Good morning, everyone. Before we begin our study I would like to pray. Heavenly Father thank you for today, thank you for those who are here in the room and for those who will hear this message. Father your word is alive and active, and it is only by the power of the Holy Spirit that we understand your Word. Holy Spirit as your scripture goes forth and accomplishes Your will may You be glorified and may You work in the hearts of the hearers bringing You glory and honor, amen.

The Apostle Paul did not have a biological son, but he did have sons in the faith we are told of three Timothy, Titus, and Onesimus. In 1 Timothy 1:2 Paul refers to Timothy as “…my true child in the faith.” The Greek word for child is teknon and in the New Testament disciples were called children by their teachers because teachers would nourish their minds as a parent would nourish their child. Paul writes to Timothy as a father would write to his son. This letter is both practical and deeply personal. We see the closeness of their relationship. Paul and Timothy have a history together and Paul knows his spiritual gifts, his struggles, and his fears. He understands the challenges that Timothy will face in Ephesus. Paul knows that Timothy is in a spiritual battle. He knows this battle is not fought with weapons made by men, by tactics drawn up in a war room. No Paul knows that the only way Timothy can fight the battle is the Spirit, his knowledge of the word, and his reliance on Jesus Christ. 

To understand how Paul sees the role of the father and the relationship between a father and son, we need to first look at 1 Thessalonians 2:11-12 

“You are witnesses, and so is God, how devoutly and uprightly and blamelessly we behaved toward you believers: just as you know how we were exhorting and encouraging and imploring each one of you as a father would his own children, so that you would walk in a manner worthy of the God who calls you into His own kingdom and glory.”

Here is how Paul sees the role of the father as it relates to his children:

A Father Sets the Example – he publicly demonstrates himself as an example. He is a pattern for others to follow, a man worthy of imitation.

A Father Exhorts – he walks besides his children and spends time with his children, he comforts and instructs them.

A Father is Encouraging – he consoles his children with the goal of making them want to do better. 

A Father Charges - he testifies to his children and shares his own experiences helping them see beyond the present and what lies ahead.

Today we will see Paul as Timothy’s spiritual father live out 1 Thessalonians 2:11-12.

Last week Don covered the end of chapter 3 and chapter 4 verses 1-5, where Paul tells Timothy that in later times there will be hypocrisy. There will be those who fall away from the faith and instead pay attention to deceitful spirits and doctrines of demons. 

He stresses the dire situation in that day, and he says this in chapter 3:14-15 

I am writing these things to you, hoping to come to you before long; 15 but in case I am delayed, I write so that you will know how one ought to conduct himself in the household of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and support of the truth. 

Paul is in prison and handcuffed 24 hours a day to a Roman prison guard and he tells Timothy in case I am delayed you need to know certain things. Today we will study those things. Today’s message is titled “The Priorities of a Useful Servant” and in the verses we study today the Apostle Paul will instruct Timothy on what the priorities of a young pastor should be. Paul will encourage Timothy to find his nourishment in the Word of God and the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Paul will exhort Timothy on how he is to use his time and what he needs to avoid. Paul will tell him what his goal in life is and where he is to dedicate his energy. Paul will command Timothy to be an example for others to follow and he will charge Timothy to persevere to ensure his salvation and the salvation for those who hear.

We begin in I Timothy 4:6 Paul writes: 

“In pointing out these things to the brethren, you will be a good servant of Christ Jesus, constantly nourished on the words of the faith and of the sound doctrine which you have been following.”

Fill this in for number one: The Gospel is Your Priority (V6-7)

Paul instructs Timothy and tells him “in pointing out these things to the brethren, you will be a good servant” the Greek word for servant is diakonos and the majority of the time this is used in the New Testament it is used for minister. So, for you to be a good or excellent minister of Jesus Christ, one who executes the commands of Jesus Christ, if you’re going to be an excellent minister for the church in Ephesus you need to have your priorities in order. 

