Author: missionspaul

Start your day with knowing who you are; make your first words you communicate, whether by conversation or by message, be the truth of what you know and not what others think they know about you. 

“Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus through the will of God, according to the promise of the life which is in Christ Jesus, to Timothy, my beloved child: Grace, mercy, peace, from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord.”

‭‭2 Timothy‬ ‭1‬:‭1‬-‭2‬ ‭

Until the day he was martyred; no matter the slander thrown at him, nor the situation of the prison he was in; he’s been beaten, whipped, stoned, shipwrecked, he’s suffered many dangers and hardships; but he knows who he is and he know whose he is, an apostle of Christ Jesus. 

This is not ordered by himself. This is God’s will for his life. 

There are times when we need to talk about who we are not what is containing us. 

Your older now; your situation of life maybe more complicated; it could be that you have less time ahead of you than what has gone before; but your calling is still there because the promise never fades. 

Look at those words again. The ‘promise of life’. What is this life?

The word refers to spiritual life- abundant life, eternal life, starting from the first day of meeting Christ. Death looms large, yet Paul begins by emphasizing life. This isn’t denial but defiance—a declaration that even impending martyrdom cannot diminish the reality of the life promised in Christ. Never let your predicament stop your ministry. 

I couldn’t close down this first letter to Timothy without highlighting the last 5 words of Paul. He starts the letter with grace and he ends with it.

“Grace be with you all.” (1 Timothy 6 v 21)

Between the start and the finish the letter contains compelling truth. It hasnt pulled any punches. It is a letter dealing with truth, character, leadership, humility, separation from the world, warnings after warnings about false teaching, spiritual dangers which he lists are many and now he ends with grace.

This is essential.

Truth without grace becomes legalism. Grace without truth becomes sentimentalism. The gospel holds truth and grace in perfect tension.

It should be the hallmark of our Christian lives. We defend the faith not with arrogance but with humility, knowing we too rely entirely on the grace of God for our lives. We always hope for restoration more than compliance or victory.

We ourselves are products of grace. Like Timothy we were called, chosen, equipped and sustained by God’s grace.

Paul didn’t tell Timothy to get into an argument with the dividers of the faith. He told him to turn away, to be kind, to win their hearts not the argument.

Paul doesn’t write these 5 words to be polite. This is theology at its heart. The gospel isn’t about rules to be followed but it is about grace.

Are we known more for our principled lifestyle than our gracious one? Do people encounter a defender of truth or a releaser of grace?

Put this day through the filter of grace and watch what happens to your world.

“Timothy, guard what has been entrusted to your care. Turn away from godless chatter and the opposing ideas of what is falsely called knowledge, which some have professed and in so doing have departed from the faith. Grace be with you all.” 1 Timothy 6:20-21

We have been given a precious message and an important treasured possession; the gospel and its transformational power.

Every one of us. Not just those in the pulpit but also in the pew.

We have been entrusted with it. 

In Paul’s final instructions, that’s what he tells Timothy and he says, “don’t change a thing of what you have been given and don’t let Church members be deceived by what is hidden.”

So what does that mean? 

I heard a prophecy that was given in a picture form of a foot with a sock on it. All looked fine on the outside but when the sock was taken off the foot was festering and weeping. I’ve never forgotten it. 

What Paul says about the early Gnostic ideas were beginning to infiltrate Christian communities. These teachings promised secret wisdom and elevated spiritual understanding but ultimately led people away from simple faith in Christ. It was the sock that looked fine but masked a disease underneath. 

Paul isn’t anti-intellectual—his own writings demonstrate profound theological depth. But Paul believed in holding out against those who offer something that isn’t true and moves them away from what was originally given to the Church.

The challenge for us is the discernment of what is being presented as true, good and successful. Many can be deceived to the point of losing their relationship with the Lord, 

We have to be on our guard with what has been given to us. Let us not be the generation that messes it up. Guard and turn from, that’s what we need to do. 

