1^st Timothy 4:15-16 

Introduction: The work that the pastor does cannot be separated from the life that he lives as other men can.  For example, a surgeon who is successful could be a compulsive gambler. A pastor cannot do so.  But the man in the ministry needs to reproduces after his kind.

      Bad character can never live with good doctrine.  Maturity is essential in the ministry.  The word "profiting" found in verse 14 means to pioneer advance into new territory.  A mature preacher knows that there is a great difference between age and maturity.  Age deals with the quantity of time and maturity deals with the quality of experience.  Not everyone that grows old has necessarily grown up.  The way you measure maturity by the ability to make distinctions (Philippians 1:10 “That ye may approve things that are excellent; that ye may be sincere and without offence till the day of Christ”).  We want to look at seven distinctions or marks that will help show you maturity in the ministry. 

I.   ACTIVITY OR MINISTRY

      Not all activity is ministry.  Many times activity is a detour around real ministry.  Some parts of the ministry require little activity but much intensity.  Activity in a church is not the sole test of spiritual level of the church even though it is needed.

      Activity is doing the job and being done with it but ministry is sharing a life.

                                    1^st Thessalonians 2:7-8

“But we were gentle among you, even as a nurse cherisheth her children: So being affectionately desirous of you, we were willing to have imparted unto you, not the gospel of God only, but also our own souls, because ye were dear unto us.”

      A faithful pastor is likened a nursing mother. He who truly ministers to the needs of others is fulfilling a calling to the glory of God, not a calendar to the praise of men.  The secret to do this successfully is in maintaining a quiet time in order to meet our needs as well as our people's needs. Jeremiah 5:10

“Go ye up upon her walls, and destroy; but make not a full end: take away her battlements; for they are not the LORD’S.”

      We have allowed temporary scaffolding to become part of the permanent structure. 

II.  PRINCIPLES OR METHODS

      Methods are many but principles are few.  Methods always change but principles never do.  For example, no man can be saved apart from the Word of God.  But how you get the gospel to him is another manner, whether it is by a testimony or a tract or by preaching.  What works in one place does not in other places.  A young preacher must not try to imitate the "big" men in the ministry.  Saul's armor did not fit David and neither should you try it on and stumble around in it.  Methods must fit the man.

      Methods are the "how" and the "whats" of the ministry and principles are the "whys".

                           Psalm 107:7

                  “And he led them forth by the right way, that they might go to a city of habitation.”

      A wise pastor builds his principles out of his own personal experience.  Methods should be tested by our principles.  Principles are the roots that cannot be shaken by every wind of doctrine. 

III.   POPULARITY OR SUCCESS

      A good example is Barabbas.  He was popular but not a success.  Popularity is a passing thing; success is permanent.

      If a pastor courts popularity; then he will become a stranger to the Lord and his blessings.  D. L. Moody was quoted saying "If I take care of my character, then my reputation will take care of itself.” The most important part of my life is the part that only God sees.   If I fail in the secret place, I will fail in the public place ultimately.

                        Mature men majors on building Christian character that includes the following:

                  1. Saturating himself with the Word,

2. Spends time in prayer,
3. Sin is battled.        James 1:4

“But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing.”

   He remembers not to be quick to jump into the spotlight.  Also immature men covet praise and success in the eyes of men.  He also compares his work with others.   

                                    2^nd Corinthians 10:12, 18

“For we dare not make ourselves of the number, or compare ourselves with some that commend themselves: but they measuring themselves by themselves, and comparing themselves among themselves, are not wise.” “For not he that commendeth himself is approved, but whom the Lord commendeth.”

           When the Lord wants to build a ministry, He first builds the man.             

                                                Matthew 25:21

“His lord said unto him, Well done, thou good and faithful servant: thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord.” 

IV.  OPINIONS OR CONVICTIONS

      There are three concepts that must not be confused.

                  1.  Prejudice,

                  2.   Opinions,

                  3.  Convictions

      Prejudice is an unthinking thing.  It is buried in upbringing.  It is blind and dangerous.  The words "I feel" is a good indicator of Prejudice. 

      Opinion is better educated.  It is based on experience.  It reveals itself when a man says, "I think".

      Conviction demands the true words "I Know".

