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"Clarity
For The Clergy" • 5.15.16 • Calvary
Christian Fellowship, Sunday Morning Service
Intro.
- The church of Ephesus was not an easy place
to Pastor for many reasons. Culturally, it was the den of Diana, a
multi-breasted fertility deity, whose temple servants were glorified
prostitutes.
- Spiritually, while it had the best possible
foundation, many in the church had pushed the church in a direction that was
foreign to it's founding Fathers.
- Enter in Paul's protege Timothy, who had been
left there in Paul's stead, to maintain Paul's work. There's not really ever
been a person like Paul, so think about taking over for him!
- Then, when Paul was arrested by Rome, he had
to write Timothy so that he would know how to conduct himself in God's house
with these specific people.
- Paul doesn't just want him to be a warm body.
He wants him to excel, to be a "good minister" that was completely
nourished in the words of faith and doctrine that he had learned.
- As we move into verse 12, Paul becomes even more specific with Timothy.
Text
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I Timothy 4:12 : "Let no one despise your youth, but
be an example to the believers in word, in conduct, in love, in spirit, in
faith, in purity." : As we noted last week, Paul
had told Timothy to "exercise himself to godliness." This is what
that exercise looked like!
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Paul issues this famous command to Timothy. "Let no one despise your
youth."
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Paul was mindful of the very natural stigma that comes with being a younger
person. Older people like them personally, but their habits as youth might tend
to grate on them.
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We get the hint in the term "despise." When we use it, it means that
we truly hate someone or something. When the Greeks employed it, it meant to
"think against."
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Paul commands Timothy to not allow people to think lowly of his youth. The
Apostle cannot be referring to Timothy's undeveloped character.
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Timothy embodied every characteristic that Paul expected to be found in a
Bishop, otherwise, he would not be in a position to lead God's people.
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Rather, Paul is calling upon Timothy to guard how people perceive his youth.
The NASB catches this when it translates, "Let no one look down on your youthfulness."
•
"Don't act like a young fool. Don't
act in that way that is characteristic of youth." Bud Stonebraker
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Because this is written in the language of a present command, this is something
that Timothy could control. Timothy cannot control whether or not people like
or dislike him.
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What he can control how he chooses to live before them. At this time, most
scholars believe that Timothy was about or a little over 40 years old, which
the word "youth" points to.
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He is well trained and old enough for the position, but there are older men
that he is serving.
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When the Apostle writes this, he must be thinking about activities which
younger people indulge themselves in and that we are all guilty of falling back
upon.
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Is it not possible that Timothy was prone to losing patience with people or
that he felt the temptation to live his life without consideration of the body
at large?
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This might have been a temptation for him because Paul immediately follows his
statement by speaking explicitly about his behavior!
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The only way to counteract public opinion regarding any immaturity related to
youth, is to go on the offensive with the purpose of being the Christian that
you hope to be when you grow up!
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He tells Timothy that he has the responsibility to be an example. His life is
not his own to live as he pleases, but his life is Christ's own to model what
pleases Him!
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Example, "tupos" in the Greek, is exactly that: A model or a pattern
for all believers to emulate. The Greeks used this word when they manufactured
a mold to design from.
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That is to be Timothy's role in the church! He was to present himself as a
pattern of the type of life that should come from a life that has been touched
by God!
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Whether you like it or not, people in your life will pattern their walks with
Christ after you!
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What kind of example are you setting among your family, friends and co-workers?
If everyone modeled their Christianity after you, what could we expect to see
if they only had your life to emulate?
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It will begin first with Timothy's word. This refers primarily to our speech. What,
how and even when we speak, speaks volumes about us!
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We would all do well to take a look through the scriptures and remind ourselves
of the exhortations which directly address our speech. When thinking about it,
I thought of . . .
•
Psalm 141:3 : "Set a guard, O Lord, over my mouth; Keep
watch over the door of my lips."
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Paul taught the Colossians to "let
their speech be always be with grace, seasoned with salt." (Colossians 4:6)
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Similarly, the Ephesians uncorrupted speech would give grace to the hearers. (Ephesians 4:29) This should be true
with what you vocalize, as well as what you publicize!
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Our digital speech needs to set an example as well! Are we posting that which
is true, helpful, inspiring, necessary and kind? Our Lord's reputation is
closely connected to our communication!
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Be careful what you write and what you like! Veer away from that which is
questionable.
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We could talk and write in an exemplary way, but we all know that if our
conduct doesn't match, then our words will be useless! Timothy was to be an
example in his behavior as well!
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Truly, the man of God needs to live in a manner that befits his confession.
Does he shun sin? Is he always towing the line between righteousness and
sinfulness? Let it never be said!
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Timothy was to be a man with unquestioned conduct and if you are a Christian,
it must be so with you as well. Be aware that your conduct as a Christian
either opens or closes doors to share!
