Characteristics of a Biblical Pastor

Characteristics of a Biblical Pastor
1 Timothy 4

1. Warns of error (1-5) vs.6 “Put in remembrance. . .”
draw line btwn truth & error
warn wicked
NOT embrace error

2. Expert student of Scriptures (6) “Nourished up. . .”
Too many with minimal understanding
A continuing process
1 P 2.2 // 2 Ti. 2.15 // Eph 6.17 // Col. 3.16 // 2 Ti 3.16-17

3. Avoid unholy teaching (7) “Refuse profane and old wives’ fables” (myths)
Guard your mind
1 Ti 1.4 Be careful about reading material
A man went to a liberal seminary to be a minister & came out a bartender

4. Disciplined in personal godliness (7) Exercise thyself rather. . .”
Exercise = Gumnazo = Gymnasium
Takes rigorous self-sacrificing work
Don’t neglect body - don’t be preoccupied with it either

5. Committed to hard work (10) “We both labor and suffer reproach”
The earthy tasks
2 Cor. 5.9 = 2 reasons to labor

6. Teaches with authority (11) “These things command and teach”
Not to entertain
Implies boldness to challenge sin headon

7. Model of spiritual virtue (12) “Be thou an example. . .”
You can pattern your life after a godly man
He 13.7 “Whose faith follow”

8. Thoroughly biblical ministry (13) “Give attendance to . . .”
Scripture + Application + Teaching

9. Fulfill his calling (14) “Neglect not the gift. . .”
A divine enabling

10. Absorbed in his work (15) “Give thyself wholly to them”
Not double-minded

11. Progressing in spiritual growth (16) “That thy profiting may appear to all”
An advancing force

Summary = Verse 16
2 Things -- TAKE HEED
1 - Your Self - Conduct
2 - The Doctrine - Teaching

Thanksgiving at Three Taverns

Acts 28:1-15 (text v. 15)
Acts 28:15 And from thence, when the brethren heard of us, they came to meet us as far as Appii forum, and The three taverns: whom when Paul saw, he thanked God, and took courage.

Paul, as prisoner, is on his journey toward Rome. It was a rough trip:
He was shipwrecked (27:41-44)
He was cold and wet (28:2)
He was bitten by a poisonous snake (28:3)
He was accused of being a murderer and then a god (28:4-6)
He had no Christian fellowship for at least three months (28:11-14)
On Paul's approach to Rome, a "welcoming committee" of Roman Christians came out to greet and encourage him. They met up with Paul at Appii forum (about 43 miles south of Rome). An¬other group of brethren from Rome met Paul at a place called "Three Taverns" (about ten miles closer to Rome). Some Christians will travel longer distances than others to be a blessing to another saint
When Paul saw these brethren, he THANKED GOD. There’s nothing like the sight of a Christian friend when you are facing a trial.
There have been times when I’ve come to church a bit discouraged. But when I see a certain believer come through those back doors, gives me cause to THANK GOD! And when I thank God, I’m no longer discouraged!

I. The VISION of thanksgiving (“…whom when Paul SAW…”). Paul saw something to be thankful for.

A. We need to open our eyes to the blessings of the Lord.
1. Sight of these brethren reminded Paul of God Paul recognized God in his circumstances (2 Tim. 3:11).
2. Paul was thankful for brethren who cared about him.
3. Paul was thankful he was accepted by the Roman saints. Even in chains, the brethren were not ashamed to be asso¬ciated with Paul (cf. v. 20).
4. Paul was thankful he wouldn't have to enter Rome by himself. He was thankful for someone to stand by him.
B. Two responses to trials
1. You can look at what you've lost and be hateful, or
2. You can look at what you have left and be grateful. “People who are not grateful for what they have, would not enjoy the things they wish they had.”
3. Joseph was a great example of choos¬ing to be grateful instead of hateful in the face of betrayal. See: Gen 50:15-21; Job 1:20-21; 2 Cor 4:8-9.

"Count your blessings!" However, we must to recognize them first!
A man who owned a small estate wished to sell it. Sending for a real estate agent, he asked him to write an advertisement describ¬ing the house and land. When the ad was ready, the agent took it to the owner and read it to him. "Read that again," said the owner. The agent read the description of the estate once more. "I don't think I will sell after all," said the owner. "I have been looking for an estate like that all my life, and I did not know that I owned it!"
Count your blessings. Start by asking God to open your eyes to all the little things your enjoy almost everyday. Write them down. That will change your entire perspective and enable you to praise God for what you have.

II. The VOICE of thanksgiving (“…he THANKED God…”).

Every blessing that we receive is from the Lord's hand (James 1:17). Whether it be some brethren who encourage us or God's provision and protection for us,

A. VERBALIZE your gratitude. Put your thanksgiving into words (Ps. 26:7; Jonah 2:9).
B. Not enough to thank God for someone. We should thank them personally and tell them why we’re thankful.

