Shabbat Shalom everyone. We are going to continue on today with another book from the Brit HaChadasha, from the New Testament. And this book that I have chosen as before the Lord is the book of Timothy. And I would like you all to turn with me to the first epistle, the first letter that Shaul Paul wrote to a younger man by the name of Timothy. So we are going to read today, just by way of introduction, the first few verses in 1 Timothy chapter 1. I think you will find it tremendously important as you and I are going to go over this letter that was a very personal letter from an older brother to a younger brother, Paul, Shaul, to Timothy, and a letter to help him in his spiritual growth, but also to help him to teach others things concerning the manner of behavior in the house of God, in the body of the believers.

And let me just read the first few verses by way of introduction. And I'm reading 1 Timothy 1, verse 1 and 2. Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ, by the commandment of God our Savior and Lord Yeshua the Messiah, which is our hope unto Timothy my own son in the faith, grace, mercy, and peace from God our Father and Jesus the Messiah our Lord. And I'm going to stop right here to just give us a little bit of flavor to begin the study of the book of Timothy. Now brothers and sisters let me just say that by way of introduction. You know that when we became believers in Yeshua, we want to grow spiritually, we want to learn more of the Word of God, and oftentimes we neglect the study of the letters that were written to believers, whether it is to the whole assemblies like Romans, 1st Corinthians, 2nd Corinthians, Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians, 1st and 2nd Thessalonians, or whether it is a personal letter that were written by the apostle Paul in case of 1st Timothy, 2nd Timothy and Titus or maybe 1st John, 2nd John, 3rd John or 1st Peter, 2nd Peter.

Those apostles of first. Century were chosen by God from among our nation, the Jewish people, in order to be a blessing to the nations of the world and in order to be used by the Spirit of God to share the message of the great gospel the besorah the gospel of the grace of God with the nations of the world and a time and I'm speaking for myself we enjoy to study the gospels or we like to go all the way to the book of the Revelation and talk about the future events that are going to happen in the tribulation or in the messianic kingdom or even in the eternal order but we really neglect to grasp some of the things of the day-by-day life that the believers in Yeshua the Messiah are to live and how they are to conduct themselves how you and i are to conduct ourselves imagine what's going on in the body of Messiah, when people are accepting the Lord all over the nations of the world, beginning from Jerusalem, Samaria, and the uttermost part of the earth, millions of people have.

Embraced Jesus the Messiah, and they are challenged in their life, how shall they live, what they should do, how they do conduct themselves, how they meet together, what way did they to behave in the house of God and the apostle Paul had so much concern for the believers whether they are in Ephesus in this case when he wrote to Timothy or whether they are in any other nation of the world he was so concerned with the spiritual growth of the believers that he took the time by divine inspiration to give us so many letters some to a local assembly and some to an individual like a man by the name of Timothy or later on a man by the name of Titus and so he write them a personal letter you see if you would have been sitting there with Timothy 2000 years ago and you would receive with Timothy this letter that was a very personal letter that the Spirit of God took it and used it and.

Place this within the canon of Scripture so you and I 2,000 years later will learn from that and apply it to our own lives. And so Paul is writing to this man by the name of Timothy. Now let me just make a few more remarks. Remember that these letters are called oftentimes by Bible teachers, a pastoral letters. What does that mean, pastoral letters? Letters that had been written for the purpose of caregiving for the local church, the local assembly, the local company of believers. And that's why they call them pastoral letters. In other words, a pastor or a person who is a shepherd and caregiver really want to see the welfare of the people of God.

He's responsible, in a measure that God had given him, to care for the flock. It's like a shepherd. If you would have been years ago in the land of Israel and you would see David, our forefather, lead sheep. He remembered of the way that God led the people of Israel. And that's why David could say, the Lord is my shepherd. I shall not walk. He leadeth me by still water. He brings me by green pasture and by still water. He provides for me. He takes care of me. He seeks to minister to me. And David at the same time sought to care for the people of Israel, like Paul, Shaul, in the dispensation in which we live, want to give care for the flock, for the people of God.

I want to read a verse, for example, if you turn with me to 1 Peter, chapter 5. Peter said to the shepherds, the people to whom he was called to minister, he's writing to the leaders, and he said to them in verse 2, Feed the flock of God, which is among you, taking all the sight thereof, not by constraint, but willingly, not for filthy looker, but of a ready mind, Neither has being lords over God's heritage, but being an example to the flock. Peter wrote this to the leaders among the Jewish believers to whom he wrote the letter of 1 and 2 Peter. Now Paul is writing this 1 Timothy, 2 Timothy and Titus to these younger than him in order that they will take the responsibility of leading their flock, the people of God, in such a way that they will be a blessing to them and to help them to know how to conduct themselves in their lives.

Now, often times the leaders fail. We know that. No leader can ever say that he had been perfect. Paul never said it of himself. Peter never said it of himself. John never said it of himself. Timothy never said it of himself. All recognize their failure, but nevertheless, the caregiving for the flock is very, very important. That's why 1st, 2nd Timothy and Titus are called pastoral letters. Letters that were written in order to help the leaders to know how to lead the flock. Now, a few things that I want to point out as we begin the study. Says Paul, an apostle of Yeshua the Messiah, by the commandment of God our Savior and Lord Jesus the Messiah, which is our hope.

