Living Waters of Grace 12.17.25

This is Living Waters of Grace, the teaching ministry of Lewis

Harold, assistant pastor of Calvary Chapel of Westmoreland

County in Greensburg, PA. Now here's Pastor Lewis as he

continues teaching through God's Word.

So I first of all. Definitely want to challenge our

men that we be the priests and the pastors and the protectors

of our home and we be the one that leading the home of

spiritual matters. But women, if there's not a man

in the house, there's no excuse. That.

Children can't. Get the gospel you.

Can still share the? Gospel with your.

Children, whether you have a husband that's in the house or

an unbelieving husband that's in the house or not, and Timothy

was a good example of that. What Pastor Lewis just shared is

important. As parents, God has tasked us

with a duty to share the good news of Jesus Christ with our

children. But what if the husband or wife

within a home doesn't know Jesus as Lord and Savior?

As we just heard from Pastor Lewis, while this makes things

challenging for the other spouse, it doesn't negate the

responsibility. Today, you'll learn just how

important this task is and how you can begin sharing the gospel

with your children now. Here's Pastor Lewis in the book

of First Timothy, chapter one with today's edition of Living

Waters of Grace. We also want to thank those of

you who are listening. By way of radio.

Station. Whether it's by Grace FM or if

it is by YouTube. We thank you for listening and

AS. Always we are grateful for those

of. You who are listening behind

prison walls, we pray this morning that you are.

Blessed that the Lord blesses you with revelation.

From His word that will help to change your life as we are

looking forward to change ours. Amen.

Amen. Would you please?

Turn in your Bibles. To.

First Timothy, chapter 1. So we're in first.

1 Timothy 1 · chapter mention

Timothy. And before we get started, I

just want to mention that for me first Timothy.

Is very, very, very important. And the reason why is because I

was going to a church prior to coming here and it was.

A church that we actually were saved.

We. Received our salvation that was.

The church that we received our salvation.

From in the. Pastor that church.

Who was my mentor? He end up passing a few.

Years after we had. Joined the church and have

become saved and. And it was a heart, it was a

heart issue as it was really hard for us because we did love.

Him, he was a man, He was a true man of God.

And we were being fed every Sunday with him being there and

we noticed that some things that started to change after he had

passed. And I was on a trip, a business

trip and I was down in Nashville, TN.

I remember it like it was. Yesterday.

And I was sitting in a hotel room and was studying the Bible.

It was after dinner. Everyone else was out doing what

they do and, and, and, and I was in the room reading, reading the

word of God. And I was, for some reason, I

went to First Timothy and I read the entire book of First

Timothy. And it was.

After reading first. Timothy that I realized.

That we were sitting in a ministry.

That was out of order the. Lord illuminated First Timothy

to me in a way that it had never been illuminated.

Before and I realized through the word of God.

I didn't need anybody to tell me.

It was through the Word of God that this was out of order.

And when I came back home, I told my wife we want to make

some changes. We got to go, we got to go.

And at that time, the Lord was already pressing upon my heart

because we had moved from Roseville residence wise to

Greensburg. That we really should.

Be doing ministry in the community in which we live.

So that is exactly. Where first Timothy is This is

a. Book that teaches church order

it is. 1. Of the Pastoral Epistles.

In the Bible, First Timothy, Second Timothy, and also Titus.

If we were to put them in order, it would be First Timothy,

Titus, and then Second Timothy. Actually, Second Timothy was

the. Last book that Paul wrote before

he was executed, but. The reason why he.

Wrote the book of. First Timothy.

It was for the purpose of church order.

Putting things. In order so.

When he wrote. This book he was.

Teaching Timothy about the things that we need to

understand about the New Testament.

Church. So this is where we go when

we're. Looking for things?

That deal with. Leaders and the things.

Where the way that leaders should.

Be in the doctrines. That we should be.

Learning all this comes in the book of First Timothy, The

Conduct. Of the church.

The most important scripture. Or I should?

Say the key scripture not the most important.

But the key scripture. Is in First Timothy chapter 3

1 Timothy 3 · chapter mention

and verse 15 and it simply says this.

I write so that. You may know how you ought to

conduct. Yourself.

