Serving: with shared suffering
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Are you stirred up?
Are you stirred up?
Important words, last words, instructive words, assuring words, encouraging words, that is what Paul is using here in 2Timothy as his final words. Today we see some good words with good instructions. A reminder first of what he has spoken already.
(opening thought) What stirs you up? What fires you up? Is it your kids, maybe grandkids visiting? (add in personal illustration that fires me up)
Paul is writing to Timothy and here is what we have seen so far.
Instructions to Timothy Paul’s beloved Son (2Tim1:2)
I remember your great faith that was passed down to you (2Tim1:5)
Therefore stir-up, kindle afresh the gift of God in you (2Tim1:6)
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.
(Transition) Timothy may have been timid before, Paul has some great instructions about not being ashamed, and suffering in our passage today. Hope we can all learn and grow from it this morning. First one more reminder verse that maybe we all need to remember
7 For God has not given us a spirit of timidity, but of power and love and discipline.
God has given us a spirit of power, love and discipline to be applied in our serving the Lord which may include some suffering.
So, here we go for this morning, at least this is the plan:
Be not ashamed of the Lord’s testimony (2Tim1:8-10)
Be not ashamed of the Lord’s prisoner (2Tim1:11-12)
Be spiritual loyal (2Tim1:13-18)
Be not ashamed of the Lord’s testimony
Be not ashamed of the Lord’s testimony
Ashamed, not one of those feel good words. Ashamed (adj) embarrassed or guilty because of one's actions, characteristics, or associations. This morning we see that word used several times with some proceeding words, “do not be.” In our first section regarding the testimony of the Lord.
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,
Timothy is reminded of three things in this passage and they are good reminders for us.
God gives power (v.8)
Be honest, who likes to suffer?
Jesus did not even enjoy suffering and knew the suffering he was going to have to endure (Lk22:42)
42 saying, “Father, if You are willing, remove this cup from Me; yet not My will, but Yours be done.”
Then there was Paul who suffered a thorn in the flesh and asked for it to be removed 3x (ref: 2Cor12:7-8)
Peter mentions that some suffering finds favor with God.
20 For what credit is there if, when you sin and are harshly treated, you endure it with patience? But if when you do what is right and suffer for it you patiently endure it, this finds favor with God.
That suffering is suffering for what is right, just as Peter mentions on (1Pt3:17) too. As Christians we may suffer for doing what is right because we serve God. That is what Paul is offering himself up as an example and an encouragement for endurance for Timothy.
When we suffer for doing right then, well check this out.
10 that I may know Him and the power of His resurrection and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death;
Well, have to be honest there is a place that Paul says that he rejoiced in his suffering, look at this passage.
24 Now I rejoice in my sufferings for your sake, and in my flesh I do my share on behalf of His body, which is the church, in filling up what is lacking in Christ’s afflictions.
(Illustration) I read a story about a captured Christian prisoner who was going to be burned at the stake for his faith. In preparation for it because he had fear of the suffering of the pain. He tried to experiment with pain with a candle flame and he had a hard time enduring the pain and felt he would be a disgrace to the Lord. But when the hour came to died he praised God and gave a noble witness for Jesus Christ. See, God have him the power when he needed it, and not before.
Other scriptures used or referenced in this section (Lk22:42; 2Cor12:7-8) 1Pt2:20, 3:17 and Col1:24)
God has called us by His grace (v.9)
God’s eternal place, His scheme of redemption was by faith through grace. This was predestined before the world was created.
23 this Man, delivered over by the predetermined plan and foreknowledge of God, you nailed to a cross by the hands of godless men and put Him to death.
His plan, His purpose, His way always including suffering. Jesus had to suffer in the will of God.
His plan including suffering so we could be called and saved by grace through faith
8 For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; 9 not as a result of works, so that no one may boast.
Not because of anything we have done in righteousness but by the Holy Spirit as noted in (Tit3:5)
(transition) All this grace in which we were called through is in Christ alone. We could not earn it, we don’t deserve it, but out of His great love for us He gave it to us, from the Father through the Son as see in (1Jn3:1) now this leads us to the next point in this section.
