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Good morning. Good morning and welcome to worship today at Ebenezer Presbyterian Church. It's a blessing to have all of you here.

If you're a guest, we are especially thankful to have you as a part of this worship and certainly hope that you'll come back and join us again in the future. If you are a guest for the first time, uh please uh be sure to stop by the table that is out in the northx there, that room that's right out behind those doors. And off to the side here is a table and you can pick up a packet that has some information about Ebenezer and some other items on that table in case you are uh looking for a church home.

Would you please take the friendship pads that are on the outside of the rows and fill in the information they ask for and if you would pass them down the row so that others have the opportunity to do the same. Uh most of the activities that have happened this summer have already taken place. So, our bulletin is a little thinner on the announcements.

I do want to make the announcement though that uh we do have folks uh who visit us and over a period of time uh eventually decide that they would like to learn more about membership at Ebenezer Church. And at Ebenezer, we typically have a an inquirers class uh on an asne basis. And so when we have enough people that express an interest, then we have a class and it's uh usually during the Sunday school hour and goes over about four to five weeks.

Uh if you are interested in a class like that, please speak to me or Pastor Jordan. You can call the church office and we will certainly record that and once we have a a group together uh then we will set a date for it. So please let us know if that is something you are interested in.

Let's take a moment now and prepare ourselves to worship God. Let's stand together as we're called to worship by our God today from his word in Psalm 30:4. Sing praises to the Lord, oh you his saints, and give thanks to his holy name.

Let's pray. Oh gracious and almighty God, we gather together today to surely give thanks to your holy name, to sing praises to you, O Lord, for it is you and you alone who are deserving of our praise. You're the God that has hung the sun, the moon, the stars.

You are the God that has made the waters of the deep. You are the God that has knit each and every one of us in our mother's womb. You are the God that upholds all things and guides all things according to your grand purpose.

And for this and many other reasons, we gather together today to give you the worship that you and you alone deserve. And Lord, in this time we pray that your spirit would move among each and every one of us, Lord, that we might worship you in spirit and in truth, that you would work faith in us, increase our faith, and equip us to go out from here to worship and glorify you all the more in our lives. And so, oh God, in this time we pray that as you work in us, that you would accept our worship as a pleasing aroma before you.

May all that transpires here today give you the glory that you and you alone deserve. We pray these things in the mighty name of Christ, our savior. Amen.

Our hymn this morning is a well-known one. It is number 100. Holy, holy, holy.

And here we see this grand picture of God who indeed is set apart from all things, deserving all of our worship. Holy, holy, holy might. Holy, holy, holy gra.

down. Holy, holy, holy. perfect.

Holy, holy, holy shol. This morning, as we confess our faith and who we believe, as we just sang, as is seen also in the Apostles Creed, we worship a God who is a God in three persons. Blessed Trinity, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.

And the Apostles Creed shows us this reality, showing us who our God is as Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. And so I ask you this morning, Christians, in whom do you believe? I believe in God the Father Almighty, maker of heaven and earth, and in Jesus Christ, his only son, our Lord, who was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the Virgin Mary, suffered under Pontious Pilate, was crucified, died, and was buried.

He descended into hell. The third day he rose again from the dead. He ascended into heaven and is seated at the right hand of God the Father Almighty.

From there he shall come to judge the living and the dead. I believe in the Holy Spirit, the Holy Catholic Church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting. Amen.

May be seated. And as we just confessed our great God in whom we find forgiveness of sins, this [snorts] is a reminder to all of us that we are sinners. That daily in our thoughts, words, and deeds, we willfully sin against our God.

Even as those that have been redeemed by the blood of Christ, we still struggle with that old man. oftentimes doubting God's love, disregarding his word, minimizing our sin, shifting blame, making excuses. And yet, we are reminded that we deserve the penalty for our sin.

