1 TIMOTHY 4:12-162007 Teaching by Jerry B Simmons

Teaching Transcript: 1 Timothy 4:12-16

You are listening to FerventWord, an online Bible study ministry with teachings and tools to help you grow deeper in your relationship with God. The following message was taught by Jerry Simmons in 2007.

I need to share with you, it's one of my favorite passages in the scripture. I really love the things that Paul writes to Timothy in general, but this passage in particular, God has used many times throughout the years to minister to me personally, to speak to my heart, to encourage me, to correct me, to challenge me.

And so I encourage you this morning to continue on to meditate on the things that we'll be studying today in this portion of scripture to see what further things God would have to say to you. I want to remind you this morning of the call of Timothy. You and I, as believers in Jesus Christ, have the same call that Timothy has as a believer

As Paul is writing to Timothy, these things apply to you and I as believers in Jesus Christ because we have all been called into the ministry. We've all been called to go forth and make disciples. Jesus gave us this command in Matthew chapter 28 verses 19 and 20. I'd like to read that to you. You don't have to turn there, but it says this. Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations.

This commission that Jesus gave was to go and make disciples, to baptize them and teach them all the things that he had commanded.

He gave this commission to the disciples, or we might know them as the apostles as well, as he is preparing to ascend up to the Father, where he still is. And as he's sharing with them, it's not just those 11 disciples and apostles that are there, but there's a multitude of followers that Jesus is speaking to when he gives these words.

This commission was not just to those 11 men, but it's to you and I as believers today. Even notice at the end of verse 20, Jesus says, I'm with you always, even to the end of the age. Not that the disciples would live forever, but indicating this command is for you and I until he comes again. All the followers of Jesus Christ have been given this commission, this command to go and make disciples.

to baptize them and teach them to observe all the things that he has commanded us. As followers of Jesus Christ, you and I are called to this ministry. We're called to make disciples. We're commanded to train others to follow Jesus Christ and to teach them how to walk in his ways. We're to make disciples of those that God brings to us.

And so you and I have been given this ministry and this call and this commission, just like Timothy. And so these words this morning are important to all of us as believers, because Paul will be sharing with us how to be a good minister. You've been called to the ministry. And so hopefully your concern and desire is, well, how do I then be a good minister? How do I do these things that God has called me to do? Well,

It's really continued from last week where Paul shared with us in verse six that if you do these things and teach these things, you will be a good minister of Jesus Christ. That's my desire. I pray that's yours as well, because we are all called to be ministers. Last week, Paul shared with us four things about being a good minister. First, he said to be a good minister, you must not depart from the faith.

And second, you must receive with thanksgiving. Third, you must command and teach and instruct sound doctrine. And fourth, you must exercise yourself towards godliness. This week, as we continue on, Paul will share with us five more things, five more points on how to be a good minister. Since we're called to be ministers,

How do we do that? Well, how do we be good ministers of Jesus Christ? Like Paul commanded Timothy, the first point, the first thing Paul will teach us. If you want to be a good minister, you must be an example. And we find that in verse 12, Paul says this. Let no one despise your youth.

But be an example to the believers in word, in conduct, in love, in spirit, in faith and in purity. He tells Timothy, first of all, to be an example. But he starts out by saying, let no one despise your youth. Timothy was a young man.

Now, we don't know how old he was exactly. He might have been Abel's age heading off to the Navy. He probably could have been a little bit older in that culture. A young man was in the 20s and even into the early 30s. And so Timothy was in there somewhere. He was young considering the authority and the position that God had given to him there in the church.

And his age might have had something to do with why he held back in the ministry. Paul had to remind him to use the authority that God had given to him in the church there at Ephesus. In verse 14, he tells him, we'll look at it in just a moment. Do not neglect the gift that is in you. Later on, he'll have to remind him again. Hey, remember to use the gift that God has given to you.

In 2 Timothy 1, verse 7, Paul tells Timothy, we've not been given the spirit of timidity. And so we see Timothy as a young man and perhaps as a result of his youth, being somewhat reserved and holding back in the ministry, not using the authority that he had been given, not fully engaging in the ministry he was called to, using the gifts, but being

but being timid, being reserved and not really fulfilling what God had called him to. And very likely it's because he felt, I'm young and these people, they don't recognize and respect me because of my youth and because I don't have that much experience. Timothy felt inadequate for the ministry that he had been given. Now, many of you know that this verse and this subject is something that's very important to me.

Because all of us, as we are given the call of God to do the work of the ministry, we can experience and we can relate to Timothy in the feeling inadequate for whatever reason. We all feel inadequate because we all are inadequate. Effective ministry can only take place as the power of God is working through us. We don't have what it takes.

