Flameout!
Introduction
Recently reading the Ts in the NT. Where are the T’s?
This morning- look at some verses in 1 and 2 Timothy.
Both- letters Paul wrote to Timothy, a young pastor.
Two purposes in these letters- Paul gives him advice- situations- in the churches exhorts him about his personal walk w/God.
Paul’s advice- applicable to any Christian.
Commandment of God- 1Tim 1:1
Apostle- an Apostle is an established church office, but the word simply means one set apart to be sent out by God on a mission.
Apostle- an ambassador that provides a connection between his country and the one he is sent to.
As Christians we are to be the connecting points between people of the world and Jesus Christ.
2 Cor 5:20 Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were making an appeal through us; we beg you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God. NASU
According to the commandment of God- in a general sense the Commandments of God were given to help us understand the will of God.
In a more specific sense, Paul knew he was fulfilling God’s will for his life.
He understood he was in the commission of the King.
This is something that we need to understand. You and I have been dispatched by God.
Our entire life should be lived in the King’s service.
What have you been dispatched for?
Do you do it like you are in God’s service?
2 Tim 1:1
By the will of God (1 Tim 1:1- commandment of God)
Paul knew God had set him apart.
We should have the same assurance- we are God’s,set apart by Him and for Him.
This is the concept of holiness- I am holy because I have been set apart for the purposes of God.
1 Cor 7:29-31
29 But this I say, brethren, the time has been shortened, so that from now on those who have wives should be as though they had none;
30 and those who weep, as though they did not weep; and those who rejoice, as though they did not rejoice; and those who buy, as though they did not possess; 31 and those who use the world, as though they did not make full use of it; for the form of this world is passing away. NASU
Paul is saying this- we live in urgent times, so we live in the world, we use the things of the world, but we
do not allow the things of the world to use us.
Many have become slaves to the things of this world-
they do not serve us, we serve them.
Paul saw his calling as
1. An Honor
God hand-chose Paul and out of love Paul served God.
Every believer should regard themselves as a God chosen man or woman.
2. A Responsibility
God chose us as instruments to bring His life to others.
No Christian is chosen entirely for his own sake, but for what he can do for others.
3. A Privilege
It is a great privilege to know God, and to serve God.
Hope- 1Tim 1:1
Hope- anticipate with pleasure/expectation/confidence.
Jesus Christ is our hope. He died to save us,
He lives so we can live with Him forever,
He is our faith when we look backwards, and our hope when we look forward.
At all cost- must guard our hearts against losing hope.
We are in a spiritual war- if- enemy can-cause us to to stop believing/trusting in God, become cynical or disillusioned,
grow luke-warm/distracted in our faith,then he has won the war for our heart.
Thankfulness- 1Tim 1:12-14
Paul was very thankful to God for two things
1. God Chose him
Paul never had the feeling that he had chosen Christ, but that Christ had chosen him.
God- brought Paul to his senses, as he has done for us.
He knew he was Christ’s man-we must know the same
2. God Trusted him
Paul had been- persecutor of- church- done much harm
He was thankful not only that God forgave him, but
God trusted him to do His work.
For us forgiveness is often difficult, but trusting someone who has hurt us is very difficult.
This is an incredible picture of God’s love and mercy.
God forgave Paul and empowered him to be faithful.
When- Spartan won in- Olympic games- reward was the privilege to go before his King in battle.
Paul won the privilege to serve His King, as have we.
Truth- 1Tim 3:14-15
Conduct- the wholeness of one’s speech and actions.
Our conduct can bring honor or shame to God.
Conduct- used in sense of our relationships w/others.
The church is a body of people that are to be friends with God and
friends with each other.
Paul calls the church
1.A Household
The church is first and foremost a family.
Rear-admiral Horatio Nelson, after a successful sea battle, contributed his success to the “band of brothers” he served with (lived late 1700s).
The church must become a band of brothers.
Love for God cannot exist where brotherly love does not exist
1 Jn 2:9 The one who says he is in the Light and yet hates his brother is in the darkness until now
2. The pillar and support of the truth
The church is to present the love of Christ to the world, but it is also called to uphold the truth.
Jesus Christ is the embodiment of truth- He is truth.
Jn 14:6 (Jesus said- I am the way, truth, life)
The church as the Body of Christ is to hold up truth before the world for all to see.
How can the church support the truth if it does not clearly understand truth itself have we allowed God’s Word- renew our minds,
are our lives built on God’s Word, or have we embraced the philosophies of- world?
1 Jn 4:6 We are from God; he who knows God listens to us; he who is not from God does not listen to us. By this we know the spirit of truth and the spirit of error. NASU
The Church is to be a beacon of light that shows the way, and
salt that preserves truth and resists truth decay.
How do we do this as a Body of Christ? Are we passive- our lives silently testify of truth, or active- where we labor to influence our culture?
It is both-we must see the high-calling we were created
How about within- church- are we open for correction?
Flameout!
2 Tim 1:5-6
Kindle afresh- keep in full flame, keep the fire burning
Paul is saying- the gift of God is like a fire capable of dying out through neglect.
Flameout- is a condition when a jet engine fails because the flame in- combustion chamber goes out. There are a number of factors that can cause flameout-
lack of fuel,
insufficient oxygen, or
the presence of foreign matter in the chamber.
Aerodynamics is for those who cannot manufacture good engines. (Enzo Ferrari)
Just like- jet engine can flameout, so can- zeal for God.
Consider the three reasons for flameout
1. Lack of fuel
If we do not fuel our relationship w/God through
Bible reading and prayer,
fasting and Christian fellowship,
we will starve the fire of God in our hearts.
In the wilderness the only food- Jews had- manna.
If they did not gather it daily, they would starve- die.
If we do not feed our spirit man, he will likewise die.
2. Insufficient Oxygen
Oxygen represents- work/presence of- HS in our lives.
Our relationship with God is not just intellectual, but it is an encounter with God Himself.
We need the HS to help us understand God’s Word.
God speaks to His people today He did 2000 years ago
3. Presence of foreign matter
There are many things we allow into-life/heart/mind- that distract us from our relationship with God.
Even good things can become enemies of the best.
Eph 5:15-17 make the most of your time- days evil
Many of us allow things that are really discretionary to become necessary in our own hearts and minds.
If someone were to look at your day judging from the way you spend your time,what would they conclude is important to us?
If we do not give our relationship w/God attention-
flameout can occur.
When a fighter jet experiences flameout, if it cannot restart its engine, it will ultimately crash and burn.
Too many Christians- crashed/burned in their faith.
Conclusion
2 Tim 4:6-8
Paul was in prison in Rome- did not expect to be freed.
It is almost as if he was passing his mantle to Timothy.
He is laying down his arms for Timothy to pick up.
Poured out- he was ready to sacrifice his life for God.
He did not think-execution-but offering his life to God.
Departure-
unyoking an animal from a cart,
the loosening the mooring-ropes of a ship.
Paul- about to take a voyage into the presence of God.
Fought the good fight- speaks of a contest in an arena.
In any race it is easy to start, but difficult to finish.
We all know Christians- started strong, never finished.
I have kept the faith-
I have kept the conditions of my contract,
I have never lost my confidence or hope.
Shortly Paul would stand before Emperor Nero- he knew what the verdict would be.
He was not concerned about Nero condemning him,
as long as he heard, “Well done good/faithful servant.”
