A Strong Spirit

Context

Series: Growing Together.

Selections from the writing of Paul.

Today’s lesson from 2 Timothy. Paul’s second letter to Timothy, a dear friend, co-worker, protege. Pastor at Ephesus.

Paul writing from prison in Rome.

Expecting martyrdom soon. Intense persecution under Emperor Nero from 64-68.

Probably wrote letter around 65.

Paul writes in a personal and intimate way, indicating his love for Timothy. Encouragement to Timothy to live out his faith and ministry for the rest of his life, especially if they never get to see each other again.

Text

2 Timothy 1:1–14 “Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, for the sake of the promise of life that is in Christ Jesus, To Timothy, my beloved child: Grace, mercy, and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord. I am grateful to God—whom I worship with a clear conscience, as my ancestors did—when I remember you constantly in my prayers night and day. Recalling your tears, I long to see you so that I may be filled with joy. I am reminded of your sincere faith, a faith that lived first in your grandmother Lois and your mother Eunice and now, I am sure, lives in you. For this reason I remind you to rekindle the gift of God that is within you through the laying on of my hands; for God did not give us a spirit of cowardice, but rather a spirit of power and of love and of self-discipline. Do not be ashamed, then, of the testimony about our Lord or of me his prisoner, but join with me in suffering for the gospel, relying on the power of God, who saved us and called us with a holy calling, not according to our works but according to his own purpose and grace. This grace was given to us in Christ Jesus before the ages began, but it has now been revealed through the appearing of our Savior Christ Jesus, who abolished death and brought life and immortality to light through the gospel. For this gospel I was appointed a herald and an apostle and a teacher, and for this reason I suffer as I do. But I am not ashamed, for I know the one in whom I have put my trust, and I am sure that he is able to guard until that day what I have entrusted to him. Hold to the standard of sound teaching that you have heard from me, in the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus. Guard the good treasure entrusted to you, with the help of the Holy Spirit living in us.”

Introduction

Paul writing from prison, possibility of death looms large before him.

With gratitude, he remembers Timothy. Recalling Timothy’s tears of farewell upon a previous visit by Paul to Ephesus, when it was prophesied that Paul was going to his death in Rome. (Acts 20:36-38)

He is grateful that Timothy has a sincere faith.

But it is a faith that is being tested by hard circumstances.

Mother and grandmother, role-models of Christian faith, deceased.

Paul, mentor, in prison.

Storm clouds of persecution is launching under Emperor Nero.

Timothy may be tempted to be “ashamed of the testimony of our Lord and of Paul his prisoner.”

To feel badly about being a Christian, to privatize his faith, to be embarrassed or afraid to identify as a Christian.

We are not experiencing the kinds of hardships that Timothy and Paul were facing, but can try to appreciate their feelings. Who among us has not sometimes felt “ashamed” of being Christian…that is to say, felt badly or embarrassed about our faith? These feelings may be prompted

when we see that Christianity looks bad on social media: judgmental, exclusionary, phobic, irrational, rude. Etc.

When people view us in stereotypical ways.

We get tempted to feel badly about being Christian, don’t want to identify as as Christian.

Paul says, don’t be ashamed of the gospel. Face the difficulty. Treasure you faith and live by it.

Your faith is stronger than you think.

Exegesis 1: Timothy received faith from family and family of faith.

Faith is a gift that has come to you through many beloved and reliable people.

2 Timothy 1:5 “I am reminded of your sincere faith, a faith that lived first in your grandmother Lois and your mother Eunice and now, I am sure, lives in you.”

Appealing to a strong nature law: parents want to give the best to their children.

Lois of course wanted the best for her daughter Eunice…She would never want to harm her. Lois supported her daughter’s Christian identity because she believed in it’s truth.

Likewise, Eunice, would want the best for her son, Timothy. She would never lead him astray or want to disempower him, but rather to give him every good thing she could.

Timothy: if you trusted the physical and emotional care of you mother and grand mother, trust also the spiritual care they gave you.

And trust the larger family of which you are a part — the church family.

The gift of God came to you through the laying on of my hands. 2 Timothy 1:6.

From the earliest Christian days, ministers were ordained to office by the laying on of hands by elders in the church in the presence of the congregation.

Paul is reminding Timothy of the time when he stood in the midst of the congregation — his mother and grandmother, his extended family perhaps, his friends, and Paul himself ordained him to ministry.

Paul is reminding Timothy that Timothy’s faith is not an accident of chance…it was given to him by a trusted community believed in Christ, experienced Christ, and had passed that faith to him. He is not alone, as vulnerable as he might feel.

Don’t be ashamed: Your faith is stronger than you think.

Application 1: We have received the faith from others.

None of us here started Christianity. None of us made up the gospel. It did not begin with us. It was passed on to us.

Bequeathed to us by people who loved us and wanted the best for us.

As a father, Dao and I passed on many lessons to our children. One of them was how to travel and explore things. Do you have tickets, attractions open, park. Water. Bathrooms. Eat.

Recent, MJ about trip to Tampa. Let’s just. Nothing working out. MJ took the lead.

