Obviously, Timothy was a young
man because Paul said, let no man despise thy youth. And Timothy was a very special
young man, and God has greatly used many young men. Look what Paul said about Timothy
in Philippians chapter 2. You don't have to turn there,
but I read it. He said, But I trust in the Lord Jesus to send Timotheus
shortly into you that I may also be of good comfort when I know
your state. For I have no man like minded who will naturally
care for your state for all seek their own, not the things which
are Jesus Christ, but you know the proof of him that as a son
with the father, he hath served with me in the gospel. They're young men who have been
greatly used of God. David was 17 years old when he
defeated Goliath. Joseph was 30 years old when
he had become the most powerful man in the world. Samuel was
just a boy when he began being a prophet. The Lord called him
very early. Hezekiah was 25 years old when
he began to reign over Israel. And Josiah, the one who it is
said there's none like before him or after him, he was only
16 years old when he began to purge Israel of idols. Charles Spurgeon was greatly
used of God And he began his pastorate in London at 21 years
old. And how mightily he was used.
Robert Murray McShane died when he's 29. He's the one who wrote
that hymn we love to hear, How Much I Owe. David Brainerd, what
a man greatly used of God in missions, but he died when he
was 29. Augusta's top lady. Died when
he was 36. The Lord uses young men. And I pray he'll use our young
men like this, don't you? What a blessing to have young
men. Young men filled with a zeal
for the glory of Christ. A desire to make his name known. Now Paul says to Timothy, let
no man despise thy youth. Now what that tells me is, respect is earned. He said, don't
let anybody despise your youth, but you be an example. You be an example. You be an example to the believers. Now I've entitled this message,
You Be the One. He said, don't let anybody despise
your youth. Don't even give them a chance. But you be an example
to the believers. You earn their respect by your
conduct. And remember this, respect is
always earned. It's not just given because of
a title or a position. It's earned by somebody's conduct
and conversation. And he says to Timothy, you be
an example to the believers. Now I'm asking myself this question. I'm asking you this question.
If everybody followed your example, what kind of church would this
church be? I'm asking myself, and I'm asking
you, if everybody followed my example of faithfulness, If everybody
followed me in how I loved the members of this church, if everyone
imitated my generosity, if everybody imitated my kindness, if everybody
imitated my humility, if everybody was as quick to forgive as I
am. or as quick to apologize as I
am. And I'm not saying I am these
things, don't get me wrong. I'm speaking by way of what would
this place be like if everyone was just like me? Being a true servant to others.
I ask myself and I ask you, what kind of church would this be
if people actually followed my individual example? Now, You
be the one. You be the one to be an example
to the believers. By the grace of God, I hope every
one of us makes this our ambition. You be the one. Now Paul speaks of the believers. I like that. You be an example
of the believers. That's what a believer is. He's
somebody who believes. I love this name for a Christian,
a believer. He's somebody who believes the
gospel. He hears the gospel and he believes it. He lays hold
upon it. It's real to him. Now that word
actively is faithful. You be faithful believing. Passively, it's you be faithful.
You be somebody who can be believed. That's what a believer is. It's
someone who believes. It's someone who can be believed. I love that passage in Matthew
chapter eight, where the Lord had those two blind men come
in to the room where he was, and they wanted something out
of him. They were saying, have mercy on us. And he said, do you believe? Now that's a simple question.
Do you believe that I am able to do this? Do you believe the
Lord Jesus Christ is able to save you with no help and no
contribution from you? You believe that? Do you lean
on the Lord Jesus Christ? Now that's what believing is.
It's leaning on Christ. Laying your weight upon Him. Trusting Him to hold you up. Leaning. Leaning on Him to save
me. trusting his righteousness as
my righteousness before God, trusting his blood to put away
my sin, trusting his intercession to represent me, leaning the
weight of my soul. Who is this that cometh out of
the wilderness? Leaning on her beloved. Oh, may
I be a believer. He said, you'd be an example
of the believers. I want to be someone who believes.