And you should know that everyone who has ever been called of God has felt inadequate.

We can look at all the examples throughout the Old Testament with Moses, with Jeremiah, with Isaiah, with all these guys as God has revealed to them, this is what I'm calling you to do. Then they have immediately from them, well, I have this problem and I have this situation and there's this scenario and I have this going on and what I'm not, I'm not capable, I'm not able, I'm not qualified. And that's how Timothy felt as he was there involved in the ministry.

But Paul tells him, let no one despise your youth. God has called you to it. He will equip you for it. Do not let anyone despise your youth. That word despise means to disdain or to think little of. He's telling Timothy, don't let anyone think little of your youth or your age. Now, how do you despise?

Do that. How do you not let anyone despise your youth? Is it that, you know, someone gives you a funny face and you go, hey, are you despising me? I'll take you right here behind the children's trailer if you're despising me. The Bible says, hey, I'm not to let you despise my youth. Is that what Paul's talking about? Of course not, right? Paul says, hey, don't let anyone despise. How? He goes on to say, but be an example to the believers.

Timothy, the way that you don't let people from despising your youth is by being an example to the believers. That word example means an example for imitation. I like literally the idea that's presented there in the word is a figure that's formed by a blow or impression.

The impression that's left when something strikes. And there's the intention there, the outline of the form that hit it. Or maybe you could think of it like a footprint. Footprint.

You know, when you step in the dirt, when you stomp in the dirt or in the sand, there's an impression there that's left. You make your mark upon that place where you stood. There's an impact that takes place and you can see the result of it. You can see the outline and depending on how fine the dirt or whatever it is that you're standing in, you could maybe see some of the detail, the different treads and perhaps the writing on the bottom of the brand of shoe that you're wearing or

Maybe the size that's imprinted there on the bottom. You could see different parts and different elements depending on how much impact there was there in the dirt. And that's what Paul is telling Timothy. That's the idea of this word. Be an example for imitation. Be, well, have impact in their lives that leaves the mark of a believer.

Be an example to the believers. Be a model for others to follow. Don't just tell them what they are to do and don't just say to them the things that God has said, but show them how to live it out, how to practically apply it. As Christians, as those who are called to make disciples, people should be able to look at our lives and say, that's what a Christian is.

That's what a godly person is. That's the way that God wants me to live. And as you have that impact on their life, different elements will be apparent. And that's why Paul goes on to say in word, in conduct, in love, in spirit, in faith and in purity. We don't have time to get into all of those things. And so I would encourage you to take some time this week and meditate on each one of those things.

And how God would have you to be an example and what the appropriate way as a Christian is for you to be an example in word and then for you to be an example in conduct and in love and so forth. Because God has called us to be examples. See, God has placed in your life and my life people that he desires for us to minister to. Because he's called us to make disciples, he's placed in our life people that we are to teach to.

The things that Jesus taught were to share with them and encourage them and help them grow in a relationship with Jesus Christ. God has placed other Christians in our lives that we might disciple them and draw them closer to Jesus Christ.

And so you are an example to them. You're to be an example for them of how they are to live and how they are to approach situations. Oh, that's how they handle this type of thing. And this is what they say in this type of situation. This is what a Christian is supposed to do and act like. This is how they're supposed to make decisions.

God has set us forth in his body as examples to the people around us. For those who are parents, first, you have your children, of course, that's included in that. God has set you as an example there for your children.

But it's not limited to that. It's also here within the body of Christ. Those who God has placed in your life and he's given you a realm of influence in their hearts and in their lives. He's given you some impact upon them and they look to you and you are an example to them.

But then there's also people in your family and in your workplace and wherever you go as you're about, you know, here and there about the different places that you go and the different things that you do. God has put people there. He set it up so that you could be an example, that you could make disciples, that you could fulfill the commission that he gave to us there in Matthew chapter 28. And he says, if you want to be a good minister, here's what you do. Be an example.

You know, Paul, when he was writing to the Corinthians in 1 Corinthians 11, 1, he tells the Corinthians, imitate me just as I also imitate Christ. That's a heavy thing to say. If you could imagine turning to the person next to you, not that you should do this at this moment, but looking at the person next to you and saying, imitate me as I imitate Christ.

I mean, would you really want the people around you to imitate you? Would you want the responsibility of that? That whatever I do, I should expect them to do it. And I shouldn't expect anything different than how I live and the way that I do things in my life.

