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Bro. Otis Fisher
But I've got six with me, so that's where we're going to start. First Timothy 6. We now come to capital and labor. It was way back in the Old Testament times that this took place. Capital and labor. Let as many servants as are under the yoke count their own masters worthy of all honor, that the name of God and his doctrine be not blasphemed.
I knew of a person once that was newly saved, and they were working in a liquor store when they got saved. Well, they put in a call to me and was quite anxious about working in the liquor store. I told that person that God saved them right where they were.
He didn't save them to take them out of where they were, but he will move you when he's ready. They didn't understand that they couldn't do what they wanted to anyhow, but he left them there for a while and moved them out.
Here he adds also rules for servants' duty toward their masters, upon which matter there will be no doubt many questions asked, especially at that time in history, because most of the country was slavery.
Nevertheless, let servants that have been brought to the faith and have the unfaithful for their masters to honor their masters. The reason, best God should by the doctrine of the gospel to stir up men to rebellion and all wickedness, and there be nothing but problems, too.
And they that have believing masters, let them not despise them because they are brethren, but rather do them service because they are faithful and beloved partakers of the benefits these things teach and exhort.
A Christian should always give a full day's work for a full day's pay. If he agrees to work until five o 'clock, he should work until five o 'clock. I know some that leave their pickaxe hanging in the air, don't intend to finish when it's on their time, they say.
The Christian is to turn in a full day's work for a full day's pay. Now, supposing a Christian has a Christian for a waltz, that puts their relationship on a different basis. It brings it to the highest level of any kind of contract.
There used to be, I don't know if it still is in existence, but a factory in Dallas run by Christians. The whole family was Christian, and they employed many seminary students. It was a wonderful place to work.
They had a chapel every Wednesday for an hour from eleven to twelve, and you could go or not go. You were still paid. I don't know if they're still following that practice or if they're even in business anymore.
You see, Christianity gets out into the workplace, it gets its hands greasy, gets its feet down in the mud. I don't mean mud of sin, but mud of the hard working place. God saved you right where you are.
Don't think you have to make a change immediately. Three, if any man teach otherwise and consent not to the wholesome words, even the words of our Lord Jesus Christ, and the doctrine which is according to godliness, he is proud, knowing nothing, but doting about questions and strifes of words, whereof cometh envy, strife, ravings, evils surmising, they were proud, literally means wrapped in smoke, self-conceited.
That leads nowhere but to trouble, fools, yes. Perverse disputings of men of corrupt minds and destitute of the truth, supposing that gain is godliness, from such withdraw thyself. Now, this is supposedly a Christian.
There are some proud men in the ministry, I hate to say, but they cause trouble. Pride will always cause trouble, and it's unbecoming in a child of God. We ought to recognize that we are saved by the grace of God.
Pride is constant danger. Pride is placing yourself above your fellow man. They have pride of faith, pride of grace, some people even proud that they were saved by the grace of God. We Christians have plenty to be humble about.
Don't be prideful. It is important that the child of God finds satisfaction with his position in life. And Bill, what is your position? I don't mean you, Bill Nichols, but what is man's position in life?
What I'm wanting is where, well, I can't even phrase it right without telling you. Yes, yes, that's what I mean. Wherever you are makes no difference. Wherever you are is where God saved you. But godliness with contentment is great gain.
For we brought neither into this world, and it's for we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out of this world. There's been people try it, but it didn't work. As one of the American millionaires was dying, his heirs waited outside the door.
Finally, the lawyer and doctor eagerly, they come out and they eagerly ask, how much did he leave? The lawyer said, he left everything. You don't take any with you. That wasn't the answer they were looking for.
This is the reason that God's children ought to be using their money for the work of God. I believe that making a will is fine, but it is often much abused. Someone has rhymed it like this. Do your giving while you're living, then you're knowing where it's going.
A child of God should make sure that he's supporting the work of God in some way. Eight. And having food and raiment, let us be therewith content. But they that will be rich fall into temptations and a snare, and into many foolish and hurtful lusts which drown men in destruction and perdition.
