Some people love camping—I have not worked out why people would love camping,especially when you read some horrendous stories about camping. And I have read some horrendous story about camping. When I read these stories, I wonder why would people go camping?
For some reason, it will be fine—beautiful weather. Then you decide to go camping, and all of a sudden wet weather sets in. How many times have you gone camping and wet-weather set in?
If you go camping on the beach, it doesn’t matter where you go, you cannot escape the sand, sand in your tent, in your sleeping bag, on your plate, in your cup, in the shower, and in the toilet—that’s if you have one.
Don’t get me wrong. I do like the beach except for the sand and water.
As you can see, I am not much of a beach camper.
Nevertheless, there is one aspect of camping I really do like. After the tents and campsite have been set up and as darkness begins to engulf the campsite, usually someone builds a fire, which usually turns into a bonfire.
You know, there is something magical about a bonfire at a campsite. As that initial spark turns into a roaring fire, it’s able to draw people around it with laughter, stories, and great times of fellowship. The heat and light from the fire radiates throughout the campsite. There’s something magical about that.
However, as time passes, the flames tend to die down so someone needs to re-stack the fire again with more wood and once again the fire is blazing, radiating its heat and light throughout the campsite.
You know, our Christian lives are a bit like a bonfire. We can be on fire for God (radiating Christ to those around us), but over time if we don’t rekindle the fire or keep it blazing, the fire within us can dim. Our desire to serve God can wane. Our desire to follow God can waver. Other things will take priority; and before we know it, we have lost our way.
It seems that Timothy’s spiritual fire had cooled—this young man who came to Jesus Christ through the preaching of the great apostle Paul, this young man who served alongside of Paul in several missionary journeys, this young man who pastored the historical Church at Ephesus, it seems that this young man’s spiritual fire was wavering. It hadn’t gone out, but it was seriously wavering.
You know, lots of things can dampen the spiritual fire that dwells within.
For example:
1. Timothy struggled with ill health (1 Timothy 5:23). Who knows, this could have affected Timothy’s desire to serve God…even question God
2. Timothy was young, shy, and emotional (2 Timothy 1:4).
Sometimes Christianity can be an emotional roller coaster—highs and low.
If we are not able to deal with these highs and lows, it will affect our passion for God.
3. Timothy encountered difficulties and opposition while pastoring in the
Ephesian church.
False teachers gave young Timothy a hard time in Ephesus. In fact, it seemed they were determined to wear him down…wear him out.
These struggles really affected Timothy. In fact, to a point where his spiritual fire was wavering.
But the apostle Paul was not willing to give up on his young protégé. This young man whom Paul led to the Lord, this young man who worked alongside of him, Paul was not willing to give up on him.
Paul would have loved to have seen him personally (1:4a) but it seems Paul was under house arrest.
So, Paul wrote to him and encouraged him to rekindle the spiritual fire within.
You know, at times we all need to rekindle the spiritual fire within.
When I first became a Christian, I was blazing for God—I wanted to serve God in anyway I could. I wanted to follow God at any cost (Most new Christians think like this). But as time passed, the fire began to wane…the spiritual fire began to waver. However, I’m glad people along the way have encouraged me to rekindle the spiritual fire within.
In many ways, this is an ongoing process. If we don’t attend to a bonfire, it will go out.
If we don’t’ rekindle the spiritual fire within, it will wane…it will waver. However, I don’t believe it will go out.
Timothy was struggling but his faith was genuine as we read in verse 4, “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.”
His faith was genuine and his struggles were genuine. But the problem was that he allowed his struggles to affect his fervor for God.
So Paul encouraged Timothy to rekindle the spiritual fire within?
Therefore, Paul gave Timothy several pointers in which he could rekindle the spiritual fire within.
The first way involves…
1. Stirring up the gift of God within (1:6)
Look at verse 6, “Therefore I remind you [referring to Timothy] to stir up the gift of God which is in you through the laying on of my hands.”
The Bible reminds us that we all have a spiritual gift (1 Peter 4:10). Timothy’s gift was preaching. He was a preacher (a proclaimer of Jesus Christ) and his gift of preaching was confirmed at his ordination when Paul placed his hands upon him and prayed for him.
So Paul encouraged Timothy to rekindle afresh his gift of preaching.
The Greek word for stir or kindle literally means “to keep the fire alive,” to fan the embers into flame and not let them die out.
If Timothy was going to maintain his fervor and passion for God, then he needed to keep the fire alive…he needed to fan into flame his gift of proclamation so that he would not neglect God’s gift to him.
We all need encouragement in this area of our spiritual lives. There are so many things that can put out the spiritual fire in our lives.
But let’s fan into flame God’s gift…whatever it is (mercy; helps; encouragement; etc)…let’s keep the fire alive so that we can serve God with passion and fervor.
Don’t let discouragement put the fire out.
Don’t let the busyness of life put the fire out.
Don’t let unforgiveness put the fire out.
Don’t let bitterness put the fire out.
Don’t let worldly desires put the fire out.
Fan into flame God’s gift so that you can serve God with passion and fervor.
A while ago, I read a book by Wayne Bennett’s called Don’t Die With The Music In You. It wasn’t a Christian book. But it was a very encouraging book. I really enjoyed reading his book.
Why was it such a good book to read? Wayne Bennett said what the apostle Paul said to Timothy don’t waste your spiritual gift. You will regret it.
The second way to rekindle the spiritual fire within involves…
2. Considering God’s resources (1:7)
Look at verse 7, “For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.”
CEV says, “God’s Spirit does not make cowards of us. The Spirit gives power, love, and self-control.”
It seems that Timothy lacked confidence, and this lack of confidence brought fear into his life and ministry.
