mean PREACH!  For those of you following this blog who don't attend Dayspring, I will make sure to upload the video of the sermon as soon as it's available so you can watch it.  If you don't want to wait for me, check Dayspring's Vimeo page: https://vimeo.com/dayspringbg

Now on to the promise!

The promise this week comes from 1 Timothy 4:16.  The main reason I bring up the message yesterday from Jim Wilkes is because he talked a lot about radical obedience to God. The sermon series at Dayspring the past two weeks and moving forward is called "Unstoppable", and that is exactly what this promise is all about; making our message unstoppable.

Our most important task as Christ followers is to make disciples of all of the nations.  We need to, to quote Mr. Wilkes, "export people from the kingdom of darkness and import them into the Kingdom of Light".  So what if I were to tell you there is a way to make sure you are "unstoppable" at this?  Would you be interested?  I sure would be!

In this verse from 1 Timothy, Paul gives us a promise from God that "will ensure salvation both for yourself and those who hear you."  What an absolutely incredible promise!

"So meat and potatoes here, Jeremy." You say, "What do I have to do to save everyone who hears my message?"  Well I am so glad you asked!  Paul tells us in verses 9-15 what we must do:

It is a trustworthy statement deserving full acceptance. For it is for this we labor and strive, because we have fixed our hope on the living God, who is the Savior of all men, especially of believers. Prescribe and teach these things. Let no one look down on your youthfulness, but rather in speech, conduct, love, faith and purity, show yourself an example of those who believe. Until I come, give attention to the public reading of Scripture, to exhortation and teaching. Do not neglect the spiritual gift within you, which was bestowed on you through prophetic utterance with the laying on of hands by the presbytery. Take pains with these things; be absorbed in them, so that your progress will be evident to all.

So here's the breakdown:

1. Put your hope in Jesus Christ, the Living God and Savior of all men,
2. Believe and teach the Gospel of said Christ.
3. Make sure that your life is an example of Christ Who lives in you - in your speech, conduct, love faith and purity.
4. Give attention - time, effort - to public reading of Scripture, to urging on your brothers and sisters in Christ and to teaching.
5. Make sure to cultivate your spiritual gift the Lord has blessed you with.
6. And finally...take pains in these things!  Don't just treat this as a check-list.  "Yeah, I guess I kinda did this one" is not going to cut it!  Paul says to "be absorbed in them, so that your progress will be evident to all."  You have to live it, breathe it, eat it, sleep it!

This is the stuff that makes your message unstoppable!  This is the stuff that ensures salvation...not just for you, but for all who hear about Jesus Christ!  This is the stuff that changes the world!  Jesus is the One who changed our world!

Let's go change the world promise movers!  Let's show the world the God who changed ours!