2 Timothy 1:1-13
Notes
Transcript
Background:
Background:
-The Apostle Paul was formerly a Pharisee
-Hated and persecuted the church
-Met the Risen Christ on the road to Damascus
-Became the greatest missionary ever
-Paul was eventually arrested in Jerusalem and taken to trial in Rome
-While he awaited trial in Rome, he was under house arrest and given much freedom
-From the book of Philippians, he seemed confident he would be released.
-Church history tells us that Paul was released as he had hoped
-But then, 5-6 years later, found himself back in prison
-This time it seems that he was given very poor care and very little freedom
-From this letter, Paul seems to understand that his martyrdom is imminent
-So, Paul writes to one of his dearest friends, Timothy
-Timothy was a young pastor, and someone Paul discipled and mentored
-Paul often, as here, refers to him as a beloved son
-Paul led Timothy to the Lord more than likely while he was in Lystra, and then asked Timothy to accompany him while on his second missionary journey
-Paul loved Timothy dearly, and was very concerned about his dear friend
-From the tone of this letter, it seems that Paul is concerned that Timothy is being tempted to shrink back in fear from the God-given responsibilities he has been given
-Think about it!
-Nero is now in power, and it seems his persecutions of Christians has begun
-Paul, Timothy’s mentor is in prison awaiting death for his faith
-Things are hard!!
-Brothers and sisters, our fellow Christians in other parts of the world right now are experiencing similar persecution
-This is from a website the tracks the persecution of Christians, and is about India:
Hindu-nationalist informants live in nearly every village and report on the activities of Christians, resulting in attacks and arrests. When Christians are attacked, they often drop charges against their attackers to show forgiveness as a witness for Christ. Churches have been demolished and burned, worship gatherings have been disrupted, crosses in graveyards have been vandalized, and Bibles and other Christian literature have been confiscated and burned. Many pastors have been beaten and jailed, and several are martyred each year. Christians are often arrested and held for up to three weeks after being falsely accused of forcing Hindus to convert to Christianity.
-Other countries, such as Afghanistan, Pakistan, North Korea violently persecute Christians
-This is the norm for many of our brothers and sisters in Christ!
-But if we’re being honest, it’s getting scarier and scarier to be a Christian in America!
-In the cancel culture in which we live, people can lose their friends, their credibility, and maybe even their jobs for not compromising on the Bible’s stance on sexuality and gender
-Right now, Christianity is not well looked upon in our country!
-People don’t want to hear that there is an absolute right or wrong
-People don’t want to hear that they are sinners
-People definitely don’t want to hear that there is a God who will judge them and hold them accountable for their sinful choices
-Brothers and sisters, aren’t we tempted at times right now to shrink back in fear as well?
-Aren’t we tempted to think, “maybe I’ll just try to be a good testimony, be a nice person, but maybe not be so vocal about God and His standards of right and wrong”
-“Maybe it’s just better if I just keep silent and just talk about God or the Gospel if someone asks me about it”
-If we’re honest, maybe we find ourselves a little like Timothy this morning
But Paul, in his love for Timothy, won’t let him off the hook that easily
-And the Word of God won’t let us off the hook that easily either
Vs. 1
-Paul tells Timothy that he is an apostle by the will of God!
-Paul’s ministry, and therefore his message, wasn’t something he made up
-This is God’s message!
-This is God’s word!
And this according to the promise of life in Jesus Christ!
-This is referring to experiencing life to the fullest!
-Now, when we hear that, we often think of going on awesome vacations, having a ton of money, etc.
-But Paul is talking about life to the fullest, meaning we experience life the way we were designed to, which is enjoying God!
-And this is only possible to those who are “in Christ Jesus”
-If you’re a Christian, you have a relationship with the God who made you!
-This is what you’re designed for!
Vs. 2
-To Timothy, Paul’s dearly loved son
-Grace, Mercy, and Peace is a pretty standard greeting to the churches he would write to
Vs. 3
-Paul is thankful, according to verse 5, for Timothy’s sincere faith
-But notice he says he serves God with a clear conscience as his ancestors did
-Paul is saying that he is next in the chain of a wonderful spiritual lineage!
