Timothy’s Ten Commandments for Spiritual Success

 

Commandment #1 – The Heart of Action

 

Keep Your Motives Pure

 

Jesus stated that the greatest commandment of all is to “love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your mind.”  Matthew 22:37   (NLT)

 

Knowing that love flows from and grows in the heart, the apostle lists some barometers to gauge our love for God and mankind.

 

1 Timothy 1:5 “The purpose of my instruction is that all the Christians there would be filled with love that comes from a pure heart, a clear conscience, and sincere faith.”  (NLT)

 

  1. Godly Character:  “Pure Heart”

 

    1. Our Mind:  Guard your thoughts as you would your actions.  (1 Corinthians 16:13-14 “Be on guard. Stand true to what you believe. Be courageous. Be strong.  And everything you do must be done with love.” (NLT) 

 

Purpose to keep the “garbage out”

 

    1. Our Will:  Obedience yields purity.  2 Corinthians 7:1 “Because we have these promises, dear friends, let us cleanse ourselves from everything that can defile our body or spirit. And let us work toward complete purity because we fear God.” (NLT)

 

Purpose to be faithful and obedient

 

    1. Our Emotions: Love others as God loves them.      1 John 3:10 “So now we can tell who are children of God and who are children of the Devil. Anyone who does not obey God's commands and does not love other Christians does not belong to God.’’

 

Purpose to show love and compassion

 

  1. Good Conscience.  Lord Byron called man’s conscience the “oracle of God”.  By listening to God, your conscience will remain clear, not guilty, and sensitive, not hardened.

 

Purpose to be innocent

 

  1. Genuine Confidence:  “Sincere Faith” Love that will not trust is shallow.  Paul believed God regardless of others. 

 

Purpose to trust and obey God above everything else.

 

Outline from Jerry Gifford Jr., Pastor of Calvary Baptist Church in Bowling Green, Kentucky

 

 

My Sermon Notes

 

  1. Purpose to keep the garbage out
  2. Purpose to be faithful and obedient
  3. Purpose to show love and compassion
  4. Purpose to be innocent
  5. Purpose to trust God above all else