Unto Timothy, my own son in the faith, grace, mercy, and peace from God our Father and Jesus the Messiah, our Lord. Now again, by way of introduction, 1 Timothy was written to this younger man by the name of Timothy in order to help him to teach the believers in the local assembly how to conduct themselves as they walk with the Lord. Now look if you turn again to chapter 3 of 1 Timothy and verse 15. This is actually the main verse in this epistle, in this letter to Timothy. Listen to what Paul Shaul wrote to Timothy. 1 Timothy chapter 3 and verse 15. But if I tarry long that thou mayest know how thou artest to behave thyself in the house of God, which is the church, the ecclesia of the living God, which is the pillar and the ground of the truth.

Now here, brothers and sisters, this verse is an amazing verse. Paul is writing to Timothy, Timothy, I'm writing you this letter in order to help you to understand how you ought to behave yourself in the house of God. And then he tells him, what is the house of God? It is the church, or the Greek, the ecclesia, Or in Hebrew, the kehila, the assembly of the living God. And it is the pillar and the ground of the truth. Now let me remind you, when we come to this meeting hall, we don't come to church because the church is not a building. The assembly are a composition of Jewish and gentle believers who are gathered together around the person of Yeshua the Messiah the house of God that means that we are part of the house of God whether we come to the meeting on Sunday or Shabbat or Friday or any day of the week or whether we're going on the streets somewhere or whether we're at home or whether we're at school or whether we're at work wherever we are if we are truly believers in Yeshua the Messiah the house of God is every believer in Yeshua the Messiah I know sometimes we say well I'm going to the house of the Lord but in actuality we are not going to the house of the Lord we are the house of the Lord this is the theme verse in the whole epistle that helps us to understand why Paul wrote this letter if I tarry long 1 Timothy 3 and verse 15 that thou mayst know how thou art to behave thyself in the house of God what is the house of God?

Which is the assembly the called out ones of the living God it is the pillar and the ground of the truth the pillar and the ground of the truth is found among the people of God the ecclesia, the kehila as we say in the Hebrew tongue, in the Hebrew language in fact, in the world around us outside, they are under the domain of Satan they are under the influence of the world but it is the believers who are saved who are forgiven by the Lord we by the grace of God receive salvation through Yeshua the Messiah the Holy Spirit of God is indwelling us and really the believer collectively are the ecclesia of the living God the pillar and the ground of the truth we don't have to go to the newspaper to learn the truth we do not need to go to any leader in the world to know the truth we need to come to the word of God and here we find out the truth about God and his manner in which he deal with the human race.

In fact if you go to Hebrews chapter 3 and verse 6 we find out who is the one who is over his house The writer to the Hebrew believers of first century, he's saying, but the Messiah is a son, he's over his own house. Whose house are we? You notice that, brothers and sisters? He doesn't talk about the building, about the structure, about bricks, cement, and material that you build a house. He says the Messiah is a son for a testimony of those things which he has spoken about he says he is the one who is over his own house whose house are we and so we have the house of God which is a composition of all believers and the one who is over the house it's not the spiritual leader the pastor the one who is over the house is none else but our blessed Lord Yeshua the he is the one who is in charge over the house of God so Paul is writing now to Timothy and he continue now he's also beloved brothers and sisters writing to Timothy in order that Timothy will enforce his own authority as it was given to him by the apostle Paul.

Now Timothy was a young man and he was ministering in the local assembly at Ephesus but they look at him and they say you know this guy is a young man what does he know? Who gave him the authority to do and to say what. He says well remember he was a servant a minister alongside the apostle Shaul Paul the one who had an authority from the glorified Messiah and Shaul Paul gave him the authority to lead and to command and to give instruction in a local assembly in Ephesus some 2,000 years ago notice some of the things that he's mentioning here in first Timothy chapter 1 and verse 3 i besought thee to abide still at Ephesus and when i went into macedonia the dumb mightest charge some that they teach no other doctrine charge them the word charge in this verse the Hebrew is let savot mitzvah it's a command Timothy you command them in this local assembly that they do not teach things that are not found in Scripture or other teaching that Paul had given to him notice the word charge here it's mentioned here in verse three then he mentioned once again in verse five now the end of the commandment then in chapter 1 and verse 18 discharge in verse 18 and it is mentioned also.

In chapter 5 and verse 21 and chapter 6 and verse 13 charge charge let's vote in the Hebrew tongue give a command because you have an apostolic instruction from the apostle Paul and so Timothy being a young man, he received this instruction from the Apostle Paul. And how we need that today, beloved brothers and sisters, in the days in which you and I live in today, in the last days of the age in which we live. Soon will the Lord going to come. He's going to take his own people to be with him in glory in heaven. He's going to restore our nation Israel to the land. He's going to establish the messianic kingdom promised to our forefathers Abraham, Isaac and Jacob and he's going to reign for a thousand years but until then he gives us the instruction on how one to conduct himself in the house of God.

