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please turn with me in your Bibles to first Timothy chapter 4 first Timothy chapter 4 our focus this morning will be on verses 12 to 16 a fitting passage at an ordination ceremony for a new elder to Christ Church the conduct of a faithful minister 1st Timothy 4:12 216 but I'll begin reading in verse 1 just to set the passage into its context 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 in 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 and 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 let us pray our gracious God and our holy father we thank you for your mercy we thank you for your goodness we thank you for your gospel the good news that Christ lived that he died that he was raised the third day the Blessed truth that whoever looks to in faith everyone who believes in Him will have everlasting life how we thank you that you have saved us by our grace through faith in Christ Jesus we know it's never by works or merit or by our goodness or our ability but it's solely alone because of what Christ accomplished on the cross we thank you as well for this class of men that you give to the church elders to proclaim the truth to set forth Christ and him crucified we thank you for your blessing upon Mike we thank you for his time with us and we look forward to the future and pray that you would indeed bless the ministry in Surrey we pray our God in heaven that you would cause all things to work for good and that it would be a beacon a light in that community setting forth the glories of the gospel we pray that there would be sinners saved and saints sanctified we pray that the knowledge of God Almighty would indeed cover this Lower Mainland in a way that is pleasing in your sight we ask now that you would guide our thoughts as we look to Holy Scripture to that end we pray for the Ministry of the Holy Spirit we pray that you would supply him to each of us and help us and cleanse us from all sin and unrighteousness and anything that would darken our understanding and for any and all who have come here this morning that do not know Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior we pray that today would be the day of salvation we pray that they would hear the good news that they by grace would believe the good news and they would know the joy of being found in Jesus Christ and we pray this in his most blessed name amen well as you probably are aware the letters first and second Timothy and Titus are called the pastoral epistles they are three letters written by Paul the Apostle two younger men in the ministry ministerial companions those whom he wanted to exhort and encourage and to establish in the Christian faith and in the Christian ministry so that they may be able to preach and teach the Word of God and here we see a marked contrast between what Paul says concerning Timothy's conduct and what Paul says Timothy will face in terms of challenges to the church notice in verses one to five the spirit expressly says that in the latter times some will depart from the faith giving heed to deceiving spirits and doctrines of demons he tells Timothy you're going to have challenges when Paul says latter times he does not mean latter times with reference to us latter times in the New Testament is a conventional way to speak of that time frame between the first and the second coming of the Lord Jesus so Timothy would encounter such man Timothy would encounter the types of people that would say creature is bad you can't eat this food you can't marry this woman Paul says this is the doctrines of demons and Timothy needs to be ready to con confront such things and then at the latter part verses 6 to 16 Paul exhorts Timothy on how he ought to conduct himself Paul tells Timothy how he is to function as a minister of the gospel that's the whole section 6 to 16 in the interest of time however will just take up verses 12 to 16 and there are four specifics Paul charges Timothy on here first we'll look at the ministers example in verse 12 secondly the ministers public ministry in verses 13 and 14 thirdly the ministers personal growth in verse 15 and then finally the ministers perseverance in verse 16 so if you have been with us for any time you will see why this is indeed an appropriate message for this morning mike has been here Mike and Jessica for several years we have seen him mature before our eyes not suggesting that he was utterly immature when he first wandered in but it's been a great blessing and a joy to observe him not only grow in grace in terms of his conformity unto Jesus but in his ability to handle the Word of God we're thankful that he was able to get a good education down in California and we're thankful that he is back with us and for this day wherein we will lay hands on him recognizing him as a church as a minister of the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ and looking forward to January 21st when Sunday services began in South Surrey and our prayers ought to be with the Brethren our prayers ought always be with Mike that the Lord would use him to preach the gospel that the Lord would make him a true Timothy as Timothy is described or exhorted to be in this particular book and that God would give him indeed a long and fruitful ministry some of this this morning will come out as a charge to Mike especially the latter portion when we apply and it will be a charge to what I have come to call the Surrey i'ts those persons from Surrey or the surrounding region that are visiting with us up until the time when the church is planted in Surrey so not only a charge to Mike but a charge to the congregation but in the first place notice the minister's example Paul says in verse 12 let no one despise your youth now we're not sure how old Timothy is here's probably in his 30s he could have still been considered a youth at the age of 40 now this is relative to the Apostle Paul Paul is older than Timothy it could be relative to persons within the church in Ephesus they would have had older people in fact in 5:1 he tells Timothy how he is to treat older men in the congregation but Paul says to Timothy let no one despise your youth let no one look down upon you and the reason for that is that when men do that what is hurt is not the man's self-esteem Paul doesn't care one bit about Timothy self-esteem what is hurt when the church looks down upon or despises the youth of a young minister what is hurt is the authority of God the truthfulness of God's word and the effectiveness of that truth in the context of the local church so Paul tells Timothy don't let them despise you don't let them look down upon you and how is Timothy supposed to not do this it's not by suggesting well I'm mature or I'm actually far above my peers no he's not to insist on his maturity he is to demonstrate that maturity he is to evidence that maturity he is to manifest it and Paul says in verse 12 let no one despise your youth but be an example to the believers it's really bothersome when you meet people that have to tell you what they're all about the word sweet take seriously Paul's word Ephesians 5 husbands are to love and lead their wives wives are to submit to their own husband's as unto the Lord it's really offensive or it would be I don't think I've had this experience yet to go to somebody's house and for the man to meet me at the door and say I'm the leader in the lover of my wife here I try to imbibe all that the Apostle Paul tells me to do and I try to do it so for the glory of God I typically don't mean women that say you know I'm I'm submissive unto my husband as unto the Lord you don't tell me that you have a den set you manifest it you flesh it out you'll live it you live in light of God's revealed word and the same is true here don't walk around as a young man with an axe to grind trying to insist to everybody that you're really mature I really do have big-boy pants I'm really actually a smarter guy than those my age Paul says no evidence it through your example notice specifically but be an example to the believers in Word the way you speak in your conversation certainly it means preach the word clearly and accurately and boldly but there are several other instances in Timothy where Paul tells him to preach the word this probably has to do with his manner of converse with other people in your word don't be a wretch in your word don't tell dirty jokes in your word don't be a man that is given to freefall a frivolity and all manner of wickedness no be an example to the Brethren in word as well he says in conduct that should go without saying maturity is displayed in the conduct of a man and his word you don't have to insist upon it rather you demonstrate it in the way that you live in the way that you conduct yourself in the manner in which you speak he then goes on to say in love love to God love to brethren look at me I'm really mature now just love the people of God that you are assigned to minister to let them see your love for God most high the two greatest Commandments love to God love to men what should a shepherd be he ought to be a lover of God and a lover of men he ought to be one who gives himself in the service of God and in the service of man your people will know that you are mature when you demonstrate these sorts of values these sorts of things among them it ought not to be a mystery whether he's immature or he's mature though he may be young in terms of years though he may be 30 or 30s or $40.00 gee boy he's a mature man in the way that he demonstrates these things the text goes on to say in spirit this is a textual variant it's not present if you have the ESV or the NIV though it may be relegated to the margin but I like Paul here on this statement in spirit he says in zeal and warmth of spirit truly inflamed with the love of Christ and for his glory be an example in this be an example with reference to how men ought to serve and love and adore and fear God men know if the truth is true then the people who believe that truth will live like it you understand people on the outside can evaluate you say that God has saved you from your sins you say that Christ has died for your sins you say that Christ has been raised from the dead you say that God in His infinite kindness and goodness and mercy has given you a day when you get to celebrate those realities and yet it's a pain in the neck for you to show up at church it's not really communicating consistently with what we say we believe is true gospel ministers must example this spirit and then he goes on to speak of faith certainly faith in the gospel faith in Jesus Christ we might expand it here and say faithfulness how is mature a maturity exemplified in the life of a minister of the gospel it's a faithful man and then that last statement is in purity now it could mean overarching purity but perhaps we ought to make it clear that it certainly involves sexual purity drop down to five - well 5 1 do not rebuke an older man but exhort him as a father younger men is brothers older women as mothers younger women as sisters and then note the modifier with all purity with all purity what's one of the main reasons why ministers of the gospel stop being ministers of the gospel what's one of the reasons why ministers of the gospel are defrocked why they are taken out of the gospel ministry that's not the only reason love of money love of prestige love of fame whatever it may be but certainly love of immorality is one of those contributing things you are to treat people with all purity you are to treat the younger women as sisters with all purity this is how a minister of the gospel demonstrates that he is indeed a man or man he doesn't do it with his words insisting that he's mature but he does it through his actions showing that he's mature Knight says the antidote given with reference to this let no one despise your youth is to overcome the tendency of others to look down on youth by demonstrating a maturity in life and conduct now notice secondly the ministers public ministry verses 13 and 14 he says till I come give attention to reading to exhortation to doctrine now for Mike specifically what we have a definite article with each of the data's which indicates certainly or the Gov I'm sorry the the the command give attention governs the three dative z' that follow and notice specifically till i come give attention to reading to exhortation to doctrine those three things are clumped together some suggest the reading here is Timothy's devotional reading Timothy's personal quiet time Timothy don't neglect your closet Timothy don't neglect that time of cultivation of your soul I don't think that's what's in view here based on the reality that following reading calms exhortation I don't think Timothy was to look in the mirror and to exhort himself and then this idea of doctrine the reading and view in this particular verse is the public reading of scripture till icon Paul says Paul envisions a days going back to Ephesus he is stationed Timothy there to wage the good warfare and he says until I come here's what you need to be occupied with he's going to deal with Timothy's quiet time he's gonna deal with Timothy's personal growth he's going to deal with Timothy's personal cultivation and Christian faith in verse 15 but in verse 13 specifically what is in view is public ministry till icon give attention to reading now we read the scriptures publicly in our church hopefully it's not simply because it's something the Bible says we hard to do but it's a time of edification it's a time of encouragement it's a time to hear the Word of God in a manner which we don't typically hear it for this context however that was the way they got the word they didn't have beautiful Cambridge Bibles often thought if persons came to our church for the first time and they sort of looked around at all the Bibles they'd noticed that these Cambridge wide margin you know goat skin leather Bibles are pretty pretty popular here and they might then think well I can't go to that church I'd have to spend 200 bucks on a body ball it's just too much isn't it amazing we'll spend 200 bucks like it's chump change on a million things but the thought of a a 200 dollar Bible wow I can get one for 39 bucks at Walmart but they didn't have those Bibles they didn't have you know in the lap open to first Timothy 4 it was through public reading of scripture that they came into contact with the Word of God think about that brethren if your only exposure to the truth of Scripture came on Sunday morning and Sunday evening would you be as lazy would you be as willing to miss public worship if you would be that's just indicative that things are not well with your soul but Paul says give attention to reading what is it that the people of God need what is it that the people of God crave what is it that the people of God genuinely desire they don't want jokes from the minister they don't want him scanning before them telling them how mature he is they want scripture they want the Word of God 16 ounces to the pound from Genesis to Revelation Paul says give attention to this make it something that you're occupied with continue in close attention to something occupy oneself with devote or apply oneself and there are several sort of precedents or several precedents to this practice the Old Testament the Assembly was gathered together including the children and the Word of God was read to that we see this practice in the New Testament as well and consider how many places in the new test the emphasis upon hearing hearing hear what the Spirit says to the churches why because they didn't have open Cambridge Bibles in their laps and they needed to pay attention to the Word of God as the minister of God read that word - that he not only says reading he then goes on to say to exhortation exhortation simply means the act of embolden another in belief or course of action it is to encourage it is to exhort in other words we don't just present facts from the Bible and suggest that you go off now and do whatever it is you think you should do exhortation means we tell you what the scripture says and then exhort you to do what it says and there's a dearth of that happening in the land isn't there everybody professes to be a Christian and yet our divorce rates are as high in the church adultery and abortion all these things are going on in the professing church obviously whoever's being exhorted if they are isn't doing what they're supposed to be doing you see the goal of our instruction brethren is that you be conformed to the image of the Lord Jesus I I know that may be tough at times - to get our minds wrapped around but jesus said if you love me you'll keep my Commandments you'll do what I say why do you call me Lord Lord he says in Luke's Gospel and you don't do what I say exhortation is not designed to make you feel bad not necessarily designed to make you feel good it is to promote holiness righteousness observance to God's law so Timothy give attention to the public reading of scriptures give attention to the exhortation of the people based on those scriptures and give attention to doctrine see Paul's not about well you know doctrine divides let's all just love Jesus that's pretty familiar today we don't like doctrine we just want to love Jesus well the question has to be asked which Jesus doctrine defines for us which Jesus doctrine tells us of the person in the work of the Lord Jesus is absolutely crucial so you read the Scriptures publicly you exhort from those scriptures and you teach the people of God what those scriptures mean I find it amazing that so many ministers of the gospel are so busy they don't have time to study in fact there's a book called why Johnny can't preach and this fellow gives a personal antidote he says that a young man went to be interviewed with reference to a ministerial position and the persons that were interviewing him said this we want you to do this we want you to do this we want you to do this we want you to do this and the man crunch the numbers looked at it figured it all out reckon that it would take about 60 to 70 hours a week to do the things they wanted done none of it had to do with preaching or teaching or study that's where we live today senior pastors or more Cheerleader senior pastors are more fortune 500 managers CEOs of corporations instead of preachers of God's Word that's the purpose behind gospel ministry it's not to entertain it's not to make everybody feel good it's not to give you a shot in the arm so that you can go back out and face your Giants it is to teach you what God's Word says it's just always so simple to me keep it simple brother you've heard that acronym kiss keep it simple stupid just just do what God says this doesn't exhaust the Christian liturgy there's more to Christian worship than reading and exhortation and doctrine but this is essential to Christian liturgy we give we sing we pray all those things are part of a worship service but we never do those other things at the sacrifice of these things you see it sometimes with churches well instead of a Sunday night service well we'll just have ahem saying brethren if we're ever going to cut anything out let's cut out everything but the word see the people of God are the people of the word you're with me right I'm preaching to some familiar people here that get this and they say yeah this is what we like this is what this is what it's all about this is what you need to be about give attention to reading to exhortation to doctrine towner says there were certain 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 disruption caused by the false teaching the currency of confusing and contradictory doctrine calls for on-going instruction in the Apostolic traditions theology and ethics to ensure conformity with the will of God and George night helpfully says thus Paul urges a public ministry that reads the scripture to the gathering Goddard Christians sorts them to respond appropriately and teaches them its principles so that's the ministers public ministry but before we move on to his personal growth note first fourteen the basis of his ministry notice what Paul says in verse 14 do not neglect a gift that is in you you see what Paul assumes here is that ministers don't make themselves God makes them ministers don't make themselves God makes them I suppose that if I wanted to be an astronaut I would have had to be equipped by God with special things I don't think anybody just goes and B's an astronaut or becomes if I want to be to probe the Prime Minister I just don't think God's given the mental capacity to do that well in light of what I say perhaps I could but perhaps it's not as insurmountable a task as we might be led to believe but the Lord God gifts his man for ministry and not all men are gifted for ministry that's okay we covered this in 1st Timothy chapter 3 if you're not called to the eldership that's fine there's nothing wrong