[0:00] We're in, open your Bibles to 1 Timothy chapter 3, and stand with me. I want to read a few verses here that we're going to look at. 1 Timothy chapter 3, verse 14 through 16. These things I write to you, though I hope to come to you shortly. But if I am delayed, I write so that you may know how you ought to conduct yourself in the house of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth. And without controversy, great is the mystery of godliness.

[0:47] God was manifested in the flesh, justified in the spirit, seen by angels, preached among the gentiles believed on in the world received up in glory lord we thank you for your word we just pray holy spirit that you have your way in our lives in our families and in this place we ask this in jesus name amen you can all be seated i entitled the message a godly mystery and who doesn't love a good mystery but what's important is what we believe and how we respond It was Orson Welles in a 1938 radio program that had dramatized the book War of the Worlds by H.G.

[1:50] Welles. And as it turned out, the people, for whatever reason, maybe they didn't hear that in the introduction to the radio message or what, that it was reported that it caused panic among the listeners. And the book was all about the attack of extraterrestrial beings.

[2:17] And there was widespread panic. And too much panic to even mention. But one particular account in South Dakota, the people headed for the mountains, was.

[2:34] And they had, it took them a couple of weeks to talk them down from the mountain to say, this really didn't happen. You know, we didn't get invaded by extraterrestrial beings of any kind, and it's safe. You can go back home. And that was in October 31st of 1938. Well, two years later, the message came to those same townspeople, hey, Pearl Harbor has been bombed. It was December 7th 1941 yeah right we've we've heard those stories yeah sure and it took him a couple days to convince them no that was really true that really happened and I remember very well in the 1970s when there was on on the news frequently daily multiple times especially in those.

[3:32] Those times in the evening when everybody's watching the news about all the pit bull attacks how many remembers that it was pit bull attack after pit bull attack and we got to be you know be watching and you know if you see anything that's dangerous report report it and pretty soon people are reporting their neighbors and people are freaking out and people talking about pit bulls and more and more the attacks are pit bulls are attacking people it's almost like it just happened suddenly pit bulls started attacking people people were euthanizing their pets in fear that their pit bull would bite somebody or they'd be sued or people were turning in their neighbors and.

[4:15] And then about a month went by, and you hear nothing about pit bulls. Almost like pit bulls stop biting people all of a sudden. And in my calculation, my estimation, it was an experimental, a test to see just how fearful people will become and really how powerful the media and how much control they have. And now we're finding out that the liberal media were funded by the party that had just been voted out.

[4:51] And predictably so, Anthony Fauci had been pardoned by President Biden. And he wasn't even charged with any criminal activity. But he was pardoned anyway? Hmm, that'll get you thinking a little bit.

[5:10] And we also seen in the whole COVID era, the COVID pandemic, how powerful the media manipulated the entire globe, and it's important what we believe and who we believe and how we respond to what we believe. In a debate with Dennis Prager, in a debate with an atheist from Oxford University professor Jonathan Glover, he said, it doesn't matter, it doesn't really matter whether a person has a belief system that is biblical or godly.

[6:02] The important thing is that they believe in something. And that right there was the university professor's statement. It only matters that they believe in something. And then again, the believer and a Christian, Prager replied, Imagine, Professor Glover, that you're in downtown Los Angeles. It's two o'clock in the morning. Your car breaks down. You get out. You hear footsteps. You turn around to see 10 big men walking towards you. Would it make a difference if you knew that they just come from a Bible study?

[6:43] And I thought, what a great response. Because you know what? People know what to expect from Christians. They know what to expect from Christians. They got it. What's my point? So why do i begin the message this way because and especially in a world now with ai.

[7:08] We have to be on guard and stay on guard and how do we do that by god's word and unique to our text And to my point, verse 16 tells us God was manifested in the flesh. You see that there, verse 16. Our great God compressed himself in a body of flesh. And this is why the scriptures tell us, in him dwells all the fullness of the Godhead bodily, Jesus Christ. And it was interesting at men's yesterday morning, we were talking about when Jesus transfigured and you saw his glory. It was so bright, brighter than anything that you could imagine. And in the prep for that, I read where Spurgeon said the real miracle was that Jesus hid his glory, not that he showed his glory. And I thought, wow, that's intense. to think about. Jesus fully represented God in heaven, God of the Old Testament. He represented God of the New Testament, represented God of the Word, represented God of human relationship.

