Paul's Eighth Charge to Timothy
This is a charge to attend unto personal holiness, intellectual and spiritual development as a young pastor AND also can be applied towards any young man as well as any young father.
I Timothy 4:12-16
(I was encouraged by my own son, pfc David (the marine), to write this particular sermon.  It came up in the series anyway, but his inspiration to his dad just gave me more incentive to say these things.  Thanks, Dave - if only I could have been the example like you when I was young.)

Tired of being considered a kid?  That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive; But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ:  Ephesians 4:14,15


This charge can be directed to:
1)  A young inexperienced pastor / missionary / youth director, etc.
2)  A young father
3)  A young man

You really may not have much claim to a following or do you may not receive much respect in leadership situations - regardless to whether or not you have been to school, institute. (all that educational stuff that has ruined more preachers than anything else - well, other than wives that have been feminated by todays new feminism.)

The Book does give a warning in regards to being a novice, anyway.  Not a novice, lest being lifted up with pride he fall into the condemnation of the devil.  I Timothy 3:6.  The devil will most certainly go after a young preacher/man if all he has is knowledge but no understanding or wisdom.

You may KNOW it, but you gotta SHOW it, too, and that kind of experience only comes with time. With the ancient is wisdom; and in length of days understanding. With him is wisdom and strength, he hath counsel and understanding. Job 12:12,13.  You must be also an example!

According to I Timothy 4:12 Let no man despise thy youth; but be thou an example.
(Dr. Hovind says that everybody can serve God - some can even serve as bad examples!)

In this section of scriptures, there are three references that direct your life to be an example for others.
vs 12 - example of the believers
vs 15 - profitting may appear to all
vs 16 - and them that hear thee


A *note referring to saved young men:
 *I John 2:13  I write unto you, young men, because ye have overcome the wicked one.

(the true overcomer is Jesus Christ)
John 16:33 ...be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.
By your own faith in Christ, you have overcome the wicked one!
I John 5:4 For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world:
and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith.
I John 5:5 Who is he that overcometh the world,
but he that believeth that Jesus is the Son of God?
Rev 3:21 To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my throne,
even as I also overcame, and am set down with my Father in his throne.

 *I John 2:14  I have written unto you, young men, because ye are strong,
and the word of God abideth in you, and ye have overcome the wicked one.

The following verses then command you to not love the world.  I John 2:15-17 Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him. 16:For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world. 17:And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever.

I John 2:18,19 warn you about the antichrists everywhere - and verse 20 tells you that you should know better, anyway.  20: But ye have an unction from the Holy One, and ye know all things.

HOW?
Because of the Holy One!

The Holy Spirit lives with you, now and forever...John 14:16 And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever; Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you.

Your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost...1 Corinthians 6:19 What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own?

You are indwelt by the Holy Spirit...Romans 8:9 But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his.

verse 13
Young people - newly saved people, give attendance to:

a) Reading - not only study, but just read and let the Holy One work in you! The entrance of thy words giveth light; it giveth understanding unto the simple. Palm 119:130

b) Exhortation - keep a constant diet of preaching; even the dull ones have good stuff! It is the power of God, not of man! For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God. I Corinthians 1:18
c) Doctrine - See The Importance of Doctrine  Don't get tired of fighting doctrinal battles. Your fighting skills just get better and better. You have the energy as well as having the overcomer and it is HIS Doctrine that you are preaching, anyway - with His authority!

vs 15,16
Then, you are to:
1) MEDITATE UPON THESE THINGS!

But his delight is in the law of the LORD;
and in his law doth he meditate day and night.
Palm 1:2

When I remember thee upon my bed,
and meditate on thee in the night watches.
Palm 63:6
Mine eyes prevent the night watches,
that I might meditate in thy word.
Palm 119:148

I will meditate also of all thy work, and talk of thy doings.
Palm 77:12
I will meditate in thy precepts, and have respect unto thy ways.
Palm 119:15
My hands also will I lift up unto thy commandments,
which I have loved; and I will meditate in thy statutes.
Palm 119:48

Princes also did sit and speak against me:
but thy servant did meditate in thy statutes.
Palm 119:23
Let the proud be ashamed;
for they dealt perversely with me without a cause:
but I will meditate in thy precepts.
Palm 119:78

I remember the days of old; I meditate on all thy works;
I muse on the work of thy hands.
Palm 143:5

2) GIVE THYSELF WHOLLY TO THEM!
No man can serve two masters:
for either he will hate the one, and love the other;
or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other.
Ye cannot serve God and mammon.
Matthew 6:24
Get addicted to the Book!
I beseech you, brethren,
(ye know the house of Stephanas, that it is the firstfruits of Achaia,
and that they have addicted themselves to the ministry of the saints,)
I Corinthians 16:15