So the letter began with the word Paul. Usually when we write a letter we write dear brother so and so, dear sister so and so and at the end of the letter we say signed by and we put our name. But in the older time, when the apostles wrote a letter, an epistle, they didn't put their name at the end, they put their name right in the beginning. And the first person's name that is mentioned is none else but Paul. Now, who is Paul? The story of Paul. He was a Jewish man. His Hebrew name is Shaul. His diaspora name is Paul. He lived in Tarsus.

He was a pharisee of the pharisees parush we call him in Hebrew he was a Jewish man who loved the God of Abraham Isaac and Jacob he grew up under the teaching of the rabban gamliel who taught him much when he heard of those that believed that Yeshua Jesus was the Messiah he was not happy with this at all. In fact, he was one of those that was standing and watching how Stephen was stoned in Acts chapter 7. In fact, Shaul was consenting to the death of Stephen. And once he saw the growing movement in first century of Jewish people who believed that Yeshua was the Messiah, there was an establishment of something unique that had happened the Spirit of God came in Acts chapter 2 united the believers into one body and the messianic you must say the Hebrew Christian movement grew in the first century and then Shaul began to persecute the believers often time we read that he persecuted the church he said that but the church that he persecuted was really the Jewish believers.

Who were part of the ecclesia of the church. We never read in Scripture that Shaul ever persecuted Gentile believers. He always persecuted his own Jewish brethren that have accepted Yeshua as the Messiah. And you remember what happened to him. In fact, in Acts chapter 8, we read in verse 1, 2, and 3 how much persecution had began there in the first century. And Paul, Shaul, was consenting to all this. It says in verse 1 of Acts chapter 8, And Shaul, Saul, was consenting unto his death, Stephen's death. And at that time there was a great persecution against, notice, the church which was where? In the city of Jerusalem. These were Jewish believers.

And they were persecuted by their own brethren because they believed that Yeshua, that Jesus, was the promised Mashiach. And by believing on that, they had been misunderstood by their own brethren. And they had been persecuted by their own brethren in the city of Jerusalem. And Shaul was consenting to it. It says here in verse 1b, they were scattered abroad in the region of Judea and Samaria, except the apostles. Imagine the flock, these Hebrew believers of the first century were so scattered and they've gone beyond Jerusalem then to Judea and beyond Judea to Samaria to the Yehudah and the Shomron and they were scattered, dispersed. The apostles remained in Jerusalem but the rest of them were persecuted and scattered.

It says in verse 3, and Saul had made havoc of the church. He didn't make havoc of the building, he made havoc of the early Jewish believers. He said, entering into every house and hauling men and women, committed them unto prison. Imagine the persecution the first century Hebrew Christian, Messianic, Jewish people have experienced by their own brethren. Shaul was the one that was mainly opposing the first century believers. And you know the story that in chapter 9 of the book of Acts, how he took letters from the spiritual leaders in Israel, that is the Pharisees, the Sadducees, and those leaders, the elders of the temple in the city of Jerusalem, from the scribe, and he took from them these letters and went to Damascus.

And there he went to the synagogue. Again, I would like to mention, and I hope you understand it, there was no need for him to take letters from the people, from the elders in Jerusalem, from the high priests, if he was going to persecute Gentiles. As far as the priests were concerned, they are from the nations of the world. We don't have any problem. Our problem are the Jewish believers. Then we need to hold account to what they believe. Then we want to bring back to Jerusalem and put them in prison. They are the ones that dishonored the God of Abraham and Isaac and Jacob according to the priests and to the leaders of Israel.

So Shaul took letters according to chapter 9 and verse 2, and he desired a letter to Damascus, to the Senegogues, that if he found any of this way, whether they were men or women, that he might bring them bound to Jerusalem. You see, there was no need for him to bring non-Jewish people to Jerusalem because as far as he was concerned, it was a Jewish problem. Now here, this man by the name of Shaul, on the way to Damascus, gloriously came to faith in Yeshua the Messiah. The Messiah, Yeshua said to him, Shaul, Shaul, why do you persecute me? He was the glorified Messiah. Who was saying to him, Shaul, when you are persecuting the believers, you are actually persecuting me.

And then you remember this wonderful expression that Paul, that Shaul said to him. He says, Who art thou Lord? Adon. And it was at that time that Yeshua, Jesus, said to him, I am Yeshua whom you persecute. It is hard for thee to kick against the pricks. And he trembling, and he was astonished and said, Lord, Adon, what will you have me to do? And then the Lord said unto him, Arise, and go to the city that I told you, and then I will tell you there what to do. But beloved brothers and sisters, from there on, this Shaul is now become a servant of the Messiah.

