A Minister’s Manifesto (2 Tim 4:1-5)

 Dr. Paul Manuel—2020

Text:

2 Tim 4:1 In the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who will judge the living and the dead, and in view of his appearing and his kingdom, I give you this charge: 2 Preach the Word; be prepared in season and out of season; correct, rebuke and encourage—with great patience and careful instruction. 3 For the time will come when men will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear. 4 They will turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths. 5 But you, keep your head in all situations, endure hardship, do the work of an evangelist, discharge all the duties of your ministry.

Outline:

      I.    His authority is supreme (vv. 1-2).

            A.    The Lord is with you.

            B.    The minister is for others.

Application: It is neither possible nor advisable for a minister to avoid study, for that would deprive him of insights only available through others (2 Tim 2:15).

     II.    His adversary is short-lived (vv. 3-4).

            A.    The enemy is ever deceiving.

            B.    The enemy is essentially deceived.

Application: Do not try to win an argument by humiliating your adversary, lest you turn him into your enemy (Phil 4:5).

    III.    His attitude is stable (v. 5).

            A.    The minister is determined to serve.

            B.    The minister is devoted to serve.

Application: The minister must adapt for the gaps in his education, and the congregation must allow him time to backfill those gaps (1 Pet 3:15).

Introduction: Sometimes you get involved with something without realizing at first what it is about:

The minister received an unexpected phone call from the IRS. “Hello, is this Rev. Green?” “It is.” “This is the IRS. Do you know a Steve Smith?” “Yes, I do.” “Is he a member of your congregation?” “Yes, he is.” “Did he donate $10,000.00?” There was a pause, then minister replied… “He will.”

Sometimes you get involved with something without realizing at first what it is about. Timothy may have started in the ministry without realizing at first what it is about. Paul writes a letter to Timothy telling him some of what he can expect. It is “A Minister’s Manifesto,” general guidelines about how the young leader can fulfill his calling.

Background: While traveling through Asia Minor, Paul writes twice to Timothy, a young man he knows well, a man he introduces to service in the local church. In his second letter Paul tells Timothy with a few broad strokes what to expect. This is not a detailed job description, but a description about what he should emphasize.[1] The first thing Timothy should realize is that…

A Profitable Combination (1 Tim 6:1-16)

 Dr. Paul Manuel—2020

 Text:

1 Tim 6:1 All who are under the yoke of slavery should consider their masters worthy of full respect, so that God’s name and our teaching may not be slandered. 2 Those who have believing masters are not to show less respect for them because they are brothers. Instead, they are to serve them even better, because those who benefit from their service are believers, and dear to them. These are the things you are to teach and urge on them.

1 Tim 6:3 If anyone teaches false doctrines and does not agree to the sound instruction of our Lord Jesus Christ and to godly teaching, 4 he is conceited and understands nothing. He has an unhealthy interest in controversies and quarrels about words that result in envy, strife, malicious talk, evil suspicions, 5 and constant friction between men of corrupt mind who have been robbed of the truth and who think that godliness is a means to financial gain.

1 Tim 6:6 But godliness with contentment is great gain. 7 For we brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out of it. 8 But if we have food and clothing, we will be content with that. 9 People who want to get rich fall into temptation and a trap and into many foolish and harmful desires that plunge men into ruin and destruction. 10 For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs.

1 Tim 6:11 But you, man of God, flee from all this, and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, endurance, and gentleness. 12 Fight the good fight of the faith. Take hold of the eternal life to which you were called when you made your good confession in the presence of many witnesses. 13 In the sight of God, who gives life to everything, and of Christ Jesus, who while testifying before Pontius Pilate made the good confession, I charge you 14 to keep this command without spot or blame until the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ, 15 which God will bring about in his own time—God, the blessed and only Ruler, the King of kings, and Lord of lords, 16 who alone is immortal and who lives in unapproachable light, whom no one has seen or can see. To him be honor and might forever. Amen.

Outline:

      I.    Godliness is evident in how you treat others (vv. 1-2).

            A.    You are to be submissive to those in authority.

            B.    You are to be servant to those in authority.

Application: Do not use your position of authority to exploit those under you but adopt the gentle attitude of Jesus (Matt 12:20)

     II.    Godliness is evident in what you teach others (vv. 3-5).

            A.    You must impart truth to others.

            B.    You must avoid controversy with others

Application: Your job is simply to be ready if the opportunity should arise to share the good news and then be sensitive to the needs of the situation (2 Tim 4:2; 1 Pet 3:15).

