Last time together  I Tim 4:1-6
Sobering reality that there are “liars” in the body of Christ
Those who speak “insincere utterances”
Offering to man a “higher and better way” to God
Evil intention to draw men away from Jesus to “other than Jesus”
Teaching  “Doctrine of Demons”
Defeat the plan of God and destroy God’s plan for man!
NOTE:
This should not surprise us!
cf. Gen 3 = Satan offered a higher plane to Eve using the serpent
cf. Mt. 16 = Satan used Peter to try and keep Jesus from the cross
Cf. Acts 5 = Satan filled the heart of Ananias and Saphira to lie to the church
Cf. Acts 20  Paul
“For three years I ceased not to warn you with tears, that after my departure
grievous wolves will enter in, even from among your own selves shall men
arise speaking perverse things to draw away disciples after themselves…”
TEARS!
This is serious business!
The presence of tears reveals the depths of Paul’s love for the saints, and
the gravity of the danger coming upon them!
Tears, however…
WILL NOT WIN THIS BATTLE!
NOTE:
The lies are so deceptive and the liars are so crafty…
There needs to be a plan, a practical hands on strategy for defeating them!
I Tim. 4:1-6
The Danger of Deception
I Tim. 4:6-16
Defeating Deception
1. Find “good servants” v. 6
Good  kalos = noble, admirable, excellent
Cf. II Tim 2 – Paul will call Timothy a “good soldier”
Cf. I Tim 3 – ministry is called “good”
A “noble work” requires “noble men and women”
Qualifier: What is it that makes a man “noble”
That which makes a man or woman “noble”  v. 6
“IF” you point out these things to the brethren
“these things” = context = errors of the false teachers
It would not be love to allow men to remain in or propagate error…
Must take a stand! The truth is at stake! Lives are in danger!
KEY: Method
“remembrance”  (suggestion)
As we point out error,
we are not to do so arrogantly, or in domineering or abusive fashion!
Ours is to be an “appeal” to think biblically…
“The failure to think biblically and theologically has cost the church dearly. It has
allowed the infiltration of all sorts of error. That, in turn, has led to the church’s
becoming weak and confused. Convictionless preaching, consisting of watered
down preaching, platitudes, and weak theology has replaced doctrinally strong
expositional preaching.
The resulting legacy has been one of confusion, psychological encroachment,
mysticism, and even psychic and occult influence in the church. Much of this chaos
can be attributed directly to the failure of pastors to think critically and preach with
conviction.
So many pastors have failed to draw the line clearly between truth and error and
build their people up in the rich and sound doctrine of God’s Word. Such weak
preachers are often said to compensate by having what some call a “pastor’s
heart.” A pastor’s heart however, is not measured by how good a man is at petting
sheep, but by how well he protects them from wolves and feeds them so they grow
to be mature and strong.”
To be enabled to teach others…
2. He/she must first teach himself (v. 6)
Bottom line:
Cannot teach what you do not know!
The more you come to know, the more you realize what you don’t know!
“Constantly nourished”
We do not study the Bible because we have to, nor to earn brownie points with
God, but to feed our soul… (cf. John 6:35, 51, 54)
The truth of God’s Word is to the soul what food and water are to the physical
body! (I Peter 2:2)
“Like newborn babes, long (crave) for the pure milk of the Word,
that you may grow by it!”
3. Say “no” to those things that would distract you from pursuit of God v. 7
KJV – “refuse”
NAS – “Have nothing to do with”
People are very often attracted to the new and novel…
“How many angels can dance on the head of a pin”
“When did God decree to allow the fall?”
From time to time, people bring me their “deep” questions…
“With all the love I can muster,
I really don’t care!”
“I am laboring to experience rest in the finished work of Christ
and lead others to do the same…”
Paul:
“such fables are fit only for old women to entertain each other (children)”
4. Discipline yourself v. 7-8
gumnaze = gymnasium
Ancient Ephesus was the site of multiple athletic games
Culture obsessed with exercise / physical body
Just as people train their physical bodies… (hard body requires hard work)
So train your soul and spirit! (intimate walk requires hard work)
A successful and fulfilling, experiential walk with the Lord doesn’t just happen…
Christianity is not an ethereal float through this life
Hard work! Discipline! Training!
Cf. Phil. 4:9
“The things you have learned and received and heard and seen in me,
PRACTICE these things, and the God of peace will be with you.”
Cf. John 13:17
“Now that you know these things, you will be blessed if you do them.”
5. Work hard in the ministry - v. 10
Labor = kopai = work to point of weariness or exhaustion
strive = agonizomai = agony; to engage in a struggle
We have “fixed our hope on the Living God = Savior of all men”
Just like athletes compete for a medal,
we compete for a prize  Person!
Person of God!
Person Who has the market cornered on “life”
Joy! Peace! Rest! Freedom! Righteousness! Acceptance! Love!
