Commands For a Faithful Servant

Transcript

GR1769
6/1/2014
Commands to a Faithful Servant
I Timothy 4:11, 12
Gil Rugh

I Timothy in your Bibles, I Timothy chapter 4. As you are aware Timothy is a special person in Paul’s life and ministry. What a blessing he had to be to the Apostle Paul in a ministry that Paul had to carry out which was difficult, often involved conflict even those he had led to the Lord sometimes turned against him but Timothy was faithful and was a companion of Paul to the end of Paul’s life. Paul sees the necessity of Timothy carrying on the ministry. He had been equipping and training Timothy to do the ministry and Timothy is in a difficult situation now. He is at Ephesus and here is a man that Paul trusted so much, had such confidence in his godly character and his commitment to the truth that he could send him into a situation that required the most trusted person. Paul couldn’t be there himself yet this church that he established that he loved is in danger of being led astray into false doctrine.

Chapter 4 opened up indicating some of the serious of the situation. “The Spirit explicitly says in the latter times some will fall away from the truth,” (from the faith, the truth in Christ) paying attention to deceitful spirits and doctrines of demons.” And we noted an indication here some will fall away. These are people who have been attracted to the truth but are now in danger of falling for the deceit of the teachings of demons. And we shouldn’t think of that as some of the radical kinds of ministries that go on. This has gotten ahold of the church that Paul ministered to, that Paul established, that Paul taught sound doctrine to. These people are getting confused by doctrines that come from demons but as we talked about with this they come from demons through individuals who are appealing, great personalities, good communicators and these people are in danger of losing their focus on the truth.

He told Timothy at least five things when you come down to verse 6 in these verses that lead in to where we are. He must expose false teachings in the beginning of verse 6: “In pointing out these things to the brethren you will be a good servant of Christ Jesus.” The things he talked about in the first five verses, the doctrine of demons. Things are presented in a way that seem to have validity but they are not true so he must expose false teaching.
Secondly, he must be nourished on the truth. He would be constantly nourished on the words of the faith of sound doctrine. He must keep strong himself; keep nourished in the truth and sound teaching, good teaching.

Thirdly, he must reject false teaching. Not only expose it but reject it, stand against it, have nothing to do with worldly fables. Personally have your feet planted in rejecting false teaching. It is noted. Sometimes a distinction is made between evangelicals and fundamentalists. Evangelicals are for promoting the truth. Fundamentalists are for promoting the truth and opposing error. I think what Timothy is to do here, reject error, have nothing to do with it. He must exercise self-discipline, the end of verse 7: “Discipline yourself for the purpose of godliness.” And godliness is profitable into eternity and he must work hard, verse 10: “It is for this we labor and strive.” Words denoting toil to exhaustion. He’s got to constantly persevere on, agonize on.

Now in verse 11 – 16 he’s going to give a string of 10 commands given in the present tense. We refer to them as present, imperatives. You can see it is a short section, verse 11 – 16 but there are 10 commands in there. We are not going to cover them all this evening but over the next couple of studies we will and he sets forth what is summarized in verse 16: “What are the characteristics of one who would be a good servant of Jesus Christ, guaranteeing salvation for himself and for those who listen to him;” so the seriousness of his responsibility. When you do those commands in the present tense they must be the things that continually characterize you. These are true of you in an ongoing way.

Verse 11 picks up with two of these commands and it connects to what he has been talking about, “prescribe and teach these things.” Come back to verse 6. “In pointing out these things to the brethren you will be a good servant of Christ Jesus, nourished on the words of the faith and sound doctrine.” He is to prescribe and teach these things. So the first command is he has to be authoritative, prescribe. It’s the word to give commands, to instruct authoritatively. Always this word has included in it the idea of commanding something, of giving orders, requiring something. It is the same verb that was used three times back in chapter 1. Come back to chapter 1, verse 3. He left Timothy at Ephesus that he might instruct. That’s the word command as we noted when we went through this, the same word we are talking about over in chapter 4: “That you may command certain men not to teach strange doctrines.”

Verse 5 it is used again: “The goal of our instruction” and you have in the margin this time, literally commandment. It would have been helpful if they had put that with the first one in verse 3 as well. The goal of our command (our commandment) and then down in verse 18: “this command.” Now they translate it command but it is all the same basic word that we are talking about; to give a command, parangello, to authoritatively require something.

