2 Timothy Week 2 Unashamed

8 So don’t be ashamed of the testimony about our Lord, or of me his prisoner. Instead, share in suffering for the gospel, relying on the power of God. 9 He 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 given to us in Christ Jesus before time began. 10 This has now been made evident through the appearing of our Savior Christ Jesus, who has abolished death and has brought life and immortality to light through the gospel. 11 For this gospel I was appointed a herald, apostle, and teacher, 12 and that is why I suffer these things. But I am not ashamed, because I know whom I have believed and am persuaded that he is able to guard what has been entrusted to me until that day.

Everyone has a gift/calling (individual and corporate)

Remember from last week how Paul encourages Timothy in the fact that he sees the genuine and true faith that is in him. He lays out Timothy’s spiritual pedigree that has been passed down to him from Paul’s very own preaching to Timothy’s mother and grandmother. But not only that he sees the evidence on genuineness in Timothy’s own life.

You see it was not Timothy’s mother’s and grandmother’s faith nor was it Paul’s faith that Timothy had. It was the faith that these people had, a true faith in Christ, that Timothy displayed in his own life. In other words, it was not an copied faith, it was the real deal.

Though Paul, Lois, and Eunice was used to reach Timothy, they are not the ultimate source of his faith. The Hebrew writer made it clear in that it is Jesus who is the “pioneer” and “perfecter” of our faith

Hebrews 12:2 CSB

2 keeping our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of our faith. For the joy that lay before him, he endured the cross, despising the shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.

Application:

Just like Timothy needed to be reminded of this, we too need to be reminded of this very truth.

We need to be reminded of how God pursued after us. (look back over your life)

Too often we let things like fear, guilt, shame to overshadow what God has called for us to do. Sometimes we feel like we have to fully understand before we follow in faith. This is not to say that we are to have a blind faith, for our faith can be tested and tried. But this does not mean we are going to know all the details. However what we can know will help us wrestle with what we do not know.

When those doubt begins to creep in we must know this truth...

2 Timothy 1:7 CSB

7 For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but one of power, love, and sound judgment.

Remember this we must always combats the lies of the enemy with the truth of the Gospel.

Just as God had called Paul to a work and Timothy to a work, He has also called us to a work. And not only has He called us but He has equipped us with what we need to fulfill He calling.

We are called to be salt and light in the earth Matthew

We are called to be ambassadors for Christ 2 Corinthians

We are called to a ministry of reconciliation 2 Corinthians

We have been given gifts and talent that are to be used for the building of His Kingdom. Ephesians 4

The enemy doesn’t want us to do what we have been called to do. Why? It’s not about us but he does not want to see the Kingdom of God advance (though He cant stop it/gates of hell will not prevail).

So we must lock in. Not with will power but with faith. (look at all my flaws but yet God has still been faithful)

We must trust the testimony of the Gospel

Paul tell Timothy that in light of these things he ought not be ashamed of

the testimony about of Lord

of him (Paul) his (the Lord’s not man’s) prisoner

Shame in unique in the aspect that it has this social element to it. You see, nobody wants to feel excluded or ostracized. This is partly why we share only certain parts of our lives with certain people as opposed to the masses.

Now think about this, Timothy is leading a church and possible guiding a couple of churches. He mentor is jailed and is about to be executed. Timothy could possibly be dealing with some of his own insecurities as well. There is a possibility that Timothy could have gotten to the point that John the Baptist did “are you Him or should we look for another”

And under the right circumstance we too can question God because none of us want to be humiliated/shamed.

Romans 10:8–11 CSB

8 On the contrary, what does it say? The message is near you, in your mouth and in your heart. This is the message of faith that we proclaim: 9 If you confess with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. 10 One believes with the heart, resulting in righteousness, and one confesses with the mouth, resulting in salvation. 11 For the Scripture says, Everyone who believes on him will not be put to shame,

We trade in the shame and share in the suffering. Because our confidence is in Him we look at suffering from a new lens (there are levels of suffering, from uncomfortable to death).

We rely on God’s power and not our own’s, remembering that the same power that raise Jesus from the dead is the same power that lives in us.

power over our sin, guilt, and shame

Romans 5:1–5 CSB

1 Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. 2 We have also obtained access through him by faith into this grace in which we stand, and we boast in the hope of the glory of God. 3 And not only that, but we also boast in our afflictions, because we know that affliction produces endurance, 4 endurance produces proven character, and proven character produces hope. 5 This hope will not disappoint us, because God’s love has been poured out in our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us.

We can stand on this hope!

The Mission is bigger than us

it’s bigger than us.

it is not predicated on our ability.

He saved us, He called us, to according to our works but according to His purpose and grace.

2 Timothy 1:9 (CSB)

9 He 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 given to us in Christ Jesus before time began.

movie 300 Spartans what is your profession

2 Timothy 1:11–12 CSB

11 For this gospel I was appointed a herald, apostle, and teacher, 12 and that is why I suffer these things. But I am not ashamed, because I know whom I have believed and am persuaded that he is able to guard what has been entrusted to me until that day.