“Be diligent to present yourself approved to God as a worker who does not need to be ashamed, accurately handling the word of truth.” 2 Timothy 2:15
Tenth Indictment: Pastors Malnourished in the Word – Part One
I was listening a few months ago to all the horrendous things that are happening to our country (I don’t know what you would call it anymore: republic, democracy, country, socialistic state?). I was so burdened as I sat there listening; I was saying, “Oh, God, what can I do? Right now, Lord, honestly, with all that is in me, I will jump in the middle of the fire. If there is a charging rhino, I will jump in front of it. Just tell me what to do! Do you want me to go to Washington and just stand in front of the White House and preach until they throw me in jail? I am tired of just preaching to Christians and in churches and conferences. Oh God, the country is going to hell! What do you want me to do? Just throw me at them.”
Listen to 1 Timothy 4:1-16.
“But the Spirit explicitly says that in later times some will fall away from the faith, paying attention to deceitful spirits and teachings of demons, 2 by means of the hypocrisy of liars seared in their own conscience as with a branding iron, 3 who forbid marriage and advocate abstaining from foods which God has created to be gratefully shared in by those who believe and know the truth. 4 For everything created by God is good, and nothing is to be rejected if it is received with gratitude; 5 for it is sanctified by means of the word of God and prayer.6 In pointing out these things to the brothers and sisters, you will be a good servant of Christ Jesus, constantly nourished on the words of the faith and of the good doctrine which you have been following. 7 But stay away from worthless stories that are typical of old women. Rather,discipline yourself for the purpose of godliness; 8 for bodily training is just slightly beneficial, but godliness is beneficial for all things, since it holds promise for the present life and also for the life to come. 9 It is a trustworthy statement deserving full acceptance. 10 For it is for this we labor and strive, because we have set our hope on the living God, who is the Savior of all mankind, especially of believers. 11 Prescribe and teach these things. 12 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. 13 Until I come, give your attention to the public reading, to exhortation, and teaching. 14 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. 15 Take pains with these things; be absorbed in them, so that your progress will be evident to all. 16 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 4:1 says, “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.” Paul goes on to tell young Timothy that, basically, all hell is going to break lose in culture, that everything is just going to be maddening, with men acting as beasts! I was with Conrad Mbewe a few months ago and heard him preach. He said this: “In Africa we no longer have a fear of beasts. We don’t run from beasts. We fear men and run from men.” He was, of course, talking about the effects of radical depravity in mankind. Paul tells us here just that: “The world is going to come unglued, Timothy.”
Now what does he also say? “If thou put the brethren in remembrance of these things, thou shalt be a good minister of Jesus Christ, nourished up in the words of faith” (vs. 6). And right there this text just started opening up for me. Yes, the world has lost its mind! Everything bad is going to happen. God is telling us, “It is all under My providence, but listen to Me! Here should be your reaction in the midst of all hell breaking loose, in the midst of apostasy, in the midst of persecution. Here is what you need to do: Be constantly ‘nourished up in the words of faith.’”
Instead, we always want to run out there and do something. We want to fix something. But God is seeking men of character, polished swords. First of all, son, be constantly “nourished up in the words of faith and of good doctrine whereunto thou hast attained.” This “whereunto thou hast attained” is very important. It means “that which you have been following.” I think it is indicating to us that a simple intellectual study of Scripture will not achieve the goal that God has for His people. They must obey it. They must begin following it. You cannot learn doctrine well until you follow the doctrine you learn!
And then he says this, “But refuse profane and old wives’ fables” (vs. 7). My dear friend, let me tell you something. All this “emergent church” stuff, much of the “church growth” stuff, all of the cultural sensitivity stuff, throwing out the window biblical sensitivity—it is just a bunch of little boys wanting to play church without the power of God on their lives. (And I will stand on that statement.) It is a lesser than David trying to fit himself into Saul’s armor. I say: To the wind with it! The more you trust in the arm of flesh, the less you are going to see the power of God.
Paul then says this, “exercise thyself rather unto godliness” (vs. 7). He says, on the other hand, discipline yourself for the purpose of godliness. Man of God, you want revival?—so do I. We need an army, though. If powerful swords, if mighty, flaming pipes and swords and weaponry are to be dropped out of heaven for us to fight with, then we must be the caliber of men who can wield those things to fight with sound character. We should discipline ourselves for the purpose of godliness.
Young men, discipline yourself to prayer. Discipline yourself to the systematic reading of Scripture from Genesis to Revelation over and over and over again. Discipline yourself in your speech. Discipline yourself in the company you keep. Discipline yourself in when you go to bed and when you rise up. This is a war. Discipline yourself!
Young men, I can tell you this. Being born in the age that you have been born, unless you are some exception, if you are under 30, yea, even under 40—you probably lack discipline because you have never been required to really work. You have never needed to work for your food—and your fathers probably never made you work so hard that your bones cried. The men who have accomplished much and have been used of God, have been men of labor in the ministry. Effectual ministry is hard, and it will cost you everything! And by the time you are an old man, you will be broken—but strong in the things of God!