with not being a minister of the gospel there's nothing wrong with being a regular guy in the context of the local church and being a faithful brother in fact I actually believe that some of the faithful brothers in the Church are gonna get bigger crowns on the day of judgment than some ministers I'm absolutely convinced of that beyond a shadow of a doubt faithful brothers in the context of the local church doing what they're supposed to do there's nothing more wonderful than that nothing nothing more wonderful than that but notice Paul assumes that ministers are made by God not themselves 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 now this idea of prophecy connected to the ministry of Timothy there was prophecy given by God to indicate that Timothy was a God gifted man useful to Paul for the Christian ministry we don't believe in prophecy today we don't believe in the continuing presence of prophecy revelatory gifts a word from the Lord hopefully no one in our church will ever say the Lord spoke to me unless they mean in Romans 16 or Romans 3 or Romans 5 or Deuteronomy 8 or isaiah 53 this idea that the Lord spoke to me and he he told me that I'm supposed to be in the ministry no that's not the way it works so what do we do in the absence absence absence of the the prophetic word of God we've got the scriptures in other words without a prophecy to know that Mike is indeed our guy how do we make sure he is our guy 1st Timothy 3 a bishop must be do all the blameless able to teach several other virtues he must be these things so with the absence of the prophetic word God saying yeah Mike Kirkpatrick welcome to the older chef know the Word of God is our standard the Word of God is a rule it's not popularity it's not proven ability in the world it's not he's a successful banker so therefore he should be able to be a successful pastor no he must be everything Paul stipulates in 1st Timothy 3:1 2:7 everything then he's gifted by God affirmed or authenticated by God and then vetted by the church see in a few minutes some of you saying a few in a few minutes Mike's going to come up and we're gonna have him get on his knees before this congregation and we're gonna lay hands on him this doesn't confer ministerial power this isn't the passing of the ministerial baton this isn't some sort of a hocus pocus ritual this is an affirmation that the church has vetted him the church has vetted him we have tested him we have examined him and we are setting them apart for gospel ministry there are guys that are self-appointed to the gospel ministry I pity those fools sorry for the reference there I pity those men why because there's a certain confidence that comes knowing that God has gifted you that the church has recognized you and the church through common suffrage has put you for naught so that you can be some proud arrogant guy say well I got the church no this is one of the reasons why we operated in the way that we did so that when our brother starts knocking at door on doors and siree he says I'm pastor Michael Kirkpatrick what does that mean it may not mean nothing it might not mean anything to persons that that are that are not skilled or schooled and what the scriptures say to those of us who are in tune with this that means God's gifted him it means the church has recognized him and the church has put him forth words he's clothed with a degree of ecclesiastical accountability and recognition the worst thing you should ever do is go to a man who has put himself in the ministry how arrogant how wretched I mean we flip out if a guy showed up at our doctor's office and said you know I just felt like trying brain surgery today well we take our car to the mechanic and it's not the guy we normally see there it's a guy that looks like he's dressed in a three-piece suit he says you know I want to try my hand at fixing a car today we would say no and yet we come into the Church of the Living God Almighty who has stipulated very clearly what is involved in the gifting in the qualification of ministers and we're gonna listen to a guy who has appointed himself I don't know who to blame more the guy or the people that are listening to the fool you give a chimp of gonn and he shoots somebody it's not really the chimps fault at a certain point we have people out there that don't listen they don't pay attention they don't think scripturally this is the context my young brother in which you will labor Timothy has told the wage the good warfare Timothy is told he has to fight against those who oppose sound doctrine it's the same there's nothing new Under the Sun there's no new reality so Paul highlights the fact that Timothy is gifted by God he's been identified with this prophecy and he has been vetted and installed by the Church of the Lord Jesus now notice thirdly his personal growth verse 15 meditate on these things give yourself entirely to them that your progress may be evident to all meditate on these things and in the context I think it's all the things that Paul is telling him how's that for exegesis it's everything Paul says meditate on them give your mind to them think through them there won't be a man marked by the absence of concern a concern for the Apostolic Doctrine fix your mind on these things and then notice give yourself entirely to them it's literally be in them be in them think of a body of water you jump in you're in the water you're immersed you're baptized Paul says be in these things be absorbed with these things the minister of Christ is to meditate upon the word of Christ he is to be absorbed with it now this doesn't mean a minister can't or shouldn't have a day off yesterday in preparation I was reading lectures to my students by CA Spurgeon you talked about good horse sense read Spurgeon and everything will be fine actually read him and do what he says here's a really funny section on the converse of the minister be a regular guy he sort of mocks these ministers that have errors and they conduct themselves as the right reverend sir he says be a normal guy certainly bring conversations to bear upon the truth of souls the truth of Christ the truth of God all that stuff but be a regular guy don't have the starched collar and carry yourself as if you're that much higher than everybody else now it's terrible so read Spurgeon on that the ministers ordinary conversation really good stuff but here and-and-and-and Spurgeon elsewhere indicates maybe there's a self-serving element here I'm taking some time off starting one Monday so wait a minute you're not continuing in them Spurgeon took a lot of time off too and he recognized the fact that if you don't relax the bowstring from time to time it's going to snap and you don't want guys to snap sory i'ts don't let your guys snap that would not be a good thing but be in them be absorbed with them and then notice what he says the end of verse 15 meditate on these things give yourself entirely to these things that your progress may be evident to all now it's kind of an interesting clause that your progress may be evident to all I don't think that means that in every conversation say well I read five books this week and everybody says good for you I visited eight people this week good fruit no I don't think that's it through the minister's personal growth and attention to his own soul and so it was faithful exposition of reading the word I've loved reading the word exhorting from the word and teaching the word there is progress not only in him but in the context of the local church the people of God are maturing the people of God are benefiting the people of God are are growing in terms of their understanding of truth so you can at times quantify a minister's usefulness by your own faithfulness in other words you don't say well it's all because we're here but you might say in the minute and the mercy of God through his instrumentality because this brother Mike has been faithful in preaching the word to me I'm not as much of a knucklehead as I used to be that your progress may be evident to all stagnation in the ministry is not good going backwards in the Christian ministry not good but progressing in the Christian ministry is commanded that your progress may be evident to all now notice finally the minister's perseverance the perseverance verse 16 he says take heed to yourself and to the doctrine take heed to yourself and to the doctrine now both these elements are crucial it's interesting it follows that pattern in Genesis chapter 4 God had respect for what for Abel and his sacrifice was Abel had his act together he was believing God so was Abel and his sacrifice these two elements are absolutely inseparable take heed to yourself and to the doctrine McShane as quoted as saying my peoples greatest need is my personal holiness my peoples greatest need is my personal holiness now on the one hand I fully accept that but on the other hand I don't want to forget the rest of the statement and it could have been Baxter as far as I'm concerned Baxter was most likely a very holy guy but he didn't teach the doctrine of justification by faith alone properly I could be the holiest cherub like specimen of a human on this side of the celestial kingdom but if I'm teaching you faith plus works that's not good see what happens well he's a godly man I know he doesn't really preach that well but boy I can really preach but he lives like the devil no both elements are inseparable take heed to yourself and to the doctrine now I think it's so inseparable that we ought to appreciate the next thing I'm about to say if a minister and I don't want to personalize it here we'll take it outside the context of our local church but let's say a minister falls into some scandalous sin he starts to regularly regularly look at pornography starts to engage in adultery we would be all over him and rightly so reproving him rebuking him and then casting him out of the gospel ministry but that same Minister could be as pure as the driven snow with reference to matter sexual but be entertaining sold damning heresy and the church will never say a word see it's not nice to tell somebody that they're wrong but it's right to tell somebody that they're wrong isn't it when did niceness substitute for rightness what's happened in the church I'm all for the serial adulterer being thrown out of the gospel ministry but I'm also all for the serial heretic being thrown out of the gospel ministry he may be pure with reference to his sexual ethics but he is twisting the doctrine of justification by faith alone he is teaching that Jesus as a creature he's compromising theology proper or any other carnal truth of the Christian faith he deserves to be cast out take heed to yourself and to the doctrine Calvin made this observation he said at the present day there are many or there are many who are well nice sickened by the very name of preaching because there are so many stupid ignorant men who blurt out they're worthless brain waves from the pulpit he's writing imagine if he saw what we see today imagine if he saw the sorts of shenanigans that pass four gospel ministry today guys who couldn't discuss or couldn't explain justification by faith alone if a gun was placed of their head guy sewer namby-pamby when it comes to the doctrine of the person in the work of the Lord Jesus Christ guys who couldn't explain the relationship between justification sanctification who couldn't locate good works in the Ordo salutis and explain the significance of said works I mean there is literally a class of man that are very famous in gospel ministry today that are not faithful preachers how'd this happen it used to be you expected to walk into a church and hear an hour-long sermon it used to be you expected to hear the preacher get all fired up riled up and yell at you or whatever that just was commonplace now you expect to be entertained now you expect to have the hipster put his hand in his pocket and chat with you now I expect the pulpit to be removed an easy-chair plate be replaced and the guys sitting there and talking to you as if he's your grandfather lis figure Paul never tells Timothy to be a grandfatherly figure Paul tells Timothy to preach the word to be ready in season and out of season convinced rebuke exhort with all longsuffering and teaching why Paul because the time is going to come when they will not endure sound doctrine you know what Paul's remedy is to a church that will not endure sound doctrine it's not moved the pulpit and replace it with an easy-chair it's not bringing the puppets ponies and programs it is give them sound doctrine chill of Paul's logic it's like your kid I don't want broccoli eat your broccoli seems counterintuitive but okay you must know what's right for me the church says I don't want sound doctrine what's a faithful minister do he preaches sound doctrine you see the point God doesn't pander God doesn't hate her God doesn't tailor God doesn't shape the world around you he doesn't care if you're triggered he doesn't care if you have a safe space or not he doesn't care if you get offended hearing the fact that you're a sinner who stands in need of sovereign rights I mean I shouldn't say doesn't care he's good he's kind he gracious he's a good god the point of the church is not to shape it and make it a user-friendly place this isn't the Apple Store brethren this is the Church of God most high we do what he says we do how we do what he says how he says and we hopefully do it in spirit and truth for his glory his honor his praise lords the church is a god centered institution not a man centered we benefit and we profit and we are blessed immeasurably but Paul tells Timothy what Timothy needs to be about take heed to yourself and to the doctrine notice he says continue in them continue you know what you ought to pursue Mike not Fame not fortune if you actually do what you're supposed to do it you'd probably won't be famous and a Spurgeon said if you want to get rich don't join the Baptist