But watch thou in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, make full proof of thy ministry.
It is a solemn charge to stay alert in every part of the work, to bear hardship, to preach the gospel, and to carry the ministry through to completion. It is given before God and the Lord Jesus Christ who will judge the living and the dead at His appearing and His kingdom, laying duty under accountability that calls for care, diligence and faithfulness. To watch means to stay steady and mindful of souls because the adversary works with all deceit as trouble approaches, and to endure means to bear opposition, reproach, persecution and the strain of dealing with unsubdued hearts without answering in kind. To do the work of an evangelist means to hold forth the word of life and preach the gospel as the power of God unto salvation rather than philosophy and vain deceit, joined with personal visiting, instructing and praying in families and done in dependence on Christ's presence and the Spirit's power. To make full proof means to work thoroughly and wholeheartedly with undivided heart, shepherding households, repeating and binding off the work, guarding the flock from fables and sensational inventions by plain It is written, because the time has come when many will not endure sound doctrine but turn to teachers after their own lusts.
Charge Setting and Context
The charge is given before God and the Lord Jesus Christ, who will judge the living and the dead at His appearing and His kingdom, and it lays duty with accountability to be discharged with all care, diligence and faithfulness. To watch in all things, endure afflictions, do evangelistic work and fully carry out the ministry means to preach the word and to reprove, rebuke and exhort with patience and doctrine when people will not endure sound doctrine but turn from truth to fables. For those ministering in the Word and in the science of combating disease, and for physicians in every sanitarium, this means exercising full faith in dealing with the sick, praying and talking with them, following Bible methods, and in the wisdom of God acting the part of an evangelist and giving full proof of genuine conversion. It means being urgent in season and out of season because the enemy is close beside the sick to make impressions on their minds, not leaving men in danger to their own will and unsanctified devising, but wisely managing those whose hard minds are often softened by suffering to turn them away from teachers with itching ears and from fables to the truth, while church and sanitariums stand not under any human power or central control but under God alone.
It is Paul's dying farewell, given when he was ready to be offered and the time of his departure was at hand. His faithful completion of it despite approaching death illustrates service that remains faithful to gifts entrusted by God and looks toward the Lord's reward. That reward is the crown of righteousness given at that day by the Lord the righteous Judge to the faithful minister who so watches and endures, and to all who love Christ's appearing.
The verse belongs inseparably with preaching the Word, being urgent in season and out of season, and reproving, rebuking and exhorting with all longsuffering and doctrine. Joined to that preaching, it calls for alertness in all things, endurance of hardship, evangelistic labor and full completion of the ministry, to be understood and obeyed by spiritual-minded men firm in principle who know and practise the truth and have a clear understanding of it. This preaching is the gospel as the power of God unto salvation, not vain philosophy and science falsely so called, and it is done through receiving power after the Holy Spirit is come. Watchfulness and endurance are needed because the time comes when people will not endure sound doctrine but after their own lusts heap up teachers with itching ears and turn from truth to fables, and because hearers include those constantly harassed by temptation and wrestling with the adversary of souls who must be strengthened for the conflict. That foretold falling away describes the departure of many once united in faith, and the warning belongs to the days now living. Christlike preaching of practical piety and true godliness exposes the lives and characters of professed Christians, so they turn away their ears from hearing the truth, and that time has surely come when a dish of fables served in the pulpit suits the taste more than being fed with the sincere milk of the word to grow thereby.
It continues Christ's commission to His disciples and is binding today on all engaged in the Lord's work. It is God's plan for the ministry of His Word, in which the Holy Spirit speaks in warnings and reproof. The Lord's servants are to be lights in the world speaking words through which the true light shines, taking advantage of every opportunity to give instruction in the truth and speak the Word of life, holding fast the form of sound words and letting sacred truth flash its convincing power into minds, losing no opportunity for teaching the truth. Doing evangelistic work includes labor among those not of the faith and those who know little of present truth, including ministers, physicians and teachers, and enduring afflictions as partakers of the afflictions of the gospel. It calls for studying God's Word with prayerful diligence and showing consecration to God's Word, and for presenting obedience, virtue, prudence and piety from the Scriptures as the obligation of every human being, because each person has an accountability to God that must be urged upon the conscience. Paul's dying charge to Timothy must be repeated often: the Word is to be taught at all times and in all places, because its power endures and nothing can take its place.
It follows the call to continue in the things learned and assured of from childhood in the holy Scriptures, which are able to make wise unto salvation through faith in Christ Jesus and, as given by inspiration of God, furnish the man of God unto all good works. It applies to all who claim to know and believe the truth, calling them to prize and study the Scriptures and to be safe only by eating and digesting the Word. Learning the It is written and how to use the Word of God, and presenting truth in plain simplicity so every mind can take it in, is part of watching, enduring, evangelizing and fully proving the ministry. It is to be read for encouragement by those faithful in service for God amid the opposite moral condition, with the assurance that though all who live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution, out of them all the Lord delivers.
Watching and Enduring Affliction
The verse lays four duties together as one charge, to stay alert in all things, to bear afflictions, to do evangelistic work, and to fully carry out the ministry by discharging it with care, diligence and faithfulness. Joined to preaching the word with reproof, rebuke and patient exhortation in doctrine, it calls for alertness in every part of the work, endurance of hardship, labor for souls, and complete fulfillment of the calling. It leaves no room for entanglement in temporal pursuits or separate commercial interest, but requires giving the whole self to the ministry and using every means to do good to souls for whom Christ died. For those ministering in the word and in combating disease, including physicians, this means exercising full faith, praying and talking with the sick, following Bible methods, acting in divine wisdom the part of an evangelist, giving proof of genuine conversion, and being urgent in season and out of season. It means far more than standing in the desk to give expositions of Scripture, demanding a life of prayer and pastoral work that presents the word to show where character is deficient, without lording over the heritage.
To watch in all things is to remain watchful and steady in every matter and every circumstance, in every part of the work, apart from self-sufficiency and apart from sensational religion. It is earnest work with watching for souls, mindful of giving account, and it belongs to the present time and the perils of the last days. The urgency lies in that Satan is playing the game of life for souls, and with his emissaries works with all deceivableness of unrighteousness as the day of trouble fast approaches. Church members too share the call to watch, wait and pray for Christ's coming, to consecrate themselves, to stand ready to serve, and even where not called to public ministry to stay close to Christ and show truth by godly lives.
To endure afflictions is to bear hardship, opposition, reproach, persecution and malicious falsehoods. It includes the strain of dealing with human minds, meeting prejudice and hearts never subdued, ordered or controlled. To rebuke successfully under such pressure requires being armed with the mind of Christ, walking humbly, regarding every soul as purchased by Christ's blood at the cost of His life to give sinners probation to weigh eternal interests. It requires continually increasing in efficiency, power in prayer, intelligence in handling the word, and grace and knowledge of Christ, thinking, talking and meditating on Christ until reflecting His image and partaking the divine nature escaped from corruption through lust. So equipped, the worker speaks truth in demonstration of Spirit and power and carries practical godliness into daily life as a living example, with power remaining wherever he goes and not only in the desk, like a branch connected to the living vine drawing sap and nourishment.