I want that to describe me. That's the one that's more important
to me than anything else. I want to be somebody who really
believes. And I want to be somebody who can be believed. Somebody
who can be relied upon. Someone who can be faithful,
believe, and can be believed. I want to be like Caleb. Remember how it said he had another
spirit in him? He followed me fully. He was
a faithful dog. That's what his name means, a
faithful dog. I love to think of a faithful
dog. We had that dog for 17 years. in our home and that dog would
follow us wherever we went. Follow me, follow whoever, follow. Now a cat won't do that. It's
not a cat's nature to follow. But dogs follow. I want to be
this faithful dog that follows believers. Now Paul said to Timothy,
you be an example to the believers. And that word is also translated
a figure, a fashion, a form. a manner, a pattern, a print. You be a print to the believers
where they can follow your pattern. I repeat, you be the one to step
up to the plate here. Don't you want to be that? I
want to be that example that he's calling upon us to be to
the believer. And then he names six things
that he wants Timothy to be an example to the men. Look what
he says in verse 12, let no man despise thy youth, Be thou an
example, a pattern of the believers. And he named six things in word,
in conversation, in charity, in spirit, in faith, in purity. Now there are the six things
that you and I are called upon to be an example to the believers
in, in word. I love this in word. What I say is of great importance. You see, it reveals what's in
my heart. Out of the abundance of the heart,
the mouth speaketh. We can't possibly emphasize enough
the importance of what comes out of our mouth. Look in James
chapter 3. James chapter 3. Remember, he
says, be an example to the believer in words. Verse 1, he says, my
brethren, be not many masters, knowing that we shall receive
the greater condemnation in trying to be the master. For in many
things we offend all. Don't you know that's true regarding
you and everybody else? I mean, that's a confession of
us all. In many things we offend all. If any man offend not in
word, the same is a perfect man and able also to bridle the whole
body. Now our words are to be in conformity
to his words. Now there's it. Do I want to
have the right words? May my words be his words. This is what came to my mind.
There's several things that came to my mind in this, but I thought of
that passage of scripture in 1 Timothy 1, verse 15, where
Paul said, this is a faithful saying. Now, saying is something
that's spoken audibly. It's something that's said all
the time. It had reached the status of a saying in the early
church. It's something that was always
said, and this is something I always want to be saying, not just because
it's the right thing to say, but from the depths of my heart,
believing this and rejoicing in this and holding on to this,
and it's precious to me. This is a faithful saying, something
that ought to be on our lips constantly. It's worthy of all
acceptation that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners,
of whom I am the chief. Now that's words that ought to
always be coming from our lips. Words consistent with the gospel
of the grace of God. Our words should be his words. Let your words be always with
grace, Paul said. Seasoned with salt. Words of
honesty, words of encouragement, words of kindness, Words of humility,
words that come from a heart that loves Christ. Now, what's
really in my heart comes out in my speech. You know, we say
you can't see into somebody's heart, but that's not true, really.
We say that you can see into somebody's heart by what comes
out in their words, what comes out into their speech. The Lord
said, out of the abundance of the heart, the mouth speaketh.
So may I be an example. May you be an example to the
believer in words. Our words are to be the words
of the Lord Jesus Christ. Now look what he says next in
this verse 12, James chapter, not James, uh, first Timothy
chapter four, verse 12, were to be an example to the believers
in conversation, conversation, conduct. That's what that means.
Behavior, an example to the believers in conduct. Paul said, in simplicity
and godly sincerity, not with fleshly wisdom, but by the grace
of God, we've had our conversation in this world. Now, I want to
be the example to you. I want you to be the example
to me, a pattern I can follow in this thing of conversation.
Paul said our conversation was one of simplicity. Simplicity. The simplicity that's in Christ
Jesus. I have a simple hope, Christ.
I have a simple faith. Him. I have a simple ground of
assurance, His death. I have a simple motive, love
for Him, His glory. Simplicity and godly sincerity. Oh, don't you hate insincerity?
