The House of God (1 Timothy) — Daniel Rudge

First Timothy please, Paul's first letter to Timothy, Paul's first letter to Timothy and we'll just read a few selected verses please in several chapters in this epistle and a great pleasure to be with you and we've thoroughly enjoyed the weekend.

I'm sure I'm speaking on behalf of my brethren but it's been a real pleasure for me to be here and to thoroughly enjoy your fellowship, your hospitality, your kindness and your love and we've certainly enjoyed the bible readings and the studies haven't we in the word of God and if we were thinking about the the book of the house in the old testament yesterday that was the prophecy the little prophecy of Haggai.

The House of God in First Timothy

I want to say something about the book of the house the house of God in the new testament will say something about Paul's first epistle to Timothy so I want to talk to you about the house and trust that that will be a blessing to us.

Now I do have the blessing of my brethren just to speak for this time so I will be speaking until about 12 midday and then we look forward to lunch of course. So first Timothy please and chapter one just look at verse 15.

This is a faithful saying and it's worthy of all acceptation that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners says Paul of whom I am chief. Albeit for this cause I obtain mercy that in me first Jesus Christ might show forth all long suffering for a pattern to them which should hereafter believe on him to life everlasting and Paul seems to be concentrating in that first chapter on the gospel in relation to the house and look at verse 11 according to the glorious gospel of the blessed God which was committed to my trust.

Chapter two verse one he's not so much now thinking about the gospel in relation to the house he's thinking about the gatherings of the house he says I exhort therefore that first of all supplications prayers intercessions and giving of thanks be made for all men and why for all men.

Well verse four because God will have all men to be saved and to come unto the full knowledge of the truth. So certainly the gatherings of the saints because he's thinking there in particular of the prayer meeting and then he moves not just from the the males and he does speak there about the males he says verse eight I will therefore that the men the males pray everywhere lifting up holy hands without wrath and without doubting but then he moves from the males to speak about the females the women and how it is that they can contribute to the gatherings and the godliness of this house.

So verse nine in like manner also that women adorn themselves in modest apparel with shamefacedness and sobriety not with broided hair or gold pearls or cossier ray but which becometh women professing godliness with good works and let the woman learn in silence with all subjection I suffer not a woman to teach or to usurp authority over the man but rather to be in silence and that is creatorial isn't it for Adam was first formed and then Eve so that was the pattern that was the order that God set at the very beginning.

Government and Guidance in the House

Chapter three. I think this is about the government of this house isn't it this is a true saying if a man desire the office of a bishop an overseer he desireth a good work and so he'll speak about the overseers he'll speak about their.

I don't like to use the word qualifications. I prefer qualities the qualities that belong to an overseer. And then in verse eight likewise must the deacons the ministers be grave not double-tongued and so on.

So he's speaking about the government in this house. Now we must concentrate just on the end of chapter three please verse 14 these things write I unto thee hoping to come unto thee shortly but if I tarry long that thou mayest know how thou oughtest to behave thyself in house of God which is the church of the living God and the pillar and the ground of the truth.

And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness. God was manifest in the flesh justified in the spirit seen of angels preached unto the gentiles believed on in the world received up into glory.

The Word of God as the House's Guide

Now chapter four just a few more verses please and we'll tie it all together in a moment. I think when you're reading chapter four of first Timothy this is about the the guidance of the house. And you'll notice that verse 13 Paul says this until I come Timothy I want you to give attendance to reading.

And that wasn't Timothy tucked away in his study reading his library. That was Timothy standing before the saints and reading the word of God. We'll be thinking about that in Nehemiah I'm sure as Ezra read the word of God to the people of God Timothy did exactly the same thing he was reading the word of God to the people of God.

That's what we're doing now. Give attendance to reading and to exhortation and to doctrine. And if there's anything that's going to guide the house of God in these last days it will be the word of God.

Generations and Godliness in the House

And then finally chapter five. And maybe we'll say something about chapter six as well. But in chapter five well look at verse one rebuke not an elder. Now this is not an overseer. This is not the same individual that we've been reading of in chapter three.

But rather this is an older man in the assembly that becomes obvious. Doesn't it rebuke not an elder an older man but entreat him as a father. And the younger men. So you see now that Paul is speaking about the generations that belong to the house of God.

That was the alliteration. By the way you didn't miss it. Did you. The government of the house. Chapter three. The guidance of the house. Chapter four. The generations that are in the house. Chapter five.

Younger men as brethren. The older women as mothers. The younger women as sisters with all purity honor widows. That are widows indeed. So it's the generations in relation to the house. You say brother dan you've certainly run out of the letter g.

Not quite have a look at it says this verse six. But godliness with contentment is great gain. We brought nothing into this world. It's certain we can carry nothing out. And having food and raiment. Let us be there with content.

So i think in chapter six and though he's spoken about it in chapter three you will find that in chapter six he will revisit and emphasize this great theme of godliness. So it's godliness and the house when it is that you come to chapter six right.

The Local Assembly as the House of God

Just focus your attention please on chapter 3 verse 14 and verse 15. That's where we'll just begin our opening remarks. So i thought now often when i'm speaking to the people of god on the lord's day very often i like to speak about the person of christ.

And i like to make the ministry devotional. It won't quite be like that this morning. I think just because we didn't have enough time perhaps to say something about it yesterday. But because our attention certainly in these bible readings.

And as we're thinking about the book of ezra we're thinking about the book of hagi. We're thinking about the book of nehemiah. And the emphasis that there is in those post-exilic books on the house. I want to talk to you a little bit about the house of god.

We're not thinking about it so much in the old testament. We're thinking about it more in the new testament. And we'll say something about the fact that the local assembly today is house of god. And isn't it remarkable that as paul is writing to timothy and remember that timothy he was in the local assembly in ephesus.

And he says paul is very kind to us. He says timothy. This is why i am writing this epistle. I am writing this epistle now listen i want to come to you very soon. But if i tarry if i am withheld from coming to you very soon he says i am writing this epistle that you might know.

And of course it wasn't just to timothy this epistle it was going to be communicated to the assembly at ephesus. He says so timothy i want you to know how to behave yourself in house of god. And that was the local assembly at ephesus.

So it wasn't just timothy but it was the whole company he says there is there is a manner of behavior. There is a manner of conduct which is fitting for those who belong to house of god. And that local assembly in ephesus it was house of god in character.

And there was a behavior. There was a conduct that was just in keeping. It was fitting for those who were gathered together in house of god. Character. Look at what he says because he describes the house of god in three ways.

So verse 15 how you ought to behave yourself in the house of god. I think that's a name that's a title which describes something of the divine presence. God is here. Here is a company that belongs to him.

House of god is the divine presence. But then he describes the house in two other ways. He says this house of god is the church of the living god. And here is a city ephesus that is full of idolatry. And it's full of idle temples.

And he says you are church of the living god not dead gods not idols. But you are a company that is gathered to the living god. So house of god is the divine presence church of the living god. I think that's divine power.

God was amongst them in his power. And then he says and he's describing this house in a different way. It's not just church of the living god. He says it is the pillar and the ground of the truth. That is the divine purpose of the house.

This house is to display the truth of god. Pillar. This house is to defend the truth of god. It's the ground. It's the buttress. It's the defense of the truth. That's the very purpose of the local assembly to display and to defend the truth of god.

You say what particular truth. Well i think it's in the next verse. Isn't it without controversy. Great is the mystery of godliness. God was manifest in the flesh. That's one of the great truths. Isn't it all truth in relation to the person and the work of the lord jesus.

That is truth that the local assembly displays truth that the local assembly defends. I want to talk to you for a moment please about these three statements. And i want to develop them. Paul says you are house of god in character.

