“BE AN EXAMPLE IN THE MINISTRY” (1 Timothy 4:12-16)

BY

REV. TAMUNOIBI ROGERS MILLER

 revtr.miller@yahoo.com; revrandymiller66@gmail.com

Preamble:  Paul a senior minister addressed his son in the Lord, Timothy whose ministry was more at Ephesus on the need to be an example in the ministry. He was to confront false teachings (Gnostic philosophies) and to demonstrate Christian behavioural principles as an evangelist. Timothy, a young man between 30 and 36 years of age needs to put up his head in the discharge of his duty as an evangelist. Considering the fact that most of you fall within this age great, I consider it relevant to re-echo these instructions of God that came through the Apostle Paul.

1. Let no Man Despise (scorn, treat contemptuously, “make fun of” or think lightly of the fact of) your Youth or Condition (v12a)  You don’tget people to respect you by telling them they must. People will respect you and your work, to whatever extent you are engaged in all the dimensions of thought and conduct. Ephesus is a challenging place to be a pastor and as Timothy is still inexperienced, and as the Church is still new, there was great need for personal integrity of the servant of God. The questions may then be, how is your integrity?, how is your walk with God?, how do you treat your wife? Who are you, can I trust you?.  Your carriage as a young minister will give you respect from others. The truth is that there may be some older members of the Church that will dislike being lectured and have their conduct dictated by some relatively young pastor. Timothy must engage a healthy sense of respect among those he was called to lead.
2. “Be thou an Example” v12b.  The unchangeable factor of Timothy’s youth can be overcome by exhibiting exemplary character in five areas.
3. In Words or Speech., (“Logos”)  The Greek understanding of logos is a word uttered by the human voice which embodies an underlyning concept or idea. It refers to the total expression. Other words are rhema (emphasizes the parts rather than the whole), onoma and epos.  Thefirst of the five virtues. Words expose character (Luke6:45), either unites or divides (Proverbs 15:1), either builds up or corrupts (Ephesians 4:29), either heals or hurts (Proverbs 12:18), and either sustains hope or kills (Proverbs 29:20). E.g, the words of  Martin Luther King Jr “I Have a Dream”,  his speech on 28^th August, 1963 affected America positively in respect to the freedom of blacks. But Hitler’s first public speech as a chancellor of Germany in 1933 caused racism in the hearts of fellow Germans and sealed the fate of 11 million people around the world out of which 6 million were Jews.  Some guiding questions should be; does what I say judge sin and uphold righteousness? Is my speech flavoured with the love of Christ?, do the words I speak edify my followers? And do the words I speak honour and draw people to Christ. Psalms 141:3 “Set a guard over my mouth, O  Lord; keep watch over the door of my lips”.

• Character or conduct (means ones way of life or conduct, with apparent focus on overt daily behaviour).  To lead effectively, we need the skills and gifts God bestowed upon us. But a leader can never rise above his situation unless his character rests at the same level as his gifting. People must not say, “He is a great preacher, but he has a very short temper”. The pastor cannot divorce his character from ministry because people shall not remember him for the sermons he preached but for the life he lived. Conduct comes from the mind; control your mind Rom. 12:2, Your good conduct will make criticism baseless, Titus 2:8.
• Love : Agape( self giving) (and not eros, philia or sorge). The Pastor should  avoid retaliation, bitterness, resentfulness, vengefulness and un-forgiveness, but seek only the good of the people. The implication is that we must be approachable (John 4: 7), show maturity emotionally, and be loyal. 1 Corinthians 13 is the love passage to read again and again.. Love is the response of the one who knows God, 1 Jno. 4:7-8. So others know you are a Christian, Jno. 13:35,   John 13:35

• In Spirit: This is in reference to temperament. He must be of a  gentle spirit, not a grumpy or mean-spirit. We must act and react as Jesus would do. In the exercise of spiritual gifts; in spiritual talk and conversation; and in fervency of spirit, or true zeal for the honour of God, the spread of his Gospel, truths, and ordinances. (1Peter 2:23) Who, when he was reviled, reviled not again; when he suffered, he threatened not; but committed [himself] to him that judgeth righteously: Demonstrate a disposition of humility & godliness, of wisdom & fear of God; of fervent service, .( Jas. 3:13-18; Rom. 12:11).
• Faith:  Pastors must demonstrate faith in God always. Our faith is constantly put to test through various problems. Faith commands spiritual authority, inspires other Christians and commands respect as well. Such faith is developed over time. In the exercise of the grace of faith; in holding fast the profession of faith; and in retaining the doctrine of faith, with all integrity, faithfulness, and constancy, standing fast in it, striving and contending for it. Demonstrate a diligent faith to do God’s will & to please Him, Heb. 11:6. Also, strong and unwavering faith, (Dan. 3:16-18).