Indeed, we are those that have broken God's holy commands. And the only way of escape of that is by turning to this holy God himself and asking for forgiveness by confessing our sin and clinging to Christ. And it is that hope that is found in Christ if we would confess our sins that we would find salvation as well as continuing to confess our sins being continually reminded of the hope that we have in Jesus.

And so in this time, may we come to God with our sin first as we confess individually and then together as a body. Let's pray. You join me in prayer.

Almighty God, we have willfully sinned against you. We have forsaken the creator's fountain of living waters for the temporary pleasures of this world. We have dishonored you by clinging to idols instead of delighting in your promises.

Please forgive us for living for self and being self-righteous. Forgive us for doubting your love and disregarding your holy word. Oh Lord, may your Holy Spirit give to us broken and contrite hearts that you will accept.

Let us not minimize our sin, shift blame or make excuses. Soften our hearts and make us quick to confess and eager to forsake our sin. Open our eyes to see your abundant grace and find true rest in our savior Jesus Christ.

In his holy name we pray. Amen. And for those that would confess our sins and lean on Christ, be assured of your forgiveness.

In 1 Peter 3:18, for Christ also suffered once for sins, the righteous for the unrighteous, that he might bring us to God. And as is fitting, may we now stand singing the song, let us love and sing and wonder. Standing.

Let us love and sing and wonder. Let us praise the name. He has [singing] wonder.

He has quenched. He has us with his blood. He hased us with his blood.

>> He hased us with his love. >> He has brought us high to God. Let us ensave us [music and singing] and gave us life.

He has us with his blood. >> He [music] has us with his blood. He has us with his blood.

He presents our souls to God. Let us [singing] sing [music and singing] for the Lord our sales in the grounded us with his blood. He uses us with his blood.

Soon will bring us home to God. Let us grace when through grace in Christ [music] our smiles and asks who used us with his has secured [singing] our way to God. Let us praise and join the saints in high uses the sky us thy Thou art worthy of God.

Amen. You may be seated. Our Old Testament reading this morning comes to us from the book of Deuteronomy 10:es 12- 22.

This can be found on page 154 of your Pew Bibles here. Now, God's word. And now, Israel, what does the Lord your God require of you?

but to fear the Lord your God, to walk in all his ways, to love him, to serve the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul, and to keep the commandments and statutes of the Lord, which I am commanding you today for your good. Behold, to the Lord your God belong heaven and the heaven of heavens, the earth with all that is in it. Yet the Lord set his heart and love on your fathers and chose their offspring after them.

you above all peoples as you are this day. Circumcise therefore the foreskin of your heart and be no longer stubborn. For the Lord your God is God of gods and Lord of lords, the great, the mighty, and the awesome God, who is not partial, and takes no bribe.

He executes justice for the fatherless and the widow, and loves the sojourer, giving him food and clothing. Love the sojourer, therefore, for you were sojourers in the land of Egypt. You shall fear the Lord your God.

You shall serve him and hold fast to him, and by his name you shall swear. He is your praise. He is your God who has done for you these great and terrifying things that your eyes have seen.

Your fathers went down to Egypt, 70 persons, and now the Lord your God has made you as numerous as the stars of heaven. The word of God for the people of God. Thanks be to God.

given me the image of his home. eyes to see the truth that leads me home. And he has given me this voice [singing] and each quiet I speak.

>> [singing] >> has given me this heart to feel the [singing] unspoken answers that I seek in his image in his career [singing] I [music] bear created in his image. His light will be my [music and singing] guide, a heavenly [singing] am like his to make another voice like his [singing] may offer. Hope some peace be still.

[music] and my heart like his share as my life [singing] reflects my father's will in his image [music] in his career I bear in his image. His light will be my [music and singing] guide initance because I am his child. [music] Amen.

Let's again look to our God in prayer. Oh gracious and merciful father, again we thank you for the privilege that you have given to us that we might come before your throne of grace and prayer and know that you hear us and know that you answer us that we can cast all of our burdens because you care for your people. You know God, we thank you that you hear every quiet prayer we speak and that you then use us to go be your hands and feet.