In the House of God. Which is the.

Church of the Living God, Pillar and Ground.

Of the truth that is the key verse in both of these epistles.

And that's exactly. What Paul does here, he helps.

Timothy to understand church conduct.

So let's read it. Because I'm only going to do the

1st 11 verses. Because they are they're,

they're loaded. We're going to do.

The 1st 11 verses and then we're going to, you know, we'll come

back, we'll make a comment, but that's as far as we're going to

get. Today is.

The 1st 11 verses. So let's let's read.

Verse one it says Paul an apostle.

Of Jesus Christ by. The commandment of God.

Our Savior and the Lord Jesus Christ, our hope to Timothy a

true. Son, in the Faith, grace, mercy

and peace from God our Father and Jesus Christ our.

Lord, verse 3 as I urged. You, when I went into Macedonia,

remain in Ephesus. That you may charge some, or

that you may command some. That they teach no other

doctrine, nor give heed. To.

Fables and endless genealogies. Which cause?

Disputes rather than godly edification, which is in faith.

Now the purpose of the commandment is love from a pure.

Heart. From a good conscience, and from

a sincere faith, from which some having strayed.

Have turned aside to idle talk. Desiring to be.

Teachers of the law. Understanding neither what they

say nor the things. Which they affirm, but.

We know. That the law is good if it is

used lawfully. Knowing this, that the law is

not made. For a righteous.

Person. But for the lawless.

And the insubordinate and the ungodly for sinners, for the

unholy and profane for murders of fathers and murderers, of

mothers for fornicators, and sodomites for kidnappers.

For liars. For perjurers.

And if there is any other thing that is contrary to sound

doctrine according to. The glorious Gospel of the

Blessed. God, which was committed to my

trust. That's a mouthful.

And this is Lotus so. We go back to verse. 1.

Now Paul wrote this letter. Obviously knowing or intending.

For this letter to be read to everybody, this wasn't.

Just a direct letter to Timothy, and that's.

Why he added such? A introduction of who?

He was he not? Not only.

Said that this. Letter was written from.

Paul, but he gave. His credentials.

He gave his credentials. He gave his his.

Ministry, what he was called to do and who called him to do it.

Because he was about to share. A commandment with the church

and they needed to understand that.

He has the authority to do it. And that.

Timothy has the authority. As a young pastor in that.

Church so Paul says Paul an. Apostle of.

Jesus Christ. So let's just deal with the

fact. Just for a second of what it

means to be an. Apostle of Jesus Christ.

And, and, and I the reason why I want to deal with that is

because we sometimes hear that term thrown around somewhat

liberally in today's society. In some churches there are

people who are self proclaiming. Themselves to be apostles who

are called just. Giving themselves the title.

Of apostle, well, Paul deals. With that and and and and I just

want to kind of. Talk about what an.

Apostle is and let's look at whether or not an apostle is

something that is functional today.

But first of all. Apostle means 1 cent on a

mission with a message accountable to his sender, and

he carries. The authority of his.

Sender. So God, Jesus.

Christ, as Paul said. Commanded me I'm.

Apostle by Jesus Christ, and I'm apostle by the command.

Of God himself I didn't just call myself an apostle and and

we also understand that an apostle holds the.

Office of Apostles ship. Jesus Christ himself.

Held the office of apostleship. That was one of the other titles

that Jesus had. If you would look in Hebrews

Hebrews 3 · chapter mention

chapter 3 and verse one it. Reads this way.

It says. Therefore, holy brethren.

Partakers of the heavenly calling consider the apostle and

high priest of our confession, Christ Jesus.

So Jesus, among other things, held.

The title of Apostle. He is the lover.

He's the apostle, the Bishop, and lover of our souls.

So Jesus Christ was considered. An apostle.

Because he was sent here by God his Father.

And he was sent here with the message and the message.

Was the gospel. Also want to make make it clear

that when Jesus ascended. He gave gifts.

To the church and one of those. Gifts that he gave to the

church, was an apostle, was an apostle.

If you would go. Back with me to Ephesians

chapter. 4. Ephesians chapter 4, we're going

Ephesians 4 · chapter mention

to. Look at verse.

