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turn in your Bibles to 2nd Timothy 
chapter 1. 2nd Timothy chapter 1, a couple 
of weeks ago we introduced this particular epistle and looked 
at verses 1 and 2. This evening our specific focus 
will be verses 3 to 7. The Apostle Paul indicates his 
prayer for Timothy in verses 3 to 5, and then he reminds Timothy 
in verses 6 and 7. And there is a particular flow 
or a particular foundation that this our trajectory that this 
follows. He prays for Timothy, he encourages 
Timothy by letting him know how he prays. That serves as the 
basis for this reminder in verses 6 and 7 to stir up the gift that 
is in him. And then that ultimately serves 
as the basis for the exhortation that comes in verses 8 to 14. Specifically, Timothy is being 
called upon not to be ashamed of the testimony of our Lord 
and to share with Paul in the sufferings for the gospel according 
to the power of God. So prayer gives way to reminder, 
and that serves as the basis for the exhortation in verses 
8 to 14. I'll just read the chapter, and 
as I said, we'll take up the Apostle's Prayer for Timothy 
and the Apostle's Reminder to Timothy. Paul, an apostle of 
Jesus Christ by the will of God, according to the promise of life 
which is in Christ Jesus. To Timothy, a beloved son, grace, 
mercy, and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord. I thank God, whom I serve with 
a pure conscience, as my forefathers did. As without ceasing, I remember 
you in my prayers night and day, greatly desiring to see you, 
being mindful of your tears, that I may be filled with joy. 
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. Therefore, I remind you 
to stir up the gift of God which is in you through the laying 
on of my hands. For God has not given us a spirit 
of fear, but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind. Therefore, 
do not be ashamed of the testimony of our Lord, nor of me, his prisoner. Share with me in the sufferings 
for the gospel according to the power of God, who has saved us 
and called us with a holy calling. not according to our works, but 
according to his own purpose and grace, which was given to 
us in Christ Jesus before time began, but has now been revealed 
by the appearing of our Savior Jesus Christ, who has abolished 
death and brought life and immortality to light through the gospel, 
to which I was appointed a preacher, an apostle, and a teacher of 
the Gentiles. For this reason, 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 what I have committed to him until that day. Hold fast 
the pattern of sound words which you have heard from me, in faith 
and love which are in Christ Jesus. That good thing which 
was committed to you, keep by the Holy Spirit who dwells in 
us. This you know, that all those in Asia have turned away from 
me, among whom are Phygelus and Hermogenes. The Lord grant mercy 
to the household of Anesiphorus, for he often refreshed me and 
was not ashamed of my chain. But when he arrived in Rome, 
he sought me out very zealously and found me. The Lord grant 
to him that he may find mercy from the Lord in that day. And 
you know very well how many ways he ministered to me at Ephesus. 
Amen. Well, let us pray. Father, we 
ask now for the ministry of your Spirit. We pray for the forgiveness 
of our sins. We know, God, that our conduct 
has not been worthy of the gospel, so we pray that you would cleanse 
us and that you would indeed wash us in that precious fount 
that is open for sin and uncleanness. God, we know that sin darkens 
our understanding, it darkens our minds and our hearts. We 
pray that through your grace and mercy you would make a way 
for us to receive, with thanksgiving, the Word of God. We ask as well 
that we would learn something of prayer as we consider Paul 
at the throne of grace. that we would learn something 
as well concerning the necessity for men of God to stir up the 
gift that is in them. We ask that you would just bless 
this time that we have together. Again, fill us with your Holy 
Spirit, illumine our minds and our hearts, and we pray these 
things through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. Well, it is very 
instructive to do a study of the prayers of the Apostle Paul. 
I believe D. A. Carson has a book on the prayers 
of the Apostle Paul, something about a call to reformation. As well, A.W. Pink has a book 
called A Guide to Fervent Prayer, and I believe that in much of 
that book, that is precisely what he does. He looks at Paul, 
the prayers of the Apostle Paul in the New Testament epistles, 
and then draws out several lessons for us, so that we may likewise 
pray as this godly man. So as we look at this particular 
section, two broad considerations. First, the Apostle's prayer for 
Timothy verses 3 to 5 and the Apostles reminder to Timothy 
in verses 6 and 7. First with reference to his prayer 
there are three sub points that I want to consider. First his 
prayer proper, secondly his desire, and thirdly his remembrance. 
Certainly, as we read through this epistle, these first few 
verses show us something of the great love that Paul has for 
Timothy. Paul was very fond of him. Paul 
loved this man. Paul trusted this man. In fact, 
just to get a bit more background, you can turn to Philippians chapter 
2, just to see the great esteem that the Apostle had for Timothy. I take the text when he tells 
Timothy to remind or he reminds him to stir up the gift, I do 
not believe that means that Paul thinks Timothy is being unfaithful. 
