HOLY ISN’T HIS FIRST NAME – The Spirit of Courage
2 Timothy 1:1-12 (p. 832) May 3, 2015
Introduction:
He was a man who was letting go of his life. He sat in a jail cell, resembling more of a dungeon than a cell. It was poorly lit. It was cold and damp. He was chained to the wall and waiting…waiting to die. His execution was imminent and he was lonely. As his thoughts began to wander, they centered on his close friend. His friend had been more like a son to him really and they had shared many experiences, both good and bad, together. The last image he had of his friend was of him weeping. His friend had been so saddened by his departure. He didn’t want him to leave. Now, as he sits in his cell, he too longs to see his friend once more. He sits down and decides to write his friend a letter. It would be a letter in which he would pour out his heart to his friend; telling him how much he loved him, encouraging him, building him up and informing him that he is now in charge of the work that they had shared together. It’s time for his friend to take over and the work must not fail. The man writing the letter is the apostle Paul. His friend is Timothy.
II Timothy is such a dynamic letter. It is so authentic and genuine. Paul had been recently arrested in Rome under the orders of the Emperor, Nero. During Nero’s reign as emperor of Rome, he took great delight in the persecution and killing of Christians. Nero would be responsible for the deaths of both the apostle Paul and of Peter. This letter is written shortly before Paul’s death. So often we hear of people saying that they never got the chance to tell a loved one everything they wanted to tell them and how they cared about them before that person died. Paul wants to make sure he tells Timothy everything on his heart while he still has the chance.
These are the last recorded words of the Apostle Paul...They are written 35 years after his conversion, 20 years after His first missionary journey.
More than anything this letter is the passing of the torch. Much like the Olympic torch is carried by 1 runner and then given to another. The Apostle Paul has reached the end of his leg of the journey...He writes:
“I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.” (2 Tim. 4:7)
Paul then pours out his heart to this young man he has invested his life in. I’m not sure how Timothy originally felt while reading this letter for the first time, but having read it myself dozens of times there is no doubt he knew the torch was being passed. He was to take the lead. He was to continue the journey. He was to become the mentor of other future torch carriers.
I wonder, do we intentionally think of ourselves as torch carriers where the gospel is concerned? Do we as God’s men and women consider our lives as a journey...an Olympic race with a destination?
For God’s kingdom to be put forth...for others to join us in the journey we’d better start thinking like torch carriers or the world will be overcome with darkness. Just like Timothy it’s our turn with the torch and it requires the Spirit of Courage to carry it well.
In our text Paul reminds Timothy, and us... “For the Spirit God gave us does not make us timid, but gives us power, love, and self-discipline. So do not be ashamed of the testimony about our Lord, or of one His prisoner.” (2 Timothy 1:7-8)
But what if the torch’s flame has almost been extinguished? How can it be rekindled...revived?
I. FAN INTO FLAME THE GIFT OF GOD
Let me first say if you have never received the Holy Spirit you cannot rekindle Him or revive Him.
But if you have genuinely been born again by the Spirit of conviction, conversion and comfort...take courage, there is hope for the smallest ember burning of sincere faith.”
The New Testament pictures the Holy Spirit as both wind and flame.
Jesus compares the Spirit of our new birth with wind...in John 3 while talking to Nicodemus “The wind blows wherever it pleases. You hear its sound, but you cannot tell where it comes from or where it is going, so it is with everyone (EVERYONE!!!) born of the Spirit.” (John 3:8)
In other words...you can’t control the wind...you hear it rustle through the trees, but you can’t see it, you have no idea where it came from or where it’s going. That’s how God’s spirit works in salvation...It’s also how God’s Spirit works in ministry. No real power in any ministry unless we are moved by the word of God. In fact the NT word for Spirit is “PNEUMA” like “PNEUMATIC” air filled.
But the Holy Spirit is also shown as fire...a flame...sometimes both at the same time. List to Acts 2:1-4
ACTS 2:1-4 (p. 758)
Gifts...true spiritual gifts are always given by the Holy Spirit. He is the power the disciples were told to wait for. And it is the Holy Spirit which enabled these rugged unlearned men to speak in languages that allowed the crowd that gathered to “hear their own language being spoken.” (Acts 2:6)
Timothy had been given a gift for ministry as well. The Apostle Paul had laid his hands on this young man and God gave the gift.
A Christian who isn’t using their ministry gifts for God’s glory and for the strengthening of God’s family, the Church, is like Michael Jordan never playing basketball, or Jack Nicholas never swinging a golf club, or Luciano Pavaroti never singing an opera. It’s a talent buried in the dirt. It’s a wasted gift.
I believe scripture teaches the child of God that joy and peace are found in the center of God’s will.. Even if a storm of circumstances blows around you...you are safe and secure in this boat with Jesus.
But Satan is a thief...so he tries to rob the child of God of his or her effectiveness and his or her joy.
He continually pours water on the flame....(and sometimes he finds human partners to help him) lol.
Fear and doubt are two of Satan’s greatest weapons. They are cripplers when it comes to our faith. If Satan can get you to doubt God’s goodness and your salvation and if he can fill your heart with fear and worry, not only has he stolen your joy, but he’s robbed you of your effective ministry.
Paul does 2 things to remind Timothy and us of the Spirit of Courage...and how we can burn like a torch.
1. Remember your foundation, and
2. Encourage through ministry.
Paul tells Timothy “I have been reminded of your sincere faith which first lived in your grandmother Lois and your mother Eunice, and I am persuaded now lives in you.” (v. 5)
Folks, no one will go to heaven because their grandmother or mother was godly, but if faith comes by hearing, then there is NO ONE more vital to sharing that message than a mother or father or grandmother or grandfather in a young person’s life. God used these 2 amazingly faithful servants to plant a seed of faith in this young man’s heart...and Paul watered it, God made it grow.
