12 Marks of the Man of God (Part 3)

This is our third lesson in our series 12 Marks of the Man of God. We have been studying . In our first session we looked at the first four marks which were:

1.A watchman (4:6a)

2. A good servant (4:6b)

3. A student of Scripture (4:6c)

4. Avoids false doctrine (4:7a)

In our second session we looked at the next four marks which were:

5. Disciplines himself for godliness (4:7b-9)

6. A hard worker (4:10)

7. Teaches with authority (4:11)

8. An example of spiritual maturity (4:12)

In today’s session, we will conclude our series by looking at the final four marks of the man of Gd which are:

9. A biblical ministry (4:13)

10. Doesn’t neglect his calling (4:14)

11. Consumed with his calling (4:15a)

12. Progressing in spiritual growth (4:15b)

A Biblical Ministry

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

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

Every craftsman, architect, artist, and mechanic needs the right tools to complete his work. The man of God, as a laborer and worker, has to have the correct tools. The material that the man of God uses is the Word of God. Every Christian minister is to have a biblical ministry. We will use other materials, books and resources to assist and guide our ministry, but they are only supplements to the Word of God.

The excellent is to have a thoroughly biblical ministry.

Paul says to Timothy, “until I come, devote yourself to the public reading of Scripture, to exhortation, and to teaching.” Until Paul returned to Ephesus, Timothy was to be devoted to building the church up through the Word of God. We do not build great churches through charisma and personality. We do not build the church with the leading philosophical methods of growth according to the world. Instead we build the church, by discipling people using the Word of God. In the Great Commission Jesus tell his apostles that they are to go and baptize and teach all that he commanded ().

Paul commissioned Timothy to devote himself to the public reading of Scripture, to exhortation, and teaching.

The word “devote” in the Greek means to “give attention to.” John Kitchen wrote that it meant to "occupy oneself with, devote or apply oneself to. The present tense imperative demands that the action be undertaken repeatedly.” Bible commentator Donald Guthrie wrote that this particular verb “implies previous preparation in private.” Timothy was to teach and impart what he had studied in private. Public ministry begins in private devotion and study. Public reading of Scripture, is empty unless you are familiar with it in private.

The public reading of Scripture is in reference to It refers to the Jewish custom of reading the Scriptures aloud in the synagogue as the other two NT references indicate (; ).

The reading of Scripture was followed by the explanation of the Scripture being read. Examples of this can found in Ezra’s giving the sense of the Law in , and Jesus’ reading Isaiah in .

The man of God is to give the explanation of the text, not his opinion of the text. That is why I believe it is dangerous when people go around and give their opinions of Scripture in small group settings. “I think this text is saying...” This is where exegesis, and hermeneutical principles must be applied. Exhortation is not about giving your ideas, but allowing the text to say what was originally intended.

Exhortation in the Greek alludes to the act of earnestly supporting or encouraging (a response or action). The man of God appeals to the listeners to take action to what has been read. We comfort and encourage through the Scriptures to take heed to Scripture’s commands and instructions.

Teaching appears no less than 15 times in the Pastoral Epistles. The man of God is to read the Scriptures publicly, exhort, and teach. This trifold communicating the Word of God is important for the growth of the church. Read, exhort and teach. Read and explain. Exegete and exposit the text. We need young ministers to take up the mantle of teaching the Bible. Preaching topical sermons has its place, but the real need is for the depths of the the Bibles to be mined and explored then taught to the people.

exhortation n. — the act of earnestly supporting or encouraging (a response or action).

Doesn’t neglect his calling (4:14)

Paul reminds Timothy not to neglect the spiritual gift that God has given him.

The word “neglect” in the Greek means not to abandon, to lose interest, or not to be concerned with.

Timothy was facing many obstacles and pressures in Ephesus as their overseer. Such pressures may have led Paul to think that Timothy was considering giving up.

Some who enter into the ministry can lose interest in it. Things may not turn out the way they intend, or door may not open as quickly as they want. So in turn they lose interest, or abandon their ministry. I’ve seen many neglect their calling and pursue something else. This is where you should make your calling and election sure.

It is also important that you have accountability to a pastor and local church who can help you stay on track. Timothy’s ministry was confirmed by the laying on of hands by the presbytery. The church collectively affirmed the calling on Timothy’s life. I tell young preachers that once they make the public declaration they are held accountable. You live in a glasshouse and everything you do is scrutinized. This is also true when you start to neglect the calling on your life.

Consumed with his calling (4:15a)

The opposite of neglecting your calling is being totally consumed with your calling.

Paul tells Timothy to “practice these things, and be absorbed in them.”

The minister is to give his life completely to his calling. You can not be a preacher one day and not be the next day. The call of God should consume your very being.

The phrase “practice these things” is translated in the NASB as “take pains with these things.” In the Greek it carries the idea of repetition, and doing something over and over again.

You are to always being doing these things of the ministry. Praying, preparing, studying, reading, preaching, teaching, leading. You do them over and over again.

“Immerse yourself in them.” That’s a strong phrase. The KJV translates it as “give thyself wholly to them.” The NASB says “Be absorbed in them.” Donald Guthrie comments, "The mind is to be as immersed in these pursuits as the body in the air it breathes." As a fish lives and moves and has its being in water, as the bird is made for the sky and the worm for the earth—so we must be in these things, indeed, we must be in these things.

Progressing in spiritual growth (4:15b)

“that all may see your progress.”

Finally, the last mark of the man of God is that he is continually progressing in spiritual growth.

Timothy was to be an example to the believers in Ephesus. If Timothy desired to see his saints grow and mature in the faith, then he too would have to progress in spiritual growth.

The phrase progress in the Greek was used in the military to speak of an advancing force. MacArthur says that the Stoics used this particular word to describe the advancement of learning, understanding and knowledge.

Invisible discipline results in observable growth. What you continue to do in private, such as prayer, fasting, study, and preparation will be visible to those you lead. There should be visible growth in your life that is observable by those you lead and those who are your peers. The man of God should never level off in spiritual growth. You never graduate from pursuing the spiritual disciplines. You never become a perfect spiritual man. We continue to grow spiritually until reach that eternal reward.

Conclusion

For three lessons we have covered the 12 Marks of the Man of God. They are as followed:

1. A watchman (4:6a)

2. A good servant (4:6b)

3. A student of Scripture (4:6c)

4. Avoids false doctrine (4:7a)

5. Disciplines himself for godliness (4:7b-9)

6. A hard worker (4:10)

7. Teaches with authority (4:11)

8. An example of spiritual maturity (4:12)

9. A biblical ministry (4:13)

10. Doesn’t neglect his calling (4:14)

11. Consumed with his calling (4:15a)

12. Progressing in spiritual growth (4:15b)

To pursue excellence in your ministry and preaching then these four marks should be your aim. These are the marks of excellence, and the qualifying characteristics of the man of God.