Know Your Mission

The commissioning

To be commissioned is to be given the order, given the authority to accomplish something.

Timothy was commissioned by the eldership (presbytery) (1Tim4:14) and he was a young protege under Paul. (1TIm1:2)

1 Timothy 4:14 NASB95

14 Do not neglect the spiritual gift within you, which was bestowed on you through prophetic utterance with the laying on of hands by the presbytery.

1 Timothy 4:14 NASB95

14 Do not neglect the spiritual gift within you, which was bestowed on you through prophetic utterance with the laying on of hands by the presbytery.

Timothy traveled with Paul often, but now his commission was to the church that was at Ephesus.

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1 Timothy 1:2 NASB95

2 To Timothy, my true child in the faith: Grace, mercy and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord.

Paul is writing to this young evangelist to encourage, to warn, to remind him of his commission and his position.

In our passage today it is short but powerful, Timothy has been already reminded of the charge, now reminded of the commission, the command, and the caution needed in her position.

The charge is found in (v.3)

1 Timothy 1:3 NASB95

3 As I urged you upon my departure for Macedonia, remain on at Ephesus so that you may instruct certain men not to teach strange doctrines,

There is a sense of urgency to the mission, and today there still should be a sense of urgency. We don’t all have the same commission and mission.

Timothy he was to be an evangelist (2Tim4:5)

2 Timothy 4:5 NASB95

5 But you, be sober in all things, endure hardship, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry.

So let’s look at the commission, the command and the caution written to Timothy today.

I. The Commission

1Tim1:18

1 Timothy 1:18–19 NASB95

18 This command I entrust to you, Timothy, my son, in accordance with the prophecies previously made concerning you, that by them you fight the good fight, 19 keeping faith and a good conscience, which some have rejected and suffered shipwreck in regard to their faith.

1 Timothy 1:20 NASB95

20 Among these are Hymenaeus and Alexander, whom I have handed over to Satan, so that they will be taught not to blaspheme.

I have already mentioned the commission given to Timothy, more than likely given when sent out with Paul on the missionary journey before landing his full time position as Evangelist in Ephesus.

Paul starts with a command, a commission of trust to him, and reminds him who he is to him. One who is considered a Child of faith (v.20 and in this passage my son (v.18).

In accordance to the prophesies, we do not know what prophesies were spoken if they were foretelling (about future) or forthtelling a exhortation or an encouragement given previously to him. Not all prophesy is foretelling, much is forthtelling.

THE COMMISSIONING

Commissioning, ordination of someone

What about commissioning a missionary when we send they out? What about elders, deacons should we commission them? Should we commission our teachers, or someone who is committed to the study God’s Word for full time ministry work. We are commissioning someone when they are baptized aren’t we?

Timothy had hands laid on him commissioning him. Maybe that is something we should consider.