Pastor John MacArthur in his study Bible says that Paul, or 
this statement, seems to indicate that Paul was not satisfied with 
Timothy's current faithfulness. I couldn't disagree more. Paul 
speaks nothing but commendably concerning Timothy. not only 
here in Philippians, but in 1st and 2nd Timothy. There's nothing 
wrong with telling a faithful man or a godly man or a good 
man to stir up the gift that is in him. That's one of the 
means by which he continues along the faithful path. In an employment 
situation, if an employee or an employer brings in an employee 
for a performance review, I think it's pretty common to tell the 
good employees to continue to be good employees. You don't 
tell them to become deadbeats. You don't tell them to go out 
and just waste time and lay on the couch and steal money and 
steal supplies from the company. No, you acknowledge the fact 
that they're faithful, you acknowledge the fact that they're good, you 
acknowledge the fact that they're doing a solid job, and you remind 
them to stir it up, to continue, be faithful, persevere. in these 
things." Notice in Philippians 2.19, "...but I trust in the 
Lord Jesus to send Timothy to you shortly, that I also may 
be encouraged when I know your state. For I have no one like-minded 
who will sincerely care for your state. For all seek their own, 
not the things which are of Christ Jesus. But you know his proven 
character, that as a son with his father he served with me 
in the gospel. Therefore, I hope to send him 
at once, as soon as I see how it goes with me. But I trust 
in the Lord that I myself shall also come shortly." Going back 
to 2 Timothy, Paul speaks beautifully concerning this man. There is 
a larger concern here. 2 Timothy is Paul's last letter. 2nd Timothy, Paul is conscious 
of the fact that he's going to die. Pastor Porter read 2nd Timothy 
4 this morning. Paul knew that the time of his 
departure was at hand. Paul knew that he was going to 
go to be with Jesus. So Paul is calling upon Timothy 
as a faithful minister of the gospel to continue what Paul 
himself had already begun. This is why in chapter 1 verses 
7 to 14 Paul alludes to, or 8 to 14, Paul alludes to his own example, 
because he wants Timothy to follow that pattern. He wants Timothy 
to persevere. He wants Timothy to maintain 
fidelity. While there are men like Hermogenes, 
while there are men like Phygelus, while there are men that do depart, 
Demas, love this present world, while there are men who are defecting 
or apostatizing from the truth, Timothy, and Titus as well, are 
being called to pursue faithfulness. Faithful ministry is what is 
needful, not only today, but it was necessary in this particular 
day. Moreover, it is required of stewards 
that they be found faithful. 1 Corinthians 4, 2. And that 
is precisely what Paul is doing in this portion of the letter, 
is reminding Timothy, not by way of reprimand, but specifically 
by way of reminder, to stir up that which is already in him. Notice, in terms of Paul's prayer, 
his priority, verse 3, I thank God. You trace through the Pauline 
letters, and this is the way he begins his prayer. He thanks 
God. He doesn't just run into the 
presence of God and say, give me, give me, give me. But rather 
he contemplates the glory of God, he contemplates the goodness 
of God, he contemplates the grace of God, and as a result, he expresses 
his thanks to God. Now the particular connection 
here is probably something like this, verse 3, I thank God, verse 
5, when I call to remembrance the genuine gift that is in you. 
So a lot of subordinate clauses in here that are a bit difficult 
to sort of untangle, but the idea or the mind here is that, 
or the idea, the concept here is that Paul Paul thanks God 
for Timothy. Paul thanks God for this young 
minister. Paul thanks God that the Lord 
has indeed deposited these gifts in him, not only the gift of 
salvation, but as well ministerial gift, so that Timothy can effectively 
lead the people of God, so that he can preach to them, so that 
he can teach them, so that he can shepherd them, and the primary 
means by which the shepherd shepherds is through the Word of the Living 
God. George Knight, with reference 
to thanksgiving in Paul's prayers, he says the thanksgivings in 
his letters express gratitude for God's grace in the life of 
the recipients and are usually related to the particular concerns 
of the letter. He's exhorting Timothy to faithfulness 
as a gospel minister. What does he thank God for? Timothy's 
faithfulness as a gospel minister. He wants to perpetuate this. 
He wants this to continue. He doesn't want Timothy to fall 
by the wayside. This is the reason for his prayer 
and for his exhortation. Notice as well the integrity 
necessary in prayer. Look what he says here in verse 
3, I thank God whom I serve or worship with a pure conscience. I thank God whom I serve with 
a pure conscience. The pure conscience primarily 
has reference to his service or worship to God. I think we 
can take from this a particular principle. Those who do not live 
well typically do not pray well. Those who are not seeking a pure 
conscience, those whose consciences are bloodied by sin, those whose 
consciences are heaped up with guilt, are typically not those 
who pray earnestly at the throne of grace. Now I'm sure there's 
exceptions out there. I'm sure there are those persons 
that in the midst of their sin and wretchedness and wickedness, 
they nevertheless at least go through some form of prayer. 
But Paul says, I thank God whom I serve with a pure conscience. 
