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Morning Thoughts |
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Morning Thoughts |
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I 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." This morning, we wish to look at a very magnanimous thought that every time my mind thinks about it my mind dies away in wonder. When thinking about the most humbling and awesome concepts, surely we would all attest that a brief contemplation of the natural universe puts us in a humble frame seeing our LORD as high and lifted up above all His creation. Truly, considering the frame that we are by nature, we feel to be not worthy of consideration, and yet, His thoughts and desire is toward us: His people. But, there is another thought that my mind is left in awe when trying to comprehend, and it is found in our verse above. While we think about it from time to time, the seasons of ordinations in the Lord's church make us consider it more than usual. Paul is exhorting the young minister Timothy to utilize the gift God has given him in service to His people. This gift of preaching was placed there by God Himself, and Timothy was to exercise due diligence to serve His Master and His Master's brethren. But, when thinking about the church's confirmation of that gift (Timothy's ordination), we see a great unfolding that should be one of the most humbling thoughts to any minister of the gospel. The laying on of the hands of the presbytery is one of the most solemn occasions that we can ever experience in the house of God. Each time that I have been blessed to be either an observer or a part of such an occasion, the perking of the thought of church succession comes to mind. Paul goes on in his second epistle to Timothy to instruct him to teach others what he was taught. They were to teach other faithful men, and the succession of the church continues down to this very hour. (II Timothy 2:2) So, when looking at it from that perspective, we see that the ministers today had hands laid on them when they were ordained. The ministers that laid hands on them were also subjects to have the laying on of hands to them. Eventually, we arrive at the days of the early church to the laying on of hands to Timothy, Titus, and others by the apostles themselves. But, the ultimate is that the apostles were recipients of the Lord Jesus breathing on them and ordaining them to the work. So, the chain of hands goes all the way back to Christ Himself, and the minister that is the subject of the ordination should feel the awesome responsibility and significance of this occasion. Now, one of thoughts that must be dispelled is the idea that something "mystical" happens during this occasion. The laying on of hands does not transfer any kind of gift or amplification of the gift to preach. The subject does not leave that circumstance "knowing how to preach about everything." Such ideas are rooted in vain imagination, but the solemnity of the occasion demands respect nonetheless. We do understand from the Scriptures that the apostles were custodians of special gifts (gift of tongues, etc) by the laying on of their hands. The subjects of the apostles laying on of hands received gifts of the Holy Ghost, but Scripture no where gives any indication that the subjects of the apostles could transfer any of these things to other men. What we are committing to faithful men is the instruction we have received and the charge of faithfulness to the service. Another idea that crops up from time to time is the thought that the ordination makes the preacher. There is a fine line we must walk to stay within the bounds of Scripture, and the gift that was given Timothy was not from the laying on of hands. The gift that he had was rather confirmed by the laying on of hands. The purpose of the ordination is that the office of an elder or bishop (same office) is being entered into under the auspices of the church of the Lord Jesus Christ. Timothy's gift came from God, and the church recognized the gift to the purpose of the laying on of hands by the presbytery. The little word "with" in our verse above indicates that the church confirmed an existing gift, and the purpose was to ordain Timothy to the full work of his gift. This made Timothy a custodian that was authorized to administer ordinances and ordain others after him. Finally, when looking at the work that a minister has to perform, woe is the man that is ordained without the gift! Truly, the Lord helps us in the afflictions of the gospel, but I cannot fathom the weight that must come upon a man that is laden with the burden without the calling. Knowing this, the church has the obligation to observe diligently to see whether there be a gift and whether it has blossomed to the point of entering the office. As stewards of the mysteries of God, faithfulness is key. The things that we have had confirmed by the laying on of hands is from the Lord Himself while He walked this earth. The things that we have been given are from His very example that He shewed forth. He went back to glory after bestowing it to faithful men (the apostles), and they, in turn, left it to faithful men. We today need to be found faithful men, and the ones to follow need to be instructed in faithfulness to the cause of Christ. Let us therefore pray for the labourers in the harvest, for the Lord to add more labourers to His harvest, and that we all may be built up together as a spiritual house that is holding fast the things that the Lord Himself has given unto us. In Hope, Bro Philip  |