Rev Francisco Bilog2 Timothy 4:1-8; I Tim. 4:7b-16
God has worked in your lives during the past three years, teaching, molding, equipping and preparing you for the ministry. You too, have responded well, learning and growing up in spiritual maturity, thus completing Master of Divinity degree. Congratulations.
Let us celebrate this special event in your pilgrimage journey.
Let us praise and thank God for His grace and mercy upon each of you, helping you all the way to the completion of the Master of Divinity program.
Let us also acknowledge with heartfelt gratitude Bishop Han Theological Seminary as an institution and Jooan Methodist Church, both headed by Rev. Dr. Han, Sang Ho, President and Pastor, for their generous support, scholarship and prayers.
Bishop Han theological Seminary is one of Jooan Methodist Church Mission Center, thus their generous support to your education is an investment in mission. One way of expressing your gratitude for their investment in your ministry is to assure them that with God’s help you are committed to give your best in the field that the Lord with lead you to serve.
You will indeed go into the vast field of mission. We your elders, teachers and mentors wish you well. As you go, remember God’s promise “…He who began the good work in you will carry it on to completion unto the day of Jesus Christ” (Phil. 1:6).
We your elders, teachers and mentors wish you well. We have a few words of advice that are essential for a fruitful ministry.
The exhortation and parting words of Paul to young Timothy as he sends him to the mission field may beautifully express our wishes for all of you. Now Paul served as Timothy’s teacher, mentor, adviser and supervisor. He has all the concern for Timothy’s fruitful ministry.
I- So we say with Paul “Serve and discharge all the duties of your ministry with passion and accountability.” ( 2 Tim. 4:5c)
Timothy’s primary work was to preach the Word, heralding the message of life and teaching as God provided opportunity. This is still the principle task of the elder to this day. In addition to this, Timothy was charged with pastoral responsibilities that have not been rescinded to this day.
The Apostle wrote, “I charge you in the presence of God and of Christ Jesus,… preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, and exhort, with complete patience and teaching. For the time is coming when people will not endure sound teaching, but having itching ears they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own passions, and will turn away from listening to the truth and wander off into myths. As for you, always be sober-minded, endure suffering, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry” [2 TIM 4:1-5
Discharging your work with compassion means doing it with joy and spiritual energy. Discharging your responsibilities with accountability; means faithfully doing your job in your ministry and doing it with professional ministerial ethics. Do your ministry and leave God’s working spirit to bring results.
Paul strongly charge young ministers to preach the Word of God. The
preacher has opportunity to influence more people at one time when he preaches on Sunday than he could possibly do through visiting in homes 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Our advised then is for you to: 1) Be real in your preaching – be yourself. 2) Be responsible in your preaching; and 3) Be relevant in your preaching.
II- We also advice you to continue learning and equipping yourself while in the field He who ceases to learn cannot adequately teach, preach and do their ministry well. Preparation for service does not end when one graduates from school – it is a life long commitment.
Paul exhorts,
“be ready in season and out of season”. II Tim. 4:2b).
“ Do not neglect the gift that is in you.” I Tim. 4:14
“I remind you to fan into flame the gift of God, which is in you”(2 Tim. 1:6, ]. “Stir up then gift that is inyou”
Practice these things, immerse yourself in them, so that all may see your progress. “ I Tim. 4:15.
Bishop Han theological Seminary has planted the seed of wisdom in your thoughts, minds and life. Let them grow in the field of your ministry then fertilize them with wisdom by listening and learning from others.
Resources: Website: Ministry Matters, GBOD.org, SermonCentral.com…
III- We your elders also exhort you to practice what you teach and preach in holiness and faith.
“Be an Example” I Tim. 12
Keep a close watch on yourself and on the teaching. Persist in this, for by so doing you will save both yourself and your hearers” [1 TIM. 4:16].
For the time is coming when people will not endure sound teaching, but having itching ears they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own passions, and will turn away from listening to the truth and wander off into myths. As for you, always be sober-minded, endure suffering, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry” [2 Tim. 4:1-5].
The context in which the Apostle penned that warning was in contrasting what was preached and the conduct of Timothy’s life. The danger of living a double life is very real; therefore, the minister of Christ must always “keep a close watch on [himself] and on the teaching” [1 TIMOTHY 4:16].
Many who bear the title “Pastor” who preach one way and live another. Many professed ministers of the Word call for a holy life, yet live lives that are undistinguished from the denizens of this dark world. Both conduct and doctrine must be watched. So, Timothy was made aware of yet another potential peril.
A) It is also possible that Timothy struggled against youthful desires. He was but a man; he would struggle against desires, just as all people struggle. We all have longings which, if not controlled, will rule over us. Few conditions are more dangerous to the child of God than that arising from passions ruling over him. Paul found it necessary to caution him, “Flee youthful passions and pursue righteousness, faith, love, and peace, along with those who call on the Lord from a pure heart. Have nothing to do with foolish, ignorant controversies; you know that they breed quarrels. And the Lord’s servant must not be quarrelsome but kind to everyone, able to teach, patiently enduring evil, correcting his opponents with gentleness. God may perhaps grant them repentance leading to a knowledge of the truth, and they may come to their senses and escape from the snare of the devil, after being captured by him to do his will” [2 TIM. 2:22-26].
B) Do not imagine that Paul was thinking only of sexual desire. Though such may have been in view, he could have been speaking of the desire to accumulate wealth. Paul says: “The love of money is a root of all evil.” “As for the rich in this present age, charge them not to be haughty, nor to set their hopes on the uncertainty of riches, but on God, who richly provides us with everything to enjoy. They are to do good, to be rich in good works, to be generous and ready to share, thus storing up treasure for themselves as a good foundation for the future, so that they may take hold of that which is truly life” [I Tim. 6:17-19).
C) Similarly, Paul could have cautioned the young minister against the desire to gain power over others. Though authorized to exercise authority over the flock of God, no minister can be coercive or harsh in directing the work of the Lord if he will fulfill the appointment he received. He must manage without compelling, though he must be prepared to act decisively when the flock is threatened.
Like the military officer, the minister must never find him/ herself guilty of “conduct unbecoming an officer and a gentleman.” (see 1 Tim. 3:1-7)
The minister must never forget that he or she must be on guard against every temptation that could come up against him or her.
What I am saying is that there are “Death Trap” in the ministry that every church worker should always be aware of: Sex, Money, and Power.
Many ministers have lost their ministries because of the “Death Trap.” Some of them are pastors of mega-churches in the USA.
“ Therefore let him who thinks he stands take heed lest he fall. (1 Cor:10:12J)
Yes, as you go into the mission field as a minister who is faithful to the Word, continue to learn and equip yourself in your ministry, a person who stands firm in the challenges of life and who endeavors to walk worthy of the calling you have received, we stand by you and pray for you.
We send you and bless you with this words of Benediction: The Lord Bless you and keep you; the Lord make his face to shine upon you and be gracious unto you, the Lord lift up his countenance upon and give you peace, now and forever more. Amen.