Commands to The “Good Servant”

Transcript

GR 1274
5/30/2004
Commands to the Good Servant
1 Timothy 4:11,12
Gil Rugh


I want to direct your attention to the book of I Timothy 4. We have been looking into the first letter of Paul to Timothy, and we have come to the last part of chapter 4. It’s the presence of false teachers and false teaching in the church at Ephesus that has necessitated this letter. In fact that is the reason that Timothy is in Ephesus. He came there on a visit with Paul and Paul left him at Ephesus to finish up the work of straightening out the church, putting a stop to false teaching, bringing the church in line with the Word of God. And it’s the fact of the false teachers and the false teaching that makes it so imperative that Timothy provide strong, godly leadership for the church at this time. In I Timothy 3:15 Paul said the church is to be “the pillar and support of the truth.” If that’s what God’s purpose is for His church, that it be the pillar and support of the truth, if the truth gets corrupted and thus destroyed, the church no longer carries out the purpose for which God brought it into existence. It can no longer be the pillar and support of the truth if the message that it proclaims is not the truth. It simply becomes an organization with a religious identity.

And so the danger facing the church at Ephesus is very real and very serious.
Paul discussed something of the error being promoted at Ephesus in I Timothy 4:1-5. He said its ultimate source was demons, and the demons were using human instruments to proclaim doctrines that they had developed. And he explains some of those doctrines and showed their error in those verses. Then in verses 6-11 Paul set forth some of the characteristics that must be true of Timothy, if he is to be a good servant of Christ Jesus. We noted at least six characteristics in these verses. He must expose false teaching, the first part of verse 6, he must point out these things. The first five verses tell us these things. He must expose false teaching. He must himself be nourished on the truth, in the last part of verse 6, “nourished on the words of the faith and of the sound doctrine which you have been following.” He must reject false teaching, the beginning of verse 7, have nothing to do with it, reject it, disassociate yourself from it in every way. Good advice for people. Sometimes talk to Christians who are going to churches, and you know something what those churches teach, and you say, what in the world are you doing there? You understand the responsibility of a good servant of Jesus Christ is to have nothing to do with false teaching, disassociate yourself from it in every way. He must exercise self-discipline, the last part of verse 7, “discipline yourself for the purpose of godliness.” Compared with bodily discipline, which has little value, but godliness is profitable in every way and for all time. Verse 10, he must work hard. To be a good servant of Jesus Christ, you must work hard. You don’t earn your salvation, but as one who has been saved by grace and now living by grace, you pour all your energy and all your strength into faithfully serving the Lord. How long do we do that? Until He calls us into the presence of His glory. Verse 10 says, “it is for this we labor and strive,” words that denote hard, exhausting toil and work, ongoing struggle.

In verse 11, which forms a transition for us, connects to both what precedes and what follows. He must be a truth broker, he must be one who passes on the truth, who stands for the truth, who requires people to submit to the truth, who instructs them in the truth. “Prescribe and teach these things.” The “these things” refers to what he has been talking about in verses 6-10. And that would include what was in verses 1-5, because in verse 6 he says, “in pointing out these things.” There is a continual chain unfolding here. And Timothy, you are to be teaching these things, you are to be making the church aware of these things. That’s what’s involved in being a good servant of Jesus Christ.

Verse 11 is something of a transition. It connects with what goes before because he tells them to be prescribing and teaching these things that we’ve just talked about. It also begins the unfolding of a list of 10 commands given to Timothy in the present tense regarding his personal life and ministry. Commands given in the present tense means these are to be ongoing characteristics and practices of Timothy. They are not things he ought to take into consideration, they are things he is required to be doing. He could really build this around 12 commands given because there were 2 commands given in the present tense in verse 7, “have nothing to do with worldly fables” was the first, and “discipline yourself’ was the second. But he does move into areas specifically moving along in this development, so we’ll take verses 11-16 as a package, although verses 1-16 all go together. But within this package of 16 verses, 1-5 formed a unit, 6-11, and 11-16 give us their own particular emphasis.

What is Timothy to do? How is he to conduct himself? What are his personal responsibilities? What are his ministry responsibilities? Verse 16 will wrap it up, “Pay close attention to yourself and to your teaching; persevere in these things, for in doing this you will ensure salvation, both for yourself and those who hear you.” The issues at stake are of ultimate importance. We’re talking about salvation. We talk about the church being the pillar and support of the truth, we’re talking about God’s plan of redemption being proclaimed to a lost world. And it’s the pure milk of the Word of God that brings salvation. The Word of God corrupted with men’s ideas does not bring salvation. The Word of God corrupted with men’s ideas does not produce growth. So these are matters that Paul speaks very firmly to Timothy about. These wouldn’t be new matters to Timothy, because we’ve observed it and we’ll see it again in a moment. Timothy has spent at least a dozen years as a partner in Paul in ministry. He had been part of that ministry, he had observed Paul, he had shared even in Paul’s imprisonment, he had served as Paul’s representative on other occasions in difficult circumstances. But we never outgrow the need to be reminded of what God requires of us as His servants.

Look at verse 11, “Prescribe and teach these things,” the things that I have been unfolding for you in these previous verses. It also moves us on. The first two commands are given here and they have to do with the material that Paul has been giving Timothy in the first 10 verses. And he enforces it with this present command, you be continually prescribing this, you be continually teaching it. These are things that are easy to overlook and avoid, because it is pointing error, it’s identifying false teachers and false teaching. It’s putting a stop to that kind of teaching. That’s not easy, that offends people, that divides people, that creates issues in the church we would rather not have to deal with.
Some of these who are teaching wrong doctrine are well established in the church at Ephesus, they have their own following. Easy for Timothy to look for ways not to address this. Maybe it’s not a good time, maybe we ought to let that sit for awhile, we don’t want to cause more trouble than we need, there is no sense in offending people over this. Let’s just let it go and maybe over time it will work itself out. Whatever might have been going on, Paul says to Timothy, first command, be authoritative, prescribe. Means “to be authoritative.” We looked at this word, it always carries with it, this verb in the New Testament, the idea of a command. Here are meanings given if you would go to a Greek dictionary on the word. Means “generally give orders, command, instruct, direct.” And it’s used of all kinds of persons in authority. So you see that ring of authority is always involved with the word. The person is giving his instruction with authority, so there is a command element in what is being given.

This same verb was used back in chapter 1 three times, I want you to turn back there. Sometimes our English Bibles translate the same Greek word differently for variety, but it does lend to some confusion. Not that the translation is wrong, but it doesn’t enable us to see the connection. In I Timothy 1:3, “As I urged you upon my departure from Macedonia, remain on at Ephesus so that you may instruct.” And there’s our word, means “instruct with authority.” “You may command certain men not to teach strange doctrines.” So Timothy you have to step up. I left you in Ephesus so that you would put a stop to the false teachers, those men teaching those doctrines must be silenced. You instruct them with authority, you command them not to teach different doctrines. Down in verse 5, “but the goal of our instruction.” Here’s our word again, of our command, of our authoritative words “is love from a pure heart, a good conscience and a sincere faith.” Down in verse 18, “this command,” and there they translated command, so this one Greek word has been translated instruct, instruction, command and prescribe in the verse we’ve looked at. But it’s the same word. And all these words carry that idea of authority. When the word is translated instruct, it carries the idea of instruct with authority. There’s an element of command in this. So Timothy is to be authoritative. This command I entrust to you, Timothy. So you are to fight the good fight. I’m entrusting this to you, and you in turn are to do with it as you are responsible. Be authoritative.

Turn over to II Timothy 1. There is some indication in the New Testament, and we’ll see more of this in a moment, that perhaps Timothy was of a more retiring nature. We refer to him sometimes as a timid person. We don’t get that idea with the Apostle Paul. And we all have our own personalities. Some people are by their very personality, their very nature more aggressive. They more naturally step to the fore. Other people, their personality is of a more retiring nature. Their tendency is to want to step back, to avoid conflict, to shun dispute. But the responsibility God sets on us is not limited to our personality. Timothy can’t shirk his duty by saying, I’m just not made like the Apostle Paul. Okay, now we have that out of the way, do what you’re supposed to do. You don’t have to be Paul, but you have to do what God commands you to do. Paul writes his second letter to Timothy and he says in II Timothy 1:7, “For God has not given us a spirit of timidity.” This is in the context of telling Timothy in verse 6, stir up the gift that’s in you, fan the flames, stoke the fire. God hasn’t given us a spirit of cowardice. It seems to clearly indicate that Paul saw in Timothy perhaps a tendency or desire to shrink back from the heat of the battle. Paul says that kind of spirit doesn’t come from the Lord, so I can’t hide behind, well, it’s not my personality. That doesn’t become an issue here. Timothy can’t say to Paul, well, Paul I’m not like you. Fine, if you’re not like me. But let me tell you what God gives to a person, He does not give to a person a spirit of cowardice. If that’s the spirit you’re manifesting, you didn’t get it from the Lord. The Holy Spirit gives a spirit of “power, love and discipline.”

Timothy is to present the Word of God boldly without apology, because it is God’s Word. And heaven forbid that I should apologize for God. Well, God said this, but I don’t feel good about telling you. God said this, but it’s not something I really want to get into a battle with you over. And I end up apologizing for God. Sometimes I do it by my silence, I just won’t say anything. That’s why in II Timothy 1, Paul has to tell Timothy, don’t be embarrassed about me or the gospel. So we say, well, I won’t say anything, I’ll just keep quiet. Not an option. That’s a spirit of cowardice. Timothy, it’s God’s Word, it’s truth, you’re part of God’s family, the church, which is the pillar and support of the truth. You be authoritative. Goes in the face of the world, the world doesn’t like to be told this is truth, this is the truth of God. Everything in conflict with this is false. That offends people, they don’t want to hear it. But it is biblical. Timothy has to be authoritative, because he is dealing with God’s Word.

Come back to I Timothy 4. He’s not only to be authoritative, he’s to be instructed. If I make up some of these words, I had a couple words that fit into my words here, and then I went to the dictionary and found out they didn’t exist, so I had to change them. He is to instruct them, he is to teach them as Paul did in the first 5 verses. He taught them about false teachers, he taught them about the source of false doctrine and demons. He exposed the error that was being taught at Ephesus, he showed how that error was in conflict with the Word of God and really was an attack on the character of God as the Creator. He taught them. So there is an authoritative presentation of this truth where it demands obedience, there is also the explanation of this truth to give you understanding. Timothy is to be doing both.

Thirdly in verse 12, he is to be confident, he is to be confident. I had here, be
unintimidated, but I couldn’t find it anywhere. So I was just going to if it’s a word
it wasn’t in the dictionary and my computer would keep redlining it. So I changed it to be confident. But he’s telling Timothy not to allow himself to be intimidated. “Let no one look down on your youthfulness.” You know what, people want to reject the Word of God, and here we’re dealing with people in the church at Ephesus. We have individuals teaching doctrine contrary to the truth of God in the church at Ephesus. But they want to reject God’s truth in the church, you just can’t stand up and say, “I reject God’s truth.” You have to find another reason as a cover for yourself. And one reason that people might reject the truth as Timothy gives it, he’s too young. I mean, he’s a kid. Who are you to be telling me? So Paul commands Timothy, he doesn’t just encourage him, he gives a command here, present tense. I mean it’s the Word of God that’s at stake, so you have to take a stand. It doesn’t matter whether Timothy is 20 or 80, the truth of God is the truth of God is the truth of God. So you don’t let people reject God’s truth by saying, you’re too young. Who are you to tell me? Some of you have had to deal with that with your parents. When you got saved you went home and shared the gospel with your parents and they immediately want you to know you’re the child. Doesn’t matter whether you’re the 20-year-old child or the 25-year-old child, you’re still the child. And what makes you think you know more about getting to heaven than they do. The issue here is not how old a person is, the issue here is, what does God say. Timothy, don’t let anyone look down on your youthfulness, don’t be intimidated.

That word youth or youthfulness is a Greek word that would have been used for anyone up to 40 years of age, and that’s true in the secular realm as well as its use here in the Bible. And there are abundant evidences, you can go to one of the better commentators that will give you examples from the secular world of its use for people up to about 40 years of age. Now I mentioned in our last study that Timothy had spent a dozen or more years with Paul. We get this because in Acts 16 on the Second Missionary Journey is when Paul took Timothy on as an associate. That would have been around 49 or 50 A.D. This letter is written somewhere around 62-64 A.D. Some might make it 65 A.D., in there, but usually 62-64. So you see somewhere 12-15 years have gone by. If Timothy were 20 when Paul took him on as an associate in Acts 16, he’d be about 35 now. We don’t know for sure how old Timothy was when he became a traveling companion of Paul in Acts 16, but at least you get some idea of where we are with Timothy—somewhere in his 30s, maybe 35 we’ll pick. But he could have been 32, he could have been 37 or 38. We don’t know exactly. But the fact he’s young, he’s somewhere under 40. Now you can picture this. We have 5 pastors on staff right now, 4 of them are over 60, 1 of them is 35. What does he know? I mean, come on, here’s where the wealth of knowledge is. One commentator wrote, it’s a perennial problem, and the writer of that is now about 82, I think. And he says it’s a perennial problem. We adults and the older people tend to think the younger people don’t know. Now in our society we’re getting it turned around, and we’re taking opinion polls of what junior highers think to find out what adults ought to do. But in normal thinking adults are recognized that they should have more wisdom.

He comes to the truth of God here, and there is to be respect on Timothy’s part, we’ll get to that in just a moment. But he is not to allow anyone to look down on him just because he is younger. Some of these men teaching wrong doctrine might be 60, and now Timothy is 35, has to come and tell them what you’re teaching is wrong, you must stop now. Immediate response is, who are you? You’re just a kid and you can tell me?
So Timothy, don’t you allow them to look down. This verb “to look down” on means “to despise, to scorn, to treat with contempt.” Now he tells Timothy this because it’s difficult enough to confront people when they are doing something wrong. The fact they’re doing something wrong gives a good indication they probably aren’t going to like you telling them. And now Timothy is going to have to come and tell those who are older than he, he is going to have to command them that they have to stop their teaching now. They’re going to say, you’re too young to tell me. They try to undermine his position in the church, even as Paul’s representative, by saying, look, he’s just a youth, he doesn’t have the experience in life or the opportunity to have grown as I have. So he shouldn’t be telling me. You tie that to Timothy’s perhaps tendency to timidity, and Paul has to tell him you don’t allow this to be an excuse for the truth to be rejected.

Back up to I Corinthians. Spending a dozen years as Paul’s traveling companion was probably 40 years of experience with anybody else. I mean you travel with Paul from city to city, he’s even with him during his Roman imprisonment. He had served as Paul’s representative in going to difficult situations at other times. The Corinthian church, when we think of the Corinthian church we think of trouble. The Corinthian church had a hard time accepting Paul’s authority. You know who Paul sent to Corinth as his representative with a letter setting the church straight? You guessed it, Timothy.
I Corinthians was written to the Corinthians years before the letter that we’re studying to Timothy at Ephesus. Paul is at Ephesus when he writes this letter. He writes to the Corinthians and says, I’m going to remain at Ephesus for a while. I Corinthians 16:10, “Now if Timothy comes,” and he will, Paul is going to send him, “see that he is with you without cause to be afraid.” He has to tell the Corinthians, don’t you intimidate Timothy, for he is doing the Lord’s work as I also am. So let no one despise him. Don’t look at Timothy and say, he’s too young, he’s incapable. He’s doing the Lord’s work, he gets respect for that. His authority comes from the fact he’s serving the Lord, he’s bringing the truth of God to you. It’s not a matter whether he’s 30 or 50. But the very fact he has to put this in the letter, don’t do things that would cause Timothy to be afraid, don’t despise him, put together with his second letter to Timothy, God doesn’t give us a spirit of timidity, you get the sense that Timothy’s natural makeup was to withdraw from potential conflict. But that didn’t change his responsibility. I find that encouraging that we look and see what God has called us to do, instructed us to do, and we do it. Cleans up my life and simplifies it. I don’t have to sit through and try to do a personality test to find out what kind of personality I have to find out if I will be able to do this, I just do it. That’s what God says to do, and He gives the strength, the power, the discipline to do it. So I don’t park in a puddle trying to analyze myself from the human perspective. It’s determined this is what God has said, His power is sufficient, so it is to be done.

Come back to I Timothy 4. So Timothy is to be authoritative, he is to be instructive, he is to be confident. But these things don’t mean self-assertive. You know you can go to a secular bookstore, a Christian bookstore, probably, and get the same kind of book, on how to assert yourself, how to become a confident person, how to do power interviews. But that’s not what Paul is talking about with Timothy, that you learn to build yourself up and you pump yourself and you build your self-confidence. And I am somebody and I can do it, and then you step in there and tell them I have the authority and you’re going to pay attention or you’re out of here. And I have enough confidence to do it. No, that’s not the attitude. So Paul says in verse 12 in the next command, don’t let anyone “look down on your youthfulness, but show yourself an example of those who believe.” So when they watched Timothy they would see the evidence of godliness, of maturity. You can demonstrate godly character and maturity at 35 as well as at 65. They ought to see you as the example to be followed in godliness. That’s the end of people looking down on your youthfulness—manifest true spiritual maturity. In other words, Timothy’s ministry of the Word must be supported by a life that has been changed by the
Word that he preaches. Thus he demonstrates the truth in his own life to those that he is commanding and instructing.

The Apostle Paul left no room for a dichotomy between what you say and what you do. We sometimes think we can get by telling our kids, you do what I say, not what I do. And there is one element of truth in that. They can’t do everything that adults can do. We adults need to learn that. We think the kids ought to be able to do everything the adults can do. But you can’t get by with inconsistencies in your life. It’s hollow, because it wasn’t supported by a life that demonstrated a commitment to that truth. That’s what Paul wants to warn Timothy of. You’re young, but you can demonstrate, even as a young man, before believers, godly character. That will support your proclamation of the truth.

Turn back to Philippians 3, a little bit before I Timothy, thumb through a few books there, it’s not very far. Philippians 3:17, Paul was never afraid to say, use me as an example, follow my pattern, imitate me. The word used to be an example. Show yourself an example, Paul writes to Timothy. It’s the word tupos. We get the word type from it, and it was originally used of a stamp or a press that made an image. And when you had a stamp, you stamped it and it left the exact image of what was on the stamp. So be a pattern or an example to follow. Paul says in Philippians 3:17, “Brethren, join in following my example and observe those who walk according to the pattern you have in us.” Follow my example and follow those who are following my example. So people that come to this fellowship of believers, you ought to be able to say to them, listen to the Word and you can pattern your life after me. That doesn’t mean they have to do everything in the way you do them, but as far as godly character, mature conduct, you can just look at my life and you’ll see what you should do. Isn’t that part of what we’re doing here? If you told someone they ought to be under the teaching of the Word, they came this morning and you weren’t here because you decided to stay in bed, that was a pretty poor example, wasn’t it. Because what you said and what you do didn’t follow.

The Word of God, that is unchanging. God has spoken, we commit our lives to it and pour our lives into it, we build our lives upon it. Oh, yes, how often are you involved in the study of the Word? Oh, I try to get there once or twice a month if it works out. Any wonder people say, well, it’s just empty words. Paul says, follow my example, you’ll see what a godly man is like. The fruit of the Spirit, you’ll see them in me, how you conduct yourself. Doesn’t mean everything we do, again, but as far as the character of God being seen in us in our behavior, there it is. And to be able to say to people, I wish you could come with me. How do I know how to behave at work? Well, if it’s feasible you could come and follow me around at work. Your situation will be a little different, but you’ll see, here’s how I as a godly man have to conduct myself in these situations. Paul didn’t have any qualms about, use me as an example, follow my example. And then follow the examples of those who follow me. That’s why he had to tell Timothy, be an example. Timothy is to be patterning his life as a godly man after Paul. And now the people at Ephesus should be able to pattern their lives after Timothy. Doesn’t do any good to say, oh, no, don’t look at me. Why not? Are there things in your life that don’t belong there? Get them out. This idea, oh, don’t use me as an example. Why not? Do we believe this truth? Well, somewhat. What do you mean, somewhat? You either believe it or you don’t. You’re not half-saved, you’re either saved or you’re not. I mean, be an example, follow my example.

Listen to what Peter wrote, we won’t turn there. I Peter 5:3, he wrote to the elders and elders have authority over the flock. But he says, “Nor yet as lording it over those allotted to your charge,” not lording it over the church, “but proving to be example to the flock.” Elders have authority, the church is commanded to submit to its leaders, but the elders need to be careful that they understand that they are not lords over the flock, that they are to be leading by their example. Doesn’t mean there are any perfect people. Timothy is not a perfect man, Paul is not perfect. There should be no glaring deficiencies in their lives, no area, look at it and say, why would that be in their life. Be an example.

And what Paul does is give Timothy 5 areas where he is to be an example.
We’re just going to walk through them. There are 5 prepositional phrases, back in I Timothy 4. A prepositional phrase is simply a phrase that begins with a preposition.
The preposition here is “in.” So you’ll note, at the end of verse 12, “Show yourself an example of those who believe,” “in speech.” You see the preposition “in,” in front of speech. In the Greek text the preposition “in” is in front of every one of these words. We leave it out in our English Bible just because it flows better in our English than to repeat it. But there is an emphasis here—in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith, in purity.
These are the areas where you are to be an example to believers of how they are to live and conduct themselves. The first area is “in speech,” in word, logo, in word. How you talk. Paul was concerned about this, the words of a believer.

Back up to the letter to the Ephesians, Ephesians 4. It is important, Paul has already written a letter to the Ephesians several years earlier, telling them about the importance of their words, their speech. It would be a terrible thing for Timothy to come there and misuse his tongue. It would undermine any effectiveness he would have. Ephesians 4:25, “Therefore, laying aside falsehood, speak truth, each one of you with his neighbor, for we are members of one another.” He’s talking about believers’ relationships to one another. We ought to tell the truth to one another. Speak truth to one another, because we’re members of one another. Down in verse 29, “Let no unwholesome word proceed from your mouth, only such a word as is good for edification, according to the need of the moment, that it may give grace to those who hear. Do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God.” You see what happens with our tongues? If we don’t use them wisely, we grieve the Holy Spirit. “Let all bitterness, wrath, clangor, clamor, slander be put away from you with all malice.” Down in Ephesians 5:4, “There must be no filthiness and silly talk, coarse jesting which are not fitting, but giving of thanks.”

In Matthew 12:34, Jesus said, “For the mouth speaks out of that which fills the heart.’ Our words reveal our heart, what we say reveals our character. So in his private conversation and in his public speaking, Timothy is to be an example of godliness. It’s a tough area. James says that no one totally controls the tongue. If he did he’d be a perfect individual. But there’s not a person here who doesn’t have trouble with their tongue. It’s hard not to sin with your tongue. Timothy, you be an example in your words, what you say, how you say it.

Second area, sphere, in which he is to be an example is “in conduct,” in conduct. In other words, your life and lifestyle should demonstrate a change. The power of God impacts a life so that the old man dies and you are created a new man in Christ. You are born again and the Spirit of God now dwells in you, and there is no significant change in your conduct, in the way you live? The Bible knows nothing of that kind of salvation. The Bible only knows of a salvation which brings the power of God into a life with all of its life-changing force.
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get to Ephesians 4. He’s talking about the truth that’s in Christ at the end of
verse 21. Then in verse 22, “That in reference to your former manner of life.” Your former manner of life is the same word we have translated “conduct” in I Timothy 4. Timothy is to be an example in conduct, in his manner of life. So in reference to your manner of life, and here he’s talking about your former manner of life, your former conduct, you lay aside the old self, the old man. And that you be renewed in the spirit of your mind and put on the new man. So you see there is a total change and transformation that comes about. Now when Timothy comes to the church at Ephesus, he’s got to exemplify that. Paul has already written to the Ephesians of the importance of living as a new man in Christ. How is Timothy’s instruction going to have any impact, if his life doesn’t support it. It’s like if you don’t conduct yourself with honesty at work, and then you want to share the gospel, what do you do. They already know I’m dishonest, they already know I don’t work very hard, I slough off, I take extra long for my lunch and my break, and I only do what is necessary to get by. I don’t think they’d want to hear me share the gospel. Of course not. We have to be an example in our conduct so that the word we share has impact. Peter put it this way, II Peter 3:11, “Since all of these things are to be destroyed in this way, what sort of people ought you to be in holy conduct,” and there’s our word, “and all godliness.” Look around, everything you can see or touch is going to be destroyed. That ought to be a motivating factor for you for a holy manner of life, godliness, living for the Lord.

Back to I Timothy 4. We are to be an example “in love.” Paul told the Ephesians in Ephesians 5:2, “Walk in love, just as Christ loved you and gave Himself up for us.” This is a defining characteristic of a believer. Listen to I John 4:20-21, “If someone says, „I love God,’ and hates his brother he is a liar. For the one who does not love his brother whom he has seen cannot love God whom he has not seen. This commandment we have from Him that the one who loves God should love his brother also.” I Corinthians 16:14 says, “Let all that you do be done in love.” I Corinthians 13 gives some descriptions of this love. You know we just have far too many people accepted in the church, oh, yeah, I know they’re believers, but there is lack of love. I’m not talking about the feeling, oh, I perceive you weren’t loving here.

Now some would take this to mean faithfulness. The word almost always means faith as trust in the New Testament. I think basically what we’re talking about here is
you demonstrate your faith, your trust in the Lord in doing this. I mean why are you doing this? Because I believe what God has said, because I believe He is true. So here, Timothy, you’re in this situation, you be an example in the realm of faith as one whose confidence is in the Lord. That keeps you from being shaken by men, being shaken by events, circumstances, attitudes of people. Your confidence is in the Lord, your faith is in Him. We say that about people. We look at a mature believer going through a trial, we’ll say, I don’t know how they can have such faith. Well, I’m just trusting the Lord. Take the next step, I’m trusting the Lord. We say, I don’t know if I could do that. Why not? Paul commands Timothy to do it. Be an example in faith. I don’t know if I can trust Him. Why not? Do it, trust Him. Did He say it? Do it.

And “in purity,” the last area he is to be an example, as Paul sets it forth. It’s a general word for purity, moral purity of all kinds, not just sexual purity, but all kinds of purity. The integrity of his life, that’s to be there. He can’t be a liar, that would undermine his purity, the purity of his moral character. But it would include sexual purity. Paul is concerned about this obviously, as a young man, Timothy would be susceptible to temptation. So he writes to Timothy in II Timothy 2:22 and says, “Now flee from youthful lusts and pursue righteousness, faith, love and peace, with those who call on the Lord from a pure heart.” It’s a different word than is translated purity here, but you get the idea. Timothy is not to become entangled in these fleshly things, but he is to pursue righteousness, faith, love and peace. And that joins him with other believers who call on the Lord from a pure heart. You have to be an example here, Timothy.
Being young doesn’t provide an excuse here. More ministries are destroyed in this area than we even like to consider. Be an example in purity. Your moral character must be above reproach, they must see maturity in you. Don’t want to see someone who is chasing after youthful lusts. Then there is no respect or willingness to submit to the leadership of that uncontrolled person. These are things that are to characterize Timothy and give weight to his ministry. Demonstrate that he is a godly man and one whose teaching has impacted his own life.

One other passage, Titus 2:7. Paul gave basically the same instructions to another young man, Titus. And he left Titus in Crete to correct things and set things straight in the church there. And in Titus 2:6 he says, “Likewise urge the young men to be sensible.” And then he turns to Titus, himself a young man, “In all things show yourself to be an example of good deeds, with purity in doctrine, dignified, sound in speech which is beyond reproach, so that the opponent will be put to shame, having nothing bad to say about us.” Can’t change what people say about me, I can only do my best to be sure there is no substance to the things they might accuse me of. That’s what Paul said to Titus, let them be ashamed, over time it will become clear, they lied.

Paul has given four basic commands here to Timothy, in his ministry, in his handling of the Word, in his personal life. Be authoritative, there’s no apologizing for God, no apologizing for what God has said. Be instructive, teach the Word, explain it, give them understanding. Be confident, don’t be intimidated or fearful by how they respond to what you say. Don’t be intimidated by their excuses, you’re too young, you’re whatever. Your confidence is in the Lord and in His Word. Be an example. The kind of areas we are to be an example is in our speech, how we talk, what we talk about. In our conduct, the general behavior of our life. Follow me. I don’t know if I want to go to Bible studies that often, I don’t know if I want to be in church that much, I don’t know
if My life will be a pattern for you. Be an example in speech, in conduct, in
love. I’m concerned to give myself for these people, not looking for a way to avoid the difficult things. I love them. In faith, to demonstrate a life of reliance upon the Lord, trusting in Him. In purity, to demonstrate the integrity of your life—moral purity, your sexual purity, the character of God is seen in you.

This is what we bring before the world. It is our responsibility as good servants of the Lord Jesus Christ. All of this so that men and women might hear the truth and believe. We have the message of salvation from the living God. His Son came to this earth, suffered and died on the cross and was raised from the dead so that any and all who believe in Him can experience the life-changing power of God in their hearts and minds, to make them a new person, a new creature, now living the life of God. The life which they now live in the flesh they live by the power of the Son of God, who loved them and gave Himself for us. We exemplify and model before the world what we preach to them.

Let’s pray together. Thank you, Lord, for Your truth. Thank you for the clarity of its message. Thank you, Lord, for the high calling we have as those who have been redeemed by Your grace through faith in Christ. Thank you, Lord, for the commands given that we might learn and submit and thus present before the world the beauty of Your character, the beauty of Your salvation. May we continue to grow in grace and in Your character until Christ comes. We pray in His name, amen.