OPEN YOUR BIBLES TO 2 TIM 1
1. The final words of a man or a woman are very important.
a. Sometimes they contain encouragements & exhortations.
b. Other times they reveal insights & direction for the future.
c. Most of the time they reveal an intense love that has been shared over the years together.
d. So when a person shares his/her final words, immediately our ears perk up and we pay very close attention.
2. 2nd TIMOTHY has been often been called “Paul’s Dying Epistle.”
a. By the time Paul writes 2 Timothy, he’s ready to die and go on to be with His Lord.
2 Cor. 5.6-8 So we are always confident, knowing that while we are at home in the body we are absent from the Lord. 7 For we walk by faith, not by sight. 8 We are confident, yes, well pleased rather to be absent from the body and to be present with the Lord.
b. THIS IS the last letter that Paul writes chronologically.
c. He’s in the MAMMERTINE PRISON prepared to meet Nero.
d. And by this time… he’s just ready. He’s prepared!
3. You’ll see throughout Paul’s letters that he uses favorite words.
a. One of those words is “FINALLY”
b. He uses it some 7 times: For instance:
CORINTHIAN CHURCH
2 Cor. 13.11 Finally, brethren, farewell. Become complete. Be of good comfort, be of one mind, live in peace; and the God of love and peace will be with you.
EPHESIAN CHURCH
Eph. 6.10 Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might.
THESSALONIAN CHURCH
2 Thess. 3.1 Finally, brethren, pray for us, that the word of the Lord may run swiftly and be glorified, just as it is with you,
AND NOW TO TIMOTHY
2 Tim. 4.8-9 Finally, there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give to me on that Day, and not to me only but also to all who have loved His appearing. 9 Be diligent to come to me quickly;
NOTE: He’s ready, not idle & passive… in his final moments, rather than sit & wait, we find Paul steady & willing.
• There’s ministry to be done! So He jots this note to Timothy.
• It’s been about 5 years since the first letter, even though we turn the page and there it is.
• And in the mind of Paul, his young protégé comes to mind.
• I have some things I need to share with him!
Timothy was Paul’s son in the faith. They spent some 15 years together serving in the ministry.
• Timothy we see, was a good support man, a servant.
• His personality mixed perfectly with Paul’s
• While Paul was bold & assertive. Tim was shy and sensitive.
• What a dynamic team they became for the Lord!
But… it was time for Paul to head off into eternity. Shortly, Paul would lose his life at the hands of Caesar Nero.
• Our history books tell us of the insane Nero, fiddling while Rome burned, a Rome that he set on fire.
• For you history buffs, as you study the life of Nero, and the life of our beloved Paul, you might see the chronology lining up to this very imprisonment… as Paul had opportunity to share the gospel with him. Which some say is why Nero went insane.
• It’s a fascinating history lesson… but for us we see Paul
I. (1.1-7) A GODLY HERITAGE
1. (1) Paul, an apostle.
a. The word apostle literally means, “ONE SENT OUT”
b. Paul was one sent out, an ambassador by the will of God!
c. He never forgot his ministry was from God, by His plan, from God’s desire for His life.
d. It wasn’t Paul’s choice. He didn’t take it upon Himself.
e. Which I’m sure gave him great comfort.
APP: It’s great to know that you’re where you are by the will of God. That it’s all a part of God’s plan & purpose for you today.
• In the tough times. In the rough times.
• In the good times. In the great times.
• God is at work and you are there by the WILL OF GOD!
• This is where God has brought me. This is the place that God has for me today. There is great security in knowing that!
NOW notice at the end of v1, he mentions his ministry is ‘according to the promise of life which is in Christ Jesus!’
• That’s a very interesting thing to say as he awaits execution.
• I’m here as an ambassador of Jesus Christ… not facing death, but serving in His life!
1 John 5.11-13 And this is the testimony: that God has given us eternal life, and this life is in His Son. 12 He who has the Son has life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have life. 13 These things I have written to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, that you may know that you have eternal life, and that you may continue to believe in the name of the Son of God.
Paul’s ready to move on… he’s not downcast or depressed, he’s ready to move on into higher levels of eternal life!
• Death is not final for the Christian, it’s just a transition.
• Our last breath on earth will lead to our first breath in heaven.
• It’s just a transfer. It’s not final. It’s only the beginning.
• Oh how comforting that is for the one staring death in the face.
2. (2) TO: Timothy.
a. A beloved son! Paul’s son in the faith.
b. He was there in the early years and now has been used to mature and develop and help this young man grow up!