[8:33] He represented God in conduct. He represented God in example, and on and on, etc. God showing us how to live in human form on planet Earth in this short life. And Jesus, God, manifested in the flesh. And by him, we can know truth. And by him and knowing him, we can discern the lie. When the liar is attempting to undermine the truth in our life, when we're being mediacized, that's a new word. I'm adding to the English language, mediacized. And when the the enemy the liar comes he appears in many forms and on and many platforms.

[9:32] And so we need to be connected to the lord and his wisdom and we can remain settled and confident because as Paul puts it and you can see it just one page over in my bible in second timothy chapter 1 verse 12 the apostle Paul writing again this is just before he's on his way out, he writes to timothy for this reason i also suffer these things nevertheless i am not ashamed for i know whom i have believed and persuaded that he is able to keep what i have committed to him until that day to have that confidence in that this is my point therefore concerning seeking answers to any questions or suspicions that we might have about how to live life i don't have to go soul searching looking for some inner revelation or sign up for some seminar to get instruction, all I have to do is to look at Emmanuel.

[10:51] Which means God with us, Jesus. Too many people are looking for a manual on how to raise kids, a manual on how to be a better husband, a manual on how to live life successfully, and we don't need a manual. We have Emmanuel. well. And God was manifest in the flesh and showed us how to live. God manifested in the flesh and he will keep us out of the weeds and in the light.

[11:35] And so we believers, we have strong convictions about the goodness and the faithfulness of God. We believe God's word is God's counsel given to us as psalm 119 105 tells us right that the word is a lamp to our feet and a light to our path and we learn to trust in his promises to one day he's going to come to get us, and that might be in the rapture of the church where we all meet in the clouds one day that's why i like that expression i'll see you there in the air that was popular back in the 70s it should be more popular today or as popular it shouldn't diminish we're closer to that time because either you know the promise is that we're going to be with him so whether it be in the rapture of the church or we just end up in his presence one day but we're going to be with him and he's promised never to leave us or forsake us he's going to come and get us and so we have a confidence in that no matter what happens in the world you know when when you know the the liar begins to lie and.

[12:50] We can discern that because of the Lord. But until that day, God's word instructs us, showing us how to conduct ourselves in this life and in the church. And we have been looking at that the last couple of weeks. And you see in verse 14 there again, these things I write to you. Paul's making reference of that, how we're to conduct ourselves in the church, that though I hope to come to you shortly. And so that has been word given to Timothy who was left to minister as pastor to the church and so it was given to Timothy and then Timothy was to pass that on in verse 15 but if I am delayed Paul said and so he was getting up every day tying his shoes well maybe they putting on his.

[13:45] His sandals whatever and saying okay lord what do you have you know he had lots of plans the lord didn't let him do and he would go in directions the lord would change his direction it's just like us getting every day every up every day in faith say okay lord what do you have this is what i think i'm doing but is this what i'm doing and so he says but if i am delayed so in case i don't make it, Timothy, then it's important as you begin to pastor that you implement these things because this is the counsel of the Lord. So I write...

[14:23] That you may know how you ought to conduct yourself in the house of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and the ground of truth. And so how you ought to means is how you must. And it's not for debate.

[14:43] That's what it means there. And to conduct yourself means speaking of your actions.

[14:50] Your behavior, your activities, and although.

[14:54] He's directing this word to Timothy this is for and he says it next which is the church of the living God the pillar and ground of.

[15:03] Truth so this word's coming to us through written to Timothy and so this is a tall order and Timothy is to communicate what he has been instructed to the church you know in in many ways we all have different ministries but anywhere in that sphere of ministry that we have we're to communicate what it is that the lord gives us to others we're to we're to be a conduit and the lord speaks to us and then we pass it on just pass it on whenever opportunity comes and and so timothy is to do that and the church is to respond in obedience for the church it says is the ground of truth we're ground zero when you think about the deutamas power of the holy spirit the church is ground zero the believers we're ground zero where where where it happens and i think that you know when a bomb goes off and it's ground zero if you go over there you're going to know about a bomb went off and it's ground zero and i think that you know when somebody gets close enough to us in our life they should know that we have the power of the holy spirit.

