Hi guys,

Last video of the week. We are coming to the end of chapter 4.

Here you can find the transcript:
--------------
1 Timothy 4:13-14, “Until I come, devote yourself to the public reading of Scripture, to preaching and to teaching. Do not neglect your gift, which was given you through a prophetic message when the body of elders laid their hands on you.”

Interesting points:
1. In these verses, Paul builds on the previous verses concerning preaching and teaching to instruct Timothy on using his God-given spiritual gifts to effectively serve his congregation in his capacity as a pastor. In Timothy’s day, reading Scripture meant reading the Old Testament publicly, preaching (unpacking it some his hearers could understand its implication for their lives) and teaching (how to effectively apply it in their lives).

2. Paul’s exhortation shows the centrality of God’s Word to a pastor’s calling and effectiveness. Without Scripture, a pastor becomes a philosopher, a story-teller and also spiritually dangerous! But when a pastor reads the Bible and unpacks it faithfully, he speaks life into his hearers by helping them fully understand what God is relaying to them through His Word about Jesus Christ, living righteously and how to answer His purpose for their lives.

3. In telling Timothy not to neglect his gift, Paul reminds us all that the mantle of pastor ship is no light task: it is a vocation in which God equips and anoints those He calls to fulfill that role. It implies sound Scriptural knowledge; a commitment to live righteously; and the ability to lead, shepherd and communicate. Timothy was selected by God for his role and his anointing was clearly recognized and communicated when the elders laid hands to pray over him as he set out for ministry.

Application.
Brothers, in Timothy’s days many could not read but what they heard they internalized. Today almost everyone can read but many still do not know the Word or even the voice of God speaking into their lives! Even so, it still holds true that we should carefully listen as Scripture is read, explained and applied in our lives. Where possible, we should take notes and try to summarize what we heard after Sunday service or during the day after studying the Word. What was the application for our lives? How will we change? It takes discipline, but in doing so we sharpen our minds, allow ourselves the ability to review unfamiliar Scripture, or even look at verses we know intimately from another perspective and with more clarity.
How nice that in the USA, October is “Pastor Appreciation Month”. The life of a Pastor is NOT easy as not everyone likes to be confronted with the Truth, held accountable or be made uncomfortable with what God is calling for them to do. But the pastor’s vocation is a rewarding one with eternal significance. When a pastor is faithful to the Scriptures, thoughtfully unpacks the Word and shows us what we need to do live righteously, he/she breathes life into our understanding, transformation and relationship with God.
May we take some time to privately show our appreciation to those pastors in our lives who nourish us by sharpening our minds, challenge us and hold us accountable using the Word of God in a loving manner indicative of God’s anointing over their lives!