Now over in chapter 4, the verse we are looking at, verse 11: “Prescribe these things.” Command them. Timothy, you can’t be intimidated. You have to exercise the authority. Timothy as we are going to see if a younger man and some want to disregard his teaching. His authority comes from the message that’s been entrusted to him.
Over in the 2nd letter of Paul to Timothy, chapter 1, verse 7 Paul says to Timothy, “God has not given us a fear of timidity but of power and of love and discipline.” That self-discipline, we talk about, power. Not a spirit of timidity. Not that softness that gives the idea this teaching is yours to do with as you please. No this is something you have to do. This is required of the church of Jesus Christ at Ephesus. This is required of those who would be in positions of responsibility in the ministry at Ephesus, anybody who is teaching. This is not an option. This is a requirement. You command these things and the authority comes from what? This is God’s truth. So it’s not that Timothy is a superior person but he is in a position of authority because of what has been entrusted to him. He not only commands these things. He teaches them. He instructs and explains them to people. He’s communicating the truth that they must obey. So he is giving commands here of what can be taught and of what can’t be taught and he is explaining the truth so they understand why. You have to explain the situation, the seriousness.

You know the church today gets infiltrated by doctrines that come from demons and sometimes well, you know, we don’t want to be too closed. We want to be open minded. You know, maybe it’s not just this way or this way. Timothy, you don’t allow those kinds of options. You command that this is what must be taught and you explain and instruct them in the truth so they know it and understand its importance and why it must be done.

So there are two commands here in verse 11. You command something and you teach it, two imperatives. This is what you will constantly be doing. This is not going to be a passing situation. This is to characterize your ministry. You be commanding these things because God’s truth doesn’t change and you be continually teaching them. They go together, the two separate commands.

Third command: you be confident. This is the one I referred to. “Let no one look down on your youthfulness.” Youthfulness refers to being younger. What is younger? Well, younger than those who looked down on him, probably. The word here would refer to anyone under the age of 40. Then I can understand that. We’ve got some kids here that are only 35. The older you get you know it’s true but in the Scripture when they talk about youthfulness you are talking about somebody under 40 years of age. Now this letter was written oh, early 60’s, 62 to 64 A.D. Paul selected Timothy to be his traveling companion back around 49 A. D. So somewhere close to 15 years Timothy has been joined with Paul in his ministries in a variety of ways so he is probably getting close to 35 years old, 30 to 35, somewhere in there. He was 20 when he joined Paul. He is getting close to 35 now. So early to mid-30’s we would say he is. “You must not let anyone look down on your youthfulness.” That word ‘to look down on,’ means to look down on, despise, scorn, treat with contempt. We looked over in II Timothy 1:7. “God has not given us a spirit of timidity;” and often difficult for older people to accept the ministry of younger people especially when Timothy has to command them regarding certain conduct and certain teaching. You know, some of these older people in the church could say, “who does he think he is?” “I am much older than him.” It’s not a question of the age in years. It is a question of truth in doctrine. So you must not let anyone look down on your youthfulness. You must be confident. You are not going to let that argument sway you or intimidate you. You say, “well, I am just not in a position to speak that way.” You always must be respectful. Be confident but don’t be cocky. Be confident but don’t be arrogant but your being younger doesn’t mean they are allowed to infiltrate the church with contrary teaching. Don’t let anyone look down on you with contempt. This is a constant difficulty.

Come over to I Corinthians. Timothy had to face this at Corinth as well. Paul was going to have Timothy come to Corinth. So in I Corinthians chapter 16, verse 10: “Now if Timothy comes see that he is with you without cause to be afraid (without fear) for he is doing the Lord’s work as I also am. So let no one despise him. Send him on his way in peace that he may come to me. I expect him with the brethren.” You see here at the church in Corinth Paul realizes Timothy being younger, older ones can always put the pressure on and try to intimidate them. Timothy, don’t you be intimidated and then he tells the church at Corinth and don’t you try to intimidate him either.

You know, sometimes when we drift from the truth and we are being corrected we are looking for reasons not to have to accept the correction and one of these reasons these who are following the error of the false teachers would have for Timothy, Timothy is younger. A young man like him shouldn’t be trying to give us commands and instruction. That’s not a valid argument. Timothy is coming teaching the truth, commanding that the truth be proclaimed and any error be stopped. And he can be a young person. We need to remember that when we get older as a congregation and more of us are older, above 40.

You know, it’s a great blessing to have older saints, tried and true, grounded in the Word and faithful and part of the ministry that we have, the older we get is to encourage the younger people in their ministries and appreciate their ministries and encourage them and to be open if they have to point out things to us that perhaps we are not being consistent and being faithful. So he is to be confident, find balance. Sometimes confidence is viewed by people as arrogance or conceit. That’s why we have to look and say are they being faithful to the Word then there must be a boldness there. He is to be an example.

