2 Timothy: Session 3

God was with you in the past, God is with you in the present, and God will be with you in the future.

This is the message that Paul begins with in 2 Timothy. Paul is in prison for his faith, and Timothy is facing inward struggles and possible persecution. He might also be struggling with the news that his mentor is facing execution. But Paul drops this huge reminder.

Paul reminds Timothy of the legacy of sincere faith that runs in his family. Paul sees that legacy continuing in Timothy.

Paul reminds Timothy of the gift of God that is within him - he encourages Timothy to “fan into flame” this gift.

Paul reminds Timothy that God has given us a Spirit of love, power, and soundness of mind… not one of fear or timidity. As Timothy moves forward, God’s Spirit will be with him.

These were the reminders given and now Paul switches to instruction. Paul has set the stage for what he is about to say. He has helped to position Timothy’s heart to receive the upcoming instruction.

Paul is working to lead Timothy into making some changes in his life and ministry. Timothy has stayed the course, but was in need of some encouragement. Sometimes when a person needs a boost, it is good to help them remember the foundation on which they stand.

Remember in the old cartoons when a person was going into panic mode and they started to loose it… how was it that the individual was brought back to reality? Often times (comically induced) they were slapped and told to “keep it together” or a bucket of water was dumped on their head. Something was done to help bring that person back to the moment.

Paul is helping to ground Timothy in his thoughts and concerns. Everything that comes next was contingent upon Timothy being in a place where he could hear and apply the words that were being said to him. Paul basically told Timothy, “Take a deep breath, focus on Jesus, and remember that God is with you.”

Now that this is done, Paul moves to the instruction. Because God is with you… you can expect this to happen. What Timothy can expect to happen is the content of our study tonight.

This the therefore passage of 2 Timothy 1. Because God is with you, you can therefore expect _____________. And the two points that Paul drops are points we can take to heart today as well.

First… how many truly believe that God has been with you… is currently with you… and will be with you?

Secondly… how many believe that because God is with you… you can expect God to do amazing things through you so long as you remain in Him?

Be Bold. Suffer Well.

Oh man… there’s that S word again… we don’t like to talk about suffering but… as we will see tonight, Paul instructs Timothy to be bold and to suffer well… and we are going to look at why.

2 Timothy 1:8-12 reads, “8 So do not be ashamed of the testimony about our Lord or of me his prisoner. Rather, join with me in suffering for the gospel, by the power of God. 9 He 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, 10 but it has now been revealed through the appearing of our Savior, Christ Jesus, who has destroyed death and has brought life and immortality to light through the gospel. 11 And of this gospel I was appointed a herald and an apostle and a teacher. 12 That is why I am suffering as I am. Yet this is no cause for shame, because I know whom I have believed, and am convinced that he is able to guard what I have entrusted to him until that day.

Because God is with you (legacy, gift, Spirit), you need not be ashamed of the Lord or of those taken as prisoners of faith. Paul then invites Timothy to do something that seems out of this world crazy: JOIN WITH ME IN SUFFERING FOR THE GOSPEL - BY THE POWER OF GOD.

The enemy was working to terrorize the church… he wanted believers to fear what might happen to them should they be bold in spreading the gospel message. Paul was an example of faith, but also an example of what might happen to people of faith.

Was Paul suffering? Yes he was. However, did his suffering take away the victory in his life? No… for the world could not undo what Christ had done in his heart.

Paul’s first charge to Timothy was DO NOT BE ASHAMED. Do not allow the enemy to drive fear or shame into your heart.

With sin comes shame. With disobedience comes shame. We all know what this feels like. But with boldness comes… freedom. When the gospel message is preached, shackles are loosed and chains are broken. Shame is released as forgiveness is poured out.

Paul warns against the “chains” the enemy would like to place upon the gospel message. The enemy knows he is powerless against the message of the cross… but what if he were to target… the messenger? Satan will play on the fear of our flesh in the attempt to stop the spreading of our faith.

Paul says do not be shackled with shame! But then he says come join me in suffering!