Peter tells us as well in 1 Peter 5.3, as those who are called into the ministry, he says, not as being lords over those entrusted to you, but being examples to the flock. We're called to be examples, to be the model, to say like the Apostle Paul, imitate me just as I also imitate Christ. Yes, it's a difficult thing to say, and we would have trouble perhaps being able to say that, but that is what God has called us to do.

You do not have to be a perfect example. We'll see that in a few moments. But neither are you called to fake it or put on a show. To say, well, I know I'm supposed to be an example, so I'm here at church, I'm going to smile, I'm going to say praise the Lord, but really, I just don't care. Or these things are going on, but Christians are around, so now I'm going to act right, and now I'm going to, oh, I saw so-and-so on the freeway, so now I'm going to drive the speed limit and stay in the right lane. No, you're not supposed to fake it.

You're to be an example. It's to be who you are, to be who God has called you to be. See, these people that God has placed in your life, many of them, hopefully all of them, are people that you love and that you care about. And I'm sure that you want what's best for them. You want them to draw close to the Lord. You want them to grow in their relationship with God. And so here's the thing.

The best thing that you can do for those people, the people that you're called to make disciples of, that you're called to teach how to walk with the Lord, the best thing that you can do for those people is to actually be what you want them to be. The attitudes that you want them to have towards the Word of God, you have that attitude. The commitment that you want them to have towards the things of God and being obedient to His Word, you have that commitment.

The way that you want them to be involved in a Bible teaching church, you be involved in a Bible teaching church. The way that you want them to walk with the Lord and the passionate relationship that you want for them, you have it. The best thing that you can do is to actually be what you want them to be. Because God has called us to be examples. He set us there in the midst of people's lives that we might be an example to the flock. He tells Timothy, let no one despise your youth.

But instead, be an example to the believers. The second thing that Paul tells us in being a good minister of Jesus Christ is that we must give attention to the word of God. If you want to be a good minister, you want to do what's best for the people around you, then you need to give attention to the word of God. We find that in verse 13. Paul says, till I come, give attention to reading, to exhortation and to doctrine.

Give attention to reading, to exhortation and to doctrine. If you want to be a good minister, here's the next thing you need to do, Timothy. And you and I as Timothys can perk up and listen up. We need to give attention to the word. Different groups and churches within the body of Christ emphasize different things in the relationship with the Lord.

Some churches really emphasize the worship aspect of our relationship with God and others really emphasize the spiritual gifts aspect. And there's lots of different examples we could look at. And God uses all of those for his glory. But for us, for this fellowship.

For you and I as believers, God has impressed upon us the importance and necessity and power of his word. And this is why our services are the way that they are. Giving the priority and placing the importance and the emphasis upon his word. Allowing God to do what he wants to do through his word.

And this is what we do. The reading, the exhortation and the doctrine are important elements of the time that we spend together in God's word. That word reading, it's it's a public reading.

And that's why I have someone come up here and I encourage you to stand up and read along and we read through our portion together. And then as I'm teaching it, I read it verse by verse again so that the word of God has gone forth, that we've given attention to the reading of God's word. And so if nothing else beneficial is said, if nothing else comes forth from the Lord for you, at the very least, you've heard the word twice because God's word will not return void.

It's living and active and sharper than any double edged sword. It's powerful in our lives. The word of God is used by God to transform us, to renew our minds. And so we need the word of God.

And so Paul tells Timothy, make sure you give attention to the reading. Now, reading of what? Of course, we're talking about the word of God. We're not talking about the press enterprise or the National Enquirer or the latest novel or the latest Christian help book that's in the bookstores. We're talking about the word of God. Because again, it's that that's living and active. It's his word that's sharper than any two-edged sword. It's his word that will not return void. It's powerful.

Give attention to the reading of God's word. Give attention to exhortation, Timothy. Exhortation is an interesting word. It carries with it a lot of ideas. It really means to come alongside and then to give really what's necessary. And sometimes that's encouragement. And so exhortation can be used to encourage, to build up, to say, hey, come on, let's go. Let's be involved in the things of God. Let's do the things that God has called us to do.

Sometimes that can mean to come alongside someone in the sense of correction and to say, hey, this is where you're erring according to the word of God. This is where you're disobeying God and you need to come back in right relationship with him. You need to come back and do the things that he has commanded us. Sometimes it means to come alongside in the sense of comfort, to encourage and to minister and remind the promises of God that there is hope in

And to bring the peace that God's word and his promises give. And so it means to come alongside and minister to the need with the word of God. And then he says also to give attention to doctrine, which is the teaching that is found in the word of God. Doctrine is so important because what you believe affects how you live.

