Fanning the Flames of Faith (2)

Fanning the Flames of Faith

2Tim 1:1-6-9

FBCW/13 September 2020/am-Northside Bapt Ch/2 June 2024/am

INTRO: When I read our text passage and especially VS6 that we need to be stirred up, as with the fanning of a flame. I think of Lk 24:32 where the disciples on the road to the village Emmaus, ran into Jesus after his death and subsequent resurrection and how Jesus talked to them on their way, they said to one another “...did not our heart burn within us...while he talked and opened to us the scriptures?” In most cases there needs to be a flame to burn something. As believers we too need a flame in our heart today that will burn in our heart by the scriptures as Jesus talks to us as we read His Word and walk through this life. Unfortunately, our flame is more like cool coals that need the breath of wind/HS to blow them into a flame that we too can burn in our heart. This morning, let us, as those two disciples who left Jerusalem a little discouraged at Jesus’ dying, fan our coals to be flames of faith through the scriptures today, by stirring up the gift of God in us. The Apostle Paul loved Timothy his preacher boy and Timothy loved him (Vs4 shed tears for Paul), so much so that he thanks God for him and then exhorts him to greater faith through the gifts of God bestowed to him. Though this epistle is written to Timothy a preacher, called to service for teaching and preaching the Word of God (his giftings), it still has application to all of us here today. We are all called to minister to others 1Pet 4:10 and proclaim as witnesses of the gospel (Acts 1:8) even if you are not ordained as a pastor. After the greeting, Paul begins his exhortation by having Timothy to Remember, to be reminded of the spiritual gifts of God that were given to him to pastor and minister to his people. We too have spiritual gifts (1Cor 12) given to us and we must remind ourselves of the same, not just to acknowledge them but to apply them, with passion as a burning flame of faith. As Paul tells Timothy to call to remembrance: his unfeigned faith: He also calls us to:

I. Remind ourselves of the gifts God has given to us by stirring them up in our hearts. VS6 The word stir, stirred, stirring has several meanings throughout the NT. Mostly with a negative understanding, such as “to provoke (to wrath)”, to “inflame (become angry)”, to “stir up (mix up/stir up the pot)” to “kindle (burn in lust/anger)” But there is only one use of this word ‘stirring up’ with a very positive understanding.

a. The word “stirring up’ in our text, has a much stronger meaning than we use these words today. It literally means to REKINDLE/keep in full flame or to set on fire again (as our heart may once have been),it is like stirring up the ashes of the fire and fan it into flame/life, or to keep in full flame, as to have renewed illumination and heat, which is the power and activity of fire. (it reminds me of the disciples on the way to Emmaus, said of the words of Jesus “did not your heart burn within us” Lk 24:32 There must always remain a burning (set on fire) for the things of God and what God puts in our hearts. Sometimes, if we are not careful, we can become careless or apathetic to the Word of God, even God Himself, So:

i. There is sometimes needed a rekindling of the fire that is to burn in us by scripture and the H.S. who dwells within the believer. That we utilize our gifts appropriately. I am also reminded of:

ii. The church of Ephesus, Rev 3:4 that needed to remember of the gifts of God there and stay close to the Lord. “They left their first or best love! When we forget/replace our love, we can find ourselves cooling or loosing the burning we once experienced.

iii. Then again in the church of Laodiceans, Rev 3:13-19 was a church forgetting the gifts of God in it and they became lukewarm (neither cold nor hot). Ignoring the gifts, graces and duties of the church/people.

b. We must use all proper means to keep gifts of grace aflame in our lives.

i. Reading/meditating on the Word of God, pray w/o ceasing, proper worship, learning, teaching, etc. Draw near to God, however we can. Using what God has given us for His glory.

c. We must keep our zeal for the cause that you have been set apart or sanctified for. Like King David said in 1Sam 17:29 (David coming to his brethren before killing Goliath) “Is there not a cause!” The furtherance of the Kingdom of God and a greater relationship to God through His Word.

i. Like Jeremiah the prophet Jer 1:1 from before he was formed in the womb he was sanctified and ordained by God to be a prophet. What have you been sanctified/ordained for? If you don’t know, then you must need a little rekindling/stirring up. Fanning the fires of your faith through your gifts of God’s grace.

ii. What should I be reminded of, as far as my faith and service in the faith be? First, OF:

II. God’s gifts, not necessarily our natural talents/abilities, but the gifts of grace or those involving God’s grace that we are to remember or be reminded of. So let us fan those fires that sometimes go out, due to fear and apathy or something else. We may have started out using our gifts with great zeal as a blazing fire but over time have cooled and, in some cases, almost gone out. We need to stir them, the cool coals of our heart by the filling/controlling H.S. in us. Eph 5:18

a. Like all of us, Timothy may have been struggling with his faith. Fear may have filled his heart, or the drudgery of ministry may have worn him down. 2Tim 1:7 Nevertheless we, as he, must keep the fire burning in our heart and we do that by being reminded of the gifts of grace God has bestowed on each of us for his purpose. 2Tim 1:9

b. God has offered each person here today, gifts of grace that can only come from Him. Jam 1:17 “Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning.”

i. God’s gifts to us: Those who are w/o repentance-reversal. God is not the government who gives than takes back. Rom 11:29 We can have full assurance of His gifts and all He gives us.

ii. God’s gifts are free gifts to us. Rom 5:15,16 God’s gifts of grace offered and bestowed to men. By God’s grace:

c. The gift of salvation/eternal life is bestowed to all who will receive it. Rom 6:23 “The wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.” Once saved always saved, it is w/o repentance by God.

d. The gift of purpose in this life. Eph 2:8,9 vs10 “For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God that before ordained that we should walk in them”.

e. The gift of grace. To bestow grace to others, like God does to us. As Christ’s free gift of grace by one/Jesus, for many men. We must extend our grace of God to others.

f. The gift of Love. 1Cor 12:31-13:3 Covet the best gifts, especially the gift of “Charity/love” Some people really know how to love/agape.

g. The gift of righteousness. Rom 5:17 In-Christ we are made right and blameless w/God and are to therefore live righteously.

h. The gift of justification. Rom 5:18 Again, by faith in Christ, and His resurrection we are justified, & now legally vindicated before God. Gal 2:16

i. The gift of His Son. 2Cor 9:6 God gave us His only begotten Son for us, in the substitionary death of the wages of sin. And He gives himself and works for us as he makes intercession for us.

j. The gift of the Holy Spirit. Acts 2:38 We have the H.S. dwell in the believer to guide, direct, comfort, convict and empower us to service.

k. God’s gifts to mankind are all gifts of grace but by God’s grace:

III. He has also given each of His people/believer’s gifts of the Spirit. 1Cor 12:1,11 They are spiritual gifts of grace to be used for the benefit of the Lord’s churches. We each have at least one. (severally means individually)

a. The prophet Jerimiah was called by God from before he was created in the womb to be a prophet. Jer 1:5 He was sanctified/Set apart for God and to separate himself from the world to apply his/our calling. Our gifts are all different. Rom 12:6 Our gifts and our lives are to be used for the cause of Christ. Rom 12:1 THEREFORE:

b. We must not neglect them. 1Tim 4:14 “neglect not the gift that is in thee..” A gift neglected is no gift at all and can even be an offense to the giver. God gave it to us, we must receive! Beginning with (SALVATION) until He comes again. Phil 1:6

c. God has given His people a diversity of gifts. 1Cor 12:4 There are more gifts then just preaching, teaching, evangelizing, etc. Rom 12:6-13 Like some mentioned before, but others as exhortation (comfort) the gift of love, ministering (service) or others, to rule with diligence (leadership), mercy (kindness) and some not mentioned like encouragement etc. We all have a gift to offer to others.

d. They all come according to and through the work of the H.S. VS7 We can do nothing outside of Christ. Jn 15 He empowers us, “I can do all things through Christ which strengthenth me” Phil 4:13

e. They are necessary and to be used for the edification of the church. Eph 4:11,12 Gifts are always for a purpose, God’s purpose, therefore Christ’s churches. Use them there/here. If you don’t know what it/they are, ask God! Then use it!

f. God has offered all of us some gift of grace that can be called “ministry” or (service) to be used wisely as good stewards of them. 1Pet 4:10

i. For a purpose: Eph 4:11 “he gave some, apostles; and some prophets; and some, evangelists; and some pastors, and teachers: for the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ; (church) God gave us at least one gift for a purpose not to be wasted or neglected. Beginning with the gospel and in principle everything God by His grace has given us. 1 Pet 4:10

ii. When we use God’s gifts, we will have a stirred and burning fire in our heart that can accomplish much for the Lord, illuminated for all to see.

CLOSING: We all have been given or offered God’s free gift of salvation, but have you received it? After that all believers have been called to ministry/service in some form or fashion. We have then all been given at least one spiritual gifting to use for the purpose and glory of God. We must not neglect it or allow it to diminish in our hearts. We must be reminded of the gifts of grace of God in our lives and to stir up, rekindle, stir up the cool ashes of our faith and blow in the oxygen of the H.S. to reignite our fires of faith and the gift/s we have to minister to God’s people, even the people of the world. When your gifts are going unused or neglected, then “Fan the flames of Your Faith”