What Is Required of a Faithful Servant

Transcript

GRM 1017
8/24/2008
What Is Required of a Faithful Servant
I Timothy 4:11-16
Gil Rugh


I want to direct your attention to I Timothy 4 again. As I mentioned in our study earlier today we will be beginning a study on Sunday mornings at Indian Hills on II Timothy. Several years ago we did a study on I Timothy and we're looking at chapter 4 just as a reminder and a background to prepare the way for what Paul will have to say to Timothy in his second letter. We noted Timothy is at the city of Ephesus when Paul writes this letter to him. Paul had been there with him for a time, they spent three years in ministry at Ephesus. Then Paul moved on to go over to Macedonia to present the gospel there in Greece and minister there. Timothy was left behind to deal with situations in the church. Already at that early stage in the church's life there was false teaching infiltrating the church as the devil moved to corrupt and adulterate the word of God. So Paul is encouraging Timothy to be faithful, he's reminding him of what is necessary to be a good servant of Christ Jesus as he noted in chapter 4 verse 6. He gave some of the characteristics of a good servant and we looked at these in verses 6-11. In verse 11 where we're going to pick up we noted two commands, and we noted Timothy had to be a broker of truth, one who was passing on the truth that had been passed on to him. We have nothing new to offer our generation. There are no alterations or changes for our culture as though something is needed that is different because the people today are different, even as the children presented in the program. The simplicity of God's gospel is what is needed for every generation and so Timothy is responsible to that.

In verses 11-16 there are ten commands, imperatives, as they are given in the Greek text. So compressed into this short section Paul drives home the responsibility that Timothy has. As he writes this to Timothy under the direction of the Spirit so it could become part of the eternal Word of God, obviously it is for our benefit as well to learn what is required in faithful service to our Lord and Master.

Verse 11, we looked at it briefly in connection with the preceding verses. It's a transition verse, tying what he has been saying to what is going on after it. And just note these two commands again, that we already noted. Prescribe and teach these things. Timothy has a responsibility to be authoritative in his ministry, not because he is some great person or has some innate authority or he has been appointed boss, but he has been entrusted with the Word of God. And so the authority he has is because he is giving forth the Word of God. Nothing to be embarrassed about, nothing to be timid about, nothing to be ashamed of. He is to prescribe these things. And we note that word prescribe means to command something. These are not recommendations, this is what Timothy is to command people, this is required by God. It means to give orders, to direct someone, to command someone. It would be a word used of people in authority. It was used several times back in chapter 1 and it is translated different ways here but it's the same Greek word. Look at verse 3, as I urged you upon my departure from Macedonia, remain on at Ephesus so that you may instruct certain men not to teach strange doctrine. The word translated instruct is the same word that we have translated prescribe in chapter 4 verse 11. That you may command certain men, you give orders to them not to teach strange doctrines. Down in verse 5, the goal of our instruction, the word translated instruction is that same word, command. In the margin of my Bible I have the word commandment as a meaning for it. The goal of our commandment is love from a pure heart, a good conscience and a sincere faith. It's the pure Word of God that accomplishes God's work. So Paul is commanding these things, not to assert his authority, Timothy is to command these things, not to show he's in charge, because it is the correct handling of the Word of God that enables the spirit of God to accomplish the work of God in life.

Down in verse 18 of chapter 1, this command, and there you have it translated, same Greek word in all these places. Here it is translated command. This command I entrust to you, Timothy. Fight the good fight, stay true to the Word. So no apologies. We live in a day, we think it's unique, where we're told that in our postmodern culture people don't want to be told what they have to do. But you understand sinners have never wanted to be told what God requires of them. But there is not negotiation here. God says this is His truth, this is what must be presented. It is what the Spirit of God will use to penetrate the sinful heart and mind and bring people to Christ. It is what will produce growth in God's people.

