1 Timothy 4:6-11

How can God’s Workers become stronger in the faith and ministry of Jesus Christ?

Servant of His Word v.6

1 Corinthians 4:1 “Let a man regard us in this manner, as servants of Christ and stewards of the mysteries of God.”

If you want to grow in Christ, share the word!  Be a servant of God’s Word, sharing it, living it, compiling others to live it.  Paul know what he was talking about when he share this with Philemon v.6.  “and I pray that the sharing of your faith may become effective for the full knowledge of every good thing that is in us for the sake of Christ.”

Separates From The Wrong v.7

It’s impossible to totally separate from the world, but you will drown if you are caught up into the things of this world that are wrong.  The word saint literally means one set apart.  Paul again states this in 2 Timothy 2:16 “but avoid irreverent babble, for it will lead people into more and more ungodliness.”  What you feed grows, what you starve dies. 

Sacrifices For Him Who is Most Worthy v.8

The culture of Ephesus was much like ours.  Young men would spend hours in physical training.  They gloried in winning athletic events.  Paul is telling Timothy that his constant pursuit should be the training for Christ-Centeredness.  What does this, Christ-Centeredness, mean?  Is Christ the center of everything you do or is He an addition?  If He is an addition, be warned, you may not know Him!  You may have had an experience but lack a relationship with Him.  Your faith has got to cost you something or it’s not a sacrifice.

For those who have young children, let us be careful not to push off spiritual development and make it secondary to physical or mental development.  Christ-Centered discipleship must happen.  Deuteronomy 6:5-7 “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might. 6 And these words that I command you today shall be on your heart. 7 You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, and when you walk by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise.”  Do they see this in the home or is Sunday morning the only spiritual food they are receiving?  Be warned!  May today be a day of transformation!    

Secured by His Work v.10

Our hope is only in the work Christ has done on the cross!  Why do we train, work, labor for Christ?  Because we are in awe of His glory!  We are in awe of what He has done for us! 

Romans 5:2-3 “Through him we have also obtained access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and we rejoice in hope of the glory of God. 3 Not only that, but we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance,”

1 Peter 1:3 “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to his great mercy, he has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,”

Stands for His Ways v.11