"But refuse profane and old wives' fables, and exercise thyself rather unto godliness. For bodily exercise profiteth little, but godliness is profitable unto all things. Having promise of the life that now is, and of that which is to come. This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation. For therefore we both labor and suffer reproach, because we trust in the living God who is the Savior of all men, especially of those that believe. These things commend and teach. Let no man despise thy youth, but be thou an example of the believers, in word, in conversation." "In love, in spirit, in faith, in purity. Till I come, give attendance to reading, to exhortation, to doctrine.

Neglect not the gift that is in thee, which was given thee by prophecy, by prophecy, by prophecy, with the laying of the hands of the elders. Meditate upon these things. Give thyself wholly to them, that thy profiting may appear to all. Take heed unto thyself, and unto the doctrine, continue in them. For in doing this, thou shall both thou shalt both save thyself and them that hear thee." And I am stopping here at the end of chapter 4. Now every time again, beloved brothers and sisters, when we have the privilege of sitting together in such a simple way, under the sound of the word of God, I count it such a privilege to be able to minister the word.

Whether we are two or three, or whether we are two or three hundred, it doesn't make any difference, because God's word is true. And it is given to us for an encouragement as we walk here in this world. Now imagine, some 2,000 years ago, in about 65, 66 AD, the apostle Paul, Shaul, left younger brother Timothy in the city of Ephesus. The city which was filled with paganism. And he was left there in that city in order to help the new found assembly, congregation in that city. And the apostle Paul knew that this local church will in no time be influenced by the ungodliness that existed at a city of Ephesus, by paganism and idolatry and all sorts of things which easily crept in already after Shaul Paul left.

So he left this younger brother, Timothy, and as we have already emphasized this many times, it says in chapter 1 and verse 3, as I besought thee to abide still at Ephesus, Timothy. I told you to remain at Ephesus because I'm going to be away so you will be able to encourage the believers to continue on. And how we need that today, beloved brothers and sisters. So easy, the enemy attacks the people of God. And we get discouraged. And we get influenced by all sorts of things. And we need each other like iron sharpened iron. We need to encourage each other to continue on with the things which we have learned.

Because Satan attacks the people of God. The world influence. And the flesh among the people of God is weak. And we need the help of the Lord. Chapter 4 is a wonderful chapter. There the apostle encourages Timothy to do three things. Number one, to be a good servant. We read that in verse 6 in our previous ministry meeting. If thou put the brethren in remembrance of these things, you shall be a good servant of Yeshua the Messiah. Timothy, if you are going to instruct the believers at Ephesus and keep them in line with the things of God. Timothy, you will be a good servant of the Lord Jesus the Messiah.

But he is continuing on now. And he wants him not only to be a good servant, but to be a godly servant. And also to be a growing servant. And in verse 7 to verse 16, he elaborates about the necessity for Timothy to be a godly servant. And to be a growing servant. You see, beloved brothers and sisters, you and I are exhorted to be good servants of Yeshua HaMashiach. But also a godly servant. And a growing servant. You know, it is so important. These are areas that we need so much work. That the Lord has to work in our life to be a godly man or godly woman.

In a world that is so ungodly. One has to be drawn by the Lord. One had to have the Spirit of God helping us to be so. Because many times we don't act in a godly way. And we definitely can say many times we are not growing in the things of the Lord. I remember years ago when I used to work in my secular job. And I used to read my Bible at break time. And I had Christians who Sunday go to a meeting laugh at me. Because I read my Bible. And they were older. They were probably in their 50s and 60s. I am talking about 30 years ago now.

And I was just wondering. Can they go to church meeting on Sunday? Shouldn't they be helping a younger believer to grow? Shouldn't they be mature in their walk with the Lord? I was fascinated. Because why? If a person is walking with Yeshua, shouldn't he or she grow spiritually? And that's why we can look at ourselves many times. We are not acting godly. And we are not growing. And here, Paul, Shaul, encourages a younger believer to be a godly servant. And to grow. And I want you to see that in this text. Remember what he said to them in a few verses before. That in the latter time, verse 1.

