Thirsting Souls Bible Teaching

 (1Ti 6:11) “But thou, O man of God, flee these things; and follow after righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, meekness.”   “Follow after…faith”  Faith is an unwavering trust that God will do as He has said, and so acts accordingly. Faith is seen in Scripture as a shield against the onslaught of Satan. Held up before us, it reminds us nothing can overcome nor change “I will never leave thee nor forsake thee”.

 (1Ti 6:11) “But thou, O man of God, flee these things; and follow after righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, meekness.”  “Follow after” – pursue – godliness. Brother/sister, we are not to satisfied with self, as we are. We are to desire to conformed more and more into a Christ-like person. The more your mind is reprogrammed to think as God thinks, the more this can be accomplished. Actions are determined first by thoughts.

(1Ti 6:11) “But thou, O man of God, flee these things; and follow after righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, meekness.”  “Follow after”, pursue it – “righteousness” – doing that which is right in the sight of God. Question: how can you accomplish this if you do not seek daily do know what it says? I have read it for forty-eight years and still need daily to seek to know it so as to please Him.  

(1Ti 6:10)  “For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after,…(11)  But thou, O man of God, flee these things;…..”  The love of things is so harmful to the true Believer, that Timothy is told to flee from it! Think. We find our hearts resistant to this truth, making excuses for ourselves. God help you and me to put our eyes upon eternity and more and more put the things of this world behind us!  

(1Ti 6:10)  “For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.”  “Coveted after”: to sinfully desire that which God did not give. This is to say to God, “You are not being good to me.” Sin. The result of pursuing is to move away from the right position of faith – trust. The result is more than one heartache – many sorrows! Seek to bring the desire under control: (Psa 27:4) “ONE THING have I desired of the LORD, that will I seek after; that I may dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life, to behold the beauty of the LORD, and to enquire in his temple.” 

 (1Ti 6:8) “And having food and raiment let us be therewith content. (9)  But they that will be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and hurtful lusts, which drown men in destruction and perdition.”  Face it; the pleasure physical things give to our fleshly being creates a struggle of affection between this life and a desire to go to the next. Our focus is to be on the next, so that we will sacrifice and do the things the Lord would have us to do. Don’t be quick to dismiss these verses from your own life. Things affect us all.

(1Ti 6:7)  “For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out.”  The more we are entrusted with in this life, the more we are accountable to God for their use. That goes for spiritual gifts, intellect, physical abilities, and substance. The saved have been “bought”, purchased from the power of sin by the blood of Jesus Christ. We owe everything we have to Him. Use what you have for His glory!

(1Ti 6:5)  “Perverse disputings of men of corrupt minds, and destitute of the truth, supposing that gain is godliness: from such withdraw thyself. (6)  But godliness with contentment is great gain.”  Once again we see our thinking is the opposite of God’s. Things do not draw us to God, but away from Him, (Mat 6:19) “Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth,….(20)  But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven,…(21)  For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.”