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sermon: Faithful Minister in Perilous Times

1 Timothy 4:1-16
David F. Maas
Given 20-Jun-26; Sermon #1881B; 35 minutes

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The title of sermon is A Faithful Minister in Perilous Times. I Timothy 4:1 through 16. God calls His people to remain faithful to His sound doctrine, personal godliness, and spiritual growth in the midst of increasing deception and apostasy. The apostle Paul wrote to his young protege, Timothy, who is serving the church at Ephesus. Chapter 4 contains warning about false teachers and in and instructions concerning holiness. Today, we also live in a world filled with confusion and competing voices. Paul's message remains remarkably relevant. Stay grounded in God's word and pursue godliness and faithfully serve Christ. I want to thank Richard Wright and Baugh for allowing me 11 weeks to put together this sermon. Last week, Richard explained the difficulty Jesus had getting through to Nicodemus to understanding the difference between spiritual and physical uses of the terms born again or born from above. The sermon discussing First Timothy from an article, Argument Over Words by Richard T. Reitenbaugh appears in the CGG Weekly, August 16, 2024. Paul warns Timothy about teachers who are proud, knowing nothing, but are obsessed with disputes and arguments over words from which come envy, strife, reviling, evil suspicions. Useless wrangling of men of corrupt minds and destitute of truth. That's I Timothy 6:4-5. Arguments over words can get a teacher into great trouble and actually lead him away from the doctrine of Jesus Christ. So, Herbert Armstrong cautioned the church in the days past, uh, not to hang, uh, not to hang, hang a doctrine on the definition of a Greek or Hebrew word, but rather let the preponderance of scripture, particularly the clearer verses, define the correct godly meaning. Richard continues, I once received an admonitory email about the church's use of the word Bible of all things. Believe it or not, and those, and these days, people seem to believe just about anything. Some in the Christian world are saying that the Bible is a word of pagan origin and should not be uttered by God-fearing individuals. The argument runs that Bible originates in the name of a pagan God or goddess, and the evil they nudged along by Satan himself have managed to convince the whole world to use this awful word to name God's book. Would that these people had cared to crack open any respected etymological dictionary for the truth. Richard continues. The word Bible is not of pagan origin. Bible derived from Byblos, the Greek name of the Phoenician city Gabel. The Greeks called this city Byblos due to its importance in the Byblos Egyptian papyrus trade because they were made of papyrus. Books were called Biblia by the Greeks, and from a Christian point of view, the greatest collection of, of Greek writings is what we call the Bible. Uh, Richard continues, we regularly receive similar emails on the words Jesus and God. These common words for the ones we know as God the Father respectively are condemned as pagan, the critic's favorite word. The former is often said to be descended from the name of the supreme Greek God Zeus, while the latter has purportedly been discovered to come from the name of a Teutonic God, Got or Got. I like many things about the Hebrew roots movement. But their attitude about the words derived from their understanding, I certainly do not approve of. I recall a Hebrew roots movement down in Texas. One lady said we should never use the word Jesus because we were using a Latinized transliteration, Greeksos, which can derive from Zeus. Now, Richard continues that Jesus can in any way derive from Zeus is ludicrous on its face. Jesus is, in fact, a Latinized spelling of the Greek Jesus, which itself is a transliteration of the Hebrew Yeshua or Yah saves, savior. Do not neglect the gift which has been given to you by prophecy with the laying on of hands of eldership. First Timothy 4:14, the New King James. Uh, do not neglect the gift. Many believers know that they have been called by God. Yet over time, spiritual gifts can become dormant through fear and distraction. Discouragement, busyness, or lack of faithfulness in this passage, the apostle Paul exhorts Timothy not to neglect the spiritual gift God had entrusted to him. The same warning and encouragement applies to Christians today. God does not, God does not give gifts merely for personal enjoyment, but for the edification of the church and the advancement of His kingdom. God has given every believer a gift. First Timothy 4:14. You recall my last message I gave you back in April 2026 Romans 12:6-8 and I Corinthians 12:12-8. I led many of you to find your own gift. In First Peter we read, as every man received the gift, even so minister the same one to another as good stewards of the manifold gifts of God. King James Version in Ephesians 4:4-13, we learn that Christ gives gifts to His church. There is one body and one spirit, even His ear called in the hope of your calling. One Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all who is above all and through all and in you all, but unto one is given grace according to the measure of the gift of Christ. Wherefore He saith, when He ascended up on high, He led captivity captive and gave gifts unto men. Now that He has ascended, what is to what is, what is but, but that He also descended first into the lower parts of the earth. He that descended is the same also that ascended far up above all heavens that He might fill all things. 