For Lord, we have been created in your image and what a blessing it is. For we are not like any other creatures on this planet, but we are those that have been made in the image of the living God. And Lord, may we reflect you in all that we do.

Yes, we are sinners, but we have been sinners redeemed by grace through faith in Jesus. And so, Lord, may we be those that show Jesus in how we live. May we see others with your eyes instead of being judgmental and proud and being those that are humble and helpful, those that lift one another up, those that speak the truth in love.

May we be those that are not selfish but are selfless. We seek to follow you again, your example. For you, the great and mighty king of the universe, came down into this world, humbling yourself as a servant, giving your life as a ransom for many, for all who believe.

And Lord, you did this not out of obligation, but out of your love and your mercy and your grace. And so Lord, may we be we be those that also give sacrificially to those around us that they might come to know the gospel truth for themselves. Oh God, may we be your hands and your feet and may we be those that continue to grow in our faith.

Lord, as we have been called your disciples, Lord, may we grow as we ourselves are discipled and as we disciple one another. Give us a desire for you, for your word, for your worship, for spending time with you in prayer. Give us a love for the things of the Lord, and give us a heart for you that causes us to want to practice these things in our lives.

Help us to set an example to those around us of Jesus. Whether it be our children, whether it be a younger believer, whether it be a friend, a neighbor, may it be a parent to all who see us who is the most important in our life. That you indeed are our greatest love.

And may that be seen in our words and in our actions. And may you help us disciple those in our care to have that same love. May we make you a priority, worship, Bible study, prayer, and so much more.

May we not only ourselves hold this dear, but may we share this love with others. You know God, may we continue to show your love to others around us, especially those that are suffering, those that are struggling, whether it be physical or financial. We think of many people here at Ebenezer.

And we pray particularly for the Jackman family. We pray for Margaret Reynolds. We pray for Joyce Mincy, for Less Irving, for Phil Littlefield, and so many more.

And we can do this because we know you are God who is able. A God that we can trust in your sovereign care and know that all things work according to your perfect will and more that we can rest in you. No matter what your answer might be.

For at the end of the day, Lord, we depend upon you. The things of this world are transient. They fall left and right.

But you indeed are the solid rock on whom we can stand that will never falter that will never crumble. And oh God in our lives we so easily set up idols and we set aside you. But Lord may we see those idols for what they are worthless.

Whether it be money, whether it be authority, whether it be fame, pleasure, so much more. All of these things are fleeting. They will fail, but you and you alone will stand forever.

And so, Lord, may we stand upon you as our only hope and in you find all that we ever need. And may you be the priority and the hope above all else in our lives. And our father, we have so many other things upon our hearts.

So many other things going on our lives, but Lord, we take all these things and we lay them at your feet, knowing that you will take care of your people, knowing that in the end, I will be made right and we will be with you forever. And so may that hope carry us through and continue to cause us to come to you in prayer because you are a God who hears. You are a God who answers.

We pray all these things in Jesus name. Amen. At this time, any children four years old or in kindergarten that would like or dismiss the children's church, as our God has blessed the rest of us with our tithes and offerings, may we return them to him as we sing number 528, My Fate looks up to thee.

Hallelujah. to speech. of Let's take out our copies of God's word and let's turn to 1 Timothy 4:es 11-16.

Uh if you are using the pew Bible, you're going to find that on page 992. 1 Timothy 4 11-16. If you are visiting with us this morning, we are working our way through this letter of first Timothy as a part of a larger series on Paul's pastoral letters.

And these are letters that were written by the Apostle Paul to two men named Timothy and Titus who were pastors of churches. Timothy, a church in Ephesus and Titus on the island of Cree. And as Paul wrote under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, these letters have immense value for the church today.

The apostle addresses such things as the church's leadership and the qualifications for leaders, elders, and deacons of the church. He deals with the issue of corporate worship and who is permitted to teach and to preach. He touches on the issue of caring for one another in the church and especially those who are most in need and most vulnerable and multiple other issues.

And all of this has direct application for the church today. Even though times change, God's word never changes. It remains the same.

But these letters also have great value for those men who serve as ministers of the gospel such as Titus and Timothy were in working through this series for uh for teaching and for preaching. I was struck again by just how practical these letters are in their wisdom and their encouragement and their instruction for ministers. Now, as chapter 4 draws to a close, Paul focuses or focused his attention last week and this week on the characteristics that Timothy must possess if he is to be a faithful minister of the gospel of Christ.

What Paul calls a good servant of Christ Jesus. In verses four or six through 10 rather from last week, we saw that a faithful minister is diligent in providing instruction. He is continually nourishing himself in the words of the faith and of good doctrine.

He doesn't allow himself to be distracted by profane and worthless things that neither be benefit him nor the church. He is continually training himself in godliness and he sets his hope on the living God which causes him to labor with one eye always fixed on heaven. These are five characteristics of a good servant of Christ Jesus that typically leads to a fruitful ministry.

Now, with verses 11- 16, our text this morning, Paul continues this focus on pastoral ministry. And he adds five more characteristics to those from last week. And I must admit, there is a part of me that would rather skip over this section.

I'm not suggesting that it isn't important, but its focus on pastoral ministry feels a little bit like inside baseball, like it might lend itself better to a group of seminary students preparing for the ministry in a class or perhaps in giving a charge to a new minister. But as all scripture is breathed out by God, we know that it is profitable to his people. And therefore, I am trusting that recognizing these characteristics in a faithful minister and ministry will be beneficial not just for Pastor Jordan and myself, but to you as well.

First, in having biblical expectations of your pastors and second in knowing how to best pray for them, which I hope you are regularly doing. As we come now then to God's word. Let's begin in prayer.

Our father, once again on this Lord's day, you gather us around your word to hear you speak in its reading and in its preaching. Would you cause it to go forth in the power of your holy spirit with full conviction and make us to be as those noble Bereans received your word with all eagerness. We pray this, Lord God, through Jesus Christ, your son.

Amen. As Paul was led by the Holy Spirit, he writes this, "Command and teach these things. Let no one despise you for your youth, but set the believers an example in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith, and purity.

until I come. Devote yourselves to the public reading of the scriptures, to exhortation, to teaching. Do not neglect the gift you have which was given you by prophecy when the council of elders laid their hands on you.

Practice these things. Immerse yourself in them so that all may see your progress. Keep a close watch on yourself and on your teaching or the teaching.

Persist in this for by doing so you will save both yourself and your hearers. The grass withers in the flower fades but the word of our God endures forever. Amen.

Command and teach these things. Paul writes in verse 11. These things obviously is referring to what Paul has just written in the previous verses.

But as we saw last week in verse six, these things might refer more broadly to Paul's instructions throughout this letter thus far. But on what basis can Timothy rightfully command these things of the church? This is a question of authority.

Now in one sense Timothy's pastoral authority is derived from Paul's apostolic authority. When Timothy issues a command and he teaches he is acting on Paul's behalf. But of course Paul's apostolic authority is also derived as he wrote at the beginning of this letter in chapter 1 verse one.

He is an apostle of Christ Jesus by command of Paul our or command of God rather our savior and of Christ Jesus our hope. Paul's authority as an apostle is only that which has been given to him by Christ who is the head of the church. And likewise, no minister of the gospel possesses authority in and of himself.

Those who forget this will often become insufferable tyrants instead of Christlike servants. Pastoral authority is always assigned by Christ to the office and therefore the one in the office does deserve respect. But his authority is limited and extends only so far as he faithfully commands and teaches Christ's words to Christ's people.

Jesus alone is the head of his church and every minister exercises authority in submission to him. But as we see in verse 12, there is a challenge to Timothy's pastoral authority in the church at Ephesus. What is that?

