1Ti 4:6  If thou put the brethren in remembrance of these things, thou shalt be a good minister of Jesus Christ, nourished up in the words of faith and of good doctrine, whereunto thou hast attained.

1Ti 4:7  But refuse profane and old wives’ fables, and exercise thyself rather unto godliness.

1Ti 4:8  For bodily exercise profiteth little: but godliness is profitable unto all things, having promise of the life that now is, and of that which is to come.

1Ti 4:9  This is a faithful saying and worthy of all acceptation.

1Ti 4:10  For therefore we both labour and suffer reproach, because we trust in the living God, who is the Saviour of all men, specially of those that believe.

1Ti 4:11  These things command and teach.

1Ti 4:12  Let no man despise thy youth; but be thou an example of the believers, in word, in conversation, in charity, in spirit, in faith, in purity.

1Ti 4:13  Till I come, give attendance to reading, to exhortation, to doctrine.

1Ti 5:17  Let the elders that rule well be counted worthy of double honour, especially they who labour in the word and doctrine.

 Throughout the Pastoral Epistles Paul exhorts Timothy and Titus to teach faithful men so they themselves can teach others, or to charge some that they teach no other doctrine. Paul stresses the issue of establishing faithful men so that they can work with the Father in what He is doing, also he makes Timothy and Titus aware of Satan and his minister’s attempts to work against God in what He is doing. The job of a “good minister of Jesus Christ” is to edify the brethren in the gospel that Paul preached, and follow his example in how he exercised himself unto godliness. As we advance through our education, the way we “exercise” ourselves in our walk has an effect upon this life, and in the life that is to come. Our Father has given us the privilege to “labor” with Him, and to “suffer for Christ’s sake,” and that not only has an effect upon our lives and others that “hear” us, but it has an impact in heavenly places before the angelic host.

 1Ti 6:10  For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.

1Ti 6:11  But thou, O man of God, flee these things; and follow after righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, meekness.

1Ti 6:12  Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, whereunto thou art also called, and hast professed a good profession before many witnesses.

1Ti 6:13  I give thee charge in the sight of God, who quickeneth all things, and before Christ Jesus, who before Pontius Pilate witnessed a good confession;

 The “man of God” should follow after “righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, meekness,” but many preachers follow other men in being “proud, knowing nothing, but doting about questions and strifes of words, whereof cometh envy, strife, railings, evil surmisings, perverse disputings of men of corrupt minds, and destitute of the truth, supposing that gain is godliness.” The designed way that the “man of God” should be taught, and established, and “able” is given throughout the Pastoral Epistles, but the natural man today desires after man’s designed way to pastor a church. As Paul makes known to Timothy the man of God that follows his design for edification will be engaged in a “war,” and we will “fight” against Satan and his minister’s plan to exalt themselves above the will, and word of God, whether they know that what they are teaching is contrary to God’s word, and will, and contrary to sound doctrine.

 2Ti 1:7  For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.

2Ti 1:8  Be not thou therefore ashamed of the testimony of our Lord, nor of me his prisoner: but be thou partaker of the afflictions of the gospel according to the power of God;

2Ti 1:9  Who hath saved us, and called us with an holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began,

2Ti 1:10  But is now made manifest by the appearing of our Saviour Jesus Christ, who hath abolished death, and hath brought life and immortality to light through the gospel:

2Ti 1:11  Whereunto I am appointed a preacher, and an apostle, and a teacher of the Gentiles.

2Ti 1:12  For the which cause I also suffer these things: nevertheless I am not ashamed: for I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded that he is able to keep that which I have committed unto him against that day.

2Ti 1:13  Hold fast the form of sound words, which thou hast heard of me, in faith and love which is in Christ Jesus.

The apostle Paul tells Timothy that he also suffered the same things that Timothy suffered, but Paul’s motivation and reason for wanting to “partake of the afflictions” was because he was mindful of all the grace and mercy that God the Father has already done for him at the cross, and what He has promised He will do for him in Heavenly places. And it is Paul’s selfless heart, and the word of God working effectually within him as a “faithful” minister as a co-laborer together with God, and as our example, we ought to desire this same type of heart, and thinking concerning the word, and will of God.

 2Ti 2:1  Thou therefore, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus.

2Ti 2:2  And the things that thou hast heard of me among many witnesses, the same commit thou to faithful men, who shall be able to teach others also.

2Ti 2:3  Thou therefore endure hardness, as a good soldier of Jesus Christ.

2Ti 2:4  No man that warreth entangleth himself with the affairs of this life; that he may please him who hath chosen him to be a soldier.

2Ti 2:5  And if a man also strive for masteries, yet is he not crowned, except he strive lawfully.

2Ti 2:6  The husbandman that laboureth must be first partaker of the fruits.

2Ti 2:7  Consider what I say; and the Lord give thee understanding in all things.

 Today when a son begins to labor with God in what He is doing, he will find himself in a battle against this world’s system of things and ungodly men. The ungodly man will confuse the “affairs of this life” with godliness, and he will promote these things as the will and the word of God. God our Father wants “faithful men” to establish and teach other men to the intent that they “endure hardness, as a good soldier of Jesus Christ.” Our Father desires Sons and Daughters who are not “ashamed” of Him, nor of His Word, but desire to know Him, to know His word, to know His will, and have the godly desire to teach, and labor with Him in His Ministry as well.

 2Ti 2:14  Of these things put them in remembrance, charging them before the Lord that they strive not about words to no profit, but to the subverting of the hearers.

2Ti 2:15  Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.

2Ti 2:16  But shun profane and vain babblings: for they will increase unto more ungodliness.

2Ti 2:17  And their word will eat as doth a canker: of whom is Hymenaeus and Philetus;

2Ti 2:18  Who concerning the truth have erred, saying that the resurrection is past already; and overthrow the faith of some.

 2Ti 2:24  And the servant of the Lord must not strive; but be gentle unto all men, apt to teach, patient,

2Ti 2:25  In meekness instructing those that oppose themselves; if God peradventure will give them repentance to the acknowledging of the truth;

2Ti 2:26  And that they may recover themselves out of the snare of the devil, who are taken captive by him at his will.

 The only way the “man of God” can preach godliness in truth is by “rightly dividing the word of truth,” that is the only way the “hearers” will spiritually “profit” from what he places his faith in. When the word of God is not “rightly divided,” the hearers of this doctrine “will increase unto more ungodliness,” and will be damaging to the hearer’s soul. The “man of God” today should be able to instruct “those that oppose themselves,” but this can only be done by a son who has fully learned the sound doctrine of godliness, and he is one that wants to work together with God in what he is doing. The son should glory in the opportunity that the Father has given him to labor together in the Ministry with Him, and as ambassadors for Christ we share the gospel to not only the unsaved, but we should edify the saints who are “weak in the faith.” So, this begs the question; are you a Corinthian saint that was content in knowing that he was going to heaven, and he did not want the things that came along with being godly? Or are you as the Thessalonians and as Timothy and Titus were who wanted to be educated by the Father in His will, and wanted to suffer for His sake by working together with the Father in proclaiming sound doctrine? As a son “in Christ” are you more excited to be educated by your heavenly Father in His will, or do you get more excited with what this world has to offer on a daily basis; which has no eternal value towards your heavenly vocation at all?

Rod Jones