This watchfulness and endurance are needed because hearers include those constantly harassed by temptation and wrestling with the adversary of souls, who must be strengthened for the conflict. The work therefore gives the bread of life that lives and abides forever and brings truth home to the heart in short discourses that grasp great forcible points, elevating, ennobling, refining and purifying imperfect character while weaving no finite imperfection into the ministry. It refuses to meet unreasonable and wicked men on their own level with satanic weapons, strong personal feeling, prejudice, thunderbolts and storming, using only spiritual weapons mighty to pull down strongholds. It remains among people kept from evil instead of building a wall, carrying aggressive work forward on Bible principles with Christlike simplicity, patience, forbearance, love and longsuffering, convincing and not condemning.
Evangelistic Preaching Commission
To do the work of an evangelist is to hold forth the word of life and preach the gospel as the power of God unto salvation, not philosophy and vain deceit nor science falsely so called. That preaching includes reproving, rebuking and exhorting with longsuffering and doctrine even when men will not endure sound doctrine. This is the outlined work of every minister with watchfulness in everything, endurance of hardship, and full accomplishment of ministry.
The evangelist's work joins preaching with personal work among people and teaching the Scriptures in families, and preaching without this visiting, instructing, advising and praying will be largely unsuccessful. Making full proof requires more than delivering sermons, for the minister must watch for souls, care for the flock, and personally visit homes to instruct, advise and counsel. He is to learn each household's spiritual condition, encourage and reprove with patience and teaching, pray with its members, and bind personal interest with their hearts and souls as a faithful shepherd. A preacher who only delivers sermons and neglects this shepherding leaves the flock unvisited and neglected and has not fulfilled the ministry and is not ready to serve as a missionary in a new field. By noticing interested hearers and following up with timely personal counsel, encouragement and prayer, he proves the work and helps people understand and respond to biblical truth, also teaching that God's love belongs in the home.
The work is to be conducted by Bible principles and with Christlike simplicity, forbearance, love, patience and longsuffering, aiming to convince rather than condemn. It remains among people kept from evil instead of building a wall between commandment keepers and the world, carrying an aggressive work forward on the platform of eternal truth including the Sabbath. It uplifts Christ as the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world, exalts the law of God as binding believers with Christ, and loves souls for whom Christ died. It refuses to meet unreasonable and wicked men on their own level with satanic weapons, strong personal feeling, prejudice, thunderbolts and storming of ears, and uses only spiritual weapons mighty to pull down strongholds, even when facing error, hostility, afflictions and malicious falsehoods.
A pastor must do the work of an evangelist together with the work of a pastor, carrying a double burden that should be shared by two workers where possible. This combined labor is necessary because the faith is unpopular, people are unwilling to be convinced that they are deeply in error, a great work is to be done, and there are few to do it. To make full proof of this ministry the pastor needs a correct understanding of the Word and also of human character, with strength in Scripture, enduring the strain of traveling from place to place to serve and not hindered by attention to business details. The work must suit a person's health and circumstances, so someone unable to withstand the changes and demands of traveling evangelism can still serve well where placed by living the truth in purity and humility and adorning the doctrine of God the Saviour.
This work can be done only through the fulfillment of Jesus' promise to be with His disciples always even unto the end, and through receiving power after the Holy Spirit is come. It is to be done in dependence on Christ's strength and grace, not human strength or efficiency or reliance on other people. It requires faithfulness in preaching the word even when people reject sound teaching, with accountability to God for how the minister serves. A minister must do more than go through the form of preaching, giving full proof of ministry by revealing precious fruit.
Sound Doctrine Versus Fables
Paul's charge to watch in all things, endure hardship, do evangelistic work and fully complete the ministry was given for the time when people will not tolerate sound doctrine but follow their own desires, gather teachers to suit their itching ears, and turn away from truth to fables, even to seducing spirits and doctrines of devils. It stands joined to the duty before God and the Lord Jesus Christ, who shall judge the living and the dead at His appearing and His kingdom, to preach the Word, to be urgent in season and out of season, and to reprove, rebuke and exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine. Christlike preaching of practical piety and true godliness exposes the lives and characters of professed Christians, and for that reason they turn their ears from hearing the truth. Watchfulness and endurance are needed in that conflict because hearers include those constantly harassed by temptation and wrestling with the adversary of souls who must be strengthened, and doing the work means giving the bread of life that lives and abides forever and bringing truth home to the heart in short discourses that grasp great forcible points without human stories, elevating, ennobling, refining and purifying imperfect character while weaving no finite imperfection into the ministry.
That foretold time has surely come in the present days, the perils of the last days with the Judge standing before the door. It is seen in the departure of many once united in faith and in hearers who prefer a dish of fables served from the pulpit to being fed with the sincere milk of the word to grow thereby. Those who have present truth for the last days therefore run for teachers to oppose it with endless theories, heaping up teachers after their own lusts. The charge is to be heeded now with watchfulness apart from self-sufficiency, keeping within It is written instead of manufacturing cheap suppositions, guesswork fables and human inventions to make an impression.
The verse thus forbids sensational religion, new and fanciful doctrines, speculative knowledge, human suppositions, guesswork and inventions, since pure and undefiled religion is not sensational. Ministers are to walk firmly and decidedly in the gospel, to know, teach and practise the truth with clear understanding, and to keep such things out of teaching, experience and life-work. Faithful ministry requires teaching God's Word rather than fables, theories Christ never taught, or fanciful doctrines and interpretations that cannot be supported by it, keeping teaching grounded in Scripture. Making full proof in this setting means decidedly meeting false plans and false theories taught as truth.
It means standing strongly linked with appointed messengers, refusing to honor or yoke with self-exalting leaders, refusing to keep silent while fables are brought in and taught as truth, and reproving false methods and plans so that the Word goes forth as a lamp that burns. Faithful workers must guard the truth and tenderly protect the flock from error, showing by their lives that they are co-workers with Christ. When workers dishonor the truth or lower its standard they are to be corrected with patient instruction, reproof, rebuke and exhortation. Safety lies only in eating and digesting the Word, learning the It is written and how to use the Word of God, appreciating the study of the Scriptures as making wise unto salvation, and presenting truth in plain simplicity so every mind can take it in.
Wholehearted Undivided Service
The charge to make full proof of the ministry leaves no room for a separate business or commercial interest entangled with temporal pursuits. It requires giving oneself wholly to the work of leading souls to truth and using every means to do good to souls for whom Christ died. Time, strength, and clear judgment are to be preserved for preaching, prayer, meditation, and personal care for those needing help, since separate business and selfish interests weaken fitness for this sacred responsibility. Watchfulness in every part of the work and endurance of hardship, opposition, reproach, and persecution belong to this undivided devotion.
The ministry is no place for idlers, sluggards, the slothful, the self-indulgent, the half-hearted, or drones. It demands utmost energy to be faithful as an expositor of the Word, never ceasing to be a learner and keeping the soul alive to the sacredness of the work and the greatness of its responsibility. Study and prayer are required, so that no defective or maimed offering is brought to God that has cost nothing. This calls for men of mind and talent who weigh arguments and dig for truth as for hidden treasure, remaining constant students of the Bible, alive to sacred responsibility, able to reach both common people and the higher classes rather than lowering truth to careless, irreverent, slipshod preaching. Fervor of spirit is needed to endure hardship, opposition, reproach, and even death for Christ, with each worker measured by fidelity and spirit of consecration in fulfilling his mission, and with strength from above to go forward in faith and hope wherever God leads.
