"IT'S NOT MY JOB!" "DO THE WORK ANYWAY!"

Do the work of an evangelist. II Timothy 4:5

In writing to the Ephesian church Paul listed some of the Big Gun appointments God makes to local churches: “And He gives some as apostles, and some as prophets, and some as evangelists and some as pastors and teachers” (4:11). The ministry gifts are gifted men, certain men with certain strengths appointed by God to particular churches for a particular time. Paul knew he was an apostle, “the apostle to the Gentiles” (II Timothy 1:11). John the Baptist was a prophet – in no uncertain terms! Phillip we know as an evangelist: just look how quickly he jumped at the chance to witness to that confused traveler in the desert! (Acts 8:26-40). James was a pastor; Apollos, a teacher. But what about Timothy? His name describes his demeanor, his temperament: “Timothy the Timid!” Even his tummy reflected his timidity (see I Timothy 5:23). Paul had to remind him that his “spirit of timidity was not of God,” so it was high time he started claiming the power of God over it (I Timothy 1:7); it was high time he started “disciplining himself for the purpose of godliness” (I Timothy 4:7); high time to shake off the shame that overpowered him whenever he wanted to give a testimony for his Lord or claim friendship with his mentor (for was it not true that whoever associated with Paul wound up sharing his persecutions and prison terms?) And it was high time Timothy stopped hiding behind his youthfulness, letting others ridicule him as a greenhorn Christian. This was a closet to come out of, and it couldn’t be too soon! Had not God gifted him, right along with his peers? Had not the presbytery laid hands on him, conferring on him ordination, right along with Titus and James and all the other pastors of his time? PASTOR. That’s it! That’s what Timothy was. One of the big guns of Christ’s church? Well, if you’re thinking boss? No! A shepherd. A CEO? No! An “equipper of the saints” (Ephesians 4:12). A pastor doesn’t “lord it over his people” (I Peter 5:2,3), but serves as an “example of those who believe”(I Timothy 4:12-14). And I believe that all in good time young Pastor Timothy became powerful Pastor Tim! But as a pastor, was he exempt from the duties of church planting (apostle) and proclamation (prophet) and deep study (teacher), and bold witnessing (evangelist)? No! He had his pastoral appointment, and he was not to be a jack of all trades, and yet – and boy does this apply to you and me today – though they were not his specialties, he was to do the work of all these other specialists, as need and opportunity arose. And so, Pastor Steve: you, too! Do the work of an evangelist. Just sow the seed, and move on. (But if you want some joy, look back once in awhile and see what God did with that seed!)