2tim1v6-11

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READ: 2 TIMOTHY 1:1-18 PASSAGE: v6-11 [SERIES #2]

Having written words of fond introduction to his dearly beloved son/faith, Paul gets down again to business

Always remember as we read this letter, that it is Paul’s last
He himself is aware of it (4:6) and it does add a sense/poignancy
It also adds a sense of urgency
We read of some in the Bible that they set their house/order before they died – Paul seems to be doing this in spiritual sense
I do not expect to die today or even soon
None of us really do
But still, we should have that sense/urgency about us
Paul write elsewhere: “Time is short” (1 Corinthians 7:29)
There is so much still to do and so little time to accomplish it
We only get one crack of the whip in this life
What we have here is not a dummy run or a dress rehearsal
This is the real thing and we ought to work it to the full
Let it be that we when we look back, it will be with no regrets
Paul claimed that he served God from his forefathers with a pure conscience – he didn’t that through time wasting
Perhaps we have been a little slovenly in our approach hitherto
As regards the past, there is little that we can do
For we must needs die, and are as water spilt on the ground, which cannot be gathered up again (2 Kings 14:14)
But we can make the most of what we have left

3 main thoughts emanating from our passage:

1) THE OBJECTIVE BASIS OF THE WORK OF GOD:

A/ We need to define this big word “objective”
Being objective is to come dispassionately to a group of facts
It relates to something outside of yourself
It stands alone without any cultural or personal baggage
A man on a jury is meant to be totally objective
All personal thoughts and prejudices are put aside
He has a hard, cold objective look at the evidence before him
B/ In this passage, Paul sets forth some objective truths that form the basis of the work of God
Without these things, there would be no work of God
We would have no message to proclaim to sinners

These are Bible truths which stand independent/man’s feelings
Of course, we are to warmly embrace them and love them
Of course, they are to inspire us and bring joy/happiness
But they stand alone in their own right
If salvation depended upon our enjoyment/assurance of it, then we would at times be lost!
But we can say today: "Be my feelings what they will – Jesus is my Saviour still"

C/ First objective truth here that is the basis of the work/God is the doctrine of the sovereignty of God
This is a wide doctrine since God is sovereign in:
creation, providence and salvation
Here the emphasis is on the theme of salvation
“…according to His own purpose and grace”

Whatever God does or allows to happen is according to His own purpose – it is to holy ends that ultimately serve Him
Of course, there are a million “what if…” questions out there
The issue is far bigger than we can grapple with
Faith lays hold on verses like this

In His sovereign grace, God called His people with a holy calling
Here is the doctrine/salvation
He drew us to Himself on a holy basis
He did not draw us to whitewash our sin or deny it
He drew us out of our sin to live holy lives for Him
Anything less denies that this calling was a holy calling
Anything less causes God to be a partaker in our sins
But He calls to live for His glory and we can’t do that in sin

This is a wonderful truth that nearly blows our mind
When did God so purpose these things?
Away before the world began
Had it be afterwards, then we would be tempted to think that it was in response to something good that we had done
That would compromise (deny) the whole concept/grace
But when God drew up His plans, even though He saw me in my black, vile, guilty and hell deserving sins, yet He set His grace upon me and decreed to draw me to Himself

D/ Another great objective truth (linked) is the appearing of our Saviour Jesus Christ who abolished death and brought life and immortality to light through the gospel (v10)

We have already spoken of the purposes of God
Which are? To have a redeemed people praising him
But the people He so wants have sinned and condemned
Hence there is a rescue package here
This is called here the gospel

Simply put it is this:
We needed a Saviour
Jesus Christ (God’s Son) was the only One to qualify
He abolished death for His people
Yes, we die physically, but even it is but the gateway to Glory
He brought life and immortality to light through the gospel

Some of the cults hold that there was no immortality before 33AD – this is not what is being taught
It was brought to light –into the open and explained – but there had always been immortality
When Abel died – he went to heaven to be with Christ
Enoch was translated that he should not see death

