2020-11-01 1 Timothy 4:11-12 LEADERSHIP PRIORITIES: LEAD BY YOUR EXAMPLE

LEADERSHIP PRIORITIES (1): LEAD (I Tim 4:11-12) November 1, 2020 Read I Tim 4:11-12 – I saw a bumper sticker once: “I used to be indecisive; now, I’m just not sure.” Not a comfortable position, right? Certainly not a condition we want to see in church leadership. There are always details that throw any of us – but for church leaders, the priorities of leadership are clearly spelled out in Scripture – but, too often, not followed. So in I Tim 4:11-16, Paul clarifies Timothy’s priorities as a pastor/elder. Vv. 11-13 deal with his priorities toward the congregation; 14-16 priorities toward himself. We must insure that as leaders and as a congregation we are faithful to this instruction. And along the way, we will see that there is application for every believer. So, in vv. 11-13, the two priorities of a pastor are given: to lead, and to feed. To provide direction, and to teach the Word. Confusion there will confuse everyone. Isa 9:16: “For those who guide this people have been leading them astray, and those who are guided by them are swallowed up.” Confused leadership results in confused people. Hos 4:9: “And it shall be like people, like priest.” If leaders get it wrong, so will the people. Hos 4:6: “My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge.” If leaders get it wrong, everyone pays But the flip side, if they get it right, the people likely will as well. All of us grow into the pattern that leaders establish. So there is application here for all of us. So, let’s look today at how a pastor leads; next week at how he feeds. I. Lead with Authority “Command and teach these things.” Not “Dialogue and debate,” but “Command and teach.” In other words, “Timothy, God put you in this position. So put aside your natural timidity and lead with authority.” 11 “Command.” Present, imperative. “Keep on commanding.” It’s a strong word. He’s been told to avoid “silly myths,” to “train himself [nourish himself] for godliness.” Now he is to command others to follow suit. Orders such as these apply not only to Timothy, but to all elders, yes and even to all Christians. This contrasts sharply with contemporary preaching which is often intriguing, seldom commanding; often entertaining, seldom convicting; often popular, seldom powerful; often interesting, but seldom transforming. But Timothy’s not there to give advice. He is to command the things he’s feeding on from 1 the Word. It’s not his authority. Authority doesn’t come from personal opinions or or brilliant presentation. It comes from the Word. A faithful servant boldly confronts sin, unbelief and disobedience without wavering or favoritism. I Tim 1:3: “charge certain persons not to teach any different doctrine.” I Tim 5:7: “Command these things as well, so that they may be without reproach.” I Tim 6:17: He was to “charge (same word, παραγγελλω) [the rich] not to be haughty, nor to set their hopes on the uncertainty or riches.” We must never be harsh, or ungracious. Boldness must be tempered by gentleness. But good preaching must never lack authority. In Baxter’s words, we must “screw the truth into men’s minds.” Haddon Robinson says, “[Pastors] are pressured to deliver some message other than the Scriptures – a political system, a new religious philosophy, or a trend in psychology. Ministers can proclaim anything at 11:30 on Sunday morning. Yet when they fail to preach the Word, they abandon their authority. They fail to confront their hearers with a word from God. That is why most modern preaching evokes little more than a wide yawn. God is not in it.” But minus God, the authority is gone. Spurgeon considered what was intended as a withering criticism as his greatest compliment: “Here is a man who has not moved one inch forward in all his ministry, and at the close of the nineteenth century is teaching the theology of the first century.” May God increase this tribe – those who lead by the authority of the Word. II. Lead with Confidence Timothy is in his mid to late 30’s – young for a leader. And Paul says, “Let no one despise you for your youth.” Okay. Great. But how does Tim do that? He can’t very well grab someone by the scruff of the neck and say, “Listen, you. I hear you’ve been running me down behind my back. Well, that stops now or there will be consequences.” Probably not going to work, right? So, what can he do? Paul’s answer. Reflect maturity in your actions. Then it’s on others if they degrade you simply for your age. “Lead with confidence. God put you there, so act like you belong. Act with humility, but act with maturity and confidence. Don’t give anyone reason to diminish you just bc of your age.” I Cor 16:10, “When Tim comes, see that you put him at ease among you, for he is doing the work of the Lord, as I am. 11 So let no one despise him.” Tim wasn’t as old nor as forceful as Paul, but he could be confident in mature conduct knowing God put him there. That’s mature behavior that’s the privilege of every faithful believer. 