Some Things to do Before Jesus Comes Back (Part Two) by Dr. Rod Mattoon

About this sermon

This is part 2 of Some Things to Do Before Jesus Comes Back. This is a small portion of the message that was preached on Sunday night May 7, 2023, at Lincoln Land Baptist Church. 1 Timothy 4:14-Neglect not the gift that is in thee, which was given thee by prophecy, with the laying on of the hands of the presbytery. Have you ever been given a special gift from someone, but you ended up wasting or damaging it because you were careless with it? Maybe it was a car, but your carelessness damaged or ruined it. Maybe God has given you a voice to sing or the ability to play an instrument, but you no longer can sing or play because you did not use your gift. You neglected it. This is the opposite meaning of the phrase "Neglect not" in verse fourteen. Paul told Timothy don't neglect or be careless with your spiritual gift. That is good counsel for you and me, too. We are to be assiduous, which means we are to be diligent or hard-working with the gift that God has given to us to serve Him. We are to affirm or confirm by our actions our spiritual gift. Each Christian has been equipped by the Lord with a gift to serve and glorify the Savior. Most of us have tools that we use in the kitchen or in the garage that are used to complete a task. Sometimes those tools are stored on the shelf for a long time because they are not needed. The tool or gift that God has given to you, however, is frequently needed. God doesn't want it stored on the shelf or in the cabinet. He wants you to use your spiritual gift for His glory. Understand that if you fail to use the gift you have been given, it is possible to lose it, just like muscle tissue that is not exercised, strengthened, or used. In Timothy's case, he received an enabling gift from the Lord when he was ordained by godly pastors who laid their hands upon him. It is possible that Timothy was not using his spiritual gift properly and Paul admonished him to get with it and use it. It was not a suggestion. This verse is a command. Timothy may have struggled with a lack of confidence and needed some prodding. The words "neglect not" are from the word ameleo {am-el-eh'-o}. This verb is in the present imperative or command mood indicating that Timothy may have considered stepping down from the ministry or the neglect of his gift already existed in his life. He may have become discouraged and on the verge of quitting because the difficulties and stress in Ephesus were huge. Paul urged him to use his gift and to keep moving forward in the task at hand. There are many Christians today that need some prodding because of their apathy and lack of attention to spiritual matters. They profess that they have experienced the miracle of being born again by the Spirit of God by trusting in Jesus for their salvation. If that is so, why should it take a miracle for them to go to church and worship the Savior who has saved them? Something is wrong with that picture! If you believe you don't need to go to church, you don't need preaching, or you don't need the Bible or prayer, then you my friend have been deceived! You have deceived yourself and you are disobeying the command of the One who has saved you. * Hebrews 10:25-Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.

Topics

• Jesus Christ