Morning Thoughts

[Jim Watt]

“*TWO ARE BETTER THAN ONE” MINISTRIES*

*Jim & Marie Watt*

*Tel: 253.874.4265 -- Email: jmbetter at gmail.com*

*Web: www.2rbetter.org*



   *2009-04-13 - THOUGHTS THIS MORNING FROM 1 TIMOTHY 4:15*


 *1 Timothy 4:15 (4:11-16) “Be diligent (meditate) in these; give yourself
wholly to these; that your progress may be manifest to all.”*


 Note the 3 points that Paul makes here. First, “be diligent” is often
translated *meditate*, which may be the more accurate translation for “*
meleTAo*”. It is a parallel passage to Joshua 1:8, using the Hebrew word for
*meditate*, hahGAH. God tells Joshua not to let the teaching of the Torah or
law to depart from his *mouth*. Hebrew verses are often phrased in
parallelisms. The next clause says, but *meditate* (h*a*hG*A*H) upon it day
and night, making Hebrew Meditation a vocal exercise. We are to read or pray
back to God audibly what we are reading! Then we are to *do* it, as Jesus
exhorted in the Sermon on the Mount - he who hears and *does* these saying
of Mine - is wise! (He who hears and does not do so - is foolish.)
*Then*prosperity and success follows such a person.


 This is exactly what Paul is saying to Timothy in parallel form to what God
said to Joshua. Now Paul exhorts his disciple to give himself *wholly* to
his words, just like Joshua 1:8. Lastly, he is to ensure that his profiting
in this , is open for all to see!


 Now the immediate words in this letter to Timothy are first of all to be
acted upon. The Pastoral epistles to Timothy and Titus including Philemon,
are fitted for those in spiritual Post Graduate College and University. (The
Gospels are like Elementary School; Acts - Junior High; James through Jude -
High School; Paul's church epistles, College & University; Hebrews and
Revelation: like further studies after PhD. work.


 There's another thought I'm sure Paul had for Timothy: that of
*mastering*his 9 letters to the 7 churches of Rome, Corinth, Galatia,
Ephesus,
Philippi, Colosse and Thessalonia.


 Paul being a Jew, and Timothy with a Jewish mother, would see the following
significant insights.


 The Book of Romans can be linked with Passover, through Justification by
Faith. Corinth is like the Feast of unleavened bread, where the believers of
this city needed to purge out the old leaven and ensure Jesus as their
Passover. Galatians was to bring these straying believers back to the Word
of the Gospel, and not mix up the law of the OT with the teaching of Jesus
in the NT. Timothy was to master these insights.


 Ephesians can be linked with the Feast of Pentecost. The full working of
the Holy Spirit in the church through the release that came in Romans
through Jesus' atoning work, ties these 2 epistles together. Passover and
Pentecost were tied together in both Old and New Testaments by the 50 days
between the Resurrection and the outpouring of the Holy Spirit 50 days
later. The counting of the Omer cemented this connection.


 1 & 2 Thessalonians major on the second coming of Jesus as Lord of lords
and King of kings. This corresponds with the Feast of Tabernacles, a type
and shadow of the OT.


 There are 4 men whose life and teachings correspond with the 3 Feasts.
Oswald Chambers is as it were the Apostle of *Redemption*, that corresonds
with Passover and the Book of Romans.


 Rees Howells is known as “the man with the Holy Spirit,” and suitably
matches the Feast of Pentecost and the Book of Ephesians.


 George Muller majored on the Second Coming of Jesus. He had to adjust his
thinking as a young Christian. He started out listening to the traditions of
men in the church, instead of checking out what God in the Bible said about
teaching and doctrine. He very soon found out that traditional church
leaders led him astray. It is *not* God's intention to save the world before
the second coming of Christ. Instead, the Holy Spirit is using evangelists
to bring out a *remnant* from every nation, tribe, tongue and people, make *
disciples* of them, and set them forth as the Bride of Christ. The majority
of the human race today will *not have* Christ to reign over them in the
Kingdom of God of the Spirit. H. A. Baker in “Visions Beyond the Veil”
confirms the findings of George Muller.


 God's Truth comes in threes. It is quite easy to search the Scriptures and
find over 100 sets of threes: The Triunity of the Godhead - One God - but 3
persons; man: a trichotomy, not a dichotomy: spirit, soul and body; the
divisions of the Tabernacle and Temple: outer court, holy place and Holy of
Holies - as 3 examples.


 Look for such in the Tabernacle of Moses and Temple of Solomon: Outer Court
with the Brazen Altar points to Passover and the Finished Work of Christ;
The 7-fold Menorah in the Holy Place represents the Holy Spirit and the 7
gifts of the Spirit of 1 Corinthians 12:8-11 (Tongues and Interpretaion =
Prophecy according to Paul in 1 Corinthians 14); the Holy of Holies
represents the Feast of Tabernacles, and the consummation of this church
age.


 Or - see the 3 divisions of the Old Testament: Law, associated with
Passover; the Prophets - Pentecost (see Jeremiah 31); and the Writings:
Feast of Tabernacles. The Book of Psalms in the Writings again and again
refers to this, as in Psalm 24.


 Another way to look at the Tabernacle and Temple: Our body corresponds with
the Outer Court, and is the temple of the Holy Spirit. Our soul with the
Holy Place, and Jesus redeemed our souls! The Holiest is the goal of our
spirits, and there we find intimacy with the Father, revealed by the Son,
even as the Spirit reveals the Son.


 The Feast of Tabernacles comes in 3 divisions: The Blowing of Trumpets on
Tishri 1 - can be linked with the Book of Revelation (See all the trumpets
there, including the *Last Trump!)*. Yom Kippur (The Day of Atonement) can
be linked with the book of Hebrews. Jesus' death is so wonderfully set forth
for us both individually and corporately. Tabernacles, properly starting on
Tishri 15, introduces the return of our Lord as King of kings and Lord of
lords.


 So I see Paul's admonition to Timothy in 1 Timothy 4:15 as encompassing
much of this as well as that epistle itself. And - it is to be orally or
vocally meditated upon. George Whitefield and George Muller both exercised
this method of devotions *hours* each day; I* *am moving increasingly in
this direction. Oswald Chambers, Rees Howells and George Muller were
*all*early risers - 5 AM for most; 4 AM for Muller. I am heading in
that
direction, with increasing blessing. I am sure Paul and Timothy followed
this pattern. E. Stanley Jones did too.


 Like Paul, I ask prayer on my behalf that I might be like Timothy,
according to the exhortation of Paul. I trust that many of you - in the
discipleship spirit, will join me in being one with Timothy in this.


 Your friend - Jim Watt



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