Make a Deposit

Introduction

When I was a kid and even when I had my first job direct deposit was not as popular as it is today. You were given a paper check and if you had a bank account you had to make a trip to the bank, fill out your account information and deposit your check into your account. Running errands might include stopping by the bank and in order to have money you had to make a deposit. Similar to life we make deposits in the lives of others and many people make deposits in our life. Thinks we can withdraw in times of need. Advice, words of encouragement, and memorable instruction serve as reminders during times we need it the most.

As Paul continues to encourage Timothy he sets the stage by reminding Timothy who he belongs to and where he comes from. It’s beneficial to know that none of us got here on our own. God deserves all the glory, nonetheless there are people that have made deposits along the way. Advice is great and is truly needed during journey’s of life but to make a deposit of faith provides a return that is life changing and multi-generational. There’s a few things that faith will push you to do for others. It will push you to pray for one another. It will push you to encourage one another and it will push us to remember the greatness of God in our everyday life.

In the letter that Paul writes to Timothy he provides him with a reminder. A reminder of the deposits that have been made in his life. Our best evangelistic effort can start with our families. Think about the family you have that hasn’t given thier life to Christ! Understand we only have one life to live, we only have one life to share the gospel with those we love the most.

Luke 16:31 “But he said to him, ‘If they do not hear Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded though one rise from the dead.’ ””

Once life is over it’s too late, it’s imperative that we make our deposits now.

Thankful for Those Who Came Before Me

Paul starts this message with gratitude. “I thank God, whom I serve with a pure conscience, as my forefathers did, as without ceasing I remember you in my prayers night and day”.

The ability to serve with a purity begins with a thankful attitude and is sustained by prayer. I serve because of what God has done for me, I serve because of His sacrifice, but I can’t sit here and say I’m not thankful for the faith that was instilled in my uncle that preached the gospel at Trinity Park Church of Christ. I’m thankful for my great-grandmother who served God for years. I’m thankful for my grandmother who God called to teach bible class to youth for decades. I’m thankful to my mother to have the faith to teach her children about the goodness of God and the importance of walking by faith.

Let us find blessings in the people that may not be related by blood but have pour into us on a consistent basis. People that truly pour into you are a blessing from the Lord. I pour in because I know life is challenging, I make deposits despite the tears, I long to see you because I know how much of a blessing it is that God has place you in my life.

Deposits are For the Tough Times

The encouragment from others, the encouragement from God is a blessing but the encouragement isn’t truly for the good times, the encoruagement is most valuable when you want to give up. The text states that Paul is mindful of the tears of Timothy! That encouragement comes into play when life gets tough, and you want to give up. The encouragement matters when life puts you in a dark place. When times get tough that’s the time to call to remembrance. Call to remembrance the people that have stood by you the most, that have encouraged you when you didn’t even feel valuable yourself. Thank God for those people!

1 Thessalonians 5:11 “Therefore comfort each other and edify one another, just as you also are doing.”

Timothy, I know Ephesus might by tough but remember the faith that dwells in you. Timothy remember the faith that dwells in your grandmother Lois, and your mother Eunice.

Remember 1 Timothy 1:5 “Now the purpose of the commandment is love from a pure heart, from a good conscience, and from sincere faith,”

The same strength that existed in those before us, the same power that God bestowed on them. The same faith that they tapped into is the same faith that exist in us today.

The power isn’t in the person, the power is in the faith.

Bring Those Deposits To Life

2 Timothy 1:6 “Therefore I remind you to stir up the gift of God which is in you through the laying on of my hands.”

Ignite the gift that God gave you! Those deposits are like embers that we must ignite. The word stir in this text comes from the root word to rekindle a fire. Reactivate what God has placed in you to begin with. Keep your gift alive, that’s what deposits do.

There’s times where we want to give up, there’s times where we want to throw in the towel but keep your gift alive. I know you want to give up right now, I know you want to quit right now but ignite the fire inside of you by remembering the gifts that have been planted in you. The issue isn’t finding the motivation it’s keeping the motivation.

When you don’t use the gifts that God has given you they will perish. Align yourself with the right people who speak positively. Do not confuse it with yes men, but surround yourself with the right people. Understand the power of private pour ins, some of the best encouragement happens in spaces where there is no audience.

Reinforce the encouragement of others by praying to God. Look to the right examples and set your eyes on the cloud of witnesses surrounding you that have exercised thier faith in some of the toughest times of thier life.

Hebrews 12:1–2“Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.”

Hebrews 11 provides us with a playbook.

A faith like Abel even in the face of matrydom he trusted God.

A faith like Enoch, one who was approved and please God.

A faith like Noah, even when the world hasn’t seen anything like it, I serve a God that can do what has never been done.

A faith like Sarah, past the age that society would deem as childbearing but God had other plans.

A faith like Abraham that even when you have to sacrfice something you love so much God will provide a ram in the bush.

A faith like Moses with the confidence to leave Egypt behind to know that the promise land is better than what you are walking away from.

BE APPROVED BY FAITH!

A faith like Jesus, even in the face of persecution and cruxificion, God would use His son to be the savior of the whole world.

You may not live long enough to see all the fruits of your faith but trust and believe their faith even after death was passed down and attributed to the change of the world!

I know life can get challenging but know and understand that God didn’t give us the spirit of fear but of power! Tap in to your power, tap in to the love of God and tap in to having a sound mind!

Will you tap in this morning? Will you trust in God this morning?