Faithful men needed!

From life as the church (1Timothy) to service within the church (2Timothy). The church being made up of many parts have important parts that are needed.

God provides what is needed (2Tim1:7)

2 Timothy 1:7 NASB95

7 For God has not given us a spirit of timidity, but of power and love and discipline.

Paul was reminding Timothy what God had created and provided in him and the means of the provision (see 2Tim1:5) came. He challenged Timothy personal to stir up that which is inside, that which was given

2 Timothy 1:6 NKJV

6 Therefore I remind you to stir up the gift of God which is in you through the laying on of my hands.

God’s plan called for (ref: 1Tim1:7)

Fearless men

Strong men

Loving men

Sound men

(Insert Willing Men Needed PowerPoint here)

So after the stirring, the rekindling (1:6) the reminding (1:7) comes more instructions about the kind of men needed to serve the body and that is our subject before us today.

God’s plan, God’s method is sufficient, it is adequate when it is coupled with willingness of the right kind of men. Keep in mind the word “willingness” as we go through the lesson this morning.

So, this morning as we look at willing men needed, just three simple points.

Men who are faithful

Men who are teachable

Men who are willing to teach

Willing men who are faithful

Does equipped equate to willingness? God has equipped and God calls for the willingness to use the equipping. Our first stop this morning, men who are faithful.

Our key verse this morning

2 Timothy 2:2 NASB95

2 The things which you have heard from me in the presence of many witnesses, entrust these to faithful men who will be able to teach others also.

and maybe in another version too.

2 Timothy 2:2 The Message

2 Pass on what you heard from me—the whole congregation saying Amen!—to reliable leaders who are competent to teach others.

Faithful to the Lord (Heb3:1-2; 1Tim1:12-13)

As the Lord set the example of faithfulness to the father, we have another good example in Moses

Hebrews 3:1–2 NASB95

1 Therefore, holy brethren, partakers of a heavenly calling, consider Jesus, the Apostle and High Priest of our confession; 2 He was faithful to Him who appointed Him, as Moses also was in all His house.

And even Paul attested to his faithfulness

1 Timothy 1:12–13 NASB95

12 I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who has strengthened me, because He considered me faithful, putting me into service, 13 even though I was formerly a blasphemer and a persecutor and a violent aggressor. Yet I was shown mercy because I acted ignorantly in unbelief;

Attested to the Lord considering him faithful. (expand; the past does not define today or the future)

Faithful men, willing men whom the Lord can trust and rely on.

2 Timothy 2:2 GNB

2 Take the teachings that you heard me proclaim in the presence of many witnesses, and entrust them to reliable people, who will be able to teach others also.

Faithful to the Word (2Tim1:13; 2Tim3:14)

Being faithful to the word means, well, look what Paul said to Timothy

2 Timothy 1:13 NASB95

13 Retain the standard of sound words which you have heard from me, in the faith and love which are in Christ Jesus.

Retain, and in other versions such words as hold fast, keep, follow pattern, hold firmly, hold tightly, take as your norm. All of these call for willingness, call for an action.

So, now another scripture to consider

2 Timothy 3:14 NASB95

14 You, however, continue in the things you have learned and become convinced of, knowing from whom you have learned them,

Men who know the truth (the word) and practice the word (put it into action).

Faithful to the church (Col1:7, 4:7; 1Cor16:19)

Men who are willing and are faithful to the church, the body of believers in which they serve, or should be serving the Lord on their behalf.

With such great biblical examples as

Epaphras

Colossians 1:7 NASB95

7 just as you learned it from Epaphras, our beloved fellow bond-servant, who is a faithful servant of Christ on our behalf,

Or you can find Tychicus (Col4:7) or Aquila (1Cor16:19)

So, these men, the men God needs who are faithful are more than just Christians, God wants men who are willing.

(Insert John Gill Picture Here)

John Gill, bible expositor from 18th Century who wrote the “Exposition of the Bible” Commentary said this

“In other words . . . God wants not only men who have received the grace of God, and are true believers of Christ, but are men of great uprightness and integrity; who having the word of God, will speak it out boldly, and faithfully, and keep nothing back that is profitable, but declare the whole counsel of God, without any mixture of adulteration; for the Gospel being committed to their trust, they would become stewards, and of such it is required that they be faithful; and therefore this is mentioned as a necessary and requisite qualification in them. . .”

(Transition) Did you notice that it has to be willing and not just willing but applying the willingness by faith toe the Lord, the word and to the church? Now that brings us to our next point.

Willing men who are teachable

Wise words, Godly words, Godly direction given (Deu6:6-8) but there must be a willingness to apply. God’s method can work on all, but won’t work if there is no willingness. Our willingness here is for men to be teachable.

I think I should give you that passage:

Deuteronomy 6:6–8 NASB95

6 “These words, which I am commanding you today, shall be on your heart. 7 “You shall teach them diligently to your sons and shall talk of them when you sit in your house and when you walk by the way and when you lie down and when you rise up. 8 “You shall bind them as a sign on your hand and they shall be as frontals on your forehead.

So, God needs men who are willing to be teachable

To be taught by others (2Tim1:5, 3:14-15)

Unless men are willing to be taught, God’s method won’t work, for there has to be a willingness.

Some godly examples

2 Timothy 1:5 NASB95

5 For I am mindful of the sincere faith within you, which first dwelt in your grandmother Lois and your mother Eunice, and I am sure that it is in you as well.

Timothy was taught by Lois and Eunice

2 Timothy 3:14–15 NASB95

14 You, however, continue in the things you have learned and become convinced of, knowing from whom you have learned them, 15 and that from childhood you have known the sacred writings which are able to give you the wisdom that leads to salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.

Teaching that stuck with him from childhood which lead to his salvation through faith.

Teaching is not a one time thing, it is a process, You can see Timothy gleaning from Paul as they travelled together.

Think, ponder on have there been influential people who have taught you, impacted your life maybe from childhood or even in your adult life. Maybe take a minute and thank them.

(Transition) Now all teaching does not come from others, there is some teaching that comes at the work, sweat of your own hands and brow. Effort that you put in personally outside of what others do

To dig in and teach selves too (2Tim2:15; 1Tim4:13-16; Ezr7:10)

2 Timothy 2:15 NASB95

15 Be diligent to present yourself approved to God as a workman who does not need to be ashamed, accurately handling the word of truth.

Notice a few words in this passage Be diligent, Present Yourself - diligent: according to Oxford dictionary (Adj): having or showing care and conscientiousness in one's work or duties. - So be diligent, diligent with a purpose to show yourself approved to God. Purposed with results, unashamed, accurately handling the word of truth

1 Timothy 4:13–14 NASB95

13 Until I come, give attention to the public reading of Scripture, to exhortation and teaching. 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 4:15–16 NASB95

15 Take pains with these things; be absorbed in them, so that your progress will be evident to all. 16 Pay close attention to yourself and to your teaching; persevere in these things, for as you do this you will ensure salvation both for yourself and for those who hear you.

Diligent with purpose with results, giving yourself to reading, exhorting, teaching. But be careful to pay close attention to the teaching (the thing that you are diligently seeking personally outside of others).

Look at this beautiful verse tucked away in Ezra

Ezra 7:10 NASB95

10 For Ezra had set his heart to study the law of the Lord and to practice it, and to teach His statutes and ordinances in Israel.

Notice the order here:

Ezra set his heart.

Ezra was purposed to study the law (the Word).

Ezra studied to apply personally.

After applying personally he taught to others.

God needs men who do not wait on others, but are willing to be diligent themselves in seeking the Lord through His word on top of being willing to be taught by others.

(Transition) Ezra really sets up for our next point about teaching, but a quick word for application first. Take every opportunity to be taught and to diligently teach yourselves through God’s word. God needs, God desires men who have applied His word personally to then be a faithful man who is willing to teach.

Willing men who will teach

This is where the rubber meets the road. God wants men not just to be faithful, to learn, but to apply and to teach others. This has been geared to men thus far, but hold on women will be brought in before we close.

Unless there is a willingness of men to teach others, God’s method won’t work. There must be a willingness with application.

Paul offers Timothy as a good example (1Cor4:17; 1Tim1:3, 4:6)

1 Corinthians 4:17 NASB95

17 For this reason I have sent to you Timothy, who is my beloved and faithful child in the Lord, and he will remind you of my ways which are in Christ, just as I teach everywhere in every church.

