0:09 If you have your bibles this morning, meet me in the book of first Timothy. First Timothy, as we continue in our series in this book. And we are going to unpack one familiar passage. You probably memorized it. You probably heard it if you grew up in the church many times.
0:28 It's found in verse 12 of chapter four. First Timothy four chapter 12. Let's read it and pray. Let no one despise you for your youth, but set the believers an example in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith, in purity. Father, you are the author of this verse.
1:08 You wrote it with us in mind, and we pray that we would know what you have to say to us in light of it. Lord, would you bless the ministry of the word now? It may be driven into our hearts. Lord, may there be no misinterpretation, no crushing, no condemnation. At the same time, no lightheartedness and pride that would dismiss these truths from our own lives.
1:39 Come, Lord, and take the sword of the spirit, and do surgery on us as we lay in humility in your sanctuary and ask that you would have your way. We believe these things in Jesus' name. Amen. You and I have been discovering that this letter is of instrumental value for those who are serious about being the true church of Jesus Christ, And it has been a stream of wisdom that God has ordained to cross every nation and every generation for serious churches that long to honor the Lord Jesus Christ as a corporate body. And if there's any additional value that this book of the first Timothy, the letter to Timothy, the first one, it is this, that it was written to a young pastor.
2:30 And God, especially had in mind, surely, those who are young in ministry to be encouraged, to be lifted up. But he also had in mind congregations that would choose to be under the leadership of a young elder. And this short verse informs us that young people, especially in positions of authority, can be objects of contempt. They can be looked down upon. They can be not taken seriously.
3:01 And it can come to a point where some people even reject their callings altogether, or disrespect them at best. That temptation was true in Paul's day, and it is very true today. Now, you might be thinking there are plenty of reasons for us to be cautious about a young pastor, and I'm sure there are many points of agreement. But Paul's purpose here to writing to this young pastor, and you might be wondering, well, how young was he? Well, he was young enough for other people to look down upon.
3:29 Okay? People guess. People say he's 40, 30, mid twenties. He was young. And Paul has in mind here, Timothy, I wanna give you some instructions for how not to give any person permission to criticize you, or to look down on you and to not receive the ministry that God has called you to.
3:52 Week after week, you and I have been hearing, in part, the importance of the role of an elder, of an overseer. Why? Because whoever that overseer is will determine the direction of the church. The pulpit is the steering wheel. And so when we feel the weight of that, when we've heard the different qualifications and we see that God has a high standard for this role, it almost shocks us to think that he would even grant such a weighty responsibility to a young person.
4:22 Why would he do that? Why does he do that? And I believe there are many reasons why. And it could be very well that the concerns that many people have about young people, sometimes are justified, but other times are based on personal experiences and prejudice that eclipse what the Bible says about it. Here's some proof.
4:50 Maybe this is true for some of us in here. If I were to ask you simply to visualize in your mind what the 12 disciples look like as they chose to follow Jesus and his earthly ministry. What picture comes to mind? I'm sure for some of us, we think of middle aged bearded men with gray hair, maybe in their forties and fifties. Where did you get that idea from?
5:13 Movies? TV shows? Paintings? And there is great evidence that most likely all of the disciples, except for one, were under the age of 20. You might be wondering where you're getting that from.
5:32 Well, let's go there quickly. Matthew 17. Just to get an idea of how sometimes we have preconceived notions that guide us in a different direction. Now, it is obviously debated. This is not dogmatic, but here's an idea.
5:54 Matthew seventeen twenty four. It says, when they, being the disciples and Jesus, came to Capernaum, the collectors of the two drachma tax went up to Peter and said, does your teacher not pay the tax? What are we being told here? Well, according to the old testament, there was a temple tax that you had to pay a certain amount every, you know, few months, every year, whatever it was. And when you go to Exodus 30, verse 14, you realize that the temple tax was only given to those who are above the age of 20.
6:27 Now, we just read that they came to Capernaum, and those who came to collect the tax came up to Peter and said, don't don't you, don't your, teacher there, doesn't he pay the temple tax? We knew Jesus began his ministry at 30. And then Jesus gives a whole lesson about this. And then we come to the point where he says, you know, so we don't offend them. Go fishing.
6:48 There'll be a fish that comes up, and when you open its mouth, you will find the necessary amount to pay the tax. And he says, take that at the end of verse 27 and give it to them for me and for yourself. For me and for yourself. Well, why not the other disciples? And there's a case that can be made there that they weren't above the age of 20, so they didn't need to pay the tax.
7:12 Again, that's can be disputed and argued against. But if that's true, then think about a bunch of teenagers that were following Jesus Christ. Kind of shatters your view of all those movies you saw. Right? Seek to receive instruction from, as an example for our lives, was 30.
7:33 If you want some context of how that looks, I'm 29, so a year older than me. And so we come to this verse, and we realize that, yes, it is common that what comes to mind when we think of those who have not reached advanced adulthood, that they are categorized by immaturity, that they're undiscerning, irresponsible, easily given into peer pressure, helplessly drawn to silliness rather than seriousness. But the scriptures must open our minds to see different possibilities for young men and young women in the kingdom of God. Now as I give these thoughts, please hear this. I'm not saying that young people should not be trained.