ministry be faithful isn't that amazing it's not popularity that Paul calls ministers to it's not the most Facebook Likes I gotta say that's a temptation I'll visit our web page ooh there's what is it 300 and son followers now wow that's pretty cool you realize there's churches that get that an afternoon that's chump change in Facebook land I think the temptation is real thought Newton speaking to a young minister made this comment if opposition has hurt many popularity has wounded more it goes on to urge the young man I know they are a gifted young man I know that you've got good abilities you've got good skills you're good preacher be careful of the popularity faithful ministers are not to pursue popularity Facebook Likes Twitter followers they are to pursue faithfulness what's Paul say in 1st Corinthians chapter for verse two moreover it is required of stewards that they be found faithful not Fame not fortune not prestige faithful mess this is what paul enjoins upon gospel ministers take heed to yourself and to the doctrine continue in them and then notice the stakes are high for in doing this you will save both yourself and those who hear you now Paul uses a turn of phrase here that is pretty interesting continue in them for in doing this you will say both yourself and those who hear you does Paul now abandon his doctrine of salvation by grace through faith in Jesus Christ as he abandoned the the reality that God is our Savior that he that he just mentioned in 410 that he mentions earlier in chapter 2 is Paul actually saying that ministers have the ability to save themselves and to actually save people who hear that no he doesn't think that he doesn't think that for a moment he knows that God saves but he also knows that God saves through means it's not typically the case that God just snaps his divine fingers and sinners come to faith know in the wisdom of God the world through wisdom did not know God it pleased God through what through the foolishness of the message preached to save those who believed faith comes by hearing and hearing by the Word of God so the idea is is that if a faithful minister is faithfully carrying out his task he is faithfully preaching the truth of the gospel it will save it will preserve it will keep his own soul and it will be the means of doing thus for the people of God Paul recognizes not only does God save but God saves through means and one of the means that God has ordained for the salvation of sinners is the gospel ministry and if ministers are faithful they will save themselves and those who hear them Calvin explains and as the unfaithfulness or carelessness of the pastor is ruinous to the church right the man is actually profligate if a man is her radical what effect is that going to have upon the church hopefully they'd leave but after trying to do their duty and call them to repentance and all that but it's going to have a ruinous effect upon people and as the unfaithfulness or carelessness of the pastor is ruinous to the church so the cause of salvation is justly ascribed to his faithfulness and diligence true it is God alone that saves and not even the smallest portion of his glory can lawfully be bestowed on man but God parts with no portion of his glory when he employs the agency of man for bestowing salvation the Geneva Bible renders it well faith is by hearing and hearing by preaching and therefore the ministers of the word are so sad to save themselves and others for that in them the Lord hath put the word of reconciliation that's how it is to be understood he doesn't have the ability to save himself and save authors but he has the ability to faithful minute faithfully Ministry Minister and the truth to give attention really the exhortation to the doctrine continue in these things to meditate upon these things that is progress may be evident to all and to take heed to himself and to the doctrine and in so doing it will have a positive effect upon his own soul his own life his own health is on ministry but upon those who hear him thus the exposition I just want to charge our dear young brother let no one despise your youth how old do you know I probably ask you that every Wednesday there are certain things we talk about and that's probably one that comes up often but I want to move just a little bit outside of this section to include beginning in verse six you will instruct the church and the truth of God that's the point that's the purpose that's why God gifted you that's why God raised you up that's why God puts you in this place it is not to dazzle it is not to entertain it is not to be the guy who visits everybody just to have coffee and encourage them that's a good thing but the primary emphasis is on instra action notice in 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 good doctrine which you have carefully followed so you will instruct the church and the truth of God secondly you will reject heresy you will reject heresy now not everything that a person believes that is wrong necessarily sends their souls to hell in fact I could imagine that there's a whole host of differing opinions on secondary matters represented in this body at this particular time but those things those religious errors touching on who God is touching on who Jesus is touching on what salvation is must not be tolerated reject those things thirdly you will exercise yourself toward godliness notice in 7 reject profane and old wives fables and exercise yourself toward godliness notice his argument for bodily exercises prophets a little our bodily exercise prophets a little but godliness is profitable for all things some unfortunately nos Desai's this verse and teach that it's not you don't need to exercise he says it profits a little keep lifting weights CH Spurgeon said for those ministers with narrow chests that's why we keep dumbbells in the basement of the college my favorite line lectures to my students you ministers with narrow chests that's why we keep dumbbells in the College of the basement get in there and expand your chest so you can lift up your voice krile out and spare not this whole you know conversational let's just have a chat about Jesus that's not the history of preaching preaching is preaching what what have we settled for less why have we sat a settled for conversational chats but anyways bodily exercise is profitable the contrast is that bodily exercise profits now the godliness is profitable for all thing notice having promised of the life that now is and of that which is to come so bodily exercise profits in this age godliness profits in this age and that which is to come so exercise yourself toward godliness fourthly you will command and teach according to verse 11 not suggest and confuse you will command and teach it's intriguing isn't that everybody wants their their their their right to free speech until it impinges on us when we don't like it when others use their free speech to disagree with us the whole essence of free speech is to disagree