The persuading power of your personal life. 1 Timothy 4:11-16

The persuading power of your personal life.

1 Timothy 4:11-16

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. (1 Timothy 4:11–16, ESV)

The sermon title for today is the “The persuading power of your personal life.”

In this passage Paul exhorts and encourages Timothy to press on in the work that God has called him to do, but with an emphasis on his personal life.

Let’s look together at these verses. And I don’t want to retread the work that JB did two weeks ago when he zeroed in on verse 12… If you missed that sermon you should take time this week to go and listen to it online. You will be blessed in the hearing of the Word!

11 Command and teach these things.

Timothy is instructed to command and to teach… It’s his role in the life of the church. But, what is he to command and teach? Verse 11 says “these things”

“These things” refers to the content of the letter, but more than that it refers to the truth of the gospel and its impact on the church and its members.

1 Timothy 3:14-16… “14 I hope to come to you soon, but I am writing these things to you so that, 15 if I delay, you may know how one ought to behave in the household of God, which is the church of the living God, a pillar and buttress of the truth. 16 Great indeed, we confess, is the mystery of godliness: He was manifested in the flesh, vindicated by the Spirit, seen by angels, proclaimed among the nations, believed on in the world, taken up in glory.”

Paul has written “these things” so that Timothy and the church at Ephesus would know how to behave. These things are what is necessary for the church to fulfill its mission. These things are the truth we proclaim, these things are the gospel we protect.

“These things” are the truth of Jesus Christ- the mystery of godliness.

These things are the truth we confess… that Jesus was incarnated in the flesh, raised by the power of the Spirit, witnessed by angels, proclaimed by the apostles, and believed on by the church, and ascended to the right hand of the Father in heaven.

These things are what Timothy is to teach, it is what Timothy is to use to correct and rebuke, it was what the church needs to fulfill its mission in the midst of internal false teaching and external pressure.

And, because what Timothy is going to teach contradicts the false teachers who have come into the church… and because teaching the truth comes with implied and un-earned authority, Paul gives him some advice in verse 12.

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.

Timothy is likely in his 30’s, and many of his hearers are older than him. In addition, Ephesus is not his home. So, as a transplanted pastor to the city of Ephesus, Timothy has been installed and given the task to teach- and with teaching comes rebuking and correcting.

Timothy cannot do anything about his age. And Timothy cannot do anything about where he is from. God has gifted him and called him to this task… hence Paul’s words in verse 14 “Do not neglect the gift you have, which was given you by the prophecy when the council of elders laid their hands on you.”

Timothy has a gift, and his calling has been affirmed by the elders who surrounded him as he was called to ministry. But, that is not enough…

“Let no one despise you for your youth…” The truth is that people will find reasons not to listen. Paul’s encouragement to him in this situation is to remove any real reason for people to ignore his teaching.

You can’t make people respect your age. You can’t make people respect where you are from. But, you can live your personal life in a way that stands up to scrutiny and derision.

Paul told Timothy to focus on the only thing he could do anything about- his personal life.

The resume for leadership in the church is more than gifting and calling, it is your personal life.

Your personal life includes all that is mentioned in 1 Timothy 3 related to the pastors and deacons.

1 Timothy 3:1-13 (ESV)

“The saying is trustworthy: If anyone aspires to the office of overseer, he desires a noble task. 2 Therefore an overseer must be above reproach, the husband of one wife, sober-minded, self-controlled, respectable, hospitable, able to teach, 3 not a drunkard, not violent but gentle, not quarrelsome, not a lover of money. 4 He must manage his own household well, with all dignity keeping his children submissive, 5 for if someone does not know how to manage his own household, how will he care for God’s church? 6 He must not be a recent convert, or he may become puffed up with conceit and fall into the condemnation of the devil. 7 Moreover, he must be well thought of by outsiders, so that he may not fall into disgrace, into a snare of the devil. 8 Deacons likewise must be dignified, not double-tongued, not addicted to much wine, not greedy for dishonest gain. 9 They must hold the mystery of the faith with a clear conscience. 10 And let them also be tested first; then let them serve as deacons if they prove themselves blameless. 11 Their wives likewise must be dignified, not slanderers, but sober-minded, faithful in all things. 12 Let deacons each be the husband of one wife, managing their children and their own households well. 13 For those who serve well as deacons gain a good standing for themselves and also great confidence in the faith that is in Christ Jesus.”

