November 3, 2019
Evening Service

This morning the message had many bullet points to grab onto. 

·        Don’t let your circumstances dictate your attitude

·        Prayer works no matter the distance involved.

·        Parents and grandparents have a great responsibility to introduce their kids to Christ.

·        “Fan into flame the spiritual gifts God has given you”

·        God has not given us the spirit of fear, but of power, love and a sound mind.

o   The video certainly put an exclamation point for me this morning.

 

Paul now continues his reminder to Timothy about his responsibility as he goes forward with the ministry.  Let’s start back with verse 6 so we can see how these thoughts fit neatly together.

2Ti 1:6-8 Therefore I remind you to stir up the gift of God which is in you through the laying on of my hands.  (7)  For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.  (8)  Therefore do not be ashamed of the testimony of our Lord, nor of me His prisoner, but share with me in the sufferings for the gospel according to the power of God,

        With the rising amount of persecution that was coming against the church, it would have been very natural for Timothy to be afraid to continue preaching the gospel message as he had been called to do.  Paul encourages him not to become afraid and even ashamed of the message that he is proclaiming, but to also expect to face suffering in doing so.  He paints a very clear picture here for Timothy to not fear the suffering, but to embrace it as part of the will of God and the calling that had been placed on his life.  It was to be part of his journey with Christ as he presents the gospel message according to the power of God.  We too will not be exempt from some form of suffering.  Expect and embrace it to draw you closer to the One who called you.

 

2Ti 1:9-10 who has saved us and called us with a holy calling, not according to our works, but according to His own purpose and grace which was given to us in Christ Jesus before time began, (10) but has now been revealed by the appearing of our Savior Jesus Christ, who has abolished death and brought life and immortality to light through the gospel,

            Paul here also makes it clear that it is God who saved us and it is Him that also called us to play our part in fulfilling His purposes not our own.  Though we often look from our own perspective and proclaim that God is a part of our own personal story, the opposite is really true.  We play a part in God’s story.   They and we are playing a part in something that is far bigger than what we could ever envision.  This Jesus of Nazareth whom we preach came down to our world on a far greater mission than any mortal could have foreseen or designed.  The Creator Himself came to abolish the power of death forever and bring true life and immortality into focus as a reality for those who believe.  As Andy told us last week, He came to “seek and to save that which was lost.”  (Luke 19:10)

  These verses give a quick summary of the gospel message.  God loves us, chose us and sent Christ to die for us.  Eternal life is ours through faith in Him because it was Him who paid the price for our sins in full.  We don’t deserve, but it is offered to “whosoever will” as an invitation to know and be known by Him in a very personal relationship as He can use us to help fulfil these grand plans in the building of His kingdom.  Paul now continues to speak of this wonderful gospel message:

 

2Ti 1:11-12 to which I was appointed a preacher, an apostle, and a teacher of the Gentiles.  (12)  For this reason I also suffer these things; nevertheless, I am not ashamed, for I know whom I have believed and am persuaded that He is able to keep what I have committed to Him until that Day.

            Paul had no doubts of his calling to be a preacher, apostle and teacher of the Gentiles.  His role brought with it great suffering and discomfort, but no shame or remorse on his part.  He has full confidence in the One who called him into this ministry and he fully trusts that as he does his best to fulfill the calling (even falling short at times), he is persuaded that God will faithfully do His part as well.  Paul said this in his letter to the Romans:

 

 Romans 8:31-32 What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us?  (32)  He who did not spare His Own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not with Him also freely give us all things?

        Paul was confident of his full commitment to Christ and certainly was confident of Christ’s commitment to him.  He knew that Christ would not call him to a ministry and then leave him to complete it on his own.  He would be there to provide all he needed and more to complete the work.  The same is true for each of us.  God has called you to follow Him and when we accepted that invitation and committed ourselves to Him; He committed Himself to us as well.  He walks with us and empowers us with each and every step of our journey and will do so until that journey is complete.  He will never leave us or forsake us.  We can know whom we have believed and can be persuaded that He is able to see us through to the end fulfilling each and every promise He has made to us.  Paul now places a challenge to Timothy:

 

2Ti 1:13-14 Hold fast the pattern of sound words which you have heard from me, in faith and love which are in Christ Jesus.  (14)  That good thing which was committed to you, keep by the Holy Spirit who dwells in us.

            Paul again encourages Timothy to “Hold fast the pattern of sound words you have heard from me.”  He has been taught well and also is empowered by the Holy Spirit to be able to stay true to the sound doctrine that he then also passed on to those to whom he ministered.  Even 2000 years later the call is the same for us; “hold fast the pattern of sound words.”  We don’t need to upgrade or improve the gospel message, but simply continue to teach and preach the “engrafted word that is able to save your souls.” (James 1:21) If Jesus tarries, it is our job to equip the next generation to continue to teach and preach “holding fast” to the truth we have received.

            Paul now closes this chapter with a bit of an update on his current status.

 

2Ti 1:15-18 This you know, that all those in Asia have turned away from me, among whom are Phygellus and Hermogenes. (16) The Lord grant mercy to the household of Onesiphorus, for he often refreshed me, and was not ashamed of my chain; (17) but when he arrived in Rome, he sought me out very zealously and found me. (18) The Lord grant to him that he may find mercy from the Lord in that Day—and you know very well how many ways he ministered to me at Ephesus.

            Paul mentions Phygellus and Hermogenes who apparently opposed his ministry, but nothing else is really known about them.  He thanks God for his dear friend Onesiphorus.  He must have been a person of wealth as Paul speaks of his “household” which would refer to his servants who often showed him hospitality while he was in Ephesus.  Onesiphorus also faithfully sought out Paul as he was imprisoned without fear of shame to let him know he was not alone. 

We too should be such friends as to seek out our brothers and sisters when they find themselves in a tough time and let them know that we are there for them.  A visit, card, call, text or a Facebook message is a simple way to let others know you care for them and are praying for them, but we must also be ready and willing to go to the next step and make ourselves available to give any aid that may be needed.  In times of trouble, it is very comforting to know you are not alone.  We are better together.

            This first chapter is packed with some very deep emotion and teaching and it only gets better as we read on.

 

Heavenly Father help us to hold fast the words of sound doctrine and pass it on to the next generation as we faithfully play our part in the forming of Your Kingdom.