1 Timothy 4

1 Timothy 4:1

After talking about the church and her message in chapter 1, and the church and her members in chapters 2-3, here in chapter 4, Paul will talk about the church and her ministry. And in so doing, he will exhort young Timothy to be a good minister in verses 1Ti_4:1-6, a godly minister in verses 1Ti_4:7-11, and a growing minister in verses 1Ti_4:12-16. The same is true in our times. There are those who falsely teach that it is impossible to depart from the faith. But our text says otherwise. While I do not believe that one can lose his salvation (Joh_10:29), I do believe one can leave his salvation. That is, if a man is truly intent on turning his back on the Lord and spending eternity in hell, God will not force him to remain in His family. I believe ours are difficult days in which to be a Christian. Although the early church experienced persecution to such a degree that, by conservative estimates, six million of our brothers and sisters in Christ were martyred by Rome, Satan had a problem because the blood of the saints proved to be the seed of the church. The church grew. So Satan changed strategies. Unable to beat the church, he decided to join it and seduce it into lethargy and sleepiness. Thus, I suggest to you it is tougher to be a Christian in the days of pleasure and prosperity than in the days of persecution. Persecution necessitates a stand, a declaration, an identification. But in our day, people can come to church on Sunday morning and watch HBO on Sunday evening. And in so doing, they unknowingly fall prey to the seducing spirits that lure them away from the faith. “If you will contribute just a little more money to my television ministry, I guarantee you’ll be healed,” televangelist Bob Tilton’s letters promised the man diagnosed with cancer. The problem was, the letters were sent six months after the man had been buried. Consequently, it was reported that Bob Tilton lost a lawsuit filed by the widow of the deceased. The only explanation for corruption such as this is the demonic doctrines given to men whose consciences are seared, to men who no longer have any sensitivity to people or to the Lord.

1 Timothy 4:3

Diabolical doctrine results not only in a seared conscience but also in legalism that parades as piety.

1 Timothy 4:4

The Levitical dietary laws are pictures pointing to spiritual truth meant to drive us to Christ. But they are not to be embraced legalistically today. “Let no man judge you in meat or in drink or Sabbath days or new moons,” Paul said (see Col_2:16). Instead, we are to celebrate our liberty, pray constantly, and give thanks continually."

1 Timothy 4:6

Here’s how to be a good minister: Stay away from esoteric posturing, dietary discussions, and legalism. Keep the main thing the main thing. And the main thing is Jesus. In Paul and Timothy’s day, people were caught up in Greek and Roman mythology and genealogiestrying to figure out to which god they were linked and from which god they descended. Paul told Timothy to stay away from all such questions and to instead study godliness.

1 Timothy 4:8

The Greek culture put tremendous emphasis on the physique. But Paul says, “Timothy, understand this: I’m an older man and I’m telling you that bodily exercise profits littleor, as your margin may read, “a little while.” According to a recent study, for every hour one spends working out, he will live one hour longer. But think about it: The hour he gained was wasted in a hot, sweaty, stinky gym! There is, indeed, a little profit in bodily exercise. It’s a good thingbut not nearly as important as exercising oneself in godliness. If you have to choose between working out and worshiping, opt for worship every time. If you have to choose between Bible study and bodybuilding, always go with Bible study. It’s good to jog and to do deep knee bends, presses, and curls. But I wish people would put the same emphasis on jogging their memory of Scripture, bending their knees in prayer, pressing on in the faith, and curling up with a good Bookthe Word of God. A life of godliness is a win/win situation because those who choose to follow such a life will be blessed both presently and throughout eternity.

1 Timothy 4:9

Suppose our government suddenly collapsed, and a godless dictator appeared on national TV calling for the immediate arrest of all those allied with and linked to Jesus Christ. Would your neighbors rise up in one accord and identify you as a Jesus Person? Would the people on your campus label you as a Christian? It’s a probing question because Paul says reproach is inevitable for those who truly live out their faith. The result of godliness is persecution. “But keep in mind, Timothy,” writes Paul, “that Jesus is the Savior of all meneven of those who persecute you.”

