Holy Calling Action

Introduction:

Last week we learned that the apostle Paul in waiting for his execution in Rome, writes this final letter to his young protege Timothy wherein he declares that we have been entrusted with a sacred trust, and that trust is the gospel, the promise of life. We are to use it, guard it, and pass it one to faithful men who will do the same. We saw that this sacred trust is found exclusively in Jesus Christ, and was God’s plan before time began. This makes us a part of an eternal family with the family blessings of grace, mercy, and peace, and makes us responsible to pass it on to our progeny.

Thus the theme for 2 Timothy of Passing on an Entrusted Faith, is found throughout this letter with the key verse found in 2 Timothy 2:2,

2 Timothy 2:2 ESV

2 and what you have heard from me in the presence of many witnesses entrust to faithful men, who will be able to teach others also.

With that being said, what are the implications of be a part of God’s family, His covenant community? Do we just simply wait for the fulfillment of God’s plan in eternity, or is there something for which we are responsible here in time? The apostle Paul reminds Timothy that he is to engage in Holy Calling Action, and not to shrink back in fear.

Text: 2 Timothy 1:6-14

Main Idea: Because we have been given a holy calling, we are to be actively pursuing all that the calling requires.

1. How Can We Actively Pursue Our Calling? (vv. 6-7)

For this reason - Paul is pulling from what has been said and is about to give further explanation and develop the implications of what was said.

a) Rekindling your God given gift as recognized by others (v. 6)

to fan into flame - to revitalize, rekindle, to light up again

in Timothy’s case, he was ordained to be a minister of the gospel

Romans 12:4–8 ESV

4 For as in one body we have many members, and the members do not all have the same function, 5 so we, though many, are one body in Christ, and individually members one of another. 6 Having gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, let us use them: if prophecy, in proportion to our faith; 7 if service, in our serving; the one who teaches, in his teaching; 8 the one who exhorts, in his exhortation; the one who contributes, in generosity; the one who leads, with zeal; the one who does acts of mercy, with cheerfulness.

1 Timothy 4:12–13 ESV

12 Let no one despise you for your youth, but set the believers an example in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith, in purity. 13 Until I come, devote yourself to the public reading of Scripture, to exhortation, to teaching.

1 Timothy 6:12 ESV

12 Fight the good fight of the faith. Take hold of the eternal life to which you were called and about which you made the good confession in the presence of many witnesses.

b) Utilizing the divinely supplied tools to fight fear (v. 7)

Fear is crippling and causes us to cower and watch the world go by. God has given us 3 tools here to overcome crippling fear.

1) Divinely inherent Power

This word, dynamis, is a power found inherently in the power source.

2 Peter 1:3 ESV

3 His divine power has granted to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of him who called us to his own glory and excellence,

Elisha realized this when the King of Syria surrounded him and his servant with a great army to destroy him because he was able to tell the King of Israel all the secrets of the enemy.

2 Kings 6:15–16 ESV

15 When the servant of the man of God rose early in the morning and went out, behold, an army with horses and chariots was all around the city. And the servant said, “Alas, my master! What shall we do?” 16 He said, “Do not be afraid, for those who are with us are more than those who are with them.”

2) Divinely Supplied Love

God’s love, agape, is the great love displayed and defined by Christ in Rom 5:8

Romans 5:8 ESV

8 but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

1 John 4:18 ESV

18 There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear. For fear has to do with punishment, and whoever fears has not been perfected in love.

3) Divinely inspired Thinking

This word in the greek has at its root the word for wisdom (sophia)

James 1:5 ESV

5 If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him.

Romans 12:2 ESV

2 Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.

2. Why Should We Actively Pursue Our Calling? (vv. 8-12)

Note: Therefore points back to the foundation of this calling that we are to actively pursue in order to develop a case as to why we should actively pursue our calling.

a) Mutually share in suffering for the Gospel (vv. 8-11)

It seems in the context of this verse, that synchronized suffering (synkakopatheo) is a part of the holy calling we have recieved

Philippians 1:29 ESV

29 For it has been granted to you that for the sake of Christ you should not only believe in him but also suffer for his sake,

Philippians 3:10 ESV

10 that I may know him and the power of his resurrection, and may share his sufferings, becoming like him in his death,

1) The power of God is realized (v. 8)

Again the word dynamis is used

When we suffer for the gospel, we know we are obeying the commands of God, by engaging in the work of God, and therefore will experience the power and presence of God.

2) The purpose of God is revealed (vv. 9-11)

Grace shown in Christ Jesus (v. 9)

This purpose was decreed in eternity before the ages began.(v. 9)

Made clear in the coming of Christ who abolished death and brought life and immortality to light in the gospel. (v. 10)

Given to Paul and others to declare, which circles around to why he suffers. (v. 12a)

b) Confidently expose the object of our faith (v. 12)

I know (oida - to know absolutely) - Paul’s unashamed confidence comes from knowing God presently because of his eternal work in the past (perfect tense denotes present reality based on past activity)

He is able to guard - The God we know presently because of His eternal work in the past is the one who will guard what has been entrusted to me, until that day, when Christ returns and God’s eternal redemptive plan is complete.

There is a confidence seen here in the absolute completion of God ‘s redemptive plan.

So we use what has been entrusted to us realizing that God will guard His plan to completion

Nothing or no one will be left out!

3. What Should Be Our Goal as We Actively Pursue Our Calling? (vv. 13-14)

a) Our goal is to hold onto and navigate our lives with the Word of God (v. 13)

Follow (echo) - to hold onto; to seize.

Pattern - a form or model to be imitated (like tracing a drawing or cutting out clothing from a pattern to be worn). We are to follow the pattern of scripture, not the pattern of the world (Rom 12:2)

There is more here then just reading, there is implementing, modeling our lives after the word of God.

1) Will bring about Spiritual Health

Sound (hygiaino) - we get our word hygiene, meaning health.

2) Will define us as in Christ Jesus

b) Our goal is to guard the True Gospel entrusted to us (v. 14)

By means of the Holy Spirit - shows us the resource we need to accomplish this command

Guard (imperative mood, aorist tense, showing it as a snapshot of our permanent commission)- watch over

Good Deposit - the true gospel

Entrusted - shows why we guard it…it has been given to us for safe keeping

So What?

Are we actively sharpening and pursuing the use of our God given gifts?

Do we understanding the God uses suffering to both show His power in us, and to show the real time fulfillment of His eternal purpose?

Do we take serious our responsibility to cling to the Word of God as our GPS through this world’s maze and guard its truths against the enemies of compromise?