What does that mean. This is a great theme. And here we are yesterday spending hours speaking about the building of the house of god and the building of the temple. But what exactly does it mean. This house of god theme.

The local assembly in ephesus is house of god. You understand please that this is a theme now i want you to grasp this. This is a theme that is running all the way through your bible. So from the book of genesis even to the book of revelation.

The House of God from Bethel to Revelation

This great theme of house of god this great theme of god presencing himself amongst his people. The theme begins in genesis 28. Doesn't it. You know this. I'm sure you know this. I hope you know this.

So here is a man jacob and he's running away from his brother esau. He's running towards his uncle laban. And you remember he lies down in a place that he is going to call beth el house of god. And when he lies down in that place and he takes a stone for a pillow and he has visions of god and his eyes are open to see something of the presence of god.

And there is this ladder or staircase going up to heaven and angels ascending and descending. And when jacob awakens from his sleep this is what he says. He says god is here. He says surely the lord is in this place.

He says this is an awesome place. He says god is here. This is a place that should be marked by reverence. This is an awesome place. He calls it beth el. He calls it the house of god. So the place where god's presence is known and the place where god's presence is experienced.

And you follow that theme all the way through your bible. So god's presence was experienced at the first in a place that place was beth el. But then as you move through your bible let them make me a sanctuary says the law that i might dwell among them.

That's god's people as they've come out of egypt and they've experienced the exodus. And you say well what is this sanctuary going to be like where god is going to dwell among his people. Well that's the tabernacle.

And ultimately god will presence himself in the holy of holies in that tabernacle. So that house of god was a place beth el and then it became a tent and it was a portable tent but god was dwelling and the presence of god was there.

And as they came out of the wilderness and they came into the land ultimately david has a desire in his heart to build god a more permanent structure a more permanent house a temple. And god will under the under the the the direction of solomon.

As that temple is built god ultimately will presence himself in that temple. You've got the idea of the presence of god at the beginning a place beth el. And then it's a tent the tabernacle. And then it's a more and then it's a more secure building in the temple.

And that's where we've come to in ezra. And that's where we've come to in hagia. This building of the temple the place where god has presence himself. I know that the glory had departed the glory had left in ezekiel's day.

But still you have this idea of the house of god. It follows all the way through. Doesn't it to the revelation. Because when you come to revelation chapter 21 there is an eternal city. And the word of god says the tabernacle of god will be with men and that for eternity the presence of god with his people.

So now i want you to understand this house of god was a place then house of god was a building. Ultimately god is going to dwell with his people in an eternal city. You say where is the presence of god today.

And where is house of god today. You say is it a place. If we want to seek the face of god do we need to go to jerusalem. If we want to seek the presence of god do we need to go to beth. No no no. House of god today is not a place.

And house of god today is not a tent and it's not a building. House of god today is a people. And here is a company of people that are gathered together at ephesus gathered to the name of the lord jesus.

And paul says this people this company of people is house of god. And the presence of god is there. So in the old testament god's people went physically into the house. In the new testament god's people they are the house and every local assembly as they gather together.

House of god in character the divine presence. And look at how he expands that he says this house is church of the living god. This company of christians is ecclesia. They are a called out company. They have been called out from the world.

They have been called out from it by the preaching of the gospel. Called out from the world morally. They've been called out from the world politically despite what we were saying yesterday. They've been called out of the religious world.

They've been called out from all that. And they've been gathered solely and absolutely to the name and to the person of the lord jesus. House of god the divine presence church of the living god divine power.

They're gathered to the name of christ alone. And what a contrast to the lifeless idols of ephesus over 50. By the way idol temples in ephesus. And they left that orbit. They're all behind just to gather to the person of the lord jesus.

There shouldn't be any cold dead formality about us. Should there. This is church of living god. There should be divine life. And there should be divine energy seen amongst us as we gather together. This is church of the living god.