-The message of the Messiah started all the way back in Genesis with God’s promise to Adam and Eve
-And this lineage has come through Noah, Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, David, the prophets, and many more
-So brothers and sisters, when we suffer for the message of the Gospel, we are in good company!
-Through the ages, people have been persecuted for the Gospel, and we should not expect to be any different!
Paul is praying for his son in the faith Timothy, night and day!
Vs. 4
-“Remembering your tears” probably refers to the last time they saw each other
-It was probably an emotional goodbye
-And Paul greatly longs to see him again, so that he can be filled with joy!
Vs. 5
-This is the reason for Paul’s giving of thanks
-He is thankful when he recalls Timothy’s sincere faith
-My brothers and sisters, do not be discouraged if you’re fearful or timid of the hardship that befalls us as Christians, because you’re in good company!
-God doesn’t want you to be afraid or timid, as we’ll see in a minute, but if you are, it doesn’t mean you’re not a Christian!
-Timothy was a true believer!
-He was a pastor!
-And yet he’s struggling, and that’s why Paul is writing to him
-Timothy had a wonderful heritage as well
-Even though his father was Greek, his mother and grandmother were devout followers of God and believers in Jesus Christ
Vs. 6
-Paul is encouraging Timothy here to continue to use his spiritual gift
-This more than likely refers to Timothy’s pastor/teacher gift, or his gift of evangelism that he is putting to use in Ephesus
-It seems that Paul and maybe some other elders have laid hands on Timothy, and given him a charge to continue to preach and teach the Word wherever he goes
Our Text
Our Text
Vs. 7
-So, it’s within the context of persecution and Paul’s desire to encourage Timothy from shrinking back in fear that we find our text
-First, Paul wants to make clear to Timothy what God has not given him
-God has not given Timothy a spirit of fear
-“Timothy, if you’re tempted to shrink back in fear, that does not come from God!”
-My dear brothers and sisters, if you’re here this morning, and you’re struggling with fear of persecution and the consequences of being a Christian in the midst of our rapidly changing culture: that fear does not come from God!
And do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. But rather fear Him who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.
-Brothers and sisters, there may be some of us here this morning that maybe if you’re being honest, you’ve kinda decided to lay low
-You’re a Christian, but you’ve kind of determined that you’re going to be a little bit of a secret Christian
-You’re not going to be very vocal about the Gospel or the Word of God
-You’ll share the Gospel with someone if they ask you about it, but other than that, you’re just going to try to be a good person and just go about your business
-If that’s you this morning, you’re living in fear, and that does not come from God!
-What if our Savior, Jesus Christ, had let fear overcome Him
-What if He allowed fear of the cross and fear of bearing the wrath of God on our behalf kept Him accomplishing our salvation?
-Where would we be??
-What if fear had prevented the person who witnessed to you and led you to Christ, what if fear had prevented them from sharing the gospel?
-Maybe your parents or a friend or your pastor
-Where would you be??
-Brothers and sisters, I understand things can be hard!!
-I’ve only been here on this island for a few days, but I understand that it’s hard to share the Gospel here!
-Many people who live here or who visit here are living in paradise and don’t want to hear about their sin and God’s wrath!
-Many are not interested in the Gospel, because they just want to enjoy their fun and games, right??
-But brothers and sisters, that’s no excuse for us to stop witnessing!!
-That’s no excuse for us to stop being faithful to the local church
-That’s no reason for us to stop being faithful to seek God in the Word and prayer!
-Brothers and sisters, God has not given us a spirit of fear!!
Then what has God given us?
Vs. 7 part 2
Vs. 7 part 2
-He’s given us a spirit of power
-Now, there’s a disagreement between commentators whether “spirit” here in the 2nd half of the verse refers to the Holy Spirit, or just the human spirit
-Is Paul saying God has given us the Holy Spirit which is infuses us with power, love and sound mind?
-Or is Paul saying that God has given us the attitudes and disposition within our spirit of power, love, and sound mind
-There’s good evidence for both, but I don’t think it actually matters which one you think it is, because I think we all understand that either way, the only good and right living and thinking that comes out of us is only the Spirit of God anyway
-So, God gives us a spirit of power
-what does that mean?
