If you would take your Bible and turn with me to 1 Timothy chapter 4. 1 Timothy chapter 4 will be our passage for this morning's study. And we return to our study in this book after about a month and a half break from it with the holidays and the new year. I think it was the 1st of December when we were last in our series of studies through 1 Timothy. But we return this morning and we are in 1 Timothy chapter 4. And I want to read verses 6 through 16. 1 Timothy 4, beginning in verse 6. 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, but have nothing to do with worldly fables fit only for old women. On the other hand, discipline yourself for the purpose of godliness, for bodily discipline is 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. 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. Take pains with these things. Be absorbed in them so that your progress may 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." Here in this passage in 1 Timothy chapter 4, we have Paul's instructions or exhortations to young Timothy, who is currently in Ephesus in this letter, and he is dealing with trials and troubles that are happening in the church that is in Ephesus during that time. And after dealing with the present crisis that had arisen in the church, the false teaching, the false teachers that had arisen within the church and were leading people astray in the church of Ephesus, which Paul deals with in chapters 1 through 3, he turns his attention now to a future threat which he warns Timothy of. We find that at the beginning of chapter four, verse one, where Paul writes to Timothy, but the spirit explicitly says that in later times, some will fall away from the faith, paying attention to deceitful spirits and doctrines of demons. He talks about this present time and what he is experiencing. He talks about a future time where there will be a great abandonment of the truths and the faith of the Bible, of Christianity. So Paul is warning Timothy of these things. And he writes this letter to strengthen him, to equip Timothy in this assignment that he has been placed within. Paul sets forth the strategy to combat this enemy that has invaded the church at Ephesus. So beginning in verse 6 through 16, Paul provides Timothy with the marks of a good servant of Jesus Christ. That phrase there in verse six is the theme of this passage. In pointing out these things to the brethren, you will be a good servant of Jesus Christ. He's telling him, in other words, what it will take to stand against the threats, the dangers that he faces in his position in the church in Ephesus, in order to prevent any further damage and to restore order to a once flourishing church. I'm sure you've heard the phrase, the best defense is a good offense. We hear this phrase oftentimes in the world of sports, It is a military phrase during wartime and strategy during wartime. That is basically what Paul's exhortation is to Timothy, and by extension to every one of us here today as believers. The best way to protect yourself against the lies and attacks of the evil one, of Satan, in the context of the church, in the context of your life, is to be constantly on the offensive. to know the truth, as he says in verses six through seven, to live the truth, to progress in your knowledge of the truth and the application of it in your life, to hold fast to the promises of God in his word. It is only when we ease off, when we let up, when we coast, when we drift, when we're overconfident about our knowledge of God's word, where we lose ground, to our own sin and to Satan. Remaining on the offensive is a lifelong process for every believer both publicly and privately. Publicly in the context of a church and privately in our own lives. What we have here essentially in this passage is what it is to be a Christian. If you're not a Christian here this morning, and you have an idea of what Christians or who Christians are, you are to measure it up against the standard of what the Bible says a Christian is. And what Paul gives us here in these verses tells us exactly what Christians, who Christians are, and what Christians are to be in their lives, both privately and publicly, and Christians who are gathered together in a church. In this final section of chapter four, Paul links the necessity for faithfulness in Timothy's ministry and also faithfulness in his personal life. This context is specifically Paul writing to Timothy in the matters that he's dealing with, but at the same time, we can picture ourself as Timothy in our own lives, and especially as believers serving together in the context of this church. We've outlined this as the various marks of the good servant of Jesus Christ. I'll cover these very quickly, what we've gone through in the last study, verses six through 10, and then verses 11 through 16 that we'll cover today. The first was, first mark is a devotion to the truth. Second was a devotion to godly living. Thirdly was a devotion to diligent labor. Fourthly, was a devotion to living with hope in God. Fifthly, was a devotion to authoritative instruction, which we'll see today. Sixth, a devotion to godly character. Seventh, a devotion to the sufficiency of scripture. Eighth, a devotion to spiritual growth. And lastly, ninth, a devotion to the salvation of souls. So let's look at verse 11 and pick up