1 Timothy 4

Chapter 4 begins by telling us that people will reject their relationship with God. People who have it will walk away from it. People will listen to lies, they will be lead away by demons. This chapter is Paul telling Timothy to guard himself, and to guard his flock. In chapter 1 Paul tells us to fight for the relationship with God, here he gives us some instructions as to how.

Everything made by God is good. In John 1 we read "All things came into being through Him, and apart from Him nothing came into being that has come into being." (verse 3) Everything is good. We see here the ugliness and the evil of sin. It can take something so good and beautiful that God has made, and twist it for its own purpose. The guy who has made billions off of pornography saw that women were beautiful. He, being guided by the will of sin, took something God made good, and turned it into an object of lust. That's what sin does, that's what it has to do. But sin does not have the ultimate final say. God will redeem His creation, He already has begun to. We read this also in John 1, "But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, even to those who believe in His name, who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God." (Verses 12-13)

We must, as ministers, but more as Christ followers, teach these things. We must be focused on God and filled with God so that we are not lead astray, so that we are not enticed by sin to miss use God's creation. We must be nourished by truth so that we are able to see sin as sin. Through prayer we will see God's intention for His creation, when we know how He intended it to be used, we are able to use it properly.

In truth we will be focused on godliness, we must discipline ourselves in truth for godliness. We can do this not because it's easy, but because we are focused on God who is our hope and or savior. He is the one that shows us truth and empowers us for godliness.

And now comes the part that I have to read over and over for encouragement. "Let no one look down on your youthfulness, but rather in speech, conduct, love, faith and purity, show yourself an example of those who believe." Let no one look down on me because I am young. I must remember Paul's words in chapter 1, Christ has put me into His service. Because of that I must set an example in what I say, how I live, and in my relationships both with God and with others.

My focus must be on the scriptures, on encouraging and building others up, and on teaching the truth. I must guard myself, but also my flock that I have been in trusted with. To do this I must give them encouragement and solid Biblical teaching.

But as I'm doing this, as I'm ministering to the flock, I cannot neglect my Spiritual gifts. I can't get spread so thin that I neglect my call and the things God has given me the ability to do well. For fruitfulness in ministry prayer is the most essential part, but a close second, I believe, is having a team. You need a t am of people who's strengths are your weaknesses. Focus on your strengths, strengthen your strengths. One of my professors told me many times, "You don't strengthen your weaknesses, you strengthen your strengths." I had trouble with this statement for a while, but after spending some time in ministry I fully agree. I must focus on what God has graced me with the ability to do well. I am not good at everything. For the church to be all it can be, I must surround myself with people whose strengths are my weaknesses. When we have a group of people who have different strengths, things are able to get done because all the bases are covered.

But above all, I must constantly guard myself. I must constantly be growing closer to God. I must make sure every sermon is grounded in scripture because by doing that salvation will come. I must make sure that I model a relationship with God to my flock. I must be sure that I am constantly learning and growing, because you can only lead people as far as you've been.

Peace be with you