Psalm 66, the psalmist said, if I regard iniquity in my heart, 
you will not hear me. The way that we conduct ourselves 
among men affects the way that we pray to our God. Another real 
lively example of this is found in 1 Peter chapter 3. 1 Peter 
chapter 3. Men, if your prayer lives are 
not blessed, if your prayer lives are cold, if your prayer lives 
are infrequent, if your prayer lives are somehow hindered, it 
may not be the case that you need to read D.A. Carson's book. 
It may not be the case that you need to read A.W. Pink's book. 
Now, I'm not saying that's wrong. But it may be the case that you 
need to quit being a knucklehead to your wife and love her in 
a manner that is consistent with your profession. Look at 1 Peter 
3, 7. Husbands, likewise, dwell with 
them, with your wives, with understanding, or according to knowledge. And I think the idea here is 
know your wife. not read books on how women function, 
but know your wife, know what she's about. Dwell with her according 
to knowledge, according to understanding, giving honor to the wife as to 
the weaker vessel, and as being heirs together of the grace of 
life." Now notice the purpose clause, that your prayers may 
not be hindered. You see, when we live in rebellion 
against the Lord God Almighty, it certainly does not translate 
into an effective prayer life. And it's interesting that the 
Apostle Paul, when he gives us sort of an open window to look 
in on him as he's praying at the throne of grace, he is able 
to say, whom I serve or whom I worship with a pure conscience. So take from this particular 
reference or statement, compare it to Psalm 66 and to 1 Peter 
chapter 3, and to realize that if your prayer life is lacking, 
it may be because your conscience is bloodied by unrepentant sin, 
or you're not dealing faithfully with God and with men. Certainly, 
I don't think I've ever met a Christian, other than very proud ones, if 
I've asked them, how's your prayer life? I don't typically hear 
people say, it's great, it's fantastic, my prayer life is 
wonderful, it's awesome. If they actually said that, I'd 
probably say, you know, we should probably have some coffee together, 
because there seems to be some other issues here. Someone well 
wrote one time, if you want to humble a Christian, ask him about 
his prayer life. Prayer is difficult in the best 
of circumstances. It's certainly far more difficult 
when we're living in known sin. when we're not serving the Lord 
with a pure conscience, when we are regarding iniquity in 
our hearts, when we are not treating our wives properly as God calls 
us to. We can imply as well, ladies, 
if you're not treating your husbands the way that the Bible specifies, 
then your prayers will be hindered also. You see those who pray 
well are typically those who live well and the Apostle Paul 
sets forth that pattern in this section. Notice as well with 
reference to prayer, his solidarity. Look at what he says, whom I 
serve with a pure conscience as my forefathers did. As my 
forefathers did, this is an interesting statement. Very often in the 
book of Acts, the Apostle Paul highlights the reality that it's 
not him that has a new God. It's not him that's pursuing 
a new religion. It's not him that's doing something 
novel or innovative. Rather, Paul says, I am in chains 
for the hope of Israel. The God of Abraham is the God 
and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. And if it be the case 
that some would say that the Apostle is an innovator, the 
Apostle is novel, the Apostle is doing something brand new, 
Paul says, I serve this God with a pure conscience as my forefathers 
did. George Knight again says, Paul 
affirms here a continuity with the true faith of his Jewish 
ancestors. In other words, that he has not 
left the Old Testament and turned to worship and serve another 
God, but in recognizing Jesus as the promised Messiah, has 
continued to serve the God of Abraham. Calvin says it this 
way, this declaration he made in opposition to those well-known 
calumnies, that's a good old-fashioned word, those well-known calumnies 
with which the Jews everywhere loaded him, as if he had forsaken 
the religion of his country and apostatized from the law of Moses. I think several times in Paul's 
polemics or Paul's arguments against the Judaizers. I think 
underlining all of it is this truth. It's not Paul that's departed 
from the Old Testament. It's not Paul that's departed 
from those promises. It is the Judaizers in rejecting 
the Lord Jesus Christ, they have turned their back upon the God 
of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. That's the reality. Notice the 
parallel as well. Paul speaks of his forefathers, 
his godly heritage, those who are in his ancestry. And then 
dropping down a little bit, he speaks about Timothy's ancestry, 
Timothy's heritage. There's a godly Eunice and a 
godly Lois in Timothy's life, perhaps because Timothy had a 
Gentile father. He might have been looked at 
awkwardly. Persons might have said, is he 
really one of us? Well, Paul's statement here, 
I believe, also serves to show the unity that we have, Jew and 
Gentile, under the one Lordship of our blessed Redeemer. And 
then in terms of his prayer, notice the constancy. Notice 
the constancy. "...whom I serve with a pure 
conscience, as my forefathers did, as without ceasing, I remember 
you in my prayers night and day." Constancy. Paul speaks to this 
in several of his letters. What does he tell us we're to 
be doing always? Rejoicing and praying. Not grumbling, 
not complaining, not whining, not sniveling, and not debating 
or polemicizing all the time. You know, one would surmise, 
looking at blogs in the comment section, there's not a lot of 
praying being done, because we're all on blogs commenting at one 
another. Maybe we should leave the blog 
for a little while and actually pray the way the Apostle Paul 
says. But Paul doesn't just say this 
throughout his epistles to the people that read these epistles. 