isn't it but there's a culture out in the world both Canada and America I can't speak beyond that but there is a culture where we don't like authoritative declaration we don't like people telling us anything thank you very much we like suggestions we like encouragement sand we brought that right into the church Paul doesn't want that he says these things command and teach you know one of the hardest Bible studies might have been for Timothy according to first Timothy chapter 6 I want you to gather all the rich people together in your congregation I want you have a Bible study with that do you think Timothy was more had more bravado than Oz I'd be tough wouldn't it telling rich people how to use their money he doesn't mean you know 501k invest here no command those who are rich in this present age first into these six if we read the past oils rightly Timothy might have had a timid spirit I don't think he's the sort of basket case he's often presented as he's a normal regular guy and having to do hard things probably affected him to some degree other don't you get everybody together that has a lot of money into church I want you to command them how to function with their riches interestingly it's not get rid of your riches it's not give all your money away that's not what Paul says concerning riches in the church but Timothy has to do this and he has to command them not make suggestions not give them helpful advice but command them you will fifthly be an example to the flock we've covered that in verse 12 you will sixthly engage in the public ministry commanded by God don't ever stop well you know I want to throw some ponies in between the third hitting no no just be faithful do what you're supposed to do and don't stop you will or rather you have been gifted verse number seven by God and vetted by the church that should encourage you greatly the Church of Christ has recognized you pastor Porter and I gave you a good grilling yesterday and you did extremely well for those of you who are not in attendance yesterday the theological examination went wonderfully we praise God for the theological savvy acumen and ability that God has given to our young brother and what is evident the humility that ought to go along with that giftedness nothing worse than a gifted man who's proud nothing worse than a gifted man he wants to tell you how gifted he is as well you will be devoted to the truth of God and you will make progress in personal piety and public usefulness if you don't count as gonna come over there and I don't want to think about how that would go for you if ever there's problems in Surrey brethren if you call me or email me I'll dispatch can lets you and cam fight see I'm not that foolish if I'm gonna throw it out I'll send cam he's got the he's got the exercise that is profitable for the now you will embrace nicely the gravity of this position and conduct yourself accordingly I think that's the point at the end of verse 16 Paul is not teaching another way of salvation he's not teaching that ministers have the power to convey salvation he's underscoring the gravity of the situation 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 now let's go back in the earlier part of the sermon if you go to the doctor's office and the guy is ill qualified and he gives you bad advice and it ends up killing you that is a terrible thing that is a horrific thing but if you're a believer you're still going to go to heaven or you go to that pseudo mechanic and he gets in there and he starts tinkering with your vehicle and you drive it off and the engine falls out if you're a believer you still go to heaven what happens when a gospel minister tampers with something he doesn't know what happens when a gospel minister gives exhortation or advice or counsel that is not true people go to hell you see that's what verse 16 says it is grave the stakes are high so you must by the grace of God persevere because those stakes are so high now with reference to the congregation don't know that all the people that are gonna be involved in the Surrey Church plant are here with us this morning but for those of you who are you will receive the Word of God with joy there's no greater thing than the Word of God is there is there so if God in His infinite wisdom mercy grace has raised up a man and gifted him identified him for us through the word and then has called us as a church to vet him and to put him into a place where he is ministering all that has happened guess what you receive it with joy because it's a gift it's an amazing thing we as Christians receive gifts from God like no others you know we give gifts to our kids and they usually say thanks dad or thanks mom we receive gifts from God we complain and whine and moan I don't want to keep us out of the day I want to go to Tim Hortons or I want to go eat tacos or I want whatever God's giving you the gift of Sabbath why don't you want it you know what gospel ministry is it's a gift from the ascendant Lord Jesus Ephesians 4 he ascended on high he led captivity captive and he gave gifts to men you know what the context indicates the gift given to man or men he gave some as apostles some as prophets some as evangelists some as pastors teachers so brethren when you receive a gift smile and thank the Lord God for that gift you will reject heresy along with your pastor with earnestness you know when a church starts out you'll get a whole bunch of people that want to visit and see what's happening it's when you need to be on guard you men of the church surround your pastor help him because when all these guys come in as well you know in my last church we taught this in my last year I've always wanted to say I don't think I ever had if I've ever said that to anybody here I don't remember it this isn't your last church if your last Church was so great why'd you leave your last church is to get this in the military well let my last base you're not at that base anymore and this is the way we do it you say that nicely and kindly and lovingly but realize that when you open the doors people are going to come in and people are gonna say you you need me to teach your Sunday School our on this subject those are the guys you least need to teach a Sunday school subject on whatever that subject may be I love the simplicity of the Proverbs a man's gift makes room for him notice the man doesn't make room for his gift you need me think so we've managed thus far without you and we seem to be doing ok so kindly go back to your old church or visit a new one the brothers and sisters reject heresy with earnestness you will thirdly pursue those virtues commended by God if any of you are parents and you've had some degree of success in rearing your children sometimes persons typically unconverted family members will say oh you've been lucky your kid good and most of you who are Christian parents were there no luck involved when we were laying on the floor before God and weeping our eyes out because of so-and-so