Stir Up the Gift of God: 2 Timothy 1:1-12 Explained

2 Timothy 1:1-12 Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, according to the promise of life which is in Christ Jesus, 2 To Timothy, my dearly beloved son: Grace, mercy, and peace, from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord. 3 I thank God, whom I serve from my forefathers with pure conscience, that without ceasing I have remembrance of thee in my prayers night and day; 4 Greatly desiring to see thee, being mindful of thy tears, that I may be filled with joy; 5 When I call to remembrance the unfeigned faith that is in thee, which dwelt first in thy grandmother Lois, and thy mother Eunice; and I am persuaded that in thee also. 6 Wherefore I put thee in remembrance that thou stir up the gift of God, which is in thee by the putting on of my hands. 7 For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind. 8 Be not thou therefore ashamed of the testimony of our Lord, nor of me his prisoner: but be thou partaker of the afflictions of the gospel according to the power of God; 9 Who hath saved us, and called us with an holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began, 10 But is now made manifest by the appearing of our Saviour Jesus Christ, who hath abolished death, and hath brought life and immortality to light through the gospel: 11 Whereunto I am appointed a preacher, and an apostle, and a teacher of the Gentiles. 12 For the which cause I also suffer these things: nevertheless I am not ashamed: for I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded that he is able to keep that which I have committed unto him against that day.

Introduction

We are starting the book of 2 Timothy, the 55^th book of the Bible. It has 4 chapters and takes a little over 10 minutes to read the entire book.

Last week Josh preached from 1 Timothy. 1^st Timothy and 2^nd Timothy are personal letters written by Paul directly to Timothy, who was Paul’s faithful companion and co-laborer. Paul loved Timothy like a son and wrote these letters to encourage and help him in the ministry at Ephesus where he was serving.

The Big Picture: 1 Timothy

Main purpose: To set the church in order by confronting false doctrine and establishing sound leadership and godly conduct in the local church.

Key Points:
• Confront false doctrine (myths, endless genealogies, legalism).
• Establish godly leadership (bishops/deacons qualifications).
• Teach proper conduct in worship, prayer, gender roles, service.
• Handle widows, elders, discipline, money, and church care.

The Big Picture: 2 Timothy

Main Purpose: To charge Timothy to guard the gospel and finish faithful—unashamed and enduring hardship—even as many turn away.

• Call Timothy to boldness (not shame, but power/love/sound mind).
• Emphasize endurance as a soldier/athlete/husbandman.
• Prepare him for hard times and widespread departure.
• Command him to preach the word in season/out of season.
• Warn about end-times perilous men and itching-ears Christianity.

Even though these letters were sent to Timothy, everything in these letters is profitable to us for doctrine, reproof, correction, and instruction in righteousness.

These things apply to us today as a church and as individuals.

Verses 1-2: The Promise of Life

2 Timothy 1:1-2 Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, according to the promise of life which is in Christ Jesus, 2 To Timothy, my dearly beloved son: Grace, mercy, and peace, from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord.

Paul opens his letter like he does in many of his letters throughout the New Testament Scriptures.

He establishes his authority as an apostle of Jesus Christ, not by his own will, not by the will of man, but by the will of God. He was ordained as an Apostle, meaning he is one who is sent. He was sent directly by Jesus Christ himself, God manifest in the flesh.

Why was he sent? According to or in line with the promise of life which is in Christ Jesus.

What kind of life is Paul talking about? He’s talking about eternal life.

Titus 1:2 In hope of eternal life, which God, that cannot lie, promised before the world began;

1 John 2:25 And this is the promise that he hath promised us, even eternal life.

Paul was ordained as an Apostle, he was sent by Jesus Christ himself, for the sole purpose of pointing people towards the promise of eternal life which can only be found in Christ Jesus.

Understand, that job was not reserved for the Apostles alone. That job is for every one of us.

We are all called to be like the church of the Thessalonians:

1 Thessalonians 1:8 For from you sounded out the word of the Lord not only in Macedonia and Achaia, but also in every place your faith to God-ward is spread abroad; so that we need not to speak any thing.

What a blessing it is when everyone in the church is sounding out the word of the Lord…
Everyone is spreading their faith. Wouldn’t it be awesome when we go out soul winning and we go up to people and they say “I already talked to someone from your church…I already heard the gospel and believe on Jesus Christ”

In Paul’s greeting he established his position and work in Jesus Christ…

2 Timothy 1:2 To Timothy, my dearly beloved son: Grace, mercy, and peace, from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord.

In Paul’s 1^st letter to Timothy, he calls him his own “son in the faith”.
Here he addresses him as his “dearly beloved son”. Paul had great love and care for Timothy. So much so that he’s writing these letters to exhort and encourage him with wisdom and instruction.

