1 Timothy 4:12

1 Timothy 4:12 (Part Five)
1 Timothy 4:12Let no man despise your youth, but be thou an example of the believers in word, in conversation, in love...
Love is patient; love is kind; love is not envious; love does not boast; love is not proud; love behaves itself in a comely manner; love has no selfish motives; love is not easily provoked to act in an uncomely manner; love never thinks about harming others and forgives the wrongs that others have done; love does not rejoice in wrong-doing, love rejoices in the truth; love patiently endures all situations; love trusts the Lord in all situations; love anticipates all situations; love perseveres through all situations. 1 Corinthians 13:4-7 (paraphrase mine)
Okay, so that is what love is, and even what love does. Now take out the word love, replace it with your name, and see how many statements apply. It is a wake-up call for sure. Nobody will know what you mean by saying that God is love unless you act it as well -Lawrence Pearsall Jacks
It is impossible to be an example of the believers in the area of love if we love the things of this world: Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world. And the world passes away, and the lust thereof: but he that does the will of God abides forever - 1 John 2:15-17No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other - Matthew 6:24You adulterers and adulteresses know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God? Whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God - James 4:4Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth - Colossians 3:2
I'll end with this: By this shall all men know that you are my disciples, if you have love one toward another - John 13:35
Think about the way you treat fellow Christians. There's so much gossip, so much filth, and so much discord among so many Christians and churches these days. What kind of message does that send? The wrong one. Are you part of the problem or the solution?

1 Timothy 4:12 (Part Four)
1 Timothy 4:12Let no man despise your youth, but be thou an example of the believers in word, in conversation . . .
The Greek word translated conversation is anastrophe, and it refers to our behavior - the way we live. We have gone from word (talking the talk) to conversation (walking the walk) - sorry for being cliché, but it’s the truth! A good way to remember the meaning of the word conversation here is to look at your feet. Most of you reading this are probably familiar with Converse shoes - shoes you live in . . . see the comparison?
2Co 1:12 - For our rejoicing is this, the testimony of our conscience, that in simplicity (single-mindedness) and godly sincerity (purity), not with fleshly wisdom, but by the grace of God, we have had our conversation in the world.
So we will have a clean conscience (that's a good reason to rejoice!) when we live with singleness of mind (focus), and in purity, and not according to the wisdom of this world . . . Awesome!
Php 1:27 - Let your conversation be as it becometh the gospel of Christ: that whether I come and see you, or else be absent, I may hear of your affairs, that ye stand fast in one spirit, with one mind striving together for the faith of the gospel.
Has anybody ever told you that something is not “becoming” of you? We need to be living in a way that is becoming, or worthy of the gospel of Christ (Eph 4:1; Col 1:10; 1 Thes 2:12). Notice how Paul again brings up the idea of being single-minded (as in the previous verse) - stand fast in ONE spirit, with ONE mind striving TOGETHER.
1Pe 1:13-16 - Wherefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and hope to the end for the grace that is to be brought unto you at the revelation of Jesus Christ; As obedient children, not fashioning yourselves according to the former lusts in your ignorance: But as he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation; Because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy.
1Pe 3:13 And who is he that will harm you, if ye be followers of that which is good?14 But if ye suffer for righteousness' sake, happy are ye: and be not afraid of their terror, neither be troubled;15 But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear:16 Having a good conscience; that, whereas they speak evil of you, as of evildoers, they may be ashamed that falsely accuse your good conversation in Christ.17 For it is better, if the will of God be so, that ye suffer for well doing, than for evil doing.
Heb 13:5 - Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.
I hope you all really take some time to think about these verses, and maybe even dig deeper into them – there’s definitely a lot more that could be said! Let’s all strive to be examples of the believers by being holy in all manner of conversation so nobody has any thing to say against us, and more importantly, let us be holy for the glory of God.I’ll close with this last verse:
Tit 2:7,8 - In all things showing thyself a pattern (keeps repeating) of good works: in doctrine showing uncorruptness, gravity, sincerity, Sound speech, that cannot be condemned; that he that is of the contrary part may be ashamed, having no evil thing to say of you.

