TAKE HEED TO THYSELF AND THY DOCTRINE
Introduction:
1. 1 Tim. 4:6-16 -- "Take heed to thyself and to thy teaching..."
2. In these verses Paul admonishes Timothy concerning his
responsibilities.
3. The principles contained in these verses applies to each and
everyone of us today.
4. There are a number of lessons which we might dwell upon, but for
the present study let us notice the last verse.
5. The verse contains both admonitions and blessings.
6. The admonitions break into two groups:
(1) "Take heed to thyself;
(2) "And to thy doctrine"
BODY:
I. TAKE HEED UNTO THYSELF: Jehovah has given us certain
responsibilities, one of which is to WATCH SELF. This involves a
number of things:
1. NOT TO THINK TOO HIGHLY OF SELF -- Rom. 12:3.
There is hardly anything that can be more dangerous to the child
of God than false pride.
"Pride cometh before destruction" -- Prov. 16:18
One cannot please God if full of haughtiness.
So often, mankind thinks so much of self that he/she seeks to
please self only, at the expense of pleasing God.
2. DO NOT EXALT THYSELF -- Luke 18:10-14.
So closely related to pride that it is hard to distinguish.
There are multitudes who seemingly think they are religious,
pleasing to God, but in the same condition as the Pharisee.
3. DO NOT DECEIVE THYSELF -- Gal. 6:6-9.
It is very easy to fool ourselves into thinking what we want to
think. We do not have any trouble justifying what we really
want to do.
Many deceive themselves about the necessity of worshipping God,
of studying His will, of doing the work of the Lord, etc.
We sometimes deceive ourselves about our giving to the Lord.
Acts 5:1 -- Ananias and Sapphira. Lied to the Lord.
4. DENY THYSELF -- Matt. 16:24-26.
Herein lies one of the great faults of so many.
We are not willing to put self second.
Christ Jesus must be put first in our lives.
"Deny self!!" What a challenge. To always consider what the Lord
would have us do. When we make a decision, do we ask, "What
would Jesus do?"
5. CONTROL THYSELF -- 1 Cor. 9:27; 2 Pet. 1:6.
A Christian must have control of every situation. Must be the
master of self under every condition.
When we lose control of self -- we leave God.
6. KEEP THYSELF UNSPOTTED -- Jas. 1:27.
Cannot mix with the world without becoming spotted.
"Come ye out, be ye separate"
"Not unequally yoked" -- 2 Cor. 6:14-18.
7. TO SAVE THYSELF -- Acts 2:40, Phil. 2:12; 2 Thess 2:14.
This the ultimate result, desire.
We, indeed, do have a part in our own salvation.
God gave us certain responsibilities, things to do.
To be saved, we must comply with God's desires.
YOU must obey the gospel, YOU must be faithful.
WHAT AM I DOING? YOU???
II. "AND UNTO THY DOCTRINE" -- 1 Tim. 4:16. We have a responsibility
not only to keep self pure, clean; but to keep God's Word
from contamination. So many feel no personal responsibility
here. But each must do their part. Some seem to think,
"That is the elders responsibility." And so it is! But, not
only their's, but each member's also.
1. KEEP IT PURE -- Titus 2:7-8.
We can allow God's Word to become contaminated in us.
2. DO NOT ADD TO IT -- Rev. 22:18-19; 1 Cor. 4:6.
3. OBEY IT -- Rom. 6:17-18.
4. GIVE HEED TO IT -- Heb. 2:1-4.
God's Word can be neglected.
5. DO NOT TEACH FALSE DOCTRINE -- 1 Tim. 4:1-6; Matt. 15:9.
The doctrines of men become vain worship.
6. ADORN THE DOCTRINE -- Titus 2:10.
Dress yourself in it.
Make it a part of you. Of your every day existence.
7. ABIDE IN IT -- 2 John 9-10.
There is no stopping place, no resting place.
This is a daily responsibility, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
8. STUDY IT -- 2 Tim 2:15.
Spend time in God's Book, in the doctrine of Christ.
9. TEACH IT -- 2 Tim. 2:2.
Only by knowing (studying) can we teach others.
We cannot teach what we do not know.
III. CONTINUE IN THESE THINGS; FOR IN DOING THIS THOU SHALT SAVE
THYSELF AND THEM THAT HEAR THEE:
1. Notice the two fold results of (1) taking heed of thyself and
(2) and thy doctrine.
2. (1) to save ourself and (2) to save those that hear us.
3. The blessed promise of faithfulness -- SALVATION (1) of self,
and (2) of them that hear thee.
4. Thus, our salvation includes the salvation of others also.
5. We MUST keep ourself; we MUST teach others.
6. This must be our desire and aim in life.
7. Do you want to be saved?? Surely, no one wants to be lost!!
8. If so, Jehovah has placed certain responsibilities upon YOU.
9. You are encouraged to "save yourself" (Acts 2:40).
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DIAGRAM OR CHART
Take HEED unto
THYSELF and THY DOCTRINE
CONTINUE IN THEM
SAVE
THYSELF and THEM THAT HEAR THEE
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