8:14 I'm not saying that they should be given heavy responsibility or task without the examination of their character or understanding. Nor am I saying that life experience does not matter. But what I am trying to say is that God is able to raise up sons and daughters to do mighty exploits for the kingdom of God, and we should believe that he's able to do the same today. Consider these things. Why would the Lord Jesus Christ entrust the church, at least in part, to a young man?
8:47 Number one, I think, because wisdom is not limited to the aged. Wisdom is not limited to the aged. You know that story in the book of Job. Right? Here's Job with three friends going back and forth about the dilemma that he's facing, the mystery of his suffering.
9:03 And it's not till you come to the latter end of the book that you read of a fourth person that was present, Elihu. Silent throughout it all, and he introduces himself to give his discourse. And when you see what he says, you realize that he's not like the others for many reasons, and one of them is what? Well, you can turn there if you want. Job 32 verse six.
9:27 And Elihu, the son of Barakal, the Buzite answered and said, I am young in years, and you are aged. Therefore, I was timid and afraid to declare my opinion to you. I said, let days speak and many years teach wisdom. But it is the spirit in man, the breath of the almighty that makes him understand. So this young man clearly is declaring that in contrast, he is.
10:02 He is younger. But then, he makes the statement, wisdom is not limited to the experienced. And this man already proved his wisdom in what? That he remained silent. He chose to revere those who were older in that context, in that setting, and he let them speak.
10:19 He let them speak. He let them speak. But there was a time where he came to speak, because wisdom is not just proven in what you say, but what you choose not to say. And as he begins to explain himself and introduces himself, he makes this statement. You having this thing called wisdom is not only earned because of your experience in life.
10:42 In fact, we have this understanding that wisdom is mainly attained by experience. Mainly attained by time. When in fact, the main vein that brings that deposit of this wonderful thing called wisdom, is actually spiritual, primarily. It's a gift from God to those who hunger and seek after it, And it's not a privilege that you earn just because you have some gray hairs. It is true that as you advance in life and things, you travel through, you learn from.
11:13 But that is secondary. The scriptures show over and over again that there is another way, a more superior way, a primary way of obtaining it. As one person said, there are beardless sages and gray headed children. Think of this proverb in the first book, first chapter rather of that book, filled with insight. In verse 23 of Proverbs one, if you turn at my reproof, wisdom says, I cry aloud in the streets.
11:42 And if you turn at my rebuke, if you turn at my reproof, what will happen? Behold, I will pour out my what? My Spirit in you. I will pour out my Spirit in you. I will make my words known to you.
11:55 Notice the transaction. That if you realize, if you're convicted that you cannot discern and navigate your way through this life apart from God, and you seek after wisdom that comes from the mouth of God, then he will pour his substance into you. And God will communicate his mind to you. He will grant you insight with supernatural clarity on every area of life. And if you're young, which the book of Proverbs is catered to young people by the way, that's the context.
12:27 If you're young and you search and you seek and you wait on God and you open this word and you pray with desperation, God can so give you a wisdom beyond your years that onlookers will observe your life and scratch their heads and wonder, how is it that you did not travel through this, yet you carry such prudence? It's such a careful attitude. Well, it's because as Elihu said, it is the breath of the Almighty. It's when God chooses to see a person that's humble enough to seek after him for this that he breathes on them. His touch is on their life.
13:13 His touches on her life. And what happens is you and I are invited to come to this word, open it up in the spirit of prayer and say, oh, God, breath of God, breathe on me, and clothe me with wisdom as a garment, and shield me from learning merely from experience, and show me how I can receive something like Daniel or Solomon, and that I can prepare myself for these events and not just learn from scars. Wisdom is not limited to the age. If a young man is qualified to obtain wisdom, then in part, surely, he is not disqualified from leading a people if he proves to possess it. And if we have any doubt that Elihu's comment was sincere and God proven to be true, all you have to do is go to the end of the book of Job.
14:02 Go there for a second just to see something that perhaps some people miss. When you go to Job 42, this is the end of the matter. God has revealed himself, and now he's ready to put things back into order, and bless Job again. But he says something quite amazing in verse seven of chapter 42. After the Lord had spoken these words to Job, the Lord said to Eliphaz the Temanite, my anger burns against you and against your two friends, for you have not spoken of me what is right as my servant Job has.
14:30 Do you notice it? Let me read it one more time. My anger burns against you and against who? Your two friends. Why didn't you mention Elihu?
14:43 What an amazing sight. You have these three groups. I have these three friends in a group that are clearly older according to Elihu, who should be having more wisdom and knowledge of how God works his affairs in the life of a righteous. And when God comes to bring commentary, the one that he leaves out is the youngest. The youngest one.
15:02 He rebukes all the older ones. So that silence surely says something. Wisdom is not limited for the aged, neither is humility. Humility is not limited to the aged. So we might not have that fear that the absence of wisdom is what causes an anxiety about a young leader, as much as the potential of pride in that youthful heart.
15:29 Isn't that what Paul warned about earlier in first Timothy? That a recent convert should not be elected as an elder, lest he be puffed up with conceit. But that's not what that verse is talking about. It's not talking about where you're at in life. It's talking about where you're at in your walk with the Lord, in terms of how early you were converted.