Paul loves to use analogies and he is going to use the analogy of physical training. Today we would say working out. But Timothy’s training is not physically it is spiritually and in verse six Paul uses the Greek word entrepho which means to nourish and specifically to nourish the mind or educate. It does not pertain to the body and the word tense is present meaning this nourishing of the mind is ongoing, it does not stop. Timothy is to be constantly nourishing his mind. To play out the analogy more, what are the spiritual weights that Timothy is to use? There are two of them, The words of faith and sound doctrine. These are his spiritual weights. They will sustain Timothy and help him grow stronger. Let us look at both. What are these words of faith? First, as it relates to God, the convictions that God exists and is the creator and ruler of all things, the provider and bestower of eternal salvation through Christ. Then as it relates to Christ the conviction that Jesus is the Messiah, through whom we obtain eternal salvation in the kingdom of God. 

Next, we have Sound Doctrine or good teaching or instruction. Timothy is to focus on sound doctrine, which he has known from the beginning. This sound doctrine is nourishing him and giving him everything he needs to be a good servant of Jesus Christ. We know that Timothy had good teaching. He was a disciple of Paul and no doubt Paul spent time with Timothy training him on sound doctrine. These words were not new to Timothy, and this wasn’t the first time Timothy had heard them and we know that he was following this Sound Doctrine because Paul finishes the verse by writing. “which you have been following” 

Why does Paul start with Words of Faith and Sound Doctrine? Please hear me. I believe the reason he does is that Paul knows the battle that Timothy is in. He knew it better than most and Paul had been on both sides. Paul wrote of this in chapter 1:13 “even though I was formerly a blasphemer and a persecutor and a violent aggressor. Yet I was shown mercy because I acted in unbelief”. 

Notice the words Paul uses persecutor, blasphemer, violent aggressor. These are words of aggression, of a battle. Paul knew this spiritual battle, he lived this battle. In this battle there would be persecution, there would be false teachers, and there would be temptations. All of those are tactics that Satan uses against the church. Satan also uses them against believers that are fighting the good fight. In this battle Paul mentions a temptation and temptations can come in many forms. 

In 1 John 2:15-16 we read:

Do not love the world nor the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. 16 For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh and the lust of the eyes and the boastful pride of life, is not from the Father, but is from the world. 

We are familiar with lust of the flesh, lust of the eyes and the boastful pride of life but there are other temptations Satan uses and one that Timothy would face and is a distraction. 

Paul had previously mentioned distractions early in his letter in 1 Timothy 1:4 

“nor to pay attention to myths and endless genealogies, which give rise to mere speculation rather than furthering the administration of God which is by faith” 

Here in our passage in v.7 Paul instructs Timothy that there will be other distractions.

“But have nothing to do with worldly fables fit only for old women.”

Paul is telling Timothy your priority is not to search worldly fables or common and ungodly falsehood. Timothy these are temptations to distract you. Do not nourish your mind on these false things, don’t spend your time on things that are false. 

Now I need to stop here and share something that happened to me as I was doing my research for this sermon. How easy it was for me to fall into the trap Paul was telling Timothy to watch out for. As I read this verse repeatedly, specifically V.7 the question that keeps coming into my mind was “What are these worldly fables?” The more I looked and the more I searched the stronger this desire grew. I needed to know these fables to understand this passage. After all, I'm going to go before my church and preach for the first time and they will be expecting me to share this information. I must know these fables. But hold on a second. Isn’t that the point Paul is making to Timothy? Paul did not instruct Timothy to prioritize his time by studying false things. No Paul told Timothy the exact opposite. His priority is not these fables. Instead, Paul encourages Timothy to discipline himself on the truth. 

Paul continues the spiritual training analogy. To discipline yourself is to exercise vigorously either the body or the mind, for the purposes of godliness. Timothy you must exercise your mind towards godliness to prioritize on sound doctrine, which you know from the beginning, which is nourishing you. Giving you all that you need in order for you to be a good servant of Jesus Christ.

Fill this in for point number two: Spend Your Time on the Eternal not the Temporal (V8-10)

for bodily discipline is only of little profit, but godliness is profitable for all things, since it holds promise for the present life and also for the life to come. It is a trustworthy statement deserving full acceptance. For it is for this we labor and strive, because we have fixed our hope on the living God, who is the Savior of all men, especially of believers.

