A Faithful Pastor
2 Timothy 1:1-18
His character and conduct
Intro; We find Paul in chapter one encouraging a young man in his ministry. Every person in every ministry needs encouragement.
Every pastor (to be in the will of God) must be faithful to their flock. Instead of fretting about what we don’t have we must be faithful to what we do have. If it’s 525 or 25 be faithful in the ministry God placed you in. Some estimate Jonah had millions to repent in Nineveh and he was unfaithful, numbers did not make him faithful. Noah had seven in Sunday school (all were his family members) lack of numbers did not make him unfaithful. It seems that the success of a ministry is based just on number, and that is not a true assessment.
I’m not saying we should ever be lazy or not have a desire to see the church go forward, and grow we must have that desire, but we need faithfulness whether many or few. We see Paul was :
1. Faithful in his affection vs. 1-4.
A. Paternal = v.2 To Timothy, my dearly beloved son: Grace, mercy, and peace, from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord.
B. Prayerful = v.3b that without ceasing I have remembrance of thee in my prayers night and day;
C. Mindful = v.4 Greatly desiring to see thee, being mindful of thy tears, that I may be filled with joy;
We must never get to the point where our ministry becomes mechanical. I heard it said recently about a pastor that he treated his ministry more like a job than he did a ministry.
Our ministry is like a marriage to the extent that when there is no affection shown there is a problem.
2. Faithful in his allegiance vs.5,6,8.
A. Divine preparation v. 5. When I call to remembrance the unfeigned faith that is in thee, which dwelt first in thy grandmother Lois, and thy mother Eunice; and I am persuaded that in thee also.
B. Divine provision v.6. Wherefore I put thee in remembrance that thou stir up the gift of God, which is in thee by the putting on of my hands.
C. Divine power v.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;
3. Faithful in his appointment vs.9- 11
A. He realized the truths of the gospel v.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,
B. He rejoiced in the triumph of the gospel v.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:
C. He recognized the task of the gospel v. Whereunto I am appointed a preacher, and an apostle, and a teacher of the Gentiles.
4. Faithful in his acceptance vs. 12-14;
A. Suffer bravely v.12a For the which cause I also suffer these things:
B. Guard faithfully v.13,14; Hold fast the form of sound words, which thou hast heard of me, in faith and love which is in Christ Jesus. That good thing which was committed unto thee keep by the Holy Ghost which dwelleth in us.
C. Spread it actively v.14 That good thing which was committed unto thee keep by the Holy Ghost which dwelleth in us.
5. Faithful in his appreciation vs.16-18.
A. A Loving brother v.16, The Lord give mercy unto the house of Onesiphorus; for he oft refreshed me, and was not ashamed of my chain:
B. A loyal brother v.17, But, when he was in Rome, he sought me out very diligently, and found me.
C. A laboring brother v.18 The Lord grant unto him that he may find mercy of the Lord in that day: and in how many things he ministered unto me at Ephesus, thou knowest very well.