I'm going to start right there. Verse. 11 And he says, And he

himself meaning Jesus Christ, and he himself.

Gave. Gave.

Some to be apostles and this is what.

He's talking about the. Gifts he.

Gave to the church. He gave some to be.

Apostles, some to be. Prophets, some evangelists, and

some pastors and teachers. What did he give them for?

For the equipping of the Saints? For the work of the ministry.

For the. Edifying of the body.

Of Christ. So we have these gifts.

We have. Pastors and we have at when the

church is being. Started.

We had apostles. And prophets and they were.

All for the purpose of. Equipping the body.

To do the work. Of the ministry and that's what

Clark and I and all the. Teachers that are here, that is

what what our charge is to do is to equip the body to do the.

Work of the ministry and the only way that we can equip.

The body to do. The work of the.

Ministry is to teach the true. Doctrine of Jesus Christ and the

Apostles. That's the only way we can do

that. If we teach mess, you won't be

equipped. To do God's work, we have to

teach the truth of the epistles. So now let's look at the

qualifications of the Apostle. And Peter dealt with that.

Peter dealt with the qualifications of the apostles.

Back in Acts chapter 1 and you know, you can go back there with

Acts 1 · chapter mention

me if you choose, but I'm going to.

Just read about that. Reference back in Acts chapter 1

Acts 1 · chapter mention

and this is. Exactly what it says.

And we're going to look at verse 21.

OK, now this is after. Judas had already betrayed

Jesus. He betrayed.

Jesus and he and he was now dead, and they were choosing

somebody to. Fill his spot.

In verse 21, Acts chapter one, verse 21, it reads this way,

therefore, of these men because they're going to have.

Another take that office and he says therefore.

Of these men, and here come the qualifications who have.

Accompanied us all the. Time that.

The Lord Jesus. Went in and out among us,

beginning from the baptism of John that day when he was taken

up until the day he was taken up from US.

One of these must become a witness.

With us of his. Resurrection So what is he

telling us there? Peter is telling us that an

apostle must be an eyewitness of the ministry of.

Jesus. Christ from the time.

He was baptized. When the Holy Spirit came upon

him, and he was. Baptized until.

The time that he actually ascended, that's after his

resurrection and he actually ascended, that is what?

An apostle that's. One of the qualifications.

Of the apostle now let's. Look, break it down.

First of all, it had. To be somebody who was with him

through. The whole three years.

That he was among us because it had to be someone who was an

eyewitness of Jesus baptism. That validated the fact that He

was filled with the Holy Spirit by the Father.

And it had to be someone who had.

Heard the. Teachings and witnessed the

healings and other miracles. That Jesus did.

Someone had to witness that, and that was.

Who the apostles were? It had to be someone who

witnessed the. Sacrifice.

When Jesus was sacrificed on that.

Cross for our. Sins had to be someone who

witnessed. That as well.

And in addition to. That it had.

To be someone that after his resurrection, actually witnessed

Jesus. Talk.

Walk around. And eat among the disciples

again. After he was resurrected.

Now these are just the facts. Of Jesus life.

And it had to be witnessed because this is what the

apostles were teaching. This is the foundation of what

the apostles were teaching. And they were teaching these

things. And This is why they were

willing to give their. Lives for it.

Because they were eyewitnesses, they know what they're saying

was. True, I saw.

It with my own eyes I ate with them you know we slept at the

same campground I watched them do miracles I watched them do

these things I heard his teachings so This is why we.

Follow the apostles. Doctrine because they are

eyewitnesses. Now that teaching that they did

in the Church, that laid the foundation of the church.

That is what the foundation of the Church is.

Laid upon was those. Teachings and the.

Apostles went out. And they began to teach and to

share those things, and those things were laying the

foundations. That's.

Why they were followed? By signs and wonders.

Because they were. Laying the foundation of the

Church. The foundation of the Church

only needs to be laid once. Folks, it only.

Needs to be laid once. No one comes back to your house

to lay the foundation of your house more than once.

They lay it once. Everything else is built upon

that house. So Jesus Christ already laid

the. Foundation of the Church.

With the apostles. There's no need for another.

Group of. Apostles to come and lay another

foundation. There's no need that's.