• Purity: The servant of God must be pure morally. “A general term for an upright and morally blameless life, and specifically as referring to being free from any immoral acts, especially acts related to sex” . Remember, when we get soiled by allowing ourselves a little indulgence in lustful thoughts and acts; so when the time comes for our character to be appraised, we are greatly reduced in value. Like Apostle Paul said, there must not even be a hinge of sexual immorality among God’s people because impurity actually starts with small hints of indulgence. But it grows with time and takes full control over the pastor, his life and ministry.  There must also be Integrity of heart. A man was responded “No” to a job application “have you ever been arrested”. The next question was “ Why” and the man said “I guess it’s because I never got caught”. You can tell from the answer the poor moral condition of the man. . Be free of  alcohol & drugs, smoking, sexual immorality, profanity, lewdness of the modern dance, immoral entertainment, music, internet (1 Ths. 5:21-22).

• Be a Good Steward of what God has given You (v.13-15a)
• “Devote yourself to the Public Reading of Scripture, to Exhortation, to Teaching. Your daily pursuit must be centered in Scripture. You cannot preach and teach what you have not read and studied and prepared and rehearsed well. You cannot be an example if you are not well acquainted with the highest standard. You cannot preach the Word, if you do not live in the Word and immerse yourself in it. SCRIPTURE, TEACHING AND EXHORTATION are connected.  Read what God has said. Teach that. Urge and challenge the people to apply it.
• Neglect not the gift that is in thee,( v.14): We may note, The office of the ministry is a gift, it is the gift of Christ; when he ascended on high, he received gifts for men, and he gave some apostles, and some pastors and teachers (Eph. 4:8, Eph. 4:11 ), and this was a very kind gift to his church.  Ministers must not neglect the gift bestowed upon them, whether by gift we are here to understand the office of the ministry or the qualifications for the office; neither the one nor the other must be neglected.  Though there was a prophecy in the case of Timothy (the gift was given by prophecy), yet this was accompanied by the laying on of the hands of the presbytery, that is, a number of presbyters; the office was conveyed to him this way. Today, by ordination by presbyters, the special gifts domicile in you will be reactivated like in the case of Timothy. The idea of not neglecting it is reflected again in the injunction  “Give thyself wholly to them”. It must be our principle business, meditating on it and being committed to it.
•  The Results of Faithfulness (v15-16) The  reasons  Paul is concerned for Timothy’s faithfulness in preaching and practice are;
• “All may see your progress” (v.15b) The general thrust of this statement is captured in Paul’s admonishment. Paul told others to imitate him and to follow him as he followed Christ. Paul wanted Timothy to be able to say the same thing. Paul would have been thrilled to know that people in Timothy’s congregation were being enticed toward greater faithfulness because of what they saw God doing in Timothy’s life.
• “Save both [himself] and [his] hearers.” (V. 16b). , Paul is affirming the truth that what Timothy does – and indeed what we all do – matters. Our actions are real, our choices are real and the consequences of those choices are real and the impact of those choices is real. Doctrinally correct teaching without faithful practice will fail because your actions will shout so loudly that your words cannot be heard. Rigorous pursuit of a high Christian example without faithful attention to the Scriptures will fail because it will result in self-righteousness for the practitioner, and for those watching will send the false signal that it is by our own cleverness and righteousness that we are progressing – rather than by this ongoing grace of repentance and faith in the work of Christ that enhances spiritual progress.

Conclusion: As I conclude, note,  it’s easy to exhort others. Being an example ourselves, however, is demanding. But by depending on God and walking in obedience, you will surely overcome. Learn from the story below;

• “Son,” said the concerned father without an exemplary life, “you’re not studying the way you should. When Abraham Lincoln was your age, he didn’t have computers or electric lights. He walked fifteen miles through the snow to check out books at the library—and then walked fifteen miles home so that he could read them by the light of the fireplace. When he was your age, that’s what he did.”
• “Well,” replied the son, “when Abraham Lincoln was your age, he was President of the United States!”

It’s easy to want to exhort someone else! But Mom and Dad, if you want to see your kids be more spiritual, you be more spiritual. Pastors, if you want your congregations to be spiritual, you be more spiritual. Be an example in the ministry.