Timothy: A Call To Be A Worthy Example

Timothy: A Call to be a Worthy Example.

Study Text: I Timothy 4: 12 - 16.

Introduction:

- Every Christian is a marked person because he or she has claimed to be a child of God. People will be watching you to find out what a child of God is like.

- How does he behaves, speaks, what association he keeps, how does he react under pressure?

- Everywhere at work, at school, in your neighborhood, people are watching you. They are watching you, because they have expectations for who you ought to be and what you should do.

- As a Christian, they want to see if your character and conduct matches with your claims as a Child of God.

- Whether you are conscious of it or not, you are an example of a believer to those people around you. They assume that you are what a believer should be. People are watching you to find out what a Christian looks like, what he acts like, and what he is.

- Many people will never read a Bible, but they are going to read your life like a book. Be thou an example, not just to the believers, but of the believers.

- By the way you are living, people are determining whether or not they want to believe in Jesus Christ. Is your life drawing people to Him, or making them to walk away from Him?

- We shall be discussing the topic under three subheadings:

1. The Pattern of Being a Christian Example

2. The Power for Being a Christian Example

3. The Profit of Being a Christian Example

1. The Pattern of Being a Christian Example

- To be an example is to provide leadership for others, to produce an influence in others, or to raise a standard for others.

- This can be done in two major ways:

a. By Teaching or Instructing.

- We can be an example to others by knowing what is right for ourselves, and by teaching and instructing others on those things that are right and how to do them.

b. By Living Out

- We can be an example by demonstrating or by living out the godly virtues we desired to see in others, for them to see it in our lives and to emulate us.

- Every Christian in whatever position he occupies or authority he possesses, is called to be a godly example of a believer and to the believers.

- The parents to their children and other children, the ministers of God to their members and everyone, the teachers to their students, the employers to their employees and so on.

- The following are some of the areas we are expected to be an example:

1. Example in Godly Words and Communication.

- You must be an example in speaking only godly words. Jesus said, "Out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh" (Matthew 12:34).

- Your words reveal what you are, what you are thinking, what is down inside of you. It is not only what you say but, so many times, how you say it. Ephesians 4:29-31

2. Example in Godly Conduct and Conversation.

- You must be an example in godly conduct and conversation. People will look out for your behaviour, your attitude and your reaction to issues of life. They want to see how you react in adversity.

- You shouldn't be one thing at church and another thing at home or at work. You should conduct yourself as a Christian everywhere and in all that you do.

- Be totally diligent in all that you do, as unto the Lord. People are watching and judging Christianity by the way you act and react.

3. Example in Showing Godly Love to Others.

- God is love, and every child of God must demonstrate the love of God to others. The kind of love that keeps on loving without a condition and doesn't ask for anything in return. 1 John 4: 7-8

- Let God's love begin to flow through your life. The world today needs real examples of self-sacrificing love, willing to give without asking for a return.

4. Example in Godly Relationship and Disposition.

- As a Christian, you need to guide against a spirit of heaviness, fear, suspicion, bitterness, murmuring, grumbling and complaining. Be thou an example of the spirit of Joy and Gratitude.

- The world is not looking for sorrow, they have enough sorrow and trouble already. The world is looking for answers, joy, peace, and confidence.

- As a believer in Jesus Christ and trusting in the Lord, you should have great confidence that the Lord will work out every situation for your good. Romans 8:28

5. Example in Godly Faith in God and His Words.