15:46 If you were 60, newly saved, that instruction would apply to you just as much as a 25 year old. The the threat there is you thinking, look, I'm newly saved and I'm already a leader. Paul says, be careful. Be careful. Realistically, we all can agree that there is a great danger in arrogance afflicting the heart of a gifted young man.
16:10 Especially, when he is recognized, and especially when he is raised up to have a measure of influence over others. But let me say this again. Humility is not limited to the aged. Listen to this verse in Ecclesiastes four thirteen. Listen very carefully.
16:26 Better was a poor and wise youth than an old and foolish king who no longer knew how to take advice. Ecclesiastes four thirteen. Think about it. Here's the contrast. A wise, poor youth versus a foolish, presumably older man who was a king, proving again that you can be young and possess this thing called understanding, discretion, and wisdom.
16:55 And you can be old, gray headed, and still be like a child. But notice that it goes deeper than that. He says at the end, that this king who no longer was able to take advice. Listen, that's not just a commentary. That's not just a commentary on someone's foolishness.
17:19 That's a stench of somebody's inflated ego. Pride. Does pride only plague the young? Not according to this proverb. In fact, Psalm says you're better off living as a young inexperienced man or woman with humility, than to be a ruler with status and wealth, but clogged with arrogance.
17:42 Young people, let me say it this way. If you desire to be used by God, and I hope you do, never forget this for the rest of your life. Always be teachable, and always be open to the correction of others, even your critics, because this is the ingredient for longevity and usefulness in God's hands. You want proof? I can't help but think of one man in the New Testament by the name of Apollos, eloquent in the scriptures, powerful orator.
18:17 He was speaking People often think that Paul was the powerful orator. No, it was Apollos. He was the impressive one. People criticize Paul's speech. If you heard Paul's speech, you probably wouldn't be too impressed with him, proving that he was empowered by the Holy Spirit.
18:32 But Apollos was the eloquent one. Apollos was the one that can keep and hold your attention for a long time. Apollos had the ability to string arguments together and paint a picture when he preached the sermon. And one day, he's in the synagogue according to Acts 18, and he's preaching powerfully, and there's a couple in there, Priscilla and Aquila, and they they like what they're hearing. They looked at each other thought, he's really gifted.
18:52 Gifted by God, surely. But then they realized that he said some things that were not completely correct and thought, his theology isn't all there. And so what did they do? They took him aside and they began to teach him of the way of God more accurately. Now, imagine if Apollos had rejected such an offer.
19:09 Imagine if he was offended. Do you realize who I am? Do you realize how many people have converted? I get invited to these synagogues and these conferences. Who are you?
19:16 Priscilla Aquent. What do you do for a living? Oh oh, we make tents. Oh, really? You're gonna give me theological advice?
19:21 You're a tent maker? But no, he received it. He sat there and he allowed them to point out the things that he was not totally accurate in. And because of that conversation, because mainly, because of that humility and that teachability. I love what it said after his encounter with Priscilla and Aquila.
19:42 Just listen to these words in Acts eighteen twenty seven. And when he, being Apollos, wished to cross to Achaia, the brothers encouraged them and wrote to the disciples to welcome him. When he arrived, he greatly helped those who through grace had believed. So here's a young man who had a burning desire to be used by God across all nations, wherever God can use him, he wanted to go. And he himself had a desire, oh, I wanna go to Achaia.
20:08 I wanna preach. I wanna further this gospel. And I believe because of the relationship he built with Priscilla and Aquila and the brothers there in Ephesus, they recommended him gladly. And because of what he had learned from this couple, he was able to be launched into that area and greatly help the other believers. If you want to be useful in the hand of God, remain teachable.
20:35 Remain humble. Never be convinced that you have it all together. No matter how much you can retain in your brain and no matter how much you can stir the emotions with your words, with your gift. I love this proverb because it tells us that as long as there are desire and a willingness to be corrected and to be redirected, no matter the age, that person is of more use than a person with status and power and position who has told himself and others, it's my way or no way. Humility is not limited to the aged, and neither is Christ exalting influence.
21:17 Do you see the wisdom of God here in first Timothy four twelve? Here's the wisdom that it sets a precedent for young people. Timothy was a pastor and guess what? He wasn't a youth pastor. I challenge you to find a youth group in the book of acts.
21:38 He wasn't a youth pastor. He was a pastor of a church of all believers of different ages. We know that from Look at chapter five verse one. Do not rebuke an older man, but encourage him as you would a father. Oh, so there's older people under his leadership.
21:55 And so what are we being told here? What's the principle here? Why is this verse often used for youth conferences and meetings for young people? Well, for good reason. Because he says here, but set the believers an example.
22:10 Set the Sunday school kids an example. Be a model for the teenagers, because you're young at all and they can relate to you more. No. All of them. Brothers, sisters, children, fathers, mothers, all spiritual maturity levels, you have the potential of assisting in their sanctification.
22:34 More than that, for all young people, pastor or not. Because remember, he's a pastor, but he's to set an example for all believers. So that includes you. He says, specifically the young people, God is calling you to strive for such heights of character that you would shatter the status quo. That is the challenge of this verse.