For the love of money is the root of all evil, which while some covet after, they have heard from the faith and pierced themselves through with many sorrows. Please note, it says the love of money. Money is amoral.
It is neither good nor bad. It's simply a tool. Eleven. But thou, O man of God, flee these things and follow after righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, meekness. Now these are virtues that a man of God should have.
Fight the good fight of faith. Lay hold on eternal life. Whereunto thou art also called and hast professed a good profession before many witnesses. Fight the good fight. This fight may be outward or inward.
It may be both. It may be either one. Lay hold on eternal life. Let me ask you a question that's an old question. But if you were arrested and brought into court, would there be enough evidence in your life to convict you of being a Christian?
I give thee charge in sight of God who quickeneth all things. What's that mean, quickeneth all things, Verge? What does it mean, quickeneth all things? It could, Greg. All things get their life from God.
And before Christ Jesus, who before Pontius Pilate, witnessed a good confession. If you can imagine standing in front of Pilate, he had a good confession. That thou keep this commandment without spot, unbreakable until the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ, which in his times he shall show, who is the blessed and only potentate and King of kings and Lord of lords.
Now, he is referring to the coming of Christ. And he says that we are to keep this commandment without spot, without unrebukeable. Unrebukeable. Roger, what does that mean in a person? That's right. Which in his times he shall show, who is the blessed and only potentate, the King of kings and Lord of lords, which is our Lord Jesus Christ, who only hath immorality, dwelling in the light which no man can approach unto, whom no man hath seen nor can see, to whom be honor and power everlasting.
Now, there was a man, two men, one talking to the other and he didn't believe in God. He says, show me your God. The man said, well, let's go outside. They took him out on a bright sunny day. He said, now look at the sun and describe it.
He said, well, I can't, it'll blind me. He said, exactly so. If one of God's particles blinds you by looking at it, what do you think God would do? He's much brighter. Who only hath immortality. Immortality.
Joy, what is that? That doesn't tell me what immortality means. Who is the only one that has walked on this earth that has immortality? Jesus. And where did he get it? Christ has been raised by that power of God.
He is the only glorified body in existence. The only person in existence that has been raised. Charge them that are rich in this world that they be not high-minded, nor trust in uncertain riches, but in the living God who giveth us riches, all things to enjoy.
Gives us richly all things to enjoy. Now I take that, it means all things. They that do good, that they be rich in good works, ready to distribute, willing to communicate, laying up in store for themselves a good foundation against the time to come, that they may lay hold on eternal life.
Does your eternal life depend upon what you have laid up, Russell? No. Even if it sounds like that, that's not true. Laying up in store for themselves a good foundation. What would the foundation of our eternal life be?
Jesus the Christ. Against the time to come. Diane, when is that? Laying up in store for themselves a good foundation against the time to come. All right, there is coming a time. A day, a moment, a second in your life when you will start eternal life.
Now we have it now, but we don't possess it. There is coming a time when we will do both. Charge them that are rich. These verses are a warning to those who are rich. Ready to distribute. Means ready to sympathize, ready to share.
Lay hold on eternal life. Means the life which is life indeed. O Timothy, keep that which is committed to thy trust. Avoiding profane and vain babblings and opposition of science falsely so called. What about this science, Bill?
What does he mean opposition to false science? Which some professing have heard concerning the truth, faith, grace be with thee. In other words, don't try to be an intellectual preacher, teacher, or Christian.
Science falsely so called should be translated the falsely named knowledge. True science, like true religion, is the same. One supports the other. Paul is speaking of the Gnostic heresies, but this can certainly be applied to all human philosophies also.
Are there any questions from anybody? Yes. Yes. That's right. Any time we are witnessing, any time we're stopped talking, preaching, carrying on conversation, whatever, we're a witness for God. Now, do we show Him as a good God or mediocre God?
I hope we all show Him as a good God. You have to be busy, yes. That's right. Right where we live. All right, let's go home. Burge, would you dismiss us, please?
What? What did you say?
We go to David standing here. David will tell us next week. All right.