Spiritual Warfare

 Temple Baptist Church - 6-29-2025

1 Timothy 1:18-20

 

Introduction:

 

A.  The Apostle Paul left Timothy in Ephesus, a city of great spiritual and moral decadence, to make sure that the church remained doctrinally and morally pure.  (Verse 3) 

 

1.  The believers at Ephesus were “born in the fire,” so to speak, as Ephesus was noted for the great Temple of Diana, the goddess of the Ephesians.  In Acts 19, the religious fervor of idolatrous Ephesians was made evident when—for the space of two hours—thousands chanted “Great is Diana of the Ephesians.”

 

2.  Because of the greatness of idolatry and debauchery, these believers were greatly persecuted for their faith in Christ Jesus. 

 

B.  His charge to Timothy was a doctrinal one, as false teachers continually attacked the doctrines of the faith in the 1^st century A.D. 

 

1.  Paul was getting up in years at this time and committed to young Timothy a trust.  One of the most critical aspects of the pastorate is that of maintaining sound doctrine.  It is a constant battle because of our spiritual surroundings. 

 

2.  In those days, people who were saved did not have a choice of the different denominations, isms, and schisms of our day.  Turn the radio or TV on and hear just about anything and everything spiritually. Instead of marking and avoiding them, many of God’s people watch and listen to them.

 

Matthew 7:15-20  Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves.  (16)  Ye shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles?  (17)  Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit.  (18)  A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit.  (19)  Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire.  (20)  Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them. 

 

3.  False prophets produce fruit that is carnal, worldly, and unholy! Look at the churches of the Bible Belt and observe the changes over the past 50 years.

 

C. We cannot control the religion that surrounds us, but we can maintain our convictions at home and in church.  We are not only to seek and walk in the “Old Path” wherein is the good way, but we are to war for them.  Our fight is not against flesh and blood, though Satan uses people, but against satanic attacks upon all that we believe.

 

D.  By interpretation, the charge is to Timothy, but by application, it is to us who are “alive and remain” unto the coming of the Lord.  When our Lord returns, will He find faith?

 

E.  Let us look at our verses for tonight in light of the application made to today’s church.

 

1.  The Charge (a declaration or mandate)- Verse 18 – We speak much of the Old Paths which our spiritual fathers have taught us. 

 

a.  In 2 Timothy 3:13-17, Paul said, “But evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse, deceiving, and being deceived.  (14)  But continue thou in the things which thou hast learned and hast been assured of, knowing of whom thou hast learned them;  (15)  And that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.  (16)  All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:  (17)  That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.” 

 

b.  The “mandate” is the Word of Faith which we preach.  As Abraham dug and named the wells in Canaan’s land, Isaac later dug the same wells that the Philistines had stopped up and called them by the same names that Abraham had used.  We are still “digging where our daddies dug!”

 

2.  The Commitment (to deposit as a trust for protection) – Verse 18 – In these verses, Paul writes to Timothy and commits the safekeeping of doctrine to him.

 

a.  My pastors committed the safekeeping of doctrine to me, and God called me to do the same.

 

b. I now entrust its safekeeping to you.  You must continue to allow the Word of God to have “free course” from this pulpit for God’s men to be able to preach effectively!

 

3.  The Criteria  (canon –standards or principles) – Verse 18 – 1 Timothy, an epistle that is pastoral in nature, teaches a young pastor how to oversee and run the house of the Lord.  This is done by “rightly dividing” the word of truth. 

 

a.  This blessed old KJB that I hold in my hand is the embodiment of truth.  Pilate asked the question, “What is truth?” when Truth stood before him. 

 

b.  As Christ Jesus was the Truth, this bible that I hold in my hand tonight is Truth.  As He was pure, this blessed old book is pure and contains the doctrines of our faith that we hold dear.

 

4.  The Conflict  (military service in conflict) – Verse 18 – The Word of God was attacked at its inception into this world and has remained under attack for the past 6,000 years.  It is a planned attack by a wicked angel named Lucifer, and it is a manned attack by those who follow his leadership.  Anyone and everyone who either changes or makes a disparaging remark about the Word of God and those who uphold it is being used by Satan.

 

5.  The Confidence  (moral conviction of religious truth) – Verse 19

The Word of God has always been right; the Word of God is still right; and the Word of God will always be right

 

6.  The Conscience  (spiritual consciousness) – Verse 19 - If we let this charge slip, then our children’s children will never know the reality of faithfulness to the bible and the holiness that follows its teachings.

