The Evidence of the Call of God from the Life of Timothy
II TIM 1:1-7
Introduction: There is a great mystery among God’s people about the call of God. Some people ask me "WHY SPAIN?" How do you know you are called to Spain? Why are you going to a country that you don’t know, to a people you don’t know, to speak a language you don’t know? Why would you do this? That is a VERY GOOD QUESTION!! Let me tell you why we are going to Spain. This is how it happened. I was in college, and one night I just needed to get outside and get some fresh air. I looked up in the sky, and there it was! The stars spelled out "S-P-A-I-N!!" Sometimes we wish it were that easy. Sometimes we think, "Well if God wants me to do something, He will strike me with a lightening bolt." NO, the ONLY reason Jill and I are going to Spain is because God CALLED US! And when we get to Spain, and times get tough as they will, and persecution comes, and it will, and when our flesh wants to come back home to America to Mom and Dad, and we will, there is only ONE THING that will keep us in Spain. And there is only one thing that will keep you right on track in your life. And that is THE CALL OF GOD. And so, WHAT IS THE EVIDENCE FOR THE CALL OF GOD IN OUR LIVES? For this answer we must go to Scripture. Please turn to II Timothy 1.
I. EVIDENT BY OUR FAITH II Tim 1:5 “I call to remembrance the unfeigned faith that is in thee”
When we think of the call of God, we must realize that it IS the call OF GOD! This call can never come from man, from a church, or from a friend. The call comes from a deep inner conviction of faith that it is GOD ALMIGHTY Creator of the Universe that has given the call.
Romans 10:17 So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.
1 Corinthians 3:6 I have planted, Apollos watered; but God gave the increase.
Habakkuk 2:4 Behold, his soul which is lifted up is not upright in him: but the just shall live by his faith.
Transition: God plants our faith, and usually He does it in various ways. First, it is . . .
A. BY THE FAITHFUL II Tim 1:2 “To Timothy, my dearly beloved son"
Paul had prayed for Timothy, preached to him and his family, and prepared and groomed him for the ministry. ACTS 14
You remember the one who pointed you to Christ?
Psalms 126:5 They that sow in tears shall reap in joy.
Acts 16:1 Then came he to Derbe and Lystra: and, behold, a certain disciple was there, named Timotheus, the son of a certain woman, which was a Jewess, and believed; but his father was a Greek: 2 Which was well reported of by the brethren that were at Lystra and Iconium. 3 Him would Paul have to go forth with him
B. BY THE FAMILY II Tim 1:5 "unfeigned faith . . . which dwelt first in thy grandmother Lois, and thy mother Eunice"
The real key to Timothy’s faith was not just missionary Paul. It was Missionary Grandma and Mom! The greatest mission field in all the world is not Spain or Russia or China. The greatest mission field is the HOME! JILL’S TESTIMONY
C. BY THE FATHER II Tim 1:9 “Who [God] 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”
1 Corinthians 3:6 I have planted, Apollos watered; but God gave the increase.
Philippians 2:13 For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure.
It’s not us who can bring faith to a person! We can plant, we can water, but GOD GIVETH THE INCREASE!
Transition: The call of God goes a step further. It is not only evident by our FAITH, it is evident by our FIRE.
II. EVIDENT BY OUR FIRE II Tim 1:6 “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.”
Insight: As Timothy grew in his faith, it was obvious that there was this certain overwhelming desire. And any one who is called into the ministry won’t be happy doing anything else. We can say with Paul in1 Corinthians 9:16, “For though I preach the gospel, I have nothing to glory of: for necessity is laid upon me; yea, woe is unto me, if I preach not the gospel!
A. THE FIRE IS CHRIST-GIVEN ”stir up the gift of God”
Insight: This fire in the soul is put there with God! It is not something we have done. Sometimes it seems as if God’s fire has been extinguished! You remember the fire in your soul? Let’s remember that this fire is THE GIFT OF GOD. All you have to do is ask for it!
1 Corinthians 4:7 For who maketh thee to differ from another? and what hast thou that thou didst not receive? now if thou didst receive it, why dost thou glory, as if thou hadst not received it?
