In 1 Timothy 4, Saint Paul is "comin' down hard" on false teachers and the like. Mainly, I have discovered it is people who have lost their "first love"...or never loved Him in the first place....
I think mostly it involves people who have simply turned from the Lord, perhaps because they have "burned themselves out". It can happen...like turning a friendship with the Lord Jesus to just...following a bunch of rules. I have seen others get themselves so wrapped up in being "religious"...they forgot what it really means to follow Him...being friends!...and it's a friendship that goes both ways.
God knows that after we accept Him into our lives, we are not made perfect in the sense we will never sin again, nor does He leave it up to us to "take it from there."
Following Jesus is a progressive relationship!
As we begin to yield more areas of our hearts to Him each day, He responds to us through the aid of the Holy Spirit and becomes more and more of a Presence in our everyday lives.
The Scriptures teach that there will be many turn away from Him (in the last days). Turning away from Him in my own mind is not just a "one time occurrence." I think this is a progressive thing as well. Examples to me would be: when a person begins to minimize their personal prayer time with Him in daily life...maybe going from 20 minutes to 10 minutes...to 3 times a week...to just once a week...at Church!
To others it may be spending less and less time reading the Sacred Scriptures...like going from a little time each day...to a few times a week...to "oh, I'll just let my Pastor explain it to me... at Church!"
Another thing I have noticed is how people in these days are always seeking those "week-end getaways"...claiming they need to comfort themselves...a week-end in Las Vegas or off to some island. I am not saying there is nothing wrong with vacations...it just seems like this is all "people live for".
One other avenue of thought is how people seem to get into a particular teaching from the Scripture...and take it much farther than it was originally intended.
Here in the U.S. I have noticed how some take the Scriptures take verses on prosperity, and take it so extreme it almost seems like when I hear these Scriptures quoted it almost sounds like some "magical chant". It's the "American Dream"...rollin' in the dough'...and I can even go to Church!...and show them how it's done".
What problem do I see with all these different types of thoughts? It negates the most important factor of all...getting to know Him...more and more...as my True Friend...my Best Friend...Jesus...and letting Him add the value I need to my life, and learning to be more grateful each day for the things He has done for me and continues to do for me as well.
Our friendship with Christ Jesus has a rich and added value as well. ..He helps us to get our minds...off of ourselves and onto the needs of others.
So, I think when I hear of people no longer interested in following the Lord Jesus...it isn't a decision that just "popped up" one particular day...it was a growing decision that started weeks, months, or even years before. They have simply abandoned...their First Love.
A Gleaning from 1 Timothy 4:6-10
"Since you invited the "King of Kings" into your own heart, you have been raised in the Message of Faith...and He has made it clear to your own heart what sound and stable teaching...really is! We, then are to take this...Gospel...exercise it into our own lives, demonstrate it through our daily lives, and pass this way of life on to others.
What we are NOT to do is: promote tales and legends that have no Scriptural base, we are not to get all tangled up in silly myths, and we are not to use the Sacred Scriptures to fulfill a craving of our personal wants.
Instead, we are to train ourselves in His Ways...learning to be more Godly each day, spending time with Him, and allowing the Holy Spirit to "open up" the Scriptures to our hearts.
Working out in the gym can certainly bring good benefits, "working out" with Him and learning more of Him...brings much more benefit to our lives!
There is a saying that goes:"Physical training has value, yet a Godly life adds value to everything you do..for it is the very key to Life itself..both now and in the Life to come!"
This is a reliable saying..you can "bank on it!"
This is why our struggles, our hopes, and all of our focus is in...knowing Him...more and more! Jesus Christ is the Living God... to all men!...especially to those who have given their lives...to Him!
Why do you think we pursue Him so?...More than anything or anyone else we have ever known?...
I think mostly it involves people who have simply turned from the Lord, perhaps because they have "burned themselves out". It can happen...like turning a friendship with the Lord Jesus to just...following a bunch of rules. I have seen others get themselves so wrapped up in being "religious"...they forgot what it really means to follow Him...being friends!...and it's a friendship that goes both ways.
God knows that after we accept Him into our lives, we are not made perfect in the sense we will never sin again, nor does He leave it up to us to "take it from there."
Following Jesus is a progressive relationship!
As we begin to yield more areas of our hearts to Him each day, He responds to us through the aid of the Holy Spirit and becomes more and more of a Presence in our everyday lives.
The Scriptures teach that there will be many turn away from Him (in the last days). Turning away from Him in my own mind is not just a "one time occurrence." I think this is a progressive thing as well. Examples to me would be: when a person begins to minimize their personal prayer time with Him in daily life...maybe going from 20 minutes to 10 minutes...to 3 times a week...to just once a week...at Church!
To others it may be spending less and less time reading the Sacred Scriptures...like going from a little time each day...to a few times a week...to "oh, I'll just let my Pastor explain it to me... at Church!"
Another thing I have noticed is how people in these days are always seeking those "week-end getaways"...claiming they need to comfort themselves...a week-end in Las Vegas or off to some island. I am not saying there is nothing wrong with vacations...it just seems like this is all "people live for".
One other avenue of thought is how people seem to get into a particular teaching from the Scripture...and take it much farther than it was originally intended.
Here in the U.S. I have noticed how some take the Scriptures take verses on prosperity, and take it so extreme it almost seems like when I hear these Scriptures quoted it almost sounds like some "magical chant". It's the "American Dream"...rollin' in the dough'...and I can even go to Church!...and show them how it's done".
What problem do I see with all these different types of thoughts? It negates the most important factor of all...getting to know Him...more and more...as my True Friend...my Best Friend...Jesus...and letting Him add the value I need to my life, and learning to be more grateful each day for the things He has done for me and continues to do for me as well.
Our friendship with Christ Jesus has a rich and added value as well. ..He helps us to get our minds...off of ourselves and onto the needs of others.
So, I think when I hear of people no longer interested in following the Lord Jesus...it isn't a decision that just "popped up" one particular day...it was a growing decision that started weeks, months, or even years before. They have simply abandoned...their First Love.
A Gleaning from 1 Timothy 4:6-10
"Since you invited the "King of Kings" into your own heart, you have been raised in the Message of Faith...and He has made it clear to your own heart what sound and stable teaching...really is! We, then are to take this...Gospel...exercise it into our own lives, demonstrate it through our daily lives, and pass this way of life on to others.
What we are NOT to do is: promote tales and legends that have no Scriptural base, we are not to get all tangled up in silly myths, and we are not to use the Sacred Scriptures to fulfill a craving of our personal wants.
Instead, we are to train ourselves in His Ways...learning to be more Godly each day, spending time with Him, and allowing the Holy Spirit to "open up" the Scriptures to our hearts.
Working out in the gym can certainly bring good benefits, "working out" with Him and learning more of Him...brings much more benefit to our lives!
There is a saying that goes:"Physical training has value, yet a Godly life adds value to everything you do..for it is the very key to Life itself..both now and in the Life to come!"
This is a reliable saying..you can "bank on it!"
This is why our struggles, our hopes, and all of our focus is in...knowing Him...more and more! Jesus Christ is the Living God... to all men!...especially to those who have given their lives...to Him!
Why do you think we pursue Him so?...More than anything or anyone else we have ever known?...
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