#4 - WHEN YOU THOUGHT THE CHRISTIAN LIFE WOULD HAVE BEEN EASIER - Biblical Help For The Rough Spots On The Journey

WHEN A FEARFUL FUTURE ROBS YOUR PRESENT OF JOY

2 Timothy 1:3-8 - "I thank God whom I serve, as did my ancestors, with a clear conscience, as I remember you constantly in my prayers night and day. [4] As I remember your tears, I long to see you, that I may be filled with joy. [5] I am reminded of your sincere faith, a faith that dwelt first in your grandmother Lois and your mother Eunice and now, I am sure, dwells in you as well. [6] For this reason I remind you to fan into flame the gift of God, which is in you through the laying on of my hands, [7] for God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control. [8] Therefore do not be ashamed of the testimony about our Lord, nor of me his prisoner, but share in suffering for the gospel by the power of God....”

Consider some of the things we know about Timothy:

a)  He was much younger than many in the ministry - "Don't let anyone look down on you just because of your youth."

b)  He was subject to frequent illnesses - 1 Timothy 5:23 - "No longer drink only water, but use a little wine for the sake of your stomach and your frequent ailments.”

c) He wept when Paul left him alone in Ephesus - 2 Timothy 1:4 - "As I remember your tears, I long to see you, that I may be filled with joy.”

d) Timothy was emotionally prone to bouts of fear and worry - 1 Corinthians 16:10 - "When Timothy comes, see that you put him at ease among you, for he is doing the work of the Lord, as I am.” Paul had to tell people to put Timothy at ease.

2 Timothy 1:6-7 - "For this reason I remind you to fan into flame the gift of God, which is in you through the laying on of my hands, [7] for God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control.”

First, Paul says there is something Timothy himself must do - vs.6 - “fan into flame the gift of God....” And second, Paul says there are resources God has given - vs. 7. Paul says God has given Timothy “power and love and self-control.” I want to look at the second part first and close with the first.

1) THERE ARE RESOURCES GOD HAS GIVEN FOR THE FUTURE

2 Timothy 1:7 - "....for God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control.” Paul says God has given Timothy (and us) the resources of power, love and self-control. Let’s look at each of these three gifts from our Heavenly Father. They’re precious beyond telling. We’ll look at one this week and two more next Sunday night.

A) IN CHRIST WE ARE GIVEN POWER

Now think back for a minute. What I said in the first message in this series - that misconceptions about the gospel will haunt and harm us farther down the road in our Christian walk - is so applicable here.

Paul tells Timothy that he has to bring certain truths to mind - "Timothy, you seem to be thinking about yourself, and life and the challenges ahead of you as if you were still just an un-resourced person. But Timothy, you have been born of the Spirit of God. God is in you. Timothy, what matters now is not what is true of you, with all your weaknesses and limitations. What matters now is what’s true of God!"

The natural man is filled and dominated and controlled by his temperament. Not so the Christian. The Christian has a temperament. But He is dominated - propelled - empowered - by the Spirit of God.

I think this concept helps explain some difficult words from the ministry of Jesus. Here are some words that are confusing to many - Matthew 23:8-9 - “But you are not to be called rabbi, for you have one teacher, and you are all brothers. [9] And call no man your father on earth, for you have one Father, who is in heaven.”

What can these words mean? Are they just a slap on the wrist to Roman Catholics and those who use more formal religious titles? I have come to think there is much more than that going on in Jesus’ words. Verse 8 reminds us that no earthly authority replaces or overrules our one teacher, Jesus Christ, our Lord.

In the same way verse 9 reminds us that while we certainly have earthly fathers (and mothers) our nature and destiny isn’t ultimately determined by earthly heritage and relationships.

Please let this register. In Christ Jesus we have - actually have - a new Father. Our lives are certainly influenced on a certain level by the genes we inherit. But the power of God is so effective and pervasive that what God has called you to become is given by our Divine Father in fashion that is much more powerful (remember - we’re still talking about Paul’s Words to Timothy about being given power from God instead of fear) - that power is more effective in shaping your future than anything else about you.

It's significant that when Paul talks about the things that mark the person in Christ, the first thing he talks about is power. There's power for the weak, power for the timid, power for the abused, power for the widowed, power for the abandoned, power for the stressed out and busy. Power for the disappointed.

Paul says to Timothy - "I know you're young. I know you're fearful. I know you're naturally timid. I know that nobody even knows what happened to your father (he’s not mentioned anywhere in the New Testament) - or how young you were when he was out of your life. But I want you to know, my young brother, those aren't the determining factors about you. You have been given power to overcome, and power to endure. You’ve been given power to suffer, and, if need be, power to die. Don't measure your life by your own power any longer or circumstances any longer!”

That’s a great place to stop pack up that truth to take home from church and pray about it all week!