Under scrutiny the personal life of the pastor has the ability to persuade.

The personal life of a pastor is an example, but it is not only an example.

What I mean by that is it must be sincere. You cannot arrange your personal life so that you get to be a leader, your personal life should be the same regardless of your responsibility in the life of the church. Anyone who mimics the Christian life for the sake of attention and leadership is no different than those mentioned in 4:1-10 who are teaching and leading with insincere motives and seared consciences.

You cannot love your wife and your children in hopes of being a leader… you cannot seek purity in hopes that someone notices and elevates your role in the church. No, it must be out of a deep love for the Lord… the kind of devotion and love for the Lord that exists regardless of the circumstances.

Sincerity will be challenged. Motives will be questioned. And the reason for faithfulness must be love and devotion to Jesus and nothing else.

But, setting an example is a real thing. And because of that there are liberties and opportunities that must be denied by those who are serving as pastors. Why? Because it’s part of the calling, and it’s modeled in the way that Paul denied himself for the sake of his hearers, and its present in the call here to Timothy to do the same.

Timothy cannot change his age, nor can he change where he is from, but he can pursue faithfulness to the Lord as a demonstration of his faith and of the power of the gospel in his life.

And, as Paul knows, the Lord will use the consistency of his personal life to persuade many over time.

And, you can see here in the passage that Paul is also coming to help… and until then Timothy is charged with doing what all pastors are charged to do. (Verse 13)

13 Until I come, devote yourself to the public reading of Scripture, to exhortation, to teaching.

Pastors are called to read the word, explain the word, and apply the Word to the people. This is how they did it in the synagogue… and it’s what we strive to do today!

Every time the church gathers we need to hear the Word, understand the Word, and apply the Word.

And, there might be a temptation to try and lead in a different way, or win people over through different means… but the calling of the pastor and the gifting of the pastor are often linked.

Verse 14 comes with the exhortation to use the gift that he was given… the gift of teaching and preaching… it’s true he is younger than some. it’s true he is an outsider to the city, but there is no such thing as an outsider in the church for those who are brothers and sisters in Christ.

14 Do not neglect the gift you have, which was given you by prophecy when the council of elders laid their hands on you.

As Timothy continues in the ministry,.. and until Paul comes he is to continue in the work of preaching, and at the same time he is to practice these things in a way that others can see his progress.

15 Practice these things, immerse yourself in them, so that all may see your progress.

These verses are about more than progressing as a preacher. It seems that Timothy is already gifted in this from the Lord, and that doesn’t mean that he can’t improve… but the focus here is more on the progress he makes in his personal life.

God uses the progress of a pastors spiritual life to persuade others of the power of the gospel.

Those who proclaim a life changing and powerful gospel are examples of that change. And, this isn’t just for a moment, it is true all the way to the end.

This is why the pastors and deacons in 1 Timothy 3 are to have lives that match up with the gospel, but they are also to have lives that continue to match up with the gospel.

For many pastors the focus is on how much better they can preach or communicate over time. But, the real attention should be given to their spiritual maturity and personal holiness and faithfulness over time.

Look at the last verse in our passage, verse 16.

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.

Timothy must keep a close watch on himself… this is about his personal life.

Timothy must keep a close watch on his teaching… this is about making sure that he does the hard work of proclaiming and protecting the gospel in his study. As John Piper has said, this exposes “the extraordinary seriousness of the pastoral ministry.” (John Piper, in the installation sermon of two elders at Bethlehem Baptist Church)

The more time passes in a pastors ministry, the more godly and mature he should be.

The pastor doesn’t save himself through his works… though the translation here seems to say that. But, what it means is that by persevering in his personal life he demonstrates the power of the gospel that has changed his life.

And, the pastor doesn’t save others himself, but by persisting in the teaching of the gospel throughout his ministry the Lord saves those who hear the gospel when it is preached truthfully.

