Stay the Course 01
August 7, 2022

Be Faithful

2 Timothy 1:1-14 (NLT)

Mick Veach | Lead Pastor | first aired on 08.07.2022

I. Introduction

Read Scripture
Greetings from Paul

1 This letter is from Paul, chosen by the will of God to be an apostle of Christ Jesus. I have been sent out to tell others about the life he has promised through faith in Christ Jesus.

2 I am writing to Timothy, my dear son.

May God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord give you grace, mercy, and peace.

Encouragement to Be Faithful

3 Timothy, I thank God for you—the God I serve with a clear conscience, just as my ancestors did. Night and day I constantly remember you in my prayers. 4 I long to see you again, for I remember your tears as we parted. And I will be filled with joy when we are together again.

5 I remember your genuine faith, for you share the faith that first filled your grandmother Lois and your mother, Eunice. And I know that same faith continues strong in you. 6 This is why I remind you to fan into flames the spiritual gift God gave you when I laid my hands on you. 7 For God has not given us a spirit of fear and timidity, but of power, love, and self-discipline.

8 So never be ashamed to tell others about our Lord. And don’t be ashamed of me, either, even though I’m in prison for him. With the strength God gives you, be ready to suffer with me for the sake of the Good News. 9 For God saved us and called us to live a holy life. He did this, not because we deserved it, but because that was his plan from before the beginning of time—to show us his grace through Christ Jesus. 10 And now he has made all of this plain to us by the appearing of Christ Jesus, our Savior. He broke the power of death and illuminated the way to life and immortality through the Good News. 11 And God chose me to be a preacher, an apostle, and a teacher of this Good News.

12 That is why I am suffering here in prison. But I am not ashamed of it, for I know the one in whom I trust, and I am sure that he is able to guard what I have entrusted to him[a] until the day of his return.

13 Hold on to the pattern of wholesome teaching you learned from me—a pattern shaped by the faith and love that you have in Christ Jesus. 14 Through the power of the Holy Spirit who lives within us, carefully guard the precious truth that has been entrusted to you. —2 Timothy 1:1-14

A. Paul is writing the younger Timothy near the end of his life and we will see through this letter that Paul knew he was at the end

  1. He was a prisoner in Rome
  2. He had already been before Nero, the ruthless persecutor of Christians
  3. His declaration to Timothy is more about personal conduct and behavior than the ministry given by God
  4. Written sometime in the 60s AD

B. Overview of the letter

  1. Chapter 1—Be Faithful
  2. Chapter 2—Endurance is possible because we are approved by God
  3. Chapter 3—It may appear godless but stay the course
  4. Chapter 4—Preach the Word

C. The parallels to the church today is becoming more apparent

  1. We must be faithful regardless of our current situation
  2. Endurance is granted because of our relationship with Jesus
  3. Godlessness is growing at a supersonic speed but we must stay the course
  4. Our response is to continue to Preach the Word

D. Question: What does faithfulness look like?

  1. Staying consistent regardless of the challenge
  2. Gal. 6:9—We are promised a harvest if we don’t quit
  3. Staying true to your Word and commitment

E. The world is looking for a people that stay faithful to what they declare as true

II. Paul describes Faith to Timothy

A. Faith is

Reveal Answer
— verses 5-7

  1. Paul sees the faith of Lois and Eunice in Timothy—v. 5

  2. How is faith passed on?

    a. Living example
    b. Sharing together
    c. Praying together
    d. Worshipping together
    e. Serving together

  3. Please recognize TOGETHER

  4. Timothy made this faith, HIS faith

    • Verse 6 — His faith remains strong only if he continues to fan the flame

  5. What does it look like to fan the flame?

    a. Filling your spiritual cup daily
    b. Being filled daily with the Holy Spirit
    c. Giving most attention to your faith
    d. Worshipping and Serving

  6. It is this faith that will enable Timothy to live out his faith in the most impossible challenges

  7. Verse 7 — Faith is weakened by fear and timidity; God has given you:

    a. WRITE OUT your fear on a sheet of Paper and surrender it to Jesus at the altar
    b. Power—to live your faith out all days of your life

    • Acts 1:8 — Power to be his witness
    • 2 Peter 1:3 — Power to live a godly life

c. Love—to love God with everything and to love yourself and finally to others even those who do not love you

  • Mark 12:30-31 — Love God with all your heart, soul, mind and strength

d. Self-Discipline—sound mind enables you to not respond and react to the ways of the world

  • I John 2:5-17 — Do not love the world

Key Point—Faith that is lived out is contagious

B. Faith is

Reveal Answer
— verses 8-11

  1. Do not be ashamed to tell others about our Lord — verse 8

a. The reason we may be ashamed is

i. Fear of rejection
ii. Acceptance from others is too important to many of us

b. This fear is not from God

c. The more open you are with your faith the easier it becomes

  1. Suffering will occur with living and sharing your faith — verse 8

    a. You will be able to stand by HIS strength
    b. You must decide today to live for him

  2. We are no longer the accepted ideology of our culture

    a. You will be despised and hated

    i. Matthew 10:22
    ii. Luke 21:17

  3. We will be able to share our faith if we live out what is commanded—live holy lives — verse 9

    a. Gospel of grace—free gift of salvation
    b. Gospel of God’s eternal purpose—God has been reaching out to us since the beginning
    c. Gospel of Life and eternal life
    d. Gospel of Service

  4. Jesus has broken the power of death and given us good news to share — verses 10-11

Key Point–Faith is for everyone and we must share it with everyone

C. Faith is

Reveal Answer
— verses 12-14

  1. Verse 12 — Paul is not ashamed of the gospel—why?

    a. He knows the one whom He has trusted his life
    b. He is sure that He will guard what he has entrusted to him
    c. He is confident that He is returning

  2. What gives Paul this type of boldness and courage?

    a. Personality?
    b. Intimacy with Jesus
    c. Experience with Jesus
    d. Power of the Holy Spirit
    e. Perspective

  3. Do you believe that God desires to give you boldness and courage?

  4. The foundation of this living is rooted in TRUTH

    a. Verse 13 — Hold to the pattern of wholesome teaching

    i. Keep learning (disciple)
    ii. Keep reading
    iii. Keep studying

b. There needs to be teachers—Paul is this for Timothy

  1. The motivation to hold to the pattern of truth

    a. Faith and love in Jesus—v. 13
    b. A passion for Jesus will be the motivation to keep leaning into Him

  2. How will we hold onto TRUTH?

    a. Verse 14 — through the power of the Holy Spirit who lives in us

  3. Our faith is not driven only by emotions but by absolute truth. This is foundation that Jesus preached about

  4. Living out Truth will cause people to abandon you

Key Point—Faith is rooted in TRUTH and will stand forever

III. Call to Action

1. Disciples make disciples—decide to make disciples for Jesus

2. Determine to share your faith with whomever the Lord places before you

3. Build your faith on the Truth of God’s Word

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