Read II Timothy 4:1-18. Leadership requires a price that must be paid by every servant of God. Paul has been constantly pointing out to Timothy the things that will make for the better discharge of the onerous duties now developing upon him as he takes the responsibilities of a young man to guide the young assemblies of God. Paul gathers up the gamut of graces that Timothy would need for such a position.

The office of pastor-teacher is not to be confused with the bishopric, the cardinalship, the episcopacy, the rectorship, etc.—in other words, the religions of men. On the other hand, it was a position of very real responsibility and often a time of great personal danger. That it is what gave it the character of a good work. The word indicates not a passive waiting for, but an active reaching for the goal, the crown.

In the early assembly, it was the easy posts—the placid positions, that were sought in religion, but it was often the hard and perilous jobs to which God sent His true servants. It is a striking example of the enthusiasm of those early Christians. Many who actually coveted martyrdom at times were ready to proclaim the glorious message when they had the opportunity. They tried to find that opportunity to please God.

Timothy was to offset the “fewness” of his years by the richness of his own personal character. Are we enriching our character? The people in the assemblies would forget how young Timothy was by their recognition of how Godly the grace was manifested in his life. Timothy was exhorted by Paul to be absorbed in spiritual things in order for these things to be evident to all to whom he came in contact. That is brought out in I Timothy 4:15—“Take pains with these things; be absorbed in them, so that your progress will be evident to all.”

Believers are God’s sanctuary. “Do you not know that you are a temple [sanctuary] of God and that the Spirit of God dwells in you?” (I Cor. 3:16). This is a fact because God is in His regenerated people. The Christian’s body is the temple of the Holy Spirit. Exercise is an absolute necessity because it is carrying out the discipline of the body of Jesus Christ—the local assembly of Christ. Therefore, we are to be gymnasts in picture, in practice, and in development under trial. Exercise presupposes a true believer to be truly godly. It is impossible to act without a principle of acting. Are we afraid to tell people about the truth because they do not want to hear it? We do know that if they are not willing to listen, they are not the children of God. Until God does something for them, we do not have anything to give them. We can’t give what God has not given—regeneration.

There is no conclusion to our subject today—yet. The most saddening case in the life of a Christian is to not know enough truth to keep him on the correct path of life. When and where does one get his information? Can the lost get information from the lost? Every Christian finds himself in a position of isolation which is in proportion to the measure of his knowledge of and faithfulness to the truth of God.

The answers to the following questions should settle how far one should go in the Christian life without compromising. 1. Am I avoiding the appearance of evil? “Abstain from every form [appearance] of evil” (I Thess. 5:22). 2. Am I helping to build the things that I have destroyed? “For if I rebuild what I have once destroyed, I prove myself to be a transgressor” (Gal. 2:18). 3. Am I failing to declare the whole counsel or truth of God? “For I did not shrink from declaring to you the whole purpose of God” (Acts 20:27). 4. Am I standing by those who are standing for the truth? “At my first defense no one supported me, but all deserted me; may it not be counted against them. But the Lord stood with me and strengthened me, so that through me the proclamation might be fully accomplished, and that all the Gentiles might hear; and I was rescued out of the lion’s mouth. The Lord will rescue me from every evil deed, and will bring me safely to His heavenly kingdom; to Him be the glory forever and ever. Amen” (I Tim 4:16-18).

Should a wife forsake her husband when he is in trouble because of her? Think about the question. Paul many times got in trouble because he was standing up for the church—the body of Christ. We know the Lord Jesus is our husband and the assembly is His body (Eph. 5). Is not Christianity superior to heathenism? Courts of law are necessary in a graceless society. However, where the principle of grace exists, a civil court should not be called upon to settle any problem. The world appeals to manmade laws, and this is fact that cannot be denied. Read I Corinthians 6:1-11.

Do we think we are better than the disciples who were beheaded? Do we want to know what our thoughts are about ourselves? We thank our Father for giving us an awakening call and the opportunity for doing something about it. “Do not receive an accusation against an elder except on the basis of two or three witnesses” (I Tim. 5:19).

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The NEW AMERICAN STANDARD BIBLE—UPDATED EDITION is the source of all Scripture quotations in this message, unless otherwise noted.

Copyright ã   2006

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