[16:27] And we should speak such. People should know such. They should know it. In your simple, quiet way or in your expression. One way or another, people should know what you believe and where you stand. Give an opportunity especially. And so that's who we are. And so in the church, we have as our foundation God's word, the truth. And this is why Jesus is described as and is the word and truth in the gospel of John chapter one in the beginning was the word the word was with God and the word was God he was in the beginning with God all things were made through him and without him nothing was made that was made and we see in also in verse 14 of that chapter and the word became flesh.

[17:28] And dwelt among us and we beheld his glory the glory as of the only begotten of the father full of grace and truth and so this is what Paul stresses in verse 16, that god was manifested in the flesh and so it's the great mystery a godly mystery and and so in verse 16 he, It says, and without controversy, great is the mystery of godliness. And so the idea there is that it means without disagreement.

[18:22] We could add it's well documented, no question about it. Without controversy, great is the mystery of godliness. Mystery means something previously hidden but now is revealed you know as Paul as Paul will point out.

[18:42] Now revealed in jesus it tells us in first corinthians chapter 2 verse 7 and 8 but we seek the wisdom of god in a mystery the hidden wisdom which god ordained before the ages for our glory which none of the rulers of this age knew for had they known they would not have crucified the lord of glory they missed it all together and that's why Paul writes in Colossians chapter 1 verse 27 to them god willed to make known what are the riches of the glory of this mystery among the gentiles which is christ in you the hope of glory and so revealed through jesus christ the mystery of godliness and godliness can be trans also translated holiness and holiness is meaning that we're separated unto the Lord. We're separated unto God.

[19:54] And God who is...

[19:59] Expressed through jesus christ who is the god that we believe in what do we know about him who are we separated unto in godliness and godliness it just really speaks of our respect of the lord it speaks of our reverence of him and so how do we understand him and how do we know or relate to him well Paul again gives us insight by telling us that jesus coming in the flesh gives us great insight and and we can be know him personally and we can conduct our lives in godliness and so we are able to correctly respond to god by looking at the life of jesus christ who came in the flesh jesus said in john 14 he said if you had known me, you would have known my father also and from now on you know him and have seen him so you want to know how to respond to the god you know know jesus christ look at jesus christ.

[21:19] And Philip said to him, Lord, show us the Father, and it is sufficient for us. And Jesus said to him, have I been with you so long, and yet you have not known me, Philip? He who has seen me has seen the Father. So how can you say, show us the Father? And so in Jesus Christ, we have a perfect representation of the Father in heaven. And yet he being in the body of flesh, being all God and all man. And yet he's a perfect reflection if you want to know who god is you study jesus christ and the way you're to respond in the flesh you look at the life of jesus christ and so god was manifested in the flesh which follows what we just read there in john 14 and john chapter 1.

[22:12] And so it's revealed to us once again god was manifested in the flesh justified in the spirit and so he testified by it was testified by the father at his baptism as he was justified in the spirit seen by angels and we know that heavenly witnesses came and they came to the earth, witnessing jesus christ the angels came at his birth preached among the gentiles and as the gospel continues to go forth he is continually being preached as the gospel is being preached believed on in the world and so as people continue to get saved people are continuing to believe the gospel message and you've received up in glory so jesus first and we're going to follow he resurrected and he ascended up into heaven and again i want to emphasize god was manifested in the flesh.

[23:17] In Philippians, Paul writes, chapter 2, verses 5 through 8, Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus, who, being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God, but made himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant and coming in the likeness of men, and being found in appearance as a man he humbled himself and became obedient to the point of death even the death of the cross and so by the testimony of scripture Jesus Christ is God, and also by the testimony of scripture Jesus Christ is a man and when Jesus said the father is greater than i it's the reference of his humanity the man speaking when he says if you have seen me you have seen the father that is god speaking your reference to his divinity.

[24:28] By the record of scripture when jesus said the father and i are one that is god speaking who is also the man jesus all by the record of scripture and in this Philippians passage reveals jesus had no issues with telling us.

[24:49] Which letting us know or Paul writing by the inspiration of the holy spirit had no qualms and letting us know that jesus is equal to god, Because he's God. Otherwise, that claim would not be made.

[25:07] You'd not see that passage in Philippians and many other places in Scripture. It could not be worded that way. And this is why the religious leaders were so dead set on killing Jesus because of who he was claiming to be.