And it's the pillar and the ground of the truth. That's the purpose of the local assembly to display the truth to defend the truth. And i tell you ephesus knew a pillar after pillar. All these idle temples and all of these pillars.

And of course great is diana of the ephesians. You can go to ephesus today. It's a remarkable place by the way in terms of what has been recovered of the ancient ephesus. But just outside the city of ephesus there is the footprint of a huge temple.

This was one of the wonders of the ancient world. And it was a temple that was dedicated to diana of the ephesians. How many pillars did it have. 127 pillars belonging to that temple paul says. Forget about those idle temple.

Forget about those pillars. He says local assembly. You christians you are pillar and ground of the truth. They didn't have in this day first timothy. They didn't have social media. You know that. Don't you.

But the pillars of the city of ephesus. They really were the social media of the day. If you wanted to advertise if you wanted to tell people something that's happened a notification of this then you would put that notice on a pillar around the city of ephesus.

Now says paul the local assembly is the pillar of the truth. You display the truth you preach the truth you communicate the truth. You live the truth. You display that truth. You defend that truth the ground of the truth the buttress of the truth.

Truth especially in relation to the person of the lord jesus. Now maybe i want you to understand this. Please. Maybe i haven't just communicated that too. Well but you understand please what you are connected to if you belong to the fellowship of a local assembly when it is that we gather together we are house of god.

In character there's the divine presence. There is the divine power. There is divine purpose about us. See what we're connected to now says paul because you're connected to them. There is a necessary kind of behavior that is fitting to all those who belong to the house of god.

Godliness as the Conduct of the House

You say what is the behavior. Well this is a theme that runs all the way through the epistle. But the great behavior is godliness. That is what should mark us as those who belong to the house of god. We said something about this again yesterday.

Godliness i think is the new testament equivalent of the old testament fear of the lord. Here is a company of individuals that have a deep personal knowledge and reverence of god. Here are individuals that literally is this like you.

Here are individuals that literally every day they live their lives in the presence of god. Just like enoch we should be walking hand in hand with our god every day. And we live our lives in his presence.

And we seek every day to come to a deeper knowledge and appreciation of who god is. And because we love him and because we know him we don't ever want to live in a way which will grieve him. We want to live in a way that will please him.

Godliness is the character that should mark you and mark me especially as those who belong to the house. You say brother dan do we have any example of godliness lived among us. I think we do. Great is the mystery of godliness.

It's not just to be like god but god was manifest in the flesh. And here is a dependent man. Here is a man who walked every single day hand in hand with his god. Here is a man who morning by morning was awakened just to listen to the voice of his father one who lived in perfect communion with his god and one who always did those things that please the father.

There's godliness. It's expressed in christ. And that's the kind of behavior that should characterize you and me. And as we gather together in house of god capacity. That's what this epistle is all about.

So if you understood that and if you can gather and grasp some of that paul is telling you how to behave in house of god. Carrot. Now let's just think about this very briefly. With the time i've got left 15 minutes let me talk to you about each of these chapters.

The Gospel Establishes the House

He's going to develop this theme of the house. He begins in chapter one. I can't talk about all of these chapters. I've only got a few moments. But you follow the theme through. He's talking about the house.

He's talking especially about the conduct and the behavior which is fitting in relation to this house. And isn't it interesting that in chapter one of first timothy he's going to talk about the house and the gospel.

You say well that doesn't seem to be about the behavior that is fitting for those who belong to the house. But i think what paul is doing in chapter one is he's talking about not only the truth that we preach and the truth that we proclaim.

We are associated with the gospel. I think he's talking about how the house was established in ephesus in the first place. You say how did this company just happen to be gathered together in ephesus. And they're so different to everything else that's in ephesus.

They are associated or they are disassociated. I should say from the synagogue and from the jew. And they are disassociated from all the idolatry. They're just gathered out from all of that religion. And they're just gathered to the name of christ.