2 The world says, “Believe in yourself.” God says: Prov 28:6: “Whoever trusts in his own mind is a fool, but he who walks in wisdom will be delivered.” True confidence comes from trusting in Him, not self. Do your best, but trust in Him. Prov 3:26, “For the Lord will be your confidence.” So said the wisest man who ever lived. II Cor 3:4-5: “Such is the confidence that we have through Christ toward God. 5) Not that we are sufficient in ourselves to claim anything as coming from us, but our sufficiency is from God.” Confidence lies in submitting every thought and action to Him. He’s our rock, not us! When construction began on the GG Bridge in 1932, it was just expected that for every $1M in cost, one life would be lost to hazardous conditions. But new safety measures were added. Mandatory hard hats, no showboating, tie-off lines. But the biggest help? A safety net – draped 60 feet below the work. Over 4 years, it saved 19 lives, freeing men to concentrate fully on their task. Our safety net is God. We can live and lead with confidence, and that was to be Tim’s mindset. Act in a mature fashion, while trusting in God. III. Lead by Example The greatest leadership principle there is. Lead by example! 12 “Let no one despise your youth, but set the believers an example.” How do your focus away from your youth? Don’t just talk about maturity. Live it. Let them see it. Show them. The greatest leadership principle of all. Lead by example. Like Jesus. When disciples needed to learn humility, He stripped to the garments of a slave and washed their feet. Powerful. Peter says I Pet 5:2, “Shepherd the flock of God that is among you . . . 3 not domineering over those in your charge, but being examples to the flock.” Titus 2:7, “Show yourself in all respects to be a model of good works.” How do you lead? By example. In I Cor 4 Paul itemizes the many persecutions he went through, the I Cor 4:16) I urge you, then, be imitators of me.” II Thess 3:7: “You ought to imitate us.” I Cor 11:1: “Be imitators of me, as I am of Christ.” Phil 3:17: “Brothers, join in imitating me, and keep your eyes on those who walk according to the example you have in us.” Follow my example. That’s bold, isn’t it? Scary. Did Paul think he was perfect? No. Phil 3:12: “Not that I . . . am already perfect.” Not perfect, but aiming at it. If we’re not doing the same and able to invite others to imitate us, we’re not ready for leadership. Example is everything when it comes to leadership. So Paul gives a few examples! 3 In Speech – Jesus says we will “give account for every careless word” (Mt 12:36b). Every foolish word. Every trivial word. Every harsh, intolerant, angry word, CRITICAL word. Prov 15:1: “A soft answer turn away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger.” Henry Ward Beecher once said, “Speak when you are angry and you’ll make the best speech you’ll ever regret.” It’s true. Lincoln was a master at mastering speech. Never criticized and never struck back. He’d write replies – then burn them. Fantastic strategy. Put your indignation where it belongs – in the fire. Someone insulted Spurgeon: “The Rev. Mr. Spurgeon – a great bag of wind.” Spurgeon replied, “Thank you for the compliment. I am glad to hear that I am a great anything.” Col 4:6: “Let your speech always be gracious, season with salt, so that you may know how you ought to answer each person.” Let’s be an example of that! Take Bambi’s advice: “If you can’t say something nice, don’t say nothin’ at all.” In Conduct – If we want people to act Xn, then we must act Xn. It’s not a “do as I say, not as I do” world for Xns leaders. It’s, “do as I do.” I have a nephew, Michael – wonderful Xn young man, engineer in CA. As a boy, one night he found new sheets on his bed – covered with giant Mickey Mouse’s! Scared him to death. Mom and Dad coaxed, cajoled and bribed – to no avail. No way he was bedding down with those gigantic mice! Finally, Dad jumped into the bed, pulled the sheets over his head and started snoring. That was all it took. Michael jumped right in, too. It’s great to teach Christlikeness – even better to exemplify it! Model it! So important for parents. Kids become what parents are, not what they say. Congregations become what the leaders are. In Love – Aγαπη – the decision to act lovingly toward the unlovely! If we love those we like, great. But anyone can do that? We’re to reach out to those who are not