← Back to sermon library

Well, it's very excellent to 
have everybody here tonight. It's a grand occasion, a celebratory 
time. As our brother Steve had mentioned, 
it's great to see the brethren from Surrey. It's good to hear 
of how God is blessing there. We've had a couple of people 
from our church visit recently, and they brought back glowing 
reports. It was also a privilege to have Michael Kirkpatrick next 
to me. I was thinking back to camp. 
But Pastor Kirkpatrick sat next to me yesterday to examine Ryan 
Maljars for the gospel ministry. So it's a real encouragement 
to see God's work in our midst. It's a real encouragement to 
be able to send our brother Ryan. It's been a blessing to be able 
to mentor him and to be his friend, same as it was with Pastor Kirkpatrick. 
It's always bittersweet. We train up men and then we get 
rid of them. It's not necessarily the best way to go, but that's 
the pattern that we've established thus far. Well, you can turn 
with me in your Bibles to 1 Timothy chapter 4. 1 Timothy chapter 
4. I'm glad we started an hour earlier 
because I have a lot of material. It's probably not what that means, 
right? So 1 Timothy 4. If you were here 
a few years ago, when was it, Pastor Mike, that we sent you 
out? Well, I preach the same charge 
to Mike and to the receiving church in Surrey from chapter 
4, verses 12 to 16. I aim to do that tonight with 
reference to Ryan and with reference to the brethren in Vernon. I 
hope that they are tuning in. and I hope that they're listening. 
So I'll read the chapter, pray, and then we'll look at verses 
12 to 16. So beginning in 1 Timothy 4.1. Now the Spirit expressly 
says that in latter times some will depart from the faith, giving 
heed to deceiving spirits and doctrines of demons, speaking 
lies and hypocrisy, having their own conscience seared with a 
hot iron, forbidding to marry and commanding to abstain from 
foods which God created to be received with thanksgiving by 
those who believe and know the truth. For every creature of 
God is good, and nothing is to be refused if it is received 
with thanksgiving, for it is sanctified by the word of God 
and prayer. If you instruct the brethren 
in these things, you will be a good minister of Jesus Christ, 
nourished in the words of faith and of the good doctrine which 
you have carefully followed. But reject profane and old wives' 
fables, and exercise yourself toward godliness. For bodily 
exercise profits a little, but godliness is profitable for all 
things, having promise of the life that now is and of that 
which is to come. This is a faithful saying and 
worthy of all acceptance. For to this end we both labor 
and suffer reproach, because we trust in the living God, who 
is the Savior of all men, especially of those who believe. These things 
command and teach. Let no one despise your youth, 
but be an example to the believers in word, in conduct, in love, 
in spirit, in faith, in purity. Till I come, give attention to 
reading, to exhortation, to doctrine. Do not neglect the gift that 
is in you, which was given to you by prophecy with the laying 
on of the hands of the eldership. Meditate on these things. Give 
yourself entirely to them, that your progress may be evident 
to all. Take heed to yourself and to the doctrine. Continue 
in them, for in doing this you will save both yourself and those 
who hear you. Amen. Well, let us pray. God 
Most High, we gather together on this Sabbath day to praise 
and to glorify you. This is indeed a happy occasion, 
a time to celebrate, a time to reflect on your goodness and 
on your loving kindness. You've saved us by grace through 
faith as individuals. You've brought us together in 
local churches. You've raised men up in our midst, 
and it's, again, bittersweet to send them out. but it's a 
glorious thing to see the advancement of Christ's kingdom on earth. 
We know from the psalm we sang at the outset of worship that 
you have stationed Christ at your right hand where he must 
reign till all of his enemies are made his footstool. We look 
at the establishment of gospel ministry as one means by which 
that kingdom of darkness is plundered. wherein sinners are called out 
of darkness into marvelous light. Empowered by the Holy Spirit, 
the proclamation goes forth, sinners are saved and added to 
the church. God, we stand amazed at your 
goodness to your creatures, your sinful creatures. We stand amazed 
at the gospel of our salvation, the reality that in Jesus Christ 
we have the forgiveness of sins, we have a righteousness that 
avails with you. Father, we have the message that this world desperately 
needs. We know these are dark days in 
which we live. We live in a country where good 
is called evil and evil is called good. We know that politics certainly 
doesn't help at this point. We pray for the proclamation 
of your truth, the establishment of faithful churches. God bless 
the churches represented here tonight, bless other churches 
in our community, and may your word go forth, conquering and 
to conquer. Forgive us now for all of our 
sin and unrighteousness, cleanse us in that precious blood of 
the Lord Jesus Christ, and fill each and every one of us here 
with your Holy Spirit. And we pray through Jesus Christ 
our Lord. Amen. Well, in this particular 
section, we can see the apostle's emphasis is upon Timothy being 
a faithful minister of the gospel. Again, it's a very appropriate 
passage for an occasion like this. So there's obviously things 
that Paul specifies in verses six to 11, but because of time 
restraint, we'll only look at verses 12 to 16. And basically 
what you have emphasized by the apostle, first is the minister's 
example in verse 12. Secondly, the minister's public 
ministry in verses 13 and 14. Third, the minister's personal 
growth in verse 15. And then finally, the minister's 
perseverance. It's not enough simply to start 
off well, you have to finish well also. And God's grace and 
God's spirit is sufficient to enable us to comply with that. 
So let's look first of all at Paul's emphasis on the minister's 
example. in verse 12. He says, first, 
let no one despise your youth. He doesn't mean threaten them 
or hurt them, but rather the way by which Timothy will let 
no one despise his youth is by demonstrating maturity, by demonstrating 
faithfulness, by demonstrating godliness, by exemplifying the 
things that he is called upon by Paul to exemplify. He's probably 
about in his thirties at this particular time. And with reference 
to the prohibition, let no one despise your youth, that's not 
for the good of Timothy. It's not so that Timothy doesn't 
get offended or get triggered or get somehow his nose bent 
out of shape. It is for the protection of the 
message of the gospel. The people of God are not to 
sit there and ponder the age of the minister, they are rather 
to receive the word that that minister preaches. So let no 
one despise your youth. If you look back in the context 
at verse 11, he says these things command and teach. Now you can 
see why the apostle would follow that up with, let no one despise 
your youth. When a young man comes and commands 
and teaches you, there is that tendency, especially if it's 
something you're not keen on, to reject him, to resist him, 
and to say, well, you're just a young guy. Why would I have 
to listen to you? because he's speaking the truth 
of God Most High. And when that happens, do not 
despise his youth. Notice as well the positive exhortation 
in verse 12. So let no one despise your youth, 
but be an example. Be an example. That's an emphasis 
throughout the New Testament in several places. Paul is able 
to say, imitate me as I imitate the Lord Jesus Christ. Philippians 
chapter three, he says we're to find those to serve or function 
as examples for us. Certainly we have the Word of 
God, we have the Spirit of God, but the emphasis with reference 
to church life is that we have each other. We can encourage 
one another, we can build one another up in our most holy faith. 
Titus chapter 2, one of the emphases for the older women is that they 
are to teach or instruct the younger women. That doesn't mean 
they need to set up a pulpit. It may just mean they need to 
sit down with coffee and a sister and encourage her with reference 
to the Christian faith. So, do not let anyone despise 
you, Timothy, but rather function as an example to the flock of 
God Most High. And then he specifies several 
things. Notice. Be an example to the believers 
in word. This typically means his general 
conversation or speech. He's supposed to speak positively 
and he's supposed to guard his heart against speaking negatively. He's not to be a man who is corrupt 
in terms of his speech or conduct. That's the next term. Notice, 
in word and in conduct. The Lord God Most High has crown 
rights Not just over our words, but our thoughts and our actions. 
