Untitled Sermon (8)

DON’T BE DISTRACTED

BE WHO GOD ORDAIN YOU TO BE

C. The Young Minister (Charge 2): To Be a Good Minister, 4:6–16

(4:6–16) Introduction: this is one of the greatest pictures of the minister painted by Scripture. It is an excellent description of just what makes a minister a “good minister”

(v. 6). Note: this is the second charge given to the young minister Timothy.

The minister is given the strong charge: be a good minister.

1. He instructs believers concerning false teachers (vv. 1–5).

2. He nourishes himself in the truths of the faith and doctrine (v. 6).

3. He avoids frivolous speculations (v. 7).

4. He exercises to become more godly (v. 8).

5. He is a man of reason and of purpose (v. 9).

6. He is a man who works and strives—willingly and laboriously (v. 10).

7. He commands and teaches these things (v. 11).

8. He is an example to believers (v. 12).

9. He devotes himself to public worship (v. 13).

10. He does not neglect his gift (v. 14).

11. He meditates and is diligent in giving himself wholly to the Scripture (v. 15).

12. He guards himself and his teaching (v. 16).

1 (4:6) Minister—Teaching: the good minister and teacher instructs believers concerning false teachers.

“These things” refers to the previous passage which warns believers to guard against false teachers (vv. 1–5).

A good minister does all he can to lift up Jesus Christ and to warn his flock about false teachers,

about those who will try to seduce and lead them astray. The Greek word instruct or put … in remembrance (hupotithemenos) means to place under, suggest, counsel, advise, point out. The point is this: false teaching is such a threat to the church and believers, the good minister of Jesus Christ will use every method of communication he can to instruct and protect his flock from being seduced by false teachers.

“Wherefore I will not be negligent to put you always in remembrance of these things, though ye know them, and be established in the present truth. Yea, I think it meet, as long as I am in this tabernacle, to stir you up by putting you in remembrance; knowing that shortly I must put off this my tabernacle, even as our Lord Jesus Christ hath showed me. Moreover I will endeavour that ye may be able after my decease to have these things always in remembrance. For we have not followed cunningly devised fables, when we made known unto you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but were eyewitnesses of his majesty” (2 Pe. 1:12–16).

“This second epistle, beloved, I now write unto you; in both which I stir up your pure minds by way of remembrance: that ye may be mindful of the words which were spoken before by the holy prophets, and of the commandment of us the apostles of the Lord and Saviour: knowing this first, that there shall come in the last days scoffers, walking after their own lusts” (2 Pe. 3:1–3).

2 (4:6) Minister: the good minister nourishes himself on the words of the faith.

Note that the Greek uses the definite article the faith (tes pisteos).

This means the teachings of the Word of God. True doctrines are doctrines which are based upon the Scriptures. No doctrine is true (or Christian) that is not based upon the Scriptures.

Timothy had done this; he had been nourished upon the Scripture from earliest childhood (2 Ti. 3:15),

and he had continued to feed upon the Word of God. Paul was now encouraging him to continue the practice, (THE SAME THING THAT I AM DOING TODAY) for a good minister is a minister who feeds upon the Scriptures day by day.

“And now, brethren, I commend you to God, and to the word of his grace, which is able to build you up, and to give you an inheritance among all them which are sanctified” (Ac. 20:32).

“Study to show thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth” (2 Ti. 2:15).

“And that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus. All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness” (2 Ti. 3:15–16).

“As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby: if so be ye have tasted that the Lord is gracious” (1 Pe. 2:2–3).

“And he humbled thee, and suffered thee to hunger, and fed thee with manna, which thou knewest not, neither did thy fathers know; that he might make thee know that man doth not live by bread only, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of the Lord doth man live” (De. 8:3).

“Thy words were found, and I did eat them; and thy word was unto me the joy and rejoicing of mine heart: for I am called by thy name, O Lord God of hosts” (Je. 15:16).

3 (4:7) Minister—False Teaching: the good minister avoids frivolous speculations, rejects profane tales and old wives fables.

What a description of false teaching! It is nothing more than “irreverent legends —profane and impure and godless fictions, mere grandmother’s tales —and silly myths” (Amplified New Testament). The good minister rejects all false teachings, which are nothing more than the frivolous speculations and false notions of men.

“I charge thee therefore before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, who shall judge the quick and the dead at his appearing and his kingdom; preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine. For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; and they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables” (2 Ti. 4:1–4).

“I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith” (2 Ti. 4:7).