Come back to I Timothy 4. The second command here is teach these things, in verse 11. So you command these things, in other words you require obedience to them. Any of those who are teaching other doctrines have to be dealt with. You teach these things, you explain them to people so they can further understand them. The word translated prescribe or command, that's a word that requires obedience, this is a word that requires understanding. You explain the truth so people can be obedient to it.

The third command here, responsibility given to Timothy in verse 12, let no one look down on your youthfulness. Paul has told Timothy to deal with the truth in an authoritative way. I mean, you have to command these things and require obedience to the truth, you explain the truth that they might obey it more fully. But Timothy is a young man, youth is comparative, is relative. This word translated youth would have been used in biblical times of anyone under the age of 40. So you divide being young and being old at 40. We like to stretch it out today, everybody wants to say, you're only as young as you feel, I'm a young 70. Well you may be a young 70, but 70 is 70 is 70. At any rate, youth, the word here means under 40. You understand by the time Paul writes this letter to Timothy he has been a traveling companion of the Apostle Paul for some 15 years. He began to travel with Paul, remember we noted, in Acts 16 as a young man, probably in his upper teens. But you understand if he was 18 when Paul chose him as a traveling companion in Acts 16, 15 years later Timothy is getting into his mid-30s. So he's somewhere 33, 34, 35, he's still under 40 so the word youth or youthfulness would have been used of him. He has a great history. Think of this man, what he's been through. Picked up as an older teenager by Paul, given the privilege of becoming part of the Apostle Paul's ministry and traveling Paul he has grown and he has matured, has become a trusted fellow worker. So here at Ephesus he has been left to minister.

So he is still relatively young, compared to some of those he would have to deal with in the church. So Paul's instruction to Timothy is let no one look down on your youthfulness. That verb translated to look down on means to despise, to scorn, to treat with contempt. I mean, who are you to be telling me? You're still too young to be telling me what I have to do, to be trying to explain to me what the Word of God really means. You know, the constant battle. We know what it's like, somebody younger than we are wants to correct us and we sometimes think, who are they to tell me? But you understand the authority comes from the Word of God. It doesn't have anything to do with whether they are young or old, whether they are 35 or 65. The Word of God is the Word of God. That requires obedience, it needs to be explained so we understand it.

In Paul's second letter to Timothy he'll have to remind Timothy, God has not given us a spirit of timidity. Turn back to I Corinthians 16. Paul has sent Timothy to Corinth. You understand here is a young man who has been entrusted with major responsibilities—not just going to a friendly situation and teaching the Word of God who would welcome it, but going to churches that were having problems that were even resisting the teaching that Paul had given them and set things straight. And rebuke those that need to be rebuked, put a stop to the teachers who are teaching contrary to the proper doctrine. So here is a young man, but he has matured and he is a reliable, trustworthy servant. Paul has sent him to Corinth. We know about Corinth, we recently studied the first letter to the Corinthians. The second letter doesn't get any better as far as the problems that are there and the opposition to apostolic teaching that has begun to arise. But Paul has sent Timothy to help deal with the situation because he himself can't come immediately.

Look at I Corinthians 16:10, now if Timothy comes see that he is with you without cause to be afraid. Paul knows what he is throwing Timothy into here. And here you go to a church but it may be a church who had a hard time with Paul's authority as an apostle. How are they going to treat Timothy? Paul's letter to the church is don't try to intimidate Timothy. Why? For he is doing the Lord's work, just as I am also. So let no one despise him. All right, I might take it from the Apostle Paul but I'm not taking it from this young guy. Wait a minute, you understand he's doing the Lord's work just as I am. None of you despise him and don't try to make him afraid. So he tells the church how they are to treat him and to be careful about trying to intimidate him. He also tells Timothy, you don't shrink back, you don't let anyone use your youth as an excuse to treat you with contempt. Because it's the Word of God that is the issue here. That's why Timothy had to be careful that he kept his life focused on the Word, his ministry focused in the Word. That's where his authority comes from, that's where the impact of his ministry is. There will be opposition but you stay true to the Word and you don't let anybody use your youth as an excuse. You know as older people we can intimidate sometimes, somebody younger. We can come at them in a way to make them somewhat afraid and think maybe I am out of line, I shouldn't be speaking up. But if the Word of God is what they're presenting and it's true, then it needs to be done.

