Trinity Fellowship Assembly of God

Keeping the Fire Burning (part 3)

2 Timothy 1:5-8    Pastor Tom Squashic

MAIN THOUGHT: Every believer can stay full of God’s fire by living out the reminders that Paul gave to Timothy.

Timothy had a genuine faith.

2 Timothy 1:5 NKJ “when I call to remembrance the genuine faith that is in you, which dwelt first in your grandmother Lois and your mother Eunice, and I am persuaded is in you also.”

Say it: “I am a man / woman of faith!”
(or “I am becoming a man / woman of faith.”)

Timothy had the gift of God within him.

2 Timothy 1:6 NKJ “Therefore I remind you to stir up the gift of God which is in you through the laying on of my hands.”

1 Timothy 4:14 “do not neglect the gift…”

Say it: “I have the Holy Spirit dwelling within me!”

God gave Timothy the spirit of power…

2 Timothy 1:7 NKJ “For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.”

238 times the fear of the Lord is in the Bible.
142 times - examples of not to fear

Say it: “I will not give in to a spirit of fear,
but I will live in God’s power, love and a sound mind!”

Reasons Why I Do Not Have To Fear

(website: www.tfaog.org  June 7, 2009 Message)
52 verses from Scripture assuring us to not be afraid.

Timothy did not need to be ashamed of suffering for the gospel.

2 Timothy 1:8 NKJ “Therefore do not be ashamed of the testimony of our Lord, nor of me His prisoner, but share with me in the sufferings for the gospel according to the power of God,”  2:3

What exactly is suffering for righteousness?
persecuted, being ill-treated, beaten, spoken against, denied privileges, ostracized, rejection by people “suffer together with, endure hardship with”
2 Timothy 1:8; 2:3
Suffering is NOT: being physically sick as judgment from God

False Ideas about Suffering

1.  Christians should never suffer.
Hebrews 11 - “If those people would have had more faith, they would have escaped those difficulties.” FALSE - based on presumption

2.  We should accept all suffering as part of God’s will.
“Poverty, sickness, and calamity are not meant to be overcome, but simply endured.” FALSE - based on unbelief

All Suffering is not the same.

1.  Suffering for righteousness

Matthew 5:10 NKJ “Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.”
Matthew 10:16 NKJ “‘Behold, I send you out as sheep in the midst of wolves. Therefore be wise as serpents and harmless as doves.
17  But beware of men, for they will deliver you up to councils and scourge you in their synagogues.
18  And you will be brought before governors and kings for My sake, as a testimony to them and to the Gentiles.
19  But when they deliver you up, do not worry about how or what you should speak. For it will be given to you in that hour what you should speak;
20  for it is not you who speak, but the Spirit of your Father who speaks in you.
21  Now brother will deliver up brother to death, and a father his child; and children will rise up against parents and cause them to be put to death.
22  And you will be hated by all for My name’s sake.  But he who endures to the end will be saved.’”

1 Peter 4:12 NKJ “Beloved, do not think it strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened to you;
13  but rejoice to the extent that you partake of Christ’s sufferings, that when His glory is revealed, you may also be glad with exceeding joy.”
Philippians 3:10 NKJ “that I may know Him and the power of His resurrection, and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death,”

2.  Suffering from Satan’s domination
John 10:10 NKJ “The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy.  I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly.”
Ephesians 6:10 NKJ “Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might.
11 Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.  NIV - the devil’s schemes
12 For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places.
13 Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.”
Matthew 11:4 NKJ “Jesus answered and said to them, ‘Go and tell John the things which you hear and see:
5 The blind receive their sight and the lame walk; the lepers are cleansed and the deaf hear; the dead are raised up and the poor have the gospel preached to them.’”
Luke 4:18 NKJ “The Spirit of the Lord is upon Me, because He has anointed Me to preach the gospel to the poor.  He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to set at liberty those who are oppressed,”  RESIST, REBUKE, STAND

3.  Suffering from sin and disobedience
abortion, divorce, AIDS, war, environmental pollution, debt, bigotry, addictions (alcohol, drugs…)

“Disobedience in the life of a Christian will produce suffering and unhappiness - ask Ananias & Sapphira! (Acts 5:1-11)”

4.  Suffering because of ignorance
gravity, eating foolishly, inadequate exercise, not taking a sabbath, foolish decisions

5. Suffering for the purpose of character development
Romans 5:3 NKJ And not only that, but we also glory in tribulations, knowing that tribulation produces perseverance;
James 1:2 NKJ My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials,
3 knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience.
4 But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing.
Job, Peter, Jesus, John (Patmos) - all were tested
“God will allow things to happen in our lives in order to test us and develop our character.  He does this with our ultimate good in mind as He fashions us into a pure, holy bride.”

(”How Should We Then Suffer?” Brent Detwiler, “People of Destiny,” Nov/Dec 1989, 6-11)

What exactly is suffering for righteousness?
persecuted, being ill-treated, beaten, spoken against, denied privileges, ostracized, rejection by people “suffer together with, endure hardship with” 2 Tim 1:8; 2:3

Paul’s Suffering for Righteousness

2 Corinthians 11:23-33  whipped, imprisoned, beaten, shipwrecked, floating in ocean, in danger from rivers…from robbers…from Jews…Gentiles…in the city…country… at sea…from false brothers

2 Corinthians 11:23 NIV “Are they servants of Christ? (I am out of my mind to talk like this.)  I am more. I have worked much harder, been in prison more frequently, been flogged more severely, and been exposed to death again and again.
24  Five times I received from the Jews the forty lashes minus one.
25  Three times I was beaten with rods, once I was stoned, three times I was shipwrecked, I spent a night and a day in the open sea,
26  I have been constantly on the move. I have been in danger from rivers, in danger from bandits, in danger from my own countrymen, in danger from Gentiles; in danger in the city, in danger in the country, in danger at sea; and in danger from false brothers.
27  I have labored and toiled and have often gone without sleep; I have known hunger and thirst and have often gone without food; I have been cold and naked.
32  In Damascus the governor under King Aretas had the city of the Damascenes guarded in order to arrest me.
33  But I was lowered in a basket from a window in the wall and slipped through his hands.”

