Tearing Down the Walls
II Timothy 1:3-14
We have a problem with walls. Aside from holding up the roof – what is the purpose of a wall? What walls do we have that separate us from the world today? Walls of fear, walls of inadequacy, walls of insecurity, walls of self, and walls of sin.
Three wall in particular – Fear (timidity), Self, Security -
The good news is that God has told us that -”(2 Cor 10:4 NASB) for the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh, but divinely powerful for the destruction of fortresses. God has empowered us to Tear Down the Walls.
Timothy was in a similar situation. Charged with spreading the Gospel in a hostile culture. Timothy needed encouragement to tear down his walls and let his light shine.
1) We tear down the walls of Timidity by working in the power of God. How many of you feel timid about sharing your faith with others? It is only human to fear rejection or retaliation. Maybe people will think were crazy or weird. Human beings have a fear of being different, singled out. We care what people think of us. We long to be accepted and loved. Its about self-concept but we can overcome our fear. Paul says “God has not given a Spirit of Timidity (or fear) but a Spirit of
Power = Dunamis - supernatural power, explosive power
Love = Agape - supernatural love- Love drives us on.
Discipline = so -fron-is-mos - Self-Control - It’s a decision we make.
All to overcome the fear or Timid nature within us.
Theodore Roosevelt said “Far better it is to dare mighty things, to win glorious triumphs, even though checkered by failure, than to take rank with those poor spirits who neither enjoy much nor suffer much because they live in the gray twilight that knows not victory nor defeat.”
2) We tear down the walls of self when we recognize our calling.
Self- consciousness, selfishness, inadequacy all fall down when we take seriously the words of Paul in v 8-9. Do not be ashamed - Join with me in suffering - for God has called us with a Holy Calling - according to His purpose and Grace.
Paul said in his letter to the Romans “I am not ashamed of the Gospel for it is the Power of God unto salvation.” Paul calls us to get out of our comfort zones - and risk suffering because God has called us.
Henry Ward Beecher reminds us that “Consecration is not wrapping one’s self in a holy web in the sanctuary and then coming forth after prayer and twilight meditation and saying, “There, I am consecrated.” Consecration is going out into the world where God Almighty is and using every power for his glory.”
3) We tear down the walls of security by trust in Christ
I know whom I have believed - and am convinced
Stepping out of those comfortable places that we have built takes trust in God.
Trust that He will not fail - Trust that His power is sufficient - Trust that He is able.
We have that trust only as we build a relationship with Jesus Christ. When you begin to know whom you have believed - built a relationship with Jesus Christ -- you will be convinced (beyond a shadow of a doubt) that He is able to guard that which you entrust to Him.
