Sunday 12/11/16
Series: …but by My Spirit XXV
Message – Knowing the Holy Spirit through your Gifts II
Point #6 We express the heart of our Father through giving ourselves entirely to our giftings.
Key Text:
1Tim. 4:14-16,
“(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.”
Last week we used Paul as our examples of giving yourself entirely to your ministry….and we learned a few things.
Today we are going to use Paul as our example of giving yourself entirely to your ministry….
Adding an 2 additional points:
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God does this revealing to qualify your ministry.
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All MINISTRY reveals the Father through the Son!
Gal 1:15-24,
“(15) But when it pleased God, who separated me from my mother’s womb and called me through His grace, (16) to reveal His Son in me, that I might preach Him among the Gentiles, I did not immediately confer with flesh and blood, (17) nor did I go up to Jerusalem to those who were apostles before me; but I went to Arabia, and returned again to Damascus. (18) Then after three years I went up to Jerusalem to see Peter, and remained with him fifteen days. (19) But I saw none of the other apostles except James, the Lord’s brother. (20) (Now concerning the things which I write to you, indeed, before God, I do not lie.) (21) Afterward I went into the regions of Syria and Cilicia. (22) And I was unknown by face to the churches of Judea which were in Christ. (23) But they were hearing only, “He who formerly persecuted us now preaches the faith which he once tried to destroy.” (24) And they glorified God in me.”
Only God’s Grace qualifies you!
Remember Paul said in Phil. 3 that as Christians we are those who place NO confidence in the flesh.
If Paul had followed his natural flesh talents he would have gone to the Jews and NEVER fulfilled his MINISTRY of going to the Gentiles.
Remember Paul was….
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was a Jew
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I strict Hebraist
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studies under Gamaliel
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KNEW the scriptures
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Understood the fulfillment of the Old Testament writings in the person of Christ Jesus.
In the FLESH Paul was the PERFECT Apostle to send to the Jews!
Which was our next point…
Callings are not always obvious
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Not everyone who is called into the ministry – desires the ministry they are called into.
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Conventional “christian” wisdom is that the things that have happened to you both determines your call and qualifies you for it.
But that is NOT what we see in scripture…in fact as we read concerning Paul…those very things may disqualify you to be used in that capacity.
1Cor. 15:8-11,
“(8) Then last of all He (Jesus) was seen by me also, as by one born out of due time. (9) For I am the least of the apostles, who am not worthy to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God.
(10) But by the grace of God I am what I am, and His grace toward me was not in vain; but I labored more abundantly than they all, yet not I, but the grace of God which was with me. (11) Therefore, whether it was I or they, so we preach and so you believed.”
Let’s look at Timothy…
Timothy is important because it’s easy to look at Paul and think “Well he was an Apostle” as if somehow that relieves you of YOUR stewardship.
Some think Timothy was an Apostle.
Others think Timothy was “the Pastor” of the church of Ephesus because Pal left him there and wrote him letters on how to minister in that place.
Howver, the only descriptive title the entire New Testament affords Timothy was……..?????
Deacon (or minister)
1Thess. 3:1&2,
“(1) Therefore, when we could no longer endure it, we thought it good to be left in Athens alone, (2) and sent Timothy, our brother and minister of God, and our fellow laborer in the gospel of Christ, to establish you and encourage you concerning your faith,”
The word “minister” is Diakonos – and simply means a servant or one who serves another.
Turn to Acts 6:1-7,
“(1) Now in those days, when the number of the disciples was multiplying, there arose a complaint against the Hebrews by the Hellenists, because their widows were neglected in the daily distribution. (2) Then the twelve summoned the multitude of the disciples and said, “It is not desirable that we should leave the word of God and serve tables. (3) Therefore, brethren, seek out from among you seven men of good reputation, full of the Holy Spirit and wisdom, whom we may appoint over this business; (4) but we will give ourselves continually to prayer and to the ministry of the word.” (5) And the saying pleased the whole multitude. And they chose Stephen, a man full of faith and the Holy Spirit, and Philip, Prochorus, Ni-can-or, Timon, Parmen-as, and Nicolas, a proselyte from Antioch, (6) whom they set before the apostles; and when they had prayed, they laid hands on them. (7) Then the word of God spread, and the number of the disciples multiplied greatly in Jerusalem, and a great many of the priests were obedient to the faith.”
SIDE JOURNEY
Deacons were originally servants or assistants to the Apostles. It wasn’t until the appointment of Elders (shepherds) in all the churches that deacons assisted them.
So in the case of Timothy with Paul, Timothy was Paul’s servant and fellow minister – he was an Apostolic delegate.
Teaching was and is NOT a requirement for modern deacons, and probably wasn’t for the original deacons either, but Timothy was well versed in the Word due to his upbringing and Paul’s mentoring so, he served in the capacity of Paul’s representative.
1Cor 4:15-17,
“(15) For though you might have ten thousand instructors in Christ, yet you do not have many fathers; for in Christ Jesus I have begotten you through the gospel. (16) Therefore I urge you, imitate me. (17) For this reason I have sent Timothy to you, who is my beloved and faithful son in the Lord, who will remind you of my ways in Christ, as I teach everywhere in every church.”
What did Paul encourage Timothy to do?
1Tim. 4:12-16,
“(12) Let no one despise your youth, but be an example to the believers in word, in conduct, in love, in spirit, in (the) 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.”
Word example = A pattern TO BE FOLLOWED
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In word – DOCTRINE – is everything!!!!
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Matt. 9:35-38 (Someone Read) (also 10:5-8) PREACH!
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In Conduct – what you do
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In love – How you do it
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In spirit – The divine influence by which the temperment or disposition of mind in a Christian is affected.
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In (the) Faith – Remember two primary words for faith Pistis and Pistiou. One acts like a noun the other a verb. In this case it is the noun Pistis but is being used in the genitive case making “faith” – “THE faith”.
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In Purity – free from defiling influences and thus behaviors
Notice that out of the 6 things listed – ALL but ONE are actions.
You lead in your gifting by how you live NOT what you say alone!
So Paul tell’s Timothy HOW to produce actions which support his gifts and calling.
In closing, let’s look at them –
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Don’t Neglect the gift (charismatos)
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1 Cor. 12:1-7 (to EACH ONE)
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Meditate on them (the word and your calling)
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Calling = invitation
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Give yourself ENTIRELY to them
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Paul used the example of Olympics…
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1Cor. 9:24-25 “Do you not know that those who run in a race all run, but one receives the prize? Run in such a way that you may obtain it. And everyone who competes for the prize is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a perishable crown, but we for an imperishable crown.”
Php. 3:14 “I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.”
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Pay attention to yourself & the doctrine
Without giving heed to his life, Timothy might suffer shipwreck (as in 1Tim. 1:18-19). Without giving heed to his doctrine, Timothy might lead others astray or into shipwreck themselves.
What are prophecies? God inspired words. It is essentially RHEMA that came through another person for edification, exhortation and comfort. This can be done directly by God in the form of revelation or through man in the form of prophecy.
We are NOT led by prophecy, but prophecy often serves as a confirmation of something God has already said to you directly. We are LED by the Spirit of God, in agreement with the written word!
…Blessings!
I hope this teaching will challenge you and encourage you to place your trust in the Lord Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord.
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Blessings!