1 Timothy 4

Chapter 4 KEEPING THE SOUND

A. Good minister. 4:1-10

B. Good example. 4:11-16

1 Timothy 4:1-10

A. Good minister. 4:1-10 The sound minister’ s understanding of the marriage and food. v.1-5

V.1 a) Departure from Christ -

I. Declaration of the Spirit.

A. Spoken Presently - Its spoken to warn believers.

B. Shared Prophetically - Its yet future.

II. Departure from the faith.

Before Antichrist is revealed a departure from faith occurs. 2.Thes.2:3; Matt.24:11; Mark 13:22; Acts 20:29-30; 2.Tim.3:1-9, 13; 2.Peter 3:1-9 III. Deceiving Doctrines of Demons.

A. Deceiving spirits.

The early stage of being deceived through words, spiritual senses, dreams and spiritual experiences - They are pews of their deception.

B. Doctrine of Demons. When a person is deceived then they are being established in their doctrines - They are spokesmen of their doctrines. V.2 b) Defect Conscience -

I. Hypocrites Speaking lies.

They are Refusing to Respond to their former knowledge of Truth.

II. Hot Seared conscience.

They have become insensitive to Truth.

V.3 c) Denial of Created things -

I. Denial of marriage.

Probably denying marriage to receive higher spiritual status and revelation.

II. Despising foods.

A. Probably despising food because of reincarnation and Judaism.

B. God has declared food clean in the New Testament. Matt.15:10-20; Acts 10:9-16; 1.Cor.10:23-33 C. Believers should receive the food with thanksgiving and not with a bad conscience. V.4 d) Design of the Creator -

I. Eat all for it is Good.

All that God has created is good; he didn’ t create anything bad. Gen.1:31 II. Eat all with Gratitude.

The problem is mans conscience, everything should be eaten with a thankful heart.

V.5 e) Declaration of the Word and prayer - Purified by the Word and Prayer - If we pray and ask God to bless it God will be faithful to purity the food. Acts 10:15 V.6 f) Follow the good conscience -

The sound minister’ s mind.

I. Good minister.

A good minister is one that preaches Truth and not what people like to hear.

II. Good doctrine.

A minister can only become a good minister by:

A. Being nourished in word of faith.

B. Being nourished in doctrine.

C. Continual following these.

The sound minister’ s exercise of godliness.

V.7 g) Fables reject and exercise godliness -

I. Profane fables.

All that are not founded upon Scripture but only myths, fables, stories and man’ s ideology and commandments he should reject.

II. Practise of godliness.

Only the things that cause godly fear should be considered.

V.8 h) Favourable of godliness -

I. External profit.

All kinds of bodily exercises has no eternal rewards or value, only a little momentarily benefits,

II. Eternal profit.

A. Building up the Body of Christ has eternal rewards, great value and eternal benefits.

B. Godliness is beneficial for all areas of life even the eternal life. C. Spiritual development is more important than physical development. V.9 i) Faithful saying - Faithful and Favourable saying.

I. This saying is to be trusted.

II. Its content is worthy to be received by all.

V.10 j) Faith in God -

I. The Labouring Goal.

All devoted believers forsook the world and lived for God, they were focused on the eternal life to come. Heb.11:8-10, 24-26 II. The Living God.

They were not focused on physical exercise but instead trusted God who is able to save.

1 Timothy 4:11-16

B. Good example 4:11-16 The sound minister’ s exemplary works. v.11-12

V.11 a) Exhortation of Paul -

I. Exhort these to the church.

II. Explain these to the church.

V.12 b) Example of Timothy -

I. Encouragement to Endure.

A. Elderly believers could easily despise his exhortation and instruction because of his young age.

B. The Greek word neotes describes a person up to the age of 40 years.

II. Exhortation to be an Example.

A. Not only should Timothy Preach it but show how it is Practised.

B. A minister should show in his own life first what he wants his congregation to become. 1. Word - His speech.

2. Conduct - His behaviour.

3. Love - His Practise.

4. Spirit - His spiritual life.

5. Faith - His relationship with God.

6. Purity - His Character.

V.13 c) Equipment of the saints -

The sound minister’ s sharing of Scripture.

3 things to be attentive to:

I. Reading. “ What does the text say” 1.Thes.5:27 II. Exhortation. “ How can the text be applied”

III. Doctrine. “ What does the text mean”

V.14 d) Exercising the gift -

The sound minister stirring his gift.

I. Work out the gift.

Perhaps Paul was referring to the gift of Explaining and Exhorting from Scripture.

II. Way the gift was given.

The elders laid hands upon Timothy and revealed God’ s plan for his life.

A. Receiving - The laying on of hands was the Instrument of transferring the gift.

B. Revealing - The prophetic words was the Inspired revelation of what he had received. V.15 e) Evidence of maturity -

The sound minister’ s progress.

I. Meditating the Message.

A. It was necessary for Timothy to meditate on how to live a godly life and be a better example.

B. He was to be fully concentrated with godliness and wholly given to it.

II. Manifesting Maturity.

Everyone would see the maturity of Timothy and see an example of how to progress.

V.16 f) Endure in the doctrine -

Salvation and the sound minister.

3 things is needed for a minister if he want to save himself and his congregation:

I. Caution.

A. Watch his Personality.

B. Watch his Public ministry of doctrine.

II. Continuation.

C. Persistent continuation.