Me!

Bible Study Lesson #4:  2nd Timothy Chapter One

"A Spirit of Power, Love and Self-Discipline"

Yesterday, we learned:

1.    The Holy Spirit is Fully God.

2.    The Holy Spirit's power, wisdom, resources, love and compassion for the Redeemed is unlimited.

3.    A. W. Pink:  Our focus (as believers) should be on, "God's riches not our poverty, Christ's fullness, not out emptiness, Divine inexhaustible abundance not our inadequacy.  Oh, what a different plane of experience we would live."

4.    Sin will "devitalize" the work of the Holy Spirit in our lives.

5.    If one is not experiencing the inexhaustible work of the Holy Spirit in their lives, he/she should suspect themselves and follow the example set down the Psalms,

"Search me, O God, and know my heart; try me, and know my thoughts, and see if there be any wicked way in me and lead me in the way everlasting” (Psalm 139:24 KJV).

Today's Concentration:  2nd Timothy 1:6-7

1.    Paul is writing his "final will and testament" from Rome.  He is about to be executed under Nero.

2.    Timothy is at the church in Ephesus.

3.    Paul helped start the Church in Ephesus and Timothy has been sent to deal with false teachers who have crept in.

4.    Timothy has experienced opposition, ridicule, grumblings, complaints, from outside and especially from inside the church and as a result he is afraid.  He wants to give in and give up.

5.    Paul is writing to Timothy to remind him of his duty; therefore, he tells Timothy to:

    a.    Join Paul in suffering for the Gospel.

    b.    Keep teaching sound doctrine.

    c.    Guard the deposit that was entrusted to Timothy.

    d.    Be Strong.

    e.    Endure hardship with us like a good soldier of Christ Jesus.

    f.     Keep reminding them.

    g.    Warn them.

    h.    Avoid godless chatter.

    i.     Flee the evil desires of youth.

    j.     Don't have anything to do with foolish and stupid arguments.

    k.    Continue in what you have learned and have become convinced of.

    l.     Preach the Word; be prepared in season and out of season.

    m.  Correct, rebuke, and encourage, with great patience and careful instruction.

    n.   Keep your head in all situations.

    o.   Do the work of an evangelist.

    p.   Discharge the duties of your ministry.

Timothy was experiencing "timidity" which in the Greek means "cowardice."  Timothy was "abandoning his post” he was running away in the face of the enemy; Timothy was being a coward.  Paul is telling Timothy to be a man, stick to your guns, stand your ground, discharge your duty.  For, like Paul, Timothy was called/recruited by God to be His man and lead His people as a minister of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. 

Thus, Paul commands Timothy to understand that the battle is not on the outside, but on the inside.

So, Paul writes:

    "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 did not give us a spirit of timidity, but a spirit of power, of love and of self-discipline." 2nd Timothy 1:6-7

Lesson Points:

1.    If there is a problem in our lives that is causing us to lose our joy, peace, connection with God, it is always found by examining ourselves.  The problem is on the inside not the outside. 

2.    For the believer, who much has been given, we are called to "fan into flame" the power and work of the Holy Spirit in all things, but especially in times of testing.

3.    If there does not exist a Supernatural ability to work in confidence, peace, excitement, joy when all around us is falling apart, then we are not walking in the Spirit, but in the flesh.

4.    If, as Paul reminds Timothy, we are not finding deep resources of, "power, love and self-discipline" in the times of testing then we must join the Psalmist and ask the Holy Spirit to, "Search me, O God, try me, know my thoughts, and see if there be any wicked way in me" and root it out!

Oh, what a great opportunity for us to return to walking in the Spirit.

Oh, what a great opportunity for us to experience Supernatural revelations.

Oh, what a great opportunity for us to experience, "peace that goes beyond all understanding."

Oh, what a great opportunity for me to leave behind the one thing that has been holding me back and standing in the way all these years......namely....ME!

You’re not your own!   So "fan the flame!"

May God Richly Bless You My Beloved,

Pastor Brad