Back in I Timothy chapter 4: “Let no one look down on your youthfulness but in speech, conduct, love, faith and purity show yourself an example of those who believe.” And there is the command, show yourself an example and then it gives examples of what he is to be doing. Show yourself an example. In other words, people are to see in Timothy what a faithful believer looks like and then he gave a list here that will help put in into perspective. So part of the antidote for dealing with those who look down on youthfulness is you be a manifestation and an example of maturity and godliness in a young man’s life. So it’s not enough to say, “Well Paul send me and I have the truth.” Your life must exemplify the truth. It must be an example of the truth. It must be supported by a life that demonstrates the Word of God is lived by him and his life supports what he teaches, godly character.

Look over in Philippians chapter 3, Philippians chapter 3 Paul writes in verse 17: “Brethren, join in following my example.” You know, this is a strong statement, join in following my example. Pattern your life after me. That’s what we ought to be able to say as godly, mature believers. Our lives ought to be a pattern of godliness, right? You know we used to hear, I haven’t heard it recently, but years ago, oh, don’t look at me, look at Jesus. Don’t put your eyes on me, put your eyes on Christ. What does that mean? Can I say that Christ lives in me and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith of the Son of God who loves me and gave Himself for me? Aren’t we as godly believers to be an example to those coming after us? So Paul has no problem. “Join in following my example (but not just his) and observe those who walk according to the pattern you have in us.” That’s what he is saying. Look for people who also manifest godliness in their life and they should be a pattern for you. That is part of the ministry that we have to one another. We encourage one another by what, by setting a pattern of godliness. That’s what a godly man, a godly woman looks like. That’s how they conduct themselves. That’s how they behave as he is going to go on here in a moment.

Over in I Peter going toward the other way in your Bibles. I Peter chapter 5. That doesn’t mean that anyone is perfect but we are striving for godliness and godliness ought to be our character and Timothy even as a younger man is to be manifesting that kinds of example and pattern. I Peter chapter 5, verse 3: “Concerning the elders and leaders in the church, they are not to be lording it over those allotted to your charge but proving to be an example to the flock.” Exemplify godliness, that’s what we are to do as elders, as mature people, as older saints. What better testimony to the generation coming up behind us older ones, the children, the grandchildren, than to look at and say I want to pattern my life after them. They conduct themselves as I would expect a godly person to conduct themselves. They treat me as I would expect to be treated by a godly person, the humility, the encouragement, the faithfulness, the truth. They have demonstrated it over the years. What an example to follow. That’s what it says. That’s what he is telling them.

So come back to I Timothy. He is going to give five areas where Timothy is to be an example. Paul doesn’t leave many things out. So he commands him, you be an example. Show yourself an example. This is to be an ongoing thing, an example of those who believe, and how the Word of God has changed your life.

Five areas he is to be an example in: In speech, verse 12, he starts out with these and then gives the command at the end of them, in speech, conduct, love, faith, and purity. Show yourself an example. We can turn around and say, “Show yourself an example first in speech.” The initial thing, how we talk, what we talk about. You know Jesus said in Matthew 12, “It’s out of the heart the mouth speaks.” And we reveal something of our character in our words.

Come back to Ephesians, what Paul is going to write to the Ephesians in the letter to them. Ephesians chapter 4 and chapter 4 opened up building on the doctrinal foundation he laid in the first three chapter. “Therefore, I the prisoner of the Lord implore you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling with which you have been called.” I mean we have been called with the high calling of God in Christ Jesus to be holy as He is holy and so on.

Come down, for time, to verse 25. “Therefore laying aside falsehood speak truth each one of you with his neighbor.” Come down to verse 29. “Let no unwholesome word (you have it in the margin, rotten word, unprofitable word) proceed from your mouth but only such a word that is good for edification according to the need of the moment so that we will give grace to those who hear.” Verse 31: “Bitterness, wrath, clamor, slander” has to be put away.

You know we have to be careful as older people how we talk about other people. What do our kids hear us talk about in our family, how we run down other people, the things we say behind their back when we question and challenge their motives, when we tell them, “Only God can judge motives.” Paul said, “I can’t even accurately discern my own motives, God will do that.” Well, I don’t think they were genuine in what they did. I think they were doing it for glory in themselves. What are we exemplifying for them? We have to be careful with our tongues, in our homes for our kids. How do we exemplify godly speech? How do we talk to one another? Husband and wife talk to one another. Our speech ought to characterize us. How are we at work, wherever we are? In speech, Timothy, they ought to see in you a maturity; a godliness. There is nothing to be criticized. He is not two-faced. He doesn’t slander and so on.