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With that in mind, the chief mark of a Christian person's character should be
love.
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The same love that is associated with God's selfless and benevolent love should
be seen in Timothy's life. God's person would do well to pray for more of the
Lord's type of love.
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There isn't any coincidence that Jesus told His disciples that the world would
identify them by their love for each other. (John 13:35)
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May I also remind you that we are to love the world as well! No, we aren't to
be loyal to the world's systems, but because our Lord loves the world's
citizens, we should love them as well!
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We love them as Christ loved them, laying down our rights, perhaps even laying
down our lives to share the gospel of the Savior with them!
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As we come to the word "spirit," we encounter that ackward
understanding that certain manuscripts contain this word, while others do not.
It's certainly fitting given the context.
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Certainly Timothy was to be an example of a man given to the Holy Spirit. It's
granted that he's "spiritual" in the sense that he is consistently
aware of the Holy Spirit's work.
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While that is true this word refers more to his attitude. Timothy shouldn't be
a man who is always brooding, or touchy and oversensitive.
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Being a man filled with God's Spirit will more often than not, issue in the joy
of the Lord and prayerfully a light disposition! The joy of the Lord is our
strength! Let's lead with that!
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"But you don't know my morning/my fellow employees/my commute."
You're right. But who I do know is your Lord! He who asks not receives not! He
who is not willing cannot be able!
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Who has gone to work and not asked the Lord to fill them with His Holy Spirit?
That person cannot hope to succeed in Christ! Alternately, the person who does
cannot fail!
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Paul continues, adding that he must be an example of a man of faith. He must be
rooted in the confession of the church and moved by the theology that emanates
from her beliefs.
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This also relates to and issues in reliability. He is a faithful, reliable
person, who is true to his word. This isn't divorced from theology.
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In fact, it is because he knows the precious value of the Christian truth
claims that he espouses that he desires to be a man which embodies it in every
way!!
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Finally, he must be an example of one who is whole! He cannot have other
allegiances or motives for ministry. It should be known that he is a pure man
morally.
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There shouldn't be questions about you or your choices. Be wholly His in every
decision!
•
I Timothy 4:13 : "Till I come, give attention to
reading, to exhortation, to doctrine." : Paul
makes sure that Timothy knows how he is to spend his time with the church.
There isn't any question as to what Paul deems valuable in the church meeting!
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Timothy is to consistently apply himself in the area of reading. This is first
a matter of his personal devotion. He is to bent toward this.
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In this case, he is to be in a constant state of learning as well as leading
the people of God in their learning through reading, primarily referring to the
the public reading of the scriptures.
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That must dominate the church's meeting time. Inferentially, that means that
Timothy's life must be centered around reading and studying the scriptures as
well.
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No minister can truly be a minister without a dedication to reading the Bible
for themselves. That should be a given though sadly, it is often not the case
today.
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One cannot give out of what one does not have and God's people cannot be fed
from the minister's own creativity!
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Perhaps you have or have not noticed, but it is very much a young man's
temptation to disregard the Word for the present social or cultural commentary
that he can provide.
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Paul tells us authoritatively that the man that God calls to lead God's people
must be a man that takes in God's Word regularly.
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I've found that he must also be reading what comes across his desk culturally,
but only as a matter of distant secondary importance.
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He needs to be aware of what God's people are being confronted with and what
ideas are shaping the thoughts of the day.
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It's good to read these things and then submit them to the scripture. One
should ask the question, "How does God's word answer the culture?"
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But when it comes to what is presented to the congregation, the premium for the
Pastor will always be the eternal Word! That is God's ONLY way to grow HIs
people!
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When Timothy was before the congregation, he was to read the Bible to them and
exhort them. The word refers to immediacy and personal interaction with the
text.
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Timothy's job was not simply to read to them as if he were reading a bed time
story. He was to read and from that reading, begin to call them to act upon
what they have read!
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The Pastor's position must be executed with passion for God's people to adopt
the truth of the scriptures. He does this for the honor of God, whose will is
tied to His Word!
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From the same reading, he is to lead God's people in doctrine. The word refers
to teaching and it is simply the codifying of information given through
scripture.
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When Timothy approached a subject, he was to share what it's name was, not to
be technical or to impress his hearers, but to educate them.
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We are to simply teach the Bible simply, though that cannot mean that the Bible
is a simple book, with simple themes.
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The Bible is inspired by an eternal God who seeks to reveal Himself to His
creation and to garner the love and affection of His people through the
knowledge of His character!
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Everything that I just told you has a theological word or series of words
attached to it. Inspiration. Revelation. The attributes of God.
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I am never one to shy away from teaching you these words. You need to know them,
not because I want you to, but so that you can be equipped to minister
efficiently to others!
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Can you hear Timothy groan a bit? This might not have been what he wanted to
hear. Listen to Paul as he continues to encourage him.
•
I Timothy 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." : Paul's third command to Timothy
was not to be careless in regard to the grace that was given him.
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When a command has to be issued in this manner, I always feel as though it has
come by necessity. Was Timothy actually tempted to minister in some other
capacity?
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It's one thing when a congregation is responding to the gift that a person has.
The church at Ephesus, at least at this point in time, was very likely
resisting.
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Maybe Timothy was ready to call it in, to lay aside the gift that he had been
given to serve the church with, and to just move on to something else.
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This is conjecture with regard to Timothy, but it is honestly the experience of
many church Pastors, many of whom have confessed a willingness to simply give
up and go home!
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If it were just his decision, maybe he could simply walk away. If he had simply
come to decide for himself that he was to serve as the Pastor, it might even be
better!
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Timothy though had to recognize that he had been entrusted with a gift from the
Lord, which had come to him first by prophecy.
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The idea here is that the elders of the church conferred to and confirmed
Timothy's gift. He had not come up with this title alone and it was not his to
keep to himself.
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In saying this, Paul is reminding Timothy that he answers to the church
leadership. He is responsible to them and must maintain his gifting in light of
serving them!
•
I Timothy 4:15 : "Meditate on these things; give
yourself entirely to them, that your progress may be evident to all." : "Turn these things around in your mind."
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Ponder the truths. Think deeply about these things. What is Paul referring to?
It could be everything that he has said beginning at chapter 3:15, but especially since 4:12!
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The importance of his example. The necessity of his transmission of God's Word
to God's people. The gift that was given to him for service! These are all
worthy of his constant meditation!
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The next phrase is a little curious and is widely translated. Timothy was to
give himself entirely to the disciplines that Paul has laid out for him.
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He was to "throw," (NLT)
or "immerse himself."(ESV)
He is to "be committed,"(HCSB)
"devoted" (RSV) and
"absorbed" (NASB) in these
disciplies.
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His life is to be centered around his ministry and call. He can't be half hearted.
He must be entirely wrapped up in this work.
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Why? So that everyone will know that Timothy was progressing in his service.
Does this mean that they would evaluate his gifting as it became increasingly
skillful? Yes, but no.
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It's natural to note progress and the longer that a Pastor serves a
congregation, his skill should increase. This word however has a meaning that
is rooted in pioneering a trail.
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It was used by the military when a pathway was cut before an army's advance. To
some degree, a Pastor's gifting will do the same for the mobilizing of the
Lord's congregation.
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As he serves up the word, the path for the church will become more clearly
defined. As Timothy immersed himself in these things, he was clearing a path
for God's people to follow.
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It's not wonder that Paul tells him then to pay strict attention to himself.
Verse 16.
•
I Timothy 4:16 : "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." : In Paul's final command, he
calls his protege to keep a close eye on himself.
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It's probably easy to think that you will never be steered in the wrong
direction or that you would never be the one that would lead others astray.
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It's true that those intentions are ever present, but the truth is that there
have been great men who loved the Lord and His Word, who found themselves on
the wrong side of truth!
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Timothy is not just called to guard the truth in the church, but also in
himself! A minister needs to be as careful watching his own life as he does the
life of the church!
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A healthy self-examination is in order from time to time. Do I still sense His
Presence when I read the Word? Am I still sensitive to His command? Am I still
obedient to His truth?
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Often we will note that we have diminished in each of these areas as we age.
Perhaps today is as good a day as ever to ask the Lord to reverse any downward
trend.
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He is to be careful in his life and the doctrine. Notice that it is
"THE" doctrine!
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If you are given a subject to teach, you will be careful to fully transmit that
information.
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How much more when you are dealing with the doctrines of God's Holy Word to
people who are fashioning their life after it!? How fastidious will you be in
your preparation?
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How carefully will you choose your words as you present what is the very
doctrine of God Himself? He isn't simply to take heed, but to persevere, abide
in the practices related to doctrine.
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We can't hope to retain it all in one sitting. Every Christian needs to apply
themselves to re-examining the scripture and keeping current in their faith
education!
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Timothy had to do this for his own salvation as well as for theirs! This refers
to the entirety of the work of salvation, from justification through
sanctification, even unto the door of glorification!
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How often have we seen the word of the gospel produce a person's salvation?
Just as often as the Word has warned us away from a pending failure or
corrected a wayward heart!
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Someday, if the Lord tarries, we will stand by each other in the final moments
and the Word will be on our lips! It's salvation for me and for you!
Conclusion
- What a
practical chapter for us? What example are you setting? What is your commitment
to God's Word?
- What is your
gift and are you neglecting it? Are you growing in the knowledge of your faith?
These are great questions to ask yourself as we leave.
- You may not
have Timothy's job, but you have Timothy's God and it is His Word which demands
an account! May we be wise and take the commands given to Timothy personally!
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