Scripture referenced 17 passages
The passage this message was preached from, in full, with every other passage it reached for.
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2 Timothy 1:1-2 Paul introduces himself as an apostle by the will of God, writing to Timothy his beloved son
1 Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ through the will of God, according to the promise of the life which is in Christ Jesus,
2 to Timothy, my beloved child: Grace, mercy, and peace, from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord.
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Keep this verse
2 Timothy 1:3-5
Paul thanks God, remembers Timothy in prayer night and day, and recalls the sincere faith in Timothy, his mother Eunice, and grandmother Lois
3 I thank God, whom I serve as my forefathers did, with a pure conscience. How unceasing is my memory of you in my petitions, night and day
4 longing to see you, remembering your tears, that I may be filled with joy;
5 having been reminded of the sincere faith that is in you; which lived first in your grandmother Lois, and your mother Eunice, and, I am persuaded, in you also.
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2 Timothy 1:6
Paul reminds Timothy to kindle afresh the gift of God within him through the laying on of hands
6 For this cause, I remind you that you should stir up the gift of God which is in you through the laying on of my hands.
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2 Timothy 1:7
God has not given us a spirit of timidity but of power and love and discipline
7 For God didn’t give us a spirit of fear, but of power, love, and self-control.
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2 Timothy 1:8
Do not be ashamed of the testimony of the Lord or of Paul as his prisoner, but join in suffering for the gospel
8 Therefore don’t be ashamed of the testimony of our Lord, nor of me his prisoner; but endure hardship for the Good News according to the power of God,
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2 Timothy 1:9
God saved and called us not according to our works but according to his purpose and grace in Christ Jesus from all eternity
9 who 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 times eternal,
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2 Timothy 1:10
Now revealed through the appearing of Christ Jesus who abolished death and brought life and immortality to light through the gospel
10 but has now been revealed by the appearing of our Savior, Christ Jesus, who abolished death, and brought life and immortality to light through the Good News.
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2 Timothy 1:11
Paul was appointed as preacher, apostle, and teacher of the gospel
11 For this, I was appointed as a preacher, an apostle, and a teacher of the Gentiles.
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2 Timothy 1:12
Paul suffers but is not ashamed, for he knows whom he has believed and is convinced God is able to guard what he has entrusted to Him until that day
12 For this cause I also suffer these things. Yet I am not ashamed, for I know him whom I have believed, and I am persuaded that he is able to guard that which I have committed to him against that day.
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1 Timothy 4:14
Do not neglect the spiritual gift received through prophecy when the elders laid hands on Timothy
14 Don’t neglect the gift that is in you, which was given to you by prophecy, with the laying on of the hands of the elders.
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1 Timothy 4:8
Physical discipline is of some value, cited in relation to the discipline God gives us
8 For bodily exercise has some value, but godliness has value in all things, having the promise of the life which is now, and of that which is to come.
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Isaiah 40:8
The grass withers, the flowers fade, but the word of our God stands forever, sung before worship song
8 The grass withers, the flower fades; but the word of our God stands forever.”
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Romans 1:16
I am not ashamed of the gospel, it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, read aloud during worship
16 For I am not ashamed of the Good News of Christ, because it is the power of God for salvation for everyone who believes; for the Jew first, and also for the Greek.
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1 Peter 2:22-23
Christ committed no sin, did not revile in return while suffering, but kept entrusting himself to Him who judges rightly
22 who did not sin, “neither was deceit found in his mouth.”
23 Who, when he was cursed, didn’t curse back. When he suffered, didn’t threaten, but committed himself to him who judges righteously.
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Hebrews 10:19-25
Used as benediction, confidence to enter the holy place by the blood of Jesus, holding fast the confession of hope, encouraging one another as the day draws near
19 Having therefore, brothers, boldness to enter into the holy place by the blood of Jesus,
20 by the way which he dedicated for us, a new and living way, through the veil, that is to say, his flesh;
21 and having a great priest over God’s house,
22 let’s draw near with a true heart in fullness of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and having our body washed with pure water,
23 let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering; for he who promised is faithful.
24 Let us consider how to provoke one another to love and good works,
25 not forsaking our own assembling together, as the custom of some is, but exhorting one another; and so much the more, as you see the Day approaching.
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2 Thessalonians 2:13
God chose you to experience salvation through the Spirit making you holy through belief in the truth
13 But we are bound to always give thanks to God for you, brothers loved by the Lord, because God chose you from the beginning for salvation through sanctification of the Spirit and belief in the truth;
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John 16:33
In this world you will have tribulation, but take heart, I have overcome the world
33 I have told you these things, that in me you may have peace. In the world you have oppression; but cheer up! I have overcome the world.”
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Recap
The message in order, in a few minutes of reading.
On the last Sunday of 2018, the pastor walked through the opening verses of 2 Timothy 1 as the church began a new series on Paul's final surviving letter. He showed why this deeply personal letter to Timothy is the right place to stand as the congregation looks toward a new year, grounded in the power, love, and discipline God has already given His people.
What was said
Paul writes from a Roman prison, likely sick, with winter coming, and facing the end of his life. Yet he opens by calling himself an apostle by the will of God and by the promise of life in Christ Jesus. The pastor pointed out that Paul does not credit his own effort or merit for where he is. Everything rests on what God has done and promised.
