We are exploring the question:  What is a church healthy?  What does a healthy church actually look like?  What does that feel like? 

The question has relevance for every one of us.  One reason being that most of us would prefer to be a part of healthy church not unhealthy church.  Right?

The question has relevancy also because every Christian is called to be integrally engaged in the life of a local congregation.  To be part of the Body of Christ - to be part of a body means being physically connected to that body.

Meaning that every Christian has responsibility for the health or unhealthiness of that congregation.  Not just the pastor.  Not just the church leadership.  But all of us - engaged together as the Body of Christ - contributing to the health of the congregation we’re a part of.

As pastors we know that one day we’ll stand before God and give account for how we’ve led this congregation.  But every single believer here is going to give an account for whether or not we’ve regularly gathered together - encouraged each other to follow Jesus - pursued together the living out and proclaiming of the Gospel.  (Hebrews 10:23-25; 13:17) 

What should a healthy church be like?  What are the vital signs of a healthy church?  And what does that mean for each one of us?

Having recently flown internationally - an observation - maybe some of you have observed this…  It seems like there is some kind of completion - among international passengers to see who can cram as much stuff as possible into as many odd shaped bags and boxes as possible - pushing the max weight limit per bag.

A person has to ask, “How much of all of that is really essential?  Vital?”

Ever pack for a trip - get where you’re going - and then wondered why you packed what you packed?  Especially if what you packed doesn’t include what you should have packed?  What was a vital necessity for the trip.

We are looking at 1 Timothy and vital signs of a healthy church.

Paul is writing to Timothy who’s serving with the church in Ephesus.  Paul deeply cares for Timothy and the believers in Ephesus - and the not-yet-believers in Ephesus.  Paul is writing this letter to Timothy and the church - to focus them on what’s vital for the health of the Ephesian church.

What we need to give our lives to if we’re going to be the congregation that God intends for us to be here in the Merced - healthy church.

Last Sunday we looked at the vital necessity of love.  The sacrificial commitment of love for each other that only comes from God.  That only comes as we surrender our lives to God and He creates love within us for each other.  If we don’t have God’s love flowing through us we’re toast.

Today we’re going on to Paul’s next vital sign which is faith.

1 Timothy 1 - starting at verse 12 - Paul is writing about himself.  The “I” in verse 12 is Paul.

Let’s read together:  I thank Him who has given me strength, Christ Jesus our Lord, because He judged me faithful, appointing me to His service, though formerly I was a blasphemer, persecutor, and insolent opponent.  But I received mercy because I had acted ignorantly in unbelief, and the grace of our Lord overflowed for me with the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus.  The saying is trustworthy and deserving of full acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am the foremost.     

Let’s pause there.  Paul starts his teaching on faith by using himself as an example.  “I thank Jesus…”

In Scripture we read about Paul’s life as a zealous persecutor of the church.  His driven hatred of Christians is well known.  Which is what Paul is writing about here.

Paul writes in verse 13 that he was a “blasphemer - a persecutor - an insolent opponent - meaning that Paul was focused on the destruction of the church - persecuting the church.

We couldn’t find a better opponent than Paul.  If we’d been in Jerusalem - Paul would have had us killed and been very happy for the opportunity.  Paul was highly motivated and really good at what he did.

Acts 9 - familiar account - Acts 9 records that Paul was on his way to Damascus to imprison the Christians there, “breathing threats and murder against the disciples.”  Suddenly he’s struck by light from heaven.  Paul falls to the ground and hears the voice of Jesus, “Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?”

Paul responds, “Who are You, Lord?”

“I am Jesus whom you are persecuting.”  Jesus calls Paul out and sends Paul into Damascus - physically blind - but spiritually seeing for the first time.  (Acts 9:1-19)

Paul describes that here in verse 12, “Jesus - has given me strength… He - Jesus - judged me faithful”

Meaning that the very ability to have faith and live by faith comes from God.  The source of faith is God.

Let’s be clear on that.

The word here - in Greek for “judged” has the idea of a sovereign monarch choosing to notice some insignificant peon subject and give regard to that subject - to consider that peon worthy of the royal notice. 

On the Damascus Road Jesus choose Paul.  Sometimes we miss that in the familiarity of what happened.  Jesus enabled Paul’s faith.  Jesus sent Paul to Damascus to get strengthened for what Jesus had chosen Paul to do.  Paul’s coming ministry for Jesus.

There’s a simple and yet profound - not to be missed - truth for us in that. 

