Supporting the Man of God Who Is Called to Preach
Yesterday, as I washed dishes after lunch, we discussed a church within the community that had lost their pastor and who (as a congregation) had dwindled to just a handful of a faithful few.
Then today, in the early moments of reading, I read an article detailing the woes of a church body who had dwindled so far in number that by all indication really needed to close its doors.
Today, I wonder; What would God want a congregation to do if we ever dwindled to just a faithful few?
Today, I am perplexed, should a church body ever close its door and leave the building standing, a hollow shell, after the heartbeat of the people leave (for new places of worship, where larger missions may exist) to attend larger churches?
The Apostle Paul knew what it meant to plant a church. Thus, as a church planter, international missionary Paul left his home country to sail to new territories. Clearly, he knew the struggles that came from sharing Jesus with the world. We should not be surprised that it is also mentor Paul who led young preacher Timothy as the church established at Ephesus struggled to survive.
Let us read together the words found in the book of Timothy, words the Holy Spirit of God gave to Paul to write to the young preacher Timothy, words meant to encourage him in his role as pastor.
“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.
Until I come, give your attention to the public reading, to exhortation, and teaching.
Do not neglect the spiritual gift within you, which was granted to you through words of prophecy with the laying on of hands by the council of elders.
Take pains with these things; be absorbed in them, so that your progress will be evident to all.
Pay close attention to yourself and to the teaching; persevere in these things, for as you do this you will save both yourself and those who hear you.”
(1 Timothy 4: 12-16 NASB)
A pastor’s role is HUGE!
The role of a congregation is LARGE as well!
We are to work in tandem, serving together for the greater good: the “family of God.”
The devil, the one we know by name, Satan, the enemy of the church, would like nothing more than to destroy the body of believers from within the congregation. “Roaming to and fro,” the devil seeks to devour the individuals and then their body, by destroying their peace. We must be wary. We must be ready. We must be armored-up & prepared. We must be!
We Must SUPPORT the Man of God Who God Has Called to Preach! We Most Certainly—Must!
He may be young, like the youthful Timothy.
Remember, his task is HUGE: to “show yourself an example of those who believe.”
That’s a heaviness the man of God must bear; it’s certainly a task that must weigh him down each and every day. An example. Every day, others looking to you, scrutinizing what you do, what you say, and how you live—that must be so difficult!
Mentor Paul reminds young preacher Timothy how he can “reveal himself” to the body of believers he leads. Do this throughout each day of the week “in speech, conduct, love, faith, and purity,” and then the church will take notice of the example you present.
Oh, We Must—SUPPORT the Man of God Whom the Father Has Called to Preach!
It is most definitely—A Must!
Paul intended to return to Timothy, after he completed the missionary journey to Macedonia, but for now, he encourages this young preacher to remain in Ephesus, and while there to “give your attention to the public reading, to exhortation, and teaching.”
A preacher stands in front and proclaims the Word of God, reading publicly in front of the congregation, encouraging the people to follow God, to “live-out” the message found within the Scriptures, teaching the people gathered upon the Word of God. SO—
We Must SUPPORT the Man of God Whom the Father Has Called to Preach!
It is a Must!
All believers (yes, all of us) should not ever walk away from the spiritual gift given to us by the Holy Spirit. It is ours to use, given by God Himself, and for His purpose & His Will we serve Almighty God. Paul reminds Timothy that his preaching is a spiritual gift the LORD has gifted him to use, so he writes: “Do not neglect the spiritual gift within you, which was granted to you through words of prophecy with the laying on of hands by the council of elders.” A preacher is anointed, is prayed over, and is led by the Spirit of God. SO—
We Must SUPPORT the Man of God Whom the Father Has Called to Preach!
Oh Yes, We Must!
As a pastor leads the body of Christ, the world will see Jesus. It is a task God has called the man of God to do: to lead us, to reach into our community, to serve as the hands and feet of Jesus Christ. That is why the Apostle Paul expounds upon young Timothy—“Take pains with these things; be absorbed in them, so that your progress will be evident to all.” Yes, the world surrounding the church building will see with clarity JESUS when the pastor remains focused upon leading the church as God directs. Within our communities, there are so many lost who surround the church building. SO MANY! YES, IT IS IMPERATIVE—
We Must SUPPORT the Man of God Whom the Father Has Called to Preach!
Every Single Day of the Week!
Thus, Paul ends this portion of his instruction, of his writing to Timothy with these words: “[Timothy, may you] Pay close attention to yourself and to the teaching; persevere in these things, for as you do this you will save both yourself and those who hear you.” Paul reminds this young preacher of the importance to care for himself (and his family) because this life-long task of preaching the Word, of leading the body of believers, of exhortation, of loving the church, of living out-loud, of living as an example “in speech, conduct, love, faith, and purity,” was not a task one should commit to lightly. Paul reminds this youthful preacher that he must “persevere in these things” because salvation comes to “those who hear you.”
EVERY DAY, IN EVERY WAY, WITHOUT HESITATION, ON PURPOSE, IN LOVE, & BECAUSE WE MUST—LET US ALWAYS SUPPORT the Man of God Whom Almighty God HIMSELF—Has Called to Preach!