We're studying the Ten Commandments or just completed the Ten Commandments 
on our Wednesday night Bible study. You see how actions that 
are sinful are prohibited. But the commandments end on the 
high note of guarding your tongue, the Ninth Commandment, and guarding 
your thoughts, the Tenth Commandment. The law of God was never only 
intended for the external regulation of conduct. It goes to the heart 
of man. That's why in the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus says, you 
have heard that it was said to those of old, but I say to you. 
He's not contrasting his teaching with Moses. He's contrasting 
his teaching with the Pharisees. Those who said that in so far 
as you don't stop a man's heart from beating, you have satisfied 
the requirement of the sixth commandment. Jesus says, no, 
it was always intended to regulate the thoughts. You're not supposed 
to have that malice in your mind or heart toward a brother. Same 
with adultery. It's not just the prohibition 
against going into your neighbor's wife. You're not supposed to 
lust after her. And so with reference to word 
and conduct, God wants his men to be faithful in exemplifying 
these virtues. Notice as well, he speaks of 
love. Love. By this, all men will know that 
you are my disciples, if you subscribe to the Second London 
Confession of 1677. No, that's not what Jesus says 
in the upper room. John 13, 35. By this, all men 
will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another. 
And one of the blessed things to witness, I shrink back from 
saying this because I've never seen myself as an older man, 
but with reference to Pastor Mike and to be Pastor Ryan, they 
love people, they love brethren, they want to do good, they want 
to serve, they want to be faithful, they want to minister, they want 
to be what God has called them to be, and that is an expression 
of love. Notice he goes on to say, in spirit. It's a bit of 
a textual variant here, but I'm going to preach it as being there. 
Matthew Poole says it speaks of zeal, warmth of spirit, truly 
inflamed with the love of Christ and for His glory. I've often 
thought there are guys in this world that preach the Bible in 
a boring way. I'm not suggesting you have to 
have a loud voice. I'm not suggesting theatrics 
or anything like that. But this is the most compelling, 
most glorious written document in the history of the world. 
It is the revelation of the mind of God Most High for His creatures. He speaks of His creation, His 
providence, His redemption of sinners. It is most glorious. Preach it as if it were the word 
of the living and true God. Preach it as it is intended to 
be, that which is most blessed of God. Notice he goes on to 
say, in faith. Now the faith there is our attachment 
to Christ, justification by faith alone. wherein God pardons all 
our transgressions and accepts us as righteous in His sight 
only for the righteousness of Christ imputed to us and received 
by faith alone. So that faith is exemplified 
in a man's commitment to the Lord Jesus Christ in terms of 
salvation. But it's also a trust in God's 
Word. It's not a paring off the edges. 
It's not somehow thinking, well, if I preach it the way that God 
wrote it, I'll offend people. If I preach it in the way that 
God wrote it, we'll have a small church. Look at what's happening 
in Surrey by God's grace. That church is growing. It's 
a blessed exemplifying of faithful preaching and God blessing the 
use of the means. I have every expectation that's 
what's going to happen in Vernon as well. When a man who is owned 
by God, who is set apart by the church, preaches the Word of 
God accurately, preaches that Word boldly, again, we can expect, 
we can look for the blessing of God upon that endeavor. It 
is most glorious. And then he says, in purity. 
Impurity, most likely he's talking about sexual chastity. Look at 
chapter 3, verse 2. A bishop then must be blameless, 
the husband of one wife. He's a one-woman man. He is a 
one-woman man. He is sexually faithful. If a 
man is not good in that capacity, if a man is not to be trusted 
with reference to his own marriage, then why would you put him over 
a church? Why would you give him additional 
responsibility? This kind of thing is absolutely 
crucial to maintain. Notice in 5.2, where there's 
instructions on how Timothy is to conduct himself with various 
people in the church. Verse 1, Notice, with all purity. That's the emphasis of the apostle 
relative to Timothy's example. And again, I've seen this in 
Pastor Mike. I've seen this in my interaction 
and in my life knowing Ryan. And again, I expect, God willing, 
and if you don't, then we'll come after you, to see those 
things exemplified. Now notice the point. Again, 
I think it goes very much hand in hand with verse 12. Let no 
one despise your youth. How do you overcome that? By 
being a mature, faithful believer. George Knight says, the antidote 
given is to overcome the tendency of others to look down on youth 
by demonstrating a maturity in life and conduct. But I feel 
like I should add a qualification here, and I think Machin speaks 
well to this. J. Gressom Machin said, we can 
preach the gospel, they tell us, by our lives. Perhaps you've 
heard that saying. It's ascribed to St. Francis 
of Assisi. But, from what I gathered, he 
never said it. But it's something like, preach 
the gospel at all times, and when necessary, or if necessary, 
use words. I think that Machen is far more 
balanced, far more biblical, and far more excellent on this. 
He says, we can preach the gospel, they tell us, by our lives, and 
do not need to preach it by our own words. But they are wrong. Men are not saved by the exhibition 
of our glorious Christian virtues. If you want to get saved, don't 
follow me around all day. That's not going to lead you 
to heaven. It's the word of God. betray the things that I'm called 
to in this passage. It's not the virtue of a Christian 
that brings salvation to a sinner, it's the word of God Most High. Of His own will, by the word 
of truth, He brought us forth. There is no other name given 
under heaven among men by which we must be saved. He goes on 
to say, they are not saved by the contagion of our experiences. 
We cannot be the instruments of God in saving them if we preach 
to them thus only ourselves. Nay, we must preach to them the 
Lord Jesus Christ, for it is only through the gospel which 
sets him forth that they can be saved. Great emphasis. Be 
the example, be the faithful display of Christian virtue. 
But understand that unless men hear of blood atonement through 
our Lord Jesus Christ, they will not be saved. You must hear of 
Christ and Him crucified and resurrected. You must hear of 
Him and by grace believe on Him. That's the way of salvation. Watching a good Christian, watching 
a virtuous man, never let anybody into heaven. It is by faith in 
Christ. That is what the apostle everywhere 
emphasizes. Now notice, secondly, the minister's 
public ministry, verses 13 and 14. Notice, first of all, the 
commitment involved on the part of Timothy. He says, Give attention, not just do this 
once in a while, not just do this sort of willy-nilly, but 
give attention to this. The word means to continue in 
close attention to something, to occupy oneself with, to devote 
or apply oneself. And if you look at what he says, 
give attention, he then has three statements that begin with two. 
The kids will understand. These are called datives. This 
give attention governs the three datives. So give attention to 
reading, give attention to exhortation, give attention to doctrine. Now 
the reading of scripture in this context is not Timothy's devotional 
life. It's not his private time. It's 
not his quiet time. It's not the family altar. It 
is the reading of the scripture in public worship. Why? Well, 
in the first place, that was the pattern established in the 
Old Covenant. Deuteronomy chapter 31, everyone 
gathers together in the reading of the law. Nehemiah chapter 
8, the post-exiles, we see them turn their ear to the book. And 
then the Levites not only read the word, but they give the sense 
of it. They preach. They even have a pulpit according 
to Nehemiah chapter 8. You see this emphasis in the 
New Testament as well. Remember that in the first century 
they didn't have Cambridge wide margin Bibles. They didn't have 
Thomas Nelson publishers. They didn't have Zondervan. The 
way that the people of God received the word of God was by coming 
to church. The means of grace were absolutely 
crucial for the maturation and growth of the people of God. 
If you didn't come to church, you didn't get the Word. And 
so the Apostle wants Timothy to give attention to the reading 
of God's Word in the public worship of God Most High. Secondly, notice 
he says, give attention to exhortation. This word simply means the act 
of emboldening another in belief or course of action. Encouragement 
or exhortation. Turn to 2 Timothy 4, verse 2, 
you see the same word utilized. 2 Timothy 4.2, preach the word. Be ready in season and out of 
season. Convince, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and teaching. 