Making full proof means becoming an able, useful workman of whom the Master is not ashamed. It requires proper training and right discipline at the start, patiently and humbly beginning on the lowest round of the ladder and with persevering energy climbing step by step. Every privilege and opportunity within reach is to be diligently improved, dormant energies aroused, every power tasked to become efficient, and thorough, well-devised plans formed. The ABCs of the knowledge of the truth must be fully mastered before presuming to teach, with close studious habits, growth, fitness gained with experienced workmen before laboring alone, ability to speak on any subject including prophecy, and knowledge of the best methods of labor to bring souls into the truth. Without this, even men of ability do defective labor and accomplish little, seizing a few ideas and a runway of a few discourses and then stumbling along without doing justice to themselves or to the work, showing deficiency in every part and at last giving up in discouragement for other employment.
Full proof requires faithful, thorough, whole-hearted work in the strength of Christ, with undivided heart and whole soul put into the work. It means binding off work thoroughly, never leaving work half done to go to another place and leaving no dropped stitches for someone else to pick up, reproving, rebuking, and exhorting with all longsuffering and doctrine, determining to succeed and not disappoint Christ, learning every day in the school of Christ, for God accepts only faithful work. Time, property, speech, abilities, and social influence are to be treated as gifts entrusted by God and used as He directs, in prayer, sacrifice, and sanctified labor while remaining connected with God as the source of power. Those entrusted with positions of usefulness must thus show themselves able to fulfill weighty responsibilities properly as experienced, God-fearing, tested men willing to bear messages of reproof.
Ministers must preserve moral and physical vigor so they can serve as faithful workers and give full proof of ministry. Their work does not end when they leave the pulpit but continues in watching over hearers, visiting and speaking with inquirers who want to learn, counseling, correcting, encouraging, and caring for spiritual needs. They are not to neglect this because it feels burdensome, nor to spend strength on tasks others could do just as well, such as selling books when others are available, if that keeps them from completing their ministry.
Thorough Personal Soul Winning
Making full proof of the ministry means far more than standing in the desk to give expositions of Scripture or delivering sermons alone. It requires pastoral shepherding that watches for souls and cares for the flock as a faithful shepherd. The minister must learn the spiritual condition of each household, visit people in their homes, talk with family members, instruct, advise and counsel them, encourage and reprove with all patience and teaching, pray with members, and bind personal interest with their hearts and souls. Preaching without this visiting leaves the flock unvisited, neglected and unbuilt, and one thorough faithful shepherd who cares for the flock is better than twenty sermonizers. A preacher who only sermonizes and neglects this personal labor has not fulfilled the ministry and should not be accepted, given credentials, or sent as a missionary into a new field or foreign country.
Such shepherding demands a most solemn life of prayer and presenting the Word to show wherein character is deficient, without lording over God's heritage. It calls for watching in all things and enduring afflictions in dealing with human minds, meeting prejudice and hearts never subdued, ordered or controlled. To rebuke successfully requires being armed with the mind of Christ, walking humbly, regarding every soul as purchased by Christ's blood and so valued that Christ gave His life to give sinners probation to weigh eternal interests, continually increasing in efficiency, power in prayer, intelligence in handling the Word, and grace and knowledge of Christ. Thinking, talking and meditating much on Christ until reflecting His image, becoming a partaker of the divine nature having escaped corruption through lust, speaking truth in demonstration of Spirit and power, and carrying practical godliness into daily life as a living example makes power remain wherever he goes and not only in the desk, like a branch connected to the living Vine drawing sap and nourishment.
Full proof also requires heart-to-heart labor and repeated thorough work rather than a single effort or one course of lectures. The same ground must be gone over again with a second series of discourses, Bible readings and more definite explanation of the truth, with practical instruction in daily Christian life and duty. Arguments for present truth presented the first time are difficult to fasten upon the mind, while repetition establishes the points, reaches new hearers added to the audience, gathers more souls, and establishes those who have taken their stand. This careful follow-up is especially needed for those newly come to the faith, for whom everything in Scripture is new and strange and who are in danger of losing the force of the truth and receiving incorrect ideas. The work is best done with two workers connected in the effort rather than one man alone, so pulpit effort is followed up with teaching and ministering without one becoming too weary, and with different manners of labor so that one man's mold and ideas do not have too great power upon minds, showing in personal life patience, meekness, forbearance, long-suffering, cheerfulness and joyfulness in the truth without a love for controversy.
Fully proving ministry happens when God lays the burden for the salvation of souls on a man called to labor. Such a man will not settle into other men's work but will strike out into new places and enter new ground, and although suffering want and privation will labor on until souls are brought out as fruit leading people to obey the truth. A man whose principal burden is his own support, who travels from place to place accomplishing nothing and leaves churches lower instead of benefited and built up, does not give this proof and is deceived about his calling. Indolence must be overcome by improving delivery and manner and laboring to win souls, rather than working in a way that leaves too little work to fulfill the ministry.
The verse commands those who have present truth for the last days to press in whether times are favorable or adverse, making an opportunity where none opens and losing no chance to let heaven's light shine. Having first received from God alone the light and oil needed to burn and send forth divine truth and knowledge of what is truth, they are to flash Bible light before the people and especially bear God's Word to the fallen churches where many precious souls remain, sowing beside all waters for Christ's sake because every soul is precious. Full proof is measured by labor that secures the desired results in conversion of souls. Regular open-air meetings do not meet this standard when men and means are scarce, because a chance speech rarely results in conversion even though it may set minds thinking in a way other influences later use for good, while open-air meetings remain the best means of reaching people at times and on special occasions.
Proved Character and Calling
To make full proof of the ministry is the standard for giving and keeping credentials, granted only to those who show by personal experience and labor that they are converted and that their work benefits the church. Lightness and frivolity do more harm than good, and ministers whose conduct is frivolous or whose work injures the church must be earnestly urged to reform. If they will not reform they are not to continue in the ministry nor to hold credentials, and they are not to be paid from the Lord's money, since paying tithe funds for unproved, unconverted and fruitless labor is sin.
Young ministers must first prove the ministry through responsible labor and trials even through privations before receiving broad support, influence, or a position independent of physical work. They should be left to earn a reputation and not be helped liberally too soon, laboring alongside experienced, wise, ministering brethren who pray with and for them and patiently teach them how to work, so their ability to exert a saving influence can be seen. Future usefulness depends much on the manner of entry into labor, for the cause succeeds not by a large number of ministers but by a few self-sacrificing, godly men small in their own estimation who feel the burden and sacredness of the calling, doing greater good than a larger number mixed with unqualified, self-confident and boastful men whose wrong influence faithful ministers must then spend nearly all their time following after to correct. This proving is the highest of all work, most blessed of God and never to be belittled as inferior, demanding whole armies of large-minded, large-hearted young men with deep love for Christ and truth, endowed with strength from on high, going forward with faith and hope where God bids them walk to strengthen the outposts with faithful sentinels in every part of the world, going forth without the camp bearing reproach, giving themselves to God to be imbued with His Spirit, seeking the Lord earnestly, with the Word dwelling richly and abiding in them as quick, earnest, powerful laborers with an unfailing source of supply, proclaiming truth in thousands of places to be worked without delay.