 

7.  The Consequence (shipwreck) – Verse 20 - The local churches are in bad shape spiritually because they lie in ruins doctrinally.  The families are in poor moral condition because they are spiritually in ruins. The nation is struggling both economically and morally because it is in deep biblical darkness.

Memorial Day 2022 - Fight the Good Fight of Faith

 

Temple Baptist Church - 5-29-2022

1 Timothy 6:11-12

 

Introduction: 

 

A.  Tomorrow, May 30, 2022, is Memorial Day. 

 

1.  The day in which we honor our war dead: men and women who paid the ultimate price for our freedom that we enjoy today.  

 

2.  “All gave some but some gave all.”  Their lives were cut short; they died in their youth; they had no chance to grow old; their dreams were never realized; their lives can only be lived through us; their dreams can only be realized through us!

 

3.  Those who died would have been friends, neighbors, doctors, lawyers, teachers, mill workers, miners, store owners, moms, and dads—America’s youth, America’s strength, America’s future!

 

B.  As we enjoy our freedom and blessings tomorrow, our day trips, picnics lunches, grilled favorites, do not fail to remember those who will not be there to enjoy them with us! 

 

1.  These statistics are several years old.  In all the American wars, either by our country or within our country, over 45,000,000 men and women have served in wartime with over 1,175,000 war dead and over 1,500,000 wounded in action. 

 

2.  That is a tremendous number of young lives that have been given and families forever changed while affording us the freedom that we now enjoy. 

 

3.  I knew a soldier who, as an 18-year-old was carrying a machine gun, wading through the waters of the Pacific Islands under heavy fire, watching his buddies die before his eyes and seeing the waves filled with the bodies of the dead.  He grew up that day. 

 

4.  I remember a man who, as young artillery man, coming on shore at Omaha Beach on D+2, watching them as they carried away the dead and wounded.  He grew up that day!

 

5.  I have known men who fought in WWII, through the harsh winters of Korea, walked through the jungles of Viet Nam, died in the middle east, and continue to die until this day for our freedom. 

 

6.  My thoughts go to Arlington National Cemetery and to the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier and read the inscription, “Here rests in honored glory an American soldier known but to God.”

 

C.  Freedom in a privilege, not a right!  Citizenship is a privilege, not a right!  There are many living in this country that enjoy the freedoms while misusing them. 

 

1.  We do not have the freedom to do wrong in this land. 

 

2.  We do not have the freedom to live here and defame this land.

 

3.  We have not right to burn the American Flag.

 

4.  America has had some sad things in its history and still is not a perfect land, but it is my country and I say, “Love it or leave it.”

 

5.  Come to America but come legal, learn the language (I do not speak Spanish), salute the flag, pay your taxes, be productive, get a job, and be a good citizen!

 

6.  You are not here because it is your right; you are here because you are privileged to live here.  This is our country, one nation under GOD, paid for with the blood of our valiant youth!  When you came to America, you joined us, we did not join you.

 

D.  War is not something that any sane man or woman wants, but we find in our text that war is sometimes a necessity. 

 

1.  Men who will not fight will not remain free. 

 

2.  Patrick Henry said, “Give me liberty or give me death!”  It is the cry of the patriot and is the prerequisite for freedom.  To live free, some must sometimes die.

 

E.  God bless the memory of our war dead; God bless our troops; God bless America!

 

F.  This morning, for a few minutes, I want to look at a different type of war casualty.  You and I are in a spiritual warfare today.  It is a war just as real as physical wars are real.  We have spiritually what we have this morning because someone paid a great price.

 

1.  From the blood of Abel to those who are martyred in other countries today, blood has been shed as men earnestly contended for the faith once delivered.

 

2.  Throughout history, men and women have been tortured and died because they were not willing to recant concerning their faith.  Over 50 million died for their faith in the Dark Ages alone.

 

3.  We have the witness of both church and secular historians who have brought to us the reality of these sacrifices.  Millions upon millions have and will die for their faith. 

 

G.  Because of the sufferings and death of these and countless others like them, we are spiritually blessed!  NOW, we are the generation that needs to fight for our posterity!  A short three-fold application is given in our text:  Flee, Follow, and Fight.

 

1.  Flee the Things that Distract us.  Luke 9:62  And Jesus said unto him, No man, having put his hand to the plough, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God.  (There are so many things that distract us from living a consistent life for Christ.  Paul spoke of "the weight" that slows us the "sins" that beset us.  Weights are things that may not be sinful but keep us from doing the things that have eternal weight.  Then there is the distraction of sin.)

