The Power of God
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Read 2 Timothy 1:8–12 “Therefore do not be ashamed of the testimony about our Lord, nor of me his prisoner, but share in suffering for the gospel by the power of God, who saved us and called us to a holy calling, not because of our works but because of his own purpose and grace, which he gave us in Christ Jesus before the ages began, and which now has been manifested through the appearing of our Savior Christ Jesus, who abolished death and brought life and immortality to light through the gospel, for which I was appointed a preacher and apostle and teacher, which is why I suffer as I do. But I am not ashamed, for I know whom I have believed, and I am convinced that he is able to guard until that day what has been entrusted to me.”
New York city
is known
as one of the biggest
and most influential cities in the world.
Full of life
and bright lights.
One day
in 1977 however
lightning struck
and the entire grid went down.
The city was in complete darkness.
Chaos ensued.
In the midst of turmoil
people began rioting and looting
starting
over 1000 fires.
Violence
and fear
took over
with the threat of a serial killer at large.
When the power finally came back on
after 25 hours
over 3700 people
were arrested.
And at the end
the damages
totaled at $300 million
or $1.65 billion dollars
in today’s money.
This historic power outage
only revealed
the true power outage
in people’s hearts.
People today
live
with no power.
With hearts
in complete darkness.
But God
wanted to make sure
that His people
had power
to live for Him.
That’s why the title for today’s message
is:
The Power of God.
And the main point:
The power of God enables Christians to overcome shame of and to suffer for: the gospel.
1. Power of God in the Holy Spirit - v.8
1. Power of God in the Holy Spirit - v.8
We begin by looking at v.8
with the word,
‘Therefore.’
And here
because it says therefore
we need to understand
what this word
is there
for
by looking
at the context.
2 Timothy
was a letter written
by the apostle Paul
to his beloved spiritual son:
Timothy.
Paul who is in prison
does not believe
that this time
he’ll get out.
He was right
because after this letter
Paul was beheaded.
Yes this is Paul’s final letter
in the New Testament.
But Paul is not in despair
because even though he was abandoned
by those he thought
were genuine believers
he knows Timothy
has genuine faith
and wants Timothy
to see him
one last time
in v.3-6.
And Paul also reminds
Timothy
that he does not
have a spirit of fear
but of power
love
and self-control.
And that is why Paul
encourages Timothy
to persevere
because the Holy Spirit
is living inside him.
And when Timothy
remembers that
he will find power
to not give up.
And this now brings us
to v.8
where Paul wrote,
‘Therefore do not be ashamed of the testimony about our Lord, nor of me his prisoner.’
In Paul’s encouragement
to Timothy
to not be ashamed
it is connected
to what Paul just reminded him
that the Holy Spirit
who lives inside Timothy
is empowering Him.
Now as we consider
the empowering
of the Holy Spirit
to Timothy
we must remember
who
the Holy Spirit is
and what
He does.
First starting with who.
The Holy Spirit
is a person. (repeat)
Many people
view the Holy Spirit
as an impersonal force
or object.
But the reality
is that the Holy Spirit
is not an “it”
the Holy Spirit
is a “he”.
In Acts
when Ananias and Saphira
lie to the church
Peter says
they lied
to the Holy Spirit
who is God.
This is because
the Holy Spirit
is a person.
You can’t lie to a force
an object
or a rock.
Second
recognize
what the Holy Spirit does.
And you can only truly understand
what the Holy Spirit does
in relation
to the rest of the trinity:
the Father
initiates salvation
the Son
accomplishes salvation
and the Holy Spirit
applies
salvation.
And how
does the Holy Spirit
apply
the salvation
of Christ that he accomplished
on the cross?
He regenerates you
causing you to be born again
so that you would finally
believe in Christ.
Because in the deadness of our sin
we will never believe in Chirst
because we love sin
and hate God.
He sanctifies you
causing you to bear spiritual fruit
of love
gentleness
and kindness
over time.
He seals you
protecting and ensuring
your salvation
forever.
And the Holy Spirit indwells you.
