A Shot-in-the-Arm Encouragement to Proclaim the Gospel
Notes
Transcript
Dear congregation of our Lord Jesus Christ,
The signs don’t look so good - so many churches in decline, this weekend Article 17. In just our N. part of Classis Toronto North of 7. Combine that with painful stats on how many young people never come back after college. Number of pastor’s who leave the ministry altogether, no where near the scare tactics some would say, but still 1% a year, that’s still 250 every month. Now it can be really hard to hunker done and just get to the good work of ministry - when churches and pastors are full of anxiety, discontent, jealousy. And its all driven by a lot of fear.
Its kind of how news works in the Western World, occassional CBC “the Moment” of hope and celebration of good, but for th emost part overwhelmed with sense of dread and doom. Fear is how advertising and marketing work - got to get this for fear of not being cool, of missing the deal, of not having the security. And it no wonder that all this fear in the church, in the world, in our lives spawns confused thinking, irrationality, misunderstandings!
Well congregation, it may be that Timtohy had a bit of rainy disposition like Eoyre. We have seen he is younger, subject to phyiscal ailments and weakness, and perhaps more shy in personality than Titus on Crete. But the reason for Paul wriitng his last letter is more than some a bold extroverts and others are more shy introverts. Two terrible events had happened in Paul’s life and one ongoing struggle at the church in Ephesus (remember Paul’s diamond in the rought congergations, 2 1/2 years).
i. First of all a great fire swept through the captal of the Roman Empire, and their otherwise sane, Seneca educated, tolerant Emperor, who just a few years earlier released Paul from his firs imporsonment - regarding the Jewish attack on him. Well, Nero now goes insane, and he blames the fire on the Christians. Storm clouds gathering for some of the fierest, on-off persecution the church has ever seen. And as this letter will show, it would be costly to stand beside and with, to be numbered with Rome’s most famous prisoner Paul. So many had left him. And as the storm clouds of perescution gather over Ephesus, Timothy may also be tempted to to turn!
ii. And the thing in Timothy’s life that was an ongoing yet growing struggle, was all these false teachers - attacking the gospel, attacking the apotlic teaching of the gospel of Jesus, cmoing up with alternate spiritualities, and rituals, and laws -that didn’t have thgospel at the center - Timothy it would seem was tempted to throw in the towel! Give up on it all it just ain’t worth it - losing sleep, losing happiness, losing my mind - I got to get out - I give up on - and I feel all alone in this.
iii. And then there was a second thing Paul was facing, that we see in Chapter 4. His first trial date happened, and guess what - no one, no one showed up - and he is certain that his time is short and execution awaits. You can feel where Timothy is at in his struggle and temptation to quit in Ephesus. Now feel how Paul feels in his prison cell in Rome. Tradition suggests, it was the Mammertine prison in Rome. If so, it was a dismal underground chamber with a single hole in the ceiling for light and air.
Now if from there you could write a last letter, if you could send your last will and testament to your family and friends before your done on earth. What would you write. Paul writes his most perosnal letter, its to Ephesus and even more directly to TImothy . At its heart this is not a strategy letter like 1 Timothy on how to defend teh church -it doesn’t read like that more church order manual. And its not like Titus with that happy emphasis on sanctification, on how to practice the gospel. Both of those letters so much gospel doctrine worked in asthe grounding for instruction. This letter, like a last will and testament is not about defending or practicing the gopsel, but it is a passionate plea for the Proclamation of the Gospel. NOw you may ywan hohum, of course we should proclaim that gospel. But Paul’s last words have such urgency because its that commitment to bold gospel-proclamation alone that can get the struggling church of one genereation over all the struggle, compllaint, fear, to the next generation. In otherwords, if the church is to continue into the next gerneation, as this one is, and that’s the Spirit’s work, but it involves us getting over our fears and quitting attitude to boldly exercise our gifts of the Spirit for gospel proclamation. Do you believe you have those dear friends? I know you do, just as Paul knew TImothy did. And though at times things may look grim, the spark is still there and its Paul’s last urgent request that is eessential to not only the wellbeing but he existaence of our church that - we fan into flame the Spirit of God in each other for this proclamation!
Key Truth: Since the church will continue holding out the promise of life, we need a shot-in-the-arm to exercise our gifts of the Spirit!
