The Successful Christian Minister - [2 Timothy 1:8-14]

The pastor begins and with a smile on his face says hold up your Bibles and say it like you mean it and In unison thousands who have gathered into this arena known as Lakewood Church repeat the following words I Am what it says I am.

I have what it says I have I can do what it says I can do. Today I will be taught the Word of God and yet Joel Osteen Never once has him open the Word of God. Never once will you hear him say turn in your Bibles to or look at verse or this text teaches us this and Yet many today not only in the world, but in evangelicalism.

Consider him a successful Christian minister. Turn with me in your Bibles to the first chapter of Paul's swan song 2nd Timothy. 2nd Timothy chapter 1. It's my privilege tonight. I've been given the task of charging Dr. Pradeep.

I was telling my daughters about what we were doing tonight, and I said you know we're gonna celebrate Catherine and Judas's dad. Because he got a degree from school and my oldest daughter looked at me and said he still goes to school.

When I think of Pradeep I two things come to mind immediately. The first is that he his gracious demeanor and. Then I secondly I think of when it comes to serving in the ministry his capacity. I mean from IBS To home group to Sunday school to junior junior church to public supply for other churches to being an elder here.

Recently just finished our new membership class and the one couple that was with me there I was trying to encourage them to get involved and They said they were already involved and I said tell me a little bit more about it.

Well, we're in the home group that elder Pradeep teaches and we're taking the IBS class that elder Pradeep teaches. I said we'll make you members tomorrow. You're good to go. But what is the successful Christian minister.

Not as the world might look at or even evangelicalism. But as the Word of God looks at it. We're going to be looking in chapter 1 verses 8 through 14 follow along as I read. Therefore do not be ashamed of the testimony about our Lord nor of me his prisoner.

But sharing suffering for the gospel by the power of God Who saved us and called us to a holy calling not because of our works but because of his own purpose and grace which he gave us in Christ Jesus before the ages began in which now Has been manifested through the appearing of our Savior Christ Jesus Who abolished death and brought life and immortality to light through the gospel?

For which I was appointed a preacher and apostle and teacher. Which is why I suffer as I do. But I am NOT ashamed for I know whom I have believed and am convinced that he is able to guard until that day.

What has been entrusted to me? Follow the pattern of the sound words that you have heard for me in the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus. By the Holy Spirit who dwells within us guard the good deposit entrusted to you.

Suffering Unashamedly for the Gospel

In His book ashamed of the gospel John MacArthur writes the following. Contemporary ministry philosophy is infatuated with worldly standards of success. Instead of urging Timothy to devise a ministry that would garner accolades from the world He warned him about suffering and hardship hardly the stuff of modern church growth experts aspirations.

Paul was not telling Timothy how to be successful. He was not instructing him in techniques for increasing attendance figures. He was encouraging him to pursue the divine standard. That of course is what defines true success.

Real success is not getting results at any cost. It is not prosperity power prominence popularity or any other worldly notions of success and here's the clincher. Real success is Doing the will of God regardless of the consequences.

Real success is doing the will of God regardless of the consequences. And what is Paul telling Timothy in terms of real success here. There are two points that I want to highlight in our text tonight.

The first one is this. Paul is charging Timothy and I tonight to dr. Pradeep and to all of us as a body number one as a soldier unashamedly suffer for the gospel. As a soldier unashamedly suffer for the gospel.

In chapter 2 of this epistle verse 3 Paul makes it very clear this connection between suffering in this motif of a soldier he tells Timothy in 2nd Timothy 2 verse 3 share in suffering as a good soldier of Christ Jesus.

That's one of the major motifs or themes in the pastoral epistles that we suffer because we are soldiers in Christ's army. Even in his first epistle to Timothy Paul writes in 1st Timothy 118 this charge.

I entrust to you Timothy my child in Accordance with the prophecies previously made about you that by them you may wage the good warfare. Wage the good warfare. 1st Timothy chapter 6 verse 12 Paul tells Timothy fight the good fight of faith.