      Maturity is tested by the way we react to those who disagree with us. Mature men are open to truth.  The immature man thinks he is always right.  A mature man is not afraid of change because he is anchored to the Lord.    

                              Hebrews 12:25-29

“See that ye refuse not him that speaketh. For if they escaped not who refused him that spake on earth, much more shall not we escape, if we turn away from him that speaketh from heaven:  Whose voice then shook the earth: but now he hath promised, saying, Yet once more I shake not the earth only, but also heaven.  And this word, Yet once more, signifieth the removing of those things that are shaken, as of things that are made, that those things which cannot be shaken may remain.  Wherefore we receiving a kingdom which cannot be moved, let us have grace, whereby we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear:  For our God is a consuming fire.”

      Remember this counsel:

                  In essentials, unity;

                  In doubtful questions, liberty;

                  In all things, charity. 

V.   ACTING OR REACTING

      Men act and children react.  Some reactions are good such as like not touching something that is hot.  We must act because we know what must be done.  If we constantly react, then we become a victim of circumstances.  We must know ourselves, which includes our weaknesses as well as our strengths.

      A good lesson for us to learn is to listen without interrupting.             

                                                Proverbs 18:13

                  “He that answereth a matter before he heareth it, it is folly and shame unto him.”

      We must think with our minds and not our emotions.  We are to be governed by a divine purpose so we must never complain about the circumstances.  After all, the Lord is bigger than any circumstances.  Immaturity thrives on excuses and maturity on challenges.

      A mature Pastor knows where he is going and the church knows he does. 

                                                Acts 20:24

“But none of these things move me, neither count I my life dear unto myself, so that I might finish my course with joy, and the ministry, which I have received of the Lord Jesus, to testify the gospel of the grace of God.”

      We must have a set of priorities.  We know what must be done first.  This means allowing nothing to turn us from the task. 

VI.  DICTATORSHIP OR LEADERSHIP

      A church will raise and fall on leadership.  A leader shows the church by example and a dictator tells the Church what to do.  A leader depends on humility, prayer, and love; a dictator depends on pressure, force and fear.  A leader goes before and encourages; dictator stands behind and drives.  A leader leads by serving; a dictator expects others to serve him. A leader rejoices when the Lord gets the glory and others the credit; a dictator takes both the credit and glory.  A leader builds people; a dictator uses people and drops them when he is through exploiting them.  What kind of people does our ministry attract?

      A dictator needs "small people" who needs security and the popularity of a great man. A dictator needs people who are willing to lose their own identities as they inflate the ego of their hero. A dictator wants to "cookie cut" his followers who try to imitate him.

      A true Leader needs people who believe in his causes.  A true leader needs people who are willing to work with him to extend those causes.  A true leader needs people who do not lose their identities in the leader but they grow under his leadership.  A true leader is one who grows other leaders who mature under his guidance.

      A leader is harder on himself than others.  A dictator may take risk but he will not be willing to pay the price he asks his followers to pay. 

VII. SERMONS OR MESSAGES

      To give a message is to deal with making them strong not sick.  People who have spiritual needs can tell if a pastor really cares. "Preaching that cost nothing accomplishes nothing"  (John Henry Jowett) 2^nd Samuel 24:24

“And the king said unto Araunah, Nay; but I will surely buy it of thee at a price: neither will I offer burnt offerings unto the LORD my God of that which doth cost me nothing. So David bought the threshingfloor and the oxen for fifty shekels of silver.”

      The word of God must cut us, burn us, smash us, tear us down and build us up or we have no right to give it to others.  A real message flows from a broken heart. 

                              Psalm 45:1

“My heart is inditing a good matter: I speak of the things which I have made touching the king: my tongue is the pen of a ready writer.”

      A sermon is like a tossed salad and a message is "beaten oil for the sanctuary".  Writing a sermon comes from learning but preparing a message comes from living.  We must show a combination of both.  We can go to the mountain to meet with the Lord but we must come to the valley to share the burdens and battles of God's people. 

Conclusion: Today's key word is bigger and we must thank God for the increase but we must have better.          Colossians 1:28

“Whom we preach, warning every man, and teaching every man in all wisdom; that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus”

      The need of the hour in the ministry is maturity.  The man of the hour is a preacher.  We should not be children but more mature men that the Lord can and will use to build his Church.