May it please God to bless us
together this evening as we meditate in his word. Let's turn to the
first epistle of Paul to Timothy, chapter six, and we'll read from
verse 13 to verse 16. The first epistle of Paul to
Timothy, chapter six, and reading from verse 13 to verse 16. I give thee charge in the sight
of God who quickeneth all things, and before Christ Jesus, who
before Pontius Pilate witnessed a good confession, that they'll
keep this commandment without spot, unrebukable, until the
appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ, which in his times he shall show
who is the blessed and only Potentate, the King of Kings and Lord of
Lords, who only hath immortality dwelling in the light, which
no man can approach unto, whom no man has seen nor can see,
to whom the honour and power everlasting. Amen. This of course is a charge which
the Apostle Paul gave to his son in the faith Timothy. And there are many words that
we read together in this chapter which are so instructed to us. And it's good that we are able
to realise that the Lord has given us such words to meditate
upon and to act upon and to follow. And we might say, well, of course,
this was written to Timothy, who was a preacher of the gospel,
and therefore it doesn't apply to me. Well, we should realize
that of course, although we're not all preachers, all those
who are converted are servants, servants of God. And therefore
we all have a wonderful privilege and blessing to walk before the
Lord rightly in accordance with his word. He speaks to Timothy
and in the third verse he says if any man teach otherwise and
consent not to wholesome words even the words of our Lord Jesus
Christ and to the doctrine which is according to godliness he
is proud knowing nothing but doting about questions and strifes
of words whereof cometh envy strife ratings evil surmisings,
perverse disputings of men, of corrupt minds, and destitute
of the truth, supposing that gain is godliness, from such
withdraw thyself." We have here then the Apostle telling Timothy,
teach otherwise, if any man teach otherwise than these words, which
are wholesome words, necessary therefore that the Apostle was
to teach wholesome words and indeed it's right for us in our
day and age to do the same as the Lord enables us. He goes
on to tell us, but godliness with contentment is great gain. It's a blessing isn't it to be
content with what the Lord has given to us, what the Lord is
providing for us. It's a blessing because here
we're told Godliness with contentment is great gain. It's not just
a little benefit, it's great gain. Because if we are content,
then you see we're not covetous and we're walking in that right
way which the Word of God sets before us. Indeed, even the words
of our Lord Jesus Christ. We have so many words, don't
we, in the New Testament of the Saviour to instruct us and how
we need to have grace to listen to those words and then to walk
those words out and having said this godliness with contentment
is great gain he then says for we brought nothing into this
world and it is certain that we can carry nothing out well
that of course it is quite obvious i'm sure because we know a dead
person can't do anything can't take anything with him but nonetheless
it is relevant that we should be reminded of this that we brought
nothing into this world and it is certain we can carry nothing
out and having food and raiment let us be there with content
well we should be thankful for the present time the present
difficult time the lord has provided us with food and clothes and
it's a great blessing if we are content with what the Lord has
provided for us. Perhaps we might try and think
well I want to purchase this and I want to get that and the
shops don't have it, well you know we should be content with
what the Lord has provided. And then he goes on to remind
us but they that will be rich fall into temptation and snare
and to many foolish and hurtful lusts drown men in destruction
and perdition. Well I'm sure we understand what
drowning means. There's no possibility of life
if we're drowned. And he tells us the love of money
is the root of all evil. I'm sure you realize it's not
money which is an evil, it's the love of money which is the
evil. Which while some covet it after,
they have earned from the faith, and pierce themselves through
with many sorrows. And then he comes to now address
Timothy more directly. He says, but thou, O man of God,
flee these things. It's a great word of instruction,
isn't it, for us? To turn away from these things
which do not benefit our souls. But thou, O man of God, flee
these things, and follow after righteousness, godliness, faith,
love, patience, meekness. Well, that's a good list of things
to desire and to follow after and to desire that we might indeed
be blessed with these favours. Follow after righteousness, godliness,
faith, love, patience and meekness. It's a great blessing if God
gives us the gift of these things, to desire truly to seek for these
blessings for our souls. The righteousness, the wonderful
blessing, and that righteousness of course is not our righteousness,
because the Word of God tells us all our righteousnesses are
as filthy rags, they're not of any value. So what righteousness
are we to follow after? Well, it must be the glorious
righteousness of the Lord Jesus Christ. And that of course is
that spotless white robe. Nothing to mar it, it's pure. And the Lord graciously comes
and gives it to his church. It's not something that you and
I can merit You can't ever come and say, well I've lived a good
life, I've done all these things and therefore I'm worthy of receiving
this righteousness. No, not at all. It's really the
opposite situation. We are unworthy of any favour,
but nonetheless it's right to seek after this great and glorious
gift that the Lord would give us. His righteousness, that robe
of righteousness, which as we know is given to cover our nakedness. And then godliness, that means
clearly to follow the way the Lord sets before us in his word,
following the gracious example of the Saviour in all that he
did while he was upon this earth. Godliness, it's good isn't it
to follow after godliness. Many things in the world today
are very far from that, they are ungodly and the devil will
be very keen to make us not follow godliness but to follow ungodliness
and we need to have that grace to examine ourselves, to examine
whether we are following ungodly things or whether we are following
those things which are godly. If we are following those things
which are godly, the result will be that our souls will be blessed
and God's great holy name will be honoured and glorified. And then he says faith. Well,
we know that without faith, it is impossible to please God. And again, this is not something
that you and I can just produce ourselves. something which the
Lord very wonderfully and very graciously gives to his people
and what a mercy it is if we can understand what the Apostle
wrote to the Ephesians and in the second chapter he tells us
for by grace are ye saved, in the eighth verse, through faith
that none of yourselves it is the gift of God, for by grace
then are ye saved through faith. Faith to believe, God-given faith,
to believe that the words of God are true, to believe that
God is a God who hears and answers prayer, a God who speaks the
truth always, a God that you and I can rely upon. And so Godliness, faith, love,
well what a blessing this is. And to follow after this love
and the desire and truly seek that we may know the love of
Christ which passes knowledge. It's a love really which is outside
of this world. Mostly why is that? You and I
by nature never desired, never deserved to be loved of our God. And yet how gracious and how
wonderful it is to think that God has loved us, that God has
indeed drawn us by his love. What a mercy then to know that
and the result of God's love to us will be our love towards
him. It always goes in that direction.
It never goes in the opposite direction. It's always God's
love to us. What it means is, really refers
to that word in the second chapter of Romans, where we read the
goodness of God leadeth us to repentance. And it's the goodness
of God as he shows forth his love toward us in not dealing
with us as our sins deserve to bow down before him and that
brings us to that true state of repentance to turn away from
all our sinful ways and to seek to live that life in accordance
with the Word of God and to enjoy fellowship with the Lord Jesus
Christ and that fellowship must be contained and is contained
in his love toward us and our love in return to him, as we're
able to trace out his goodness to us, that wonderful blessing
that he's come and favoured us with to know him, indeed him
and the Lord Jesus Christ and him crucified. The Apostle says,
isn't it, that I might know him the Lord Jesus Christ and the
power of his resurrection and the fellowship of his sufferings. Well, this time of the year,
of course, we have thought upon the sufferings of Christ. And
as we've thought upon the sufferings of Christ, what effect has it
had upon our hearts? Has our heart been softened? as we think of what the Blessed
Saviour endured and passed through in order to satisfy the holy
demands of his Father, in order to save our souls, in order to
redeem us. What a cost it was And as we
may have you, and I hope we have you by faith, I hope you may
have come as it were to the foot of the cross and beheld, behold
by faith, the Lamb of God that taketh away the sin of the world. that you and I can do by ourselves.
But it's a blessed place, it's a wonderful place. And may we
know the wonder of it, and it's set forth in the love of God
toward us. Amazing love. And then patience. Patience, yes. Follow after patience. Often we are impatient. We want
this to happen, and that to happen. we want it now. Well may God
give us patience because the Lord has an appointed time, God
has a right time, God has a divine purpose in his timing and therefore
it's good to seek the patience and if we don't see things occurring
in accordance with our timetable to realize that we should follow
after the desire to have patience and then to be blessed with meekness
in all that we do, to have a meek spirit. You know, Moses was described
as a man of meekness, and he had a hard life, didn't he? But
he was blessed with meekness. And so the apostle goes on and
says then, fight the good fight of faith. Yes, life is a spiritual
battle. Never think that life is an easy
life, spiritually, it never is. It never will be, and it will
continue as a battle all through our life until the moment we
pass out of time into eternity. But it is, as the Apostle says,
a good fight. It's not a bad fight, because
we're fighting for good things. We're desiring to resist the
devil, and the devil's a great fighter, and he never gives up.
