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Daily Devotions

1 Timothy

1 Timothy 
Day 
Day 24

"Whom I delivered to Satan..."

Text: 1 Timothy 1:20

APOSTOLIC AUTHORITY

The apostles of the Lord Jesus Christ were entrusted with great spiritual authority and power. This is intimated in the commissioning of the original set of apostles. The Lord Jesus gave them “authority” (Matthew 10:1). This authority enabled them to do a number of things:-

1. They had power to cast out unclean spirits (Matthew 10:1).

2. They had power to heal as well (Matthew 10:1).

THE EXERCISE OF SPIRITUAL AUTHORITY

The exercise of great spiritual authority was carefully recorded in the Book of Acts. The historian Luke noted carefully the authority that the apostles Peter and Paul possessed. Their apostolic authority cannot be doubted!

1. They healed (Acts 5:15; 14:9-10).

2. They cast out demons (Acts 16:18).

3. They exercised apostolic authority in appointing people for ministry (Acts 6:1-6).

4. They dealt with spiritual enemies with the power of the Holy Spirit (Acts 5, 8, 13).

DELIVERED TO SATAN

The apostle taught Timothy how to view ministry as spiritual warfare. He shared about what he had to do on one occasion.

“Of whom are Hymenaeus and Alexander, whom I
delivered to Satan that they may learn not to blaspheme.”

1 Timothy 1:20

1. “Hymenaeus and Alexander”

a) We do not know who these men were exactly.
b) Understanding the context these two were “enemies”.
c) Paul had to resist them mightily with apostolic authority.

2. “Whom I delivered to Satan”

a) These men must have opposed Paul significantly.
i) Vigorously
ii) Relentlessly
b) They had not heeded apostolic admonition.
c) They were “delivered to Satan”; they were most likely excommunicated from the Church.

3. “That they may learn not to blaspheme”

They had probably blasphemed the Lord one too many times. Paul then exercised apostolic authority and excommunicated them from the Church. They were now thrown back into the world, the kingdom of Satan!