 Welcome back after the break. Before we went for our break, we were looking at 1st Timothy chapter 1 verses 5 to 7. We're talking about the legalism, Jewish legalistic rituals that they were bringing into the church. We were also talking about a few legalistic laws or rituals that practiced in our churches in today's time. Anyone wants to add to what I said? Anything that you feel is binding on people? It's just like a legalistic law or ritual that is binding on people in your churches that you've observed or in other churches anyone likes to share? Well, I know we talked about this in your class last semester. Though I still think it's in a way legalistic, why you make it compulsory for women to cover their hair before they can do any activity in the church, you know, be reading the Bible, singing. I mean, to me, inasmuch as I would respect churches that do that, I still find it that it's legalistic because there's a tendency for women in those churches to feel that they're only accepted by God and holy before Him once they cover their hair. But if they really understood that this was just a cultural opinion in that context that Paul talked about, I think it would have made a lot of difference, you know, not making a compulsion. That's why some of those churches, many young people are leaving. So you only find the older people in such churches because they hold on to that ideal way of how a woman is supposed to appear in church, you know, if they're going to conduct any of the activities laid out in the service. So I think that is legalistic from my own point of view. But at the same time, like you told us, I would respect any church that tries to uphold that, but I think that is legalistic. Yes, thank you, Zane. Thank you so much. Anyone else like to share? Yes, Christopher? Yeah, I think in some denomination churches, there are some rules and regulations which are imposed where, for example, when a person who is attending church service, before they need to come to church or before they receive the communion, they need to not eat for all, you know, not have anything to eat before, for about one hour before. So I think that I'm not sure that I don't think that is something that is, I think that's very legalistic. I think related to that also is that is also this legal aspect of having gone going through some kind of a repentance in a formal way. And I'm talking about denomination churches where you have to go and confess your sins before you can receive the communion. And again, they want to basically impose this on the people saying that you need to be clean and you can receive the holy communion. So I think that's also not a legalistic practice that is occurring in churches. Thank you, Christopher. So we'll move on. Verse 6, Paul says, for some having strayed have turned aside to idol talk. So the idol talk, if you look at it in the Kin's Gym version is translated as vain gangling. So the idea here is just meaningless babbling. So when you just meaninglessly chatter and babble or talk, it has entertainment value. And that is why many of them are interested in these false doctrines in these endless genealogies and Jewish fables because it's just meaningless babble, but it has entertainment value. But it was never meant for spiritual food. It does not edify the person's faith or strengthen them in that faith. Verse 7, he says, desiring to be teachers of the law, understanding neither what they say nor the things which they affirm. So the problem with these people who are talking about the Gnostics or the Jewish people who come to the faith, who are spreading all these Jewish fables and endless genealogies, they desire to teach the law. But the problem is that they don't even understand the implications of their own teaching. They don't even understand what they're saying or they don't even understand the implications of their own teaching. So this is another way that we can know, if somebody is speaking the right doctrine or a false doctrine is they will not even understand. It'll just be so philosophical, but they will never come to a point where it brings about the truth. There has an end to it. It ties up things together, but it'll just leave everything and lose end and it just leaves people wandering and wandering and imagining things because there are people who are talking all these philosophies, new age philosophies and all of these things. They don't even understand the thing. They're trying to find out the truth. They're trying to reach a conclusion, but they're not able to do it themselves. So verses 8 to 11, we'll move on to verses 8 to 11. Can somebody please read verses 8 to 11 please? Anyone? Yes, Asha? I know that the law is good. If one uses it lawfully, understanding this that the law is not laid down for the just, but for the lawless and the disobedience, for the ungodly and sinners, for the unholy and profane, for those who strike their fore, for those who strike their fathers and mothers, for murders, the sexually immoral man, men who practice homosexuality in slavers, liars, preachers, and whatever else is contrary to the sound doctrine, in accordance with the gospel of the glory of the blessed God with which I have been interested. Thank you, Asha. So here we see Paul is stating that the law of God is good because the main intention