1 Timothy 4:11

Timothy was to be a good minister, reminding people of simple truth. He was to be a godly minister, exercising spiritual disciplines. And now we come to the third section, where we see that Timothy was also to be a growing minister…

1 Timothy 4:12

What if the spiritual walk of everyone in your fellowship was exactly like yours? What if everyone gave financially to the degree you give every week? What if everyone prayed for missions to the same degree you do? What if everyone in the Christian community witnessed as much as you do? Where would we be? It’s easy to exhort others. Being an example ourselves, however, is much more difficult… “Son,” said the concerned father, “you’re not studying the way you could. 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 libraryand 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 more radical, you be more radical. The key lies in being an example. Be Thou an Example A Topical Study of 1Ti_4:12 I remember it as if it were yesterday. Tom McKee, my youth pastor, came to me, a freshman in high school, and said, “Jon, how would you like to preach this Monday night?” Honored, flattered, and excited, I said, “Yeah, okay!” And Tom went on to say he would be taking me with him on Monday night to the San Jose Rescue Mission. I had never been to a Rescue Mission before. I didn’t really even understand what they were about. I just knew it was an opportunity to preach. For my preaching debut, I chose the story of Zacchaeus and wrote a fifteen-page manuscript in which I proposed that Zacchaeus represented the people of Israel and the sycamore tree he climbed represented the Gentile nations. I went on to propose that just as Jesus told Zacchaeus He would come to his house, Jesus would draw His people out from the Gentile nations to come and once again have fellowship with Him. Monday night finally came. Dressed in suit and tie, I stood up to preach to a couple hundred of San Jose’s most down and out. Most were homeless, some just drunkand I realized as I began to teach that they weren’t listening to a word I was saying. I didn’t find out until later that the rule at the Rescue Mission was that those who wanted to eat had to first attend the service. So there everyone was. Their stomachs were growling, and their mouths salivating as I went on and on and on, enlightening them concerning the eschatological nuances of Zacchaeus and the sycamore tree. At about page eight, I felt the blush of embarrassment rise to my face and proceed all the way to my red hair. Just then, a guy stood up in the back and yelled, “Sit down, you overgrown tomato!” I sat down on page nine. It’s hard to serve the Lord to any degree when you’re young because people have a tendency to look down on you. “Who are you, you overgrown tomato?” they jeer. “Who are you, you high-school junior?” “Who are you, you college freshman?” “Who are you, you twenty-five-year-old?” Paul takes this tendency to task when he tells Timothy, “Let no man despise thy youth.” Neotes, the Greek word translated “youth,” is an interesting one. It was a term used for anyone of military age. In Paul’s day, a man was eligible for the draft in the Roman army through the age of forty. So the word “youth” here can refer to anyone up to and through the age of forty. Does this mean Timothy was forty years old when Paul wrote to him? Probably not.

