2 Timothy 1:1-12 10/15/23 A.M.
Have you ever second guessed yourself? Have you ever thought, “Man I messed up”? Have you ever had BUYER’S REMORSE? I have. “What in the world was I thinking when I bought that?” or “I should have shopped around a little more before I spent the money.” Have you ever been there? I have.
ILLUS: I was reading about a young feller who was a city boy and moved to the country. He wanted to be a farmer but he didn’t have much money. But one day he saw an ad for a MULE. It was just $40. He went and looked at it and it was old and worn out, but .. for $40, he could be a farmer. So he bought the mule with the agreement that the farmer would deliver it the next day. So early the next morning the farmer showed up and opened the tailgate of the trailer and there lay the mule DEAD. The old farmer felt bad and said he was sorry that he guessed it died on the way over. The young feller said “Well, just give me my money back.” The farmer said he couldn’t because he had already spent it. So he tied a rope around the mules legs and then around a tree and told the farmer to pull it out. The farmer said “OK, but I don’t know what you’re gonna do with it.” A week later the farmer saw the feller in town and asked him what he did with it. He said, “Oh, I raffled it off. I sold 100 tickets for a dollar a piece and made $100.” The farmer said, “Didn’t somebody complain?” He said, Yeah, the guy who won but I gave him his dollar back.” Folks, THAT’S how you keep from having BUYER’S REMORSE!!!
Paul wrote this second letter to Timothy somewhere around 64 or 65 A.D. Just a little over 30 years after Jesus was crucified. I think it’s really important to understand what was going on in Paul’s life at this time. He was right around my age. Late 50’s. It’s really hard to know but Paul had started somewhere between 14 and 20 churches. He wrote at least 13 books of the New Testament. And here he is writing his last book. His last letter to Timothy. You see, as Paul wrote this he is setting on Death Row in a prison cell in Rome, Italy. In Verse 6 of Chapter 4 of this book he says,
“For I am now ready to be offered, and the time of my departure is at hand.”
So here’s my question for you, do you think this OLD APOSTLE had any regrets? You see, Paul had BOUGHT IN to this Jesus Movement. All the way from the Road to Damascus to this PRISON CELL he had kept on preaching the Gospel. Do you think he had buyers regret? To answer that question let’s look at the first Chapter of 2 Timothy. We’ll read Verses 1-12.
“Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, according to the promise of life which is in Christ Jesus,
2 To Timothy, my dearly beloved son: Grace, mercy, and peace, from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord.
3 I thank God, whom I serve from my forefathers with pure conscience, that without ceasing I have remembrance of thee in my prayers night and day;
4 Greatly desiring to see thee, being mindful of thy tears, that I may be filled with joy;
5 When I call to remembrance the unfeigned faith that is in thee, which dwelt first in thy grandmother Lois, and thy mother Eunice; and I am persuaded that in thee also.
6 Wherefore I put thee in remembrance that thou stir up the gift of God, which is in thee by the putting on of my hands.
7 For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.
8 Be not thou therefore ashamed of the testimony of our Lord, nor of me his prisoner: but be thou partaker of the afflictions of the gospel according to the power of God;
9 Who hath saved us, and called us with an holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began,
10 But is now made manifest by the appearing of our Saviour Jesus Christ, who hath abolished death, and hath brought life and immortality to light through the gospel:
11 Whereunto I am appointed a preacher, and an apostle, and a teacher of the Gentiles.
12 For the which cause I also suffer these things: nevertheless I am not ashamed: for I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded that he is able to keep that which I have committed unto him against that day.”
These last few months my siblings and I have been cleaning out my mom and dad’s house getting it ready to sell. We’ve found a lot of interesting stuff, not just from their life together, but from my grandparent’s and even my great grandparent’s life. But one thing we found was a lot of letters. Letters from my grandpa to my grandma when he was in bootcamp. She was at home with three kids and he was preparing for WAR over in Europe. But in these letters there were so many personal things that they said to one another that I felt like I was almost intruding on their PRIVACY. Well, he went off to war and after being severely injured in Belgium, he made it home.
But as I read this first Chapter of 2 Timothy, Paul’s last letter to a young man he LOVED liked a son, I see a SOLDIER preparing to go home. I see a man who had NO REGRETS, NO SECOND THOUGHTS, for his decision to follow Jesus. And I think he really wanted to INSTILL this into young Timothy’s mind. He wanted him to keep on preaching even after he was gone.