See, there are Bible studies, there are informational sessions, 
there are lectures to be sure that men engage in in terms of 
instructing others in the word of God. Exhortation under the 
power of the Holy Spirit seeks to move the will. seeks to move 
men to compliance with the Word of God. It's not just an informational 
session. Oh, wow, that was very much illuminating 
in terms of that particular passage. I remember years ago thinking 
that there was one preacher I typically gravitated to when I would listen 
to sermons. This was on these things that 
were called cassette tapes. They were little square things, 
and that's how we used to have to do things. It was rough. But 
I remember there was one particular pastor that I really appreciated 
because when I would listen to that man preach, there would 
be times I'd actually pull my van over and pray and ask God 
to forgive me. It was the kind of preaching 
that had teeth, and I don't mean legalistic butchery of men's 
souls, but I mean bringing the Word of God to bear upon the 
people of God in the manner in which Paul specifies. convince, 
rebuke, exhort, 2 Timothy 4.2, with all long-suffering and teaching. This is absolutely crucial in 
the church of Christ, not only to give the information, but 
to seek by the grace of God, under the power of the Spirit, 
to move the will of man. Now, we don't have that ability, 
we cannot persuade, but we can certainly bring to bear upon 
the conscience the truth of God's holy word. And then he ends on 
teaching. Notice, give attention to reading, 
give attention to exhortation, give attention to doctrine. Now 
the broader context is one of false teaching in the church. 
Paul stations Timothy in Ephesus to combat that. In fact, look 
at 118. He says, This charge I commit to you, son Timothy, 
according to the prophecies previously made concerning you, that by 
them you may wage the good warfare. Timothy wasn't simply there to 
make friends. Timothy wasn't simply there to 
be the guy that everybody loved. Timothy was supposed to wage 
the good warfare, to plunder the kingdom of darkness, to proclaim 
the word in such a way to see sinners saved and to see the 
saints sanctified. Well, with reference to Ephesus, 
there were some that had come in there and started twisting 
biblical teaching. You see it in 1 Timothy 4, verses 
1 and following. Now, the Spirit expressly says 
that in latter times, some will depart from the faith, giving 
heed to deceiving spirits and doctrines of demons. They have 
speaking lies and hypocrisy, having their own conscience seared 
with a hot iron. So there was certainly a difficulty 
involved for young Timothy, but Paul says, do this. Give attention 
to reading. Give attention to exhortation. 
Give attention to doctrine. Some of us remember when people 
in churches used to say, oh, we don't want doctrine. Doctrine 
divides. Doctrine separates. No, it's 
doctrine that unifies. That confession of faith that 
we subscribe, we don't look at it as infallible, inerrant, and 
inspired, but it is a great summary statement of things most surely 
believed among us. It brings us together. It helps 
us. It binds us together under the 
truth of God's holy word. Doctrine is a good thing. 1 Corinthians 
13, as Paul describes or defines for us love, he says that love 
rejoices in truth. The devil is about lies. The 
devil is about deception. The devil is about wickedness 
and lawlessness. The people of God rejoice in 
truth. They want doctrine. Philip Towner 
makes this observation concerning these things. He says, these 
were certainly not innovations in the worship service. Paul's 
not telling Timothy something that Timothy didn't already know. 
Again, you have the Old Covenant context, you have the emphasis 
in the ministry of our Lord Jesus, you see it in the book of Revelation. 
Over and over again, the churches in Asia Minor are told to hear 
the words spoken. by the Spirit to the churches. 
So he says, these were certainly not innovations in the worship 
service, but rather activities that needed to be continued or 
possibly resumed in view of the disruption caused by the false 
teaching. The currency of confusing and 
contradictory doctrine calls for ongoing instruction in the 
apostolic traditions, theology and ethics, to ensure conformity 
with the will of God. Brethren, like 2 Timothy chapter 
4, preach the word, be ready in season and out of season, 
convince, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and teaching, 
God knows what's best for his creatures. God knows what is 
best for his people. What do they need? Do they need 
worship teams? Do they need bongo drums? Do 
they need kumbaya? Do they need therapy sessions? 
They need the word of God proclaimed to them. In fact, turn back to 
2 Timothy chapter 4, the apostle gives two reasons for his command 
that Timothy preach the word. So the command is verse 2, He 
then gives two reasons why Timothy is to do that. Let's look at the second one 
first. It's in verse 6. Notice it says, 4, 4, I am already 
being poured out as a drink offering, and the time of my departure 
is at hand. I have fought the good fight. I have finished the 
race. I have kept the faith. Finally, there is laid up for 
me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous 
judge, will give to me on that day, and not to me only, but 
also to all who have loved His appearing. Paul says preach the 
word. Why? Because Paul knows he's going 
to die. Paul understands the imminence of his death. Philippians, 
he alludes to the reality that he could possibly die, but he 
wasn't as certain. Here he's certain. He knows there 
is great animosity toward the believers in the Roman Empire. 
He knows that Nero is nuts, and he knows that he's going to die. 
So he tells Timothy, in light of the fact that his departure 
is at hand, Paul's departure is at hand, do what you're supposed 
to do. Preach the word, be ready in 
season and out of season. But the first reason is found 
in verse four, I'm sorry, verse three. Four, the time will come 
when they will not endure sound doctrine. They don't want the 
doctrine that you're preaching or teaching, Timothy. You could 
hear Timothy, well then, I don't think I want to do that, Paul. 
Paul says that's exactly what you need to do. They're not the 
determiners of what's good for them. They are not the ones... 
It's kind of like your kid. If you ask your child what he 
wants for dinner, he'll probably pick cake over broccoli any day 
of the week. He'll pick the sugary sweets 
versus the cruciferous vegetables that'll do him some genuine good. 
And then when it comes to protein and fat, he may not even be thinking 
about those sorts of things. He is not fit, equipped, or qualified 
to tell the parents what is good for him. And yet in the church 
today, we have innovation. We have creativity. We have all 
kinds of strange fire offered up to God Most High in the name 
of Jesus and somehow persons think that's acceptable? Ask 
Nadab and Abihu if that is acceptable. It is absolutely reprehensible 
and the church must do what God calls her to do. So preach the 
word, verse three, for the time will come when they will not 
endure sound doctrine, but according to their own desires, because 
they have itching ears, they will heap up for themselves teachers, 
and they will turn their ears away from the truth and be turned 
aside to fables. Worldly logic would say, well, 
then don't preach the word to them. I mean, if that doesn't 
make them happy, do what's going to make them happy. Have puppets, 
have programs, have ponies if you're back in the 80s. Today 
it's, you know, guys rappelling in on harnesses and probably 
not even that anymore. We have gone astray relative 
to God's holy word. So preach the word for these 
reasons, the church's departure and the apostles' departure. 
Now back to 1 Timothy chapter 4. Notice the basis of Timothy's 
ministry. We're still under public ministry. 
Notice in verse 14. He says, do not neglect the gift 
that is in you, which was given to you by prophecy with the laying 
on of the hands of the eldership. So the public ministry that Timothy 
was called to engage in was to be continued. Again, it's not 
a flash in the pan. It's not a one-time good thing. It's not just go to Vernon, preach 
a sermon, and the rest of the time, yeah, you just kind of 
do this and sing the goofy songs. That's not it. Continue in them 
is what the apostle says. Do not neglect the gift that 
is in you. And then he goes on to say or speak of the origin 
of that gift, which was given to you by the prophecy with the 
laying on of the hands of the eldership. So the gift given 
to Timothy was from God. It's a passive verb, that means 
that Timothy didn't earn it, Timothy didn't deserve it, Timothy 
didn't work for it, it's a gift, right? When somebody gives you 
a gift, it's a gift. So Timothy has this gift given 
to him by God, it's recognized by the church, and then the eldership 
lays hands on him. Now in terms of the prophecy, 
we're not looking for prophecy anymore. There's no sort of open-ended 
canon of scripture. So we have the finished or complete 
canon of scripture vis-a-vis 1 Timothy 3, Titus 1, 1 Peter 
5, that gives us a list of qualifications to see if in fact a man has been 
given the gift by God to minister to the flock of God. And again, 
it's a blessed privilege for us as Free Grace Baptist Church 
to participate in that, to recognize a man among us, to test that 
man, to publicly examine that man, and to vote on that man 
and then receive him into our eldership. This is the same sort 
of an emphasis that the Apostle says. Timothy wasn't God's gift 
to the church because there was something intrinsically beneficial 
in Timothy. God made Timothy. God produced 
Timothy. God equipped Timothy for the 
work of waging the good warfare in Ephesus at that particular 
time. And the church is absolutely 
crucial. You learn from this. The minister 
of the gospel is not self-appointed. Neither is he self-promoting. We are to promote God. We are 
to exalt in Christ. We are to proclaim Him, that 
blessed one. The bride describes as altogether 
lovely and chief among 10,000. The minister of the gospel is 
gifted by God. He's identified by God in this 
particular context with the prophecy or by prophecy with the laying 
on of the hands of the eldership. Today we do it through the written 
word, 1 Timothy 3, Titus chapter 1. So the minister of the gospel 
is gifted by God, identified by God, and this is recognized 
by the presbytery or the eldership acting on behalf of the church 
of God. Now our confession acknowledges this. Our confession sees this 
as appropriate. Chapter 26, paragraph 9, it says, 
"...the way appointed by Christ for the calling of any persons 
fitted and gifted by the Holy Spirit unto the office of bishop 
or elder in a church is that he be chosen thereunto by the 
common suffrage of the church itself." That means she votes. 
It's not a popularity contest. It's not the pastor says, well, 
you know, I like this particular guy. He's quite handy, and we 
can use him in the ministry. That's not how it functions or 
operates. He must be what is described or laid out in 1 Timothy 
3. He must be what is described 
or laid out in Titus 1. He must be or what is described 
in 1 Peter 5. Again, not perfectly. And these 
lists of qualifications for elders should be every man's pursuit. 
Every single man, every single woman should pursue those Christian 
virtues. But in the man or men we select 
or elect for eldership, that must be proven. There must be 
demonstration of their ability to display and exemplify these 
particular virtues. So back to the confession, that 
he be chosen thereunto by the common suffrage of the church 
itself, and solemnly set apart by fasting and prayer, with imposition 
of hands of the eldership of the church, if there be any before 
constituted therein." Now, after I conclude the sermon, I'm going 
to call up Pastor Kirkpatrick, and I'm going to call up Ryan, 
and we're going to lay hands on Ryan. I'm going to first read 
to him a specific oath. He's going to affirm that, and 
then we will have him get on his knees, we will lay our hands 
on him, and we will pray over him. to signify that what God 
has given to his church has been recognized, that he is in fact 
qualified, and that he does in fact have the gift that he needs 
with reference to the Christian ministry. So it's a blessed procedure 
that we are involved in. It's a blessed thing that we 
get to participate in. Now notice thirdly, the minister's 
personal growth. The minister's personal growth, 
verse 15. Two commands. He says in the 
first place, meditate on these things. These things means God's 
word, it means theology. You know, when Paul speaks of 
eldership in 1 Timothy chapter 5, he says, let the elders who 
rule well be counted worthy of double honor. And honor in that 
passage means pay them, means financial remuneration. We know 
that because in 5.3 you're supposed to honor widows who are widows 
indeed. That means give them money so 
that they can buy food, so that they can buy shoes. Well, if 
a man is called, set apart by God, recognized by the church, 
and installed into the eldership, he's to make his living that 
way. But what Paul says is, let the elders who rule well be counted 
worthy of double honor. And then he says, especially 
those who labor in the word and doctrine. That's why yesterday, 
when we examined our brother, we went through the word and 
doctrine. Our confession served as the 
doctrinal basis for that examination, and that does show us, or it 
does quantify for us, that the brother has it going on. So notice 
that Paul says, meditate on these things. This means to improve 
by care or study, to practice, to cultivate, to take pains with, 
to fix one's mind on something, think about, meditate upon. So 
brother, it's a lifelong thing. You don't just prepare and finish 
the rest of your courses and then you just sit back. It needs 
to be an ongoing endeavor. This is what Paul says, meditate. 
on these things, but he doesn't stop there. He says, then give 
yourself entirely to them. Literally, it means be in them, 
be absorbed in them. The minister of Christ is to 
meditate upon the word and upon that blessed doctrine. Now brethren, 
I think this is pretty obvious. If I was a principal in a school 
and somebody wanted to teach history, I'd probably ask them, 
what were the last 10 books you read? If none of them had to 
do anything with history, I'd tell them to get out of my office. 
You need to be absorbed in your subject. Wherein is that most 
necessary but in gospel ministry? not only for the flock that he 
ministers unto, but for his own soul. I love Martin Lloyd-Jones. He says, when a minister reads 
his Bible, he doesn't read in the first place for sermons. 
He reads in the first place for food. Man shall not live by bread 
alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God. 
And then he counsels to have a pencil, and if you happen to 
see some sermon outlines while you're getting your food, go 
ahead and jot those things down. So there's a two-fold aim there. 
But with reference to the emphasis that the apostle gives here, 
Ryan, it's not just a matter of completing your studies through 
CBTS. It's not just a matter of completing 
well and very well what you did yesterday, but you need to keep 
on. You need to persevere. You need to meditate on these 
things. You need to give yourself entirely to them. And then notice 
what he goes on to say. He says, give yourself entirely 
to them that your progress may be evident to all. I don't want 
to embarrass Pastor Kirkpatrick, but if I asked the brethren, 
I'd say, has he been progressing? Is he more faithful and more 
competent in the handling of the Word of God? I would imagine 
everybody would say, oh yeah, oh yeah, it's evident, it's obvious. 
How is he in terms of character and example? Well, he's growing 
in grace and in the knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus 
Christ. That's the emphasis, right? It is to meditate on these 
things, to give yourself entirely to them, that your progress may 
be evident to all. Now, the pagan and the heathen, 
they don't care. I think the all there means the church to 
which you minister. There needs to be growth. There 
needs to be advancement. There needs to be progress with 
reference to the minister. What you know now, hopefully 
you will have exponentially in 10 years from now, in 20 years 
from now. If we happen to have a sort of revisited examination, 
you would dazzle us even more. The idea is to continue in them 
that your progress may be evident to all. Not so that everybody 
will say, boy, he's so great, he's so awesome, he's so holy, 
what a wonderful specimen of a human being. No, but what it 
does display, what it does demonstrate is that this man has truck in 
holy things and that it affects him for good. That's what the 
people of God need in our current generation. An emphasis on godliness 
in terms of character, what Paul touches on earlier, and then 
faithfulness in terms of instruction, in terms of ability with the 
word of God. competency to handle accurately 
God's truth. Now notice finally the minister's 
perseverance. Verse 16. The minister's perseverance. Again, a couple of commands. 
Verse 16, take heed to yourself and to the doctrine. The minister 
must take heed to himself. Personal piety. Go back in the 
context to verse 12. Be an example to the believers 
in word, in conduct, in love, in spirit, in faith, in purity. 
Take heed to yourself. He's not leaving you to figure 
it out. What does that mean? He's telling you how you take 
heed to yourself. Be faithful. Be a man of purity. Be a man who's committed to his 
wife. Be a man who governs his own 
house well. Be a man who's faithful in the 
little things, because those who are faithful in little things 
are typically faithful in much. That's what Paul's emphasis is 
relative to the man, but then and to the doctrine. Again, this 
is where a lot of guys go astray. They don't keep up. They don't 
read. They don't pray. They don't search the scripture. 
They don't continue to think. God's people need to be instructed 
with God's word, and the minister is to stay ahead of them so that 
he can feed them properly. If that sounds carnal or crass, 
I'm sorry, but that's the emphasis. Read theology, read Bible, obviously, 
each and every day, but grow in your understanding of these 
things and take heed to that. Take heed to your doctrine. Again, 
the confession of faith is a wonderfully helpful tool in this regard. 
It's easy for us to spot defection. It's easy for us to spot apostasy. If somebody in Vernon calls me 
in six months and says, you know, Ryan had a sermon teaching us 
on how to speak in tongues. Do you think I'm going to say, 
well, I hope it went well. I hope he handled accurately 
the word. I'm going to say, oh, really? And then I'm going to 
say, what date? And they're going to say, oh, 
it was last Sunday night. And then when I hang up, I'm going 
to call him. and say, did you preach a sermon on speaking in 
tongues? If he says yes, then I'm going to probably say, I'm 
going to come over and meet with you. And I'm going to bring Mike, 
and I may bring Cam. So you really, really better 
take heed here. Take heed to yourself and to 
the doctrine. This has a noble pedigree. Genesis 4.4. Yahweh had regard 
for Abel and his offering. Right? Abel and his offering. Acts 20.28. A passage we should 
get before us. You can turn there. Acts 20.28. 
The first pastor's conference. Acts chapter 20. The apostle 
Paul, verse 17, from Miletus, he sent to Ephesus and called 
for the elders of the church. And when they had come to him, 
he said to them, and now he addresses them. Look at his charge to them 
in verse 20. Well, we'll pick up at verse 
25. And indeed, now I know that you all, among whom I have gone 
preaching the kingdom of God, will see my face no more. Therefore, 
I testify to you this day that I am innocent of the blood of 
all men. For I have not shunned to declare to you the whole counsel 
of God. The backdrop is the watchman prophecy in the prophet Ezekiel. God tells Ezekiel, there is impending 
judgment coming. There is impending doom coming 
to Judah. And if you warn them, I will 
not require their blood at your hands. But if you don't warn 
them, I will require their blood from your hands. You haven't 
done your job. You haven't been a watchman. 
You haven't cried aloud, spared not, lifted up your voice like 
a trumpet, and told Jerusalem her sins. You've been derelict 
in your duty, and I will require it from you." That's what Paul 
has in his head. That's what Paul has in his heart. 
Now notice, he says, therefore take heed to yourselves and to 
all the flock. You see the emphasis there? Take 
heed to yourselves and to all the flock. Ezra 7.10, Ezra set 
his heart to study the law of the Lord, to do it and then to 
teach those statutes in Israel. There's a conspicuous pattern. 
You read the Word of God for your own soul. You read the Word 
of God for your own edification. You learn the doctrine of God 
such that you are strengthened. But then, having been girded 
up with that information, you pass it on to others. You preach 
it to them. So therefore, take heed to yourselves 
and to all the flock, among which the Holy Spirit has made you 
overseers, to shepherd the church of God, which He purchased with 
His own blood. And back to our text in 1 Timothy 
4, verse 6, if you instruct the brethren in these things, you 
will be a good minister of Jesus Christ, nourished in the words 
of faith and of the good doctrine which you have carefully followed. 
Verse 11, these things command and teach. And then again, verse 
13, till I come, give attention to reading, to exhortation, to 
doctrine. John Calvin made the observation 
in his day. At the present day, there are 
many who are well nigh sickened by the very name of preaching, 
because there are so many stupid, ignorant men who blurt out their 
worthless brainwaves from the pulpit." Imagine if Calvin were 
to drop in to our generation of Zoom Christianity. That was 
a genuine expression of blurting out your useless brainwaves through 
the medium of the internet. This is the reality. We have 
a context wherein we need faithful men, wherein we need consistent 
men, wherein we need churches that are about the Word of God 
and doctrine. So notice, he then gives him 
this emphasis on perseverance. Take heed to yourself and to 
the doctrine. And then he says, continue in 
them. The things specified here are 
non-negotiable. They're not up for debate. Timothy 
had no right or wherewithal to say, you know, Paul, I think 
you're going a bit overboard. I think I'll do quite well on 
my own. No, continue in them, persevere, 
be faithful. Again, it's not just starting 
well, it's finishing well. And as I've surveyed the scene, 
that's a tough one. That is a tough one with reference 
to gospel ministry. I'm sure there's statistics and 
data. I bet Pastor Mike actually has the statistics and data, 
how many men actually make it to the end in terms of gospel 
ministry. I think I've read somewhere that suicide is highest in the 
profession of dentistry. I don't know if that's true, 
but there is objective data out there that suggests such things. 
With reference to gospel ministry, I'm not convinced, and certainly 
in my observation over the last few years, not everybody who 
starts off finishes in that particular field. Paul says, continue in 
them, persevere, be faithful, be tireless, be relentless, do 
what God has called you to do. Again, not just initially, but 
in the middle and to the very end. The old timers in our church, 
old timers, persons that have been here for a while will remember 
the middle mile. The middle mile is the most difficult 
in a race. Everybody's at the starting line. Everybody wants to see their 
champ start and run that race that is laid before them. And 
then everybody comes to the finish line. You want to see your guy 
come across. You want to see your guy victorious. Nobody cares about the middle. 
You don't go to the middle mile. Well, that's where the race is 
fought and won. That's where the perseverance 
is most exhibited. That's where it is most demonstrable 
what that runner has in terms of grit and mettle and ability 
to persevere. It is the middle mile that at 
most of the times is most challenging for men. So I want to encourage 
you, my brother, continue in them. And then notice, for in 
doing, this is the rationale, this is the reason stated, and 
it underscores the gravity involved. Continue in them, for in doing 
this you will save both yourself and those who hear you. Now, 
I'm pretty convinced that everybody in here, at least to some degree 
or other, is connected in some form or other to a Reformed confession. And at times when we hear things 
like men saving other men, it kind of causes us to say, well 
no, God saves. Jonah 2.9, salvation is of the 
Lord. We saw that passage this morning 
in Revelation 7. That great multitude from every 
tribe, tongue, people, and nation, they don't pat themselves on 
the back when they stand before God on that blessed day. They 
say salvation belongs to our God and to the Lamb who sits 
upon the throne. In other words, they give praise 
and glory to God for the reality that it's God who saves. As Paul 
says in Romans 9, it does not depend upon him who wills or 
upon him who runs, but upon God who shows mercy. But now look 
at our text, 1 Timothy chapter 4. He says, take heed to yourself 
and to the doctrine, continue in them, for in doing this you 
will save both yourself and those who hear you. The Lord God Almighty 
saves, but He does so through means. I mentioned one of them 
this morning, one of the passages in 1 Corinthians 1.21. Romans 
10.17, faith comes by hearing and hearing by the word of God. Ephesians 1, 13, links our salvation 
to having by grace believed the gospel, the word of truth. James 1, 18, again, of his own 
will. 1 Peter chapter 2, verse 22 and 23, we're born again, 
not because we're great guys and girls, but because of the 
instrumentality of God's holy word under the power of the Spirit. But with reference to this emphasis, 
in doing this, you will save both yourself and those who hear 
you. He does not mean that Pastor Mike or Pastor Ryan have the 
ability to actually save people. But by continuing in that, by 
being faithful, you will demonstrate and exemplify that you have been 
justified by grace through faith in our Lord Jesus Christ, and 
you'll be a means of blessing and benefit for the people that 
sit under your ministry. You don't have the power to change 
their heart. You can't make them receive the Word of God. You 
don't grant the graces of faith and repentance, but you bring 
the truth that the Holy Spirit utilizes to do that very work. So if a man stands in a pulpit 
and all he's about is entertaining people, or all he's about is 
telling stupid stories, or all he's about is talking about himself, 
that isn't going to save those who hear him. They need to hear 
the word of God. They need to hear the truth of 
the gospel. They need Romans 4.25. He was delivered up because 
of our offenses and was raised for our justification. That's 
the emphasis, it's the instrumentality of the man of God that the Lord 
uses in terms of saving sinners. The Geneva Bible says, faith 
is by hearing and hearing by preaching. And therefore the 
ministers of the word are so said to save themselves and others, 
for that in them the Lord hath put the word of reconciliation. So they bring that word that 
sinners desperately need, the Spirit works in through by that 
word, and causes sinners to be born again, to believe the gospel, 
to close with our blessed Savior, and pass from death unto life. 