Through the persistence and perseverance of the pastor and the preaching of the gospel there is a long term spiritual growth benefit for the church and the Kingdom.

When the congregation sees the men who pastor grow in their faith, it helps them to know that they can continue to grow as well… and should.

Because the truth is that there is more than just the persuading power of the pastors life… God will use each persons life as a demonstration of the power of the gospel.

Your personal life has the power to persuade others of the truth of the Gospel.

You may not feel like you are worthy, there may be people who are critical… but the call to set an example applies to all of us.

This applies to young parents and to grandparents. This is about if you have earned it or not.

you may not be who people wanted…

You may not be all that you hope to be…

but, regardless of your age and situation the words that Paul says to Timothy are applicable to us today…

“Set an example in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith, in purity.”

Don’t let anyone look down on you because of your age… this should be true for all of us- from the youngest of our faith family to the oldest.

The more time passes in your walk with Christ, the more godly and mature you become.

The truth is don’t let anyone look down on you for any reason, but at the same time you cannot control what people are looking for, you can only take care of why, who, and how you live.

Why? Because all Christians are called to put our faith into practice.

And what is the basis of Paul’s instruction to Timothy? What was the basis for the way that Paul handled his life and ministry?

Jesus was looked down on for many reasons and never faltered in his personal life.

Look back at 1 Timothy 3:14-16…

Jesus was manifested in the flesh… this means Jesus was God in flesh, but without sin. He was both God and man… and this is the mystery! Jesus in the flesh, a sinless Savior, and yet he was despised and rejected by men.

Isaiah 53 prophesied about what Jesus would endure…

Isaiah 53 (ESV)

“Who has believed what he has heard from us? And to whom has the arm of the Lord been revealed? 2 For he grew up before him like a young plant, and like a root out of dry ground; he had no form or majesty that we should look at him, and no beauty that we should desire him. 3 He was despised and rejected by men, a man of sorrows and acquainted with grief; and as one from whom men hide their faces he was despised, and we esteemed him not. 4 Surely he has borne our griefs and carried our sorrows; yet we esteemed him stricken, smitten by God, and afflicted. 5 But he was pierced for our transgressions; he was crushed for our iniquities; upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace, and with his wounds we are healed. 6 All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned—every one—to his own way; and the Lord has laid on him the iniquity of us all. 7 He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth; like a lamb that is led to the slaughter, and like a sheep that before its shearers is silent, so he opened not his mouth. 8 By oppression and judgment he was taken away; and as for his generation, who considered that he was cut off out of the land of the living, stricken for the transgression of my people? 9 And they made his grave with the wicked and with a rich man in his death, although he had done no violence, and there was no deceit in his mouth. 10 Yet it was the will of the Lord to crush him; he has put him to grief; when his soul makes an offering for guilt, he shall see his offspring; he shall prolong his days; the will of the Lord shall prosper in his hand. 11 Out of the anguish of his soul he shall see and be satisfied; by his knowledge shall the righteous one, my servant, make many to be accounted righteous, and he shall bear their iniquities. 12 Therefore I will divide him a portion with the many, and he shall divide the spoil with the strong, because he poured out his soul to death and was numbered with the transgressors; yet he bore the sin of many, and makes intercession for the transgressors.”

At the final breath of Jesus on the cross, one of the Centurion present praised God and said, “certainly this man was innocent!”

Jesus has set the example for us, and He has also provided the help we need to be faithful to Him.

John 16:7-11 (ESV)

“Nevertheless, I tell you the truth: it is to your advantage that I go away, for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you. But if I go, I will send him to you. 8 And when he comes, he will convict the world concerning sin and righteousness and judgment: 9 concerning sin, because they do not believe in me; 10 concerning righteousness, because I go to the Father, and you will see me no longer; 11 concerning judgment, because the ruler of this world is judged.”

The persuading power of your personal life is a demonstration of the power of the Holy Spirit.

You cannot do this without Him!

You can turn to Him and ask Him for help in all things…

By depending on the Holy Spirit you lend a persuasive influence to the gospel that you believe and proclaim.. like Paul says this is the mystery of godliness that we confess.

Our dependence on the Holy Spirit is the means by which our lives glorify God!