11 and He gave some apostles and some prophets. That some evangelists and some pastors and teachers. Even the for the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ, every believer. Has indeed received grace, abilities, opportunities, and spiritual gifts from Almighty God. No Christian is giftless. A church member may feel insignificant because they do not yet preach. Yet God may have gifted them with mercy, encouragement, hospitality, or service that profoundly impacts others. We need to ask ourselves, what gift has God given to me, and am I using it for His glory? Gifts can be neglected. Do not neglect the gift. I Timothy 4:14, which was given you by the prophecy with the laying on the hands of the eldership. The Greek word which implies carelessness, disregard, or failing to cultivate something valuable. Now the Hebrew word for neglect depends on whether you mean it as a noun or a verb. Neglect is a noun is haznaka. Neglect, negligence, abandonment. of care to neglect as a verb, as a le leheznaya to neglect, to fail, to care for. For example, the building suffered from neglect. They neglected their responsibilities. El Noah Elbet Elohenu Azov. Our and not the house of our God forsake. One notable example in Matthew 24 25:14 to 30, the parable of the talents. Matthew 25:14-30. For the kingdom of heaven is out of man traveling into a far country, who called his servants and delivered them unto them his goods. Unto one He gave 5 talents to another 2, to another one, to another man according to his several ability, and straightway took His journey. Then he that received the 5 talents went and traded with the same, and made them over 5 talents, and likewise he that received 2, he also gained other 2, but he he that received 1 went and digged in the earth and hid the Lord's money. After a long time, the Lord of those servants cometh and reckonth with him. And so that he had received the 5 talents and brought other 5 talents, saying, Thou deliverest unto me 5 talents. Behold, I have gained beside them 5 talents more. His Lord said to him, Well done, thou good and faithful servant. Thou hast been faithful over a few things. I will make thee ruler over many things. Enter thou into the joy of the Lord. He also that had received the two talents came to him and said, Lord, thou delivers unto me two talents. Behold, I have gained two other talents beside them. His Lord said to him, Well done, good and faithful servant. Thou hast been faithful over a few things. I will make thee a ruler over many things and turn thou into the joy of the Lord. Then he that received the one talent came and said, Lord, I knew thee that thou art a hard man, reaping where thou hast not sown and gathering where thou hast docked straw, and I was afraid and went and, and, and hid thy talent in the earth. Hi thy talent of the earth. Lo, there it has been. That is thine. The Lord answered and said to him, Thou wicked and slothful servant, thou knewest that I reap where I sowed not. And gather where I have not strawed. Thou oughtest therefore to have put my money to the exchangers. And then at my coming I should have received mine own with usury. Therefore, take the talent from him and. Give it unto him that hath 10 talents, for unto every one that that hath shall be given, and he shall have abundance. But from him that hath not shall be taken away, even that which he hath. And cast ye the unprofitable servant into utter darkness. There shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth. Neglecting so great a salvation in Hebrews, in Hebrews 2:3, we read, How shall we escape if we neglect so great salvation, which at the first began to be spoken by the Lord and was confirmed unto us by all that heard Him. Neglecting the first love in Ephesian congregation, but I have this against you, that you have left your first love, Ali ex kuso tin agapeutin protenafekis. But I have against you that the love of you first did leave. In Revelation 2:4 3 we learn that Ephesus neglected its first love. Nevertheless, I have somewhat against thee because thou hast left thy first love. Remember, therefore, From whence, from whence thou art fallen, and repent and do the first works, or else I will come unto thee quickly and remove thy candlestick out of His place, except thou repent. Signs of neglect. Include worldly distraction, spiritual complacency, lack of prayer, fear of failure. Discouragement from criticism, busyness with lesser priorities. Grona attempted to run from almighty God's calling neglecting his prophetic responsibility until God corrected, corrected him. We need to identify the area where our God-given abilities have become dormant. God often confirms His calling through others. Acts 13 1 through 3, the amplified Bible calls first missionary journey. Now, in the church at Antioch, there were prophets who took, who spoke a new message of God to the people. And teachers Barnabas, Simeon, who was called *, Lucius of Isyrene, Manion, who had been brought up with Herod and Tipus, the Tetrarch and Saul, while they were serving the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, Set