of the law is to keep us from doing what is wrong. But he says, but we know that the law is good if one uses it lawfully. So the purpose of the law is to show us our sin. It wasn't made for the righteous person who walks by faith, but for the lawless and they insubordinate because they are not, you know, because they're living in sin to show them that they are living in sin, to open their eyes to the sinfulness that they have fallen in, and to bring them to a place where they can walk by faith and receive the salvation that is in Jesus Christ. So the idea isn't that the law has nothing to say to the righteous person. It has things to say to righteous person, but it especially speaks to the ungodly to the sinner. It shows them that, you know, it shows them their sin. It shows them that they have fallen and they need a savior, that they need salvation and they need deliverance. And then Paul says, for the lawless and insubordinate, for the ungodly and for sinners. So in Paul's mind, the sound doctrine and right conduct are kind of, you know, connected, vitally connected to each other. So saying if you have sound doctrine, then you would live a life that is honorable, holy, pleasing, a righteous life. But if you live, you know, believing in this false and in the lies and in the wrong doctrine, it just shows in your conduct. So in Paul's mind, he's, you know, he's basically connecting sound doctrine and right conduct. And he says these two are vitally connected. So the sinful actions here, which he describes or he enlists in verses nine and ten are contrary to sound doctrine. So he's saying because you are all, you know, preaching and teaching and enjoying and listening to these false doctrines, that is why you see amongst yourself, you know, all of these kind of people who are there and he lists out the sins that is prevalent or evident at the churches at Ephesus. So, you know, and he's saying that if there is any other thing that is contrary to sound doctrine, so the implication is that in Ephesus, the church, you know, basically exists in a culture which was, which had these sins. These sins were very prevalent or the culture of the Ephesus church, the culture was marked by these sins, which he lists out in verses nine and ten. And he says those teaching false doctrines in some way have allowed or even promoted this sinful lifestyle. So another way for us to know if somebody is teaching the right doctrine is again, you know, going back to seeing the fruits. One of the fruits we said is, you know, there will be strife, division, disorder, discord, confusion. The second thing we said, the third thing is that you will see a lifestyle with all of these sinful habits and sinful behavior. So anything that says that these sins are okay is contrary to sound doctrine. So one way we know that what is the preacher or teacher or a certain group or certain church is preaching a certain kind of doctrine, if they're saying these kind of sins are okay, you know, it's okay for you to, to, to get to be adultery or homosexuality or whatever they say, Paul is saying this is contrary to sound doctrine. This is not the right doctrine. And this is the evident conduct that we will see because sound doctrine and right conduct are, you know, connected to each other. So if anything that says or anyone that says that these sins are okay, it's contrary to sound doctrine and is also contrary to the gospel or the glorious gospel in Christ Jesus. So while we are aware that we must stay away from all of these sins, you know, just like to bring your attention to verse 10, where it talks about sexually immoral. It's basically, if you look at the English standard version, it talks, for this word sexually immoral, it's mentioned as those who practice homosexuality. So any kind of teaching that says that sexual immorality or homosexuality is okay is contrary to sound doctrine and is also contrary to the gospel of Jesus Christ, the glorious gospel that is in Jesus Christ. So according Paul says, according to the glorious gospel of the blessed God, okay, he, he, he mentions this in verse 11, according to the glorious gospel of the blessed God, which was committed to my trust. So though the law cannot bring about righteousness, it just makes people aware of their sin, but cannot bring them in right standing with God because they fall short of keeping the law, they break the law. But Paul is saying the glorious gospel of the blessed God, that is the gospel that in other words Paul is saying that was committed to his trust. This gospel can, you know, can bring you to a place of righteousness. It brings you to a right standing with God, a right, right conduct with God to live righteous and holy lives in Christ Jesus. So we see here that, you know, Paul sends his responsibility to preserve and guard this gospel and he is passing it on to Timothy and others. And he's saying, you know, if you have to, you know, stay in this place, it's one of the main things you have to do is you need to guard this gospel because this gospel was entrusted to me. It's entrusted to you. It's our responsibility. We have to preserve this sound doctrine. So he says, you know, do not leave Ephesus. He says, like he says, remain in Ephesus in verse three. So one of the reasons he's giving here is, you know, present the right