A Call For Spiritual Mentors:
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Be ye followers of me, even as I also am of Christ.
Intro: I think all of us would agree that when we were growing up if we would have received more love and support throughout the years that we all would be better for it. Here in the United States, 1-4 children grow up without the presence of a father figure in their life. Of all high school dropouts 75% of them are without a father. Now I don’t say that to criticize anyone, but to express a need and the importance of the God given role of a father. If the physical life, is helped so much by the presence of a physical father, what about the spiritual?
I sometimes joke, but I am very serious about it as well. I say, “when I grow up, I want to be a mentor.” The reason for that is because I see a great need for it, and I recognize how hard it is to learn something that we are never taught by someone that has lived and learned it themselves. Not impossible but certainly very difficult!
As ye know how we exhorted and comforted and charged every one of you, as a father doth his children,
The pattern of mentorship is seen throughout the Scriptures; Moses & Joshua, Elijah & Elisha, Jonathan & David, David & Solomon, Jesus & His disciples, John & Gaius, and, Paul and Timothy,
We began today with 1 Corinthians 11:1 “Be ye followers of me, even as I also am of Christ.”
Did you know that there are 19 times in our Bible that we see the phrase “follow me” and that in every occasion it is the Lord Jesus Christ speaking! I want to be clear because when I speak of mentorship it is not about us gaining a following, but it is about following Christ, and helping others along the way, to do the same.
Now we do not see the word “mentor” in the Bible, but the principle is seen through Paul’s writing in 1 Corinthians 11:1“Be ye followers of me, even as I also am of Christ.”
It is this thing of growth, where as you grow in your walk and relationship with Christ, you help others achieve the same, and not because you are anything, but because He is everything!
For though ye have ten thousand instructors in Christ, yet have ye not many fathers: for in Christ Jesus I have begotten you through the gospel.
A spiritual father:
Now as I use the term spiritual father it is with the full understanding that we have One Father! That being said, God gives us earthly fathers, and he gives us spiritual fathers, who like our earthly fathers who help guide us in this life, our spiritual fathers, help guide us to our heavenly!
Our Example today is going to be Paul and Timothy.
Unto Timothy, my own son in the faith: Grace, mercy, and peace, from God our Father and Jesus Christ our Lord.
To Timothy, my dearly beloved son: Grace, mercy, and peace, from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord.
But I trust in the Lord Jesus to send Timotheus shortly unto you, that I also may be of good comfort, when I know your state. For I have no man likeminded, who will naturally care for your state. For all seek their own, not the things which are Jesus Christ’s. But ye know the proof of him, that, as a son with the father, he hath served with me in the gospel.
Timothy not only to Paul but to the church at Philippi had proven himself dependable, sincere, and a servant of Christ! Serving as a type of father and son with Paul!
Where did their relationship begin? Paul and Barnabas’ first missionary journey...
They were ware of it, and fled unto Lystra and Derbe, cities of Lycaonia, and unto the region that lieth round about: And there they preached the gospel.
It is very likely years between these two missionary journey’s… Maybe as many as 2-4 years even...
Then came he to Derbe and Lystra: and, behold, a certain disciple was there, named Timotheus, the son of a certain woman, which was a Jewess, and believed; but his father was a Greek: Which was well reported of by the brethren that were at Lystra and Iconium. Him would Paul have to go forth with him; and took and circumcised him because of the Jews which were in those quarters: for they knew all that his father was a Greek.
When I call to remembrance the unfeigned faith that is in thee, which dwelt first in thy grandmother Lois, and thy mother Eunice; and I am persuaded that in thee also.
And that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.
What we can clearly see is that Timothy had a relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ! Although Paul was clearly used of God, he was not there for the beginning stages of Timothy’s Christian journey, but he most certainly was willing to be there to help from this point forward! To take him under his wing so to speak, and aid in his growth through his pursuit of his Saviour!
Through the relationship that was built through a genuine love and concern for Timothy his beloved son in the faith, we see Paul take the spiritual role, of what a physical father would do. Like David does for his son Solomon, Paul exhorts his son Timothy.
Exhortation, is best recieved in word and deed!
Ye are witnesses, and God also, how holily and justly and unblameably we behaved ourselves among you that believe:
Through a godly example, they recieved the word of power!
For this cause also thank we God without ceasing, because, when ye received the word of God which ye heard of us, ye received it not as the word of men, but as it is in truth, the word of God, which effectually worketh also in you that believe.
As ye know how we exhorted and comforted and charged every one of you, as a father doth his children, That ye would walk worthy of God, who hath called you unto his kingdom and glory.
Paul to Timothy:
Stir up the gift:
Wherefore I put thee in remembrance that thou stir up the gift of God, which is in thee by the putting on of my hands. For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.
Paul had faith that his investment in Timothy, would result in the working power of God in and on his life!
Be not thou therefore ashamed of the testimony of our Lord, nor of me his prisoner: but be thou partaker of the afflictions of the gospel according to the power of God; Who hath saved us, and called us with an holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began, But is now made manifest by the appearing of our Saviour Jesus Christ, who hath abolished death, and hath brought life and immortality to light through the gospel:
Hold Fast:
Hold fast the form of sound words, which thou hast heard of me, in faith and love which is in Christ Jesus.
Endure:
Thou therefore endure hardness, as a good soldier of Jesus Christ. No man that warreth entangleth himself with the affairs of this life; that he may please him who hath chosen him to be a soldier.
Study:
Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.
Follow:
Flee also youthful lusts: but follow righteousness, faith, charity, peace, with them that call on the Lord out of a pure heart.
Continue:
But continue thou in the things which thou hast learned and hast been assured of, knowing of whom thou hast learned them;
And that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus. All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.
Watch:
But watch thou in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, make full proof of thy ministry.
These are a few… There are others that Paul gives and there are many other examples in the Scriptures, my prayer today is that we would develop a burden for a younger Christian, and see the need for this in our church… If I didn’t have a godly examples, (key is godly) Do you realize how much harder it would be for me to be who I am, and what I am… I understand that we have God, but God understood that we needed people, it is why He shed His blood to purchase the church. The body of believers, it is why He gave concerning what we are to do for one another…
The result:
Paul and Timotheus, the servants of Jesus Christ, to all the saints in Christ Jesus which are at Philippi, with the bishops and deacons:
Timotheus my workfellow, and Lucius, and Jason, and Sosipater, my kinsmen, salute you.
And sent Timotheus, our brother, and minister of God, and our fellowlabourer in the gospel of Christ, to establish you, and to comfort you concerning your faith:
Closing:
I write unto you, little children, because your sins are forgiven you for his name’s sake. I write unto you, fathers, because ye have known him that is from the beginning. I write unto you, young men, because ye have overcome the wicked one. I write unto you, little children, because ye have known the Father. I have written unto you, fathers, because ye have known him that is from the beginning. I have written unto you, young men, because ye are strong, and the word of God abideth in you, and ye have overcome the wicked one.