He became what he called the apostle, the shaliach, the one that was the messenger of the glorified Messiah to the nations of the world. He was called by God. He was chosen by Yeshua, the Messiah. It was not even his own choice. It was divinely chosen for him by none else but our Lord Yeshua, the Messiah. And you remember how eventually his eyes were opened and the Lord said to Hananiah how he's a vessel to become a servant of the Lord. The Lord said unto him, Go thy way, for he is a chosen vessel unto me to bear my name before the Goyim, the Gentiles, and Kings, Melachim, and the children of Israel.

And I will show him how great things he must suffer for my name's sake. This is Acts 9, verses 15 and 16. And so the glorified Lord and Savior, Yeshua, the Messiah, chose Shaul, Paul, to become a vessel. And it says here in verse 16, I'm going to show him How much he is going to suffer for my name's sake. And indeed he suffered. He suffered in his life as a servant of the Lord. And he became that apostle to the Goyim, to the nations of the world. And you and I today are benefiting because of his ministry by divine inspiration. You and I have been the trophies, you might say, of his labor as he preached the gospel by the strength of the Spirit of God, and God saved many of us and brought us to himself using some of the writings that Shaul wrote, that Paul wrote, including the letter to Timothy.

Now, who is the recipient? So if Shaul, Paul, is the one who wrote this letter, look again, who is the recipient? The recipient is by the name of Timothy it says first Timothy chapter 1 and verse 2 unto Timothy my own son in the faith now let's talk a little bit about Timothy you see Paul was visiting various cities and towns when he began his missionary ministry services that he have done in act chapter 13 he began his mission when he come to act chapter 14 you find that Paul had arrived to a place that is called Lystra. There he shared the message of the Word of God and people came to faith in Yeshua the Messiah.

One of these people that have come to faith in the Lord Yeshua the Messiah was Timothy. We don't know, we don't read exactly how he became a believer in Yeshua, in Jesus the Messiah, but he was one of those individuals as a younger man who came to faith in Yeshua, in Jesus Christ, in Yeshua HaMashiach. And so now if you just turn with me for a second to Acts chapter 16, you notice that when Paul arrived the second time to Lystra, and I'm reading now Acts chapter 16, and verse 1, look what we read. Then came he to Derbi, this is Paul, Shaul, and Lystra, Here's the place where Timothy was.

And behold, a certain disciple was there, named Timotheus, the son of a certain woman, which was Jewish. And she believed, but his father was Greek. So apparently, Timothy's mother was Jewish, his father was Greek. It had been said that perhaps by that time, his father passed away. And his mother was a Jewish woman who believed that Yeshua was the Messiah. And then it says here that Paul wanted to take Timothy. Why? Look at verse 2. He was well reported by the brethren that were in Lystra and Iconium. Him, Timothy, would Paul have to go forth with him and he took him and he circumcised him because of the Jews which were in those quarters for they knew all that his father was Greek.

You see, Paul was thinking. He was a missionary in Hebrew, missionary. He was going to work among the Gentiles in the world but wherever he was going, he was going to go to a synagogue of the Jewish people. He was going to take along with him this young man by the name of Timothy. Well, when he's going to come to the synagogue and share the message of the gospel with our Jewish brethren, they're going to tell him, wait a minute who is this man he's not Jew he's not even circumcised apparently perhaps his father who was Greek did not want him to be circumcised but now that he became a believer in Yeshua the Messiah he took him along with him he circumcised him according to chapter 16 for the sake of the Jewish people which were in those quarters.

Why? Because he wanted Timothy not to have anything to stumble his testimony to the Jewish community. By the way, Titus also went with Paul, but we never read of Titus ever needed to be circumcised because Titus was not Jewish. But Timothy was Jewish because of his mother, and therefore he took him and he circumcised him. But one thing, brothers and sisters, I want you to notice about this man by the name of Timothy. It says here in verse 2, he was well reported by the brethren. What a commendation to say about this man. In other words, when people heard about Timothy, he said, what, do you know that, Timothy?

He was a godly man. He was a man that testified to the person of Yeshua, the Messiah. He had a good report by the people who surrounded there in the area in Lysra. He had a good testimony. He was well reported by the brethren. They could say, this is a man that the Lord can use. Paul, you can use this younger brother. He can be a blessing to you in the testimony as you continue on in your mission among the nations of the world. In fact, this Timothy became so close to Shaul Paul that they became almost like father and son, spiritually speaking. But also the care and the love and affection towards one another have been tremendous.

He was Paul's son in the faith. Paul led him to the Lord and he grew spiritually. Timothy served with Paul, as you can see from chapter 16 of Acts, verse 3 on he served with the apostle Paul everywhere in many areas many towns many cities you can find it in chapter 17 in chapter 18 in chapter 19 in chapter 20 of the book of Acts constantly Paul used Timothy in the service and now he's writing to him a personal letter to a younger brother who was like a son to him in the faith. Now look what Paul had to say about Timothy. Turn with me to Philippians chapter 2 and verse 19. See what Paul says about this younger man.

Philippians chapter 2 and verse 19. But I trust in the Lord Yeshua to send Timotheus shortly unto you that I may be also of good comfort when I know your state. And notice what he says in verse 20. For I have no man like-minded who will naturally care for your state. For all seek their own not the things of Jesus Christ, Yeshua the Messiah. But ye know of the proof of Him that as a son with the father he has served with me in the gospel. Him therefore I hope to send presently so soon as I shall see how it will go with me. What a wonderful testimony about Timothy.

