"Faith Lessons"

“FAITH LESSONS”

2 TIMOTHY 1:1-14

DAVID P. NOLTE

Timothy was a trainee, an intern, a co-worker with Paul the Apostle, and was pastor at Ephesus, but his foundation in the faith came from home.

Paul wrote, “Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, according to the promise of life in Christ Jesus, to Timothy, my beloved son: Grace, mercy and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord. I thank God, whom I serve with a clear conscience the way my forefathers did, as I constantly remember you in my prayers night and day, longing to see you, even as I recall your tears, so that I may be filled with joy. 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. For this reason I remind you to kindle afresh the gift of God which is in you through the laying on of my hands. For God has not given us a spirit of timidity, but of power and love and discipline. 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, 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, 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, for which I was appointed a preacher and an apostle and a teacher. 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. Retain the standard of sound words which you have heard from me, in the faith and love which are in Christ Jesus. Guard, through the Holy Spirit who dwells in us, the treasure which has been entrusted to you.” 2 Timothy 1:1-14 (NASB).

This is Mother’s Day – another of those days when the sermon may seem to focus mostly on the feminine members of the congregation – but I want to make it gender unspecific so that the fellows can’t sit back and tune out.

We will consider the influence of a godly mother but the focus widens to apply to each of us in our Christian life. The idea is to set forth some values Mother teaches that we all should apply in life!

A mother is one of the world's greatest teachers. Consider a mother's impact: Abraham Lincoln declared, "no man is poor who has had a godly mother." A Spanish proverb reads, "An ounce of mother is worth a ton of priest." Someone else has said, "The instruction received at Mother's knee, together with the pious and sweet souvenirs of the fireside, are never effaced entirely from the soul."

Note how Lois taught Eunice who taught Timothy. My mother taught me some lessons of faith that I will never forget as long as I live. My perspective of God was largely formed when I was a small child, listening to my mother. Here are a few of the things she taught me – things every one of us ought to have learned by now:

The song Brenda sang suggests at least three thoughts pertinent to a Godly Mother’s Influence. So now, just a few thoughts on what my mother taught me:

I. SHE TAUGHT ME TO HAVE OBEDIENT FAITH:

A. Paul wrote. “For I am mindful of the sincere faith within you.”

1. Some translations say, “unfeigned faith,” or “genuine faith,” or “rich faith.”

2. Faith, to be worth calling “faith” has to be obedient. Otherwise it is mere sham and veneer.

3. Paul mentioned that the message from God, “is now disclosed and through the prophetic writings is made known to all nations, according to the command of the eternal God, to bring about the obedience of faith.” Romans 16:26 (RSV).

B. Sincere faith, unfeigned faith, genuine faith is not merely pretending, it is actual confidence in Christ that leads to obedience.

C. Brenda’s song said, “Jesus is walking beside me, guiding each step of the way; safely He’ll lead me to heaven, gladly His voice I obey.” That’s sincere faith!

D. Instead of quarreling about whether a command of Christ is essential to salvation, let’s merely obey Him!

1. Mary said to the attendants at the wedding feast in John 2, “Whatever He tells you, do it." John 2:5 (MSG). Not ponder it; not consider it; not wait until you feel like it – but do it!