Shipwrecked Faith 1 Timothy 1:18-20 (NKJV) Paul is speaking to the young Timothy presently pastoring the church of Ephesus. It s possible that Timothy did not have the heart to stay in Ephesus. He might have seen greener pastures somewhere else. Or he was intimidated by the pagan culture around him, we re not fully sure. But Paul reminds Timothy As I urged you when I went into Macedonia remain in Ephesus that you may charge some that they teach no other doctrine 1 Timothy 1:3 (NKJV) Encouraging him not give up, not to bail out, not to flake out, but to remain, and then he reminds him to charge some that they teach no other doctrine. That word charge is a military word, like a soldier in the army who has been given orders from their superior. He was to clean up any bad doctrine that was being taught. To leave could be disastrous; to bail out could shut the church down and dismantle the very foundation that had been laid by Jesus Christ. And now here in the same chapter, in verse 19, he moves from a soldier in the army, to a sailor in the navy. Reminding Timothy not to get off course in his faith and his conscience. If he does, he will find himself shipwrecked. Let s read verses 18 through 20 Vs. 18 This charge I commit to you, son Timothy, according to the prophecies previously made concerning you, that by them you may wage the good warfare Paul here reminds Timothy that the prophecies, which were spoken over him, could be something that might help him in warfare. Timothy, like all believers, was in a real battle. What is that we sing, that Michael wrote, The war has been won, but the battle must go on Copyright 2016 Chris Fraley 1
And Paul is reminding Timothy that the prophecies that were spoken over him are there to help him wage a good warfare. There are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit to another the working of miracles, to another prophecy, to another discerning of spirits, to another different kinds of tongues, to another the interpretation of tongues. 1 Corinthians 12:4, 10 (NKJV) There are some today that would like to throw out the gift of prophecy as a gift for the church today, probably because it s one of those gifts that have been abused. In some circles, there are those who would call themselves a prophet and they put themselves in the place of authority in everyone s life, and whatever they say goes. They tell you whom you can and can t marry. They re the authority on who can serve the Lord. People like this would say the gift of prophecy went out with the apostles, but scripture doesn t teach that. Let me give you a definition of the gift of prophecy Prophecy: to predict events relating to the kingdom of God, or utterances which bring exhortation or comfort to the hearer. So it shows up in two ways 1. Foretelling of future events. 2. Forth-telling, speaking forth the Word of God. Paul, in speaking to the church that was zealous for spiritual gifts, he said Pursue love, and desire spiritual gifts, but especially that you may prophesy. For he who speaks in a tongue does not speak to men but to God, for no one understands him; however, in the spirit he speaks mysteries. 1 Corinthians 14:1-2 (NKJV) Copyright 2016 Chris Fraley 2
This verse should clean up a lot of confusion when it comes to tongues and the gift of prophecy. So often these two get confused with one another. Notice, tongues is not to men but to God. That s why you have may have heard it called a prayer language or praying in the Spirit, because it s to God. It s up; we are talking to God. But prophecy is out; it s the Lord speaking to us. Paul speaks about this in First Corinthians But he who prophesies speaks edification and exhortation and comfort to men. 1 Corinthians 14:3 (NKJV) It s to men, not to God. And when it s spoken to men, it should build up the church. It should edify and bring comfort to the church, not control or manipulate the church, but to edify the church. Thus we should desire this gift over the gift of tongues because it brings edification to the church. He who speaks in a tongue edifies himself, but he who prophesies edifies the church. 1 Corinthians 14:4 (NKJV) When a person speaks in a tongue, it is for self-edification. It only brings edification to the church when it s interpreted. Some of you that have been given this gift might use it when you worship or in your devotional time of prayer. I often use it when in times of great warfare. When I don t know what to pray, I pray in the Spirit and it builds me up in the Spirit. Prophecy should bring edification, exhortation, and comfort to the church. Who doesn t need that? And here, Paul reminds Timothy that there was a word spoken about his life that he needs to remember because it will help in warfare. In Chapter 4 we read Let no one despise your youth, but be an example to the believers in word, in conduct, in love, in spirit, in faith, in purity. Till I come, give attention to reading, to exhortation, to doctrine. Do not neglect the gift that is in you, Copyright 2016 Chris Fraley 3
which was given to you by prophecy with the laying on of the hands of the eldership. Meditate on these things; give yourself entirely to them, that your progress may be evident to all. 1 Timothy 4:12-15 (NKJV) You re young, but don t let that be a liability. Instead, set an example to everyone, in word, conduct, spirit, faith, and purity. Live in such a way that people are not caught up in your being young, but instead they are blessed by your example. But then he also speaks of the day when the elders laid hands on him and gifts were imparted and prophecy was spoken. He will even remind Timothy to meditate on these things, to remember what was spoken over him, and that he would let it be a tool that he could use in times of warfare. We don t have a written record of the prophecy that was spoken over Timothy, but whatever it was, he was to keep in his heart, and use it to help him find a gear in ministry. We have even seen this take place in our fellowship. At the House of Prayer, God will put a word of encouragement or exhortation in my heart for someone; it s to build them up, to help them in times of warfare. I don t usually say, Thus sayeth the Lord, but I usually quote scripture You can do all things through Christ who strengthens you or Remember, He is working all things together for your good. It s safe when you quote scripture, not to manipulate, but to build up. There have been times when people in the fellowship have spoken things over Wildwood. It s usually in prayer meetings where something will be spoken. There were things spoken about this land, and even the building that would be built. There have been things spoken over Wildwood that have to do with evangelism and steady teaching of the Word. There was something spoken about a radio station many years ago, and recently we were given one, 102.9 Wildwood Radio. It will be up in next fall. I remember hearing the Lord speak about Wildwood being an umbrella for leaders to be raised up. We have seen that over the years. At times, God has given us an unusually large leadership team. This last month, when we were at the prayer retreat, the Lord spoke some things to me about some of our guys in leadership. I wrote them down and have been praying for them in it. If the Lord prompts me, then I share with Copyright 2016 Chris Fraley 4
them what I believe the Lord spoke, but sometimes He just gives it to me to keep them in prayer. If I do share it with them, I don t say, Thus sayeth the Lord. I will just let them know I believe the Lord share this with me to give to you. If it encourages them, or blesses them, then great, if not, then shred it. Paul reminds the church of Thessalonica Do not despise prophecies. Test all things; hold fast what is good. 1 Thessalonians 5:20-21 (NKJV) Don t despise it, but instead test it. Does it line up with scripture? Is it outside of God s heart for holy living? Is there a check in my spirit about what was said? Is it true to God s character? Does it bring edification, exhortation, or comfort and make for peace or does it produce confusion and chaos? God is not going to give a word that is contrary to scripture. If you hear a brother pray over you, This is from the Lord. You are to live with your girlfriend, you are to bomb your boss s car, or sell everything you have and live in a commune in Oklahoma. Heaven is with you on that one. Dude test it! Make sure it lines up with the Word of God. If you have a check in your spirit, then there is probably a reason. Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits, whether they are of God; because many false prophets have gone out into the world. 1 John 4:1 (NKJV) In Timothy s case, Paul could say, I know those prophecies. I know the plans the Lord has for you, meditate on them, and in doing so they will enable you to wage a good warfare. So, remember the prophecies, but then notice what he says next Vs. 19 having faith and a good conscience, which some having rejected, concerning the faith have suffered shipwreck Paul reminds Timothy of his faith and his conscience. Paul links these two together in First Timothy 1:5 and 3:9. Copyright 2016 Chris Fraley 5