We suffer unashamedly because we're soldiers in Christ's army. Spurgeon the Church of Christ is continually represented under the figure of an army. Yet its captain is the Prince of Peace. Its object is the establishment of peace.

Its soldiers are men of a peaceful disposition. The spirit of war is at the extreme opposite point of the spirit of the gospel yet. Nevertheless, the church on earth has and until the second advent must be the church militant the church arm.

The church warring the church conquering. And how is this it is in the very order of things. That so it must be truth could not be truth in this world. If we were not a warring thing and we should at once suspect that it were not true.

If ever we're friends with it the spotless purity of truth must always be at war with the blackness of heresy and lies as a soldier. Unashamedly suffer. He tells them here in verse 8 do not Be ashamed.

Unashamedly. AW toes are said quote little by little evangelical Christians these days are being brainwashed. One evidence is that increasing numbers of them are becoming ashamed to be found unequivocally on the side of the truth.

They say they believe but their beliefs have been so diluted as to be impossible of clear definition. This theme of not being ashamed is Part of this opening chapter of 2nd Timothy. Notice in verse 8 as he exhorts as he charges Timothy Do not be ashamed.

Notice in verse 12 Paul says I am NOT ashamed. And then in verse 16 May the Lord grant mercy to the household of Vanessa for us for he often refreshed me and was not ashamed of my chains. Timothy don't be ashamed.

I'm not ashamed unless the forest was not ashamed. But notice in verse 8 he begins with a term therefore, which takes us back to verses 6 and 7. Why is Paul charging him not to be ashamed? Because of what he said previously in verses 6 and 7.

For this reason I remind you to fan into flame the gift of God which is in you through the laying on of my hands. For God gave us a spirit not a fear but of power and love and self-control. So Paul is charging Timothy to not be ashamed in light of the fact of his spiritual giftedness.

Given to him by God in light of the fact that God did not give him a spirit of fear but of power love and self-control. Therefore Timothy there is no need to be ashamed. But it's interesting when he exhorts him with this Command do not be ashamed.

It's not in the present imperative and that is significant because if it was Paul will be telling Timothy. You know, you have been ashamed. So now stop being ashamed. Don't continue being ashamed. But the tense and mood that Paul uses the error subjunctive is saying to Timothy Paul is I know you're not ashamed.

So don't begin to be ashamed. And I'm talking to you in that tense and mood. We know that you're not ashamed. Don't start being ashamed. The expositors. Greek Testament says this. This forbids the supposition that Timothy had actually done what Paul warns him Against doing and it's consistent with Paul's commendation of Timothy throughout the New Testament.

For example in Philippians chapter 2 verse 22 Paul says of Timothy. But you know Timothy's proven worth how as a son with a father he served with me in the gospel. He wasn't telling Timothy I know you're ashamed of the gospel so stop it he was telling Timothy I know you're not ashamed of the book gospel.

So don't begin to be ashamed. And what does he tell him in verse a two things? Do not be ashamed first and foremost number one of the testimony about our Lord verse 8 not the testimony of the Lord That the Lord gave but our testimony about the Lord, which is what the gospel.

The testimony of the Lord Jesus Christ how he came here to earth and lived a perfect sinless life in obedience to the Father. How in obedience to the will of the Father went to the cross willingly died a substitutionary death for sinners and How he conquered sin death and Satan when he rose again from the dead thus proving once and for all that he was God in The flesh that's a testimony about the Lord that Paul tells Timothy don't start being ashamed about that because I know you're not.

But he doesn't stop there. Secondly says to him notice in verse 8 nor of me his prisoner. Now as Paul in some way shape or form trying to gain some accolades for himself. Absolutely, not. Paul is writing his last swan song as we know from chapter 4 the time of my departure.

He says has come and we know that any association with Paul was because of his Imprisonment due to the gospel. That's why he says in verses 10 and 10 through 12 later on in our text. Through the gospel for which I Paul was appointed a preacher and Apostle and teacher, which is why I?