When you have someone that you love and care about, like your children, you want to guide them and instruct them in the right ways. You don’t want their life to be destroyed.
If you let your children do whatever they want, if you don’t correct them, you are hating and despising your children.

That goes for all types of relationships. If you have a friend that is breaking the commandments of God, and you do not warn or correct them, it’s like you are hating that person.

Paul was not necessarily writing to Timothy to correct him on things he was doing wrong, but he was encouraging him to continue in the things that he had been taught already.

Here at this church we want to have great love for each other so that when we do see someone going down the wrong path, we will have a desire and a burden to see that person get back on the right path.

Everyone here should have a desire for all the people in this church to continue in the things that we are being taught from the Word of God.

That was the desire that Paul had for Timothy. And look at what that desire resulted in…

Verse 3: Paul’s Love and Care

2 Timothy 1:3 I thank God, whom I serve from my forefathers with pure conscience, that without ceasing I have remembrance of thee in my prayers night and day;

Paul’s love for Timothy caused him to remember him without ceasing in his prayers night and day.

In this life, we can choose to only think about our needs. That’s a really selfish way to live and you will find no happiness. You will miss out on great blessings when you only think about yourself.

Paul thanked God that he was able to keep Timothy in His mind and pray for him. We need to ask God to help us to keep people in our memory.

We need to keep everyone here in our memory and pray for them.
We need to keep the people that we preach the gospel to, new believers, in our memory and pray for them.

That prayer is extremely important, and God is listening to our prayers.

So Paul remembered Timothy in prayer night and day…

Verses 4-5: Timothy’s Real Faith

2 Timothy 1:4-5 Greatly desiring to see thee, being mindful of thy tears, that I may be filled with joy; 5 When I call to remembrance the unfeigned faith that is in thee, which dwelt first in thy grandmother Lois, and thy mother Eunice; and I am persuaded that in thee also.

Paul continues to express his love and care for Timothy. He has a great desire to see him, being mindful of his tears, most likely from the last time that Paul had to depart.

He goes on to say that He desires to see him, that he may be filled with joy; How will he be filled?
when I call to remembrance the unfeigned faith that is in him.

What does the word unfeigned mean? Unfeigned means not counterfeit; not hypocritical; real and sincere.

The faith that Timothy had was real and sincere faith and it brought much joy to Paul.

It brings me great joy to see unfeigned faith in you all. When you go out with us and preach the gospel, when you serve within the church, when you show your faith by your works, that is a huge encouragement, and it builds the faith of others around you.

When I call to remembrance the unfeigned faith that is in thee, which dwelt first in thy grandmother Lois, and thy mother Eunice; and I am persuaded that in thee also.

Notice that Paul reminds Timothy that the unfeigned faith that is in him was first in his grandmother and his mother.

This goes to show how important it is pass down our faith by teaching our children the gospel, by being good examples to them so they can see Jesus Christ in us. We want to have real unfeigned faith so that our children will want to serve the Lord.

If we are fake, if we come to church acting like we are spiritual, and then go home and do drugs, speak vile and vulgar things, commit acts of physical or verbal abuse, all the things that you teach your kids related to God and church will mean absolutely nothing to them.

Don’t put on a show at church and then live completely different at home. Don’t live a double life.
Have unfeigned faith!

Because of the faith of Timothy’s grandmother, Lois; and the faith of his mother, Eunice, Timothy followed after their example. Timothy chose to have real faith in Jesus Christ and look at how he was used.

Remember that the choices you make today, how you raise your children, will have eternal implications.
So walk this earth wisely with unfeigned faith.

Verse 6: Stir Up the Gift of God

2 Timothy 1:6 Wherefore I put thee in remembrance that thou stir up the gift of God, which is in thee by the putting on of my hands.

So far Paul has reminded Timothy of the love and care he has for him.
Paul remembered him night and day in prayer.
He reminded him of the unfeigned faith that he has within.

Because of that faith that Timothy has, Paul is now reminding him to stir up the gift of God that is in him.  

That gift that Paul is referring to is Timothy’s God-given enablement for ministry. The calling and spiritual ability God put in him to preach the gospel, teach, and serve the church.

That’s why Paul connects it to “the putting on of his hands”. When someone is ordained to a specific position or sent out to do specific work for God, the putting on of hands is a public recognition of being set apart for that work of the ministry.

Timothy knew the gift that he had and Paul was reminding him that he needs to stir it up so it does not become dormant and unused.

Understand that we as a body of believers all have spiritual gifts that have been given to us.

Romans 12:5-8 So we, being many, are one body in Christ, and every one members one of another. 6 Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us, whether prophecy, let us prophesy according to the proportion of faith; 7 Or ministry, let us wait on our ministering: or he that teacheth, on teaching; 8 Or he that exhorteth, on exhortation: he that giveth, let him do it with simplicity; he that ruleth, with diligence; he that sheweth mercy, with cheerfulness.