It is a high and a noble calling. And a lot of professions out 
there aren't described, and I don't like profession necessarily applied 
to the pastoral ministry, but it is what it is. Notice what 
we have in our passage. Continue in that. Continue in 
them. Pastoring, and this isn't a woe 
me moment, but pastoring's not really like everything else. 
I mean, there's a lot of similarities. You get up, you go to work, you 
do your thing. But typically, if a man is really a pastor, 
he never stops thinking about the people. He's always got them 
on his heart or in his head, and it's okay that they don't. If you're not thinking about 
me on a Thursday afternoon, that's fine. Great, great, great. Don't think about me on a Thursday 
afternoon. But for the most part, continue in them, be absorbed 
in them, be in them. That is a high and noble calling. It takes great grace. It takes 
gift. It takes what God has given to 
men that are recognized by the church, who are qualified according 
to the word, who've been gifted by God for the grand task of 
calling sinners to repentance and faith. Well, in conclusion, 
I want to first of all just sort of summarize everything we find 
in this chapter with reference to a faithful minister. I would 
say first of all, Ryan, you must instruct the church in the truth 
of God. Verse 6, if you instruct the brethren in these things, 
you will be a good minister of Jesus Christ. Do you know that 
fame and popularity and numbers doesn't make a faithful minister? 
Faithfulness makes a faithful minister. First Corinthians chapter 
four, I remember when I was sent out by the church in Southern 
California, Pastor Barcelos took that text. First Corinthians 
4.2, moreover stewards, or moreover brethren, it is required of stewards 
that they be found faithful. Not famous, not the best. I got a piece of practical advice. 
You're probably not as good a preacher as some people will tell you, 
but you're not as bad a preacher as others will tell you. You're 
typically right in the middle. Sometimes people say, I have 
the best preaching I've ever heard. Don't listen to that. OK, thank 
you. And if somebody else comes along 
and says, that's the worst thing, try not to listen to that either. 
You probably will listen to that, and it'll cause your Monday to 
be really bad. but instructing the brethren in sound doctrine. 
That's the job. That's the call. That's the emphasis. 
Preach the word. Be ready in season and out of 
season. Convince, rebuke, exhort. As well, you must reject heresy. 
Notice 7a. But reject profane and old wise 
fables. Don't give any countenance to 
bad doctrine, bad theology. Don't waste your time. I mean, 
know enough so that you can refute it, but typically the truth itself 
is enough to refute it. If you work in a bank and you're 
able to spot, you know, the real, the genuine, then it's easier 
to spot the counterfeit. So reject heresy. Third, you 
must exercise yourself toward godliness. Notice in 7b, exercise 
yourself toward godliness. In other words, it's not gonna 
just happen. You don't just go to bed and 
wake up one morning and wow, I'm godly all of a sudden. You 
need to discipline yourself. NASB I think renders it well. 
Discipline yourself for the purpose of godliness. Notice next, you 
must command and teach, according to verse 11, not suggest and 
confuse. These things command and teach. 
Again, we live in an age where people don't like this. I mean, 
praise God for Reformed churches where people actually do like 
it, but notice most Reformed churches aren't huge. They're 
not massive. This would be considered a megachurch 
tonight in our Reformed Baptist movement, right? I mean, you 
break a hundred, wow, you've really got something going on 
there. That's just the way it is. Why is that? Yeah, it's God's 
blessing, it's God's sovereignty, it's God's providence, all that 
to be sure. But we live in a day and age where people don't want 
to be told what to do, especially by a young pastor, a guy who, 
you know, thinks he knows it all. This is the emphasis of 
the apostle. You're supposed to command and 
teach, you're not supposed to suggest and confuse. We rip the 
guts right out of the Bible. when we present it as sort of 
optional. When the chatty pastor comes 
out with his hand in his pocket and a latte in his other hand, 
you know, he just kind of gives you some platitudes and some 
recommendations and a few virtues and tips on how to be a better 
you. That's not what the church needs. The time will come when 
they will not endorse sound doctrine. So what do they need? More sound 
doctrine. When the child won't endure broccoli, 
you don't say, okay, have cake. You give him broccoli. Hopefully 
in not too invasive of a way. As well, you must be an example 
to the flock. Again, verse 12, you must engage 
in the public ministry commanded by God. Church worship, New Covenant 
worship, is very simple. It is very simple. Terry Johnson, 
I think, has described it well. In worship, we pray the Bible, 
we read the Bible, we preach the Bible, we sing the Bible, 
and we see the Bible in the sacraments of baptism and the Lord's Supper. 
It is Word-centered. Give attention to reading the 
Word. Give attention to exhorting people 
from that Word. Give attention to doctrine, teaching 
people what that Word means. As well, you must engage, or 
rather you must remember, that you have been gifted by God and 
vetted by the church." You're always going to have doubts. 
There's always going to be this sort of, man, you know, this 
sense that you're out of place, right? I mean, I think about 
that first week in July. It's going to be odd for you. 
It's going to be odd for you to be set apart as a man that is committed 
to preaching the Word of God. And having to do it a couple 
of times, a week. And typically in our Reformed 
worship, we're not doing, you know, sermonettes for Christianettes. 
We're not doing 15-minute little pep talks. You're going to preach 
the Word. That's going to be demanding, and you need to make 
sure that you understand that going into it. As well, you must 
be devoted to the truth of God and make progress in personal 
piety and public usefulness. That's the end game. You bring glory to God and you 
do so through the sanctification, edification, growth of God's 
people, and the calling of sinners to repentance and faith. You 
must embrace the gravity of this position and conduct yourself 
accordingly. Again, verse 16 underscores the 
gravity. Take heed to yourself and to 
the doctrine, continue in them, for in doing this you will save 
both yourself and those who hear you." That's a grave situation. 
Or in Acts 20, 28, shepherd the church of God, which what? Which 
he purchased with his own blood. The church of God is like no 
other entity on the face of the earth, and you need to embrace 
the gravity of this position. And then in terms of perseverance, 
persevere. It's one of the blessed things 
of having gotten to know not just Ryan, but Esther. I'm looking 
only at Ryan. Esther's going to have some fun, too, in the 
next few years in terms of adjustment and in terms of life and in that 
regard. But faithful people, persevering 
people, don't stop. I wish I could make it more flowery 
and better, but don't stop. Just keep persevering. Keep being 
what you're supposed to be. As well, there's a charge for 
the congregation. With reference to a faithful 
congregation, you must receive the Word of God with joy. This 
isn't drudgery, brethren. The Word of God is everything. 
Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds 
from the mouth of God. When you come to the Lord's house 
to hear from the Lord of the house, that is a joyful occasion. That is a blessed reality. That's 
a gift given by God Most High for the good of His people. Do 
we receive it grudgingly? Do we receive it sleepily? Do 
we receive it as if it really doesn't matter? We ought to receive 
the Word of God with thankfulness, with gratitude, with joy. As 
well, you must reject heresy with earnestness. See, one of 
the things that makes it difficult for pastors is when the people 
aren't keeping up. They're not paying attention. 
