Take Heed to Thyself (A Word to the Minister)

1 Timothy 4:16 (KJV)

Take heed unto thyself, and unto the doctrine; Continue in them: for in doing this thou shalt both save thyself and them that hear thee.

This is how to secure the salvation of your own soul as a minister and guarantee you a place in the last flight.

The same Apostle Paul who is instructing Timothy, his son in the faith in this Epistle, said elsewhere in another epistle, "...lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway" (See 1 Corinthians 9:27). Which suggests that it is possible for the minister ("the man of God", "the Servant of God") to preach to others, and yet miss it (lose his own salvation) in the end. But do you desire to save yourself and those who hear you? Here's God's counsel through the ministry of Paul:

First, He said to Take heed to yourself. What does it mean. It's simple: pay attention to your own walk with God. As you're pointing others to God, be sure you're not missing it yourself in your walk with the Lord. As you encourage others to give attention to personal prayer and word study for their spiritual development, are you doing same yourself? Or have you neglected these vital aspects of your walk with the Lod? Have you gotten so busy with the work of the ministry that you no longer pay attention to your personal time with God? Or have your time spent in the Word been reduced to times of preparation to preach? Do you only study the Word to get a message to preach? "Take heed to thyself..." is the Lord's warning.

I fell into the same error many years ago during my pastoral ministry (By Grace, the Lord brought me into the apostolic phase of my ministry barely two years ago). As a pastor, I spent some good time in the Word and prayer but it was mostly preparation to preach my next message or teach the next bible class. I preached many powerful messages that drew many applauds and commanded great results, but I realised I was not growing up spiritually. I was a very dedicated Pastor, but spiritually, I was lacking. After some time, it began to show in my poor relationship with people (getting offended, harboring grievances/bitterness, etc). It's worth noting that the issues that can disqualify the believer, even the Lord's servant from making heaven in the final analysis, are not big issues at all; they are the little foxes that spoil the vine, such as the ones mentioned above. God’s Word says clearly to follow peace with all men and holiness without which no man shall see God (Heb 12:14). But the change for me came when one day this light came to me. It suddenly dawned on me that I was so busy with the Lord's work that I neglected my personal spiritual growth. So I began to read/study the bible and anointed materials just for my personal spiritual edification. One of such books I read that transformed my life and ministry was Growing Up Spiritually, authored by God's General Kenneth E. Hagin of blessed memory. Another one which made no small impact on my life and ministry was Love the Way to Voctory, by the same author. I began to experience a great ease in the ministry the kind I did not experience before. My overall relationship with people got better as I began to love God’s people better. I also realised that my time spent preparing a message became shorter because my spirit was already fed on a good Word nourishment. Preaching became much more exciting because the Word was flowing from a healthy spirit. My life and ministry was significantly blessed.

The next counsel the Lord gives to guarantee the salvation of both your flock and yourself is to Take heed to the doctrine, that God has given you. He said to continue in them. Every ministry has a message given to preach. But as a minister of God, do you practice what you preach? Are you taking heed to your own doctrine? Or do you point the flock one way and go the other way? 

Do you desire to make the last flight together with your flock when our Lord Jesus returns? Then heed His counsel: Continue in the doctrine.

Take heed unto thyself, and unto the doctrine; Continue in them: for in doing this thou shalt both save thyself and them that hear thee (1 Timothy 4:16)

As a servant of God, if you can identify with this message; if you realise where you are falling short, it's never too late to make amends like I did years ago. Go ahead and talk to God. Renew your walk with God today. You can rededicate your heart to Him again. He's waiting with open arms to receive you. And we have an assurance from the Lord:

 

I, even I, am he that blotteth out thy transgressions for mine own sake, and will not remember thy sins. (Isaiah 43:25)

 

For I will be merciful to their unrighteousness, and their sins and their iniquities will I remember no more (Hebrews 8:12 ) 

 

You are also encouraged to join a Bible Believing Church near you, in case you're not in one already, where you can grow in the Lord (1^st Peter 2:2 and 2^nd Samuel 7:10) . And keep following on our social media platforms (Facebook:@josephmasiam, YouTube:@josephmasiam).

 

Remain ever blessed.

Jesus is Lord!