Before anything else, Paul greets Timothy with grace, mercy, and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord. The pastor held on that for a moment: Paul always opens this way, and it is worth imitating. Starting from a position of unmerited favor instead of suspicion or anger changes every conversation. Grace is getting what you do not deserve. Mercy is not getting what you do deserve.
The letter is unusually personal. Paul tells Timothy he prays for him night and day, that he longs to see him, and that he remembers his tears. He calls him his beloved son. The pastor said that this kind of specific, named encouragement matters, because to encourage someone is to fill them with courage to keep going.
Paul names Timothy's grandmother Lois and his mother Eunice as the source of a sincere, multigenerational faith. He says he is certain that same faith lives in Timothy. That recognition is itself the setup for what follows: on the basis of all that affirmation, Paul urges Timothy to kindle afresh the gift God has placed in him through the laying on of hands.
The reason Timothy needs that nudge is spelled out plainly. God has not given us a spirit of timidity, but of power, love, and discipline. The pastor walked through how different translations render that third word, from self-control to sound mind to wise discretion, landing on the Greek word that points to sound reasoning and prudent, sensible action fitted to the moment. The three together, dunamis power, agape love, and a disciplined mind, are what God provides. They are not things Timothy or anyone else has to manufacture.
Because those gifts are already in hand, Paul gives the first direct command of the passage: do not be ashamed of the testimony of our Lord. Fear and shame travel together, and Paul has just cut the root of fear. He then calls Timothy to join him in suffering for the gospel according to the power of God, reminding him that God saved them both and called them with a holy calling that rests entirely on God's own purpose and grace, not on anything either of them has done.
The pastor closed on verse 12, where Paul says he is not ashamed because he knows whom he has believed and is convinced that God is able to guard what has been entrusted to Him until that day. He connected this to a thread he noticed earlier in 1 Peter, where Christ himself kept on entrusting himself to the One who judges rightly. The posture Paul models, knowing, believing, being convinced, and entrusting, is the one he is asking Timothy, and the congregation, to carry into the year ahead.
Doing a Bible study?
Here is a guide we have prepared for you: the passages in order, questions for the group, and room to write.
- Paul always opens his letters with grace and peace, even when he has hard things to say. Where in your own relationships do you tend to lead with something other than grace, and what would it look like to change that?
- The pastor pointed out that to encourage someone is literally to fill them with courage to keep going. Who in your life right now needs that kind of encouragement, and what is holding you back from giving it?
and 3 more questions in the guide
Read the full transcript 7,877 words
0:00
Good morning, everybody. How are we? It's quiet this morning. You doing okay? Also, if this church were a scale, the whole church would flip over right now.
0:11
No. Thank you, Aaron. You didn't know I'm a worship leader and a comedian.
0:19
Hey. What do
0:20
you say we stand up? We're gonna continue on. Joy to the world.
2:21
Rules the world with truth and grace and makes the nations brew. And low peace of his
2:59
and y'all can have a seat. I have a few couple of announcements. It's going to feel like after everything that has been happening for the past month, it feels like things are starting to coast just a little bit around the church here. We are still having Monday nights at First B tomorrow night but it's going to be an extended session, New Year's Eve version of Monday nights. So, Chris Darren has been taking that on and it's going be kind of a party just starting around six or so and going until after midnight.
3:26
So, that's the idea for Monday nights tomorrow night. Awana. I'm a look at some Awana volunteers. It's off. There, thank you very much.
3:34
It's off tomorrow night. So, we'll start back up next week on Awana. So, there's no Awana this week, tomorrow night but there is a Monday night service and it'll be an extended session like I said. We have a congregational meeting coming up in two weeks. So, two weeks from today, in between services around 10:10 fifteen.
3:52
We have a congregational meeting to vote on the budget and new elders and that sort of thing. So, that's happening January 13. There's a men's winter retreat that's happened in January 25, twenty sixth, and twenty seventh. It's Kyle Knutson around somewhere? He's here somewhere.
4:12
So, yeah, the men's winter retreat is snowmobile retreat. That's happening the twenty fifth, twenty sixth, and twenty seventh up in Island Park, Idaho, Old Faithful Christian Ranch. I think it's $100 for adults and $50 for kids. So, that's the way that's going men's winter retreat, January twenty fifth to twenty seventh. There's a community Bible study prayer group that is meeting.
4:35
Community Bible study is going to be meeting starting January 16 and there will be a Wednesday morning session and the same subject matter in the evening session. So, they're two different times but the same coverage each week. So, Wednesday, starting January 16, 09:30 to eleven in the morning and 06:30 to nine and there will be childcare available in the morning if you want to come to that one. Anything I'm forgetting on that, Anne? Alright, it's growing.
5:01
It's going. Each is available to also. Men can come to the daytime one if you can swing that. Come on in for the daytime one. 09:30 to 11:30 and then the one in the evening is at 06:30 to nine.
5:16
Alright. Covenant ceremony. So, we have this morning. If any of y'all are here, we kind of hit it on a week where there are a lot of people who are joined to be members that are not going to be here But these folks are all coming in as new members. So Steve and Susie Baldock, Philip and Nancy Baxter, Anne Haydock, Sam Stevens, Jamie and Eula Monroe, Jim Reed, and Tim and Melanie Dalton.