this fifth mark of a good servant of Jesus Christ, a devotion to authoritative instruction. These things, Paul writes in verse 11, pointing back to verses 7 and 8, to avoid worldly fables, these traditions, these stories. These religious stories which the people of Ephesus were getting caught up in that had nothing to do with God's truth and righteousness, what God calls Christians to know and to believe and to do in their lives. He tells them also that this idea of asceticism, of denying things to the physical body, have nothing to do with righteousness, will have nothing to do with true Christianity, bodily discipline is only of little profit, but godliness is of great grain, profitable for all things. These things, Paul writes to Timothy, he says, prescribe, give orders, command, direct. The word prescribe here in verse 11 is a military term. It speaks of one in an authoritative position, giving orders, giving commands with this sense of authority. Obedience to these principles and practices is what Paul has in mind. He wants Timothy to set forth before the people of the church at Ephesus these important truths for their own lives. He says, prescribe and teach these things. To teach is to instruct, to convey knowledge, often, again, in an authoritative manner. Both of these are found in the present imperative. commands given to Timothy to continually keep as he is serving there in Ephesus. Keep on commanding. Keep on teaching these things. This is the pattern of ministry, not only for Timothy, but for every preacher, every teacher, every person in the local church who opens up God's word and instructs others of what it says. It is a continual pattern. Every time we meet together, we open the Word, we read the Word, we preach the Word, we seek to help you understand what God's Word is saying. And we do this week after week after week. Why do we do this? Well, we know that we are so prone to forget, to forget these most important truths of God's Word. We are prone to temptation to the pollution of this world. We meet together on the Lord's Day every week, on the first day of the week, on Sunday, but the other six days of the week we are in the world. We are experiencing along with everybody else the pollution, the temptation, the wickedness of this fallen world. Our own flesh and our own imperfection Our own weakness in consistently following God's word, studying God's word, and prayer, and all of those means that we are to constantly discipline ourself in. And then we know that there is a devil. One who seeks to deceive us with the various means in this world and to accuse us even of our failures and shortcomings. That is why we need God's word prescribed to us and taught to us each and every week. All Christians, though, must understand this, not just those who preach and teach. If you remember in those various passages in God's Word, which talk about spiritual gifts, they're essentially categorized into two gifts, types of gifts. One is gifts of serving, the other gifts of speech. Those who teach and preach. God's Word fall into that category of those gifts of speech. Those who serve fall into that second category, the gifts of mercies and helps and administrations, those who seek to help facilitate things in the life of the church. But both categories of gifts, which each Christian has a gift in either of these two categories, each of these requires us to know God's Word. If you're going to come along somebody's life and to encourage them with your words or to show them the love of Christ during a time of need, we need to know God's word. We need to encourage them with God's word. When somebody is doubting and fearing over various trials in their own life, crisis in their life, what are you going to do in coming alongside them? Are you going to say, hey, pick yourself up by your bootstraps, Dust yourself off and go along this way of life. I'm honest, as a Christian, if someone comes along and tells me that, it does nothing for me. I need to hear God's Word. I need to be reminded of God's Word. I need to be reminded that my life is hidden in Christ and that even on my worst days, God still sees me in the righteousness of Christ. This is what we are all called to as believers in the context of this church, to prescribe and to teach God's word to one another in the various capacities that God has given to us. But we move to verse 12 now, from a devotion to the authority of scripture to a devotion to godly character. We know from the book of Acts, chapter 16, from 1 Timothy, from 2 Timothy, that Timothy was both young and timid. When he first joined Paul, he was probably in his mid-20s. Here, when this first letter to Timothy was written by Paul, Timothy is probably in his mid to late 30s. And the traditional view of that time is that a man up until he was 40 years old was considered a young man. And Timothy was both young and timid. He was prone to worry and to fear and to doubt. And his opponents here in Ephesus that he is placed in with this assignment to restore order in the church and the problems that have gone on within the church, these men are both brash and arrogant. So you have somebody who is reserved in his character, timid in his character, and you have those that are very charismatic and very bold in their approach. Awful recipe for somebody who is of Timothy's