This shot in the arm will come with instruction on how we are to proclaim next week, but htis week the encouragement comes to you and me in three ways: an authroitive yet warm greeting gives us a shot in the arm; a thankful remembrance of where our afith came from and is going, and lastly we get a shot in the arm from the gifting of the Spirit we each have received!
A. The Greeting: Authority & Warmth of this Greeting that clarify our identity.
Who we are and what we’re about as Christ’ Church. So many, many hours are spent by organization, including, maybe especially churches in defining their vision statement = why we exist, and their mission statement - this is what we do to fulfill our calling. Kind of a democratic process poll - what do you want the church to do and be. Some in our denomination feel - so significantly different Canadian and American setting - almost two denominations. Well Paul cuts through all of this in his greeting. If Paul were asked - who are you - and you ought to be surprised in this most personal lietter to his dearest brother in the LORD, his answer is right away and again and again: I am an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God! 2 Timothy 1:1a
Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God according to the promise of the life that is in Christ Jesus,
When Billy Graham preached to Queen Elizabeth she is reported to have said, it was so good to listen to God’s Word preached, sitting not as a queen, nor as the head of the church of England, but simply and most basically as a Christian. That’s kind of what Paul is getting at - he is on earth, he is writing as a Christian instruction after years of ministry to the one who takes over a key church - and though the whole congregation, each member who has opinions and conflicts and perspectives is listening in on this letter -its addressed to them, and though he is writing to a dearest friend - and in his loneliness he has been replaying the tears at their last parting probably just months before - and all the ministry did in their travels - still Paul says, basically I am a servant of the Living Christ, I am one Sent By Him, not hired by people, not a pollster coming up with your best plans - but as a follower and servant of the living Jesus Christ! He plays that heavy card of authority, and even adds by the decree and will of God.
Now I dare say that often we don’t think of each other in that way - certainly not as an apostle - but even as those blood bought by Christ, and in His service, as brothers and sisters in Christ, servants of the Most High before anything else. But Paul does, and he wants the church to recognize not only Christ’s authority in him, but especially in Timothy!
2 Timothy 1:2a And yet, in the very same breathe, he moves to the recipient of the leter, and says To Timothy, my beloved child!
To Timothy, my beloved child: Grace, mercy, and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord.
Now so often you and I separate the official from the personal. We don’t think authority, and warmth can go together. But Paul says that’s how relationships are to be in ministry - yes, the official job and position, and authority of Jesus is right the with the warmth and friendship!
And why is that? Its because Paul’s authority/job and and the deep friendship and warmth of our relationships as Chrsitains, it has its source and purpose in 1:1b according to the promise of the life that is in Christ Jesus! Do you have that promise of life? It is not just from Christ Jesus - like a gift you will receive in heaven, live for ever. No already it is that promise of life in Him now, that mystically joined to HIm - you have new spiritual life now, have fellowship with God the Father, you have sustenance of the Spirit imbuing your life with joy and peace, and power and love , and mystically joined to Him. Like Paul you know you have life in the next realm, resurrection life beyond the grave, ultimately in the new heaven and new earth! DO you share that sense authoritative and warmly in your relationships here?
Paul’s alone, the kingdom of God begun to grow through the Church. But it seems to be in jeopardy. So Paul reminds us its this promise of life in Christ Jesus - is why he was called to serve the church with his whole life, and he also knows that’s what the heart of his fellowship with all Christians especially Timothy is aiming for. Paul isn’t discouraged and even in his greeting he saying you and I and Timothy and the churc that is the bridge generation shouldn’t be either - There is the a) authority of apostolic ministry in our midst and their is the b) warmth of that fellowship in our midst. And so Paul says, rooted in that grace, mercy and peace flow like a foundatin to us now!
But the second dose of shot in the arm encouragement comes in Paul’s act of Remembering!
B. The Thanksgiving: Remembering that Situates us as the ‘Bridge-Generation’
The act of remembering is being lost in our age were the rage is for the latest and greatest. For us the only value of history is just educational, so we are not doomed to repeat it. But Paul says your history your personal history, your personal faith history serves not only a useful teaching purpose. It serves an encouragement purpose that will lift your spirit, fight off the quitter attitude, and galvanize your life with purpose!
