Shabbat Shalom everyone. Turn to 1st Timothy chapter 5 and we are going to read the first 16 verses. And so I am reading. Verse 1. Rebuke not an elder, but entreat him as a father, and the younger men as brethren. The elder women as mothers, the younger as sisters with all purity. Honor widows, that are widows indeed. But if any widow have children or nephews, let them learn first to show piety at home, and to re-quiet their parents, for that is good and acceptable before God. Now she that is a widow indeed and desolate, trusteth in God, and continueth in supplication and prayer night and day. But she that liveth in pleasure is dead while she liveth.

And these things give in charge, that they may be blameless. But if any provide not for his own, and especially for those of his own house, he has denied the faith and is worse than an infidel. Let not a widow be taken into the number under sixty years old, having been the wife of one man, well reported for good works, if she have brought up children, if she have lodged strangers, if she have washed the saints' feet, if she have relieved the afflicted, if she have diligently followed every good work. But the younger widows refuse. For when they have begun to wax wanton against Messiah, they will marry, having damnation, because they have cast off their first faith.

And withal, they learn to be idle, wandering, about from house to house, and not only idle, but tattlers also, and busybodies, speaking things which they ought not. I will therefore that the younger women marry, bear children, guide the house, give none occasion to the adversary to speak reproachfully, for some are already turned aside after Satan. If any man or woman that believeth have widows, let them relieve them, and let not the assembly be charged, that it may relieve them that are widows indeed. To remind you, we studied a letter that Paul wrote to a younger brother by the name of Timothy. He left him in the city that is called Ephesus, according to chapter 1 and verse 3.

And he said to him, "I besought thee to abide still at Ephesus, when I went into Macedonia, that thou might charge some." And he began to give him a list of the things that he is to charge some of the people of God in the local assembly at Ephesus. Later on in chapter 3, the apostle Paul said to Timothy in verse 15, "But if I tarry long, Timothy, if I'm not coming right away, and it might take longer time for me to stay away, that you may know how you ought to behave yourself in the house of God, which is the assembly of the living God, the pillar and the ground of the truth." Timothy, I'm going away.

Timothy, I'm leaving you at Ephesus. Timothy, if I'm going to tarry long, and I'm not going to come back right away, I want you to understand how you ought to behave yourself in the house of God. What is the house of God? It is the assembly, the called out ones of the living God, and in the assembly, it is the pillar and the ground of the truth. So the whole letter is written to him, 1 Timothy. Later on, he will write to him another letter in the second epistle to Timothy. But we are now right in the center of this letter that Shaul Paul wrote to Timothy.

It is interesting, notice that, beloved brothers and sisters, he doesn't only write about the necessity for doctrinal teaching that will be sound in the local assembly, in the local congregation, but he is speaking also about practical things in the life of the people of God. You see, after all, the believers in this particular city of Ephesus were brought in from the world. They were living a life of paganism before they became believers. In fact, many in Ephesus were worshiping Diana of the Ephesians. You remember they shouted at the time in the book of Acts, "Great is Diana of the Ephesians!" but now many of those individuals became believers and they became part of the local assembly, the local church at Ephesus.

So the apostle is giving them instruction. They needed that. You and I need that. They have an inclination to fall. You and I have an inclination to fall. They had the danger of the attack of the enemy. You and I have the very same danger of the attack of the enemy. And this is exactly why it is so beneficial for us to take these things to heart and to learn to grow as we follow Yeshua the Messiah. Well, now in this chapter 5, in fact, this whole section from verses 1 to 16 is really specifically dealing with the issue of the widows in the local assembly. Widows, those that their husbands have passed away and they remain widows in the assembly, among the believers, among the people of God.

In Hebrew, the word widow is al-mana, and widows is al-manot. And you notice in this passage, specifically, he is giving instruction how to deal with the al-manot, with the widows. You notice he three times used the expression here, widow indeed. Al-mana be-emet in Hebrew. You notice verse 3, widow indeed. You notice it says here in verse 5, now she that is a widow indeed. Later on, if you notice that, he is mentioning this again in verse 16. At the end he says, widow indeed. At the end of this passage in verse 16. He mentioned this again and again, widow indeed. Three times he is mentioning here this truth. In other words, real individual that is indeed a widow.

Someone that really have a need in how the people of God are to minister unto her. And so notice in verses 1 and 2. To give us a general information. In fact, he reminded Timothy that when we became believers, we became part of a family. Mishpacha, we say in Hebrew. A mishpacha is not only because we all were born again. We were born into the same family. Yes, we are mishpacha. But many times, mishpacha, family, is so divided and scattered. And so many friction among the mishpacha, among the family of God. It happened to us in our personal life. Many of us have families. But our families are not necessarily walking in the same direction.