Suffer as I do. Paul was suffering for the gospel. And he's telling Timothy to do the same later on in chapter 2 of our Book 2nd Timothy Paul says. Remember Jesus Christ risen from the dead the offspring of David as preached in my gospel notice this for which I am suffering bound with chains as a Criminal.

Paul was not suffering for suffering sake he was suffering for the sake of the gospel. And that's what he's calling and charging Timothy to do. And notice in our text as it continues verse 8 but share in suffering for the gospel.

It's one word in the Greek. It's co-suffering suffer with me in The same way that you have been a co-laborer with me be a co-sufferer with me. And as we highlighted for what sake. For the gospel. But how is Timothy to do this?

How are you to do this? How are we to do this? By the power of God. To suffer for the gospel to suffer for the testimony about the Lord Jesus Christ. It's not to be done in our own power in our own flesh.

It is to be done by the power of God. Therefore Paul tells Timothy do not be ashamed. I know you're not ashamed so don't begin to be ashamed of the testimony about our Lord nor of me his prisoner. But share in suffering for the gospel by the power of God.

That was the imperative. Now the indicative that was what a successful Christian minister is to do. Now what God has already done. That was the mandate now comes the motivation. Look at verse 9 you might initially think at a Glance of it that this is some parenthetical note here.

But let me assure you there is nothing parenthetical about this who saved us and Called us to a holy calling. Who saved us that is our greatest need and Paul is reminding Timothy his son in the faith his beloved child.

When he's calling him to suffer for the gospel now in light of the gospel because God saved you Timothy. This is why you are to do for the sake of the gospel because God saved you. Our greatest need is salvation from sin and notice.

He doesn't stop there and called us. If God never called any one of us this internal call the Holy Spirit. The unless the father draws him. No one can come to me then none of us would be saved. Timothy wouldn't be saved.

Dr. Pradeep wouldn't you and I would not. So Paul is highlighting this reminding Timothy of why he is to suffer for the gospel in light of God's Calling him to salvation and he called him to what notice verse 9 to a holy calling.

To a holy calling because God chooses us in the Lexus and calls us to holiness. We are holy because of what Christ has done for us. The only way to get to heaven. I love doing this with the children. How do you get to heaven and they give me different answers.

But I always tell him the only way to get to heaven is to be as holy as perfect and sinless as Jesus. Who can do that? So Paul initially He's telling Timothy he's called us Salvific Lee for salvation to a holy calling because those of us who turn to Christ He gives us the holiness of Jesus Christ.

Positionally, he sees us as holy. Before himself because of Christ's holiness, but then he continues the work. He doesn't stop there. It's sanctification. It's growth in holiness set apart and ultimately in glorification.

And he highlights the Timothy to remind him again. Notice verse 9 not because of our works Timothy Suffer for the sake of the gospel in light of the gospel in light of God saving you in light of God calling you and by The way, it's not because of anything you've done.

It's not because of anything you've earned. It's not because of anything you deserve. It's because of what he continues but in contrast because of his own purpose because of God's eternal purpose his decree and because of his grace.

Amazing grace. Grace that is greater right than all our sin. This is why Timothy you are to suffer for the sake of the gospel. Because God saved you and called you and it's not because of anything you've done but because it's God's eternal purpose.

Because of God's grace and I love the description Paul gives here of grace. First of all notice what he says which in reference to grace He God the Father gave us in Christ Jesus. It's a gift. Before when the ages began.

Remind you of this morning Titus 1 before The ages began literally in the Greek before times eternal before eternity passed. Don't forget that Timothy doctor Bethlehem Bible Church before eternity passed.

He gave us his grace in Christ Jesus. And now verse 10 in which now Verse 9 he talks about eternity past and now he's talking about time here and now in which now has been manifested. Through the appearing of our Savior Christ Jesus has been manifested literally has been brought to light.

Fine at all. It means to literally bring something out of darkness into light. Through the appearing of our Savior Jesus Christ. A lot of the times in the New Testament that term appearing is Typically used of Christ's second coming.

