FAITH OVER FEAR - Fan the Flame
2 Timothy 1:6-10 January 29, 2023
Introduction:
So, I’m not sure if you’ve seen the movie “Castaway” starring Tom Hanks, but in the movie his plane goes down and he is the only one that survives the crash into the ocean…and he’s washed up onto a deserted island…his early days on the island are extremely tough…he barely survives…eating coconuts and small raw clams…There is one thing that will make things better…one thing that will make a huge difference in his life…but he can’t make it happen…even after dozens of attempts…until this:
SHOW FIRE CLIP FROM CASTAWAY - 2:01 (Maybe....I know we have trouble with Movie clips)
Finally! It needs air…and as it begins to smoke and kindle, he blows on it, fans the flame…and to his greatest joy…FIRE!!!
He can cook his food…warm his body…bring light to the darkness…use it to signal for help…cauterize wounds…char sticks to write with…this fire helps remove the fear of being alone.
It’s a big deal to have fire in your life when the world around you is cold and dark!
In our text this morning the Apostle Paul is writing to Timothy. It’s his second letter to a young man he thinks of as a son.
Timothy was a teenager when he met Paul. His family lived in Lystra so he was a Galatian. His father was a Greek man; we know nothing of his faith. But, Timothy’s mom and grandmother were faithful Jewish women who taught the Old Testament scriptures to this boy they loved so much (Acts 16:1; 2 Timothy 1:5). As the women heard Paul preach, they believed in Jesus, and so did Timothy. Timothy may have seen Paul heal a lame man in his town. That would have been exciting! He may also have watched as an angry mob threw stones at Paul and left him for dead (Acts 14:8-20). Yet, he also knew Paul survived. When Paul came back to Lystra a couple of years later on his second journey, Paul invited Timothy to travel with him.
Timothy helped Paul establish churches in Philippi, Thessalonica, and Berea…Later he would be the Lead Minister in Ephesus. When Paul writes this second letter to his “dear son” he’s in prison in Rome. It’s an intimate letter where he says, “I constantly remember you in my prayers. Recalling your tears I long to see you, so that I may be filled with joy.”
He recalls Timothy’s decision to follow Christ…how this faith was shared with him by his mother and grandmother…Paul remembers putting his hands on Timothy’s shoulder as he’s set apart for ministry…I would think these thoughts would help you if you’re in prison for preaching Jesus Christ.
Paul’s heart is about making disciples…preparing others for ministry…even while in jail…so he tells this young man he continues to mentor…“For this reason I remind you to fan into flame the gift of God.”
If we are to live a life of faith over fear this is essential advice:
I. KEEP THE FIRE BURNING BRIGHT!
There are some things that are not very helpful when it comes to keeping a campfire lit…wind, rain, being too tired to stay awake.
And Paul’s concern for Timothy ought to be the same concern we have for other believers…Don’t let your fire die, keep it burning bright…don’t forget your calling…Remember why you were saved…Fan the flame!!!
But that’s not easy, is it? We live in a world that tries to blow it out…when life becomes a rainstorm it’s hard to keep the fire burning. We get tired and we’d just as soon go to sleep.
Satan, the god of the dark, would much rather us return to a place of fear than live in the victorious light of Faith.
Jesus made an amazing promise to His followers…in fact, it’s a two part promise…He said, “I have told you these things so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble but take heart I have overcome the world.” (John 16:33)
The two promises:
1. If you are living in this world, bad things will happen in your life and
2. I am bigger than those bad things…Have courage!
Real Christianity is knowing by experience that life in this sinful fallen world is tough…but trusting Jesus in faith nonetheless…We break out the fan…we gather in worship with others…we pray believing, we encourage others who are trouble…we read God’s promises. We shine like stars in the darkness…“Even though we walk through the valley of the shadow of death, we fear no evil because God is with us.” (Psalm 23)
This doesn’t mean we don’t feel fear…It means we choose faith when we do!
And we have the most amazing gift that helps remind us to do so.
II. GOD’S SPIRIT MAKES US VICTORS NOT COWARDS
“The spirit God gave us does not make us timid.”