Godly sincerity, not with fleshly wisdom, not with fleshly policy,
but by the grace of God. Reliance, really relying on the
grace of God. We've had our conversation in
this present world. Turn with me for a moment to
James chapter three, again. James 3, beginning in verse 13. Who is a wise man and endued
with knowledge among you? Don't you want to be a truly
wise man? Somebody that God would call a wise man. Well, who is
this wise man and endued with knowledge among you? Well, let
him show out of a good conversation, conduct his works. with meekness of wisdom. But if you have bitter envying
and strife in your hearts, glory not, lie not against the truth. This wisdom descendeth not from
above, but is earthly, sensual, and devilish. For where envying
and strife is, there's confusion and every evil work, but the
wisdom that's from above. This is the wisdom I want to
manifest, the wisdom that's from above, that we're to show out
of our good conversation. It's first pure, it's true. Then
it's peaceable, gentle. easy to be entreated, easy to
be approached, full of mercy and good fruits without partiality
and without hypocrisy. And the fruit of righteousness
is sown of peace in them that make peace. Now you make it,
may I make it my business to be a model to the believers in
conversation, in conduct, in behavior. Let me show you one
other passage of scripture. This is how important this is. First
Peter chapter three. Verse 1, Likewise, ye wives,
be in subjection to your own husbands. Well, that's quite
a command, isn't it? Be in subjection to your own
husbands. Now, the only way you can do
that is because you want to do it. He can't make you. No one can
make you. You do it because you want to
do it. Because you know it's what the Lord tells you to do.
Likewise, you wives be in subjection to your own husbands. Now look
what he says next. That if any obey not the word,
they may also without the word be won by the conversation of
the wives. Now do you see the importance
of that? He said, it's not saying you
can be saved by looking at somebody's good example. You know that.
Somebody says, I'd rather see a servant and hear one. Not me.
I'd rather hear one. I'd rather hear one every time, but I want
to see one too. I want to see someone who lives
what they believe. Now he says, that they may also be won by
the conversation of their wives, while they behold your chaste
conversation, your chaste behavior, coupled with fear, the fear of
God, whose adorning, let it not be the outward adorning of plaiting
the hair and of wearing of gold or putting on of apparel, but
let it be the hidden man of the heart, in that which is not corruptible,
even the ornament of a meek and quiet spirit. which is in the
sight of God of great price. Now, do you see the importance
of the conversation there? Now, may God enable you and I
to be ambitious about this thing, about being an example to the
believers in conversation. May my conversation become and
adorn and make beautiful the gospel I profess to believe.
Now, next in our text, it says in 1 Timothy 4, Let no man despise thy youth,
but you be an example to the believers in word, in conversation,
and in charity. Charity. You're the only person
who has charity as a believer. It's not found in the heart of
the natural man. Now, I'm thankful for the love between a mother
and a child, but that's not charity. I'm thankful for the love between
a man and a woman and a woman and a man, but that's not charity.
I'm thankful for the, all the different forms of love that
the Lord has put in this earth because we couldn't exist without
it. Everybody be killing each other, murdering. Yeah, I'm thankful
for that. I'm thankful for that, but that's
not charity. Charity. Charity is the fruit of the spirit. The fruit of the Spirit is charity. It's love. Now, charity is a
love for God. Only the believer has this. You
know what? Lord knows my heart. Lord knows whether I'm telling
the truth. I love Him. I do. I love the way He is. I
love His attributes. I love His holiness. I give thanks
at the remembrance of his holiness. Aren't you glad God's holy? Aren't
you glad God is absolutely just? That there's no unrighteousness
in him? I love his righteousness. I love his sovereignty. Oh, I
love the fact that he's in control of everything. It's because I
love him. You see, you love his sovereignty because you love
him who is sovereign. I love his wisdom. I love the way he's
made a way to be just and justify the ungodly. I love his word.
I love this revelation he's given of himself. We love him. Now, do we feel good about it?
We ought to love him more. We don't feel good about our
love. No doubt we ought to love him a whole lot more than we
do, but we love him. I love the Lord Jesus Christ.
He's my savior. He's my master. He's my Lord.