The way that you believe about different things will affect the way that you live regarding those things. If you don't believe in God, it will affect the way that you live. You will live believing that, acting like there is no God. And it's one of the dangers of our country removing God from

From schools, from courts, from public arena, removing God more and more, making him far and far removed so that God is not on anybody's minds. We don't encourage them in the things of God. And as a result, the people are beginning to live as if there is no God. And that should not surprise us. And as we continue to move in that direction.

We will see more and more representation of that with the massacres that take place and the hideous things that we see. Well, yes, because that is how we as humans live and act when we believe that there is no God. What we believe about God is very important. We need to know the truth about God, which is found, it's revealed for us in the word of God. What you believe about Jesus Christ will impact us.

Your life. If you believe that he being God became man and died upon the cross for us. Well, you will be saved. The scripture says it will also impact the way that you live and the choices that you make. The priorities that you have and so on and so forth. There's a endless debate on the doctrines of the free will of man and the sovereignty of God. The scripture teaches both.

But sometimes a person can become so captivated by one end of the spectrum, focusing perhaps on the sovereignty of God, and they hold so much to that doctrine because they believe God is sovereign. They believe then that man doesn't have a choice.

And so there's no need to preach the gospel. There's no need to share the message because, you know, I don't even know if you're supposed to be saved, but God knows. And if you're supposed to be saved, then God's going to save you. And I don't have any part of it. And there's nothing you can do about it either. So it's just going to happen. So no need to preach the gospel. No need to share the good news. No need to do any of that because, hey, God's sovereign. Well, the scripture teaches that God is sovereign, but he also teaches that we need to go forth and preach the gospel. He teaches that.

that we have a choice and we need to make the choice to follow Jesus Christ. And so what you believe will affect the way that you live. And that's why we need to know the word of God. Paul says, give attention to doctrine because it's important. It's going to impact the way that you live and the way that you minister to people. Over and over, Paul tells Timothy about the importance of doctrine.

Remember, he left Timothy. First Timothy 1 3 tells us, hey, I left you in Ephesus that you may charge some that they teach no other doctrine. There's false doctrine. There's things that you can believe that will take you away from God. And that's why you need to know the truth about God. Paul uses this word doctrine 15 times in the pastoral epistles. First and second Timothy and Titus.

Because it's foundational. We need to know what we believe and why we believe it based upon the word of God. And so Paul says, give attention to reading the word of God, to exhortation and to doctrine. Now, what is the best way to minister exhortation and to have or receive doctrine? What is effective for exhortation and doctrine?

Paul will tell Timothy in the next letter that he writes to him, 2 Timothy 3, verses 16 and 17, probably well known to you, but worth spending a few moments on.

He tells Timothy, all scripture, the whole word of God, is given by inspiration of God and is profitable for doctrine. That's what we've just been talking about. For reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness. That's the exhortation that we've been talking about. And then he goes on in verse 17 to say that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work.

He's telling Timothy, hey, Timothy, give attention to the word of God. Make it a high priority in your life. Give it a place of importance in your life and in your conversations and in your decisions and in the things that you do, because the word of God is

Is inspired by God and he gave it to us. It's profitable for doctrine. You want to know what to believe? You want to know what God says about a subject? You want to know God's opinion and God's heart about something? You'll find it in the word of God. It's profitable for doctrine. You want to know what to share with someone who comes to you with a concern or a difficulty or a tough situation? The word of God has been given.

for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, for that encouragement that needs to take place and that exhortation. God has inspired his word for that very purpose. Why? He says, so that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work. You and I as Timothys, we must give attention to the word of God. We must give it a high priority in our lives.

That the people that you disciple may be complete, may be thoroughly equipped for every good work. I'm sure that's what you want for those people in your life that God has placed there for you to disciple. I'm sure you want them to be mature and to grow in the faith and to be ready for all that God has for them. And the best thing for that is the word of God. So when someone comes and says, I have this problem, our response needs to be, well, let's see what the Bible says about that.

I'm dealing with this situation. Let's take a look at God's word and see what he would share with us. I need advice about this. Let me tell you what the scripture says. Give attention to the word of God. Open it up and read it. Giving attention to reading. As you exhort, let it be from the word of God. That's what it was inspired for. As you teach and instruct, as beliefs are formed and founded,

Let it be based upon the word of God. Not what so-and-so said. Now we can calculate and figure out, but based upon what the word of God says. Number three, to be a good minister. Paul says, do not neglect the gift. It's found in verse 14 here. He says, 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.

Paul tells Timothy, do not neglect the gift that is in you. You want to be a good minister? You want to be able to do the things that God has called you to do and be faithful in those things? Then you must not neglect the gift that is in you. Now, Timothy neglecting the gift, it may have been a result of, again, going back to the beginning, his youthfulness and his feelings of inadequacy.