attractive, who are difficult, who most people avoid. II Cor 11:2: “For I feel a divine jealousy for you, since I betrothed you to one husband, to present you as a pure virgin to Christ.” He was consumed with the desire to see the messed up Corinthians become like Jesus. Every good leader desires that. And every congregation that has that example, is to follow that example! R. C. Sproul tells of an elderly pastor who asked early in his career, “How do you see the church – as an army or as a hospital?” Sproul, a zealous seminarian took the bait: “Both have to be there, but I see the church primarily as an army, mobilized by God to change the world.” The old man said, “Son, unless the church is first a hospital it can never become an army.” True, isn’t it? Madalyn Murray O’Hair made the cynical comment: “The church is the only army who shoots their wounded.” Wonder if she was a victim somewhere along the line. 4 No ability makes up for lack of love. I Cor 13:1) If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels but have not love, I am a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. 2) And if I have prophetic powers, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains [fantastic], but have not love, I am nothing. 3) If I give away all I have, and if I deliver up my body to be burned [commendable], but have not love, I gain nothing.” We must – imperative – must as leaders, and as followers, reach out to the unlovely among us, bring healing – then and only then can we move forward. In Faith – Unswerving faithfulness. A good leader does not deviate from his calling. He’s committed to his mission. I Cor 4:2: “It is required of stewards that they be found faithful.” We can all do better, can’t we? Like the boy who was asked to say grace for dinner one night. He’d seen the food, so he prayed honestly, “Lord, I don’t like the looks of it, but I thank you for it, and I’ll eat it anyway.” Isn’t that a faithful way to live? What God gives is sometimes great; but sometimes hard! That’s when we know we’re being tested. That’s when we say, “Lord, it doesn’t look so good right now. No job. Betrayed by friends. Severe illness. Whatever. But by your grace, I’ll see it through.” In Purity – Αγνεία -- sexual purity. Chastity. We’re desperate for this example. Our culture used to be based on Xn values. No longer. Our young people, and elders as well are being urged to explore this area of life wherever their imagination takes them. But God hasn’t changed. He knows that our sexuality can provide some of our most joyful moments this side of heaven. But it can also burn like a fire out of control. We need godly examples. One church I was in a certain deacon had a reputation. All the girls dreaded being bridesmaids bc they knew in the reception line he would hug and kiss a little beyond appropriate. It was who he was inside coming out. We need leaders who are devotedly faithful to their wives – who do not look a little too long, who do not make suggestive remarks, who guard their thought life. I know men are sexually stimulated by sight. But it is our God-given privilege to keep those fires within the bounds God has established. Eph 5:4 “Let there be no filthiness nor foolish talk nor crude joking, which are out of place, but instead let there be thanksgiving. 5) For you may be sure of this, that everyone who is sexually immoral or impure, or who is covetous (that is, an idolater), has no inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and God.” In a day of sexual darkness, let us have men who are examples in purity. 5 Conc – Troy Aikman was interviewed by Joe Buck explaining his disappointment at Jimmy Johnson leaving after two consecutive SB wins in ’94 and ’95. The reason – Johnson couldn’t get along with owner Jerry Jones, tho they had been friends. Aikman said, “I can tell you with all honesty, there was never any jealousy between Michael [Irvin], Emmitt [Smith], and me, any of the guys. We sacrificed; we all gave up something to be good and to win. The two guys leading the organization, they didn’t and they couldn’t; and yet they were the ones telling us that that’s what we needed to do. And that’s the part that really bothered me. It should never have happened.” He goes on to say, “I don’t know how many SB’s we’d have won. Maybe no more; maybe a lot more. What I do know is that we would have been really good for a long time – knocking on the door every year.” Didn’t happen bc those at the top could not be good examples of teamwork, and that’s the sign of a great leader. Robt Murray M’Cheyne said, “The greatest need of my people – is my own holiness.” It’s indispensable. God grant us such leaders – and those who will follow their lead. Let’s pray. 6