This August marks the tenth anniversary of my walk with Christ. And with each passing year, the more time that goes by, the more I feel drawn to share Christ with others. However, more often than not, I can’t seem to get out of my own way. I sat in a discipleship class on spiritual warfare in which the question was raised; What is the poison on the tip of Satan’s arrows in your life? My answer: Fear. Fear of rejection. Fear of not knowing enough. Fear of not having all the right answers. Deep down inside, I know these are nothing more than lies from the enemy. After all, I have the Spirit of God in me, so I know that I have nothing to fear. Nonetheless, this is my daily struggle.
For this reason, I chose 2 Timothy 1:3-14 to teach over. What follows is just as much, if not more, for me than it is for anyone else.
3 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, 9 who saved us and called us to a holy calling, not because of our works but because of his own purpose and grace, which he gave us in Christ Jesus before the ages began, 10 and which now has been manifested through the appearing of our Savior Christ Jesus, who abolished death and brought life and immortality to light through the gospel, 11 for which I was appointed a preacher and apostle and teacher, 12 which is why I suffer as I do. But I am not ashamed, for I know whom I have believed, and I am convinced that he is able to guard until that day what has been entrusted to me. 13 Follow the pattern of the sound words that you have heard from me, in the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus. 14 By the Holy Spirit who dwells within us, guard the good deposit entrusted to you.
So what do we know about the context of the passage? We know that Paul is writing from prison to his protégé Timothy leading the church in Ephesus. Paul likely wrote this letter sometime around A.D. 66 or 67 when Christians were heavily persecuted under Emperor Nero. In his letter, Paul seemed to know that his life would end soon, and this is the last of His letters in the New Testament.
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
Paul encourages Timothy to “fan into flame,” the gift from God that is in him. I am reminded of a conversation with a certain pastor who once told me that you wouldn’t expect to get stronger without exercising. That is to say, that to build muscle, you need to exercise. The same is true when it comes to our spiritual gifts and when it comes to our relationships with Christ.
Likewise, it is also said of muscles that if you don’t use them, you lose them. I am not suggesting in any way that your salvation can be lost, but we have all experienced times when we seem to fall away. Times when we let the flames die down. From my own experience, these are the times when I feel furthest from the Lord. As a campfire dwindles, the world quickly becomes dark and cold.
And so we see Paul reminding Timothy to continue fanning the flames and to stay sharp in his ministry.
7 for God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control.
It’s not completely clear exactly what fear Paul was referring to hear. Was it that Timothy had a particular disposition towards timidity and fear? Was it fear that stemmed from the increasing persecution of the Roman Empire? John MacArthur suggests that Timothy’s fear may have been the result of hostility and resentment toward his leadership in the Ephesian church or the assaults of false teachers. Perhaps it was all of the above. All we can be sure of is that Paul wanted to clarify to Timothy that this fear was not from God. It is a simple truth that God has spread throughout scripture.
fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand. (Isaiah 41:10)
Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid. (John 14:27)
do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. (Philippians 4:6-7)
Paul continues to tell Timothy that God gives up a spirit of power and love and self-control rather than a spirit of fear.
He gives power to the faint, and to him who has no might he increases strength. Even youths shall faint and be weary, and young men shall fall exhausted; but they who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint. (Isaiah 40:29-31)
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law. (Galatians 5:22-23)
And if we know that God does not produce fear in us, but rather power, love, and self-control. How then do we walk in that? How do we overcome fear?
I am currently going through a men’s study on the life of David. We are only a couple of weeks in, but we gather every Saturday morning and look at the life of David and what it means to be a man after God’s own heart. Week two was the story of David and Goliath. Chapter 17 of 1 Samuel has one of my new favorite verses from the Old Testament. Goliath had spent 40 days taunting the Israelite army. Likewise, the Israelite army had spent 40 days cowering in fear of the giant that stood nearly ten feet tall. But then this kid David, who’s likely between 15 and 19 years old, shows up, and what is his first response? In verse 26, just as soon as he shows up on the scene, David says, “For who is this uncircumcised Philistine that, that he should defy the armies of the living God?” It’s as if David was saying, we’re God’s chosen people, the Philistines are not, so what do we have to fear. David had his eyes fixed on God, and he knew how God had delivered him in the past, and so he was able to stand fearlessly before the giant.