So what a blessing it is to realise here, fight the good fight of
faith and then by God's grace lay hold on eternal life. That's a great blessing that
you and I should be concerned to receive, the gift of eternal
life. What a mercy, what a favour to
look forward to that time of eternal life. when by the grace
of God we shall be with the whole Church of God, the whole family
of God, united together in glory with our Saviour, that One who
is, as we read on here, the King of Kings and the Lord of Lords,
whereunto thou also called and has professed a good profession
before many witnesses." Well, that was a good testimony, wasn't
it? That the Apostle Paul was able
to give of his son in the faith, Timothy. Now, may this be our
desire in our lives that it may be said of us, each one of us,
young and old, that we have professed a good profession, not a bad
profession. before many witnesses. Well there are many witnesses
around, aren't there? Many people who would desire
to cast us down. What a blessing if God gives
us this grace then to fight this good fight and to be blessed
with this good profession before many witnesses. Well that's rather
a long introduction to these words, nonetheless I think it's
needful. We come then down to this 13th
verse where the Apostle says, I give thee charge in the sight
of God who quickeneth all things and before Christ Jesus who before
Pontius Pilate witnessed a good confession. And the Lord did
witness a good confession. And we can read that really in
the gospel of John in the 18th chapter, in verse 36 and 37. When Jesus answered Pilate, he
said, my kingdom is not of this world. If my kingdom were of
this world, there would my servants find that I should not be delivered
from the Jews, but now is my kingdom not from hence. Pilate
therefore said unto him, Art thou a king then? Jesus answered,
Thou sayest that I am a king. To this end was I born, and for
this cause came I into the world, that I should bear witness of
the truth. Everyone that is of the truth
heareth my voice. Now that's a great statement,
isn't it? Think of that. Everyone that is of the truth,
heareth my voice. Indeed, remember the words in
the Gospel of John, my sheep hear my voice, and I know them,
and they follow me. What a blessing it is, therefore,
that as we recognize this truth, that who before Pontius Pilate
witnessed a good confession, the Apostle is speaking to Timothy,
the Word of God is speaking to us tonight, that by the grace
of God we might be able to witness a good confession, that thou
keep this commandment without spot, and the commandment that
he's referring to is the things that we've just gone through,
God's Word through Paul to Timothy, that thou keep this commandment,
and he then says without spot, unrebukable until the appearing
of our Lord Jesus Christ. Well you might think well that's
in my case not possible and perhaps it's not possible we should be
concerned that we might be able to hear the Word of God and do
that which is right with a great concern to follow his Word. This commandment without spot
and unrebukable the people can't speak against us for the things
that we do and the things that we say and also, you know, the
things that you and I think until the appearing of our Lord Jesus
Christ. Well, there will be that day
when the Lord Jesus Christ will come and he will appear in all
his glory and that day must be coming closer without any doubt.
How far away it is, we just don't know. But the word of God is
very relevant. Be also ready, for in such a
time as ye think not, the Son of Man cometh. All my friends,
may all of us be ready when that time shall come, the appearing
of our Lord Jesus Christ. You may remember that the apostles
spoke, Paul spoke, or wrote rather to Titus about this looking and
he's in the end of the second chapter he's speaking to Titus
and he says for the grace verse 11 for the grace of God that
bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men teaching us that denying
ungodliness and worldliness we should live soberly righteously
and God in this present world and he comes and says this looking
for that blessed hope and the glorious appearing of the great
God and our Saviour Jesus Christ. Well, it will be a glorious appearing
of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ when he returns.