doctrine, teach the truth in totality, so that, you know, teach the glorious gospel of the blessed God, so that it can bring about, you know, right conduct and, you know, right standing with God. And Paul is telling, you know, I've been interested with this gospel. I have lived to preserve it and guard it and he's passing it on to Timothy and to others. Any questions so far? Any questions on these verses? Okay, there are no questions then. Can somebody please read verses 12 to 17, please? First Timothy chapter one verses 12 to 17. Can one of you please read? Someone else? Asha has been reading all the time. Anyone else can read? Shall I read now? Yes, thank you, Stephanie. Verse 12. And I thank Christ Jesus, our Lord, who has enabled me because he counted me faithful, putting me into the ministry. Although I was formerly a blasphemer, a persecutor, and an insolent man, but I obtained mercy because I didn't did it ignorantly in unbelief. And the grace of our Lord was exceedingly abundant with faith and love which are in Christ Jesus. This is a faithful saying and worthy of all acceptance that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners of whom I am chief. However, for this reason I obtained mercy that in me, first Jesus Christ might show all long suffering as a pattern to those who are going to believe on him for everlasting life. Now to King eternal, immortal, invisible, to God who alone is wise, be honor and glory forever and ever. Amen. Amen. Thank you, Stephanie. So here in these verses, verses 12 to 17, Paul is reflecting on his own life and his calling. And through this he's encouraging Timothy and giving him a reason why he needs to remain in Ephesus. And Paul begins this small segment by saying, and I thank Christ Jesus, our Lord, who has enabled me. So Paul was entrusted with the gospel and Jesus has enabled Paul and entrusted him with this gospel. And Paul is thanking Jesus for enabling him and entrusting him with this gospel. So Paul was enabled for the ministry not just because he was a Jew, not because he was zealous for the law, not because he was zealous in keeping the law and persecuting all those who are not, but he's saying that Jesus Christ enabled him and entrusted him with the gospel because he counted him faithful for the ministry. So what Paul is encouraging Timothy is saying, be faithful. Faithfulness is what made Paul ready to be used by God and he's telling Timothy, remain in Ephesus, be faithful to the call that God has given to you, the call that he's entrusted to you, the gospel that he is entrusted to you. First of all, he says, counted me faithful, putting me into the ministry. So basically what we learn from here is we don't have to be smart to be faithful. We don't have to be super talented or gifted to be faithful. Faithfulness is something that is very down to earth and each of us can be faithful and God is looking for faithfulness and for us to continue to remain faithful in the place that he has called us for. So what God is looking for is not for wisdom about his word, how much we know, how much we can quote scripture. Yes, it is important that we know his word, we correctly divide and rightly teach his word. He's not looking for super talented or gifted people who are multitaskers who can do various things but what he's looking at is even if we have something, a gift that we look at as a small, are we faithful in the salvation that we have received, that we are faithfully sharing it to people? Are we faithful in what we have received, the word of God? Are we faithful in just teaching it, imparting it and sharing it with other people? Maybe we are talented and gifted in whatever area, whether it's worship or the instruments that we play or writing, are we using it for the extension of the kingdom is what he's looking and he's looking for faithfulness. So sometimes we think we have to be smart in our minds, we need to know all of scripture from Genesis to Revelation, all of the doctrines and we need to enhance or build on our talents and gifts and our skill sets. Yes, we need to do all of these things, all of these are important, it's very important for us to build on what God has given to us, we need to be good stewards but at the same time, if you're doing it with ulterior motives, not with a clear conscience like Paul mentions and not being faithful what he's given to us, then we are not good kingdom builders, we cannot continue to build God's kingdom but what God is looking is for faithfulness in spite of all the difficulties, in spite of all the challenges, in spite of all the weaknesses that the inability and incompetence that we face and we think we have, that is why the word of God says we are not competent enough to be ministers but God has made us competent, not of the letter that kills but the spirit that gives life. So we don't feel competent but God has made us competent, he will continue to make us competent, all he looks for is faithfulness. If you are faithful he gives us, he enhances our skills, our talents so that we can extend God's kingdom in a powerful way. Verse 13, he says, although I was formerly a blasphemer, a persecutor and an insolent man but I obtained mercy because I did it ignorantly in unbelief. So Paul is basically talking about his former life, how he persecuted the Christians, how