Perhaps intimidated by the people around him and his own age, keeping him from doing the things that God had called him to do and using the gifts that God had given to him. Perhaps it was out of fear because using the gift that God has given to you always takes faith. It's always a step of faith to use spiritual gifts. Even though you know God has supernaturally enabled you, it's always a step of faith.

Paul tells him again later in 2 Timothy 1.6, Hey, let me remind you again to stir up the gift of God which is in you. He needed to be commanded, do not neglect it. And then he needed to be reminded again, hey, stir it up. There's a need for us to use the gifts that God has given to us. We could relate to them perhaps a lot like the muscles that we have. The muscles that you have, if you exercise them,

They become fine tuned. They become stronger and you'll get better at using those muscles in the same way. The spiritual gifts that God has given to us as you use them, as you exercise them, they become stronger. They become fine tuned. You get better at using those gifts as you exercise them and use them in the same way.

Those muscles that you do not use, that you do not exercise, they become weak and less effective. I learned that when I first went out surfing with Pastor Tom. And hours later, there was parts of my body that were hurting that I didn't know I had before. I used muscles that I probably never used before or since. Those areas of my body are weak.

They're not exercised. They're not fine-tuned. In the same way, if we don't use the gift that God has given to us, it becomes weak. We become less effective. Not that we couldn't exercise it and grow it and strengthen it, but until we exercise it, it's inactive. It's not useful. And so he tells Timothy, do not neglect the gift. You need to know that as a believer in Jesus Christ,

You have been gifted by God as well. Every believer in Jesus. First Peter chapter four, verse 10. Peter tells us this as each one has received a gift, minister it to one another as good stewards of the manifold grace of God. A couple of things we learned from this verse. First of all, each one has received a gift.

Every believer in Jesus Christ has received a spiritual gift for the edifying of the body of Christ. You have been gifted by God supernaturally. Ephesians chapter four in dealing with the subject of spiritual gifts tells us in verse 16 that the body grows as each part does its share.

There's no unimportant members of the body of Christ. There's no unneeded members of the body of Christ. But as each part uses its gift, as each part does its share and does what God has laid before it, then that's when the body is blessed and benefits and grows.

In 1 Corinthians chapter 12, verse 7, the Apostle Paul says there that the Spirit has been manifested in each one of us. That is, the gifts of the Spirit are given to us and used in us for the profit of all. The whole body of Christ benefits when you use your spiritual gifts, when you do what God has gifted you to do.

Later on in 1 Corinthians chapter 12, verses 22 and 23, Paul goes on to explain that the parts that we think that we consider to be weak or unnecessary, he says the way that God has designed the body, those parts that we think are not needed or that aren't very good or very useful, God has designed it so that those parts are vital. Those are necessary parts.

And so you could think, well, you know, maybe I'm gifted. I don't know. I don't really think if I am gifted, it's not a very good one. God says, no, your gift, because you think it's little. The things that we think are, no, that's not a big deal. Those things are the most important ones. I know it's easy to think, hey, you know, to be up front and teaching. Well, that's got to be the most important gift. Not in God's design. We think that because we're flesh.

And we're corrupt. And we've got lots of problems. But God says, no, I've designed the body. Everybody has a gift. And every gift is needed. It's vital. There's no unnecessary members. There's no unnecessary parts. And the whole body benefits when each part does its share. There's not one part that does everything. But everybody has been given their role. Timothy, don't neglect your gift. And you and I as believers, you and I like Timothy.

We need to exercise our spiritual gifts and use the things that God has given to us. The first thing from 1 Peter 4.10 is that each one has received a gift. But the second, Peter goes on to say, "...minister it to one another as good stewards of the manifold grace of God." Using the gift that God has given to you is a matter of stewardship. The idea is that God has entrusted you and he's given to you this gift, this ability, this function within the body.

And now, because he's given that responsibility to you, now he holds you accountable for that gift that he's given to you. And one day, the implication is that you will give an account for how you use that gift.

And how you exercised it. Just like we'll give an account for the way that we use the time and the resources that he gave to us. Spiritually, we'll also give an account for the way that we use the gifts he gave to us. And the way that we fulfilled the role he gave to us in the body of Christ. It's a matter of stewardship. God has given you different gifts. And it's your responsibility. And he holds you accountable for using those gifts. So don't neglect the gift.

But put it into practice. Exercise it. Stir it up and use it for the glory of God. Number four, we find in verse 15, it says this. Meditate on these things. Give yourself entirely to them that your progress may be evident to all. The fourth area that we need.