He's my husband. He's my friend. I love him. I
love his people. Anybody who loves Jesus Christ,
I love that person. Don't you? I really do. I mean,
somebody that loves Christ, I'm their biggest fan because I love
him. And I love folks who love him. He that loveth him to beget
loveth also him that's begotten of him. I love my enemies. That's charity. Love your enemies is a command.
It's something that only a believer can do. We love all men. We want men to hear the gospel.
We want men to be saved and come to a saving knowledge of the
Lord Jesus Christ. Don't we? Charity. You be an example to
the believers in charity. First Corinthians 13, I dare
say that it would be good for us to read this chapter every
week. Paul said, though I speak with
the tongues of men and of angels and have not charity, I'm become
as a sounding brass or a tinkling cymbal. And though I have the
gift of prophecy and understand all mysteries and all knowledge,
and though I have all faith so that I can remove mountains and
have not charity, I am nothing. And though I bestow all my goods
to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burnt and
have not charity, It profits me nothing. Now, I love this
description of charity. I want to be the example. I'm
the one who benefits from practicing this, in having this, this thing
of charity, this fruit of the spirit. Charity suffers long,
and it's kind. Charity envieth not. You can't
envy somebody you love. doesn't vaunt itself. It doesn't
push itself on people. It's not puffed up. It's not
proud and conceited and swollen. Charity doesn't behave itself
unseemly. It's not rude. It's not rude. Charity seeketh not her own is
not self-seeking. It's not easily provoked. It's not touchy. You don't have
to walk on eggshells around charity. It thinketh no evil. It keeps
no records of wrongs. It rejoices not in iniquity,
but rejoices in the truth. It bears, and that word bears
is covers with silence, all things. It believes all things. It hopes
all things. It endures all things. Charity
never fails. It's never reduced to inactivity. Now, whether they be prophecies,
they shall fail. They'll be over. Tongues, they
shall cease. Knowledge shall vanish away, for we know in part
and we prophesy in part. But when that which is perfect
is to come, that which is in part shall be done away. Now,
when I was a child, I spake as a child, I understood as a child,
I thought as a child, but when I became a man, I put away childish
things. For now we see through a glass
darkly, boy, isn't that the truth? But then, face to face, now I
know in part, but then shall I know even as also I known,
and now abideth faith, hope, charity, these three, but the
greatest of these is charity. Now you make charity. You make
love your aim. You follow it. You pursue it.
Oh, may God give every one of us the grace to be an example
to the believers in this thing of charity. Now, the next thing
he mentions in first Timothy chapter four, verse 12, let no man despise thy youth,
but be an example of the believers in word. in conversation, in
charity, in spirit. In spirit. Now that word spirit,
you know what it means? Breath. Breath. Have good breath. Have good breath. Now I'm not
talking about taking mouthwash and making sure that, but, but
make it to where there's a spirit about you that's pleasant. What do I mean by that? What
does spirit mean? Well, the word means aim or purpose. Revelation 19.10 says the testimony
of Jesus is the spirit or the aim or the purpose of prophecy. Spirit speaks of character. Numbers
14.24, I've already talked about Caleb. Caleb had another spirit.
I love that. Caleb had another spirit. He
hath followed me fully. Oh, that we might exemplify his
character. I think of where Paul said, God
has not given us the spirit of fear, but of power and of love
and of a sound mind. Be an example to the believers
in spirit. When my breath goes out. Now
our spirit is our attitude. You know, you ever been around
somebody with a bitter spirit? Resentful spirit? A critical
spirit? A harsh and judgmental spirit?
But you've also been around people with a refreshing spirit. Like
Onesimus. Remember how Paul said, Onesimus
oft refresh me. And he was not ashamed of my
chain. He sought me out very diligently and found me. A spirit of love, repentance,
humility. May you and I be the example
to the believers in spirit. And then he says in our text,
Let no man despise thy youth, but be thou an example of the
believers in word, make sure your words are words of the gospel,
in conversation and conduct, in charity, in spirit, in faith. In faith. May we be an example
to the believers in faith. Now what all does that mean?