22:58 And here's the thing, it eliminates the excuses that you might have convinced yourself that you cannot excel and be effective for Christ because of your age. Whatever low expectations culture has placed on you, even church culture, You have to be able to dismantle that by the exposure to the instruction here given to Timothy. There's no excuse at any part of your life for you to not serve God with total abandonment and surrender, especially in your youth. And when I'm when I'm talking about youth, I'm talking about young adult years here. That's where Timothy is at.
23:36 He's not a 13 year old. That's for sure. It's quite as amazing what's being said. You in Christ are able to actually inspire other Christians. Let your zeal, let your passion, let your consistency, let your fire, let your hunger, let your attendance, let your service stir up your brothers and sisters, mothers and fathers.
24:04 Let your life in this short season, before you do get the gray hairs and before your joints begin to be your enemy, Let that season of life be a declaration from you that Christ is worthy to be served in the prime of my existence, and that foolishness and fruitlessness does not need to describe generally the season of Christians youth. You have to believe that for yourself. And Paul says, if you're gonna silence the mouths of your critics, here's how you're gonna do it. I love what Paul doesn't do. He doesn't say, Timothy, make sure that at this point in the letter, that you bring this before your church and that you say, quote, Paul says, give the young man a chance and stop bothering him or disrespecting him because of his age.
24:54 He doesn't. He does that in another place, first Corinthians 16. He tells the church, hey, receive him, put him at ease, and don't despise him. But here at this point, he speaks to Timothy. And instead of saying, Timothy, argue with them to convince them that you are worthy, or Timothy, lament and cry and complain because they don't see you as they should, no.
25:22 Win them. Win their respect. You're gonna have to win it. You don't have to sit with them one on one and tell them why, what kind of theological training you have, and the experience of God calling you. You don't need to do any of that.
25:39 Just live in a certain way. And mouths will be silenced, and people will see and believe who God called you to be, and what he called you for. Again, you're hearing this, you're saying that's very inspirational for a pastor's conference. But how does that touch me? Here's how it touches you.
26:02 Because if you translate this verse, it translates in the following way. Timothy, your practical life is your most valuable asset into convincing other people to believe who you are, and what you're about. Your practical daily lifestyle is the thing that will have the most power and influence over the minds and the hearts of others. That is absolutely profound. You know what Timothy needed to be reminded?
26:38 People are watching you whether you like it or not. They're observing you. They're calculating you. They're interpreting you, and they're making judgements about you. That's not just true for Timothy, that's true for every single person sitting in this sanctuary.
27:00 And so, every single Christian, not just potential pastors, though it is especially for pastors, every single believer. You ready this morning? Every Christian, your life, the way you live, the convictions that you've set for yourself is either doing one of two things. Number one, you're either stirring people up. You're either encouraging them, blessing them, giving them a reason to believe that this generation is not a total train wreck.
27:29 Or secondly, you're giving them a reason to despise you. And that word despise just means to look down upon. You're giving them a reason to criticize you and not take you seriously. You're giving them a reason, young people, for them to bypass you as just another youth cliquish, dominated by sinful passions, only living for fun, and demonstrating no interest in eternal things. Let's not just limit this to young people though.
28:07 How about the seasoned saints? Set the believers an example. Does your life demonstrate to young people especially? Are you giving them reasons to believe that zeal, devotion to the church, a love for God's word, a love for people cannot be known long term? See, if a young person has the opportunity to showcase the world that Christ is worthy to be served and adored and for my energy to be spent when I have the most of it, then surely older people have the opportunity to showcase to the world that Christ is worthy to be served until my last breath.
28:55 And so it's for all of us. You want to take away for this morning's message, my life will either stir, it will be an example, it will be a standard. People can look to me and say, there is somebody that is following Christ, and if you follow the way they live, if you adopt their lifestyle, you will get closer to Jesus. Or they'll look at you and just bypass you, as Timothy was in danger of. He's just another one that warms up one of those pews.
29:32 He's a Christian. Yeah. I think. But he's no example. She's not an example.
29:42 And so, there's a five fold, a five fold solution that Timothy were to absorb in order to silence his critics and even draw people to love Jesus more. And what I'm gonna do in this moment now is gear this mainly to young people. One, because that's the context. Two, because this church is filled with young people. And three, though it is geared towards them, those who are more seasoned can pray for them, in light of these truths.
30:17 But before I say anything else, let me say this on a personal pastoral way. I praise God. I do. From my heart, I praise God. That this church is filled with Timothy's, men and women, that long to live in a way where they're an example.
30:35 I praise the Lord Jesus Christ for that. And I pray that these truths that you hear will only add more fuel to the fire, and they will help you stay the course, and that you will not lose hope, or you will not fail to believe that even your young life can inspire those who've known Christ double the amount of time that you have. And so Paul says, Timothy, I'm not gonna go and speak to your critics directly. Let's make sure that your life is where it needs to be before I go out and reach out to them. And so let me tell you these things, Timothy.
31:08 You're gonna have to be an example in speech. You're gonna have to be an example in conduct. You're gonna have to be an example in love, in faith, and in purity. It's amazing how he starts with speech. Out of all the things, he he goes to the way he talks.