APP: I believe we should all be on the look out for Timothy’s in our ministry. Young people, young in age or in the Lord, to come alongside and help them in their spiritual growth.
• The younger people coming to the Lord need to co-labor alongside of us, serving together for the Lord.
• We need to include them, and trust them with the work.
• Whatever you’re doing right now, whatever the Lord has entrusted to your care… part of that trust is the raising up of Timothy’s around you.
NOTE: You see there’s that danger of saying, “Hey, this is MY ministry and you can’t touch it you whippersnapper!”
• Well of course, right away you’re wrong, it’s not YOUR ministry.
• All ministry, every area of service, belongs to the Lord.
• He’s just entrusted it to you and your care.
1 Cor. 4.1-2 Let a man so consider us, as servants of Christ and stewards of the mysteries of God. 2 Moreover it is required in stewards that one be found faithful.
NOTE: I’m so thankful that there were people in my life that took chances with me, giving me opportunities to lead & to teach & to get up after I had fallen so hard.
Proverbs 24.16 For a righteous man may fall seven times And rise again, But the wicked shall fall by calamity.
THE MINISTRY ISN’T SOMETHING TO BE HOARDED and PROTECTED from others… It’s something to be given away.
• It’s our responsibility to always be on the lookout, praying for help, recruiting, training, Discipling, and then letting go.
• Then we look for where the Lord might want us next.
And to Timothy… GRACE… God’s unmerited, unearned, favor.
• Mercy and peace from God the father & Christ Jesus the Lord!
• It’s interesting to note that in most letters, Paul simply says GRACE & PEACE… but in his letters to pastors, MERCY!
3. (3-4) I pray for you.
a. I pray for you night and day Timothy.
NOTE: I’m sure he meant that literally! The prison he was in was dismal, dark and disgusting… filled with filth and foulness.
• It wasn’t a pleasant place to be for sure.
• But he turns his heart to another world, the spiritual world.
• He prays for Timothy… night & day!
APP: Oh that we would catch on to this powerful truth.
• That we would leave griping and complaining behind and turn to the Lord in prayer… night and day!
• It’s such a relief to seek the Lord in all circumstances. ALL!!
And notice in v4, his prayer drew Paul closer to Timothy.
• Greatly desiring to see you. I want to spend some time with you, praying together, talking with you, listening to the fruit!
• Why, so that I might be filled with joy!
• And he includes the memory of Timothy’s tears.
2 Tim. 1.4 (NIV) Recalling your tears, I long to see you, so that I may be filled with joy.
2 Tim. 1.4 (NLT) I long to see you again, for I remember your tears as we parted. And I will be filled with joy when we are together again.
NOTE: Before I became a Christian, the lifestyle I choose was one that did a lot of damage to my brain… especially with my memory.
• I remember things I don’t want to remember…
• And forget things that I HAVE TO REMEMBER!
• WHERE ARE MY KEYS? WHERE IS MY WALLET? I hate that!
• The other day I wandered through a parking lot because I totally forgot where I parked!
BUT as a Christian, I’ve learned that Prayer helps a lot!
• That as I’m praying, my memory is quickened. It’s great.
• I’ll pray for someone who the Lord put on my heart and then a flood of memories come back and my prayers take off!
• We’re catapulted into another dimension, spiritual dimension!
NOW WITH TIMOTHY… he cried. Who said a real man doesn’t cry.
• Isaiah wept. Jeremiah cried. Paul cried. Jesus wept openly.
• And now we read of Timothy’s tears.
WE read of Timothy and Paul calls him a MAN OF GOD.
• But as we read of the temperament of young Tim we shake our heads a little.
• He was fearful & sickly. He was young & prone to mistakes.
• He wanted to leave when he needed to stay.
• He wanted to stay silent when he needed to speak.
• And now we see him crying, almost uncontrollably.
• Not exactly the type of man that we might choose to put into the ministry… but we’re not doing the choosing. God is!
• Please don’t ever forget that leaders… don’t ever forget that home fellowship overseers, Sunday School Teachers.
1 Samuel 16.7 But the LORD said to Samuel, "Do not look at his appearance or at the height of his stature, because I have refused him. For the #LORD does not see as man sees; for man looks at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart."
NOTE: I WONDER how many Timothy’s are overlooked because we’ve already measured them up and rejected them in the flesh.
• We need the heart of Paul w/ all who come through these doors.
• Paul saw a heart in Timothy for Jesus Christ. He loved God.
• Lord, Give us that heart.
4. (5) His genuine faith.
a. Timothy’s faith was genuine. Nothing fake about it!
b. And it was given to him through the ministry of mom and grandma. Lois & Eunice. -- Timothy had a godly heritage.
ACTS 16 says that his mom was a believer but his dad was not.
• We don’t know if his dad ever came to know the Lord
• But we do know he lived in a home where Jesus was honored!
NOTE: For those of you this morning who might be married to an unbeliever there’s great hope for them as you walk with the Lord.
• Let’s turn to 1 Corinthians 7.12-14
• So hang in there… don’t give up!
I JUST THINK it’s great to see the legacy the names LOIS & EUNICE leave for us in the Scriptures.
THERE ARE A LOT OF NAMES & CHARACTERS in the Bible.
• And many of them have heritages and legacies they left.
• We think of the great and grand faith of Abraham.
• The tenacity and trust of Noah & his family.
• There’s the leadership of David, the ministry of Elijah.
• And there are a few who have ungodly legacies.
• We remember the rebellion of the sons of Korah. The sin of Achan. Ananias & Saphira’s greediness and lying.
• There was Judas who is known for his betrayal!
BUT FOR LOIS & EUNICE… they gave the faith to their son and he fulfilled the will of God in his life! What a privilege to pass on the faith to the next generation, some of them living in our homes!
I recently heard of four scholars who were arguing over different Bible translations. One said he preferred the King James Version because of its beautiful, eloquent old English. Another said he preferred the New American Standard Bible for its literalism, the way it moves the reader from passage to passage with confident feelings of accuracy from the original text. A third man preferred the AMPLIFIED BIBLE because of its quaint, penetrating use of words, the turn of a phrase that captures the attention of the reader. After giving the issue further thought, the fourth scholar admitted, "I have personally preferred my mother’s translation." When the other scholars chuckled, he responded, "Yes she translated it. She translated each page of the Bible into life. It is the most convincing translation I ever saw."
5. (6-7) Stir up the gift.
a. Remember your genuine faith, so that you’ll stir up your gift.
b. Your faith is real Timothy. Your heritage is godly.
c. Now stir it up. The idea is a fire that is slowly burning out.
d. You take the poker and stoke it and add a few logs to it, to fuel it up and get it raging again!
e. Why would he need to stir it up?
REMEMBER TIMOTHY had a timid streak in him.
• He was a little fearful at times as we read in v7.
• So Timothy faced a time when his gift was going dormant.
WHY DO BELIEVERS let their gifts go flat & dormant?
• FEAR! Most often it’s a simple fear that has rooted itself in a person’s mind and rendered them idle & inactive.
• What will people think? What if I fail? What if I get embarrassed? What will happen if I really go for it?
• Will God send me to India? Will he make me go over here!
• Turn over to Proverbs 29:25 with me would you?
Proverbs 29.25 The fear of man brings a snare, But whoever trusts in the LORD shall be safe.
Matthew 10.28 "And do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. But rather fear Him who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.
THE ENEMY WHISPERS in our ears… “Don’t pray. It won’t work.”
• What about such & such? And over there so and so?
• Then our fleshly fears begin to say, don’t follow through with that prompting… it’s not real.
YOU KNOW THE HOLY SPIRIT speaks to us all of the time.
• Go to her and pray. Call him and go to lunch.
• Ahhh… that’s not you Lord. I can’t do that. STIR UP THE GIFT!
2 Cor. 10.4-5 For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds, 5 casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ,
Don’t fear exercising your gifts… He’s given them to all believers so that the body might be built up, and the world might be reached!
AND instead of fear… we have power, love, & a sound mind!
It doesn’t matter how bad it was OR how difficult it seems.
• In the Lord you have power to fulfill His promises.
• In the Lord you have love to carry through his leadings.
• In Jesus you have a sound mind… restored & renewed & ready!
TIMOTHY didn’t need any new spiritual ingredients in his life.
• All he had to do was “STIR UP” what he already had.
• Get moving Tim. Steady on. Full steam ahead!
As we leave here today… I want to encourage you like Paul encouraged Timothy… stir up the gifts God has given you.
• Don’t just be a spectator at church… get involved.
• Find something that God wants you to do and do it with all of your heart. Hold nothing back. No fears. No dreads. Just faith.
• Let’s look at Colossians 3.12-17
