We heard a quote from AW Tozer during the weekend message that said, "Anything God has ever done, He can do now. Anything God has ever done anywhere, He can do here. Anything God has ever done for anyone, He can do for you." This powerful statement reminds us that just as God worked in the past, He is able to work in our own lives now. Whether we believe this statement makes all the difference. You see, if we do not, we will have weak faith, struggling to trust God and His work in our lives and the world. If we believe it, however, we will have a spirit of boldness, trusting God and His power to work in all situations.
The apostle Paul called Timothy to have boldness because of the power of God that was at work in his life and the world in 2nd Timothy 1. In this chapter, he told him to "fan into flames" the spiritual gift that God had given him (verse 6). He wanted Timothy to use his God-given gifts boldly to make Christ known. He continued writing, "For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power, love, and self-discipline” (verse 7). This is a powerful statement. God did not give us a spirit of fear. We do not have to live in fear, regardless of what is going on in our lives and in the world. God has given us, instead, a spirit of power. We can live boldly, knowing that God's power is at work in our lives. Several verses later, Paul continued writing and explaining about God's limitless power, saying, "He broke the power of death and illuminated the way to life and immortality through the Good News" (verse 10). There is no greater power than the power over death and the power to immortality, eternal life forever with God.
In light of everything God has done and in light of His power, Paul said to Timothy, “Hold on to the pattern of wholesome teaching you learned from me—a pattern shaped by the faith and love that you have in Christ Jesus. Through the power of the Holy Spirit who lives within us, guard the precious truth that has been entrusted to you” (verses 13-14). This call from Paul was a call for Timothy (and us) to live boldly, without fear, fiercely defending his faith. Why? God is all-powerful. He is in control. Even more, He has given us a spirit of power. We can boldly trust Him, live for Him, and point others around us to Him. Lean in to His great power today.
One of the ways we live in the boldness that God gives us is by worshiping Him. Make plans to worship Him this weekend with us at one of our weekend services and praise Him for everything He, through His extravagant power, has done. As you worship, remember who He is, all He has done, and all He will do. Remember that He gives us strength and power as we seek to live lives that point others to Him.
1This letter is from Paul, chosen by the will of God to be an apostle of Christ Jesus. I have been sent out to tell others about the life he has promised through faith in Christ Jesus.
2 I am writing to Timothy, my dear son.
May God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord give you grace, mercy, and peace.
3 Timothy, I thank God for you—the God I serve with a clear conscience, just as my ancestors did. Night and day I constantly remember you in my prayers. 4 I long to see you again, for I remember your tears as we parted. And I will be filled with joy when we are together again.
5 I remember your genuine faith, for you share the faith that first filled your grandmother Lois and your mother, Eunice. And I know that same faith continues strong in you. 6 This is why I remind you to fan into flames the spiritual gift God gave you when I laid my hands on you. 7 For God has not given us a spirit of fear and timidity, but of power, love, and self-discipline.
8 So never be ashamed to tell others about our Lord. And don’t be ashamed of me, either, even though I’m in prison for him. With the strength God gives you, be ready to suffer with me for the sake of the Good News. 9 For God saved us and called us to live a holy life. He did this, not because we deserved it, but because that was his plan from before the beginning of time—to show us his grace through Christ Jesus. 10 And now he has made all of this plain to us by the appearing of Christ Jesus, our Savior. He broke the power of death and illuminated the way to life and immortality through the Good News. 11 And God chose me to be a preacher, an apostle, and a teacher of this Good News.
12 That is why I am suffering here in prison. But I am not ashamed of it, for I know the one in whom I trust, and I am sure that he is able to guard what I have entrusted to him until the day of his return.
13 Hold on to the pattern of wholesome teaching you learned from me—a pattern shaped by the faith and love that you have in Christ Jesus. 14 Through the power of the Holy Spirit who lives within us, carefully guard the precious truth that has been entrusted to you.
15 As you know, everyone from the province of Asia has deserted me—even Phygelus and Hermogenes.
16 May the Lord show special kindness to Onesiphorus and all his family because he often visited and encouraged me. He was never ashamed of me because I was in chains. 17 When he came to Rome, he searched everywhere until he found me. 18 May the Lord show him special kindness on the day of Christ’s return. And you know very well how helpful he was in Ephesus.
