Live Out Your Calling

1 Timothy 4:11–16 ESV

11 Command and teach these things. 12 Let no one despise you for your youth, but set the believers an example in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith, in purity. 13 Until I come, devote yourself to the public reading of Scripture, to exhortation, to teaching. 14 Do not neglect the gift you have, which was given you by prophecy when the council of elders laid their hands on you. 15 Practice these things, immerse yourself in them, so that all may see your progress. 16 Keep a close watch on yourself and on the teaching. Persist in this, for by so doing you will save both yourself and your hearers.

Equip the Flock

1 Timothy 4:11–13 ESV

11 Command and teach these things. 12 Let no one despise you for your youth, but set the believers an example in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith, in purity. 13 Until I come, devote yourself to the public reading of Scripture, to exhortation, to teaching.

Paul’s first charge is command and teach

Paul charges Timothy to Command

Command

To make declaration

To give order to

This is a powerful word from Paul

It is a word of authority to a young minister

a word of authority concerning a shepherd to his flock

Paul then tells Timothy

do not let people look down at you for your youth

This is something that is key for Timothy

Even though you are young

be confident

use the authority given through your gift

Timothy was not a teenager

probably in his late 30’s

Paul is speaking this due to the fact that many elders would have been much older

Paul is stating do not back down

we have to keep the context in mind

Timothy has been warned of false prophets and thus needs to be reminded no matter your youth stand against

stand strong in the truth as Paul has taught throughout

Equip the flock

Train the flock

Teach the flock

Teach them in truth

Teach them in good doctrine

Employ Your Calling

1 Timothy 4:13–14 ESV

13 Until I come, devote yourself to the public reading of Scripture, to exhortation, to teaching. 14 Do not neglect the gift you have, which was given you by prophecy when the council of elders laid their hands on you.

Keep with the public reading of Scripture

exhortation

teaching

Timothy has been charged with his calling

Paul is saying do not give in

Employ this calling

do it to your best ability

Timothy is told to use his calling

The gift given when the elders laid hands on you

Do not neglect it

The elders laying hands on him is key

this is the process of ordination as we call it

it is when the elders lay hands upon an individual

The service we do is a form of church tradition

The laying on of hands in scripture is the only evidence of ordination

It has to do with the elders laying on of hands and praying over the called

This is a huge thing

Paul says do not neglect it!

This is something that is so true

if you have a gift use it!

That is a rule of thumb

the Lord has trusted you with a gift to use for His glory and His Kingdom

this is the least we could do since He went to the cross for us

Paul simply says do not neglect the gift

it was not by accident

it was by God’s design that he gave it to you upon your calling

Exercise What You Teach

1 Timothy 4:12 ESV

12 Let no one despise you for your youth, but set the believers an example in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith, in purity.

1 Timothy 4:15–16 ESV

15 Practice these things, immerse yourself in them, so that all may see your progress. 16 Keep a close watch on yourself and on the teaching. Persist in this, for by so doing you will save both yourself and your hearers.

Paul then tells Timothy

exercise what you teach

Set the example

You are the minister

you should set the example

We should be setting an example to the rest of the people who are believers

this is how we should live

in speech

we should be above reproach in our speech

we should be gentle and kind with our words

we should not use foul language

in love

We should be loving

the love of Christ should pour out through us

He loved unconditionally

we should try to replicate

in faith

Stay strong in the faith

do not leave it

do not change it

stick to the truth

set the example of a Faithful follower

in purity

Set yourself away from sin

abide in the Lord always

be above reproach and do not be hypocritical

Immerse yourself in them

Take in what you teach

absorb it

be like a sponge

the messages and teachings are for all including the one giving the lesson or message

Keep a close watch on yourself

don’t be hypocritical

watch yourself

watch your teaching

make sure you are teaching truth

do not manipulate the Gospel

do not shift the Gospel

The Gospel is pure and does not need changed

Persist in this

save yourself

and your hearers

not in reference to Eternal salvation

in reference to the false teachings

false teachings can draw the church into wrongful ways of teaching

in this Paul is saying Timothy can keep the church and himself safe

by keeping the true doctrine of the faith

they will stay pure in their theology

A large assignment for a young minister

dealing with Ephesus struggling with gnosticism

Salvation message