-Contextually, it’s linked closely to the next verse where we see the exact same greek word used again, where it refers to the power of God
-So, God is the one who enables and empowers us!
-Think of all God’s power!
And God both raised up the Lord and will also raise us up by His power.
who being the brightness of His glory and the express image of His person, and upholding all things by the word of His power, when He had by Himself purged our sins, sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high,
He has made the earth by His power,
He has established the world by His wisdom,
And has stretched out the heavens at His discretion.
‘Ah, Lord God! Behold, You have made the heavens and the earth by Your great power and outstretched arm. There is nothing too hard for You.
-How does that happen?
And He said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.
-You see, when we come to a place where we stop relying and trusting ourselves and our strength, and turn to God instead for His grace and strength, God’s power works through us
But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellence of the power may be of God and not of us.
-The problem is, if we’re being honest, we so often like to do things in our strength so that we can feel accomplished or we can receive the glory
1 and 2 Timothy and Titus—To Guard the Deposit Reality (vv. 6, 7)
Oswald Chambers wrote:
God can achieve his purpose either through the absence of human power and resources, or the abandonment of reliance on them. All through history God has chosen and used nobodies, because their unusual dependence on him made possible the unique display of his power and grace. He chose and used somebodies only when they renounced dependence on their natural abilities and resources.
-Are you relying on God’s power, or are you trying to go about your life on your own?
-If you are trying to live your life in your strength, than it’s no wonder that we struggle with a spirit of fear
-We can have God’s power!
God has given us a spirit of love
-What is this referring to?
-First of all, Love is what God is
He who does not love does not know God, for God is love.
For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.
-So when we love, it reflects the character of God
He who does not love does not know God, for God is love.
A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another. By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.”
And love is fruit of the Spirit!
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,
Now, this is an incredible thing in the midst of a hostile culture!
-Timothy was living in a culture where Christians are being persecuted and killed!
-And yet, Paul tells him that God has given him a spirit of love
-the ability to love God, love other believers, and even love those who persecute him
“But I say to you who hear: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you,
And where does this love come from?
We love Him because He first loved us.
We are empowered to love because of the love we have received from God!
And that brings us to our last thing that God gives us
Sound Mind
Sound Mind
-What does this mean
-The word seems to have the idea of “self-control” or “sound judgment”
1–2 Timothy & Titus Relying on the Holy Spirit (1:6–7)
Paul has in mind a measure of control over one’s thinking and actions that allows a balanced outlook on any situation. When everything is coming unglued, this quality of “levelheadedness” will keep the Christian focused calmly on the power and love that the Spirit provides, and so it makes perseverance in life and ministry possible.
-Philip Towner
How is this possible?
-Sometimes, things seem to be going very bad: in my personal life, in our culture, in my family situation
-Maybe some of you are in situations where things are unravelling pretty fast in your family, or among your friends, or things in your own heart and emotions
-Do I just grit my teeth and bear it?
-Pull myself up by my bootstraps?
-How can we stay focused and grounded in the midst of these kinds of circumstances
But you must continue in the things which you have learned and been assured of, knowing from whom you have learned them, and that from childhood you have known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.
All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work.
When things seem to be spinning out of control, or it seems we’re coming undone, we must fill our minds with the Word of God
You will keep him in perfect peace,
Whose mind is stayed on You,
Because he trusts in You.
Trust in the Lord forever,
For in Yah, the Lord, is everlasting strength.
-It is when we stay grounded in our thoughts on the truth of Who God is, found in His Word, that we can keep our focus
Application:
Application:
So, what does all this mean for me?
-That all sounds great, but how my life is hard
-The threat of being cancelled or being looked down upon is all around me
-My friends don’t wanna hear the Gospel
-My co-workers
-My family members
-How can I possibly stand firm in the midst of this?
Read vs. 8-13
-It’s through the sacrifice of Christ!
-When I’m absolutely saturated with the Gospel
-When I understand and embrace the love and forgiveness of God, shown clearly in the sacrifice of Christ for me
-Then, I can be bold
-God hasn’t give you a spirit of fear
-He’s given you one of power, and of love, and of a sound mind