Tyrone and his father decided to go camping one weekend. They got up bright and early and packed their things. Tyrone came downstairs with his bags packed and his father looked at him in amazement. His father said, “Boy we’re only going for two days.” Tyrone had packed as if he was going to his grandparents for spring break, he even pack his XBOX 360, as if he had a place to plug that in. After Tyrone unpacked a few things, he and his father were off to the camp site.
When they arrived they found a nice open area near the lake. They set up their tent and then they went fishing for dinner. His father caught four good size catfish, but Tyrone was so busy trying to find a plug for his 360, that he didn’t catch a thing. Later that evening they started a fire and begin cooking the fish. After telling a few campfire stories and getting down on some catfish, Tyrone and his father were sleepy (you know how we do). They kept the firing burning because it was cold outside, and eventually they fell asleep.
In the middle of the night Tyrone jumped up and he was shivering. Dad it’s cold, “What son?”, Tyrone said, “It’s cold!” His father noticed that the fire was barely burning, so he told his son to get some wood. Tyrone came back with some huge logs and put them in the fire, but the logs were so big that he almost put the fire out. His father said, “Those are too big, get some small twigs and then we will fan the fire.” Tyrone came back with some very small twigs and when he put a few on the fire they began to catch fire and so they started putting air on the fire by fanning it, the sparks caught the wood on fire, and then the flames got bigger. They were then able to put some bigger logs on the fire and stay warm for the rest of the night.
Now I hope everyone is doing well in their science class, but if you’re having a little trouble let me help you. Why were Tyrone and his father able to keep the firing burning? Okay, a fire needs three things to burn, and if anyone one of these elements is missing, then a fire can’t burn. A fire needs oxygen, heat, and fuel to burn (Now please take my word for this, don’t experiment at home). Just as we need oxygen from the air to breath, a fire needs oxygen from the air to breath as well. This is why Tyrone and his father starting fanning the fire, putting air on it, they were giving it oxygen.
Next, a fire needs heat. Heat can come from sunlight, a spark, friction, or another fire. The fire that Tyrone and his father had wasn’t completely out, they still had some heat, but it wasn’t enough to get them warm. Finally, fire needs fuel. Now for us fuel is food, some of ya’ll think McDonalds is fuel, but if you saw the documentary I saw, you wouldn’t even see what McDonalds serves as food. But anyway fuel to a fire is something that can be burned like paper, wood, gas, grease, things like that. Tyrone had to get some twigs to fuel the fire because the logs were too big and they actually smothered the fire by taking its oxygen away. But the twigs were small enough and sparks began to catch and consume the twigs so that the flames could get bigger.
Any questions from the class, science class is dismissed; now let’s go to Bible class. Tyrone and his father were dealing with a physical fire, but we want to talk about a spiritual fire, the type of fire that burns within our hearts and soul. Tyrone and his father needed to keep the fire burning so that they could stay warm through the night, but Christians need to keep the fire burning so that our relationships with God can stay warm and not get cold, because a cold relationship with God is a broken fellowship with Him.
Young people I want you to understand that a relationship with God isn’t just available to everyone over 21, but you too can an eye opening relationship with God as well. If I would have known the things I know now, I would have had a more committed relationship with God when I was younger, but thank God for mercy and grace that kept me long enough to experience the goodness of God.
In our text, Paul has written this letter to Timothy who was a young man. Do ya’ll still write letters in school? Well, Paul addressed his letter to Timothy, but this letter was also meant to be shared with Christians everywhere. Now, Paul was in prison when he wrote this letter, and this wasn’t the first time Paul had been put in prison, but this time Paul wasn’t going to be released. Paul wasn’t in prison for doing wrong, he wasn’t a suburban wanna be gangster, all he had done was spread the Word of God, which is what the Bible tells us to do. We have laws in this country we’re supposed to follow, and there are laws and rules at school that you have to follow as well. And the Bible tells us to obey the laws of the land, but when these laws and rules go against the Bible and God’s will, then we’re not suppose to follow them.
Paul didn’t obey when they told him to stop preaching the Word, and when you know that you’re doing something that’s pleasing to God, then don’t stop if you’re told to do so. They may have taken pray out of the school, but they haven’t taken pray out of you, so don’t be afraid to talk to your Father no matter where you are. So, Paul is in prison and he knows that he’s about to die for his faith, but he writes this letter to Timothy to encourage him to be faithful. Paul was lonely, uncomfortable, and tired while in prison, but it didn’t stop him from encouraging young Timothy.
You have parents who get tired sometimes, they have a lot going on, but when they take out time to encourage you and help you not make the same mistakes they did, then you need to pay attention and thank God for them. There are some children who have parents who don’t care anything about them. So when they spank you and fuss, not cuss, it means they love you.
Timothy was a young man and he hadn’t really been on his own before. He traveled and studied under Paul, but now he had to step up to the plate. Paul understood that in order for us to stay in this race of life that we need to keep the fire burning. The fire was lit when you decided to follow Christ, but we have to keep it burning. So Paul told Timothy to stir up the gift, in order words keep the fire burning, keep the spiritual gift alive that God has given you. Paul didn’t ask Timothy to restart a cold fire, he simply said keep the fire you have at full flame.