 

Philippians 1:10  That ye may approve things that are excellent; that ye may be sincere and without offence till the day of Christ;

 

2.  Follow the Paths that Directs us.  Jeremiah 6:16  Thus saith the LORD, Stand ye in the ways, and see, and ask for the old paths, where is the good way, and walk therein, and ye shall find rest for your souls. But they said, We will not walk therein.  (I often ask the question, "Were our forefathers right or were they wrong?"  I believe that they were right, and their paths are still right ones.  MAINTAIN the old ways wherein are the good ways.)

 

3.  Fight the Truth that Anchors us.  Jude 3  Beloved, when I gave all diligence to write unto you of the common salvation, it was needful for me to write unto you, and exhort you that ye should earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints.  (Without the Truth of the Bible, people will NEVER be free!)

 

John 8:31-32  Then said Jesus to those Jews which believed on him, If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed;  (32)  And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.

The Office of a Deacon

 Temple Baptist Church - 2-28-2021

Philippians 1:1;1 Timothy 3:8-13

 

Introduction:  I want my eldest deacon and friend Bro. Harold Smith to come sit with these three men who are to be ordained this morning.

 

A.  This morning, we will give our time over to the ordination of three men as deacons of Temple Baptist Church.

 

Bro. Robert A. H********* III

Bro. Chris H*****

Bro. Bret Clinton G***** II

 

B.  There are two “offices” found in the local church: The Office of the Bishop and the Office of the Deacon.  Both offices are found mentioned in 1 Timothy, chapter 3.

 

C.  I chose my text for this morning because both the Bishop and the Deacons are first mentioned here.  Paul, while writing to the Church at Philippi, mentioned three types of members of that church.  I believe that the order is important:

 

1.  First - “To all the saints in Christ” – every member of the local church is equally important to the Lord and to the fellowship and welfare of the body.  God is no respecter of persons and neither should we be such.  There would be no local church without a corporate body of believers.  The local church is ALL about the welfare of the saints.  What we are doing this morning is for the benefit of all! 

 

2.  Second - The deacons of the Church at Philippi were placed on an equal plane with the bishops in this verse. 

 

a)  The reason being that both offices are for ministering to and serving the saints of God!  Many pastors become dictators who feel that they are superior and need to be served.  Also, there are many instances of deacons who feel that they are spiritually superior to the people of the churches and also feel that they are in authority instead of servants.

 

b)  Deacons are only mentioned in the two passages of Scripture that I read this morning.  Though placed on an equal plane in Philippians and given their qualifications in 1 Timothy, deacons are no longer mentioned throughout the Bible because they are servants.

 

Romans 12:3-5  For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith.  (4)  For as we have many members in one body, and all members have not the same office:  (5)  So we, being many, are one body in Christ, and every one members one of another.

 

D.  There is little said concerning either the deacons or their work within the body of the local church. 

 

1.  Many people apply Acts, chapter 6, to the election and work of the deacons but they are not called such by the Scriptures. 

 

2.  Also some of them (Phillip and Stephen especially) were evangelists and preached elsewhere (Samaria and Gaza are specifically mentioned) instead of serving in the church at Jerusalem.  

 

3.  If these men were elected to the Office of a Deacon, I believe that they would have served in that capacity instead of preaching elsewhere.  I also believe that the Bible would have been consistent and called them deacons.

 

E.  Our word “deacon” comes from the word “diakonos” which has several meanings:

 

1.  To attend

2.  To wait upon

3.  To minister

4.  To serve

 

F.  The word “diakonos” is normally translated “servant.”  In its general use, all of us are servants.  In

 

Galatians 5:13  For, brethren, ye have been called unto liberty; only use not liberty for an occasion to the flesh, but by love serve one another.

 

G.  Most of the time, the word “diakonos” is translated as “servant,” which is appropriate because we are all called to serve.

 

1.  In Romans, chapter 16, Phebe is called a servant of the church in Cenchrea.  The word “servant” in verse 1.  While the underlying Greek word is “diakonos,” your King James Bible is rightly translated.  She is called a servant instead of a deacon as she was neither qualified for nor elected to the Office of a Deacon.

 

Romans 16:1-2  I commend unto you Phebe our sister, which is a servant of the church which is at Cenchrea:  (2)  That ye receive her in the Lord, as becometh saints, and that ye assist her in whatsoever business she hath need of you: for she hath been a succourer of many, and of myself also.