Timothy was sent to Corinth to remind, to teach, to teach the same thing being taught in every church.

Wonder what he is teaching, reminding them of? Of Paul’s ways in Christ. He later says imitate me as I imitate Christ (1Cor11:1).

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,

So not just in Corinth was Timothy sent, but he was the minister, evangelist in Ephesus and Paul gave teaching instructions.

What is the purpose of these instructions? To teach others to teach the truth and not some strange doctrine.

1 Timothy 4:6 NASB95

6 In pointing out these things to the brethren, you will be a good servant of Christ Jesus, constantly nourished on the words of the faith and of the sound doctrine which you have been following.

By Timothy teaching the brethren, Corinth, Ephesus, it will be proof that he is a good servant, nourished on the words of faith, the sound doctrine (teaching) you have been following (applying).

Teaching is sharing the love of God, the love for God with others through the word of God that brings faith, salvation and maturity.

(Transition) not all have the same ability to teach. May we address that some too now?

Men willing teach according to their abilities (1Cor12:29; Jm3:1; Eph4:11; Heb5:12; 1Pt4:10-11; Rom12:3-8)

Not all are teachers according to (1Cor12:29)

In fact look what James says about teachers.

James 3:1 NASB95

1 Let not many of you become teachers, my brethren, knowing that as such we will incur a stricter judgment.

I don’t think I need to expand, but will use another version to expand on that.

James 3:1 The Message

1 Don’t be in any rush to become a teacher, my friends. Teaching is highly responsible work. Teachers are held to the strictest standards.

God gave some as teachers (see Eph4:11) - not all are to be teachers. But that does not mean that you cannot teach at all. Consider

Hebrews 5:12 NASB95

12 For though by this time you ought to be teachers, you have need again for someone to teach you the elementary principles of the oracles of God, and you have come to need milk and not solid food.

Men have different abilities

1 Peter 4:10–11 NASB95

10 As each one has received a special gift, employ it in serving one another as good stewards of the manifold grace of God. 11 Whoever speaks, is to do so as one who is speaking the utterances of God; whoever serves is to do so as one who is serving by the strength which God supplies; so that in all things God may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom belongs the glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen.

The special gift, the spiritual gifts can be further expanded in (Rom12:3-8)

The grace, the gift given as one body with many members working together.

Teaching does not always mean the bible. I think Nick could attest to I am not the most mechanical guy and he teaches me constantly on things I know nothing about so that I can learn and apply personally. So we can teach with whatever skills, talents, gifts God has given us for His purpose and glory!

(Insert drawing a conclusion picture here)

For the gospel to spread, for the body to mature, God needs the right kind of men to to step out and out.

Men who are faithful (to God, to the word, to the church)

Men who are teachable

Men who are willing to teach to their ability

In other words men who are willing to serve to help us to accomplish our aim this year of “together we grow. . .”

I mentioned that I would not leave this just on the men’s shoulders and would bring women into it.

Scripture tells us when it comes to women.

Older women are to teach younger women (Tit2:3)

Younger women need to be willing to be taught by older women (Tit2:4-5)

Women can teach, in the children’s ministry; in the women’s ministry. They can serve in many functions within the church.

We are all in this “together” which really has been our theme since I got here “together.” And may we continue to strive together to grow the Lord’s church for the Lord’s glory.

Speaking of the Lord’s church, are you in the church? What does that mean, how does that happen.

(Insert: in Christ picture here) give invitation

Are You in Christ.

For in Christ you are justified (rom3:24) by faith (Rom5:10)

In Christ you are dead to sin but alive to God (Rom6:11)

In Christ there is no condemnation (Rom8:1)

In Christ you are a new creation (2Cor5:17)

In Christ you are reconciled and restored (2Cor5:19)

In Christ you are sons of God through faith (Gal3:26)

For it is by faith you are saved (Eph2:8-9)

And faith comes by hearing the word (Rom10:17)

That brings about obedience to the word, to the gospel (1Pt4:7)

So then you can following the commands (Act2:38; Act22:16) and be saved

then learning to follow and keep the commands by the teaching you receive from the word (Mt28:20)