Well, it is his age. Paul writes, "Let no one despise you for your youth." It is hard to imagine that Paul would write this if there wasn't a problem here. This word youth extended all the way up to 40 years old and most commentators believe that Timothy was likely in his mid30s.

The word despise doesn't mean hate but rather contempt. It is to look down on someone to treat them with disrespect or disdain. And this combined with Timothy's natural timidity likely made him somewhat reticent to lead the church.

I still remember when I met with the presbyter committee that oversaw the ministers, new ministers coming into the presbyter. I was all of 24 years old, about to graduate from seminary and ready to accept my first call. I was terribly nervous meeting with the committee and as I answered their questions, I so wanted to show them that I was competent to serve in this way.

as they were finished with questioning me and I was about to leave the room so that they could discuss my situation and hopefully approve me. One minister on the committee spoke up and he said, "Mr. Chairman, before we vote on this candidate, I want it recorded that I have shoes older than this young man." I didn't think he was nearly as funny as he thought he was.

How does a young man or anyone for that matter overcome such a bias? Well, the inclination is to get defensive or become assertive. But Paul offers far better counsel.

And here we find the first of five additional characteristics of a faithful minister. First, he sets an example for the flock. He sets an example for the flock.

Look again at verse 12. Let no one despise you for your youth, but set the believers an example in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith, in purity. I especially like JB Phillips paraphrase of this verse.

Don't let people look down on you because you are young. See that they look up to you because you are an example to them in your speech and behavior, in your love and faith and sincerity. In other words, if you don't want people to look down on you, give them something to look up to.

How valuable is a godly example in the Christian life and especially among those who lead? In 1 Peter 5:3, the elders of the church are called to be an example to the flock. You may have heard of George Mueller, who was best known for the orphanages that he started in England in the 1800s, also well known for his great faith and tremendous prayer life.

Charles Spurgeon once heard Mueller preach and he said that he had never heard a simpler sermon in his whole life. Mueller was no great pulpitee as the old preachers used to be called but his preaching possessed this. George Mueller was in it.

His life was the backdrop to his message and many gave ear to him because they could see his words personified in his life. That is the value of a godly example. But the example of a minister or an elder does not end with himself.

We should be very wary of putting any person on a pedestal for the higher they sit, the greater will likely be their fall. Rather, our aim should be that people look beyond our example to the one that we model ourselves after. As Paul wrote in 1 Corinthians 11:1, "Be imitators of me as I am of Christ." The best example is that which displays the character of Christ and points to him.

Paul then lists five areas of imitation here. The first two speech and conduct go hand in hand. If the minister's speech and conduct are not in sync, he will quickly open himself to charges of hypocrisy.

This is of course true no less of all confessing believers. But for the minister, it is especially damning because it undermines his ministry. People will sense that the standard he calls others to, he does not apply to himself.

And even worse, he will bring disrepute upon Christ, upon his church, and upon his gospel. The Puritan Richard Baxter warned ministers to watch how they live, lest you may unsay with your lives that which you say with your tongues. Word and deed, speech, and conduct must go hand in hand.

The third area of imitation is love. Love is the crowning virtue of the Christian life. We love because God in Christ first loved us.

It is the motivation and it is the basic evidence that we are redeemed in Christ and belong to him. In John 13:35 Jesus said, "By this all people will know that you are my disciples if you love one another." The fourth area of imitation is in faith. Faith does not likely mean here the act of believing.

Rather, it probably has something more in mind like faithfulness or being trustworthy. The minister must be reliable. He must be good to his word, one who does what he says.

The fifth area of imitation is impurity. This word has moral overtones to it. It refers most often to sexual behavior.

Later in this letter, Paul will tell Timothy, "Keep yourself pure." Perhaps this is a warning to Timothy as a young man. In his second letter, Paul will tell Timothy, "Flee youthful lusts." How many ministers, and not just young ones, have succumbed to such temptations and brought devastation upon the churches that they served as well as their own homes. In a hypersexualized culture such as ours, purity may be the most important example that a minister can provide, whether it is in marriage or in singleness.

