Click here fore the 1 Timothy 4:13-14 PODCAST
13 Until I get there, focus on reading the Scriptures to the church, encouraging the believers, and teaching them. 14 Do not neglect the spiritual gift you received through the prophecy spoken over you when the elders of the church laid their hands on you. ~ 1 Timothy 4:13-14
In our text today, the Apostle Paul continues to inform us of the techniques of an effective leader. No one can lead others to a place he has never been himself. Of course, Paul wrote these principles to Timothy, a leader in the church at Ephesus, but they are applicable to any leader in any context.
In v.13 we read, "Until I get there, focus on reading the Scriptures to the church."
The effective leader knows what he believes and where he is going. The phrase "focus on" means "devote yourself to, or "be absorbed in." Leaders are to be read by the scriptures as each one reads them. In other words, where we find discrepancies between our lives and the word of God, the word of God must win. Being defined by God enables the leader to be such. It is the word of God which gives the leader the direction he needs.
As clearly indicated here by the Apostle, the word of God must be central to our calling, not just our teaching. As Moses said in his last address to the children of Israel, the word of God must be our life. The phrase, "focus on reading the Scriptures to the church" literally should read, "focus on (the) reading (of) the Scriptures to the church."
During every service in the early church, there was a time for the reading of the passage of Scripture for that day. Along with the reading came an explanation of the passage. To "focus on the reading" meant there would be careful exposition of the passage in a verse by verse way.
In Romans 10:17 we read, "Faith comes by hearing and hearing by the word of God." Central to the development of our heart's ability to hear and see God is the word of God, the spoken word of God.
The word “encouragement” in v.13 brings forth the idea that the application of the Word to the lives of the people must be in clear focus. The leader is to read the Word, explain it, and apply it. The Apostle uses the Greek word didaskalia at the end of v.13, translated "teaching them."
Didsakalia was the term used in ancient times to describe the work a playwright teaching his chorus and actors the play. In Paul's usage of this word, it included the teachings that one had garnered from the Lord as he read and walked with the Lord through the application of His word in his life on a daily basis. The natural outflow of being taught by the Lord led to being able to show to those being taught what the application of God's Word looks like in real life.
In v.14 we read, "Do not neglect the spiritual gift you received through the prophecy spoken over you when the elders of the church laid their hands on you."
Every believer in Christ has been given at least one spiritual gift. That gift is the channel by which the Holy Spirit ministers through us to others. The various spiritual gifts are listed in Romans 12, 1 Corinthians 12, Ephesians 4 and 1 Peter 4:10-11. These gifts are divine enablements through which the Holy Spirit builds up, equips and motivates the church to do God's work on this earth. The Spirit of God gives those gifts to us as He sovereignly chooses. We do not choose our own gifts.
Timothy’s spiritual gift was the gift of teaching the Word of God. According to Acts 16, there was a prophecy given, and the Spirit of God spoke that Timothy was "set aside for the preaching and teaching of the Word." It was much like what happened in Acts 13 when the Holy Spirit said, “Separate to me, Saul and Barnabas, for the work that I have for them.”
In ministry, there will always be days that we will want to give up and throw in the towel. This is part of being the kind of servants God wants us to be. God allows and sometimes causes the difficult and discouraging times to elevate His Word in our lives to us. He does this so that when we gain His wisdom as we listen to His Word, we will discover how to navigate life best. This is a necessity for helping others in life.
As we grow in our ability to hear His Word, we are then granted the ability to see the inner workings of situations so that we might make strategic decisions rather than simply react. We then are positioned to communicate the knowledge and wisdom God has given us to navigate through our trials. This then positions us to be authentic, causing others to follow accordingly.
As the Word of God gets a hold on us, we discover how to lead in such a way that benefits others best. This happens as we, ourselves, are led by God through the trials life with the Word of God being the primary operating tool in the hand of God. In it all, if we let Him, He will train us to be the leaders we never thought we could be.
The result is usefulness. Once we are reduced to the point of wanting nothing more than the Potter's touch, we will be in the daily process of being molded. And, as we continually come to the end of self, we are privileged to watch Him more intimately involved in our lives with the passing of time. God's involvement in our lives leads us to some form of a more permanent yieldedness. And, it is out of this context that we discover such marvelous truths like: "In my weakness He is strong."