[25:22] And we see there in John chapter 8, 56 through 59, your father Abraham rejoiced to see my day and he saw it and was glad Jesus saying then the Jews said to him you are not yet 50 years old and have you seen Abraham and Jesus said to them most assuredly I say to you before Abraham was I am then they took up stones to throw at him but Jesus hid himself and went out of the temple going through the midst of them and so passed by, they wanted jesus dead because he made himself equal with the father and then he said i am which was the statement that god had proclaimed and so and so although in the bible the word trinity does not exist the teaching on the triune godhead does in the bible the word bible doesn't exist too but there is a bible the word rapture doesn't exist but there will be a rapture i guess unless you're reading the latin vulgate and then you have rapturus but the the doctrine of the Trinity is one God in three persons, is the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, or one God.

[26:51] And the subject can be very comprehensive. For sure but i would like to approach it by simply showing in scripture that the bible reveals, each that the father and the son and the holy spirit share in all the same nature as god as only god can different categories would be his divinity would be that he's a he's the creator would be that he's the redeemer and as would be described omniscient which means that by nature he's all-knowing omnipresent which means that he's all-present when you see omni it just means all, omni omnipresent all-present and omnipotent which means that he's all powerful that that God the Father is all these things. God the Son is all these things. God the Spirit is all these things. And so the Bible teaches us that. If you were to put a mathematical formula to that, it wouldn't be 1 plus 1 plus 1 equals 3. It would be 1 times 1 times 1 equals 1. And that's the mathematical formula. And so...

[28:19] I will go probably too fast through these verses, but I don't necessarily have the luxury of time. I whittled down these about 80 verses to like 20-some verses. And so knowing that. But the saving grace here, as I go through these next verses, too fast is that they're recorded. And I think what it is, I just want to go on record here that we have scriptural support for that doctrine of the Trinity.

[28:56] The Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit are the Lord God. God in divinity the father the bible tells us in Deuteronomy 6 4 hero israel the lord our god the lord is one and then first timothy 2 5 it says for there is one god and one mediator between god and man the man christ jesus and concerning the son as i read there before in john 1 1 in the beginning was the word the word was with god and the word was god and of course there are many religions that try and twist that and insert a god and it's just not in the language and and the word was god and in john 5 18 again concerning the son therefore the jews sought all the more to kill him because he not only broke the sabbath but also said that god was was his father making himself equal with god and then in john 10 30 i and my father are one and then we have the holy spirit and my favorite verse to pull there was i chose acts chapter 5.

[30:22] Peter, it says there, says to Ananias, Why has Satan filled your heart to lie to the Holy Spirit and keep back part of the price of the land for yourself? While it remained, was it not your own? And after it was sold, was it not in your own control? Why have you conceived this thing in your heart? You have not lied to men, but to God.

[30:53] And then we have God the creator in the father is it getting cold in here someone turn off the heat or what and all of a sudden it was like it started to just get freezing cold in here we have a fancy thermostat back there but I don't know what it said on but.

[31:11] Anyway we have the creator God the father and it says in Genesis 1 1 in the beginning God created the heavens and the earth and then in Isaiah 64 8 but now oh lord you are our god we are the clay and you are our potter and all we are the work of your hand and then the son again john 1 3 all things were made through him and without him nothing was made that was made and then again the son Colossians 1 chapter 16 for by him all things were created that are in heaven and that are on earth visible and invisible whether thrones or dominions or principalities or powers all things were created through him and for him and then the Holy Spirit Psalm 104 30 you send your you send forth your spirit they are created they are created and you renew the face of the earth and so that's a reference to creation there as well and then of course the the creation account genesis is god is used in plural you know let us make man in our image speaking of the triune godhead then you have god our redeemer the father john 3 16 and 17 for god so loved the world that he.

[32:39] Gave us his only begotten son that whosoever believes in him should not perish.

[32:44] But have everlasting life for god did not send his son into the world to condemn the world but that the world through him might be saved.

[32:54] The son in Galatians 3 13 as our redeemer christ has redeemed us from the curse of the law having become a curse for us for it is written cursed is everyone who hangs on a tree then we have the holy spirit Ephesians 4 30 and do not grieve the holy spirit of god who by who by whom you were sealed by the by the day for the day of redemption and so god the redeemer god omniscient god all-knowing the father for if our hearts first john 3 24 if our heart condemns us god is greater than our heart and knows all things god all-knowing the son Matthew 12 but jesus knew their thoughts said to them every kingdom divided against itself is brought to desolation.