    III.    Contentment is evident in how you regard your wealth (vv. 6-10).

            A.    You should be satisfied with what you already have.

            B.    You should be aware of the hazards of seeking more.

Application: Look beyond your immediate circumstances, no matter how dire they appear, and consider what God may want to accomplish through you (2 Pet 1:3).

   IV.    Contentment is evident in how you reflect the Lord (vv. 11-16).

            A.    You can pursue what is eternally valuable.

            B.    You can find what is eternally satisfying.

Application: God’s schedule may not correspond to your schedule, but it will always work to your advantage (Jer 29:11).

Introduction: Some things go together naturally, like peanut butter and jelly, or a bow and arrows, or a teenage girl and a mirror.

Jeff’s daughter has just received her learner’s permit and is eager to drive the family car. She gets in the driver’s side, adjusts her seat and shoulder belt. After glancing at all the mirrors, she turns to her father with a puzzled look and complains, “I can’t see myself in any of these.”

Some things go together naturally, like a teenage girl and a mirror. The apostle Paul joins two things he thinks are a “A Profitable Combination,” godliness with contentment. These two attributes are a natural combination, if not a commonly occurring pair.

Background: The apostle Paul writes to his protégé Timothy about his spiritual growth as well as about some problems the young minister is encountering with false teachers in his congregation.

      I. Godliness is evident in how you treat others (vv. 1-2).

1 Tim 6:1 All who are under the yoke of slavery should consider their masters worthy of full respect, so that God’s name and our teaching may not be slandered. 2 Those who have believing masters are not to show less respect for them because they are brothers. Instead, they are to serve them even better, because those who benefit from their service are believers, and dear to them. These are the things you are to teach and urge on them.

     Timothy’s congregation consists of slaves (i.e., property) and freeborn. Paul begins his instruction by addressing slaves.

What Does God Want? (1 Tim 2:1-7)

 Dr. Paul Manuel—2019

 Outline:

      I.    The priority of God is a supplication for authorities (vv. 1-2).

Application: When you pray, do not make it all about you, but make God’s priorities your priorities. (1 John 5:14)

     II.    The preference of God is a salvation for everyone (vv. 3-4).

Application: While communicating the gospel is a sober task, it is not something to dread, because it brings life to those who are perishing (Rom 1:16).

    III.    The provision of God is a savior for all (vv. 5-6).

Application: Whatever people think the reason Jesus came, the reason Jesus gives is the most important: redemption from sin (Acts 4:12).

   IV.    The promotion of God is a spokesman for gentiles (v. 7).

Application: No matter how indirect the route may seem at the time, it will always be the most direct route in the end to the destination He sends you (Isa 55:8-9).

 Introduction:

 Background: Between Paul’s first and second imprisonments, he pens a letter to Timothy (66/67), who accompanied him earlier on his travels through Asia Minor. After urging his young protégé to remain faithful, Paul exhorts Timothy to prayer, explaining how this spiritual discipline should figure prominently in one’s walk with God and, in part, answers the question, “What Does God Want?”

      Paul begins by explaining that…

       I.    The priority of God is a supplication for authorities (vv. 1-2).

1 Tim 2:1 I urge first of all, that requests, prayers, intercession, and thanksgiving be made for everyone— 2 for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness.

    Paul lists the various means God’s people in the church militant[1] use when communicating with Him: “requests, prayers, intercession, and thanksgiving” (v. 1).[2] Then he recommends the ones who are to be the subjects of such interaction: “everyone [especially] kings and all those in authority” (v. 2).[3] Finally, he gives the intended outcome of such interaction for the supplicants: “peaceful and quiet lives” in “godliness and holiness” (v. 2).[4]

    One of these means of communication is to express “thanksgiving” (v. 1). Ordinarily, “thank you” is a response to someone who has done something favorable for you, but simply being grateful is empty and unfocussed if you do not specify the person responsible for your boon. At that point it is merely a vague and vacuous sentiment. In contrast, a statement of gratitude should identify the responsible party, especially when that party is God. Whenever God is the reason for your benefit, He should be the expressed recipient of your gratitude, the clear object of your appreciation (Manuel 2019).

Application: How is your prayer life? Does it regularly include those in authority as well as stating the intended outcome (e.g., “peaceful and quiet lives”)? If so, then you are praying according to Paul’s instructions. If not, then you should not be surprised when God’s response is not what you request. As James explains:

You want something but don’t get it…because you do not ask God. [And even] when you ask, you do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives. (Jms 4:2-3)

When you pray, do not make it all about you, but make God’s priorities your priorities. “This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us” (1 John 5:14). Whether or not God grants your request, there is comfort in knowing that He is not ignoring you or simply dismissing you out of hand. God pays attention to prayers that reflect His priorities. Whose priorities do your prayers reflect?