Passion Renewed
2Timothy 1:6-1:18
Introduction-
We have for several weeks been looking at the connection between you and God, and you and each other.
This morning I want to talk about your passion for which you serve God and the passion or compassion that you have for each other.
2 Timothy 1:6-1:18
I remember as a kid that one of my first passions was that of becoming a professional baseball player. To be the one who hit the winning home run, or to be the one that made a diving catch to win the game.
Story is told of a little league coach in the 70’s who asked his players who wanted to play professional baseball. All hands went up. That same kid from the 70’s who is now a little league coach asked his kids the same question, and not one hand went up.
What changed in 25-30 years?
People lose their visions
people lose the drive to excel
people lose their determination to do anything except survive.
To some kids, their dream is out front for the taking, (unless someone steals it) and to others it seems too far fetched
it seems now that if it takes determination
if it takes having a goal and staying focused on that goal, people are not interested.
So how do you renew our visions?
How do we again restore passion in what we are doing or wanting to do?
When a person has a vision, they will not let anything get in the way, or let anybody steal it from them.
When the vision fades, the passion fades and our goals begin to take a backseat until there is nothing left.
Apostle Paul tells us right from the text that God does not give us a Spirit of fear, but a Spirit of power, love, and self-discipline.
God does not give us a Spirit of fear- if God didn’t give it to us, who did? You don’t want it.
God gave us the power of the Holy Spirit to accomplish the things that He wants done in our lives. To do more that we can accomplish in our own strength.
God gave us His love. He promises to be there, to comfort, to lead and guide us.
God says that He will help us in our self-discipline.
That does not sound like someone who should fail or at least struggle does it?
What happens in our text?
Paul is writing to Timothy:
An old man finishing up his ministry for the Lord talking to a younger Timothy, the next generation if you will.
Paul is in chains, he has been arrested again for preaching the gospel, proclaiming his love for God, and he is being persecuted for it.
Paul knows his time is short, he understands that the torch must be passed to Timothy.
Paul sees the church in crisis mode.
Acts chapter 2, the power of the Holy Ghost exploded upon the church and people are getting saved, people are being healed, and it was cool to be a part of the church. As time goes on, the persecution is coming and it was no longer cool to be Christian.
History says that not long after the writing to Timothy, Paul was beheaded by Emperor Nero. Nero destroyed Rome and blamed the Christians. (Sound familiar?)
So what is happening? What needs to happen?
(16) “For this reason I remind you to fan into flame the gifts of God, which is in you through the laying on of my hands.”
What happen? The flame (passion) has died down. What needs to happen? The flame needs to be stirred up!
Somewhere between discouragement, bad health, bad breaks, ugly and mean people, people letting us down, the flame has almost gone out.
That is why Paul is writing to timothy.
To fan the flame of God and stir within him the vision God gave him.
That’s what he wants to do with each one of us today.
New hope,
renewed vision,
increased passion!
That is what the church of Christ needs today.
Paul work is almost done-
He wants the message of Christ to go on after He is gone.
He wants to make sure the torch is passed successfully.
He wants to make sure Timothy knows what he needs to do.
Illustration-
Years ago, Russian scientist could not get a pen to work by gravity. It would not work at all different angles. They spent 1.5 million dollars on a project to invent a pen that would work at all angles. You know what the poor Russian people did to compensate that the pen would not work. They used a pencil! Money wasted, keep it simple!
Paul is telling us that when we are discouraged, lost our vision, no longer passionate about the things of God, those things that once meant everything, we must fan the flame of God and get it going again!
Notice this! This is important!
Flame the gift of God, which is in you! Get that!
He didn’t say that He would spark you up, He said that we need to fan what is already there, the Spirit of God dwelling inside of you from the moment that you came to Christ.
Listen! Renew your vision, your passion.
Let God fan that flame and renew in you the power of the Holy Spirit.
Illustration- (Sermoncentral)
A clergy man took a seat in a dining car on a train traveling along the Hudson River. Opposite him was an atheist who, seeing his clerical collar, started a discussion. I see you are a clergyman. Yes, came the reply. I am a minister of the gospel. I suppose you believe the Bible. The clergyman responded, I certainly do believe the Bible to be the Word of God. But aren’t there things in the Bible you can’t explain? With humility the minister answered. Yes, there are places in the Bible too hard for me to understand. “With an air of triumph as though he had cornered the preacher, the atheist asked, well, what do you do then?” unruffled, the clergyman went on eating his dinner—which happen to be Hudson Chad, a tasty fish, but noted for it’s boney structure. Looking up, he said, Sir, I do just the same as when eating this shad. When I come to the bones, I put them to the side of the plate and go on enjoying my lunch. I leave the bones for someone else to choke on.”
Let someone else choke on the bones of trying to figure everything out.
You concentrate on what you know is right and you let God do in you what He desires to do.
Inside us
We believe that God wants our church, our people to be passionate to God’s purposes and we believe Him for the impossible..
We believe God wants us to reach the un-churched with the message of Jesus Christ without compromise, but in the language of our area to reach them.
Paul telling Timothy:
Stir it up! The flame is going out, get your flame back! Stop what you are doing and concentrate on your relationship with Christ.
Stop doing things on your own Strength!
Stay in the Word of God!
Read it for yourself!
Keep your passion.
Stand on and know the promises of God.
Preach the word!
Live the Word!
Share the Word!
Timothy(put your name) don’t be intimidated by people in and out of the church, stop feeling inadequate and let God do something amazing in your life! Today! Right now!
It is not the size of the dog in the fight, it is the size of the fight in the dog!
Timothy (put your name) you are a child of God, that means if
God is for you
God is in you
God is with you
You cannot lose!
We lose our compassion and vision and we have lost the ability to do great things for God.
God does not use the strongest. God does not use the smartest. He uses ordinary people to do extra-ordinary things so He will get honor and glory.
God not only using large churches, he is using all churches that will trust Him to do far more than they can in their own power.
Rekindle that spiritual gift inside you.
“For this reason I remind you to fan into flame the gift of God which is in you through the laying on of my hands. For God did not give you the spirit of fear, but a spirit of power, of love, and of self-discipline.
Don’t hide your light- let it shine!
Don’t live in fear, let the Holy Spirit pro power in your life!
You didn’t start the flame- God did! Let God stir up the fire and start living for Christ.
What is He saying?
Serve the Lord now!
Get involved now!
God is not looking for bench warmers, pew sitters!
Don’t ask God for more faith, unleash the faith He has already gave you!
Make this your prayer- turn lose the power within me! Show me how to use what you have already gave me.
Winding down. Turning a corner
How about letting God raise up some that will not be intimidated!
(12) I am not ashamed! “Because I know whom I have believed, and am convinced that he is able to guard what I have entrusted to him for that day.”
What day? How about today?
If you can teach- teach
If you can help- help
If you can build- build
If you lead- lead
Closing
Respond to what God is doing this morning
A soldier can get all the training he/she needs but is not a soldier until they are in battle.
Until they are active in the frontlines.
Until the bullets are flying.
Where is you loyalty?
God has given each one of us who professes Christ the power of the Holy Spirit within us.
Stir it up! No more half-hearted commitments!
Do not despair or lose hope- we live in some tough times, but also some great times.
Our part is to be faithful!