The faith, of course, is his faith in God, but he connects it to the conscience because how a person lives out his faith is going to affect his conscience. A pure conscience will keep us moving forward in the faith, but a defiled conscience will shipwreck us in the faith. Paul would say I thank God, whom I serve with a pure conscience, as my forefathers did, as without ceasing I remember you in my prayers night and day 2 Timothy 1:3 (NKJV) Notice he puts an emphasis here on serving with a pure conscience. His faith was being lived out in service and it came from a pure conscience. Paul would even remind Timothy that some would have a seared conscience in the last days Now the Spirit expressly says that in latter times some will depart from the faith, giving heed to deceiving spirits and doctrines of demons, speaking lies in hypocrisy, having their own conscience seared with a hot iron, forbidding to marry, and commanding to abstain from foods which God created to be received with thanksgiving by those who believe and know the truth. 1 Timothy 4:1-3 (NKJV) Messing with marriage and In-N-Out Burger, that s a seared conscience for sure, doctrines of demons. Just kidding. Notice the emphasis on departing from the faith. They have left the truth for what s counterfeit and now instead of having a pure conscience, they re living in hypocrisy. They settled for another word instead of the written Word. Maybe it was a word given by a false prophet; today you can pick those up at Barnes & Noble. Little by little, they went against their conscience and it eventually was seared. The spiritual and moral compass malfunctioned and that will always lead to shipwreck. I have heard someone compare the conscience to a star in our heart, each point has a sharp edge to it. And when we go against our conscience, it s painful because it moves a little bit each time. The star turns and those points are painful. It is to remind us that what we are doing is not godly. Copyright 2016 Chris Fraley 6
When we watch something that is defiling, when we engage in something that is ungodly, when we touch or say something that would cross a threshold in our life, the star turns and conviction takes place. It s not because the Holy Spirit, working with our conscience, wants to afflict us with pain, but He wants to keep us from engaging in destructive sinful behavior. The hope is to keep us from going in this direction any longer, from setting our sails in the wrong direction. If we keep going, those points get dull and can eventually get to the place where we no longer have conviction over things that we used to have. Notice Paul points out here, Which some have rejected... Notice here the two examples Paul points out Vs. 20 of whom are Hymenaeus and Alexander, whom I delivered to Satan that they may learn not to blaspheme. Hymenaeus and Alexander were both opponents of Paul. Paul mentioned Hymenaeus later in his second letter to Timothy. But shun profane and idle babblings, for they will increase to more ungodliness. And their message will spread like cancer. Hymenaeus and Philetus are of this sort, who have strayed concerning the truth, saying that the resurrection is already past; and they overthrow the faith of some. 2 Timothy 2:16-18 (NKJV) Hymenaeus with Philetus were spreading bad doctrine, heresy. They were saying that the resurrection had already happened and were not willing to let it go. So Paul would ask them, along with Alexander, to step out of the covering of the fellowship so that they would no longer spread what he called cancer. That s why Paul says, We delivered them to Satan, which simply meant they were no longer under the umbrella of protection that comes by being in the church. They were hoping that when the protective hedge that comes from the Lord and from the community of believers was lifted, they would want to get right with God. Copyright 2016 Chris Fraley 7
It s no different than some of you parents. You have had to make that hard call with one of your adult children. The life they are living inside your home under your protection and care has been abused, and so you have to ask them to step out, for your sake, for the family s sake, but also for their own sake. The family hopes that when they get in the world, they will realize how good it actually was in their home, and get things right. I like what Jon Courson said Paul s purpose was not punitive. It was restorative that Hymenaeus and Alexander might be brought back to wholeness. Jon Courson These two had gone against their moral compass so many times that the guilt, shame, and the pain of their sin were no longer there. Thus their lives were wrecked, shipwrecked. We re never too far gone that God can t restore us to faith once again. The key is humbling ourselves to the place where God can restore us. It s what the cross is all about; it s the place where restoration begins; it s where sin is dealt with. Let s remember what Paul said last week in the same chapter This is a faithful saying and worthy of all acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am chief. 1 Timothy 1:15 (NKJV) Jesus came to save sinners. If you re here today and your life is a shipwreck, then Jesus came to save you. He can clean up your conscience, revive your faith, and even speak words of prophecy and hope over you once again. Don t hang onto a ship that has been wrecked. Jump ship and come to Christ today a ship where Jesus is the captain, and truth is our compass. Copyright 2016 Chris Fraley 8