We're thinking today of the time when the Lord Jesus Christ rose
from the dead. What a day that was. And we know
that you know after 40 days he ascended up to his father and
those words have spoken that he would in like manner return
and we know the word of God is true and we should therefore
be amongst those itemized here the word to Titus looking for
that blessed hope. It is a good hope for the Church
of God. It's not a morbid scene. It's
a wonderful thought to see the Lord coming in the clouds with
all the angels and every eye shall see him. You and I will
see the Lord coming. There'll be no doubts about it.
And so may we recognize the truth, looking for that blessed hope
and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour
Jesus Christ. It will be a glorious appearing to all the Church of
God. It will be a most solemn appearing to all those who are
outside of the Covenant, those who do not know the Lord Jesus
Christ, those who do not have a hope in his mercy, those who
do not know his saving grace. It will be a most terrible day.
my friends, is a day which is coming and we must recognize
the wonder of it. And so the Apostle tells us here,
until the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ. And it would be
good, you know, if you and I are given grace to truly look forward
to it. And whatever we might have perhaps
all around us in this world to realize everything is passing
away but that the Lord remain thou remainest yes the great
and glorious God remains forever and ever and so the Apostle goes
on it says which in times he shall show who is the blessed
and only Potentate this word Potentate really means governor
the one who governs everything And this blessed Lord is the
only governor. There are, we might say, governors
or presidents or kings or queens in the earth at the present time,
but they are all utterly subservient to the great God. And so he says,
which in times he shall show, it will be evidence, who is the
blessed and only Potentate, the King of Kings, and Lord of Lords. Well, what is our position? Do
we desire to bow down before this potentate, this great governor,
this one who is the King of Kings and the Lord of Lords? For the
mercy it is if God has given us that grace to be found in
this position, bowing down before our God. that we shall truly
be found, and may be found now, worshipping this great and glorious
God, this One who is the King of Kings and Lord of Lords. We read together in that 19th
chapter of the Revelation, the words which refer very similarly
when the Apostle John, Nyala Patmos had that wonderful view
of the things which are to come and he was blessed with that
vision and he tells us a little about the Savior and he says
I saw heaven open and behold a white horse and he that sat
upon him was called faithful and true and in righteousness
he does judge and make war his eyes was a flame of fire on his
head were many crowns and he had a name written that no man
knew but he himself and he was clothed with a vesture dipped
in blood the blood of Jesus Christ cleanses from all sin what a
view the apostle had and his name is called the word of God
he is the word the blessed savior he is the word as we read in
the beginning of the Gospel and Epistle of John, the Word, the
Word. He is called the Word of God.
And the armies which were in heaven followed him upon white
horses, clothed in linen, fine linen, white and clean, and in
his mouth gave the sharp sword, that within he should smite the
nations, and he shall rule them with a rod of iron. he treadeth
the wine-crest of the fierceness and wrath of almighty God, and
he hath on his vesture and on his thigh the name written King
of Kings and Lord of Lords. Well what a favour if the Lord
Jesus Christ is to us the King of Kings and the Lord of Lords
and that we can be very thankful that he is such and You see the
Apostle John had this great and glorious view of this wonderful
Saviour, who is the King of Kings and the Lord of Lords. There
are many words in the book of Revelation that direct us to
his greatness, to his greatness and to his glory, and to view
all the multitudes who were bowing down before him and singing his
praises. Then as remember, that every
knee shall bow before our blessed Saviour. None will be exempt
from that great day of judgment. What a mercy if you and I have
bowed the knee to the Lord Jesus Christ, recognizing Him as our
King and our Lord while we are upon the earth. It will be because
of His grace. It will be because of His love.
