Success in Suffering- 2 Timothy 1:1–7

At the end of Paul’s first letter to Timothy, Paul exhorts him, 1 Timothy 6:20–21 “O Timothy, guard the deposit entrusted to you. Avoid the irreverent babble and contradictions of what is falsely called “knowledge,” for by professing it some have swerved from the faith. Grace be with you.”

We mentioned last week that we face dangers on three fronts: within ourselves we face battle with our flesh (Rom. 7:18–20), living in a world system that operates against God (1 John 2:15–17), and the devil (1 Pet. 5:8). All of these challenge our growth toward Christlikeness, on an individual and corporate level.

In addition to these challenges, God sovereignly brings suffering into our lives to mature us, to strengthen us, and to help us bring Him glory.

Suffering, though not enjoyable or even desirable, is a gift from God to help us become more like Christ (Paul demonstrated this attitude in 2 Cor. 12:5–10). Viewing suffering in this light allows us to “succeed.” It helps us to take a difficult issue or season of life and bring glory to God, become more like Christ, and to help our brothers and sisters. That is what I mean when I use the word success in this sermon.

Success in suffering depends upon God, is demonstrated through faithful service, develops with others, and deepens as we cooperate with God.

I. Success Depends Upon the Work of God- 1:1–2

The foundation of our lives as humans in general, and specifically as believers, is our Triune God. In this short letter, Paul mentions God the Father, God the Son, and God the Spirit, though the main focus is on the Father and Son.

The Scriptures speak of the universe being held together by the power of God (Col. 2:17). And just as He gives us life, He gives us salvation.

We are saved by His grace, not our works (Eph. 2:8–9).

We are kept saved by His grace, not our works (1 Pet. 1:4–5).

Any success, or any “progress toward moral and spiritual maturity,” as the BF&M2000 calls it, is due to God.

Notice Paul’s common introduction. It is so common that we often skip over and miss the significance of this passage.

Paul is an apostle of Jesus Christ. Christ sent Paul, commissioned him to preach the Gospel. Paul goes under the authority of Jesus Christ.

Paul is an apostle by the will of God. It was not Paul’s decision (in fact, as we consider last week, it was the opposite of Paul’s decision!).

Paul was an apostle according to the promise of the life that is in Christ Jesus. This promise, as Paul tells us, was “because of his [God’s] own purpose and grace, which he [God] gave us in Christ Jesus before the ages began.” (2 Timothy 1:8–9) Success depends upon God, because all life depends upon God.

The letter is then addressed to Timothy, whom Paul dearly loves. The grace, mercy, and peace Paul offers comes not from the apostle but from God the Father and our Lord Jesus Christ. Again, a wonderful reminder of the centrality of God to our lives, joy, happiness, and success in suffering.

II. Success Is Demonstrated Through Faithful Service- 1:3–4

Faithful service should be the mark of every follower of Jesus Christ. Paul enjoyed success in suffering because he was engaged in faithful service. The book of Acts and his other letters certainly demonstrate this, but our focus this morning lingers on verse 4.

He plainly states, “God, whom I serve.” But what does Paul mean by service?

D. G. Peterson provides a helpful and succinct definition.

“Nowhere in Scripture is worship actually defined. But when key biblical terms for worship are examined in a variety of contexts it is clear that the central concepts are homage, service, and reverence.”—D. G. Peterson, “Worship”

Paul serves/worships the Lord, and then demonstrates what that service/worship looks like. And if we are to enjoy success in suffering, we must follow Paul’s lead.

A. Faithful Service is Demonstrated Through Thankfulness for Others

Paul expresses gratefulness for Timothy. We will see that this is tied directly to Paul’s prayers for Timothy, but for now let’s focus on his thankfulness.

We should rejoice at the service others offer to our Lord. One of the beautiful aspects of Christianity is that, though we disagree on significant issues with many of our brothers and sisters, we can still rejoice at the work God is doing in their lives and through them in the lives of others. The scene depicted in the new heaven and new earth is all of God’s people together serving Him for eternity. If we are faithfully serving the Lord, it will be evident by our thankfulness for the service of others.