I can’t read the following verses without thanking God for a group of friends I have who have given over £100,000 so far this year for mission projects and people around the world. They are ordinary and wonderful people who God has blessed and they are taking that blessing and blessing many others.

We are moving into Paul’s final instructions to Timothy in this first letter.

^“Command those who are rich in this present world not to be arrogant nor to put their hope in wealth, which is so uncertain, but to put their hope in God, who richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment. ¹⁸ Command them to do good, to be rich in good deeds, and to be generous and willing to share. ¹⁹ In this way they will lay up treasure for themselves as a firm foundation for the coming age, so that they may take hold of the life that is truly life.” (1 Timothy 6 v 17-19)

To those with wealth:-

• Your wealth hasn’t made you a better person. It has made you a steward with greater responsibility than most.
• Your wealth doesn’t give you security. God is your provider.
• Your wealth means you can bring a positive impact into lots of situations.
• Your wealth means you can choose a generous lifestyle.
• Your wealth means you can actively pursue need and opportunities to give rather than wait to be asked.
• Your wealth mirrors God’s nature.
• Your wealth when released brings a return of true life marked with purpose, joy and eternal significance.

To those without wealth (so you think):-

• Where is your true trust? Is God your provider and how are you proving this?
• Are you known for your generosity?
• Generosity doesn’t have to involve money.
• Look around at your ‘stuff’ and ask how you can bless someone with it.
• To be rich is not to grab and to be willing to give.

Paul’s instructions to his protégé are as important to us today as for Timothy. There are many times when we need to keep looking away from temporary kingdoms of this world that simply compete against each other, to an eternal throne, to the King of Kings, who sits in total victory because He has competed and won everything there is to win. It is there at the throne where we receive our purpose, our orders and where we find our ultimate hope.

“Fight the good fight of the faith. Take hold of the eternal life to which you were called when you made your good confession in the presence of many witnesses. ¹³ In the sight of God, who gives life to everything, and of Christ Jesus, who while testifying before Pontius Pilate made the good confession, I charge you ¹⁴ to keep this command without spot or blame until the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ, ¹⁵ which God will bring about in his own time—God, the blessed and only Ruler, the King of kings and Lord of lords, ¹⁶ who alone is immortal and who lives in unapproachable light, whom no one has seen or can see. To him be honour and might forever. Amen.” (1 Timothy 6 v 12-16)

We fight with purpose. Our battle isn’t flesh and blood. It isn’t people. This is a spiritual battle we are in. Our daily choices and interactions reveal this.

We hold in our minds our past declarations of faith. Whether that be our baptisms, our testimony opportunities or even in the most difficult of times, like Jesus before Pilate, we declared who we were and what our purpose was. We bring that to our memory and we move forward on that declaration.

We know time is short. Struggles are temporary. There is a plan and it involves the appearing again of the King of Kings.

We worship God. As we magnify His attributes our problems are placed into perspective.

• He is the blessed and only Ruler. He is Sovereign. All authority comes from Him.
• He is the King of kings and the Lord of lords. He is supreme over everything. Every President, leader, monarch answers to Him.
• He alone is immortal. Our immortality comes through His nature which is immortal.
• He lives in unapproachable light whom no one has seen or can see. The brilliance of His light cannot be survived to the state and being of humanity.

This is fuel for our fight, the good fight. It makes everything worthwhile. Our problems are temporary for we serve the eternal God with eternal purposes.

And so we declare confidently and victoriously, AMEN!

Paul has been writing about people who have been destroyed by what they pursued. But you …!

Paul has written about the love of money. But you …!

Paul has told of how people have wandered from the faith. But you …!

Paul has said of how people have pierced themselves with many griefs. But you …!

Paul is speaking to you and me. But you …!

“But you, man of God, flee from all this, and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, endurance and gentleness.” (1 Timothy 6 v 11)

There is a stark contrast. While others may be consumed by materialism and greed, Timothy is called to a different path entirely.
Paul’s choice to address Timothy as “man of God” is both tender and weighty. This title, used throughout the Old Testament for prophets and spiritual leaders, reminds Timothy of his calling and identity. It’s not just what Timothy does that matters, but who he is—a person set apart for God’s purposes.
This designation serves as both encouragement and accountability. Timothy isn’t just another church leader; he’s God’s representative, called to embody divine character in a broken world.

But you …  are different! You are not like anyone else. You are a man or a woman of God.

So get out from all this nonsense. Flee. Run away from anything that competes with your devotion to God.
Run away but run after also. Paul provides a list and says ‘get these things’.

In doing so, we discover that this isn’t merely about moral improvement—it’s about being the people God created us to be.

I am sorry for starting with a joke! But it’s Saturday!

An old miser, due to his terrible cheapness, had no friends nor family. Just before he died he called his doctor, his lawyer and a minister to come see him. They complied, and gathered together around his bed. “I always heard you can’t take it with you, but I am going to prove you can,” he said. “I have £90,000 cash hidden underneath my mattress. It’s in 3 envelopes of £30,000 each. I want each one of you to grab one envelope now and just before they throw the dirt on my grave,  you throw the envelopes in.” Weeks later, the three attended the funeral, and true to their word, each threw in their envelope into the grave. On the way back from the cemetery, the minister said, “I don’t feel so good about this, I am going to confess, I desperately needed £10,000 for a new church we are building, so I took out £10,000 and threw only £20,000 in the grave.”  The doctor said, “I, too, must confess. I am building a clinic and took £20,000 and threw in only £10,000.”  He looked ashamed.  The lawyer said, “Gentlemen, I’m surprised, shocked and ashamed of both of you. I don’t see how you could in good conscience hold on to that money. I threw in a personal cheque for the entire amount.”

We are born empty-handed and we die empty-handed. Paul knew this and he declares a sobering truth:

For we brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out of it. 8 But if we have food and clothing, we will be content with that. 9 Those who want to get rich fall into temptation and a trap and into many foolish and harmful desires that plunge people into ruin and destruction. 10 For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs. (1 Timothy 6 v 7-10)

In a world obsessed with accumulating wealth, status symbols, and material possessions, these four verses from Paul’s letter to Timothy cut through the noise like a sword. 

If everything we own is temporary, how much energy should we really invest in accumulating more?

Contentment is not settling for less; it’s recognising when we have enough. 

The pursuit of wealth creates opportunities for compromise. How many people have cut ethical corners, neglected relationships, or abandoned their values in the name of financial gain?
The love of money breeds other destructive appetites—for power, recognition, control, and pleasure. These desires often lead us away from what truly satisfies the human soul.
Ultimately, the relentless pursuit of wealth can destroy not just our finances, but our relationships, our integrity, and our spiritual lives.
Perhaps the most misquoted verse in this passage is verse 10: “For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil.” Notice Paul doesn’t say money itself is evil, but rather the love of money. The Greek word used here suggests an intense affection or desire—making money an idol.
When we love money, it becomes our master rather than our tool. It shapes our decisions, priorities, and relationships. It promises security, significance, and satisfaction—but these are promises only God can truly fulfil.
Paul notes that some, “eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs.” The imagery is striking: people impaling themselves with sorrows in their pursuit of wealth. The very thing they thought would bring happiness becomes the source of their deepest pain.
We entered this world with nothing, and we’ll leave with nothing. But in between, we have the opportunity to find true contentment not in what we accumulate, but in the One who provides all that we truly need.

Big question. Would a little more of something help you to be a bit more happier?

In the context of a message which is still preached today, that of material prosperity, come 7 key words that counter that falsehood.

“But godliness with contentment is great gain.” (1 Timothy 6 v 6)

Gain is not from stuff or even trying to use godliness to get it. But it is from godliness with contentment.

If you are satisfied with what you have, then you are rich.

