Feeding the Flames for Gospel-centered Disciple-making - Part 2

Paul’s second letter to his spiritual son and primary disciple, Timothy, finds him languishing in a dark, damp, lonely dungeon in Rome. Having already given his first defense, in which he sorrowfully testifies that "no one came to stand by me, but all deserted me" (2 Tim 4:16), Paul knows that he is on death row and this time there will be no reprieve, and the next open door will be into heaven. Yet, although Paul's battle-scared body was confined within the narrow limits of an underground cell, his heart and mind focused on challenging Timothy to fan the flames for courage and boldness to be faithful and pass the gospel on to faithful men who do likewise with others and OTHERS.

Let me pause and insert a personal question: If you knew you were going to die in a month, how would you spend your remaining time on earth and what would occupy your mind? Would it involve any thoughts or provisions for the gospel's advancement?

As we open to 2 Timothy, according to verse 1, Paul had been commissioned as an apostle first to formulate and then to communicate the gospel. And the gospel is good news for dying sinners and living saints that God has promised them the life of the age to come in King Jesus, and it begins now. We are told in 1 John 5:12 that "Whoever has the Son has We; whoever does not have the Son of God does not have life." It seems particularly appropriate that, as death stares Paul in the face, he should here define the gospel as a "promise of life." For this is what it is. The gospel offers life — present, perpetual, and forever - true life, eternal life - both here and hereafter. And that's good news!

The first five verses of the letter tell us about Paul and Timothy and their backgrounds in the faith. Paul claimed to be King Jesus' apostle "by the will of God." Previously he had said it was "by the grace of God" that he was what he was (1 Cors. 15:10). And a whole complex of factors had made Timothy what he was - a godly upbringing, Paul's friendship and training, God's gift to him, and his own self-discipline in stirring it up. In principle, it is the same with all God's people. In other words, we aren't self-made.

My original intention was to divide the first 12 verses of chapter one into two parts:

1. The Various Things that Contributed to the Making of a Gospel-centered Disciple - 2 Tim. 1:1-5
2. The Victorious Truth of the Gospel and Timothy's Responsibility to Deposit it in Others - 2 Timothy 1:6-12

However, due to time constraints, we didn't even finish the first point. So, with a brief review, we will try to finish our brief comments on 2 Tim. 1:1-12

1. The Various Things that Contributed to the Making of a Gospel-centered Disciple - 2 Tim. 1:1-5

Disciples are not some Christians who got an upgrade. It's not Christianity 2.0. Disciples are those who become followers of King Jesus, and following isn't optional. Jesus declared in Matthew 16:24: "If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me."

Disciples Must be True Recipients of the Promise of the Life that is in Christ Jesus - 1:1- "Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God according to the promise of the life that is in Christ Jesus,"

Disciples Need Mentoring Relationships that Resemble Spiritual Parenting - 1:2: "To Timothy, my beloved child: Grace, mercy, and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord:"

2. The Victorious Truth of the Gospel and Timothy's Responsibility to Deposit it in Others - 2 Timothy 1:6-12

A. Disciples Must Resist the Pressure to Be Ashamed of the Gospel - 1-8, 12a

"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,"

1:12a, "which is why I suffer as I do. But I am not ashamed..." Paul had been imprisoned in Philippi (Acts 16:23-24), chased out of Thessalonica (Acts 17:10), smuggled out of Berea (Acts 17:14), laughed at in Athens (Acts 17:32), regarded as a fool in Corinth (1Cor 1:18, 1Cor 1:23), and stoned in Galatia (Acts 14:19), but he said to the believers in Rome, - the seat of contemporary political power and pagan religion - I am not ashamed of the gospel and am eager to preach it in your big sophisticated, cosmopolitan city. Neither ridicule, criticism, nor physical persecution could curb his boldness (Roms. 1:16)

"From a human point of view, there was much in the gospel of which to be ashamed. It was the message of a failed prophet, rejected by his people, executed by the world's power, and preached by a collection of fishermen and other undesirables. The message they proclaimed was foolishness in the world's eyes (1 Cor 1:23), based on assumptions that ran counter to the generally accepted norms of Greek philosophy (Acts 17:32). And there was, on the surface, much to be ashamed about in reference to Paul, a man who met constant opposition (2 Cor 11:23-27) and was imprisoned in Rome. But Timothy was called not to be ashamed; in fact, he was called to share in suffering for this very gospel with Paul" (William Mounce).

What are some of the reasons why people might feel ashamed of the gospel? They may live in constant fear of losing face, losing friends, losing job positions or promotions, being embarrassed by someone able to challenge our feeble efforts, being labeled a fanatic, or facing possible taunting and scorn, or losing influence or their lives, etc. Paul undoubtedly had some of these same concerns, but he refused to yield to them. Here he calls on his spiritual son to join him in courageously bearing witness to "the testimony about our Lord"

Someone listed at least three general ways in which Christian people, like Timothy, are tempted to feel ashamed:

1. The name of Christ, to whom we are called to witness. In many places you can talk about God, if you don't mention Jesus.
2. The people of Christ, to whom we also belong if we belong to him.
3. The gospel of Christ, which is entrusted to us to spread.

What Paul is saying in 1:8 is that Christ is honored when we speak well of him. And he is dishonored by fearful silence. So, it is not a shameful thing to testify, but a shameful thing not to.

Secondly, the text says that if you feel shame that a friend of yours is in trouble (in this case: Paul in prison) for Jesus's sake, then your shame is sinful. God is honored by the courage of his people's willingness to go to prison for his name. And we ought not to feel shame that we are associated with something that honors God in this way, no matter how much scorn the world heaps on. Note the following verses:

Mark 8:38: "Whoever is ashamed of me and of my words in this adulterous and sinful generation, of him will the Son of Man also be ashamed, when he comes in the glory of his Father with the holy angels." Shame is wrong when we feel it because of the person or the words of Jesus. In this tolerant society that tolerates everything and everyone, except those who speak the truth of the gospel of King Jesus, we should not feel ashamed, intimidated, or intolerant.

First Peter 4:16: "If one suffers as a Christian, let him not be ashamed, but under that name let him glor6 God." Suffering and being reproached and made fun of as a Christian is not an occasion for shame, but an occasion for glorifying God. The main thing about telling out and living forth the gospel is not how foolish or how bad we look to men, but whether we in fact bring honor to God.

Romans 1:16: "I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes." The gospel magnifies God and humbles man. And so to the world the gospel doesn't look like power at all. It looks like weakness (asking people to humble themselves and become like children and depend on Jesus, instead of standing tall and proud and feeling you are your own god, with a little "g"). But for those who believe it is the power of almighty God to save sinners.

We should conclude from all these texts that the biblical criterion says, "don't feel shame for something that honors God no matter how weak or foolish it makes you look in the eyes of unbelievers."

B. Disciples Must Rely on the Power of the Holy Spirit for Courage - 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, for God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control."

Paul uses metaphorical language in his charge to Timothy to keep a fire burning ("fan into flame"; "stir up" - KJV; "rekindle" - NRSV). This could apply to Timothy in several ways. But having just affirmed the authenticity of his faith and the fact that he uses the present tense, probably mean stoking "the fire" to keep it burning brightly so as to maximize its potential.

Knowing the reality of God's power in the life of Timothy, Paul urges him to "keep ablaze" his gift. The precise identity or nature of this "gift" (charisma) is not specified, but there are numerous possibilities. Professor Gordon Fee thinks this was the gift or anointing of the Holy Spirit. Others suggest it was the gift of evangelism (see 2 Tim 4:5), or perhaps administration, or even some special empowering work of the Spirit that Paul deemed essential for his labors. Whatever the nature of this charisma, it was imparted to Timothy "through the laying on of Paul's hands" (v. 6b).

John Piper believes the gift that Timothy was to keep feeding the white-hot flame was "of unashamed courage to speak openly of Christ and to su_ffer for the gospel. He writes, "I get the words "unashamed courage" from verses 7-8. Start in the middle of verse 6: "the gift of God, which is in you through the laying on of my hands, for God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control." Therefore, do not be ashamed.

"God gave - that's a gift - a spirit not of fear but the opposite, courage. To be sure, powerful courage and loving courage and self-controlled courage - but the note falls on courage because verse 8 continues, "Therefore, do not be ashamed." That's what courage is: it is not ashamed.

"Timothy, keep feeding the white-hot flame. The reason for this is that Paul's point is not that Timothy has grown cool and needs one good hot fix. That is^-not the point. The present tense for the verb "fan into flame" is continuous, ongoing action. So Timothy, keep feeding the white-hot flame. . .. Feed it. Feed it. Flames go out without continuous fuel."