is acting like a fool no luck involved when you had to discipline and you had to pray for and not had to but you exhorted and you and there's no luck involved whatsoever it doesn't just happen do you notice that a church that is unified a church that is seeking to be faithful doesn't just happen it's kind of like the old adage we all like to see the sausage but we don't want to see how it's made you know what goes into a unified church do it produces that sausage a lot of blood and a lot of sweat and a lot of tears brethren do you know what we're commanded in Ephesians 4 endeavor to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace why does Paul have to tell us that we're believers we have the spirit why would he even have to tell us to endeavor to keep the unity of spirit in the bond of peace because we're sinners one of the commands in Scripture is superfluous when God tells us to do something there's a reason why why do you think he has to tell us over and over and over again certain things because we don't get it or we get it we don't do it brethren do what God says you want to be a faithful church it's an amazing thing I want to be a faithful believer I want to be a faithful Church then do what the Bible says you mean there's not another way isn't there like some other program here no just do what God says fourthly you will value and prize the public means of grace if God has given you a gift to be utilized in public you need to prize that public gift I love the way the second Helvetic confession describes preaching the preaching of the word of God is the word of God wherefore when this word is of God is now preached in the church by pre lawfully called we believe that the very word of God is proclaimed and now the word I'm sorry and received by the faithful royal made this observation I think it's very pertinent for the church for people we've charged Mike we charging the people Ryle 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 theory if Spurgeon were to sort of magically appear and occupy this pulpit for a 45-minute sermon that's what he preached he said any man who preaches in our fancies himself a genius I really don't it's just the way it goes my son reminded me of that saying any man who preaches in our fancies himself a G I don't but if Spurgeon were to open up and come down right here and preach one of those beautiful sermons that we read and you were asleep are you were thinking about your your afternoon lunch or your interview tomorrow your school report that what good would it be if Spurgeon himself preached the Word of God you didn't hear it he himself has what rules for hearing the word mark punt for 24 he says here it is your wisdom to know what God says to hear well God's teaching deserves the deepest attention it will repay the best consideration 3 here often wastes no Sabbath nor any one of its services use weekday lectures and prayer meetings for here better you will grow the holier thereby you will find heavenly joy by hearing with faith and may I say to the church that is hopefully forming on January 21st value in prize not only the public means of grace but the minister of those public means of grace it's a great encouragement for me to have brethren encourage me keep preaching the keep teach and keep doing what you're doing that's what a pastor needs there's need a parking spot he doesn't need you know all the bells and whistles that the people get it just shows actually just show up the best encouragement you can give to a bastard she show up being Church it's really cool they actually came I can't believe it it's great that's an affirmation that's an encouragement that's a I'm putting my soul where God calls me to be so that I can hear the word of God ministered unto me that encourages the man of God esteem em care for him help him to be a faithful minister of the gospel well in conclusion I'm about to call up the two brothers and we'll lay hands on our brother to affirm or rather affirm the vetting process that we have undergone in this church before we close for any hear that do not know Jesus I just want to kindly encourage you to consider that if God is this concerned with how ministers of his gospel conduct themselves and preach and teach doesn't that say something about his concern for saving centres in other words if God has carved out a class of men and God has given them specific qualifications that they must follow qualifications that in a given job outside of the ministry if there were violations or breaches they wouldn't lose their jobs a Christian professional outside of the church ought to be everything first entity three SADS but if that guy falls into sexual sin and he's a plumber he's probably not gonna get fired as a plumber he's not even gonna fart if he's a politician anymore guess what he's gonna get fired as a pastor and he should be fired as a pastor because he's not taking heed to himself and to the doctrine if God is that concern to provide these qualifications to make sure that qualified man stand-in pulpits doesn't that display his concern that sinners hear the gospel that they hear the truth that God is a holy God that he must punish and that all of us have sinned against us God the Bible is clear all we like sheep have gone astray there is none righteous no not one there is nothing seeks after God there is no fear of God before our eyes that is our desperate condition that is the bad news God is holy that's not bad news but God being holy in light of our unholiness that's bad news so the good news is is that Jesus came into this world not to just start a new religion or to give us some ethical teaching but Jesus came into this world to live in obedience to the father's law because we didn't Jesus came into this world to die on the cross as a sacrifice and as a substitute to bear in himself the punishment do for our sins and Jesus was raised the third day and Jesus is now enthroned on high where he ever lives to both make intercession for those who believe and to save those who don't the Lord God most high is concerned for Souls the Lord God most high is concerned for your soul he has set in place a class of man to call you to believe on the Lord Jesus Christ to turn from your sins to look unto Him and to live to receive the blessed gift of salvation by grace through faith in Christ alone the very existence of the gospel ministry the very fact that it's regulated so so severely is proof positive that God is in Christ reconciling the world to himself well let us pray our Father we thank you for it the word of truth and we thank you for this happy day this happy occasion and may it be the case that Mike would be able to reflect back upon this day this weekend and may it be an in current and encouragement to him and may you indeed add to the work there and may it be a church that does exist to bring glory to God salvation to sinners and growth to the people of God bless us as we continue now and we pray through Christ the Lord amen