Should a believer in Christ be afraid of suffering for Jesus? No. This is NOT to say anything of our own power or strength, but testifies of the new strength we have because of our faith. When we enter into suffering for the gospel, we do so BY THE POWER OF GOD (v. 8)

There is no message more worthy of our suffering than the message of the cross. And I pray for that message… believers would choose to suffer well. This means that we will continue the work, we will continue to be on mission NO MATTER WHAT.

This is not a position of defiance or rebellion. It IS a position of love and compassion for those who are lost. We serve as commanded by Jesus. We preach for the love of the lost. This is HIS mission and it is a privilege to be a part of it.

Paul drops something very important in verse 9. All of this is not because of anything anyone has done… all of this is because of God’s purpose, power, and grace.

God has a plan… and His plan is one of redemption. In order to see the lost redeemed, the message of the cross most go to… the lost. This means the church, the body of Christ, must engage people where they are in their brokenness and sin.

This will require a boldness to preach where the message might be unpopular.

This means we might suffer by the hands of a culture who struggles to understand.

This means we must rely upon he empowerment of God’s Spirit to get the job done.

This means we must never forget it is for God’s purpose that we are doing this.

Timothy ought not be ashamed of Paul for where he was or for the gospel he had been called to preach. Instead, a supernatural boldness and a willingness to suffer should be the response. For all of this was for the purpose of God, by the power of God, for the plan of God. GOD IS IN THIS!!! And because of that, we should have no shame, no fear, and no worry for God is in you!

Keep to the Word.

Secondly, Paul instructs Timothy to never back down from the sound teaching he had received. He instructs Timothy to keep to the Word.

2 Timothy 1:13-14 reads, “13 What you heard from me, keep as the pattern of sound teaching, with faith and love in Christ Jesus. 14 Guard the good deposit that was entrusted to you—guard it with the help of the Holy Spirit who lives in us.

The Word is our STANDARD. This is the bottom line. This is our foundation. When all else fails… this book won’t fail. And when it seems like things around you are falling apart, His Word remains strong and true as a guide to life.

Timothy might have felt pressure to change his tone or to reframe his faith. Timothy might have felt pressure to avoid certain topics or to teach a twisted truth. With pressure comes the temptation to compromise the truth. Paul says DO NOT GIVE IN.

He instructed Timothy to guard the good deposit that was entrusted with him. And from where was Timothy to get help in this guarding? FROM THE HOLY SPIRIT.

How does the Holy Spirit help us to guard the truth that has been deposited in us? He speaks to us and convicts us if we begin to stray or compromise. He empowers us to stand in faith when our flesh says to give in for the pressure.

WE NEED THE HELP OF THE HOLY SPIRIT. Such is why it is so important that we seek Him and allow God to pour more of His Spirit into us each and every day. WE CANNOT DO THIS ON OUR OWN.

Here’s the deal: If we water down this truth… we have given up the fight. If we compromise the gospel message… we have given up the fight. In a sense, we have allowed for the enemy to get behind the line and defeat us from within.

The battle has already been won. This we know. But the enemy continues to wage war against the truth and the message of the cross.

His days are numbered, and he doesn’t want anyone knowing the truth. The Word exposes the enemy for the trash that he is. It exposes sin for what it is. It exposes all of the enemies lies and tactics. It’s like Satan’s battle plan has been laid out for the world to see.

The Word gives us what we need to know Jesus and to be His disciple. It helps us know what God did for us in love, what Christ gave for us in love, and the salvation that is offered to those who would believe. Love is at the center of this story because GOD is at the center of this story. GOD IS LOVE!

If we stray away from this… you might as well close up shop and conform to the pattern of the world. You cannot play games with God’s Word.

Paul reminds Timothy to keep to the Word. Allow the Holy Spirit to help with this and KEEP TO THE WORD.

Wrap Up

Paul’s charge is:

Drop all shame regarding the gospel and those who stand for it.

Be bold in your preaching and teaching.

Prepare to suffer with the help of the power of God

Keep to the Word. With the help of the Holy Spirit, KEEP TO THE WORD.

Tonight I feel God is charging us with these same points. As the pressure in this world increases… so must our faith and resolve to stand for God increase.

Such can only be done by the power of God and with the help of His Holy Spirit. My prayer tonight is: God, increase our faith, pour in your power, help us to live by the Spirit and truth.