Stay Strong

Rekindle Afresh The Gift Of God

Paul reminds Timothy to get back to the passion and zeal that he once had. Because of the intense persecution of Christians by Nero at this time, many people had left the faith to avoid persecution. This was disheartening to Timothy and his passion and zeal began to dissipate and he became less effective as a minister of the gospel. Paul reminded him to rekindle the gift that God had given him to accomplish the work of Christ. The gift was not timidity, but power, love and discipline.

Timothy was young and fearful. His tendency was to be a people-pleaser and not an ambassador for the gospel of Jesus Christ. He would bow to the pressure of the people in the church at Ephesus rather than assert his pastoral authority for the cause of Christ. He didn’t want to lose any more people by upsetting them. Paul reminded him that he had power, love and discipline.

Power

Paul reminded Timothy that God had given him power to do His work. He did not have to be fearful of the people, but could do what God called him to do.

2 preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort, with [a]great patience and instruction.

This is something that every Christian should recognize. That God has given us a gift to fulfill His calling for our life. With the gift and calling we also have power to accomplish His will. We do not have the power to use His gift to us for our own selfish purposes, but to do what He wills.

Love

The love we have from God is agapē, the volitional and selfless love that desires and works for the best interests of the one loved. It is not emotional and conditional, as philos love often is, and has nothing in common with erōs love, which is sensual and selfish. The love we have from God is constant. It does not share the ebb and flow or the unpredictability of those other loves. It is a self-denying grace that says to others, in effect, “I will give myself away on your behalf.” Directed back to God, from whom it came, it says, “I will give my life and everything I have to serve you.” It is the believer’s “love in the Spirit” (), the divinely-bestowed love of the one who will “lay down his life for his friends” (). It is the “sincere love of the brethren” by which we “fervently love one another from the heart” (), the “perfect love [that] casts out fear” (). It is the love that affirms without reservation or hesitation: “If we live, we live for the Lord, or if we die, we die for the Lord; therefore whether we live or die, we are the Lord’s” (). Above all, it is “the love of Christ which surpasses knowledge” ().

Our spiritual lives are measured accurately by our love. If our first love is for self, our life will center on seeking our own welfare, our own objectives, our own comfort and success. We will not sacrifice ourselves for others or even for the Lord. But if we love with the love God provides, our life will center on pleasing Him and on seeking the welfare of others, especially other Christians. Godly love is the first fruit of the Spirit, and it is manifested when we “live by the Spirit [and] … walk by the Spirit” (, ).

John F. MacArthur Jr., 2 Timothy, MacArthur New Testament Commentary (Chicago: Moody Press, 1995), 18–19.

Discipline

This means to have a sound mind. When you follow the Lord you will have clear thinking to accomplish what it is that He has called you to accomplish. This is necessary because there are many distractions that will try to prevent you from accomplishing what God has called you to do.

Priority is perhaps the most important issue when it comes to sound mindness. When we have wrong priorities then we put our will before God’s.

Paul was encouraging Timothy to remember that God called him to spread the gospel. He charged him with pastoring the church at Ephesus. Timothy had to be focused on what God was calling him to do!

Don’t Be Ashamed Of The Gospel, Suffer For It.

Because of the tremendous persecution Nero was afflicting on the Christians many people were abandoning the faith to avoid the persecution. It got so bad that people were ashamed of following Christ. They looked down on those that did. Consequently, those that professed to be Christians were severely persecuted and even killed for their faith. Nero was said to light the Roman sky with human Christian torches.

Timothy witnessed all of this. You can imagine what was going through his mind. If I get caught spreading the gospel they will take my life. This probably had an affect on his effectiveness. He probably began to back off of spreading the gospel for fear of his own life. Paul encouraged him not to back off, but to suffer for Christ.

He reminded Timothy that we are no longer our own, but we belong to Christ to serve his purposes. He has granted us the grace and power to do the work of the Lord.

Jesus Abolished Death and brought imortality

Paul reminded Timothy that even if they take his life they cannot capture his soul. Through Jesus death has been conquered. The worst this world can do to us is take our life. This is why Paul said in Philippians

21 For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain. 22 [s]But if I am to live on in the flesh, this will mean fruitful labor for me; and I do not know [t]which to choose. 23 But I am hard-pressed from both directions, having the desire to depart and be with Christ, for that is very much better; 24 yet to remain on in the flesh is more necessary for your sake. 25 Convinced of this, I know that I will remain and continue with you all for your progress and joy [u]in the faith, 26 so that your proud confidence in me may abound in Christ Jesus through my coming to you again.

Paul was not concerned with his own life. He knew that if someone were to take his life , he would be in the presence of the Lord. But he knew that Gd had much work for Him to complete and God would protect Him until his work was done.

This is something that we can take courage in. God will continue to use us until His work with us is complete. Nothing will destroy us before He is finished with us.

Paul also reminded Timothy that we have a better life waiting for us when we leave this world. Jesus has brought immortality to the Christian. This is called eternal life. When we pass from this world to the next we are promised a home in heaven. This is a place of perfect peace. There is no pain, suffering, sin,sorrow or death. It is a place of eternal joy.

Paul Believed God TO Take Care Of Him

Paul had been through so much in his lifetime. He experienced first hand the faithfulness of God to protect him on his journey. Paul knew that in every place he went to establish Jesus Church, he would be persecuted and suffer. This did not deter him. As a matter of fact it fueled his passion for following Christ.

3 And not only this, but [a]we also exult in our tribulations, knowing that tribulation brings about perseverance; 4 and perseverance, proven character; and proven character, hope; 5 and hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out within our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us.

Suffering was an expectation for Paul and he considered it an honor to suffer for his Savior. This is a concept that is foreign to most Christians today. They think conversely. They believe that Jesus is suppose to protect them from suffering. This is not the case. Jesus allows us to suffer. It is in our suffering that we grow in Christ.

2 Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various [c]trials, 3 knowing that the testing of your faith produces [d]endurance. 4 And let [e]endurance have its perfect [f]result, so that you may be [g]perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.

We must have the same kind of faith that Paul had. Whatever the Lord allows to come into our lives we can be sure it can be used for His glory