The second characteristic of a faithful minister is devotion to his work. His work of preaching and teaching. Look at verse three.

Until I come, devote yourself to the public reading of scripture, to exhortation and teaching. Here we see the ministers preaching and teaching ministry in the Lord's day worship. And this was a pattern that was taken almost directly from the Jewish synagogue.

You'll remember in Luke 4:16, Jesus returned to this hometown of Nazareth. And as was his custom, he went to the synagogue on the Sabbath. And there he was given the prophet of the scroll or the the the scroll of the prophet Isaiah, which he read in Acts Acts 13.

When Paul and Barnabas came to Antioch in Pacidia, they too entered the synagogue on the Sabbath. In verse 15 says, "After the reading from the law and the prophets, the rulers of the synagogue sent a message to them, saying, brothers, if you have any word of encouragement for the people, say it." And this eventually became the pattern for the sermon in the New Testament church. Bringing together reading, exhortation, and teaching.

In exhortation, the preacher applies the scriptures in order to strengthen, to encourage, to comfort, even to rebuke the congregation, always calling for a response of faith and obedience. Teaching is the explanation of the scriptures along with particular doctrines associated with them. Much as we see the Levites doing in Nehemiah chapter 8 when Ezra the priest read the law.

That is important that Paul places the reading of the scriptures first. This signifies its authority as God's word. And if God does not speak, then the minister has nothing to say because he is only permitted to expound upon what comes forth from the mouth of God.

Now at Ebenezer, you will sometimes hear us refer to our preaching as expositional or expository. And expository preaching is preaching that exposits or carefully explains the text. It is preaching that is driven by the word of God.

Whereas so much preaching today provides at best a superficial treatment of God's word, expository preaching wants to drill down deep into it. The text sets the agenda, not the minister nor the congregation. The expository preacher does not go beyond the text.

In fact, he never leaves the text. It is the beginning and the ending of the sermon and everything in between. The text provides the focus of the sermon, the points of the sermon, as well as its application.

An expository preaching reflects a high view of scripture by both the pastor and the congregation. The Bible is God's inherent word. What can you and I possibly need more than that?

It alone is able to make us wise for salvation through faith in Christ. It alone can can benefit us by teaching us, rebuking us, correcting us, and training us in righteousness. The sermon is not for editorializing.

It is not for delving into politics. It is not for tickling itching ears with a lot of amusing stories. the sermon.

In the sermon, God speaks and he communicates himself to his people. Carl Truman notes this. We should remember that preaching is not simply the transmission of information from one mind to another through the medium of preaching or speech.

Preaching is the mediation of God's presence to his people. God is actively preaching and present rather through the preaching of his word. And when the preacher accurately expounds the scriptures, the congregation is not simply hearing his voice, but the voice of God through the preachers's words.

And so Paul writes in 1 Thessalonians 2:13, "When you receive the receive the word of God, which you heard from us, you accepted it not as the words of men, but as what it really is, the word of God." This is what Timothy is to devote himself to. I truly pray that there will never be a famine of the word in this church and that the Lord will always bless Ebenezer's pulpit with men committed to imparting to you the whole council of God even as they themselves grow in their ability to rightly divide the word of truth. The third characteristic of a faithful minister is his calling.

Paul writes in verse four, "Do not neglect the gift you have, which has been given to you by prophecy, and the council of elders laid their hands on you." Every minister must have some sense of call upon his life. And because this is somewhat subjective and can be misunderstood, others are invited to help him discern whether this truly is a call from God. They either confirm it or they raise additional questions to explore.

This begins with the elders on session of the church and it continues to the presbyter. One thing presbytors and elders will want to do is discern the candidates spiritual gift or gifts and how they will be used in ministry. He likewise or likewise rather Paul encourages Timothy to not neglect his spiritual gift.