31:27 And is it not true that this is an area that causes a lot of youth and young adults to be despised by others? We've already covered in great length the incalculable damage that slander and gossip can bring to a local church. I'm not gonna revisit that neighborhood. But let's strive for greater holiness with our tongues. Consider also the call of Jesus Christ to be a man or woman of your word.
31:54 In the Sermon on the Mount, he gives that wonderful lesson about not needing to say, I swear on so and so when you have made a verbal commitment to something. There's no need. I mean, Christ brings us higher above that. And it's not that we can't make an allegiance to something necessarily, that's not the main point I believe. I believe what Christ is saying is that, your integrity should be so known, and you should carry the value of your words so seriously, that when you simply say yes or no, those that you're communicating to should not even question your commitment to the thing that you're committing to.
32:30 Can you imagine? All I need to say is it's done and you can walk away trusting that it's gonna be done. All you need to hear is me saying no and it's done. It's over with. You don't have to doubt my no.
32:43 That is an amazing thing that you and I should strive for at this point in our lives, to build up that kind of a reputation that we're not promise breakers, that we're not inconsistent. You know, I'm amazed by even the pagan in the bible that see and understand the value of a verbal commitment. It's unbelievable. If you think about Esther, when the king made an agreement to have the Jews slaughtered, and after Esar exposed the plans of those who wanted to destroy the Jews, the king says, that's great. I see the wrong in it, but I can't reverse my word.
33:17 I already said it was gonna be done. And so the only way for the king to reverse that edict was for another edict to be made that the Jews would be able to defend themselves. That culture in that ancient time, whether pagan or not, knew the weightiness of saying, yes to something or no to something. And Christ, as the head of his church, looks at his body and says, make sure that you see the importance of your word. Are we striving to go higher in Christ?
33:50 Let's revisit Eli, who our our friend. That with his speech, not just said the right things in part, but chose not to say anything. As a young person, he knew the setting and the context. He knew how to revere those who were older than them. He knew when to make his inclusion.
34:08 He knew when to interfere and when not to interfere. And he's crowned as an example, at least in part, of a young man that possessed something that the age did not have. But setting an example in speech goes beyond not speaking in certain ways or about certain things. Does it not? I meditated on this and I thought to myself, how would, what is the unique thing that a young person might do or say that would cause an older person to not even take them seriously?
34:42 I mean, we all know the obvious things, disrespect, vulgarness, all that. But what is it about a young person? And then I thought, when I first got saved in my early twenties, I made an observation, and it was a discouraging one, and it wasn't for all, but it was for many that I knew at the time, that as a newly saved individual that was touched by the grace of God, I I thought to myself, after much observation, that it was almost a common thing that young people were incapable of having serious, sanctifying, spiritual conversations. It was almost a total absence. And as a person who just found the love of God, talking about being serious all the time.
35:37 I'm not talking about that heavy belly aching laughter or lines being thrown out there in conversation where it brings a jolt of joy to you in that setting. Nor am I talking about you having a bible verse laced in every other sentence to prove that you're spiritual. K? I'm talking about a total absence of conversation about heavenly things. As though Christ didn't exist in their lives.
36:03 And it was discouraging. And I thought, the only way I can really grow in my conversation with people is if I talk to older people. I was drawn to older people. Men who had children, men who had wives, men who've walked with the Lord long enough. And I thought that was just, I guess, the thing.
36:22 That if you're young, it's very abnormal for you to actually care about having these things outside of hearing a message and maybe being in a small group because you're forced there and answering some preordained questions. I'm talking about spontaneous conversation out of the abundance of your heart, your mouth speaks. Proverbs fifteen two says, the mouths of fools pour out folly. That's all that gushes out of the mouths of fools, just folly, foolishness, silliness all the time, irreverence. It just gushes out.
36:57 We live in a culture that everything can become a joke. We live in a meme culture. Right? Apparently, you can get a degree in meme. I heard that.
37:08 I thought to myself, we're ready for the end times. Not against memes, people send them to me and I laugh. But everything has to be a meme now. Spiritual things, heavenly things, serious things. And it's rare to almost find a young person that you can sit down and have with and not even consider their age because you realize that in the spirit, they're old in the soul.
37:41 And so speech, I praise God that after this sanct after this time in the sanctuary of the pulpit ministry, questions are asked. Bibles are opened. That I pass by this little aisle here, and I pick up on conversations of people, talking about life, talking about world events, but including God in the matter. Conversations over food, where Christ is fellowshipping with them. Again, don't hear me wrong.
38:13 I'm not talking about if you're not talking about Jesus, then you're not spiritually mature. I'm not saying that all the time. But just the realness of it and the rawness of it proving that he really is a treasure, the treasure of your heart. Speech. Speech.
38:30 Timothy, if you're gonna be a pastor, you can't be silly all the time. You're dealing with people's souls. There's things going on in their homes. There's real devils that fighting. You you gotta be able to be somebody that they can confine in, and trust in, and seek wisdom from.
38:54 And that should be true for young people altogether. But not just speech, but conduct. He says, you gotta be an example in conduct, Timothy. Now, conduct here speaks of general way of life. He speaks about what you do daily.