We don’t seek after God.  God seeks after us.  We would never know God if God didn’t allow us to know Him.  If God didn’t reveal Himself to us.  We could never have a restored relationship with God unless God established the means of that relationship.  God first sending Jesus to the cross for us.  Apart from the initiative of God on our behalf faith is impossible.

Paul writes in verse 14 that faith and love are found in Christ Jesus.  Not us.  They come to us because God is merciful - choosing to hold back on His justified wrath.  Faith and love come to us because God is gracious - giving to us what we do not deserve. 

In verse 15 Paul underscores that point:  “Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am the foremost.” 

I don’t know if there’s a top ten list of sinners.  I just know I’m ranked.  All of us are.

Jesus came to save us - blasphemers and insolent sinners - living by faith in ourselves and our works - our efforts at living life - maybe even our own efforts to please God.  Sometimes we know enough about God to get ourselves messed up.  Tripping over our own understanding of things and comfort zones of what we’re doing for God.

Like Paul out killing Christians in the name of Jesus.  Paul knew about Jesus - intellectually - theologically - knew enough so that in Paul’s way of processing God - Paul knew enough to reject Jesus and persecute His disciples.

But until God broke into his life - Paul had no true faith in God.  No true relationship with God.

Faith comes from God.  Let’s say that together.  “Faith comes from God.” 

Then, in verse 12, Paul writes that Jesus appointed Paul to serve Jesus.

Faith is not just God clueing us in about God.  Faith is a God enabled response to God in order to accomplish God’s purposes for enabling our faith.

We need to explore that.

An oldie but goodie illustration... 

Ponder the comfy teal colored chair you’re sitting on.  When you came in today - found your spot in the sanctuary - your spot because we all have assigned seats.  When you sat down you believed that that comfy teal colored chair would hold you up.

Intellectually you knew enough about metal and fabric and construction and where you’ve sat before - so in your mind you knew that that chair would hold you up.  That’s intellectually understanding about chairs - or God.

Faith is sitting down.  Try that with me, “Faith is sitting down.”

Faith is the search for what is reasonable to believe in.  Knowing about chairs.  Or what we know about God.  But until we’ve actually sat in the chair - committed ourselves to something that we hope will happen - the chair holding us up - until we sit on the chair we haven’t acted in faith.

Faith is acting on what we know to be true about God.  The vital necessity for spiritual health - the vital necessity of living our lives based on what we know to be true about God.

That doesn't mean we know what comes next.  If we know what comes next that isn't faith.  Faith is trusting God with what comes next.
 

Jesus isn’t calling Paul to a religion - or an intellectual belief.  Jesus is calling him to faith - putting his life into the hands of the Lord.  Paul the foremost of sinners - deserving and destined for God’s wrath - because of God’s mercy - is saved - to live out God’s purposes for his life by faith

Paul has been “appointed” to service - meaning that God has placed Paul exactly where God wants to place Paul.  God has given Paul an appointment - a position - a role.  Paul is an essential working in God’s ministry.

Paul describes that ministry as “service.”  Service is the Greek word “diaconos” which is where we get our English word what?  Deacon.  Literally “deacon” meant what?  A table waiter.  Someone who prepared and served food - who responds to the commands and desires of someone else.

Next time you go to Starbucks - imagine ordering your vente caramel macchiato and having your barista tell you to “Get it yourself buckwheat.”    

By faith Paul serves.  God gets irony.  Paul - the persecutor of the church - is appointed by God - in God’s service to serve - deacon - the church.

In Scripture we read about how God used Paul.  Took Him all over the known world to share the Gospel.  As he traveled, God strengthened Paul - physically - spiritually.  God had to.  Those missionary journeys were torturous - a battle zone glimpse of hell.  A huge test of faith.  A huge opportunity for strengthening of faith.

What did Jesus say?  “If you want to follow Me, deny yourself and take up your cross daily.”  “Lose your life for My sake.” (Luke 9:23,24)

That’s intense.  The founder of this congregation sweat blood doing God’s will and He told us to follow Him.  Sometimes we miss that with our little pieces of bread and plastic juice cups.  A crucifixion is a bloody mess.  A cross is an instrument of torture.

Faith - sitting down - is committing our lives to what God has for us to commit our lives to.  Placing our lives in God’s hands to serve and live according to God’s will for us - regardless - even to death. 

Paul goes on - what does it mean to live by faith.  Let’s read verse 16:  But I received mercy for this reason, that in me, as the foremost, Jesus Christ might display His perfect patience as an example to those who were to believe in Him for eternal life.    

God has saved me - given me faith - placed me into service - I - Paul - received mercy for this reason, [so] that in me, as the foremost - sinner - as badly messed up as I was - Jesus Christ might display His perfect patience.”

“Patience” translates a Greek word “makrothuia - meaning “taking a long to time to explode.  Paul gets mercy sot Jesus Christ might demonstrate His perfect slowness to rain down fire and judgment on well deserving humanity - as an example to those who were to believe in Him for eternal life.

God saved me - is using me - as I live by God given faith - God is using me as an example - that the same grace that I was given won’t be held back from anyone else who believes.

Let’s be careful.

We know this.  Timothy had a Godly mother and grandmother who trained him in the Scriptures.  He was raised in a Godly home - believing in God.  As Paul shared the example of what Jesus had done in his life - God calling Paul to a life of faith - Timothy came to faith in Jesus.

Knowing of Jesus’ work on the cross - taking the penalty for our sins - Jesus giving His life for ours - God mercifully offering salvation to us - Timothy acted on that knowledge - putting his life in God’s hands - trusting in Jesus as His Savior and Lord.

Timothy didn’t have a Damascus road conversion experience.  Some of our siblings in Jesus do have a testimony of a powerful conversion experience.  Some of us have less dramatic conversions.  Sometimes Christians feel like unless they were some mass murderer strung out on drugs or someone with Christian blood on our hands like Paul - that somehow our testimony of how we came to Christ isn’t as important. 

But anyone coming to salvation is a miraculous work of God’s love, grace, and mercy - regardless of the drama.  We’re all examples of God’s grace. 

Timothy - saved by God - discipled by Paul - trusting God with his life - became the pastor of this church - serving God - serving the church in Ephesus.

What Paul did - what Timothy did - remains an example to who?  to those who were to believe…  meaning us - an example to us of a man who lived by faith - put his life in the hands of his Lord - going and serving wherever - whenever - in whatever circumstances God would lead him.

Question:  Who are you an example to?  Live by faith in God and God will use you.  Hang-ups - messed up - baggage and all.  Come to God in faith and He'll use you.
 

Paul isn’t just talking about evangelists and missionaries.  If we’re a child of God - living by faith - we’re called to service to our Lord.  God used Paul as an missionary.  God may use us differently.  The bottom line is faith - willingness to give our lives totally in service to our Lord - everyday - everyplace - in every way. 

Then - join me at verse 17 - in response to God’s mercy and calling - all of what Paul has seen God do in him and through him - Paul can’t contain himself.  He breaks out in praise.

Let’s read this together:  To the King of ages, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honor and glory forever and ever.  Amen.

To Jesus - who is the King eternal - the only God - immortal - invisible - but revealed in the flesh for us.  Jesus, Who is the only God.  To Jesus - for who He is and all that He has done - for His grace and mercy extended for us - for what He is doing in us and through us - to Jesus alone be honor and glory forever and ever.  Amen.

I pray that that’s your experience.  That when you see God at work in you and through you that it just blows you away and the only thing left is praise.  That that’s the testimony seen in your faith.  The only explanation for what happens in your life is God.  That your life is all about God - serving God - glorifying God

Let us go on to verse 18.  Paul is going to focus on Timothy’s call to faith.

Let’s read together:  This charge I entrust to you, Timothy, my child, in accordance with the prophecies made about you, that by them you may wage the good warfare, holding faith and a good conscience.  By rejecting this, some have made shipwreck of their faith, among whom are Hymenaeus and Alexander, whom I have handed over to Satan that they may learn not to blaspheme.

The emotions and reality here are huge.

“This charge I entrust to you…”  “Charge” is a word in Greek that has the idea of a message - a command - that’s coming from God Himself.  God calling Paul to faithful service.  God using Paul to call Timothy to faithful service. 

The word “charge” in Greek is the word “paranggelia” which is made up of two words stuck together to make one word.  “para” meaning next to - or from beside someone.  “angelia” is the word we get what from?  Angel - or messenger sent from God.

Meaning that Paul - the great Apostle - theologian and greatest missionary of the church - the Damascus road Paul - who stood before rulers and the Emperor in witness to the Gospel - prolific writer of Scripture - our great example of faith - Paul is entrusting this charge to Timothy - his child in the faith - not as some grand exalted high muck-i-muck theologian - but from the side - a fellow servant of God - a fellow messenger of God - living by faith supplied by the same God that calls Timothy to faith and service. 

This charge - what I’m writing here in this letter - This charge I entrust to you, Timothy, my son.  “Timothy, my son in the faith, I trust you with this ministry and to live a life of faith.”

How would you like to hear that coming from Paul?  How would you like to hear that coming from anyone?  I trust you.  You can do it. 