God has given us all special gifts and we have to use them for God’s glory if we want to keep the fire burning. The fire won’t continue to burn if we don’t add to the flame, and just as a physical fire needs three things to burn, we want to look at three things the spiritual fire needs to keep burning.
But before we look at these three things, we have to be aware of what will put out the fire and that’s fear. In the first part of verse 7 Paul says, “For God hath not given us the spirit of fear.” When we allow fear to take up residence in our lives, it will put out our fire. If God has not given us this spirit of fear, then where does it come from? We don’t have to think long and hard, satan is behind fear and he uses it take away those things that will keep our fire burning.
Knowing that fear doesn’t come from God, we should be encouraged and ignore fear when it stares us in the face. Fear is keeping someone from taking the SAT, because they feel they’re not college material. Fear is holding someone back from trying out for the basketball team. Fear is hindering someone from giving their life to Christ because they feel that they’ve messed up too much.
And fear doesn’t only affect young people, but adults as well. Fear is keeping somebody from applying for that promotion, because they feel like they’re not qualified for the position. Fear is stopping some single Christian brother from spitting his game to that God-fearing woman, but God has not given us the spirit of fear.
God has given us power, and this is one of the first things we need to keep the fire burning. It was something that Timothy was afraid of, but Paul reassured him that he had power from God to overcome his fear and use his gifts for God’s glory. Young people I don’t care what you face, God has given you the power to overcome. God supernaturally replaces any fear we have with boldness.
This power from God is supernatural, its also inherent power, this means that this power is inside of you just because of whose you are. This power will give you the ability to use your gifts even when satan makes you feel like it’s impossible. This power will allow you to talk to you’re friends about Jesus, even when they call you weird. This power will allow you to sing sweet melodies from heaven, when the world says you can’t sing.
One of the reasons our fires sometimes begin to go out, is because we forget that we have God’s power inside of us. It’s only because of His power that we’re able to live in a world such as this. Some people like to consider themselves as being strong, but the strength isn’t because of anything they’ve done, the power comes from God. If you want to keep the fire burning; if you want to be able to use to the fullest your gifts for God’s glory, then know that you have inside of you power from on high.
Not only do we need power to keep the fire burning, but the fire can’t burn if we don’t have love. Love is what separates God’s children from the evil world around them. Jesus said that everybody will know that you follow Him, if you have love for one another. First we must love God with all our heart, mind, and soul, and then we must love others just as we love ourselves. How can you catch other people on fire, if you don’t have love? Our spiritual gifts are effective when they’re used in love.
Love is becoming rare these days, so when you love, people can’t help but say there’s something special about you. Love is not just a word, but it’s an action. When everybody else is acting a fool in class, show your love to the teacher by acting like you have some sense. When others are ragging on that person whose parents can’t afford to buy them nice things, show your love by becoming their friend. Show your parents love by being obedient, and listening to their advice.
If we want to keep the fire burning, we need love. Love God and love the gifts that He’s given you. Love the Word of God. We no longer have the excuse that we can’t understand the Bible, because there are so many translations that help us to understand in modern language the Word of God (Be aware of some translation). You must also love the work that God has for you to do. Don’t let satan fool you, we all have work to do. Timothy wouldn’t have been able to be an effective leader in the church if he didn’t have love, and you won’t be able to make a difference at your young age, if there is no love inside of you. The fire can burn when love is present.
I’m getting ready to sit down, shut up, and be happy all by myself, but we want to look at one more thing that we need to keep the fire burning, and that’s a sound mind. A sound mind can be translated as self-control. If we don’t have self-control how can we be effective in using our gifts for God? How can you be a good leader at your school if you can’t control yourself; if you can’t control your attitude; if you can’t control temper; and if you can’t control your behavior? Self-control means you think, speak, and act in the right way and at the right time.
If we depend totally on Jesus, then we will find that self isn’t hard to control. Just because God has given us spiritual gifts, that doesn’t mean we can use them whenever we want. You can have the most beautiful voice in the world, but if the song in your heart isn’t the song God wants to use to minister to someone that Sunday, then have to learn how to sit down and shut up. A quick way to put out the fire is to step outside of God’s will, and I’m not telling you what I heard, but I know.
Without self-control we can put out the fire instead of stirring up the gift. Self-control is when the coach, our heart, takes self out of the game of life, and brings in God’s Spirit. Without self-control, young people you will find yourselves in a world of trouble. When there’s no self-control, you can’t stir up the gift. Without self-control your skills on the basketball court won’t mean anything, if you’re always jumping on the ref. Without self-control, sin will defeat us every time. Paul knew that Timothy had to exhibit self-control, especially when dealing with church folk. Self-control is a must, if you want to keep the fire burning.
From the dark prison cell, Paul encouraged Timothy to stir up the gift, and to keep the fire burning within. It doesn’t matter how old you are, if you have decided to follow Jesus Christ, then the fire was lit when that decision was made. Now you’re responsible to keep the fire burning, but you don’t need oxygen, heat, and fuel for this fire to burn. What you need is power from God, and you have to trust that His power will strengthen you and enable you to do whatever the job calls for. You need love, not love for the world, but love God and love for every person that walks this earth. And finally, you need self-control, because there’s a time for everything and self-control will keep us in the will of God...