39:09 And so what does that mean? Well, it means that there's a call to be godly and model that godliness in every setting that your foot steps into. So when you go to the grocery store, you're you're an example. When you get your haircut, you're being an example. When you go to the gym, you're being an example.
39:25 When you drive in your car, when you're in the office, when you are sitting with your friends at the restaurant that you love to go to, you're an example. But you're not just an example there because we're living in a day that Timothy did not have to face, where there's another world where you don't have to presently be there or physically be there and that's social media. Social media, your conduct on social media. Timothy, young man, young Christian, people know that you're leading a church. Make sure that you're an example on that thing.
39:54 On that thing, on that place. I gotta be honest with you this morning, there is some Christian social media that I look at, I don't have it anymore, but I used to look at and realize that there is no difference between Christian social media accounts and non believers. You gotta be honest. I mean, the only platform that you have, really, unless you're somebody that God has expanded in ministry to influence so many, the the the platform that you have where you can reach hundreds of people at the same time with the click of a button and you're ashamed of the gospel? You're scared what they're gonna think about you?
40:31 You complain that no that nobody will use you or that you can't be used by God, and God has invented or allowed this thing to be invented called the internet, where you in high school, in college, can stand for Christ, you don't want to. But if we refine this, if we refine this to the local church, because Timothy is being instructed as an example within the local church around believers that are watching him. And so, how do we how do we limit conduct in that kind of a setting? And I think we can ask ourselves some questions. Do I show that in the service that I'm a worshiper of God and a lover of truth when it is being sung and shared?
41:20 Or am I proving to those that are sitting around me that my Snapchat or my Instagram is of greater importance? Or consider this, as a member of this church that represents the spiritual family, does my attitude towards visitors show that I care about God's name and representing him in his compassion and love, or do I only wanna gravitate towards those that I'm comfortable with? Because I don't want to have an awkward encounter with somebody that I have to get to know. Let me tell you this, they feel much more awkward visiting your spiritual family than you are. You think, brother, you're really hammering it hard.
42:03 I didn't say it, Jesus did. In the Sermon on the Mount, the Beatitudes of the Christian, do you realize that Jesus brings it down to the way you and I greet people? And he says in Matthew five forty seven, and if you greet only your brothers, if you greet only your brothers, what more are you doing than others? Do not even the gentiles do the same? Do not even the Gentiles You know what he's saying?
42:34 The world knows how to go to those that they love and care about to greet them. You're not like the world. You don't greet like the world greets. You don't say hello the way the world says hello. You know what Jesus is saying here?
42:53 As Christians, we should outdo the world in showing how we care about others, especially strangers. You know what's being said here? New people should be able to walk into the sanctuary, and leave here confounded and bewildered, driving on their way home thinking, why did so many people show that they cared about knowing my name? And where I came from and what brought me here? Because if you greet only your brothers, you're no better than the world.
43:28 The world does the same. Your conduct. Oh, God, anoint our conduct. Not just when we serve in ministry, but even the way we greet. Hey, how you doing?
43:42 Good to see you. If you have any questions, just let me know. God bless you. But not just conduct. In love, that's an easy transition to make from conduct.
43:56 Many young people are criticized for being either self absorbed or selective with their love. Yet, the call is clear. All people should recognize us for unbiased care and compassion. And God designed it and designated it for believers to be able to showcase the love in one primary location. If you guess the church, you guessed right.
44:22 If our love is to be shown and known and felt in any place, it's when Christians come together. Galatians five thirteen, but through love serve one another. Through love, serve one another. That's how I can be an example in love. It's plain, is it not?
44:46 Love is ultimately known in finding ways to spend my soul to build up my brothers and sisters. And proof of that looks like contributing something of yourself for the greater good of the body that God's called you to be a member of. And whether it's being part of a ministry, or being intentional to get to know other Christians in the church, so that outside of the ordained services, you can still know how to love. We're called to be intentional with this, and not just let our emotions guide us into it. If you feel discouraged because you do not have a part in playing for this service to be functioning the way it is, whether you're up here or behind there, or if you feel like I'm not I I need a place to love.
45:30 Know this, there are an infinite ways to display Christ's heart. That's not limited to a position or a title or a routine in the church. I remember this example that marked me for life, from someone who told me that they did not have a ministry in a church, but they were asked one day by some if they were willing to go and drive for somebody to be picked up, to bring them to the service, and then drive back to drop them off because they're a new believer, I believe, and they needed just to be part of a church and they didn't have a find they couldn't find a way to come to the sanctuary. And this person, when he told me this said, I found so much joy in it and I was curious why. And he said, because the thing that motivated me to get into my car, to spend my gas, to not be with my friends when they're there early in the service or be with my friends after the service so I can go drop off this person that I barely know.
46:27 The thing that motivated me the most was that I imagined every single time that I was picking up Jesus. Driving with Jesus and then dropping off Jesus. That makes such a drudgery task like this a joyful one, when you really believe that. And I praise God again for this church that thinks outside the box in showing how to love, because it does not go unnoticed. Those who are aware of people's needs and gather others to make some kind of a contribution, though it's not an official church thing.
