Ya'll Behave Yourself Part One (1 Timothy 3:14-15) by Dr. Rod Mattoon

Scripture

• 1 Timothy 3:14–15

About this sermon

1 Timothy 3:14-15...These things write I unto thee, hoping to come unto thee shortly: 15 But if I tarry long, that thou mayest know how thou oughtest to behave thyself in the house of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth. In this message, we deal with the issue of the Christians behavior. If the Christian is to behave, then he or she must know how to deal with the delays that have a way of popping up. The Christian must also make the Bible an important part of his or her life. These issues are addressed in this message. Delays have a way of popping up. God’s timetable has a way of being much different than ours. Understand, however, that His delays are not His denials. God does what He wants to do in His own time and own way. Why? He is GOD! Delay is difficult and stressful, but it exercises our faith because we have to learn to wait on God. David said, “I am weary of my crying: my throat is dried: mine eyes fail while I wait for my God” (Psalm 69:3). Delays reveal our sincerity to pray and our tenacity in patience and faith. Many well-known people in history faced delays and obstacles. * Booker T. Washington was born in slavery but became an educator, author, orator, and adviser to several presidents of the United States. * The inventor Thomas Edison was deaf. * Abraham Lincoln was born to illiterate parents. * The author Robert Louis Stevenson had tuberculosis. * Julius Caesar was an epileptic. But these men made history despite their handicaps. * There was also Louis Pasteur, so near-sighted that he had a difficult time finding his way in his laboratory without glasses. Yet, his discoveries made him the father of bacteriology and microbiology. * There was Helen Keller, who could not hear or see, but who graduated with honors from a famous college. Paul faced delays and hindrances, yet, the Lord continued to direct his life and use him. * 1 Thessalonians 2:18-Wherefore we would have come unto you, even I Paul, once and again; but Satan hindered us. * Acts 16:6-Now when they had gone throughout Phrygia and the region of Galatia, and were forbidden of the Holy Ghost to preach the word in Asia. Do you have a circumstance that seems like a delay? Call on the Lord and wait for Him to work and give direction to you. No problem is too big for Him or too small. Delays are no fun at all, but how we deal with our obstacles and delays will determine if we are going to go through life defeated, frustrated, or victorious. The green lights and the red lights in our lives are overseen by God for our good. A young child was writing out Psalm 37:23 for his teacher, “The steps of a good man are ordered by the LORD: and he delighteth in his way.” As she read the verse, she noticed a word that was misspelled. The student wrote, “The stops of a good man are ordered by the Lord.” She said, “Bobby, do you know that you misspelled steps?” Bobby replied, “No ma’am, I am ready for this class to stop so that I can step somewhere else.” Many are like Bobby. They want to step somewhere else. They don’t want to be delayed. Beloved, when we endeavor to follow the Lord, we need to discern when and where to step, but we also need to know when to stop and be still. God uses the still times, the waiting times, to rest, refresh, and strengthen us for future service. He anchors our souls and deepens our roots in the Lord. * Psalm 4:4—Stand in awe, and sin not: commune with your own heart upon your bed, and be still. * Psalm 46:10-Be still, and know that I am God: I will be exalted among the heathen, I will be exalted in the earth. When it comes to the matter of being saved, do not delay that decision. Do not be like Felix when Paul witnessed to him. Paul reasoned with him about righteousness, temperance, and judgment to come. Felix trembled and told Paul, “Go thy way for this time; when I have a convenient season, I will call for thee” (Acts 24:25). God urges you to be saved today if Christ is not your Savior. * 2 Corinthians 6:2- (For he saith, I have heard thee in a time accepted, and in the day of salvation have I succoured thee: behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.) This message was preached on Sunday morning, February 26, 2023, at Lincoln Land Baptist Church.