You say how did this company come into being in the first place. Well it's obvious. Isn't it through the preaching of the gospel. And that's what you have in verse 11 of chapter 1 he speaks about the glorious gospel of the blessed god which was committed to my trust.

And paul. Paul is ever amazed by grace. Isn't he. And paul is ever amazed by the gospel. And he says in verse 13 he says i was a blasphemer. He says i was a persecutor. I was injurious but i obtained mercy.

And he says here's a faithful saying christ jesus came into the world to save sinners of whom i am chief. He says look at what i was. Look at what i did. I was a blasphemer a persecutor. I injured christians.

But he says verse 14 i was overwhelmed by a flood of grace. The grace of our lord was exceeding abundant unto me. And he says even though i might be the chief of sinners. You say paul why are you the chief of sinners.

Oh. You say paul was the chief of sinners because he was an idolater. No he wasn't. He worshipped the true god. He wasn't an idolater. I didn't make him the chief of sin. You say paul saw of tarsus. Perhaps he.

He was the chief of sinners because he was immoral. No he wasn't. He was a pharisee. He left he lived a very moral life. He lived a very upstanding life. You say why was he the chief of sinners. Because he was a religious man.

And because he was a religious man he persecuted true and genuine christians. And the work that god was doing through the gospel. He persecuted those christians. And paul says i'm the chief of sin. He's not boasting in that.

He says i am the foremost sinner. Not that he is boasting in that but that he is setting a bar that is so high that everyone else can fit under that bar. That's good isn't it. If the gospel of god's grace can save a sinner like him and he was the chief of sinners then the gospel of god's grace can save us all.

It can save everyone. And paul says this is the glorious message that established the house in ephesus at the very first. You know the establishment of a local assembly is not at the whim of men and women.

Prayer and Spiritual Exercise in the Gatherings

The establishment of the local assembly is through the activity of the spirit of god. When the gospel is preached. He says house of god and the gospel. You say what about chapter two. Well if in chapter one this is how house of god is established through the preaching of the gospel through the moving of the spirit of god in a locality through the saving of souls.

He says let me just talk to you about the gatherings of this house. He says this house is a place of spiritual exercise. Would that be true of you. But when you gather together sisters brothers when you gather together to the name of the lord jesus you have a spiritual exercise in your heart.

You have something to offer to the father. You have something to give to him in relation to the lord jesus. He says this house and its gatherings it's a place of spiritual exercise. So that he says first one.

First of all he says i want to talk to you about the house. But he says first of all in relation to this house first in priority and first in importance. He says prayer supplications prayers intercessions giving of thanks should be made for all men.

Do you know what he's saying. He is saying that prayer is absolutely vital to the life of a local assembly. And in fact a local assembly cannot function properly effectively without prayer. You don't do this.

Do you. But you don't make a list of assembly gatherings. And you say well if there's one i'm not going to miss. Is that one. It's top of the list. If you did you'd probably put the breaking of bread at the top of the list.

We have some christians don't we who are smos. I don't know whether you use that in the states sunday morning only christians have you met them. They come to the gathering on a sunday morning. But you'll not see them any other gathering.

It's almost as if that they are putting priority. It's almost as if they are putting great importance upon one gathering and no other gathering as if they don't matter. This is what paul says. He says the matter of primary importance is that you gather yourselves together just to pray.

Prayer was important to paul. And he says this house of god cannot function effectively unless god's people are praying. Look at what he says in verse eight. He says i will therefore that the males pray everywhere.

Isn't that remarkable. Not just the people not just anyone who belongs to this house. He says in particular the males are responsible to pray and to lead god's people in prayer. He says when they pray metaphorically they lift up holy hands.

That's self-worth. My brother if you want to lead god's people in prayer you must make sure that there is no unconfessed sin in your life. You must be able to lift up holy hands self-worth. And if you're not praying and not leading god's people in prayer audibly as a male then i must assume there's unconfessed sin in your life.

