2 Tim. 1:7b
Notes
Transcript
Handout
Handout
Communicating in Love
Communicating in Love
6 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. 7 For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.
To summarize verses 6-7, we find that Paul exhorts Timothy not to neglect his spiritual gift (power, love, sound mind), now he tells him to keep lighting it up again, stirring into flame or causing to blaze again God’s gift.
The giftedness was there, but there was a need for more fire.
Timothy was to fan his gift to full flame.
He was young pastor, he felt weak and fearful.
Timothy might become fearful because of the dangerous situation in which the Christians find themselves, suffering persecution for their faith (1:8).
For a good reason, Timothy might be fearful since he himself will eventually be imprisoned in Rome as well (Heb 13:23)
But he was called to stand tall. And he could because Paul believed in him and the Spirit enabled him.
I believe that we can learn and apply wonderful biblical principles from this passage to equip us become better God-pleasing parents and educators.
In the same way, in our generation, as parents and educators, we might felt the pressure and fear on how to fulfill God’s calling for us.
The reality is that, Parenting has become a bigger challenge in our generation.
In this digital / internet and social-media savvy generation,
We have FEAR that the world will disciple our children will depart from the faith
There are many distractions and attention grabbers
We FEAR that our children will rebel if we are disciplinarian, because the philosophy of this world is anti-biblical.
For parents, communicating God’s LOVE is a godly way is very challenging.
Main Thrust: Let us continually use God’s Gift of LOVE by remembering that;
God is the source of LOVE
He gifted Christians with LOVE to equip us to LOVE God and others,
and this LOVE must be seen in our living and proclamation of the Gospel of Christ.
I. God is the source of LOVE
I. God is the source of LOVE
7 For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.
God has not given us a spirit of fear/cowardice/timidity
but God has given us POWER, LOVE, and SOUND MIND
LOVE = Agape, sacrificial love, a benevolent love..
a. His very character is love { 1 John 4:7-8)
7 Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God; and everyone who loves is born of God and knows God. 8 The one who does not love does not know God, for God is love.
God is love! All human love, whether Godward or manward, has its source in God.
Love in its true reality and power is seen only in the light of Calvary
8 The one who does not love does not know God, for God is love. 9 By this the love of God was manifested in us, that God has sent His only begotten Son into the world so that we might live through Him. 10 In this is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins.
we can only sacrificially love when we are connected to the great source of genuine love.
we can’t give what we don’t have. We have the LOVE of God because of the sacrificially love of Jesus Christ displayed on the CROSS.
Why Did God gave us the Spirit of LOVE? That brings me to my 2nd point.
II. He gifted Christians with LOVE to equip us to LOVE God and others.
II. He gifted Christians with LOVE to equip us to LOVE God and others.
Why Did God gave us the Spirit of LOVE? He gifted Christians with LOVE to equip us to LOVE God and others.
In the New Testament love is much more than a feeling, because it results in SERVICE for others in the power of the Holy Spirit.
Scripture teaches believers to love God and shows how such love should be expressed in worship and practical service.
We are to be Worshippers and Lovers of God of God first (Personal Ministry)
Love for God is commanded (Matthew 22:37-38)
37 And He said to him, “ ‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind.’ 38 “This is the great and foremost commandment.
Expressing Love for God
Love for God’s Word (Psalm 1:2)
2 But his delight is in the law of the Lord, And in His law he meditates day and night.
Obeying God (2 John 6)
6 And this is love, that we walk according to His commandments. This is the commandment, just as you have heard from the beginning, that you should walk in it.
We are to love others - (Family Ministry, Church Ministry, Ministry for the Lost)
Loving Others (1 John 4:21; 1 Thess. 3:12)
21 And this commandment we have from Him, that the one who loves God should love his brother also.
12 and may the Lord cause you to increase and abound in love for one another, and for all people, just as we also do for you;
“and for all people” - it means to love the unbelievers / lost in your family, workplace, community.
This brings me to my 3rd point: Loving the LOST by giving to them the GOSPEL - their only hope for salvation
III. and this LOVE must be seen in our living and proclamation of the Gospel of Christ.
III. and this LOVE must be seen in our living and proclamation of the Gospel of Christ.
a. Timothy have experienced the LOVE of Jesus, and therefore the LOVE of Jesus should be Timothy’s motivation in proclaiming the Gospel (cf. 1:8)
8 Therefore do not be ashamed of the testimony of our Lord or of me His prisoner, but join with me in suffering for the gospel according to the power of God,
The gospel must be taught, exemplified, and lived in the homes of believers.
Application:
Application:
To communicate God’s Love to our families:
Communicate God’s LOVE through: MODELING
Parents must themselves become the model of God’s LOVE, Leading by Example.
I want to emphasize that no parent is perfect. No educator is perfect, as no singe person is perfect, except Jesus. We all have the sinful nature in us - that is why we have to be dependent on God for grace, patients, wisdom, and understanding, we have to ABIDE in God for us to Lead a life of example to our children and students.
Love for God’s Word
(they would see the joy in us as we spend time reading and meditating God’s Word)
Obedience to God
(no compromises, walk the talk, hearing and doing)
Value their voice and time
( voices - take time to listen and talk to them about their struggles and questions in life especially with many voices and influences from social media, internet - take time to listen and understand their struggles, that’s what Jesus did to the disciples, to the people who come to Jesus.)
(time - Spend time with them, they need your attention.
Exhibit Love for Others
(how we treat others - spouse, in-laws, neighbors, etc )
2. Communicate God’s LOVE through: TEACHING
Teaching - In our communication within the family, if God and his teachings are not included in our daily instructions, then we fail to communicate LOVE.
It is communicating the TRUTH of God that we Communicate the biblical LOVE.
Parents are the first teacher at home - to teach first and foremost God! (Dt. 6:4-8)
4 “Hear, O Israel! The Lord is our God, the Lord is one!
5 “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might.
6 “These words, which I am commanding you today, shall be on your heart.
7 “You shall teach them diligently to your sons and shall talk of them when you sit in your house and when you walk by the way and when you lie down and when you rise up.
8 “You shall bind them as a sign on your hand and they shall be as frontals on your forehead.
Teaching and reminding our children about who God is and His commands is the responsibility of the parents, entrusted by God.
teach diligently = carries the idea of sharpen in Hebrew, it also means to “repeat”. parents are to rehearse the laws of God to their children (when they sit, walk, lie down, rise up)
Parents are to give concentrated effort to know God’s law first and then teach it to their children..
3. Communicate God’s LOVE through: LOVING DISCIPLINE
A loving parent will apply discipline in the family.
Discipline is a learning that molds character and enforces correct behavior.
The objective is molding of character - objective rather than emotional (Eph. 6:4; Prov. 13:24; Rev. 3:19)
4 Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger, but bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord.
24 He who withholds his rod hates his son, But he who loves him disciplines him diligently.
19 ‘Those whom I love, I reprove and discipline; therefore be zealous and repent.
Conclusion:
Conclusion:
God gave his people a Spirit of love, for love to God and for the lost souls must inflame his people in all their service to Him!
Christian parents and educators, God has given you the Spirit of LOVE, Inflame it, Use the LOVE that you have received from God to bring your children and your pupils to the feet of Christ.