C. Disciples Must Rest in the Security that the Gospel of Grace Provides - 1:8-10

Paul will soon remind us that "all who desire to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted" (2 Tim 3:12). There is only one thing that will sustain otherwise weak and timid souls in the face of such suffering, and that is the gospel of what God has graciously done for us in and through the appearing of Jesus Christ. When faced with ridicule or exclusion or mistreatment, the power to remain steadfast will only come as we reflect on the eternal mercy shown to us in Christ by the power of the indwelling Holy Spirit. Willpower alone will never see us through hardship and trial. It is only the truth of the gospel empowered by the Spirit of God that enables one to rejoice in suffering, especially suffering for the gospel.

What is this message that demands so much from a Christian? - 1:9-10

1. The gospel is the message about God the Father who has saved us and called us to a new mode of living. The phrase, "who has saved us", is in the aorist tense meaning that because of what God had accomplished in Christ, salvation, the rescue from the judgment and eternal death we deserve, is a fact. Moreover, God himself has drawn (called - Rom 8:28. 30) us to participate personally in this fact. We must not miss the truth that God took the active role because he wants us to be related to himself. Salvation, the fact of release, rescue, ransom, redemption finds practical expression among God's people in the form of a holy life, a lifestyle that is visibly different.
2. The gospel is the message about a gracious gift. Legalism and human effort cannot obtain this gift. God is the initiator (his own purpose), and his grace, mercy and love are fully in view (compare Titus 3:5). This more than anything captures the meaning of the gospel. It is a message declaring that God alone decided to do for us what we can never do - bring us into right relationship with himself.
3. The gospel is the message about Christ Jesus. It is the gospel about him that saves, not a message of peace, prosperity, plus missing hell and making heaven when you die. It is about the King and His kingdom and our becoming King's Kids in training for reigning with Him now, (Rom 5:17) and finally and forever in a new heaven and on a new earth. It is in Christ's victorious work on the cross that has accomplished this for His people.
4. The gospel speaks of a salvation that is certain, grounded in God's will, and already executed in history. The transition from verse 1:9 to 1:10 emphasizes that what had formerly been conceived in the mind of God has now - in this age - become reality. It becomes a reality in your life when you bow your knees in glad surrender to King Jesus.
5. The gospel proclaims the ultimate solution, the end of death and the beginning of eternal life. The name 'Savior' reminds us of His work on the cross. The work He accomplished there was the way for God to carry out His purpose, in order to save you and to call you with a holy calling. The only way for you to be able to partake of that was if the Savior would abolish death. Death, the wages of sin (Rom. 6:23), formed the barrier against the carrying out of God's purpose. That hindrance was robbed from its power by our Savior by going into death Himself and rising from it again.

In His resurrection He "brought life and immortality to light". The power of 'life' that characterized Him was proven by His resurrection. His life has triumphed over death. Not death but life is conqueror. You wouldn't have known that if the Lord had not died and risen. You have received eternal life, for the Lord Jesus, the Son of God, is eternal life. The Son is the true God and eternal life (1 Jn 5:20 ). You believe in the Lord Jesus; you have the Son as your life.

Someone suggested that the Christian has no place for the letters "RIP" on his tombstone because "Rest in Peace" does not adequately describe our eternal fate. They suggested instead the letters "CAD," signifying "Christ Abolished Death."

Paul found the spiritual strength to remain faithful and resolved not to back down in bearing witness to "the testimony about our Lord" (v. 8). How did he do this? From where or from whom did this courage come? He gives the answer in verse 12b: "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." The strength to withstand the temptation to compromise or back off and be ashamed of the gospel is found in a person: Jesus the Christ. It was Paul's abiding and unshakable knowledge of Jesus that sustained him.

Paul says, "I know whom I have believed. " It cannot always be said that the believer knows What, or knows When, our knows Where, are knows Which, or knows Whether, are knows Whither, are knows Why - but he knows WHOM!! That is the essential and supreme, knowledge.

He doesn't say it was "what" he knew that empowered his determination to preach but "whom" he knew: Jesus. And it isn't simply Jesus, but his power, his ability, the omnipotent commitment Jesus made to Paul (and to every believer) to "guard" what has been entrusted to us.

How encouraging it is to remember that God gives His people the authority and enablement to carry out their assignments! Not everyone will have a personal mentor or a godly heritage, but God does invest spiritual gifts in every believer (1 Cor 12:7). The fourth stanza of Martin Luther's hymn captures the wonder of the Spirit and the gifts:

That word above all earthly No thanks to them, abideth;
The Spirit and the gifts are ours Through Him who with us sideth.
Let goods and kindred go, This mortal life also;
The body they may kill; God's truth abideth still:
His kingdom is forever.

Don't be ashamed of the gospel. Live in and for it, enjoy its riches and deploy its truth, because it alone is the power of God unto salvation!

AMEN!