Some shall depart from the faith. And they will be giving heed to seducing spirit and to the doctrine of demons. Paul knew that. Some will depart from the faith. And they will allow themselves to be under the influence of doctrine. Of doctrine of seducing spirit and doctrine of demons. Timothy, I'm telling you that that's what is going to happen in the latter days. So, Timothy, you've got to be a good servant. Because you're going to get opposition. Timothy, you've got to be a godly servant. Because you want to please God. Timothy, you've got to grow. So you're going to be a growing servant in the midst of the situation that you find yourself.

So I want to move along from verse 7 to verse 12. Paul encourages Timothy to be a godly servant of Yeshua Hamashir. Jesus, the Messiah. And so he's telling him a few things. You notice what he's saying here. First of all, in verse 7a. You see, if you're going to be a godly servant, you have to refuse certain things. So he said to him in verse 7a. But refuse profane and old wives' fables. You know, the word here for fables comes from the Hebrew word Haggadah. Haggadah is singular. Haggadot is plural. And you notice he used that word, refuse a profane and old wives' tellings. What's happening, there were all sorts of information that started to be brought in to the midst of the congregation.

The first time the word fables found in the Bible is in the Garden of Eden where God said to Adam, Who told you that you are naked? Come from the word Haggid, Haggadah. Who told you already that you are naked? Because sin came in. Adam hid behind the trees. And he said, God said to him, Adam, how come you know that you are naked? Who told you, Mi Haggid Lecha. Who told you that you are naked? Later on, it's found in the scripture, the word Haggadah is when God said to our forefathers, the people of Israel, In chapter 13 of the book of Exodus, when you came out of Egypt and you have been brought into the promised land, You make sure that you tell your children of how God had delivered you from bondage and brought you into salvation, into the promised land.

The word there, Le Haggid, comes from the word Haggadah, is a good telling. You know, some stories are good stories to adapt and to embrace. That's what every time when we celebrate Passover, we tell the story again and again. But beloved brothers and sisters, there are some stories that are being told that are not found in the Bible. It's not found in the history of the people of God. It is called here in verse 7a, profane and old wives' fables. In Hebrew, we call it Haggadot, Psulot, Vebolot. It is old, it is fading, and it is not really found upon the word of God. Everybody can tell us something.

There are all kinds of stories we hear that have been coming in by men from everywhere. And God, through Paul, saying to Timothy, "Timothy, refuse it." Refuse profanes which are not right. It's not for the glory of God. It's not for the benefit of the people of God. They are old, they are profane, wives' fables. And I guess I presume that it used the word wives because of the fact that many times women have an inclination to speak and to talk to one another and so on. But it doesn't apply only to women. It's applied to men as well. There are all sorts of stories that are being told that are not right and we can easily start to talk about this person and it is not helpful.

Timothy, refuse it. Shun it. Stay away from that. You know how quickly we listen to stories. We are so gullible that somebody is just lifting up the phone, talking and all of a sudden there are many stories that are being told. And instead of being wise and asking the Lord to help us to discern it, we are embracing these stories. And Timothy is told to refuse this because it does not edify the people of God. We all need to be careful to tell things, to build up believers, to encourage believers, to draw them closer to Yeshua, the Messiah, rather than to tell them all kinds of stories.

And therefore, Timothy is exhorted to refuse it. Notice he continues, not only to refuse that, but notice the second thing that he is telling him in verse 7, be to train himself rather into godliness. To exercise himself to be a godly man. Actually, the apostle Paul is now using the terminology of an athlete. You see, if an athlete is going to be a good athlete and win a victory in a race, he has to exercise. He has to train. And if, Timothy, and then if you and I are going to be a godly people of God who are living here in this world for Yeshua, the Messiah, we have to exercise ourselves rather unto godliness.

