Paul's Exhortations & Instructions to Brother Timothy 1st Letter Volume 42

Paul Exhorts Timothy to Take Heed to his Ministry Part 3

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. KJV

Paul's previous instruction to Brother Timothy to reading, exhorting, and teaching doctrine would have been pointless if Paul had not joined it with these following words, "Neglect not the gift that is in thee, which was given thee by prophecy, with the laying on of the hands of the presbytery." (1 Timothy 4:14) (KJV). No Christian man or woman is competent, capable, or certified for any Christian work until or unless God the Holy Spirit has endowed, equipped, energized, and empowered him or her to whatever work He has employed them to for the Kingdom of our Lord, Master, and Savior Jesus Christ. The grace of God is not something that you grow (like a flower) or that is plucked out of nowhere (like plucking a plum from a tree), but grace is power and strength that is humbly received from God the Holy Spirit to give power and strength to the son or daughter of God the Father to carry out His will for us as we sojourn and pilgrim or navigate our way in the earth that is no longer our true or real home making our way to that true home in heaven needing grace in this foreign and strange land of the earth since our redemption, regeneration, and rebirth.

Timothy was (like everyone of us true believers) given at least one gift by God the Holy Spirit and the Apostle Paul knew that he (Timothy) must invigorate that gift within him in order to do the things Paul has previously exhorted him to do, for let us remember these words Paul wrote to the Church @ Corinth when he said this to them, "But thanks be to God, Who in Christ always leads us in triumph [as trophies of Christ's victory] and through us spreads {and} makes evident the fragrance of the knowledge of God everywhere, For we are the sweet fragrance of Christ [which exhales] unto God, [discernible alike] among those who are being saved {and} among those who are perishing: To the latter it is an aroma [wafted] from death to death [a fatal odor, the smell of doom]; to the former it is an aroma from life to life [a vital fragrance, living and fresh]. And who is qualified (fit and sufficient) for these things? [Who is able for such a ministry? We?]." (2 Corinthians 2:14-16) (Amplified Bible). The very last sentence in verse 16 is the reason Paul wants Timothy to not neglect the gift of God given to him by God the Holy Spirit, because no Christian man or woman is sufficient for such a tremendous responsibility to and in the world then and today.

The English phrase 'Neglect not the gift that is in thee' begins with the little English word  'neglect' in this exhortation to Timothy  in 1 Timothy 4:14 and it is translated by the Greek word ameleo meaning to be careless of: - make light of, neglect, be negligent, not regard. In other words, Paul deems it to be a bad thing for Timothy or any of us believers to make light of what God the Holy Spirit has gifted us with to accomplish the work of Christ on the earth. In the parable of the Wedding Feast our Lord Jesus told of many people who made light of the King's invitation to said feast and went their way to do other things they decided, deemed, and determined to be more important to them than going to a boring dinner, as we know this parable was an illustration of how men and women allow the temporary excitements, exhilarations, and engagements of this world keep them from the Cross of Jesus Christ and salvation, "AND AGAIN Jesus spoke to them in parables (comparisons, stories used to illustrate and explain), saying, The kingdom of heaven is like a King who gave a wedding banquet for His Son and sent His servants to summon those who had been invited to the wedding banquet, but they refused to come. Again He sent other servants, saying, Tell those who are invited, Behold, I have prepared my banquet; my bullocks and my fat calves are killed, and everything is prepared; come to the wedding feast. But they were not concerned {and} paid no attention [they ignored and made light of the summons, treating it with contempt] and they went away--one to his farm, another to his business, While the others seized His servants, treated them shamefully, and put them to death." (Matthew 22:1-6) (Amplified Bible).

Timothy then and we true believers today who have come to the foot of the Cross of Christ bringing nothing but our guilty sin and sinfulness need not worry about our salvation, but we do need to worry that we not be ashamed in His presence when we are finally face to face with Him alone if we neglect the gift we have been given for His service, just as the Psalmist wrote with these words speaking of himself, "Let my heart be sound (sincere and wholehearted and blameless) in Your statutes, that I may not be ashamed." (Psalms 119:80) (Amplified Bible). Here is what Dr. John Gill had to say concerning not neglecting the gift of God, "What qualifies men for the work of the ministry is a gift from God: it is not of nature, nor is it mere natural abilities and capacity; nor is it any thing acquired, it is not human learning, or the knowledge of languages, arts, and sciences; nor is it special saving grace; for a man may have all these, and yet not be apt to teach, or fit for the ministry; but it is a peculiar and distinct gift, it is a gift of interpreting the Scriptures, and of dispensing the mysteries of grace to the edification of others; which, when it meets in a man with all the rest before mentioned, makes him very considerable: and this gift is in a man; it is a treasure put into earthen vessels, a good treasure in the heart, out of which a good minister of Christ brings forth many good things, things new and old, both for the delight and profit of men: and this gift is by no means to be neglected; this talent should not be hid in the earth, or wrapped up in a napkin; it should not lie dormant and useless, but should be stirred up, cultivated, and improved, as it may by reading, meditation, and prayer."

