Fan the Flame 2 Timothy 1:1-7 (2)

-We are able to persevere in our faith when we remember God’s work in us.

The value of courage, persistence, and perseverance has rarely been illustrated more convincingly than in the life story of this man (his age appears on the right):

Failed in business 22 Ran for Legislature--defeated 23 Again failed in business 24 Elected to Legislature 25 sweetheart died 26 Had a nervous breakdown 27 Defeated for Speaker 29 Defeated for Elector 31 Defeated for Congress 34 Elected to Congress 37 Defeated for Congress 39 Defeated for Senate 46 Defeated for Vice President 47 Defeated for Senate 49 Elected President of the United States 51

That's the record of Abraham Lincoln. 

I. Remember God’s Promise vv. 1-2

This morning, we are moving from Paul’s first letter to Timothy to his second, and a lot has happened in a relatively short amount of time

In the first letter, Paul’s primary concern was to instruct Timothy as a pastor and missionary, teaching him how to guard the church against the dangers of false teaching

Now, Paul is writing from what will be his final imprisonment.

These are the last days of Paul’s life and he writes to Timothy to tell him how to endure as a servant of Jesus

In his introduction, Paul introduces himself as “an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God”

I think this is noteworthy: Paul is suffering for the sake of the Gospel, but this suffering is exactly in keeping with his calling

None of this has caught the Lord off-guard; it was part of the plan from the beginning

While it will be impossible to say all that could be said this morning, we must wrestle with the reality that our good God has a wise purpose when His children suffer

There’s a second note here, though that I really want to focus in on: Paul is an apostle “according to the promise of life”

This promise of life in Christ Jesus shapes everything about Paul’s apostleship!

It is the message that he was “sent out” to share

It is the power that transformed his character and reoriented him to Jesus

It is the hope that carried him through the many difficulties he faced as a servant of Jesus!

2 Corinthians 11:24–28

[24] Five times I received at the hands of the Jews the forty lashes less one. [25] Three times I was beaten with rods. Once I was stoned. Three times I was shipwrecked; a night and a day I was adrift at sea; [26] on frequent journeys, in danger from rivers, danger from robbers, danger from my own people, danger from Gentiles, danger in the city, danger in the wilderness, danger at sea, danger from false brothers; [27] in toil and hardship, through many a sleepless night, in hunger and thirst, often without food, in cold and exposure. [28] And, apart from other things, there is the daily pressure on me of my anxiety for all the churches. (ESV)

I want you to know: This promise is for you, if you will believe Jesus!

Romans 10:9–11

[9] because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. [10] For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved. [11] For the Scripture says, “Everyone who believes in him will not be put to shame.” (ESV)

II. Remember God’s People vv. 2-5

Next, Paul makes his audience clear: He is writing to Timothy!

Timothy is a good young pastor, but the greeting is deeply personal

Timothy is a “beloved child”, but not of biology. He is a son in the faith

Paul’s blessing on Timothy is the grace, mercy, and peace of God that are given to us through Jesus Christ

In the middle of intense suffering, Paul is not self-interested, he is moved by and for Timothy:

He remembers Timothy in prayer: The consistent character of Paul’s life is that he is praying for others, including Timothy

He remember Timothy’s love: it is so easy to focus in on the hatred, betrayal, and persecution that you may experience as a Christian that we lose sight of the genuine love that you receive from others

He remembers Timothy’s faith: In Paul’s life, there are many whose faith is a fading thing and they are marked by a radical inconsistency.

Timothy has shown a markedly different kind of faith; he has been consistently faithful

Some of that, is a credit to the faithfulness of others who set the pace for Timothy to follow

This turn in Paul’s writing isn’t accidental; even as Paul has been encouraged by Timothy, Paul wants Timothy to take a look around

In the middle of meaningful reasons for doubt, disappointment, and discouragement , Paul reminds Timothy of the faithful love of God’s people

On the one hand, we have to be careful about placing too much trust in people, because they are bound to disappoint us

However, when we have experienced the prayers, the love, and the faithfulness of God’s people, we need to remember them and let our shared faith drive us forward to faithfulness!

D. L. Moody was visiting a prominent Chicago citizen when the idea of church membership and involvement came up.

"I believe I can be just as good a Christian outside the church as I can be inside it," the man said.

Moody said nothing. Instead, he moved to the fireplace, blazing against the winter outside, removed one burning coal, and placed it on the hearth.

The two men sat together and watched the ember die out.

"I see," the other man said.

III. Remember God’s Power vv. 6-7

Finally, Paul gets to his big purpose in writing:

Timothy must fan into flame the gift of God present in him

Living for the Lord can be shockingly difficult and sometimes it seems like our faith is nothing more than the smoldering little embers of a fire that has long since gone out

When we find ourselves in that moment, doubtful, discouraged, disappointed, and distressed, we must do something to get the fire burning bright again so that we can use that gift for God’s glory

How do we get the fire burning again?

Well, we remember the promise of life

We remember the the people who love us

And finally, we remember the power of God

He does not give us a spirit of fear: Christians do not have to respond to the pressures of life in the same way that the world does

The world may be powerless but we have a power that comes from the Lord

The world may be filled with hate, but we have a love that overcomes evil

The world may spiral out of control, but we have self-control

This will be our spirit when we are under the leadership of the Holy Spirit

Romans 8:31–39

[31] What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? [32] He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, how will he not also with him graciously give us all things? [33] Who shall bring any charge against God’s elect? It is God who justifies. [34] Who is to condemn? Christ Jesus is the one who died—more than that, who was raised—who is at the right hand of God, who indeed is interceding for us. [35] Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword? [36] As it is written,

“For your sake we are being killed all the day long;

we are regarded as sheep to be slaughtered.”

[37] No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. [38] For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, [39] nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord. (ESV)

What do you need to do to fan into flame the gift of God in you?

Do you need to receive the promise?

Do you need to consider the people?

Do you need to rest in the Spirit?