FOUR PICTURES OF COMMITMENT
TEXT- 2 TIMOTHY 2:1-8
2 TIMOTHY 2:1 YOU THEREFORE, MY SON, BE STRONG IN THE GRACE THAT IS IN CHRIST JESUS.
INTRODUCTION
THIS MORNING OUR TEXT IS FOUND IN 2 TIMOTHY 2:1-8 AND THE TITLE OF MY MESSAGE IS, "FOUR PICTURES OF COMMITMENT."
DURING THE MONTH OF DECEMBER OUR CHURCH IS HAVING A SPECIAL TIME AND TALENT COMMITMENT CAMPAIGN.
IT HAS BEEN STATED THAT ANY NEED THAT A CHURCH HAS CAN BE MET AS LONG AS THERE ARE COMMITTED CHILDREN OF GOD.
WHETHER THE NEED IS FOR MORE TEACHERS, MORE MONEY OR FOR MORE PEOPLE TO BE SAVED AND BAPTIZED, THE ANSWER IS FOR MORE OF GOD'S PEOPLE TO COMMIT THEMSELVES TO JESUS AS THEIR LORD.
HERE IN THIS PASSAGE OF SCRIPTURE ME FIND THE APOSTLE PAUL WRITING TO A MAN WHOM HE LOVED AND RESPECTED FOR HIS COMMITMENT TO JESUS.
PAUL'S LOVE FOR TIMOTHY IS SEEN IN THE WAY HE REFERS TO HIM IN VERSE 1 OF OUR TEXT.
WHEN PAUL REFERRED TO TIMOTHY AS HIS "SON" HE DID NOT MEAN THAT HE WAS HIS PHYSICAL SON, FOR THE BIBLE TELLS US IN ACTS 16;1 THAT TIMOTHY'S PHYSICAL FATHER WAS A GREEK, AND AS WE KNOW PAUL WAS A JEW.
THE TERM "SON" REFERS TO TIMOTHY AS PAUL"S CHILD IN THE FAITH.
1 CORINTHIANS 4:17 FOR THIS REASON I AM SENDING TO YOU TIMOTHY, MY SON WHOM I LOVE, WHO IS FAITHFUL IN THE LORD. HE WILL REMIND YOU OF MY WAY OF LIFE IN CHRIST JESUS, WHICH AGREES WITH WHAT I TEACH EVERYWHERE IN EVERY CHURCH.
1 TIMOTHY 1:5 THE GOAL OF THIS COMMAND IS LOVE, WHICH COMES FROM A PURE HEART AND A GOOD CONSCIENCE AND A SINCERE FAITH.
1 TIMOTHY 1:18 TIMOTHY, MY SON, I GIVE YOU THIS INSTRUCTION IN KEEPING WITH THE PROPHECIES ONCE MADE ABOUT YOU, SO THAT BY FOLLOWING THEM YOU MAY FIGHT THE GOOD FIGHT.
AS TIMOTHY'S FATHER IN THE FAITH WE FIND IN THE SECOND PART OF THIS VERSE PAUL COMMANDING HIM TO "BE STRONG IN THE GRACE THAT IS IN CHRIST JESUS".
WHY DID PAUL DO THIS?
A KEY WORD IN THIS VERSE IS THE WORD "THEREFORE" WHICH MEANS, "BECAUSE OF THIS" AND POINTS OUR ATTENTION BACK TO CHAPTER ONE.
IT IS THERE THAT WE FIND THE REASONS WHY PAUL COMMANDED TIMOTHY TO BE STRONG.
WHEN WE THINK OF A PASTOR OR A PERSON WHO SERVES IN A POSITION OF LEADERSHIP WITHIN THE CHURCH, MANY OF US ENVISION SOMEONE WHO IS UNWAVERING AND STRONG IN THEIR FAITH AND COMMITMENT TO GOD.
WE NEED TO REALIZE THOUGH THAT EVEN PASTORS AND CHURCH LEADERS FACE PROBLEMS THAT CAN WEAKEN THEIR COMMITMENT TO GOD.
AND IF IT CAN HAPPEN TO THEM THEN IT CAN HAPPEN TO EACH AND EVERYONE OF US.
AS WE EXAMINE CHAPTER ONE THERE ARE SEVERAL THINGS THAT TELL US THAT TIMOTHY WAS FACING SUCH PROBLEMS IN HIS LIFE.
TIMOTHY NEEDED CHEERING AS PAUL RECALLED HIS TEARS.
2 TIMOTHY 1:4 RECALLING YOUR TEARS, I LONG TO SEE YOU, SO THAT I MAY BE FILLED WITH JOY.
TIMOTHY WAS WANING AND NEEDED TO REKINDLE THE GIFT THAT GOD HAD GIVEN TO HIM.
2 TIMOTHY 1:6 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.
TIMOTHY WAS POSSIBLY FACING SOME KIND OF FEAR OR EVEN THE POSSIBILITY OF COWARDICE.
2 TIMOTHY 1:7 FOR GOD DID NOT GIVE US A SPIRIT OF TIMIDITY, BUT A SPIRIT OF POWER, OF LOVE AND OF SELF-DISCIPLINE.
TIMOTHY WAS ADMONISHED NOT TO BE ASHAMED OF JESUS OR PAUL.
2 TIMOTHY 1:8 SO DO NOT BE ASHAMED TO TESTIFY ABOUT OUR LORD, OR ASHAMED OF ME HIS PRISONER. BUT JOIN WITH ME IN SUFFERING FOR THE GOSPEL, BY THE POWER OF GOD.
FOR THESE REASONS, PAUL ENCOURAGES TIMOTHY AS HIS SON TO BE STRONG IN THE GRACE THAT IS IN CHRIST JESUS.
AS WE LOOK MORE CLOSELY NOW AT OUR TEXT I WOULD LIKE US TO EXAMINE FOUR PICTURES OF COMMITMENT AND WHAT WE CAN DO TO BECOME MORE COMMITTED TO JESUS TODAY.