Need to put into practice in our lives to be a good minister of Jesus Christ is to give yourself entirely to these things.

Give yourself entirely, wholeheartedly, without holding back 100% to these things, Timothy. What things? Well, it's very simply the things that we've just been talking about. Number one, be an example. Number two, give attention to the word. And number three, do not neglect the gifts. Timothy, give yourself entirely, wholeheartedly, 100% towards these things. Paul is not calling...

Timothy to something that's part time.

Neither is God calling us towards something that is a part-time endeavor. You know the idea, well, I volunteer as a spiritual leader a couple times a week. I come and I teach the kids. Or a couple times a year I go on retreats with the youth. And I chaperone them as they go to Magic Mountain and go on all the crazy rides like they did yesterday. And so a couple times a week I'm a spiritual leader. A couple times a year I'm a spiritual leader. I volunteer here and there as I have time. That's not what God is calling us to.

That's not what Paul is talking about when he's writing to Timothy. But that your whole life is to be devoted to being an example, to giving attention to the word, to not neglecting the gift that is in you. Your whole life is to be lived as an example. Now, last night, some practical application to this.

Last night, my wife and I were blessed by our in-laws. We were able to go see a show in L.A. I can never say it. It's Cirque du Soleil or something like that. I always thought of it as Circus Olay. But anyways, so we were able to go. We had a great time, but we got out of there late. It's 11 o'clock at night. We're leaving the place. We jump on the 105, and there's just dead-stop traffic. And all around me...

These cars are just, you know, if you've been in L.A. traffic, you know, they don't like to sit still. So they're cutting back and forth. People are cutting from the slow lane and they're cutting into the fast lane where I was and jumping right past me, past the double yellow lines and then another set of double yellow lines all the way into. Well, yeah, you know what it is, the carpool lane. So they're crossing over when, you know, they're not supposed to.

And just there's just masses of people all around me. I could see them. They're just cutting over cutting over cutting over And i'm sitting there in traffic. It's 11 o'clock at night And i'm anxious to get home. I'm somewhat tired and uh, I realize okay I need to get up early in the morning and there's church tomorrow and ministry and And some more things that god wants me to do in the morning so I need to get home as soon as I can and

And I'm looking at that lane and looking around me and all these cars flowing over there. And the thing that kept going through my mind, through my mind, through my mind is...

Give yourself entirely. Be an example all the time, entirely, completely. Do you want the rest of the church jumping into the carpool lane when you know they're not supposed to? Well, no, Lord, I don't want that. Okay, well, be an example and sit in traffic. And so, you know, still God got me home on time. But that's the idea, is that it doesn't matter where you're at or what's going on or what benefit you think it is. Well, I need to get to church on time or whatever. Hey, be an example wherever you are, whatever you're doing.

Be an example. Give yourself entirely. It's not limited to this element of your Christian walk, but every aspect of your life. Give yourself entirely to the attention of the word. It's not just, well, I give attention to the word when I'm at church. No, give attention to the word when you're at work and when you're at home and wherever you go. So center your life around and give high priority to the word of God.

to its reading, to exhorting from it and to learning the doctrine of it and sharing that with others. Give yourself entirely to not neglecting the gift that is in you. Don't just think, well, I use, you know, my spiritual gift when I'm at church and I teach Sunday school or I minister in this way or afterglow, you know, then I allow God to use the gift in that way. Hey, God wants to use the gifts that he's given to you far beyond the scope of this property.

He wants to use the gifts that he's given to you to minister to people in your workplace and within your family and wherever you go. Give yourself entirely to using the gifts that God has given to you. It's not limited to this one location or this situation. Paul tells Timothy, give yourself entirely to these things. Why? He says that your progress may be evident to all. Your progress. This is a good word because, again, we're called to be an example, right?

But it doesn't mean that we're going to be perfect examples. Yeah, we're going to fall short. We're going to blow it. We're going to mess up and make mistakes. And so we're not perfect examples. But although we shouldn't expect perfection from the leaders that God has given to us, nor should we expect perfection from ourselves as a leader, as a minister, what should be expected is progress. There needs to be progress. There needs to be progress.

Yeah, there may not be perfection, but is there growth? Is there progress in these areas? People should be able to look at your life and see the progress and see the growth that is taking place as you're giving yourself entirely to these things. It's just like anything else. The more you do it, the better you become. When I was younger and in Bible college, I had tried many times in my life to learn how to play the guitar.