E/ This is what is identified (v6) as the testimony of our Lord
This is the gospel itself
This is the message that shook the Roman Empire from end/end
You remember the furore that came on the heels of the Apostles going to Thessalonica
And when they found them [Paul and Barnabas] not, they drew Jason and certain brethren unto the rulers of the city, crying, These that have turned the world upside down are come hither also; (Acts 17:6]

This is the kind of preaching that so effected the world
It is still going strong today even in the roughest places
There were 10 great persecutions against the early church when she was in her infancy – but the church did not explode or implode but grew mightily
Islam could not wipe it out nor Romanism nor Communism
Evolutionary atheism is fighting a losing battle against it
Whether it was Joseph Stalin’s type of atheism or the smiling and slick face of Richard Dawking’s atheism is immaterial
Jesus said (on the basis of these/similar words)
I will build my church etc., (Matthew 16:18)

F/ Of course, there are many other doctrines all tied in
Paul isn’t giving a list of the fundamentals/faith
But he does give us a basis for what we are about

The word Christian must have a basis/foundation
Otherwise it is as worthless as that man’s house built on the sand when the fierce winds/storms beat upon it
This is why we spend a lot of our studies on doctrinal issues
This is why we teach the Shorter Catechism etc.,
If our doctrine is pure then all else can follow
If our doctrine be impure, then we are greatly impeded

2) THE SUBJECTIVE BASIS OF THE WORK OF GOD:

A/ Remind you that the word objective refers to doctrine
Doctrine stands whatever the feelings might be
Jesus Christ is God Incarnate no matter if it fails to grip me
He is no more nor no less God whether I am excited or not

But doctrine, although objective, is not meant to be a cold thing
Truth sets men free and puts a new song in their heart
Truth enflames the soul and energises it
Paul didn’t get thrown into prison/beheaded because he ticked the wrong boxes in a questionnaire at a wrong time
No! These doctrines had gripped his soul
He was like a man possessed – but possessed the right way

Being subjective then relates to the feelings/emotions
Although we put it secondary, yet it is important
Only secondary because we need something to be moved about
But having got truth in its purest form, we do need to be moved
Never settle for an academic acceptance of the gospel

B/ Paul takes up some of the feelings that he/believers have as a result of believing the gospel and applying it to our souls

[i] First emotion, he actually dismisses i.e. the spirit of fear (v7)
Commentators differ as to what causes this spirit/fear
Most link it back to the idea of a timid, cowardly spirit
We are not called upon to be timid/gospel and cowards
Paul wanted Timothy to stir up his preaching gifts (v6)
What! In this present climate?
What! When there is much opposition to the message?
What! When Stephen, James have been martyred
What! When Paul himself knows that his day has come?
Yes, says, Paul – do not have a spirit of fear
Such is not of God – rooted rather in the flesh
Jesus Christ made it clear what the Christian must do
And when he had called the people unto him with his disciples also, he said unto them, Whosoever will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me. (Mark 8:34)

[ii] What God has given us: Spirit of power
First thing that rushes to our heads is this:
“I couldn’t do it!”
Tell me – Who is confident about being crucified?
Even when/if we take it figuratively?
Who can easily think bearing reproach for the gospel’s sake?
Who can think about prison camps – where relevant?
Yet, we know from relative history and even contemporary information (like China) that Christians still met/meet together even when banned from doing so and at risk of torture
How can they do it?
Ans:- God’s power gives them a fearless spirit

[iii] God gives us the spirit of love
Love for Himself first of all
Love for others – Christians and unsaved alike

[iv] God gives the spirit of soberness
Having expounded the spirit of power that God gives, Mr Calvin goes a little further and says:
"But why did he afterwards add love and soberness? In my opinion, it was for the purpose of distinguishing that power of the Spirit from the fury and rage of fanatics, who while they rush forward with reckless impulse, fiercely boast of having the Spirit of God. For that reason he expressly states that this powerful energy is moderated by “soberness and love,” that is, by a calm desire of edifying."