III. The VICTORY of thanksgiving (“…and took courage”).

A. Choice of thanksgiving.
1. Instead of complaining about his stresses, pressures and persecutions, Paul gives thanks.
2. Instead of bemoaning his imprisonment, he thanks God for friends who come to support him.
B. Courage of thanksgiving. Being thankful, renewed Paul's strength and helped him to be courageous as he faced his imprison¬ment in Rome.
1. Gratitude produces fortitude! There is something invigorating about thanks¬giving that instills within us a confidence to face the trials of life.
2. Depression and thanksgiving cannot co-exist.
3. Unthankful people are discouraged people. As a person looks at God’s blessings with thanksgiving, it renews strength and instills courage.

Let’s THANK GOD & TAKE COURAGE!

Thanksgiving

"Inasmuch as the great Father has given us this year an abundant harvest of Indian corn, wheat, peas, beans, squashes, and garden vegetables, and has made the forests to abound with game and the sea with fish and clams, and inasmuch as He has protected us from the ravages of the savages, has spared us from pestilence and disease, has granted us freedom to worship God according to the dictates of our own conscience.
Now I, your magistrate, do proclaim that all ye Pilgrims, with your wives and ye little ones, do gather at ye meeting house, on ye hill, between the hours of 9 and 12 in the day time, on Thursday, November 29th, of the year of our Lord one thousand six hundred and twenty three and the third year since ye Pilgrims landed on ye Pilgrim Rock, there to listen to ye pastor and render thanksgiving to ye Almighty God for all His blessings."

William Bradford, Governor of Massachusetts

THANK THE LORD

I Thess. 5:12 - 24 (v.18) In everything give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.”

Intro: A man decided to write a note of gratitude to his high school literature teacher. She wrote back, “ Dear William, in 50 years of teaching, your note of thanks is the only one I ever received.”

THANK GOD FOR:

1. HIS PRESENCE AND PEACE. (V.13)

- “Lo, I am with you alway.” (Matt. 28:20)
- Three Hebrew Children “
- Rom. 5:1 “Therefore being justified by faith..”
- Jn. 14:27 “ Peace I leave with you”

2. THE PLEAS AND PROMISES OF THE BIBLE.

“We beseech you..” v.12 “ We exhort you..” v.14
Matt. 11:28 “Come.......Rest”
Jer. 33:3 “Call.. I will answer thee.”
Mal. 3:10 “Bring.... I will open the windows”
Luke 6:37 “Give... and it shall be given”
Isa. 1:18 “ Come....Shall be white as snow”

3. THE PRIVELEDGE OF PRAYER. (V.17)
“Pray without ceasing” (v. 17)

4. THE POTENTIAL AND POWER. (V.19)
“ Quench not the Spirit”

5. THE PLAIN PREACHING. (V. 20)
“Despise not prophesying”

6. THE PROVISION AND PLENTY. (V.21)
“Prove all things”

7. THE PROBLEMS AND PRESSURES. (V. 18)
“ In everything give thanks “

BALANCED

EXODUS 39:22 - 26

INTRO: A.A(golden)Bell & A (Blue,Pur.,Scarlet twined lin.)Pomegrante.
B.One is to hear & one to see.
C.Tradition says - High Priest with rope went into holiest.
(Jospehus)

1. BALANCE BETWEEN FAITH & WORKS. (Belief & Behaviour)(heart & Head)
A. One is profession - One is practice.
B. Ja. 2:14 - 18 " If a man say he hath faith..no works !

2. BALANCE BETWEEN HEARING & DOING.
A. Ja.1:22 " Be ye doers of the word & not hearers only"
B. Mt.7:24 " Who-so-ever heareth ...doeth them.

3. BALANCE BETWEEN SECRET LIFE AND PUBLIC LIFE.
A.Duties vs Devotion - Mary vs. Martha.
B.Tip of the Ice Berg 10% - rest 90%.
C."When thou prayest, enter into thy closet." (Mt.6:6)

4. BALANCE BETWEEN KNOWLEDGE & ZEAL.
A.Rom.10:2 "I bear them record..zeal of God - no knowledge"
B.Fire in fireplace(friend) - fire in field(enemy)
C.Story of runner - no message - slower runner with message.

5. BALANCE BETWEEN WAITING ON LORD & STEPPING BY FAITH.
A.What is faith & what is presumption.
B.How do we know when we are in the flesh - in Spirit ?
C.Isa. 40:31 - I Ki.18:21 "How long halt ye between 2 opinions.

6. BALANCE BETWEEN SOCIAL & SPIRITUAL.
A.Pray all the time.
B.Read all the time.
C.Work all the time.

7. BALANCE BETWEEN SOVERIGNTY OF GOD & RESPONSIBILITY OF MAN.
A.Hypercalvinism vs. Armenianism.