Nepaug Bible Church - http://www.nepaugchurch.org - Pastor's Evening Sermon Notes - http://www.nepaugchurch.org/ev/ev20120520.htm

THRU THE BIBLE EXPOSITION
1 Timothy: God's Ministry Roles For Church Leaders And The Local Church
Part XIV: Understanding The Local Church's Spiritual War In Its Role To Uphold God's Truth
(1 Timothy 4:1-5)
  1. Introduction
    1. Paul revealed in 1 Timothy 3:15 that the local church is the pillar and foundation of God's truth on earth.
    2. However, Satan and his demons oppose the local church's ministry of the truth, and 1 Timothy 4:1-5 offers insight into this evil opposition that we all do well to note for victory in this conflict (as follows):
  2. Understanding The Local Church's Spiritual War In Its Role To Uphold God's Truth.
    1. The first segment of the local church's spiritual battle in its calling is that of following either the Holy Spirit or demonic spirits: Paul reported that the Holy Spirit clearly stated in his era that in the later times of Church History, some in the local church would abandon the Biblical faith to follow deceiving spirits, 1 Timothy 4:1a,b NIV. Thus, one discerns between the Spirit of God and demonic spirits as follows:
      1. The Holy Spirit produces love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control (Gal. 5:22-23 NIV) and aligns with Scripture as the Spirit of truth, John 14:16-17; 17:17.
      2. Opposite this, Satan and his demons lie and do not remain in God's truth, but turn away from it (John 8:44), and they promote emotional, physical and mental unrest or ills in man with the intent of destroying him, Mark 9:17-18, Matt hew 9:32-33; 17:15-18 and John 8:44.
    2. The second segment of the local church's spiritual battle in its calling is following either Scripture teaching or demonic teachings, 1 Timothy 4:1c NIV. Other passages clarify this matter as follows:
      1. Demonic viewpoint and teachings are associated with envy and selfish ambition, and are marked by being earthly and unspiritual, producing disorder and every evil practice, James 3:14-16 NIV, ESV.
      2. Opposite this, Scripture itself fully equips the believer for every good work, characterized by meekness and submission to God's will, and being spiritual, orderly and upright, 2 Timothy 3:16-17. Godly teaching and viewpoint opposite the demonic is also pure, peaceable, gentle, open to reason, full of mercy and good fruits (good works in living), impartial and sincere, James 3:17 ESV.
    3. The third segment of the local church's spiritual battle in its calling is that of telling the truth backed by one's life in an upright conscience versus lying in hypocrisy with a seared conscience , 1 Timothy 4:2. Leaders who teach in truth and righteousness by the Holy Spirit and in alignment with Scripture will have upright consciences, leading them to practice what they teach, but those heeding lying spirits and their false teachings will have their consciences seared so as to be hypocritical in their teaching and lives.
    4. The fourth segment of the local church's spiritual battle in its calling is that of upholding alignment to God's natural order in the truth versus distorting that order in error, 1 Timothy 4:3-5:
      1. Paul predicted that false teachers would arise who would deny the gratification of natural drives like that of sex by denying marriage and the drive for food by denying some foods, 1 Timothy 4:3a.
      2. In reality, these teachers would deny the natural order established by God at creation, and believers are supposed to receive God's upright provisions for foods and human sexual need gratification within the God-ordained boundaries of meeting these needs as established by God's Word, 1 Timothy 4:3b.
      3. Specifically, in the realm of foods, Paul explained that every creature made by God is good and not to be refused if it be received with thanksgiving, for each creature is sanctified by the Word of God and by the prayer of thanksgiving to the Lord in accord with God's sanction of it for food, 1 Timothy 4:4-5.
Lesson: Since God has assigned the local church the calling of being His pillar and ground of the truth on earth, Satan and his demons COUNTER this calling by tempting believers to heed demons and their doctrines in jealousy, in selfish ambition and in earthly, unspiritual, disorderly, evil practices, to have their consciences seared to teach one thing while practicing another and to distort God's natural order. Believers are responsible to STAND AGAINST this evil effort by relying on the Holy Spirit's power and Scripture to obey God's Word in living in meek submission to God's will, in functioning in spiritual, orderly, upright actions in an untainted conscience and in holding to God's Biblically set natural order.

Application: May we understand these segments in our battle for the truth so as to function in victory!