This is especially true in rebuke. You know what we try to do when we are rebuked from the word, whether it's by someone young or older. It's hard to disagree with the Word so we try to find something wrong with the person rebuking us. Timothy, it might be you're too young to be talking to me like this. But it really becomes an issue, am I willing to submit to the Word. This can be true of us as believers as well as non-believers. To be corrected and show we are in error, we must make a change. The Word of God cuts and pierces in and so sometimes we try to get away from the impact of the Word by criticizing the messenger of the Word. That would happen with Timothy. Timothy, don't let them use your youthfulness, it's an excuse to treat you with contempt. Doesn't matter that you're young. Even as a man in his earlier mid-30s you can rebuke a man in his mid-60s if he's not being biblical. Has nothing to do with how old you are, Timothy, so don't let anyone treat you with contempt because you are young.

Back in I Timothy 4. Now Timothy is to be bold, to be confident. But you understand he has a responsibility. He just can't go around with authority, he is to be an example of those who believe. The end of verse 12, show yourself an example of those who believe. He is to be setting himself as a pattern for others to follow. The word here translated an example. One of the things that will help people accept his ministry as a young man is the example that he set. People will criticize, people will slander. I can't do anything about that, but what I can do something about is not to give them an occasion to criticize. So Timothy, you be an example of those who would believe. In other words Timothy's ministry of the Word must be supported by the life that he lives. You be an example of what a believer is to be. So you demonstrate godly character. Paul told the Philippians in Philippians 3:17, brethren, join in following my example, and observe those who walk according to the same pattern you have in us. Peter wrote in I Peter 5, for those who are leading in the flock, they are not to be lording it over those allotted to your charge, but proving to be examples to the flock. So you'll note both go together. Timothy has the authority of the Word of God, he has a responsibility to use that authority with the Word, but he also has a responsibility to be an example. He can't be saying you do what I say, not what I do. He needs to be able to say as the Apostle Paul did, you do what I do, you follow my example, the pattern of my life. Doesn't mean he is perfect, but he is striving to be an example of what a believer is to be.

And there are five specific areas mentioned here, we won't go into detail. In speech, conduct, love faith and purity show yourself an example. Just note quickly. In speech, in your words. Paul has already written the letter to the Ephesian church, that we have the letter to the Ephesians a little bit earlier, a year or so earlier than this letter to Timothy. In that letter in Ephesians 4:29 he told the Ephesians that they were to be godly in their speech. Let me just read it to you, let no unwholesome word proceed from your mouth. Only such a word as is good for edification, according to the need, so that it will give grace to those who hear. So Timothy can't come in and be a man who is loose with his tongue and expect to have people respect his leadership, respond to his leadership and his teaching. He has to be an example in his speech.

In his conduct. You know the gospel changes a life. Timothy will have to deal with things in the church. Behavior that is not acceptable, does not conform to the Word of God, he has to be careful his character conforms to the Word of God, his behavior reveals the change that God has brought about so that now his life conforms to godliness. When Paul wrote to the Ephesians in chapter 4, in reference to your former manner of life you lay aside the old self, you be renewed in the spirit of your mind, you put on the new self which in the likeness of God has been created in righteousness and holiness of the truth. So Paul has already written this as a responsibility of Ephesian believers. Of course if Timothy is going to come there representing the Lord Jesus Christ, representing the ministry of the Apostle Paul entrusted to him by Christ, he'll have to manifest in his life an example of a believer. Now his behavior, they'll have to be able to look and say what's Timothy down there boozing away. I see a pattern in Timothy's life, I didn't think believers were supposed to act like that. I don't see holiness in the truth in the pattern of his life. And he wants to come ........... No, it's not enough to say I have the authority of the Word of God and the Apostle Paul. He has to have the authority of a godly life, godly conduct. Peter wrote in I Peter 3, since all these things are to be destroyed in this way, what sort of people ought you to be in holy conduct and godliness.

