A MINISTER SHIPWRECKED OR A SHIPWRECKED MINISTRY? (Acts 28:1-20; I Timothy 1:18-20) DOWNLOAD THIS POWERPOINT AT HTTP:

A MINISTER SHIPWRECKEDOR

A SHIPWRECKED MINISTRY?(Acts 28:1-20; I Timothy 1:18-

20)

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BIBLICAL PRINCIPLES FOR LIVING SERIES

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A MINISTER SHIPWRECKED

A. Paul was shipwrecked a number of times in his years of ministry.

B. He says: “Three times I was shipwrecked, a night and a day I have spent in the deep” (II Corinthians 11:25).

C. The most detailed account of one of the shipwrecks he experienced is found in Acts 27-28, on his journey to Rome.

D. It is comforting to know that God is sovereign over the storms that come against our lives (Matthew 7:24-29); and against our ministries (Acts 28).

E. Like the disciples, we may sometimes think that God is unconcerned and Christ is calmly sleeping during the storm we are experiencing (Luke 8:22-25).

F. Or, like Peter, we may step out on the waters in faith, and do pretty good for a while – until we get our eyes off of Christ and onto the tumultuous waves around us. (Matthew 14:2-33) – then we begin to sink into doubt and despair!

G. But a “minister shipwrecked” is not the same thing as a “shipwrecked ministry!”

H. It is the sovereignty of God that allows a minister to become shipwrecked; it is the sin of the minister that shipwrecks his ministry!

A SHIPWRECKED MINISTRYA. In recent years we have seen a number of prominent

ministries in America and abroad shipwrecked by the foolishness and sinfulness of its leaders.

B. This is not a new experience to the Church – it has always existed. Paul wrote of it in his own day. He writes to warn and exhort young Timothy to: “Fight the good fight, keeping faith and a good conscience, which some have rejected and suffered shipwreck in regard to their faith.”

C. To personalize this warning to young Timothy, Paul then names several known ministers who had shipwrecked their ministries. Here are several:

1. Hymenaeus and Alexander, whom he says that he “...has delivered over to Satan, so that they may be taught not to blaspheme” (I Timothy 1:18-20). He specifically says that “Alexander the coppersmith did me much harm...be on guard against him yourself, for he vigorously opposed our teaching” (II Timothy 4:14-15).

2. Phygelus and Hermogenes, who were apparently guilty of unfaithfulness and desertion. He says: “All who are in Asia turned away from me...At my defense no one supported me, but all deserted me” (II Timothy 1:15; 4:16).

3. He then sadly mentions Demas, whom he says “...having loved this present world, has deserted me and gone to Thessalonica” (II Timothy 4:10).

D. If we carefully go through the New Testament – and more specifically the Pastoral Epistles of Paul, then we can see that there are a number of dangerous “moral shoals” and “spiritual reefs” (Acts 27:41) that bring shipwreck to many ministers.

E. In looking at these, we do so not in a sense of pride, “holier-than-thou”, or false security! But with the warning of Paul: “Let him who stands, take heed lest he fall” (I Corinthians 10:12)!

F. So we look at these “spiritual reefs” and “moral shoals” as warnings to our own lives and ministries. And we look at the tragic shipwrecked ministries around us today an say in humility: “There but for the grace of God go I!”

A SHIPWRECKED MINISTRY(8 Practices That Destroy

Your Integrity)

1. UNDISCIPLINED MINDA. Note: All problems first begin in the mind – in wrong

thinking – un-Biblical Thinking!

B. “As a man thinks in his heart, so is he” (Proverbs 23:7; KJV); “For as he thinks within himself, so he is” (NASV).

C. “Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought to think” (Romans 12:3).

D. “We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ” (II Corinthians 10:5).

E. “And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable – if anything is excellent or praiseworthy – think about such things” (Philippians 4:7-8).

2. UNBALANCED MESSAGEA. “Watch your life and doctrine closely.

Persevere in them, because if you do, you will save both yourself and your hearers” (I Timothy 4:16).

B. “As I urged you when I went into Macedonia – stay there in Ephesus so that you may command certain men not to teach false doctrines any longer” (I Timothy 1:3).

C. “If anyone teaches false doctrines and does not agree to the sound instruction of our Lord Jesus Christ and to godly teaching, he is conceited and understands nothing. He has an unhealthy interest in controversies and quarrels about words that result in envy, strife, malicious talk, evil suspicions...” (I Timothy 6:3-4).

D. “...pay no attention to Jewish myths or to the commands of those who reject the truth” (Titus 1:14).

E. “I urge you, brothers, to watch out for those who cause divisions and put obstacles in your way that are contrary to the teaching you have learned. Keep away from them” (Romans 16:17).

F. “Don’t have anything to do with foolish and stupid arguments, because you know they produce quarrels. And the Lord’s servant must not quarrel; instead, he must be kind to everyone, able to teach, not resentful” (II Timothy 2:23-24).

G. “...not given to drunkenness, not violent but gentle, not quarrelsome, not a lover of money...” (I Timothy 3:3).

H. “For Ezra had devoted himself to the study and observance of the Law of the Lord, and to teaching its decrees and laws in Israel” (Ezra 7:10).

I. “...for adulterers and perverts, for slave traders and liars and perjurers – and for whatever else is contrary to the sound doctrine...” (I Timothy 1:10).

J. “For I have not hesitated to proclaim to you the whole will of God” (Acts 20:27).

3. UNRIGHTEOUS MOTIVESA. “It is true that some preach Christ out of envy

and rivalry...they preach Christ out of selfish ambition, not sincerely...” (Use the Gospel!) (Philippians 1:15-17).

B. “You know we never used flattery, nor did we put on a mask to cover up greed...we are not looking for praise from men, not from you or anyone else” (I Thessalonians 2:5-6).