Paul practices it. And notice, isn't it beautiful? 
It says, "...as without ceasing I remember you in my prayers 
night and day." When Paul went to pray, Timothy was in his mind 
and in his heart. I believe that Christians ought 
to be benevolent. I believe that Christians ought 
to be a prayerful people. It's good for us to pray for 
brethren in other parts of the world. It's good for us to pray 
for other churches. It's good for us to remember 
that we are not in this alone. But I also am convinced that 
each Christian ought to have a shorter list of persons that 
never go without prayer. One of the early things that 
troubled me as an elder in the church in Palmdale, I met with 
a particular couple, and I was exhorting them to pray, and I 
asked the fellow straight out, maybe I shouldn't have mentioned 
Palmdale, maybe I shouldn't go on with this, maybe don't put 
this on the internet, I don't know. This fellow said he didn't 
pray for his wife. I thought, what do you mean you 
don't pray for your wife? How do you not pray for your 
wife? If any of you brothers aren't praying for your wife, 
how do you not do that? Or ladies, how do you not pray 
for your husbands? Or parents, how do you not pray 
for your children? Or children, how do you not pray 
for your parents? I mean, there ought to be a short 
list in the bosom of every Christian. When we go to pray, we pray for 
these brethren. Well, Timothy was that to the 
Apostle Paul. When Paul bent knee before the 
God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, Paul prayed for Timothy. He loved him. There was affection. 
There was camaraderie. There was a bond. And as a result, 
when Paul prayed to the Father, it was necessary that he pray 
for this young companion that was involved in gospel ministry. The necessity of prayer for ministers 
is something that Paul enjoins upon the churches as well. Again, 
he practices what he preaches. So that's his prayer, at least 
some of the specific elements. Notice his desire. He says, greatly 
desiring to see you in verse 4, greatly desiring to see you, 
to encourage him, to comfort him, to strengthen him, but as 
well so that Timothy could encourage Paul, so that Timothy could strengthen 
Paul, so that Timothy could comfort Paul, specifically at the end 
of the epistle, so that Timothy could bring Paul's cloak, and 
Timothy could bring the books, especially the parchments, to 
the Apostle Paul. We ought to see the connection 
here in verse 4, His joy does not come because Timothy is full of tears. His joy comes 
because he's going to see Timothy. That's what produces joy. Some 
would say Paul has selfish motives there. He only wants to see Timothy 
so that his joy can be increased. How do you think this would have 
made Timothy feel? It makes Paul happy to see me. 
If I was Timothy, that would make me quite happy. I'd be very 
encouraged about that. Paul, at the throne of grace, 
prays for Timothy. He greatly desires to see Timothy, 
and this is heightened by the fact that Timothy is a man of 
tears. probably because of his own sin, 
probably because of the sins of others, probably because he's 
been left in a difficult situation in Ephesus, probably because 
he's got to contend with false teachers, probably because he's 
got to wage the good warfare, probably because he has to fight 
the good fight constantly, continuously, and earnestly. Timothy was a 
man that was not opposed to expressing his tears and his grief. Paul 
says, as I remember that, in the midst of greatly desiring 
to see you, I want to be there with you so that I may be joyful 
and that you as well may be encouraged and strengthened and helped along 
the way. And then notice, his remembrance 
of Timothy in verse 5. Again, I think this is where 
we ought to connect. I thank God. And then verse 5. 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. Timothy's genuine faith. Timothy was not a charlatan. 
Timothy was not a fake. The genuine there, if you have 
the New King James, the margin reads unhypocritical. That's 
precisely what it is. It's an unhypocritical faith. 
Is it a perfect faith? No, no man has that. Is it a 
spotless faith? No, no man has that. Is it a 
flawless faith? No, no man has that, but it's 
genuine. It's real. It's not hypocritical. He is a faithful man. He is a 
faithful brother. He undertakes on behalf of God 
and his gospel in a manner that is consistent. with the Word. This is his reason for his thankfulness, 
this is the common bond that unites Paul and Timothy, and 
then as well he connects it to this rich heritage that Timothy 
had, which dwelt first in your grandmother Lois and your mother 
Eunice. Gordon Clark, I quoted in 1st 
Timothy chapter 6 and verse 12, you can probably see that from 
where you're at in 2nd Timothy. Notice in 1st Timothy 6, 12, 
fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life to which 
you were also called and have confessed the good confession 
in the presence of many witnesses. The effectual call is as necessary 
for a man or a young man that's been catechized that has been 
reared in a godly environment. It's not as if Eunice and Lois 
were the means by which Timothy came into redemptive privilege. 