 

2.  The word “deacon” is used 5 times in Your King James Bible.  Each of the 5 times, the word “diakonos” is transliterated as “deacon,” with each instance referring of the Office of the Deacon.  You can trust your King James Bible as it is verbally, plenarily, as well as doctrinally correct.  Deacons play an important part in the work and welfare of the local church.

 

H.  The qualifications of the deacon:  1 Timothy 3:8-13

 

1.  Verse 8 – Their Integrity

2.  Verse 9 – Their Maturity

3.  Verse 10 – Their Proving

4.  Verse 11 – Their Wives

5.  Verse 12 – Their Ruling

6.  Verse 13 – Their Reward

 

J.  The work of the deacon:

 

1.  Deacons are to be servants, not masters – nowhere in the Bible do we find deacons having authority in the local church.  In many churches, Deacon Boards and Trustee Boards oversee the local churches and problems abound.  The Bible first and then the pastor second is to have the authority.

 

2.  Deacons are to be a blessing to the Local Church, not a burden.  Being a deacon is not a thing of pride but one of humility, serving the pastor and local church in love.  This takes a special grace because their existence is that of service to others.

 

3.  Deacons are to be able to lead as well as to follower.  Though servants, because of their work they are conspicuous.  The time may come when this pastor is no longer to lead the church.  These are men who can lead the church in search of a new pastor while holding the church together in the absence of one.

 

4.  Deacons are to be faithful to their local church as well as to the Office of a Deacon that they hold.  Paul said that the Lord counted him faithful putting him into the ministry.  Thus it is with a deacon.  He cannot be a servant to others if he is not a faithful man.

 

Conclusion:  I hold these three Deacons in high esteem and believe that they will discharge their duties with love and integrity in the days to come.

Fight The Good Fight Of Faith - Memorial Day 2020

Temple Baptist Church - 5-24-2020

1 Timothy 6:12

Introduction: 

A.  Tomorrow, May 25,2020, is Memorial Day.  Recognize Veterans.

1.  The day in which we honor our war dead: men and women who paid the ultimate price for our freedom that we enjoy today.  

2.  “All gave some but some gave all.”  Their lives were cut short; they died in their youth; their dreams were never realized; their dreams can only be realized through us!

3.  Would have been friends, neighbors, doctors, lawyers, teachers, mill workers, miners, store owners, moms, and dads—America’s youth, America’s strength, America’s future!

B.  As we enjoy our freedom and blessings tomorrow, our day trips, picnics lunches, grilled favorites, do not fail to remember those who will not be there to enjoy them with us! 

1.  These statistics are several years old.  In all the American wars, either by our country or within our country, over 45,000,000 men and women have served in wartime with app. 1,175,000 war dead and app. 1,500,000 wounded in action. 

2.  That is a tremendous number of young lives that have been given and families forever changed while affording us the freedom that we now enjoy. 

3.  I knew a soldier who, as an 18-year-old was carrying a machine gun, wading through the waters of the Pacific Islands under heavy fire, watching his buddies die before his eyes.  He grew up that day. 

4.  I remember a man who, as young artillery man, coming on shore at Omaha Beach on D+2, watching them as they carried away the dead and wounded. 

5.  I have known men who fought through the harsh winters of Korea, walked through the jungles of Viet Nam, died in the middle east and continue to die until this day for our freedom. 

6.  My thoughts go to Arlington National Cemetery and to the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier and read the inscription, “Here rests in honored glory an American soldier known but to God.”

C.  Freedom in a privilege, not a right!  Citizenship is a privilege, not a right!  There are many living in this country that enjoy the freedoms while misusing them. 

1.  We do not have the freedom to do wrong in this land. 

2.  We do not have the freedom to live here and defame this land.

3.  We have not right to burn the American Flag.

4.  America has had some sordidness in its history and still is not a perfect land, but it is my country and I say, “Love it or leave it.”

5.  Come to America but come legal, learn the language (I do not speak Spanish), salute the flag, pay your taxes, be productive, get a job, and be a good citizen!

6.  You are not here because it is your right; you are here because you are privileged to live here.  This is our country, one nation under GOD, paid for with the blood of our valiant youth!

D.  War is not something that any sane man or woman wants, but we find in our text that war is sometimes a necessity. 

1.  Men who will not fight will not remain free. 

2.  Patrick Henry said, “Give me liberty or give me death!”  It is the cry of the patriot and is the prerequisite for freedom.  To live free, some must sometimes die.