It will be because of His mercy. that he comes to us and calls
us out of the darkness of nature into the glorious light of the
gospel, so that we come before our God and we bow down, acknowledging
him as that one who is the King of Kings and the Lord of Lords. Well, it's a blessing to have
a view of this. It's important for us. We're
travelling fast through life. We're travelling home I hope
to heaven, I hope that our home won't be in hell. If the Lord
Jesus Christ is the only Potentate and the King of Kings and the
Lord of Lords to us, to our souls, we shall rejoice to view him,
we shall look forward to seeing him and it will be a blessed
day when that comes to pass. So the apostle goes on and tells
us, who only have immortality, dwelling in the light. Well we
know of course that when the time comes of that glorious resurrection,
everyone will be raised from the dead, immortal, some to everlasting
life and some to everlasting destruction. But those who are
favoured To know the Lord as their King and Lord will indeed
be found dwelling in the light, what light? Which no man can
approach unto, whom no man has seen nor can see, to whom the
honour and power everlasting. What a light this is. It's a light which is so great
and we have a couple of evidences of it in the Word of God. In
Revelation 21-23 we're told, For the guards of the heavenly
city, the heavenly Jerusalem, and the city had no need of the
sun, neither the moon to shine in it. For the glory of God did
lighten it, and the Lamb is the light thereof. What a view, what
a consideration there is. No need for sun, neither moon. They are irrelevant. In actual
fact, they are small by comparison, their light. You may say, why
do you say that? Well, I say that because of what
the Apostle Paul tells us. In his testimony when he was
converted on that Damascus road, and he gave his testimony a number
of times, it's recorded in the Word of God, and it's encouraging
to know that in our little lives we should always be ready to
testify of what God has done for us. The Apostle was able
to repeat it, almost word for word, a number of times. But
when he was before King Agrippa, he just made one slight variation.
And it was an important variation. And this is what he said in Acts
26 verse 13. He said, at midday, remember
at midday, the sun in the Middle East is very hot and very bright.
At midday, O King, I saw in the way a light from heaven above
the brightness of the sun shining round about me and them which
journey with me above the brightness of the sun. So we can imagine
therefore there will be no need indeed for the sun neither the
moon because of the light which will come from the glory of God
and that light which no man can approach unto While we are on
the earth, this light will be just too great for us, which
no man can approach unto, whom no man has seen, nor can see,
to whom be honour and power everlasting. Now this confirms to us the everlasting
nature of our God, that God who always was, and is, and always
will be, this gracious and glorious God, who, as the Apostle spoke
when he wrote these words to Timothy, he said, who quickeneth
all things. That means make spiritually alive. And how necessary for us today
to have the wonderful evidence that we have been made spiritually
alive. You might say, well, how will
I know this? I believe we'll know this in
this way. The Lord will come and convince us of our sins and
show us that before a holy God we are unworthy of any favour
and that we are a sinner indeed and therefore deserve endless
punishment in hell. You may say, well is that really
so? I believe it is. We cannot stand and justify ourselves
We have to confirm that God is just. If my soul were sent to
hell, thy righteous law approves it well. Yes, and so we stand
then condemned under the holy and righteous law of God. And
what does that do? That brings the child of God
to plead for mercy. the plea for mercy. We have that
beautiful little parable of the Pharisee and the Republican,
and how the Republican was able to come and to pray from his
heart. It wasn't a wonderful lot of
words, it was a very simple expression, a very powerful expression. And
what was it? He said, God be merciful to me
a sinner. And what did the Lord say? I
tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather
than the other. Well, you know, if we come like
that, pleading from our heart, God be merciful to me a sinner,
then we can expect God to come and shine his light into our
heart and direct us to his cross and direct us to his sin atoning
death and to show to us that he on that cross time to atone
for our sins he shed his most precious blood invaluable blood
to redeem us so that by his grace one day we should be with the
savior in glory wherever the dying thief was redeemed the
dying thief confessed his sin and he said this man hath done
nothing amiss and he said lord remember me when thou comest
into thy kingdom. What is a good prayer for us
today, if we have that evidence and desire to know we're quickened,
to pray that prayer, Lord remember me. We don't want to be forgotten
of our God. We want to pray the Lord indeed
would come and remember us with that faith that he barest unto
us. his people and visits our soul with his salvation. Well let us then consider the
great blessing of our saviour, the one who we remember today
rising from the dead. What a mercy if we view him rising
from the dead as our king of kings and lord of lords, the
one who is the only potent, the one who is the one who governs
our life, the one who guides and directs us through life,
and that one in whom is all our hope for salvation. Well, may we bless God for the
Word of God, may we bless God for the truth of it, and may
we indeed know what it is to look up to our great and glorious
Saviour, and have the evidence in our hearts that we are amongst
those whom he has loved, with an everlasting love and with
loving kindness has drawn us. Well, may God bless us in doing
that. Amen.