C. “I have not coveted anyone’s silver or gold or clothing” (Acts 20:33).

D. When Christ comes: “He will bring to light what is hidden in darkness and will expose the motives of men’s hearts” (I Corinthians 4:5).

Not “what” but “Why?”

E. “...We are not trying to please men but God who tests our hearts” (I Thessalonians 2:4).

F. Church at Thyatira: “I am He who searches hearts and minds, and I will repay each of you according to your deeds” (Revelation 2:23).

4. UNWORTHY METHODSA. “We have renounced secret and shameful ways;

we do not use deception, nor do we distort the word of God. On the contrary, by setting forth the truth plainly we commend ourselves to every man’s conscience in the sight of God” (II Corinthians 4:2).

B. Watch out for those who: “…by smooth talk and flattery...deceive the minds of naive people” (Romans 16:18).

Message = SacredMethod = Righteous!

5. UNHOLY MARRIAGESA. “Do not be yoked together with unbelievers;

for what do righteousness and wickedness have in common? Or what fellowship can light have with darkness? What harmony is there between Christ with Belial? What does a believer have in common with an unbeliever? What agreement is there between the temple of God and idols? For we are the temple of the living God...” (II Corinthians 6:14-16).

We must have spiritual fellowship with our mate!

B. “Marriage should be honored by all, and the marriage bed kept pure, for God will judge the adulterer and all the sexually immoral” (Hebrews 13:4).

6. UNRESTRAINED MORALSA. Paul warns of those who are: “slaves...of their

own appetites” (Romans 16:18).

B. Paul likewise warned those “...whose God is their appetite” (Philippians 3:19).

C. “Flee the evil desires of youth...” (II Timothy 2:22).

It has been wisely noted that there is a special “lust” for every phase of life:

Youth – SexYoung Man – MoneyOld Men – Power

D. “Do not offer the parts of your body to sin, as instruments of wickedness, but rather offer yourselves to God, as those who have been brought from death to life; and offer the parts of your body to Him as instruments of righteousness” (Romans 6:13).

E. “Let us behave decently, as in the daytime, not in orgies and drunkenness, not in sexual immorality and debauchery, not in dissension and jealousy. Rather, clothe yourselves with the Lord Jesus Christ, and do not think about how to gratify the desires of the sinful nature” (Romans 13:13).

1. “...train yourself to be godly” (I Timothy 4:7).

2. Paul said of himself: “I buffet/discipline my body and make it my slave” (I Corinthians 9:27).

7. UNACCOUNTABLE MONEYA. “Elder must be...free from the love of

money...not be fond of sordid gain” (I Timothy 3:3).

B. Paul warns about false ministers: “Men of depraved/corrupt mind; who think godliness is a means to financial gain...Those who want to get rich fall into temptation and a trap and into many foolish and harmful desires which plunge men into ruin and destruction. For the love of money is the root of all sorts of evil, and some by longing for it have wandered away from the faith, and pierced themselves with many griefs” (I Timothy 6:5-10).

C. In carrying the money for the needy saints in Jerusalem: “We are sending along with him (Titus) the brother who is praised by all the churches for his service to the gospel. What is more, he was chosen by the churches to accompany us as we carry the offering, which we administer in order to honor the Lord Himself...We want to avoid any criticism of the way we administer the liberal gift. For we are taking pains to do what is right, not only in the eyes of the Lord but also in the eyes of men” (II Corinthians 8:18-21).

D. Stewardship of “little” and “much” (Luke 16); The Parable of the Shrewd Manager)

Note: When there is impropriety in any of these areas, we quickly run aground on those “spiritual reefs” that shipwreck our ministries! Our conscience is no longer clear before God or man!

Therefore, a clear conscience is absolutely essential in ministry!

1. “...having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience” (Hebrews 10:22).

2. Paul instructs that Deacons must: “...hold to the mystery/deep truths of the faith with a clear conscience” (I Timothy 3:9).

3. When Paul was before the Sanhedrin: “Brethren, I have conducted myself with a perfectly good conscience before God up to this day” (Acts 23:1).

4. “I do my best to maintain always a blameless conscience both before God and before men” (Acts 24:16).

8. UNANNOINTED MINISTRYA. Jesus said as He began His earthly ministry: “The

Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because He has anointed me to preach the Gospel to the poor” (Luke 4:18).

B. We too must have the anointing of Holy Spirit on our ministry.

C. “You have an anointing from the Holy One, and you know the truth...the anointing you received from Him remains in you...and His anointing teaches you about all things, and that anointing is real, not counterfeit” (I John 2:20, 27).

D. Paul wrote to Timothy: “Do not neglect the spiritual gift within you...” (I Timothy 4:14).

“...rekindle afresh the gift of God which is in you through the laying on of my hands. For God has not given us the Spirit of fear but power...love...self-control” (II Timothy 1:6-7).

“...Guard the good deposit that was entrusted to you – guard it with the help of the holy Spirit who lives in us” (II Timothy 1:14).

E. Last recorded words of Paul: “...the Lord be with your Spirit” (II Timothy 4:22).

F. Therefore, our ministry must be based upon more than our:

EducationEnergyEnthusiasmEloquence

G. We must have the Anointing of God’s Holy Spirit!

H. We can only have a holy life and holy ministry by God’s Holy Spirit!

CONCLUSIONSA. So if our life is CLEAN, our conscience will be CLEAR

and our ministries will safely make it past the “spiritual reefs” that would shipwreck our lives and ministries!

Therefore, we must have:

...Integrity of Mind

...Integrity of Motive

...Integrity of Message

...Integrity of Method

...Integrity of Marriage

...Integrity of Morals

...Integrity of Money

...Integrity of Ministry