In other words, to train ourselves, it means sometimes discipline. You know how an athlete had to discipline. You know, just recently we have watched some racing athletes runnings. Well, you can look at these runners. It's amazing to see the training that they are going through. They are carrying weights with them so when they are racing, they are taking that weight away and they can quickly run and gain some victories. Well, in order to do so, they got to go through training. They have to go through exercise. And so, in verse 7b, he says, "And exercise yourself rather unto godliness." Then he said in verse 8, "For bodily exercise profiteth, but a little.

But godliness is profitable unto all things, having promise of the life that is now and of that which is to come." You see what he is really saying to Timothy? Timothy, if you are going to be a godly servant, you make sure, first of all, that you are refusing profane and old wives' fables. Secondly, that you are exercising yourselves rather unto godliness because godliness lasts. Godliness brings blessings. It is profitable in all things. And it's not only profitable for the future. Yes, it is. But it is profitable because there is a promise connect with it of life that now is, but also that which is to come.

You see, brothers and sisters, when we are going to stand before our Lord, He is going to ask us, "How did you live your life? How did you conduct yourself here and now, first of all, in your lifetime? And were you thinking about the time that you are going to spend with me in eternity? Were you a good influence among the people of God? Have you drawn people closer to me?" You see what he is saying in verse 8, "Bodily exercise is good for us to make exercise. I know I need to do that myself." But even if that fails, what does not fail is godliness profitable, not a little, a lot.

Can you imagine what kind of impact you can leave upon other people that they have watched us the way we live? They have observed us the way we conducted ourselves? You know, it is so interesting that the unbelieving world, when they have problem, and they want someone to pray for them, they go to the believers. And they share with them their problems. Because they know they have a link with the living God. And they know that they can trust them in presenting before God the things that they have on their hearts. And so godliness is profitable unto all, and there is a promise. Notice that?

Having promise of the life that now is, but also of that which is to come. You know, god gave us promises. And he is so true to his promises, even at times it sounds like he does not seem to answer prayer. And yet, beloved brothers and sisters, God promised his people, if those that will walk with him, he will honor. Those that honor me, I will honor. He promised blessing to his own people, and he is true to his promises. But it is not only for today. Imagine what it means, as it says here, also for that which is to come. You know, Timothy was encouraged to know that, listen, you might have problems here and now, but there is a life that is yet to come.

That belongs to you because of what Yeshua has done for you when he died for you on the tree. Even though, beloved brothers and sisters, there will be problems here in this world, but yet there is a life to come. Eternal life. A life that will never end. That the believer in Yeshua the Messiah will be with him forever. He or her, brother or sister, because we belong to Yeshua the Messiah, we are going to be with him. So, notice that in verse 7, refuse. In verse 7 and 8, exercise yourself unto godliness. Train yourself in godly living. Godly living will be a blessing to you. Godly living.

An example of godly living. Turn with me to Romans chapter 12. Paul said to the Roman believers concerning godliness in chapter 12 and verse 1. I beseech you, therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. And be not conformed to this world, but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God. You see, Paul already said to the Roman believers, present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable unto God. This is your reasonable service. You're going to serve the Lord.

You're going to live for the Lord. Present it. And the enemy always attacks us in this area. Then he says, don't be conformed to this world. Don't be like the world. Don't be conformed to this world, but be transformed. How are you going to be transformed? By the renewing of your mind. Let this mind be in you which was in the Messiah, Yeshua, Philippians chapter 2. As men think, so he is. You know, sometimes our minds are being filled with things that the enemy is attacking us and filling our mind with things which are not pleasing to the Lord. And so Paul is saying, you know, you need to be a godly servant by the fact that you exercising yourself or training yourself unto godliness.