Similarly, this is what we see Paul saying to Timothy. Just as the circumcision was the covenant sign of God’s chosen people in David’s day, in Paul and Timothy’s day, as well as today, the sign of God’s chosen people is the presence of His Spirit in their lives. It is not a spirit of fear but of power and love, and self-control.
So do not be afraid to exercise your gifts. But do so boldly, fanning the flames that burn inside you.
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
Paul then instructs Timothy that because he can live boldly and fearlessly that he should not be ashamed of the gospel and that he can also expect to share in the suffering for the gospel. It’s another point that scripture makes abundantly clear that the Christian walk is not easy.
“If the world hates you, keep in mind that it hated me first. If you belonged to the world, it would love you as its own. As it is, you do not belong to the world, but I have chosen you out of the world. That is why the world hates you. Remember what I told you: ‘A servant is not greater than his master.’ If they persecuted me, they will persecute you also. If they obeyed my teaching, they will obey yours also. (John 15:18-20)
Indeed, all who desire to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted, (2 Timothy 3:12)
Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery trial when it comes upon you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you. But rejoice insofar as you share Christ’s sufferings, that you may also rejoice and be glad when his glory is revealed. (1 Peter 4:12-13)
So yeah, you can expect to see some rough waters while exercising your gifts. There will be some who seek to douse the flame as you try to fan it. But you are not alone.
But it is by the power of God that we can share in His suffering. It is the same power that we just talked about in verse 7. Yes, God indeed calls us all to suffer as we walk with Him, but it is also by His immeasurable grace that He gives us the power and the strength to endure.
9 who saved us and called us to a holy calling, not because of our works but because of his own purpose and grace, which he gave us in Christ Jesus before the ages began, 10 and which now has been manifested through the appearing of our Savior Christ Jesus, who abolished death and brought life and immortality to light through the gospel, 11 for which I was appointed a preacher and apostle and teacher, 12 which is why I suffer as I do. But I am not ashamed, for I know whom I have believed, and I am convinced that he is able to guard until that day what has been entrusted to me. 13 Follow the pattern of the sound words that you have heard from me, in the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus. 14 By the Holy Spirit who dwells within us, guard the good deposit entrusted to you.
Paul wraps up this section of his letter to Timothy by reminding him of the gospel. He reminds Timothy that God placed him right where he was for His purpose and according to His plan. A plan that He set in motion before time began. A plan that was made possible in the life, death, and resurrection of Christ.
Lastly, Paul reminds Timothy that he is not charging him to do anything that he wouldn’t or hasn’t already done. Suffer for the gospel Timothy, just as I have. Exercise your gift with boldness Timothy, just as I have. Fan the flames and guard the good deposit entrusted to you.
So to wrap up, Paul is writing to Timothy in this passage to encourage him to continue in his mission, courageously with love and self-control, to embrace and not fear the suffering and persecution that will inevitably come his way, and to do it all for the gospel of Christ.
So my charge to you is to do the same whatever your God-given gifts may be, use them to fan the flames that burn inside you. If your gift is service, then serve; if teaching, then teach. If your gift is that of giving, then give; if mercy, then be merciful. Or whatever your gift may be, exercise it and let it grow. And do so fearlessly and in love that comes from the Holy Spirit.
Do not fear, but stand up to suffering and persecution. Jesus said that the world would hate us because it first hated Him. So don’t be surprised when suffering and persecution comes your way, but rather rejoice in the honor and the privilege to suffer alongside your king Jesus.
Above all, remember the gospel. Remember that you were chosen before the foundation of the world to serve and to honor Him who made you. To bring Him glory, no matter what he calls you to, and no matter the cost.