1 Timothy 4:12 (Part Three)
1 Timothy 4:12"Let no man despise your youth, but be thou an example of the believers - in word, in conversation, in charity, in spirit, in faith, in purity."Now we come to the second half of this amazing verse. Be thou an example of the believers in . . .
Word (logos) - the things we say. There are a bunch of words used to describe logos in Strong’s Greek Dictionary; I’ve chosen the four that stuck out to me the most.
- Account: An example of the believers must be “exemplary” in the area of giving an account of his actions or the actions of others (by giving a truthful account). We will all give an account in the day of judgment for EVERY IDLE WORD that we speak here on earth (Matt 12:36, Romans 14:12). It would also be wise for us to evaluate our lives, knowing that we may be asked to give an account for our actions at any time (Luke 16).
- Doctrine: We need to study to know (and speak) sound doctrine. Why? Because doctrine changes people! There are MANY passages in the New Testament that talk about people being changed and amazed by the doctrine (teaching) of the Lord: Matt 7:28; Matt 22:33; Matt 1:22; Mark 1:27; Mark 11:18; Luke 4:32; Acts 13:12. Sound doctrine changes people! So where do we get sound doctrine? From the WORD! 2 Timothy 3:16 - All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine. We need to study the Word and know its teachings (2 Tim 2:15; 1 Tim 4:13), but we also need to be good listeners. When we have an opportunity to hear wise counsel, we need to jump on it - Prov 12:15; Prov 19:20.
- Intent: What are our intentions when we speak? Do we aim to tear people down, or build them up with our words? Do we try to speak in ways that will point people to Christ, or do we try to make people feel insignificant? Our intention when we speak should be that we speak the TRUTH, and that we speak it IN LOVE (Eph 4:15). A better way to phrase that might be: speak the truth OUT OF or BECAUSE OF love. When we genuinely love people we will want to give them the truth (out of love) because we know it can set them free (John 8:32). Our intent should be to see people grow in the knowledge of our Lord. When that is the desire (intent) of our heart, the words will follow (Matt 12:34).
- Matter: This is the substance of our words. We’ve now gone beyond what we intended to say to what we ACTUALLY said. Many times the matter of what we say does not always line up with what we intended to say - especially for us guys! Let us all strive to be able to say what Solomon said: Pr 8:6-9: Hear; for I will speak of excellent things; and the opening of my lips shall be right things. For my mouth shall speak truth; and wickedness is an abomination to my lips. All the words of my mouth are in righteousness; there is nothing froward or perverse in them. They are all plain to him that understandeth, and right to them that find knowledge.
Isn’t it AMAZING how we can learn so much from just one word? We still have five more words to go!
Here are a few more verses that pertain:- 1Peter 3:10 - For he that will love life, and see good days, let him refrain his tongue from evil, and his lips that they speak no guile.- Eph 4:29 - Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers.- Titus 2:1 - Speak thou the things which become sound doctrine.- Ps 19:14 - Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart, be acceptable in thy sight, O LORD, my strength, and my redeemer.

1 Timothy 4:12 (Part Two)
1 Timothy 4:12"Let no man despise your youth, but be thou an example of the believers - in word, in conversation, in charity, in spirit, in faith, in purity."
Yesterday I ended with “. . . but be thou an example of the believers . . . “ and that’s where I’ll begin today.
I found this first bit of info to be really interesting: when Paul says “be thou” he uses the word ginomai which means “to become” (ginomai is where we get the infinitive “to generate” from). Paul is talking about a process here. You don’t become an “example of the believers” over night. Paul knew that, so he was encouraging Timothy: “Don’t worry about it when people look down on you, just keep working on becoming the man of God you are meant to be (the example of the believers you are meant to be).
The word Paul uses for “example” is tupos, and it means just that: example; model; pattern.
This is really cool - the word Paul uses that was translated “of the believers” is the word pistos, which means: trustworthy; faithful; sure; true. The word pistos is the same word used in Mathew 25:21 when the Master says to his servant: “Well done, thou good and faithful servant: thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord.” I’m not sure why the King James translators didn’t use one of those words (trustworthy, faithful, etc...), but anyone who is going to be an example “of the believers” should definitely posses those characteristics - so I can see what they meant.
Become a . . .- trustworthy example- faithful example- sure example- true exampleThat’s quite a challenge!

1 Timothy 4:12 (Part One)
1 Timothy 4:12"Let no man despise your youth, but be thou an example of the believers - in word, in conversation, in charity, in spirit, in faith, in purity."It's interesting how the same word is used twice in that first phrase: "Let no man despise your youth" (kataphroneo medeis kataphroneo sou neotes). The word kataphroneo means to disesteem, or to look down upon. Paul isn't saying, "Don't let them look down on you like that!", but rather, “Don’t disesteem those people who look down on your youth” (youth is partly referring to age, but more so to Timothy’s being ‘new’ - NEOtes - to the ministry, and him being inexperienced.
The point is: Instead of getting frustrated (as I sometimes do) when older people look at you as insignificant because of your age (or for whatever reason) - shrug it off; remember that you’re not here to please men, but God (Galatians 1:10); and focus back on the task, which is to “Be an example of the believers.”