Brothers and sisters, how we need a godly believers with the help of the Lord to just help us with this, especially today. Godliness can be called piety or reverence to God, to honor God. In Hebrew, the word is chasid or chasidut. A beautiful thought for Timothy to be encouraged. But thirdly here, in verses 9, 10, 11, and 12, he is to command and to teach others of the need of being godly. Then I'm reading now from verses 9 to 12. This is a faithful saying. And worthy of all acceptation. For therefore we both labor and suffer reproach because we trust in the living God who is the savior of all men, especially of those that believe.

These things command and teach. Let no man despise thy youth, but be thou an example of the believers in word and conversation or manner of life, love, spirit, faith, and purity. Now, not only that he is to refuse fables, to exercise, to train himself, but now he is to pass it to others. Verse 9 to 12 teaches us of the importance of teaching others. You notice Paul saying to him, first of all, in verse 9, it is a faithful saying. What is a faithful saying? That the people of God are exhorted to live a godly life and to be servants of the Lord. It is a faithful saying.

This expression, it is a faithful saying, mentioned a few times. We already talked about it in chapter 1 and verse 15. We read, this is a faithful saying and worthy of all acceptation. That the Messiah, Yeshua, came into the world to save sinners of whom I am chief. It is a faithful saying. In first century, among the believers, one of the faithful saying was that the Messiah, Yeshua, came to save sinners. This is the first time it is mentioned in 1 Timothy, in chapter 1 and verse 15. Notice it is not only mentioned there. Notice it is mentioned a little bit later on. If you turn a little bit further to chapter 3 of 1 Timothy and verse 1, it is also mentioned there.

This is a faithful saying or a true saying. If a man desired the ministry of an overseer, he desired a good work. You know, it is also a faithful saying. If a brother desired to oversee the people of God, it is a desire for a good work. It was an encouragement to one who desired to oversee the people of God. But now it is the third time that Apostle Paul used this expression. In 1 Timothy, chapter 4 and verse 9, he says, "This is a faithful saying and worthy of all to accept it." What to accept? To accept the fact that it is a blessing to be a godly servant.

A godly servant can impact others. A godly servant can honor the Lord. A godly servant can be a blessing to all around him. Or around him. Or around him. Whatever the sphere of service that the Lord had given to a brother or to a sister. It is a faithful saying. And it is worthy for everyone to accept it. Including you and I today. God is encouraging us not only to accept Yeshua as our Mashiach and our Messiah. As our Savior who came to save us from sin. But also to accept the fact that we need to seek to live a life that is godly, pleasing to the Lord.

He continues. Notice that in verses 10 and 11. He says, "To be godly one must labor." And sometimes there is a reproach that involves it. You know, if there is anything that we don't like, it's to be reproached. We don't like somebody speaking against us. Or telling us who do you follow after and why do you want to serve Yeshua. Why do you want to do that? But notice what Paul is saying in verse 10. Therefore we both labor. And we suffer reproach. Because we trust in the living God who is the Savior of all men. Especially of those that believe. You know, brothers and sisters, Paul included Timothy.

To live a godly life and to be a blessing among the people of God. It is a labor. A time you are not going to be understood. A time people will not like what you have to say. Timothy, I know that. You and I are laboring in the gospel among the people of God. And we share the gospel and minister among the people of God. It is a lot of work. Emotional work. Mental work. Sometimes physical work. A lot of labor involved. And many times we are going to suffer reproach. You see, we don't like to be reproached. We like everybody tapping on our shoulders.

Saying how great we are. We like people accepting us for everything. Loving us. Can you imagine what Paul and Timothy had to experience. As they were laboring in the gospel, first of all. Sharing the gospel. But also among the people of God. The energy that they had to put in. You know, I often time think about the Apostle Paul. You think he would come to a meeting with a suit and tie and jacket. And he is all fine and dandy. Let me tell you about God. He probably came to the meeting. After he was beaten somewhere. Scruffy and dirty clothes. And he was probably maybe weak and tired.