To rebuke successfully and make full proof requires arming with the mind of Christ, walking humbly with God, and regarding every soul as purchased by Christ's blood, so valued that Christ gave His life to give sinners probation to weigh eternal interests. It means far more than standing in the desk to give expositions, demanding a life of prayer and pastoral work in reproving and exhorting with longsuffering and doctrine, presenting the Word to show wherein character is deficient without lording over God's heritage, watching in all things and enduring afflictions in dealing with human minds, meeting prejudice and hearts never subdued, ordered or controlled. Full proof comes by continually increasing in efficiency, power in prayer, intelligence in handling the Word, and grace and knowledge of Christ, thinking, talking and meditating much on Christ until reflecting His image and becoming a partaker of the divine nature having escaped corruption through lust, speaking truth in demonstration of Spirit and power and carrying practical godliness into daily life as a living example, so that power remains wherever he goes and not only in the desk, like a branch connected to the living Vine drawing sap and nourishment. This includes keeping the soul undefiled and showing through a Christlike life the power of grace, so sinners are saved not only by preaching but by the life that represents Christ, placed in right relation to God by willingness of heart and earnestness to carry out principles of holiness, with the heart conformed to God's will, cleansed from defilement, God's law written on the heart, righteousness made part of the life, sanctified by truth through the Word, love for Christ controlling reason, freedom from worldly ambition, plans and principles, fullness of Christ's love, affections set above, and the whole being enlisted in love to God and neighbor through careful prayerful thought and decided reformation, which will be seen in fruit.
Full proof requires putting on the Lord Jesus Christ and making no provision for the flesh, taking Christ as personal Saviour and finding in Him all wisdom, sanctification, redemption, efficiency and reward. It requires dedicating without reservation to the work of shepherds, growing in grace and knowledge, and separating from imperfections of character, selfish propensities, pride, sensuality, selfish ambition, self-esteem and other cherished wrong desires even when as precious as the right hand or eye. Accepting and retaining workers who persist in such defects without demonstrating fitness for the sacred work greatly lowers the standard, so candidates must be thoroughly examined as to qualifications before ordination rather than after they are established and have put their mold upon the work.
The proved minister is a capable, thoughtful, constant student of the Bible who weighs arguments, digs for truth as for hidden treasure, and searches so as to serve people of every class, common and higher, with wisdom and love instead of lowering truth to careless, irreverent, slipshod preaching. He overcomes indolence and sloth, leaves no room for the self-indulgent, half-hearted or drones, shows fervor of spirit to endure hardship, opposition, reproach and even death, is measured by fidelity and consecration, remains alive to the sacred responsibility, labors earnestly on his own to win souls to obedience, improves delivery, manner, speech, habits and knowledge of Scripture, guards habits strictly, practices neatness and order, gains correct refined speech, and grows daily in grace and knowledge instead of settling for superficial attainments and mental lethargy. He knows parents and children, shows wisdom in dealing with minds, speaks kind earnest words without lightness, jesting or trifling, bears a message for souls, stays close to Christ through prayer, sacrifice, self-denial, supplication for grace to overcome lusts and diligent labor on self, gives fitting spiritual food, and wins hearts by an example of sacred power, compassion, order, cheerfulness, hope and courage, with true peculiarity shown not in oddities, eccentricities, blunt speech and rough discourteous ways but in separation from iniquity, purity amid a crooked people, truthfulness, strict honesty, patience under provocation, chaste holy thoughts, pure select words, heavenly conversation, freedom from pride of opinion, humility, justice, mercy and courteous kindly refinement that is attractive and unrebukable without spot and blameless.
Widening Call for Today
The charge is for ministers now, to be understood and obeyed by spiritually minded men who are firm in principle, who know the truth, practise it, and have a clear understanding of it. Joined to preaching the word with reproof, rebuke and patient instruction in doctrine, it calls for alertness in all things, endurance of hardship, evangelistic labor, and full completion of the ministry. These duties rest on ministers in the Michigan Conference and on churches throughout the world, whose work is to bear the message that prepares a people to stand in the day of the Lord and to shine light into a world in darkness. Workers held in Battle Creek are to take their places in the harvest fields under this same charge.
It is part of the solemn charge given before God and the Lord Jesus Christ, who will judge the living and the dead at His appearing and His kingdom, laying duty with all care, diligence and faithfulness. Every laborer who serves the gospel is responsible to represent the Lord faithfully, uphold Bible truth that strengthens devotion and faith, and act with integrity. This includes medical missionary workers and physicians in every sanitarium, who in the wisdom of God are to act the part of an evangelist. For those ministering in the Word and in combating disease, that means exercising full faith in dealing with the sick, praying and talking with them, following Bible methods, and giving full proof of genuine conversion, being urgent in season and out of season.
Minds hardened are often softened by suffering, and such are to be wisely managed and turned from fables to truth, away from teachers with itching ears who will not endure sound doctrine, while church and sanitariums stand under God alone and not under any human power or central control. When workers dishonor the truth or lower its standard, faithful ministers are to correct them with patient instruction, reproof and exhortation.
Ministry in preaching and teaching the Word is sacred and important as the means ordained for giving the warning message to the world, and a faithful teacher as shepherd of the flock deserves respect and appreciation. Canvassing and genuine medical missionary work belong with that ministry and are not to be separated from it. The command to do the work of an evangelist therefore applies to canvassers, who teach others while learning the work themselves, who with humble earnest activity find chances to speak timely words to the discouraged and needy, who gain valuable experience by helping others, and who as young men educated for service carry books with truth into homes to reach those who might not otherwise hear.
Ministry is not confined to preachers but includes all who are doing God's service, and each one is to make full proof of that ministry. In warning that Jesus is soon coming, every believer is urged to cooperate with those proclaiming the message and to take an active part in the work. As a continuation of Christ's commission to His disciples it is binding today on all engaged in the Lord's work, making His servants lights in the world who speak words through which the true light shines, take every opportunity for instruction, speak the word of life among those not of the faith and those knowing little of present truth including ministers, physicians and teachers, hold fast the form of sound words, and let sacred truth flash its convincing power into minds. It is a direct charge to messengers bearing the God-given message in the last days, requiring vigilance in all things, endurance under affliction and hardship, active evangelistic labor, and complete faithfulness.
Ministers are to work earnestly and watch for souls as those who must give account, while church members are called to watch, wait and pray for Christ's coming, consecrate themselves to God, stand ready to serve, stay spiritually awake, attend meetings ready to serve, and pray and work for the lost rather than leaving the effort to the evangelist alone. Even those not called to ministry can stay close to Christ and show the truth through godly lives.
Enoch exemplifies ministry fully carried out through earnest self-denying labor, in warning sinners, urging them to repent and choose good, preaching faith in Christ as the sinner's only hope, living distinct from the corrupt world while mingling with people to seek their salvation, and pointing to coming judgment. Those who hear the word also have responsibility to receive and obey it, not merely listen and forget, even when many reject sound teaching and turn to fables under the solemn accountability before God and Christ as Judge. Giving full proof means showing oneself able to fulfill weighty responsibilities properly, so those entrusted with positions of usefulness should be experienced, God-fearing, tested, and willing to bear messages of reproof.