What is remembering? Mice in a sense remember, but that is rather mechanical and without real reflection. But human, spiritual remembering is to re-image stuff from the past, making ti present to you now, and it gives sense, hope, purpose. The acts of worship brings this in to our lives, In the OT the act of remembering - brought the significance of the Passover to God’s people in the present generation. so much so that when asked: Why is thini night more specail than others, as they remember the answer is: Because we actually, though living 4000 years later were set free by God back then… bring this into our identity and purpose. We do the exact same thing at Jesus command, when we go to the Cross, each time Jesus says: “Take, eat, remember and believe!”
Well, Paul is saying in a similar way - church, Timothy, when you get into this despairing, timid, quitting funk, do some remembering. He does it for himself and then in a parallel way to the one he’s writing too. 2 Timothy 1:3
I thank God whom I serve, as did my ancestors, with a clear conscience, as I remember you constantly in my prayers night and day.
Paul was a Jew of Jews, a Pharisee of Pharisees, he went to trial because of the hope of the Pharisees and the hope of the Jews, promised resurrection of the OT. For him becoming a Christ-follower was not a contradiction of Judaism but its fulfillment. It wasn’t a separate track of salvation, but preparatory to the Messiah bring Jews and Gentile into the same ark of salvation. Before finding real & new spiritual life in Christ, he didn’t have a sound conscience and the law beat him up, but when he found righteousness in Christ, that is by faith and not law-keeping - his conscience by atonement of Christ, by forgiveness applied again and again - he was set free . He became as the OT used the term blameless - not without sin, but forgiven and living with integrity by faith in God’s Spirit - accepted and equipped. And when you have that sound consciene - you can keep on serving God in all circumstances. When things go well , and when they don’t. Remembering that you stand in line with Noah, Abraham, with Sarah, Rahab, David, Esther - you see that though being the church in the world is tough, ups and downs, I am part of this one line of God’s saving work in this world.
ii. IN a similar way Paul, says Timothy, I remember you. I bet Paul went all the way back to when his Grand-mother converted to Christ, with Timothy's mother following way back on Paul’s first missionary journey. His mother had married a Greek, who was not a believer - whether this was a Jewish woman compromising her faith and covenant way, or whether Lois and Eunice were Greek women who converted to Judaism - Paul stands back in wonder - you and they were joined to the Christ - and what does Paul call that faith of Louis and Eunice - its’ what sincere. 2 Timothy 1:5
I am reminded of your sincere faith, a faith that dwelt first in your grandmother Lois and your mother Eunice and now, I am sure, dwells in you as well.
The word is literally hypocritical. Now when has that word been used in the PE? The false teachers were hypocrites not because they claimed to be Christian and still fell into sin, but because living comfortably in sin they didn’t have any repentance, and their profession had no reality to it, there was no root in Christ, producing new fruit in Christ. Elsewhere Paul said to the Romans, the only thing that counts is faith working by love. Paul saw that in Louis and then Eunice and then he says some real challenging words.
And now, hmm, hmm, Timothy I am sure that sincere faith dwells in you. It’s kind of like a coach putting in a bench player, because super star had been injured, and you have practiced again and again how to rebound, and you say, And now I am sure you are going to rebound. There is an implicit question about the future there. It’s not just a statement of the past, but a plea for the future. You'll do this Timothy won’t you?
Paul encourages him with this remembrance saying, remember our past parting those tears - we are so knit together in this faith that Christ has made His Spirit dwell in us as a gift. Well let me ask you congregation, is there not a son or daughter, is there not a young person outside of your blood lines, is there not someone you know tempted to give up - that you can do some remembering with and for. In a parallel way you are saying like Paul, we are caught up in something more than this moment this is the people of God, the kingdom of God spanning generations - and God has touched you to play a vital role, part of the link in the chain. And that results in thanksgiving that changes our complete disposition!
Applying this remembrance to our lives today, I want you to see how surprising in this last will and testament of Paul it is that the words grand mother, mother and son come up. Paul came to understand the mission of the church is simply theology and church order, strategies to evangelize the nations. He understood and writes this letter understanding that there is a intergenerational mission of the church! Timothy’s father, like many people in NA have experienced of late don’t have a father in faith formation picture. The crux of this letter in may ways is the Proclamation of the Gospel and part of that depends on real faith like this gran mother and mother transmitted by word and modelled in lifestyle and worship together - careful and diligent learning of the Scripture together - are you, are we involved in each others lives like that. Do we support each other and give thanks for the heritage of faith.