In the Old Covenant
God lived in the temple
but in the New Covenant
because Christ has cleansed you
with His blood
every single Christian
is a temple
and God lives inside them:
the Holy Spirit.
And what is He doing
inside of us?
Reassuring us
of His presence
that He is always with us
no matter where we go.
And finally
the Holy Spirit
illuminates God’s Word
meaning
he gives you understanding
of God’s Word.
People want to see the Holy Spirit work
so bad.
But the Holy Spirit is working
every time
a person
finally puts their faith in Jesus.
That is the work of the Holy Spirit.
Every time
you grow in understanding of the Bible:
whether in your private devotion
or sermon discussion
or listening to preaching on the Lord’s Day
that is the work of the Holy Spirit.
You don’t need to summon Him!
He’s already present
living in us
doing His work!
And when you understand that
you gain true
appreciation
and true worship
of God
because you know who the Holy Spirit is:
a person
not a force
and what He does:
apply salvation
to believers.
And by reflecting on this truth
you gain great
encouragement
and strength
knowing
that the Holy Spirit is in you
helping you
and protecting you.
That the same Holy Spirit
who raised Jesus from the dead
2000 years ago
is living in you
right
now.
Hallelujah!
And this is why
the empowering
of the Holy Spirit
leads to no shame.
Timothy
will have zero shame
in the testimony about our Lord:
the gospel
nor of the Apostle Paul
who was imprisoned.
In a time
when friends
and family
are being imprisoned
it’s tempting
and easy
to deny
that you know them
in order to avoid
the same consequences as them.
That’s what Peter did
when he denied Jesus.
But now
because Timothy
is indwelt
by the Holy Spirit
and receiving power from Him
Timothy
will be able
to be unashamed
for the gospel
and its preachers.
And not only
will Timothy
be empowered
in his heart
and have no shame
Timothy
will be empowered
in his outward life
as he will be empowered
by God
in the Holy Spirit
to also suffer
for the gospel
as Paul writes
continuing in v.8,
‘but share in suffering for the gospel by the power of God.’
If you were presented
with two options:
comfort
or suffering
which would you choose?
Comfort
100% of the time.
Yet in following Jesus
the road where He travels
is not always
a road of comfort.
It is often a road
of suffering.
This is why
in 2 Corinthians 4:8-10
it says
We are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not driven to despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed; always carrying in the body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our bodies.
If you are in Christ
and you are suffering
it does not mean
that God has abandoned you
but the opposite:
that God is with you.
Because if you are united to Jesus
who
are you united to?
A pain-free
comfortable man?
No.
You are united to a victorious savior
yes
but you are also united
to a suffering
servant.
Suffering
is the very definition
of being
a Christian.
So who in the world
would want to be a Christian?!
If suffering is guaranteed!
“Here’s the form
of the terms of agreement
of being a Christian:
there will be
affliction
confusion
persecution
and being striked down
100% guaranteed
sign here.”
What?
What kind of insane person
would sign that form?
I’ll tell you who:
the one
who is indwelt
and who has received
the power of God
in the Holy Spirit.
If you have the Holy Spirit
He will give you power
to follow Jesus
and to take up your cross
and to suffer
for the gospel.
Only supernatural strengthening
from the Holy Spirit
will you be able
to suffer
and praise God
no matter
what the pain
and trials
you experience.
Everyone else
who does not have the Holy Spirit
will fall away.
Why?
Because they don’t have the mind of Christ.
As it says
in 1 Cor 2:14-16
The natural person does not accept the things of the Spirit of God, for they are folly to him, and he is not able to understand them because they are spiritually discerned. The spiritual person judges all things, but is himself to be judged by no one. “For who has understood the mind of the Lord so as to instruct him?” But we have the mind of Christ.
We have the mind of Christ
but the natural person
unbelievers
who don’t have the Holy Spirit
cannot understand
the Bible.
They don’t have
the mind of Christ
that is set on the things above
not the things below.
Therefore
when suffering
or trials come
they fall away
and forsake Jesus.
So church
rely
on the power of God
in
the Holy Spirit.