It is a solemn charge to stay alert in every part of the work, to bear hardship, to preach the gospel, and to carry the ministry through to completion. It is given before God and the Lord Jesus Christ who will judge the living and the dead at His appearing and His kingdom, laying duty under accountability that calls for care, diligence and faithfulness. To watch means to stay steady and mindful of souls because the adversary works with all deceit as trouble approaches, and to endure means to bear opposition, reproach, persecution and the strain of dealing with unsubdued hearts without answering in kind. To do the work of an evangelist means to hold forth the word of life and preach the gospel as the power of God unto salvation rather than philosophy and vain deceit, joined with personal visiting, instructing and praying in families and done in dependence on Christ's presence and the Spirit's power. To make full proof means to work thoroughly and wholeheartedly with undivided heart, shepherding households, repeating and binding off the work, guarding the flock from fables and sensational inventions by plain It is written, because the time has come when many will not endure sound doctrine but turn to teachers after their own lusts.
Charge Setting and Context
The charge is given before God and the Lord Jesus Christ, who will judge the living and the dead at His appearing and His kingdom, and it lays duty with accountability to be discharged with all care, diligence and faithfulness. To watch in all things, endure afflictions, do evangelistic work and fully carry out the ministry means to preach the word and to reprove, rebuke and exhort with patience and doctrine when people will not endure sound doctrine but turn from truth to fables. For those ministering in the Word and in the science of combating disease, and for physicians in every sanitarium, this means exercising full faith in dealing with the sick, praying and talking with them, following Bible methods, and in the wisdom of God acting the part of an evangelist and giving full proof of genuine conversion. It means being urgent in season and out of season because the enemy is close beside the sick to make impressions on their minds, not leaving men in danger to their own will and unsanctified devising, but wisely managing those whose hard minds are often softened by suffering to turn them away from teachers with itching ears and from fables to the truth, while church and sanitariums stand not under any human power or central control but under God alone.
It is Paul's dying farewell, given when he was ready to be offered and the time of his departure was at hand. His faithful completion of it despite approaching death illustrates service that remains faithful to gifts entrusted by God and looks toward the Lord's reward. That reward is the crown of righteousness given at that day by the Lord the righteous Judge to the faithful minister who so watches and endures, and to all who love Christ's appearing.
The verse belongs inseparably with preaching the Word, being urgent in season and out of season, and reproving, rebuking and exhorting with all longsuffering and doctrine. Joined to that preaching, it calls for alertness in all things, endurance of hardship, evangelistic labor and full completion of the ministry, to be understood and obeyed by spiritual-minded men firm in principle who know and practise the truth and have a clear understanding of it. This preaching is the gospel as the power of God unto salvation, not vain philosophy and science falsely so called, and it is done through receiving power after the Holy Spirit is come. Watchfulness and endurance are needed because the time comes when people will not endure sound doctrine but after their own lusts heap up teachers with itching ears and turn from truth to fables, and because hearers include those constantly harassed by temptation and wrestling with the adversary of souls who must be strengthened for the conflict. That foretold falling away describes the departure of many once united in faith, and the warning belongs to the days now living. Christlike preaching of practical piety and true godliness exposes the lives and characters of professed Christians, so they turn away their ears from hearing the truth, and that time has surely come when a dish of fables served in the pulpit suits the taste more than being fed with the sincere milk of the word to grow thereby.
It continues Christ's commission to His disciples and is binding today on all engaged in the Lord's work. It is God's plan for the ministry of His Word, in which the Holy Spirit speaks in warnings and reproof. The Lord's servants are to be lights in the world speaking words through which the true light shines, taking advantage of every opportunity to give instruction in the truth and speak the Word of life, holding fast the form of sound words and letting sacred truth flash its convincing power into minds, losing no opportunity for teaching the truth. Doing evangelistic work includes labor among those not of the faith and those who know little of present truth, including ministers, physicians and teachers, and enduring afflictions as partakers of the afflictions of the gospel. It calls for studying God's Word with prayerful diligence and showing consecration to God's Word, and for presenting obedience, virtue, prudence and piety from the Scriptures as the obligation of every human being, because each person has an accountability to God that must be urged upon the conscience. Paul's dying charge to Timothy must be repeated often: the Word is to be taught at all times and in all places, because its power endures and nothing can take its place.
It follows the call to continue in the things learned and assured of from childhood in the holy Scriptures, which are able to make wise unto salvation through faith in Christ Jesus and, as given by inspiration of God, furnish the man of God unto all good works. It applies to all who claim to know and believe the truth, calling them to prize and study the Scriptures and to be safe only by eating and digesting the Word. Learning the It is written and how to use the Word of God, and presenting truth in plain simplicity so every mind can take it in, is part of watching, enduring, evangelizing and fully proving the ministry. It is to be read for encouragement by those faithful in service for God amid the opposite moral condition, with the assurance that though all who live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution, out of them all the Lord delivers.
Watching and Enduring Affliction
The verse lays four duties together as one charge, to stay alert in all things, to bear afflictions, to do evangelistic work, and to fully carry out the ministry by discharging it with care, diligence and faithfulness. Joined to preaching the word with reproof, rebuke and patient exhortation in doctrine, it calls for alertness in every part of the work, endurance of hardship, labor for souls, and complete fulfillment of the calling. It leaves no room for entanglement in temporal pursuits or separate commercial interest, but requires giving the whole self to the ministry and using every means to do good to souls for whom Christ died. For those ministering in the word and in combating disease, including physicians, this means exercising full faith, praying and talking with the sick, following Bible methods, acting in divine wisdom the part of an evangelist, giving proof of genuine conversion, and being urgent in season and out of season. It means far more than standing in the desk to give expositions of Scripture, demanding a life of prayer and pastoral work that presents the word to show where character is deficient, without lording over the heritage.
To watch in all things is to remain watchful and steady in every matter and every circumstance, in every part of the work, apart from self-sufficiency and apart from sensational religion. It is earnest work with watching for souls, mindful of giving account, and it belongs to the present time and the perils of the last days. The urgency lies in that Satan is playing the game of life for souls, and with his emissaries works with all deceivableness of unrighteousness as the day of trouble fast approaches. Church members too share the call to watch, wait and pray for Christ's coming, to consecrate themselves, to stand ready to serve, and even where not called to public ministry to stay close to Christ and show truth by godly lives.
To endure afflictions is to bear hardship, opposition, reproach, persecution and malicious falsehoods. It includes the strain of dealing with human minds, meeting prejudice and hearts never subdued, ordered or controlled. To rebuke successfully under such pressure requires being armed with the mind of Christ, walking humbly, regarding every soul as purchased by Christ's blood at the cost of His life to give sinners probation to weigh eternal interests. It requires continually increasing in efficiency, power in prayer, intelligence in handling the word, and grace and knowledge of Christ, thinking, talking and meditating on Christ until reflecting His image and partaking the divine nature escaped from corruption through lust. So equipped, the worker speaks truth in demonstration of Spirit and power and carries practical godliness into daily life as a living example, with power remaining wherever he goes and not only in the desk, like a branch connected to the living vine drawing sap and nourishment.