5:41
I see Phil and Nancy. I think that we're gonna postpone our covenant ceremony until we get more of our ceremony members here. How about that? Yeah. Well, Mark, are you ready?
5:54
No? No? Phil and Nancy, come on up here. Is there anybody else on this list that's here right now? We don't run on protocol around here.
6:03
Y'all know that. So, Phil and Nancy, step on up. Now, there's, they have been with us for a long time. Do you want to just say something?
6:15
Yeah. We are Phil and Nancy Baxter and good morning, church. Snowy out there. We are we've been visiting for. Eight years.
6:30
Fifty way before right but anyway we are most excited about officially becoming a member members of this congregation so. We've we're excited to be here love the teaching love the fact that. It's all about the word and rate teaches word every every week so that's that really excites us. So. All of our kids are here.
7:02
In town. You may know some of them. Our daughter where is she she left. There she is our daughter's back and our son-in-law is Ryan. Block so anyway.
7:16
Yes.
7:18
I I just wanted to share a little bit about my journey. I grew up in another denomination. And when I was 20 years old, I went on a, college conference to Arrowhead Springs to Campus Crusade for Christ. And the speaker that night was a guy named Bill Bright, and he shared the gospel, and I had been looking for it my whole life long. And that night, I repented of my sins, and I made Jesus lord of my life.
7:51
And, he transformed me. The next day, went out and bought a Bible. It was the most interesting book I had ever read. The next day, I learned led a girl to Christ. The next day, he had changed my heart.
8:06
I was a little bit, maybe selfish and self centered, and all of a sudden, I started loving people. That led to me being a youth pastor in our our other church. I saw in the word that it said stir up the gift within you, and that led me to start teaching the Bible. And I've been a Bible teacher for almost forty years now. And, I guess one of my latest ahas is that we can't see the Lord.
8:44
We have to have faith in a person that we've never seen, but the Lord gave us his Bible. We can hold it. We can touch it. It's tangible, and we can know him, and it's transforming. And so, we're just so a few weeks ago, there was a magazine on our table, and it was from the Baptist Church, and it was all about evangelism.
9:09
And I looked at Phil, and I said, I think I'm a Baptist. So, just we love this church, and we love the people that we've gotten to know, and thank you.
9:25
So, I did not grow up in a, church home. It was a it was nice family, but, church was the furthest thing from our mind. And, I was dating a young lady in college. My junior year and she said I've just accepted Jesus as my lord and savior do you think I'm crazy. And I said no I don't think you're crazy.
9:54
And she said would you like to hear more about it I said well sure. So I went to a campus crusade. Outreach few weeks later. And for the first time. I heard the gospel of the true gospel.
10:12
In my heart and- I accepted Christ right there. That was fifty years ago. And it's been a long journey but along the way. I married that young lady she's right here. We've been married forty eight years and it's been.
10:33
Quite a thrill but. It's amazing. To come to the real realization that. You can have a relationship. With the true living God.
10:49
It's not just head knowledge. It's a true relationship and I was lucky enough after accepting Christ staff member of crusade took me under his wing and discipled me for a year. And, really, guys, I was as green as you could get. Scared me to death to figure out that you could actually pray with your eyes open while driving down the road. That was a totally new concept to me.
11:21
But, anyway, it's been, quite the journey. And, again, love being here. Love being with you guys.
11:28
So So, they both shared their testimony of accepting Christ and that's the that's the only bard of membership in this church is if you profess Jesus Christ as your savior. That's that's it. So, we welcome you upon your profession of your faith but we also wanna make some promises to you. So, Now, I'm nervous. Why is that?
11:54
As a church body, will y'all agree that you'll do all that you can to help in biblical instruction and serving Phil and Nancy Baxter. I think y'all been doing this already. They've been attending for eight years. But would y'all promise that you would do that? Yes.
12:10
For fourteen years? Yeah. For fourteen. Okay. So would y'all promise that you would do whatever is within your power to serve this body and this community through this church under the direction of the headship of Christ.
12:25
Amen. Well, I welcome you to Amen as members. Thank you. You. Love y'all.
12:34
That looks, that ceremony looks different every time we do it. There is not anything overly ophesious about it but if you're afraid of being a member because of the covenant ceremony, they just did it, right? They just did it. They just got through it. That seems to be something that people hang up on because we try to treat everyone that comes to the doors well and the same.
12:57
But thank you all and love you and thank you for serving the church too. Y'all can get up. How about this? Y'all get up and greet one another and we'll bring you back together with some.
13:43
And do We're We're you know that's not your name? You will always be much more than me. Every day, every day I wrestle with the voice and world. Bring your doubts. Bring your doubts.
15:17
Bring your And I'm learning to run freely from standing just how he sees me, man. Makes me love him more and more. Let's sing that again. On the days I'm losing Bible, grace says that it doesn't matter because the cross is already won more. And I'm learning to run freely on standing just how it sees me.
17:11
And it makes me love you more and more because I hear old. Because I hear almost and he calls me redeemed. I know to see I'll never be enough.