But not so here here. It's used of his incarnation of his first coming. When he came here to go to the cross. Through the appearing of our what Savior he's just talking to Timothy about salvation who saved you.

It is happening through what the Savior Christ Jesus. Because you can't save yourself. Many people try to save themselves, but it's for not. Because you are as dead as a corpse spiritually God has to save you and salvation is found only in our Savior Christ Jesus.

You need to turn to him alone and he's reminding Timothy that Christ saved him and here he tells him again. What did Christ Jesus do who abolished death and brought life and immortality? Through light to light.

Through the gospel He brought life. He abolished death. Hebrews talks about the fear of death that we were enslaved to the fear of death. But Christ abolished death and not only that he brought life. New life in Christ.

Eternal life. Life when we were dead the regenerating work of the Holy Spirit. And what immortality. What is that referring to. That's why Paul in 1st Corinthians chapter 15 where he highlights the resurrection of Jesus Christ.

He says that we would one day receive bodies and what kind of bodies the mortal would take on what? The immortal he's talking about our glory. So notice what Paul is doing to Timothy. Your motive for the mandate for suffering for the gospel is because of the gospel from beginning from Before the ages began eternity past to eternity future to your immortality and in light of that you are to suffer.

For the gospel and all this notice this grace that Paul is highlighting is in Christ Jesus. It's in our Savior Christ Jesus. That is why the Apostle John wrote at the beginning of his gospel for the law was given through Moses grace and truth.

Came through whom through Jesus Christ. Paul himself wrote to the Corinthians in 2nd Corinthians for you know, the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ. That though he was rich Yet for your sake he became poor so that you through his poverty Might become rich.

And he was not talking about economic riches either. Grace found only in Jesus Christ from beginning to end before the ages began to eternity future immortality it ought to remind us of Romans 830 and Those whom God predestined he also called and those whom he called he also justified and those whom he justified He also glorified from eternity past to eternity future salvation belongs to the Lord in Timothy.

Dr. BBC in light of that be willing to suffer for the gospel. And Paul doesn't stop there. He wants to encourage Timothy. He says in verse 11 for which I now he talks about himself a little bit for which I For the sake of the gospel was appointed a preacher and apostle and teacher.

Now Paul is about to tell Timothy look I'm exhorting you I'm charging you suffer for the gospel now. Let me tell you why I suffer and have suffered for the gospel. Timothy do not be ashamed of the gospel now.

Let me tell you the reasons why I have not been ashamed for the gospel. And what does he say in verse 11? I was appointed it's by divine appointment from God himself. I'm sure when Timothy was reading these words of his mentor the one who Discipled them and brought him up in the faith and whom he ministered alongside.

He must have thought of the first Words of Paul when he wrote in 1st Timothy chapter 1. I thank him who has given me strength Christ Jesus our Lord. Because he judged me faithful appointing me To his service though formerly I was a blasphemer Persecutor in an insolent opponent.

Why would God see fit not only to? Save but to call and give me grace from eternity past but to appoint me for his service. Again, the implication it's not because of our works but because of his grace.

He was appointed what three things. A preacher literally a herald one who proclaims who is a representative of the king to speak forth for the king an apostle as he says at the beginning of this epistle an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God and thirdly a teacher that has to do with the content of the gospel and Notice in verse 12.

That is why he suffers for the gospel. Which is why I suffer as I do because of this divine appointment and Paul continues in verse 12. But I am not ashamed. He just called in charge Timothy to not start being ashamed and he tells him why he himself was not ashamed.

Why. For I know whom I have believed notice the language of assurance. I know Whom I believed and I am convinced That he is able. And notice the emphasis by Paul is not on himself on the great apostle Paul the emphasis on is on God.

You can almost see it with a highlighter. For I know whom I have believed the object of faith and I am convinced that he is able to guard. It's about God. I Know whom I have believed. This is in the perfect tense.