This watchfulness and endurance are needed because hearers include those constantly harassed by temptation and wrestling with the adversary of souls, who must be strengthened for the conflict. The work therefore gives the bread of life that lives and abides forever and brings truth home to the heart in short discourses that grasp great forcible points, elevating, ennobling, refining and purifying imperfect character while weaving no finite imperfection into the ministry. It refuses to meet unreasonable and wicked men on their own level with satanic weapons, strong personal feeling, prejudice, thunderbolts and storming, using only spiritual weapons mighty to pull down strongholds. It remains among people kept from evil instead of building a wall, carrying aggressive work forward on Bible principles with Christlike simplicity, patience, forbearance, love and longsuffering, convincing and not condemning.
Evangelistic Preaching Commission
To do the work of an evangelist is to hold forth the word of life and preach the gospel as the power of God unto salvation, not philosophy and vain deceit nor science falsely so called. That preaching includes reproving, rebuking and exhorting with longsuffering and doctrine even when men will not endure sound doctrine. This is the outlined work of every minister with watchfulness in everything, endurance of hardship, and full accomplishment of ministry.
The evangelist's work joins preaching with personal work among people and teaching the Scriptures in families, and preaching without this visiting, instructing, advising and praying will be largely unsuccessful. Making full proof requires more than delivering sermons, for the minister must watch for souls, care for the flock, and personally visit homes to instruct, advise and counsel. He is to learn each household's spiritual condition, encourage and reprove with patience and teaching, pray with its members, and bind personal interest with their hearts and souls as a faithful shepherd. A preacher who only delivers sermons and neglects this shepherding leaves the flock unvisited and neglected and has not fulfilled the ministry and is not ready to serve as a missionary in a new field. By noticing interested hearers and following up with timely personal counsel, encouragement and prayer, he proves the work and helps people understand and respond to biblical truth, also teaching that God's love belongs in the home.
The work is to be conducted by Bible principles and with Christlike simplicity, forbearance, love, patience and longsuffering, aiming to convince rather than condemn. It remains among people kept from evil instead of building a wall between commandment keepers and the world, carrying an aggressive work forward on the platform of eternal truth including the Sabbath. It uplifts Christ as the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world, exalts the law of God as binding believers with Christ, and loves souls for whom Christ died. It refuses to meet unreasonable and wicked men on their own level with satanic weapons, strong personal feeling, prejudice, thunderbolts and storming of ears, and uses only spiritual weapons mighty to pull down strongholds, even when facing error, hostility, afflictions and malicious falsehoods.
A pastor must do the work of an evangelist together with the work of a pastor, carrying a double burden that should be shared by two workers where possible. This combined labor is necessary because the faith is unpopular, people are unwilling to be convinced that they are deeply in error, a great work is to be done, and there are few to do it. To make full proof of this ministry the pastor needs a correct understanding of the Word and also of human character, with strength in Scripture, enduring the strain of traveling from place to place to serve and not hindered by attention to business details. The work must suit a person's health and circumstances, so someone unable to withstand the changes and demands of traveling evangelism can still serve well where placed by living the truth in purity and humility and adorning the doctrine of God the Saviour.
This work can be done only through the fulfillment of Jesus' promise to be with His disciples always even unto the end, and through receiving power after the Holy Spirit is come. It is to be done in dependence on Christ's strength and grace, not human strength or efficiency or reliance on other people. It requires faithfulness in preaching the word even when people reject sound teaching, with accountability to God for how the minister serves. A minister must do more than go through the form of preaching, giving full proof of ministry by revealing precious fruit.
Sound Doctrine Versus Fables
Paul's charge to watch in all things, endure hardship, do evangelistic work and fully complete the ministry was given for the time when people will not tolerate sound doctrine but follow their own desires, gather teachers to suit their itching ears, and turn away from truth to fables, even to seducing spirits and doctrines of devils. It stands joined to the duty before God and the Lord Jesus Christ, who shall judge the living and the dead at His appearing and His kingdom, to preach the Word, to be urgent in season and out of season, and to reprove, rebuke and exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine. Christlike preaching of practical piety and true godliness exposes the lives and characters of professed Christians, and for that reason they turn their ears from hearing the truth. Watchfulness and endurance are needed in that conflict because hearers include those constantly harassed by temptation and wrestling with the adversary of souls who must be strengthened, and doing the work means giving the bread of life that lives and abides forever and bringing truth home to the heart in short discourses that grasp great forcible points without human stories, elevating, ennobling, refining and purifying imperfect character while weaving no finite imperfection into the ministry.
That foretold time has surely come in the present days, the perils of the last days with the Judge standing before the door. It is seen in the departure of many once united in faith and in hearers who prefer a dish of fables served from the pulpit to being fed with the sincere milk of the word to grow thereby. Those who have present truth for the last days therefore run for teachers to oppose it with endless theories, heaping up teachers after their own lusts. The charge is to be heeded now with watchfulness apart from self-sufficiency, keeping within It is written instead of manufacturing cheap suppositions, guesswork fables and human inventions to make an impression.
The verse thus forbids sensational religion, new and fanciful doctrines, speculative knowledge, human suppositions, guesswork and inventions, since pure and undefiled religion is not sensational. Ministers are to walk firmly and decidedly in the gospel, to know, teach and practise the truth with clear understanding, and to keep such things out of teaching, experience and life-work. Faithful ministry requires teaching God's Word rather than fables, theories Christ never taught, or fanciful doctrines and interpretations that cannot be supported by it, keeping teaching grounded in Scripture. Making full proof in this setting means decidedly meeting false plans and false theories taught as truth.
It means standing strongly linked with appointed messengers, refusing to honor or yoke with self-exalting leaders, refusing to keep silent while fables are brought in and taught as truth, and reproving false methods and plans so that the Word goes forth as a lamp that burns. Faithful workers must guard the truth and tenderly protect the flock from error, showing by their lives that they are co-workers with Christ. When workers dishonor the truth or lower its standard they are to be corrected with patient instruction, reproof, rebuke and exhortation. Safety lies only in eating and digesting the Word, learning the It is written and how to use the Word of God, appreciating the study of the Scriptures as making wise unto salvation, and presenting truth in plain simplicity so every mind can take it in.
Wholehearted Undivided Service
The charge to make full proof of the ministry leaves no room for a separate business or commercial interest entangled with temporal pursuits. It requires giving oneself wholly to the work of leading souls to truth and using every means to do good to souls for whom Christ died. Time, strength, and clear judgment are to be preserved for preaching, prayer, meditation, and personal care for those needing help, since separate business and selfish interests weaken fitness for this sacred responsibility. Watchfulness in every part of the work and endurance of hardship, opposition, reproach, and persecution belong to this undivided devotion.
The ministry is no place for idlers, sluggards, the slothful, the self-indulgent, the half-hearted, or drones. It demands utmost energy to be faithful as an expositor of the Word, never ceasing to be a learner and keeping the soul alive to the sacredness of the work and the greatness of its responsibility. Study and prayer are required, so that no defective or maimed offering is brought to God that has cost nothing. This calls for men of mind and talent who weigh arguments and dig for truth as for hidden treasure, remaining constant students of the Bible, alive to sacred responsibility, able to reach both common people and the higher classes rather than lowering truth to careless, irreverent, slipshod preaching. Fervor of spirit is needed to endure hardship, opposition, reproach, and even death for Christ, with each worker measured by fidelity and spirit of consecration in fulfilling his mission, and with strength from above to go forward in faith and hope wherever God leads.
Making full proof means becoming an able, useful workman of whom the Master is not ashamed. It requires proper training and right discipline at the start, patiently and humbly beginning on the lowest round of the ladder and with persevering energy climbing step by step. Every privilege and opportunity within reach is to be diligently improved, dormant energies aroused, every power tasked to become efficient, and thorough, well-devised plans formed. The ABCs of the knowledge of the truth must be fully mastered before presuming to teach, with close studious habits, growth, fitness gained with experienced workmen before laboring alone, ability to speak on any subject including prophecy, and knowledge of the best methods of labor to bring souls into the truth. Without this, even men of ability do defective labor and accomplish little, seizing a few ideas and a runway of a few discourses and then stumbling along without doing justice to themselves or to the work, showing deficiency in every part and at last giving up in discouragement for other employment.
Full proof requires faithful, thorough, whole-hearted work in the strength of Christ, with undivided heart and whole soul put into the work. It means binding off work thoroughly, never leaving work half done to go to another place and leaving no dropped stitches for someone else to pick up, reproving, rebuking, and exhorting with all longsuffering and doctrine, determining to succeed and not disappoint Christ, learning every day in the school of Christ, for God accepts only faithful work. Time, property, speech, abilities, and social influence are to be treated as gifts entrusted by God and used as He directs, in prayer, sacrifice, and sanctified labor while remaining connected with God as the source of power. Those entrusted with positions of usefulness must thus show themselves able to fulfill weighty responsibilities properly as experienced, God-fearing, tested men willing to bear messages of reproof.
Ministers must preserve moral and physical vigor so they can serve as faithful workers and give full proof of ministry. Their work does not end when they leave the pulpit but continues in watching over hearers, visiting and speaking with inquirers who want to learn, counseling, correcting, encouraging, and caring for spiritual needs. They are not to neglect this because it feels burdensome, nor to spend strength on tasks others could do just as well, such as selling books when others are available, if that keeps them from completing their ministry.
Thorough Personal Soul Winning
Making full proof of the ministry means far more than standing in the desk to give expositions of Scripture or delivering sermons alone. It requires pastoral shepherding that watches for souls and cares for the flock as a faithful shepherd. The minister must learn the spiritual condition of each household, visit people in their homes, talk with family members, instruct, advise and counsel them, encourage and reprove with all patience and teaching, pray with members, and bind personal interest with their hearts and souls. Preaching without this visiting leaves the flock unvisited, neglected and unbuilt, and one thorough faithful shepherd who cares for the flock is better than twenty sermonizers. A preacher who only sermonizes and neglects this personal labor has not fulfilled the ministry and should not be accepted, given credentials, or sent as a missionary into a new field or foreign country.
Such shepherding demands a most solemn life of prayer and presenting the Word to show wherein character is deficient, without lording over God's heritage. It calls for watching in all things and enduring afflictions in dealing with human minds, meeting prejudice and hearts never subdued, ordered or controlled. To rebuke successfully requires being armed with the mind of Christ, walking humbly, regarding every soul as purchased by Christ's blood and so valued that Christ gave His life to give sinners probation to weigh eternal interests, continually increasing in efficiency, power in prayer, intelligence in handling the Word, and grace and knowledge of Christ. Thinking, talking and meditating much on Christ until reflecting His image, becoming a partaker of the divine nature having escaped corruption through lust, speaking truth in demonstration of Spirit and power, and carrying practical godliness into daily life as a living example makes power remain wherever he goes and not only in the desk, like a branch connected to the living Vine drawing sap and nourishment.
Full proof also requires heart-to-heart labor and repeated thorough work rather than a single effort or one course of lectures. The same ground must be gone over again with a second series of discourses, Bible readings and more definite explanation of the truth, with practical instruction in daily Christian life and duty. Arguments for present truth presented the first time are difficult to fasten upon the mind, while repetition establishes the points, reaches new hearers added to the audience, gathers more souls, and establishes those who have taken their stand. This careful follow-up is especially needed for those newly come to the faith, for whom everything in Scripture is new and strange and who are in danger of losing the force of the truth and receiving incorrect ideas. The work is best done with two workers connected in the effort rather than one man alone, so pulpit effort is followed up with teaching and ministering without one becoming too weary, and with different manners of labor so that one man's mold and ideas do not have too great power upon minds, showing in personal life patience, meekness, forbearance, long-suffering, cheerfulness and joyfulness in the truth without a love for controversy.
Fully proving ministry happens when God lays the burden for the salvation of souls on a man called to labor. Such a man will not settle into other men's work but will strike out into new places and enter new ground, and although suffering want and privation will labor on until souls are brought out as fruit leading people to obey the truth. A man whose principal burden is his own support, who travels from place to place accomplishing nothing and leaves churches lower instead of benefited and built up, does not give this proof and is deceived about his calling. Indolence must be overcome by improving delivery and manner and laboring to win souls, rather than working in a way that leaves too little work to fulfill the ministry.
The verse commands those who have present truth for the last days to press in whether times are favorable or adverse, making an opportunity where none opens and losing no chance to let heaven's light shine. Having first received from God alone the light and oil needed to burn and send forth divine truth and knowledge of what is truth, they are to flash Bible light before the people and especially bear God's Word to the fallen churches where many precious souls remain, sowing beside all waters for Christ's sake because every soul is precious. Full proof is measured by labor that secures the desired results in conversion of souls. Regular open-air meetings do not meet this standard when men and means are scarce, because a chance speech rarely results in conversion even though it may set minds thinking in a way other influences later use for good, while open-air meetings remain the best means of reaching people at times and on special occasions.
Proved Character and Calling
To make full proof of the ministry is the standard for giving and keeping credentials, granted only to those who show by personal experience and labor that they are converted and that their work benefits the church. Lightness and frivolity do more harm than good, and ministers whose conduct is frivolous or whose work injures the church must be earnestly urged to reform. If they will not reform they are not to continue in the ministry nor to hold credentials, and they are not to be paid from the Lord's money, since paying tithe funds for unproved, unconverted and fruitless labor is sin.
Young ministers must first prove the ministry through responsible labor and trials even through privations before receiving broad support, influence, or a position independent of physical work. They should be left to earn a reputation and not be helped liberally too soon, laboring alongside experienced, wise, ministering brethren who pray with and for them and patiently teach them how to work, so their ability to exert a saving influence can be seen. Future usefulness depends much on the manner of entry into labor, for the cause succeeds not by a large number of ministers but by a few self-sacrificing, godly men small in their own estimation who feel the burden and sacredness of the calling, doing greater good than a larger number mixed with unqualified, self-confident and boastful men whose wrong influence faithful ministers must then spend nearly all their time following after to correct. This proving is the highest of all work, most blessed of God and never to be belittled as inferior, demanding whole armies of large-minded, large-hearted young men with deep love for Christ and truth, endowed with strength from on high, going forward with faith and hope where God bids them walk to strengthen the outposts with faithful sentinels in every part of the world, going forth without the camp bearing reproach, giving themselves to God to be imbued with His Spirit, seeking the Lord earnestly, with the Word dwelling richly and abiding in them as quick, earnest, powerful laborers with an unfailing source of supply, proclaiming truth in thousands of places to be worked without delay.
