1 Timothy 3:14-15
New King James Version
14 These things I write to you, though I hope to come to you shortly; 15 but if I am delayed, I write so that you may know how you ought to conduct yourself in the house of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth.
Paul desire is to come shortly to not only Timothy but the believers in Ephesus as well. Paul truly demonstrated the heart and mind of Christ for God’s people. As leaders in the body of Christ God has called us to invest in the lives of others. We not only do this through praying for those we are leading, but also teaching the word of God. Paul was well aware that Satan desires to destroy everything that God is building and does through lie and deception. This often comes in the form of false teaching in the body of Christ. Those who would seem like they are servants of the Lord are nothing more than wolves in sheep clothing.
But all the things that Paul has written up unto this point was to equip the believers in Ephesus in his absence. It was an incredible burden that Timothy had to bear in leading the Ephesus church. Whenever we follow anyone in leadership, we will be compared to those who have come before us. Paul was an incredible leader, and I am sure there were many times when Timothy would face criticism of all kinds. But thankfully he had a wonderful spiritual father in Paul who not only deeply loved him but invested in him and encouraged him. The word of God is essential for building God’s kingdom. Not only sowing the truth of God’s word into the hearts of God’s people, but also to encourage the servant of God as they face many challenges from the enemy.
Paul writes that the church would know how to conduct themselves. The word conduct in the Greek means to live and abide. It is how we are to behave as the body of Christ. If we truly have authentic faith and a living relationship with Jesus Christ, it will directly impact how we live daily. It is the word of God that shapes our minds and our hearts. As our minds are renewed, our lives are transformed. Therefore sound doctrine is so important in the body of Christ. We are called to live for Him, dying to self daily.
The church doesn’t belong to the pastor nor the people who attend and are part of the church. It belongs to Almighty God and must be conducted and ordered in the way God lays out in scripture if the Lord is going to continue to bless and build His house. Unless the Lord builds the house, the laborers labor in vain (Psalm 127:1). If we desire for God to bless the work of our hands and to see something build that is effective and influential for His kingdom, we must build it according to the leading of the Holy Spirit. Every local body of believers has a unique call and anointing on the ministry they are a part of. We must guard against criticizing other ministries because their methods may be different than our own. What truly is of most importance is sound doctrine and building anything on the uncompromised truth of God’s word.
The church is called to be the pillar and ground of truth. In a world that is marred in lie and deception, the importance of the church cannot be overstated. But the church becomes ineffective and powerless when truth is compromised and instead, they begin to reflect the thoughts of the culture of the day. The church and the truth it preaches is meant to be counter cultural. Culture itself is shaped by the lies and deceptions of Satan. We as the body of Christ are called to impact and influence culture. But if the world begins to love and adore us, there is something that has gone terribly wrong.
The greatest lies of Satan have and aspect of truth but when examined against the truth of God’s word, they are revealed for what they are. Therefore the church must be the pillar and ground of truth. The word pillar means post, style, or support. Without the truth of God’s word everything would crumble. For a period of time God in His grace has given humanity time to repent and turn fully to Him. But there is coming a day when the Lord shall remove His bride and true lawlessness will take hold on the earth. But until that day we as the body of Christ must build our lives and ministries upon the truth of God’s word. If we will build our lives upon the foundation of Jesus Christ, it is a found that is unshakable. May we trust the Living God and follow the leading and guidance of The Holy Spirit.
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