They are not walking in harmony as we ought to be as a family. And it is the same thing spiritually. The body of Messiah. The believers who are part of the family. We are not always practicing what we should practice as the mishpacha. As the family of God. And so he is telling them in verses 1 and 2. How to treat everyone who is part of the mishpacha. Of the family in the assembly. Notice he is using these four groups of people. He says first of all in verse 1. Duke not an elder. But in treat him as a father. Secondly he said. And the younger men as brethren.

Thirdly in verse 2. The elder women as mothers. And fourthly in verse 2. And the younger as sisters. And then he says. With all purity. You notice that in a family of God. You have the elder one. The older men. The older women. The younger men. And the younger women. And you can add the children. We have in 1 John chapter 2. I write unto you fathers. I write unto you young men. I write unto you children. There you might say. Inclusion. The fathers. The young men. And the children. But here is including the male and the female. The men and the women. And how we are to relate to each other.

You know it's so precious. Brothers and sisters. To see how the apostle. Gave godly sound instruction. To younger brother Timothy. He was telling him. Listen. We are not merely religious people. Who became believers. And we are on cloud nine. We got to go down to earth. And we got to relate to each other. In a right way. So it's a real life of the believer. Relationship is so important. In our relationship with each other. And so he says. First of all. Rebuke not an elder. Another. The word for elder. Comes from the word. Zaken in Hebrew. In the Greek. Is the. Presbyterus. In other words.

He is an elder. In the local assembly. But this could also apply. To an older. Individual. In a local assembly. We have to be very careful. Not to rebuke. Publicly. Without first. Approaching the elder. Individual. And in treating him. As a father. As an Abba. After all. These. Older. Men. That have grown up. For many years. In their lives. Walked with the Lord. Serve. The Lord. Among the people of God. We have to. Recognize them. And to respect them. Speaking about. An elder. In the local assembly. Or whether. An older man. Is the very. Same. Applied to this. Person. Who is older. How we are to treat them.

Well. We are to treat them. As a father. One day. We're going to get to a point. That we're going to be older. We would appreciate. The younger one. Is. In treating us. As fathers. Out of respect. And out of honor. It doesn't mean. That the father. Is always right. Or that the elder. Is always right. The elder. At times. Goes in a wrong direction. And he needed to be. Corrected. And challenged. But we don't do it. Publicly. Just to show. How great we are. We take the opportunity. In visiting. With this particular. Older. Or elder. And dealing. In treating him. As a father. Recognizing.

That this individual. Is older. Is elder. Is elder. And we are. To entreat him. Right. And the younger. Men. As brethren. Achim. It's beautiful. To realize. All of us. Who are believers. We are part. Of a family. And we be brethren. You remember. When Abraham's. And Lot's. Herd men. They were. Fighting. With each other. And then. Abraham. Approached Lot. And he says. We be brethren. Why the brethren. Are so divided. Many times. Because they always. Seems to manage. Not to take care. Of each other. And instead of. Treating each other. As brethren. As achim. As part of the. Family of God. Then he continues. On.

Then he's speaking. About thirdly. About. The elder. Women. In Hebrew. The feminine. The elder. Women. Treat them. As mothers. There are older. Sisters. In our midst. Who are. Getting up. In age. Well. They should be. Recognized. As mothers. Among the people. Of God. And to appreciate. Elder sisters. Because they have. Gone. Before. Many years. In the midst. Of the people. Of God. In the midst. Of the people. Of God. I always. Appreciate. The beautiful. Expression. About. Dvorah. Deborah. The judge. Among our people. From many years. Ago. In the book. Of Judges. She's called. A mother. In Israel. Ima. Be Israel. How beautiful. To have. These elder.

Sisters. Being a blessing. To the believers. And appreciated. Because they are like mothers. What does mother do? She nourish. She cherish. She minister. She give. She serve. She does all these things. Among the people. Of God. And they deserve. To be treated. As mothers. Among the people. Of God. And fourthly. Beloved brothers. And sisters. He's talking about. The younger ladies. To treat them. As sisters. As achayot. Ministering to them. Not as it says. With all purity. In other words. Treating them. With respect. With pure motives. And recognizing. That they have need. They are younger. They are not gone up. With the things of the Lord.

At the end. But respecting them. And treating them. As our own sisters. To seek their welfare. To seek to be a blessing to them. To watch over them. To encourage them. In a world. In which we live in today. And how we need that. All these areas. Rebuking not an elder. But treating him. As a father. And a younger man. As a brother. And then an elder woman. As mothers. And then a younger woman. As sisters. With all purity. Here is the whole. Mishpacha. Mishpachat Elohim. Mishpachat Adonai. The family of God. Wonderful to see. So Paul. Give instruction. To younger Timothy. A general instruction. Of how to treat.