It means that Paul had trusted in Christ and he was Currently continuing to trust in him right now. I'm convinced that he is able to guard until that day what has been entrusted to me. The New American Standard actually puts it.

I'm convinced that he is able to guard what I have entrusted to him. Is it what he's entrusted to me or what I have entrusted to him in the Greek. It literally reads like this is the same word used later on in our text in Verse 14 the Greek says I'm convinced that he is able to guard my deposit.

But according to how Paul has used it throughout both pastoral epistles first and second Timothy it seems to refer to the gospel that Paul that Timothy is to suffer for as They trust he is to guard that and God will guard that until that day.

Guarding the Good Deposit by the Holy Spirit

So Paul tells Timothy as a soldier. Without shame be willing to suffer for the gospel sake. But his second charts to Timothy in this opening of his letter his swan song is this. Secondly, I as a steward faithfully safeguard sound doctrine.

As a steward. Faithfully safeguard sound doctrine. That's the language of stewardship here by the Holy Spirit verse 14. Who dwells within us guard the good deposit. What entrusted to you? What is a steward.

A? Steward is Simply somebody who manages that which does not belong to him, but it has been entrusted by somebody else. And what does the Bible tells us. 1st Corinthians 4 verse 2 it is required of stewards that they be found what.

Faithful or it's not fruitful. My version says fruitful. Could that be? Faithful. Well done by good and fruitful servant. No, well done thou good and faithful servant. What do you tell Jeremiah the weeping prophet?

You're gonna do what I'm asking you to do, but by the way People are not going to listen to you. You're not going to get a positive response. Will you go ahead and do it? Faithfulness. That's what stewardship is all about and that's why even in his first epistle first Timothy chapter 6 verse 3 Paul says if anyone teaches a different Doctrine and does not agree with the sound words of our Lord Jesus Christ.

We're to be faithful to safeguard the doctrine of the gospel. Notice in verse 13 what he begins with. Follow the pattern of sound words follow in the King James. It uses the term hold fast good translation from the Greek Spurgeon put it this way.

This is the main burden of the Apostles pleading with Timothy. Timothy hold fast. We have equal need of the same exhortation for this is an evil day and thousands hold everything or nothing. As the winds of opinion may change.

It's in the president imperative. Paul is telling Timothy. Keep on holding fast. Keep on following the pattern that I've said before you. But in the Greek the first word for emphasis is the term pattern.

The Greek is literally a term that means similar to prototype it means an under type. It's basically the idea of an artist who has an outline or a sketch or a model for example a painter. Sketches his first draft when he begins a picture or a writer has a rough draft which forms the basis of his fuller Exposition.

So Paul is telling to Timothy this pattern that I've set for you this outline the sketch. I want you to keep on following this and don't depart from it. Keep holding fast the pattern. It's actually a term that Paul uses in the first Pastoral epistle to Timothy when he describes his own testimony.

And Paul writes in 1st Timothy 116. But I received mercy for this reason that in me as the foremost Jesus Christ might display his perfect patience. And here it is as an example as a pattern. To those who were to believe in him for eternal life.

And he continues follow the pattern of the sound words that you have heard for me. That stirs something in us because in chapter 2 verse 2 Paul says very clearly what you have heard from me. Do what with it?

Just keep it to yourself. Absolutely not in the presence of many witnesses and trust their stewardship language again. To whom. To fruitful men. No to faithful men who will be able to teach others. Also, and he finishes in verse 13.

Follow the pattern how in the faith and in the love that are in Christ Jesus. It's no wonder Paul said to Timothy in his first epistle First Timothy 1 of 14. And the grace of our Lord overflowed for me with what.

With the faith and the love that are in Christ Jesus. And Paul finishes this section with verse 14 the actual Greek watch your ESVs is the opposite order of what you see there. And For emphasis again, it reads like this the good deposit entrusted to you guard.

By the Holy Spirit who dwells within us. So the first thing he says is the good deposit entrusted to you. He wants to emphasize in light of what God has entrusted to you as a steward. This is why I'm asking you to do this in light of what hasn't been entrusted to you as a steward first Timothy 620.