Come back to I Timothy; “In speech, in conduct.” Christ changes a life from the inside out. “If any man be in Christ he is a new creature,” (a new creation.) “Old things have passed away. New things have come.” We put off the old man, put on the new. We could have picked that up in Ephesians chapter 4. We have transformed conduct. We are to be renewed in the spirit of our mind so that we put on the new man. We have died with Christ. We have been raised with Christ to newness of life so we conduct ourselves differently. We behave differently. We are not what we used to be. We are not what the non-redeemed are. We’ve been changed. We now partake of the divine nature. The children of God are obvious by this, I John 3 says: “By this the children of God and the children of the devil are obvious.” Those who practice righteousness they belong to God. Those who don’t, don’t belong to Him. So in your conduct, your way of life we live differently.

I mentioned Ephesians 4. Come back there. This word, it is used in Ephesians and my just referencing it you may not quite get it. Ephesians chapter 4, let’s look at verse 22, just prior to what we read earlier. “In reference to your former manner of life you lay aside the old man.” This same basic word we are talking about, in conduct, in the conduct of your former life. What? You lay aside the old man that is corrupt with the lust of deceit and you be renewed in the new man. That is what he is talking about, the change in conduct, the change in behavior. Timothy, you exemplify this. You manifest this.

I Peter chapter 3, come back to I Peter. We seem to be going from Ephesians to Peter. I Peter chapter 3 the word is used again, verse 11: “Since all these things are to be destroyed in this way what sort of people ought you to be in holy conduct?” There’s our word, conduct, holy conduct and godliness. That’s the transformed life. We know this world is passing and doomed to destruction and we are living in light of what God has promised for the future of believers. We are living as the ungodly live with this passing world as their life and their hope. We are to walk in love first as Christ loves us and gave Himself for us.

So come back to Timothy. After conduct is love. We walk in love, that is Ephesians 5:2. We are not going to go there. It is a defining characteristic of believers. Timothy, you have to manifest these things; your words, your speech, your behavior, your love for the brethren. “If anyone says I love God and hates his brother he is a liar. The one who does not love his brother whom he has seen cannot love God whom he has not seen. This commandment we have from Him that the one who loves God should love his brother also.” That’s I John chapter 4, verses 20 and 21.

God put us together as a family of believers in this place and He gives us opportunity to love each other and it’s like a family; that’s the analogy. There are adjustments. We have to learn to love one another and some are more difficult and actually we find it easier to be with some than others but we love each other and we would sacrifice what is necessary for the good of other believers, not just here but primarily it’s manifested right here. It’s easier for me to talk about loving believers in China or someplace but I have to live out that love with you and you with me and we with one another. Let all you do be done in love, Paul writes that to the Corinthians. For all their trouble Paul reminds them let all you do be done in love, I Corinthians chapter 16, verse 14.

Timothy, you be an example, you exemplify God’s love for these people. So even in dealing with the crisis in the church at Ephesus you’ve got to manifest love. It doesn’t mean he overlooks what has to be dealt with but true love means he will deal with it Biblically.

Back in I Timothy, we have left that. In faith, he is to grow in his trust in the Lord. He is showing that he is a man whose confidence and trust is in the Lord. He’s not only saved by faith he lives by faith. I am confident in the God that I placed my faith in. It’s like we studied in Hebrews that saving faith is ongoing faith. Saving faith doesn’t quit. I entered into this relationship with God by His grace through faith in the finished work of Christ and now I live every day of my life with my faith in Him, trusting Him. So Timothy, you be an example of a life lived by faith and dependence upon the God who saved you.

In purity and this is a broad word for purity, moral behavior. This would include sexual purity but it would go beyond this. Turn over to II Timothy chapter 2, verse 22: “Now flee from youthful lusts. Pursue righteousness, faith, love, peace with those who call on the Lord from a pure heart.” So any youthful lust, purity is to be the characteristic of your life in all areas and you exemplify it. So here what the church in Ephesus is to have on sight. They have had Paul who had ministered to them and with them but Paul is not there. Now he has someone there to stand for the truth lead them in the commitment to the truth and in the opposition to error, one who will be a pattern for them to follow. Again, not in the wrong sense for his glory but what would you expect? You send an ungodly man to accomplish his task? No, you are to be a godly person. You are to exemplify godliness.

