Today we begin our time in 2 Timothy. It is a passing of the torch from Paul to his beloved protege Timothy. In your Bible you turn from one page to the next and it looks like just another letter to Timothy, but much has happened between letter 1 and letter 2 especially for Paul.
What is Paul’s Situation?
Paul is suffering even to the point of being chained like a criminal (2:9)
He expects his imprisonment to end in death. (4:6) At the time of his first trial no one came to support him but everyone abandoned him (4:9).
Yet, Paul is suffering with confidence. The Lord stood with him and gave him strength at his first trial and rescued Paul from death.
In this prison cell Paul is both Tender and Tenacious. He longs to see Timothy and He urges Timothy to step into his role to lead the church.
What is Timothy’s situation?
Facing difficulties within the church. There are still people who have departed from the truth and are trying to lead others astray (2:28) There are people who are still caught up in foolish and stupid arguments – and Timothy is still laboring to instruct them.
Facing difficulties outside the church. Alexander the metal worker and “others” have done harm to Paul and Paul warns Timothy that they are still seeking to do him harm.
Facing difficulties within, facing difficulties without.
Facing internal difficulties.
A young pastor who has been courageous but still struggles with a timid nature. Timothy’s confidence in his calling is wavering.
Faces the imminent passing of Father in the faith Paul.
Suffering is one of the main themes of the book of 2 Timothy.
Paul does not trivialize suffering or ignore suffering like a cold stoic robot of the faith.
Suffering is a real thing that affects real people in real ways.
Paul also normalizes hardship – All who want to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will suffer.
It seems for Timothy that suffering has shaken his confidence.
Paul remains confident in Christ and confident that Timothy is one called to lead the church. So at the beginning of this letter he writes to bolster Timothy’s confidence. Not a confidence in himself or in Paul but to bolster his confidence in God.
1 Timothy 1:1-7 NIV
Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, in keeping with the promise of life that is in Christ Jesus,
2 To Timothy, my dear son:
Grace, mercy and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord.
3 I thank God, whom I serve, as my ancestors did, with a clear conscience, as night and day I constantly remember you in my prayers. 4 Recalling your tears, I long to see you, so that I may be filled with joy. 5 I am reminded of your sincere faith, which first lived in your grandmother Lois and in your mother Eunice and, I am persuaded, now lives in you also.
6 For this reason I remind you to fan into flame the gift of God, which is in you through the laying on of my hands. 7 For the Spirit God gave us does not make us timid, but gives us power, love and self-discipline.
Paul is confident in Timothy, but Timothy’s confidence is wavering.
Paul strengthens Timothy’s confidence with 3 reminders.
- Reminds Him of reasons for confidence
- Reminds Him to Fan Into Flame
- Reminds Him of the Spirit that Indwells
Remind Him for Reasons for Confidence (2 reasons)
- They serve the same Lord
You got this Timothy BECAUSE of the ONE who’s GOT YOU.
It is not because of your story or your skill but because God has rescued you and called you.
Look at what Paul says – I am an apostle of Jesus, by God’s will.
This speaks to Paul’s authority. Paul is an apostle not because he applied for the job or because of personal skill but because the living God interrupted his life.
Acts 9 Tells the story of Paul’s conversion. He was on his way to Damascus to arrest Christians, when a bright light from heaven flashed around him. Jesus confronted Paul and Paul surrendered to Christ.
Paul was plucked out of the kingdom of darkness and brought into the kingdom of the light. His soul was set on fire and he was sent as a missionary to the gentiles.
Paul turns from his credentials to Timothy
To Timothy, my dearly loved son.Grace, mercy, and peace to you from God the Father and Christ Jesus OUR LORD
God the Father is the source of grace, mercy and peace.
Grace so that the gospel would bear fruit
Mercy so that Timothy could teach with patient endurance
Peace so that Timothy would know God the Father’s presence.
This grace mercy and peace is also from Christ Jesus is OUR LORD
God rescued Paul in a dramatic scene.
God rescued Timothy through normal means of a faithful family.
Timothy has reason for confidence because the ONE who rescued Paul on the Damascus road, is the same ONE who will give grace, mercy, and peace to Timothy.
Second reason for confidence – a spiritual heritage.
Verse 3 I thank God, whom I serve with a clear conscience as my ancestors did, when I constantly remember you in my prayers night and day. 4 Remembering your tears, I long to see you so that I may be filled with joy.
Paul was an important part of Timothy’s heritage of faith.
Paul was a God appointed mentor and he knew Timothy’s story.
I recall your sincere faith that first lived in your grandmother Lois and in your mother Eunice and now, I am convinced, is in you also.
Mom and Grandma must be in mind when Paul speaks later in 2 Timothy 3
you know (TIMOTHY) that from infancy you have known the sacred Scriptures, which are able to give you wisdom for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. 16 All Scripture is inspired by God, and is profitable for teaching, for rebuking, for correcting, for training in righteousness, 17 so that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work.
You are the man of God who has known the words of God since you were a child, because of your mom and grandma.
I know we are a week away from Mother’s Day so I’m jumping the gun but I’m going to let scripture dictate what I say and not the Hallmark calendar.
Mom’s – thank you. You cook for us. You gave birth to us… that is no small thing!! You cheer for us. You put up with us. You listen to us.
Many of you showed us Jesus. I am blessed to have a godly mother.
I am who I am partially because of mom. God sovereignly graciously placed me in her life.
There would be no Timothy without Eunice and Lois faithfully teaching and demonstrating the scriptures. Paul praises the faithful efforts of Eunice and Lois. Timothy is a man of faith because they taught him the scriptures.
Mom’s we need you. You are NOT responsible to light the fire of faith in the lives of your children, that is an act of grace, but you can stack the wood. You stack the wood by daily sharing gospel truth, by daily loving your husband, by daily being a godly example. You stack the wood and God in his grace may light the flame.
You might say… I did not have a believing mother or a godly father. Who do I have?
You have grace, mercy and peace from God the Father and Jesus Christ OUR LORD
You have this family of faith. Just as Timothy had a father in the faith, there are men and women here who are glad to be part of your family faith.
There is nothing lacking in your spiritual heritage that God cannot satisfy from his abundant riches.
And my God will meet all your needs according to his abundant riches in Christ Jesus. Phil 4:19
Your spiritual heritage is God’s sovereign plan in your life.
Your spiritual heritage, lacking or abundant, is the launching pad for a life of faithfulness.
Paul says to Timothy – I am convinced that the sincere faith of your mom and grandma is in you.
I am convinced Timothy… You be convinced and stay convinced.
Second Reminder to Fan into flame the gift of God.
Verse 6 For this reason (because Christ Jesus is OUR Lord and because of your heritage of faith), I remind you to fan into flame the gift of God, which is in you through the laying on of my hands.
Fan into flame in the Greek is literally – again fire live.
Timothy had seemingly lost zeal for ministry.
Paul is urging him to lead the church confidently but he knows that to face the hardship ahead Timothy must have a little fire in his belly. A little zeal
Paul is calling Timothy to keep on fueling the fire.
Fanning into flame is not a one time event but a call to continually rekindle the flame.
Every fire fades. It is normal.
A spiritual retreat is great. Conferences can be good, but there is no replacement for the daily fuel that we find when we feast on God’s word.
Timothy…Remember your mom who taught you the scriptures! Go back to the scriptures and have your heart stirred for what God has done in your life
Paul does not give Timothy NEW instructions for strengthening his spiritual fervor, but he is reminding him of what he has already taught him.
Here is my encouragement to you.
Preach the gospel to yourself.
Ephesians 2 As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins, 2 in which you used to live when you followed the ways of this world and of the ruler of the kingdom of the air, the spirit who is now at work in those who are disobedient.
3 All of us also lived among them at one time, gratifying the cravings of our flesh and following its desires and thoughts. Like the rest, we were by nature deserving of wrath. 4 But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, 5 made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved. 6 And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus, 7 in order that in the coming ages he might show the incomparable riches of his grace, expressed in his kindness to us in Christ Jesus.
8 For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— 9 not by works, so that no one can boast. 10 For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.
Bring to Mind Spiritual Markers
We don’t recall the past to relive the past, we recall the past to refuel for the present.
Paul here reminds Timothy of a specific moment in his life. It may have been a reference to his ordination when a body of elders laid hands on him and set him apart for ministry.
Most of you are not ordained ministers and most of you never will be but if you have followed Christ in believers baptism, there was a time when someone laid their hands on you.
Remember your baptism. Remember other spiritual markers in your life. Remember the way God has moved in you so that you might fan into flame your passion for God and live faithfully today.
Lastly Paul reminds Timothy of the Spirit that indwells him
V7 God has not given US a spirit of fear, but of power, love, and self-discipline.
Paul is not calling Timothy to self-reliance but God reliance.
God has given you what you need for the days ahead.
Fear = Cowardice = Tendency to shrink back from challenge.
Self-reliance = Pride – I can face any challenges on my own.
God-reliance = humility – God has given you what you need for the challenges ahead. I may be afraid but GOD IS ABLE
This gift of the spirit to Timothy is not for his own personal benefit but so that he might be a blessing to others. That he might make the gospel known and lead the church.
Power – ability to act for the good of others
Love – genuine desire for the wellbeing of others
Self-Discipline – willingness to sacrifice for others
These are three realities that constrain each other – they are like points on a triangle that pull against one another.
Power with love strengthens relationships / without bulldoze people
Power with self-discipline compels us to endure / no self-discipline – quit.