Remember
that He is living in you
protecting you
and causing you
to understand
God’s Word
more
and more
over time.
And this truth
will give you the strength
and the power
to be unashamed
and to suffer for:
the gospel.
That was #1
Power of God
in the Holy Spirit.
2. Power of God in the gospel message - v.9-10
2. Power of God in the gospel message - v.9-10
Let’s take a look
at v.9
where it says,
‘who saved us and called us to a holy calling, not because of our works but because of his own purpose and grace, which he gave us in Christ Jesus before the ages began’.
In this verse
we see grace in salvation
as an essential part
of the gospel message.
Grace
being
God’s undeserved favor
on sinful man
who does not deserve salvation
but deserves His wrath.
But instead
saves Him
as Paul writes,
‘who saved us
and called us
to a holy
calling.’
God takes a wicked
evil man
who hates Him
and instead of giving Him the wrath and judgement
He deserves
God saves Him
and not only saves Him
but calls him to a holy calling
meaning
giving him a task
and responsibility
to live for Him
and represent Him
as an ambassador.
It’s like taking a beggar on the street
in tattered worn out clothing
taking him off the street
putting him in the royal palace
giving him royal garbs
and sending him out
as a royal emissary
in the name of the king.
How unworthy
is that person
to receive such an honor
and privilege
to not only be saved and taken off the street
but to be given great dignity
and purpose
in giving him an incredible
lifelong mission
of being His royal emissary?
And is it because
we deserve it?
No.
As Paul writes,
‘not
because of our works
but because
of his own purpose
and grace’.
God saving us
has nothing to do
with how many good works we did
outweighing
our bad ones
It has nothing to do with us
at all!
But God saves sinners
because of His own purpose
and grace.
Purpose
meaning a plan
with a goal in mind.
God has His own plan
with His own goal
in mind
in saving you.
Ultimately for His glory.
When God answered King Hezekiah’s prayer
to save Judah from the Assyrians
God replies
in Isaiah 37:35
For I will defend this city to save it, for my own sake and for the sake of my servant David.”
Why does God save Jerusalem
and the Israelites living there?
Not for them
but to fulfill His promise to David
and for His sake.
Why does God need to save them for His own sake?
God doesn’t need saving.
It’s because He is doing it for His glory.
And when God is glorified
we are greatly blessed
because we were made
to enjoy the infinite fountain
of God’s glory.
But ultimately
because there is no one higher than God
He saves
not primarily for us
but primarily
for Himself:
for His purpose:
His glory.
God also called
and saved us
because of his own
grace.
Grace meaning God
giving favor
to those who do not deserve it:
sinners
us
who deserve only His Wrath
but instead
He gives us His salvation.
And not only
is it undeserved
it is also
unearned.
Or in other words
grace in salvation
means
100% God
and 0% you.
If you are in Christ
you contributed absolutely nothing
to your salvation.
You did not save yourself
God
saved you.
Some people say salvation
is like you drowning
and God throws out a rope to you to save you
and you have to reach out
and hold on
to the rope.
A better picture
is:
You were drowning in the deadness of your sin
not wanting to be rescued
but enjoying it
sinking in the depths of depravity
with a smile on your face.
But God
in his mercy
and grace
pulled you out
from drowning
and rescued you
out of the depths
of the ocean of sin
and saved you.
That is grace
completely undeserved
and completely unearned:
100% God
and 0% you.
And this
is emphasized even more
because Paul writes right after this:
‘which He gave us in Christ
before the ages
began.’
Before you existed
before the world existed
and before time itself existed
God
gave you His grace
in the death and resurrection of His Christ
that He
planned.
If God saved you
with His grace
before
you even existed
how clearer can it be
that God’s salvation of you
is 100% God
and 0% you?
If the gospel
was even 99% God
and 1% you
it becomes exponentially
less glorious
and beautiful
because even if it’s 1% you
YOU
did it!
And you
are not as beautiful
and glorious as God
and you never will be!
It becomes the gospel of you
rather than the gospel of Jesus Christ
and no one
wants to hear
the gospel of you!