he blasphemy the name of Jesus, the works, what Jesus did on the cross, what he completed. He was a very rude man and he says, but in spite of all that he obtained mercy because he did that ignorantly and in unbelief. So he says, although I was formerly Paul's past, his past life, his lifestyle, the way he did things did not disqualify him from serving God but because of God's mercy and his grace which was more than enough, more than sufficient to cover his past and enable him to serve God in that present situation, in that present moment and the rest of his life. So in the same way, we should never feel that whatever is our past, whatever has been our past, not to live in that past but even as we have accepted our faults, we have asked for forgiveness of sins, we have received salvation. God does not look at our past, he is always looking at our present and our future and for us to fulfill what he has purposed for us even before the foundation of the world, never feel that your past, even though it brings back memories, will be unable for you to be used by God but for God your past is covered, it's forgiven, it's dealt with, it's done away with and he's just looking at you as a new creation, somebody who is in right standing with Jesus Christ, somebody who has been made righteous and he is enabling you or he's giving you the grace and the strength and the mercy to be used mightily by him. So it's important for us not to look back at the past but to look ahead at what God has for us and that's why Paul says, forgetting what all that is in the past, I look forward and I run ahead to the gold, to the price that Christ Jesus has set before me. So with these words, Paul is giving Timothy another reason to remain in Ephesus. It's likely that one reason Timothy wanted to leave Ephesus and this ministry there was because he felt unworthy, he felt incapable of the work because he was a very young man 37, 38 years old, there were many leaders in the church who were much older to him and he felt that he was very young, incompetent, incapable, unworthy to do these words, the ministry there. So these words from Paul, basically our show's Timothy is if there is anyone unworthy and disqualified, Paul is saying that it's me. If there's anyone unworthy and disqualified to share the gospel, to build the kingdom of God, it's me but yet God found a way to use me and the same way he's using me, he will use you. So he's saying remain in Ephesus. So just basically encouraging Timothy from his own life and his own experience and then he says, because I did it ignorantly in unbelief. So Paul, when he persecuted the Christians, when he was a blasphemer of the gospel of Jesus Christ, he did that in unbelief, he was not a believer but having said that, you know, ignorance and unbelief never excuses our sin. Sin is sin in God's sight. We can never make ignorance and unbelief as an excuse but our ignorance and our unbelief, you know, invite God's mercy. It invites God's mercy into our lives because sin in ignorance and unbelief, you know, it basically makes one less guilty than the believer who knows and sins knowingly. So, you know, even though if you were an when you were an unbeliever, you sinned in your ignorance and unbelief, it does not excuse your sin but it basically invites you to God's mercy. Why do I say it does not excuse your sin? Because we looked at it in, studied it in Romans chapter one. It says, you know, you have your conscience. God has given us inner voice and inner gospel that is the conscience for those who do not have the law, who do not know God. So how do, how are the Greeks or the Gentiles judge is through their conscience and any given, you know, law that God is placed in their heart which tells them what is right and wrong. So we can't excuse our sin but it just basically opens up or invites us to God's mercy and when we receive God's mercy, you know, we receive his grace and we come to a right standing with him. We are made righteous in his sight was 14. Sorry. And the grace of our Lord was exceedingly abundant. So it was not Paul's ignorance that saved him but it was the exceeding abundant grace of God. It was God's unmerited favor. So, so for all of us, you know, it was the unmerited favor. It's the grace of God. That's why we see salvation by faith, by grace to faith and it is through the abundant grace of God. So God is very lavish in his grace and his kindness and his goodness and his mercy towards us no matter what we have done. And Paul is testifying to this and he's telling Timothy, you know, you know, be faithful to what God has entrusted to what you've called the gospel that he's given to you and also, you know, don't feel unworthy, don't feel incapable for the work. Look at me, you know, when God can use me, his grace, his strength, his mercy is also made available to you and you can continue the work and finish what God has taken you to do or entrusted to you even as you are overseeing the churches at Ephesus. And then verse 15, you know, Paul summarizes his personal experience of the gospel. So can one of you read please, can you please read verse 15, please, one of you? Anyone can read verse 15? Can I read first? Yes. Yes. This is a faithful thing and worthy of all acceptance that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners of whom I am cheap. Thank you, Abhishek. So Paul is writing and saying this a faithful saying and worthy of all acceptance. You know, this this unusual phrase basically introduces a statement of something that is of utmost importance or special importance. And Paul uses this phrase in his other pastoral episodes. We read this phrase five times that he's using this other pastoral episodes. He says, you know, Christ Jesus came into the world to save of whom I am a chief. So Paul claims to be the chief of sinners. It is not just an expression of, you know, just humility that he has some kind of false humility. But he genuinely felt, you know, that the sins that he had committed made him more accountable before God than others. So he must have had this great burden of what he had done to the Christians, how he thrown them into prison. Of course, the people that he had thrown into prison, he had got them killed. He can't bring them back to life. There's no way that now as a believer that he can get them out of prison, because he's not with that group. He's no longer with them. And he himself is, you know, being persecuted. So he must have felt this huge burden of, you know, what he had done in the past. And so he says, he's the chief of sinners. It's not just an expression of to show himself as a very humble person or just showing some kind of false humility. But he genuinely felt his sins made him more accountable before God than others. So it's really amazing that even after all of these years of, you know, great ministry, that apostolic ministry that Paul had done, he just focuses on one thing that, you know, Jesus Christ came to save us sinners and of whom he called, of all the people, you know, Jesus Christ came to save, he calls himself as the chief of sinners. Verse 16 and 17. Yes, Susan, you can read verses 16 and 17, please. Yes, Ma'am. Hobbit, for this cause, I obtain mercy that in me, first Jesus Christ, my show forth, all long suffering, for a pattern of pattern to them, which should hereafter believe on him to life everlasting. Now unto the King eternal, immoral, invisible, the only wise God, be honor and glory forever and ever. Amen. Amen. Thank you, Susan. So what Paul is mentioning here in verse 16 and 17 is saying the way that he has received salvation is saved by grace, the mercy of God is saying this is a pattern of mercy to others. So what Paul is saying is I am talking about this or I keep sharing about this is because, you know, when people hear it, they will also be aware of their sins and they will be aware of the mercy of God and that mercy of God that just saved me and brought me into salvation, you know, would save them. And when they in turn share how they had sinned, how they had fallen and how they had to see the mercy of God, they share it to others, you know, others will hear and also will receive salvation. So he's saying that it will become a pattern. So Paul was saved and his salvation served as a pattern of mercy to others so that others can also receive salvation. And he says, however, for this reason, I obtained mercy. A man as bad as Paul knows obtain mercy. It means that Paul is saying when I can receive that mercy, you know, if the door is open to others who are not as bad as sinners or those who have committed crimes like I have done, you know, the mercy of God is freely available to them. So even if people are in the stage where I am, you know, sinful life that I am, you know, the mercy of God can still save them, can still come to their rescue. So, you know, some of us are praying for our loved ones, some of us are grieved over the lifestyle of our family members, our loved ones, those who are very close, dear to us, our friends. You know, one way we could, you know, we could share the love of Christ with them is just to share how, share your own sins, how you had fallen, how, you know, the depth of sin that you were in or the misery that you were in, the pain, the brokenness, the affliction and the oppression that you were in, and how God delivered you and restored you and, you know, his mercy and grace and his love, how it just reached down. You know, just sharing that itself is going to set a pattern where they would, you know, see themselves as sometimes, you know, people who have fallen in deep sin see themselves as not even worthy of God to receive his love. They're far from God's love, far from his mercy and goodness that God will not accept them because human beings, you know, they're seeing people are not able to accept them. And how can God accept me? But when you share your own life experience or life story or salvation experience, you know, it would just lead them to the salvation also to put their trust in God. Maybe if it's not just salvation, you know, you went through a major crisis in life after you received Jesus Christ, you know, or some struggles, some challenge, something that you face and how God delivered you, how miraculously delivered you provide, you can just provide details. It just in itself, you know, reveals the goodness, the love, the mercy of God. And I'm sure, you know, even as you're sharing, the Holy Spirit will minister, will speak to their hearts and can, you know, change them and they can receive salvation. They can come into the mercy and the grace of God. So he says that, you