18:00
Amen. Can we pray on that? God, I thank you for these these songs that just scream out truth. Really, they scream out our identity in in you that greater is the one living inside of me. That's you.
18:13
And he who's in the world, that is the enemy. Thank you God for that. And truly, there are days that we lose the battle or we feel defeated, but we we are not defeated. The cross has won the war, and that is why we're here. There truly is victory in you.
18:29
God, may we walk in that victory. In Jesus name, amen. From Romans six, I'm not ashamed of the gospel. It's the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes.
19:06
You are. You You
19:20
are.
19:33
Convinced there is no one like you. Not ashamed of this gospel. I'm not ashamed of the gospel. I'm not ashamed of Jesus Christ. I will stand This is my life.
19:55
I'm not ashamed of the gospel. I'm not ashamed of Jesus Christ. I will stand and boldly say. This is my life. Alright.
20:17
You're the author of salvation and faith. You are the author of salvation and faith. You are And you are. The victory that conquered the grave. You are.
20:40
You are. Let's sing that verse again, shall we?
20:45
And you are the author of salvation and faith. You are. You are. And you are I'm withstanding boldly say. This is my life.
21:47
I'm not ashamed of the gospel. I'm not ashamed on Jesus Christ. I'm a stand and boldly say this is my life.
22:14
Can I read something from second Thessalonians? The second Thessalonians it says, God shows you to experience salvation, A salvation that came through the spirit, and it makes you holy through your belief in the truth. It's nothing that you or I have done. This is all a work of God that he does in us through work of the spirit through his truth, and now you can share in the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ that we are now partakers. We are we're we're allowed.
22:44
We're sons and daughters of of the most high God, all through belief, all through trust, all through faith. That's an amazing gift, isn't it? Let's sing this song. It's called your words. Isaiah says, the grass withers, the flowers fade, but the word of our God stands forever.
23:14
Let's sing. Me. Let me hear
23:34
Let's sing that again. Let's make
23:35
that a prayer in our song. Okay? Let us hear your voice. World. For your voice.
23:58
Words bring life. For your words bring life. And your voice speaks from the sins and your love offers more than anything else in this world. Your words give us life. Words give us life has never rending.
24:35
Your words bring us love that never fails. Everything else will fade away, but who will remain are your words. Let us speak your word. But who will remain are your words. Let's sing that chorus again, shall we?
26:26
Your words. Your words give us a
27:12
I thank you for this for this beautiful morning and for the the blanket of snowfall, lord. I I I can't see it. I mean, live here and can't see it without thinking of though our sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow or the pristine beauty of that which you have made. Salvation transformation. Help.
27:33
Lord, I I pray that you would use these gifts. We're going to take up the offer right now lord and I pray that you'd use these gifts to blanket to swirl with your gospel that you would or share its transforming power. May we be a part of what's going on from here to the ends of the earth. We ask that you multiply or these resources put in these plates to do your kingdom's work that that you would, lord, advance your kingdom like you said you would. I pray that we would find joy.
28:09
Lord, in it and being a part of it and I pray that we would all want to be a part of it that the words would ever be on our lips that we'd be able to give a defense for the hope that is in us lord and that that hope would show that that joy would show. In Jesus name, lord, I pray that you bless this offering for the gift, the gifts, and the giver. Do your kingdoms work here and beyond. I specifically pray this morning lord for brother in Christ named Ernest Shields who is not doing well at all. I heard from another pastor in town.
28:42
He has been a missionary blessing for a lot of years to a lot of different people. Lord, I pray for him specifically. In Jesus name, lord, I pray that you would heal him and advance your gospel. In Jesus name, amen.
29:00
Seated. I want to we'd like to introduce an an old song played in a in a new way, and it comes directly from the scripture that that Ray's speaking on in second Timothy. And the verse is, I'm not ashamed for I know whom I have believed, and I'm persuaded that he's able to keep that which I've committed unto him against that day. So, we'll sing this song now, and then we'll sing at the end, but let's take it in. The words are are very, good.
32:44
That which I've committed unto him against thy name.
32:56
Thank you. Thank you, Carl. It's time for children's church downstairs. There they go. One other announcement I forgot.
33:12
If your tag number is 18881, not only do you have a palindrome for a license plate, it was found in the parking lot when we were shoveling up snow out here. So just see me afterwards if that's your license plate. We've got for SecondTimothy, we're up to SecondTimothy in the scripture. So, we went first Timothy and then we've been through first Peter and I think this is the order that the books were written in. This is the last book that we have, the last letter surviving, we believe.
33:46
This is the last letter surviving from the apostle Paul. So, everything else we do in the New Testament forward from here is going to be away from Paul. It was nice to have a break. We did a lot of Paul in a in a row and then we studied first Peter last in our chronological study but we're up to second Timothy. Paul is right at the very end of his life.
34:06
He's in Rome in prison again. So, this is some people say second, some people say third, Roman imprisonment but he is in jail. Oh, happy New Year by the way. We we have been going going through these things and and there's more. There's more here about suffering but as we're looking into the New Year, I was trying to decide, okay, we've done a few Christmas messages, suffering servant passages of Isaiah building up and then passages from Luke for Christmas and looking at that but I think this one actually, the scripture is great for a New Year's message because it's about approaching the future boldly with power and love and with discipline.