No
the beauty of the gospel
is truly only seen
when you understand
that grace in salvation
is completely
100% God
and 0% you.
The right understanding of grace
is the difference
between the gospel
being a tool
and the gospel
being a diamond
So when you understand this
then
and only then
does the gospel truly shine
and becomes something
you want to look at
and ponder
in admiration
forever
like staring at a beautiful sunset
or beautiful diamond
that never becomes boring!
And a gospel
this infinitely beautiful
is one
that you will want
to live for:
forever!
This is why God’s grace
and sovereignty
is absolutely essential to the gospel
it’s not just a debate
between theologians.
Understand this right
and you’ll have a magnificently
beautiful gospel
and a church
that is obsessed with it:
a gospel-centered
church.
But recognize this
God’s grace
being fully revealed
and appreciated
is completely dependent
on one
sole
person:
Christ.
That’s why Paul writes in v.10,
‘and which now has been manifested through the appearing of our Savior Christ Jesus’.
All of the OT
pointed
to salvation
in the promise
of a faithful covenant keeper
on behalf
of sinful faithless people.
And that faithful covenant keeper
is the Messiah:
Christ Jesus.
Every single believer
whether in the Old Testament
or the New
was saved
exactly the same way
by faith alone
in God’s grace.
And God’s grace
in salvation
can only activate
until
Christ came
and laid down His life
on the cross
and rose again.
Why?
Because God is just
and He cannot just forgive people
let them into heaven
without punishing sin.
That is unjust.
And yet at the same time
God is merciful
and wants to forgive.
So what do we do
with this impossible situation?
It’s like God’s justice
is an unstoppable force
and God’s grace and mercy
is an unmovable force
and they are colliding!
The problem
of the unstoppable force
and an unmovable force!
But Christ
solves this problem
completely
because on the cross
He takes God’s punishment
by taking and becoming sin
on behalf of those who believe in Him
and so
God’s justice
is satisfied!
But not only that
God’s grace and mercy
is satisfied too
because now
that God’s justice has been met
God is able to forgive
and have mercy on sinners
because Christ
has paid for their sin!
Because of Christ
and only because of Him
you are not guilty!
God is able to save
while still being just
and
being merciful and gracious
only
because of Christ!
Without Christ
it all falls apart!
It’s useless!
Without Christ
God can only be either
just
or
gracious.
But because of what Christmdid
God can be both!
This is why
Christ
is the way
the truth
and the life
and no one can come to the Father
except
through Him!
So thank God
that His Son:
Jesus Christ
came down
from the beautiful comfort of heaven
and became a slave
washing our feet
and dying for us!
Because if Christ never came down
and went back up
we would be dead
in our sins!
But thank God Christ came
that’s why Paul wrote
at the end of v.10,
‘who abolished death and brought life and immortality to light through the gospel’.
Because Christ came
He destroyed
and ended death.
Because Christ came
he brought eternal life
to light
meaning He made eternal life
able to be known
like a dark room
and finally someone turns on the light
so you can see
and know what’s there
Christ
is the light
that shows the world
and gives them the knowledge
that He is the only way
to be saved!
But what’s fascinating here
is what God’s Word says
about
how
Christ
defeated death
and finally shows
how to be saved.
Christ did it
through
the gospel.
Now usually
when you think
of Christ
achieving salvation
you think of His work on the cross
and His resurrection.
But here
it’s saying
God achieved salvation
through
the gospel!
But Isn’t Christ
the gospel?
So what does this mean?
The answer
is when you recognize
God’s Power
in the gospel
message.
Paul wrote in his previous letter
to the Romans
in Romans 1:16
For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes
The Power of God
is in a message:
the gospel.
So how
did Christ
conquer death
and bring eternal life
through the message
of the gospel?
By preaching it.
In Mark chapter 1
when Jesus got up very early in the morning
to get away from everyone
to spend time with God
Peter tells Jesus
everyone is looking for you
And then Jesus responds
in Mark 1:38
“Let us go on to the next towns, that I may preach there also, for that is why I came out.”
