Subject: Godly Suggestions for Growing Ministers
Text: 1 Timothy 4:12-16 “Teach these things and insist that everyone learn them. 12 Don’t let anyone think less of you because you are young. Be an example to all believers in what you say, in the way you live, in your love, your faith, and your purity. 13 Until I get there, focus on reading the Scriptures to the church, encouraging the believers, and teaching them. 14 Do not neglect the spiritual gift you received through the prophecy spoken over you when the elders of the church laid their hands on you. 15 Give your complete attention to these matters. Throw yourself into your tasks so that everyone will see your progress. 16 Keep a close watch on how you live and on your teaching. Stay true to what is right for the sake of your own salvation and the salvation of those who hear you.”
Introduction: The relationship between Paul and Timothy is one of the most profiled cases in the Scriptures. Paul is a Father in the ministry, who was mentoring Young Timothy in the ministry. Paul knew Timothy's family, his ministry, and his potential for greatest. From a prison cell in Roman, Paul uses all his influence to encourage Timothy in his spiritual walk with God. Paul had witnessed his conversion, baptism, circumcision, and his call into the ministry.
In chapter 4. Paul warns for the coming apostasy in the church. He talks about three classes of ministers: good ministers with persuasive preaching, godly ministers who practiced what they preached, and growing ministers who were making notable progress for the kingdom of God.
(1) Good ministers were leaders who are highly gifted and mightily anointed by God, who have accomplished great things, but gradually departed from the faith and give heed to seducing spirits of the age. Money, popularity and acceptance and praise are powerful attractions.
(2) Godly ministers were leaders who stayed true to the basic tenements of the gospel. They avoid profane fables and old wives tales, showed little interest in bodily exercises that excited the flesh or man-made flashy rituals of little spiritual value. They had only one interest, pursuing holiness and living godly lives.
(3) Growing ministers, who were ever learning, those who made notable progress in the word, in their preaching and improving the craft. Timothy must be a good minister who constantly nourished himself in the word and teach the Church the Truth of the Gospel. He must share the truth with sincerity. Remembering that sincerity is not the test of truth. Truth is the only test of truth. Then his example must be one of ever pursuing truth, ever pursuing godliness, and ever pursuing true holiness. Paul advises Timothy to endeavor to make continual progress in spiritual things.
Then Paul says to Timothy and to us, "Let no man despise your youth." Timothy was near 30 years old, so Paul was probably referring to the time of life when one is young in ministry; the period between your beginning ministry and spiritual maturity; the early years of existence, growth, or development. Not only those young in age, but those young in ministry, in the faith, in experience, in positions of service. This message is to all of us, some are young in years, others limited in ministry experience, and those on a growth journey. The exhortation is, "let no one despise your youthfulness. "Let no one," not those with more seniority, more talent or ability, or educated or even more experienced. Then again, don't despise your own talents, abilities, and experiences. If you do, you will spend your time complaining about what you don't have, what you cannot do, and what you cannot control. Do not allow the devil to frustrate you with your present limitations.
1. Growing Ministers Experiment With Your Unlimited Possibilities – Paul is excited in this letter about Timothy’s unlimited possibilities. Timothy, like each one of us has tremendous potential for growth, learning and experiencing more of what God has placed in him. The young are normally zealous, creative, and hungry. Think of all the gifts, talents, and abilities you bring to the table. When God called you, you were fully loaded. Continuing education is one of God’s ways to stir your gift. I am here to fan the flames! To do any thing less than experimenting and investigating the fullness of your gifting is wicked and sinful. Matt 25 Jesus was teaching us how the Kingdom works, (the parable of the talent) The number of talents (5, 2, 1) were determined by the owner and the servant’s abilities. Each servant had all he needed. Each servant knew the day accountability was coming. No other instructions were given. Each servant must experiment, use wisdom and life’s opportunities to use the talents. Failure to use the talent to their full potential was critical. Only one servant was called wicked, slothful, and casted out. His talent was taken and given to another. Kingdom principle, what you fail to use, you will ultimately lose. Growing Ministers experiment with their unlimited ministry possibilities.
