2 Timothy 1

Hey Guys welcome to another midweek here at Conway’s First!

We are so excited that you are here.

How were those BBQ Nachos??

It’s been a great start to this semester so far and we can’t wait to keep it rolling.

We will be doing a small series through the book of 2 Timothy over the next Couple of weeks and I am super excited to see all that God will show us through it.

The context for this book of the Bible is Paul writing a letter to Timothy, a young man that Paul has invested heavily in much as a father figure.

Paul is writing this letter from a Roman Prison where he knows he will be executed soon, so Paul takes this opportunity to motivate and encourage Timothy to have a Spirit of Power, Love and Sound judgement in the Face of whatever comes.

I am super excited to see what the Lord will show us through the first part of 2 Timothy chapter 1 tonight.

Pray

Before we Dive into the word, I’ve got a story for you about a kid that at some point in his life was very afraid of heights.

Ok, that kid was me.

Palo Duro Canyon story- I was 12 or 13 and My Dad and I went out to find this old waterfall way in the back of the canyon. We were scaling some pretty sketchy terrain and we came to this little cut through trail on the edge of the canyon that was no more than 3 feet wide with an overhang that required us to crawl on our hands and knees. to our right was the canyon wall and to our left was a solid 25-30 foot drop-off. I was scared of heights, but confident in my Father, he helped to give me what I needed to overcome my fear and crawl through the trail. We found the waterfall and it was absolutely incredible. I never would have risked crawling along that Trail without the encouragement of my Dad. And I know that Timothy would not have ever stepped into his full potential in Christ without the encouragement of Paul.

And, it is all recorded here in the Bible for us to learn and grow from in our own lives and walks with Christ. Let’s see how the Lord will use this passage in our lives tonight.

2 Timothy 1:1–14 “Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by God’s will, for the sake of the promise of life in Christ Jesus: To Timothy, my dearly loved son. Grace, mercy, and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord. I thank God, whom I serve with a clear conscience as my ancestors did, when I constantly remember you in my prayers night and day. Remembering your tears, I long to see you so that I may be filled with joy. I recall your sincere faith that first lived in your grandmother Lois and in your mother Eunice and now, I am convinced, is in you also. Therefore, I remind you to rekindle the gift of God that is in you through the laying on of my hands. For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but one of power, love, and sound judgment. So don’t be ashamed of the testimony about our Lord, or of me his prisoner. Instead, share in suffering for the gospel, relying on the power of God. He has saved us and called us with a holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace, which was given to us in Christ Jesus before time began. This has now been made evident through the appearing of our Savior Christ Jesus, who has abolished death and has brought life and immortality to light through the gospel. For this gospel I was appointed a herald, apostle, and teacher, and that is why I suffer these things. But I am not ashamed, because I know whom I have believed and am persuaded that he is able to guard what has been entrusted to me until that day. Hold on to the pattern of sound teaching that you have heard from me, in the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus. Guard the good deposit through the Holy Spirit who lives in us.”

I love how direct Paul is here.

Just think about how it would make you feel if someone that you loved and respected were to write you a letter like this.

How powerful it would be to you.

Paul is writing this letter to Timothy with the understanding that he has a real relationship with Jesus Christ.

I hope with everything that is in me that each person in this room tonight has a real relationship with Jesus.

If you don’t please come find me after the service.

If you do, I have a couple of points of application from the first chapter of 2 Timothy that I think we can all learn and grow from.

My first point comes out of verse 7

2 Timothy 1:7 “For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but one of power, love, and sound judgment.”

1.Be Bold in the Spirit God has Given You (vs. 7)

For it is not a spirit of fear but of POWER LOVE and SOUND JUDGEMENT

We are called to be the hands and feet of Jesus and to be the cog in the machine that God wants us to be.

We must be walking with Christ daily to know what it is that He has for us, and walk boldly.

Know that if we are walking in the spirit and in the will of God, there is NOTHING that can stop God from accomplishing exactly what He wants to.

Do not be timid or fearful, Know whose you are and be confident because of it.

The next thing

2.Jesus Has a Plan for Your Life… Have the Faith to live it out (vs. 9)

2 Timothy 1:9 “He has saved us and called us with a holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace, which was given to us in Christ Jesus before time began.”

Jesus will always be there, and He will always show up when we need Him. Not always when we think we need him or not always at the very moment of our request, but He knows exactly what he has in store for my life. All that I have to do is have Faith enough to say yes.

Paul is giving Timothy one heck of a pep talk in his letter because he knows what Timothy is Capable of with Christ working through him.

In no way shape or form am I like Paul, but I hope that God can use me tonight to Convey to you that HE HAS A PLAN THAT INVOLVES YOU! HE LOVE YOU AND HE CAN DO WHATEVER HE WANTS TO THROUGH YOU!!!

My last point is this,

3.Guard the truth and the good that the spirit has deposited into your heart like your life depends on it because it does! (vss. 13-14)

2 Timothy 1:13–14 “Hold on to the pattern of sound teaching that you have heard from me, in the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus. Guard the good deposit through the Holy Spirit who lives in us.”

Once we know the Truth, we have to keep chasing Jesus.

The day we say yes to him is the starting line and not the finish line.

We must guard our hearts and equip ourselves with the Full armor of God in order to live out God’s Calling in our Lives.

Paul was encouraging Timothy in his letter and I pray that the Holy Spirit encourages you to be bold and to walk by Faith.