apart. For me, Barnabas and Saul, Paul, for the work, to which I have called them. Then, after fasting and praying, they laid their hands on them in approval and dedication and sent them away on their first journey. In Acts 6:6 we read. They brought these men before the apostles, and after praying, they laid hands on them to dedicate and commission them for His service. Paul's warning to Timothy about the need to stir up the gift of the Holy Spirit. We read in II Timothy 1:6 amplified Bible. That is why I remind you to fan into flame the gracious gift of God, that inner fire, the special endowment which is in you through the laying on of my hands with those of the elders of your ordination. For this reason, I remind you to kindle afresh the gift of God which dwells in you through the laying on my hands Dienetien aminikosianarosen the charisma for. Which cause I remind you to kindle up the gift to Theo estini the epithos, son of God, which is in you by the laying on of Zeron for the, the, the, the hands of me. Numbers 27:18 through 2023, the amplified Bible. The Lord said to Moses, Take Joshua, the son of Nun, a man in whom is the Spirit, and lay your hands on him and have him stand before Eliezer, the priest, and before the whole congregation and give him a commission in your sight. You shall put some of your authority and honor on him so all the congregation of the Israelites will obey him. He shall stand before Eliezer, the priest, who shall inquire before the Lord for him by the judgment decision of the Yam. At Joshua's command, the people shall go out and at his command, they shall come in, and he and all the congregation of Israel with them. Moses did as did as the Lord commanded. He took Joshua and had him stand before Eliezer, the priest, and the whole congregation, and Moses laid his hands on Joshua and commissioned him just as the Lord had commanded him. Yeah This is just as the Lord had commanded through Moses. While gifts come from God, He often confirms and recognizes them. Through mature and spiritual leaders. The laying on of hands represented recognition, commissioning, blessing, and identification with God's work. Pastors and church leaders may recognize, may recognize teaching, leadership, evangelical, evangelistic, or pastoral gifts before the individual fully recognizes them. Receive godly counsel from mature believers who can help discern and affirm God's calling. Gifts must be developed. First, Timothy 1:6 amplified. That is why I remind you to fan into flame the gracious gift of God, that inner fire, that special endowment which is in you through the laying on of my hands with those of the elders at your ordination. Do you see Proverbs 22:20-29 amplified Bible? Do you see a man skilful and experienced in his work? He will stand in honor before kings. He will not stand before obscure men. Um, in Ecclesiastes 9:10, the amplified Bible, we read, Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with all your might, for there is no activity or planning or knowledge in the wisdom and Shiel, the nether world, the place of the dead where you are goinguh, Colossians 3:23, amplified Bible. Whatever you do, whatever your task may be, work from the soul that is put in your very best effort as something done for the Lord and not for men. Spiritual. Spiritual gifts require cultivation. A gift neglected weakens. A gift exercised grows. A musical instrument left untouched eventually becomes difficult to play. That's why I practice the piano and the clarinet daily. Likewise, spiritual gifts become ineffective and unused. There are steps we can take to reduce neglecting our gifts, pray regularly, study scripture diligently, serve faithfully, seek mentoring. Exercise the gift consistently and remain teachable. Gifts are given for the benefit of others. I Corinthians 12. 7, but to each one is given the manifestation of the Spirit, the spiritual illumination and the enabling of the Holy Spirit for the common good. Ephesians 4:12-16. Ah, and He did this to fully equip and perfect the saints, God's people, for the works of service, to build up the body of Christ, the church, until we all reach oneness in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God, growing spiritually, becoming a true believer, reaching the measure of the fullness of Christ. Manifesting His spiritual completeness and exercising our spiritual gifts in unity, so that we are no longer Uh, children, spiritually immature, tossed back and forth like ships on a stormy sea and carried about by every wind and shifting doctrine, by the cunning and trickery of unscrupulous men, by the deceitful scheming of people ready. To do anything for personal profit, but seeking the, the truth in love in all things, but both our speech and our lives expressing His truth. Let us grow up in all things following His example, who is the head. Christ, 16, from Him, the whole body, the church in all its various parts. Joined, joined and knitted firmly together by what every joint supplies. Uh. Uh, when each part is working properly, causes the body to grow and mature, building itself up in unselfish love. Romans 12:45, amplified for just as in one physical body, we have many parts, and these parts do not all have the same function or special use. So, we who are many are nevertheless just one body in Christ, and individually, we