Being an example of life in Christ outweighs the issue of age.

1 Timothy 4:12-16

Click for a description of the mark of the beast.
Click for a description of the image of the beast.

“Let no one despise your youth, but be an example to the believers in word, in conduct, in love, in spirit, in faith, in purity.” 1 Timothy 4:12

While following through with Paul’s instructions for building the Church, Timothy was also to be an example of what it means to serve God by faith in Jesus Christ without the laws of Judaism. Timothy, and all of us, are to be an example of living in the Spirit through grace.

Timothy was probably within the age of 20’s or 30’s during the time that Paul wrote to him. He was a young man entrusted with leading the Church at Ephesus under the direction of Paul, or more importantly, under the direction of the Holy Spirit by faith in Jesus Christ. By the guidance of Paul, empowered with the Holy Spirit, Timothy was tasked with purging the Church of false teaching, revealing sound doctrine, and being an example of Godliness. Paul’s letters, inspired by the Holy Spirit, are for each of us who live for Jesus Christ, regardless of our age.

We are to be an example to other Believers in what we say and do. The only way we can be an example to other Believers is to actually talk about our faith in God, Jesus as our Lord and Savior, and our walk with the Holy Spirit and growth in Holiness. We do not live for the desires of the flesh but by the Spirit. Also, we know that by our fruit people know what type of person we are, and that includes the fruit of our words. We want our words and conduct to be kind, filled with goodwill, showing love, being gentle and meek words of peace, showing joy, goodness, and faith, with self-control, patience, and perseverance in sharing the Gospel of Christ. The fruit of the Holy Spirit is a show of spiritual purity. Words and behaviors that flow from the beast that gives people what to speak and do are hostile towards belief in God, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit. Sometimes it is best to be silent, and always necessary to be slow to speak and quick to hear, “So then, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath; for the wrath of man does not produce the righteousness of God.” James 1:19-20

When the fruit of the Holy Spirit lives through us, we are an example of walking in the Spirit, of faith, and purity.

“Till I come, give attention to reading, to exhortation, to doctrine.” 1 Timothy 4:13

Paul was in prison, writing letters to the Churches, and hoping to be released, but from Acts we know that release never came. Paul was eventually executed during his imprisonment in Rome. Paul was imprisoned twice, but was never released between prison times. The first time he was put in prison was in Caesarea, where he was kept for a little over two years, as described in the post on Acts 24:26-27. The second time he was placed in prison was in Rome, where he stayed for another two years, as described in the post on Acts 28:30-31. Where was Paul between his first and second imprisonment? He was sailing, under the guard of Roman soldiers, from the prison in Caesarea to a prison in Rome. The journey from Caesarea to Rome took over three months because of stormy weather, and a seasonal stay on the island of Malta. That is described in the posts on Acts 27 through Acts 28:16.

Our Lord Jesus speaks through Paul when He gives instructions on what we should do until His return. During those days, reading the Old testament Scriptures was still important because that was the only way to show how Jesus was the Christ and Son of God as prophesied about. Today, we know that as the “scarlet cord”, which is the Old Testament pointing to Jesus as the promised Messiah. Today, we must give attention to reading the Old and New Testament so that we can grow in grace and the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. From the Scriptures, in the presence of the Holy Spirit, we are to encourage others to conform to the will of God, to grow in the walk of Holiness through Jesus Christ, and to live in the presence of the Holy Spirit. We have to give our attention to teaching from our born-again experience, which is the Gospel of Jesus Christ written on our heart.

“Do not neglect the gift that is in you, which was given to you by prophecy with the laying on of the hands of the eldership.” 1 Timothy 4:14

Timothy’s gift was his ministry to the Church, which was of the Holy Spirit and confirmed by the laying on of the hands of the eldership. In other words, the elders of the Church, the leaders of the Church, conferred their blessing onto Timothy’s youth [and his ministry] because the Holy Spirit had equipped Timothy for the task. We all realize that “laying on of hands” can never override what the Holy Spirit equips us to do. Nowadays, the beast with power over physiology makes a mockery of and blasphemes God, the Holy Spirit, and Jesus Christ. The beast is able to give people feelings, thoughts, words, and behaviors when someone lays their hands on another, but it is far from being in the presence of the Holy Spirit. That is called wonders and signs to deceive people. Today, we have to stayed rooted in the Gospel of Jesus Christ, which the beast will never do. The gift within us, that comes by the Holy Spirit, always comes with declaring that the power, glory and Kingdom belongs to God. Always comes with glorifying the name of Jesus Christ. And always comes with embracing the Holy Spirit so we can grow in Holiness.

“Meditate on these things; give yourself entirely to them, that your progress may be evident to all. Take heed to yourself and to the doctrine. Continue in them, for in doing this you will save both yourself and those who hear you.” 1 Timothy 4:15-16

We are to give ourselves entirely to allowing Jesus Christ to live in us through the Holy Spirit. By the fruit of the Holy Spirit, we are an example to other Believers in what we say and do. Others will be encouraged by our witness of walking in the Spirit, with the love of God who sent His Son Jesus to atone for the sin of whoever believes in Him. Our walk of Holiness, which gives blossom to the fruit of the Spirit, is an example of faith and purity. Until the return of Jesus Christ, we are to read the Bible, encourage others, and to teach about our born-again experience, which is the Gospel of Jesus Christ written on our heart.

The Holy Spirit is the gift that is within us, and by living in His presence, our ministry is revealed in what we say and do.

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“….to you who do not hold to her teaching and have not learned Satan’s so-called deep secrets,“
‘I will not impose any other burden on you, except to hold on to what you have until I come.’”
“I am coming soon. Hold on to what you have, so that no one will take your crown.”
Revelation 2:24-25, 3:1