E.  God bless the memory of our war dead; God bless our troops; God bless America!

F.  This morning, for a few minutes, I want to look at a different type of war casualty.  You and I are in a spiritual warfare today.  It is a war just as real as physical wars are real.  We have spiritually what we have this morning because someone paid a great price.

1.  From the blood of Abel to those who are martyred in other countries today, blood has been shed as men earnestly contended for the faith once delivered.

2.  Throughout history, men and women have been tortured and died because they were not willing to recant concerning their faith.  We have the witness of the Scriptures; we have the witness of books such as “Fox’s Book of Martyrs” and “Trail of Blood.”  Over 50 million died for their faith in the Dark Ages alone.

3.  We have the witness of both church and secular historians who have brought to us the reality of these sacrifices.  Millions upon millions have and will die for their faith.  While we sit free in America, Christians still die in other lands and our nation is becoming less and less “Christian Friendly.”

Hebrews 11:33-38  Who through faith subdued kingdoms, wrought righteousness, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions,  (34)  Quenched the violence of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, out of weakness were made strong, waxed valiant in fight, turned to flight the armies of the aliens.  (35)  Women received their dead raised to life again: and others were tortured, not accepting deliverance; that they might obtain a better resurrection:  (36)  And others had trial of cruel mockings and scourgings, yea, moreover of bonds and imprisonment:  (37)  They were stoned, they were sawn asunder, were tempted, were slain with the sword: they wandered about in sheepskins and goatskins; being destitute, afflicted, tormented;  (38)  (Of whom the world was not worthy:) they wandered in deserts, and in mountains, and in dens and caves of the earth.

Revelation 6:9-11  And when he had opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of them that were slain for the word of God, and for the testimony which they held:  (10)  And they cried with a loud voice, saying, How long, O Lord, holy and true, dost thou not judge and avenge our blood on them that dwell on the earth?  (11)  And white robes were given unto every one of them; and it was said unto them, that they should rest yet for a little season, until their fellowservants also and their brethren, that should be killed as they were, should be fulfilled.

G.  Because of the sufferings and death of these and countless others like them, we are spiritually blessed!

1.  We have the blessing of a pure Bible!  Without those who suffered and died for this old Book that I hold; we would not be so blessed.  I know that preservation is an act of God—not an act of man—but God used men who were willing to suffer reproach and often die that we might have it.  This morning, I want to say, “Thank you for my Bible!”

2.  We have the blessing of our Faith once delivered!  Without those who suffered and died, I would not know the way to heaven!  They prayed and many “paid” that I might have the privilege of knowing how to be saved.  So many denominations have departed from the faith into “Cain Worship.”  They are now right with God because they are “right with God?”  I am glad that my salvation is by grace through faith.  Many have been persecuted for their unwillingness to capitulate on the doctrine of salvation.  I am glad that I know that Jesus Christ is the only Way to heaven.  This morning, I want to say, “Thank you for my Salvation!”

3.  We have the blessing of Fathers to follow!  Not only do we have the Bible and a wonderful Salvation, we have the “Old Paths” wherein is the right way and the good way.  Our doctrine is pure, our separation is purposed, and our path is well trodden by those who went before.  Many have suffered and died to make those paths well defined and easy to follow.  Many are leaving the “Old Paths” for the “New Paths” in order to draw crowds and avoid persecution.  In the “Old Paths,” we are different from this present evil world that the Lord died to deliver us from.  We are not saved in our sin; we are not saved to sin; we are saved from our sin!  I love the “Old Paths” that our fathers trod and will not forsake them for the “New Paths” that the world follows.  The “Old Paths” are the right ways!  They are the good ways!  This morning, I want to say, “Thank you for leading me into the Old Paths!”

4.  We have the blessing of Truth to guard us!  We live in days of spiritual deception.  This past week, a spiritual “crackpot” denied clear Scripture concerning the time of our Lord’s return.  He brought reproach to the Second Coming of Christ by the news media.  He gave the scoffers an occasion to blaspheme by saying, “Where is the promise of His coming?”  There are men and women on every hand who claim to be either the Messiah or claim to know Him and, at the same time, preach doctrines contrary to clear Scripture.  They are being followed by those who will one day be sent “strong delusion” and be damned eternally.  I am glad that I know the Truth of God’s Word.  I accept it as Truth.  I follow it as Truth.  This morning, I want to say, “Thank you for teaching me the Truth!”

Conclusion:  Tomorrow is Memorial Day.  Let us remember our war dead.  Let us remember those who gave their lives for our Freedom!  Let us also remember those who gave their lives for our Faith!