Can you imagine the apostle Paul? You know, sometimes we think of him as an apostle. We think he had a chip on his shoulder. Maybe he came to meetings, he was dressed with suit and tie. You know, this man, perhaps when he came to meetings, he was just fleeing after some who were beating him. You read 2 Corinthians 11, you see the list of the experiences that Paul had experienced, the suffering, the persecution, the rejection, the opposition, some from the nations of the world, some from his own brethren, the Jewish people. He had experienced a lot of trials, but he found fellowship with one man by the name of Timothy.

Of course, he found with others, but what we find out in Philippians chapter 2, all seek their own, not the things of Yeshua the Messiah. I have no man like-minded who will naturally care for your state. And here we see him writing to this young man by the name of Timothy. Now, I want to make one more remark about this man by the name of Timothy. Look at his background. Turn to 2 Timothy now, chapter 1. Apparently, he was led to Yeshua the Messiah through the reading of the Hebrew Scriptures. In 2 Timothy 1, verse 5, we read, When I call to remembrance, Paul said to Timothy, the unfeigned faith that is in thee, which dwelt first of all in thy grandmother, Lois, and thy mother eunuch and I'm persuaded that in thee also his Jewish grandmother and his Jewish mother have taught him and they believed in the God of Israel they believed in the promise Mashiach that was going to be sent in accordance with the promises of the Hebrew Scriptures and they had faith in God your grandmother Lois your mother Eunice here is the name of his mother and I believe also Paul is saying I am persuaded that this faith also is found in you 2 Timothy chapter 3 now verse 15 and that from a child Timothy you have known the Holy Scriptures which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith in the Messiah Yeshua all Scripture is given by inspiration of God and it is profitable for doctrine for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness that the men of God this is Timothy may be perfect or mature.

Thoroughly furnished unto all good works so Timothy was the one that is receiving this letter from the apostle right now. Paul who could say, I have no one like-minded as this man by the name of Timothy. His grandmother taught him the word. His mother taught him the word. Even though his father was Greek, he probably didn't want him to be circumcised. Paul circumcised him for the testimony among the Jewish people as he's going to go around and share the message of the gospel with the nations of the world and along the way he would go from synagogue to synagogue and he will go to the Jew first and he will share the gospel and so for the testimony to give them that here the Jewish man that believe in Yeshua the Messiah Timothy was also circumcised what an amazing story when we think about that now when was this letter written it was written in about 63, 64, 65 AD the temple in Jerusalem was still standing 5 years later the temple in Yerushalayim will be destroyed by the Romans Titus will come and he will destroy the city of Jerusalem he will destroy the temple in Jerusalem and they will carry away many of the Jewish people away captive many would die of our Jewish people nearly over a million people will die a few years later on because of what the Romans have done they destroyed the city of Jerusalem in 70 a.d so it.

Was written about 63 64 65 a.d the body of Messiah was already built because it began after the death of the Messiah at about 30 a.d so you might say the infant church assembly began from act chapter two so it's about you might say 30 years old 35 years old that the assembly already have existed early days of the church age the assembly age he's writing to him this interesting letter to this man so it was about 65 AD and apparently brothers and sisters why do you think Paul wrote this letter to Timothy Paul knew very well that there will be problems in every assembly every local congregation I don't know about you I'm only about 40 years in the faith and in the last 40 years everywhere I'm hearing all the time problems here Some of our own problems, somebody else's problem.

These are always problems. Congregation broke into pieces. Churches are divided. Assemblies are broken. Friction between believers. All these things happen. It didn't only start now. It already began. I would say it began at 30 AD when the infant church, the assembly, was born. So Paul is writing. And I want also to make a reference to this, if you don't mind, to turn with me to Acts chapter 19. Paul is visiting in Ephesus. You notice in 1 Timothy chapter 1 and verse 3, I besought thee to abide still at Ephesus. And so Paul spent some time in the city of Ephesus when he was establishing the local assembly there. They were mostly from the Gentile nations of the world, from the Goyim.

But Paul served there, even though he went also to the synagogue as well. And notice what it says in Acts chapter 19 and verse 1. And it came to pass that while Apollos was in Corinth, Paul having passed through the upper coast, he came unto Ephesus. And then he found there some Talmidim, some disciples. In verse 8 it says, and he went into the synagogue and he spake boldly by the space of three months, disputing and persuading the things concerning the kingdom of God. The first thing that Apostle Paul did every time he went to a city, he went to the Jew first. Romans 1.16, I am not ashamed of the gospel of the Messiah, for it is the power of God unto salvation.

To everyone that believed to the Jew first and also to the Greek, to the Gentile. So he went to the synagogue and he was disputing for three months in the synagogue seeking to present before them that Yeshua was the Messiah and that the kingdom of God would come but right now you have to accept the Messiah. But there were also the problems and notice what it says here in verse 10 and this he continued by the space of two years and that all which dwell in Asia heard the word of the Lord Yeshua both Jews and Greeks. He was preaching the message. He was sharing the gospel.

