Turned Over & Ship Wrecked
- Teresa Allissa Citro
- Aug 29, 2017
- 6 min read
"Some have refused to let their faith guide their conscience and their faith has been destroyed like a wrecked ship. Among these people are Hymenaeus and Alexander, whom I have handed over to Satan in order to teach them not to dishonor God." -1 Timothy 1: 19-20
I don't like sharing negative things. I love to be positive and not negative. I enjoy to lift up and not bring down. I want to bring hope instead of leaving hopelessness behind.
This morning, I'm studying the book of 1 Timothy and have been led there by Holy Spirit to read it. I knew already God wanted something written bright and early before I begin the Disney scene. However, I wasn't imagining this kind of a devotion which means someone out there needs to be reminded of a very powerful word and not a fuzzy-and-warm-feely let-me-jump-off-the-highest-mountain all-pumped-up kind of message, a strong warning which we need to understand very clearly, even if we don't like it.
I was struck by this verse. Like the surprise of a whale jumping from a new direction and splashing the cold, salty water all over me leaving me in shock. I don't understand why I have to share it, but the Spirit of God does, so I will.
Paul the greatest apostle to ever walk the earth is telling Timothy, actually commending him to fight the noble war, by letting the prophesies that he was to receive, be given in faith and with good conscience.
So far so good right?
Many times for me, personally, I've struggled because people have asked me to pray for them. I don't think people truly understand what this means when they ask me to pray for them. If you ask me to pray, I seriously pray for you, and it's not a joke to me. It's my precious time I'm giving you, and I don't just pray to pray as if my prayer means nothing before the God I serve. The prayer of the righteous availeth much. My prayers are power-filled prayers that don't go unnoticed or unheard by my God. They are acknowledged, and He speaks to me regarding them.
Many times I fast on behalf of the person I'm praying for because I seriously want God to bless them and answer their prayer. A few times and my closest confidants, the people I submit too, who are strong in the faith are made aware of the strange things God has shown me, even years later were spot on.
God reveals to me why the prayer of that person isn't being answered. Many times I had to go to the person and give them the word God gave me to warn them about what they have done that is causing their prayers to go unanswered. All of the time they already knew it. They just didn't want to do what God already told them. Never was there ever a surprise when God sent me to tell them. Just like human nature, two people out of dozens rejected God's warning, and even me. God had already told me the word I was going to give would be rejected, and they would reject me as well. I was still to give it, and if I didn't give it, their blood would be on my hands. In other words, I would be responsible before God for not delivering HIS word.
I was struck this morning by reading this. Here these two people were given over to Satan because they were spreading a wrong doctrine. They were teaching false doctrine. It wasn't just a difference of opinion. Should boys be circumcised or not? It was false teaching, leading them away from the truth of God's Word. Paul brings up the good conscience to help Timothy and us understand that when we do things right or wrong, our conscience lets us know. No one can say, "I didn't know it was wrong to do?" It's our choice to ignore or pay attention our God-given conscience. Let me put it this way. How many times are women told if you feel uneasy about a person near you listen to your gut feeling? It's the same concept. You can't argue when your conscience doesn't tell you it's wrong to lie, steal, cheat! They claimed to know Christ but walked in the flesh. These are opposites of each other.
Let me be blunt. You can't go to church pretending your a godly woman or man, and then cheat on your spouse. You do it once you might be forgiven by your spouse. If you do it again, you never meant to be sorry. You are used to getting away with a spouse who doesn't have the strength to walk away as they should.
Paul wasn't being mean. He himself said he was the sinner of all sinners, but the grace and only grace of God delivered him, sanctified him, and forgave him, the unmerited favor of a gracious, loving, and caring God. You and I have nothing to offer God for forgiveness of our sins. We must repent and receive this free gift which wasn't so free for God. It cost Him the life of His precious son, Jesus Christ. Whomever believes in Him has eternal life. The Gospel is that easy! No rituals to make and wonder if it got accepted. This is how you know a real believer from a fake one. A real believer says, "God forbid I should sin before my God and Savior!" A fake one says, "Hey, I'm a sinner and God will forgive me no matter what I do!" This might be true. God does forgive all our sins when we ask Him, but He knows the motive of your heart... remember that. This is what Paul means. He is going to let God judge and work in their lives. And it's not going to be pretty!
Let me bring it home here. These are not the beautiful words we might want to hear, but we can't ignore some of the Scriptures we find hard to swallow. Sometimes we have to let people go. Not because we wish them harm because this scripture has NOTHING to do with harming people. Rather, turning people to do whatever they want to do until they are in situations of desperation and will come back to their senses and remember God. God is there to forgive and bring back. Is that you today? Know He loves you and he's waiting for you with open and loving arms. Go to Him!
As the Founder and President of Thread of Hope, I hear horror stories, I could write volumes upon volumes of the horrific situations wonderful people had to suffer. It's hard for them to let go. Here in this verse, and by the way, Paul mentions this twice, about letting someone go. Another person mentioned In 1 Corinthians 5:5. What everyone forgets is God is all knowing, all seeing. We can't see what's happening in the next room, never mind in another person's home. We only know what's happening second by second. God knows what's going to happen the next second. Please don't be God in other people's lives. Don't agree with teachings that are wrong and will lead you away from your faith and the truth of the Gospel. I have been subjected to many false prophecies, and it's sad to see the destructive path it leaves.
I have been dismissed, and distanced by people I believed were my friends. Some I thought were godly. Guess what? They weren't! True truth is God had already showed me who they really were. Their character and behavior showed them up. I had already told those I hold myself accountable to what God revealed and told me would happen. It came to no surprise to me. I knew already, but I still wanted to showcase the love of God. I wanted to be a person of the true character of God.
Let's take our lesson from Paul, shall we? Don't get in the way of the work of the Holy Spirit. Those who distanced themselves from you, keep them there in your past. Let them do what they want to do. You make double sure you're in godly and right standing with God.
Here's what I know for a fact. The hand of God is clearly seen upon people who truly belong to Him. You might be hated, but the hand of God is seen by the blessings of God. And, No, it's not by how much money you have, your position, biggest houses, car you drive, and the expensive vacations you take. It has nothing to do with God's greatest of blessings. Those are things you earned by working. Many, many, many ungodly people have those too. Don't fool yourself. If you have it, what are you doing it with it? Are you giving to the poor? Are you feeding the hungry without judging them as to why they are not wealthy like you? Be careful of the Gospel you preach. We are accountable for everything we do in action first! If you got it, it's because you're supposed to do something with it.
Have your faith guide your conscience. Don't be shipwrecked by false and ungodly teachings. Let the Word of the Living God sail and steer you to into all truth. If you have to let go of the people you love for a little while, then do what God told you to do. You can argue with me all you want. I didn't write the book of Timothy, but Paul, inspired by the Holy Spirit, did. Take it up with God, please. I love you, My Friends.
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