I have seen fanatics at work
Perhaps even in a younger day when zeal and knowledge had not matched up yet nor (adapt Scripture) kissed each other, I was probably of a somewhat fanatical spirit myself
I think Calvin (and Paul) maybe had more than youthful zealots in mind – they are thinking of false teachers and their claims
But such are not of God
Bible religion is measured though effective
It trusts God as well as keeping its powder dry
It is regulated by the clear restraints of God’s word
Notice here that it is one spirit of these 3 virtues
Some men are totally fearless, but they are not regulated by love nor by sobriety and they do more harm than good

C/ But there is something else that is to be put away
Another emotion that comes into play
We are not to be ashamed (v8)
Not ashamed of the message of the gospel
Not ashamed of those who proclaim it
Reverse the exhortation: We are to be immensely proud
We are to set these things/folk forward as the things that please us no end - another subjective part/gospel

3) THE PRACTICAL BUILDING UPON SUCH BASIS:

A/ We have seen the objective side of things:
The great doctrines that we believe
We have seen the subjective side of things
We are to be animated by a spirit, not of fear, but of power and of love and soberness or a sound mind
It is important that the gospel impact our thoughts etc., but only in the right way and that we be not carried away outside/Bible

B/ leading on from both is a very practical matter which we have called: The practical building upon such basis
Paul gets down to it almost immediately

In v6 he sets about reminding Timothy of the need to stir up the gift that was in him – imparted through the hands of Paul and also (1:4:14) the hands of the elders/Presbytery
This gift was the ministry of preaching the said gospel

We need often to be reminded of our responsibilities
Easily forgotten about – lost in many other duties
Always good to go back and review these things
Perhaps you had an earlier zeal in something
Is it lost? Has it be replaced by something else?
Let’s get back onto the agenda once again

We need to stir ourselves up to do it
Others can only stir us up to a certain point
But the final act comes from ourselves
It is not wrong to be all stirred up
Notice how Peter did to Christians at large what Paul did here to Timothy in particular:
This second epistle, beloved, I now write unto you; in both which I stir up your pure minds by way of remembrance: (2 Peter 3:1)
This isn’t specialised stuff between pastors
This is just general things applied to the pastorate

C/ Paul himself is not unmindful of his own responsibilities
He articulates them for us in v11
He himself has been appointed as a preacher, apostle of these things and commissioned to teach them to the Gentiles

If we were to press on into v12, we would see that he had faithful to his charge – even despite paying a heavy price
But let this suffice us:
Paul did what he exhorted others (including us) to do
He is not urging us on from the grandstand or the touch line
He is on the pitch itself
Even though he is imprisoned doesn’t mean that his ministry is over and that he can sit back

This letter is a proof in itself
Not licking here his wounds like an injured and captured animal
He is in the act of writing and causing those still on the outside to remember and to be stirred up
He is enunciating great Bible truths so that we can study them
He wants Timothy to be a faithful pastor of his flock

He tackles potential problems like cowardice and shame
What problems abound when God’s people get timid
We should not equate bravery necessarily with strong and loud language – sometimes such is only a cover
People may be of a quiet disposition and yet be exceedingly brave
What problems abound when people get ashamed of the gospel
It is the first step to denial and rejection

This [morning] let us heed these words of Paul
Let us remember what God has called us to do
Let us stir ourselves up to serve God

If ever these days are needed, then it is in these last days
They are days of declension even in Evangelical circles
It is the wicked world that is in revival
It seems to be enjoying its greatest revival in centuries!
It is the people/God who are on the retreat
Can we not break this wicked cycle and retake old ground and take new ground for the first time for Jesus Christ?
Only you and I can answer these questions

THE END

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