2 Timothy 4:1-5

“I charge thee”

should read “I solemnly witness”. A serious moment… not just because Paul was facing death, but more importantly because one day both Paul and Timothy would be judged by Christ when He comes again.

Acts 10:42- this command of preaching has been followed by the motivator of Christ’s return from the very beginning days of the disciples. It originated with them and continues to this day. Christ’s future judgement should still carry the same weight, responsibility, and motivation now as it did then.

We will all be judged! Living and the dead… Those that are found in Him at the Bema seat, those that are not in Him… at the Great White Throne judgement.

That’s a fact. It matters little what others have thought of us. It matters unsurmountable though of what Christ has seen in us. Understanding this truth will keep us faithful and careful to the duty God has called us too.

For Timothy, that duty was to

“Preach the Word!”

What does it mean to preach the word? It means to proclaim like a herald. In days of Paul, a ruler had a special herald who made announcements to the people. He was commissioned by the ruler to make his announcements in a loud, clear voice so everyone could hear. He was not an ambassador with the privilege of negotiating; he was a messenger with a proclamation to be heard and heeded. Not to heed the ruler’s messenger was serious; to abuse the messenger was even worse.

Timothy was charged by not only Paul (it was more of a solemn reminder than a charge) but was also charged and commissioned by God. He was granted with the authority of Heaven to do this work. But this work isn’t just for Timothy, it is also for all those who have been called to preach. Who have been called?

I though I would take this time to share with those in the congregation what it may look like to be “called” in the ministry of preaching, as a public herald of the truth.

There is no doubt that preaching is a noble calling and one that is important to God (1 Timothy 3:1–7; James 3:1; Ephesians 4:11–16). Preaching is not simply a time-filler in the worship service, nor is it the sharing of personal experiences, no matter how emotionally stirring. Nor is it a well-organized “talk” designed to give a series of steps to a better life. Preaching, as the apostle Paul records, is the vehicle by which the life-giving truth of the gospel of Jesus Christ is conveyed. The words of the preacher are to be faithful to the Word of God, which is “the power unto salvation for everyone who believes” (Romans 1:16). Paul’s admonition to the young pastor Timothy stresses the priority of preaching: “In the presence of God and of Christ Jesus . . . I give you this charge: Preach the word” (2 Timothy 4:1–2). So there is no doubt the preaching of the Word is of primary importance to God. Anyone considering entering the ministry as a preacher should also view the Word of God as priority number one. But how can one be sure he is called to preach? First are the subjective indicators. If a man has a burning desire within him to preach—a desire that cannot be denied—that is a good indication of a “calling” by God. The apostle Paul and the Old Testament prophet Jeremiah experienced the same desire to communicate God’s Word. Paul said, “Yet when I preach the gospel, I cannot boast, for I am compelled to preach. Woe to me if I do not preach the gospel!” (1 Corinthians 9:16). To be “compelled” to preach means to be driven onward by an irresistible and undeniable compulsion to do so. Jeremiah described the compulsion as a “burning fire” (Jeremiah 20:8–9) that could not be stifled. Trying to hold it back made him weary. Second are objective indicators of God’s calling to preach. If the response to early efforts at preaching are positive, this is a good indication that the prospective preacher has the gift of didaktikos, the gift of teaching, from the Holy Spirit (Ephesians 4:11). Every preacher must be first and foremost a teacher of God’s Word, conveying it in clearly and concisely and making personal application to the hearers. Church leaders are usually the best determiners of whether a man has this gift. If they are agreed that he does, the prospective preacher should then be examined by the leadership as to his character, as outlined in the requirements for elders in 1 Timothy 3 and Titus 1. These two affirmations by the church are another indication of God’s calling. Finally, the whole process should be bathed in prayer every step of the way. If God is truly calling a man to preach, He will confirm it in many ways.

But are ordained preachers the only ones to proclaim the Word of God. Yes, God has commissioned them, pastors, to herald the word of God regularly and in public places but each of us has a duty to do this in our own settings as well.

Matthew 28:18–20 ESV

And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”

As we ourselves are disciples of Christ, followers of Him, this command has been given to us. Go make disciples. Teach them all I have commanded you. But you see the not only the command given but also the promise to empower, “I am with you always.” This promise should settle all excuses of ineptitude and feeling of being unable. There is no excuse we can give to not share, teach, and proclaim the Gospel. And we know from months of teaching that we are called to make disciples and to know the word of God and grow up others in the will of God.

Ephesians 4:16 ESV

from whom the whole body, joined and held together by every joint with which it is equipped, when each part is working properly, makes the body grow so that it builds itself up in love.

“Be ready in season and out of season”

be ready in the greek has a broad range of meanings, but it could include suddenness or forcefulness… it was used of a soldier prepared to go into battle or a guard who was continually alert for any surprise attack. These are attitudes in which Christians must be, but especially the herald of God’s Word. And when is he to be ready… in season and out of season… when it is favorable and even when it is not. When it is convenient and when it is not.

