2 Timothy 1:7-9 (NKJV)
“SHARE WITH ME”
October 16, 2022
Summary: Timothy was a young man who was being mentored by Paul. Paul had so much confidence in him that he sent him to a Ephesus to pastor a church that was facing a lot of difficulty. When Paul wrote the Second Letter to Timothy, it was a very difficult time for the Early Church. Due to Nero’s insanity, he was persecuting believers everywhere — and his methods of persecution were gruesome and cruel. It seems that Timothy may have been faltering a little. Paul talks about a spirit of fear. Not a brief moment of fear, not being scared about something specific, but a spirit of fear. During the pandemic the world capitalized on our fears. Whether it’s the effects climate change (floods, fires and famine), foreign interference in our elections, war in the East, the overthrow of our government or great apocalyptic conspiracies of the end times! The goal of satin is to give you a spirit of fear! That uneasy feeling of anxiety, that negative, creepy darkness of the enemies voice which is constantly testifying that God is a failure, that the worst is about to happen. The spirit of fear is what you feel when there is a message on your phone telling you to call the doctor’s office because there is something about your test. And now you will have no rest, no peace and in fact you will talk yourself into cancer and death before the day is through. Paul identifies it, calls it what it is and then speaks truth of that evil spirit, saying “It is NOT of GOD!” For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power, and of love, and a sound mind. God has been consistent with this doctrine! In Isaiah 41 God said, “Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness.” God has given you the Spirit of Power. God has given you a Spirit of Love. God has given you Spirit of a Self Control (that’s a Sound Mind)! And he says, SHARE WITH ME! Share with me in Prison - Share with me in Power - Share with me in Purpose!
1. SHARE IN PRISON
Ephesians 3:1 For this reason I, Paul, the prisoner of Christ Jesus for you Gentiles — Paul had been in prison for preaching the gospel in Caesarea for almost 2 years and then 2 more years in prison in Rome. But in his letter to Philemon 1:12 But I want you to know, brethren, that the things which happened to me have actually turned out for the furtherance of the gospel, so that it has become evident to the whole palace guard, and to all the rest, that my chains are in Christ; and most of the brethren in the Lord, having become confident by my chains, are much more bold to speak the word without fear.
Ephesians 4:1 I, therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you to walk worthy of the calling with which you were called. In our text verse 8 Paul says, “Share with me in the sufferings for the gospel!” We have here the one petition of the prisoner of Christ! “Do not be ashamed of the testimony of our Lord!” Tell somebody about what God has done for you! Paul says, “I come to you with one request (not to send me relief, not to write me letters, nor to use your resources to get me out of prison - these are usually first things prisoners ask from their friends) BUT THAT you would…” according to Ephesians 4, “Walk Worthy / Live Up To” your profession and your calling; He says simply, “Share with Me as a Prisoner of the Lord… Do Your Share… Do What You Are Called to Do” Christians ought to accommodate themselves to the gospel by which they are called, and to the glory to which they are called! We are Christians; we must answer that call and live like Christians. Paul goes on to tell Timothy that I know you can’t do it on your own, but you can share with me in His prison… according to the power of God!
2. SHARE IN POWER
We have Power! We have wonder working Power! Jesus said in Acts 1:8 But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth. Where the world is afraid now and participating in the spirit of fear, God says you have Power! Timothy, He did not give you a spirit of fear He gave you a spirit of power! Part of what is at the heart of fear is a sense that we have lost control and we don’t have the resources or the ability to get anything under control. Power, as used here, means that we can live life with an assurance that we have a God who can do what no one else can do. You see, The power of God means that God lacks nothing, he needs nothing, and he depends on nothing. That when he moves it is overwhelming and comprehensive and irresistible and immeasurable.
Ephesians 1:19 …that you may know…what is the immeasurable greatness of His power toward us who believe, according to the working of His great might that He worked in Christ when He raised him from the dead and seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly places, far above all rule and authority and power and dominion, and above every name that is named, not only in this age but also in the one to come. Sharing in His Power means that you know that there something else happening here. It means that what you think you see happening is not all that is happening. It means that behind-the-scenes you have a heavenly father who will ultimately do more than you think is being done. Why do I know this? Because it’s according to His purpose!
3. SHARE IN PURPOSE
Paul said to his Son in the Ministry that God, saved us and called us with a holy calling, BUT it’s not according to our works – IT IS according to His own purpose and grace for YOU! For Jeremiah 29:11 says, "For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future." And Romans 8:28 says, “And we know that all things work together for the good, for those who love God, for those who are the called according to His purpose.”
Psalm 33:11 says, “The plans of the LORD stand firm forever, the purposes of His heart through all generations.” There is an old story about a lighthouse keeper who worked on a rocky stretch of coastline. Once a month he would receive a new supply of oil to keep the light burning so that ships could safely sail near the rocky coast. One night, though, a friend from a nearby village came and begged him for some oil to keep his family warm. Another time a young teacher asked for some to use in his study lamp. Another man needed to lubricate a wheel. Since all the requests seemed legitimate, the lighthouse keeper tried to please everyone. Toward the end of the month, his supply of oil was dangerously low. Soon it was gone, and the light on the lighthouse went out. That evening a passenger ship ran ashore, wrecked and lives were lost. When the authorities investigated, the man said he was just trying to be helpful! But to him they replied, "You were given oil for one purpose, and one purpose only - to keep that light burning!" Paul is telling his Son in the ministry, “There is no end to the demands placed on a minister’s time and resources. But you have one purpose in the church and that is to keep that light burning!”
BUT don't you worry because God’s Purpose for you is always bundled with His Grace! You did not earn that grace nor did you have to buy that grace, Timothy! Your mother, Eunice did not pay for it with her tears nor did your grandmother, Lois pay for it with her prayers! But it was a gift - verse 9, “given to us in Christ Jesus before time began.” Ephesians 1:4 says, “For God chose us in Him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in His sight.” Jesus said in John 15, “You have not chosen me, but I have chosen you…” Paul teaches that because you were chosen, "Share with Me! - Share with me in Prison - Share with me in Power - Share with me in Purpose!
