Welcome to another program with Truths to Live By, a ministry of Harriman Baptist Tabernacle located at 1420 Old Roan Street in Harriman, Tennessee. You're now listening to Evangelist Brother Cam Clark. Thank you for joining us again for another broadcast. I'm Evangelist Cam Clark. In light of what Christ said in Matthew chapter number four, in verse number four, that man should not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God. I would like to encourage you to follow along as we study through God's eternal word. Thank you for joining us once again on Truths to Live By. It is a wonderful day to be saved by the grace of God and to know the Lord Jesus Christ and the free pardon. of sin. We want to take our Bibles today and go back to the book of Philippians. We are in the book of Philippians in chapter number two. And if you're able to turn there with me, that would be wonderful as we study God's precious and eternal word. Now, our theme has been While we're looking at the book of Philippians, the Christ-centered life, and we long for every listener to place Christ Jesus first in every aspect of their life. As you consider this book and you consider each portion of scripture from this book, we can see how Paul the apostle lived the Christ-centered life and how he's urging these saints at Philippi to do the same. And if we do so, we know that we can have joy. We can rejoice in the Lord Jesus Christ. There are so many things that accompany that Christ-centered life. We've looked at the mind of Christ, and that is an attribute we can have if Christ has preeminence. We saw in chapter 1 how that the life of the Christian is Christ. Paul said, for to me, to live is Christ. And that is a common theme that Paul emphasizes in his epistles. We see that in Colossians where he says, when Christ, who is our life, shall appear. And so, the Christian's life is Christ. And so, if we try to live without acknowledging and applying that truth, we will be miserable Christians. There is no way, as a Christian whose life is Christ Jesus, for you to meddle with the world of death and also experience the joy that the true life brings to you. And so that is why so many Christians today are miserable. They have no joy. They have no peace. They have no rest. It's because they are meddling with those things which are bringing forth death. And they expect to somehow experience the joy that Christ Jesus is able to bring them. And so this book here is exhorting us to live holy, for Jesus Christ, to give our life for him. So chapter one, we looked at the life of the Christian. Chapter two, we've been looking at the leadership of the Christian. We looked at Jesus Christ, our primary example. And then we've looked at Paul the apostle. We will look at Epaphroditus in the end of this chapter. But today we want to turn the spotlight upon this man named Timothy. And so let us read of our scripture for today. In verse 19, the Bible says, this is Paul, under inspiration of the Spirit, he says, I trust in the Lord Jesus to send Timotheus shortly unto you, that I may be of good comfort when I know your state. For I have no man like-minded who will naturally care for your state. For all seek their own, not the things which are Jesus Christ. And here's our key verse for today. But ye know the proof of him that as a son with the father he hath served with me in the gospel. Him therefore I hope to send presently so soon as I shall see how it will go with me. But I trust in the Lord that I also myself shall come shortly. Notice that phrase in verse 22. But ye know the proof of him him. The burden of my heart today is to simply preach on the proof of a minister. Now, automatically, when you use the term minister, most minds goes to preachers or pastors, missionaries, evangelists, or those who are in full-time Christian ministry. But the word there, minister, is synonymous with the word servant. So this is one who simply serves or attends to the needs of others, one who helps the people of God and helps those of the world. And we know Jesus Christ himself said he came not to be ministered to, but to minister to others. And so this is applicable and important for every single believer, not just for the preacher, not just for the pastor, but every child of God is called to by love serve one another. We're called to walk even as Christ walk, and he was a servant of servants. And so, as we consider in our day the decline of good churches, my burden has been recently how casual that we have made Christian ministry. Everything else in life seems to come first, everything else seems to have preeminence, but those things which pertain to God are seem to be placed on the back burner. And what we see in our day is pastors who are pulling at straws to try to get people to feel shoes and to do something for the Lord. And because of weariness and because of the burden being too heavy, What seems to happen is they end up putting people in places who are not faithful or consistent, or they put men or women in positions who have not proven themselves as true servants of Jesus Christ. And because of this mindset, we've gotten the idea that God does not care who is bearing the ark, that God does not care who is the one leading the church or performing the duties in which the majority of people are looking upon. And we understand that God is a God of order and holiness. And in the Old Testament, God had specific guidelines concerning worship, concerning the atonement, concerning sacrifice, concerning who would be the ones to perform the task and The duties we find as a prime example of one who was not consecrated or separated and sanctified to perform the job that he did in bearing the ark and because of that it brought forth death. And what seems