And opening the scripture or whatever he had to do. And sharing from the word of God. He was not the kind of a man that everything. He suffered reproach. He identified with the reproaches that Yeshua, his Mashiach, had experienced when he was here in this world. When you think about our Lord and the reproach that he had experienced in his life. The shame. The spitting. The rejection that Yeshua had experienced in his life. And Shaul, Paul, have experienced. You just read the second book of Corinthians, which we studied. He was persecuted and rejected. He was beaten many times. He was misunderstood by the brethren. Who did not appreciate the ministry that he had in their midst.

It's amazing, beloved brothers and sisters. And here he's saying, Timothy, you and I, we both. We both labor. We both suffer reproach. And you know, Timothy, we both trust in the living God. Elohim Chaim. Our hope is not in man. You know, brothers and sisters, sometimes we put our trust in man. Even in each other. And we disappoint each other. But Paul said, no, no, no. Our hope is not in man. Our hope is in the living God. Who is the Savior of all men. And also, especially of those that believe. Now, what does it mean here? Of course, we know that God is willing that all men shall be saved and come to the knowledge of the truth.

But not all men came. And not all men come. They come. What does he mean here? The Greek word is S-O-T-E-R. This is the deliverer. The preserver of all men. Do you know? That God is preserving us from so many things. He doesn't talk so much here about the salvation. The eternal salvation. Here he's talking about preservation. That God preserve us. Even in the midst of laboring and suffering reproaches. God preserve his people. In fact, it says here, he's the preserver or the savior of all men. You know, people don't realize today. Even the unbelieving world. That God preserve them every day. The fact that one has food to eat is the grace of God.

Clothes to put on their bodies. It's the preservation of God. All men, but not as he had, but especially of those that believe. From this huge world of population, God preserve all, but he especially preserve his own people. Think about our nation Israel, when God took them outside of the land of Egypt. And how God preserved our forefathers throughout the wilderness for 40 years. They didn't lack food. They didn't lack clothes. They didn't lack shoes on their feet. He preserved them from so many things. The Lord, the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. Israelite people have been in the wilderness for 40 years. And God preserving us today, beloved brothers and sisters.

He preserved us in many, many ways, even today. And so the trust, the hope is not in man. The hope is in the living God. He is the one that one ought to hope and trust in. The believer, the deliverer, the preserver of all men, especially of those that believe. And now notice that he's saying to him in verse 11. These things, I want you to commend. Timothy had an apostolic authority from Shaul Paul. Not only to commend, but also to teach. Why do you think we are coming to meetings every Friday morning, Friday evening, Saturday afternoon? Why do we come to ministry meeting? We are coming because we want to be under the sound of the word.

So we will be able to learn, to be taught. It's such a wonderful thing to be taught from the word. And the spirit of God, take the word of God and appropriate it to the conscience and the heart. And help us to continue on for another day. That is the reason that Timothy was left in Ephesus. In order that he will command and that he will teach. Timothy received an apostolic authority. You and I don't have this authority today. But we have the word of God as our authority. And upon the basis of the word of God, we can minister the word today. And now notice what it says in verse 12.

As Paul encourages Timothy to be a godly servant of Yeshua, the Messiah, in verse 12, he is telling to Timothy, "Let no man despise thy youth, but be thou an example of the believers, in word, in manner of life or conversation, in love, in spirit, in faith, in purity." See, Timothy was not a little boy, but he was a young man. Shaul was much older than him. He is the one who led him to know Yeshua, the Messiah. Timothy was a younger brother than Paul. So when he was in the local assembly there, and the believers probably there were saying, "What do you know? You are just a young man." Now, of course, Timothy did not have the experience that Paul had, but he was called by the Lord to serve him.

And therefore, because he was younger, some perhaps may have despised his youth. So, Paul is saying to him in verse 12, "Don't let anybody despise your youth, Timothy, but be an example." To the believers, notice it says here, "Be an example of all the believers." You know, there are many names that our believers are called. You know, every true believer, we call it "Meshichi" in Hebrew, or "Christian" in the Greek, "Christ" follower, "Mashiach" follower of the Messiah. Here he is calling them "believers." "Ma'aminim." They believe that Yeshua is the Messiah, he is their Lord, and he is their Savior. And Timothy was called to be an example.

How we need these examples in our lives. There are many. I know in your life, I had in my life, those that have been a real example. You could really see that these brethren were devoted to the things of God. And they set an example in their lives. They were real testimony in our life. And here Timothy is called to be an example to the believers. And by the way, you notice he gives him a list here. Six things he is telling them about the example that he is to be to others. You notice it says in verse 12b, "In word, how we speak. In conversation, manner of life, how we live.

In love, charity or love. In spirit, what kind of attitude one has. In faithfulness and in purity." These things are amazing. Just think in word. How do we speak? You know, people check us on how we say things. Do we curse? Do we speak against other people? Are we sowing discord among people? Are we edifying? This is an example to others. Well, if you want me to follow Yeshua HaMashiach, well, if you are going to gossip all day long and speak against everybody else, and then expect for me to learn from you to follow after Yeshua, what kind of help you are to me? One might say to you or to me if we are like that.

What we say is very, very important. Let me read you a verse in Colossians chapter 4 and verse 6. It says here, "Let your speech be always with grace, seasoned with salt, that ye may know how ye ought to answer every man." In other words, let your speech be always with grace. Chesed. Seasoned with salt. Melach in Hebrew. When you speak, make sure that you encourage and you draw the other closer to the Lord. We are to learn from Yeshua the Messiah. Notice what we read in Ephesians chapter 4. It says in verse 15 these words, "But speaking the truth in love, may grow up unto him in all things which is the head, even the Mashiach, Christ, Christus, the Messiah." Notice it says there, speaking the truth, but to speak it in love.

Sometimes we can be so critical, even if we are right about criticizing somebody, he or she, what he did or she did, but we don't do it in love. So Paul says, "Listen, be an example to all the believers by the manner of speech, by what you say and how you say it." But he continues on. Notice that he says in the next line of thoughts here in verse 12, "In manner of living, what you say in what you do and how you do it." "Whatsoever you do, do it unto the glory of our Lord Yeshua the Messiah." In our actions. Boy, this is an area that we fail so much.

You know, sometimes people say to us that our actions speak louder than what we say, isn't it? And our actions are not always the best actions or in our conduct. Thirdly, it says in love. You know, love for the brethren. Love for Yeshua. You remember even the verse that we quote every time when we meet together. "Shma Yisrael Adonai Eloheinu Adonai Echad." And then it says, "V'ahavta L'Reachah Kavuchah." "V'ahavta Et Adonai Elohecha." "You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart." This is Deuteronomy 6 verse 4 on. "And then love your neighbor as Yeshua had mentioned this in the Gospel of Matthew and so on." It's not only in word, not only in action, in conduct, but also to love the brothers and sisters.

You know, someone can get help from you or from me if we show them love. And love, it's not only saying, "I love you." But love is, "I'm bearing with you. I'm not trying to force myself on you. I will be gracious with you." Love is not merely saying it, but acting upon it. You know, for God so love the world, John 3:16, what did He do? He didn't say, "I love you, I love you, I love you." But He did something. It's a sacrificial love that He gave His only begotten Son, the Mashiach He gave. "That whosoever believeth on Him shall not perish but have everlasting life." See, God's love was an action.

It's not only a talk, but it was real, it was genuine. This is something that can help the believers if we see that evident. John 13 said, "By this way shall all men know that you are my disciples, if you have love one towards another." You know, the importance of love among the believers is so important because it really builds us up. It is encouraging us. You know, if you have a love in a local assembly, if at Ephesus or even in our midst here, it's drawing us like bees to honey. You're only going to go to a place where there is honey, where there is something you can get encouraged from.