know, as a pattern to those who are going to believe in him, this explains another reason why God loves to save sinners is, you know, not the main reason, but one of the minus reasons. So that becomes a pattern to those who are going to believe on him and God wants others to see what he can do by his work in our lives through his grace, favor, unmerited favor and his love in our lives. So what God did in Paul's life is an example, a pattern of his abundant grace and great patience to encourage that. Paul breaks out into, you know, just praising God. He says, now to the King, eternal, immortal, invisible to God who alone is Christ, the honor and glory for ever and ever. And so Paul is praising God who saved him. He says, now the King, eternal, you know, Paul could not think of how bad he was and how great, but, you know, but he just looks ahead of, looks at how great the salvation of God was and how great the love of God was towards him, his mercy, his goodness towards him. And he's saying that, you know, I can't just keep quiet without just breaking out into spontaneous praise. So this verse here verse 17 is an outburst of this praise that shows that Paul both knew God, you know, and that he loved God. So it just, it's just showing us that, you know, from where he has come from darkness into light, you know, just praising God. And it also shows us that, you know, he knew God and he also loved God in such an intimate and in a very personal way. So he knew God to be the King, eternal, the one who's ruling, reigning and in complete power and glory. He knew God to be immortal, which means existing before anything else existed and the one who created all things who brought everything into existence. He knew God to be invisible, you know, somebody who completely knows us every little thing, every little thought, every little tear, every little desperation, every little frustration, every little thing that we go through big and small, he knows everything. You know, we can't completely figure out God, we cannot understand him, comprehend him, know all of his revelations and secrets, because he's invisible, he's great, he's infinite, but it's wonderful to know that the God who's infinite knows me completely through and through in and out. He sees every detail of my life, he knows everything. He also, Paul also knew that God alone is wise, that he's God and that we are not, he does things in his ways, we cannot comprehend and understand. You know, sometimes we think our plans and insights are so important, but only God really knows and understands all things. And then he, you know, he's praising God, giving him the glory and honor forever and ever. So he's saying, knowing all about God, knowing all about, knowing all this about God, that he is the King eternal, that he's immortal, that he's invisible and who alone is wise, knowing all this about God, Paul couldn't just stop praising him. You know, sometimes we have trouble worshiping God. It's, you know, it's not because we can't worship God, it's, we have the trouble of worshiping God is because we don't know him very well. You know, we just don't know his attributes, we don't know his nature or we are not in such deep intimacy or we are not just in that place where we're meeting with him and fellowshiping with him and knowing him, you know, in a real deep in a personal way. And that is why sometimes we have trouble worshiping God and we're trying to understand how can I really worship God and spirit and truth is because we are not in that place of total surrender, total intimacy, total love with God and his word, spending time with him is, that's the reason why we have trouble worshiping God. So this whole description that he gives of knowing God and who God is, is sharing it with Timothy as another reason for him to remain in Ephesus. He's saying that, that, you know, he should stay there because, you know, even as he's staying in Ephesus, continue to remain there, continue to remain there by looking and considering or focusing his eyes on the greatness of God who he serves because this great God, you know, can empower him, can help him and can enable him and sustain him even as he ministers there at Ephesus. We'll move on to verses 18 to 20. So can somebody read verses 18 to 20, please? Verses 18 to 20. Okay, dear Asha. Yes, I charge, I entrust to you, Timothy, my child, in accordance with the prophecies previously made about you, that by them you may wage the good warfare, holding faith and a good conscience, by rejecting this some have made shipwreck of their faith, among whom are Hymenias and Alexander, whom I have handed over to Satan, that they may learn not to be blasphemed. Thank you, Asha. So in verse 18, Paul uses the same word charge, this charge I entrust to you or I commit to you, is the same charge which I mentioned, which he's written in 1 Timothy chapter 1, verse 3. And I said, and I mentioned to you that in the ancient Greek, this word for charge, you know, is a military word referring to an order from a commanding officer that has to be obeyed. There's no two ways about it. There's no alternatives, but it's an order and has to be obeyed. And then Paul is saying, I charge you, but then he's using strong language here. And then he's also coming to a very close relationship. And he's reminding Timothy