John Macarthur says, “The dictates of popular culture, tradition, reputation, acceptance, or esteem in the community must never alter the true preacher’s commitment to proclaim God’s word.”

Paul was certainly an example of this. He always found opportunities to share the Word, whether it was in the temple courts, on stormy seas, or even in prison.

That doesn’t sound all to different then what each every Christian is to do.

1 Peter 3:13–17 ESV

Now who is there to harm you if you are zealous for what is good? But even if you should suffer for righteousness’ sake, you will be blessed. Have no fear of them, nor be troubled, but in your hearts honor Christ the Lord as holy, always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and respect, having a good conscience, so that, when you are slandered, those who revile your good behavior in Christ may be put to shame. For it is better to suffer for doing good, if that should be God’s will, than for doing evil.

This was written to all of the persecuted Gentile Christians so it is most relevant to us today.

This preaching is marked by three things...

“Reprove, rebuke, and exhort.”

Reprove refers to the correcting of behavior or false doctrine by using careful biblical argument to help a person understand the error of his beliefs.

Rebuke deals more with confronting a person’s motives by convicting him of his sin and leading him to repentance. This is a strong charge… forbid…

Exhort means to teach…

An old rule of preachers once said that preachers should… “afflict the comfortable and comfort the afflicted.” If there is conviction but no remedy, we add to people’s burdens and if we encourage those who ought to be rebuked, we are assisting them to sin. Biblical preaching must be balanced!!!

And he is to do it was complete patience… much like our loving Savior. How many times did Christ show his patience with His disciples when they time and again failed Him. This is the example of complete patience we are given.

But again, though this was written to Timothy pastoring a church, giving help and guidance to all Pastors. We find that these commands to can be directed at all believers. Here are some verses that show this true.

Proverbs 27:5 ESV

Better is open rebuke than hidden love.

Matthew 18:15–17 ESV

“If your brother sins against you, go and tell him his fault, between you and him alone. If he listens to you, you have gained your brother. But if he does not listen, take one or two others along with you, that every charge may be established by the evidence of two or three witnesses. If he refuses to listen to them, tell it to the church. And if he refuses to listen even to the church, let him be to you as a Gentile and a tax collector.

Galatians 6:1 ESV

Brothers, if anyone is caught in any transgression, you who are spiritual should restore him in a spirit of gentleness. Keep watch on yourself, lest you too be tempted.

James 5:19–20 ESV

My brothers, if anyone among you wanders from the truth and someone brings him back, let him know that whoever brings back a sinner from his wandering will save his soul from death and will cover a multitude of sins.

Though Pastors have a commissioned and ordained role by God to herald the message from His master, we all too have a role to preach, to exhort, to rebuke, and to be ready in all opportunities. Why?

“For the time is coming when people will not endure sound teaching, but having itching ears they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own passions”

It’s easy for us to point our fingers at the many churches and pastors that exhibit this. For instance, the prosperity gospel churches. It’s amazing that within this church, it is said that they have the most fluctuating church attendance and faithfulness of any church. They come and go as they please because church is about them and their passions and what they want, but hardly about what God wants. Same is true of many of the liberal churches. They want to feel religious but they also want to go about with their own liftstyles, living the way they so chose.

But let’s look inwardly at ourselves. Do we model this kind of attitude? I think we do. I’ve heard many a people say, “I really like this pastor.” “He really speaks good.” “I get the most out of his sermons”… etc. Now, these might be well meaning statement and perhaps we just need to think through what we are saying. But I often wonder what people are really saying when they say these words. Cause what these words indicate is something not to entirely different from what this verse is talking about. “accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own passions.” We pick preachers that we like. It’s all about us and our likes. We put so much emphasis and the messenger and not on the message. Our words shouldn’t be “I like this pastor....” rather it seems we should say “this pastor is faithful to the true word of God.” He speaks the truth and nothing but it. But we many times fall prey into carrying our preferences into the delivery of the Word of God. Remember that Pastor’s are commissioned by God to herald the good news. It doesn’t matter is we like the delivery or not, it only matters if we heed what has been said. And further more, to mistreat God’s herald for His duty to the Word is a serious thing before God.

So we must all watch our attitudes in this. It’s about the Word of God.

Which this passage goes on to warn about...

And will turn away from listening to the truth and wander off into myths...

If Pastor’s are spending more time on comfortable, religious talks or on political topics or on certain social trends without deeping diving into the Word of Truth, then they are not fulfilling their duties of a herald and are leading people to be people with itching ears. And we too need to be a people that honor a pastor who is faithful to the Word of God, who isn’t afraid to speak the truth and proclaim difficult things. Who sticks to the Word of God whether it is popular or convenient or not.

These men are worthy of a double honor.

1 Timothy 5:17 ESV

Let the elders who rule well be considered worthy of double honor, especially those who labor in preaching and teaching.

Why should they be worthy of this… because it is a hard road as the next verse says… endure suffering… it won’t be easy… oftentimes you may feel alone… they feel pressured at all times to do certain things, most always be well spoken off… but must be faithful...