Why? We don't have the.

Apostles. The way they were in the old.

Before the way they used to be. We don't have those apostles

now. We may have people who are doing

the ministry of apostles. That means they go to these

remote places and they're sharing the gospel.

They're called missionaries today.

They go to remote places and they share the.

Gospel. They take the gospel to places

that. People would never heard it.

OK, they're called missionaries today.

That's. Kind of what the apostles did.

But no one is considered. But they're not today.

People aren't considered. To be apostle.

So anyway, I just wanted to deal with that and I also wanted to

if you look. Here it's kind of subtle.

But there is a point to this and where it says here Paul an

apostle. Of Jesus Christ by the.

Commandment of God our. Savior.

There's a reason why he made sure that he mentioned the word

God. Our.

Savior, and that is because. Back at this particular.

Time Caesar Nero was running wrong and he was commanding and

demanding people to call him savior.

And Paul said no, no, no, no, no.

There's only one savior. Jesus Christ, our hope, that is

our Savior. And that's the reason why Paul

made it necessary to do that. So then we go on and he said,

Timothy, our true son, Well, we know that he calls him a true

son in the faith and not true son in the flesh.

He's true son in the faith because.

It was Paul that. Begot Timothy in the faith.

It was through. Paul's first missionary journey

when he came to the Lystra that him and his family heard.

The Gospel of Jesus. Christ and they became believers

and he continued to walk in the way of Christianity.

And when Paul came back the second time?

He actually chose. Timothy to go with him, because

Timothy had a good report among those who were there.

At Lystra. The Men and the.

Elders of Lystra could. Testify that Timothy was a true

man of. God, he followed the.

Doctrines. He followed the teaching of the

doctrines of the apostles. He didn't waver.

So, you know, he went with Paul at that particular time.

You know, it's very important that as men of God, I'm going to

challenge. Us, all of us, as men of.

God, it's very important that we.

Bigot. Sons in the Faith.

That we disciple other. Young men and be an example to

these young men in the. Faith to have a.

Son, in the faith, very important that we do that.

That we have. Someone that we are pouring

into, if anyone's like me, most men I know in my community, most

men like Timothy because it wasn't Timothy's.

Father that poured. Into him in the faith.

It was Timothy's mother, Eunice, and his grandmother, Lois.

He had two. Strong women of God.

Who were of the faith that poured?

Into him when he was young and they taught him the scriptures

and that's where he learned the scriptures.

Most of the men in my community learn the scriptures and learn

the things of the Lord from the women in our lives.

It was my mother and my grandmother, my sisters who

taught me, taught me the things of the Lord.

They were the ones who prayed for me to get into the church.

And probably we'd have. Asked for a hand.

Raising most homes, unfortunately most homes that

are not two parent homes and maybe some that are two parent

homes they may have an unbelieving father in that house

and it's the women are the ones who are the.

Examples and share Christ with the children.

The women so I. First of all.

Definitely want to challenge our men that we be the priests and

the pastors and the protectors of our home and we be the one

that leading the home of spiritual matters.

But women, if there's not a man in the house, there's no excuse

that children. Can't get the gospel?

You can. Still share the gospel?

With your children, rather you have a husband that's in the

house or an unbelieving husband that's in the house or not.

And Timothy was a good example of that.

So that's who Timothy was. He was his true son in the

faith. And that true son means that he

was a legitimate child, faithful.

Child of Paul with all of the. Rights and privileges of that

family. Paul recognized the ministry

that was in Timothy. OK, so so then we continue to go

and he says grace, mercy and peace from God our Father and

Jesus. Christ our Lord.

And now verse 3. This is when things start to

move. A little faster in verse three,

he says, I urged you. When I went into Macedonia.

I urged you to. Remain in Ephesus, that you may

charge some or command some, that they teach no other

doctrines, nor give heed to fables and endless genealogies

which cause disputes rather than godly edification, which is in

the faith. Paul says.

Timothy, I want you to remain. In Ephesus, I want you to remain

there because Paul sent Timothy back to Ephesus.

To encourage that church. He sent them back there to

become the the pastor of the church in Ephesus after Paul and

the other. Apostles have established that

church. And he said I'm sending you

back. There so that you.

