1 Timothy 3:6-8’ 6 But godliness actually is a means of great gain when accompanied by contentment. 7 For we have brought nothing into the world, so we cannot take anything out of it either. 8 If we have food and covering, with these we shall be content.’
Godliness when it is clubbed with contentment, is a great gain in our life. 1 Timothy 3:3-5,’ 3 If anyone advocates a different doctrine and does not agree with sound words, those of our Lord Jesus Christ, and with the doctrine conforming to godliness, 4 he is conceited and understands nothing; but he has a morbid interest in controversial questions and disputes about words, out of which arise envy, strife, abusive language, evil suspicions, 5 and constant friction between men of depraved mind and deprived of the truth, who suppose that godliness is a means of gain.’ A doctrine which is not conforming to this godliness, leads to a friction between men of deprived mind and deprived of the truth, who suppose that Godliness is a means of gain. But Godliness actually is means of great gain when accompanied by contentment. Are we pursuing this Godliness and having contentment in our life?
1 Timothy 3:16,’ 16 By common confession, great is the mystery of godliness: He who was revealed in the flesh, Was vindicated in the Spirit, Seen by angels, Proclaimed among the nations, Believed on in the world, Taken up in glory.’
There is a mystery revealed in the flesh of Jesus Christ. The secret of Godliness lies here when we believe, and come into revelation, that Jesus Christ came into this flesh, the flesh that we have, where there is a constant lust, passion and He went through all the temptations that we go through, but He kept Himself pure, here we see that, great is the mystery of Godliness and we can see He was revealed in this flesh. When Jesus Christ asked Peter who he was, he answered “you are the son of living God” Peter got revelation that Jesus is the living God. Dear brothers and sisters, this Christ should be revealing, manifested in our flesh day by day and we should allow Holy spirit to work in our hearts so that we can have that divine nature every day in our lives and we can depend on the power of the Holy Spirit. V16, God saw him 100% pure, he was vindicated in the spirit. We can have this life because Jesus went through this and God himself said, ‘This is my son in whom I am well pleased’. We should let Jesus Christ be manifested in our flesh every day of our lives, 24X7. We see, angels are also looking on us every time. Jesus Christ, came in this flesh and went through the agony and tribulations and problems and He had an overcoming life. He never succumbed to whatever pleasures came his way and had an overcoming life. This is the secret of Godliness which we need to pursue, that whatever situations we may have, we need to have an overcoming life. This, we can have, only when we seek the anointing every day in our lives.
1 Timothy 3: 15’15 but in case I am delayed, I write so that you will know how one ought to conduct himself in the household of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and support of the truth.’
Our church should be holding the truth about the Lord Jesus Christ, who came into the world and had the same flesh like us. We need to have this revelation, every day of our lives,that Jesus Christ had also gone through this. He was taken up in glory, dear brothers and sisters, one day we will be taken up to glory, but we need to see that, are we grounding ourselves in this truth, every day in our lives. Are we seeking Lord Jesus Christ, are we pursuing righteousness, Godliness every day in our lives? Timothy is being encouraged by Paul, to pursue love from a pure heart and a good conscience and a sincere faith. Do not pay any attention to the messages which are there in Christendom today which lead us to frustration, by hearing them, there is a tendency in our lives also, to deviate from the truth. We need to genuinely seek that.
1 Timothy 4:7, ‘7 But have nothing to do with worldly fables fit only for old women. On the other hand, discipline yourself for the purpose of godliness; 8 for bodily discipline is only of little profit, but godliness is profitable for all things, since it holds promise for the present life and also for the life to come.’
We need to discipline ourselves to godliness. It is the purpose of godliness. We know that bodily discipline is required but it is of little profit. But godliness is profitable for all things. We can be free from anger and anxiety, when we have this.