Paul uses this language again. Oh Timothy guard the deposit entrusted to you avoid the irreverent babble and contradictions of what is falsely called Knowledge. Guard the deposit you are a steward of the gospel of Jesus Christ and of sound doctrine guard that.

And where did Paul exhort Timothy to stay in his first pastoral epistle first Timothy chapter 1 Paul says as I urge you when I was going to Macedonia remain it where Ephesus. Why so that you may charge certain persons not to teach any different doctrine?

Nor to devote themselves to myths and endless genealogies which promotes speculations rather than the stewardship from God that is by faith and. For that very reason when Paul met the last time with the Ephesian elders in Acts chapter 20 He said this.

I know that after my departure fierce wolves will come in among you not sparing the flock. And from among your own selves will arise men speaking twisted things to draw away the disciples after them. Therefore be alert.

Remembering that for three years. I did not cease night or day to admonish everyone with tears. Paul had nothing better to do. Then for three years to admonish him over sound doctrine and false disciples and teachers.

Because he saw it Paul did as a stewardship from God. And he's exhorting Timothy to view it in the same manner. So the good deposit entrusted to you comes first then the verb guard it's a military term.

It's used of a soldier who is on watch who is actually accountable for his own life to protect what was entrusted to him accountable for his own life to safeguard the sound doctrine of the gospel. But again, he doesn't finish there the good deposit entrusted to you guard and the last part of verse 14 says in the original by the Holy Spirit Who dwells within us?

He began this section and he ends this section in the same way. I Want you as a soldier Timothy to suffer unashamedly for the gospel sake. How by the power of God? I want you Timothy as a steward to faithfully safeguard sound doctrine.

How? By the Holy Spirit who indwells you and notice the last part Of our section here in verse 15 after exhorting Timothy and charging him with these two things He says to him this verse 15. You are aware that all who are in Asia Turned away from me all Who are in Asia turned away from me among whom are fidelis and hermogenes?

And he finishes his last letter 2nd Timothy if he turned to chapter 4 in the same way verses 9 through 10 He tells Timothy do your best to come to me soon. Why verse 10 for Demas in love with this present world?

What has he done? He's deserted me verse 14. Alexander the coppersmith did me great harm. The Lord will repay him according to his deeds. Beware of him yourself. For he strongly opposed our message at my first defense.

No one came to stand by me, but all deserted me. May it not be charged against them, but. But the Lord stood by me and strengthened me. So that through me the message might be fully proclaimed and all the Gentiles might hear it.

So I was rescued from the lion's mouth. The Lord will rescue me from every evil deed and bring me safely into his heavenly kingdom. To him be the glory forever and ever. Paul was not charging Timothy out of a vacuum.

He was charging him from his real-life experience. Timothy as a soldier suffer unashamedly for the gospel as a steward. Faithfully safeguard sound doctrine even though as is evident in my own life many might desert you and even oppose you Paul a success a successful Christian minister.

Hardly. Not by the world's standards. But by God's standards. Yes because Paul unashamedly suffered for the gospel and faithfully safeguarded sound doctrine and he charged Timothy to do the same and Tonight doctor.

I charge you to do the same and why? Because God saved you and Called you to a holy call calling before the ages began. He gave you his grace in Christ Jesus. And then like Paul you can say but the Lord stood by me and strengthened me.

The Lord will bring me safely into his kingdom. To him be the glory forever and ever. Let's pray father. Thank you for The simple but profound truths of your word. We thank you that your word is clear as to what true Success and ministry is all about.

Thank you for these few words that we looked at tonight that Paul exhorted and charged Timothy and we pray for our brother our Elder, dr. Pradeep. We are so thankful for him and thankful. We're reminded of your faithfulness in his life.

For saving him for calling him to salvation. But also to minister for the sake of the gospel father. May whatever he does be ultimately as always as he's been doing for your glory by your power and by the power of the Holy Spirit who indwells him we ask these things in Christ's name.

Amen.