True discipleship will always be about relationships.
“What you heard from me keep as the pattern of sound teaching with faith and love in Christ Jesus. Guard the good deposit that was entrusted to you – guard it with the help of the Holy Spirit who lives in you.” (v. 14)
You cannot build this foundation of faith at a distance, or by coming to church on Sunday morning. And you cannot encourage others...or grow your own gift unless you are connected to others. And amputated arm is no longer part of the body. A cut rose isn’t a part of the vine.
If you are a grandmother, or mother or grandfather or father...I hope you enjoy times of fellowship with your Sunday School class or the Ramblers...but if you begin to believe that the body of Christ exists to take care of you...you have listened to a lie from the Evil One. Yes, there are times we all need the encouragement of our family, hard times, but unless we remember to be foundation builders and fan into flame ministry people...no matter our age, then we ought to be warned about our faith being ruined.
I’m going to use the Spirit of Courage this morning to do just that...
II. WHEN WE LEAVE THE PRIORITIES OF FAITH WE BECOME LESS AND LESS LIKE JESUS
[Anyone remember when you used to record shows on VHS tapes? Well, the more copies you made away from the original recording the more degraded and grainy the picture become.
The gospel can be like that...the original...“Jesus Christ, raised from the dead, descended from David...Paul tells Timothy in Chapter 2 verse 8...“This is my gospel.” It’s the original VHS tape!]
Our text in the first chapter says, “Grace has now been revealed through the appearing of our Savior, Christ Jesus who has destroyed death and has brought life and immortality to light through the gospel.” (v. 10)
He tells Timothy...I’ll sound the trumpet as a herald for this message...I’ll be put in chains with no shame...keep this truth as a pattern to live by...It’s the template to cut out for godly living...it’s the pattern to sew by to make the clothing of Christ.
But when you forsake this pattern...when you leave this priority in your life...Listen to what occurs.
2 TIMOTHY 2:14-26 (p. 832)
In God’s field there are weeds and wheat. He’ll divide them at harvest...In God’s house are different bowls and vessels, some are used for His glory...some, not so much. In God’s family are quarrelsome people and kind servants...Hopefully the truth will convince the weeds, the toilet pots, and the quarrelsome house guests to repent, come to their senses an escape the trap of the devil, WHO HAS TAKEN THEM CAPTIVE TO DO HIS WILL...(that’s really in there huh? Yep...it is!)
Let me end with 3 DNA characteristics found in the Spirit of Courage.
III. THE SPIRIT OF COURAGE IS REVEALED IN POWER, LOVE AND SELF- DISCIPLINE
1. Power, this world is impressed with power but that power always glorifies and exalts self. More authority, more leverage to be used to get my way...Jesus talks about Gentile power that “Lords it over people.” It’s that kind of power that lets Donald Trump say, “You’re Fired!!!”
But the power Paul refers to in the spirit of courage always works in us and through us to exalt Jesus and help others.
It’s trusting that when I share my story unashamedly...that Jesus’ spirit is at work in the person who hears it...He changed my life because of His grace and forgiveness. He can change yours Paul says, “He saved us, called us to a holy life – not because of anything we have done, but because of His own purpose and grace.”
The only way we will want to communicate this purpose and grace to others is the 2nd revealed truth from the Spirit of Courage.
2. Love, “It’s this love that compels us...propels us into others worlds. “As we are going into the world” whether it’s a mission field, our Hispanic community, our children and grandchildren, our co-workers, neighbors, prisoners, and friends.
Remember Jesus said, “By this all men will know that you are my disciples by the way you love one another.”
In the book Unchristian by David Kinneman He asks, are we perceived as a loving group of people?
In a recent study we asked outsiders, churchgoers and pastors to describe whether they perceive Christian churches to be loving environments, places where people are unconditionally loved and accepted regardless of how they look or what they do. Only one out of five outsiders said they perceived churches in this way. Surprisingly, fewer than half of churchgoers, including born-again Christians, felt strongly that their church demonstrates unconditional love.
Of course, what a person thinks about the church and what it actually is may be two separate things. Pastors certainly have a different view. More than three-quarters of church leaders feel strongly that their church is an unconditionally loving community. Still, even if outsiders are wrong, their perceptions drive their reality. They have difficulty envisioning our churches as loving places.
No matter what we say about ourselves, young people have their doubts. Our research confirmed that perceptions of love and acceptance are less common among 16-29 year olds than older adults. This was true among churchgoers as well as outsiders. Moreover, only 16 percent of young outsiders say the phrase “consistently shows love for other people” describes us “a lot.” Outsiders might think of us as friendly or what we have good principles, but we are not known for our love.
[So an 18 or 19 year old comes up to our facility, he’s got a ball cap on and a T shirt advertising the band “Motion City Soundtrack” would he be greeted with “Man we’re glad you’re here, let me introduce you to Eric, Bobby and Nathan...or would we tell him to take off his ball cap...you see friendliness isn’t love...and unless people feel the love of Christ flowing through us...we will never get a chance to speak the truth. That takes courage.
The 3rd truth revealed by the Spirit of courage is the hardest.
3. Self Discipline – Selfishness is the hardest sin to kill...loving our neighbor as we love ourselves is a tough proposition, because we love ourselves A LOT!!!
Paul is telling Timothy...if you want to influence others with the gospel...it first must influence you...not just in what you say...but in how you live...and only by listening to the Spirit of courage can you have that kind of power, that kind of love, and that kind of self discipline.
It’s the fire burning in your life? If not, our God is a consuming fire that can set your life ablaze right now...If he’s already done that for you as He’s done for me...may our prayer be...give me a fan Jesus so the flame can burn even brighter for your glory!
Let’s pray.