47:08 Those who realize that somebody's been missing from the meetings for too long, and they make a campaign to reach out to that individual and not rely on the leadership to do that only. Those who choose to be with the children, when they could rather be out with their friends eating lunch and having a good time, Christ honors your love. This leadership recognizes your love. And if the Lord Jesus Christ is known for his radical abandonment, his other worldly affection, should we not also be known for such love? I love that.
47:45 Does it make sense? I love that dismisses ourselves totally. May God sanctify our love. Not just love. Timothy, Timothy.
47:58 My child in the faith, Timothy. People are gonna watch you with your faith. They're gonna observe your faith. And faith in this sense is showing an unwavering commitment and a rock solid allegiance to the person of Jesus Christ. This young pastor was not one to be tossed to and fro by his emotions.
48:24 He was not one to be inconsistent, but constant and steadfast in suffering when there's no fruit in the ministry immediately. When there's persecution, when there's threats, when there's betrayal. Timothy, people are gonna be watching you and see, does this man, does this young man really have true Holy Spirit inspired trust in God? Why is that important for Timothy? Because though he's young, he's a leader.
48:50 And when he's a leader, he's displaying something for others to imitate. As one person said it, usually a people under a leadership will not rise above the quality of that leadership. And so Timothy, you're gonna have to be an example of faith. And I scratch my head reading that, think to myself, it's usually older people who should be examples of faith. Right?
49:11 You've walked with God, you have experience, you have battle scars, you should be the model. And it's true, there are examples and calls for that. But I am astounded by the Old Testament especially, and the new, of the amazing examples of people of faith that are often young. All the stories that we're inspired by and drawn to come from those who were in the prime of their life. And so you think about a man that almost every sermon on sexual purity turns to, when it comes to knowing how to stand against face to face seduction.
49:47 Joseph, well built, handsome, alone in a room with a woman. Young. You think of a farm boy who made an entire nation blush because he stood before a giant fearlessly, and trusted that God can give him the victory. And he did. David, the rugged young man.
50:12 Or you think about as we heard not too long ago, of a young man with his group of friends that were involuntarily enrolled in a Babylonian University learn about things that are totally in contrary in contradiction to the word of God, and yet they stood firm. Daniel and his friends did not have the scrolls with them, but they memorized the dietary laws, so that when the menu was given, they said, nope. That goes against the word of God. You think about so many of these stories, different settings and circumstances given to us by the Holy Spirit. Why?
50:50 Because the holy spirit gives no believer any permission to waste any area of their lives, especially their youth. And if that's gonna be true, in any area for you to be an example, surely it's in what he says last, in your purity. Timothy, you're gonna have authority. You're gonna be in a place of leadership. You're gonna know a lot of people.
51:19 And if there's any place that people are gonna watch in, is in your conduct of moral integrity. Brothers and sisters, there are too many scandals that are becoming normative in the western church. It's just becoming the norm. It's becoming expectant, and we are being mocked by an unbelieving world for preaching something that we don't practice. Timothy, you need to know how to stay strong in your sexuality.
51:58 Do you think this man didn't know the tugs and the rushes of temptation, of youthful passions, as it is called, that so many are familiar with today? Oh, you better believe he did. And in this pornified, perverse, unashamed, seductive age, more than any time in history, there needs to be a clarion call made by the lips of those who first live it and know victory over it first, that God calls us to be an example and purity. The world, this world gives youth the excuse and the license to be loose and experimental, and passionate with their lust. As long as it's safe and legal.
52:46 Oh, you're so pious. You're so wise. God has a different standard. You know why? Because his promises are too good, and his enabling grace is too powerful in this area of sexuality.
53:05 The idea of purity is expanded in first Timothy five one. Look at it with me. Rather two, older women as mothers, younger women as sisters, in all purity. There again, he reinforces it to this young man, this young pastor. Timothy, especially those who are around your age, I want you to see them as sisters.
53:27 I want you to relate to them as sisters, not just for pastors, for all brothers in this house. Young men, your conduct in the church should not be creepy. It shouldn't be inappropriate. You shouldn't be a manipulator. You know, I'm one of three brothers and we have one sister, so three boys, one girl.
53:48 I'm sure my brothers can testify that if we can summarize how we related to our sister as we grew up, it can be honed down to this, protection. You touched our sister, you're gonna touch three other boys. We'll we'll find where you live and we'll we'll have a conversation. A sanctified one. Christian one.
54:13 That was pre Christ days, so it's different now. Protection. If you're a brother in here and you have a sister, you know what I'm talking about. It's it's in the fabric of your being as a brother. And that is true for your spiritual sisters, my brothers.
54:34 That those in here that are young ladies should feel safe with you. They should feel protected by you. They should never fear for a moment that you will manipulate them and lead them into temptation to satisfy your lust at the expense of their walk with Christ. An example in all purity. And that's why a good leadership will have standards of how they minister to women, and how they meet with women.
55:13 Because we live in a crazy world today, where people are falling into temptation and making accusations to unqualified men of God. And if a young pastor is serious, he'll take up the reputation of being strict rather than being flirty. And so, young people, be an example. Guys only? No, sisters.
