How To Give Encouragement
Part II
II Timothy 4:21a,22
Purpose: To show how believers can show encouragement to each other.
Aim: I want the believer to look for ways to encourage others no matter how difficult.
INTRODUCTION: What can Christians do to help change the world? Why have so few of our neighbors and friends been drawn to Christ? The answer lies in a Christian disease called the “Who mees.” Let me illustrate.
An out-of-shape, overweight man decided to take up tennis. He took several lessons from a tennis pro. He also read several self-help books which advised him to “think positively” and “develop a winning attitude.” A friend asked him how his tennis play was going. With a decidedly positive, winning attitude in his voice, he replied, “When my opponent hits the ball to me, my brain immediately barks out a command to my body: ‛Race up to the net.’ Then, it says, ‛Slam a blistering shot to a far corner of the court. Then immediately jump back into position and return the next volley to the other far corner of the court.’ Then my body says, ‛Who, me?’”
I am sure you’ve had the experience of coming to Church, listening to a message from the Bible where Jesus gives a very specific command, and immediately concluding that it’s not meant for you, but somebody else – kind of a knee-jerk reaction. Someone who has made a list of spiritual diseases, calls this one the “Who Mees?”
“Repent,” Jesus commands. “Who, me?”
“Seek first the kingdom of God,” Jesus commands. “Who, me?”
“Be perfect, as your Heavenly Father is perfect,” Jesus commands, “Who, me?”
“Pray for those who persecute you,” Jesus commands. “Who, me?”
“Forgive those who trespass against you,” Jesus commands. “Who, me?”
“Love your enemies,” Jesus commands. “Who, me?”
“Give to him who begs from you,” Jesus commands. “Who, me?” [From an Online sermon, “Who Me?” at http://voicings.com/061800.html ]
Paul started this book with, For God has not given us a spirit of timidity, but of power and love and discipline. (2 Timothy 1:7 NAU). “Who, me?”
Through this book Paul not only shows us how to encourage others to be faithful to Christ, he challenges us to do the same. How long has it been since you took some time to encourage another believer to be faithful to Christ? We must be careful that our response is not, “Who me?”
REVIEW:
1:1-2:13 I. How Should a Christian React to Stress?
2:14-26 II. How Should a Christian Relate to Fellow Believers?
3:1-17 III. How Can a Christian Reside in a Hostile Culture?
4:1-22 IV. How Can a Christian Remain Faithful to Christ?
Vs.1-5 A. Put first things first “preach the word” – “Who me?”
Vs.6-8 B. Focus on the joy of our reward “crown of righteousness” – “Who me?”
Vs.9-15 C. Ask others for help “come to me soon” – “Who me?”
Vs.16-18 D. Have confidence in God’s plan “The Lord stood with me and strenghened me” – “Who me?”
Vs.19-22 E. Encourage fellow believers – “Who me?”
Here we see an indication of the three aspects of serving Christ: power, love, discipline, only we see them in a different order: love, discipline, and power.
Last time we looked at the first one:
Vs.19-20,21b 1. Encourage them to display God’s love “Greet...”
✔How Can We Display God’s Love to Others?
✔1:2-4 Verbalize your love to them
✔1:13-14 Focus your faith on God’s love
✔2:24-26 Be willing to risk their friendship
✔4:8 Long for Christ’s approval
LESSON:
Now lets look at the second facet of serving Christ:
✔Vs.21a 2. Encourage them to be disciplined “Make every effort”
✔How do we Discipline Ourselves?
✔1:8 Sign up to suffer
2 Timothy 1:8 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, (NAU)
We often have sign-up lists here at church. We have them for retreats, for fellowships, and for banquets. I wonder how many would sign up for an opportunity to suffer for Christ.
Suffering isn’t something that just happens to us. Suffering is something we volunteer for. Do you love Jesus enough to suffer for Him. Jesus said that if we are not willing to suffer for Him then we don’t really belong to Him. Luke 9:23 And He was saying to them all, “If anyone wishes to come after Me, he must deny himself, and take up his cross daily and follow Me. (NAU)
Suffering for Christ is a privilege. Matthew 5:11 “Blessed are you when people insult you and persecute you, and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of Me. (NAU)
We need to take a deep breath, and tell the Lord, “I am willing to endure anything that will help me serve you better.”
✔2:2 Teach others what you have learned
2 Timothy 2:2 The things which you have heard from me in the presence of many witnesses, entrust these to faithful men who will be able to teach others also. (NAU)
Teaching others takes selfless patience. Getting closer to Christ isn’t the only reason to learn more about the Bible. The ultimate goal is to teach the Bible to someone else.
✔2:3-4 See yourself as a soldier
2 Timothy 2:3-4 3 Suffer hardship with me, as a good soldier of Christ Jesus. 4 No soldier in active service entangles himself in the affairs of everyday life, so that he may please the one who enlisted him as a soldier. (NAU)
Don’t abandon fellow believers when they are going through tough times.
✔2:5 Expect hard work
2 Timothy 2:5 Also if anyone competes as an athlete, he does not win the prize unless he competes according to the rules. (NAU)
Athletes must be willing to push themselves to the limit.
There are far too many who are willing to serve the Lord only until it gets hard, then they look for a way out. Sadly, they miss the blessing of having God’s grace. ✔ It’s only when we come to the end of ourselves that God’s grace can be seen easily. What a joy to work hard for Christ and then experience His supernatural strength. Don’t miss the joy of seeing God do the impossible through you.
✔2:10-13 Display Christ no matter what it takes
2 Timothy 2:10-13 10 For this reason I endure all things for the sake of those who are chosen, so that they also may obtain the salvation which is in Christ Jesus and with it eternal glory. 11 It is a trustworthy statement: For if we died with Him, we will also live with Him; 12 If we endure, we will also reign with Him; . . . . (NAU)
Paul repeats a similar message in, 2 Timothy 4:1-2 1 I solemnly charge you in the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who is to judge the living and the dead, and by His appearing and His kingdom: 2 preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort, with great patience and instruction. (NAU)
2 Corinthians 1:3-5 3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, 4 who comforts us in all our affliction so that we will be able to comfort those who are in any affliction with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God. 5 For just as the sufferings of Christ are ours in abundance, so also our comfort is abundant through Christ. (NAU)
✔ We can’t share God’s comfort until we experience God’s comfort.
2 Corinthians 1:8-9 8 For we do not want you to be unaware, brethren, of our affliction which came to us in Asia, that we were burdened excessively, beyond our strength, so that we despaired even of life; 9 indeed, we had the sentence of death within ourselves so that we would not trust in ourselves, but in God who raises the dead; (NAU)
We need a conviction that we are going to display Christ to our generation no matter what it costs.
✔2:15 Study the Scripture
2 Timothy 2:15 Be diligent to present yourself approved to God as a workman who does not need to be ashamed, accurately handling the word of truth. (NAU)
✔2:22 Keep your life pure
2 Timothy 2:22 Now flee from youthful lusts and pursue righteousness, faith, love and peace, with those who call on the Lord from a pure heart. (NAU
✔Vs.22 3. Encourage them by describing God’s power “The Lord be with your spirit”
✔What do we Know about God’s Power?
✔1:12 God can keep our faith safe
2 Timothy 1:12 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. (NAU)
We are NOT in danger of God losing control of our security.
✔2:1 God’s grace is sufficient
2 Timothy 2:1 You therefore, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus. (NAU)
No one has been disappointed who depended on God’s grace.
2 Corinthians 12:9 “My grace is sufficient for you, for power is perfected in weakness.” (NAU)
✔2:8 Christ has resurrection power
2 Timothy 2:8 Remember Jesus Christ, risen from the dead, descendant of David, according to my gospel, (NAU)
If Jesus has power over death itself, then He has enough power to meet our every need.
Matthew 28:18-19 18 And Jesus came up and spoke to them, saying, “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. 19 “Go therefore . . . (NAU)
✔2:19 Christ will never forget His own
2 Timothy 2:19 Nevertheless, the firm foundation of God stands, having this seal, “The Lord knows those who are His,” and, “Everyone who names the name of the Lord is to abstain from wickedness.” (NAU)
✔ God is so great that He treats each believer as if they were the only one He died for.
✔4:16-18 God’s will cannot be stopped
2 Timothy 4:16-18 16 At my first defense no one supported me, but all deserted me; may it not be counted against them. 17 But the Lord stood with me and strengthened me, so that through me the proclamation might be fully accomplished, and that all the Gentiles might hear; and I was rescued out of the lion’s mouth. 18 The Lord will rescue me from every evil deed, and will bring me safely to His heavenly kingdom; to Him be the glory forever and ever. Amen. (NAU)
CONCLUSION: A few months after Paul finished writing this letter, he had his second hearing and was sentenced to be executed. He was led outside the city limits through the Ostian Gate to a place called the Three Fountains. There he was beheaded.
Paul was able to give encouragement to others because first he received encouragement. 2 Corinthians 1:3-5 3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, 4 who comforts us in all our affliction so that we will be able to comfort those who are in any affliction with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God. 5 For just as the sufferings of Christ are ours in abundance, so also our comfort is abundant through Christ. (NAU)
What has God shown you about Himself? Share that with someone else.
Evidently, Timothy took the words of this book to heart and he learned that God had not given him, “a spirit of timidity.” John Fox in his classic work, Fox’s Book of Martyrs, writes,
"Timothy was the celebrated disciple of St. Paul, and bishop of Ephesus, where he zealously governed the Church until A.D. 97. At this period, as the pagans were about to celebrate a feast called Catagogion, Timothy, meeting the procession, severely reproved them for their ridiculous idolatry, which so exasperated the people that they fell upon him with their clubs, and beat him in so dreadful a manner that he expired of the bruises two day after."
Timothy too, could have said, 2 Timothy 4:7 I have fought the good fight, I have finished the course, I have kept the faith; (NAU)
Timothy stands as proof that God can take a weak and timid person and give him supernatural strength in order to “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, (2 Timothy 1:8 NAU).
Let’s go from here and follow Paul’s exhortation and Timothy’s example. Serve the Lord with power, love, and discipline.
✔ John Wesley said, “Give me a hundred men who fear nothing but sin, and desire nothing but God, and I will shake the world.”
