Dear Friend of Vision

“Epaphras, my fellow prisoner in Christ Jesus, greets you, as do Mark, Aristarchus, Demas, Luke, my fellow workers. (Phm. 23-24)

In life, you never choose your family…you get what you get. However, we believe that we choose our friends, but that isn’t always true.  When you have a friend, especially ones willing to go through tough times with you, well, they are worth cherishing and commending.

In this list, with the exception of Demas (who left under dubious conditions), Paul seems to have two categories of friends…fellow workers and one remarkable fellow, Epaphras, a fellow prisoner.

Without doubt, Luke the physician, Mark, originally the infamous deserter John Mark, cause of the fight and eventual breakup between Barnabas and Paul, Aristarchus, who had to be reminded to mind his ministry, were all dear friends of Paul.  They were co-laborers, suffering with him…but Epaphras was more than a friend.  He jumped down into the Roman (no bathroom, sleep on the floor) prison with his father in the faith, Paul; now that is commitment…or insanity!

Well, it is easy to have friends when things are well; there is money in the bank, wife or husband is happy, etc. But when prison or other problems come, that is when the real friends are seen.  They show up, sometimes disappointed,but still there…and some are even willing to go to prison with us.  I hope neither you or I get the opportunity to test that one out.

Dr. Stan

Dear Friend of Vision

“For this reason I left you in Crete, that you would set in order what remains and appoint elders in every city as I directed you,” (Tit 1:5)

In the First Century church, the appointment of elders (older ones able to lead) was a function of apostles, or sent ones. In Antioch, and probably other cities, elders were the ones to lay hands on apostles and prophets, confirming their calling and releasing them into their arena of service.

There does not seem to be any sense of competition, nor any qualms or concerns about who is on top or bottom, as they all seemed to recognize each other (apostle or elder or evangelist or pastor or prophet or deacon) according to their function, not title, and were simply grateful to the Lord for having called them and gifted them to serve. Well, how naïve! Didn’t they know that someday in the distant future we will come to a vote on the Pope of Pentecost (frankly, I look great with a tall hat on!). Well, of course, not naïve at all, but in keeping with the Spirit of God and his leading in the church.

Truly, apostles argued about doctrine, passionately, and cared a great deal about issues related to holy living. But titles, offices, and who is boss was less a concern as they focused on Jesus as King and Lord.

Appointing elders, affirming apostles and other five-fold ministers was not political, but relational. As a person, male or female, slave or free, Jew or Gentile, demonstrated the gifting of their ministry, it was simply affirmed with rejoicing, as it should be in all churches everywhere. My prayer is that we return to the simple recognition of the gifts that God has in the church, and learn to affirm, love, support and work together for the King and His Kingdom.

Dr Stan

Dear Friend of Vision

“The things which you have heard from me in the presence of many witnesses, entrust these to faithful men who will be able to teach others also. (2 Ti 2:2)

The teaching of Paul must have been sufficiently anointed and clear for it to be transmitted to others…who would in turn take the memorized messages and teach others. This was all done, more likely, orally and not in written form. Why is this important?

Firstly, the hearer or student actually had to attend, listen intently, and though they may have taken notes, they mostly payed close mind to every nuance of Paul’s presentation. In many ways, this is a lost art form for students…listening, but faith comes by hearing…and you cannot hear without having open ears and an open heart, and a willingness to listen carefully and prayerfully.

Secondly, when you listen carefully and prayerfully, you get the message, but also the messenger. The student catches the spirit of the teacher. The best teachers I have sat under were not necessarily the brightest, but were by far the most passionate about their subject.  They were able to engage students, helping us enter the conversation and pick up the heart of the instructor, not just the information.

Finally, faithfulness can be clearly seen by the very fact that the student shows up…which you cannot guarantee via the internet, or simply because they are in the pew every other week. Consistent teaching to students who are consistently listening produces faithful followers who can teach others also.

Dr Stan

Dear Friend of Vision,

“But the goal of our instruction is love from a pure heart and a good conscience and a sincere faith.” 1 Ti. 1:5) part 2

As teachers of the word, as Bishop Timothy was in Ephesus, or spiritual leaders such as pastors in local congregations, it is easy to get off track. We can get so caught up in the day to day life of administration, counseling, etc., and thus miss the main event we are to be focused on…teaching to produce transformation.

It seems as though Paul’s expectation of Timothy was to see people change, from the inside out. The first change was a change of heart.  The heart would be flooded with love, thus changing the normal orientation of a believer from self to God and others. Further, one’s very affections would be centered on whatever God wants…finding out what pleases the Lord.

Secondly, our conscience, knowledge of right and wrong, and the ability to choose what is right is renewed. A good conscience is one who’s mind is lined up in unity with the Word of God, literally becoming God conscious rather than self-conscious. This can be difficult in the millennial generation, so often over indulged with self-esteem that they have no esteem for God or anyone else.

Finally, a faithful faith is a faith that is outwardly focused, and faithful in all its actions. In other words, our goal is maturity. It was Paul’s goal, no doubt Jesus goal for his disciples, and must be our goal for the next generation. May the Lord help us stay focused on the goal.

Dr. Stan

 

 

 

Dear Friend of Vision

“But the goal of our instruction is love from a pure heart and a good conscience and a sincere faith.” 1 Ti. 1:5) part 1

I have always been very goal oriented. Part of my motivation for achieving a goal, winning a race, accomplishing a task is a deficit motivation. That is, I wanted to prove to naysayers that I would amount to something in this world. Thankfully, that was not my only motivator…as I had a call of God on my life from an early age (12) to serve the Lord, and fulfill some sort of spiritual destiny.  Goals are good things, especially Godly goals, such as the goals that were no doubt discussed between Paul and his son in the Lord Timothy.

Timothy, as a disciple of Paul, was taught by Paul.  He had this in mind when he taught Timothy and he expected Timothy to have the same goal. That goal is outlined as love, a good conscience, and a sincere faith. This speaks to me about change or transformation from the inside out.  The goal of teaching is not just the dissemination of information, but to produce wisdom and change.

Every preacher or teacher, in the process of communicating truth, must learn to teach students with a focus on change…maturity and fulfillment of destiny. More on this in our next session.

Dr Stan