He is to be an example in love. Paul exhorted the Ephesians in Ephesians 5:2, walk in love just as Christ also loved you and gave himself up for us. He told the Corinthians in I Corinthians 16, let all you do be done in love. We're not talking about sentimental, I think he should have been a little softer. No, we're talking about Timothy doing what he does out of a genuine love for these people, it is for their good, for their best. He is not rebuking because he wants to show he's in charge, he's rebuking because he loves them, and so on.

Be an example in faith, somebody who is living his life by faith. He is not only saved by faith, he is walking by faith. His life is lived in dependence upon God. He is committed to Christ, committed to His Word, his life is based upon that. He has an unshakable faith in the truth of God.

In purity. This is a general word for purity, would include sexual purity, but it would include all kinds of moral behavior. Later Paul will write to Timothy in his second letter and he'll say flee from youthful lusts and pursue righteousness, faith, love and peace with those who call on the Lord from a pure heart. That purity of heart is to flow out in purity of life.

In these ways Timothy will be an example of the believer. He continues on in verse 13, until I come give attention to the public reading of scripture, to exhortation and to teaching. Keep your focus on what the ministry is. You know wherever Paul was carrying on a ministry whether it is in Asia Minor, whether it is in Greece, whether it is writing to the church in Rome, whether it's back in Jerusalem, it doesn't matter. The ministry is the same. Timothy, until I come, remember Paul is anticipating coming back to Ephesus. A reminder here, Paul will be returning, but here is what you do until I do return. Give attention to reading of scripture. And the verb here means to put your mind to something, you give attention to the reading of scripture. What he is talking about here is the reading of the Word of God that would take place as God's people gathered together. Everybody didn't have a copy of the Bible like we have. So Timothy had Paul's letter to him. What's he going to do? He'll be reading it to the congregation so they can hear the Word of God that was given through Paul. Other portions of the Old Testament as well as the New Testament as it was being given by the New Testament apostles and prophets would be read. Think what a blessing we have. Think if you just came here and I would sit and read to you Paul's letter to Timothy and maybe give explanations to sections of it but you didn't have the privilege of going home and having a copy. You had to wait until you came back and could sit and hear it given again. Then copies could be made and written down. But what a privilege that we have the Word of God in its entirety in a nice concise form we have today that you can have the whole thing. It's something you can take with you, you probably have multiple copies at home. We have smaller versions than this that you can put in a pocket or purse. We are blessed. These people were responsible to know the Word of God and take it into their lives, how much more accountable would we be before God to have it. So Timothy is to be reading it. The focus is on the Word of God. You give attention to the reading of God's Word so God's people hear God's Word. The public reading of the Word of God.

To exhortation. You read the Word of God, then you encourage and exhort the people to obey the Word of God. You challenge them, the Word of God here is a paraclete, it comes alongside of to accomplish God's work. It's what the Spirit of God uses to accomplish the work of God. It comforts us, it encourages us, it challenges us. You exhort them with the Word, you teach them the Word, you explain it to them so they can understand it more clearly. That goes on, that's Timothy's ministry, you read the Word of God to God's people, you exhort them to respond to it, you explain it to them more clearly so they can obey it. That's the pattern, the process. Down in chapter 6 the end of verse 2, Paul will say to Timothy, teach and preach these things. What is the ministry of the church to focus on? The Word of God, God's truth.