Can be the. Pastor of that church.

Apparently things started to get.

Really sticky there. Uncomfortable for Timothy,

Timothy started to feel. That they were.

Not respecting him because of his youth.

He was young, he started to feel that they were bringing in other

doctrines over top of him and and things was just really bad

there and Timothy really was struggling to stay.

There, you know, there's a lot of pastors.

On a weekly basis, who want to walk?

Out of their pulpits or just quit.

Because of the anxieties. That they.

Experienced because of the. Pressures that they.

Experienced that still goes on today.

But. Paul said Timothy remained.

There, stay there. Do what the Lord has called you

to do. Get your eyes off the people.

Get your eyes. Off of the mess and put your

eyes on the Lord. That's what we do, which is the

same thing you do if you're on your job and you got people who

are harassing you because you on the job and and they can make.

It very uncomfortable to. Even want to come back to work

sometimes. But hey, you get your eyes.

On the Lord and not on them. Pray for them, pray for them,

but put your eyes on the Lord and He.

Will work it out. He works it out.

And that's exactly what Timothy had.

To do, Paul said. Remained there and not only

remainder, but this is what I want you to do, Timothy.

I want you to command them that they teach no other doctrine.

There shouldn't be any other doctrines being taught there,

Timothy. The only doctrine that should.

Be taught there should be the. Doctrine that you received from

myself, that they received from you, me and and Silas when we

were there from the. Apostles, which is the.

Doctrine that we received from Jesus Christ.

That's the only doctrine that should be taught.

We know that today. There's all kind of.

Different doctrines that are trying to come into the church.

And that's why the pulpit has to be a guarded area.

In terms of for Sundays or Wednesday nights for.

Us, we guard that. You know, just just not anybody.

Just come up and start teaching. You know, the Bible says, you

know, lay hands on no man suddenly, right?

And we got to know those who labor among us.

I mean, you know that there are there are people who can bring

in strange doctrines. And I do have a couple, just a

few. I just want to mention just a

few doctrines that that do come into the church.

These are some of these new age things that are.

That are popping up everywhere. You know, there's a there's a

religion gospel. OK, this is like another gospel.

This teaches that we are saved by our works if you do this.

Or if you don't do that, then Jesus.

Will love you. And save you.

OK, that's a religion gospel. That's bondage.

That's the gospel of bondage. OK, that.

Is not the true. Gospel We are saved by grace.

We're not saved by our works. We're saved by grace through

faith. It's not about what you can do

for God or can't. Do it's about what he did for.

Us Amen. There's a moralism gospel and

that teaches that the point that the gospel is to make us.

Good people. How often do we?

Hear that? Oh, he's a good, he's a good

person. She's a good person.

That may be so, but if you don't believe in Jesus Christ, you

ain't going to heaven. Maybe so.

They think that they're saved just by being good, decent,

immoral people. And again, we know that that's

not the case. No one is good.

Bible says no one is. Good except God.

This has been another encouraging edition of Living

Waters of Grace. Pastor Louis Harrell has shared

some good reminders for us to learn and walk in today as he's

teaching through the books of First and Second Timothy.

There are useful practices and advice that the Apostle Paul

offers to Timothy in these books from a fellow pastor.

Paul imparts some wisdom to Timothy about solid leadership

and what some of the criteria should be for leadership.

There are specific passages directed toward men and women,

respectively, and All in all, there's much to gain in coming

to an awareness of God's heart for each person and God's

purposes for each one. We're happy that you've taken

the time today to listen. We invite you to come here the

next edition. In the meantime, when you have

some time to spare today, go check out our website,

calvarychapelonline.com. There you'll find additional

messages as well as a variety of resources and information about

how to meet with us in person. We're also on Facebook, so you

can be a part of what we share there as well.

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Living Waters of Grace is a ministry of Calvary Chapel

Westmoreland. Before we go today, we ask that

you share this program with others and invite them to listen

on Grace FM at 91.7. That's all we have for today,

but we're so glad that you've been with us.

There's more to dig into here in First and Second Timothy, so

let's gear up for some more great teachings from Pastor

Lewis next time here on Living Waters of Grace.