NOTE:
There are so many “good things” (bad things) in this life that would distract
us from racing for our prize
Cf. Heb 12
“let us lay aside every encumbrance…”
“let us lay aside the sin that so easily entangles us…”
“Let us run with endurance the race that is set before us…
…fixing our eyes on Jesus, the Author and Perfecter of our faith!”
J. Oswald Sanders “Spiritual Leadership”
“If a man is unwilling to pay the price of fatigue for his leadership, his
ministry will always be mediocre. True leadership ALWAYS exacts a heavy
toll on the whole man, and the more effective his leadership is, the higher
the price to be paid.”
THE PRICE IS WORTH PAYING!
v. 10 – Savior of all men
Soter (not sozo) = preserver, sustainer
Cf. Mt 5:45
“sun to rise on the evil and the good, send rain on the just and the unjust”
Cf. Acts 14
“satisfies all men with food and gladness”
“especially for believers…”
6. Teach with authority v. 11
Prescribe = order, give charge
Teach = pass on truth
You are not offering suggestions nor entertainment!
You are declaring the Living Word of the Living God!!!
Cf. Eph 4:11-16
Equipping the saints with the word of God
So they won’t be tossed to and fro by every wind of doctrine
Built up in Christ
Mature in the fullness of Christ
Speak truth in love
Build up the body in love, drawing from the Head that which supplies growth
“I know who I am!”
“I know Who I belong to!”
“I know where I fit and what I am called to do!”
7. Live your life as an example to others v. 12
No matter how young, no matter how old!
Thomas Brooks
“Example is the most powerful sermon”
• Speech
“Let your words be seasoned with salt” (Col. 4:6)
“Put aside anger, wrath, malice, slander, and abusive speech” (Col 3:8)
“Let no unwholesome word proceed from mouth, only edification”(Eph. 4:29)
• Conduct
“Let him show by his good behavior his deeds in the gentleness of wisdom”
“Take the lead in good deeds” (Tit 2:8-10) “Adorn the doctrine of God”
“We are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works.” (Eph 2)
“Preach Christ always, and sometimes use words.”
Francis of Assissi
• Love
“Love your neighbor as yourself.”
NEW COMMANDMENT - “Love one another, as I have loved you” (John 15)
This is the key identifying factor that we know the truth (other worldly love)
“By this the world will know that you are My disciples, by the love that you
have one for another” (John 13:35)
“Greater love has no man than this, that he lay down his life for another.”
• Faithfulness
Such a rare virtue  unwavering loyalty
“It is required of a steward that he be found faithful.”
• Purity
Hagneia = sexual purity
Nothing will so quickly ravage the effectiveness of a ministry as a sexual
scandal…
8. Exalt and expound Scripture v. 13
“give attention”  prosecho = diligent devotion
This is not just teaching, but all of the study and preparation that goes into teaching
READ
Something the modern church doesn’t do enough of
EXHORT
Answer the question “”so what”
Don’t just be a dispenser of information
TEACH
15x in the pastoral epistles
#1 responsibility of a pastor is to feed the sheep
Cf. John 17:17
“Sanctify them in Thy truth, Thy Word is truth!”
9. Don’t quit! v. 14
Others had confirmed Timothy’s giftedness via spoken word
Elders had affirmed his call to the ministry and identified with him
It is no easy calling…
Enemy! Lies and Liars! World! Temptation! Flesh! Physical limitations!
Very often want more for the saints than they want for themselves…
Easy to grow tired and discouraged…
10. Remain single minded and devoted v. 15
“take pains” with these things…
“be absorbed in them”… (Ministry is NOT a 9 – 5 job) Must take it w/you…
An effective, vibrant ministry that changes lives doesn’t just happen…
Plan! Strategize! Implement! Appropriate!
“Make progress” (v. 15)
NO MAN ARRIVES!
Progress = prokope = military term  an advancing force
Cf. Phil. 3
“I do not regard myself as having laid hold of it yet, but this one thing I do… forget
what lies behind and press on toward the goal for the prize of call of God in Christ!”
11. Pay close attention to yourself and to your teaching (v. 16)
PRIORITIZE!
In your care for others, make sure that you do not neglect yourself…
Cf. Ezra 7:10
“Ezra prepared his heart to seek the law of the Lord”
Guard your supreme call to proclaim truth!
NOTE:
He did NOT say pay close attention to the results…
Numerical growth, Budget, Baptisms, Conversions, etc…
Swindoll
My Ordination
Frank, you take care of the depth of your ministry
Let God take care of the breadth of it!
Cf. I Cor 3:6
One plants, another waters, but God causes the growth!
PERSERVERE!  hupomone
“strong, courageous, brave resistance to hostile powers, with a steadfast
spirit that will not be bowed down with grief or despair”
v. 16
“ensure (manifest) salvation both for you and for those who hear you…”
Cf. II Cor 2:14-16
“But thanks be to God…
Who ALWAYS causes us to triumph…
manifests through us the sweet aroma of knowledge of Him in every place..
we are an aroma of Christ to God among those who are being saved,
and among those who are perishing…
to the one we are an aroma of death to death,
to the other we are an aroma from life to life,
Who is sufficient for these things?”