34:50
So, the discipline part of it will get to in a minute but power and love. This this is a pretty profound one. If we could just kind of stick right here and dwell on this for a while, I think it'd be good. Second Timothy one one and two, Paul introduces himself to begin with Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus. Apostle, one who is sent out of Christ Jesus by the will of God.
35:12
He lays it at the sovereign hand of God that he is what he is. He doesn't think that he deserved it. He doesn't think that he attained it through his rigor but he knows that God saved him on that road to Damascus and he is certain of it. Paul, one who's sent out by Christ Jesus by the will of God and according to the promise of life in Christ Jesus. So, as you're approaching death's door and as he's sitting in prison and probably sick and winter time is coming, we'll see later on in the book.
35:43
For him, this writing is according to the promise of life. According to the promise, Peter would say, according to the incorruptible hope that is in Christ Jesus but Paul says, according to the promise of life in Christ Jesus and to whom, to Timothy, my beloved son, he's called him already before my true son in the faith. He is the co author of several of the books that Paul has written to the other churches and he has been sent on various journeys and we've seen him. He was on Paul's second missionary journey and the third and he has been sent out to different places. In first Timothy, we see that Paul left him in Ephesus to be the head elder there to choose elders actually.
36:26
He gives us the qualification. It gives Timothy the qualifications for elder in first Timothy and he has set him in a position of authority over the Ephesians church. This letter though is incredibly personal. It's less official. It seems to be less for the for the audience of the whole church than first Timothy but to Timothy whom my beloved son and he begins as Paul begins.
36:53
Grace and peace. Grace, mercy, and peace from God the father and Christ Jesus our lord and we take that today and we see God the father and Christ Jesus our lord and we think, well, of course, triune God but imagine what that was to these folks when they heard it the first time. He links them with this Kai and and he equates the two of em. He brings them together. Grace, mercy, and peace from God the father and our Lord Jesus Christ.
37:21
Amen. That's a message right there. Actually, point number one, as it has been my point in beginning of all of Paul's letters except for one. No matter who you are or to whom you are speaking, always start with grace and peace. If you'll start from a position of grace and peace, I promise you things will go better.
37:43
What's the opposite of that? Making them prove themselves to you before you treat them well and starting off angry and at war. I mean, start with grace and peace. There are times where Paul has some sharp words but he always begins with grace and peace, always, always, always. I think that's a good lesson for us to learn, to start off with unmerited favor and there's there's nothing.
38:11
Have you ever gotten a telemarketer call? Oh my goodness. Or had to call customer service. Have you called customer service lately? Their job is to deescalate, right?
38:20
They will begin with grace and peace most of the time because they know it works. But if you start off with them angry or you start off, you're, it's not going to go well for you. You're going to go to supervisor to supervisor to supervisor. If you start with grace and peace, I promise you things go better. God started with grace.
38:43
He started with peace. Adam messed that up, right? Our sin messes that up. We have enmity with God and it is our own fault. But God keeps on extending unmerited favor and he keeps on offering peace.
38:59
So, let's do the same. Always start with grace and peace. In this case, he also adds mercy. So, grace is unmerited favor. Getting something you do not deserve.
39:09
But mercy is the flip side of that coin. It is not getting something that you do deserve. We deserve what? Death, hell, and the grave. If you don't get that, then that's the mercy of God.
39:21
What do we gain? Incorruptible hope in heaven above and that is the grace of God. Ab abundant life now. That is the grace of God. So, here we are.
39:31
Grace, mercy, and peace from God the father and Christ Jesus our lord. I thank God. He starts off with Timothy. I thank God whom I serve with a clear conscience the way that my forefathers did. Those who are looking forward to the Messiah.
39:47
Those who are looking forward to God and serving him well. I thank God whom I serve with a clear conscience the way my forefathers did. As I constantly remember you, Timothy, like I said, this is a really personal book. As I remember you, Timothy, in my prayers both night and day and I'm longing to see you. Longing to see you.
40:07
He feels a yearning. Those of us who are separated from family know what it's like to be longing to see someone, right? And almost all of us out here are. Longing to see you even as I recall your tears so that I may be filled with joy. When he left him in charge of that church in Ephesus and he already knew that there were wolves there.
40:27
He'd said that when he greeted the Ephesians elders on the beach at Miletus. He said, I know there are some of you who are going to rise up and you're going to be wolves and you're going to just devour the sheep and it's not going to be good. Oh and Timothy, you're in charge of these guys. I recall your tears. I know what it's like.
40:44
I know it's been hard for you. I'm longing to see you. I want to encourage you so that I may be filled with joy because I miss you. Ain't that personal? So, point number two, just so you remember this throughout.
40:58
Second Timothy is a very very personal book. Are there things that you would say to your closest friends that you probably wouldn't say to the whole church group at one time? There are. There are levels of intimacy and this is a really, really intimate book. So, I think that that's helpful.
41:14
I also think, I hope it's encouraging to you. It has been to me. For I am mindful of the sincere faith that is within you. There's a lot, there are lot of people who don't have sincere faith. Do you know that that's still the case?