It was the powerful, effective grace of God Most High that translated 
Timothy from the kingdom of darkness into the kingdom of the Son of 
His love. That faith is nourished, that faith is nurtured, that 
faith is encouraged by his godly grandmother and mother. But on 
1st Timothy 6.12, Gordon Clark says, God called Timothy out 
of his state of original unrighteousness into his present state of grace. 
Such effectual calling is obvious in spectacular conversions, such 
as Paul's. but is just as real and necessary 
for those who learn the gospel from their mothers and grandmothers. 
We need to keep that in mind, especially as parents seeking 
to rear children in a covenantal context, not a paedo-baptist 
covenantal, but a particular baptist covenantal. We need to 
remember All of our catechism, all of our encouragement, all 
of the things that we teach them and set before them, we need 
the power of God. We need the effectual call. We 
need God to reach down, as it were, and to change their stony 
hearts into fleshly hearts. We need God most high to effectively 
draw these children. and these young people unto himself. And I hope, as parents, that 
is your prayer, at least on Saturday night and on Sunday morning. 
All of the persuasion that comes through the pulpit, the argumentation, 
the evidences presented, the exegesis, the exposition, the 
fact that it may be understandable to young people, we need God. We need the Spirit. We need, 
as we sang, and don't be freaked out about that, Pentecostal showers. We need the presence and the 
power of the Holy Spirit to come through and by the Word to affect 
that great change that none of us can do. With men it is impossible 
to save a soul, but with God all things are possible. We don't 
appeal to them in their free will. We don't appeal to them 
in their goodness. We don't appeal to them to try 
harder and be better. We call them to believe on the 
Lord Jesus Christ. We call upon God Most High to 
send the Spirit to effect that great transaction that we have 
deemed or have called, at least along the lines of the Reform, 
the effectual call of God. Notice as well, which dwelt first 
in your grandmother Lois and your mother Eunice. Listen to 
Calvin here. He says, By Lois and Eunice whom 
he had been educated from his infancy in such a manner that 
he might have sucked godliness along with his milk." It's beautiful, 
isn't it? He had been educated, reared, 
and nurtured in such a way that he might have sucked godliness 
along with his milk. Paul understood this. Paul commends 
this. Paul is happy at the realization 
that Timothy was, in fact, brought up in such an environment. It 
is the effectual calling of God, but then as well those secondary 
means, the kindness, the mercy, the faithfulness, the perseverance 
of parents and grandparents. Timothy's father was a Greek. His mother was Jewish, Acts 16.1. She was a Jew who believed. So was his grandmother. And they reared this young man. 
Look at 2 Timothy 3.15 for just a moment. And that from childhood 
you have known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise 
for salvation through faith, which is in Christ Jesus." This 
ought to be our desire as parents. It ought to be our desire as 
grandparents. I teach at the Cascade and sometimes 
I have to say parents and grandparents and great-grandparents and great-great-grandparents. There's several people at Cascade 
that are in their nineties. It's a lot of generations going 
on there. The point is, we need to take 
seriously this blessed admonition, this blessed precedent established 
here by Timothy's mother and grandmother, and we must do likewise. Deuteronomy 4, Deuteronomy 6, 
the importance of family religion is set before Israel in a covenantal 
context. It is likewise in the New Covenant 
setting. What are fathers instructed in 
Ephesians chapter 6? Fathers, do not provoke your 
children to wrath, but bring them up in the training and admonition 
of the Lord. In other words, teach them, school 
them in the sacred scriptures which are able to make them wise 
unto salvation by faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. So Paul thanks 
God for Timothy's genuine faith. Paul thanks God for Timothy's 
godly heritage. And then Paul is able to say 
after highlighting Lois and Eunice, he says, and I am persuaded as 
in you also. How is it the case that Paul 
would be persuaded that this was in Timothy? It was in his 
conduct. We're not saved by our good works, 
but we're saved unto good works. We're saved in order to be fruitful. We're saved in order to be faithful. We're saved in order, if we're 
gospel ministers, to carry out that task and calling in a responsible 
and biblically accurate manner. Paul sees Timothy, and while 
Timothy doesn't hold up a sign saying, I have genuine faith, 
Paul's view of Timothy, he is able to say, I am persuaded that 
the faith of your mother and the faith of your grandmother 
is in you also, because of the way that you conduct yourself. 
Just like in Ruth, for those of us who were gathered together 
on the Wednesday night study, Ruth in Ruth chapter 3 verse 
11, Boaz is able to say concerning Ruth, my whole city knows that 
you're a virtuous woman. That's beautiful, brethren. That's 
glorious. Not because, as I mentioned, 
she Facebook statused, I'm a virtuous woman. Visit my website and buy 
my wares. She didn't tweet how virtuous 
she was. She didn't stand on the corner 
saying, tell Boaz I'm a virtuous woman. It was because she worked 
hard, because she was looking to the God of Israel, because 
she was faithful that men in that city were able to tell that 
this is a virtuous woman. The same thing is true of us, 
brethren, You know, you've heard it said before, if Christianity 
is outlawed, will there be enough evidence to convict you in a 
court of law? Would the people closest to you, when they find 
out that you go to church, or that you profess faith in the 
Lord Jesus, would they slap their foreheads and say, I would have 
never guessed? I would have never imagined that you were a Christian. 
