Stirring Up The Gift of God

Introduction

Good morning and welcome back!

This morning we are going to be splitting our time between Paul’s two letters to the young pastor Timothy.

And these letters are found in the books of 1 Timothy and 2 Timothy, respectively.

And in the first letter to Timothy, Paul is writing to both Timothy and the Church at Ephesus as a whole.

The letter was written somewhere around 62 or 63 AD, so it has a little bit of age on it.

And what has happened here is Paul has plated Timothy there in Ephesus and left Timothy in charge.

And this is the first time that Timothy is addressed as a minister of the Gospel and one of the earliest uses of the word “Christian,” as well.

And all of this is taking place prior to Paul being put in prison.

Now, if we fast-forward a few years to about the Fall or Winter of 67 AD, we get this second letter that Paul is writing to Timothy, who is still in charge there in Ephesus.

However, Paul’s circumstances have changed a great deal.

He had wanted to visit Timothy there in Ephesus but he got delayed a bit by being thrown into prison.

So, the second letter Paul is actually writing to Timothy from the prison.

And when I say “prison” I use that term lightly, because the Roman prison was a dungeon on the outskirts of town by the dump, that was pretty much a hole in the ground.

And the only light and only communication the prisoners had with the outside world, was a small hole (about 18 inches in diameter) in the top of their cell.

So, it was not a very pleasant place at all for Paul, or anyone else.

But through all of this Paul is still encouraged and emboldened by God to write to Timothy.

And it is also thought that this is the last letter that Paul wrote, because he was beheaded in the Spring or early Summer of 68 AD, only a few months after writing this letter to Timothy.

So, the next time we tell God we “can’t” do something and make up some lame excuse as to why we can’t, I think we need to remember Paul and change our “I can’t” to “Yes, Lord.”

But that’s just a little bit of the background behind the letters, so let’s look at a little bit of what Paul had to actually say to Timothy.

I am going to be reading 1 Timothy 4:12-16 and then we will skip down to 2 Timothy 1:6-10.

Starting in 1 Timothy, Paul writes . . .

Scripture Focus

1 Timothy 4:12–16 NIV - Anglicised

Don’t let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in speech, in life, in love, in faith and in purity. Until I come, devote yourself to the public reading of Scripture, to preaching and to teaching. Do not neglect your gift, which was given you through a prophetic message when the body of elders laid their hands on you. Be diligent in these matters; give yourself wholly to them, so that everyone may see your progress. Watch your life and doctrine closely. Persevere in them, because if you do, you will save both yourself and your hearers.

And now skip down to 2 Timothy . . .

2 Timothy 1:6–10 NIV - Anglicised

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. For God did not give us a spirit of timidity, but a spirit of power, of love and of self-discipline. So do not be ashamed to testify about our Lord, or ashamed of me his prisoner. But join with me in suffering for the gospel, by the power of God, who has saved us and called us to a holy life—not because of anything we have done but because of his own purpose and grace. This grace was given us in Christ Jesus before the beginning of time, but it has now been revealed through the appearing of our Saviour, Christ Jesus, who has destroyed death and has brought life and immortality to light through the gospel.

Don’t Be Intimidated

Now, Timothy here is a very was a young minister and very young man.

And no doubt the older and "wiser" men in Ephesus were giving him a hard time.

And this was starting to get to Timothy a bit.

And Paul knew that this would get to Timothy and bother him.

And it had gotten to the place that it was beginning to intimidate Timothy and actually hinder Timothy's witness and is ability to serve God.

So, Paul tells him . . .

1 Timothy 4:12 NIV - Anglicised

Don’t let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in speech, in life, in love, in faith and in purity.

In other words, Timothy shouldn't let others intimidate him into questioning his calling.

Timothy may have been young in age but Timothy was a Christian, and Timothy was called by God to fulfill a role. 

And in some instances the number of years really don’t matter.

Because God is going to use who God is going to use, young and old alike.

And you don’t have to be young in age either to be spiritually immature either.

We have many Christians who are old in age but also young in spiritual maturity.

And we have many Christians who may be younger in age but “wise” in spiritual maturity.

Because Spiritual maturity comes by submitting ourselves to the Holy Spirit and allowing the Holy Spirit to lead, guide, and direct our lives.

Not necessarily in the number of years we have under our belt.

And we have many in our churches today, maybe even here today are in that same situation.

They are young in age but God has called them and God wants to use them.

But they are intimidated by the “older” and “wiser” and they shut up the gift of God in their lives.

Well if that describes anyone here who feel like they are in that situation, I say learn from Timothy and let no one intimidate you and hinder your calling just because you are young.

Listen to what else Paul says about this . . .

1 Corinthians 1:26–31 NIV - Anglicised

Brothers, think of what you were when you were called. Not many of you were wise by human standards; not many were influential; not many were of noble birth. But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong. He chose the lowly things of this world and the despised things—and the things that are not—to nullify the things that are, so that no-one may boast before him. It is because of him that you are in Christ Jesus, who has become for us wisdom from God—that is, our righteousness, holiness and redemption. Therefore, as it is written: “Let him who boasts boast in the Lord.”

You see God has not chosen many who by worldly standards are considered, "wise, mighty, and noble," to call into service.

Rather God has chosen those who the world consider "foolish, weak, and base." 

 He has chosen all of us, who are not perfect, not popular, not politically correct. 