And that’s exactly where some of us are at this morning. Rachel and I are there. Leah’s getting married next Saturday, Abby’s almost 18 and Silas will be an adult in a few years, so before long, we’ll be done raising kids. WOO HOO right.
But listen, I feel a sense of URGENCY for them to know, and for you to know, that I would do it all over again. I would still ACCEPT JESUS as my SAVIOR. I would STILL SERVE HIM. And I would still accept His call to preach. Why?
Well, that’s what I want to talk to you about today. But before we get into this message, let’s go to the Lord in Prayer.
Brother ____, would you lead us?
So let’s look at this personal letter that Paul wrote to Timothy. First of all I see the GREETING to Timothy.
In Verse 1 Paul begins with these words.
“according to the promise of life which is in Christ Jesus” Something I’ve noticed talking to folks as they near the end, the PROMISE of ETERNAL LIFE gets more and more important the closer they get to the end of this EARTHLY LIFE. Paul’s time on this earth was growing short and he knew it. But he also knew that HEAVEN was getting closer. You see, our ETERNAL LIFE isn’t going to be like this life. Where we experience JOY but also SORROW. HEALTH but also SICKNESS. No, our ETERNAL LIFE will be free from SORROW and SICKNESS and Paul knew this.
In Verse 2 Paul sends Timothy GRACE, MERCY and PEACE from God the Father.
In Verse 3 he tells Timothy that he has a PURE CONSCIENCE and that he CONTINUALLY PRAYS for this young man as he serves the Lord there, in the City of Ephesus.
In Verse 4 he tells him how much he would LOVE to see him again before he heads on up to Heaven.
And then in Verse 5, Paul says some nice things about Timothy’s mother Eunice and grandmother Lois. These ladies had taught and instilled Godly teaching into young Timothy.
In Verses 6 and 7, Paul encourages Timothy to be BOLD. You know some people don’t seem to have a problem with this. They are confident and sure of themselves. But I don’t think Timothy was one of them. When you read the two letters that Paul sent to him, it seems that Timothy may have been a little bit TIMID. He had a HUGE RESPONSIBILITY of leadership over the area and churches of Ephesus. Paul tells him,
“Listen Timothy, God has given you a GIFT. He has CALLED YOU to be HIS MINISTER. So don’t be SCARED. He has given you the SPIRIT of POWER, LOVE and he’s also given you a SOUND MIND. You’re SMART TIMOTHY. You can do this.”
Just a little side note here. You can do ANYTHING that God calls you to do. He doesn’t call the EQUIPPED, He EQUIPS the CALLED. He’s NOT gonna ask you to do anything on your own. He will ALWAYS be there for you. Too many times people let their own Fears and their own Shortcomings keep them from doing what GOD has called them to do.
Then in Verse 8, Paul tells Timothy that if he USED the courage that God gave him, then he wouldn’t be ashamed to TESTIFY for the Lord Jesus Christ. Listen, here in this day and age, I don’t think we really understand how hard it was to be a FOLLOWER of someone who had DIED on the CROSS of CALVARY by Roman Capitol Punishment. Back then it was a shameful thing to SUPPORT someone who had died as a CRIMINAL. A lot like it would be today.
You see, we’ve made the CRUEL form of ROMAN EXECUTION something to be THANKFUL FOR. People WEAR a chain with a cross around their neck. It has become a SYMBOL for our SALVATION. We sing about CHERISHING the OLD RUGGED CROSS. But back in Timothy and Paul’s day, that wasn’t the way it was. What kind of CRAZY PERSON would be a FOLLOWER of a CRUCIFIED MAN?
And so today we’re still called to be a follower of Jesus. And here in America that’s not a BIG DEAL is it? Especially down South here in Oklahoma. But what about actually following the TEACHINGS of Jesus. That’s where people might think we’re a little bit crazy. When we don’t TALK like the rest of the world. When we don’t go the same PLACES as the world. We don’t DRESS like they do. We actually show LOVE and instead of HATRED for people who don’t agree with us. EVEN ON FACEBOOK. Now THAT will make you LOOK CRAZY when you can show the LOVE of JESUS, instead of MEANNESS even on FACEBOOK.
But Paul tells Timothy to not be ashamed of following Jesus. Paul wasn’t and you and I shouldn’t be either.
Because, according to Verse 9-11, He’s the One who has SAVED US. He’s the ONE who called us into HIS WORK. He knew each one of us before the world was even created and He knew what JOB He would call us to do. And by HIM we can have ETERNAL LIFE. Paul’s calling was to bring the message of Jesus to the Gentile people. And that’s what He did.
And that get’s us up to Verse 12 which is what I want to preach out of today.
“For the which cause I also suffer these things: nevertheless I am not ashamed: for I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded that he is able to keep that which I have committed unto him against that day.”
“For the WHICH CAUSE I also suffer these things: NEVERTHELESS I am NOT ASHAMED”
All of these things that Paul just mentioned is why he is setting there in that Prison Cell. All of the things he just mentioned is why he would soon face the Chopping Block. But that didn’t make one bit of difference to Paul, he was NOT ASHAMED. In Luke 9:26 Jesus said,
“For whosoever shall be ashamed of me and of my words, of him shall the Son of man be ashamed, when he shall come in his own glory, and in his Father's, and of the holy angels.”
You know what folks, there are probably some people who would say they are ASHAMED to know me. There are probably some people who would be embarrassed if others knew that they went to church here at one time. Some might DENY that they ever met me. But there is ONE who I don’t ever want to be ASHAMED of me. That’s the Lord Jesus Christ. I stand here today proclaiming His name.
Earlier in Romans 1:16 Paul proclaimed
“For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth”
Now how about you today? Do your friends and even acquaintances KNOW that you are a FOLLOWER of Jesus? Can they TELL by the way you live your life or have you kept it a SECRET?
ILLUS: I read about a lumberjack years ago who went to town over the weekend and got SAVED. He met the Lord Jesus Christ. But come Monday morning he had to go back up into the hills to the lumber camp. The next weekend he was back at church and the preacher asked him how it went. He said, “Oh, really good. I don’t think one single feller ever guessed that I had become a Christian.” Folks, that’s not the way it’s supposed to be.
And now I’m down to my message. It took me long enough but this is what I want preach to you today. Paul said I’m not ashamed because #1.
I. I KNOW WHOM I HAVE BELIEVED.
Paul didn’t say I know OF a fellow named Jesus. He didn’t say I’ve HEARD about Him. I met Him once a long time ago.” NO!!! he said “I KNOW HIM. I have a PERSONAL RELATIONSHIP with Him. He spoke to ME on the Road to Damascus. And since that time I’ve spoken with Him everyday. He’s with me everywhere I go. He has changed my life and I’ll never be the SAME AGAIN!!! I KNOW HIM!!! and I WILL NOT be ASHAMED of HIM!!!”
You know what folks. When you know someone in a personal way, you know ALL ABOUT THEM.
You know if they are HONEST or if they are a LIAR.
You know what’s in their HEART and what’s IMPORTANT to them.
You know if they have your back or if they will RUN AWAY when the going gets TOUGH.
Listen folks, do you know ABOUT JESUS or do you really KNOW Him? Because I believe there are churches all over America and the world today who are FULL of people who KNOW about Jesus but they don’t KNOW HIM.
I believe the PULPITS are filled this morning with men and women who know ALL ABOUT this man called Jesus, they might bring a really nice uplifting sermon, but they don’t KNOW HIM.
Because if you really KNOW HIM, you know He can be TRUSTED. You know the HEART of GOD. You KNOW that He gave His only begotten Son to DIE on a CROSS for you. You know His LOVE for the world.
And you know He’s One that will stick closer than a BROTHER. Listen, if you KNOW ALL of these things then you WILL NOT be ASHAMED of HIM. Paul said, “Timothy, I KNOW WHOM I HAVE BELIEVED. And because of that I’m NOT ashamed of Him.” What about you this morning.
“for I know whom I have believed”
II. Now #2, “and am persuaded”
You know, to PERSUADE someone means: to cause (someone) to believe something, especially after a sustained effort; It means to CONVINCE.