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I'm mindful Paul says of the sincere faith within you. If you are trying to lead a church and you start to come under attack, it's a really good thing when somebody recognizes that, you know what? You're doing what you're doing for the right reason and I see that. I'm mindful of the sincere faith within you which first dwelt in your grandmother, Lois, and in your mother, Eunice. This is something that's running your family.
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You've learned the scriptures from the time you were a little kid from your grandmother and your mom and they both have accepted Christ too and you too and I am sure that it is in you as well. Alright. So, personal stuff. To encourage someone is to fill them with courage to keep on going. Do you agree with that?
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Straight straight up. When when you keep on, don't grow weary in doing good. Keep on doing what it is that you're doing. Needing a push. I've I've received actually a lot of little pushes, little nudges from y'all over the past few months and it's so great to encourage someone as to fill someone with courage.
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And this is a deeply personal and very encouraging book. There are a lot of things that when you're going through your two zero four points of theological, I was in seminary. We had a two zero four point theological paper we had to write. Where what where we came down on? Two zero four different issues like what we decided.
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I was surprised how often second Timothy comes up in mind. That's where we get our, you know, all scripture is God breathe and it's profitable for doctrine and review, reproof, all of that. Second Timothy is a very very profound book but very personal. Look at this, all the encouragement we've read just in these three verses. I thank God for you.
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As I constantly remember you in my prayers night and day, it's good to know somebody's praying for you and I'm longing to see you. I want to see you. You're missed. So that I may be filled with joy. It's not just so I can be there and nudge you along or encourage you.
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It's because I need to see you too. You're a joy to me. I'm mindful of the sincere faith and I'm sure that that faith is within you. Those are all encouraging things and for this reason, all this encouragement and then for this reason, I remind you, Timothy, to kindle afresh the gift of God that's within you. If you ever have served in any way, God has given us all gifts, everyone of us.
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We know that God has given us gifts. We just covered that in first Peter that all of us have been given a gift just as each of you has been given a gift. You should be using it for the upbuilding of the body of Christ. Whether it's speaking, you speak as though you're speaking the very oracles of God or service, you should serve with the strength that God supplies and he is saying to Timothy, I remind you, kindle afresh the gift of God which is in you. Now, which gift is that?
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He he doesn't tell us right there. He doesn't tell us what it is. Now, he's left him in charge as a pastor, teacher, leader, elder in the church at Ephesus. So, that's something that he's given. In first Timothy, we see this, do not neglect the spiritual gift that you receive through the prophecy spoken over you.
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When the elders of the church and Paul at the same time laid his hands on. There was some authority that was given to him and it was given to him to act and exercise the gifts that God had given him to build up the body of Christ. So, we still don't really know. It's not enumerated exactly what it was. Probably, evangelism, probably pastor, teacher.
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He has an incredible mercy gift. He actually warned Timothy in first Timothy to to stay away himself personally, I think, to stay away from the younger widows because I I think he might have been overly involved. It's only part of scripture I've skipped since I've been here. It's hard for me the same way. Don't neglect the spiritual gift that you've received through the prophecy spoken over you when the elders of the church laid their hands on you.
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So, he mentions the laying on the hands too. I remind you to kindle afresh the gift of God which is in you through the laying on of my hands. I was there and I know that God puts you in a place of authority because you're the one for the job. That's encouraging and it's also a little bit of a nudge. I remind you, kindle it afresh.
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Stay right there. Don't neglect it. He said in first Timothy, don't shrink back. For God has not given us a spirit of timidity and Timothy and timidity, that's not the same in Greek as it is in English. It's not any play on words there but timidity, reticence, or cowardice is what that word is.
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Cowardice or timidity or reticence. He was a soft hearted man in a church that Paul said would have wolves and we saw later did, right? And so he's saying, don't shrink back from it. If you let them have it, just step back and you step down from that position and just let them have it, then the church is going to look like they look. Does that make sense?
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Yes, maybe? No? Don't be timid about it. You have a sincere faith and you're acting out of that sincere faith and I trust that that's true. There are a lot of people who don't have a sincere faith that are doing this for the wrong reason.
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Don't let that be the norm. And if it is the norm, keep on doing what it is that you're doing. Keep on plotting along. This is the gift that God has given. God has not given us a spirit of timidity but of power and of love and the new American standard says discipline.
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So, New American Standard is what I'm using for this study of second Timothy but I want to go to some other translations for this verse just so you see em. God has not given us a spirit of timidity and you've seen that's cowardice, reticence, timidness. It's not the same as Fabas like Fabas is actual fear like shaking in your boots fear. Timidity is just kind of a,
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I'll just sit back and be all that. They don't they
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don't really need what I have to say. But if the word is in you and it's a sincere faith and you're acting out of it, they they do need it. So, not a spirit of timidity but of power and of love and discipline is new American standard. God has given a spirit of power and love and discipline. And the reason that I thought this was a great New Year's sermons, how many y'all made or are making today?
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New Year's resolutions. That can happen anytime. It doesn't have to be January 1 or December 31 but power and love and discipline caught my eye but the more I studied the last word especially, power, love, and discipline is translated in various translations like this, power, love, and self discipline in the new international. So, self discipline is to be steadfast about your plan, work your plan, work your resolution. The New Living says, discipline.