This was for two reasons:

To "confound' or to "shame, dishonor, and convict" those who are too good for God.

So that man would not be glorified but that God is glorified through us who have been made wise, righteous, set apart, and redeemed!

 So Paul tells Timothy that instead of being intimidated he is to be an example to all believers.

An example in:

What we say

The way we live

How we love and treat others

How we express our faith

How we express God’s holiness

Titus 2:6–8 NIV - Anglicised

Similarly, encourage the young men to be self-controlled. In everything set them an example by doing what is good. In your teaching show integrity, seriousness and soundness of speech that cannot be condemned, so that those who oppose you may be ashamed because they have nothing bad to say about us.

Are we actually doing that?

Are we living up to that example?

Are we being true to Christ and the calling Christ has given us?

Stir Up the Gift

Because the reality is, the excuse of “I can’t because I’m too young” or “I can’t because I am too inexperienced” is not going to cut it with God.

Because the reality is, there are always going to be “naysayers.”

There are always going to be those who say you “can’t.”

But God will always say you “can.”

Philippians 4:13 NIV - Anglicised

I can do everything through him who gives me strength.

So, we should be doing as Paul has told Timothy to do . . .

1 Timothy 4:14 NIV - Anglicised

Do not neglect your gift, which was given you through a prophetic message when the body of elders laid their hands on you.

Don’t neglect the gift of God which was told in prophecy and confirmed by the laying on of hands, but rather:

2 Timothy 1:6 NIV - Anglicised

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.

“Flame the gift of God,” or “stir up” the gift of God.

Literally it means to “keep the fire at full flame at all times.”

So, don’t be intimidated into snuffing out the gift of God.

Rather, cultivate and stir up that gift that God has put in you.

The devil wants to tell you that it isn't real, that you ain't no good, you're not good enough.

Don't listen to him, but stir it up. 

How though?

Well, Paul has some advice for that as well . . .

Ephesians 5:18–20 NIV - Anglicised

Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery. Instead, be filled with the Spirit. Speak to one another with psalms, hymns and spiritual songs. Sing and make music in your heart to the Lord, always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.

And . . .

1 Thessalonians 5:19–22 NIV - Anglicised

Do not put out the Spirit’s fire; do not treat prophecies with contempt. Test everything. Hold on to the good. Avoid every kind of evil.

And back to Timothy . . .

1 Timothy 4:15 NIV - Anglicised

Be diligent in these matters; give yourself wholly to them, so that everyone may see your progress.

In other words, meditate on the things of God, live for God, breathe for God, have God with you when you get up and when you go to bed.

And again, do not be intimidated and do not be afraid:

2 Timothy 1:7 NIV - Anglicised

For God did not give us a spirit of timidity, but a spirit of power, of love and of self-discipline.

The KJV translates it as a spirit of “fear.”

"Fear" translates as (timidity or lit. cowardice).

So, Paul is telling Timothy, “Don't be afraid to stand up for what is right.”

“Don't be afraid to acknowledge the gift of God that has been given.”

God’s Gifts

But what do we get for our efforts?

What do we get for “fanning the flames of God?”

What do we get for all our trouble?

I’ve already read it once but . ..

Philippians 4:13 NIV - Anglicised

I can do everything through him who gives me strength.

Also, we receive love and sound mind, peace that passes all understanding.

But in order to realize it though we must guard ourselves and our hearts . . .

1 Timothy 4:16 NIV - Anglicised

Watch your life and doctrine closely. Persevere in them, because if you do, you will save both yourself and your hearers.

And . . .

2 Timothy 1:8 NIV - Anglicised

So do not be ashamed to testify about our Lord, or ashamed of me his prisoner. But join with me in suffering for the gospel, by the power of God,

So, we need to “watch ourselves” and also never be ashamed of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

Never be ashamed to speak the truth in love.

Never be ashamed to tell anyone about Jesus Christ.

Be bold and courageous.

And never listen to the “naysayers,” because they are just trying to get you to not do what God has called you to do, because they have refused to do what God has called them to do.

That is really what it boils down to.

Altar/Challenge

We need to remember who Jesus Christ is, the One . . .

2 Timothy 1:9–10 NIV - Anglicised

who has saved us and called us to a holy life—not because of anything we have done but because of his own purpose and grace. This grace was given us in Christ Jesus before the beginning of time, but it has now been revealed through the appearing of our Saviour, Christ Jesus, who has destroyed death and has brought life and immortality to light through the gospel.

And the first thing we have been called into is into a relationship with Jesus Christ.

Whether that means you have never accepted Jesus Christ as your Savior, or if the circumstances you have faced in life have pulled you away from Jesus.

We talked last week about coming home.

It’s time to come home.

And I know that because of the pandemic we have not had many traditional altar services, but this morning we are.

If you need to accept Jesus Christ as your Savior, I am inviting you to make that decision right now and to come to this altar and pray.

If you have backslid, fallen away, whatever you want to call it, but the bottom line is, if you are not living for Jesus Christ for any reason, right now, today, come and change that.

Come and make things right between you and God.

And also, there are many in the church that have been called to fulfill a ministry of some kind.

The devil has tried to intimidate you and convince you that the call is not real.

Today it is time to reveal that calling and acknowledge that calling.

Paul said twice to Timothy that his gift was acknowledged by the laying on of hands.

Come and let us lay hands on you and pray with you.

 Today come and stir up the gift of God that is in each of us.

Our altar is open, will you come and pray today?