If there is no love among the believers, then it's scattered the flock. Scattered the sheep. And we need to practice this. So, Timothy, be an example in what you say. Be an example in your conduct. Also be an example in love. Love for the Lord. Love for the brothers and sisters. 1 John 4:20 says, If any man say that he loves God and hates his brother, how can the love of God be in him? 1 John 4:20 How can you say that you love God if you hate your brother? If a man say, "I love God and hate his brother," he is a liar. For he that loveth not his brother whom he has seen, how can he love God whom he has not seen?

It is amazing how important it is. Timothy, you be an example. In word, in conduct, in love, but also in spirit. In most manuscripts, the word spirit is not mentioned here, but if we will take that, we will apply it to an attitude. What kind of attitude Timothy should have if he is going to be a godly servant? Well, he has to have a right attitude. To be willing to be taught. To be submissive. To have a right spirit. To have a right attitude. In our walk with the Lord, if we are to grow in serving the Lord, we are to have a right attitude.

Then next is faith. You understand? Not only that Timothy will be an example in believing in Yeshua, the Messiah for his salvation, but here I think the thought is in faithfulness, in trusting the Lord for his life. Proverbs says, "Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he will direct thy path." Proverbs chapter 3. And then we have finally the last one here in purity. The word purity comes from the Hebrew word tahor. The psalmist of Israel said, "Create in me a pure heart." You remember when David sinned against Bathsheba? And then God had to judge David and discipline him.

And David confessed before the Lord his sin in Psalm 51 and verse 10. And he said, "Lev tahor brali." A pure or clean heart. A pure heart created me, O God. He wanted to live a life for the Lord. And then he wanted the Lord to give him a clean and a pure heart. And you know, David needed it. You and I need it. Paul needed it. Timothy needed it. If we are to be servants that are godly living for the Lord here in this world. So, beloved brothers and sisters, Paul encourages Timothy not only to be a good servant, but also to be a godly servant.

A servant that is an example to the people of God. In verses 13, 14, 15, and 16, this is the third thing that Paul is encouraging Timothy to be. Good servant, godly servant, and here growing servant. We all need to grow. There is sometimes a song that we sing, "Read your Bible, pray every day, and you will grow, grow, grow." Every day we will grow spiritually. We walk with the Lord. And so, here we find out how growth come to the believer. You don't just grow without anything that is activated in your life. The first thing that he mentioned here is verse 13. Growth come when we focus and devote ourselves to God and to his word.

He says, "Till I come, Timothy, give attendance to reading, to exhortation, and to teaching or doctrine." Remember we said that in verse 3 of chapter 1, he left him at Ephesus. Now he is telling him, "Timothy, I am going to come back a little bit later on. Until I come, Timothy, if you are to be a growing servant, make sure that you give attendance," he says, "unto, number one, reading. Number two, he says, exhortation. And number three, doctrine." That Greek word for reading is a public reading. It's not only the personal reading that we all need to do. But Timothy, I want you to give attendance to publicly to read the word of God among the believers.

That was the custom among our people throughout the ages. For example, if you are going to go to the synagogue today, you notice that the rabbi will come to the center of the pulpit, you might say, and he will read publicly the word of God. And it didn't begin only now, or begin at the diaspora. Long time ago, when Israel was away from the land, and then returned back through the time of Ezra and Nehemiah, Ezra was the first scribe. When Israel was at the water gate in Nehemiah chapter 8, Ezra read publicly the word of God for everyone to listen to the word. Why? Because there is power in the word of God.

The Spirit of God used the word of God to convict the people of Israel and to convict us today. Every Shabbat meeting where we gather together, we read publicly the word of God. And when the teaching time comes, we are publicly reading the word of God. Maybe somebody doesn't have a Bible in their hands. I recommend you to bring always your Bibles with you. We don't read the text right in the screen. It's good for you to bring your Bible. But at least the Bible, the word of God is read publicly. Our Lord Yeshua the Messiah in Luke chapter 4, when he went to the synagogue.