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Power, love, and discipline. So, power and love are the same in almost all of em. The English standard version says, power, love, and self control. KJV says, power, love, and a sound mind. They're they're based on the same tradition.
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The words are the same in the Greek. It's not a change but sound mind sounds a little different than discipline or self control, doesn't it? It does. Sound man, the Christian Standard Bible, sound judgment, the Holman Christian Standard Bible, sound judgment, the Darby, wise discretion, like that one actually, power, love, and wise discretion. The Young's Literal, always a good one to go to because he's as literal as he can be.
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Power, love, and a sound mind. Same as King James. But we're back to the NASB. Power, love, and discipline. In first Timothy, he says, physical discipline is of some value.
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Physical training is of some value and then when he points back to this, God has given us not a spirit of timidity but of power and love and discipline. He's saying, we do have to think about it. Later on in this book, he's going to say, study to show yourself approved. A workman who doesn't need to be ashamed. So, discipline yourself to study the word that with is your foundation.
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It's it's what Nancy was talking about. It's what Phil was talking about. It's what transforms us. God transforms us through his word. So, if you're looking up the words, the Greek for power, love, and discipline is this, dunamis, where we get our word dynamite.
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Dunamis, dynamis, dynamite. For the believer power to achieve by applying the Lord's inherent ability, power through God's ability. Dunamis is needed in every scene of life to really grow in sanctification. It is a very important term. It's used all over the Bible.
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Dunamis, dunamis, dunamis. It's all over the place. Now, there's another word for power that's also there and it is which is authority. So, there's one thing to have the authority to do something and then there's the other. Authority just says, I say it and it gets done, right?
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Authority. But this power is the power to actually do it. Does that make sense? You have the capacity. Agape is love.
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It's not just love. It's not filos or eros. It's agape love. So, it typically refers to divine love. That which God prefers.
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It is affection or goodwill, love, or benevolence. A looking out for the other. That's what agape is. So, that's what he's asking. Timothy, you have been given the power to actually accomplish.
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You've been given dynamite and you've been given unconditional love to use that power for good and then, suffering is mine says, Truly moderate, safe minded, that which issues imprudent or sensible behavior that fits any given situation. This is Thayer's lexicon. Aptly acting out God's will by doing what he calls sound reasoning. Thinking your way through stuff. There's a lot of stuff that's that in the Bible just says, pray and do as the spirit leads.
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This is kind of bringing it back into Timothy's mind, in the realm of his mind and it is both discipline because of what you know to be true. To act out of that which you know to be true. You have a sincere faith. Now, go with that. Are you with me?
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Okay. God has given a spirit of power and of love and of discipline. Act on that. You've got the power and you've got the unconditional love of God and you have a sound mind and you're really good at this, Timothy. Go for it and I could say that to y'all too.
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Now, I went skiing yesterday and I'm rubbing my greater trochanter right now. I fell in the parking lot before I even made it to the slope. It's been a while since I've walked in ski boots, that lovely walk like this. And I hit hard and I remembered it all day long. And I thought God hasn't given us a spirit of fear but of power and love and discipline.
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And I haven't skied in two years. I fell in the parking lot before I got up there and I thought this is one of those things that you have to commit to. Because if you don't commit, he who hesitates is lost. If you're not a skier and you are a snowmobiler, when you're going up a hill, do you let off the gas? Not unless you wanna get stuck.
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You just gotta go for it. This doesn't work for skiing for me, okay? But God has given me a spirit, a power, and of love, and of discipline, self control, wise discretion to act out that which he has shown and this gives me a lot of courage to go forward in doing what it is that we do, not just I do but that we do. God has not given us a spirit of timidity but of power and of love and of discipline. Therefore, because of that, because of this, you have power, love, and discipline.
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Therefore, don't be ashamed of the testimony of our lord. We sang it this morning. I'm not ashamed of the gospel. It's the power and the salvation. Don't be ashamed.
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This is the first imperative we've had in this section too. Don't be ashamed of the testimony of our lord. Or of me, his prisoner, just because I'm in jail does not mean that you need to be ashamed of that fact. You know a prisoner. Yeah, but I'm here for the right reasons.
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It's cool. Don't worry about me. Fear and shame though go hand in hand. As soon as he said, you were not given a spirit of cowardice, timidity, reticence. Then he said, has to say, don't be ashamed.
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Don't be ashamed. You're shrinking back. You're shrinking back and don't do that. But join with me and join with me in what? Join with me in suffering for the gospel.
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According to the power of God, same word, power of God. It is God's word that keeps us going forward. Who saved us, both of us. That's encouraging and he called us, both of us with a holy calling and it's not according to our works. It's the gift of God so that no one would boast.
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It's not according to our works but it is according to his own purpose and to his grace, unmerited favor. He started with grace and peace. The middle is always filled with grace which gives peace. Which was granted us in Christ Jesus from all eternity. Amen.
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Again, he's point toward the sovereignty of God but then he immediately brings it forward and says, but now, but now, but now, it has been revealed to us through the appearing of our savior Jesus Christ. Jesus walked out this perfect will of God. He was not shrinking back or reticent. There were times when he was silent but he needed to be. Now, it's been revealed by the appearing of our savior Jesus Christ who abolished death and brought life and immortality to light through the gospel.
