Untitled Sermon

Main point: Keeping my fire (my gift from GOD) a storm

A genuine faith - Oxidizing agent

An existing flame - Heat

That demands responsibility

That is recognized by others

A divine motivation - Fuel

Recognize satan’s tactic to de-fuel our flame

Difficulty and opposition creating timidity

Recognize GOD has equipped us with

Strength to withstand

Love to serve - It is about others

Discipline to navigate

The intent of this sermon is to show how a child of GOD can keep their fire blazed in the middle of a storm. Specifically, how we keep the zeal and passion and operation of the gift or gifts GOD has given us.

A Genuine Faith - Oxygen

Verse 6 is the beginning of Paul’s admonishment to Timothy in regard to his ministry and before he urges him, he provides the basis for what he’s about to remind him saying “For this reason I remind you”. This points back to the previous verse, where Paul affirms how genuine Timothy’s faith is. Not just his, but the strong background of his ancestral faith as well. And thus the first element need is genuine faith.

Application: COVID-19 has disrupted many things that we considered normal life, and presented a number of challenges. If we are going to maintain or grow zeal in the midst of all this, we must have genuine faith! That means you and I need to rid ourselves of all things that cause pretense in our belief in GOD and Christ. In fact, as we studied in 1 Peter, the storm itself is one of the ways GOD tests just how real our faith in him really is. It is the oxygen that keeps us moving with GOD. Hebrews 10:38, Romans 1:17, both say that the righteous live by faith. Whoever wants to walk with GOD must believe that he is, must believe in his son, and must believe in his promises. Paul says in order to ignite or maintain this fire, faith is required. For Timothy, check, he had it.

An existing flame - Heat

On the basis of the fact that Timothy has a genuine faith, Paul wants him to remember to “rekindle the gift of GOD which is in you”. Here Paul uses metaphoric language to encourage Timothy regarding his gift, which he relates to a fire. Notice he says that this fire or this gift is “in you”, which means it already exists in Timothy. It has already been lit. This gives us the 2nd element, and that is an existing flame or heat.

Application: Every child of GOD has to recognize that when we were born in Christ, a fire was ignited in all of us. That means that everyone was given a gift by the Holy Spirit (1 Peter 4:10, 1 Co 7:7, 1 Co 12:11). These are unique abilities in Christ’s body given by the Holy Spirit for the common good of everyone.

Which demands responsibility

Now in regard to this gift of GOD that’s already in Timothy, it’s an existing flame, Paul reminds him to rekindle, reactivate, keep it alive, fan into flame, or give it fresh life. It is an active verb, which means he expects Timothy to take action or responsibility to see that this happens. Well how is that Timothy will do this? He has to use it!! Everything Paul encourages in this letter is launched from verse 6-7, and thus Paul is reminding him to use his gift, which in essence keeps the flame burning hot. Which means there was a certain amount of dormancy or Timothy was not fully engaged as he should have been. And thus, he needed to take greater responsibility.

Application: Likewise with all of us who are in Christ! One of the reasons the flame of our gift is low is because we don’t use it as GOD intended. If we’re going to keep the heat high, we must use it as the Holy Spirit intends. Which shows we’re being responsible for what GOD has granted. As Peter says in 1 Peter 4:10, we must be good stewards of the manifold grace of GOD.

That is recognized by others

In addition to responsibility, Paul reminds him that this gift exists through the laying of his hands. He tells him in 1 Tim 4:14 that the elders also laid hands on him. This doesn’t mean that Paul or elders or the source of the gift. Rather that they recognized it, and their laying hands was a symbol of that recognition and commissioning of his work. What Paul is emphasizing is the personal relationship he had in recognizing his gift, to support his encouragement to rekindle the flame.

Application: People often ask “how do I know what my gift is?” One of the way to know is by what other Spirit filled people in Christ recognize. A spirit filled person will acknowledge and encourage our gifts: you are very encouraging, you show mercy well, you are always ready to serve, your heart of giving is extraordinary, etc. Desire is great. But true giftedness is recognized because of how it edifies and impacts people.

A divine motivation

So we have seen two elements which are necessary, oxygen and heat, or faith and an existing gift. But the final one Paul gives in verse 7, and it is an explanation of what GOD has equipped for his ministry. And it is Timothy’s lack in this element that has dampened his fire. And that’s fuel, or in other words, divine motivation.

Satan’s tactic to de-fuel our flame

Before we see God’s fuel for our gift, we must also see that satan has tactics to de-fuel our flame. How can we see that Bro. Evans? Because Paul says that GOD has not given us a spirit of timidity. Paul includes himself to demonstrate that he shares in Timothy’s ministry. When he says spirit, it is not the Holy Spirit itself that Paul is describing, rather the traits or characteristics of the spirit that we do have. And the Spirit within Timothy does not produce timidity or cowardice. That is as product of humanity and satan. Well what could be causing this? It was the difficulty of Timothy’s ministry environment. Through this entire second letter, Paul repeatedly makes references to opposition from others to Timothy’s ministry. Which infers that Timothy had allowed the storm of his environment to de-fuel the duty of his gift.

Application: Listen, sometimes we get burned out because of difficult environments. People are challenging. Some folk are so discouraging that it drains your gift to encourage, condemning and judgmental that stifles the mercy you were called to show, so stingy and greedy that halters your extraordinary giving, so given to tradition of men and faulty interpretations that it drains your desire to teach. Satan uses these things to de-fuel and delay fruitfulness of our gifts. In addition, in a pandemic like we’re in, seeing so much ignorance, not being around each other, satan wants to completely de-fuel us by the challenging environment.

Recognize GOD has equipped us

But thank GOD for real folk like Paul, who reminds Timothy that the product of what GOD has given us produces power, love, and discipline. How are these fuel? Because power is strength to withstand the opposition, weather the storm, and boldly use our gift. Love is what drives us to serve no matter what, forgive, and remember my ministry is for the cause of Christ and the benefit of others. Discipline helps me on what to do and what to avoid in difficult times, so I can navigate all challenges that come my way.

Application: When I remember that GOD has given me power, keep going, it keeps me motivated. Love fuels me to give it my all because of how much I’ve been loved by GOD, and keep my focus on serving and saving somebody. Discipline is so I don’t fret when things get hard, but know GOD will continue directing me.