A Spiritual Heritage

Pastoral Epistles   •  Sermon  •  Submitted
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Introduction
While I am not promoting Garth Brooks or his songs, I am reminded of his song, If Tomorrow Never Comes, as I feel the heart of Paul addresses young Timothy. The chorus of this song reads,
If tomorrow never comes Will she know how much I loved her? Did I try in every way to show her every day That she's my only one? And if my time on earth were through And she must face the world without me Is the love I gave her in the past Gonna be enough to last If tomorrow never comes?
It reminds me of this letter, not specifically of a husband thinking of his wife, if he were not to awake, but heart behind the lyrics. You have a man that loves his wife and wants his wife to know his love for her and may it be a love that lasts. As I see this second letter to Timothy, Paul, is a father, who loves his son. He wishes for son to know his love and never doubt that love. He wishes for Timothy to be strengthened in the Lord to fight on even after he is gone. He writes this letter as an attempt to refresh Timothy’s fight in the Lord and against false teachings and apostacy to come. He writes this letter from prison, facing death, truly question, If tomorrow never comes, will my son in the Lord know that I love him and will he continue to fight for the faith? If tomorrow never comes?
Focus Passage
2 Timothy 1:1–7 Wordstudy KJV
1 Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, according to the promise of life which is in Christ Jesus, 2 To Timothy, my [dearly beloved] son: Grace, mercy, and peace, from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord. 3 I thank God, whom I serve from my forefathers with pure conscience, that [without ceasing] I have remembrance of thee in my prayers night and day; 4 [Greatly desiring] to see thee, [being mindful] of thy tears, that I may be filled with joy; 5 When I call to remembrance the unfeigned faith that is in thee, which dwelt first in thy grandmother Lois, and thy mother Eunice; and I am persuaded that in thee also. 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.]
Outline
As my son, follow my example (v.1)
2 Timothy 1:1 Wordstudy KJV
1 Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, according to the promise of life which is in Christ Jesus,
Paul comes to Timothy with a personal letter to encourage him to be faithful in the Lord. He begins this letter with a personal appeal for Timothy to follow his example as a son follows the example of his father.
Paul was an example of a true ambassador of Christ Jesus
Paul, within his first letter, addressed his apostleship as a sign of accreditation or authority. Within his second letter to Timothy, it is a call to follow his example.
Paul’s call to be an ambassador of Jesus Christ was not by his own will but by the will of the Father God, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God.
Paul, as a true ambassador, was to proclaim the gospel of Jesus Christ
Ambassadors do not declare their own message. They are messengers of the one who sent them. This was the same for Paul. He did not declare his message, but the life altering, life changing, life giving message of the Gospel of Jesus Christ, according to the promise of life which is Christ Jesus.
There is absolutely no other true source of life outside of Jesus Christ. We are all dead in our trespasses and sin without Christ. It is only through the Christ that we are given life and an abundant life at that.
Ephesians 2:1 Wordstudy KJV
1 And you hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins
John 10:10 Wordstudy KJV
10 The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it [more abundantly.]
Just as Paul was to be an ambassador of the Gospel, so was Timothy, and so are we.
2 Corinthians 5:19–20 Wordstudy KJV
19 [To wit,] that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation. 20 [Now then] we [are ambassadors] for Christ, [as though] God did beseech you by us; we pray you [in Christ’s stead,] be ye reconciled to God.
Son, find strength (v.2)
2 Timothy 1:2 Wordstudy KJV
2 To Timothy, my [dearly beloved] son: Grace, mercy, and peace, from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord.
Paul had great love for Timothy. He loved him as his very son, To Timothy, my dearly beloved son. Within this great care and compassion, he encourages Timothy to find strength, to continue to serve, in the Lord. He calls for Timothy to find three important provisions that are from God and brought to the life of the believer through their personal relationship with Christ, from the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord.
Paul encouraged Timothy to find strength in the unmerited favor of God - ‘Grace
Paul encouraged Timothy to find strength in the help offered by God to those that were discouraged and stumbling - ‘mercy
Hebrews 4:16 Wordstudy KJV
16 Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace [to help in time of need.]
Paul encouraged Timothy to find strength in his salvation which brought harmony between him and God and was found only in Christ Jesus
There is but one way to be brought into agreement with God and that is through Christ Jesus. There is no other way.
2 Corinthians 5:21 Wordstudy KJV
21 For he hath made him to be sin for us, [who knew] no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.
Acts 4:12 Wordstudy KJV
12 Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.
Son, find encouragement (vv.3-4)
2 Timothy 1:3–4 Wordstudy KJV
3 I thank God, whom I serve from my forefathers with pure conscience, that [without ceasing] I have remembrance of thee in my prayers night and day; 4 [Greatly desiring] to see thee, [being mindful] of thy tears, that I may be filled with joy;
Paul was thankful for the faithfulness and ministry of Timothy - ‘I thank God’’
Paul wished to encourage Timothy to remain faithful through his own example of faithfulness
Paul was ever thankful to God for his calling and Timothy as a disciple. He showed this thankfulness through his faithful service. He was following the example that was given to him by those before him, whom I serve from my forefathers.
Paul declared that he has forever served the Lord with a pure conscience. He had been faithful to the Lord.
Paul had been faithful to the Lord both prior to his conversion and after his conversion. One might say, how? He served the Lord as he knew to be faithful prior to his conversion experience through his faithfulness to the Law and how he understood the Word to mean. Once his conversion experience on the Road to Damascus took place, he began to serve God in a whole new light and with as much vigor and faithfulness as before.
Paul encouraged Timothy through personal prayer - ‘that without ceasing I have remembrance of thee in my prayers night and day
Paul would be encouraged by observing Timothy’s faithfulness
Paul wanted to see Timothy and observe his faithfulness. He knew that Timothy was hurting, being mindful of thy tears. We are not truly aware of why Timothy was in tears, but know that he was hurting. It could have possibly been in part to Paul’s departure from Ephesus.
Whatever the reason, Paul knew he needed encouragement. Paul knew that if he saw Timothy, he and Timothy would find mutual encouragement and joy to keep fighting and moving forward, that I may be filled with joy.
Son, remember your heritage (v.5)
2 Timothy 1:5 Wordstudy KJV
5 When I call to remembrance the unfeigned faith that is in thee, which dwelt first in thy grandmother Lois, and thy mother Eunice; and I am persuaded that in thee also.
What caused Paul’s thankful for Timothy?
Paul was thankful for Timothy’s sincere faith - ‘When I call to remembrance the unfeigned faith that is in thee
This sincere faith was an active faith in the Lord. His faith produced action and works. He truly had a faith that revealed life and not death. As James writes, a faith without works is a dead faith. Paul was assured Timothy’s faith was alive and well because it produced action.
Paul tells Timothy to remember his godly heritage - ‘which dwelt first in thy grandmother Lois, and thy mother Eunice
Timothy’s faith was a faith that was cultivated and nourished through the example that he saw in his grandmother and mother. His father was an unbelieving Greek, but his mother was a believing Jew. He was taught to be faithful to the Lord by his believing mother.
He was raised to understand that true Jew is one who has had a genuine heart change and is faithful to the Lord.
Romans 2:28–29 Wordstudy KJV
28 For he is not a Jew, which is one outwardly; neither is that circumcision, which is outward in the flesh: 29 But he is a Jew, which is one inwardly; and circumcision is that of the heart, in the spirit, and not in the letter; whose praise is not of men, but of God.
Paul was thoroughly convinced of Timothy’s faithfulness to the Lord - ‘and I am persuaded that in thee also
Son, rely on the power of God (vv.6-7)
2 Timothy 1:6–7 Wordstudy KJV
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.]
In light of Paul’s conviction and assurance of Timothy’s faith in the Lord, he sets out on a goal. His goal? To stir up the fire within Timothy to keep pressing forward and remain faithful despite opposition, Wherefore I put thee in remembrance.
Paul tells Timothy, reignite the fire of your calling - ‘that thou stir up the gift of God, which is in thee by the putting on of my hands
Paul tells Timothy, faith does not produce timidity - ‘For God hath not given us a spirit of fear
Faith produces a three-fold unction to the spirit of the believer
Faith gives us the dynamic ability to fight - ‘power’
Faith gives us the dynamic ability to have affection - ‘love’
Faith gives us the dynamic ability to have self-control - ‘sound mind’
Conclusion
We live in hard times. We find ourselves often in a place of lost. We need Paul’s in our life. We need those that look at us with love and genuine care to bring us encouragement. That encouragement begins in a personal relationship with Jesus Christ. Do you know Christ as Lord and Savior? If not, you must begin there. You must begin calling upon the name of the Lord. In Him you will find strength, courage, and a power to fight, love, and have self-discipline.
For those that are saved, are you Timothy and need encouragement or are you Paul needing to encourage someone else? Where are you? Who are you? How will you respond?
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