The believers. In the Lord. Yeshua. The Messiah. This is again. To remind you. How one ought to behave. In the house of God. That is not limited. To this building. These four walls. That is here. The house of God. Is the assembly. The church. Of the living God. It is a composition. Of all believers. Everywhere. From Acts chapter 2. Until the day of the rapture. We are all part of the. Assembly. The ecclesia. Of the living God. Every true believer. Is part of the ecclesia. Of the assembly. And so. How we are to behave. In the house of God. It could be in this building. It could be outside.

It could be anywhere. The house of God. Is the people of God. Together. Collectively. This is now. From verse 3 on. He zeroes in. On how to treat. The widows. Now you and I might say. Well. You know. What's such a big deal. To make such a whole. Chapter. To deal with widows. But then. Paul says no. In a relationship. Among the people of God. We don't only deal. With sound teaching. And with. Sound practices. And so on. We also. Dealing with. Practical things. Such as this. Including. Our treatment. Of those. Who are widows. Indeed. First of all. In verses. Three to ten. The apostle. Is giving.

Timothy. Instruction. On how. To treat. The widows. In the assembly. Now. Before. We're going to get. To these verses. I want to highlight. One or two things. The first thing. That I want to highlight. Is the fact. That the God. Of our fathers. The God. Of Abraham. Yitzhak. And Yaakov. Always. Taught. Our forefathers. Israel. To take care. Of the widows. It's not something new. That Shaul Paul. Just introduced. It was something. That was given. To our forefathers. Many many years ago. And Timothy. Is being reminded. Of these. Right now. As the apostle. Paul. Give him instructions. With me. To Deuteronomy. Chapter 10. Verse 17. And verse 18. Again.

Remember. Israel. Came out. Of the land. Of Egypt. They're just about. To enter. Into the promised land. God. Is instructing. Moses. To instruct. Israel. How dare. To conduct. Themself. When they go. Into the land. And so. He says. For the Lord. Your God. Is a great God. And mighty. And a terrible. Which. Regardeth not persons. Nor taketh reward. He does. Execute. Judgment. Of the fatherless. And of the widow. And he loved. The stranger. In giving him. Food. And raiment. Israel. Moshe. Is saying. To the people. Of Israel. Listen. I want you. To understand. That our Lord. Our God. Is a God of God. He's a Lord of Lords.

He's not regarding. Persons. He doesn't make any. Favoritism. To anybody. He does. Care. For the fatherless. He does. Care. For the widows. And he does. Care. For the strangers. What a wonderful. Truth. To understand. God. Always. Cared. For the fatherless. He always. Cared. For the widows. He always. Cared. For. The strangers. One more verse. Psalm 68. In verse 5. We read these words. God is. A father. Of the fatherless. And a judge. Of the widows. He is a God. In his holy habitation. That's the kind of God. We have. But here. Specifically. We have to understand. That God. Always. Care. For the widows. And so. That's the first thing.

That I want to mention. Secondly. I wanted you. To also understand. That in the early days. Of the assembly. In the city of Jerusalem. There was already. A problem. In the local assembly. The local church. The local congregation. In Jerusalem. Where there is a friction. Between. The. Jewish believers. Who were born. In the land. Local Jewish believers. And the Jewish believers. Who came from the diaspora. The Grecians. They came now. From the diaspora. They formed. The local assembly. In Jerusalem. The congregation. There. But they already. Had some problems. In the local assembly. Then. Let me just show you. In Acts. Chapter 6. Verse 1. We read. In those days.

When the numbers. Of the disciples. Were multiplied. There arose. A murmuring. Of the Grecians. This is the Hebrew believers. From the diaspora. Against the Hebrews. Because their widows. Were neglected. In the daily ministration. You think. We have problems. Today. How to treat. Widows. Already. 2,000 years ago. Right in the city. Of Jerusalem. The brethren. Had already. A problem. And the. Jewish people. Of the diaspora. Who became believers. Complained. Against the. Local. Hebrews. That they have not. Treated. The widows. Rightly. And they caused them. To be neglected. Apparently. What we learn. That there was. Perhaps. A list. Of those. Who were widows. That needed. To be taken care of.

By the local assembly. So here. You can see. That they were. Complaining. Because. The widows. Were neglected. In the. Daily service. To become a widow. Years ago. Was not an easy. Thing. In one's life. Because the. This woman. Who. Used to have a husband. Provide for her. Her family. Taking care of her. Now. She become. Dependent. She had no means. To sustain herself. And so. The Lord. Had provided. A way. Whereby. She could be. Helped. By. The local assembly. It's not like. Today. Thank God. In many ways. That we live. In a country. That. There is. Social security. There are various. Provisions. A lot. Years ago.

It was not. Depending upon. The country. Around them. Or the society. Around the believers. In the city. Of Jerusalem. The believers. Ministered. To the widows. In the local assembly. They needed. To take care of them. They ministered. To them. Paul now. Gives us. A clear instruction. On how to. Deal. With. The widow. That have a need. One more point. I want to mention. Number one. We said. God. Of our fathers. Always cared for the widow. Number two. We said. That the local church. The local assembly. In Jerusalem. Already had a problem. In the daily ministration. But number three. Paul now. Here. Lays down. The qualification.

For a person. To be reckoned. As a widow. And to be supported. By the assembly. Here. We have. Beloved brothers. Instruction. On. How. The people. Of God. Are to take care. Of the widows. In the assembly. So let's look over. These. Qualification. First of all. Verses. Three. And four. We are to honor. Widows. That are widows. Indeed. And I'm reading. Honor. Widows. That are widows. Indeed. We are. To honor. To respect. These. Women. Who are widows. Indeed. After all. You understand. The experience. That they are going through. They lost. Their support. They lost. Their loved one. One. That they used to. Fellowshiping with. And they became.

Widows. Widows. They are alone. On their own. So the Apostle Paul. Is encouraging. The believers. To honor them. But I want you to notice. That he said. Honor. Widows. That are. Widows. Indeed. Then he says. In verse four. But if any widow. Have children. Or nephews. In Greek. It's supposed to be. Descendants. Let. Them. First of all. Show. Piety. At home. And to. Recognize. Their parents. For that is good. And acceptable. Before God. Well we learn. Immediately. In these verses. That. Widows. Are first of all. To be taken care of. By their family. It's not right. To make the responsibility. Of the local assembly. If she has children.

Or family members. That are. To take care. Of their. Mother. Or grandmother. The primary. Responsibility. Will be. Of the family members. It is so important. Can you imagine. If a person. Have children. And they're not going to take care of her. Can you imagine. What a. Shame it is. There's a responsibility. Of the. People of God. To honor. Their mother. And their father. And if they do not. Show this. Godly character. In their life. This is rather sad. It is so wonderful. When a younger. Individual. Take care of his mother. Or his grandmother. So precious. To see that. Because. It is really. Honoring. The elderly.

And respecting them. Can you imagine. What it will mean. For us. For you and I. If we get up to an age. You know. In due time. Become a widow. When you are. Left on your own. And somebody else. Has to. Meet your need. Have to minister to you. And yet. Your very own family. To whom. You have given your life. You gave them birth. You serve them. All your life. And then. They throw you. Away. And don't take care of you. And so. The apostle Paul. Is very clearly saying. Let them learn. First of all. Piety. Show godliness. At home. And. To recompense. Their parents.

For that is good. And acceptable. Before God. We are to return. To our own parents. What they have done. For us. I remember. When my dad. Passed away. My mom. Was left alone. For quite a while. And I tell you. I had the fun time. Of my life. To take my mother. Every week. For lunch together. It was a date. That I had with my mom. And I had such a blessing. Not because I had to do that. But it was such a pleasure. To spend time with my mom. We laugh about the things. Of the past. We looked back. We looked at all the things.

That happened to us. It was such a joy. Now I don't know. That my mother. Became a believer. In Yeshua. The Messiah. When she passed away. The Messiah. But irregardless. It is the right. Thing. To do. That we. Will take care. Of our own parents. Our own grandparents. Out of obedience. To the word of God. Children. Honor. Your father. And your mother. For this is right. This is the first. Commandment. With. A promise. What was the promise? That you will have. Long life. Upon the face. Of this earth. That's what God. Have given. To our own people. Israel. And how important. It is beloved. Brothers and sisters.

It is acceptable. Before God. God. Find pleasure. In seeing. The caregiving. For. A widow. Indeed. By their own. Family members. But you see. It's not always. Happens. So. Isn't it? Many times. When a woman. Become a believer. In Yeshua. The Messiah. And then. Maybe a husband. Dies. But her children. Are not believers. And maybe. They don't want to have. Anything to do. With their own parents. Because they. Have trusted. That Yeshua. Is the Messiah. So. From here on. We find out. That. Here is a possibility. That may happen. And so. What do we do? Do we neglect. These. Widows. Who are widows. Indeed. So. Paul.

Continued. He says. In verse 5a. What happened. To a widow. If. A widow. Is. Desolate. I'm reading. Verse 5a. Now. A she. That is. Widow. Indeed. And. Desolate. Now. Notice. The word. Desolate. In Hebrew. That thought. Here. Is. Alone. She doesn't have. Any more. Obviously. No. Children. To support her. Family. Around. At all. She's. On her own. He's. Desolate. Helpless. What should. The assembly. Do. Paul. Is giving. The instruction. Here. To the. Brothers. And sisters. To Timothy. You need. To take care. Of her. And to meet. Her need. Is given. To them. And it is also. An instruction. For us. As well. Now. Immediately. I'm.

Reminded. Of. First. Kings. Chapter. 17. You remember. When. Eliyahu. Elijah. Eliyahu. Hanavi. When he gave. This instruction. To Israel. Long time. For three and a half years. There was no. Do and rain. In the land. Of Israel. In the northern. Kingdom. And then he fled. To an era. Called. Tzarefet. And in Tzarefet. There was a widow. She had a son. But he had a need. As well. And Elijah. Went. To this. Woman. And minister. Unto her. This was so precious. Because Yeshua. Himself. Mentioned that. In the gospel. Of Luke. And verse 25. And verse 26. But I tell you. The truth. Many widows. Were in Israel. In the days.

Of Elijah. Eliyahu. When the heavens. Was shut up. For three years. And six months. When great famine. Was throughout. All the land. But. Unto none. Of them. Was Elijah. Sent. Save. Unto. Tzarefet. A city. In Sidon. Unto a woman. That was. A widow. You see. The condition. Of Israel. Was so sad. In the time. Of the kings. When there was. A wicked king. By the name. Of Ahab. Who married. Jezebel. Who led. The whole nation. Into wickedness. And idolatry. Then. Then. When Elijah. Came. And he brought. Judgment. Upon. The nation. Of Israel. God. Said. To Elijah. You're not. Going to meet. The need. Of the widows.

In Israel. Because those. Widows. Have followed. In Ahab's. Direction. But there's a widow. In Sarefit. In a place. That is called. Sidon. Sarefit. There. Eliyahu. I want you to go. To minister. To this woman. And Elijah. Eliyahu. Went to her. He ministered. To her. And ultimately. When her son died. He raised. Her son. And he ministered. To her. In other words. What we learn. That widow. Indeed. Who seek. To follow the Lord. Will be blessed. By the Lord. And ministered. By God's people. And God's servant. But Elijah. Had to go. Far outside. Of the land. Because the land's condition. The people's condition. Was so sad.

But he ministered. To a widow. He ministered. To her need. As he went. All the way. To the place. That it's called. Tzarefit. So. A widow. Must be. Also. A dependent. One. That had no one. To provide for her. Verses 5a. Secondly. From verse 5b. To verse 7. A widow. Ought to have. A godly. Life. Let me. Give you this list. It says. In verse 5b. If she trusted. In God. And continued. In supplication. And prayer. Night and day. See. She's. To be supported. By the believers. If she trusted. In God. He didn't. Forsay God. She had. Indeed. Continued. In supplication. And prayer. Night and day.

She must be. A godly woman. A sister. That trusting. In God. Not trusting. In man. Verse 6 says. But she. That liveth. In pleasure. Is dead. While she's alive. In other words. If a widow. Live. Careless. About the things. Of the Lord. And not really. Following the things. Of the Lord. Well Paul said. She's dead. While she's alive. She doesn't. She's dead. You might say. Spiritually. In communication. With the Lord. In Revelation. Chapter. Three. The Apostle. John says. You have a name. That you are alive. But you really. Dead. In other words. To be recognized. A widow. Indeed. You. Have to have. Those. Godly. Characteristics. In your life.

Continuing. To trust the Lord. Continuing. In supplication. Continuing. In prayer. Night and day. And also. Out of the will. Of the Lord. Because then. You are like. While you are alive. You are really have. You are dead. While you are still alive. No spiritual growth. No blessing. To the people of God. Thirdly. If a widow. Live a godly life. It says. In verse 7. If she lived. A blameless life. Without reproach. It says here. In verse 7. And these things. Give. In charge. That they may be blameless. Blameless. Now. That doesn't mean. That they are perfect. That they don't make mistakes. Or do not sin. But they have a godly life.

They are without reproach. They are living a life. For the pleasure of the Lord. With all the failure. That existing. Then the apostle Paul said. Then you will recognize them. As a widow. Indeed. Among the people of God. So. If they are desolate. Verse 5a. If they are living a godly life. Verses 5b. To verse 7. They are trusting in God. They are continuing prayer. They do not live in pleasure. And they are living a life. Without reproach. Then Timothy. You will reckon them as widows. Indeed. In the local assembly. Of the living God. Then he continues. And he says in verse 8. He is kind of reflecting.

On the one that will neglect. To take care of his own. Widow. His own mother. Or grandmother. It says in verse 8. If any provide not for his own. Especially of those. Of his own house. He is denying the faith. And he is worse than an infidel. See what. How strong it is. Can you imagine. If somebody doesn't take care of his. Mother. Or grandmother. Who is in a need. He is behaving. Worse than an infidel. He denied the faith. Because in the faith. Means that we are to. Honor your father. And your mother. We are to take care of. The needs of our family. We are to meet their needs.