Most likely, Timothy was in his late teens or early twenties at this point. Yet even if Timothy had been forty years old, his age would have been problematic for some, for not too many years after Paul had written this letter, writings known as “The Apostolic Canons” circulated throughout the early church, declaring that a man should not be appointed pastor until he was past thirty years of age, at which time he would be past “youthful disorders.” “Don’t let anyone put this trip on you, Timothy,” countered Paul. “Let no man despise your youth.” So, too, I say to you who are eighteen, sixteen, or fourteen years old"don’t let people say you can’t be used in ministry, that you can’t be used in the work of the kingdom because you’re too youngfor now is the very time for you to get going, to get engaged, to get involved. I have noticed that as people get older, they no longer have the courage to step out because their lives become too complicated. All too often, they say, “First I have to take care of this and do that"but the years slip by and they miss out on so many opportunities. If the Lord has placed a calling within you, how I encourage you to begin serving and ministering regardless of those who say, “You don’t know enough yet.” “There will be those who say you’re too young, Timothy,” warned Paul. “Don’t argue with them, but instead, be an example to them. Live your life in such a way that they will see there’s something deep and rich about you.” Paul then goes on to present six characteristics that would silence those who sought to criticize Timothy. And it should come as no surprise that these six characteristics are seen most clearly in the life of the One who is our ultimate ExampleJesus Christ. The account in Luke 2 is the only one in the Bible that shows us Jesus as a young Man. Yet in the one story we have, we see all six of these characteristics modeled perfectly… …be thou an example of the believers, in word… And it came to pass, that after three days they found him in the temple, sitting in the midst of the doctors, both hearing them, and asking them questions.Luk_2:46 Teenager, notice that Jesus wasn’t preaching to the elders in the temple. He was listening to them and asking questions of them. Let me suggest that if you want to be an example of the believer, your speech is to be based upon your listening to those who are older than you. “But they don’t know as much as I do,” you may say. Don’t you think Jesus knew more than those men in the temple? Yet He engaged in meaningful conversation with them for days. George Washington was right when he said, “When a younger man and an older man are conversing, the older man must never mention that he is older, but the younger man must never forget it.” You who are younger than forty, be an example of the believer in speech by listening, by asking questions, and by engaging in meaningful conversationbecause after He listened to them and asked questions of them, Jesus astonished the learned men in the temple with His understanding (Luk_2:47). …in conversation… And it came to pass, that after three days, they found him in the temple…Luk_2:46 (a) The Greek word translated “conversation” means “lifestyle,” or “conduct.” Teenager, if you were suddenly discovered to be missing, would Mom and Dad say, “No doubt he’s at church”? In your free time, where do you go? Jesus’ lifestyle was centered around the temple, around the things of the kingdom. It wasn’t part of His life. It was His life. If, as a fifteen-year-old, you decide that church will have priority over volleyball, football, delivering newspapers, or watching TVjust watch and see how God will bless you as you seek first the kingdom. …in charity… And when they saw him, they were amazed: and his mother said unto him, Son, why hast thou thus dealt with us? behold, thy father and I have sought thee sorrowing. And he said unto them, How is it that ye sought me? wist ye not that I must be about my Father’s business? And they understood not the saying which he spake unto them.Luk_2:48-50 Of Joseph, Jesus could have said, “He’s not my dad.” Instead, He corrected His mother so tenderly that neither she nor Joseph understood what He was saying. Jesus didn’t say, “Let Me clarify.” He simply spoke the truth, and then He backed off. Mary and Joseph didn’t understandbut Jesus didn’t press His point. So, too, while we are not to compromise truth, neither are we to strive, fight, or argue (2Ti_2:24). …in spirit… …wist ye not that I must be about my Father’s business?Luk_2:49 As a teenager, Jesus didn’t say, “I’ll try to be about My Father’s business.” He didn’t say, “I should be about My Father’s business.” He didn’t say, “I want to be about My Father’s business.” He said, “I must be about My Father’s business.” As an adult, He would say, “I must go and preach the gospel of the kingdom (see Luk_4:43). I must go through Samaria (see Joh_4:4). I must be lifted up on the Cross” (see Joh_3:14). Young man, young woman, be one who says, “I must titheno matter how the bills are stacking up. I must prayno matter how busy my day. I must serve faithfully. I must stay married to my husband. I must love my wife.” Show me a dad who says, “Family devotions are not optional.” Show me a teenager who says, “If the game interferes with church, I’m not going to the game.” Show me a man, a woman, a teenager, a married couple like that, and I’ll show you people God will use profoundly. …in faith… And he went down with them, and came to Nazareth, and was subject unto them…Luk_2:51 (a) Jesus submitted Himself to His mother and stepfather. It took faith to say, “I choose to submit to you. Even though you don’t understand what I’m saying, even though you don’t fully realize who I am, I choose to submit Myself to you because My Father in heaven has placed Me in this home, and I have faith that He has ordained this to be.” Whether at work or home, in school or in marriage, the key to submission is faith. The key to submission is saying, “Lord, I know that You are on the throne, that you put me in this home, that You placed me in this position.” …in purity… And it came to pass, that after three days they found him in the temple…Luk_2:46 (a) Left alone in the city, Jesus kept Himself pure. Although He was tempted in all points like as we are, although He felt the same temptations and tugs of the flesh we do (Heb_4:15), He didn’t try to sneak into a movie. He remained in the temple. In his second letter, Paul will tell Timothy to flee youthful lusts by hanging out with those who love God (2Ti_2:22). Seventeen-year-old, twenty-three-year-old, listen: There are “hot spots” all overplaces that will burn you out. Run from them and run to those who are gathering together to worship the Lord and to study His Word. Why should you be an example of the believers? Why should you follow the Example of Jesus? Look at the last verse of Luke 2… And Jesus increased in wisdom and stature, and in favour with God and man.Luk_2:52 If you choose to walk in humility, love, zeal, faith, and purity, you’ll increase in wisdom and stature. You’ll grow in favor with God and man. The choice is yours.

1 Timothy 4:13

“Make sure you’re reading the Word, Timothy. Make sure you’re growing in faith.” I feel one of the most neglected practices in the church today is the simple reading of the Word both corporately and personally. There’s power in the reading of Scripture.

1 Timothy 4:14

Each of us has been given gifts by the Spirit. But here’s the problem: We spend far too much time trying to strengthen our weaknessesonly to find that in so doing, we weaken our strengths! Go where you’re strong. If you are gifted as a worship leader, then lead worship. If you’re gifted with kids, plug into children’s ministry. If you’re gifted in one-on-one situations, don’t try to preach before thousands. Go with your strength, gang. Whatever God has called you to do, go for it with intensity and tenacity.

1 Timothy 4:15

Find a quiet place at a quiet time where you can meditate with a quiet heart. Moses spent forty days communing with God. But the congregation grew restless (Exo_32:1). “Where’s Moses?” they said. “We have Sunday-school committee meetings for him to attend, trustee obligations for him to address, denominational by-laws for him to discuss, retirement plans for him to consider. Where is he?” I appreciate this about Moses’ example: He did not come down from the mountain until he had the Word of the Lord in His hand. And because of this, when he did come down, he could say with authority, “Thus saith the Lord…”

1 Timothy 4:16

Why do I teach the Bible? Because I need to hear it. Every time I teach, I am reminded of the basics over and over again. And how greatly I need to know them!