Author: Ben Bourland

“Therefore do not be ashamed of the testimony about our Lord, nor of me his prisoner, but share in suffering for the gospel by the power of God, ⁹ who saved us and called us to a holy calling, not because of our works but because of his own purpose and grace, which he gave us in Christ Jesus before the ages began, ¹⁰ and which now has been manifested through the appearing of our Savior Christ Jesus, who abolished death and brought life and immortality to light through the gospel” 2 Timothy 1:8-10 -> me: By the way that Paul speaks to Timothy, we get the sense that Timothy was timid in spirit.  Paul is constantly telling Timothy to be strong, deliberate, confident, and now without shame.  Even though we WILL suffer for the testimony of the gospel, Paul says that the suffering is by the Power of God.  This means that the intention was never that we would endure suffering under our own strength.  Paul also reminds Timothy that he was not just saved…he was also called.  We are not just saved from sin but to a life of holiness.  You can never leave that off.  Said another way -> We saved from sin into a life of holiness.  We did nothing to earn this saving grace.  Our works in holiness are paved in a preceding call through genuine faith; not the other way around.  Because we are in Christ through our Salvation, Paul can say that God gave us this saving grace before the dawn of time, because Christ has always been.  Just dwelling on these points this evening gives me a confidence in witness.  Today is Brooklyn’s first birthday and she, like Prim, is another gift God has given me; not just in the amazing little kiddo that she is, but also in a new testimony of God’s working hand in our lives. 

“I remind you to fan into flame the gift of God, which is in you through the laying on of my hands, for God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control.” 2 Timothy 1:6-7 -> me:  The last several weeks can only be described as inconsistency.  Today I started 2nd Timothy.  I started my quiet time with a pray of repentance and asking of forgiveness to my Lord in being distance and complacent the last several weeks.  Then, here I read “fan into flame the gift of God”.  That is exactly what pursuing God and His will for your life is…the Amplified version says “rekindle the ember of…the inner fire that is in you”.  My whole time in prayer was recounting to my Lord and Savior the confidence in spirit I have when I am in His word [DAILY], praying for the needs of others [HOURLY], and seeking His will [EVERY FREE MOMENT].  Just yesterday I was talking to Sophie in the car on the way back from church; encouraging her not to snuff out or quench the sensitive heart she has….that it is a gift from God that she needs to hone and sharpen by seeking God’s power through daily reading and prayer.  That there will be a day that she will get that ‘ET Feeling’ in her heart and instead of fear, she will be filled with an awesome sense of God’s closeness to her through this open portal to His Spirit and will for her.  When we got done with our car ride, I just sat there thanking God for His word into MY heart through what I was telling my own daughter…I need to practice using the gifts and tools He has given me in my life to do His work; to impact His kingdom for eternity.  So not only did God speak to my heart in what He laid before me to tell Sophie, but then He one-upped it by giving me a verse in my quiet time today to share with Sophie as a verse to focus on in regard to this special gift she has.  Humbled….

“Be subject for the Lord’s sake to every human institution, whether it be to the emperor as supreme, or to governors as sent by him to punish those who do evil and to praise those who do good. For this is the will of God, that by doing good you should put to silence the ignorance of foolish people. Live as people who are free, not using your freedom as a cover-up for evil, but living as servants of God. Honor everyone. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honor the emperor.” 1 Peter 2:13-17 -> me: This topic of ‘When is Civil Disobedience Appropriate for Christians?’ continues to consume my time with the Lord.  For the last several days I have, again, been petitioning my God and Savior for answers to the current situation we face as a church.  We continue to be thrown around by worldly leaders in state government who seem to be making decisions on data different than what has been made visible to us.  Even though Washington state has remained in a good place (compared to other states) the governor persists in making tighter guidelines for houses of worship.  We have been enjoying an outdoor setting to our Sunday worship services the last 3 weeks and it has been awesome, but just yesterday, the governor tightened guidelines to 200 people max for outdoor services and 200 people max for indoor services…which does not make sense.  Outdoors has proven to be a better environment for limiting viral loads much more than indoors yet they are now the same numbers.  Now I get that we are learning more about the virus every week, and I have to imagine that being in a leadership position like Inslee has got to be tough but this is getting a little crazy and making it truly a ‘Strength of God’ situation to continue to be subject to these requirements and guidance.  I hardly ever do this but I am asking you for something this time – if you feel comfortable, please share with me scripture references that you believe supports bucking the Governor’s constraints making it difficult to meet as a church body.

“​Let all who are under a yoke as bondservants regard their own masters as worthy of all honor, so that the name of God and the teaching may not be reviled.” 1 Timothy 6:1 -> me: Over the last several days both Marianne and I have had more and more understanding of God’s plan for us (as a church and as Christians) in this pandemic.  More specifically around our response to Government authorities in regards to guidelines placed on the church. 