To seek to be a blessing to them. An infidel is an unbeliever. And God help us. When we have such an attitude. As this. We need the law. To help us. To have a right attitude. So we will treat. The widows. In a right way. Especially. Those that are members. Of our own. Family. Now he continues. In verse 9. Now. He gives us the age. It's interesting. That the age. Is given here. Perhaps. It is the age. They are using. In the system. Today. In many countries. It says. In verse 9a. That let. Not. A widow. Be taken. Into number. Under. The year. Of 60 years. Of age.

Having. Been. The wife. Of one man. In other words. He gives us. An instruction. She must be. Above. 60 years. Old. Now. There were widows. That were younger. Than that. Not to be placed. On that list. That will be. Receiving assistance. From the local assembly. The number 60. Here. It's interesting. Because. In the past. I remember. When the people. Get retirement. At the age of 60. At least. It was for the women. The men. It was 65. If I am. Correct. Things are changing. Today. But nevertheless. There is. Some guidelines. Here. That perhaps. Some countries. Used. For their own. As a widow. Indeed. And be numbered. Among. The widows.

That needed. To be ministered. To. By. The assembly. And then. We have. A 9b. She must be. A woman. That had been. The wife. Of one. Man. In other words. She lived. Long life. With her husband. And husband. Passed away. I guess. The apostle Paul. Assume here. That if she. Get to the age. Of 60. Get remarried. Now. Things happen. Obviously. We know. That years ago. People did not live. As long as you. And I live today. Today. I still heard. Of a widow. Who got married. At the year. Ninety. And things are possible. Things are perhaps. Changing. But. Here we see. That she is to be.

Above. 60 years of age. And number two. She should be. A wife. Of one. In divorce. Because years ago. In the teaching of divorce. The experience of divorce. Has not happened. In the past. And if it happened. It was. Something that was. Not spoken about. Not like in the years. In which we live in today. That there is so much divorce. That is going on. Whether it is outside. In the world. Or whether it is. Within the local assembly. The local churches. And so on. And so on. And the lesson here. Is that. She is. To be. A wife. Of one. Man. Now. In verse 10. She also.

Has to have. A faithful. Report. Of good. Works. And the apostle. Give us. The five. Fold. List. Of the good. Works. That this. Faithful. Widow. Is evident. In her life. Look at this list. Brothers and sisters. Again. Well. Reported. Of good. Works. And then it gives you. These five things. Number one. If she had. Brought up children. Number two. If she had. Lodged. The strangers. Number three. If she. Have. Washed. The saints. Feet. Number four. If she had. Relieved. The afflicted. And number five. If she had. Diligently. Followed. Every good. Work. This list is. She had. Brought up children. In other words. She. Had children.

She raised. She labored. She worked. She ministered. To her own children. Number two. If she had. Lodged. Strangers. Can you imagine. She must have been. In hospital. A sister. People would come. And be guests. In her own home. And she had been. Serving. Number three. If she washed. The saints. Feet. What does that mean. To wash. The saints. Feet. You know. The feet. Is where we walk. On. And we travel. Through. And they get tired. And needed to be. Refreshed. It was our father. Abraham. In Genesis. Chapter 18. Where the two angels. And the Lord. Came into his own. Tent. He says. Let me. Wash your feet.

Let me. Minister to you. You know. The washing of the feet. Is a ministry. Of refreshment. It was Yeshua. The Mashiach. Himself. In John. Chapter 13. That he washed. The disciples feet. Can you imagine. Nobody rose up. To wash. The disciples feet. And neither. The Lord's feet. Yeshua. Dressed himself. He said. Put himself. A garment. And so on. Take a towel. In his hand. And he. He kneeled down. And he began. To wash. The disciples feet. That speaks of. Refreshment. And encouragement. You know. How we need. Encouragement. In the midst. Of the people. Of God. That somebody. Will give us. Refreshment. And apparently. A widow. Indeed.

Is a woman. That refreshed. The hearts. Of the saints. If a person. Come. And being hosted. By this. Woman. She had been. She would wash. His feet. And refresh him. That in a physical way. But we can look at. That in a spiritual way. Speaking. Graciously. Encouraging. The servants. Of the Lord. That is such a. Tremendous. Thing. To say. About this widow. Then it says. If she relieved. Afflicted. There are so many. People. Who are afflicted. Who have trials. In their life. And she was there. To assist them. To minister to them. And finally. If she diligently. Followed. Every good work. So we can see.

That she was. A real. Servant. Of the Lord. Then. She could. Be reckoned. Among. The widows. In the local. Assembly. That they will. Minister. Unto her. Needs. As she's. Gone up in age. And lost her loved one. Brothers and sisters. This is. Just instruction. That the apostle Paul. Is giving to Timothy. How. He is to minister. To the people. Of God. During the time. That he's there. How to instruct them. Now. In verse 11. To verse 16. He instructing now. The young. Widows. Up to now. He was talking about. The older widows. Those that are above. 60 years of age. Then I can tell you. That there are those.