The English phrase 'which was given thee by prophecy' is summed up with the English word 'prophecy' in this phrase and it is translated by the Greek word prophēteia meaning prediction (scriptural or other): That is, some of the elders had before predicted that the young boy Timothy would be supplied with a special gift from God to do a mighty work for God as Paul reminded Timothy with these words at the very beginning of this letter to him, "This charge {and} admonition I commit in trust to you, Timothy, my son, in accordance with prophetic intimations which I formerly received concerning you, so that inspired {and} aided by them you may wage the good warfare" (1 Timothy 1:18) (Amplified Bible). Here is what Vincent's Word Studies had to say concerning this prophesy of Brother Timothy, "The reference is to prophetic intimation given to Paul concerning the selection of Timothy for the ministerial office. These prophecies were given by the Holy Spirit who bestowed the 'gift', so that the gift itself and the prophecy concurred in attesting the candidate for ordination." The English phrase 'with the laying on of the hands of the presbytery' is summed up with the English word 'presbytery' in this phrase and it is translated by the Greek word presbuterion which means the order of elders, that is, (specifically) Israelite Sanhedrim or Christian “presbytery”. Here is what Adam Clarke had to say concerning the laying on of hands and the presbytery, "It has already been conjectured that there had been some remarkable prediction relative to the future destiny and usefulness of Timothy. And probably it was in consequence of this that he was set apart to the office of Evangelist and Bishop in the Church at Ephesus. When Apostles laid their hands on men, they ordinarily received the Holy Spirit with this imposition. This may be what the Apostle calls to the remembrance of Timothy, and tells him not to neglect what he had received, nor the purpose for which he had received it."

"This section of Paul's letter to Timothy in so many ways rebukes today and for all time the so-called prophets that require money from people before they can give them a prophesy concerning their lives here on the earth. This type of prophesy is very easily defined, for it is nothing but con-artistry and it makes me remember what the Apostle Peter told the sorcerer who wanted the power of laying on of hands and imparting the Holy Spirit to willing repentant sinners when he said this to him, 'Then [the Apostles] laid their hands on them one by one, and they received the Holy Spirit. However, when Simon (the sorcerer) saw that the [Holy] Spirit was imparted through the laying on of the Apostles' hands, he brought money {and} offered it to them, Saying, Grant me also this power {and} authority, in order that anyone on whom I place my hands may receive the Holy Spirit. But Peter said to him, Destruction overtake your money and you, because you imagined you could obtain the [free] gift of God with money! You have neither part nor lot in this matter, for your heart is all wrong in God's sight [it is not straightforward or right or true before God]. So repent of this depravity {and} wickedness of yours and pray to the Lord that, if possible, this contriving thought {and} purpose of your heart may be removed {and} disregarded {and} forgiven you.' (Acts 8:17-22) (Amplified Bible)." Clifford D. Tate, Sr.

If you do not know the Lord Jesus Christ and His amazing healing power, pray this from your heart to the Lord Jesus Christ (you speaking directly to Him), Dear Lord Jesus, I confess to You that I am a sinner and I need Your forgiveness. I believe You shed Your Blood and died for my sins. I believe that You rose from the dead proving that You alone are God. I repent of my sins. I want to turn from my sins. I ask You Dear Lord Jesus to come into my heart and take control of my life. I want You to be my Lord, Savior, and my God. Amen...

Sincerely in Christ,

Clifford D. Tate, Sr.
Author of “Silent Assassins of the Soul - Are you Broken by Pornography and Masturbation? You can be Restored by the Lord Jesus Christ and brought into Deliverance, Freedom, and Victory! A Guide for Men and Women in the Enemy’s Crosshairs” e-book available now @ Amazon Kindle, @ Apple I Bookstore for IPod, Barnes and Noble for Nook, Reader Store for Sony Reade, Kobo, Copia, Gardners, Baker and Taylor, and eBookPie…