He was presenting Yeshua the Messiah at Ephesus and all the areas it says here those that dwell in Asia. This is Asia Minor, present day Turkey. And now if you turn with me to chapter 20 and then verse 17 from Miltus he was traveling on his missionary journey the Apostle Paul, Shaul and he was sent to Ephesus again then he called the elders of the assembly the elders of the church of the ecclesia, he called them he said listen I want you to come to me because I want to tell you something and he was calling them to come to him notice verse 18 and when they were come to him he said unto them ye know from the first day that I came to Asia after what manner I have been with you at all seasons serving the Lord with all humility of mine and with many tears and trials which befall me by delaying in wait of the Jews apparently the Jewish community did not like what the Apostle Paul did in preaching the Gospel and sharing that Yeshua is the Messiah and then he continued in verse 20 and now I kept nothing that was profitable unto you but have showed you and have taught you publicly and from.

House to house testifying both to the Jews and also to the Greeks that repentance towards God and faith in our Lord Yeshua the Messiah Paul says listen I've labored I've ministered among you tears I shed many tears many trials I had as I served you he's saying to the Ephesians elders then he says to them i preach faithfully i testify to the Jewish people to the Greeks i told everyone about Yeshua the Messiah that they need to repent and trust in him as the Mashiach as the Christ as the anointed one and accept him as their Lord and Savior but he says to them listen now verse 22 behold i go bound in the spirit unto the city of Jerusalem he was going to leave them and continue to the city of Jerusalem he didn't know what's going to happen to him there and you remember brothers and sisters it was there that Paul was captured it was there that Paul ended up to be captured and taken all the way to the city of.

Rome to stand before Caesar but he was telling them something before he have left notice verse 28 to 32 he says take it therefore to yourself and to all the flock over which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers feed the assembly the ecclesia the church the kehila feed the kehilat Adonai kehilat Elohim the congregation of God the church of God which he has purchased with his own blood for I know that after my departure shall grievous wolves enter in among you not sparing the flock also of your own selves he is telling to the Ephesians of your own selves shall men arise speaking perverse things to draw disciples after them therefore watch remember that by the space of three years I cease not to warn everyone one night and day with tears.

You see, Paul served in Ephesus for three years, beloved brothers and sisters, night and day, pouring his heart, pouring his life, ministering to the brothers and sisters, knowing that when he is going to be away, grievous wolves will come in and will tear apart the local assembly in the city of Ephesus. And now what's happening when we get this letter of 1 Timothy and 2 Timothy he's really sending Timothy to be a help in the local assembly. So they will grow and will mature and will know how to behave in the house of God because he didn't want to allow the Ephesians to experience what he said in chapter 20 the grievous wolf will come and will cause havoc among the people of God see Paul is as we said earlier writing this pastoral letter that you and I are privileged to read the care and the love that he had towards the saints which were at Ephesus and he sends Timothy now to that city so he can help them.

You know, last night in our Bible class one of our brothers read from Revelation chapter 2 the letters that were written was written about 96 AD that about 30 years later that John received the Revelation from Yeshua the Messiah And the Lord Jesus himself wrote this letter to the Ephesian church, to the assembly at Ephesus. And he commended them for many, many things. So in other words, 30 years later, they have successful were to set aside all the false doctrine, set aside all who claim to be an apostles and messengers of God. I want to read that letter. Revelation chapter 2 and verse 1 unto the angel of the church of Ephesus write these things sayeth he that is holding the seven stars in his right hand who walketh in the midst of the seven golden lampstand I know thy works and thy labor and thy patience and that thou cannot bear them which are evil and that thou had tested and tried them which say that they are apostles and are not and hath found them liars and a born and had patience and for my name's sake hath labored and hath not fainted.

Verse 6 he said but this thou hast that thou hatest the deed of the Nicolaitans which I hate also. The Nicolaitans were the group of people who taught clergy leity who were those who are rulers of the people instead of allowing the Lord to be the ruler over the people they have made already a distinction between the clergy and the laity like existing today in many of the professing church today so they have stood for the truth that Paul encouraged them but you see what happened in Revelation chapter 2 still the Lord had something against the believers at Ephesus he said to them, nevertheless, in Revelation 2 verse 4, I have something against you.

You have left your first love. He didn't say you have lost your first love, but you have left it. Come back to it. Oh, it's beautiful that you want to have sound doctrine. It's beautiful that you hate the deeds of the Nicolaitan. It's beautiful that you are seeking to stand on the principle and the truth of the word of God but you have problems Ephesians your love and affection towards me have shifted you don't have the same affection that you had to me when you first became. Believers in Yeshua the Messiah so you can see the whole pictures beloved brothers and sisters you can see the reason for this letter it was written from the apostle Paul to his son in the faith So he will be used by the Lord to help the believers to know how to behave themselves in the house of God.