That live in such a way. In such a way. And we should really. Recognize them. And appreciate them. And minister to them. But now notice. He's talking about. The younger. Widows. Now it's very possible. That a younger sister. That was married. That her husband. Had passed away. It's happened. You hear it. Many times. In many places. Whether he had. Some sort of a sickness. Or whether. Something happened to him. And she was left alone. How do we handle. A younger. Sister. Who is now. Left alone. To become a widow. Well look. What Paul is saying. To Timothy. First of all. It says. In verse. Eleven.

But the younger. Widows. Refuse. Now what does it mean. You don't put them. On the list. To be taken care of. Not that you cannot. Minister to them. But the point is. They are still young. They are able. To function. They can. Perhaps. Find a job. And taking care. Of themselves. They are not. To be part. Of the list. Of those. That are above. Sixty years. Of age. And then he gives them. The reason. Why? Notice in verse. Eleven. He's saying. For when. They have begun. To wax. Wanton. Against. The Messiah. They will marry. He gives them. The possibilities. Listen. They made something happen. They are human beings.

Need to be met. Somehow. And. They may not. Continue. To remain. A widow. Notice his expression. When they have begun. Notice it. Begun. To wax. Wanted. When they will want. Their needs. To be met. Then. They may. Change. Their direction. And even. They will end up. To go. As it says here. Against. The Messiah. Not in the will. Of the Messiah. The Messiah. And they. Will end up married. So he gave us. The possibility. This is rather. Sad. Because. If a woman. That lost her husband. And she's a believer. And the Lord. Opened the door. For her. To marry. She should marry. Only. First Corinthians 7.

In the Lord. In the Messiah. To a believer. But what happened. Because the younger one. Has a need. And they may. Would want to get married again. But there is even. The possibility. That they marry. Not in the Lord. Away from the Lord. And the apostle says. That's one of the reasons. Why you should not. Put them on that list. Of widows. Indeed. Because they are below. The year 60. And they are still young. And they may. Have a need. That they want to fulfill. And therefore. They will get married. And may even. Marry. Away from. The Messiah. And they will. Marry. In a wrong way.

Now. It is wonderful. If a person. Marry. In the Lord. If one's husband. Passed away. And this woman. Is waiting. Patiently. On the Lord. And the Lord. Bring before her. A believing. Husband. What a blessing. It is. Because then. She can continue. Her life. To live. For the Lord. And that is wonderful. If that might. Happen. But to. Go against. The Messiah. Very outside. Of the will. Of the Messiah. Which would ultimately. Lead her. Away. From the will. Of the Messiah. In her life. The apostle says. No. Those. Young widows. Should not be placed. Upon. The list. Of widows. To be taken care of. By the saints.

By the assembly. Now. Notice. Verse 12. They may be guilty. Of abandoning. Their first. Pledge. To God. Having. Damnation. They have. Cast. Off. Their first. Faith. You know. Sometime. It's so possible. It's not that they. Lose. Their salvation. But sometime. You know. When they are desperate. You know. When you are desperate. And you. Don't wait. On the Lord. It can happen. To a man. It can happen. To a woman. It can happen. To you and I. If we are not. Waiting. On the Lord. And we take a step. That is away. From the Lord. We become. Guilty. Of. Going in the wrong. Direction. And casting off.

Our first. Faith. What we devoted. Ourself. In the beginning. You know. When we say. Lord. You are my Savior. You are my Lord. I will follow you. Wherever you lead me. But all of a sudden. Something happened. And you lost. One's husband. And then there is a. Natural need. Need. Emotional. And physical. And so on. And what do we do? How do I handle that? And somehow. The enemy. Is very quickly. Can come in. And lead one. Astray. That they will end up. As it says here. Having. Casting. Off. Their first. Faith. In other words. Where. What they began with. They will end up. Kind of.

Setting it aside. And continue. In the way. Of the world. You know. Brothers and sisters. This is real. In the life. Of the people. Of God. That's why. The apostle said. In Hebrews. Chapter 12. The sin. Which does so. Easily beset us. Casting it away. The weight. And the sin. Which does so. Easily beset us. We are so. Capable. In our own hearts. The hearts. Of the human race. Is so deceitful. Our own hearts. Is desperately. Wicked. And that's why. We needed. The help. Of the Lord. And so. Paul is instructing. Timothy. Concerning the younger. Widow. And now. To the conclusion. It says now. In verse 13.

