Opening: Paul, as he penned this letter to the young man, Timothy, was facing death. Timothy he knew was facing persecution!

Transcription

1 Title: Timothy Text: 2 Timothy 1:1-6 Opening: Paul, as he penned this letter to the young man, Timothy, was facing death. Timothy he knew was facing persecution! Quote: "The church was entering a new phase of its history. The postapostolic years were giving way to the persecution years. For the next three centuries, Christians would face savage outbursts of persecution under ten different [Roman] Caesars. The age of tolerance was over, and the age of tribulation had begun. Drastic changes and terrible dangers faced the Christian community throughout the Roman world." - John Phillips To understand the relationship which Paul and Timothy had it is necessary to go back to the beginning. It all starts in Acts chapter 14: Paul and Barnabas were on their first missionary journey when they came to Timothy s hometown of Lystra. (We should note that in Acts 13:13 Paul is disappointed by another young man, John Mark, who gives up doesn t #Continue - and leaves Paul & Barnabas.) When Paul and Barnabas arrived in Lystra, the Bible tells us that they preached the Gospel. (Acts 14:7) Paul then healed an impotent man. The people of the city took Paul and Barnabas to be gods because of this miracle and desired to worship them. Paul took the opportunity to point the people to the living God, which made heaven, and earth, and the sea and all things that are therein (Acts 14:15) Religious individuals certain Jews came from Antioch and Iconium who stirred up the city against Paul. They drew Paul out of the city, stoned him, and left him for dead. Paul arose and went on to the next city to preach the Gospel. As Paul and Barnabas wrapped up their first missionary journey, the Bible tells us Confirming the souls of the disciples, and exhorting them to continue in the faith, and that we must through much tribulation enter into the kingdom of God. Acts 14:22

2 This would have been Timothy s first exposure to the Apostle Paul. On Paul s second missionary journey, as he travels through Lystra once again, Paul enlists Timothy to join him. Turn to and read Acts 16:1-3. Paul, I believe, was determined that the same thing not happen to Timothy that happened to John Mark back in Acts 13. Timothy 1. A young man dearly beloved by Paul (1:2) a. Paul had a Christ-like love for Timothy, as he did for many others such as Luke, Barnabas, Philemon and the Christians in Rome and in Philippi. b. Paul s love for these individuals came as a conscious choice to invest himself in others. c. Paul saw potential in young Timothy and he was willing to invest his time and energy into young Timothy so that he might realize that potential. Quote: Everyone has potential! d. Parents, do you see the potential that dwells within your children? e. Teachers, do you see the potential that dwells within your students? f. Church members, do you see the potential that dwells within those that are seated around you? g. Church members, do you see the potential that dwells within those young people that ride our buses? Do you see the potential that dwells with our teenagers? h. Do you love others enough to invest in them? Are you willing to invest your time and your energy into others? i. Seed Sowing Saturday and giving out Gospel tracts is an investment. ii. Project: Follow-Up is an investment. iii. One-on-one discipleship is an investment. iv. Being a bus worker, a Sunday school teacher/worker, a Master Club leader is an investment.

3 i. May I encourage you to do something even this morning? If you really see the potential in these young people, why don t you take the first step and introduce yourself to them and ask them what their name is? That will lead us to the second point this morning 2. A young man prayed for by Paul (1:3) a. Paul prayed for Timothy without ceasing both night and day! b. One of the greatest investments that you can make in others is to pray for them. c. Church family, who are you praying for? Are you praying without ceasing? Are you praying both night and day? d. Thinking about our young people for just a moment May I encourage you to pray for these young people? That s why I challenged you earlier to introduce yourself to one of them and find out what their name is. That will make praying for them so much easier! e. So, how should you pray for them? Paul gives us a good template in Colossians chapter 1. Turn to and read Colossians 1:1-3, i. Be a pleasing Christian. ii. Be a fruitful Christian. iii. Be a knowledgeable Christian. iv. Be strong in the Lord. v. Be a joyful Christian. vi. Be a thankful Christian. 3. A young man whom Paul greatly desired to see (1:4) a. When you come to the end of your life there is one thing that becomes more precious than anything else - people! b. Especially those whom you have invested in! They that fear thee will be glad when they see me; because I have hoped in thy word. Psalm 119:74 c. I can tell you this Do you want to have an eager desire to get to church on Sundays? Then invest in others! d. Over these past several weeks I can tell you that there is one thing that Mrs. Crawford has missed probably more than anything. She has missed being with the kids in her Sunday school class and in Master

4 Clubs. Do you know why? She has invested in them! She greatly desires to see them! e. Do you want to know who it is that is excited to see the bus kids come to church on Sundays? It is those who have invested in them! Note: Let me say here that, if you are not willing to invest in others, the least you could do is encourage those who are willing to invest in others. Encourage our bus workers, encourage our Children s Church workers, encourage our Sunday school teachers, encourage our nursery workers 4. A young man of faith (1:5) a. Paul was glad that Timothy had genuine real faith because that was only kind of faith that would withstand the storm that was beginning to break upon the church. b. Because of that Paul was trying to stiffen Timothy s resolve and fortify his faith to endure the coming persecution. c. Do you have genuine faith? Do you have real faith? Have you exercised your faith by trusting Jesus finished work on the cross for your eternal salvation? Have you experienced the promise of life which is in Jesus Christ? d. If you re a Christian but you find that your faith in God is a little shaky, let me encourage you to get your Bible out tomorrow morning and start walking with God asking Him to strengthen your faith. Our world is getting more wicked with each passing day. If we re going to make it, our faith in God and in God s Word must be strong! Be strong and of a good courage, fear not, nor be afraid of them: for the LORD thy God, he it is that doth go with thee; he will not fail thee, nor forsake thee. Deuteronomy 31:6 Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness. Isaiah 41:10 5. A young man with a calling (1:6)

5 a. It would have been easy I m sure - for Timothy to give up. His spiritual mentor was facing death. Things weren t getting easier. They were becoming more difficult. b. Paul reminded Timothy that God had a calling on his life. Paul had taken part in Timothy s ordination into the Gospel ministry. Timothy had a purpose to live for. He needed to #Continue! Paul had seen others walk away from serving God and he didn t want to see Timothy do that. i. God has a plan for each of you. God has a plan for each of you to be used in and through the local ministry of South Charlotte Baptist Church! But God hasn t called me! My answer to that is simply, You re not listening! Because He s calling! ii. Walk so close to God that He can show you His plan for your life. iii. Be willing. iv. Don t give up. Keep stirring it up! Closing: #Continue. Are you a Paul or a Timothy? Are you someone who could and should be investing in the lives of others? Are you an individual who needs to be challenged encouraged to continue? Regardless, we need a strong faith in God and His Word! But continue thou in the things which thou hast learned and hast been assured of, knowing of whom thou hast learned them; 2 Timothy 3:14 Announcements: 1. Today is Pastor Scott s birthday. Let s sing him Happy Birthday!