They're not listening to the Word. They're not nourished in 
that sound doctrine. They're prone to wander and prone 
to leave the God they love. There are those guys that come 
along and speak those words that they're looking after, and they 
go after that. I'm not suggesting that our churches 
are the only true churches. I would never do that. But brethren, 
with reference to the proclamation of the truth, if you've got a 
man set apart by God, recognized by the church, that's able to 
handle accurately the Word and doctrine, then receive it. Be 
nourished and reject heresy. Back in verse 7, reject profane 
and old wise fables. That's for Timothy, but it doesn't 
mean that the people of God can go ahead and accept those things. 
No, you need to be on guard. You need to be watchful. Third, 
you must pursue those virtues commended by God. He's not just 
a pastor that has to be an example or has to pursue this sort of 
virtuous life. It's all of God's people. Put 
on the Lord Jesus Christ and make no provision for the flesh 
to fulfill its lust. 2 Corinthians 7.1, perfecting 
holiness in the fear of God. Hebrews 12.14, holiness or pursue 
holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord. Faithful 
congregations receive that word with joy, they do it with gratitude, 
they reject and shun heresy, but they are blessed as a result 
of that word and they begin, by grace, that conformity unto 
our blessed Lord Jesus Christ. I would suggest, fourthly, you 
must value and prize the public means of grace. I mean, think 
about it. The man is set apart, he's recognized, 
he's qualified, he can preach, and we have a church, but you 
don't come. I've often thought if Spurgeon 
himself fell out of heaven and he ended up in a pulpit, it would 
only be so good if persons were there to hear it. It's the old 
adage, if a tree falls in the forest, does it make any noise? 
Nobody's around to hear it. With reference to the means of 
grace, there has been an emphasis on an individual maverick Christianity. That's not the Bible's model. 
That's not the Bible's paradigm. The Bible is pro-church. Jesus said, I will build my church 
and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it. We have 
jettisoned the public means of grace for our private devotional 
times. I'm not suggesting you don't 
have private devotional times, but I am suggesting you don't 
have them to the exclusion of the public means of grace. In 
other words, when the church doors are open and the man is 
in the pulpit and he is proclaiming that word, be there. The Lord's 
table, we look at it as our service to God. It's God the householder 
giving us a blessed feast to refresh our weary hearts in the 
pilgrim way. God Most High has done this for 
the well-being of His people. It doesn't do you any good to 
vacate or to absent yourself from the Church of Christ. It 
is a most blessed arrangement. Now I realize on Sunday mornings, 
even ministers get this, there's a coldness, there's a sluggishness, 
but what do you do? Do you say, well I'm cold and 
sluggish, I'm going to go back to bed. No, you soldier on because 
you know that God blesses faithfulness, God blesses perseverance, and 
God blesses that word when it comes to people in the context 
of the public means of grace. Ryle makes this observation. 
He says, preaching is an ordinance of which the value can never 
be overrated in the church of Christ. But it should never be 
forgotten that there must not only be good preaching, but good 
hearing. If a man preaches and he's able 
to handle that word and nobody's there to hear it, it's not going 
to benefit them. C.H. Spurgeon on the parable 
of the sower in Mark chapter 4 has these four points. He says here. Here, H-E-A-R, 
hear with your ears. It is your wisdom to know what 
God says. Two, hear well. God's teaching deserves the deepest 
attention. It will repay the best consideration. 
Three, hear often. Waste no Sabbath nor any one 
of its services. Use weekday lectures and prayer 
meetings. Wow, if we said that today, you'd 
be called a legalist. How could you ever think that 
people should come to church? It's terrible. That's the context 
we're in, brethren. Morning and evening worship, 
that's like becoming a unicorn. That's just not the norm today. 
It's go in, get out, do your thing. Christian Sabbath, are 
you Judaizers? Are you nuts? Do you not have 
any concept of the Bible? These kinds of things are what 
we face today, and you need to understand that. I'm sure Pastor 
Kirkpatrick has seen his share thus far. And then the last statement, 
he says, hear better. You will grow the holier thereby. You will find heavenly joy by 
hearing with faith. And then finally, to the brethren 
in Vernon, to the brethren in Surrey, I wouldn't say this to 
the brethren in Chilliwack, not because of any other reason than 
it's embarrassing to kind of do that, but you must value and 
prize the minister of the public means of grace. That's scriptural. Turn to Hebrews chapter 13. Hebrews 
chapter 13. And by the way, I love this church 
and the brethren, and I feel loved by this church and the 
brethren. Very much so. Very happily so. I praise God 
and bless God for it being so. Notice in Hebrews 13, 7, remember 
those who rule over you. Now, this isn't civil government, 
and we know that because of what he goes on to say. Remember those 
who rule over you, who have spoken the word of God to you, whose 
faith follow, considering the outcome of their conduct. Jump 
over to verse 17. Obey those who rule over you 
and be submissive. Again, not civil government. 
Notice, for they watch out for your souls. Thankfully, we're 
not quite there yet where Justin Trudeau wants to govern our soul. 
Well, I think he does, but thankfully he's been kept from that thus 
far. But verse 17, obey those who 
rule over you and be submissive for they watch out for your souls 
as those who must give account. Let them do so with joy and not 
with grief, for that would be unprofitable to you. 1 Thessalonians 
5, verse 12, we urge you, brethren, to recognize those who labor 
among you and are over you in the Lord and admonish you, and 
to esteem them very highly in love for their work's sake. Interesting modifier at the end, 
be at peace among yourselves. You mean the treatment of a minister 
might actually affect the congregation? If some are mistreating him, 
there might not be peace in the congregation? There's division 
at the level of how do we deal with our pastor? Some hate him, 
some love him. That's not going to be for the 
good of the context in the church. So take seriously, as churchmen, 
these admonitions from our Holy Bible. And then finally, If anyone 
is here tonight and you don't know Jesus, we have, at least 
it's been a bee in my bonnet over the last couple of weeks, 
this whole idea of not just the what of the gospel, but the why. 
I said it this morning, said it last week. The what is the 
life, death, resurrection of our Lord Jesus. The why is the 
great love of God. God so loved the world that he 
gave his only begotten son. 2 Corinthians 5, God is in Christ 
reconciling the world to himself. Luke 15, when that prodigal was 
a great way off, a long way off, what does the father do? Does 
he say, oh, don't even bother coming back here, you good-for-nothing 
wretch. No, the father runs from the 
porch, falls on the son, not with punches or rebuff, but he 
falls on the son to kiss him, to bring him back to the house, 
to put a ring on his finger, to put a robe on his back, to 
slay the fatted calf for a feast. Why? Because God so loved the 
world. Now think about this. He not 
only loved the world that he gave his only begotten son, but 
he orchestrated a class of men who are dedicated to the propagation 
of that truth. The fact that there is eldership 
in the churches of Jesus Christ underscores God's willingness 
to save sinners. If you are unsaved, come to the 
Lord Jesus Christ. Believe on Him and you will be 
saved. It is most blessed, it is most 
wondrous, it is most glorious. The moment a sinner believes 
on Him, we receive forgiveness of sins. We sing a hymn in our 
hymn book and it says, my sin, oh the bliss of this glorious 
thought, my sin not in part, but the whole is nailed to the 
cross and I bear it no more. Praise the Lord, praise the Lord. 