To rebuke successfully and make full proof requires arming with the mind of Christ, walking humbly with God, and regarding every soul as purchased by Christ's blood, so valued that Christ gave His life to give sinners probation to weigh eternal interests. It means far more than standing in the desk to give expositions, demanding a life of prayer and pastoral work in reproving and exhorting with longsuffering and doctrine, presenting the Word to show wherein character is deficient without lording over God's heritage, watching in all things and enduring afflictions in dealing with human minds, meeting prejudice and hearts never subdued, ordered or controlled. Full proof comes by continually increasing in efficiency, power in prayer, intelligence in handling the Word, and grace and knowledge of Christ, thinking, talking and meditating much on Christ until reflecting His image and becoming a partaker of the divine nature having escaped corruption through lust, speaking truth in demonstration of Spirit and power and carrying practical godliness into daily life as a living example, so that power remains wherever he goes and not only in the desk, like a branch connected to the living Vine drawing sap and nourishment. This includes keeping the soul undefiled and showing through a Christlike life the power of grace, so sinners are saved not only by preaching but by the life that represents Christ, placed in right relation to God by willingness of heart and earnestness to carry out principles of holiness, with the heart conformed to God's will, cleansed from defilement, God's law written on the heart, righteousness made part of the life, sanctified by truth through the Word, love for Christ controlling reason, freedom from worldly ambition, plans and principles, fullness of Christ's love, affections set above, and the whole being enlisted in love to God and neighbor through careful prayerful thought and decided reformation, which will be seen in fruit.
Full proof requires putting on the Lord Jesus Christ and making no provision for the flesh, taking Christ as personal Saviour and finding in Him all wisdom, sanctification, redemption, efficiency and reward. It requires dedicating without reservation to the work of shepherds, growing in grace and knowledge, and separating from imperfections of character, selfish propensities, pride, sensuality, selfish ambition, self-esteem and other cherished wrong desires even when as precious as the right hand or eye. Accepting and retaining workers who persist in such defects without demonstrating fitness for the sacred work greatly lowers the standard, so candidates must be thoroughly examined as to qualifications before ordination rather than after they are established and have put their mold upon the work.
The proved minister is a capable, thoughtful, constant student of the Bible who weighs arguments, digs for truth as for hidden treasure, and searches so as to serve people of every class, common and higher, with wisdom and love instead of lowering truth to careless, irreverent, slipshod preaching. He overcomes indolence and sloth, leaves no room for the self-indulgent, half-hearted or drones, shows fervor of spirit to endure hardship, opposition, reproach and even death, is measured by fidelity and consecration, remains alive to the sacred responsibility, labors earnestly on his own to win souls to obedience, improves delivery, manner, speech, habits and knowledge of Scripture, guards habits strictly, practices neatness and order, gains correct refined speech, and grows daily in grace and knowledge instead of settling for superficial attainments and mental lethargy. He knows parents and children, shows wisdom in dealing with minds, speaks kind earnest words without lightness, jesting or trifling, bears a message for souls, stays close to Christ through prayer, sacrifice, self-denial, supplication for grace to overcome lusts and diligent labor on self, gives fitting spiritual food, and wins hearts by an example of sacred power, compassion, order, cheerfulness, hope and courage, with true peculiarity shown not in oddities, eccentricities, blunt speech and rough discourteous ways but in separation from iniquity, purity amid a crooked people, truthfulness, strict honesty, patience under provocation, chaste holy thoughts, pure select words, heavenly conversation, freedom from pride of opinion, humility, justice, mercy and courteous kindly refinement that is attractive and unrebukable without spot and blameless.
Widening Call for Today
The charge is for ministers now, to be understood and obeyed by spiritually minded men who are firm in principle, who know the truth, practise it, and have a clear understanding of it. Joined to preaching the word with reproof, rebuke and patient instruction in doctrine, it calls for alertness in all things, endurance of hardship, evangelistic labor, and full completion of the ministry. These duties rest on ministers in the Michigan Conference and on churches throughout the world, whose work is to bear the message that prepares a people to stand in the day of the Lord and to shine light into a world in darkness. Workers held in Battle Creek are to take their places in the harvest fields under this same charge.
It is part of the solemn charge given before God and the Lord Jesus Christ, who will judge the living and the dead at His appearing and His kingdom, laying duty with all care, diligence and faithfulness. Every laborer who serves the gospel is responsible to represent the Lord faithfully, uphold Bible truth that strengthens devotion and faith, and act with integrity. This includes medical missionary workers and physicians in every sanitarium, who in the wisdom of God are to act the part of an evangelist. For those ministering in the Word and in combating disease, that means exercising full faith in dealing with the sick, praying and talking with them, following Bible methods, and giving full proof of genuine conversion, being urgent in season and out of season.
Minds hardened are often softened by suffering, and such are to be wisely managed and turned from fables to truth, away from teachers with itching ears who will not endure sound doctrine, while church and sanitariums stand under God alone and not under any human power or central control. When workers dishonor the truth or lower its standard, faithful ministers are to correct them with patient instruction, reproof and exhortation.
Ministry in preaching and teaching the Word is sacred and important as the means ordained for giving the warning message to the world, and a faithful teacher as shepherd of the flock deserves respect and appreciation. Canvassing and genuine medical missionary work belong with that ministry and are not to be separated from it. The command to do the work of an evangelist therefore applies to canvassers, who teach others while learning the work themselves, who with humble earnest activity find chances to speak timely words to the discouraged and needy, who gain valuable experience by helping others, and who as young men educated for service carry books with truth into homes to reach those who might not otherwise hear.
Ministry is not confined to preachers but includes all who are doing God's service, and each one is to make full proof of that ministry. In warning that Jesus is soon coming, every believer is urged to cooperate with those proclaiming the message and to take an active part in the work. As a continuation of Christ's commission to His disciples it is binding today on all engaged in the Lord's work, making His servants lights in the world who speak words through which the true light shines, take every opportunity for instruction, speak the word of life among those not of the faith and those knowing little of present truth including ministers, physicians and teachers, hold fast the form of sound words, and let sacred truth flash its convincing power into minds. It is a direct charge to messengers bearing the God-given message in the last days, requiring vigilance in all things, endurance under affliction and hardship, active evangelistic labor, and complete faithfulness.
Ministers are to work earnestly and watch for souls as those who must give account, while church members are called to watch, wait and pray for Christ's coming, consecrate themselves to God, stand ready to serve, stay spiritually awake, attend meetings ready to serve, and pray and work for the lost rather than leaving the effort to the evangelist alone. Even those not called to ministry can stay close to Christ and show the truth through godly lives.
Enoch exemplifies ministry fully carried out through earnest self-denying labor, in warning sinners, urging them to repent and choose good, preaching faith in Christ as the sinner's only hope, living distinct from the corrupt world while mingling with people to seek their salvation, and pointing to coming judgment. Those who hear the word also have responsibility to receive and obey it, not merely listen and forget, even when many reject sound teaching and turn to fables under the solemn accountability before God and Christ as Judge. Giving full proof means showing oneself able to fulfill weighty responsibilities properly, so those entrusted with positions of usefulness should be experienced, God-fearing, tested, and willing to bear messages of reproof.