PURITY OF THE SERVANT

1 Timothy 3:1-13

Part 2

Introduction:  Last week we looked at verses one and two in our study.  The older I get, the more I know that I am in the center of God’s will.

      I made this statement last week that I added after I got to church.  It was not in last week’s manuscript.  I said that I feel that every young man ought to make as one of his life’s goals to be a pastor or a deacon.  I want to spend a few minutes to explain what I meant.  I know that not every young man will be either a pastor or a deacon but if they would apply these qualifications to their lives, how much richer would the next generation’s church be! 

      I want to review quickly what ground we covered last week.  It will not be in as much detail but it will bring us to the place we are this week.

      Before going forward, I want to remind you that the word “bishop” found in this chapter is the synonym for pastor. It means "shepherd" which is one who leads and cares for the flock of God.

      What are these qualifications?  The first one is “blameless”.  This means living a life that like I was reading in Oswald Chamber’s daily devotional.  It is a life of holiness.  Let me quote the last few lines of today’s devotional: “Holiness means undefiled walking with the feet, undefiled talking with the tongue, undefiled thinking with the mind - every detail of the life under the scrutiny of God. Holiness is not only what God gives me, but what I manifest that God has given me.”  This is a life that is truly blameless.  The devil or the world has nothing to attack or criticize.

      The second one is “the husband of one wife”.  This does not mean the husband of one wife at a time.  Divorce and remarried does not have a place in the life of a pastor or a deacon.  The scripture is plain here on the subject.

      One person asked this: If Calvary’s blood covers all past sins, then doesn’t cover this sin also?  Yes, it does cover this sin but it does not do away with the consequences of our actions.  If a man is divorced and remarried, he has disqualified himself from this portion of the ministry.  The divorce opens the door to falling into the first qualification- blameless.

      But this does not mean a divorced person can not be used of God in our local churches.  Some of the finest teachers in Sunday Schools are persons who have been divorced and remarried.  They are willing to do that which they can for the glory of God.

      The third one is “vigilant”.  This means to be temperate or sober.  It means keeping our head in all situations.  This is a hard one to keep.  Many preachers fly off the handle so to speak.

      Number four is “sober”.  This deals with a serious attitude and being in earnest about our work.  The ministry is serious.  Many issues facing a pastor can mean life or death for someone.  It does not mean we don’t have a sense of humor.  The Bible says in Proverbs 17:22 “A merry heart doeth good like a medicine”.  There are plenty things to laugh over in the ministry of a pastor but much is serious.  A soul in the balance of eternity is serious.  Seeing our children grow and living lives that will honor and glorify God is serious.

      Number five is “of good behavior”. The Greek suggests this thought: orderly or modest.  Our lives ought to be orderly.

      The sixth one is “given to hospitality”.  Helping people in a way that honor God.

      Number seven is “apt to teach.” Philip Brooks said this “Apt to teach is not something to which one comes by accident or by any sudden burst of fiery zeal.” 

      If every young man in this church and every Bible believing church would do these things, it is no telling what the church would be.

      Today we want to take up in verse three with the six of the sixteen qualifications.

8. “NOT GIVEN TO WINE” 

                                    Vs. 3

      This means that alcohol beverages are strictly forbidden in ministry of a pastor.  The word “not” is NO in the Greek.  Wine refers to the fermented product of the vine.  It describes someone who is a drunkard.

      Paul advised Timothy to use a little wine for his stomach’s sake in 1 Timothy 5:23.  What he is telling Timothy is this: the water of that day was not purified and had many bacteria in it and these bacteria would cause many health problems.  The Jews would dilute their water with wine to purify it.  A very weak wine diluted with much water was healthy to drink.

      But today we have purifying systems for our water.  We can test our water for bacteria and can clean up our water supplies.  The believer today has no need to drink alcoholic beverages at all. Yes, some of our cough syrups have alcohol in them but that is a medicine.   I do not believe the Lord has any problem with that if used properly. 

      Let me give a few verses in regards to alcohol.

                        Proverbs 20:1

“Wine is a mocker, strong drink is raging: and whosoever is deceived thereby is not wise.”

                        Proverbs 23:29-35

“Who hath woe? who hath sorrow? who hath contentions? who hath babbling? who hath wounds without cause? who hath redness of eyes?  They that tarry long at the wine; they that go to seek mixed wine.  Look not thou upon the wine when it is red, when it giveth his colour in the cup, when it moveth itself aright.  At the last it biteth like a serpent, and stingeth like an adder. Thine eyes shall behold strange women, and thine heart shall utter perverse things. Yea, thou shalt be as he that lieth down in the midst of the sea, or as he that lieth upon the top of a mast.  They have stricken me, shalt thou say, and I was not sick; they have beaten me, and I felt it not: when shall I awake? I will seek it yet again.”

                  I. “NO STRIKER”  Vs. 3

      It means this in the Greek: bruiser, ready for a blow or a contentious, quarrelsome person.   It means one who is always looking for a fight.  Charles Spurgeon told his students at his Pastor’s college this: “Don’t go about the world with your fist doubled up for fighting, carrying a theological revolver in the leg of your trousers.”

      Some men are not happy unless they have big fight on their hands.  They live for the fight.  They stir for the fight.  They will lure folks into a fight.  Our Lord was peaceable.  He gives as part of the fruit of the Spirit peace.

9. “NOT GREEDY OF FILTHY LURCE”

                                    Vs. 3

      Paul says other truths about money later in this epistle.  It is possible to make easy money in the ministry if a man has no conscience or integrity.  One of the reasons that the ministry is in such disarray is the men who are greedy for more and more money. 1 Peter 5:2

“Feed the flock of God which is among you, taking the oversight thereof, not by constraint, but willingly; not for filthy lucre, but of a ready mind”

      I could go back to school for registered nurse degree.  I could get the scholarships.  There is a nursing crisis in our country.  I have been told countless times that this is what I need to do.  But I did not go into pastoring for money.  I am in the ministry to help others.  Yes, I receive a housing allowance from this church.  I thank God for this.  I am able to make those monthly house payments.  But money will not keep me here or cause me to leave for another church. 

      Albert Barnes said this: “There is nothing that more certainly paralyzes the usefulness of a minister of the gospel than the love of money.”  “It is the sin that sways more hearts, and does more to hinder the progress of the gospel, than all others combined.”

10. “PATIENT” It means to be gentle.  It is one of the hardest parts of my ministry.  As a pastor, I should listen to my people and take criticism, without losing my cool.  I admit this is hard.  It is one of the areas in which you as a church can pray on my behalf. 

            Think of the patience that our Lord showed while on this earth.  When we are impatient, it shows a lack of Christian charity on our part.

                              1 Corinthians 13:4-5

      “Charity suffereth long, and is kind; charity envieth not; charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up, Doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil”

            Recently some one told me that they were praying for my temper.  I appreciate their honesty.  I appreciate their prayers.  God must change me into more patience, gentle man.

            One of the hardest parts of the ministry is seeing people go directly against your advice.  It is hard not to lose your cool and blast them.

                  L. “NOT A BRAWLER” Vs. 3

      It is similar to no striker.  We should be peacemakers, not troublemakers.  This does not mean we must compromise our convictions but to discuss them in a fashion that honors God.

                  M. “NOT COVETOUS” Vs. 3

      You can covet for more than money even though money is the chief concern of covetousness.  You can covet after popularity, a large ministry that could make you famous and so many other things.  It means not to be enslaved to the love of wealth; possess he may the good things of this life, but not be possessed by them.

14. “A GODLY FAMILY”   Vs. 4-5

“One that ruleth well his own house, having his children in subjection with all gravity;  (For if a man know not how to rule his own house, how shall he take care of the church of God?)”

            If a man’s children cannot obey and respect him, then it is very likely the church will not do so.  As a pastor, I have a dual role.  I have to be a father and a pastor to my children.  It is hard to split the two.  I can not be one way at church and another at home.  If so, my children will detect it and this will cause problems. 

            The words “ruleth” and rule in these verses means to preside over.  It suggests directing business both at home and in the church.  It does not to be a dictator but as a loving shepherd, looking out for the flock’s best interest. 1 Peter 5:3

“Neither as being lords over God's heritage, but being ensamples to the flock.”

            My children are not perfect.  They are too much like their dad.  But they love this church almost as deeply as their mother does and I do.  This is one reason why Ian and Kristie are having such a hard time finding a church.  He loves this church.

            As long as my children are under my roof, their actions reflect on this pastor.  I have said several times in the years past and repeat now is if my children would do anything that would dishonor this ministry, I would resign.  This puts lots of pressure on them but they know how I feel about the ministry.

                  O. ”NOT A NOVICE” Vs. 6

“Not a novice, lest being lifted up with pride he fall into the condemnation of the devil.”

      This is one who is newly planted.  It is a young believer.  He does not know how to weather the storms that an older pastor may think twice in doing.  Let me try to illustrate this.  This year Seth planted some tomato plants.  These plants took time before they yielded their first fruits.  This is true in the life of a young man entering into the ministry.  One piece of advice that I will give a young preacher is to find a man who will mentor him.  A mentor will guide a young preacher through some difficult situations.  I have had several in my years as a pastor.

      Maturity has nothing to do with age.  A man must study constantly how to be a more effective minister of Jesus Christ.  Novices will not always act properly in that he does not have that experience needed to do what he needs to do. 

      I study harder to be a good pastor than I ever have to be a good nurse.  In fact, being a good nurse comes easier than being a good pastor.

      Satan loves to see a young man who will succeed quickly in the ministry.  He will allow pride to build up and then he can tear down what was done first of all for the right reasons but grew into a matter of pride.

15. “A GOOD TESTIMONY OUTSIDE THE CHURCH”

                                    Vs. 7

“Moreover he must have a good report of them which are without; lest he fall into reproach and the snare of the devil.”

      Does he pay his bills?  If not, he does not have a good testimony outside the church.  Does he have a good reputation among lost people with whom he does business?  If not, he does not have a good testimony outside the church.

                        Col. 4:5

“Walk in wisdom toward them that are without”

                        1 Thess. 4:12

“That ye may walk honestly toward them that are without”

      Our Lord Jesus had a good reputation of those who were outside the church.  Let me illustrate with this account in the Gospels. Matthew 17:24-27

“And when they were come to Capernaum, they that received tribute [money] came to Peter, and said, Doth not your master pay tribute?  He saith, Yes. And when he was come into the house, Jesus prevented him, saying, What thinkest thou, Simon? of whom do the kings of the earth take custom or tribute? of their own children, or of strangers?  Peter saith unto him, Of strangers. Jesus saith unto him, Then are the children free.  Notwithstanding, lest we should offend them, go thou to the sea, and cast an hook, and take up the fish that first cometh up; and when thou hast opened his mouth, thou shalt find a piece of money: that take, and give unto them for me and thee.” 

Conclusion:  No pastor ever feels that he is all he ought to be, and his people need to pray for him constantly.  If the leader is knocked out of the picture, the church will not be what she needs to be.   It is not easy serving as a pastor but it is easier if your character is all that God wants it to be.