Do not neglect the spiritual gift which is in you, verse 14. and evidently in the context Timothy's gift would have to do with the ministry of the Word, the teaching of the Word, exhorting people with the Word. Do not neglect, don't be careless about this, don't neglect the spiritual gift within you. A word that has been used previously in a little different setting. We are not to be careless about it. The Spirit of God gifts us as God's people, comes and indwells us and gives us a special ability to enable us to function as part of the body of Christ. Remember in I Corinthians when we studied the spiritual gifts every believer contributes something, he has a part to play as part of the body of Christ. It is a terrible, terrible sin to neglect the gift God has given you and not use it. Paul tells Timothy, do not neglect the gift which is in you. You have a responsibility, Timothy, this is something you must do. All these ten commands in these verses are all given in the present tense, these are ongoing responsibilities. I've been gifted by God, I am accountable to God to use that gift. Timothy, don't you neglect that spiritual gift which is in you.

It was bestowed on him at a special time when those with the gift of prophecy in the church spoke, Paul laid his hands on Timothy, the elders laid their hands on Timothy, that gift was communicated in that direct special way in Timothy's case. But as the Word of God has been brought to completion we understand every believer is gifted of God. Every believer has the Spirit of God dwelling within them, because if you don't have the Spirit of Christ within you, you don't belong to Christ. And as He comes He makes us part of the body of Christ, He gifts us to enable to function in a special way as part of that body.

Verse 15, take pains with these things. This word to take pains is the opposite of the word that we just saw, do not neglect. If you don't neglect it you take pains with it, you give attention to it. It's the same word with a negative on the front. Don't neglect the spiritual gifts within you, take pains with these things. You apply yourself to them. There is that word these things, the things I am talking about. He'll mention it again down in verse 16, we saw back in verse 6 he's pointing out these things to the brethren in our previous study. These things I'm talking about you need to be focused on, you need to give great attention to, take pains with them. Verse 15, be in them, has the sense of devoting yourself to something, having a complete commitment to something. This is not something we dabble in, this is what we are, this absorbs our life, this is the prime thing of our lives. You be devoted to them, be in them, be absorbed in them. So that your progress will be evident to all. Timothy is to be a growing believer, he is not a perfect believer, none of us are yet, but he is to be a growing believer. People are to be able to see Timothy and appreciate the fact he is a growing believer. Remember Timothy has spent three years with Paul, basically, and a large part of that as part of Paul's ministry at Ephesus, except for when he had been sent to do other things. But they've had opportunity to observe Timothy at least for some time. They ought to see growth. Now these words here, you'd think Paul is writing to someone that he was more distant from. Here is a man who has been as close to Paul perhaps as anyone and Paul speaks really firmly to him, gives these commands to him. These are things you must do. You might think Timothy would read this and say, is Paul losing confidence in me? Not at all, but these are things that Timothy has to be doing and the growth has to continue, and there is still room for growth. And you keep practicing these things, Timothy, and your progress will be evident to everyone and that will be a testimony that you are a godly man, you are growing. And a good reminder to us, people ought to see growth in us. I've seen them mature, that's a good testimony. So your progress will be evident to all.

Look at verse 16. Pay close attention to yourself. This is not becoming self-focused in the wrong sense, but it means pay attention to your personal growth, to your personal development. We saw back in verse 7 where Timothy was instructed to discipline yourself for the purpose of godliness. Timothy needs to pay attention to he own personal growth and development. There are things that need to be dealt with in the church at Ephesus, corrections that need to be made, maturing that needs to be done. But don't forget about your own personal growth, Timothy, you need to be growing. Pay attention to yourself, to your growth, to your maturing. Make sure you are not slipping while you are ministering to others. Be sure that you are growing and developing as I am instructing you.

Pay attention to your teaching. And really these two areas are what he has been talking about. Pay close attention to your teaching, faithfully teaching the truth to others. But also, Timothy, remember to pay attention to your own personal growth. Those are the things he's talking about, what he's talked about through here. What Timothy is responsible to do would have to do with his own personal growth in many of these areas, but he's also responsible to be sure he is teaching the Word of God correctly, accurately. So those two areas, his own personal development and growth and the ministry that God has entrusted to him.