Which is the ecclesia, the church of the living God. The pillar and the ground of the truth. What we want to do is that when we have people come to our midst. So they will learn the truth of the word of God. So they will learn the person of Yeshua the Messiah to become saved and know how to conduct themselves among the people of God. That's the reason why this letter was written to this man by the name of Timothy. The problem was, is that Paul anticipated a problem in false teaching and all sort of things that will creep in and he's writing this letter.

Now, he doesn't condemn anybody, but he writes it for our own benefit. Every one of us individually have to ask ourselves, Lord, help me to discern things from your word. To confess, to say, Lord, I'm a failing individual. I'm a sinner by nature. On my own, I can discern those things. I'm just like the people at Ephesus. I'm just like the people in many other cities in Asia Minor. I'm no different. And Lord, help us when we fail to be restored, when we are inclined to listen to things that are not biblical, help us to come back to those principles that you taught in the Word of God.

That's what you and I need to do as we study this book together. And the Lord is willing to help us. That's why he wrote for us this. So now let's go back to that letter and let's just deal quickly with the verses that we have. The author was the Apostle Paul, verse 1, and he was the one, and I want you to notice that Paul, an apostle of Jesus the Messiah, and by the commandment of God our Savior and Lord Jesus the Messiah, which is our hope. Notice he is an apostle, he was a sent one, the Hebrew word Shaliach, he was a messenger of the Lord.

He didn't choose this Job. He didn't choose this. The Lord chose him. Secondly, you find that it is by the commandment. God commended him. Perhaps, I don't know how his relationship with the Lord was. Maybe he asked God, why me, God? Why are you commanding me to do this ministry? It was a commandment of God. That's why Shaul Paul was so bold in many ways. Things that you have experienced, it's unimaginable. You and I have no idea what these men have experienced. But notice who gave this command. It says, by the commandment of God, our Savior. In Hebrew, the word is Elohim Mosheinu. It's so beautiful to see.

You know, God desires to save souls. He's our Savior. You know, this is so He breaks because the God of our Father, the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, always was the Savior of the nation of Israel. He's the one who redeemed Israel out of Egypt. He's the one who brought the people unto Himself. And many times when our people of all were singing, they were often singing about, God is my salvation. God is a saving God. He wants to save souls. Why do you need to be saved? Because you are lost if you are not saved. We are heading to eternal separation from God.

He's our Savior, Paul is saying to Timothy. Notice he doesn't say only God, my Savior. He says our Savior. Timothy, you and I, we have been saved by God through Yeshua, the Messiah. These are songs that we often love to sing. It's found in Isaiah chapter 12. It says, verse 2, Behold, God is my salvation. I will trust and not be afraid for the Lord Jehovah is my strength and my song. And he also has become my salvation. This is the song. This is a messianic verse in Isaiah chapter 12. When our own nation, Israel, in a future day will sing that song. Behold, God is my salvation.

I will trust and I will not be afraid because the Lord my God is my strength and my song and he had become my salvation. You see, it's very Hebraic because Paul and Timothy were Jewish. Both of them knew the Hebrew Scriptures. You remember when our people Israel came out of the land of Egypt in Exodus chapter 15. What do you think they have sung after they have crossed the sea? It says in verse 1 and 2, Then sang Moshe, Moses, and the children of Israel this song unto the Lord. And they spake, saying, I will sing unto the Lord, for he has triumphed gloriously. The horse and the rider he had thrown into the sea.

The Lord is my strength and song, and he has become my salvation. He is my God, and I will prepare him in habitation. He is my father's God and I will exalt him. This is so Jewish in its context. So he break in a manner in which the apostle Paul, God is my salvation. He's our Savior. And so when Paul writes to Timothy in the first verse, he says, I'm an apostle sent by God, by Yeshua the Messiah, by the commandment of God, our Savior. And, notice he added, and he put them on the same line. He says, and the Lord Jesus, the Messiah, which is our hope.

You see, he put God and Yeshua in the same line. Why? Because he understood who Yeshua was. Yeshua was a divine person who entered humanity, became a man, a man of sorrow that had been acquainted with grief. But Yeshua is a God-man. Jesus is a God, the Son, who entered humanity and became a man. And that's why he put him in the same line. He said, Paul, an apostle of Jesus the Messiah, by the commandment of God our Savior and the Lord Jesus the Messiah. And notice he ended up with this verse 1, which is our hope. Now you know, we just have lost a brother who was with us in a meeting every Friday for five years consistently.

And you know what he said, these dear brothers of ours, before he died, to a Jewish doctor who asked him, How do you feel? Are you comfortable? Are you feeling okay? And he said to him, How can I not feel okay? I'm a believer in Jesus, the Messiah. I know where I'm going. I have hope. I have tikvah in Hebrew. The Israeli national anthem is the tikvah, the hope. We have hope beyond the grave. We know on the basis of the word of God that should we be taken out of this sin, we know where we go, not because we feel it, because we know it on the basis of the written word of God.