I would have never in a million years considered that you were 
a Christian. That's a terrible thing if that's the case. I'm 
not saying you need to set up a box in your, you know, the 
workroom, break room, and get up on there and preach Spurgeon 
sermons at that. No, just be faithful. Samuel 
Petto, I quoted, that Reformation Sunday. It is true, there is 
a necessity of evangelical works to testify our faith, obedience, 
and thankfulness to God. But they are required not as 
conditions, but as effects and declarations of our justification. So Paul, knowing Timothy, is 
able to say, I am persuaded this faith is in you also. Now notice, 
verses 6 and 7, the reminder. Therefore, Therefore, the connection 
with the prayer, because I pray this way, because I desire to 
see you, Timothy, because I remember you, because I love you, because 
I'm in this with you, and because I want this for you, therefore, 
Timothy, I remind you to stir up the gift of God which is in 
you through the laying on of my hands. As I said, he is reminding 
He is not reprimanding. Again, MacArthur says, this seems 
to indicate that Paul was unsatisfied with Timothy's level of current 
faithfulness. That is not a necessary implication. If I tell my child that's doing 
well, keep doing well or do well, that doesn't mean I minimize 
all the good that he's done. It doesn't mean I'm reproving 
him or I'm bringing reproach against him. I am stirring him 
up by way of reminder. You ought never to get upset 
if you are reminded in the church, well, don't the people see that 
I'm doing great things? I'll be reminded. Repetition 
is helpful in the Christian life. So Paul is not condemning Timothy. Specifically, notice verse 8, 
he is going to tell Timothy to be ready to suffer for the gospel. You see, you're not going to 
do that in your own strength, Timothy. You're not going to 
do that because you're a great guy, Timothy. You need to stir 
up the gift that is in you. You need the presence and the 
power of the Holy Spirit to persevere. You need those resources that 
God has already given to you. So stir up the gift of God which 
is in you through the laying on of my hands." 1 Timothy 4, 
he refers to Timothy having the hands of the eldership laid upon 
him. Some argue that there are two 
different things in view. We could say they're both referring 
to the same event. The eldership is mentioned in 
1st Timothy because it's not just Timothy, but it's the church 
that needs to rehearse this reality. When Paul says, my hands, it's 
more personalized with reference to Timothy as a minister of the 
gospel and his need, his responsibility to stir up that gift that is 
in him through the laying on of my hands. It wasn't as if 
it was magic. It wasn't as if power flowed 
through the apostle. This was rather a public or formal 
declaration of what God had put in Timothy in terms of spirit 
and gift. And that brings us finally to 
the reason for this in verse 7. Notice, for God has not given 
us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind. Timothy, stir up the gift that 
is in you. Timothy, be faithful. Timothy, 
persevere. Timothy, you're doing well. Keep 
doing well. Why? Because God did not give 
us a spirit of fear. Now, in the Greek language, they 
don't use capitalization the way that we do. It's difficult 
to know if this means spirit in terms of an attitude, in terms 
of a disposition, in terms of a man's orientation, or if it's 
a capitalized spirit. At least the translations I checked, 
I don't know of any that do translate it with the capital S Spirit. 
The Holy Spirit. Certainly the Holy Spirit is 
not far removed because it's the Holy Spirit who works through 
and in us to cultivate these particular things, power and 
of love and of a sound mind. Notice in verse 7, God has not 
given us a spirit of fear. We don't need to conclude that 
Timothy was fearful. We don't need to conclude that 
Timothy was timid. We don't need to conclude that 
Timothy was a Nancy boy. We need to simply understand 
that Paul is telling Timothy what is true and what we need 
to be reminded of. We could hear this each and every 
day for the rest of our lives and that would be perfectly legitimate. 
It's interesting. God has not given us a spirit 
of fear. Now, He is speaking to a Christian 
man, but He's speaking to a Christian minister as well. He doesn't 
want Christian ministers to be afraid. Proverbs tells us, and 
the prophet Jeremiah tells us, that the fear of man brings a 
snare. Now, the spirit of fear here 
doesn't mean we ought not to fear God. Certainly a man who 
stands behind a pulpit ought to say with John Knox, I have 
never once feared the devil, but I tremble every time I enter 
the pulpit. That's a reality and that is 
consistent and that is a blessing. A man ought to fear and tremble 
as he stands behind the pulpit to minister the word of God. 
