*OBEDIENT SONS* Timothy was an obedient son. When Paul found Timothy, he took him and had him circumcised and marked for ministry Acts 16:3, 18:5. Paul then leaves for a mission trip but he leaves Silas and Timothy to stay there until he returned (17:4). Timothy was an obedient son. *And having sent into Macedonia two of those who ministered to him, Timothy and Erastus, he himself stayed in Asia for a while.* Acts 19:22 Timothy is there. In Acts 20, an apostolic and prophetic team goes into Asia. *And he was accompanied by Sopater of Berea, the son of Pyrrhus, and by Aristarchus and Secundus of the Thessalonians, and Gaius of Derbe, and Timothy, and Tychicus and Trophimus of Asia. But these had gone on ahead and were waiting for us at Troas.* Acts 20:4–5 Timothy serves with this team. There are Tychicus and Trophimus, but Timothy is the youngest of the group. He obeys. *Timothy my fellow worker greets you…* Romans 16:21 Paul calls Timothy “my yokefellow”. This is the young man he picked up years ago and circumcised for ministry. He assigned him to places where people might be antagonistic to him because of his age (1 Timothy 4:12). Timothy is a young man who was challenged to stick with the assignment. He was going to obey. At this point, from all the references, Timothy was single and unmarried. When Paul warned him to flee youthful lusts (2 Timothy 2:22), he was directing this young man in how to face all kinds of temptations because he was an evangelist, upcoming apostle, and good looking. We know this because the scripture talks about his interracial mix. Paul trained him, and called him a yokefellow, which meant this boy would plow anywhere Paul plowed. *For this reason I have sent to you Timothy, who is my beloved and faithful child in the Lord, and he will remind you of my ways which are in Christ, just as I teach everywhere in every church.* I Corinthians 4:17 Timothy became more than a yokefellow. He was a beloved son because he was obedient. Jesus was also called the beloved Son because He was obedient. *Now if Timothy comes, see that he is with you without cause to be afraid, for he is doing the Lord’s work, as I also am. So let no one despise him. But send him on his way in peace, so that he may come to me; for I expect him with the brethren.* I Corinthians 16:10–11 Timothy was circumcised years ago and marked for ministry. He proved himself. He plowed where Paul plowed. Paul sent Timothy to Corinth with confidence that he would do exactly what Paul taught him to do because he was a son. *To Timothy, my true child in the faith: grace, mercy and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord.* I Timothy 1:2 Paul addressed Timothy because he was an obedient son. *To Timothy, my beloved son: grace, mercy and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord.* II Timothy 1:2 *Other Sons of Paul* Paul named some of his sons. These are the names of men that served, men that showed honor and respect. This was important because the apostle Paul was about to structure his future based on his sons, men who served him who were obedient. Here they are: Silvanus and Timotheus and Titus. *TITUS* Paul identified Titus as an obedient son seen by the things that God commissioned him to do. *To Titus, my true child in a common faith: grace and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Savior.* Titus 1:4 *SOSTHENES* *Paul, called as an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, and Sosthenes our brother,* 1 Corinthians 1:1 *PHILEMON* Paul addressed the owner of an escaped slave. Look how Paul introduced this letter to Philemon. There are times when we find ourselves in dire need. *Paul, a prisoner of Christ Jesus, and Timothy our brother, to Philemon our beloved brother and fellow worker,* Philemon 1:1 Paul identified with Philemon based on Timothy’s obedience. When he addressed the issue of the escaped slave, Paul mentioned Timothy as the example of a young man who left his home and was with him. His point was that as a prisoner of Jesus Christ, Timothy was his prisoner by his choice to stay with Paul. Timothy was Paul’s prisoner; he was in jail because of his free will and he chose to be with Paul. *Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, and Timothy our brother,* Colossians 1:1 The word our in the King James Version is italicized, which implies it was added. Timothy remained with Paul, and this was years later. *Paul and Timothy, bond-servants of Christ Jesus, to all the saints in Christ Jesus who are in Philippi, including the overseers and deacons:* Philippians 1:1 These men graduated from prisoners to servants. Timothy as a son graduated with time. *Paul and Silvanus and Timothy, to the church of the Thessalonians in God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ: grace to you and peace.* 1 Thessalonians 1:1 Silvanus is also part of the Sonship team that Paul was developing. *Paul and Silvanus and Timothy, to the church of the Thessalonians in God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ:* 2 Thessalonians 1:1 Look at this team of individuals that Paul groomed for ministry service. If you pastor you have kids in your church. Some of them may be older than you. What kind of quality time do you pour into these young people? They desperately need you. They need to see you as more than somebody who preaches on a Sunday. They need to see you as a leader that can pour life into them. Most young pastors have a lot to learn. They don’t know about banking or how to manage money. They were not taught how to manage and look after a wife. They have no clue how to raise children. They are not learned in how to structure a ministry. They do not know that in the stages of life and ministry that there are 10-year cycles divided into one-year cycles in every 10-year cycle. They do not understand any of those principles, and if we do not take the time to show them we can never produce obedient sons. Sons, we have to be obedient. We have to submit ourselves to the will of our fathers and begin to work according to what God has instructed through them for us. That model is being restored in America because we have a lot of young men and young women trying to find their way and are desperate for somebody to show them the way, to open the door, to be a role model, to correct them and be honest and straightforward with them. This is what Malachi said would happen. *A day is coming when the sons will be drawn to fathers that will direct them. America is tired of children ruling. They want some real men to get up, some real fathers to direct the way. https://chat.whatsapp.com/ElKaNjH1oHz6UF5yulS7b2 https://chat.whatsapp.com/ExCD9jKcKnR8wQUJqC1mSj