And in verse 16, they handed to him the law. And he read from the law and the prophets. And you remember he read from the prophet Isaiah. And he told them that he spoke about the time the Spirit of the Lord is upon me. And he applied it to himself what Isaiah wrote. And he himself said this day, this thing is happening in your midst. He read publicly in the Beit Knesset in the synagogue. All will hear. When the apostle Paul also went and he was going from city to city, if you remember in Acts chapter 13, he also went into the synagogue of our Jewish people.

He also was handed over the word of God. And he publicly read in the midst of the whole community in the Beit HaKnesset, the Jewish community. And you and I also. You see, that had been transferred from the nation of Israel, who have read the scripture publicly, to the early believers who were Jewish believers, who became believers in Yeshua. They read it publicly. And now Paul is saying to Timothy, who is also a Jewish believer in Yeshua, Timothy, you make sure that Ephesus, you will teach others as you read publicly the word of God. And later on, throughout the world, Jew and Gentile alike in the local churches, local assembly, the scripture is read publicly.

And we need to read it publicly when we meet together. And we need to make sure that the word is being read, but not only to be read, as it says, give attendance to the reading, public reading, but also to exhortation. You know that word for exhortation in verse 13 is for encouragement. You know, why do we read publicly the word of God? So we can encourage the brothers and sisters, as we minister the word, and as the word is spoken unto us, but also for doctrine, for teaching. You know, if we don't teach doctrine, we lose out. Doctrine is fundamental. Study to show yourself a proof unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.

2 Timothy 2:15. We are to learn from the word and teaching doctrine, sound doctrine. It is essential among the people of God. It's important the teachings that Paul want Timothy to teach and exhort the brothers and sisters at Ephesus. So growth comes, first of all, when we read the word, when we've been taught by the word, and when we are being exhorted by the word of God. And so don't let anybody tell you, Oh, we don't need doctrine. We don't need exhortation. We don't need the public reading. See, the meeting place is not a club. The meeting place is where the word of God is being presented.

A believer throughout the ages came together to be around the word of God, around Yeshua, the Messiah, and to grow spiritually. Notice in verse 14, when we, as it says here, use our spiritual gifts. Look at this, verse 14 now. Neglect not the gift that is in thee, which was given unto thee, by the prophecy with the laying of the hands of the elders. People have to realize, brothers and sisters, you and I have gifts. It's not a one-man show. All the believers receive gifts from the Lord, the glorified Messiah, and we are to use our gifts. He gave gifts unto men, Ephesians chapter 4. He that descended also ascended, and he gave gifts to the believers.

The moment you became a believer in Yeshua, you have a God-given gift. Use your gift, Timothy, Paul saying to him, and I encourage you also, use your gift as well. Notice verse 15 now. Growth come when we give ourselves to God's words, and to Yeshua, our Messiah. Verse 15 says, meditate upon these things, give yourself wholly unto them, that thy profiting may appear unto all. Notice the word profiting. The word profiting here, your progress, your growth will be evident, when you give yourself to these things, Timothy. And then finally, in verse 16, growth cometh when we take heed to ourselves. And here he says that, take heed unto thyself, and unto the teaching, continue in them.

For in doing this, you shall both save yourself, and them that hear thee. Timothy, not only that you are to make sure that you use your gift, and that you are meditating upon them, but also take heed. Appropriate these things to your own self. In other words, we really need to search our hearts many times, and to ask the Lord to help us to judge ourselves, so we will be able to continue on to be a growing servant among the people of God. If any man think that he stand, let him beware lest he fall. We are to humble ourselves before the Lord, and to take heed and appropriate the things of the Lord into our own life.

And so, beloved brothers and sisters, to close chapter 4, Timothy is exhorted to be a good servant, a godly servant, and a growing servant. You and I are called to be good servants, godly servants, and a growing servant. May the Lord help us to do so in our own life.