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Amen. The good news that God loves. The good news that God loves sacrificially. The good news that Christ came and died for sin. All of this is the grounding for going forward with the power and the love discipline that he's talking about for which this gospel for which I was appointed a preacher.
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That's one who proclaims, simply proclaims. I try to stick as close to what it says and just proclaim it and that's what Paul tried to do too. He was using mostly Old Testament scriptures and the life of Jesus. The gospel for which I was appointed a preacher, a proclaimer, and an apostle, one who is sent out. We would probably use the term missionary today, one who is sent out by Christ and a teacher, one who takes things apart and shows people and that's what Paul's saying that he was appointed to do.
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Preacher's proclaimer, apostle sent out, teacher is one who takes it all apart and shows how it works and puts it all back together. Hopefully, for a deeper understanding of the students and for this reason, I also, this last verse. For this reason, I also, what? Suffer. Wouldn't it say, have, what were, what are we thinking here?
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For this reason, I also suffer. All these things, all these joyous and great and wonderful things and then, he says and for this reason, I'm suffering. Well, Peter said, you're going to do that. Jesus said, you're going to do that. In this world, you'll have tribulation when you'll have trial.
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Take heart though. I've overcome the world. For this reason, I also suffer and the word for that is Pasco. Pasco, it is to feel heavy emotion especially suffering. To be affected, to experience feeling, literally, is to sensible or sensed experience, existential feeling.
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The feeling of the mind or the emotion or especially passion. So, the passion of Christ is the Pasco. Christ. It relates to any part of us that feels strong emotion, passion, or suffering. When I said this was a personal book, it's something that stirs something up that's buried deep within.
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Especially the capacity to feel suffering. Again, that's theirs. For this reason, I also suffer these things. He's sitting in jail when he's writing. It's cold and winter time's coming.
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But I'm not ashamed. He knows that he is a workman that studies that need not be ashamed. That's what Awana stands for, isn't it? A workman that need that needs not be ashamed. Yep.
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I am not ashamed. One of the things he asked for is his coat because winter time is coming. Can you bring me my coat or get get Mark to bring it? Mark. Mark, the one he had to split with Barnabas over, right?
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Get Mark to bring me my coat and the scrolls. Please bring me the scrolls. I want to look more into this. I want to find more different ways to explain how the gospel is the gospel. Good news.
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I'm not ashamed for I know whom I have believed and I'm convinced that he's able to guard what I've entrusted to him until that day. Now, I love this. These these are the things that we or that Paul did. I know and I believe and I'm convinced or persuaded and I have entrusted. But who he knows is God, almighty through Jesus Christ as lord and he knows that he is able.
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There's a great book that's that tries, I think. The whole Calvinist sovereignty of God and Armenian responsibility of man debate or whatever. There's a book that's called Kept by the Power of God. This we're kept by the power of God and I think that this points to that right there. I know and I've believed and I am convinced.
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I have believed in the past and I am convinced right now that he, God, is able. There is a higher power, right? These are again, with the first three, four steps of the Alcoholics Anonymous. There is a higher power. I have a problem that I can't solve on my own but there is a higher power and I am willing to allow him to use that power and his love through me and then that self control and that discipline can happen because it's powered by the love of God.
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Does that make sense? Kinda? Am I overwhelming today? I've entrusted to him until that day. I keep on hitting this in scripture when Nancy said she saw something new.
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I I've seen something new in the past book we studied. First Peter, this interesting, the concept that while Jesus who committed no sin nor was any seat found in his mouth and while he was being reviled, he did not revile in return and while suffering, he uttered no threats but he kept on entrusting himself to him who judges rightly. It's very very important when we're going through it that we keep on entrusting ourselves to God and not to men. Who are going to please? God or man?
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God. I have entrusted to him my all and so I'm going to keep on giving it
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to him
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and I think that's the last lie. Carl, band, would y'all come on back up? Now, we sang that for the operatory. We sang this last part of verse 12 during the offering but would you all stand with us and sing this as a closing song right now? I know whom I have believed.
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Alright, let's sing I know not why.
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That day. I know not how. Unto him against that day.
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Amen. Got a long benediction for you, but I think it fits this context perfectly. The day that we kept talking about where he says, as you move forward towards that day or entrusting him until that day. Therefore, brothers and sisters, since we have confidence to enter the holy place by the blood of Jesus, amen. He's made a way.
1:04:30
By a new and living way which he has inaugurated for us through the veil that is his flesh and since we have a great priest over the house of God, let us now draw near with a sincere heart and full assurance of our faith and having our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water. Let us all hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering. For he who promised is faithful and let us consider how to stimulate one another to love and the good deeds, not forsaking our own assembling together as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more, as you see the day growing near. Amen. In Jesus name, I pray that we would go with an anticipation of the second coming of Christ.
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Thankful for his first coming but Lord God almighty, would you lead us by your spirit? Would you allow us to sense the power that we have in your name? Would you allow us to know experientially the love that you have for us and be able to reflect that on the others lord and would you allow us the grace of being wisely discreet and self disciplined and would you allow us the ability to actually do what we resolve to do over this next year. In Jesus name, we ask for your blessing day by day. Amen.
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Amen.
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