Paul instructs Timothy on where to invest his energy and it is not in his physical exercise. Physical exercise is of little profit or little reward. Timothy’s energy should be in godliness which benefits this life and for the life to come. The Greek word for life Zoe - means the absolute fullness of life. Do not spend your time on the temporal. Spend your time on the eternal. Paul is not telling Timothy to neglect his body and remember the teachings of the Nicolaitans they taught that you could do whatever you wanted with your body. I am a businessman and when I read this, I see ROI. Do you know ROI. My boss and especially his boss talk about ROI all the time. We have meetings about ROI. ROI is so important that they have ROI strategies and ROI metrics to see if those ROI strategies are working. ROI stands for Return on Investment and what my boss and his boss want to know is “Why did you spend your time doing this when you should be spending your time doing this? Which action has the highest Return on Investment?” Paul does not use the word ROI he uses the word profit or profitable when he speaks of Timothy and his use of time. Paul Exhorts Timothy to spend his time of godliness due to the profitability and its eternal rewards. Paul says this is a trustworthy statement, the hard work or labor and striving is done for a reason. Believers have fixed their hope or have or their trust in their salvation with joy and full confidence. Our trust is not in ourselves but in the living God. Our God who spoke the universe into existence. Our God who controls all things. Know this, his Son Jesus Christ the risen savior, He is coming back. 

Our hope is set on eternity, we read about that future home in Revelations 20:1-4

Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth; for the first heaven and the first earth passed away, and there is no longer any sea. And I saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, made ready as a bride adorned for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from the throne, saying, “Behold, the tabernacle of God is among men, and He will dwell among them, and they shall be His people, and God Himself will be among them, and He will wipe away every tear from their eyes; and there will no longer be any death; there will no longer be any mourning, or crying, or pain; the first things have passed away.” 

Timothy, spend your time on the Eternal not the Temporal!

Fill this in for point number three: Age Does not Define You (V11-14)

Prescribe and teach these things. Let no one look down on your youthfulness, but rather in speech, conduct, love, faith and purity, show yourself an example of those who believe. Until I come, give attention to the public reading of Scripture, to exhortation and teaching. Do not neglect the spiritual gift within you, which was bestowed on you through prophetic utterance with the laying on of hands by the presbytery.

We do not know Timothy’s age just that he is younger and the Greek word for younger does not give you a specific age or even an age range. We know that Timothy was younger than Paul, and more than likely younger than the elders of the church. To put context around how youthfulness was viewed during the time of this Epistle. In Ephesus there were Hellenistic Jews, those who spoke Greek, there were Greeks, and lastly there were Romans. The Romans valued power, the Greeks valued knowledge and the Jews valued wisdom. Three distinct values with one common similarity. Power, knowledge, and wisdom are not associated with youth. In addition, it was Paul who brought the Gospel to Ephesus and also pastored the Church in Ephesus for three years. Paul was older than Timothy and more than likely the elders of the church were older than Timothy. In verses eleven through fourteen Paul encourages Timothy that it is not his age that defines him. It is the power of the Holy Spirit and the fruit of the Spirit that defines him. Paul knows the culture, the church, and the individuals that make up the body in Ephesus. How can a younger man teach others not to look down on him or to despise youthfulness?

Psalm 119 talks about this very subject.

Psalm 119:9-16 “ How can a young man keep his way pure? By keeping it according to Your word. With all my heart I have sought You; Do not let me wander from Your commandments. Your word I have treasured in my heart, That I may not sin against You. Blessed are You, O Lord; Teach me Your statutes. With my lips I have told of All the ordinances of Your mouth. I have rejoiced in the way of Your testimonies, As much as all riches. I will meditate on Your precepts And regard Your ways. I shall delight in Your statutes; I shall not forget Your word.” 

In encouraging Timothy, Paul lists several ways that Timothy can overcome his youthfulness and it begins with his speech:

Speech – the words that he uses, all that he says in public and private. 

Paul says this in Colossians 4:6 

“Let your speech always be with grace, as though seasoned with salt, so that you will know how you should respond to each person.”

Conduct – his manner of life or his behavior. 

In Proverbs 20:11 we read.

“It is by his deeds that a lad distinguishes himself. If his conduct is pure and right.”

Love – this is Agape love – sacrificial, good will, charity, benevolence. Jesus said this in John 13:35

“By this all men will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.”