Why did Jesus come down
from heaven?
To preach.
To preach the gospel.
That is why Jesus came
out of heaven.
God had only one Son
and He
was a preacher.
And He told His disciples
over and over again:
He tells them three times
each
in Matthew
Mark
and Luke.
Jesus even says
in Luke 9:44
“Let these words sink into your ears: The Son of Man is about to be delivered into the hands of men.”
Why did Jesus
the Son of God
repeatedly preach to the disciples
that He was going to die
and rise again?
Because He was a preacher.
And a preacher
of the gospel.
Jesus Christ
relied
on nothing
but the preaching of the gospel message
and living out that gospel message
in order
to defeat death
and achieve eternal life
for us.
He was unashamed
and He suffered
because of the power of God
in the gospel.
So church
if Christ
relied
on the gospel for power
how much more
should we?
What are you relying on
to give you power?
Your own ability?
Your pride?
On other things
or people?
Or are you relying on the gospel?
Only one of these things
actually has power:
the gospel.
The gospel
is the power of God.
If you live your life
relying on the gospel
for power
by constantly
every day
remembering
and reflecting
on the gospel:
God’s grace
in sending His Son
to die
for unworthy sinners
you will find your heart
full
of joy
hope
and peace
to keep going.
And when God gives you the oppurtunity
to share the Christ with someone
remember
the power
is not in your smartness
your persuasiveness.
No the power of God
is in the gospel!
So don’t be ashamed!
The gospel is the very power of God!
So simply be faithful
and trust God to do
a powerful work!
So that was number 2:
Power of God
in the gospel message.
3. Power of God in knowing Him - v.11-12
3. Power of God in knowing Him - v.11-12
Let’s take a look at v.11
and the beginning of v.12
where it says,
‘for which I was appointed a preacher and apostle and teacher, which is why I suffer as I do.’
The gospel
is what Paul
was appointed
to be a preacher
apostle
meaning messenger
and teacher
for.
Or in other words
Paul’s entire life
is centered
around
the gospel.
The gospel is the sun
and Paul is the earth
revolving around it.
Everything he does
is for the gospel.
His entire ministry
of preaching
being a representative authority
on behalf of Christ
as an apostle
and a teacher
who explains
and teaches gospel doctrine
is all
for the gospel.
And the gospel
is why Paul says
he is suffering.
He is in prison
for
the gospel.
If you live for the gospel
and you tell others about it
and you get resistance
you get opposition
do not be discouraged Christian
you are doing something right.
A gospel
with no opposition
or suffering
is no gospel at all.
But why is Paul
willing
to suffer
for the gospel?
Because he says
in the next part of v12,
‘But I am not ashamed, for I know whom I have believed.’
Whenever we are pulled over by a cop
for something we did wrong
we feel shame.
Imagine being imprisoned
the shame
you would feel.
But Paul
in prison
and alone
is not ashamed.
He’s bold
confident.
Why?
Because ‘he knows
whom he has believed.’
In order
for you
to trust in someone
to believe them
you have
to know them.
The less
you know about them
the less
you will believe them.
A lot of unnecessary pain
in the Christian life
comes
from not knowing God.
Not knowing theology.
Not knowing
who God really is
and how deep
knowing Him
goes.
The more you know someone
the deeper
the relationship goes.
Marriage is deeper
at year 30
than year 3
because the husband and wife
knows each other more
than they did in the beginning.
Likewise
a deeper
and stronger relationship with God
can only come
the more
you know Him.
Now notice
that knowledge of God
and relationship
must go hand in hand.
Having mere intellectual
ascent
but no heart
no affections
puts you
in the same category
as Satan
and the demons.
But for true believers
increased knowledge of God
also increases
affection
yes genuine emotion
for Him.
Because
to truly know God
is to have a relationship with Him.
A relationship
as slave and lord.
A relationship of Father and child.
So if you want to grow
in your relationship with God
you must grow
in your knowledge of Him.
Take Him seriously.
Study the Bible vigorously
read Christian books
pay careful attention
during Sunday Service
and rely on the Holy Spirit
for understanding.
