Sep 4, 2022. II Timothy 1:8-12

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NOT ASHAMED OF THE GOSPEL. II Timothy 1:8-12. 9/4/2022. #2.

8 Therefore do not be ashamed of the testimony of our Lord, nor of me His prisoner, but share with me in the sufferings for the gospel according to the power of God, 9 who has saved us and called us with a holy calling, not according to our works, but according to His own purpose and grace which was given to us in Christ Jesus before time began, 10 but has now been revealed by the appearing of our Savior Jesus Christ, who has abolished death and brought life and immortality to light through the gospel, 11 to which I was appointed a preacher, an apostle, and a teacher of the Gentiles. 12 For this reason I also suffer these things; nevertheless I am not ashamed, for I know whom I have believed and am persuaded that He is able to keep what I have committed to Him until that Day.

1. Paul’s urgent admonition

                a. Paul loved Timothy and had confidence in him

                                a1. “My beloved son”

                                a2. Philippians 2:19-23 Paul had no man like Timothy who would take care of needs of Philippians church

                b. Paul did not doubt Timothy’s faith, commitment to Christ, or desire to serve the Lord

                c. Paul was concerned about Tim. lack of courage

                                a1. “Let no one despise your youth”

                                a2. “Reignite the gift within you”

                                a3. “You have not been given a spirit of timidity, but of love, power, and reason”

                d. Tim.’s reluctance to be bold and to face opposition caused Paul to pressure him to stand firm

2. No shame in Christ

                a. Paul urges Tim. not to be ashamed to witness

                                a1. Not to be ashamed to identify with Paul, who was imprisoned for Christ

                                a2. To be willing to suffer along with Paul

                b. Those who seek to avoid ridicule and threats will never be bold witnesses for Christ

                                a1. Avoiding pain = also avoiding testimony

                                a2. Witnessing and opposition go together

                c. Luke 9:23-26 Christ ashamed of those ashamed of him

                d. Tim. was a great servant of Christ, but an introvert

                                a1. Paul states that he had to lay aside his fears and doubts in order to obey the Lord

                                a2. Self-focus is self-defeating

                e. God used many shy, reluctant people

                                a1. Esther was afraid to approach the king

                                a2. Jer. thought that he was too young

                                a3. Moses couldn’t speak well

                                a4. Mark fled from his first mission’s encounter

3. Focus above

                a. Tim. had the wrong focus

                                a1. To worry what would happen to him when he testified of Christ neutralized his witness

                                a2. Tim. had to get his mind off himself

                b. Paul instructs Tim. to focus outwardly

                                a1. Paul and Tm. = partners in ministry and suffering

                                a2. Use the power of God in him to persevere

                                a3. A holy calling given from before time began

                                                b1. Not dependent on our works

                                                b2. Dependent on purposes of God

                                a4. Christ suffered that we might be saved and empowered to do his will

                                                b1. Given immortality in Christ

                                                b2. Service is small gratitude to return

                c. Paul used himself as an example

                                a1. He was called, appointed a preacher and an apostle in order to teach the nations of Christ

                                a2. As a saved and called one, he has a sacred trust to keep the faith entrusted to him

                                a3. Paul believed that all that he committed to the Lord would be kept until His return

                d. Paul was not ashamed of his calling, for the Lord bore the shame of the cross for him

                                a1. Focused on ministry entrusted to him

                                a2. God would protect him until he was done, strengthen him when attacked, and reward him when he exited this present life

                e. Paul wants Tim. to focus on Lord and not his safety

                f. All believers are entrusted with a calling to keep

Key Verse: Luke 9:23-26

23 Then He said to them all, “If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross [a]daily, and follow Me. 24 For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will save it. 25 For what profit is it to a man if he gains the whole world, and is himself destroyed or lost? 26 For whoever is ashamed of Me and My words, of him the Son of Man will be ashamed when He comes in His own glory, and in His Father’s, and of the holy angels.