Acts 13 - Sorcerer opposed Paul’s preaching & tried to turn away a leader from hearing the gospel
Acts 13:44-45 - envious Jews contradicted, blasphemed & opposed what Paul spoke
Acts 14:5-7 - a violent attempt was made by Gentiles & Jews to abuse and stone Paul & Barnabas - they fled to Lystra
Acts 14:8-19 - at Lystra - people wanted to worship Paul & Barnabas when they saw miracles, then they stoned him & left him for dead; after Jerusalem Council (15) he went back to the same cities where he was mistreated
Acts 16 - imprisoned at Philippi
Acts 17:10-15 - Paul sent away from Berea because Jews from Thessalonica came to stir up the crowds against him
Acts 18:5-6 - Corinth - Jews opposed & blasphemed Paul
Why do Christians suffer?
2 Thessalonians 1:5 - We suffer for the kingdom of God.

2 Timothy 1:8 - We suffer for the gospel.
Revelation 1:9 NIV “I, John, your brother and companion in the suffering and kingdom and patient endurance that are ours in Jesus, was on the island of Patmos because of the word of God and the testimony of Jesus.”
Philippians 1:29 NKJ “For to you it has been granted on behalf of Christ, not only to believe in Him, but also to suffer for His sake,”

1 Peter 2:20 - If you suffer for doing good, God is pleased.
1 Peter 3:14  If you suffer for doing right, you are blessed.
1 Peter 4:12-19 Don’t be surprised at sufferings or think them strange.  If you are insulted for Christ, you are blessed.

1 Peter 4:1 He who has suffered in his body is done with sin.

The Message: “Think of your sufferings as a weaning from that old sinful habit of always expecting to get your own way.  Then you’ll be able to live out your days free to pursue what God wants instead of being tyrannized by what you want.”

Ways that Christians Suffer Today (www.persecution.org/suffering)

CHINA - June 14, 2009  Chinese officials forcibly abolished and sealed a house church in Henan.  Police raided the Sunday worship service and took videos and photos of the Christians who refused to leave despite authorities cutting off the electricity.  Seven have been detained.

SRI LANKA - June 25, 2009 In the midst of the aftermath of war, it is outrageous that the Sri Lankan government would put six Catholic priests in solitary confinement in a refugee camp.

SAUDI ARABIA - June 24, 2009 Saudi Arabia has continued to deny Christians to build places of worship in it territory.  On the other hand, Saudi Arabia uses its petrodollar to construct mosques and spread radical Islam throughout the world.

EGYPT - June 25, 2009 Christians living in a small family came under attack from Muslims.  Due to lack of protection from police, the Muslims are destroying their properties and Christians face egregious [outrageous] violations of their rights.

IRAN - June 24, 2009 Often when there is anti-western sentiment, Christians are the scapegoats.  Local Christians are blamed.  So we do have concern for the Christians and the churches in Iran, and we’re praying they’re not blamed for being political agitators.

How Do You & I Suffer for Righteousness Today?
A Christian was fired for not attending a Christmas drinking party
avoided, left out of gatherings, not in inner circle, not promoted, your diligence makes others look bad, light exposes darkness

What is God’s purposes for us in suffering?
Romans 8:17-18 - We are co-heirs with Christ if we suffer.
1 Peter 5:10  After we suffer, God will restore & strengthen us.

Is suffering God’s will for us?
Philippians 1:29 - It has been granted to us to suffer for Christ.
1 Peter 2:21 NIV “To this you were called, because Christ suffered for you, leaving you an example, that you should follow in His steps.”
Revelation 2:10  God knows about our suffering & allows it.

What should my reaction to suffering be?

We rejoice in our sufferings. …they produce perseverance.
Romans 5:3 NIV “Not only so, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance;”
Colossians 1:24 NKJ “I now rejoice in my sufferings for you, and fill up in my flesh what is lacking in the afflictions of Christ, for the sake of His body, which is the church,”
Matthew 5:11 NKJ “Blessed are you when they revile and persecute you, and say all kinds of evil against you falsely for My sake.
12  Rejoice and be exceedingly glad, for great is your reward in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you.”
Luke 6:22 NKJ Blessed are you when men hate you, and when they exclude you, and revile you, and cast out your name as evil, for the Son of Man’s sake.”
Acts 5:40 NKJ “And they agreed with him, and when they had called for the apostles and beaten them, they commanded that they should not speak in the name of Jesus, and let them go.
41 So they departed from the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer shame for His name.”

Determine the source of your suffering and respond: repent, rebuke, resist, submit

Commit yourself to God’s keeping.
1 Peter 4:19 NKJ “Therefore let those who suffer according to the will of God commit their souls to Him in doing good, as to a faithful Creator.”

Say it: “I am willing to suffer for the Name of Jesus
and for the sake of the gospel!”

How does being ashamed of the testimony of Jesus or of those who are suffering extinguish one’s fire for God?
_________________________________________________
Of the five types of suffering (on page 2), which have you experienced and how have you reacted to them?
_________________________________________________