And it was there in those times that I gave myself entirely as I had seven hours between classes. Sometimes I would give myself to that. Now, not that I can play guitar well or anything, but much better than when I couldn't play guitar. And and so it was when I gave myself entirely that that there was progress and that it was evident and people would notice, hey, there's there's been some change. There's been some growth in this area in the same way as you give yourself entirely to being an example.

and to giving attention to the Word and not neglecting the gift, it will be evident to everyone around you that there is growth taking place, that God is doing a work. I would encourage you. Is there growth in your life as an example? Are you growing as an example? Is it easier and easier for people to look at you and realize, hey, that's what God wants me to be? Are you growing? Are you progressing in your life and your attention to the Word? This can be difficult sometimes because sometimes

As new believers, man, we thirsted for the Word. We craved for it. I mean, it was part of our day. We read it continually. We had a desire to know more and learn more about God and share it with people. But oftentimes, as we grow older in the Lord, then that desire, we just kind of, you know, we get wishy-washy about the Word. Well, I read a couple times a week or I open my Bible on Sunday when I come to church. Give attention. Are you growing? Are you progressing more and more in the reading of the Word?

And the sharing of the word, exhorting from it. And the doctrine that is taught therein. Is there growth in your use of the spiritual gifts that God has given to you? Are you growing and progressing? Learning more and more, better and better, how to use those gifts. Being able, being more effective to minister to others and bless them. Paul says, give yourself entirely to these things that your progress may be evident to all. Number five, love.

Paul tells us, if you want to be a good minister of Jesus Christ, you need to take heed. Verse 16, take heed to yourself and to the doctrine. Continue in them, for in doing this you will save both yourself and those who hear you. Fifthly, Paul tells us, take heed. This is what you must do in order to be a good minister. You must take heed to yourself and to the doctrine.

If you want to be a good minister of Jesus Christ, watch out for yourself. Take care of yourself. Now, it doesn't mean look out for number one and, you know, make sure you always get the best. No, what Paul is saying here is, look, you need to make sure that you're walking right with God and make sure that what you believe is based upon the word of God. You need to take heed. You need to take inventory regularly. Consider how am I doing? How is my life going?

Am I being obedient to God? Is there issues in my heart? Am I bitter towards someone? Or am I holding on to something that God wants me to let go of? Or am I involved in some type of practice or sinful activity that God wants to set me free from? Take inventory. You know, I say this a lot. Is it in the Bible? Is this what God thinks? Or I believe this and that. Is that really what the Bible teaches? It's easy for us to...

To get caught up in the other things that the world throws at us continually. And to be persuaded by these empty arguments and philosophies like Colossians talks about. We need to take inventory. Take heed to yourself and to your doctrine. Are you living according to the word of God? Because Jeremiah 17.9 tells us that the heart is deceitful above all things and desperately wicked.

That means that before anything else, first and foremost, your heart, my heart is deceitful and it's desperately wicked. What my heart desires more than anything else is wickedness. And that is why we must be born again. That is why we need the new heart as part of the new covenant of God transforming us and making us like him. But if unchecked, my heart will

Will eagerly, willingly and easily deceive me and lead me astray. If left unchecked, my heart will take me away from the things of God. Remember Timothy or Paul warned Timothy last week, first Timothy four one. He said the spirit clearly says expressly says that in the latter times some will depart from the faith. There's a warning that went forth and we need to take heed because God,

There will be those who depart from the faith, those who believe in Jesus Christ that will turn from him and walk away from him because our heart is deceitful above all things and desperately wicked. And given the opportunity, our heart will deceive us and lead us astray. And that is why we must take heed to ourselves and to the doctrine. Am I living life according to God's word? These decisions that I'm making, are they based on the principles that God has taught us?

These things that I say, are they in accordance with what God has said? These things that I believe in, that I hold to, are these the things that are taught in the Bible? Paul tells Timothy, if you keep an eye on yourself, you will save yourself and those who hear you. So don't trust your heart.

Don't trust your feelings, but instead hold yourself accountable to the word of God and believe what God says before you believe what you say or what you think or what everybody else says or thinks. Believe what God says. Hold fast to the word of God because you will save yourself and those who hear you.

And that's incredibly important because, again, you are an example and a leader. God has placed people in your life that you are called to disciple. He's placed people in your life that you are called to impact for eternity. There's those people in your life that you're to teach all the things that Jesus commanded. And those people in your life that God has placed there.

You will either lead them closer to the Lord or you will lead them astray. You will lead them towards God or you will lead them away from God. You are a leader. You are an example. Those people are in your life.