And in 2 Timothy 1:6, he tells Timothy to fan it into a flame, to stoke it. What this gift is, we do not know. In multiple places in the Bible, we read about spiritual gifts.

They are given by the Holy Spirit. Every believer has at least one. and they are given for the building up of the church and its ministry.

Our responsibility is to discern the gifts and to put them into use. In addition, the council of elders laid their hands on Timothy. This act was the church's public confirmation of Timothy's call and gifting for ministry as well as his commissioning to pastor the church.

John Sto says that we might think of this as Timothy's ordination. As I said in an earlier sermon, every minister remembers his ordination because it is such a special day. But it is a day that also serves as an anchor in those times when ministry isn't all that pleasant.

Would you be disappointed to know that ministers sometimes fantasize about doing anything else but pastoring? My brother-in-law, who is a retired Methodist minister, said that he used to dream of being the guy that works at the golf course and he cuts the grass and he sits on that large mower and all he does is drive back and forth down the fairway cutting grass. and his biggest concern is making sure he stays in a straight line.

Another pastor dreamed of being a truck driver and all he does is just drive all day. That's all he does. Another I know friend of mine dreamed of being the late night cashier at 7-Eleven where the only expectation placed on him was getting hot coffee out on time.

All jobs have pressure points. I'm not saying that ministry is the only one. It's not.

But one thing that I have found helpful in difficult times is to remember my ordination, God's call, God's gifting, and God's confirmation through those elders who laid their hands on me. And this reminds me even amidst difficult circumstances in ministry that I am exactly where God wants me to be. And so is Timothy even amidst the opposition that he faced the church at Ephesus.

The fourth characteristic of a faithful minister is his progress. Look at verse 15. Practice these things.

Immerse yourself in them so that all may see your progress. These things represents the various aspects of Timothy's spiritual life and his ministry. In his spiritual life, Timothy must be growing in grace.

He must be training himself in godliness. Sanctification is never static. And by his progress, he will be an example of maturity in Christ.

John Sto writes this. The example which Christian leaders set whether in their life or their ministry should be dynamic and progressive. People should be able to observe not only what they are but what they are becoming supplying evidence that they are growing into maturity in Christ.

In terms of progress in ministry, especially in preaching, teaching, and pastoral care, every minister should strive to make improvements. Yes, he is reliant upon the Holy Spirit and can do nothing apart from the Spirit's power at work within him. But the Holy Spirit does not negate human effort.

It fuels or he fuels it. And never is the Holy Spirit an excuse for laziness. Notice also how the minister must approach these things.

First, he is to practice them. The New American Standard Bible says he is to take pains with these things. And second, he is to immerse himself in them.

The NIV says, "Give yourself wholly to them." He must devote himself to these his spiritual life as well as improving in his pastoral responsibilities. I recently heard another pastor say, "If your minister is a scratch golfer, you should be very concerned. Maybe he's naturally good.

Or maybe he's just out on the links too much. And maybe he needs to spend more time improving his preaching and less time improving his putting. But while the minister must be progressing in both his spiritual life and ministry, we must never confuse the expectation of progress with perfection.

A perfect minister does not exist just like a perfect congregation does not exist. The only perfect minister ever is the Lord Jesus Christ. Every minister pleads the blood of Christ to cover his sins.

And every minister is working out his salvation with fear and trembling. This is progressive sanctification. Philippians 3:12, Paul said of himself, "Not that I have already obtained this or have already been made perfect, but I press on." Ministers are works in progress.

just like the congregations that they serve. But together, let us say with Paul in 1 Corinthians 15:10, "But by the grace of God, I am what I am, and his grace toward me has not been in vain. On the contrary, I worked harder than any of them, though it was not I, but the grace of God that is with me." The fifth characteristic of a faithful minister is his persistence.

Verse 16, keep a close walk watch on yourself and on the teaching. Persist in them. Yourself represents the whole of Timothy's life of faith.