And therefore you do not have the right to lead god's people. He says all the males everywhere lifting up holy hands self-worth. And he says without wrath that's man would and without doubting that's god would.

Let me just put it in a nutshell. If you've fallen out with brother x or sister y if you've got a difficulty or an issue wrath complaint anger towards one of your brothers or sisters in the assembly you have lost your right brother to lead god's people audibly in prayer he says without wrath.

And he says without doubting think about this is god would. If you do not believe that god will hear and god is able to answer such a prayer. Don't lead god's people please in audible prayer i tell you it puts some weight and some responsibility upon the males that belong to the assembly there is a responsibility upon them to lead god's people in prayer.

And if they're not doing it and it's their habit not to do it. I will have to think that there's something here in first timothy 2 verse 8 which is preventing them from leading god's people in prayer.

Males you have a responsibility. It would be a serious thing if a sister was to stand on her feet and start to pray. You say well hang on. That's not according to what you have here in first timothy chapter 2.

I wonder if it would be just as serious for a brother who does have responsibility to lead god's people audibly to stay silent and never to lead god's people just as serious. Now i know on an occasion like this all the brethren can't take part audibly.

It's impossible practically speaking but just when you're back in your local assembly i hope it's your habit. I hope it is your behavior to contribute to the house and the godliness of the house by males leading god's people in prayer.

You say what about us dear sisters. You say what about us females. Well listen when the brother's praying you're praying too. This is a brother who is leading god's people. He is praying on behalf of the assembly.

That's why the assembly. The assembly at the end of the prayer says amen. Let it be so. We are in agreement with this brother. We are standing in symphony behind this brother. So dear sister you are praying.

He is leading you. The company is praying. But paul doesn't forget the females. Look at what he says in verse nine. He says in like manner also that the women the sisters the females do you know what paul is saying.

He's saying these dear sisters they too can contribute to the spiritual exercise of the house. These sisters too can contribute to the order of the house. These sisters can contribute to the godliness of the house.

How well by her appearance and by her attitude. Look at what paul says about her appearance. That the women adorn themselves in modest apparel and with shame-facedness and sobriety. So that the sister by her appearance and by the way this goes without saying for the brother by her appearance and by her clothing.

God is interested in clothing. I'm sorry. Why would paul bother to write about it if he wasn't. God is interested in the outward appearance. Sisters should be wearing suitable. Sisters should be wearing modest.

Sisters should be wearing decent clothing. And it all contributes to the order and the godliness of the house. That's her appearance. But then she has an attitude. Verse 11. Let the woman learn in silence.

Oh you say she's she's to be seen but not to be heard. And that's about not at all. Paul says she comes to the gatherings of the saints in order that she might learn. Thank god for godly sisters who were here all day yesterday.

And they were silent throughout the gathering. But they were learning. And they were learning through the teaching of the word of god. And look at their attitude. They are learning in silence with all subjection.

The sister is willingly submitting herself to a divine order. This is not the whim of men. This is not what men or the world is saying. This is what god has instituted at the very beginning as a divine order.

Look at verse 13. Because adam was first formed and then he that was a divine order in creation. Adam had the priority in time. Adam had the priority in authority. Adam was placed into a position of leadership as head.

And in a world that has thrown divine order to the wind and seeks to overturn it at every corner. Thank god. There is a company perhaps just a little company of christians. And as they gather together this is what they're saying.

We believe in divine order. We believe in divine creatorial order. And as male and females gather together the sister is taking an attitude of willing submission to divine order. She is taking the place of silence.

And what honor that must bring to god in the local assembly. So you've got the house. You've got the house and the gospel. You've got the house and its gatherings. I don't have time to talk about chapter three.

Spiritual Government and the Protection of the Flock

The house and its government. Thank god. The assembly is a place not just of spiritual exercise. It's a place of divine order. Paul had warned the ephesian elders six years before this. Grievous wolves will be coming in from the outside.