Gary Gleans

Leaders must not only be qualified, but they also have a very clear job description.   Paul tells Timothy just what is expected of him as a minister and, I believe, what we should make sure is true in all of our lives as well.   There are definite dangers that we must face and Paul gives us clear instructions on how we can face those dangers in a way that will allow us and those to whom we minister to stay strong. BE CAREFUL WITH FALSE TEACHERS: The reality of the ministry is that there will be those who teach that which is not biblical or true.   It was the reality of Paul’s day, it was the reality in Timothy’s day and it continues to be the reality in our day.   We must learn to be very careful in dealing with these false teachers so that we do not be influenced or allow others to be influenced by their teachings.   False teachings usually come in the form of human traditions that are maintained on an equal level as Scripture.   These traditions usually h...

Leadership within the church is a serious matter, and, in many cases, one of the most desperate needs in churches today.   The church has been so influenced by the society in which we live it becomes harder and harder to find qualified leaders to carry the work of the ministry forward.   Unfortunately, this lack of qualified leaders has resulted in many churches ignoring the biblical qualifications for their leaders out of desperation for anyone who will do the job.   We must make it our aim to prepare godly leaders in our families and seek to meet the biblical qualifications that the work of the church might move forward for the glory of God in a way that obeys the Word.   Here is a very quick and brief summary of what I consider to be the three essential qualifications for leaders. DESIRE: This is often overlooked in the process of selecting leaders.   Many times men shrink away from positions of leadership for a wide variety of reasons.   I think that it...

God created us male and female and He designated different roles for us within the structure of the family as well as within the structure of the church.   Neither is of any less or greater value than the other, but each has different responsibilities that they are expected to fulfill.   God has designed how each of us are to worship, serve and glorify Him. MEN ARE TO PRAY FOR AUTHORITIES AND PREACH IN PURITY: God desires that all of us pray for one another as well as for our own needs within His will.   However, He has called us in this text to pray especially for those whom He has established as authorities in this world.   All the way from the local to the national level, God has called us to pray for these men.   It is easy for us to complain about governmental leaders, but God has called us to pray for them, not complain about them.   Specifically we should pray that we would have freedom to proclaim the Gospel unhindered to the nations of the world. ...

What a blessing it would be if every young minister could have an apostle Paul to be a mentor and motivator.   But, I guess, in many ways we do, because Paul’s most important instructions to Timothy have been recorded for us in the next two books.   These letters promise to provide divine direction for all who desire to serve God and others in a way that pleases Christ and promotes the growth of the kingdom of God. REPROVE FALSE TEACHINGS: Unfortunately the reality of false doctrine has always been a part of the history of the church and apparently it will continue to be as such until the return of Christ.   It is the job of every true believer and especially the job of every minister to stand firm against these teachers, rebuke them and refute their heresies.   Our goal should be to promote genuine love, clear consciences and a sincere faith through our teachings.   Many people have ignored these standards and strayed into strange and futile teachings.   T...

There are many things in life that clamor for our attention.   We often struggle to define our priorities because there are so many things that are important that we have a hard time recognizing what is the most important issue with which we are faced.   How do we define and determine our priorities?   I believe that one of the reasons that Paul was so successful in His ministry was that He had clearly defined priorities and he lived in accordance with them.   This passage opens a window into Paul’s priorities and I believe we would do well to follow them. PRAY FOR THE PROGRESS OF THE GOSPEL: It is evident that prayer was one of Paul’s first priorities in life, but beyond that, it is very clear that praying for the kingdom of God was a priority in his praying.   I find that prayer is not nearly the priority in my life that it should be, but when I do pray I don’t pray as I should.   It is so easy to get caught up in all of the cares of our daily lives that ...

The rapture of the church and the day of the Lord’s judgment on the earth during the tribulation period are events that fill us with both a sense of hope and fear.   The timing of the rapture in relation to the tribulation has been a rather polemic discussion within theological circles.   I believe that the rapture of the church could happen at any time and that it will proceed the seven year tribulation period and the reign of anti-christ on the earth.   However, I realize that there are many who would disagree with this position.   This chapter of Scripture is used by both sides of the argument.   The key to interpreting this passage is the definition of the phrase “day of the Lord.”   If we define this term as referring to only the rapture, then this text clearly teaches that the rapture will either be during or after the reign of anti-christ and the tribulation.   However, if we define the phrase as referring to the time of wrath or the tribulation...

The Lord is going to return!   This promise should shape every aspect of our lives, be the motivating factor in all that we do and provide comfort in any circumstance we might face.   Christ’s second coming will be far different from His first coming and it will result in a radical transformation in the way that this world works.   It will mark the beginning of our eternal transformation and destiny.   God has reveled this to us, not merely to inform us concerning the future but to transform us in the present.   We certainly have a great hope that should bring us great help in all that we experience as we wait for that glorious day. WE SHOULD BE PATIENT IN TIMES OF PERSECUTION: Paul has made in clear that suffering and persecution are and expected part of the Christian walk in this world.   Sometimes that suffering is due to our own sin, while at other times persecution is due to the sins of others.   In either case, God calls us to be patient, continu...

Paul continues to exhort his readers, including us, to live in a way that brings glory to God and contributes to the growth of the body of Christ.   These are the practical things that we should be doing as long as the Lord gives us breath. PREPARE FOR THE COMING OF CHRIST: We do not know when Christ will come nor do we know when our lives will come to an end.   These events are known only to God, but we are expected to live in light of them.   Death and the coming of Christ will result in judgment such as the world has never known.   Every man will stand before the Lord and must give an account of his life on this earth.   Those who trusted in themselves, rejected God and followed the false teachings of men will experience eternal condemnation and will pass into an eternity without hope.   Those who have trusted Christ will still give an account of their service for the Lord, but their eternal standing before God will be in the righteousness of Christ. ...

There are a few principles in life that are of vital importance to keep in mind as we seek to live for the glory of God and find true joy.   These are not complicated truths, rather, they are simple, straight forward and practical truths that will make our lives be pleasing to God, positive to others and pleasurable to us.   Too often we think that path to pleasure is through sin, and sin does provide a sort of pleasure but it is a pleasure that passes quickly and leaves a trail of bitterness and heartache behind.   True pleasure in life is found through obedience to God, service to others and a biblical perspective on eternity.   These are the vital principles after which we should model our lives. WALK IN HOLINESS: It is God’s will that we be sanctified in our walk with God.   That means abstaining from the sins that so easily tempt us to follow our flesh.   Sexual purity is vital to the preservation of joy in our lives.   We often get confused betwe...

There are some things about the Christian walk that are difficult while there are other things that are delightful.   The truth is that even that which is difficult may bring about delightful results.   God, in His wisdom, is able to use circumstances that are not necessarily to our liking in order to bring about His will in our lives.   One of the things that God uses to bring about this desired result is our relationships with on another. THE PRESSURE OF AFFLICTION: Trials and persecutions were a constant companion to Paul and his ministry.   Consequently, they were also a part of the lives of those to whom Paul ministered.   Paul had the spiritual maturity to recognize that this was a part of God’s sovereign plan for his life but he was concerned that some of his followers might not have the same perspective and become discouraged in the face of affliction.   Too often, the deceptive voice of Satan is able to bring doubts into our minds, especially when ...

Paul continues to describe his ministry in Thessalonica.   He provides us with a great model that we should follow as we seek to work in the lives of the people around us.   It is not always easy to work with people and the results might not always be what we hope, but certainly if we follow the pattern that Paul demonstrated, we will have far greater chances for success. PAUL’S MINISTRY WAS MARKED BY PURE MOTIVES AND METHODS: Paul was not out to please men with his ministry.   He desired to see the lives of men changed, but the overriding desire of his heart was to please God and help others live for His glory.   It is easy for us to measure success in numbers and popularity, but those are not the criteria that Paul used.   His sole focus was to please God and help others to live to that end as well.   For that reason, Paul did not use flattery and other questionable methods in his ministry.   He was not out to make others feel good about themselves s...

They say that those who can’t “do,” teach.   The truth is that the best teachers actually teach by doing.   As believers, it is vital that we be good examples of that which we are striving to teach or people will never believe or follow our teaching.   Our walk and our talk must be in harmony or our testimony will never do much more than just limp along through life.   Our walk with the Lord is much more than just knowing principles from God’s Word it is practicing those principles on a day to day basis.   Paul’s ministry was effective because he talked the talk and walked the walk. THE CONTENT OF A GODLY MINISTRY IS TO BE AN EXAMPLE: Paul was able to rejoice in the results of his ministry in Thessalonica because they had demonstrated a radical change of heart due to the message of Christ.   The reason that Paul’s ministry was so successful was that it had three basic components.   First, was the proclamation of biblical principles.   Paul said th...

Communication is one of the most important aspects of any relationship.   Marriages, friendships, professional relationships and parent/child relationships are all forged on the anvil of communication.   The same is true of our relationship with God.   Without good and consistent communication, relationships will flounder and fail.   Paul teaches us some vital communication principles that we can apply to a variety of relationships. COMMUNICATION WITH GOD: Prayer is one of the most neglected disciplines in the lives of many believers today.   Paul takes the time to teach us how we should pray as well as what we should pray.   First of all he tells us that we should pray with consistency.   We must be devoted to prayer and strive to continue praying throughout the tasks of each day.   I believe that the biggest hindrance to prayers is simply that we do not pray nearly as much as we should.   Second Paul says that we need to concentrate when we...