that even as I charge you, you know, or giving you this order, but I'm giving you this order, not as someone who is an apostle or your leader, but as a father telling the son, okay, and I'm giving you this order in love because you are my son. He says, Timothy, my child. And he says, according to the prophecy, so Paul wanted Timothy to consider what the Holy Spirit had said to him or spoken over his life in the past through the prophecies or to the words spoken over his life to various people. So he's reminding him, hey, remember all of these prophecies that have been spoken to you by the Holy Spirit through people, you know, so that you can receive courage and encouragement and remain in epistles from those prophecies, from the words that were spoken to you about your ministry, about your life, and how God wants to use you. So apparently God had spoken to Timothy through others through the gift of prophecy and the words, but an encouragement for Timothy to stay strong in the difficult situations. You know, it may have been a description of Timothy's future. The prophecies may have been a description of Timothy's future ministry. The prophecies could also have been warning against being timid in his work for God, but whatever the prophecies were, you know, God wanted Timothy to draw strength from what was spoken to him over his life through the Holy Spirit in this present difficult situation or position or responsibility that he has. So he says, make use of the prophecies that are spoken over your life. Use them to fight the good fight and use them in the spiritual warfare against the enemy. So he's reminding him that it's not physical battle, it's not fighting against people, but it's a spiritual battle, a spiritual warfare. And he's saying, speak this prophecies against the enemy that is coming against you, even as you wage warfare, even as you fight the good fight. And Paul refers to these prophecies again later on in his letter in 1 Timothy chapter 4 was 14. And 2 Timothy chapter 1 was 6. And we read it last Monday when Avini asked us a question on this. And then Paul says that by them you may wage the good warfare. So the focus here is not just on the prophetic word that Timothy heard in the past, but to focus on the battle that is right in front of him now, where he must wage the good warfare, that he must, you know, the KJV version says you fight the good fight. And he says, do this with, you know, what the Holy Spirit has spoken over your life so that it can be encouragement, you know, you have the boldness and the strength. So Timothy had this huge response, believe this, this ministry in front of him, the job that is in front of him, it was, you know, like as if he was going into battle, it wasn't Paul is telling him it's not going to be easy. It's not going to be comfortable. It's not going to be a carefree time. But he had to approach the job that Paul left him to do in Ephesus as a soldier, you know, approaches battle. When a soldier approaches battle, all the time he's thinking about the enemy strategies, how to overcome the enemy, how to fight the battle, and how to, you know, win the battle. So this gives Timothy another reason to remain in Ephesus, that he should sense the responsibility to stay on, even when he feels like leaving because he was a soldier in battle, and a soldier in battle never deserts his post, the position that he is in, he fights to the very end. And in verse 19, you know, Paul gives him the tools for the warfare. He says the two tools he gives for the warfare that Timothy is in now is faith and good conscience, faith and a good conscience. So he says having faith and a good conscience, which some have rejected concerning the faith have suffered shipwreck. So faith and a good conscience, these are two essential things when we are battling or we are in a spiritual battle, the warfare, they protect us from the spiritual attacks of doubt and condemnation. So Timothy had to have faith that God is in control, that God is good, he's merciful. He would guide Timothy, even as Timothy continued to seek him, and then a good conscience is simply living right before God and man. If you do away with good conscience, do things that your conscience says is wrong, then it will shipwreck your own faith and destroy your own faith, and he gives examples of that. So he's telling Timothy that you have to have a good conscience because his enemies would be attacking him and if Timothy had not conducted himself rightly, they would have a good reason to attack him. So a good conscience isn't just a conscience that approves us, but also one that approves us because we have done what is right and is connected with good conduct. Okay, we'll finish these last few verses. We've come to the end of time here. We'll continue these last few verses and then move on to First Timothy chapter 2 in the next class. Anyone has any questions so far? Any questions? Okay, there's no questions and we'll end class. Thank you all for your patience going through these three hours of lectures and please read up First Timothy chapter 2 so that we can begin with that next week, even as we come, you know, just to the concluding verses in First Timothy chapter 1. Have a good and blessed day and a blessed week ahead and I will see you for this course next Monday. Thank you.