How can I be example to you in faith? Well, that means we, We put into practice what we
believe. Now, I'll be honest with you,
I hate it when people talk about this is practical, this is a
practical message. Everything's practical. If it's
not practical, it's not true. That's a distinction we shouldn't
make. Well, this is practical. Well, that's theoretical. No.
No, everything's practical. It's to be put into practice. It's not just knowing the definition
of faith and the doctrine of faith, it's believing. It's believing. What is it that demonstrated
that Abraham believed God? I love that passage of scripture
in James chapter two. It's so powerful. God promised
Abraham the Messiah's gonna come through you. And then he said,
now you take your boy and you kill him. That one I've promised
the Messiah's gonna come through, you take him and offer him up
as a burnt offering to me on a mountain that I'll show you.
You know what Abraham did? He obeyed God. He went and he
held the knife up to slay his son. And Hebrews 11 tells us
the reason he did it is because he knew that even if he killed
him, God would raise him from the dead. Now, if he would have
refused to do it and said, I can't do that because then God's promise
won't come to pass. All he proved by that is he didn't
really believe God, that it was possible that his promise could
not come to pass. But he proved he really believed God by being
willing to slay his son. It's his works that proved what
he really believed. Oh, may I be somebody who, when
I fall, may I look to Christ right then, put into practice
what I believe. When I don't fall, look to Christ
the same way. When God has sent a trial my
way, may I honor the Lord in that. I think of what Job said
when the Lord took everything away from him. He said, the Lord
gave and the Lord taketh away. Blessed be the name of the Lord. Whatever he does is right. Shall we receive good at the
Lord's hand and shall we not receive evil? Whatever God does
is right. I think of Eli. When Samuel comes
to Eli and he says, God's gonna kill your two boys. You know
how he responded? It's the Lord. Let him do what
seemeth him good. Oh, may that be my attitude in
all things. The attitude of faith. The Lord's
in control. His will's gonna be done. It's
gonna come to pass. May I endure to the end believing
and be able to say with Paul, I fought a good fight. I finished
my course. I've kept the faith. I'm someone
who has continued to look only to the Lord Jesus Christ. Now,
when I first looked to Christ, I know this. When I first looked
to Christ, don't know when it was, but when I did, I really
believed that my only hope was found in him. I didn't have any,
I didn't have any experience to hold on to. I didn't have
any good works to commend me. I had nothing. but Christ only,
and may my faith never leave that right there. Just right
there. Think of when you first believed.
Think of when you first believed. You might not remember the exact
time, but think of when you first believed. We're made partakers
of Christ if we hold the beginning of our confidence steadfast to
the end. As you receive Christ Jesus the
Lord, so walk in Him. I want to be the example to the
believers in faith. I want to be somebody who, it's
obvious, the only hope they have is Christ. I want that to be
my conversation. I want to tell you that. I'm
looking to Christ only. I'm resting in Him. I'm leaning
on Him. You be an example to the believers
in faith. Believing the gospel. And then
last, he says, You be an example to the believers in word, in
conversation, in charity, in spirit, in faith, in purity. Purity. Now that word is only
used twice in the New Testament. And both times it's found in
1 Timothy. And the second time it's used
explains exactly what he's talking about in 1 Timothy 5, verse 1. Rebuke not an elder. a pastor,
but in treating him as a father and the younger men as brethren,
the elder women as mothers and the younger as sisters with all
purity. Sisters with all purity. May I be an example of purity. treating people with purity,
purity of motive, purity of heart. Be an example to the believers
in purity. Now, I repeat, I'm saying to
my, I want to step up to the plate here. I want you to step
up to the plate here, every one of us. Be an example. Don't let
anybody despise that youth. Don't give someone a reason to
belittle you because of your conduct or because, no, be an
example to the believers. in word, in conversation, in charity,
in spirit, in faith, and in purity. And remember that if everybody
in this church followed my example, what kind of place would this
place be? Well, I'm looking at a lot of
people thinking it's a great place. I'm thankful for the example
you set for me. Let's pray together.