Other scriptures used or referenced in this section (Act2:23; Eph2:8-9; Tit3:5; 1Jn3:1)
Christ has defeated death (v.10)
Again, no one likes to suffer, we can get timid when we consider suffering and especially when we consider death. Hey, hold on, remember where Paul is now and what is before him. He is in prison facing death as he dictates this letter.
Jesus took the sting out of death by the resurrection.
55 “O death, where is your victory? O death, where is your sting?”
Jesus rendered death powerless
14 Therefore, since the children share in flesh and blood, He Himself likewise also partook of the same, that through death He might render powerless him who had the power of death, that is, the devil, 15 and might free those who through fear of death were subject to slavery all their lives.
Jesus is the revealer of immortality (2Tim1:10). Through His death, the defeat of death he shined a light a light of hope to the believers of eternal life. One day we will replace our bodies with immortality and incorruptibility (1Cor15:49-58)
One more for this, our inheritance:
4 to obtain an inheritance which is imperishable and undefiled and will not fade away, reserved in heaven for you, 5 who are protected by the power of God through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.
Our inheritance, imperishable, undefiled, ready to be revealed in the last time for us! All through Christ overcoming death so the gospel of salvation by grace through faith could be. Not by our power but by His and the suffering Jesus went through on our behalf.
So, we should be willing to share in the suffering Paul spoke of to the Philippians
10 that I may know Him and the power of His resurrection and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death; 11 in order that I may attain to the resurrection from the dead.
Other scriptures used in this section (1Cor15:55, Heb2:14-15; 2Tim1:10; 1Cor15:49-58; Php3:10-11)
(Transition): Now to our next section this morning. Having see do not be ashamed of the Lord’s testimony.
Do not be ashamed of the Lord’s prisoner
Do not be ashamed of the Lord’s prisoner
Prison was nothing new to Paul, this time though he did believe he would make it out in glory not alive in the flesh. But he is not ashamed of it!
11 for which I was appointed a preacher and an apostle and a teacher. 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.
Paul was still a preacher, a proclaimer, a herald of the gospel even while in prison. Even though many had abandon him
15 You are aware of the fact that all who are in Asia turned away from me, among whom are Phygelus and Hermogenes.
And it was a shame they they were even ashamed to be identified with the apostle who gave up so much for them.
Timothy’s life and ministry could have been easier had he swayed from the sound doctrine, gone with the flow. But, Paul is reminding him and encouraging him in 4-ways now.
Paul was called by God by the will of God for the purpose of God (2Tim1:1; 11, Act9:4ff, 22:16)
He was called to be an apostle and a teacher.
Paul met the Lord on the road to Damascus. Paul repented and was baptized when in Damascus (see Act22:16) and was trained by the Lord to fulfill the purpose of God.
Paul was a teacher of the Gentiles (Act22:21)
21 “And He said to me, ‘Go! For I will send you far away to the Gentiles.’ ”
As a teacher to those in Asia it was by ministering to the Gentiles he was imprisoned the first time. The Asians should have been grateful, but they disavowed him. They were ashamed of him.
Paul was confident in Christ (2Tim1:12)
maybe better put the verse back up here in a different version for a minute
12 which is why I suffer as I do. But I am not ashamed, for I know whom I have believed, and I am convinced that he is able to guard until that day what has been entrusted to me.
Paul knew, believe, trusted, was confident that Jesus was faithful and would keep him, protect him, guard him until “that day.” Now, before get ing to “that day” I want to touch on one thing first
In looking at (v.12) we see that Paul is not ashamed, and we know why for he tells us “I know whom I believe.” - We are saved by grace through faith in Jesus Christ, Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior whom when we repent washes away our sins and gifts us with the gift of the Holy Spirit. He is faithful to protect the gift within until “that day.” So now let me touch on “that day.”