God has given us these gifts; we don’t want to waste them and let them become dormant. We don’t want to be unprofitable servants for God.  

Just like anything in life, like any talent or ability, if you don’t stir up your talents and put to practice the abilities that you have, then you will start to lose those things. You will forget.

Paul did not want Timothy’s gift to become dormant.

When there is no more wood on a fire, and all that’s left are the embers underneath the ashes, you have to stir up those coals and add fuel to the fire to keep it going.

We don’t want to let our fire for God that is within to go out. What’s one of the biggest things in our life that can cause that fire to go out and become dormant?

Verse 7: Don’t Let Fear Suppress the Gift

2 Timothy 1:7 For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.

Fear is one of the biggest factors that causes us to not serve God. Whether it’s fear of persecution, fear of missing out on things that appeal to our flesh. Fear keeps us suppressed. It keeps us dormant and inactive.

Paul was reminding Timothy that God has not given us the spirit of fear. God has given us the spirit of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.

When you are fearful you don’t have any power, you don’t have love, you don’t have a sound mind to make wise and rational decisions.

We need to stir up that gift of God within us and don’t let fear keep us from doing what God wants us to do. How do we stir up that gift?

We stir it up by feeding on Scripture. Through prayer and dependance on God.
We stir it up by going out and doing the work. Going out and preaching the gospel.
We don’t wait until we “feel ready”. You take the step, and the gift is stirred as you exercise the gift.

Verse 8-10: Partake in the Afflictions of the Gospel

2 Timothy 1:8 Be not thou therefore ashamed of the testimony of our Lord, nor of me his prisoner: but be thou partaker of the afflictions of the gospel according to the power of God;

When things get difficult in your life you can choose to back down and let that fire in you go out.
Or you can keep fighting forward and continue to stir up the gift of God.

Paul is telling Timothy to not let fear bring him under subjection. Don’t be ashamed of the testimony of our Lord. Don’t let the fact that I am in prison for preaching the gospel cause you to lose your zeal.

If we woke up tomorrow and looked at the news and saw that a law was passed that anyone that is caught evangelizing in public would be imprisoned, would we still go out their and preach the gospel?

Paul was telling Timothy, “be partaker of the afflictions of the gospel…”

We will continue to preach, we will not be ashamed of our Lord. “We ought to obey God rather than men.”

Remember who we are serving. We are not serving the president. We are not serving celebrities. We are not serving social media influencers.

We are serving the almighty Creator…

but be thou partaker of the afflictions of the gospel according to the power of God;

2 Timothy 1:9 Who hath saved us, and called us with an holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began,

2 Timothy 1:10 But is now made manifest by the appearing of our Saviour Jesus Christ, who hath abolished death, and hath brought life and immortality to light through the gospel:

Understand that we serve the one who abolished death. Do you realize what that means? We have absolutely nothing to fear in this life.

We serve the one who has brought life and immortality to light through the gospel. We have been made alive through Jesus Christ and our soul will never die. What do we have to fear?

Paul was reminding Timothy of these things. And if Timothy needed to be reminded, how much more do we need to be reminded?

The gift that is in us must be stirred up or else we will be consumed by fear and become ashamed of our Lord Jesus Christ and His gospel.

Verse 11-12: Never Be Ashamed

2 Timothy 1:11 Whereunto I am appointed a preacher, and an apostle, and a teacher of the Gentiles.

2 Timothy 1:12 For the which cause I also suffer these things: nevertheless I am not ashamed:

Paul was showing Timothy why it was needful for him to stir up the gift of God in him. He was using his current situation and his life as an example.

Preaching the gospel would bring many afflictions. It would bring suffering. But Paul was not ashamed. Why wasn’t he ashamed? Why was he so bold? Why did he continue in faith?

for I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded that he is able to keep that which I have committed unto him against that day.

Paul’s faith was not in himself to continue and persevere. His faith was in Jesus Christ. He was persuaded that HE is the one that is able to keep that which Paul committed unto him against that day.

Paul committed himself to the gospel. He gave up all the pleasures and riches of this world because he knew that Jesus offers a much greater reward than anything that we can gain while we are on this earth.

Conclusion

Understand that this letter to Timothy and the reminders that Paul was giving him have been preserved for our learning. So here’s what I want you to take away from this today:

Timothy had unfeigned faith. His faith was real and sincere. Ask yourself, do you have unfeigned faith? Or are you putting on a show?

Paul reminded Timothy to stir up the gift of God that was given to him. We all have gifts. We all need to make sure those gifts do not become dormant and unused. How do we stir up the gift?
Reading God’s Word, Prayer, and Preaching the Gospel.

If we do not stir up those gifts, we will be overtaken by fear and become ashamed of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Remember who you believe in. Remember what He is able to do. Let’s get rid of the fear in our lives by committing ourselves to the things of God. Committing ourselves to the Gospel.
Let’s Pray.