We're forgiven the moment we believe, but not just that. We're 
forgiven. The blood of Jesus Christ, His 
Son, cleanses us from all sin. But we also receive the righteousness 
of Jesus. See, we need His death at the 
cross, we need His penal substitutionary atonement, we need that blood 
to cleanse us, but we need a righteousness. We need to be able to enter into 
the presence of God Most High. And the way in which sinners 
do that is by justification by faith alone. So belief in Him 
brings forgiveness and brings the righteousness of Jesus Christ. God imputes it to us. It's not a moral transformation, 
it's a legal declaration. This is why Luther could say, 
when I understood Romans 1, 16 and 17, it was as it were paradise 
opened up. I understood that the righteousness 
of God there wasn't the perfection or the attribute, but it was 
rather the righteousness that God demands and the righteousness 
that God supplies. It is in Jesus Christ, our Lord. If you are not a believer tonight, 
believe on him and you will be saved. Well, let us pray. Our God and our Father, we thank 
you so much for the Word of God. We thank you that you've not 
left us as orphans in the world. Jesus promised the sending of 
the Spirit, and we have that as well. We have that Word of 
God from Genesis to Revelation. All Scripture is given by inspiration 
of God. We know its profitability in 
our own hearts and lives. We know its profitability in 
our churches. And again, Father, I pray for 
your hand of blessing to be upon Ryan and Esther and the children. 
I pray for this transition to Vernon, that all would go well. 
There will certainly be challenges, there will certainly be obstacles 
and difficulties and hardships, but there's always grace, there's 
always the Holy Spirit, there's always that gospel of Jesus Christ 
that encourages the weary saint. So bless our dear brother, cause 
him to faithfully minister the word of truth. Thank you again 
for Pastor Mike and his faithful ministry over these last several 
years in Surrey. We pray for the work in Dryden. We just commit those brethren 
to you and to the word of your grace and pray for the establishment 
of a faithful church there that will indeed proclaim the gospel 
of our blessed Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. And it's in his 
name that we pray, amen. Well, if I could ask Pastor Mike 
to come up and Ryan. You could just turn that way, 
yeah, that's good. And then, Mike, you can just stand next 
to him there. All right. Do you commit to walk humbly 
with our God, to perfect holiness in the fear of the Lord, endeavoring 
to have a conversation such as becometh the gospel, and also 
suitable to your place and capacity, vigorously to promote in others 
the practice of true religion and undefiled in the sight of 
God and our Father? Do you humbly recognize, not 
only as your qualifications for eldership, but as a perpetual 
guide and measure, the domestic, moral, and ecclesiastical qualities 
and virtues of 1 Timothy 3, 1 to 7, understanding the weight of 
James 3, 1, that teachers shall receive a stricter judgment? 
Do you receive the word of God and endeavor diligently to keep 
it, which says, therefore, take heed to yourselves and to all 
the flock among which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, 
to shepherd the church of God, which he purchased with his own 
blood? Do you commit yourself to contend earnestly for the 
faith, which was once for all delivered to the saints? And 
do you receive the word of God, which says, if anyone preaches 
any other gospel to you than what you have received, let him 
be accursed. Do you affirm that you have no 
itch to clog religion with new words, but that you do readily 
acquiesce in that form of sound words which have been in consent 
with the holy scriptures used by others before us, hereby declaring 
before God, angels, and men your hearty agreement with them in 
that wholesome Protestant doctrine, which with so clear evidence 
of scriptures they have asserted? And do you affirm your commitment 
to upholding the Second London Confession of Faith of 1677 as 
it is a faithful summary of biblical teaching on those things most 
surely believed among us? Yes. Amen. I'm going to ask you 
to take a knee there. Will you pray? And then I'll 
pray. Let's bow in prayer as we lay hands on our brother and 
set him apart for gospel ministry. Our gracious God, we are thankful 
for your plan of redemption that sees the salvation of sinners, 
and we're thankful for the means that you give for that salvation. Thank you for the gifts that 
you've provided to your church, and thank you, O God, we can 
add another gift this day. Thank you that you've done this 
in your providence and done this in your goodness and mercy. We 
pray, O God, that you would bless Brian and bless the church in 
Vernon. We pray, O God, that he'd remember this day as well 
when he goes through Trying times as a pastor that you've affirmed 
him that you've confirmed him. The church has observed it and 
we're thankful Oh God, we can lay hands this day So we pray 
Oh God that your word would go forth and would not return void 
We pray that your sinners would be saved in Vernon and your saints 
would be strengthened by your word We pray that you give our 
brother faithfulness for that ministry. May he fulfill his 
ministry we pray that And thank you for all that you do, and 
may you be glorified in the name of Christ. Amen. Amen. Our Father 
in heaven, we thank you that Christ is stationed at the right 
hand of the Father, and that he is building his church, and 
the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it. We know, 
Father, this is the reason, the basis, the foundation upon which 
we stand. It's not goodness in men, it's 
not ability in ministers, but it's the faithfulness and the 
power of our blessed Christ. And God, what a privilege it 
is to be set apart to preach His gospel. I pray that Ryan 
would be thankful. I pray that he would be appreciative. 
I pray that he would have that joy of the Lord as he takes to 
the ministry of the word of God, that this would indeed flood 
his heart, that there would be love for Christ, love for men, 
faithfulness in handling the word of truth, faithfulness in 
defending that word of truth, contending earnestly for it in 
a godless age. Just help him to be faithful. 
Help him not to capitulate. Help him to continue in these 
things, to meditate upon these things, to give himself entirely 
to these things, knowing the gravity of the situation. that 
the people that hear him, the people that listen, the people 
that receive the word of God, depend upon that word. And Lord, 
just bless the ministry there. Bless the saints. It has been 
a bit of a long journey for them. And we have seen your faithfulness 
and preservation. We have seen addition to that 
group. And God, we give you glory and 
praise. And as Carrie said, let us pray 
for great things. hope for great things and expect 
great things from our great God. Lord, just bless this brother, 
bless Esther as well and keep her, watch over her, grant grace 
to her to be faithful to her husband, bless each of the children. 
May they know the fear of the Lord, the joy of the Lord as 
their strength, and may this family serve as a great example 
of faithfulness, not perfection. We know that's undoable on this 
side of glory. But God, may they be faithful, 
may they be persevering, and may you bless this man's ministry, 
may you strengthen the churches, may you continue to watch over 
the brethren in Surrey, and God be glorified in all of this. 
It is such a blessing to see that men, women, boys and girls 
from every tribe, tongue, people and nation will be assembled 
before the throne on that day. So God bless the word, cause 
it to run forth swiftly and to be glorified. And we pray these 
things through Jesus Christ our Lord, amen. Amen. Well, why don't we stand 
and sing the doxology, it's page 568, in praise to our great God. Oh, praise Him, all creatures 
here below, praise Him above ye heav'nly host. Well, it's a privilege to be 
able to introduce to all of you Pastor Ryan Maljars. May God 
bless him, and may God bless the church, and may God continue 
to do great things among us. What a blessed day this has been, 
a blessed process. Great to see the brethren from 
Surrey, all the visitors here with us tonight. Shout out to 
the Vernonites if you're tuning in. God is good. As a brother 
once said in my hearing, after a full day, he said, my heart 
is full. And I praise God for that. So 
please embrace our brother, our pastor, And let me close in prayer. We'll give thanks for the food, 
and then we can go up and enjoy some food and fellowship. God, 
what a good day. What a blessed day. What a wonderful 
thing to be in the house of God Almighty. Lord, thank you for 
redemption. Thank you for your sovereign 
grace. Thank you that you chose us in him before the foundation 
of the world. It truly is amazing that in love 
you predestined us to adoption as sons by Jesus Christ our Lord. 
You've called us to yourself through faithful ministry. You've 
brought us into this local church. You've brought us to this place 
where we've seen a man We've seen that he's qualified, we've 
examined him, we've vetted him, and now it's a privilege to be 
able to send him out. Go with him, strengthen him each 
and every day and cause him to be persevering. Lord, thank you 
for the food, thank you for this time for fellowship, thank you 
that we have church life to rejoice in. We pray now in the name and 
for the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ. Amen. You may be seated. We'll have a brief time of meditation 
and then go ahead and head upstairs.