3) TAKE HEED UNTO THYSELF
Take heed therefore that the light which is in thee be not darkness.
Luke 11:35
And he said unto them, Take heed, and beware of covetousness:
for a man's life consisteth not in the abundance
of the things which he possesseth.
Luke 12:15
Take heed to yourselves:
If thy brother trespass against thee, rebuke him;
and if he repent, forgive him.
Luke 17:3
And he said, Take heed that ye be not deceived:
for many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ;
and the time draweth near: go ye not therefore after them.
Luke 21:8
And take heed to yourselves,
lest at any time your hearts be overcharged with surfeiting,
and drunkenness, and cares of this life,
and so that day come upon you unawares.
Luke 21:34
Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock,
over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers,
to feed the church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood.
Acts 20:28
According to the grace of God which is given unto me, as a wise masterbuilder,
I have laid the foundation, and another buildeth thereon.
But let every man take heed how he buildeth thereupon.
I Corinthians 3:10
But take heed lest by any means this liberty of yours
become a stumblingblock to them that are weak.
I Corinthians 8:9
Wherefore let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall.
I Corinthians 10:12
Neither give heed to fables and endless genealogies, which minister questions,
rather than godly edifying which is in faith: so do.
I Timothy 1:4
Now the Spirit speaketh expressly,
that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith,
giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils;
I Timothy 4:1
Not giving heed to Jewish fables,
and commandments of men, that turn from the truth.
Titus 1:14
Therefore we ought to give the more earnest heed to
the things which we have heard,
lest at any time we should let them slip.
Hebrews 2:1
Take heed, brethren,
lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief,
in departing from the living God.
Hebrews 3:12

4) TAKE HEED UNTO THE DOCTRINE...
See Importance of Doctrine
Look out for bad women  Prov 1,5-7
Look out for bad men  Prov 1-3
Pay attention to your inner thought life  Ps 19:14
Keep your sins judged and confessed  I Cor 10-11
Watch your temper  James 1:19
Forgive quckly and don't harbor grudges  James 5:9 Eph 4:32
makes rue you spend your time in the Book and in prayer  Ps 1; Jer 17:5-8
Abstain from all appearance of evil  I Thess 5:22
etc. etc. etc.
...that thy profiting may appear to all.

This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein: for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success.

Joshua 1:8
Souls saved, lives changed, communities upset, wicked people rebuked, prayers answered, needs met, and converts witnessing, etc.
...for in doing this thou shalt both save thyself, and them that hear thee.
Save, not necessarily meaning in salvation, but in 'saving' people from ...  I Cor 9:26,27; Romans 12:7; I Cor 10:33 Although, salvation could come out of your example and testimony, amen!
Then from verse 12
You will be an example...
of the believers,
ensample of a true Biblical Christian

in word,
speech - especially when speaking of the Bible regarding doctrine,
reproof, correction, &  instruction in righteousness:

in conversation,
manner of life as in I Peter 3:2,4 and Galatians 1:13
out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh (Matt 12:34)
and CONDUCT is conditioned on what comes OUT of the mouth (Matt 15:17,18)
so the word conversation is the proper word here!

in charity,

a willingness to forgive personal wrongs and insults; willingness to give an erring brother a second chance; willingness to go out of the way to help someon in need; compassion upon the unsaved; and, above all, love for God and God's words!

in spirit,

in the attitude taken toward the ministry, your family, your friends, the church family, persecution, trouble, success and victory, etc.

in faith,

is shown in waiting on God for answers to prayer, claiming in prayer what the Bible says is the inheritance for the Christian; claiming the prmises found in the Bible,a nd trusting God in difficult situations.

in purity.

Avoid filth - moral, religious and social.  Know the difference between good and evil.  Be able to discern on a daily basis and stay clean.

but only until he comes!  (verse 13)

So, young folks - Remember Ecc 11:9,10; 2:1
Rejoice, O young man, in thy youth; and let thy heart cheer thee in the days of thy youth, and walk in the ways of thine heart, and in the sight of thine eyes: but know thou, that for all these things God will bring thee into judgment.  Therefore remove sorrow from thy heart, and put away evil from thy flesh: for childhood and youth are vanity.  Remember now thy Creator in the days of thy youth, while the evil days come not, nor the years draw nigh, when thou shalt say, I have no pleasure in them;

Trust me, son - it doesn't get any easier in life!
You might as well plan ahead and do it right!
I am getting more and more like my dad - and guess what,
so will you some day!  Like Mom, like daughter, also!

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