You see. What can happen. To a widow. That is not. Waiting on the Lord. And he said. And with all. They learn. To be idle. Wandering about. From house. To house. And not only idle. Also. And busy bodies. Speaking things. Which they ought not. To speak. You see. What he's saying. The potential. Of a widow. And we can also. For a widow. Where. Is when he. Or she. And specifically. Here it is. The feminine. If she's. Not. Aligning herself. With the will. Of the Lord. She has the danger. Of becoming. Number one. Idle. Number two. Gossiper. And number three. Busy body. Is. Isn't it true.

There's always a danger. You know. What happens. What we do. Very. Quickly. When we are idle. And we have no responsibility. We start to become. Gossipers. Well. Let's pick up the phone. Oh. Let me make a visit. And you become. Gossipers. And you know what. This is something. We need the Lord's help. Not to gossip. You know. We often talk about. Big sins. The small sin. But that sin. Of course. So much problems. Among the people. Of God. The gossiping. The talking back. About somebody else. But then also. Busy bodies. Speaking things. Which they ought. Not. To speak. Specifically. About those. Younger. Widows. Who. Is now.

In a danger. Of not following. The instruction. That they are. Called for. Then he says. In verse 14. And 15. Paul. In telling them. That they ought. To do. If the Lord. Open that door. It says. In verse 14. I will. Therefore. That the younger. Women. And here. It has a reference. Specifically. In the context. To widows. I want them. To marry. Number one. Number two. I want them. To bear children. If possible. Number three. I want them. To guide. Number four. Give none. Occasion. To the adversary. To speak. Reproachably. See. Paul says. Listen. Don't go. In the wrong direction. Don't be idle. Don't be gossiper. Don't be busy.

Don't say things. That you should not say. Wait on the Lord. Pray earnestly. Intercede. On behalf of the saints. Serve in the midst. Of the assembly. Of the believers. And maybe the Lord. Will bring about. Into your life. The man. That he has. For you. Therefore. I will. That the younger women. Will marry. Number one. Will bear children. Number two. If it's possible. Of course. Will guide. House. And then. Give none. Occasion. For the adversary. To speak. Reproachfully. He is. Catching us. Every time. When we are not waiting. On the Lord. And he is so. Able. He is like. An angel. Of light. Appearing. And trying.

To seduce us. To lead us. In the wrong direction. And if we are not careful. Whether it is. A widow. A non-widow. We are able. To give. Occasion. Of the adversary. To speak. Reproach. Against. Of God. And that is. What Satan does. Why do you think. We have all these problems. That we experience. In our own lives. It is not always. The fault of somebody else. It is because. We. Did not wait. On the Lord. And trust in him. And prayed. And committed ourselves. To the Lord. And it is so precious. If a. A widow. Will sincerely. Wait on the Lord. Trust the Lord. Recently.

We had a young sister. In the meeting. In our local. Meeting. In Niagara. On the lake. Such a precious sister. Waited. And waited. And waited. For the time. To get married. Then finally. The Lord. Gave her. The man. Of her life. But a few years. Later. He got choked. Somehow. And he fell down. And he died. And she is now alone. But what do you think. She is doing. She continued. To serve. The Lord. She come. To the meetings. She read. Her Bible. She served. In a mission field. She continued. To trust the Lord. And I pray. That the Lord. Will open a door. And give her.

A godly man. So she can. Establish a home. And be such a blessing. See. This is so real. Beloved. Brothers and sisters. It's a real life. That the Lord. Through Paul. To give these instructions. To the local. Assembly. At Ephesus. And unless the Lord. Help us. We all fall apart. And we don't. Please him. And so. Here's the conclusion. Beloved. Brothers and sisters. In verse 15. He says. For some. Already. Turn aside. After Satan. Satan. Is not. Going to give them. Room. He is attacking. He has his own way. And some. Even turn away. After him. Because he was successful. In beguiling. He beguiled. Eve. In the garden.

Has God said. He said. To Eve. In the garden. And he ended up. Influencing Eve. To take up the tree. And ultimately. She gave it. To her husband. And he ate. And sin. Came into. The world. And he concludes here. Verse 16. If a man or a woman. That believe. Have widows. Let them relieve. Those widows. And let not. The church. Be. Charged. Or the assembly. Be charged. And that he may. Relieve them. That are widows. Indeed. He is going back. To what he has already said. In verse 8. If any. Provide not. For his own. And especially. Of those. Of his own household. He is denied the faith.

And he is worse. Than an infidel. If any one of us. Have in their home. Really. In their life. A widow. Take care of them. Let them minister. To them. Let them. Relieve them. And not. Put it as a burden. On the local assembly. Take care. Of your very own. Family. First. And then. You will do. The will. Of the Lord. If there are. Widows. Indeed. Ministered. Unto those. Widows. Indeed. This very. Mundane. Why do we need. These instructions. Well. This is real. We experience this. In our own lives. And the apostle. Gave this instruction. To Timothy. For the benefit. Of the local assembly. And it is for you.

And I. To Timothy. To Timothy.