55:48 The charge is the same for you. You live in a world that is growing in more liberty in the area of sensuality, and it is closing in on you from every side. This unregenerate, twisted, and corrupt generation is continuing relaying the message to try to convince you that your body has power to give you what you want. And so the pressure is there to dress in a way where you reveal yourself more, or to post selfies in a way and in an angle so that your body can be lusted after, or to make your entire existence about how you look and being praised for how you look. And I would say, that with this pressure, choose rather to see the beauties that God describes for a young woman who fears God.
56:52 And let even your brothers in a holy way, in a sanctified way, be able to point to a place where there are young ladies that choose to walk in the fear of the Lord and that is where their beauty lies. In the relationship with God, they walk with integrity. They walk with value. They don't throw themselves out there like a piece of bait on a leash or on a string, trying to lure men's attention because of some skin. No.
57:27 Let let people be drawn to you because of your Christ exalting life, the honor and the humility and the wisdom that you possess. And I believe this is where young men and young women can especially shine for Christ in purity, to prove to the world that there is something more satisfying in God that swallows up what usually consumes others. And what example for watching church in a watching world, here is a church filled with young people. A young man, a young woman that believes God's plan for sexuality is for their ultimate pleasure and their ultimate protection. Timothy, if you take care of those areas, you won't have to worry about how people will look at you.
58:27 If all these areas are covered and people still despise you, they have issues on their own. They have no justified reason to condemn you or your ministry, because Christ is entrusting you and he's raising you up for this. Young people, old people, no old people. Right? Seasoned people.
58:47 How do you take away from this message? Here's how you take away from it. Your life is your message. Your life. People are sick and tired of hypocrisy.
58:55 People are not impressed anymore by your social media description that you have a verse up there or that you say that you're a follower of Jesus Christ and you have posts that contradict the very thing that you're posting on your description. People don't care. They want to see your life. They want to see your decisions. They want to see your speech.
59:12 They want to see your conduct. They want to see your purity. I'm not a fan of that statement that says, what is it? Preach the gospel to others and when you have opportunity to use words? I don't believe in that.
59:25 That doesn't make any sense. The gospel comes through words. You need to declare the message for people to be saved. But I get the principle there. I understand what's being said there.
59:36 Live it. Take care of your own walk with the Lord and that will deal with your reputation. You don't have to play this game. You don't have to try to convince people. Just walk in this and watch who you can bless.
59:52 Even those who are advanced in years can be blessed. And so what's our prayer as a church as we come to a close? I love Psalm one forty four verse 12 to 13. Listen to these amazing words. It's David praying a wonderful prayer blessing over so many areas of his kingdom, of his family life, of his own life.
1:00:09 And he says this in Psalm one forty four verse 12, may our sons in their youth be like plants full grown. Our daughters like corner pillars cut for the structure of a palace. That should be the prayer for the young people of this church. For young leadership too. May our sons in their youth be like plants full grown.
1:00:37 May even in those early stages, show to others that it's as though they are fully grown in mind, in stature, in character, in conviction. Our sons filled with vigor, and life, and strength. And our daughters polished, fit for a palace. Strong, immovable, unshaken in the presence of God, reflecting the glory of God. Don't let anyone despise you for your youth.
1:01:20 Your life is your message, young or old. And may God, from head to toe, as Paul describes here, sanctify us so that we would need to not say much, but let a watching world be moved to godliness simply because you're convinced of the message that you declare. And God will help us in this. And I praise God for this house. I praise God for young and old, that they really believe that speech, conduct, love, faith, purity, that is the way to win the hearts of those who know Christ and wanna grow in Christ, to be challenged in their walk with the Lord, and to silence amounts of critics, whether in the church or outside the church.
1:02:08 May this be our portion by the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ. Let's pray. Lord, we have beheld the wisdom that comes from this short verse, and our hearts have been cut, and we examine ourselves. But, Lord, we're also encouraged to know that we don't need a microphone. We don't need a vast following on Instagram.
1:02:51 Lord, our lives alone our lives alone can hold the power to inspire and stir the church of Jesus Christ. And so, Lord, for those who are in the same season as Timothy was when this letter was written, God, please may it be their heartthrob desire to not waste this season of their lives, only to think that they can be serious down the road. And Lord, for those who are seasoned in life to still believe that there's a watching younger generation that wants to see, is it possible to be a dad and love Christ? Is it possible to be a wife and love the Lord as a first bridegroom, the first bridegroom? Is it possible to raise up children in a way where the Lord Jesus Christ is the focus?
1:03:52 Is it possible to have a successful business and still think of heavenly things? Lord, may you please bestow upon us the grace to be an example for all who are around us. May our sons be like plants full grown. May our daughters be like pillars in the palace. And, Lord, we realize that none of this is possible.
1:04:17 None of this is possible apart from the enabling work of the Holy Spirit purchased for us by the blood of Jesus Christ. Lord, fill us afresh this morning to say my life will be something by the grace of God that can be pointed to and say there is a man that follows Christ. There is a woman that follows Christ. In every area, they honor Him. Lord, we bow before You.
1:04:40 We ask You, God, make this possible for us. Lord, please don't let anybody, younger or old or the world, bypass us because of our example. Oh, Lord, strengthen us and encourage us and propel us into greater things for your name's sake. In Jesus' name we pray. Amen.
