Bobby Mitchell
There is an incredible famine of faithfulness in these days. Many churches could take Proverbs 20:6 as their theme verse— “Most men will proclaim every one his own goodness: but a faithful man who can find?” Thank God that the Apostle Paul found one in Timothy. To that young preacher Paul issued the following command from the Holy Ghost: “And the things that thou hast heard of me among many witnesses, the same commit thou to faithful men, who shall be able to teach others also” (2 Timothy 2:2).
Every Biblical pastor desires to commit the truth to “faithful men.” But, the sad fact is that there are few that qualify for the training! Many that profess Christ are unfaithful men— unfaithful to the Word, the work, the war, the worship of God, and some are even unfaithful to their wives. Here’s a challenge, sir— BE A FAITHFUL MAN!
A faithful man is one who has first been REGENERATED. He has been born again of the Holy Spirit. What about you—was there a time when the Holy Ghost of God REPROVED you of your sinfulness, REBUKED you of your ungodliness, and you RESPONDED by REPENTING and RECEIVING the Lord Jesus Christ as your Lord and Saviour? Only the saved man can qualify for this holy designation of “faithful men.”
He is also one who RECEIVES the Word of God. Too many are REJECTING, REWRITING, REARRANGING, RECONSTRUCTING, and REINVENTING the Word of God. But, “faithful men” will not go that route! The faithful man doesn’t get mad at the truth-telling preacher either. Like the Berean Christians of Acts 17:10,11 he RECEIVES the Word of God as it is preached, RESEARCHES the message with the Scriptures, and then REACHES a conclusion about what God’s man has declared.
The faithful man allows his pastor to “commit” the truth to him! He is humble and takes time to be taught the Word and treasures it in his heart. He is not “carried about by every wind of doctrine” because he RETAINS the truth. In other words, he sticks with, stands for, and strives about the truth.
That last part of 2 Timothy 2:2 is where it really gets good. When a man is REGENERATED, RECEIVES the Word of God, and RETAINS it, he is at the place where he can be used of God to REPEAT it to others. He is “able to teach others also.” The work of God goes forward mightily as men develop into “faithful men.” Sinners are sought, the seed is sown, souls are saved, and saints are settled as faithful men continue the wonderful process of preaching the Word of God in the power of the Holy Ghost.
Sir, don’t allow the famine of faithfulness to famish your family and assembly. Before God Almighty, and for His glory and honour, commit by His grace to be a faithful man from this day forward.
by Bobby Mitchel
Original article can be found at http://www.midcoastbaptistchurch.com/reading.php