Stirring Up the Gift
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5 When I call to remembrance the unfeigned faith that is in thee, which dwelt first in thy grandmother Lois, and thy mother Eunice; and I am persuaded that in thee also.
6 Wherefore I put thee in remembrance that thou stir up the gift of God, which is in thee by the putting on of my hands.
7 For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.
8 Be not thou therefore ashamed of the testimony of our Lord, nor of me his prisoner: but be thou partaker of the afflictions of the gospel according to the power of God;
9 Who hath saved us, and called us with an holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began,
10 But is now made manifest by the appearing of our Saviour Jesus Christ, who hath abolished death, and hath brought life and immortality to light through the gospel:
There is a big difference in the tenor of Paul’s letters to Timothy.
First Timothy: written in about AD 64
Training to a young minister.
Three things that is given to Timothy in the first letter:
Be true
Be wise
Be strong
Be faithful
Theme: church leadership and the household of God
Second Timothy: written in about AD 67
Something had changed in the three yrs since Paul had written the first letter.
Theme: transfer of ministry under hardship
He is reminded to to:
Guard the treasure
Suffer hardship
Continue in the faith
Preach the Word
There is gratitude and compassion in the letter but also a warning and command.
First Timothy was written to a young man, newly installed as pastor in one of the most satanic cities on the earth at time.
In Ephesus was the Temple of Artemis and the Temple of Diana
These two gods represented nature, immorality, flesh
And young pastor Timothy took it as a challenge
This was an important city!
Paul himself had spent time there.
Jesus’ mother would be buried there.
John would be buried there.
But after three yrs of the fight, Timothy was weary and beat down.
...and it clearly worried Paul that at the end of his life he would write a letter and encourage him to fight and stay strong!
I know that you are exhausted Tim but...
7 For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.
8 Be not thou therefore ashamed of the testimony of our Lord, nor of me his prisoner: but be thou partaker of the afflictions of the gospel according to the power of God;
Come on Timothy, you got this!
It was on your grandma, your mom and now it’s on you!
I put it there when I laid my hands on you!
Stir it up Timothy!
Timothy could have said…
That is easy to say Paul, its been a little while since you have been here.
These Artemis worshipers...
These Diana worshipers...
These Apollo worshipers…
Every day they march naked through the city performing lewd acts!
Every day they pray against us!
Every day the try and shut us down!
IT’S OK TIM!
Stir it up Tim!
You got this!
3 Thou therefore endure hardness, as a good soldier of Jesus Christ.
10 Therefore I endure all things for the elect’s sakes, that they may also obtain the salvation which is in Christ Jesus with eternal glory.
12 If we suffer, we shall also reign with him: if we deny him, he also will deny us:
Come on Timothy!
2 Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine.
Did this pep talk work?
We don’t know how long Timothy was in Ephesus but we know he was a young man when he came and he died at 80 years old.
Was he there 40yrs? 50? 60?
It is possible.
The old Bishop, now stooped with age, was walking down the street and heard an all to familiar sound -
a procession in honor of the goddess Diana was making its way through the streets.
Something happened to him, yet again!
Found an elevated position to that his voice would carry and he began to preach Jesus to the worshipers of Diana.
They became so angry with this man who had been such a voice against them that they began to beat him.
After they beat him unmercifully, they tied him to a chariot and drug him through the city, when the chariot would come to a stop, they could still hear the echos of his voice and he preached to them about the one true God whose name was Jesus!
They got him to the outskirts of town and as the dust would settle, the crown would quite, and they would look at the bloody body, skin drug off, pain wracked and saw they chest heave once more and heard the voice the last time - preaching Jesus!
They would stone him to death in that moment!
I would say it worked!
I come to say today!
It’s time to stir up the gift that is in you!
Conclusion:
Some have been given promises many yrs ago...
Remember them!
We forget we serve the God who created and controls it all!
He is infinite!
41 Yea, they turned back and tempted God, And limited the Holy One of Israel.
Time to let your faith out!
God is dealing with the church!
If you can speak it, God can do it!
This church has been fighting an old spirit for 3-4 generations!
Take offering!
Seed offering