Living A Life That is Built To Last
2 Timothy 1 : 1-7
The Big Idea: Paul writes to his student and friend Timothy, reminding him not to quit in the face of adversity, but to fan into flame his gifts, mission, and ministry.
“A man was shoveling snow from his driveway when two boys carrying snow shovels approached him. “Can we shovel your snow mister?” one of them asked. “Only two dollars!” Puzzled the man replied, “Can’t you see that I’m doing it myself.” “Sure,” said one of the enterprising young men, “that’s why we asked. We get most of our business from people who are half through and feel like quitting.” [Warren Wiersbe. Be Daring. (Wheaton, Ill.: Victor Books, 1989) p. 56].
How many times have you felt like quitting? Quitting your family, your job, your church, how about the Lord? I know, we don’t like to admit it do we? But when we look at Timothy we find a man that could have quit but didn’t.
Today we continue our study of II Timothy. Paul is writing his final letter to his young pastor friend and student timothy. This is Paul’s last word and testament to timothy. He gives his final instructions to a young pastor about to embark on his first solo pastorate.
Paul is aware of the pressure that timothy was facing. Timothy was pastoring a church that was experiencing intense persecution from the Roman Government. In addition, there were false teachers plaguing the church, instilling heretical teachings into the minds of these already stressed out believers.
Plus there was the constant worry that timothy was facing in the reality that Paul, his beloved father in the faith would soon be gone for good.
Can you spell ANXIETY? If timothy were to take a modern stress test, he would no doubt be prescribed anti depressant pills and spend time on a counselors couch receiving intense therapy. Would you blame Timothy, if he could text Paul and simply tell him,
‘See ya later Pops, I’m outta here”?
Paul understands from a personal level the overwhelming temptation to want to throw in the towel. He reflects upon his experiences and trials when he write to the Corinthians,
11We don’t want you in the dark, friends, about how hard it was when all this came down on us in Asia province. It was so bad we didn’t think we were going to make it. We felt like we’d been sent to death row, that it was all over for us. (2 Cor.1:11)
That was written at least three decades before he wrote this final word to timothy.
This little letter is for everyone tempted to throw in the towel . The message is a simple one: IT’S TOO SOON TO QUIT!
Paul introduces this personal letter, by identifying himself as the Apostle. He is deliberate to add, that this title was not by chance or personal choice, but rather “By the WILL OF GOD. Paul did not choose his profession, rather it was God’s PURPOSE for him.
Further, the intention of God’s plan was according to the PROMISE OF LIFE, and finally the source of this life is in CHRIST JESUS.
What does this mea for you and me?
God’s PLAN is that you would live in His PROMISE of a LIFE THAT IS BUILT TO LAST. The SOURCE of this life is in Jesus Christ alone.
Paul appeals to three REMINDERS to encourage Timothy to not give up. The first reminder Paul tells Timothy to consider is,
I. REMEMBER YOUR GODLY HERITAGE
“I thank God, whom I serve, as my forefathers did, with a clear conscience, as night and day I constantly remember you in my prayers. Recalling your tears, I long to see you, so that I may be filled with joy
Paul opens with a prayer of thanksgiving, reminding Timothy of his past loyalty, faith, and godly heritage. Paul recalls Timothy’s tears and remembers him in prayer. How many have ever told someone, after they have unloaded their weeks trials, “I wil remember you in prayer.” How many do?
We use that phrase almost like a period at the end of a sentence. But for Paul, prayer was not merely an action he performed occasionally. Prayer was a way of life for Paul. The word is in the present tense which indicates a continual, unbroken habit of life .( FULL LIFE BIBLE COMMENTARY)
Do you know what this tells me? Paul loved and cared for timothy in practical ways. There is no greater practical way you can help someone, than by praying for them and with them.
N concert with prayer, Paul says he is reminded of timothy’s tears. This tells me that Paul was not afraid to enter into Timothy’s life and struggles. HE fulfilled the admonition found in Galatians 6:3
2Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ.
Eugene Peterson in the Message Bible says, Stoop down and reach out to those who are oppressed. Share their burdens, and so complete Christ’s law.
Paul furthermore makes an appeal to Timothy to remember his wonderful spiritual heritage that goes back at least two generations.
I have been reminded of your sincere faith, which first lived in your grandmother Lois and in your mother Eunice and, I am persuaded, now lives in you also” (II Timothy 1:3-5).
His grandmother Lois was a godly woman who picked up the torch of truth and handed it down to her daughter Eunice who (despite being in a mixed marriage spiritually) passed it on to Timothy. In reminding him of this, Paul means to build some steel into Timothy’s soul. “Son, you’ve got a great heritage. I can see the faith of your mother and grandmother in you as well. Now live up to it.” Those words coming from a beloved mentor would have a powerful impact on a young man.
I know from experience that many parents wonder what kind of inheritance they are leaving their children. The greatest heritage you can leave your children and grandchildren is a godly example.
This past week I attended a seminar, where the speaker gave this encouraging illustration.
You’re probably not familiar with the name Max Dukes. Max Dukes lived in New York City over two hundred years ago. Max Dukes even in those days, was known as a hard, hard man. He refused to take his children to church. Even when they asked to go, he forbid them from going to church.
Someone studied Max Dukes family lineage. They were able to trace 1,026 descendents. Of his 1,026 descendents, someone kept record of what this family did. Three hundred of these descendents spent time in prison. The average prison term for those 300 descendents was 13 years. 190 of his descendents were arrested as or known to be prostitutes. Six hundred and eighty were admitted alcoholics. His family cost the state of New York, where they lived, an excess of $420,000 just to incarcerate them and put them in rehab programs, and they made no contribution to society whatsoever that was viewable. Max Dukes had an opportunity to raise his kids up to love God, but he totally blew it. And look at the massive impact the simple decisions he made in raising his family had.
But there was another guy living at the same time as Max Dukes in the very same state of New York. His name was Jonathan Edwards. Jonathan Edwards was a Puritan preacher. His sermons are still quoted today. Jonathan Edwards greatest legacy is that he raised his children to love the Lord. Somebody has tracked the descendents of Jonathan Edwards in the same way they checked out Max Dukes. Here’s what they found out. He had 929 known descendents. Of these, 420 of them became preachers and ministers of the Gospel, 86 of them became university professors, 13 of them served as university presidents, 75 went on to author books, 7 of them were elected to the US Congress, 2 were elected to the US Senate, 1 of them was vice president of the United States, and to date his family has never cost the state or the nation one cent, but they have contributed immeasurably to the life of plenty in this land.
What was the difference between Jonathan Edwards and Max Dukes? Jonathan Edwards had a heart for the Lord. He made sure his children served the Lord in the local church. Jonathan Edwards served the Lord as an example before his children to the best of his ability. And tonight saints of God, Jonathan Edwards knew that godly kids don’t happen by accident. It takes diligence, commitment, doing the hard thing, and persevering and not ever ever giving up. You as parents are role models. You are all powerful role models. Those of you here who are not parents, you are also setting a powerful example. The question is: What kind of example are you setting?
In addition to the influence of a godly mother and grandmother, Paul’s heart is warmed as his remembers, Timothy’s GENUINE faith.
2. REMEMBER YOUR GENUINE FAITH
The NIV translates verse 5 as sincere faith. The Message describes it as HONEST faith. I think the NLT gives the most accurate rendering as “GENUINE faith.
The adjective literally means ‘UNHYPOCRITICAL.’ The noun faith, is PISTIS which could refer to both his faith in God but motre likely refers to his FAITHFULNESS to God.
Timothy not only PROFESSED faith in Jesus, HE POSSESSED a PERSONAL faith in Jesus that in turn PRODUCED fruits of faith.
What does this mean? it reminds us of the need for a PERSONAL faith. Timothy was not saved because his mother was saved. He was not a Christian because of his grandmothers faith, timothy was saved as a result of personally trusting in the Lord Jesus himself.
It also means that Timothy lived out his faith, everyday. It was a PROVEN faith. It is real, proven faith. How was it proven? Paul here refers to Timothy’s “FAITHFULNESS IN THE FACE OF DIFFICULT LIFE CIRCUMSTANCES.’ More than just a belief in a doctrine, Paul rejoices as he sees Timothy’s faith in Christ being lived out in his FAITHFULNESS to Christ
How many have ever heard the phrase, “the proofs in the pudding?” have you ever wandered where it came from?
The phrase is actually a shortened version of the original "The proof of the pudding is in the eating," which came from the Miguel de Cervantes novel Don Quixote in 1605
The meaning become clear when you know that ’proof’ here is a verb meaning ’test’. The proverb literally says that you won’t know whether food has been cooked properly until you try it. Or, putting it figuratively, don’t assume that something is in order or believe what you are told, but judge the matter by testing it; it’s much the same philosophy as in seeing is believing and actions speak louder than words. It means that the true value or quality of something can only be judged when it’s put to use or tried and tested.
In other words, when Paul remembers timothy, he sees a man whose life and faith were real, not put on. The faith that Timothy professed, had been proven true through the fires of adversity, and now he stands steadfast in the face of suffering and persecution.
Is it any wonder that Paul is thankful? When he sees Timothy standing true, it causes him to rejoice in the Lord. This confidence in Timothy’s godly heritage and genuine faith becomes a springboard for Paul’s reminder to…
3. REKINDLE YOUR GOD GIVEN GIFT.
6For this reason I remind you to fan into flame the gift of God, which is in you through the laying on of my hands.
In Paul’s day a furnace would never be kept at a continual blaze, but rather it was kept alive through glowing coals which were then rekindled to a flame by a bellows whenever the situation demanded heat.
So Paul is saying to Timothy, keep alive the fire that is already in you. Literally he is saying,
‘Now is the time, the situation demands that you make full use of your spiritual gifts.
Eugene Peterson so powerfully describes,
“Timothy, God has blessed you abundantly. Don’t hide your light. Let it shine! Fan the flames of the gift of God. Don’t live in fear, but let the Holy Spirit produce in you power, love and self-control.”
How exactly do you “fan into flame” the gift of God? Notice, Paul doesn’t say, “Start the fire,” but rather, “Stir up the fire that is already burning inside.” Another way to say it is, “Use your gifts now! Serve the Lord now! Get involved now! God put the fire inside you but you have stir up the flame! Let it burn!”
If you can teach, teach.
If you can help, help.
If you can write, write.
If you can sing, sing.
If you can cook, cook.
If you can invest, invest.
If you can build, build.
If you can serve, serve.
If you can lead, lead.
Many of you know that recently I have taken up running. If you have ever tried to exercise, or run maybe you can identify with this statement. After my first couple of days I said to Sue, “I have muscles hurting I never knew were there before.”
Here’s the point. It is when we exercise the gifts God has given us that he reveals the other gifts and callings He has built into us.
Everyone can do something for God, and most of us can do more than one thing for the Lord.
Verse 7 tells us to do this because we already have everything we need to do God’s will. You have it now. It’s inside you, put there by God. Don’t say, “Give me more faith.” Say, “Lord, unleash the faith I already have.” “Lord, turn loose the power within me.” “Lord, show me how to use what you gave me.”
Do you know what the biggest hindrance is in fulfilling God’s will? FEAR!!!!!!!!!!!!
Everyone knows what its like to be afraid. We all have things that we’re afraid of – whether it is dogs, cats, the dark or spiders. In the New Testament there are three words that are used that are translated fear.
One word is Phobeo and it means to be in awe of, or to revere or respect something. This is a natural fear. In the Bible it is used of the Fear of God, or fear of death. Phobeo is what keeps you from driving 200 kph on a back road, or stepping off a twelve story building. This is not an unnatural or unhealthy fear.
The next word used in the original language is the word Phobos and it means exceedingly afraid or terror. It¡¦s where we get our word Phobia. It is a paralyzing fear. If Phobeo is a natural fear, Phobos is an unnatural fear. If Phobeo is what keeps you from driving your car on a back road at 200 kmph then Phobeos is what keeps you from driving at all. If Phobeo is what makes you a little nervous about allowing yourself to be strapped into a hollow metal tubes with wings and propelled into the air at several hundred km an hour, Phobos is what prevents you from flying at all.
When Paul wrote to Timothy and told him For God has not given us a spirit of fear, he didn¡¦t use either one of these words.
Instead the word he used was Deilia which means, timid or fearful it actually comes from the Greek word Deilos which means faithless. And the context of this word is being afraid to do things or for that matter even to try things, specifically here the failure to do things for God.
If the first type of fear keeps us living, and the second type of fear keeps us from living, at least from living a full life, this third type of fear keeps us from accomplishing anything while we are living. This is the fear that makes us live mediocre ordinary lives, never taking chances, never trying to change anything, content to simply drift along. This is the spirit of average, and you know what average is don¡¦t you? The best of the worst and the worst of the best. When you are average you are as close to the bottom as you are to the top.
And so as Paul writes to this young preacher who is about to embark on the great adventure of serving God he says, Don¡¦t be afraid to try things for God, don¡¦t be afraid to attempt great things for God.
This fear is actually a lack of faith in what you are able to achieve and what God is able to achieve through you and it shows up as a couple of different things.
First it is the fear of failure. You won¡¦t try because you¡¦re afraid if you do try that you won¡¦t succeed or that you will fail.
The second thing which we are afraid of that keeps us from doing the things we know we need to do is the fear of rejection.
And while the fear of failure and the fear of rejection are the reasons why many people never attempt to do great things for God, they shouldn¡¦t be because God has not given us a spirit of fear and timidity. But if God didn¡¦t give it to us and yet we have it where did it come from. It comes from the devil because he doesn¡¦t want us to do great things for God, he wants us to be a defeated people, but the promise of God is that we will be victorious, if we want to be.