Parenting and grand-parenting in the faith ow is much like the challenges then. Highly pluralistic, syncretism rapidly changing environment. Transmission of faith is going to require that we do family well, here and its going to require just like for Timothy that we beyond blood lines. Remember to mentor those in the next generation and rejoice in our connection with them, as much as we do with those in the past!
C. Well, I hope you’ve felt the shot-in-the arm you need tonight, in authoritative, yet warm greeting , in the apostolic church that you are part of, and in this act of remembering. But the last dose of the shot in them arm comes in Paul’s appeal to Timothy. This does is the I believe the most potent, but it is also the one is going to require you to do something to get the boost. And that is in what is probably the most popular phrase from 2 Timothy: Fanned into Flame!
C. The Appeal: You Have a Gifting From the Spirit that must be Fanned into Flame!
Now even in the grammar we have encouragement. Paul says 2 Timothy 1:6
For this reason I remind you to fan into flame the gift of God, which is in you through the laying on of my hands,
That a command in Greek that doesn’t mean you’ve stopped doing something so now start it. But its command that means you have been doing something now keep on doing it.
This isn’t something like breathing that doesn’t take continue effort, it is not like getting your drivers’ licence which is a one time thing. No, this is something like says Paul, like tending your fire place at night. You get it going but then get busy and you may forget hey I’ve got to add some wood, I’ve got to stoke it. My Christmas present this year, a bellows. A couple time s through the evening I’ve got to keep it going.
Now this should be encouraging because though Timothy had already been reminded in the first letter ,not to neglect the gift he had been given, the burning ember can’t be put out. Paul in a little differnt context says: Romans 11:29
For the gifts and the calling of God are irrevocable.
But theolgoically this is even more encouraging when you think about what gift is irrevocable, what gift is Paul saying you’ve got even if your neglecting it lately, feel like giving up. What is this gift? Some think it is gift given during the time, when elders symbolically laid hands on Timothy to be set aside for ministry with Paul, his ordination. And we certainly lay hands on too, symbolically recognizing that the Spirit equips those he calls. They think Paul also did this too then. 2 Timothy 1:7
for God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control.
But what makes more sense with this gifting, is that Paul at Timothy’s profession of faith and baptism, laid hands on Him. The langue suggest that in being born again, coming to faith already received the Holy Spirit, and Paul's laying on hands, and baptism symbolize that Timothy like all Christians in their regeneration receive the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit is, He is given to the whole Church at Pentecost , and ever since anyone who becomes a Christ has received the Holy Spirit to live in them, in a way that OT never knew as fully. And Paul is reminding Timothy that is the gift of God, and as many translations put it, at that time you were given not just a human spirit, a change of attitude , but you were given THE SPIRIT, and these words often used with the Holy Spirit - the Spirit of power, of love, or self control.
Do you understand why you need this shot in the arm. Paul was handing the baton of service sent by Jesus which was a big deal, a hard deal to Timothy. And God has positioned each one of us in his church to a post. Whether in official capacity in the church, youth group, gems, coffee break, or most informal as parent, brother, sister, friend, or in our community, with a mission, teach Sunday school, witness over the long haul, - disaster relief, in hospital - this is your calling for Christ - were you are sent - and now listen: Says, the living God: I will not lead you where My Grace can’t keep you.
“Those whom God calls, he equips.” So think again now of all the reasons you have to despair of the church, remind yourself of how dejected your fears make you feel. Consider all the challenges in your task of faithful reaching out and serving, and proclaiming the gospel hear or in your home in this community. And here this truth God’s grace is sufficient for you and me to perform God’s calling in our lives!
But just like my fireplace, these gifts of the Holy Spirit in your life, need to constantly rekindled. I couldn’t believe what happens to my ankle when I took my cast off, The calf that hand’t been used for 2 months - is the pump of the body that gets all the fluid out of the bottom half of my body - and that pump, that muscle, hardly worked - still there but ATROPHIED. You may say, I can’t serve here or there, because others have or you’ve tried and didn’t work. The Greeks had a saying: Bad use is not an excuse for no use.
There is a daily cooperation with sanctifying grace - there is a daily exercising of these gifts that is to result in them increase and continue effectively. Jesus put it this way: Matthew 25:29
For to everyone who has will more be given, and he will have an abundance. But from the one who has not, even what he has will be taken away.