And this fear dampened the fire within.
Really, we all know about fear. You’re in a room full of non-Christians and you have an opportunity to speak for Christ. All of a sudden you’re gripped with fear.
Should I draw attention to myself and say something or should I simply shut up?
When we are apprehensive and fearful, often our focus is on ourselves and our own human resources rather than on the Lord and His resources.
Remember, God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.
After all, it is God’s power that enables us to minister effectively. It is God’s love that enables us to minister sensitively, and it is God-given wisdom that enables us to minister wisely.
When we take hold of God’s resources, the spiritual fire within will roar into flames—it will be like throwing petrol on a fire.
The third way to rekindle the spiritual fire within involves…
3. Accepting the negative aspects of the gospel (1:8)
Look at verse 8, “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.”
When we share the gospel of Jesus Christ, people will not always accept it. In fact, some people will give you a hard time because you are a Christian. Some people will be just down right hostile to you.
I can remember when I was at college in the early nineties. We were door knocking an area in Brisbane asking people some questions about the local church. I went up to this one house, and an elderly woman with a walking stick came to the front door.
It was an old Queenslander with a veranda. I told her who I was and I preceded to ask her some questions. When I mentioned that I was a Christian, she flew for me.
And she told me off. In fact, she told me to go and get a decent job.
She was down right hostile. You know, Timothy would have met people like that and most probably worse than that.
However, Paul said to Timothy that you must accept this as part of the gospel. People will misunderstand you. People will be hostile toward you. But don’t be ashamed of the gospel because of this.
You know, when people ridicule you for being a Christian, it hurts and some times we react to ridicule by being ashamed of the gospel.
We have a wonderful message to tell people—a message of hope, a message of purpose and meaning for life. Christ is not someone we need to be ashamed of. He is our answer to life—present and future.
Yes, we will suffer for Christ but let’s not be ashamed of Him. Let’s not be ashamed of who we are in Christ.
The fourth way to rekindle the spiritual fire within involves…
4. Remembering God’s call upon our lives (1:9-10)
Look at verses 9 & 10, “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.”
God has saved us through the Lord Jesus Christ but also God has called us to a holy calling according to God’s purpose and grace.
We have a goal and that is to live for Christ.
As the writer to the Hebrews said, “Let us run the race, looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith” (Heb 12:1-2).
If we keep our eyes on Jesus, then we will keep rekindling the spiritual fire within.
The fifth way to rekindle the spiritual fire within involves…
5. Realizing our Christian duty (1:11-12a)
Look at verse 11 and the beginning of verse 12, “To which I was appointed a preacher, and apostle, and a teacher of the Gentiles. For this reason I also suffer these things.”
The apostle Paul never forgot that God appointed him a preacher of the gospel of Jesus Christ.
No matter what happened Paul would continue to proclaim Jesus as the way, the truth, and the life.
In fact, Paul faithfully fulfilled his Christian duty even though he suffered persecution, imprisonment, hostility, brutality, and loneliness.
You know, Timothy could learn a lot from Paul’s life and ministry. In fact, Paul’s life and ministry is an example to us all.
If your passion is waning, read the story of Paul. Actually, we have many inspirational examples of Christians fulfilling their Christian duty.
I am always reminded of Richard Wurmbrand. What an inspirational story of a man who served God with distinction!
He was held for 14 years in Communist prisons. His jailers tried everything to break his spirit. They beat him, tortured him, and drugged him. But nothing stopped him sharing God’s love to his fellow inmates.
The sixth way to rekindle the spiritual fire within involves…
6. Trusting God completely (1:12b)
Look at the end of verse 12, “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.”
Paul knew for certain that what ever happened there was nothing to worry about. His life and ministry was in God’s hands.
As the apostle Paul said himself, “For to me, to live is Christ, and to die is gain” (Phil 1:21).
Paul’s security in life was God. He completely trusted in God. This inspired Paul to passionate and service for God.
The seventh way to rekindle the spiritual fire within involves…
7. Holding onto God’s word (1:13-14)
Look at verses 13 & 14, “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.”
One of the greatest inspirations to our passion and fervor for God is His word. If your spiritual fire is wavering, read and obey God’s word.
As someone said, “If we belong to Christ, we will be secure, but if we neglect His truth, our confidence in that security will wane.”
I know when I am struggling, it is God’s word that keeps me going. It is God’s word that inspires me to hang in there.
That’s why I champion God’s word. God’s word is more than ink on a piece of paper.
“It is living and powerful” (Heb 4:12). The more you hold to it the greater your passion for God will be.
The eighth way to rekindle the spiritual fire within involves…
8. Choosing Godly friends (1:15-18)
Look at verses 15 to 18, “This you know, that all those in Asia have turned away from me, among whom are Phygellus and Hermogenes. The Lord grant mercy to the household of Onesiphorus, for he often refreshed me, and was not ashamed of my chains; but when he arrived in Rome, he sought me out very diligently 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.”
There are some people who will dampen your desire to serve God and there are other people who will inspire you to serve God.
In other words, choosing Godly friends may make you or break you as a Christian. Times have not changed. It’s still the same today.
Your associates will either inspire you to serve God or dampen your desire to serve God.
So choose well your friends.
Conclusion:
Being passionate for God involves rekindling the spiritual fire within.
There will be times when…
we will need to stir up the gift of God within
we will need to consider God’s resources
we will need to accept the negative aspects of the gospel
we will need to remember God’s call upon our lives
we will need to realize our Christian duty
we will need to trust God completely
we will need to hold fast to God’s word
and we will need to choose Godly friends
Don’t let your passion for God die. Keep rekindling the spiritual fire within.
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