Rekindling

II Timothy 1:3-10

It is no secret that our numbers have been down. Across the board church attendance is was much lower this past church year than in previous years.

I have come to the realization that most of our brothers and sisters have not returned to a lifestyle of rebellion and deliberate sin. But, a good many have grown cold and indifferent. Many suffer from complacency and apathy. This is the case for those who have quit church altogether, It is the case for those who only attend sporadically, and it is the case for some who are here every time the doors are open.

According to God's Word, some people under the sound of my voice would be described as "lukewarm". The word "lukewarm" is defined as "showing little enthusiasm".

I must warn you that Jesus does not tolerate lukewarmness. In fact He said unto the church of the Laodiceans ..."I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot: I would thou wert cold or hot. So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth." (Revelation 3:15)What is the solution for lukewarmness? Well, Jesus told the Laodicean Church to "be zealous, and repent."

Perhaps you are not lukewarm but you would be honest enough to admit that your spiritual fire has begun to burn out. The "flames have become an ember" so to speak. If that is the case, the Bible has an answer for you as well. We find it in our selected text. Paul tells Timothy to “Stir up the gift of God that was in him”. The idea here is to “fan the flames” or to "rekindle the fire”

If your home has a fireplace, it is likely that there is a fire poker near that fireplace. When the fire begins to burn down, you stoke the fire to keep it burning. It is important for us to "stoke our spiritual fire" regularly. If we fail to do this, that fire that once blazed brightly will burn down or even burn out.

There are several indicators that will show you that your spiritual flame has become an ember.

1) Your interest in the Word of God has decreased.

2) Your prayer life is not what it used to be.

3) Your worship attendance is no longer a priority.

4) Your giving to the Lord has slacked off or stopped completely.

5) You rarely (if ever) talk to others about Jesus.

6) You don't feel as close to God as you once did.

If your fire is burning dim, chances are good that you already know about it. You know it because the Holy Spirit has revealed it to you! Some of God's strongest servants dealt with spiritual burnout.

a) Moses reached a point where he requested that the Lord take his life.

b) Elijah wallowed in self pity after being threatened by Jezebel.

c) Jonah ran far away when the Lord called him to go to Nineveh.

Throughout history, some of the greatest men and women of God have dealt with spiritual burnout. When the fire is burning bright in our lives we can't seem to pray enough, we can't get enough of God's Word, we cheerfully give our time, talents and treasures to the Lord, we spend each day communing with the Lord and we look for opportunities to tell others about Jesus. However, when the fire burns down, these things are not as prevalent in our lives. If you do not quickly "rekindle the fire" you will find yourself out of the will of God.

Some of you are already there. Though that fire once burned in your life, now:

1. You avoid spiritual things

2. You are no longer committed to the church

3. You have abandoned your place of service.

4. You no longer hear God speak because your heart has become hard.

5. You haven't lost your salvation, but you have lost your joy!

6. You consistently grieve & quench the Holy Spirit,

7. You are missing out on God's blessings,

8. and you are likely having a negative impact on others.

Today you find yourself in a backslidden condition. Your spiritual flame has become an ember! If that is the case I want you to know that the fire can be stirred up today! I want us to walk through this passage and see how this is possible. In doing so, I would like to encourage you to "Rekindle The Fire".

- The first step in rekindling that fire is to:

I. REMEMBER HOW THE FIRE STARTED - v5 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.

Timothy had a rich history of Faith in his family. This faith was seen in his grandmother Lois and in his mother Eunice. Paul encouraged Timothy to take a moment and contemplate the beginnings of his faith.

When our fire spiritual fire burns down we often forget why we do what we do. We lose sight of our purpose. We forget that we are servants of the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. There are times when we find ourselves in a rut. We get into a routine and we become like robots. Instead of serving out of passion, we serve out of obligation. Like Timothy, we need to remember our faith.

Take a moment and remember the joy you first felt when you met Jesus. Think back to the first time you experienced that amazing peace, hope and love! Remember the excitement you once possessed in knowing that you are a child of God. Remember the honor and privilege of being called to serve the Lord. Remember your willingness to do obey that call that He placed on your life. Remember that desire that you once had to be in the center of His will. Remember the intense burden that you once had to reach out to lost souls. If the flame has become an ember in your life, maybe you need to go back to where it all started. Take a moment and remember where you were before Jesus. Meditate upon the moment that you met Jesus. Remember where He brought your from. Remember all that He has done for you and remember what He has done through you. Remembering how things were when the fire started could be the first step in you returning to the Lord.

- Another cause of your spiritual burnout could be fear. If that is the case then you must:

II. RISE ABOVE FEAR - v7 For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.

Timothy needed some encouragement. For this reason Paul instructs him to “stir up the gift of God” . Timothy had become fearful. But Paul says that “God did not give us a spirit of fear” . The early Christians faced great persecution. Many suffered and died as a result of their faith in Christ. I'm sure that this was an intimidating reality for Timothy.

