My Progress

I. EXORDIUM:

Is your progress clear to you?

II. AUDIENCE PROFILE:

Believers

III. OBJECTIVES:

To enumerate the ways we can see progress in our lives.

IV. TEXT:

1 Timothy 4:14-15 (Amplified Bible)

Do not neglect the gift which is in you, [that special inward endowment] which was directly imparted to you [by the Holy Spirit] by prophetic utterance when the elders laid their hands upon you [at your ordination].

Practice and cultivate and meditate upon these duties; throw yourself wholly into them [as your ministry], so that your progress may be evident to everybody.

V. THESIS:

Progress in our spiritual walk with GOD does not come from us but from GOD, the HOLY SPIRIT.

VI. TITLE:

My progress

VII. EXPLICATION:

A. Author: Apostle Paul

B. Date written: About 64 A.D., but uncertain

C. To whom written: Timothy, Paul's true son in the faith

1 Timothy 1:2 (New International Version)

To Timothy my true son in the faith: Grace, mercy and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord.

D. Main themes: Advice and exhortation to a young pastor respecting his personal conduct and ministerial work

E. Keyword: conduct

F. Key verse:

1 Timothy 3:15 (New International Version)

if I am delayed, you will know how people ought to conduct themselves in God's household, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and foundation of the truth.

VIII. MAIN BODY:

A. Do not neglect my gift

"Do not neglect the gift which is in you, [that special inward endowment] which was directly imparted to you [by the Holy Spirit] by prophetic utterance when the elders laid their hands upon you [at your ordination]."

Matthew 25:20 (Amplified Bible)

And he who had received the five talents came and brought him five more, saying, Master, you entrusted to me five talents; see, here I have gained five talents more.

1 Timothy 4:7 (Amplified Bible)

But refuse and avoid irreverent legends (profane and impure and godless fictions, mere grandmothers’ tales) and silly myths, and express your disapproval of them. Train yourself toward godliness (piety), [keeping yourself spiritually fit].

2 Timothy 1:6 (Amplified Bible)

That is why I would remind you to stir up (rekindle the embers of, fan the flame of, and keep burning) the [gracious] gift of God, [the inner fire] that is in you by means of the laying on of my hands [with those of the elders at your ordination].

B. Be diligent in these matters

"Practice and cultivate and meditate upon these duties;"

Proverbs 22:29 (Amplified Bible)

Do you see a man diligent and skillful in his business? He will stand before kings; he will not stand before obscure men.

2 Peter 3:14 (Amplified Bible)

So, beloved, since you are expecting these things, be eager to be found by Him [at His coming] without spot or blemish and at peace [in serene confidence, ree from fears and agitating passions and moral conflicts].

Hebrews 6:10-12 (Amplified Bible)

For God is not unrighteous to forget or overlook your labor and the love which you have shown for His name’s sake in ministering to the needs of the saints (His own consecrated people), as you still do.

But we do [strongly and earnestly] desire for each of you to show the same diligence and sincerity [all the way through] in realizing and enjoying the full assurance and development of [your] hope until the end,

In order that you may not grow disinterested and become [spiritual] sluggards, but imitators, behaving as do those who through faith (by their leaning of the entire personality on God in Christ in absolute trust and confidence in His power, wisdom, and goodness) and by practice of patient endurance and waiting are [now] inheriting the promises.

C. Give myself wholly to them

"throw yourself wholly into them [as your ministry],"

Numbers 23:12 (Amplified Bible)

And Balaam answered, Must I not be obedient and speak what the Lord has put in my mouth?

Philippians 3:7-8 (Amplified Bible)

But whatever former things I had that might have been gains to me, I have come to consider as [one combined] loss for Christ’s sake.

Yes, furthermore, I count everything as loss compared to the possession of the priceless privilege (the overwhelming preciousness, the surpassing worth, and supreme advantage) of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord and of progressively becoming more deeply and intimately acquainted with Him [of perceiving and recognizing and understanding Him more fully and clearly]. For His sake I have lost everything and consider it all to be mere rubbish (refuse, dregs), in order that I may win (gain) Christ (the Anointed One),

IX. CONCLUSION:

Progress in our spiritual walk with GOD does not come from us but from GOD, the HOLY SPIRIT.

1 Thessalonians 5:23 (Amplified Bible)

And may the God of peace Himself sanctify you through and through [separate you from profane things, make you pure and wholly consecrated to God]; and may your spirit and soul and body be preserved sound and complete [and found] blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ (the Messiah).