Intro: Paul was arrested, he was in jail in Roma when He wrote this letter to Timothy. Probably it was the last Paul’s letter. He knew that time he would be judged and condemned to death. Timothy was Paul’s partner, so this letter was to strengthen Timothy’s life, to remind him about his calling and mission on earth.
“Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, in keeping with the promise of life that is in Christ Jesus, To Timothy, my dear son: Grace, mercy and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord. I thank God, whom I serve, as my ancestors did, with a clear conscience, as night and day I constantly remember you in my prayers. Recalling your tears, I long to see you, so that I may be filled with joy. I am reminded of your sincere faith, which first lived in your grandmother Lois and in your mother Eunice and, I am persuaded, now lives in you also. 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 the Spirit God gave us does not make us timid, but gives us power, love and self-discipline.”
2 Timothy 1:1-7
Vs. 5 Paul says about Timothy’s faith.
He wrote: “I am reminded of your sincere faith.”
Timothy had a true faith, He didn’t lie when He talked about Jesus! He believed in Jesus in a truly way. And this faith came through his own family.
Paul says: “I am reminded of your sincere faith, which first lived in your grandmother Lois and in your mother Eunice and, I am persuaded, now lives in you also.” 2 Timothy 1:5
The Timothy faith has came from His grandmother Lois, and His mother Eunice.
Here, Paul recognise what is the importance to lived in a Christian family. He knew who good it is to grown up in a Christian home.
Timothy’s grandmother was Christian, Timothy’s mother was a Christian and now Timothy was a Holy seed that was planted, prepared. Timothy was a seed that was cared for with love for the family until become a great tree, working together with Paul.
Do you know about it? You have seeds. Your children are seeds. Your wife is a seed, your husband is a seed.
We’re instrument of God to bless our family.
Hopefully in a few years you will look to your family and you will able to see the seeds that the seeds you received from God they grew, were lovingly cared for and bore fruit. Take care of your seeds.
It’s so important to have a Christian home, a place full of God’s presence where we connect our family to Christ. A place where we speak and show our faith. That was what happened in Timothy’s home when he was a child. His house was like that.
Timothy has received something beautiful from God when the leaders of the church prayed for him.“Do not neglect your gift, which was given you through prophecy when the body of elders laid their hands on you.”
1 Timothy 4:14
And also in 1 Timothy 1:18-19”
“Timothy, my son, I am giving you this command in keeping with the prophecies once made about you, so that by recalling them you may fight the battle well, holding on to faith and a good conscience, which some have rejected and so have suffered shipwreck with regard to the faith.”
1 Timothy 1:18-19
*Paul reminders Timothy about he has received from God. What did you receive from God? God gave prophecies to you, he spoken to you. Now you have to fight the battle well, holding on to faith and a good conscience.
After that, He gives an advice for him:
“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 the Spirit God gave us does not make us timid, but gives us power, love and self-discipline.”
2 Timothy 1:6-7
I remind you to FAN into flame the gift of God.
The word FAN here means revival.
Revival means: acender, por fogo, inflamar a mente, reavivar, (ser) fervor(oso). (raise the fire, set fire, ignite the mind, be fervent).
-Proverbs 26:20 part A says: ““Without wood a fire goes out.
There is no flame of fire if there is nothing to burn.
If there is no wood, the fire goes out.
We have to feed the God’s fire into our heart. We have to put wood, let God burns and bring more fire over us.
In Leviticus 6:12-13 there is an specific God’s order:
“The fire on the altar must be kept burning; it must not go out. Every morning the priest is to add firewood and arrange the burnt offering on the fire and burn the fat of the fellowship offerings on it. The fire must be kept burning on the altar continuously; it must not go out.”
The fire could not go out. The flame of fire could not go out. It was an specific order from God to the priest. The fire should be 24/7, because they had to burn sacrifice everyday. “The fire on the altar must be kept burning; it must not go out.”
We are learning about the God’s fire, we know that we have to prepare the altar, we have to put wood on the altar, but I have a question. Who is the sacrifice? What will we offer to God on the altar?
“Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship. Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.”
Romans 12:1-2
You are the living sacrifice. You’re the living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God.
How is your life today? Are you a pleasing sacrifice to God? What about your thoughts, your mind?
We have to be transformed by the renewing of our mind, then we will able to test and aapprove wants God’s will is (his good, pleasing and perfect will).
Paul says: “Do not quench the Spirit.”
1 Thessalonians 5:19 let the fire burns. “The fire on the altar must be kept burning; it must not go out.”
If we back to 2 Timothy 1, we can see Paul calling Timothy to revival, to put more wood, to be a living sacrifice, to live what God has said to him. Paul said to Timothy lives what God brought over him, through prayers and prophecies.
Here in Ireland, to make the house warm, we have to put wood in the fireplace, we have to feed the fire.
So, we have to think in the same way to our lives.
How is the God’s fire in my heart! Is it gone? Have I fed the fire daily?
In the Summer Camp We received a strong fire, a strong touch from God. We received fire! But what about now?! We need to put more wood in this fireplace. Without wood the fire goes out. Oh Jesus, you brought the fire, so help us, The fire on the altar must be kept burning; it must not go out.”
We have to fed the fire. We need more wood.
What the wood means in our lives?
The wood means:
-Prayer: “pray continually,”1 Thessalonians 5:17
Prayer should be the key of the day and the lock of the night.
When the devil sees a man or a woman who really believes in prayer he Trimble as much as he ever did.
-The wood means the Word of God, Bible:
“Keep this Book of the Law always on your lips; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful.” Joshua 1:8
The more you read the bible, more you will love the author. Keep this book on your lips.
If you feed the fire of Go sinto your heart, your light will shine before others and the name of God will be glorified. When people look to you, they will see the flame of fire. You will be a good witness from God, as in Mathew 5:16 says:
“In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.” Matthew 5:16
2 Timothy 1: 7 Paul said:
“For the Spirit God gave us does not make us timid, but gives us power, love and self-discipline.”
2 Timothy 1:7
We didn’t receive a spirit of fear. The spirit God gave us does not make us timid. I’m no longer slaves of fear, of timid. We have to be free from the fear, because God gave us Power, love and self-discipline.
*The word power here means:
-We have power to be morally right, defeating the desires of our flesh.
-The power means We have habilites, skills to do things to praise Jesus name. God called you to do something? Are you doing it? Please, set fire, do it, do what the Lord said to you.
-The power means we can use the gifts to live miracles.
You received gifts to bless God’s church.
The fire on the altar must be kept burning; it must not go out.
Vs 7 says we received love and self discipline.
We received love, we can treat other with love, we can have self control even if we are facing trouble. God will be with us. We have to use the self control.
Brothers and sisters, without wood, the fire goes out.
Without God’s fire the family is gone, without God’s fire, the gift from God desapear.
Last weekend we receive the fire of God over our lives. God put the fire, he did a nice miracle but now we have to feed this fire, put more wood and let our light shine to others.
What will you do with this fire? Will you let go out? Or you will put more wood, you will increase your relationship with the Holy Spirit and live in a supernatural way.
Please, “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 the Spirit God gave us does not make us timid, but gives us power, love and self-discipline.”.
Rekindle the fire again. Don’t let go the fire. Open even more your heart to God, give more space in your life to the Holy Spirit, say it: Father, have your way on me. …prayer / worship.