We ought to be able to tell our children “Follow the pattern you have seen in us, in me, as you have seen in our home. We haven’t been perfect but we have tried to set a pattern, an example of godliness.” I think that is more important than what we teach in our homes. I am not saying we shouldn’t teach the Scripture in your home but really what is being conveyed in the home is an example of what they are being taught in their Bible studies, in church, in Sunday School and in the other classes that go on and maybe what you teach. But the primary thing is they look and see is this real? Is this real in my Dad’s life? Is this real in my mother’s life? Is it real in the life of the adults in this congregation that I am looking to? You know that’s why it’s important to be a part of a body, isn’t it? So, we set an example and purity is a key part of that. “You flee from youthful lusts,” the things that would maar your testimony of purity.

Come back to I Timothy. “Be an example.” It is a high standard but what would God call us to, a low standard? That’s always been the standard, right? “You shall be holy for I am holy.” That is what God told His people, Israel in the Old Testament that is what He reiterated to His people through the Apostle Peter through his letter. “You shall be holy for I am holy.” That’s what you expect. We are children of the living God; would we not manifest His character we who are partakers of the divine nature? Should we not be setting down a pattern to be followed? How important the truth is to us. We love the truth. It is a precious truth. It is so important to be faithful to God’s Word but if we are not living lives that manifest the power of God in conforming us to this truth we undermine the truth so Timothy you have to be an example.

Let’s turn to one more passage, Titus. So you go past I and II Timothy and you are in Titus. Another one of Paul’s younger companions and he has been sent to Crete to minister and solidify the churches there and he tells him in Titus chapter 2, verse 7. He started out chapter 2, verse 1: “Speak the things which are fitting for sound doctrine.” That’s similar to what he is telling Timothy. But not only speak these things but come down to verse 7: “In all things show yourself to be an example of good deeds with purity in doctrine, dignified, sound in speech which is beyond reproach.” You know speech is often mentioned. You know James elaborates on this. We don’t want to get control of our tongue. How awful we say things that shouldn’t be said. We cross the line. That’s gossip. Those are things that should not be said. “Sound in speech which is beyond reproach so that the opponent will be put to shame having nothing bad to say about us.” You see it is a high standard that Paul holds. Not just for himself but for others and it is just as important for Timothy and Titus who will be leaders. This example is set, why? Because this is what God requires of His people. You are an example so you are to be a pattern as they are instructed and taught in the truth. “As error is opposed and refuted.” We see what a life looks like that is committed to the Lord. Don’t we do that? We look at Paul when we read about his life since we have more details of that even of these other men. Listen, what a pattern set down.

Of course, I would trust that at Indian Hills some of us who have been believers for many years, our lives would be patterns that would be followed, wouldn’t it? The most important we are doing in connection with the teaching of the truth then is modeling it. We sing the song sometimes, “Oh may those who come behind us find us faithful;” the coming generation following in our footsteps, trying to pattern their lives after us. I’ve seen a picture of how a godly person talks, of the way they behave themselves and conduct themselves, of the purity of life that they maintain. They grow in their trust in the Lord. I have learned from just seeing their example how to trust the Lord in difficulty, in pressure situations. Yes, our faith is in the Lord and we trust Him. Be an example.

So these first four commands: Be authoritative, you command. It has no room for error to be taught or tolerated. You instruct. You build them in their understanding of God’s truths so they see how important it is. They understand it and they too join in in opposing error. Be confident. Again, make a difference between confidence and arrogance. You’re confident because this is the truth and I live under the authority of the truth and the church must live under the authority of the truth, and you be an example. This is different than saying be perfect and oh, I live a sinless life but recognize, I use our children as an example, they know we are not perfect. They see but they know the difference between a godly life being exemplified in the way we talk and what we talk about, the words that come out of our mouth and how we behave, what is important to us, the priorities of our lives and the love we demonstrate to other believers, our comment to them, our trust in the Lord and purity. High standards but you know the exciting thing? God sets this down for us as His children, provides the enabling power for us to meet the standard. What an exciting thing. God expects and requires and has provided for me to live in a clear and demonstrable way that I am a child of the living God. Not only by my testimony of my words but by the life that I live and that’s an example for those who come behind us.

Let’s pray together. Thank You Lord for Your Word. Thank You for Timothy. Lord, these were intimidating situations in which You placed him. Difficult to come as a younger person and has to set things right and Lord You have recorded these matters for us. Lord we rejoice that we can be called sons of the living God. We rejoice that You have made provision for us to live godly lives, to be conformed to Your character, to have Your Spirit work in our lives so that our speech, our behavior, our love, our faith, our purity, all of life is a reflection of the power of life changing salvation. May that be true of us as a congregation of believers. May it be true of us personally as we go to live for You in our homes, in our places of work, and all the contacts that we have in the week before us we pray in Christ’s name, amen.