Untitled Sermon (19)

Passing Your Spiritual Torch (2 Timothy 1:1-5)

This epistle is the most touching and personal of all Paul’s writings.

It is his final letter and has, therefore, been called his “last will and testament.”

In this book, Paul passes his spiritual torch to a new generation of believers—especially to young Timothy, who is the leader of the church at Ephesus.

Paul wrote this letter in a.d. 66 or 67, during his second imprisonment in Rome.

After his first imprisonment, Paul was apparently released for a couple of years.

During this time, the Roman emperor Nero blamed Christians for the burning of Rome and made Christianity an illegal religion.

Sometime after that, Paul was again arrested and later executed.

In the first five verses of this last epistle, Paul reveals four principles required for effectively passing your spiritual torch. First …

Pass it with purpose (1:1)

Paul begins this letter: Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus (1:1a).

Though life seems so unfair at this point, Paul has no misgivings about God’s purpose for his life.

Therefore, he reminds his readers he is an apostle (apostolos, a-pos’-tol-os), which means, “one sent forth with a message.”

The modem equivalent is the word “missionary.”

Paul was not one of the original twelve disciples, but he was personally called and commissioned by the Lord.

As with each of us, God had a special purpose for Paul’s life.

In Acts 9:15b, what does God tell Ananias is His purpose for Paul’s life?

King James Version (Chapter 9)

15 But the Lord said unto him, Go thy way: for he is a chosen vessel unto me, to bear my name before the Gentiles, and kings, and the children of Israel:

At times God’s ways seem unfair and paradoxical, but if endured by faith they bring blessings to the righteous.

An infant is born with a clenched fist, but an old man dies with an open hand.

Life has a way of prying loose our grasp on all that seems so important.

We are able to cope with the chaos, conflicts, confusion, criticism, and cares of our life with the help of God's strength.

He is our muscle for our maladies, misery, and the madness of life.

God's strength can counter insecurity, intimidation, inadequacy, incapability, indignity, insincerity, instability, and insults.

If you are stressed, or strained financially, give the Lord time to answer your prayers and work in your life.

God is powerful enough to do that which seems absolutely impossible.

Never underestimate the power of His Word.

It’s much better to let God promote you, and not people.

When you’re faithful in the silent seasons, it becomes you’re preparation season.

God will place you on a launching pad that will take you further than you’ve ever imagined.

Don’t become frustrated when you’re hidden, it’s all part of the process.

God knew how to hide you, and He knows how to elevate you.

If you’ll let God do it His way, it will be better than anything you could have made happen.

God has not forgotten about you.

He knows where, when, and why, you’re hidden, and how long you’ve been there.

He knows what’s in you; He’s the one that put the gifts and talents in you.

You may have been hidden for a long time, but you’ve been faithful, growing, getting prepared.

God will bring you out and cause people to notice you that have never noticed you before.