Exercise For Holiness Series

We work out spiritually to become stronger spiritually. We may even have to put up with ridicule, we need to remember that many who fail to have a relationship with Jesus are either ignorant of the wonderful blessing of fellowship with the Savior or else deflecting the twinges that come from being under the conviction of the Holy Spirit.

Point 3: Reflect on the things that you profess!

We also need to think about the things that we tell others that we believe in. If I make a statement against buying foreign products and complain how our money is being lost to overseas corporations, but people see us driving a fancy European car, what does that say about the strength or the validity of our beliefs? If we profess it, then we had best perform it! Paul writes in verses 12 through 15:

12Let 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. 13Till I come, give attendance to reading, to exhortation, to doctrine. 14Neglect not the gift that is in thee, which was given thee by prophecy, with the laying on of the hands of the presbytery. 15Meditate upon these things; give thyself wholly to them; that thy profiting may appear to all.

I like this section of Scripture, because it always seems that there is someone who claims to be more advanced, there is always someone who claims to be more experienced, and at times they have no difficulty stating that fact. Put your money where your mouth is! Live up to or surpass the set standards! One of the greatest roadblocks that confronted me in the beginning of my pastoral studies was the fact that I grew up in a home that didn’t go to church, that didn’t pray, and that didn’t read the Bible. I did not begin serious studies until after I was saved, and believe you me, I was often reminded of that. The difference was, I was reading extra hard and long to make up for lost time. I had spent extra time in prayer because I needed and knew that I needed every advantage that God had to offer me in my preparation for the ministry. The problem with the ones that pointed out my shortcomings is that they did nothing to maintain their studies.

Paul tells Timothy as well as he tells us, of His need to set an example of the standards that a professing Christian needs to portray in their lives, now notice he does not tell Timothy to refute by word any doubt, but to refute by actions.

Paul tells Timothy and us, to be an example in word. Paul is telling Timothy to be careful of the doctrine that he teaches, he is to teach nothing but the pure and undefiled Word of God. Only God’s Word has the power to transform the lost and bring the most lost soul into the fold. If the message that we hear preached fails to come from the Bible then it is the message of man, and has such has earthly limitations and cannot tap the power that is only available through His Word.

Paul tells Timothy as he tells us to be an example in conversation. Paul is telling Timothy to present himself as a Christian example in all manners of behavior. The things that he says must be appropriate and acceptable for a Christian leader, the things that he does should be appropriate and acceptable for a Christian leader, the place that he goes and the things that he approves of should be appropriate and acceptable for a Christian leader. In all mannerisms and surroundings that Timothy find himself in, those should teach and preach Christianity on their own.