Faith – we spoke of this earlier. It is the conviction that God exists and is the creator and ruler of all things, the provider and bestower of eternal salvation through Christ. That Jesus is the Messiah, through whom we obtain eternal salvation in the kingdom of God.

Purity – he is to lead a clean life especially regarding chastity. 

Chastity is not a word we hear often. It makes me think of two things. In the Tabernacle & the Temple you had items that were set apart and their only use was in service to God. 

Then in 1 Corinthians 6:19 Paul writes. 

“Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your bodies.” 

In this way Timothy is to “show himself an example of those who believe” or publicly demonstrate himself as an example. He must become a pattern for others to follow, a man worthy of imitation. 

Paul is encouraging Timothy just as Paul encouraged the Philippian church in Philippians 3:17.

“Brethren, join in following my example, and observe those who walk according to the pattern you have in us.“ 

Church as we listen to Paul instruct Timothy through the Holy Spirit this applies to us. We are to be examples, a pattern for others to follow. In Matthew 5:16 Jesus says.

“Let your light shine before men in such a way that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in Heaven.” 

Our example has a purpose, and that purpose is to bring God glory. Do others see that example in you? In me? We are only here for a fleeting period of time, and we live in a dark world. Let your light shine for all to see for the glory of God, amen? 

In Verses 13-14 Paul instructs Timothy

Until I come, give attention to the public reading of Scripture, to exhortation and teaching. Do not neglect the spiritual gift within you, which was bestowed on you through prophetic utterance with the laying on of hands by the presbytery. 

Paul lists three ministry priorities for Timothy. The public reading of the Scripture, to exhortation, and teaching. 

Paul begins with the public reading of the scripture. How many pastors today begin by publicly reading the scripture? It is sad that they have turned to the tricks and theatrics in an attempt to make themselves relevant in order to gain congregants. In doing so they give up the only true power they have. 

The power of the word of God to transform lives and save sinners. Hebrews 4:12

For the word of God is living and active and sharper than any two-edged sword, and piercing as far as the division of the soul and spirit, of both joints and marrow, and able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart.” 

Paul tells Timothy to give attention to reading the scripture aloud in front of the church. This is your first priority as the minister to the church in Ephesus. The Greek word for attention can be defined as to be given to or addicted to. Paul commands Timothy to be addicted to the public reading of the Scripture. Today we need pastors that are addicted to the public reading of the word, amen.

The pastor is to have a persuasive discourse or stirring address. He exhorts those who hear, and he knows that there are those who will be in his attendance just once. There is someone in this church that today is your first time here and you may never come back. I pray that you do but if you do not, today you will hear the Word of God proclaimed, for that is all I have. 

Then Paul commands Timothy not to neglect his spiritual gift.

“Do not neglect the spiritual gift within you, which was bestowed on you through prophetic utterance with the laying on of hands by the presbytery.”

The Greek word for gift is charisma, and it means a favor one receives without any merit of his own. All Spiritual gifts are gifts! They are not earned; they are given, and everyone is given a spiritual gift. 

We read in Romans 12:4-8 

“For just as we have many members in one body and all the members do not have the same function, so we, who are many, are one body in Christ, and individually members one of another. Since we have gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, each of us is to exercise them accordingly: if prophecy, according to the proportion of his faith; if service, in his serving; or he who teaches, in his teaching; or he who exhorts, in his exhortation; he who gives, with liberality; he who leads, with diligence; he who shows mercy, with cheerfulness.”

We are not told what Timothy’s gifts are. In 1 Timothy 1:18 we read the purpose of his gifts.  

“This command I entrust to you, Timothy, my son, in accordance with the prophecies previously made concerning you, that by them you fight the good fight,”

With his gifts Timothy is commanded to fight the good fight. We are told that Timothy was given his spiritual gifts by the laying on of hands by the Apostle Paul. 

2 Timothy 1:6-7 says:

“For this reason I remind you to kindle afresh the gift of God which is in you through the laying on of my hands. 7 For God has not given us a spirit of timidity, but of power and love and discipline. “

The exhortation in our passage is for Timothy to not neglect his spiritual gift. Timothy was in a spiritual battle, and he was commanded not to neglect his gifts but to use them to fight the good fight. For God has not given a spirit of timidity but of power, love, and discipline. I believe that one of Timothy’s spiritual gifts was boldness. The ability to stand for truth and correct lies. Timothy would need to be bold as he battles false teachers face-to-face. He would need to be bold as he confronts false teaching. He needs to be bold as he is in spiritual warfare dealing face-to-face with false teachers standing up for what is true and correcting their lies. The Apostle Paul was bold; he did not “shrink back” and in Galatians 2:12 we read “But when Cephas came to Antioch, I opposed him to his face, because he stood condemned.”

It’s that same spiritual boldness that Timothy will need as he confronts false teachers and false teaching. 

Fill this in for point number four: Progress and Persevere (v15-16) 

“Take pains with these things; be absorbed in them, so that your progress will be evident to all. Pay close attention to yourself and to your teaching; persevere in these things, for as you do this you will ensure salvation both for yourself and for those who hear you.”

Paul commands Timothy to take pains with these things. The word for take pains in Greek combines meditate and attend to carefully or practice. Are you getting a sense of the task at hand for Timothy. Being a good servant or minister is labor. This is God's Church, these are God’s people. Timothy needs to know and study God's Word carefully, to meditate or think them through over and over, ask questions & implications, and then he must put them into practice. How much should he study, you may ask? Paul commands Timothy to be absorbed in them. I am so happy that it’s Tony, our Senior Pastor’s Job, to be absorbed in the Word of God. He does not have to juggle another profession that competes and divides his time. Another labor which must be attended to in order to provide for his family. That is what Paul is telling Timothy. For those who are to minister or serve the Word of God, God’s Word is to control their life. We know that The Word is active and alive. It directs how we think and how we see those around us. 

Know this the word of God does not change. Isaiah 40:8 

“The grass withers, the flower fades, But the word of our God stands forever.”

The Word of God defines him, gives him purpose & priorities and Timothy does this Paul says Timothy’s progress will be evident to all or his advancement will be evident or known by all. All those in the church of Ephesus will see his progress and his progress will be evident to all. 

“Pay close attention to yourself and to your teaching; persevere in these things, for as you do this you will ensure salvation both for yourself and for those who hear you.”

Paul tells Timothy to pay close attention to himself and to his teaching. Paul is encouraging Timothy here. Pastors are under shepherds and they are sheep of our great Shepherd Jesus Christ. A pastor who believes that only others need to hear and follow the Word will fail. In Leviticus 8-10 we read the story of two of Aaron’s sons Nadab and Abihu. We are told that they offered incense with strange fire the Hebrew translation for strange means unauthorized, foreign, or profane, as a result God not only rejected the offering, but God also killed both Nadab and Abihu. Here is what it says in Leviticus 10: 1-3 

“Now Nadab and Abihu, the sons of Aaron, took their respective firepans, and after putting fire in them, placed incense on it and offered strange fire before the Lord, which He had not commanded them. And fire came out from the presence of the Lord and consumed them, and they died before the Lord. Then Moses said to Aaron, “It is what the Lord spoke, saying, ‘By those who come near Me I will be treated as holy, And before all the people I will be honored.’” So Aaron, therefore, kept silent. 

In life and in work there is the temptation for us to fall into a routine and for our tasks to become a process and we can become comfortable. Paul exhorts against that temptation. He instructs Timothy to pay close attention or to observe yourself and your teaching. A pastor is called to preach and teach the gospel to the congregation, but he must also preach and teach the gospel to himself, and he must live out his teaching. Paul has exhorted Timothy over and over; he must be a living example. A pastor must hold fast to what he preaches and teaches, and he must persevere in them. The consequences are grave. 

Listen to Paul charge Timothy in the latter part of the Pastoral Epistle we read this in I Timothy 6: 13-16

“I charge you in the presence of God, who gives life to all things, and of Christ Jesus, who testified the good confession before Pontius Pilate, that you keep the commandment without stain or reproach until the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ, which He will bring about at the proper time—He who is the blessed and only Sovereign, the King of kings and Lord of lords, who alone possesses immortality and dwells in unapproachable light, whom no man has seen or can see. To Him be honor and eternal dominion! Amen.”

As we close, I would like to ask you a question and go over some applications.

Applications

Where Do You Go To Get Constantly Nourished?

Christ Defines You Not Your Age

Discipleship Is God’s Plan?

The Gospel Saves Lives