Secret of Success After Graduation, Part Three

Third and Last part of Series from my parting message to NIST Graduating Students, Nassa Theological College Graduating Students and Kapsabet Bible College Graduating Students  on the topic of how to succeed in ministry after graduation, based on I Timothy and amplified from Scott graduates whom I visited. All three parts of this series are important.

III. SET AN EXAMPLE FOR BELIEVERS I Tim. 4:12


1. Problem of age - youth not accepted.
By Western standards Timothy was not young. But the Greek idea of youth was very similar to Africa. Timothy was relatively young - in his early 30’s, possibly 35. But in a culture which highly respects age, 35 is still a young person. Timothy was relatively young when given the assignment to rule over the older ones.

2. How does one do it? He leads by example.
Actually, ALL church leaders are supposed to lead by example, and not by authority.
See I Pet. 5:2 Amplified Version: Speaking to the elders he says, “Tend the flock…not as arrogant, dictatorial and overbearing persons, domineering over those in your charge, but being examples - patterns and models of Christian living - to the flock, the congregation.”

3. An Example in what you are - a positive example I Tim. 4:12
Be an example in your speech and in your life - what you say and what you do.

One Scott graduate said there are three main reasons by people fail in ministry: Girls- Gold and Glory - Lust of the Flesh - Girls; Lust of the Eyes - gold; Pride of Life - glory.

“Be an example in Love, Faith, Purity” - take them in reverse order - Purity, Faith and Love. I suggest that these three virtues, Purity, Faith and Love are the solution to these three common character flaws. These positive characteristics are the solution to the 3 evils that destroy Christian leaders.

   a. Purity - a clean, pure life with no hint of immorality.
Not only to be pure before God but pure before men - no hint or rumour. Eph. 5:3 “But among you there must not even be a hint of sexual immorality.” We need to watch our relationships with the opposite sex.

Not only to be pure in body but pure in your thoughts. “Guard you heart, for it is the well spring of life.

   b. Faith - while purity and love deal with our relationships with others, Faith deals with our relationship with God. “Without faith it is impossible to please God.” Do you believe there is a God? that he saved you? That he called you into the ministry? Then can you trust God to provide for you and guide you? Faith in God will protect you from the temptation of covetousness, to steal money, misappropriate money.

ILLUSTRATION Billy Graham - God has helped him to live a life without any hint of scandal. Decision early in ministry: never to counsel women in private; never to receive salary from offerings.

   c. Love - We have so many tragic examples of leaders who struggle for power. They are proud and arrogant. The tragedy is that everyone else can see that you are proud but you cannot see it yourself.

If you truly love your neighbour as yourself, you will not be proud and self seeking. You will be devoted to one another in brotherly love. You will honour one another above yourselves.

One servant of God told me, “Training should not make you puffed up. One must not be aloof. You must mix with them. One pastor said, ‘You are a layman but I am educated.’ But he was a dictator. He got a Ph.D and thought the world was in his hand. But he failed. People said, ‘We don’t need him.’ He thought the country needed him. He was proud of his education. But he was pushed out of the church. He desired to divide the denomination. He didn’t respect anyone. He left the country and went to the United States. In the USA he pastored a church, but ended up marrying someone’s wife. He did not guard his heart.”

CONCLUSION: You can only set an example for believer if you train yourself to be godly.
You can only endure hardness and persevere if you train yourself to be godly.

You have learned in Bible College. Now the rest is up to you. You must persevere in ministry. Perseverance is the key. But you can only persevere if you KEEP ON TRAINING YOURSELF IN GODLINESS. Train yourself to be godly. This will enable you to endure hardship and persevere, and to set an example.