LISTEN
This sermon was preached by Tom O’Toole at the Ladybarn site of Christ Church Manchester on Sunday 3rd January 2021.
SERIES
This message was part of the ‘SERIES NAME’ series, preached at Christ Church Manchester’s church in Withington in EARLY/MID/LATE YEAR. The full series included the following sermons:
BIBLE VERSES
This sermon was based on 2 Timothy 1:1-7
Greeting
1Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God according to the promise of the life that is in Christ Jesus,
2To Timothy, my beloved child:
Grace, mercy, and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord.
Guard the Deposit Entrusted to You
3 I thank God whom I serve, as did my ancestors, with a clear conscience, as I remember you constantly in my prayers night and day. 4As I remember your tears, I long to see you, that I may be filled with joy. 5I am reminded of your sincere faith, a faith that dwelt first in your grandmother Lois and your mother Eunice and now, I am sure, dwells in you as well. 6For this reason I remind you to fan into flame the gift of God, which is in you through the laying on of my hands, 7for God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control.
KEY POINTS
Remember Where You Came From
- Paul is remembering Timothy as he prays for him and now he is reminding him of where he has come from – where his faith used to be at. Remember your faith at its sparkiest, and let that be rekindled again.
- Remember your tears. The tears that we shed have a sanctifying power. Remember the lessons God has taught. – “Don’t waste your suffering”.
- Remember those who have been formative in your faith. I am sure this dwells in you as well … You can’t live on your parents faith. Christian home or not there are people who have been formative. Remember them – what you learned from them. Their example, their teaching, their faith.
Cultivate Your Gift
- Spiritual Gifts: Abilities and ministries given by God – For the purpose of serving the church and reaching the lost. Given to each and given to all.
- “Do not neglect the gift you have, which was given you by prophecy when the council of elders laid their hand on you.” Timothy was an Evangelist.
- What is your gift? Natural abilities / God-given passions / Holy Spirit
- Laying on of hands. Sometimes – not always – this is how we receive gifts. Maybe this has happened to you. Take it seriously. Step into it.
- Fan into flame. Get some faith for it. Find opportunities to use it. Work on making it more effective.
Live in The Spirit’s Power
- We have the Holy Spirit of God living inside us … So let’s live like it.
- Christians have the Holy Spirit – Sometimes we got confused. If you are a Christian the HS dwells in you. (Rom 8:9) The Bible also talks of the filling of the Spirit – empowerment, mission, boldness … Happens at any stage of the Christian life. Happens multiple times. Also an ongoing thing.
- Paul is referencing both – But in particular the second. He’s saying – “You have been filled with God’s Spirit – and yet I sense a fear creeping in.” Timothy was by nature a timid man. And yet by the Spirit he was made bold. And now that timidity is reasserting itself. This isn’t extrovert/introvert – This is having the courage to be proactive in your faith and ministry, whatever that may be.
- Fullness of the Spirit drives. Power – What if it doesn’t work? – What if … – What if it does? Love – Stepping back from the brink is not the loving thing to do. Setting our fears aside out of deep desire to bless. Self-Control – Swayed by desires/circumstances. By the spirit we chart the course.
MORE SERMONS
To see more sermons from Christ Church Manchester, you can visit our sermons page, or why not consider subscribing on iTunes.