But this spirit of fear that Paul tells Timothy God has not 
given us, it is a fear that shrinks back from declaring truth. It 
is a fear that is too timid to offend the delicate sensitivities 
of anyone that might disagree. Paul says God has not given us 
that. God has given us a spirit of 
power and of love and a sound mind. If grace, mercy, and peace 
are the underlying virtues that a gospel minister needs, according 
to verse 2, then power, love, and a sound mind are those tools 
necessary to execute a biblically successful Christian ministry. Calvin again says, he here speaks 
particularly about ministers and exhorts them in the person 
of Timothy to arouse themselves actively to deeds of valor, because 
God does not wish them to perform their office in a cold and lifeless 
manner, but to press forward powerfully, relying on the efficacy 
of the Spirit. A lot of similarities. Philip 
Towner brings this out. Between this and Joshua chapter 
1. Moses exhorts Joshua to not be 
afraid. Moses exhorts Joshua to be faithful 
in the conquest. Moses exhorts Joshua to meditate 
upon the law of God day and night. And then you will know success. 
And then you will have prosperity. And then look at the positive. 
I've already alluded to it. God has not given us a spirit 
of fear, but God has given us a spirit of power, and of love, 
and of a sound mind. Certainly, as I said, the Holy 
Spirit is in view in this area. 1 Corinthians chapter 2, a great 
example of the power wrought by the Spirit. There are several 
passages in the New Testament that connect power with the Spirit, 
but I want to highlight just two specifically. 1 Corinthians 
2... I'm sorry, 2.4. Can't read 2.4 without reading 
verses 1 to 3. So chapter 2 verse 1, "...and I brethren when I 
came to you did not come with excellence of speech or of wisdom 
declaring to you the testimony of God. For I determined not 
to know anything among you except Jesus Christ and Him crucified. 
I was with you in weakness and fear and in much trembling. And 
my speech and my preaching were not with persuasive words of 
human wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power, that 
your faith should not be in the wisdom of men, but in the power 
of God." 1 Thessalonians chapter 1. 1 Thessalonians chapter 1. You see, Paul says, God did not 
give us a spirit of fear. He did not give us a spirit of 
timidity. He did not call you to feebly 
walk behind a pulpit, make a few recommendations, and try to inculcate 
some life skills in your hearers, and then sort of meander off 
back into your hole. No, you preach the word of the 
living and true God. The Holy Spirit grants power. 
The Holy Spirit grants utterance. The Holy Spirit grants reception 
on the part of the people. and he breaks down the heart 
and hearts of sinners." 1 Thessalonians 1 5, "...for our gospel did not 
come to you in word only, but also in power, and in the Holy 
Spirit, and in much assurance, as you know what kind of men 
we were among you for your sake." God has given us a spirit of 
power. God has given us a spirit of 
love. This is the chief virtue, isn't 
it? You have to appreciate the way these things work together. 
Imagine a power without love. Imagine love without power. It's 
akin to Matthew 10, 16. When Jesus said, I send you as 
sheep among wolves, therefore be what? Cunning as serpents 
and harmless as doves. You've got to have wisdom. You've 
got to have savvy. You've got to have ability. You 
also have to have it tempered by a harmless, dove-like attitude. If you only have the cunning, 
you're going to repel people. If you're only harmless and you 
don't have any savvy, you're not going to be able to help 
people. The same is true here. It's not a raw exercise of brute 
force and power. It is a power tempered with love. 
It is love that paves the way for the exercise of these particular 
things. Love is the chief virtue of the 
Christian life. And then he says finally, but 
of a sound mind. Fear and timidity produce confusion. Fear and timidity produce confusion. The spirit, however, produces 
a sound mind. This is self-discipline, the 
power to keep oneself in hand, free from all excitement or hesitation. It has to do with character and 
conduct and is the general virtue or knowledge of what to do and 
what to avoid. You see, Paul is passing the 
baton on to Timothy. Paul wants leaders to stand up 
after he departs who are faithful in their ministry. He wants men 
who are committed to the truth of Holy Scripture and who are 
committed to God's philosophy of ministry and who are committed 
to doing it in a manner that is consistent with the apostolic 
example of Paul himself. And so he is reminding Timothy. He is encouraging Timothy so 
that when it gets to the exhortation to be not ashamed and to suffer 
for the sake of the gospel, Timothy is cocked and ready." Well, brethren, 
in terms of the prayer life of the Apostle, by way of conclusion, 
gratitude, remembrance, constancy. Those are just a few elements 
that are set forth here in 2 Timothy chapter 1. If you are struggling 
with prayer, read Paul's prayers. Nothing wrong with that. As Donald 
Whitney taught at the Solar Scripture Conference several weeks ago, 
pray through the Bible. Have you ever thought to do that? 
You open up Matthew 6 and you say, hallowed be thy name and 
you stop for a moment and you roll that around and you think 
about that particular petition and you make it your own. God 
help me to hallow your name. God help me to revere your name. 
Help me to speak well of your name. If you're a husband and 
a father, you can pray that for your wife, you can pray that 
for your children. We ought to be praying that for 
our church. May God's name be hallowed here. 
May His name be honored. May it be feared. May it be revered. 
This is the way you pray through Scripture. You come to the second 
petition. If you take that first one, it 
can actually take you a little while. You come to thy kingdom 
come. Certainly another good prayer 
for a Saturday night. Another good prayer for a Sunday 
morning. Watson breaks it down. The kingdom 
of grace. Kingdom of glory. We pray for 
God's manifestation of the kingdom of grace. That sinners are converted 
through the proclamation of the truth. And we certainly pray 
for the kingdom of glory. God, we pray that you'd consummate 
the age. That Jesus would return in glory 
and in power and in might. and he would usher in the eternal 
state where God is all in all. You see, you take the scripture 
and you pray the scripture. There is no word that God is 
more pleased with than his own word. And when we pray that word 
back to him, It certainly is worshipful unto our God. So take these prayers of the 
Apostle Paul. Take these concepts and employ 
them in your own prayer closet. Secondly, the genuine faith of 
Timothy is founded upon the effectual calling of God, 1 Timothy 6.12. 
It is nurtured in the context of godly family life. Brethren, we cannot make the 
Spirit convert children. We cannot make the Spirit save 
children. We cannot make things happen 
in terms of God's sovereign grace, but we can certainly, and we 
must certainly, employ the means. We need to make sure that we 
are rearing our children, as Paul tells us, in the training 
and in the admonition of the Lord Most High. May it be the 
case that when they're old, they can say, I had a godly grandmother, 
I had a godly mother, and hopefully a godly father and grandfather 
as well, that were faithful. They taught me, they encouraged 
me, they sat before me, Jesus Christ and Him crucified. Thirdly, 
the necessity for ministerial progress. Timothy is not to lie 
dormant. Timothy is not to settle on his 
lease. Paul does not say to Timothy, 
everything's going well, just keep going. Just be status quo. No, I remind you to stir up the 
gift of God which is in you through the laying on of my hands. 1 
Timothy chapter 4 verse 15. Meditate on these things, give 
yourself entirely to them, that your progress may be evident 
to all. 2nd Timothy chapter 2, verse 
15. Be diligent to present yourself 
approved to God, a worker who does not need to be ashamed, 
rightly dividing the Word of God. You see, that's what biblical 
ministry looks like. Doesn't mean a lot of golf. It 
doesn't mean a lot of fun and games. It doesn't mean a lot 
of time away from those things which matter. Look at what he 
says here. Be diligent. Not to be ministerial 
sloth and laziness and sluggardliness. Let your progress be made known 
to all. Not again because you Facebook 
it and tweet it. I'm really making progress in 
the ministry. I'm really doing awesome in my 
study. No, don't do that. But by the fact that you are 
seeking to commune with God and serve Him with a pure conscience, 
and internalizes word and sound theology. That's the means by 
which your progress is evident to all. So be diligent to present 
yourself approved to God. Somewhere along the line this 
got forgotten. Especially in our celebrity preacher 
culture. Men are presenting themselves 
approved to other men. Men are presenting themselves 
approved to crowds, approved to people, approved to ratings, 
approved to numbers, approved to money. That's not what Paul 
says. Be faithful, be approved to God. You may go to your grave, Timothy, 
never having made an impact the way that C. H. Spurgeon did, 
but be faithful, persevere, do what God calls you to do. We 
need to understand, especially as Calvinists, especially as 
Reform, that God is in the business of the results. God is in the 
business of applying our tasks to water, our task is to plant, 
and our task is to realize that it's God who gives growth. And then finally, all of this 
given for the one chief end of proclamation of the truth for 
the glory of God through the salvation of sinners by Jesus 
Christ. Isn't that it? Isn't that why 
Paul lived? Isn't that why Paul functioned? 
Isn't that why Paul had his being and why Paul is educating Timothy? It is for this particular goal, 
the glory of God in the salvation of sinners by Jesus Christ. Paul's purpose, Paul's focus, 
and that which he passes on to young Timothy is for the propagation 
of the Christian gospel. So if you are here tonight and 
you're not a believer, look at the great lengths that God Most 
High went to to bring the gospel to sinners. You need to see that 
God has benevolence. God has a large heart. God has 
purpose to save a great multitude that no man can number. God has 
purpose in eternity past to carry this out. And one of the means 
by which He did it was to save the Apostle Paul, to use him 
to write the New Testament, at least a big part of the New Testament, 
so that sinners like us could hear the gospel of free and sovereign 
grace, and by God's grace to believe and repent. So in other 
words, there's everything in chapter 1, verses 3 to 7, to 
argue for you to believe on the Lord Jesus Christ. Let us pray. Our Father, we thank you for 
this, your holy word, and we thank you for the glory of Christ 
in the church, and we pray that you would just bless us as we 
enter into a new week. Give us grace, Father, to serve 
you with a pure conscience. Give us grace, Father, to be 
in the prayer closet, to be those who thank you, those who intercede 
on behalf of others. Help us to pray with earnestness 
and with constancy as we see in the life and the ministry 
of the Apostle Paul. We ask that you would just bless 
all the people in our local church that you would bring us together 
again, that we may worship you in spirit and in truth. Cause 
your face to shine upon us, and may we know that peace which 
does surpass all understanding. And we pray these things through 
Christ our Lord. Amen.