Paul mentions that day that we may find mercy (2Tim1:18) we will get to that verse in a minute, but we can also see “that day”
8 in the future there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day; and not only to me, but also to all who have loved His appearing.
that day is day of award, reward, day for all who loved His appearing. That means the ones who believed til the end.
We have to face many difficult days in this fallen world, days of shared suffering because of whom we believe. We are not to be ashamed may we have the outlook Paul did, or maybe how Peter and John did.
41 So they went on their way from the presence of the Council, rejoicing that they had been considered worthy to suffer shame for His name.
Other scriptures used or referenced in this section (2Tim1:18; 2Tim4:8; Act5:41)
(Transition) God’s servants should not be ashamed of the Lord’s testimony. And Paul stated don’t be ashamed of the Lord’s prisoner and now he will move to “be loyal” as a servant of God in our shared suffering.
Be Spiritually Loyal
Be Spiritually Loyal
Loyalty you hear about it often, maybe not see it as often as in the past, but may we define it first? Loyalty (N) the quality of being loyal. a strong feeling of support or allegiance.
God has shown through the scripture many who stood steadfast in trying, testing, suffering times. Paul was such a man and gives Timothy some good advise in this passage.
Be loyal to God’s word (2Tim1:13-14)
13 Retain the standard of sound words which you have heard from me, in the faith and love which are in Christ Jesus. 14 Guard, through the Holy Spirit who dwells in us, the treasure which has been entrusted to you.
Other scriptures used or referenced in this section (1Tim1:11, 6:20; 2Tim1:13, 1:14, 2:2; Eph4:15)
Paul had been entrusted with the glorious gospel. He had been entrusted to record the words that we hold in our hands today.
Paul had instructed Timothy to guard the words entrusted to him (1Tim6:20)
Now in our section he is told to retain the standard of sound words (2Tim1:13)
(Insert Scriptures to note down PowerPoint here)
To guard through the Holy Spirit the treasure entrusted to you (2Tim1:14) - what is the treasure, it is the word of God that brings faith (Rom10:17) and faith brings salvation (Eph2:8-9) through obeying the gospel (2The1:8) to be born again to a living hope (1Pt1:3). All that comes through the word.
The word is to be shared in faith and love (2Tim1:13; Eph4:15)
15 but speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in all aspects into Him who is the head, even Christ,
It was the Holy Spirit given, the Holy Spirit that imparted God’s word that was entrusted to Paul, given to Timothy and we now have today, so guard it!
Be loyal to God’s servant (2Tim1:15-18)
15 You are aware of the fact that all who are in Asia turned away from me, among whom are Phygelus and Hermogenes. 16 The Lord grant mercy to the house of Onesiphorus, for he often refreshed me and was not ashamed of my chains;
17 but when he was in Rome, he eagerly searched for me and found me— 18 the Lord grant to him to find mercy from the Lord on that day—and you know very well what services he rendered at Ephesus.
Paul had been abandoned even betrayed by some, people like Phygelus and Hermogenes (v.15) Demas (2Tim4:10) and false teachers like Hymenaeus and Philetus (2Tim2:17-18).
There was one who stayed loyal, faithful Onesiphorus (v.16) and Paul was using him as an example to Timothy
Other scriptures referenced or used in this section (2Tim 4:10, 2:17-18)
He was a faithful servant (minister) and his hope for him found in (v.18)
18 the Lord grant to him to find mercy from the Lord on that day—and you know very well what services he rendered at Ephesus.
Mercy, give him mercy on “that day” for the service, ministry he did to Paul in Ephesus, but he also served Paul in Rome, he sought him out, but that is another message for another day.
Summing up what we have seen in 2Timothy thus far and it has not changed from them to now.
Want to build effective ministry, build a strong foundation of believers?
Serve with courageous enthusiasm
Serve with shared, shameless suffering
And be spiritually loyal
(Invitation slide: Jesus is faithful picture) (Song) (Prayer)