And to keep watch requires vigilance. Beware, friends, of the dangers of an unexamined life. And teaching refers to doctrine.

Timothy must watch himself closely so that he does not deviate as the false teachers in Ephesus have done from the sound doctrine that Paul has passed down to him. And like word and deed, life and doctrine go hand in hand. Matthew Henry wrote, "Those who teach by their doctrine must teach by their life, else they pull down with one hand what they build up with the other.

If Timothy fails in life or doctrine, he will fail in his ministry." As I grow older, I am becoming increasingly aware of how important this is. Who among us knows how long we have in this life? Our times are in God's hands.

But one of my great desires is to persist in these and to finish well in both life and in ministry. God forbid that any of us would be like King Solomon, who started out so strong only to be tripped up by entangling sin. And few things are as tragic as a minister who has served faithfully for decades only to throw it all away at the end in some moral failing or some compromise of doctrinal truth.

Let none of us crawl across the finish line, but let us run with perseverance the race that is marked out for us, keeping our eyes fixed on Jesus, the author and perfector of our faith. When it comes to persevering to the very end, it is hard to think of a better example than the Scottish minister Thomas Boston. In the last months of his life, 1732, he found himself confined to his bed by a serious illness.

Obviously, an illness that would take his life. But Boston continued to preach. His little congregation would gather around the window of the mans from which he would read and preach and teach God's word on the Lord's day.

Boston's last sermon was titled the the necessity of self-examination. And in it, he challenged his congregation to remain faithful or remain rather in their faith. He begged them to make sure of their eternal salvation and to quote bend all of their endeavors and attention to give to gain rather a blessed and happy eternity.

Paul concludes with this promise. Persist in this for by doing so you will save both yourself and your hearers. Make no mistake, Paul is not suggesting an alternative means of salvation through the minister's work.

We are saved by grace alone through faith alone in Christ alone apart from any human effort. believe in the Lord Jesus and you will be saved. But the minister's persistence in his life and doctrine will for himself prove the genuiness of the faith that he professes and by that faith alone he is justified.

But how does his persistence save his hearers? Because by his persistent preaching of the gospel truth, many will hear him over the years, and by God's grace, they will believe and they will be saved. Robert Murray McShane writes, "A holy minister is an awful weapon in the hand of God." Friends, pray incessantly for your pastors that they would be such weapons in God's hands for your glory or for his glory rather and for your abounding good.

Let's pray. Our gracious and our holy God, we give you thanks and praise for those ministers in our lives who have had such an influence upon us. We're so thankful for the men that have pastored this congregation throughout these 240 plus years.

We thank you for their steadfastness in heralding the good news of Jesus. Father, I on a personal level thank you for Jerry Connor. What a godly man.

What a godly man he was to me. What a godly example. and how I loved him.

I pray Lord that you will give your church godly ministers who love you and love the flocks that you have put in their care and equip them well to serve you. Make them diligent. Help them to persevere and be persistent and be glorified in the work of your kingdom.

We ask this in Jesus name. Amen. Would you please take out your hymn book and let's sing hymn number 599.

Savior like a shepherd lead us. Let's stand. Blessed Jesus.

Blessed Jesus. Blessed Jesus. sus [music] pray.

Blessed Jesus. [music] Bless >> [music] >> Blessed Jesus. Blessed Jesus.

Blessed Jesus Christless [music] Jesus. Thank you for being in worship today. Please do come back tonight for our evening service to close out the Lord's day.

Uh we are um in a series in Habach. You probably have not heard a lot of series on Habach and it's been really good. Uh that is not one I've been familiar with and I've learned a lot in Jordan's preaching.

And so I do want to encourage you to come and be a part uh of that time uh tonight as well. Receive now God's good benediction. Go now in the power of the Holy Spirit to love and to serve the Lord.

May the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God the Father, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with each of you now and forever more. Amen. >> [music]