disposition. He may have been hesitant to exhibit leadership and authority as a young man. So Paul exhorts him to set a godly character and conduct in the role that he has been providentially placed in. Look at verse 12 again. Let no one look down on your youthfulness. Again, a command to him. This is not an option, Timothy. Paul is speaking, as it were, as a general to a soldier on the battlefield. Let no one look down on your youthfulness. Just because you're young does not mean that God can use you in the midst of this crisis in the church. Let no one look down on your youthfulness. Timothy must not allow anyone, especially those older than him in the church, to despise or disregard him because of his youth, let alone his place of authority as a delegate, as a representative of the Apostle Paul. How does a young man in such a position as Timothy earn the respect of his elders? Paul tells him, not by flaunting your credentials, your qualifications, by flexing your knowledge of the word, but by conducting himself maturely as one wise beyond his years. as one wise in the faith and godly in his character. This is how you will set the tone. This is how you will earn the respect of others that are older than you in this church. He is to model in his life what a believer should be. And Paul gives him five areas of life. Here are these five areas of life to show yourself godly in your character. The first two have to do with his public life, his outward-facing life to those around him. He says, but rather, letting no one look down on your youthfulness, but rather in speech. This is in your everyday conversation, show yourself godly and mature in your character by your speech, how you communicate with those around you. In conduct, this is your behavior towards others, showing forth Christian grace toward those maybe even that are looking down upon you, you show forth meekness and kindness toward them. Then Paul moves to inward graces, which are expressed outwardly in the life. In love, he says. And love is a sincere devotion to fellow Christians and a concern for others, including even your enemies. That is what a Christian strives to do and to be. The love of Christ that he has received from God, he seeks to display and reflect to others. Seeking the well-being of not only his fellow brothers and sisters in Christ, Christians, also seeking the well-being and welfare even of those outside the Christian faith, those that are even his enemies. He goes on and says, in faith, that is in faithful devotion to God, to his word, show yourself that you are a person who practices what he preaches. who loves God's Word and studies God's Word and to be characterized as that by the people around you saying, there's something about this Timothy. He loves God's Word. He studies God's Word. He wants us to know God's Word. And lastly, he says, in purity, that is in purity of thought, in word, Indeed, a life that is in conformity to God's moral standard, to God's moral law. Listen to the words of the Scottish pastor, Robert Murray McShane. He says, it is not great talents God blesses so much as likeness to Jesus. A holy minister is an awful weapon in the hand of God. Awful being full of all. Awesome in the hand of God. And he's not speaking only to holy ministers, ministers, pastors in that formal occupational sense. It also applies to every single believer. It is not great talents. It is not great giftedness that God blesses so much as likeness to Jesus, as holiness. holiness in the life of a believer, God will use that man, that woman to do great things for him. It is opposite of the world, is it not? The world says, show me your credentials, show me your qualifications, show me your resume, and then we'll show you what you can do. It is the opposite with God's Word. It says it is not great talents, it is not your giftedness, but it is your devotion to Christ that God blesses in this life. Paul goes on in these marks of a good servant of Jesus Christ to Timothy and to all of us in verse 13 of chapter 4. Devotion now to the sufficiency of Scripture. Three essentials of Timothy's public ministry are now highlighted, which are to characterize any man called and gifted in the ministry of the word in the church, in preaching and teaching specifically. Verse 13 reads, until I come. Paul is writing from Macedonia. He is not with Timothy. He does not know if he's going to be able to return to Timothy. He knows the present situation where Timothy is at in Ephesus. But he says this, until I come, I have entrusted you with these things on my behalf while I am away. Until I come, verse 13, give attention, devote yourself, in other words, to these things, to the public reading of Scripture, to exhortation and teaching. Give yourself to these things. He says in the first place, the public reading of scripture. This refers simply to the practice of reading the holy scriptures and the apostolic writings at that time aloud during worship services or gatherings. This is what is prescribed for every local church. Open the Bible, read the Bible to the people. It seems obvious enough, but I cannot tell you how many churches Do not practice this. Do not even open up God's word physically before the people read God's word. And if they do read God's word and they read a passage of scripture, they deviate or leave that passage of scripture and then begin to speak their own opinions and stories about what they think the people need to hear. But we're reminded that the public reading of scripture is an essential reality to the life of every local church. to exhortation, he says. After you read the word, you open the word, you exposit the word, you teach the word, you instruct the people in what the scripture says. And you apply it to them, to their lives, through moral and spiritual guidance, through counseling the lives of each and every person that hears the reading and teaching of God's word. You encourage them. with God's Word. For those that are downcast and depressed in their Christian walk, you seek to lift them up by the truths of Scripture, by pointing them to the Lord Jesus Christ, by pointing them to their identity in Christ and the promises that are theirs in Christ Jesus. But there also is, in this exhortation, warnings that come to people. Every time a church gathers together and the word is open and we seek to teach you what is said there in the context, what is written there in God's word, what it says to us historically and then how it is applied to us in present day 21st century, there are those warnings that also come. There are those in the congregation that are professing believers but are yet straying in their lives or living lives of sin, are showing evidence that they and their salvation may not be genuine. And there are those warnings. If this is you, turn to the Lord Jesus Christ, return, repent, and again, place your faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. These are all these things that Paul is instructing Timothy to do, which is the model and outline or pattern for every ministry in any local church. And lastly, to teaching. This includes the custom of instruction in Christian doctrine and in practice. That happens throughout preaching. That happens at times in our Wednesday evening studies. That happens at times informally when we gather together, when the word of God is taught by those who are gifted in preaching and teaching so that we may understand these things. And it also comes forth to us in written form. I believe Brother Chris today handed out a confession of faith to the members of our church today, which have those truths systematized very simply for us to read, questions that are there, references in scripture, that we may gain that understanding and instruction from God's word in a way that we can grow and progress in our Christian faith. which leads us to verses 14 and 15, and now the eighth mark of a good servant of Jesus Christ, a devotion to spiritual growth, to spiritual progress. For Timothy to heed these commands and modeling what a good servant of Jesus Christ is would require great diligence and devotion. There's no doubt that he would feel the pressure and weight of such a calling that he was placed in. There are false teachers, false doctrine. The people of that church are believing the lies. Timothy is placed there to restore order, to regain the truth that has been deviated from. There are those who are hypocritical liars, those who are seeking to distort the truth. And Timothy is there to restore order and to realign the people there. to the context of the truth, but it was a high calling for him. Certainly he doubted whether or not he was up to the task. We see in verse 14 at the beginning there, do not neglect the spiritual gift within you. That implies that Timothy was ready to give up. He didn't know if he could fulfill this commission that Paul had given him. He's young, he's timid, he thinks less of himself. So Paul tells him, do not neglect. Do not think of yourself in such a way that you cannot be used by God. With that in mind, Paul reminds him that he has been specially gifted for this very moment. Verse 14 again, stop neglecting is essentially what it says. The spiritual gift within you, which was bestowed on you through the prophetic utterance with the laying on of hands by the Presbytery. A very loaded verse there, a lot is being said. Let me break it down for you as simply as possible. Paul is referring here to the occasion of Timothy's ordination. That is something in recent memory for many of us here, being here and witnesses of the ordination of Pastor Jim and myself and seeing that whole process and what that looks like. Paul is referring to Timothy's ordination when he was set apart for the work of the ministry. by the council of elders back at his home church in Lystra. You can read Acts chapter 16 and those opening verses about Timothy's situation there in Lystra. It was at this time when Paul had returned in his second missionary journey to see young Timothy there and see this young believer who had been converted under Paul's ministry when he was there the first time around. and sees that this is a young man of godly character, of knowledge of God's word that he could use in his missionary endeavors. So it was made known by the Holy Spirit to the men of that church that Timothy would be set apart to go along with Timothy. I mean, along with Paul. Now, we don't have prophetic utterances that happen today in the context of the local church because at that time there was no written word. There was no Bible bound together where they could review and see the qualifications of those men who would be called to the ministry of the word as missionaries, as pastors. So the Holy Spirit worked in a unique, a special way during that time where he revealed specific things to the elders of churches, to the prophets that were in these churches at that time to confirm that Timothy was to be set apart for this work. And it was at this time that he received, we are told, a spiritual gift, a grace gift of the Holy Spirit. Every believer, when he is converted or she is converted, receives this gift, this spiritual gift, from the Holy Spirit. It was very specific here to Timothy for us. Although we are given a gift, we may not know for some time what that gift is. But it was made known here to Timothy, this spiritual gift, through prophetic utterance. There was a public affirmation of who Timothy was and his Positioned here to be serving God in the church with the laying on of hands. This is a Symbolic confirmation of the elders the leaders of the church physically laying their hands upon Timothy Symbolizing that he is set apart for this work that they were going to send him forth with Paul into the mission field to Help support those churches planted by the Apostle Paul It is God to Paul's writing to Timothy who called you and It is God who called you subjectively when you knew that God had called you to the ministry. Timothy, you know that it was the church that set you apart. That it is God who equips whom he calls. And he wants Timothy to embrace this. You did not enlist in this position. You didn't say, well, I'm not doing well in this career path or that career path, so let me just join the ministry, enter into the ministry. No, he was set apart by God himself to this, and he needed to be reminded of this. God called you and God equips you, and God has given you this gift for this moment. Verse 15. He writes again, these things, this ministry that Timothy has been called to, the ministry of the word to instruct, to teach the people of God in Ephesus. the practical instructions of reading the word, of exhorting the people, of teaching. Take pains with these things, he says. Literally, from the Greek, the word means to care for, to attend to, to meditate, to practice. I think practice is the best translation of what that phrase means. Practice expresses the careful attention, consideration, the diligent practice that Timothy must give himself to. As an athlete trains, he spoke earlier about bodily discipline is of little profit, giving this athletic analogy. And he's telling Timothy here that just like an athlete trains each and every day, if it's weightlifting, he's in the gym every day seeking to increase his strength, seeking to grow and develop his body. But here he is speaking to Timothy spiritually. Give yourself to diligently as an athlete trains to these things that I have just told you about. He is to be absorbed in them. You see that in verse 15, take pains with these things, be absorbed in them, literally be in them. Those that are called to the ministry of God's word, even Christians that are outside of preaching and teaching ministry are all called to what? To study God's word, to know God's word, to memorize scripture, give yourself wholly to the work of the ministry. A Christian is one who seeks to know Christ. How does the Christian know Christ? Is it some mystifying, mystical way where he is just waiting for God to speak to him from heaven or to have this emotional experience of how he can know God more? No, it is through the scriptures. that God has revealed himself, that Christ has revealed himself. So every Christian and especially every pastor, every preacher of the gospel seeks to be in them, to be absorbed in God's word because that is the very tool that he uses to serve God. It is the same for every believer here. If you want to seek to be a blessing to your neighbor, to the believers in this church, It is through God's word that you will be a blessing to them. You cannot escape that. Otherwise, we're just like the world, telling people, well, you know, karma, whatever goes around is going to come around to that person. Well, I hope you have, you know, good luck on that or this or that. No, we instruct people, we tell people, we encourage people from God's word knowing that that is the truth that we all need to hear. Paul says that if you do these things, your progress will be evident to all. Verse 15 again, the congregation will take note of your spiritual development and you will earn their respect and trust despite your youthfulness. We must quickly go on to verse 16 and bring this study to a close. Let's read verse 16. 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. This final and ninth mark of what it is to be a good servant of Jesus Christ is a devotion to the salvation of souls. To conclude this section of exhortations to Timothy, Paul delivers a twofold charge. First, pay attention to yourself and to your teaching. Give heed, give focus, focus your mind on yourself and your teaching ministry. This emphasizes the important principle that must be heeded by every servant, every Christian, everyone called especially to the ministry of God's word. Holy living and sound teaching go together. You cannot preach God's holy inspired word if your life does not, in one way or another, reflect God's holiness. That is what it is to be a Christian, is to be Christ-like. How are you going to preach the transforming message, life-saving message of the gospel if your own life is not transformed? If you're a hypocrite yourself in your own actions, So he tells Timothy to pay close attention to yourself and to your teaching, that they are both consistent, that they both match up. God's servants must persevere or stay the course in these things. That is the testimony of any faithful minister, of any faithful ministry, of any faithful Christian is their perseverance in the faith. That is the emphasis here in this verse. Undue attention on one or the other runs the risk of endangering yourself and those who are entrusted to your care. If you give undue attention only to teaching, then your life is going to fall to shambles. If you only give yourself to making sure you're living in a right way but not understanding and knowing and studying God's word, then the people are going to suffer for it because you are not in God's word. Give yourself to both of these things. And by persevering in holiness and truth, Paul tells Timothy, you will ensure salvation both for yourself and for those who hear you. Again, here's a loaded phrase here, and I want to break this down. I think it's important for us to understand, and I have only a couple of minutes to break this down for you. So give me your attention for these last final moments. We know from scripture that sinners are saved by grace alone, through faith alone, in Christ alone. It is apart from any works that we can do. Scripture is clear on that. Yet, the following is also true. Hebrews 12 verse 14, pursue peace with everyone as well as holiness. In regards to holiness, without which no one will see the Lord. without holiness in the life in a way that is manifested for all to see, especially the person that claims to be a Christian. If there is no holiness, there is no hope of salvation. There is no hope of eternal life. Timothy's pursuit in holiness, your pursuit in holiness as a believer, my pursuit in holiness is evidence that we truly possess saving grace. No holiness, no Christ, no salvation. What did Jesus say in John chapter eight? If you continue in my word, then you are what? truly my disciples. If you continue in my word, not if you get saved in this experience where you come forward, you say a prayer, you get your salvation, and then you go on living your way. No, if you continue in what you believe about Christ, if you continue to grow in your faith, this is evidence that you truly belong to him. That's what he means by you will ensure for yourself salvation. And what about those who hear? We know from scripture that preachers and teachers of God's word play a crucial role in the salvation of sinners. Not as a redeemer, that only belongs to Christ, but as one who guides the sinner to the Savior. Faith comes by hearing and hearing by the Word of Christ. How do sinners hear the Word of Christ? Through the preaching of the gospel. And if you give yourself to holiness and to the accurate, precise teaching of God's Word, Paul tells Timothy, you will ensure salvation for others. Gospel preachers are God's appointed agent in the salvation of sinners. And Timothy's life, to one degree or another, must reflect the message that he preaches. That is why preachers and teachers of God's word are told in scripture, James chapter three, verse one, not all should become teachers. Teachers of God's word will receive a stricter judgment for what they teach to the people. They are entrusted to their care. Let me finish with this. Hosea chapter four, verse six, reads this. My people are destroyed for lack of Knowledge. The true knowledge of God, scripture tells us, brings to the soul eternal life. Christ says, John chapter 17, verse three, this is eternal life, that they may know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent. The lack of the true knowledge of who God is, of who Christ is, of what salvation is, of what your sin is, is fatal to your soul. But if true knowledge is set before you, who God is, who you are in your sinfulness, who Christ is as Savior, then there is eternal life that is found for those who come to Christ, those who are enslaved to their sin, unable to save themselves. As God's servants, in closing, seeking to be a good servant of Jesus Christ, our responsibility, our aim is always to seek to bring other souls to the Savior. to bring them to Christ for salvation, to demonstrate in our lives what it means to be a follower of Christ. to demonstrate with our words the way of salvation to Christ, to always point sinners away from ways that they think they can save themselves and always to the Lord Jesus Christ. Abandon your sin, forsake your sin, forsake the ways that you think that you can save yourself and trust in the Lord Jesus Christ. For if you do those things, you will have eternal life. That is what it is to be a good servant of Jesus Christ. May God help us all as members of this church, as believers, to live such lives. Our Heavenly Father, we ask that you would add your blessing to the preaching of this Word, of your Word this day, and in this hour and in the hour to come. May you be glorified in all that we say, that it comes from your Word, and may you be pleased to transform the lives of all those who hear your Word this day. In Christ's name we pray. Amen.