What has become such an awesome realization is that you MUST be a reader of God’s entire word in order to see the through-line of His character, will, plans, and purposes for our lives…yes, you can get a lot out of specific verses, but the collating of multiple passages is the primary way we gain understanding and confidence in direction for crazy times like this. 

Here today in 1 Timothy 6:1-2, we see Paul’s instruction to his apprentice about a Christian slave’s respect of his master; even more so when his master is also a believer.  Without going into too much detail, here is what God is revealing to me more and more about our response to authority:

• Respect all who are in authority [believing and non-believing]
• Our witness is more important than our circumstance. 

Here we have Paul talking about slaves and we all know that God does not approve of slavery.  He has gone to the greatest length to free us from the slavery to sin by sending His own Son to die on the cross for our sin.  However, Paul is not telling the slaves to mount a revolution to free themselves, no – he is telling them that their witness and testimony should glorify God where they are and not be a reason that God or the teaching of Christian Faith can be slandered. 

Please read Marianne’s post (https://bourlandweb.com/2020/08/01/mariannes-notes-because-we-are-free-we-are-subject) on what the Lord revealed to her this weekend through her reading in 1st Peter.  You will see how complementary our quiet times are.  I am so thankful for God’s sovereign grace to give us these reinforcing messages.

“Let a widow be enrolled if she is not less than sixty years of age, having been the wife of one husband, and having a reputation for good works: if she has brought up children, has shown hospitality, has washed the feet of the saints, has cared for the afflicted, and has devoted herself to every good work.” 1 Timothy 5:9-10 -> me: I know that Paul is talking about widows here but I my primary takeaway, personally to my walk, is about how age can bring wisdom, dedication, and resilience against temptation. 

There are just things that a life filled with experience can bring in a person’s set of variables they use in decision making, trustworthiness, and steadfastness.  When you bring this age together with a walk of faith that leads to good works, you find a formidable Christian and follower of Jesus Christ that can have a tremendous impact on your church and the body of believers in it.  This does not mean I should discount younger believers, but it does mean that an older believer can add attributes and contribution that is well informed and tested. 

I really like this list of character traits Paul calls out as they can be applied to any believer’s evaluation of fruit.  I turn 50 years old next month, yet I still have so much to learn about being in fellowship with my Lord and Savior. 

Just in the last 3 days I have had to relook at how I contribute to my home, my wife, and my children.  I have become complacent in my focus on these precious people who mean so much to me.  My selfishness, attitude, and pride can get the best of me and I pray that the Lord continues to show me my weaknesses through His word and Holy Spirit, that I might become the man my wife and children deserve in a husband and father.

“She who is truly a widow, left all alone, has set her hope on God and continues in supplications and prayers night and day,” 1 Timothy 5:5 -> me: The last couple of days I have been pressing into chapter 5 here of 1 Timothy.  I usually try to read through a chapter before I dive into deep study.  When I do dive in, God always surprises me with a new understanding of His character, will, purposes, and plan.  Well, today was no different.  These first several verses focus on respecting those around us; older people, people our same age, and widows (real widows – let’s get to that in a moment).  Paul knew that Timothy might need to correct an older believer in their doctrine or theology so he tells Timothy to do such rebuke with respect and treat him no different than he would his own father.  Likewise, to treat people his own age like he would his own brothers and sisters; older women as he would treat his mother.  Then Paul gets to widows where he spends 13 verses talking about them.  The first three define what it means to be a ‘real’ widow, a widow who has no family or relatives to take care of her.  A woman who has lost everything and solely relies on God day and night to answer her prayers as she beseeches Him.  The Lord provides for her through the church and takes the place of her husband for support.  It is pleasing to God that we take care of our parents.  When we take care of our parents we are paying them back for our upbringing and  the sacrifices they made for us.  What’s important is that Paul doesn’t provide a different instruction for children who may feel they have nothing good to pay back; we are to take care of our aging or widowed parents regardless…even if the only reason we do it is please God.  In my case, I have much to pay back; my parents not only made many a sacrifice for my brother and I; they also raised us with all of the knowledge we needed to become godly men.  Thank you mom and dad, for the example you have set and who you have been for me all these years.

“Practice these things, immerse yourself in them, so that all may see your progress. ¹⁶ Keep a close watch on yourself and on the teaching. Persist in this, for by so doing you will save both yourself and your hearers.” 1 Timothy 4:15-16 -> me: Finished up chapter 4 today in 1 Timothy.  These concluding verses were so impactful to me.  What are the things that Paul is referring to that Timothy should practice and immerse himself in? 1) To teach the gospel of HOPE.  2) Set an example for believers in life, in speech, in love, in faith, and in purity. 3) Devoting one’s self to preaching and teaching God’s word…expositionally.  4) To not neglect your gifts.  |  I also like how Paul, once again, talks about Timothy keeping his life and doctrine in check lest he wander off path.  We can never become too comfortable in where God has us.  I must continually keep how I live my life and what I teach from God’s word linked in such a way that someone doesn’t just have to listen to what I might teach but how I live out my teaching.  This hit me today when I thought back to the devotion I recorded for my Life Group on Monday (https://bourlandweb.com/2020/07/19/qtvod-from-gods-to-gift/).  Am I thanking God for everything just as I said in my video?  Am I practicing this concept God revealed to me through His word.  The answer – not as much as I should.  Thank you Lord Jesus for your consistent help in my life that needs you so badly.  Everything I have is a gift from you, including my life that is alive to enjoy them.