Love with power calls us to faithful action / no power – warm fuzzies
Love with self-discipline calls us to sacrifice / no discipline live for self
Power, love, self-discipline do not rescue us from hardship but they are resources from God to endure suffering and bless others.
Louis Zamperini was a prisoner in WW2. I’m sure many of you are aware of his story.
His bomber was shot down over the Pacific and after surviving hand to hand combat with sharks – he was captured by the Japanese and treated brutally – especially by one Japanese Guard nicknamed the bird.
Louis was not a believer during his imprisonment. He showed great discipline and physical power just to survive.
Upon coming home he dreamed of returning to Japan to Murder the Bird.
One night God interrupted his life and he turned to Jesus. His great self-discipline and personal strength were set on fire by the love of Christ. He was rescued from alcoholism and stopped dreaming about the Bird.
He did return to Japan not to Murder the Bird but to forgive him.
Louis wrote this to the bird
As a result of my prisoner of war experience under your unwanted and unreasonable punishment, my post-war life became a nightmare…
… The post-war nightmares caused my life to crumble, but thanks to a confrontation with God through the evangelist Billy Graham, I committed my life to Christ. Love replaced the hate I had for you…
…I also forgave you and now would hope that you would also become a Christian.
Power, love, and self-discipline from Jesus ruled Louis’ life.
Louis has a one of a kind story, but the spirit that ruled him is the same spirit of power, love, and self-discipline that can rule your life.
Louis’ story is a reminder that Power and Love and Self-discipline from God are REAL. They are available.
The same power that raised Christ from the dead is available to you.
The same love that caused the Father to give his only Son is available to you.
The same self-discipline that drew the son to lay aside his glory and come to earth is available to you.
CONCLUSION / APPLICATION
Paul told Timothy – Fan into Flame.
It’s right for us to ask… has the flame ever been lit in your life? You can come to church and know the stories and even sing the songs but have you surrendered your life to Jesus like Louis Zamperini did?
Human self-discipline and determination did not change Louis’ life – Jesus did.
Have you given your life to Jesus?
God uses suffering some times as he did in Louis’ life to bring us to the end of ourselves. Often it is at the end of ourselves where we find God.
When you come to the end of yourself – Who is your source?
God gave Timothy, Paul and Eunice and Lois. He gave him a spirit from outside himself for power, love, self-discipline.
The emphasis here is on the SOURCE and not the gift.
God gave.
God is the SOURCE – Ask God for what you need.
Fill me today with power and love and self-discipline for all the challenges that this day brings
Sometimes suffering leads to discouragement as it did for Timothy.
To the end of his life, Paul was a faithful loving and present mentor to Timothy.
The tears of hardship can blur our vision to the reality of God’s provision and faithfulness.
God is our source but uses HIS people to provide perspective
Who have you let into your life who can speak the truth to you?
Timothy needed an outside perspective to remind him of the truth. Paul is not flattering Timothy. Paul is reminding Timothy of the sincere faith that he has seen in Timothy.
I remember when our oldest son began to walk away from the faith. I felt like a failure as a dad and I felt fear for what the future would hold for him and our family.
Feelings of fear and failure blurred my vision of reality. I remember emailing Terry one day about details of the situation and Terry said…
“You have been a good dad.” I needed to hear a simple reminder of the truth.
A reminder of the truth gave me confidence.
His words were fresh air to a mind clouded with doubt and difficulty.
Who can give an outside perspective to the hardship of your life?
When this person with an outside perspective speaks, do you believe them?
Paul said to Timothy – God has not given you a spirit of fear but power and love and self-control.
I remember Terry’s words – and I believe they are true, but sometimes I still feel like a failure. I feel powerless to act. I feel like love is a waste of time.
But I know my feelings are not in control. I have power. I can love. I can act under the power of the spirit that indwells me rather than the fear that beckons me.
I want change NOW! I want a powerful act of God to intervene in my son’s life.
But what God has given me now is the power to endure. If nothing changes. If I don’t get what I want. I have what I need because his grace is sufficient.
2 Cor. 12:7-10 I was given a thorn in my flesh, a messenger of Satan, to torment me. 8Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me. 9But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. 10That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.
Last question – Is the flame of your faith faltering?
Hardship can harden us
If hardship is hardening you… it is no reason for shame.
We are not stoic robots of the faith. We are ordinary people like Paul and Timothy. We are loved by an extraordinary God.
If the flame of your faith is faltering, know this.
Matthew 12:20 A bruised reed he will not break, and a smoldering wick he will not snuff out, till he has brought justice through to victory.
He is strong and kind.
He is the God of grace, mercy, and peace.
He is Tender.
He is also Tenacious… he does not want you to languish in fear. He says… get up… lead yourself…lead others.
Even in our difficulties he says Deny yourself, take up your cross daily and follow me.