And so you are responsible and accountable for those people that God has placed in your life. And if you fall away, there will be those who are affected by that and those who will be led astray by that. If you turn from the things of God, there will be those in your life that will be affected by that. Paul tells Timothy, hey, take care of yourself because you're

As you take care of yourself, you're going to save yourself as you hold yourself accountable to the word and live according to God's word. You're going to save yourself, but you're also going to save those who hear you because God has placed you in their life to disciple them, to be an example to them. And whether you do good or bad, you're going to be an example to them. And if you fall away, they will be affected. Now, they will still give an account personally to the Lord, but you will give an account for the example that you set for them.

and the way that you discipled them, and the way that you taught them the things that Jesus instructed us. You're going to either lead them towards God or away from God. So what's it going to be? Now, I know this can be very tough stuff. I mean, who wants that responsibility of the people around us? Who wants to be accountable for that? But what is the alternative? Because God has called us to make disciples. It's a commission and a command to every believer.

And so the alternative to having this responsibility to being a good example is to turn from God and walk away from him. And you're still going to be an example and you're still going to give an account. You can't run from that. This is why you cannot live the Christian life half-heartedly. God desires and requires a full commitment, 100%.

That you're not just pretending it and faking it here at church or when Christians are around, but that your life is lived in relationship with God. He's called you to be a minister of the gospel message. He's called you to make disciples. He's placed people in your life and you're an example to them and influence them whether you walk with the Lord or whether you walk away from God. If you live the hypocritical life, then you're an example of a hypocrite to them and you teach them to walk the same way.

If you live in rebellion in certain areas, then you teach them to do the same. And you will give an account for that. You and I are called, just like Timothy, to make disciples. We're commanded and commissioned by Jesus Christ to go into all the world. The world that he has given to us. To your world. And make disciples. It's a heavy call. It's a heavy task. Yes, we're inadequate. But God will equip us.

And he's gifted you spiritually for the task. You are able. Are you willing? Are you willing to be obedient to the Lord? It might mean that, yeah, you have to surrender to God. Those areas of your hearts that you've been holding on to. Yeah, you have to let go of that sin. Yes, you have to change your mind about the way that you think on certain things. And change your lifestyle and the way that you're living. It might mean that, yes. But what's the alternative? Are you going to be a bad example?

Are you going to lead people away from the Lord and teach them how to be hypocritical? Or are you going to be full-fledged, 100% for Jesus Christ? Living in relationship with Him. Because the best thing that you can be for the people around you, the best thing that you can do, is to actually be what you desire them to be. So be an example. Give attention to the Word of God. Don't neglect the gift that is in you. Give yourself entirely to these things and take heed to yourself and the doctrine.

that you might save yourself and those who hear you. Let's pray. Heavenly Father, God, what a heavy charge you've given to us to turn to the people around us and say, imitate me as I imitate Christ. God, it's heavy because we like to hold on to our own ways and our own hearts. Help us, God, to turn from those things. If there's areas in our hearts that you're dealing with, God, Lord, I pray that you would bring them to light, that we might repent of them.

God, help us to turn from those areas of rebellion. Help us to take heed to ourselves, God. Lord, that we might save ourselves as we bring our lives, our thoughts, and our hearts in obedience to your word. Because, Lord, ultimately, what we do and how we live will impact the people in our lives that you have placed there for us to disciple. God, I pray that you would help us to be a good example, an example of what you desire Christians to be.

Help us, God, to give attention to your word. Give us a thirst for it, Lord. May your word govern our hearts and our lives. Lord, may we make decisions by it. Help us, God, to look continually to you through your word. And when situations come up and situations arise, Lord, help us to seek counsel from your word, not our thoughts and opinions or those of others. But, Lord, may we know what you say first. May your word take great priority in our lives.

Help us, God. Give us strength. Lord, help us in the use of our spiritual gifts, Lord, that we would not neglect them. Lord, it's fearful to step out in faith and use the gifts that you've given to us. God, help us to live by faith and to be obedient to you. And I pray, Lord, for those who would say that, I don't know what my gift is. God, may you reveal that to them as they serve you, as they take advantage of the opportunities that you present to them.

God, I pray that you would make it apparent, Lord, that you would reveal to them as they seek you the ways that you've gifted them and want to use them for your glory and your body. And God, I pray that you would help us to give ourselves entirely to these things. Lord, that we wouldn't just be Christians on Sunday mornings or when other believers are around, but Lord, that our lives would really be lived in relationship with you. God, that it would be continual and not hypocritical. Jesus, we need you in all of this.

We thank you for your forgiveness. We ask, Lord, that you would fill us with your Holy Spirit and empower us to be your witnesses to those that you've brought to us and to all the world. In Jesus' name we pray. Amen. We pray you have been blessed by this Bible teaching. The power of God to change a life is found in the daily reading of his word. Visit ferventword.com to find more teachings and Bible study resources.