Growing Strong In God's Grace Series

2 Timothy 2:1–2. You then, my child, be strengthened by the grace that is in Christ Jesus, 2 and what you have heard from me in the presence of many witnesses entrust to faithful men, who will be able to teach others also. (ESV)

Horrifically, some years ago, two teenagers were discovered in an attic room chained to their beds, where they had been confined since early childhood. They were totally disoriented and almost animalistic in behavior. They had been undernourished and unloved, and, as would be expected, were underdeveloped in every way—physically, emotionally, socially, and mentally. They were the product of child abuse at its most malevolent extreme.

Equally tragic is the condition of many children of God today who are undernourished spiritually and, consequently, are underdeveloped, confused, disoriented, and immature in the things of the Lord. There is much activity, but little spiritual fruit; much talk about Christianity, but little conviction; high moral proclamations, but little accountability; doctrinal creeds, but much compromise.

Spiritual weakness makes both leaders and congregations subject to almost every religious fad, no matter how frivolous. Like an undernourished and anemic physical body, they have little resistance to disorders and maladies that weaken them still further. And because they have no resources but their own, the smallest difficulty is distressing. Because they have so little understanding of and confidence in the Word of God, they turn to psychological bandages and worldly solutions. They have little defense against Satan and are easy prey for false teachers. They are spiritual “children, tossed here and there by waves, and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, by craftiness in deceitful scheming” (Eph. 4:14; cf. Heb. 13:9). Because they have left “the elementary teaching about the Christ,” and failed to “press on to maturity” (Heb. 6:1), they may even find themselves “paying attention to deceitful spirits and doctrines of demons” (1 Tim. 4:1). Spiritual weakness also can come from fatigue, frustration, and seemingly insurmountable obstacles in the Lord’s work.

The Apostle Paul begins describing The Elements of a Strong Spiritual Life, in four segments starting with 1) The Command to Be Strong (2 Timothy 2:1a), 2) The Counsel to be Strong (2 Timothy 2:1b), 3) The Calling of Others to be Strong (2 Timothy 2:2a) and the 4) The Continuance of Others being Strong (2 Timothy 2:2b)

The Elements of a Strong Spiritual Life, start with:

1) The Command to Be Strong (2 Timothy 2:1a)

2 Timothy 2:1a. You then, my child, be strengthened (by the grace that is in Christ Jesus), (ESV)

Please turn back a chapter to 2 Timothy 1 (also on p.935)

In 2 Timothy 2:1, Paul gives the Command to be strong in the directive: “You then, my child, be strengthened”. (2:1a) Timothy was facing a time of spiritual vacillation and weakness. He may have been questioning his calling or his gifts or the sufficiency of God’s provision. He was mired in difficulties of some sort and could not extricate himself.

In 2 Timothy 1:1-16 we see that whatever the particulars, Paul realized that his son in the faith needed “to kindle afresh the gift of God which” was in him. He said:

2 Timothy 1:1-10. 1 Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God according to the promise of the life that is in Christ Jesus, 2 To Timothy, my beloved child: Grace, mercy, and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord. Guard the Deposit Entrusted to You 3 I thank God whom I serve, as did my ancestors, with a clear conscience, as I remember you constantly in my prayers night and day. 4 As I remember your tears, I long to see you, that I may be filled with joy. 5 I am reminded of your sincere faith, a faith that dwelt first in your grandmother Lois and your mother Eunice and now, I am sure, dwells in you as well. 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, 7 for God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control. 8 Therefore do not be ashamed of the testimony about our Lord, nor of me his prisoner, but share in suffering for the gospel by the power of God, 9 who saved us and called us to a holy calling, not because of our works but because of his own purpose and grace, which he gave us in Christ Jesus before the ages began, 10 and which now has been manifested through the appearing of our Savior Christ Jesus, who abolished death and brought life and immortality to light through the gospel,

• We will return to chapter 1