I’m glad I got that from you…trust myself out there.

Which of course, as a Dad, I wanted her to have that skill!

Greatest trip is through this world to heaven. That is a spiritual skill.

Many of us were blessed to have parents that raised us in the Christian faith. Go to church, this is a bible, this is how to pray, this is how to trust God when the chips go down. We have to be taught these things.

If that was the case, we should remember that they wanted to help us navigate the spiritual world and have passed on a tried and true faith.

All of us have a spiritual family, the congregation, the church, who has given us our faith.

This weekend celebrating my 25th anniversary of ordination to the ministry.

Over the years I have experienced doubts and wavered in my pastoral confidence, like Timothy may have been.

What has gotten me through is the fact that my faith is supported by faithful people who love the Lord and love me.

Enquirer/Candidate, 1997. I think I might be called to ministry. Santa Barbara presbytery agreed. In my seminary years, they encouraged and guided.

In 2020, completed school, I think I am ready for a call. A congregation in Miami agreed and called me. Presbytery of Tropical Florida ordained me with the laying on of hands.

In 2023, the PNC of LCPC and I sense we were called together and the presbyteryof Central Florida agreed and installed me here with the laying on of hands. Many of you were here for that.

My faith is strengthened when I remember that it is supported by others who are loving and trustworthy.

True for all of us. All of us have been called into a communal faith through our baptism.

All the good, loving, just, godly people who have been Christian before you and support you now.

Trustworthy, reasonable, good people around you.

When the world throws shade on the gospel: Don’t be ashamed of a faith that your faith is stronger than you think because it was given to you by people who love you.

Exegesis 2: Paul’s Example

Paul lifts himself up as an example of faith lived out.

Don’t be ashamed of the gospel and don’t be ashamed of me.

He is a prisoner, yes. He will be executed, yes.

BUT don’t be ashamed of me and the gospel…I AM NOT.

The gospel is infinitely more important than temporary comforts or afflictions of this life.

He recounts the value of the Christian gospel, the vocation of ministry. A “holy calling.” (2 Tim. 1:9)

from before the ages (this age is passing away)

saved us by grace

for his own purpose — to give us purpose.

2 Timothy 1:10: to know and share the fact that Jesus has abolished death and brought life and immortality to light. There is a bigger goal. A bigger life.

Don’t waver or be ashamed. I am not.

I know the one in whom I have put my trust. He can guard it until the great day.

Jesus — don’t store up riches on earth, where moth consumes, rust destroys and thieves break in and steal. Store up your treasure in heaven, where it is safe…where you heart is, there your treasure is.

Paul’s treasure in heaven. Heart in heaven.Paul has entrusted his life to God and to Jesus. Just as God raised Jesus, so God will raise Paul. All his reward and blessing in the life ahead

If my “fortunes” are pulling you down, don’t let it. I am not sad, I do not regret it, I am confident.

Your faith is stronger than you think.

Application 2: Exemplars around us

Inspired by those who have spend their lives serving the Lord.

Today we will have a funeral service. Dave Haw — 60+ years of ministry. (lots of changes since the 60s and 70s)

Ups and downs in society. Christianity loved and hated.

Dave and Ruth. Still in church. Still loving the lord.

They were able to pay their bills, survive the challenges and changes of their ministry lives. with joy and confidence intact.

At the end, body frail, but spirit strong. The good news…the BEST news!

When my day comes, I don’t need comfort and stuff. I need spiritual orientation.

People like Dave Haw say: when you are tempted to be ashamed of your faith, don’t be. It is stronger than you think.

Faith is stronger than you think.

Exegesis 3: God himself.

Above all these supports — mother, grandmother, community of faith, Paul himself — is the supreme support of God himself.

2 Timothy 1:7 - rekindle the gift of GOD. GOD gave us a spirit…power, love, discipline.

2 Timothy 1:8 - join me in suffering, relying on the POWER OF GOD.

2 Timothy 1:9 - GOD saved us and called us.

2 Timothy 1:12 - God an safeguard what I have entrusted to him.

2 Timothy 1:14 - guard the treasure of faith, with the help of the Holy Spirit.

The real author and perfecter of our faith is Christ, God.

Your faith is stronger than you think because God is backing you.

Application

Jesus said, the wind blows where it will…thus are the sons of God.

Can’t see the wind. Just the effects.

The traffic light at Granada and A1A.

powerful — to move the signage.

The spirit of God to bring about new life from the dead.

Change the whole trajectory of your life and decisions. that is powerful.

Faith not merely our belief directed at God out there. Faith is God IN HERE.

Faith is a sign of God in your life.

Reverence and cultivate that.

Fan into a flame — by responding and serving and trusting and being confident.

Don’t be ashamed. Your faith is stronger than you think it is.

Conclusion

hardships can cause our faith to waver. We can struggle with feeling with ashamed. But we can combat that feeling and overcome it. We can rekindle, we can suffer more, we can trust,

Because we have a community of faith, we have examplars, and most importantly we have God himself.

Our faith is stronger than we think.