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20220828_Morning
CHRISTIAN HERITAGE. II Timothy 1:1-7. 08/28/2022. #01.
1 Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, according to the promise of life which is in Christ Jesus, 2 To Timothy, a beloved son: Grace, mercy, and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord. 3 I thank God, whom I serve with a pure conscience, as my forefathers did, as without ceasing I remember you in my prayers night and day, 4 greatly desiring to see you, being mindful of your tears, that I may be filled with joy, 5 when I call to remembrance the genuine faith that is in you, which dwelt first in your grandmother Lois and your mother Eunice, and I am persuaded is in you also. 6 Therefore I remind you to stir up the gift of God which is in you through the laying on of my hands. 7 For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.
1. Introduction
a. Paul had written 1 Timothy after he was released from house arrest in 64 AD (his appeal to Caesar)
b. Now Paul finds himself rearrested after Christians were blamed for the fire of Rome (64 AD)
c. By 66 AD, Paul is in a cold dungeon (the Mamertine)
a1. Paul knows that his time is short
a2. He wants to write Timothy one last time
d. Paul’s purpose in writing Timothy was to strengthen him
a1. Paul was cold, lonely, and bored, so he wanted Timothy to bring some friends, his coat, and books
a2. Paul assures Timothy that he is going to his reward, so this is not a sad time
2. Heritage
a. Paul again emphasized that he was called to be an apostle by the will of God, not of man
a1. Paul had not sought out Christ or the apostleship (God does the choosing)
a2. Timothy was also call by God
b. Paul assures Timothy of his affection for him (“son”)
c. Paul could honestly say that he prayed for Timothy every single day (a pure conscience in saying this)
d. Paul states that he served God faithfully just as his forefathers before him had done
a1. Paul was raised by faithful parents
a2. The heritage of faith goes back far in his line
e. Paul reminds Timothy that his grandma and mom were faithful believers before him (his dad was Greek)
a1. The heritage of faith was passed to him
a2. Timothy was raised in the faith
f. Christian heritage is a precious and rare blessing
a1. Few people are raised by godly parents
a2. Fewer come from a long line of believers
a3. To be ingrained with Bible truths from the youngest age is an advantage and trust
a4. Godly upbringing = cherished and used
g. Paul and Timothy bemoan (tears) their separation and their soon earthly parting
a1. As it should be = the work goes on
a2. Sorrow will culminate in reunion
a3. Paul is confident that Timothy will stay true
h. Paul reminds Timothy that he is grounded and equipped
3. Emboldened to the task
a. Paul wants Timothy to focus on his heritage and calling
b. Stir up (lit., kindle, set on fire; rekindle; English Words pyrotechnic, pyromaniac…) gifts in you
a1. Eliminate all doubts and hesitation (boldness)
a2. Must master our own doubtful and insecure personalities that plague our faith
a3. The gift was in Timothy for it was given him by God and confirmed by the laying on of hands
c. Battle against self-doubt is intense
a1. Must choose to obey even if unsure
a2. Know the right choice and follow it
a3. Ignore or subdue fears and uncertainty
d. Just as we must choose holiness against fleshly desires, we must choose obedience above fears
e. Believers have not been given a spirit of fear (cowardice, timidity), shrinking before evil (II Peter 1:1-11)
f. Paul states that believers have been gifted 3 things:
a1. Power (might; English = dynamo) – 2 Corinthians 10
a2. Love (charitable love) motivates a desire to witness of your faith (2 Cor. 5:12-15)
a3. Sound mind (rationality, soberness, self-control, reasonableness) = faith logic
g. We have the tools; but we must decide to use them
Key Verse: 2 Peter 1:1-11
1 Simon Peter, a bondservant and apostle of Jesus Christ, To those who have obtained like precious faith with us by the righteousness of our God and Savior Jesus Christ: 2 Grace and peace be multiplied to you in the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord, 3 as His divine power has given to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him who called us by glory and virtue, 4 by which have been given to us exceedingly great and precious promises, that through these you may be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust. 5 But also for this very reason, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue, to virtue knowledge, 6 to knowledge self-control, to self-control perseverance, to perseverance godliness, 7 to godliness brotherly kindness, and to brotherly kindness love. 8 For if these things are yours and abound, you will be neither barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. 9 For he who lacks these things is shortsighted, even to blindness, and has forgotten that he was cleansed from his old sins. 10 Therefore, brethren, be even more diligent to make your call and election sure, for if you do these things you will never stumble; 11 for so an entrance will be supplied to you abundantly into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.