There is one common problem in terms of Timothy keeping on, and that is his spirit of fear, that he is participating in daily fear, instead of daily in the Spirit. So it is n’ so much a personality of shyness, or a lack of natural gifts. The word spirit of fear, used in the ancient times more for military context - cowardess of turning in the battle. Of the person who hides their time, gifts energies for the cause. The person who shrinks from the post where they can use their gift in the battle.
But Paul gives us a shot in the arm with Timothy, the Holy Spirit, whom you have truly received, is a Spirit of power - dynamite literally, not a one time gift back when you believed, that is static. Oh now I’m a Spirit-person. NO a dynamic ever changing relationship with the God whose power creates and sustains and heals. Do you know Christ, the power the Spirit that lives with in you? Seek to walk instep with the Spirit, not to grieve him. But Power, think of the Power of a sailboat - sheer force, tried to steer when other pastor tore my rudeder off, all that power, needs to be directed - need a real rudder. Gift of the Holy Spirit of Love. Not frantic emotional gushing, but a self-giving warm compassion, balanced physically healthy caring for people . Timothy had this. Philippians 2:20 Paul says:
For I have no one like him, who will be genuinely concerned for your welfare.
but was Timothy was holding back form caring for people in the church like that now.
And Paul says that gift of the Spirit is from the Spirit of self-control. The power and love within you is guided by good sense that comes from the Holy Spirit. There are slavish fears a bondage to constant worry , there is boody man threat behind every act of service God’s calling you too. And you like TImothy will be tempted to stop walking in Step with the Spirit. Like the unprofitable servant in Jesus’ parable you’ll be tempted to do this: Matthew 25:25
so I was afraid, and I went and hid your talent in the ground. Here, you have what is yours.’
Now if you are shrink back that will not be good - but if Timothy it would be disastrous for the church in the between time. Age of the Apostle's, age of persecution, and until Christ comes again. But actually we are part of that transition and the cross generational mission depends on you and I stepping up to the plate, living in step with the Spirit in our service, regardless of the challenge, failure or success. And Paul has said, Timothy, your the man God’s called me to pour my life into more than any other - an you know what - I won’t give up on you,, Timothy you can do it, Timothy night and day - I am depending on God in prayer for you. Do you pray for your friends? - dray for fellows Christians younger ones serving here - pray for fruit - do you know their fears and challenges - not only tears entwining our lives, but look at it - with Paul;s longing for brother in the faith - their is joy - v.4 even separated by miles.
Tonight Paul was able to give you and I shot in the arm to keep on going , but let me close with a modern day parable of how you and I are called to do that for those around us: In 1992, Barcelona, Spain, hosted the summer Olympics. Millions of people watched the world’s fastest runners compete in distances from one hundred meters to the twenty-six-mile marathon.
Derek Redmond of Great Britain, a semi-finalist in the 400-meter race, crouched, ready, in his blocks. In the Olympics four years before, one minute before race time, Derek had made the agonizing decision to disqualify himself due to an Achilles tendon problem. Denied the chance to run, he watched from the sidelines. Now, after four years of relentless, focused training and several surgeries, Derek wanted this race more than ever.
An official raised the starting gun, then squeezed the trigger. The sound cracked through the air, and the runners bolted from their blocks. Arms and legs pumping, each runner sprinted down the track. But one hundred meters into the race, Derek’s hamstring tore. He stumbled and fell. Paramedics rushed onto the track, but he waved them off. He got up, his face twisted in pain and streaked with tears. He hobbled, then fell again. He crawled. Once more he got to his feet, limping, faltering, yet slowly pressing on. With officials and cameramen crowding, Derek turned the last corner.
Then, from out of the stands rushed a man wearing a cap. “Just Do It” was lettered across its front. Pushing his way through the throng of officials and onlookers, he came alongside Derek. Without hesitation he put his arm around the young runner. No one pushed him away. This time, Derek did not wave off the help. Instead, he put his arm around the man—his dad. Supported by the bonds of affection, strengthened by a relationship of encouragement and care, the two men crossed the finish line together. ...Today people limp through life feeling the agony of poor choices, relational heartache, and moral breakdown. Weary and discouraged, people stumble in their faith. One of the great privileges of belonging to Christ is our call to break through the crowd of spectators with compassion and encouragement. We are to come alongside, by the power of the Holy Spirit, offering restoration, love, wisdom, and gentleness—so we may finish the race … together.