B. Faithful Service is Demonstrated Through a Growing Christlikeness

Paul mentions his “clear conscience.” There was nothing between Him and the Lord, nor between him and other believers. He maintained a 1 John 1:9 and 1 John 2:1 lifestyle. When he sinned, he immediately confessed it to the Lord and restored his relationship. When he sinned against others, he would have confessed those and maintained a peaceful relationship with them.

He was growing in Christlikeness. His life was marked by an ever-increasing variety of the fruit of the Spirit (Gal. 5:22–23). Can this be said of you? If a brother or sister offends you, do you go to them and address it? Let us follow Paul’s steps and demonstrate faithful service through a growing Christlikeness.

C. Faithful Service is Demonstrated Through a Consistent Prayer Life

Paul prayed for Timothy “night and day.” This is a Hebrew way of thinking (cf. Gen. chapter 1), but it demonstrates a constant attention to prayer. PRAYER SHEET, WEDNESDAY NIGHT PRAYER

III. Success Develops with Others- 1:5

Christianity is not a solo engagement. We are ignorant of the entire Bible if we think it depends on any one man or one woman besides Jesus.

Timothy was saved, the text indicates, through the ministry of his grandmother Lois and his mother Eunice.

We cannot underestimate the influence we have on our families and friends, and we must realize that success develops not in isolation, but in community with Christians.

Timothy because a Christian sometime between Acts 13 and 16. In Acts 16 in particular we see churches and brothers.

The church is not meant for perfect people who never struggle with sin or deal with the sufferings of this life.

The church is meant for imperfect people who struggle with sin and deal with the sufferings of this life together with Christ.

Mark Dever in his little book What is a Healthy Church? says this,

“A healthy church is not a church that’s perfect and without sin. It has not figured everything out. Rather, it’s a church that continually strives to take God’s side in the battle against the ungodly desires and deceits of the world, our flesh, and the devil. It’s a church that continually seeks to conform itself to God’s Word.” —Mark Dever

Success develops with others, progressively become more like Christ, because success depends upon God and is demonstrated through faithful service.

IV. Success Deepens as We Cooperate with God- 1:6–7

We begin with our complete dependence beyond God and we end with our complete dependence upon God. And our dependence upon God involves us as individuals, others in our community, and of course, God.

Because Paul knows the sincerity of Timothy’s faith, he reminds Timothy to stoke the flames of his gift.

Most, if not all of us, know that you cannot light a fire and leave it. It must be stoked, prodded, adjusted. Likewise, our walk with God is not passive, it is active. We engage in worship, we engage in the spiritual disciplines of prayer, Scripture reading, service, etc.

This “gift” was confirmed by Paul’s laying on of hands. We know from 1 Timothy 4:14 that it was not just Paul, but no doubt in this personal letter the emphasis was on the father-son relationship.

The church acknowledged and witnessed this gift of Timothy, again demonstrating the importance of the believing community for our growth in Christlikeness.

We have two people: Timothy and Paul. Now we come to God, on whom we depend for everything.

Although we have a role, God is the one on whom we depend. God gave us, Paul tells us, the Spirit of power, love, and self-control. God did not give us the spirit of fear.

This understanding is something we cooperate with God and demands a continual revisiting. Paul writes this in further detail in Romans 12:1–2, but we understand the Scriptures to teach a progressive sanctification. In The Baptist Faith and Message study guide we read this,

“Sanctification is the progressive work of the Holy Spirit by which, as the Baptist Faith and Message states, ‘the believer is set apart to God’s purposes’ and moves into Christian maturity.”

If we are to know God and make Him known we must be successful in suffering. And...

Success in suffering depends upon God, is demonstrated through faithful service, develops with others, and deepens as we cooperate with God.