“For physical training is of some value (useful for a little), but godliness (spiritual training) is useful and of value in everything and in every way, for it holds promise for the present life and also for the life which is to come.” 1 Timothy 4:8 -> me:  yesterday’s quiet time was on 1st Timothy 4:3-5.  I didn’t send the write up for this because I plan to use it as a devotional that I’m going to send my life group. 🙂 Once that is out I will put it up on our website so that it can be read. In today’s reading, Paul spends time telling Timothy what it looks like to be a good minister of the word. Paul exhorts Timothy in how absolutely important it is that he calls out false teaching and to help brothers and sisters in Christ understand what this looks like. In fact, I read a commentary that says being good minister is like a shepherd who shoves stones under the hooves of their flock as they walk over treacherous ground.  One of the things I love about Canyon Hills is that we follow Paul’s teaching in that the responsibility of teachers is to give positive answers to negative doctrines.  Paul tells Timothy that he has been brought up in the truths of the faith; the words Paul chooses suggest a continual process.  There is no better means of spiritual nourishment than a constant dwelling on the great truths of faith. False teaching is equated here with godless myths and wives’ tales. Old wive’s tales are those superstitions that hold no real truth or consequence…it is wasted time and energy devoting ones life to following them. The words used for ‘having nothing to do with’ are the same as Titus 3:10 and 2 Timothy 2:23. Finally we get to verse 8 where Paul tells us that even physical training has more benefit than believing myths or wive’s tales…but even this can not hold a candle to godliness. The practice and search for godliness reaps benefits for and wide…in both this life and eternal life.

“Now the Spirit expressly says that in later times some will depart from the faith by devoting themselves to deceitful spirits and teachings of demons, through the insincerity of liars whose consciences are seared,” 1 Timothy 4:1-2 -> me: Well, I didn’t get that far into chapter 4 today.  I spent all of my time on the first two verses. 

The first part of 1 Timothy 4 is all about those who leave the faith and follow false teaching.  Paul uses ‘expressly’ or ‘clearly’ because Peter, James, and Paul himself wrote Spirit inspired scripture on this topic and Jesus Himself talked about it in Mark 13:22.  The apostacy Paul talks about here is specified in a two-fold manner.  1) The apostates ‘follow’ deceiving spirits and 2) believe things taught by demons.  Verse 2 talks about teachings coming through hypocritical liars which means that the deceiving spirits and demon find particular allies in these hypocritical liars. 

These false teachers have lost all sense of the wrongness of their actions which is why Paul uses the term meaning ‘cauterized’ to describe the consciences of these men – Ephesians 4:19. 

Here is the META POINT -> The consciences of these false teachers have ceased to warn them of the falseness of their teaching…they have become anaesthetized.  This is scary because the false teaching can be so cleverly woven to sound truthful. 

As a Christian who has his head deep in God’s word, I must stay vigilant to the false doctrine being disseminated around me.  I can see it in people I once respected and I can see it in the leadership of some of the churches surrounding Canyon Hills.

“For those who serve well as deacons gain a good standing for themselves and also great confidence in the faith that is in Christ Jesus.” 1 Timothy 3:13 -> me: Just an update from me today since you have not heard from me for awhile (since the 8th of July).  I have been spending a majority of that time searching God’s word and direction in how we should operate as a church body during a time where there is confusion, fear, doubt, mistrust, and instability.  What I can tell you is that God has been so faithful and merciful to give me several passages that encouraged me and gave me a peace about how to look at all of what is going on.  I shared what God had laid on my heart as part of our elders meeting this last Monday.  This godly group of men has me so humbled.  The love and care they feel for their church flock is overwhelming.  I will be back in the swing of regular quiet times tomorrow and will post my discoveries on what God revealed to me in His word and through His Holy Spirit here on the website in the next couple of days.  I finished the passage in 1 Timothy 3:8-16 on church deacons.  The primary difference I was able to discern was that deacons are impowered to serve the poor and needy.  They are mentioned in Acts 6, Philippians 1:1, and here in 1 Timothy.  Another quality that is mentioned for elders and pastors separate from deacons, is that elders and pastors have the additional role of teaching.  This move to 1 Timothy (and the rest of the pastorals) has been so great!  Thank you for the encouragement Jeff P!