are parts one of another, mutually dependent on one another. First Peter 4:10-11 amplified Bible. Just as each one of you has received a special gift, a spiritual talent, an ability graciously given by God, employ it in serving one another as appropriate for good stewards of God's multifaceted grace, faithful use. The diverse varied gifts and abilities granted to Christians by God's unmerited favor. Whoever speaks to the congregation is to do so as the one who speaks, oracles, utterances the very word of God. Whoever serves the congregation is to do so. As one who serves by the strength which God abundantly supplies so that all things may be glorified, honored, and magnified through Jesus Christ, to whom belongs the glory and dominion forever and ever. We should not consider spiritual gifts as trophies to admire or tools to use. God equips believers to build the church, reach the lost, encourage the weak. Serve one another. A person with the gift of encouragement may prevent a struggling believer from From abandoning his faith. Ask not how can this gift benefit me. But how can this gift benefit others? Neglecting our gift has consequences. Luke 20. 12 4 1248 amplified Bible. But the one who did not know it and did things worthy of a beating will receive only a few lashes. From one to whom much has been given, much will be required, and to whom they entrusted much of him they will ask all the more. James 4:17. Amplified Bible. So any person who knows what is right to do, but does not do it to, to him, it is a sin. And Matthew 5:14-16, you are the light of Christ to the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden, nor does anyone light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a lamp stand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. Let your light shine before all men in such a way that they may see your good deeds and moral excellence and recognize and honor and glorify your Father who is in heaven. Ezekiel 33:7-9, amplified Bible. Now, as for you, son of man, I have made you a watchman for the house of Israel. So you hear a message from my mouth and give them a warning from me. When I say to the wicked, O wicked man, you will certainly die, and you do not speak to warn the wicked from his way. The wicked man will die because of his sin, but I will require his blood. From your hand, but if you on your part warn the wicked man to turn from his evil way, and he does not turn from his evil way, he will die in his sin. But you have saved your lifeConsider the consequences, missed opportunities, reduced defective loss of spiritual influence, others deprived of needed ministry. We all remember Ted Bowling's sermon on being a lighthouse given on January 11th, 2026. Uh, a lighthouse that fails to shine, places ships in danger. Likewise, believers who neglected their gifts may leave others without needed spiritual guidance. God calls us to faithful stewardship. I Corinthians 4:2 amplified Bible. In this case, moreover, it is required as essential and demanded of stewards that one be found faithful and trustworthy. Matthew 25:25, amplified Bible. His master said, well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful and trustworthy over a little. I will put you in charge of, of many things. Share in the joy of your master. Colossians 3:23, 24 amplified, uh. Whatever you do, whatever your task may be, work from the soul that is put in your very best effort as something that's done for the Lord and not for men, knowing with all certainty that it's from the Lord, not from men, that we will receive inheritance, which is your greatest reward. It is the Lord Christ whom you actually serve. Romans 12:1. Uh, from the amplified therefore, I urge to you, brothers and sisters, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies, dedicating all of yourselves set apart as a living sacrifice. Holy and well pleasing uh, to God, which is your rational, logical, intelligent act of worship. God does not require. Equal gifts. He requires faithful stewardship. The goal is not comparison but faithfulness. Am I serving where God has placed me? Am I developing my spiritual gifts? Am I allowing fear or distractions to hinder ministry? What step of obedience should I take today? farmer receives a bag of valuable seed, he can either store it away where it produces nothing, or Plant, cultivate, and harvest an abundant crop. Spiritual gifts are like seed. God gives them with the expectation that they will be cultivated and multiplied. So identify one spiritual gift that God has given you. Evaluate whether you are actively using it. Repent of neglecting God's calling, commit to serving faith faithfully. Ask God to rekindle dormant gifts, seek fresh empowerment from the Holy Spirit. Volunteer in an area where your gifts can be exercised and seek accountability from church leaders. In conclusion, Paul's exhortation in Timothy remains relevant. Do not neglect the gift that is in you. God has entrusted every believer with abilities, opportunities, and spiritual gifts for His glory. The challenge is not merely to possess this gift, but to develop it, exercise it, and Uh, faithfully steward it until we hear the words well done, good and faithful servant. Matthew 25:21. The church, the kingdom, and future generations are strengthened when God's people faithfully use what He is placed before Him.