Problems Of The Servant Series

PROBLEMS OF A SERVANT

Or

HOW TO BE A MAN OF GOD

1 Timothy 4

Part 1

Introduction: If you were to write a job description for your pastor, what would it contain? What comparisons or differences would there be if I was to do the same? What functions do you think I should do? Or even yet, do you really have an idea what I should do as a pastor?

The average person thinks that the pastor is a man who dresses in suits every day. He thinks he preaches regularly. He is suppose to perform weddings, conduct funerals, visit the sick and counsel the distressed. Some people actually thinks that a preacher only works three hours a week. One hour on Sunday morning and another on Sunday evening and one hour on Wednesday night is the extent of his workweek. Some people think that their pastor is a convenient taxi service. Others call him because they are bored and figure he is too.

But what is his ministry? What kind of person must he be to fulfill his God-given ministry? Young Timothy may have been wrestling with these questions. Since our Lord knows all, He had Paul pen these words for young Timothy and every other man who desires the office of a pastor. It is in this chapter, you find his job description. But if you have a job description, you will have problems. But we have a God who knows all the problems and has the answers for all of them.

This chapter is basely broken down in three sections. They list the three qualities that a minister of Jesus Christ must possess if he is to be successful in serving God. A large church with many outreaches does not necessarily measure Successful in the ministry; Success in the ministry is a dependence upon God for all. It is faithfulness in all it is a desire to please God in all.

I am planning to take at least three weeks to cover this chapter, which has these three qualities. In one sentence they are:

1. A good minister of Jesus Christ preaches the Word. This is covered in verses 1-6.

2. A godly minister of Jesus Christ practices the Word. This is covered in verses 7-12.

3. A growing minister of Jesus Christ progresses in the Word. This is covered in verses 13-16.

Today let’s look at this theme: A good minister of Jesus Christ preaches the Word. This responsibility involves study and personal preparation. If I get to study as I want, I try to put in six to eight hours into one message for Sunday services and that includes preaching the same. I am not telling you this as a braggart. When I look back at my old messages and think how little time I put into them, I am ashamed. Of course, I am trying to grow in my knowledge of our Lord and His more. Also I have more and better tools at my disposal for study. The more I study, the more I realize that do not know but I can find better answers today than I could twelve years ago when I became a pastor.

Paul warned the Ephesians elders that false teachers would come among them. We see this in Acts 20:28-31.

“Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood. For I know this, that after my departing shall grievous wolves enter in among you, not sparing the flock. Also of your own selves shall men arise, speaking perverse things, to draw away disciples after them. Therefore watch, and remember, that by the space of three years I ceased not to warn every one night and day with tears.”

I feel that I may be reminding of some facts regularly in this study but these facts are important to our study in this book. Timothy is the pastor at Ephesus at this time. Paul’s prophecy has come true. How do we know this? Look at the first word in this chapter. It is the word “now”. It was being fulfilled in Paul’s day and certainly seen much more in our day.

I. RECOGNIZING FALSE PROPHETS

Vs. 1-5

We can recognize false teachers by the description Paul gave in this paragraph. The Holy Spirit reveals this. Understanding what He is telling us can keep us from those false prophets. There are no hints or mystical symbols. The Holy Spirit is very plain on this subject.

A. They are energized by Satan.

Vs. 1

“Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils”