Following the Returning King

1 Timothy 4:7-8, 11-16

7 Have nothing to do with godless myths and old wives' tales; rather, train yourself to be godly. 8 For physical training is of some value, but godliness has value for all things, holding promise for both the present life and the life to come...11 Command and teach these things. 12 Don't let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in speech, in life, in love, in faith and in purity. 13 Until I come, devote yourself to the public reading of Scripture, to preaching and to teaching. 14 Do not neglect your gift, which was given you through a prophetic message when the body of elders laid their hands on you. 15 Be diligent in these matters; give yourself wholly to them, so that everyone may see your progress. 16 Watch your life and doctrine closely. Persevere in them, because if you do, you will save both yourself and your hearers.

2 Timothy 4:1-2

4:1 In the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who will judge the living and the dead, and in view of his appearing and his kingdom, I give you this charge: 2 Preach the Word; be prepared in season and out of season; correct, rebuke and encourage-with great patience and careful instruction.

In one section of his book, The Conviction to Lead, Albert Mohler, explains why the anti-leadership movements of the 1960s did not work. Ironically, "even anti-leadership movements needed leaders." The Scriptures portray a lack of leadership as a sign of judgment upon the people. God has always intended that His people would be lovingly led. Isaiah 3:6-7 shows the deplorable state of leadership in ancient Israel. "You have a cloak; you shall be our leader, and this heap of ruins shall be under your rule." If someone even looked the part they would be in the front of the line to get the job.

Times were similar when Christ Jesus walked upon the earth. Matthew 9:35-37 says, "And Jesus went throughout all the cities and villages . . . when he saw the crowds, he had compassion for them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. Then he said to his disciples, ‘The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few; therefore pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest.'"

The Lord's solution was to train His disciples, who would in turn train other leaders. The message must have taken root because decades later Peter would exhort the elders among his audience to "feed the flock" (1 Peter 5:1-2). The apostle Paul uses a similar theme in his letters to Timothy and Titus. The Good Shepherd continues to lead his flock through under-shepherds.

It is important to understand, however, that pastors do not "feed the flock" simply to make them fat. William Still (Father of the Underground Railroad) gets to the heart of the pastoral calling when he says: Israel's sheep were reared, fed, tended, retrieved, healed, and restored—for sacrifice on the altar of God. This end of all pastoral work must never be forgotten—that its ultimate aim is to lead God's people to offer themselves up to Him in total devotion of worship and service.

There are two primary ways that faithful shepherds do this: through their lives and through their lips.

1. Faithful shepherds feed the flock with their lives - 2 Tim. 4:7-8, 11-16

Robert Murray McCheyne, the faithful Scottish pastor, once said, "The greatest need of my people is my personal holiness." McCheyne echoes what John Owen said before him: "A minister may fill his pews, his communion, roll, the mouths of the public, but what that minister is on his knees in secret before God Almighty, that he is and no more." These great men echoed what the apostle Paul said to Timothy thousands of years ago.

In 1 Timothy 4:7-8 Paul urges young Timothy to "train yourself for godliness." He is to do this because "godliness is of value in every way." Young Timothy was to lead his congregation through the example of his personal holiness. The best way for a faithful shepherd to "lead God's people to offer themselves up to Him in total devotion of worship and service" is to do so himself. And as others "see your progress" it will promote personal holiness in their lives as well. How shepherds live matters. They cannot separate their shepherding from who they are as believers. Faithful shepherds feed their flocks by paving the way for others to die to self and find life in Christ Jesus.

Are you concerned about your pastor's holiness, his walk with God? My walk with God? As much as with my preaching ablilities? Your prayers for him, for me ought to be directed in that way. You say to yourself, “That is all well and good, but I am not a pastor.” Yes, that is true, but you are a Christian and as such your life is also a reflection of Christ Jesus. 

As a Christian you to should be paving the way for other to find their way to Christ Jesus. But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light. (1 Peter 2:9 NIV)

To those of you who do not know Christ Jesus as Lord and Saviour, the lives and words of those who call themselves Christians should clearly point you to Christ Jesus and His saving grace.

2. Faithful shepherds feed the flock with their lips - 2 Tim. 4:1-2

In John 10:27 Christ Jesus says, "My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me." Sheep find their nourishment in the words of Christ Jesus. Without the word of Christ Jesus the sheep will wander aimlessly, never finding safe pasture. Today, sheep are fed when faithful shepherds and Christians proclaim the Word of God.

In 2 Timothy 4:1, Paul charges Timothy "in the presence of God and of Christ Jesus" to preach the Word. This is a reminder that all under-shepherds and Christians live out their ministries under the gaze of the risen Christ, "who is to judge the living and the dead." Shepherds are accountable to the Good Shepherd (John 10). If their message strays from His, they are no longer being faithful shepherds. This is true not only for under shepherds, but of all Christians.

In every season and in every situation, the words of the Good Shepherd are what the flock needs. To be "ready in season and out of season" is the ultimate call to know whom you serve, and why you serve Him. It is a call for all Christians to be sure of what they believe and be able to tell others about their beliefs in a reasonable manner. It means that the faithful shepherd and Christian will proclaim the words of Christ Jesus in times when it is welcomed and even when it is rejected. Remember brothers and sister, those who reject the saving message of Christ Jesus are not rejecting you, but Christ Jesus.

This precious value, then, is for you who believe; but for those who disbelieve,

"THE STONE WHICH THE BUILDERS REJECTED,

THIS BECAME THE VERY CORNER stone," (1 Peter 2:7 NASU)

For this reason the response of others does not determine your task.

Are you holding me accountable to the Word of God? Are you encouraging me to remain faithful? Are you being faithful to the Word of God? Do you encourage one another? Do you lift one another up in prayer regularly? “Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing.” (1 Thess 5:11 NIV).

Conclusion: It is a humbling thing to stand before the people of God as a sinner in need of grace. As John Piper has rightly noted, "No pastor lives up to what he preaches. If he does, he is preaching too low." Even the most faithful of under-shepherds will sin. In such instances they ought to also lead the way in repentance and seeking grace from the Good Shepherd.

Yet, this reality does not negate the necessity of "keeping a close watch on yourself." Both a holy life and honoring lips are necessary for all Christians. To proclaim the word of Christ Jesus without consistently backing that up with personal obedience makes a Christian an unfaithful hypocrite. The under shepherd who lives a holy life without ever proclaiming the words of Christ Jesus will starve the flock. A Christian who deprives a lost and dying world of Christ Jesus' words will condemn them to Hell.

The message today has been aimed at those who are Christians, but the saving message of Christ Jesus is for everyone. In Romans 10:12 Paul writes, “For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek; for the same Lord is Lord of all, abounding in riches for all who call on Him;” All means anyone and everyone, it means you.