Pay close attention to yourself and to your teaching, persevere in these things. You have to have staying power. Any number that come on strong and phase out, but you persevere, Timothy. Fifteen-year track record is a good record, but it's not done yet. You persevere, you keep at it, persistence, the determination to finish well. That's what Paul is talking about here.

Paul wrote in Philippians 3, I press on towards the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. Not done. When Paul concludes his second letter to Timothy, he realizes the end of his course is near. But he's still not done, he wants them to bring the books and the parchments. Already talking about ministry. And he's writing a letter here, strong and bold, but he's in prison awaiting his impending execution when he writes II Timothy. But Paul is still persevering, still teaching, still instructing, still rebuking, still warning, goes on. Why? I don't sit and bemoan, my life is about over, I have to get my affairs in order and see what's going to ................. I have a ministry going on, I'm persevering, I'm doing what God called me to do. And I'll do it until the execution takes place, then I'll know I'm done.

Persevere in these things. What are these things? It's the third time in verses 6-16 he's used this word talka, these things we translate it. What I'm talking about here, goes all the way back to the beginning of chapter 4. These are the things we focus on and do and stay with. Why? For as you do this you will ensure salvation both for yourself and for those who hear you. Faithful diligence demonstrates the reality of salvation. Those who don't persevere, remember I John, they went out from us because they weren't really of us, because if they had been of us they would have remained with us. Those who depart from the truth reveal their true character. So, Timothy, by your faithfulness here, you demonstrate your salvation, the reality of it. And the salvation of those who hear. This is necessary for Timothy's salvation. Paul didn't take anything for granted and so what is best for those who hear your ministry, Timothy, that you do these things, that you have a godly life, and you present the Word of God in its purity. How else are people going to get saved, how else are they going to grow in their salvation, how else is the Spirit of God going to work so it becomes clear who the saved are and who is not. The Word of God which is alive and powerful, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even the dividing asunder of our soul and spirit. It's a remarkable Book, it's the Word of God, it's the Word of God that the Spirit uses to bring about that transformation, to bring us into conformity with the glory of Christ Jesus. If anyone ever gets saved, faith comes by hearing and hearing by the Word of Christ. We present God's Word in its purity, we present the message of Christ in clarity. Why? How else will people be saved? Faith comes by hearing, hearing what? Hearing the word concerning Christ. How do we grow? By feeding on the pure, unadulterated milk of the Word.

A strong, serious section. Paul is writing to his dear beloved Timothy. These are serious matters. And he writes a strong letter giving him commands. This is what you must do, this is what you must continue to do, Timothy. All these present imperatives, all ten of them in verses 11-16. Present tense. You must continue on in these things, Timothy. Isn't it nice that we know what we're supposed to do? We're supposed to do what we've been doing. Well how long, how will I know when I can ease off. When you open your eyes and you are in glory. You say, oh, I've finished my work on earth. Until then we keep at it and we keep at it. And that's our privilege. Not only our privilege, it's our responsibility.

Let's pray together. Thank you, Lord, for your great blessings. Thank you for the Apostle Paul, a faithful servant. Thank you for Timothy, a young man, Lord, who was privileged to begin his ministry with the Apostle Paul while yet in his teenage years. A man who grew and matured and was faithful and became a faithful servant of Jesus Christ, mightily used of you. We benefit from his ministry even in our study of your Word. Lord, we would follow in the line of these faithful men, we would be servants who have been obedient to the Word, who have placed our faith in your Son, the only Savior. Lord, we would walk in obedience to your Word. Thank you for the many faithful servants in our own local church, whose lives are an example for us to follow. Lord, may we be an encouragement to one another and indeed we are examples of godliness. May we be faithful in the ministry of your truth. Thank you for blessing us in ministry together, thank you for entrusting us with the ministry of your church, your household in these days. Now bless our fellowship, we're privileged to enjoy one another's company and believers, to relax together, to be encouraged and blessed as your people in our fellowship together. Thank you for this day. In Christ's name, amen.