to be occurring today is there's many men being put in positions who have not proven themselves, they're not faithful, they're not consistent, they have not lived a life that proves that Jesus Christ is all in all. Because the pastor's weary, because the pastor is tired, he has to put somebody or feels he has to put somebody in those positions. And in the end, nothing but death is brought forth. And so we must understand God wants holy vessels bearing the Ark of the Lord. And you know the type of men and the type of women that God wants leading your church, those who, as Timothy, who have proven themselves as true ministers, those who have proved their Faithfulness. And so I've used that term proof. It simply means tried character or a specimen of tried worth. And so Timothy is a young man who has been tried, he's been tested and tempted, yet in faithfulness and continuance has proved his worth. After all the afflictions and burdens, with Timothy making it through the furnace of fire, it is obvious to Paul and the church at Philippi that he is valuable to them and the work of God. And a good question to ask ourselves, would Paul or the church at Philippi say that you are one who has proven himself? Concerning your church, have you shown that you are a faithful and productive member? Everyone we understand who is saved is a part of the body, but not everyone is a productive part of it. And so, a good question for every child of God, have I proven myself? There's many men, many women who desire for God to use them. and question and wonder, Lord, why are you not putting me into a ministry? Why are you not using me? Have you ever asked yourself, maybe I have not proven myself. Maybe I have not shown my worth. Maybe I'm too wishy-washy or maybe I'm too unstable and I cannot fulfill that position yet. I believe that would be the answer to many of our doubts and questions. And so let me quickly give you a few points. What are some things that prove Timothy as a true minister? What are some things that have resulted in them knowing? the proof of this man. I believe number one, his motivation, verse 21, Paul said, for all seek their own, not the things which are Jesus Christ. And so Paul is saying that the majority of men are seeking their own advancement, profit, and passions rather than seeking Christ. But this is not the story of Timothy. Timothy's passion, his plea, and priority was Jesus Christ and his will. Many Christians today, though unaware of this, are seeking to be used of God for their own profit or their gain. As one man said, they really aren't being used by God, they are simply using God. And so the motivation must be correct. Timothy could say with Paul, whether by life or by death, Christ be magnified. So there's his motivation. There's his molding in verse 22. He says, as a son with the father, he hath served with me in the gospel. There is something I believe that was essential to the molding of Timothy's character, that being submission to authority. This verse reveals Timothy's submission He had a healthy respect of authority. We know that Paul was a pastoral figure in Timothy's life, and Timothy submitted to him as a son. We're soon to see that he is to be sent to Philippi by Paul. He is submitting to that longing in order that God must be glorified. We don't have time to look at the details, but this is a 700 to 800 mile trip, which would take weeks to perform. And so let me just say in application, some people never make it anywhere. And they never prove themselves because they never learn to submit themselves to authority. If you cannot submit to the authority, you can see. I know that you aren't submitting to the authority that you can't. And so we need some young men who learn to submit to authority. God's given you parents, God's given you a pastor, God's given you deacons, God's given you and I men and women in our life who can help us. And if we'll learn to submit to them, we will grow. In verse 20, you see his mindset. He says, for I have no man like-minded who will naturally care for your state. Timothy had a proper mindset. He had the mind of Christ, just as Paul, and he was thinking upon the people of God's sanctification. He cared about the state of those at Philippi. Because he did, he was willing to travel there and then bring back the news to Paul concerning how that church was. And then verse 23, you see the moving. He was willing to actually go and do something for this church at Philippi. Today, you can claim, I have the proper motivation. I have the proper molding or making. I have the proper mindset. But if it does not manifest itself in outward actions, then you, my friend, are mistaken. Something in your life is not proper. And so you say, I want to be used preacher. I want God to use my life. Then you need to make sure your motivation's correct. You need to begin to submit in your making. You need to submit to authority. You need to have the mind of Christ. And then you need to actually start serving. And then who knows God might open a door for you because you've proven yourself as a true minister of Jesus Christ. That concludes another broadcast of Truths to Live By, a ministry of Harriman Baptist Tabernacle located at 1420 Old Roan Street in Harriman, Tennessee. You can also find us on the web at www.hbtchurch.com. This program has been a blessing. We would love to hear from you. Please send all correspondence to P.O. Box 575 Harriman, Tennessee 37748 or by email to info at hbtchurch.com. We thank you for listening today, and until next time, we leave you with the words of the Apostle Paul, who said in Romans 15, 13, Now the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing that you may abound in hope through the power of the Holy Ghost. you