Fear may be a reality for you as well. Satan will do all that he can to intimidate you. He would love to see you walk away from serving the Lord. If you are tempted to fear, remember that "God has not given us a spirit of fear". In fact, Jesus promised that those who have the Holy Spirit have power! He said in Acts 1:8 “ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you”

Always remember that fear does not come from God. What does come from God is power, love and a sound mind. Fear will prevent you from attempting those things that would build up the Kingdom of Christ. Some will not witness because of FEAR of rejection. Some will not serve God due to FEAR of failure. Some are burdened with a FEAR of Satan and his evil schemes. We have no reason to fear Satan, because God is on our side and He is all powerful! James said "Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you." (James 4:7)

If your spiritual fire is burning dim, you are likely not being productive for this church or the Kingdom of God. If that is the case for you, it is time to rekindle your spiritual fire! To do this, it is vital that you rise above fear. I know for a fact that for some of you, your spiritual fire is burning bright. I am very thankful for this fact!

- There is a message for you in this passage as well. Those who are strong spiritually have a responsibility to help those who are struggling spiritually. That is what Paul is doing for Timothy. Notice:

v3 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; 4 Greatly desiring to see thee, being mindful of thy tears, that I may be filled with joy;

Paul was Timothy's mentor and his “Spiritual Father”. In 1 Timothy 1:2 Paul referred to Timothy as his " son in the faith" . These men were more than associates in the ministry, they were dear friends. Paul says that he was “mindful of (Timothy's) tears” . Paul knew all about the issues that Timothy was facing as he served the Lord. Paul loved Timothy and was greatly burdened for his friend. The Christian life can bring moments of difficulty, discouragement and despair. Because of this we need good Christian friends to bring encouragement during times of burnout!

Ecclesiastes 4:9 Two are better than one; because they have a good reward for their labour. 10 For if they fall, the one will lift up his fellow: but woe to him that is alone when he falleth; for he hath not another to help him up.

We need good Christian friends to help us in times of difficulty and burnout. We must also be a friend to those who are facing times of trouble. When we see a brother of sister who is suffering from spiritual burnout, we should pray for them, pray with them, encourage them, and even rebuke them if necessary. We have the opportunity to be a friend like Paul was to Timothy. Maybe we can help someone rekindle their spiritual fire.

- There is one final step in this process that I would like to consider. Those who need to rekindle their spiritual fire must:

III. RETURN TO THE FATHER - v6 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.

The gift that Timothy needs to "stir up" came from God. Timothy was a child of God and everything he had came from Him. We too are children of God and the gifts that we have come from Him.

James 1:17 Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above...

These gifts come from Him and are to be used for Him. If your fire is burning out, it is time for you to "stir up" that gift. When Paul says stir up, that word literally means to "rekindle". This has the idea of fanning a flame. Notice that Paul doesn’t tell Timothy to “Start the fire” . He told him to “Stir up the fire that was already burning inside.”

Our "spiritual fire" is ignited at the moment of our conversion. If your fire is growing dim, you must return to the Father. Let the Lord re-ignite your fire and then get back to work for Him. Use your gifts to honor and serve your Heavenly Father!

If you can teach, teach. If you can sing, sing. If you can encourage, encourage. If you can build, build. If you can lead, lead. If you can help....please help!!

There are no excuses for God's people to abandon their service to Him. God has given us everything we need to accomplish any task He puts before us! I encourage you to take a moment and examine your life. Consider the spiritual gifts that God has blessed you with. Understand that God has given you certain responsibilities. God has given us the privilege of serving Him (in this church and in His Kingdom).

How is your fire burning today? Would you admit that your flame has become an ember? If so, then you must "rekindle the fire". You can do this by Remembering How the Fire Started, Rising Above Fear and Returning To The Father

Perhaps you can't "rekindle the fire" because the fire has never been started in your life. Maybe you don't know Jesus as your personal Savior. If that is the case, we would love the opportunity to introduce you to Him today.

Jesus came to seek and "save that which was lost" and that means He came for you! "All have sinned and come short of the glory of God" and that means you! "God demonstrated His love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us" that promise applies to you! You can be saved today. You can be delivered from your sin, rescued from hell and granted eternal life right here right now. I encourage you to surrender to Him today!

If you know that you have been saved, how is your fire burning?

The Greeks had a race in their Olympic games that was unique. The winner was not the runner who finished first. It was the runner who finished with his torch still lit.

It should be our goal to run this race until the end with our torch shining bright for Jesus. Unfortunately, many are sitting on the sidelines with their torches burned out and laying on the ground. Some are still running, but the flames are burning down in a hurry. May we do whatever is necessary to "Rekindle The Fire".