The Greek word used for timid her is “Dellias” and it literally means “cowardice.” Listen, in no way is Paul calling Timothy a coward…or bashful…Timothy is a courageous servant of God that has faced trials beyond description.
Paul’s point is “How can you tell what spirit lives in a man or woman?
The god of this world gives us a spirit of fear, selfishness, pride and it’s focused on the temporary.
But when God gives us His spirit, it’s a spirit of faith, power, love and self discipline.
Here’s the most difficult concept for us to grasp for living in faith over fear. God’s spirit lives in our flesh…and there will be a constant battle over whether we submit to God’s spirit or our flesh.
The Apostle Paul knew it…he said this about himself (Romans 7:18) “I know that good itself does not dwell in me, that is in my sinful nature…I have the desire to do what is good, but cannot carry it out.” He even cries out… “What a wretched man I am! Who will rescue me from this body that is subject to death.” (v. 24)
He answers that question about who rescues us from the flesh…our sinful self… “Thanks be to God, who delivers me through Jesus Christ our Lord.” (v. 25)
Not one of us can be good left to our own devices…not one of us can be righteous living in this body of death…unless Jesus delivers us…saves us…transforms us…His Spirit given to us as we repent and are baptized is the gift of God’s goodness.
REREAD 2 TIMOTHY 1:9-10
I think we all need this truth engraved in our hearts…“Not because of anything we have done but because of His own purpose and grace.”
He is the shepherd that came looking for His lost sheep…not the other way around. That’s grace…it helps us love as victors not victims…It replaces the fear of punishment with a life lived by faith and trust.
But as I end, let me ask…what is that purpose of God…what is it we do in faith for God’s glory?
III. WE SHARE UNASHAMEDLY OUR TESTIMONY ABOUT JESUS
It’s hard for me to understand people who come to church (sometimes) but never invite a friend, or seem to care about the spiritual condition of their friends and family. These folks show up…but never really do anything for the Kingdom…they never really show any passion about God’s kingdom…and whether the fire’s gone out or whether it was never really lit in the first place doesn’t really matter. Their testimony to the world, in regard to Jesus, is a “yawn.” (Demonstrate… “Yawn” - Oh yeah, I’m a Christian “yawn.”)
A life of faith has power, love and self discipline because of the influence of Jesus living in us through His spirit.
Christian’s become ashamed of Jesus when their lives do not match up with their beliefs…Church attenders become ashamed of God when God stops being their priority…and they know He’s not their priority.
When Paul says “Don’t be ashamed of me, his prisoner, either, rather join me in suffering for the gospel, by the power of God.” He knows that people who are living apathetic lives without faith tend to attack those who are.
[Let me ask you…if your testimony for Jesus was a signal fire for lost people, how bright is it burning…Is it like Tom Hanks in that video? Roaring bright in the night sky…sparks going everywhere…are you waving around burning palm fronds excitably…or is it a tiny ember that’s about to go out unless you do something about it?
Would you say that your life story is one of faith, power, love and self discipline…driven by God’s spirit and God’s purpose…or is it driven by your flesh…if someone asks you if you’re a Christian you’d say yes…but they have to ask you.
I remember reading this poem during the early days of my ministry and it struck me hard…Here’s what it says:
SITTING BY THE FIRE
He wasn’t much for stirring about: It wasn’t his desire.
No matter what the others did, He was sitting by the fire.
Same old story day by day: He never seemed to tire.
While others worked to build their church, He was sitting by the fire.
At last he died as all must do: They said he went up higher.
But if he is doing what he used to do, He is sitting by the fire.
Listen, I understand “we are saved by God’s grace through faith and it’s not of ourselves, it is a gift of God.” (Ephesians 2:9)
But I also believe with all my heart that the children of God are filled with the Spirit of God…He is a consuming fire…His fire cannot inhabit our souls and it not be evident…yes we can let the embers die…yes we can slip back into the world and become ashamed of the one that saved us…but if that is happening “wake up sleeper, rise from the dead and let Christ shine…FAN THE FLAME BEFORE IT GOES OUT!”