If you have godly contentment, which the endless pursuer of material wealth can never arrive at, then you have arrived at having what you need, you have enough. You have something powerful; a settled confidence in God’s goodness that doesn’t need more stuff to feel secure.

We live in an advertising world which tells us, demands of us, our attention and our allegiance. Happiness is just one more purchase away. But we can resist this culture.

• We can pause before spending.
• We can be thankful for what we have.
• We can find our identity in Christ and not in possessions or experiences.

I believe in prosperity. A prospering of the soul. A prospering that cannot be robbed. It is a prospering that says, ‘I have enough, it is good, I am happy.’

The Bible isn’t just an ancient text. It’s not even the greatest text amongst all other texts. The Bible has living words that bring life. When the Bible is preached and taught then people’s lives are transformed. Those without hope are given hope. Those who are anxious are given peace. Those who are sad are given joy. That’s true isn’t it?

Paul would say that the preaching and teaching of the Bible isn’t the guarantee for these benefits, in fact, it can bring the opposite.

“These are the things you are to teach and insist on. ³ If anyone teaches otherwise and does not agree to the sound instruction of our Lord Jesus Christ and to godly teaching, ⁴ they are conceited and understand nothing. They have an unhealthy interest in controversies and quarrels about words that result in envy, strife, malicious talk, evil suspicions ⁵ and constant friction between people of corrupt mind, who have been robbed of the truth and who think that godliness is a means to financial gain.” (1 Timothy 6 v 2-5)

So what should we look for in a preacher and Bible teacher?

• They proclaim the instruction of Christ. That’s what Paul says. What comes out of their mouth came out of Christ’s, no change, no alteration, nothing to oppose it, no updates, it has to agree.
• In their communicating they are aiming for godliness. This is not some information sharing. These are the very words that carry true life to those who hear.
• They are known for their humility. They know they don’t know everything. They can be questioned and even challenged. They are a student first and a teacher second.
• They are not wanting to demonstrate how clever they are. Their only aim is to build others up not their own ego.
• Their preaching unites communities around the person of Christ.
• They are not preaching to gain for themselves in anyway, financial or other.

In an age of competing voices, social media platforms, and the pressure to be relevant, Paul’s words call us back to the primary responsibility of those who communicate the Bible.

Just don’t compete. But be consistent, faithful and true.

In Paul’s day, the Roman Empire’s economy was built on slavery. He doesn’t endorse it. But he instructs Timothy how Christians should live within it. For all kinds of reasons and circumstances Christians today find themselves in situations that they cannot change. So how do we live?

“All who are under the yoke of slavery should consider their masters worthy of full respect, so that God’s name and our teaching may not be slandered. Those who have believing masters should not show them disrespect just because they are fellow believers. Instead, they should serve them even better because their masters are dear to them as fellow believers and are devoted to the welfare of their slaves.” – 1 Timothy 6:1-2

Protect the Gospel. If we behave badly in the situation then some will reflect that your Christian testimony is flawed and the gospel is no longer good news. Our conduct enhances or damages the credibility of the gospel we declare. Christians slaves should behave as men and women of God. Our work ethic, attitude, and character serve as a testimony to our faith. Shoddy work and constant complaints can discredit the gospel we claim to believe.

Pursue excellence even in easier situations. If those who lead in such environments, like the masters of slaves in Paul’s day, are Christians, then this doesn’t mean the ‘Christian slave’ slackens off hoping for preferential treatment. Rather they should be inspired to be the best they can be, even more so. The early church’s approach was revolutionary in its own way. By creating communities where slave and free worshipped together as equals, where masters were called to treat slaves justly (Ephesians 6:9), and where the inherent dignity of all people was affirmed, Christianity planted seeds that would eventually help dismantle slavery itself.

Our faith is most clearly seen outside of Church and in situations where it is most challenging. We have an opportunity to show what the gospel really does in changing lives. The world, our world, is watching how we live in situations we cannot change.