How to we move from timidity to confidence; from fear to faith
1. Depending on God’s power.- God has given every believer POWER. The word for Power means dunamis; force; miraculous power: ability, abundance, power, strength, violence, to be able or possible.
Let me ask you a question? Do you think the disciples may have been just a little bit intimidated at the thought of Jesus commission to ‘Go into all the world a preach the gospel.” They had spent three years with Jesus. He was always there. He was leaving them. Now what would they do.
Jesus foresaw their trepidation, and He have them this encouraging promise,
But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth."( ACTS 1:8)
The same word is used, DUNAMIS. It is the word that we translate dynamite. None of us would dare handle a stick of dynamite alone. We understand the destructive power contained in one small stick.
But the power which God promises, is a Creative, life giving power. It is power from within.
Don’t be afraid of what man can do to you. Don’t be afraid of what the devil tries to do. God has given us MORE. The HOLY SPIRIT who dwells in us - His presence gives us power,
Through Christ Jesus AND His POWER AT WORK IN ME, I can do anything God wants me to do!!!
Philippians 4:13 (NIV)
13 I can do everything through him who gives me strength. That means anything God wants me to do, I can do it…
Rid yourself of fear by focusing on the power of the One who is present with you.
2. I Move from fear to confidence by living in God’s love.- 1 John 4:18 "There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear..."
Here is how this works:
The more we love God, the less fear we will have. It is a matter of trust. When we realize that God will take care of us, it relieves our fear. Learn to turn yourself and your loved ones to the love and care of God. We believe in a good God, but we must (like David), "Taste and see that the Lord is good." (Psa 34:8)
TRUST IN HIS UNCHANGING LOVE FOR YOU –
3. I Move from fear to confidence by trusting in God’s THINKING.- Sound mind means discipline, self-control: to be sober, to save, deliver or protect: heal, preserve, make whole Most of the time our harmful fears are the result of wrong thinking. But something happens when we are saved and begin to trust God.
Our mind is renewed!
Romans 12:2 (NIV)
2 Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is--his good, pleasing and perfect will.
In my way of thinking I may be afraid I won’t make it financially - IF I trust in God and accept His way of thinking, I will be assured He will take care of me!
Spiritually minded" - mindful of what God wants, how God thinks...
Not deceived by Satan to believe in untruths. We know what is right. We know His words, His ways.
When we analyze the problem of fear, 9 times out of 10 we find that we are guilty of wrong believing.
2 Cor. 10:5 We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.
Wrong believing brings fear. Right believing brings faith.
Philippians 4:8 8Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.
The faith can help us overcome fear. We can’t expect God to protect us from every evil of the world during this life. But we can have utter confidence that we are, indeed, empowered by God, loved by God, and guided by Him to know what is true and what is not.
CONCLUSION
On July 4, 1952, a young woman named Florence Chadwick waded into the water off Catalina Island. She was setting out to swim the channel from the island to the California coast. This was no novice undertaking. Florence Chadwick had already been the first woman to swim the English Channel in both directions.
The day, however, was very foggy. And, the water was numbingly cold on that day. In fact, the fog was so thick she could hardly see the boats moving slowly alongside her. In addition to the coldness, and the blindness caused by the fog, Chadwick knew that she was attracting sharks. Several times during the swim, people in boats alongside her were firing at the sharks with rifles to drive them off. Nevertheless she swam for more than 15 hours before she asked to be taken out of the water. Her trainer tried to encourage her to swim on because they were so close to the land. But when Florence looked, all she saw was fog. So she quit. When they pulled her from the water, she was only one-mile from her goal, a goal she did not reach. [hat tip: sermon central illustration bank]
This is a dramatic and heart-breaking sort of failure when it happens. I imagine all of us can remember something similar that we have seen in our own lives, in the lives of family members or friends – when we quit, when they quit, so close to the goal, but they quit because they had lost all hope that they would ever get to the finish line
Timothy was a young man, who could have reasoned why he could have qit. But God’s word reminds us hat God has given us a purpose and planned that we live in the Promise of His life and Power in s.
We do not need to fear because we are
DEPENDING IN GOD”S POWER IN US
LIVING IN GOD”S LOVE FOR US
BELIEVING GOD”S THINKING ABOUT US
Paul reminds us in Romans 12:8 how we can continue to live a life that is built to last
11Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord. In other words, Never give up. Eagerly follow the Holy Spirit and serve the Lord. keep yourselves fueled and aflame