Our goal in life must be to life a life that is pleasing to God.   The source of true joy is living according to the manner that God has taught us in His Word.   God does not establish standards in order to spoil our fun but in order to preserve our lives and show us the path of true fulfillment and lasting joy.   This chapter outlines the means by which we can live a life that is pleasing to the Lord. SET OUR MINDS ON THE ETERNAL: It is so easy for us to focus on the passing pleasures of this planet and to forget the permanent promises that God has made for to us for all of eternity.   If we are going to live a life that is pleasing to the Lord, we must set our minds and affections on that which is eternal in heaven.   It is easy for us to become distracted because this world is so visible to us.   However, if we allow this to take place in our lives, we will inevitably experience sadness, disappointment and frustration.   God created us as eternal be...

Christ has made radical changes in our lives.   If we are in Christ we are not the same as we used to be.   He has given us a new life and new standing before God and a new hope of eternal life.   We are no longer bound by sin and we do not need to live in fear of the future.   The religious rituals that are promoted and invented by men have no bearing on us anymore.   Christ has changed everything.   In light of that truth, here are a couple of thoughts that should guide our walks from this point forward. GOD WANTS US TO BE FIRM IN CHRIST: Our faith must not be full of ups and downs or change with the circumstance in which we find ourselves.   God wants us to be firmly established in the sound doctrine of His Word.   We are not to doubt the sufficiency of Christ’s work on the cross and we should not be persuaded to turn from the truth of God’s Word.   We must stand convicted in the doctrines of Scripture and be committed in our faith and tru...

Where would we be without Christ?   He is the only source of hope that we have and it is because of Him that we can know and be rightly related to God.   Christ deserves to have preeminence in our hearts and ought to be the object of our affection, attention and adoration.   As we reflect on who Christ is and what He has produced in our lives, may our hearts be stirred to thank and worship Him. CHRIST RESCUSES US FROM SIN: We were lost in the darkness of our sin and without hope in this world.   Christ came to this world to deliver us from the grip of sin and to bring us into the glorious light of His presence through His death and resurrection.   This work of Christ is our reason for being able to rejoice and give thanks for the work that He has accomplished on our behalf.   There is no way that we could be free from the sin that condemns us eternally before God, but Christ has set us free through faith in the cross.   This truth should fill our heart...

Two of the qualities we most desire in life are peace and prosperity.   Unfortunately, those who experience prosperity seldom are able to find peace.   Paul was able to experience both peace and prosperity in his life because he realized that peace has very little to do with our circumstances and that prosperity had very little to do with the amount of possessions we are able to accumulate.   This final chapter teaches us how we can find this same peace and prosperity in our own lives. THE PATH TO PEACE: If we truly want to find peace in our lives that is not dependent upon our circumstances, we must turn our hearts, heads and hands over to the Lord.   Paul starts with our hearts and tells us that we must have a glad heart and rejoice in every circumstance of life.   As believers we are able to rejoice all of the time because we recognize the Lord is in control of every part of our lives.   As believers, we have the assurance that our death results into goi...

The priority of anyone who is wrong ought to be to get right.   All of us have been made wrong because of sin and getting right with God should be the highest priority of every man.   God demands righteousness in order to be rightly related to Him.   The bad news is that none of us are righteous.   The good news is that Christ has made His righteousness available to us through faith in the work that He has done on our behalf.   Because of our pride, it is difficult for us to admit that we need this righteousness that we did not earn.   However, it is the only righteousness that is available to us. WE MUST NOT BE DECEIVED BY SELF RIGHTEOUSNESS: There are always those who will present some system invented by man whereby we can somehow achieve our own righteousness.   For the Jews it was by observing the Law, other religions have their lists of rituals that must be performed as well.   However, they all claim to lead a person to attain a righteousn...

The Philippian church, in many respects, was a model church.   Paul does not confront them on any doctrinal problems, there is no mention of immorality within the church and they were cooperating with Paul in the advancement of the Gospel.   Churches like this one are rare, but they are also under attack and it seems that some of the most common areas that these types of churches are tested in are the areas of divisions, discontentment and distraction.   Paul was seeing signs that these problems were creeping into this special church and wants to warn them to avoid these pitfalls. GOD WANTS US TO REFLECT HIS UNITY AND HUMILITY: Paul urges the members of the church to be of one mind, love, spirit and purpose.   This is the definition of unity, but it is very hard to achieve when dealing with fallen people.   The key to true unity is humility and seeking to know and follow Christ.   Too often we are full of pride and we try to convince other people to agree w...

We often allow circumstances to dictate our attitudes.  When things go well and we are comfortable we are happy but when suffering and trials come our way we easily become irritable and unhappy.   As Paul penned the words to this book he was imprisoned yet he is full of reasons to rejoice.   I think that the reason Paul was able to overcome his difficult circumstances with rejoicing is because his focus in life was not on himself or his circumstances but on the Gospel of Christ.   He was able to find great reasons for rejoicing because the Gospel was advancing. PAUL REJOICES IN HIS PARTNERSHIPS IN THE GOSPEL: Even in prison Paul realized that he was not alone but that he was a part of the body of Christ and that his membership in this body was key to his positive attitude independent of his circumstances.   When we face hardship it is important that we not try to face it alone or believe the lie that we are all alone.   As believers we are never alone, we...