AUNT ATLEESE

“This witness is true. Wherefore rebuke them sharply, that they may be sound in the faith; not giving heed to Jewish fables, and commandments of men, that turn from the truth. Unto the pure all things are pure: but unto them that are defiled and unbelieving is nothing pure; but even their mind and conscience is defiled. They profess that they know God; but in works they deny him, being abominable, and disobedient, and unto every good work reprobate” (Tit. 1:13–16).

“For we have not followed cunningly devised fables, when we made known unto you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but were eyewitnesses of his majesty. For he received from God the Father honour and glory, when there came such a voice to him from the excellent glory, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased. And this voice which came from heaven we heard, when we were with him in the holy mount. We have also a more sure word of prophecy; whereunto ye do well that ye take heed, as unto a light that shineth in a dark place, until the day dawn, and the day star arise in your hearts: knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation. For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost” (2 Pe. 1:16–21).

4 (4:8) Minister: the good minister exercises himself to godliness. The minister is compared to an athlete in these two verses. Note two things.

The minister is to exercise (gumnasia) himself in godliness as much as an Olympic athlete exercises his body. How much energy, effort, time, and dedication does an Olympic athlete put into his training? His sport is his life—unequivocally so. So it is with the minister: godliness is to be his life. All of his energy, effort, time, and dedication are to be given over to godliness. The minister is to know no exercise but the exercise of godliness.

“But they that will be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and hurtful lusts, which drown men in destruction and perdition. For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows. But thou, O man of God, flee these things; and follow after righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, meekness” (1 Ti. 6:9–11).

DON’T BE DISTRACTED

BE WHO GOD ORDAINED YOU TO BE

“Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world; looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ” (Tit. 2:12–13).

“Seeing then that all these thing shall be dissolved, what manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy conversation and godliness” (2 Pe. 3:11).

2. Bodily exercise is profitable, but godliness is more profitable, far more profitable.

The minister should exercise his body regularly; he should keep himself physically fit. But the focus of his life is to be godliness. The reason is clear: godliness bears fruit—great fruit—both in this life and in the life to come. God promises to bless the godly person now while he walks upon this earth, and eternally when he receives the life to come.

“Exercise thyself rather unto godliness. For bodily exercise profiteth little: but godliness is profitable unto all things, having promise of the life that now is, and of that which is to come” (1 Ti. 4:7–8).

5 (4:9) Minister: the good minister is a man of reason and of purpose.

All that is being said—all of the instructions to ministers—is trustworthy, and all deserves his complete acceptance.

The good minister knows this:

⇒ the instructions to him are trustworthy.

⇒ the instructions to him deserve his complete acceptance.

Therefore, he commits his life to do exactly what Scripture charges him to do.

The good minister is a man of reason and of purpose, a man who understands and knows and commits his life to live as God says. It is the very fact that distinguishes the minister as good.

“This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners; of whom I am chief” (1 Ti. 1:15).

“This is a faithful saying and worthy of all acceptation. For therefore we both labour and suffer reproach, because we trust in the living God, who is the Saviour of all men, specially of those that believe. These things command and teach” (1 Ti. 4:9–10).

“It is a faithful saying: For if we be dead with him, we shall also live with him: if we suffer, we shall also reign with him: if we deny him, he also will deny us: if we believe not, yet he abideth faithful: he cannot deny himself” (2 Ti. 2:11–13).

“But after that the kindness and love of God our Saviour toward man appeared, not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost; which he shed on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Saviour; that being justified by his grace, we should be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life. This is a faithful saying, and these things I will that thou affirm constantly, that they which have believed in God might be careful to maintain good works. These things are good and profitable unto men” (Tit. 3:4–9).

6 (4:10) Minister: the good minister works and suffers reproach.

The word labor (kopiao) means arduous work, strenuous work.

The good minister labors and labors, works and works to the point of fatigue and exhaustion;

to the point that he can go no further. He exerts every ounce of energy and effort in his body for the sake of God and Christ. And note: he is even willing to suffer reproach for Christ. He continues to minister even when men ridicule, revile, mock, curse, and persecute him. Why?

⇒ Because God is the living God.

The minister’s work and message are based upon the truth; what he is doing is truth. It is all for the living God.

⇒ Because Jesus Christ is the Savior of all men.

All men can be saved, actually delivered from the grip of sin, death, and condemnation.

Therefore the good minister must labor, no matter the reproach. He must share the glorious news: man can now be reconciled to God and live forever.

“I must work the works of him that sent me, while it is day: the night cometh, when no man can work” (Jn. 9:4).

“Not slothful in business; fervent in spirit; serving the Lord” (Ro. 12:11).

“Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord” (1 Co. 15:58).

“And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not. As we have therefore opportunity, let us do good unto all men, especially unto them who are of the household of faith” (Ga. 6:9–10).

“Wherefore I put thee in remembrance that thou stir up the gift of God, which is in thee by the putting on of my hands” (2 Ti. 1:6).

“But watch thou in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, make full proof of thy ministry” (2 Ti. 4:5).

“And we desire that every one of you do show the same diligence to the full assurance of hope unto the end: that ye be not slothful, but followers of them who through faith and patience inherit the promises” (He. 6:11–12).

“Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us” (He. 12:1).

“Ye therefore, beloved, seeing ye know these things before, beware lest ye also, being led away with the error of the wicked, fall from your own stedfastness” (2 Pe. 3:17).

“Whatsoever thy hand findeth to do, do it with thy might; for there is no work, nor device, nor knowledge, nor wisdom, in the grave, whither thou goest” (Ec. 9:10).

7 (4:11) Minister: the good minister commands and teaches these things.

He preaches and teaches with authority.

This is the very reason God has called the minister: to command and teach the Word of God with the very authority of God. Therefore, the good minister is a minister who boldly declares the Word of God and the commandments of God. He does not allow the fear of men nor the danger of hardship stop him. He has been commissioned by the Lord and he stands in the strength of the Lord. Therefore, he knows that the Lord will deliver him through all the dangers of life if he will only be faithful, if he will courageously declare the Word and the commandments of God.

“Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world” (Mt. 28:19–20).

“And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature” (Mk. 16:15).

“Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine” (2 Ti. 4:2).

8 (4:12) Minister: the good minister is an example to the believers.

Timothy was a young man; therefore, there was the possibility that some in the church would have difficulty in accepting his ministry.

How could he overcome the opposition to his being so young?

There was only one way: he had to prove that he was mature well beyond his years.

He had to live a mature life, a life that would be an example to the believers.

1. He was to be an example in word: in what he said and in the way he said it. He had to control his conversation and tongue at all times, no matter the opposition.

“But I say unto you, That every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment. For by thy words thou shalt be justified, and by thy words thou shalt be condemned” (Mt. 12:36–37).

“Let your speech be always with grace, seasoned with salt, that ye may know how ye ought to answer every man” (Col. 4:6).

“Hold fast the form of sound words, which thou hast heard of me, in faith and love which is in Christ Jesus” (2 Ti. 1:13).

“Sound speech, that cannot be condemned; that he that is of the contrary part may be ashamed, having no evil thing to say of you” (Tit. 2:8).

2. He was to be an example in behavior.

His conduct was to be disciplined and controlled.

He was to demonstrate that he was a true follower and leader of the Lord,

that he was living for the Lord in all godliness and righteousness.

“That ye may approve things that are excellent; that ye may be sincere and without offence till the day of Christ” (Ph. 1:10).

“Only let your conversation [behavior] be as it becometh [honors] the gospel of Christ: that whether I come and see you, or else be absent, I may hear of your affairs, that ye stand fast in one spirit, with one mind striving together for the faith of the gospel” (Ph. 1:27).

“Let no man despise thy youth; but be thou an example of the believers, in word, in conversation, in charity, in spirit, in faith, in purity” (1 Ti. 4:12).

“Who is a wise man and endued with knowledge among you? let him show out of a good conversation his works with meekness of wisdom” (Js. 3:13).

“Having your conversation [conduct] honest among the Gentiles: that, whereas they speak against you as evildoers, they may by your good works, which they shall behold, glorify God in the day of visitation” (1 Pe. 2:12).

3. He was to be an example in love (see Deeper Study # 1, Love—1 Th. 3:12 for discussion).

4. He was to be an example in the spirit. He was to walk being led by the Spirit and keeping his mind upon spiritual things. It means spiritual-mindedness. (Note: the best Greek manuscripts do not have this quality in their texts.)

“For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh; but they that are after the Spirit the things of the Spirit” (Ro. 8:5).

“For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God” (Ro. 8:14).

5. He was to be an example in faith, that is, in faithfulness. He was to be loyal to the Lord Jesus and the church regardless of the demands, hardships, temptations, trials, or opposition. Imagine! No matter what the circumstance, the good minister is faithful and loyal.

“Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord” (1 Co. 15:58).

“Feed the flock of God which is among you, taking the oversight thereof, not by constraint, but willingly; not for filthy lucre, but of a ready mind; neither as being lords over God’s heritage, but being ensamples to the flock” (1 Pe. 5:2–3).

“Wherefore the rather, brethren, give diligence to make your calling and election sure: for if ye do these things, ye shall never fall” (2 Pe. 1:10).

“Wherefore, beloved, seeing that ye look for such things, be diligent that ye may be found of him in peace, without spot, and blameless” (2 Pe. 3:14).

6. He was to be an example in purity. He was to live a moral and clean, just and honest life. He was to be free—completely free—of coveting, lusting, worldliness, self-seeking, immorality, and all other known sins. He was to live a life of purity that far exceeded the standards of the world. His heart and life were to be pure—perfectly pure.

9 (4:13) Minister—Public Worship: the good minister devotes himself to public worship. There are three things in particular to which he publicly devotes himself: the reading, exhortation, and teaching of Scripture and its doctrine. Note what the major task of the minister is as he stands in the pulpit …

• He is to read the Scripture

• He is to exhort and teach the doctrines of Scripture

“Till I come, give attendance to reading, to exhortation, to doctrine” (1 Ti. 4:13).

“Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine” (2 Ti. 4:2).

“Holding fast the faithful word as he hath been taught, that he may be able by sound doctrine both to exhort and to convince the gainsayers” (Tit. 1:9).

“These things speak, and exhort, and rebuke with all authority. Let no man despise thee” (Tit. 2:15).

“But exhort one another daily, while it is called To day; lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin” (He. 3:13).

“Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching” (He. 10:25).

Thought 1. The New Testament and Wycliffe Bible Commentary gives an excellent explanation of exhortation: “Comfort, encouragement, admonition, exhortation, the whole area of ministry which would today be described as counseling, but here the context favors the ministry of preaching, expounding the Scriptures.”

10 (4:14) Minister: the good minister does not neglect the gift that is in him.

This refers to the spiritual gift, the special anointing given him by the Holy Spirit to be a minister.

Note that the gift had been received through both prophecy and the laying on of hands by other elders or ministers of the church.

Neglect is dangerous, for it means that a minister fails to do his duty.

It means that he is unfaithful and stands before God as an unfaithful minister.

“And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; for the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ” (Ep. 4:11–12).

“Neglect not the gift that is in thee, which was given thee by prophecy, with the laying on of the hands of the presbytery” (1 Ti. 4:14).

“Wherefore I put thee in remembrance that thou stir up the gift of God, which is in thee by the putting on of my hands” (2 Ti. 1:6).

11 (4:15) Minister: the good minister meditates and wholly gives himself to these instructions.

1. The good minister meditates upon the Word of God. He lives, eats, and drinks the Scripture and its instructions. And he meditates upon the application of the Scripture to his people. He holds the Bible in one hand and the daily newspaper in the other so as to apply the Scripture to the needs of the day. William Barclay has an excellent statement:

The great danger of the Christian leader is intellectual sloth and the shut mind. The danger is that he forgets to study and allows his thoughts to run in well-worn grooves. The danger is that he never gets outside the orbit of a limited number of favorite ideas. The danger is that new truths, new methods, the attempt to restate the faith in contemporary terms comes merely to irritate and to annoy him. The Christian leader must be a Christian thinker or he fails in his task; and to be a Christian thinker is to be an adventurous thinker so long as life lasts.

“Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ” (2 Co. 10:5).

“Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things” (Ph. 4:8).

“Meditate upon these things; give thyself wholly to them; that thy profiting may appear to all” (1 Ti. 4:15).

“A double minded man is unstable in all his ways” (Js. 1:8).

“Stand in awe, and sin not: commune with your own heart upon your bed, and be still” (Ps. 4:4).

“Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart, be acceptable in thy sight, O Lord, my strength, and my redeemer” (Ps. 19:14).

“Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee” (Is. 26:3).

12 (4:16) Minister: the good minister guards himself and his teaching. The words take heed (epeche) mean to keep a strict eye upon or to keep on paying attention to oneself and to one’s teaching.

⇒ He guards his body, keeps it both morally and physically fit. He flees the temptations that assault and seduce him, and he controls his thoughts and keeps them pure from the lusts of the world and flesh. He neither eats too much nor succumbs to immoral thoughts or acts. He neither gives in to greed nor seeks the possessions or wealth of the world.