Sermon Tone Analysis

Good morning, we have come as far as 1 Tim 4:13.

Paul is writing to Timothy, his beloved son in the faith.

1. Paul opened the letter with a brief greeting to Timothy Chapter 1, Verse 1-2, and then right away Paul gave many instructions to Timothy...

2. Instructions on False Teachers

3. Instructions on Prayer, Men and Women in the Church and Elders and Deacons

4. Instructions on guarding the truth and warnings against apostasy

5.

Where we left off, Paul was instructing Timothy on being a good minster in the faith.

Paul told Timothy to nourish himself in the words of faith and good doctrine, to exercise himself toward godliness, to give attention to reading, to exhortation, and to doctrine.

Very much our vision for this church.

6.

In Chapter 5, Paul will give instructions regarding treatment of specific groups of people in the church...people in general, widows and elders.

Let's Pray, and then we will read 1 Tim 4:12-5:2

1 Tim 4:14 "Do not neglect the gift that is in you, which was given to you by prophecy with the laying on of the hands of the eldership."

1. "Do not neglect the gift that is in you..."

2. We all have spiritual gifts given to us by the Holy Spirit.

3. The word "gift" in greek is charisma and we still use this word today referring to a person who has charm and is inspirational.

By definition "gift" means "a gift of grace" a "special inward endowment," "extraordinary powers, distinguishing certain Christians and enabling them to serve the church of Christ, the reception of which is due to the power of divine grace operating in their souls by the Holy Spirit."

4. Good chapters on spiritual gifts: 1 Cor 12-14; Rom 12:3-8; 1 Pet 4:9-11; Eph 4:11-12

5.

There are a number of gifts mentioned in these chapters: apostleship; tongues; interpretation; miracles; healings; faith; discernment; wisdom; knowledge; evangelism; prophecy; shepherding; teaching; exhortation; serving; mercy; giving; and administration.

6.

At Calvary Chapel we believe these gifts are alive and active today, but we also don't go overboard and overemphasize the gifts.

There is a mistake when you have too much emphasis on the gifts and get sucked into the experiential and charismania.

And, there is a mistake to say the gifts have ceased.

There are far too many moves of the Spirit today, working through people in exercising these gifts to deny their reality.

This is one of the hot spot areas of debate in the church today- Cessationism vs Continuationsim.

And, both sides can site scripture and experience to make their claim.

We are continuationist, but not extreme continuationist who would claim tongues must be present at salvation as a sign.

We do not encourage tongues on a Sunday morning gathering...1 Cor 14 speaks against this practice.

We do not subscribe that a person can attain all spiritual gifts, also not biblical as explained in 1 Cor 12:11, 29-30.

We take a middle ground, recognizing gifts are present today, but we follow the scripture's guidance on the gifts...such as...

7. 1 Cor 12:4 reminds us "there are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit."

We may have different gifts, but the source is the same...the Holy Spirit. 1 Cor 12:7 and 14:12 tell us gifts are given to edify the body of Christ....gifts, when exercised, should encourage other believers.

1 Cor 13, the love chapter, reminds us if we don't have love in exercising our gifts, our gifts won't be effective...without love, exercising gifts is just a lot of loud noise..."sounding brass or a clanging cymbal."

And, 1 Pet 4:11 reminds in using our gifts they should bring glory to God through Jesus Christ.

...gifts are not for personal glory.

8.

I would think, based on context, that Timothy had the gift of shepherding/teaching, given he was an overseer of the church and Paul told him to continue reading publically and teaching.

Hopefully, he had the gift of exhortation, as Paul also instructed him to continue encouraging the believers.

But, we don't know specific gifts Timothy had.

In fact, "gift" is singular in this verse...Timothy may have only had one spiritual gift.

Some think this gift is the gift of the Holy Spirit, perhaps referring to the Baptism of the Holy Spirit...which would be a great gift...gifting Timothy to be equipped by the Holy Spirit to pour into the lives of others.

9. Interesting, Paul again commands Timothy "Do not neglect..." as in "Do not keep on neglecting the spiritual gift that is in you..." Paul is prohibiting Timothy from continuing in his negligence of his spiritual gift.

Wuest writes "the word "neglect" is in the present imperative, which when used in a prohibition, forbids the continuance of an act already going on."

Timothy was being despised for his youth, and Paul told his to stop letting people despise him...be an example to the believers.

Timothy was neglecting his spiritual gift, and remember in Chapter 1, Paul told him "remain in Ephesus."

Seems like Timothy was down and wanted out.

10.

I don't know about you, but I appreciate Timothy's struggle as revealed in this letter, and his humanity.

I've been there.

I've felt discouraged in long waiting seasons.

I've been at that point Peter was at saying, "I'm going fishing."

These men were not so different from us.

They had struggles, but look at the power of what Paul is doing...spurring Timothy along...writing to him to exhort him to edify him to build him up.

That's the body of Christ.

There are going to be times when you need to hear it, and I need to hear it.

This is what we do for one another in love.

11.

And Paul reminds Timothy regarding his gift "...which was given to you by prophecy with the laying on of the hands of the eldership."

12. Timothy, who seems in a slump, is reminded by his spiritual father of the confirmation of his spiritual gifts.

13.

A prophecy had been spoken over Timothy about his spiritual gift, and the elders, the presbuterion, the council of elders layed hands on him confirming his ministry calling.

14.

Ironside said, "It is evident that the elders of the church at Lystra and Derbe had met together with the apostle Paul when Timothy was about to launch out into full-time service and had laid their hands on him, commending him to God in prayer."

15.

Maybe...not a bad thought.

Paul is a little vague here in this verse...and as a result there is a lot of conjecture about the gift given to Timothy by prophecy, and the timing of when this happened.

For us, the exact details are a little blurry.

But, look...for Timothy, when he read this letter... he knew exactly what Paul was talking about, and I'm sure it pierced him.

16.

While some despised Timothy, others were confident in him, they were led by the Holy Spirit to prophecy over Timothy, and they ordained him in the ministry.

Timothy likely needed to be taken back to the beginning of his ministry calling, and I just imagine him being so touched, maybe even crying, in reading this personal letter which is both encouraging and a kick in the tail.

17.

At the end of verse 14, Paul mentions the Laying on of Hands which is man's recognition of someone who is being faithful to their calling.

God calls a person first and later the elders recognize that a person has been called.

It takes some time to know a person has genuinely been called by God.

18. 1 John 4:1 "Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits, whether they are of God; because many false prophets have gone out into the world."

19. 1 Tim 5:22 "Do not lay hands on anyone hastily, nor share in other people's sins; keep yourself pure."

20.

The elders needs to observe a persons ministry over time, they need to test the doctrine/the teaching of this person and if they are preaching sound doctrine.

This person is also to be known for their character in life and by their works.

21.

Timothy had passed these tests and was recognized by the elders.

22.

The Laying on of Hands can be more formal, and I have seen and been part of people laying hands on us in front of a congregation to send us out, and I've seen this to be more informal, where just a small group of elders, more privately, pray over, lay hands on and send.

23.

This is a common practice in the Bible, but with various purposes.

24.

In the OT, we see laying on of hands for the ordination of priests.

25.

Part of the process for the consecration of Aaron and his sons...Ex 29:10

26.

The Levites were dedicated, and again laying on of hands was part of this process...Num 8:10

27.

In the OT, Joshua was inaugurated with the laying on of hands.

28.

The LORD instructed Moses to lay his hands on Joshua in Num 27.

29.

In Miraculous workings, Jesus sometimes laid hands on people, but not always.

30.

Healing of the sick (Matt 9:18); Cleansing a leper (Mk 1:41); and Raising of the Dead (Mk 5:23).

But, sometimes he didn't lay hands and still healed.

31.

In Acts, people were commissioned or ordained to certain roles:

32.

The Apostles prayed over and laid hands on the Deacons in Acts 6.

33.

The Prophets and Teachers at Antioch fasted, prayed, and laid hands on Barnabas and Saul and sent them on their 1st Missionary Journey.

Acts 13

34.

Paul laid hands on Timothy in 2 Tim 1:6, and it seems later the elders laid hands on Timothy and prophesied over him in 1 Tim 4:14.

35.

Laying on of hands was also connected to the Baptism of the Holy Spirit

36.

Peter and John prayed over and laid hands on the Samaritans and they received the Holy Spirit in Acts 8:14-17.

37. Paul shared the gospel with about 12 men in Ephesus, they were baptized, Paul laid his hands on them and the Holy Spirit came upon them.

Acts 19:6.

38.

I think it is important to mention that some church movements place too much emphasis on the laying on of hands, as far as their role in Salvation, the receiving of the Holy Spirit, and miracles.

39.

When you look at the action of laying on or hands, and then look at the result that follows, there is great diversity.

40.

We just saw how the Laying on hands can be to commission someone into leadership; to send them out into the mission field; or in the case of the Samaritans the purpose was totally different...it was for them to receive the Holy Spirit for they had only been baptized by Philip.

41.

We also see the laying on of hands in miracles of Jesus, but sometimes he didn't lay hands on them, sometimes he just spoke, or rubbed mud in their eyes...there was diversity.

42.

I point these things out, just to say that laying on of hands is a great biblical practice, but it should not be under-emphasized, nor overemphasized or mystified.

...there is not magical power in your hands.

There is only power in God, and if He wants to channel that power through you or by some other means, He will.

43.

I truly think that laying on of hands is so significant just because we physically touch the other person, and it is a demonstration of faith, of love, closeness, and friendship...

44.

When Jesus cleansed the leper, scripture records, "...Jesus, moved with compassion, stretched out His hand and touched him, and said to him, "I am willing; be cleansed."

Mk 1:41

45. in the case of commissioning someone or praying for their healing, what better way to share God's love then to pray for them in agreement of their calling and to love on them by touching them?