April, 2007
Confirmation Sunday
“Making Commitments that Count”
II Timothy 1:1-14
Introduction: Today the word commitment is not a very popular one. People may be committed to their jobs, marriages, a church, an organization, to friendships --as long as things go well. But when circumstances change, the degree of commitment often changes too. Our scripture today talks about making commitments that count.
Paul, the apostle, is at a point in his life where he has preached faithfully for years, but he is now in prison and facing execution. He is in a cold, Roman prison, cut off from the world with just a visitor now and then and his books and writing materials. He is looking forward to seeing Timothy who is a young person who was Paul’s helper in the ministry. He would be passing to him the torch of leadership, and he wanted to be sure that Timothy’s commitment to Christ was a very strong one. He wanted to encourage Timothy in the faith. Paul wanted to warn Timothy of the opposition that he would face and even possible persecution and imprisonment. Because this is Paul’s last letter, he wanted to make sure that the message got through to Timothy and that his priorities were straight--that he had sound doctrine, steadfast faith, and confident endurance.
Timothy was in a time of transition in his life. He had been Paul’s helper up to this point, but soon he would be on his own as leader of a church in a very difficult environment. Would he be able to handle his new responsibilities? Was his commitment to Christ strong enough for him to stand up under whatever opposition came to him after Paul was no longer there? Paul hoped so.
1. Sincere Faith: Paul knew that Timothy had a SINCERE faith and that he had been surrounded by the Christian heritage of his grandmother, Lois, and his mother, Eunice.
Likewise today those of you who have gone through the confirmation studies have been surrounded by people of faith in this church--your parents, your mentors, and others who are cheering you on in your faith. You, however, like Timothy need to make a commitment that counts. One that is so strong that nothing will allow it to fall apart or become a low priority in your life.
Remember this day always as one in which you have said, “Yes” to following Jesus wholeheartedly. Never consider turning back on that promise. Although Timothy was a person of sincere faith, and he had made a good start, Paul knew that he was fearful and somewhat hesitant. It was this that he wanted to address. He said, “Timothy, I want to remind you to stir up the gift of God that is in you--fan into flame the gifts that are still undeveloped.”
STORY: During World War II when sugar was scarce a man went into a diner and asked for a cup of coffee.
“Sugar or cream, the waitress asked?”
“Sugar,” he replied. Since the sugar was so scarce, she kept it under the counter. The man put in 2 heaping teaspoons full of sugar, tasted it and said, “I need more sugar.”
The waitress set the sugar back up on the counter. He put in another heaping teaspoon. Tasted it and said, “Still not sweet enough. I need a little more.”
Disgusted, the waitress glared at him and said, “Stir up what you’ve already got!”
Paul was reminding Timothy that the gifts God had given him were there all along and that they needed to be cultivated and developed. He had the start of faith, but he needed to stir it up and grow it into strong faith.
And Paul went on to say, “You don’t have to worry. The Holy Spirit will help you out.” God has not given you the fear of people or fear of things that may surround you. He has instead given you a spirit of power, and love, and of self-discipline.
For us today this is also an encouragement to grow up in our faith. Be ready to step out to learn new things.
STORY: When I was in the first grade we made a clay picture and painted it. Mine was of a bird. My first grade art teacher told my Mother, “she has artistic talent.” I told someone years later, “I seem to do better with music than I do with art.” This person replied, “Maybe you haven’t developed your artistic talent like you have done your music.” I think that is right.
Let me encourage all of you to never quit growing in the Lord. Begin to serve the Lord in your youth group, begin to read and study your Bible, begin to pray for your friends at school, and be a witness to your faith. Make a commitment that counts as you go back to school this year. Live as a Christian should live and don’t back down. The Holy Spirit will give you the strength you need to live different from those who have not yet come to faith.
Paul then told Timothy, “don’t be ashamed of the gospel--don’t be afraid to say that you are a Christian even if people laugh at you or give you a hard time. “ Paul said “do not be ashamed to testify about our Lord or be ashamed of me his prisoner. But join with me in suffering for the gospel” (vs. 8).
That takes a commitment that counts. It might not be physical persecution that you would face, but it could be friends who make fun of you or ridicule you for your belief in Jesus and for going to church. Your commitment to Christ may require you to take a stand on choices. Others may do things that are wrong but as a Christian you can’t just go along with the crowd. Do you have that kind of a commitment that counts for something in a world that goes another way?
Paul said to Timothy, “You can do it in spite of the difficulty or the requirements.” Timothy, as well as Paul, might have occasionally wondered if God had forsaken them and if he still heard their prayers.
STORY: A man who had regularly prayed for many years began to wonder if God heard his prayers at all. During one of his routine times of prayer, he started to doubt.
He said, “Hey, up there, can you hear me? Hey, God, if you can hear me tell me what you want me to do with my life.”
A voice from above thundered a reply, “I want you to help the needy and give your life for the cause of peace.”
Faced with more of a challenge than the man wanted, he answered, “Actually God, I was just checking to see if you were there!”
The voice boomed back, “That’s all right! I was only checking to see if you were there.”
I’m afraid this man didn’t have a commitment that counted for very much.
Paul wanted to be up front with Timothy to let him know that there would be a cost involved in following Jesus wholeheartedly. It would involve hard work, dedication, and maybe even persecution.
STORY: The pastor of a big city church ran an ad in the paper for a caretaker-housekeeper. The next day a well dressed man showed up at the door. Before he could say more than, “Hello, I came to see you about...
the pastor began questioning him.
“Can you sweep, make beds, shovel walks, run errands, fix meals, balance a checkbook and babysit?” the churchman asked.
“Whoa,” the man said, “I just came to see about getting married, but if its that much work, I’m not interested. Forget it!”
Paul let Timothy know that following Jesus was a real commitment that would need to take top priority, but that it wasn’t a struggle on his own. It was a partnership with God. He, looking back over many years, could say, “I know whom I have believed and am convinced that he is able to guard what I have entrusted to him for that day.”
And on the other hand he said, “Timothy, YOU GUARD the good deposit of faith that was entrusted to you” (v. 14). Realize that you have the help of the Holy Spirit. You don’t have to do it alone.
CONCLUSION: I challenge all of you today to make a commitment that counts.
1. Make sure you have a genuine faith in Jesus.
2. Stir up the gift that is in you.
3. Don’t be fearful--you can step out to do things you have never done before. He has not given us the spirit of fear, but of power, love, and self-discipline.
4. Continue growing in the Lord.
5. Don’t be ashamed of the gospel.
6. Face opposition confidently.
7. You’re in Partnership with God--he guards what you entrust to him. You guard what he has entrusted you with.
Go ahead--make a commitment that counts.
Let us Pray:
