Jesus Wants Steadfast Faithfulness # 1

Background and introduction

Throughout history fear has been one of the most formidable enemies humanity has ever faced. One of the least known catastrophes brought on by fear happened during World War II in the subcontinent of India. It has come to be known as the Bengal Rice Famine. From October 1942 till October of 1943 somewhere between two and four million people died of starvation in India. They did not die because there was a lack of food. They died because the government acted on fear rather than fact.

The local government in the Bengal area was afraid that the Japanese would invade their country as they had invaded Singapore and Burma. In reaction to this supposed threat decisions were made by local Muslim leaders to move the bulk of rice and foodstuffs to Calcutta, which was deemed more important and more defensible, leaving millions in the rural areas without adequate food supplies. The Japanese never came, and before it was over millions were dead of starvation, most of whom, ironically, were also Muslims. They died because crops were hoarded to avoid them from getting into the hands of an enemy that never came. They died because of fear.

Fear is the chief enemy of faithfulness. It is the great immobilizer; it has frozen many people in their tracks and kept them from accomplishing all they were created to do in God's kingdom. Fear caused the Israelites to grumble and complain as God was about to deliver them from Pharaoh's advancing army. Fear froze the armies of Israel before Goliath, it caused the disciples to wake Jesus from His sleep in the midst of a storm, it caused Peter to deny Jesus during the passion and it has been the culprit in many a Christian's failure to be and do all God has commanded them to be and do. Fear has long been the enemy of faith and continues to derail those whose heart desire is to be steadfast and faithful in their service to our Lord.

It is somewhat comforting, however, to realize that great men and women throughout history, people who have accomplished great things for God, have also had to struggle with fear. Many great people who ultimately proved to be faithful, along the way were tempted to give up. Our text this morning gives us insight into how we as Christians can overcome fear, specifically the fear that keeps us from being effective servants in God's kingdom. It tells us how to be steadfast and faithful.

In the first seven verses of 2 Timothy, Paul reveals to us something about the personally and makeup of Timothy, his son in the ministry. Paul had poured his life into Timothy. He had worked hard at developing him into the person he would need to be to assume the responsibilities he would one day inherit.

As Paul sits in a cold and damp prison cell, facing certain death at the behest of the Roman Emperor Nero, he is preoccupied with one thing and one thing alone: the forward movement of the gospel and the kingdom of God. We are not privy to other concerns that may have weighed upon his mind, as he writes under the direction and inspiration of the Holy Spirit of God, Paul tells his young protégé Timothy, the essential things he will need to know to carry on with his work. Central to Paul's message in this book is the preservation and the advancement of the gospel.

Timothy, however, by personality and nature is not one we as humans would normally deem fit for the task. Shy and retiring, timid and fearful by nature, Timothy would seem, at least from a human perspective to be an unlikely candidate to assume the mantle of the great apostle. And yet, as 1st Samuel 16 reminds us, God does not see things as man sees them. Whereas man looks at the external appearances, God looks at the heart. God sees us, not based upon what we can do, but based upon what He can do through us.

If you've ever felt in inadequate for the task, if the fear of failure has ever gripped you, if you've every felt like the passion of fire which once characterized your service to God has burned low and is in danger of going out, this is a book for you. If you've ever found yourself spiritually dry, feeling alone and useless in God's kingdom, there is a word from God for you this morning.

Notice four things our text says will enable us to overcome our fear.

I. We overcome fear and remain faithful by reassuring one another (vv. 3-4)

The nature of this letter is intensely personal. Paul loved Timothy as a son, and writes to him as a father would write to a son. While he is painfully honest, notice that before he calls upon Timothy to rekindle the flame within him and abandon his fear, he begins with words of reassurance, words that encourage and strengthen.

All of us need words of reassurance. All of us need someone who will love us enough to encourage us.

In verses 3 and 4 Paul says five things that speak to reassurance.

Five ways to reassure one another:

1. Gratitude - I am thankful for you (v. 3)

It's always encouraging to know that someone can appreciate what God has done through you and is thankful to God for you. Paul was grateful to God for Timothy, for his ministry and for his friendship. It's always nice to know that as others remember you before the lord that it is with a sense of gratitude, not with a sense of grief or complaint. When was the last time you thanked God for a brother or sister in Christ that He has put into your life? When was the last time you told them that you were grateful to God for them?

2. Faithfulness - I am praying for you (v. 3)

Paul was quick to let Timothy know that he was making intercession on his behalf. One of the most encouraging things I have ever experienced as a pastor is the knowledge that there are folks out there praying for me, praying that God will protect me, will use me and will continue to guide me. Fear often brings with it doubts, not only doubts about yourself but doubts about others and doubts about God. When you know someone loves you enough to remember you in prayer, to be faithful in taking you before heaven's thrones, it is reassuring and encouraging.

3. Fellowship - I want to spend time with you (v. 4)

It had been some time since Paul and Timothy had been able to visit with one another. And yet time and distance had in no way diminished the strength of their friendship. Facing what was a certain death, Paul now tells Timothy that it sure would be nice to see him again, to talk together about all that God had done and was doing. While Paul had been used greatly by God we must never forget that like all of us, he was merely human. Even as he wanted to strengthen and encourage Timothy, he too needed to be reassured and strengthened; he needed the comfort his friendship with Timothy afforded him.

But then there was the element of empathy, of understanding what Timothy was going through.

4. Empathy - I know what you are going through (v. 4)

Some say that Paul is referring to when they had to part ways, and Timothy wept, others hold that the difficulties Timothy had experienced in ministry had led to tears. Anyone who has spent a substantive time in ministry understands that sometimes the going gets tough. Sometimes the stresses and strains, the disappointments and difficulties lead you to tears.

Jesus wept out of compassion for those He loved and anyone who has taken up their cross and is following Him will also, at times, be driven to tears.

I remember several years ago, within a few short weeks we had lost several of our members to death. Ministering to the families, experiencing their pain, and dealing with the personal loss of those whom God had entrusted to my care was nearly more than I could bear.

I remember sitting outside in the parking lot one day, my wife had come to join me for lunch and I just began to weep. She said, "what's the matter," and I said, "I'm tired of death stealing folks that I love."

Paul had shed his share of tears, he understood where Timothy was; he understood what he was going through. Acts 20:36-37 tells us that as Paul left Ephesus, he and those with him wept freely.

It is encouraging to realize that others understand what we are going through and can empathize with us.

5. Blessing - You are a blessing to me (v. 4)

Paul saw Timothy as one of the blessings God had given him. It is always encouraging to know that you've been a blessing to others. Paul wanted Timothy to know that as he counted his blessings, Timothy was among them.

What does it do to you when someone lets you know that you are a blessing to them? How does it affect you when someone drops you a note and tells you that God has used you to bless their lives?

This is what Paul wanted to do in Timothy's life. He wanted to encourage him, to strengthen him, to lift him up from the pit of fear and despair and to reassure him that he was still useful in God's kingdom and that Paul could see it.

We overcome fear by reassuring one another.

~Pastor Calvin Wittman~