Haggai 1:1-7, ‘ In the second year of Darius the king, on the first day of the sixth month, the word of the Lord came by the prophet Haggai to Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel, governor of Judah, and to Joshua the son of Jehozadak, the high priest, saying, 2 “Thus says the Lord of hosts, ‘This people says, “The time has not come, even the time for the house of the Lord to be rebuilt.”’” 3 Then the word of the Lord came by Haggai the prophet, saying, 4 “Is it time for you yourselves to dwell in your paneled houses while this house lies desolate?” 5 Now therefore, thus says the Lord of hosts, “Consider your ways! 6 You have sown much, but harvest little; you eat, but there is not enough to be satisfied; you drink, but there is not enough to become drunk; you put on clothing, but no one is warm enough; and he who earns, earns wages to put into a purse with holes.”
7 Thus says the Lord of hosts, “consider your ways!’
This strong message is given to Haggai. We know the Israelites were taken to Babylon by Nebuchadnezzar because they denied the Sabbath and due to their disobedience for 490 years. We know that Daniel was working in Babylon and took a firm decision that he would not take the choicest food, from the kings table and kept himself pure. God led him every day in his life through trials and temptations by giving him, a divine protection. We see, Daniel prophesied about end times, which God showed him through vision and dreams. When Daniel prayed for his land and the restoration of the temple, we can see God is moving through king Darius and King Cyrus of Persia. We see that God is giving a restoration. He was talking to the heathen king and preparing people for restoration of the Temple . Almost 50,000 Israelites went back to Jerusalem to build the temple. But when they started the work there was an opposition. Whenever there is a building of the church, there is an opposition. We see that they had a clear instruction to build the church but they depended on their own feelings upon seeing the opposition. They said the time is not right. Dear brothers and sisters, God is pointing something to Haggai over here, the reason is they were not taking it seriously to build the church they took time to withdraw to their paneled houses. God had a purpose when he sent us into the world. When there is an opposition from relatives, from circumstances which are going on, there is a discontentment showing up. We need to respond and return to the Lord asking for his help to build the church. We see in the new covenant, we ourselves are a temple of God. Are we slacking up or are we depending on the Lord, are we pursuing that godliness? 9 “You look for much, but behold, it comes to little; when you bring it home, I blow it away. Why?” declares the Lord of hosts, “Because of My house which lies desolate, while each of you runs to his own house.’ In Philippians, we see this was not Jesus’ attitude, He took care of others, He put others interests the foremost. But we are withdrawn to our own. We need to humble ourselves and take the body of Christ seriously and take care of others’ needs. God is going to lead us to Godliness and there will be a contentment.
Haggai 1:14,’ So the Lord stirred up the spirit of Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel, governor of Judah, and the spirit of Joshua the son of Jehozadak, the high priest, and the spirit of all the remnant of the people; and they came and worked on the house of the Lord of hosts, their God,’
There was a prophet to encourage them. In the same way, we have our brothers and sisters to encourage us, grounding us in faith, helping us to repent, to listen to the voice of Jesus. Thank God for this body of Christ. When we repent and come to the Lord, there is a perfect glory reflected in our lives. God will give you his signet ring.
1 Timothy 6:9,10 But those who want to get rich fall into temptation and a snare and many foolish and harmful desires which plunge men into ruin and destruction 10 For the love of money is a root of all [g]sorts of evil, and some by longing for it have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs.
Those who want to get rich fall into temptations, it is a trap, many will become foolish, there will be harmful desires, which will plunge men into ruin and destruction. Instead, they should do good, be rich in good works, be generous and ready to share with those in need.
1 Timothy 6:17,18 ‘17 Instruct those who are rich in this present world not to be conceited or to fix their hope on the uncertainty of riches, but on God, who richly supplies us with all things to enjoy. 18 Instruct them to do good, to be rich in good works, to be generous and ready to share.’
Mathew 6:33 But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.
We need to seek His kingdom first and God has promised to give us His divine nature. Let us long for that nature. Praise God for his Word.
