1 TIMOTHY 4 (FIRST READING)
1 TIMOTHY 4 (FIRST READING)
Ques “The Spirit speaks expressly”. Would you consider that a special revelation, or the voice of the Spirit speaking in the assembly to call attention to a certain matter?
CAC I had thought it was the latter. It is a great thing to be where the Spirit’s voice can be heard, where the orders of God are — an immense privilege. All the mind of God is made known in the assembly — it is where the oracles are enshrined.
Ques We have just had the mystery of piety. Would you call what we get in these verses (1 - 3) the working of the mystery of iniquity?
CAC Those who apostatise from the faith “give their minds” to these demons, who are always watching to instil wrong thoughts of God.
Ques What would preserve from that?
CAC The habitual sense that God is near to us. In Old Testament times God was in heaven, and man upon earth. That is, God was a long way off, but directly you turn to the New Testament the first thing you find is “God with us” Emmanuel. If you read in the end of the Old Testament and then turn to the beginning of the New Testament, you cannot help being struck with the difference. God has drawn near to man in the Person of His Son, and He has drawn near in such grace that every element of bondage has disappeared. We can freely address Him even about such simple matters as the food we eat.
[p. 362] Ques In what way would you say that our food has been sanctified by the word of God?
CAC Is it not what is said in Genesis 9, after God smelled the sweet savour of the burnt-offering? “Every moving thing that liveth shall be meat for you: even as the green herb have I given you all things”.
Rem Spiritualists command to abstain from meats.
CAC Yes, it is a doctrine of demons. “Forbidding to marry and commanding to abstain from meats”. God’s mercy has provided certain things for man’s present condition, and Satan robs him of them, if he gives heed to seducing spirits. “Laying these things before the brethren, thou wilt be a good minister of Christ Jesus”.
Ques Why is it always “Christ Jesus” in this epistle?
CAC Because it refers to the anointed Man who is received up in glory. How important food is! “Nourished with the words of faith and of the good teaching which thou hast fully followed up”. Piety is profitable for everything, having the promise of the life that now is as well as that which is to come. Mr. Raven used to say, If we were more pious we should have better health. The inveterate turn of our natural mind is to be independent of God, and instead of turning to God about our health, we call in a doctor! I am not decrying Luke the beloved physician, or any other physician, but what I do say is, that we have full liberty to go to God and tell Him every ache and pain, and that it is much better and happier to walk in full dependence on Him and enjoy His personal care and sympathy. Piety recognises and counts upon God’s interest and nearness. “Exercise thyself unto piety”. That is the best kind of exercise. A quiet confidence in God is very conducive to health.
Ques Why do you think the words occur here again that are used in chapter 1: 15 in connection there with saving sinners, but here in connection with saints? “The word is faithful and worthy of all acceptation; for, for this we labour”, etc. What do you think about it?
CAC I think the apostle laboured in preaching the word faithfully and it brought him into reproach. I think that a person who does not work is disorderly, and it is distinctly said that if a man does not work, he is not to eat. In Ephesians it says, “Let him labour ... with his hands ... that he may have to give”. That is not preaching the gospel. I think that a man [p. 363] that sits and reads all the newest things and goes to meetings and perhaps preaches occasionally but never works is a blot on the testimony. He may have private means and have no need to work for his living, but he has got some work to do, and if he does not do it, he is a blot on the testimony. Of the blessed Lord it is recorded that He went about doing good.
Rem Yes, and He worked as a carpenter.
CAC Mr. Stoney used to say that if a brother gave up his ordinary work for work directly in the Lord’s service, and did not work as hard, or harder in that than in his former avocation, he would come to grief.