2. Growing Ministers Use Their Gifts and Graces with Humility and Love – Have you thought about what gives people reasons to despise your gifts and graces? Pride and arrogance. When we operate in pride and arrogance people to react towards us in a negative way. The Church of God has been referred to as a sleeping giant. If the Church is a sleeping giant, it is because our potential is untapped, and our giftedness is somewhat paralyzed. Satan works to convince us that we are too powerless, too inexperienced, too ill-equipped to do a great work for God. Our church membership is too small, our influence too limited, and our finances all too low. Isn’t it amazing that the Devil never see us as weak, or powerless? Satan tries to get us to underestimate the value of our gift or to overestimate their value. If he can stop us investigating the fullness of your gift and experimenting with new ideas for using them, Satan attempts get us lifted in pride to limit our usefulness. Use all your gifts and graces with humility and love, celebrating every victory.
Paul warns Timothy to avoid this temptation by modeling true Christian living. People not only hear your preaching and testimony, but they are watching your lifestyle. They are watching the words you say. Are you truthful, fair, honest, kind, and respectful? They are watching the love you show. Are you kindhearted or mean spirited? Are you faithful? Do live a clean life? Timothy must live above reproach because he is living in a glass house. Someone is watching you and forming an opinion. "In the same way Jesus said, “Let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise Father in heaven." (Matt 5:16) When we live the life we talk about, People bless us and praise God for us. Walking in humility and love helps us put many issues to rest. They must deal with youthful lusts: to be popular and celebrated, cocky attitudes, authority issues and the lack of patience. Yet, God has always used the young in ministry, the young in heart, and the inexperienced. Have you ever thought about the number young people used in the Bible? God used Children, teenagers, young adults, and senior citizens in brand new ways. God is going to use you too!
5. Growing Ministers Keep Making Spiritual Progress! Paul is so concerned with Timothy's spiritual growth in ministry that gives a step-by-step plan for making spiritual progress. The necessary elements are revealed in our text, If Timothy would progress in his walk with God, he must have the determination to:
A. Display true Christian character and conduct that will glorify God.
B. Display the kind of diligence study or hard work that will glorify God.
C. Be sure that your message, your ministry and your lifestyle glorify God
D. Constantly examine yourself and the doctrine you preach.
If Timothy would do these things Paul assures him that he would save himself and those that would do the same. Those who hear him are those who apply and live out the truth they hear.
Conclusion: Everyone has something very special to bring the table, a gift from God. God did not leave anyone of us out. Each of us has been given gifts and callings for the benefit of the body. We need to recognize our great potential, know our strengths, use your energy and courage on this exciting journey. We must celebrate what God is doing in us. Every person has this responsibility. We have an obligation to walk of worthy of the vocation, we have been called to: (1) live the Christian life boldly and be a good example for the faith (2) give attention to reading, to exhortation, and to preaching right doctrine (3) perfect your craft: Do not neglect your gift, work on it and work at it (4) meditate on how to improve it and give thyself wholly to it and (5) let thy profiting appear to all. God used Paul to address his concern about the progress of Timothy and His Church assignment. People may become jealous of your growth, they may envy you and your walk with God, but Keep on anyway! In doing this, thy should thyself and them that follow you.
Mother Teresa's once said: Anyway
People are often unreasonable, illogical and self centered; Forgive them anyway. If you are kind, people may accuse you of selfish, ulterior motives;
Be kind anyway. If you are successful, you will win some false friends and some true enemies; Succeed anyway. If you are honest and frank, people may cheat you; Be honest and frank anyway. What you spend years building, someone could destroy overnight; Build anyway. If you find serenity and happiness, they may be jealous; Be happy anyway.
The good you do today, people will often forget tomorrow; Do good anyway. Give the world the best you have, and it may never be enough; Give the world the best you've got anyway. You see, in the final analysis, it is between you and your God; It was never between you and them anyway.