Then Paul writes, Timothy - previously there were prophecies - statements made by other Godly people - prophetic words were spoken about you.  Timothy, be reminded that God has chosen you to serve Him.  God is at work in your life.  God has judged you faithful.

How must that have felt?  We can see Timothy stand a little straighter - more confident - assured - encouraged.

Think about that reality for yourself.  The life and purpose that God gives you.  You’re not an accident.  You’re being here isn’t a coincidence.  God calls you to serve Him.  Isn’t that a great reminder?  Amen? 

Paul writes:  This charge I entrust to you...  that by them you may... what?  wage the good warfare - how?  By... holding faith and a good conscience. 

Ephesus was the most prominent city in the Roman province of Asia.  It had a harbor - theaters - a library.  It was a major market place with trade from all over the world.  It was tourist destination.  A major religious center for pagan and demonic religions.  It was a lot like our neighbor to west - San Francisco.

To be a Christian was not popular.  It meant persecution - isolation.

The Church in Ephesus - where Timothy is pasteurizing - God’s people were in the middle of all this.  The church had been established by the Apostle Paul.  Timothy had pastored there.  John the Apostle had pastored there.  It had good roots.  In the midst of Ephesus they were faithfully serving Jesus Christ.  Determined - faithful - enduring hardship.  These were not quitters.

But there were some - even in the church - who had caved in.

In verse 20 Paul gives us the names of two:  Hymanaeus and Alexander.  Men who were caught up in their own egos.  Who’s desire was to be known and respected as teachers of God’s law.

We know from history some of what these two men were probably caught up in.

Hymanaeus and Alexander and others had spiritualized the Old Testament in much the same way that people today will claim that the Old Testament is a collection of stories - not actual people and events.  They said - what the Old Testament - and Jesus - really taught was a way to achieve divine purity - holiness - sinlessness.

They said that Jesus had risen from the dead only in a spiritual sense.  So we only rise in a spiritual sense - which already took place when we came to faith.  

Follow this.  Probably what they were saying was that when a person came to trust in Jesus right then we died to ourselves.  So, if we died then, we were also resurrected then - to new life - spiritually.  So the body is evil.  Its a prison we need to escape from while seeking - working for -  our own divine purity.

Die to self - alive in Christ.  Sounds almost Biblical - doesn't it?  What they taught had most of the right vocabulary and just enough truth to sound okay.  But it really was very far from the truth of God’s word.

Like today.  Lot's of what people say - even in the church - can sound really good.  But compare it to the Bible and it's far from the truth.  We've got to keep coming back to the Bible.  We've to to be grounded in the Word.  Checking what people say with what God has said.
 

These guys had gone off the deep end spiritually.  They’d become blasphemers - saying that God was doing things that God wasn’t doing.  Even speaking against what God was doing.  They’d rejected what was true.  They’d become shipwrecked.  They were dragging others down with them.

So Paul had delivered Hymenaeus and Alexander over to Satan so that they would be taught not to blaspheme.

We’re not totally sure what Paul meant by that.  But it isn’t good.

Let him feel the warmth coming up from hell for a while - the consequences of their sin - with the prayer that they might turn back to God.

Point being that in the midst of the spiritual battleground of Ephesus - this was a serious ongoing disaster that had to be dealt with in no uncertain terms.

In the midst of all of that Paul’s charge to Timothy?  Wage the good warfare.

“Wage” is the Greek word “strateian” which is where we get our English word “strategy” from.  There’s organization here.  Planned dogged maneuvering.  God’s troops are led into battle with a plan for victory.

“Good” in Greek means “magnificent.”  The kind of battle strategy - a waging of war - that’s legendary.  That gets written up in the history books.  Movie deals are made.  Wage the good warfare magnificently - so that you set the example - so that others will seek to imitate your success.  

The Christian life is warfare against the unleashed forces of hell.

Christians that are trying to live in a “in my comfort zone” - just give me 5 easy steps to a wonderful Christian life that’s all about me - with a “I show up when and if it fits my schedule” commitment to Christ and His Church - I do God on my terms - a happy time - bubble wrapped insolated from the world Christianity - are just blowing smoke.  They’re on their way to being a Hymenaeus and Alexander.

To follow Jesus is an ongoing battle waged in the real time of things we see and do here on earth.  A battle that is spiritual - against spiritual forces - Satan and his legions - who are passionate about our destruction.  War is hell.  Or at least a glimpse of it.

We’re locked in the battle with eternal consequences.  The eternal destiny of our families - our community - humankind - hangs in the balance. 

