2 Timothy 1:3-11

The Effectiveness of our Witness for the Gospel

Grace:

The Bible says that, It is God who SAVES and CALLS people to serve Him and worship Him.

It is God who brings people to the Church.

God EQUIPS and GIFTED those whom He called to SERVE

God has gifted every Christians for EFFECTIVE service to fulfill our duties, in different capacities - teaching, preaching, serving, encouraging, giving…etc...

You and I, we don’t exist for our own. God did not save us to live only for ourselves.

We are alive up until today because of the GRACE of God, so that you I and I can fulfill God’s mission for our lives - proclamation of the Gospel.

1 Peter 2:9 NASB95

9 But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for God’s own possession, so that you may proclaim the excellencies of Him who has called you out of darkness into His marvelous light;

FCF:

Christians also experienced from time to time INEFFECTIVENESS in our service to God

I sometimes feel inadequate (am I really called to Pastor?)

We feel timid / cowardice ( because of threats that would affect your life like covid, threats from within the church like relationships becoming sour…, or Standing for the truth and what is right would create oppositions… These weigh down the Christian and would eventually result to being passive in the ministry and therefore become ineffective.

We have fears (financial challenge, education for the kids, work and business stability)

We have our sinful nature that feeds our selfish and wordly desires..it makes us feel hesitant and unworthy to share the gospel.

With all honesty, can you relate to the things that I just said?

SOLUTION:

When we fell timid, inadequate, ineffective, fearful, cowardice, and passive, we need to remember the exhortation of the Apostle Paul to the young Pastor Timothy.

Our passage today is a wonderful reminder.

Timothy might become fearful because of the dangerous situation in which the Christians find themselves,

For a good reason, Timothy might be fearful since he himself will eventually be imprisoned in Rome as well (Heb 13:23).

Hebrews 13:23 NASB95

23 Take notice that our brother Timothy has been released, with whom, if he comes soon, I will see you.

Presence of Opposition can get us timid

threat against our lives and well-being can get us timid.

2 Timothy 1:7 NASB95

7 For God has not given us a spirit of timidity, but of power and love and discipline.

KEYWORD: TIMIDITY

God did not give us a spirit of TIMIDITY: COWARDICE, FEARFULNESS (deilia)

John 14:27 NASB95

27 “Peace I leave with you; My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Do not let your heart be troubled, nor let it be fearful.

- fearful (deilia)

Matthew 8:26 NASB95

26 He said to them, “Why are you afraid, you men of little faith?” Then He got up and rebuked the winds and the sea, and it became perfectly calm.

“Why are you afraid (deilia), you men of little faith?”

What should we do to overcome FEAR and INEFFECTIVENESS?

Now based on our passage, we can learn principles to help us overcome fear and remain effective in our service:

1. Remember the Faith that you posses. (v5).

2 Timothy 1:5 NASB95

5 For I am mindful of the sincere faith within you, which first dwelt in your grandmother Lois and your mother Eunice, and I am sure that it is in you as well.

Faith as small as a mustard seed - it is enough. One theologian said, “It is not necessary to have great faith; even a small faith is enough, as long as it is faith in the great God.”

Only faith in a powerful God can accomplish the things that only a powerful God can do.

2. Fan into flame the gift of God (v6)

2 Timothy 1:6 NASB95

6 For this reason I remind you to kindle afresh the gift of God which is in you through the laying on of my hands.

2 Timothy 1:6 NIV

6 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.

Inflame your gift! exercise your gifts to increase them!

2 Timothy 1:7 NASB95

7 For God has not given us a spirit of timidity, but of power and love and discipline.

POWER - dunamis - the strength and ability and courage to perform an activity - proclamation of the Gospel

Opposite of FEAR and Timidity.

Acts 1:8 NASB95

8 but you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be My witnesses both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and even to the remotest part of the earth.”

Use God’s power to stand firm and overcome any opposition.

Use God’s power to courageously share the gospel.

How many times we have fallen short and ineffective because we relied on our own power? when we did not listen to the conviction of the Holy Spirit?

Illustration: A cellphone will eventually lose its power when not connected to the power source.

LOVE - Agape, the benevolent love.

Use God’s love as your motivation to serve, and even love without expecting anything in return. The goal of our service is LOVE.

How many times we became apathetic and passive to people because we did not receive love in return, or when they don’t seem to be easy to love? They are Always making mistakes…. Like Peter…? Or like you and me?

SOUND MIND / SELF CONTROL/DISCIPLINE

Use God’s gift of sound mind to make God-honoring decisions.

How many time we made wrong decisions because we failed to pray, discern, and wait on the Lord?

We struggle with impatience and lack of self-control.

The Spirit endows the church with gifts

Romans 12:6–8 NASB95

6 Since we have gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, each of us is to exercise them accordingly: if prophecy, according to the proportion of his faith; 7 if service, in his serving; or he who teaches, in his teaching; 8 or he who exhorts, in his exhortation; he who gives, with liberality; he who leads, with diligence; he who shows mercy, with cheerfulness.

Ephesians 4:11 NASB95

11 And He gave some as apostles, and some as prophets, and some as evangelists, and some as pastors and teachers,

3. Accept that SUFFERING for the Gospel is part of our CALLING (vv.8-11)

2 Timothy 1:8–11 NASB95

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, 9 who has saved us and called us with a holy calling, not according to our works, but according to His own purpose and grace which was granted us in Christ Jesus from all eternity, 10 but now has been revealed by the appearing of our Savior Christ Jesus, who abolished death and brought life and immortality to light through the gospel, 11 for which I was appointed a preacher and an apostle and a teacher.

Because the world is evil, suffering becomes part of our calling.

Believers ought to expect to suffer as an inevitable part of their calling.

1 John 3:13 NASB95

13 Do not be surprised, brethren, if the world hates you.

Rightly approached, suffering develops the character of believers, equips them for more effective service, draws believers closer to Jesus Christ and prepares them for eternal life.

The Word SUFFERING is repeated 6 times in this letter.

2 Timothy 1:12 NASB95

12 For this reason I also suffer these things, but I am not ashamed; for I know whom I have believed and I am convinced that He is able to guard what I have entrusted to Him until that day.

2 Timothy 2:3 NASB95

3 Suffer hardship with me, as a good soldier of Christ Jesus.

2 Timothy 2:8–9 NASB95

8 Remember Jesus Christ, risen from the dead, descendant of David, according to my gospel, 9 for which I suffer hardship even to imprisonment as a criminal; but the word of God is not imprisoned.

2 Timothy 3:10–11 NASB95

10 Now you followed my teaching, conduct, purpose, faith, patience, love, perseverance, 11 persecutions, and sufferings, such as happened to me at Antioch, at Iconium and at Lystra; what persecutions I endured, and out of them all the Lord rescued me!

2 Timothy 3:12 NASB95

12 Indeed, all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will be persecuted.

2 Timothy 4:5 NASB95

5 But you, be sober in all things, endure hardship, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry.

Suffering for Jesus Christ is commendable

Matthew 5:10–12 NASB95

10 “Blessed are those who have been persecuted for the sake of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. 11 “Blessed are you when people insult you and persecute you, and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of Me. 12 “Rejoice and be glad, for your reward in heaven is great; for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.

RESPONSE:

1. We have the gift, we just need to RELY IN THE HOLY SPIRIT AND USE it with all entirety to be effective in our service to the King.

the Holy Spirit empowers us for effective witness

2. God started the flame but we have the RESPONSIBILITY to KEEP the flame burning brightly!

CONCLUSION:

The Effectiveness of our Witness for the Gospel is made possible when we cooperate with God by aligning our priorities with His purposes.