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HIDE HARDENED HERALD. I Timothy 4:12-16. 06/05/2022. #12.
12 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. 13 Till I come, give attention to reading, to exhortation, to doctrine. 14 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. 15 Meditate on these things; give yourself entirely to them, that your progress may be evident to all. 16 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.
1. Right at any age
a. One of Timothy’s doubts was his age
a1. As Jesus was accused of being too young to teach truth (Jn. 8:57), so Timothy was told the same
a2. Timothy was probably about 40 yr. old
b. One was not considered to have any wisdom to share until at least 50 years’ old
c. Several people in Bible were deemed too young
a1. Job 32 Elihu refused to speak until he heard the wisdom of his elders (he was disappointed in Job and his 3 neighbors)
a2. Jeremiah 1 Jeremiah stated he was too young to speak to Judah for the Lord
a3. David was the youngest brother out in the field with the sheep (considered “but a youth” going up against Goliath)
d. Paul tells Timothy not to let anyone disrespect his youth (lit., “to think down upon”, belittle)
a1. People = discounting Timothy’s message because he was young
a2. Paul stated that Timothy needed to boldly proclaim Word, even in the face of ridicule and doubters
e. Truth is truth no matter who proclaims it
a1. Timothy was not to allow anyone to silence him in proclaiming the truth
a2. Timothy was to live truth and teach it
2. The calling
a. Paul reminds Timothy that he was called by God to full time ministry
a1. Not a selection by man or inheritance
a2. God appointed Timothy to preach and teach
b. Elders confirmed Timothy’s call with lay on of hands
a1. There was no granting power with hands
a2. Shows that they recognized the call
c. By prophesy (the Spirit indicating his choice)
d. Timothy was to ignore the naysayers and continue to preach (most pastors have detractors)
3. Keeping faithful
a. Paul tells Timothy to concentrate on his calling:
a1. Reading the Word of God
a2. Being exhorted by Word and exhorting
a3. Study doctrine
a4. Develop and use the gift given by God
a5. Meditate on Word and obey (Psalm 1)
b. Paul tells Timothy to focus on his studies and calling continually (don’t get distracted from it)
a1. The progress in Timothy spiritual walk will be seen by everyone (Luke 2)
a2. Diligence brings spiritual growth
c. The stakes are high: save self and others
a1. Timothy could not “save” anyone
a2. By sound teaching and living, Timothy will deliver self and others he instructs
from life sin
d. Good mentoring leads people to Christ and life
Key Verse: Psalm 1
1 Blessed is the man
Who walks not in the counsel of the ungodly,
Nor stands in the path of sinners,
Nor sits in the seat of the scornful;
2 But his delight is in the law of the Lord,
And in His law he meditates day and night.
3 He shall be like a tree
Planted by the rivers of water,
That brings forth its fruit in its season,
Whose leaf also shall not wither;
And whatever he does shall prosper.
4 The ungodly are not so,
But are like the chaff which the wind drives away.
5 Therefore the ungodly shall not stand in the judgment,
Nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous.
6 For the Lord knows the way of the righteous,
But the way of the ungodly shall perish.