And you will find yourself
as you learn more about God
having a deeper relationship with Him
of greater trust
and belief
leading to greater happiness
and satisfaction in life.
And
the resolve
to be unashamed of the gospel
when suffering
or opposition comes to you
for your belief
in God.
If you know
who you have believed
and you know Him deeply
the greater
and stronger
your faith
and willingness
to be bold for Christ.
This is the power of God
in knowing Him.
And because Paul
knew God
deeply
he was certain
100% certain
that ultimately
God
would save his soul
as he wrote
in the rest of v.12,
‘and I am convinced that he is able to guard until that day what has been entrusted to me.’
If you look
at your ESV bible
you should see a footnote
on the word
‘me.’
This is because
this verse
can also be translated,
‘I am convinced
that God is able to guard
what
I have entrusted
to Him.’
And ultimately
the decision
on which translation is correct
is based on the context.
And the context
of Paul
suffering for the gospel
and the fact
that in the Greek
Paul literally writes,
‘my deposit’
points
in the direction
of “what I entrusted
to Him.’
That the deposit
that Paul is talking about
is his life
and that he is certain
that God
will guard it.
And not necessarily
his physical life
but the life that matters infinitely more:
his eternal life
his soul.
As Jesus said
what profits a man
if he gains the whole world
but loses his only soul?
In Christ church
you will lose your life
but you will gain your soul
and live forever.
And God will protect it
your eternal life
your soul
all the way
to that day
the day
the Lord returns.
In Christ church
you have absolute confidence
certainty
and peace
where you will be
after this life.
As the Apostle John
said in 1 Jn 5:13
I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, that you may know that you have eternal life.
If you know God
and believe in Him
you know
you are 100% certain
that you have eternal life
not after you die
but right now
in this very moment
you have
absolute confident
certainty.
This is why knowing Christ
is power:
the power of God.
If you know Christ
you know
you are invincible
until the day
God takes you
because He is guarding your soul
all the way
to the end.
This is why Paul said
‘I am not ashamed
for I know whom I have believed.’
Because he was referring to
Isaiah 28:16
which says
“Behold, I am laying in Zion a stone, a cornerstone chosen and precious, and whoever believes in him will not be put to shame.”
Because Paul
put his belief
on the foundation
of the people of God:
the cornerstone:
Christ
he is not ashamed.
As the cornerstone
Christ
is the rock
the solid foundation
of Zion
the city of God
on which
Christians
have been standing on:
this solid rock
to give them power
to live
be unashamed
and suffer for God
for eternity.
All other ground
is sinking sand.
So church
stand on Christ
our great cornerstone
and you will never be ashamed.
He will deliver you
from the enemy
just like he delivered
king Hezekiah and Judah
from the Assyrians
and just like he delivered Paul
from eternal destruction
because
they believed
in the cornerstone:
Christ.
If you stand on Christ church
you will never be ashamed
no matter
how impossible life seems
and how painful it is.
And if you are not a Christian
listening today
you are not
standing on the solid ground
of the cornerstone:
Jesus Christ.
You are standing
on sinking sand.
You don’t know
where you will be
after you die.
All you have
is uncertainty
fear
and worry.
And as the cornerstone
Christ
is not only the savior
of those who stand on Him
but also the judge
of those He falls on
when He returns.
As Jesus said
in Matthew 21:44
The one who falls on this stone will be broken to pieces; and when it falls on anyone, it will crush him.”
If you reject Christ
when He falls on you
He will crush you.
But the good news
is that God
is patient
wanting you to come to Him.
Calling you
to believe
in what His Son
did on that cross
and in His resurrection.
You don’t have to do any good works
grace is 100% God and 0% you.
All you have to do
is believe in Him
and you will not be ashamed.
And the power
will finally go on
in your heart.
So in conclusion:
Power of God in the Holy Spirit
Power of God in the gospel message
Power of God in knowing Him
Main point: The power of God enables Christians to overcome shame of and to suffer for: the gospel.
Let’s pray.