B. THE FIRE IS CONSUMING ”stir up the gift of God”
Insight: The word stir up has the idea of kindling a fire. This fire is consuming. God’s call is something unavoidable.
Hebrews 12:29 For our God is a consuming fire.
Romans 11:29 says, “ For the gifts and calling of God are without repentance” so you can know that you will be miserable doing anything else. God created you for the ministry. They are without repentance, they are not going to change!!
Jeremiah 20:9 Then I said, I will not make mention of him, nor speak any more in his name. But his word was in mine heart as a burning fire shut up in my bones, and I was weary with forbearing, and I could not stay.
C. THE FIRE IS CULTIVATED ”stir up the gift of God”
Insight: The word “stir up” also gives us the sense of PERSONAL RESPOSIBILITY.
Psalms 35:23 Stir up thyself, and awake to my judgment, even unto my cause, my God and my Lord.
1 Tim 3:1 This is a true saying, If a man desire the office of a bishop, he desireth a good work. 2 A bishop then must be blameless . . . 6 Not a novice, lest being lifted up with pride he fall into the condemnation of the devil.
Illustration: BACK YARD BONFIRE. I had tried to start it, but it didn’t light. So I got an idea. I doused it with a cup of gasoline. OK, maybe it was more than a cup. But I poured a bunch of fuel on those branches! Here was this huge pile of branches soaked in fuel. I lit a match . . . . and what do you think happened? KABLOOM! Now there was a fire. I mean A FIRE! I had tried other fires before, but none burned like this one. You see after the gasoline died down, then the wind started blowing strong, and it STIRRED UP the fire!! There was such a fire that the neighbor’s thought my house was on fire. Then I saw a patrol care pull up to my house. I had told him I had called the city the day before and gotten permission for the fire. But he also wanted to make sure my house wasn’t on fire. Now if we are going to have a fire, we’ve got to cultivate it. You can’t go into the ministry with just a gasoline fire. You’ve got to stir up the fire. Use the gifts that God has given you. Get involved. Lead singing, study, preach, start a Bible study, do everything you can to stir up the gifts within you.
D. THE FIRE IS CONFIRMED 2 Tim 1:6 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.
When a person is called of God into the ministry, it is recognized by others. It is obvious when a person is called, and Paul was referring to Timothy’s ordination. Now Timothy was ordained first by God before he was ordained by men. It is God who first confirms our calling, and secondly men.
Transition: Now you may see the evidence of God’s call in your life: you may have FAITH, you may have FIRE, but in order for your call to be completed you must have the last essential ingredient: FOCUS!
III. EVIDENT BY OUR FOCUS II Tim 1:7 For God hath not given us
the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.
Deuteronomy 6:13 Thou shalt fear the LORD thy God, and serve him.
Insight: God says DON’T FOCUS ON FEAR, FOCUS ON . . .
A. POWER II Tim 1:7 “but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind”
Insight: So many are claiming to have power. I remember a meeting I heard about. Here was a man who was in an audience of thousands. He said, “Receive ye the gift of the Holy Spirit,” blew on his hand, and the multitudes fell into their seats as if it were some miracle. Come on! God’s power is not in some physical exertion of our power. God’s power is in a person! We need to get our focus on Jesus Christ!
Jesus said, "Without Me, ye can do nothing" (John 15:15).
Matt. 28:18 "All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth"
Romans 13:1 "For there is no power, but of God . . ."
I Corinthians 1:24 "Christ, the power of God . . ."
B. PASSION II Tim 1:7 “but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind”
Matthew 22:37 Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind.
Mark 12:31 And the second is like, namely this, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.
John 13:35 By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another. THE LOVE OF CHRIST CONSTRAINETH US!
C. PERSERVERENCE II Tim 1:7 “but of power, and of love, and of a
sound mind”
Insight: The words "sound mind" have the idea of “thought out, self-disciplined, well planned.”
2 Timothy 4:7 I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith:
2 Corinthians 10:5 Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ;
Col 3:1 If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God.
2 Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth.
3 For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God.
Conclusion: Gas Station cult illustration. If the cults are spreading their false doctrine without a call from God, how much more must we act on our call from God!! ARE YOU EXPERIENCING THE FAITH, FIRE, FOCUS OF GOD’S CALL?