[33:50] And every city or house divided against itself will not stand and like i said there's so many verses that have that come in support of all these categories and the holy spirit first corinthians 2 10 and 11 all knowing for but god has revealed them to us through his spirit for the spirit searches all things yes the deep things of the heart the deep things of god for what man knows the things of a man except the spirit of the man which is in him even so no one knows the things of god except the.

[34:25] Spirit of god and then omnipresent Jeremiah concerning the father Jeremiah 23.

[34:33] 24 can anyone hide himself in secret places so i shall not see him says the lord do i not feel heaven and earth says the lord.

[34:44] Concerning the Son, Matthew 18, 20, for where two or three are gathered together in my name, I am there in the midst of them. So any two or three, go anywhere, the Lord is there. In the Holy Spirit, Psalm 139, 7 through 12, where can I go from your spirit? Where can I flee from your presence? If I ascend into heaven, you're there. If I make my bed in hell, behold, you are there. If I take the wings of the morning and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea, Even there your hand shall lead me and your right hand shall hold me. If I say, surely the darkness shall fall on me, even the night shall be light upon me. Indeed, the darkness shall not hide from you, but the night shines as the day. The darkness and the light are both alike to you. And so God all present.

[35:37] And then last category, all powerful, omnipotent. The father in Jeremiah 32 27 behold i am the lord the god of all flesh is there anything too hard for me of course we know that answer and then the son we have in Colossians chapter 1 verse 17 and he is before all things and in all and in him all things consist that's god the son and also in hebrews 1:3 again god the son who begin being in the brightness of his glory and express image of his person and upholding all things by the word of his power when he had by himself purged our sins sat down at the right hand of the majesty on high and then we have last there the holy spirit acts 1:8 but you shall receive power when the holy spirit has come upon you you upon you and you shall be witness to me in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria and to the ends of the earth.

[36:45] There's a lot there, I know. I know that's a lot of information, but you know, God showed me, you know what my responsibility is to equip you for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ, that he might be glorified. And so hopefully that made a little bit sharper edge on your sword of the Spirit this morning.

[37:14] The bible tells us that there's a spiritual battle going on and that the word of god is the sword of the spirit in the battle and so i want to challenge you to daily read the word of god you'd be surprised no matter where you're at and just be consistent just go straight through a book you'd be surprised where you're at is where god's going to minister to you because the word of god is living it's just like whatever you eat don't matter what you eat it's going to nourish you well i mean something good you know it's like that with the word you know like it's just like well where should i start it doesn't matter start at the beginning of a book start at the beginning of the bible start at the beginning of the new testament just start and read and you'll be surprised you'll be nourished spiritually you'll be made strong spiritually and don't have to try and figure it all out you know we can't figure it all out and and I want to end with just last just this last verse and that is in Isaiah 9 6 for unto us a child is born unto us a son is given the government will be upon his shoulder and his name will be called wonderful counselor mighty God everlasting father prince of peace amen let's stand together.

[38:40] If you need prayer this morning, come up forward. The guys will be here to pray for you. Lord Jesus, I thank you so much for your word to us, Lord, that we have you, your word as an anchor to our soul.

[39:00] And we can come to you and we can ask our questions. Lord we know that we can have settled hearts in the midst of a storm in midst of a stormy sea lord it doesn't matter we'll never be in the dark because we're children of light, we thank you lord that we can look up and we can see you as a lighthouse because we're in a very dark world, Lord, and it's just getting darker. And it's unpredictable. And yet, we don't fear.

[39:37] Because perfect love casts out all fear. And you're perfect love, Lord. And so we look to you. We look to you for guidance. Daily bread. I pray for this church and for this body and for these believers right now that are right here. That, Lord, they will commit to daily bread of the word. Because if they will, Lord, you're faithful to minister. You're faithful to nourish. You're faithful to bring spiritual health. You're faithful to answer prayer. Lord, you're faithful to communicate to our spirit. And so ask, Lord, that today, that each one here listening, Lord, will commit to that daily bread to hear from you. We ask these things in Jesus' name. Amen. God bless you.