You know as we read through the New Testament and all of the writings of the Apostle Paul, I think we sometimes forget the amount of time that passed between his FIRST ENCOUNTER with Jesus up until this point. Between 20 and 30 years had passed. A lot of miles down the road. A lot of sermons to PREACH. A lot of time for the Apostle Paul to EXPERIENCE the GOODNESS of God and a lot of time for Paul to be DELIVERED from some bad situations.
SHIPWRECKS where Paul was left floating in the open water but then God sent someone along and saved him.
It was a lot of time for Paul to be stoned and left for dead but then God lifted him up.
It was a lot of time for Paul to be setting in a PRISON CELL at midnight, singing PRAISES to God with Silas, and then an EARTHQUAKE comes along and SETS THEM FREE.
You see, in those 20 to 30 years Paul learned to TRUST in God. In those 20 to 30 years Paul was PERSUADED that God was someone he could TRUST. God had PROVEN HIMSELF time and time again.
There’s several people here today. Different AGES, different backgrounds, different circumstances. But whoever you are, whatever you’ve done. Wherever you’ve been, let me challenge you to TRUST GOD. Even when times are hard.
You see it’s EASY to trust God when things are good. It’s EASY to trust God when it’s smooth sailing but when the SHIP CRASHES and you’re floating on a broken piece of that ship, THAT’S WHEN GOD WILL REALLY PROVE HIMSELF. That’s what will PERSUADE YOU to keep on going even through the HARD TIMES.
III. “I am not ashamed: for I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded that he is able to keep that which I have committed unto him against that day.”
I was thinking about this. EXACTLY WHAT had Paul committed unto Jesus?
A. Well, he had committed his future to Jesus. Paul was a very educated man. He had been personally tutored by a fellow by the name of Gamaliel. He was both a Jew and a Roman citizen. He was an up and coming star in the LEADERSHIP of the Jewish people. He was a PHARISEE. And then Jesus called him and he left it all behind.
B. I think he had committed his FORTUNE to Jesus. In his letter to the church at Philippi, he says I know what it’s like to be ABASED and also to ABOUND. I know what it’s like to be HUNGRY and to be FULL. (Philippians 4)
He was probably doing quite well but then Jesus called and he left it all behind.
C. Finally he committed his ETERNAL SOUL to Jesus. Old Paul didn’t hold anything back did he? You see Paul says, “that which I have committed unto him against that day.” THAT DAY was coming up pretty quick. THAT DAY was the day that Paul would offer up his own body for the CAUSE of CHRIST.
You see, here we are 2000 years later and it’s easy for us to look at this and say, “Oh well, Paul was ready to go. No more suffering for him. What a great man of God he was.”
But we have to remember that PAUL was no different than you and I. He had LOVED ONES who cared about him and he cared about them. We know that he loved Timothy like a son and he probably hated to go. He had the NATURAL, GOD PLACED DESIRE, to live just like you and I do. You don’t think he DREADED the CHOPPING BLOCK just like you and I would? Of course he did. So what did he commit to Jesus? EVERYTHING. He committed everything to Jesus. He gave HIM HIS ALL.
Toward the end of this letter, over in Chapter 4 Verses 6-8, Paul says,
“For I am now ready to be offered, and the time of my departure is at hand.
7 I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith:
8 Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing.”
No, I don’t think Paul had any regrets. He wasn’t sorry that he BOUGHT IN to this Jesus fellow. Because this Jesus fellow was the REAL DEAL. He PROVED HIMSELF to be the SON of GOD. The MESSIAH. The BLESSED REDEEMER. He WAS who He said HE WAS. I love the way Verse 8 ends.
“Not to me ONLY, but unto ALL THEM also that LOVE His appearing.”
Do you see what Paul is saying here? He’s not the only one who will GAIN a CROWN of RIGHTEOUSNESS. No, others will too. Those who commit their ALL to Jesus can also have one. That’s me and that’s you. Can I tell you something today?
God is not in the BUSINESS of handing out Participation Trophies. You’re not a winner for just showing up at church. You’re not a winner by repeating some little prayer.
You’re not a winner by looking the part.
You’re a WINNER by giving God your all. Matthew 16:24
“Then said Jesus unto his disciples, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.”
I’ve been on this ROAD for a long time. Longer than most but less than some. And I have NO REGRETS. I’d do it all over again. No Buyer’s Remorse for Me. Let’s Pray
