Misc. - 2 Timothy 1:3-8 (DNOW Recap)

Fan the Flame

What a weekend! We were confronted with God’s Word and can probably all say, “I experienced God this weekend!”

“I feel on fire!”

But how do we keep that closeness to God? How do we keep that passion and fire?

Actually… no. How do we take this fire in us, and let it grow? I don’t want to settle for a 48 hour weekend every year. I want to experience God like that every day!

Fire needs heat, fuel, and oxygen.

without oxygen fire will go out.

2 Timothy 1:3–8 KJV 1900

I thank God, whom I serve from my forefathers with pure conscience, that without ceasing I have remembrance of thee in my prayers night and day; Greatly desiring to see thee, being mindful of thy tears, that I may be filled with joy; 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. 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. For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind. 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;

How can I let this fire for Jesus grow?

1. Appreciation for God

When reading this letter from Paul to Timothy, you can get a good idea of what Timothy was facing. He was a young pastor, dealing with a congregation in Ephesus.

One of the things that can suffocate a fire is our circumstances. Timothy was pastoring a church in Ephesus that

Paul was extremely thankful for Timothy’s faith, ministry, and loyalty to Jesus.

Paul writes this from a prison cell and is trying to encourage Timothy to stay firm in the fight!

Gospel Thanksgiving displays selflessness

Gospel Thanksgiving delivers suffering

One thing that the gospel does is remind us that even though our circumstances may be tough, they could be a whole lot worse.

Being thankful for what Jesus did for you helps change your perspective.

Being thankful for what Jesus did for you helps change our outlook.

You aren’t alone in this walk with the Lord.

a) Appreciation influences true Perspective

Paul served God loyally as well.Paul served faithfully!! This is pretty good, I actually love this:verse 3 - “whom I serve…”

Warren Weirsbe mentioned this in his commentary that “1 Timothy was about ‘some’ and 2 Timothy was about ‘all’”

1 Timothy 1:6–7 KJV 1900

From which some having swerved have turned aside unto vain jangling; Desiring to be teachers of the law; understanding neither what they say, nor whereof they affirm.

1 Timothy 5:15 KJV 1900

For some are already turned aside after Satan.

1 Timothy 6:10 KJV 1900

For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.

1 Timothy 6:21 KJV 1900

Which some professing have erred concerning the faith. Grace be with thee. Amen.

2 Timothy 1:15 KJV 1900

This thou knowest, that all they which are in Asia be turned away from me; of whom are Phygellus and Hermogenes.

2 Timothy 4:16 KJV 1900

At my first answer no man stood with me, but all men forsook me: I pray God that it may not be laid to their charge.

Now ALL had left him… except Timothy.

But let me show a neat testimony from Paul:“I’m serving God with a clean conscious and it’s the same God Abraham and other forefathers served. Paul never denied his Hebrew heritage by following Jesus, he had fulfilled it.”

And he did it with a clear conscious with a healthy interpretation of Scripture.What a testimony: He was faithful, He knew God’s Word, and He loved Jesus.Wow.

When’s the last time you thanked Jesus for the TRUE friends He’s placed in your life?

Paul acknowledged: Thankfulness for Timothy, His testimony, and now something else:

b) Appreciation influences empathy

Paul prayed for Timothy and was also eager to see him, but he also mentioned something about their last meeting.Tears.

We aren’t exactly sure why Timothy shed tears, but there are a few things we could call into question:

It could have been from Timothy’s frustration in pastoring the church in Ephesus this place had a reputation for being a center of learning and practice of magic

had the temple of the goddess Artemis

Ephesus would have been a frustrating place to pastor

Maybe he had tears because he felt alone when Paul left

Maybe he had tears just because Paul was in prison...

But either way, Timothy and Paul left one another in a real way.I really believe God’s Word can challenge all of us right here:

We should be real before God

We should be real with each other

We should remember that it brings joy.

“Joy is a delight that breaks the bonds of circumstances, centering itself in the person of Christ.”

2. Affirmation from the Gospel

we all look for affirmation from somewhere.

affirmation is the state of being confirmed or someone speaking positively true in you.

2 Timothy 1:5 KJV 1900

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.

I need to be reminded every day of what the gospel means for me.

i. Faith

verse 5

Paul and Timothy had served together for years.

“Proper belief AND proper actions are components of sincere faith.”

Faith was not hypocritical

Paul probably saw Timothy in a more real way than anyone else

Just like Timothy saw Paul this way.

I think guys love FBI and covert operations. There is just something cool about learning that a man or woman have been on secret missions. Right?

But when did we forget that Christ called us to be a light and not hide that light under a bush?

We were not called to be spys, but we are called to make Jesus known!

To be a disciple is to be a visible and verbal follower of Jesus Christ. There should be no question of whether or not you are a Christian in this world.

Can I just say, it is a blessing to be able to serve on a staff where we are led by a pastor that is the absolute real deal?Faith is not inheritedThough it’s not inherited, how are we (PARENTS & GRANDPARENTS) living in light of our kids watching us?Faith is initiated by God

Romans 10:17 KJV 190017 So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.

What a great encouragement, though!Timothy was obviously dealing with some stuff as a pastor, and he was able to have a loving friend come alongside him and lift him up.

3. Adoption of God’s Gift

Here’s the last part of this. God is calling you to something! He has given each one of you

ii. Flame

2 Timothy 1:6 KJV 19006 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.

We’ve mentioned already that Timothy had some reservations on whether he was capable to do the work that God called him to. A good translation of “stir up the gift” is “keep fanning.” Fan the flame of those coming behind us.But this goes onto talk about the gift:I believe that this gift that Paul is talking about is: The Holy SpiritPaul begins to AFFIRM Timothy’s ability… this is so cool!

Holman New Testament Commentary: I & II Thessalonians, I & II Timothy, Titus, Philemon C. God’s Empowerment (1:6–7)It was not that the Spirit’s flame was weak or needed to be alive by human effort but that the Spirit only works in cooperation with those who desire his enablement. We keep fanning the flame by keeping “in step with the Spirit”

Galatians 5:25 KJV 190025 If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.

As Paul affirms Timothy, he is affirming him to do what God was calling him to do already. Stay faithful, walk in the Spirit.This is building, and Paul has encouraged Timothy’s faith, and fanned his flames, but now affirms him to be:

iii. Fearless

2 Timothy 1:7 KJV 19007 For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.

Timothy was probably a quiet, more shy man. He was probably questioning his ability and wondered if it was worth it. Why was Timothy struggling so much?

Proverbs 29:25 KJV 190025 The fear of man bringeth a snare: But whoso putteth his trust in the Lord shall be safe.

Power - enablement to do what God requires

We are never asked to do anything beyond what God gives strength and ability to accomplishWhere we get our word, “dynamite” Something exploding within our hearts!!

Love - this is an unnatural, supernatural love.

Sound mind - thinking through things BiblicallyYour biggest fear is no match for God’s power working within us.

iv. Favor

Paul closes his affirmation to Timothy by reminding him of the grace that is in Jesus!

2 Timothy 1:9 KJV 19009 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,

Jesus saved us not on our own works, but according to his own purpose and grace… and he has taken away the sting of death

Paul is sharing TRUTH with his friend Timothy, but I believed Paul was also needing this truth for himself.