Choose to step out in faith - choose to give your life to God - to live for Him - to be committed by faith to follow Him - at work - at school - in your home.  Choose to stand up and be a Godly man or woman - to make a difference for Christ - to engage the battle - and Satan will come after you with everything he’s got.  He did it to Paul.  He did it to Timothy.  He’ll do it to any servant of God.

In war people die.  People get maimed.  People get taken out.  Sacrifices get made. 

Point being:  One needs to decide what side one is on.  What one is actually committed to.  What we will by God enabled faith be committed to.

There are thousands of churches like this in America today.  The congregations meet year after year - Sunday after Sunday - they sing hymns or choruses - they pray - listen to sermons - recite a confession of faith that’s right on Biblically - even do outreach.  But, they have no spiritual impact.  There’s no change in people’s lives - no change in the community around them.  They’re serving Jesus.  But they’re hearts have grown cold.  The passion for Jesus is gone.  Jesus says that they’ve left their first love.

God’s people got distracted.  How easy is it for us to focus on our own stuff and comfort and friends and family and commitments and desires and wants - all the while deluding ourselves that we’re serving Jesus.

In America today God’s people are working at upgrading their standard of living while our communities are going to hell.  God’s people are whining about how hard it is do what God calls them to - we just don't seem to have enough time - while people are dying without Jesus. 

Crucial question:  Are we responding in faith to what we choose to be committed to or are we responding in faith by choosing to be committed to what God has called us to?  The difference is faith in self verses faith in God. 

The church in America is unhealthy - sick - dying because we’re too easily committed to faith in ourselves.

We live in a constant battle to resist the pressures of our society which are designed to cool our love for God - to weaken our commitment - to disable us for the battle - to shipwreck us - not with obvious heresies like a Hymmanaeus or and Alexander - but with an American lifestyle subversively tugging our passion away from the greatness of God’s love - His grace - His mercy - our salvation.

Paul writes “Wage the good warfare.”  Here’s how:  “hold onto your faith and a good conscience.”  Hold on.  Cling tenaciously to your commitment to God with every ounce of who you are.  Daily give up yourself to God.  Keep your conscience good - listening to God.   

A conscience is like a compass - it resists any attempt to keep it from pointing north.  A conscience in God’s hands points us towards God.  It insists that we do right and turn from wrong.

In other words a good conscience is an obedient heart - a life surrendered in faith to God - that wants to do what’s right.  A life devoted to the study of the Word - to prayer - to all the basic things that keep us open to God speaking to our hearts.  So that when God speaks - tells us how to live - we’re listening and allowing Him to guide us.  So we keep in the faith - obedient - serving Him - fighting the good fight.

That's a lot to take in.  Isn't it?  Processing the vital sign of faith...

The prophet Amos writes about what it means to live by faith:  “Can two walk together unless they are agreed?” (Amos 3:3 NKJV)  Agreed on where they're going and how they're going to get there.

We can’t walk with God - live by faith in a relationship with Him - unless we first agree with Him about what that relationship means.

We dwell in sin.  God is holiness.  How can we walk together unless God establishes that relationship?  On a road to Damascus God calls to the Apostle Paul.  An invitation to a relationship based on faith.  Paul was a great religious man - but he still needed God’s grace and forgiveness. 

Paul is our example.  Not of the drama of a Damascus road conversion - but of the need we all have to put our lives - through Jesus Christ - into God’s hands. 

God calls us through Jesus Christ into a relationship with Him.  To accept His invitation means agreeing with God that we’ve broken His law of holiness - that we do live in sin - that there’s no way in creation that we should ever expect to walk with Him through the days of our lives.

We need His grace - His forgiveness - given through Jesus Christ.  When we accept the invitation of God - Jesus Christ our Savior - God makes us to be blameless before Him - He enables us to live in faith - to surrender our lives to Him.

For me it was through a 5 day club where I learned that I needed Jesus as my Savior.  A prayer I said kneeling by the side of my bed.  Asking Jesus into my heart.  Giving my life to Him.

I don’t know how He’s called you.  The Holy Spirit saying, “I want you.”  Maybe He’s calling you today.  You need to respond to that call.  Not intellectually.  Not believing in a religion or a church.  But trusting - by faith - in the Savior who died for you.

Last thought - a take home question.  Homework for you and God.

Looking honestly at how you’re living your life…  These days, how’s your commitment?  How’s your faith?  Does God really have all of who you are?

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Unless otherwise indicated, Scripture quotations are from The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®  (ESV®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.  Used by permission.  All rights reserved.