And Paul, he's writing to Timothy, he said, Timothy, you know, I'm an apostle that was called by Yeshua the Messiah. He's God, our Savior. And you see, now that he saved us, it is through Yeshua, Jesus, the Messiah, who is our hope. With all the problems that we have here in this world, the believer in Jesus have a hope that no one can take us away from those that belong to Yeshua. I hope all of us today, for your eternal destiny, you'll have to answer to the Lord when you're going to have to stand before Him. I hope you're going to have a hope knowing, Not I hope so, it's a sure hope.

I know that I know on a basis of the written word of God that when I'm going to be taken out of here, I know where I'm going. I know whom I have believed and I am persuaded that he is able to keep that which I have committed unto him against that day, Paul said in this letter to Timothy. He is the hope of the believer in Yeshua, the Messiah. And no one can take it away from those that belong to Yeshua the Messiah. You know, I don't want to go through it, but if you will read some of the Psalms, Psalm 130 and verse 7, it speaks about the hope for the nation of Israel.

Psalm 131 verse 3, he is the hope of Israel. In fact, Acts chapter 28, the Apostle Paul said to the Jewish leaders who came to hear from him, He said, for the hope of Israel, I am in these bonds. But they didn't accept his message. And not only that he is the hope for the nation of Israel, he is the hope for us, you and I, who are believers in Yeshua, the Messiah, today, he is our tikvah, our hope. Just please turn in your Bibles to Ephesians chapter 1 and verse 18. The eyes of your understanding, being enlightened, that ye may know what is the hope of your calling, Paul said to the Ephesian believers.

Ephesians chapter 4 and verse 4. Listen to what Paul says to the Ephesians. He said, there is one body, there is one spirit, even as you are called in one hope. The hope of your calling. This is the hope of the believers in the body of Messiah. We have one hope. We have one calling. And you can go on to Colossians 1.5 and to Colossians 1.27 and other passages. Yeshua the Messiah is our hope. And brothers and sisters and ladies and gentlemen, I trust that you have your joy found in the person of Yeshua who is yours and my hope. Tikvah. Everything else is falling apart in this world.

One thing will never change is the finished work of our Lord Jesus the Messiah who gave us hope that is beyond the grave, beyond death. And so back to 1 Timothy 1 verse 2. It was written to Timothy, and now I want you to notice, beloved brothers and sisters, he says, unto Timothy, my own son in the faith. That expression, mine own son, in the faith, it can be translated, my true child in the faith. Timothy was a true, saved man. There was no fallacy with him. He was not pretending to be a child of God. I am telling you, it is so sad that many people go to church meetings.

They sit in a pew. They sing the song. They read the text. And yet they are not true children of the Lord by faith. This is so important. Paul could say to Timothy, Timothy, you are a true child of mine in the faith. I know. I've seen it. You are an evident, a token of the ministry that the Lord has used me. You became my son by me sharing with you the message of the gospel. You have accepted that Jesus, that Yeshua is the Messiah, and you became a true child of mine in the faith. I've heard of some servants of the Lord who said, how many hours and days and weeks and months I've spent with an individual.

Trying to help them to grow spiritually. And I can tell you after years later on, they were really not born again. They are not children of the Lord. They rejected a very simple message that I have shared with them years ago. They are not true children in the faith. Timothy was. Timothy was a true child in the faith. And brothers and sisters listen to this and everything goes aside when you are alone before God there will be one question that is going to be asked of each one of us what have you done with Yeshua the Messiah and you will have to give an answer we are all going to have to give an answer and the answer must be as simple as it is I have confessed that I have sinned and I have accepted him as my Messiah my Lord and my Savior that's all God is not going to ask you what great things you have done for him he's not going to ask you how great you were and how you accomplished many things here in this world he's not going to ask you how much money you have he's not going to ask you what position you have in this world he's not going to ask you anything else he's going to ask you a simple question what have you done with my son I sent him to this world He died on the tree.

He paid the price for sin. Have you embraced him as your Lord and Savior? Have you become a true child by faith? We read in the Bible, as many as receive him, John 1, to them he gave the right to be called children of God, even to them that believe on his name. You must believe in Yeshua the Messiah and accept him as Timothy had. And he became a child of Paul in the faith. And so Paul is writing to him, unto mine own true child in the faith. Grace, mercy, and peace from God our Father and Jesus the Messiah our Lord. Notice he tells him three things here.

Grace, in Hebrew it's chesed. Mercy, in Hebrew, it's rachamim. Peace, in Hebrew, it's shalom. Timothy, as you are going to remain at Ephesus and you are going to minister there, you will need all three things. Number one, you will need a lot of grace. Number two, you will need a lot of mercy. Number three, you will need a lot of shalom. The same God who by grace had saved us is the same God who needs to give us grace and mercy and shalom and peace as we go along with our walk with the Lord here in this world. So beloved brothers and sisters, I'm going to stop right here.

What an encouragement is a private letter written by an apostle to a brother by the name of Timothy and was written to encourage him to know how to conduct himself in the assembly in Ephesus and how to serve and to minister to the people of Ephesus knowing that there will be many, many challenges that he will experience as he served the Lord among the believers. Well, may the Lord bless his word.