II Timothy 1:6-8

Introduction: I read from verse 1 to verse 11. Mention that the text is preceded by Paul’s memory of Timothy early childhood and how faithful his mother and grandmother was.

How do I “stir up the gift of God?” By Bible reading, mediating on what you have read, by praying and by using what is read from the Bible in the daily life.

I Tim. 4:6 - Doing these things will cause a person to be a good minister.

I Tim. 4:14 - Doing these things will cause us not to neglect the gift that God has given to us.

God hasn’t given us the spirit of fear. When we are afraid it is because Satan is working in us. This spirit of fear will cause us not to speak or act like Christ wants us to speak and act. We will be ashamed to let people know we are believers.

  1. Power - Luke 24:49 and Acts 1:8 - We have the power of God if we wait on Him. This power was evidenced in Acts 3:1-9 when Peter and John were instruments in the healing of the lame man.

  2. They were able to do things others could not do. Note verse 2. There were people who cared greatly, even to the point of making sure the man was carried each day to the gate of the temple. But they couldn’t heal him.

  3. God always does those things we cannot do.

  4. Acts 4:13 - When the accusers of Peter and John observed them, they realized they were ignorant and unlearned men, and when they took knowledge of them (investigated their background) they discovered they had been with Jesus. That is a good reputation.

  5. Love - As in Matthew 22:36-40 - Love is the greatest commandment of all.

  6. I Cor. 13 declares that love is the greatest spiritual gift a person can have.

  7. It is interesting to note that love was the one thing that was lacking in the church of Ephesus and Timothy was the pastor of that church. This teaches us that every person is under the influence of somebody else. The pastor influences some people, but every member of the church also influences others.

  8. Sound mind - The only way to have a sound mind is to have the mind of Christ.

Verse 8 states that we will either be ashamed of the testimony of Christ and other Christians, OR we will be partakers of the afflictions of the ministry.

  1. There is no middle ground here, even though there are many people who desire to put one foot in the world and the other in Christ.

  2. We ought to get to the place where we stop making excuses for our sinfulness and slowness in worship and obedience and begin to say (without any bragging at all on our part)

  3. II Cor. 12:9 - And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. 10 Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ's sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong.

2. II Tim. 4:6-8 - For I am now ready to be offered, and the time of my departure is at hand. 7 I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith: 8 Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing.