The topic today is about showing confidence in people – to encourage them to better themselves.
• Paul showed confidence in young Timothy, who was probably in his 20s and leading a ministry. He needed encouragement and Paul gave him just that.
• All of us need that. We need someone to spur us on in our walk with God.
• And we need to do that for others. 1 Thess 5:11 “Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing.”
We don’t usually do that actively. We react to needs around us. Only when we see someone struggling do we come by and support him.
• We can learn to be more proactive in giving support and encouragement, not just when they are needed but something we give constantly, as part of our lifestyle.
Let’s turn to 2 Tim 1. Before we read, let me give you some background.
• This was Paul’s final book, and many consider it as his “last will and testament”; his last words.
• He wrote it while in prison in Rome; he was in chains (1:16) and he knows that his end will come soon (4:16).
• Christians were under persecution by Emperor Nero. Many did not dare to confess Christ openly, and there were desertions.
1:15 You know that everyone in the province of Asia has deserted me, including Phygelus and Hermogenes.
4:9-10 Do your best to come to me quickly, 10 for Demas, because he loved this world, has deserted me and has gone to Thessalonica. Crescens has gone to Galatia, and Titus to Dalmatia.
4:14-15 Alexander the metalworker did me a great deal of harm. The Lord will repay him for what he has done. 15 You too should be on your guard against him, because he strongly opposed our message.
It was a difficult environment, but Paul being more matured, experienced and seasoned in ministry, wanted to encourage Timothy to stay strong and faithful.
• Let’s read – 2 Tim 1:3-14.
Paul voiced out his confidence in Timothy in at least 2 areas - his “sincere faith” (v.5) and “the gift of God” in him (v.6).
• V.5 “I saw that faith in your grandmother, then your mother, and now in you.”
• V.6 “Fan into flame the gift of God, which is in you through the laying on of my hands.” What exactly is this gift we do not know, but there’s surely a God-given deposit in his life and Paul knows it.
So how can we build one another up?
(1) AFFIRM WHAT GOD HAS GIVEN
Most of the time, we don’t see that in ourselves. Others can see that in us.
• We need to affirm one another when we see the gifts God has given us. And He has given, according to the Scripture.
• So we want to affirm what God has given to each one of us. We are inspired and encouraged through affirmations.
• Be proactive in giving that and let’s remind one another of what God has given us.
• To do that, we need to FOCUS on what God has blessed us with, not our failures or weaknesses. Look at the GOOD in others and affirm them!
[In the book ‘The 360-degree Leader’]
John Maxwell, a famous author and writer of many books on leadership, shared that once he was visiting his parents and needed to make a conference call. He needed a quiet place and his father let him use his office.
As he sat at his desk, he noticed a card next to the phone with these words written in his father’s handwriting: “#1 Build people up by encouragement. #2 Give people credit by acknowledgement. #3 Give people recognition by gratitude.”
John Maxwell said, “I knew why it was there. My father had written it to remind him of how he was to treat people as he spoke to the phone with them.”
Look at the good in others and affirm them. Catch them when they are doing right and tell them so.
• See the potential in people because God has made them unique and given them gifts.
Notice Paul did not compare Timothy to anyone else, not even to himself.
• Paul has the maturity, the experience and even the knowledge to set himself the standard for Timothy. But he simply told him what he saw in him.
• We don’t have to compare with others, or even try to compete with them. We just need to appreciate God’s calling in their lives and affirm them.
• Paul is saying, “I believe in you. I believe you can do well, because God has given you the sincere faith and His gift.”
It’s easy to recognise great talent once people have already blossomed, but how about before they become full bloom, before they are developed?
• Paul looks at the potential in Timothy and believes in what God has done for him and can do through him. He draws them out (to remind him) and encourages him.
• Paul see people as they can be, not as they are.
• Tradition tells us Timothy went on to become the first bishop of Ephesus, and later died a martyr’s death.
Let’s reflect on this personally. What has God given you? What is God doing through you today? Don’t write off yourself too soon. Don’t waste the gifts of God.
• If you can teach, teach. If you can help, help. If you can sing, sing. If you can lead, lead. If you can __________, do that, for the glory of God!
• Paul says, “fan into flame the gift of God” and keep it ablaze! Don’t let it cool down.
The 2nd point I want to share is in 2 Tim 1:8-12
8 So do not be ashamed to testify about our Lord, or ashamed of me his prisoner. But join with me in suffering for the gospel, by the power of God… [and described what God did in saving us]
11And of this gospel I was appointed a herald and an apostle and a teacher. 12That is why I am suffering as I am. Yet I am not ashamed, because I know whom I have believed, and am convinced that He is able to guard what I have entrusted to him for that day.
(2) ASSURE WHAT GOD CAN DO
Paul assures Timothy that God will be his strength and shield to weather the persecutions. God will guard His work to the end - just as He did for him.
• Nothing will be lost. Nothing will be in vain. All that God has called him (and Timothy) to do will be keep intact.
• 1 Cor 15:58 “Therefore, my dear brothers, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain.”
Paul knows his time is short (cf. 4:6 “the time has come for my departure”) - Satan can take his life, but he cannot stop the work of the Gospel.
• That’s what the Lord said (to Peter), “I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it.” (Matt 16:18)
• It was really good for young Timothy to hear that from someone older, more mature, more experience, and more seasoned in ministry.
Note how Paul puts it: “I know WHOM I have believed.” (1:12)
• He doesn’t say, “I know what I have believed,” though that would be right.
• He doesn’t say, “I know how much I have believed,” that would be true too.
• And he doesn’t say, “I know when I believed,” or “I know why I have believed,” even though these would be encouraging too.
• He directed Timothy to dwell on the ONE to whom they have given their lives to.
Charles Spurgeon paraphrases this part this way:
It is as if he says, “I know the person into whose hand I have committed my present condition, and my eternal destiny. I know who he is, and I therefore, without any hesitation, leave myself in his hands.”
If you are trying to keep yourself safe, you are in trouble and will be disappointed one day.
• You cannot keep yourself safe. Your only hope is to entrust all that you are and have to Jesus. Lay it all at his feet and you will be safe.
• Can you trust God enough to stand by what you believe and testify of what you know, despite the difficult circumstances?
There was a test conducted by a university where 10 students were placed in a room. Different cards were shown with pictures of things with 3 differing lengths. The students were told to raise their hands when the instructor pointed to the longest item. But 9 of the students had been instructed beforehand to raise their hands when the instructor pointed to the second longest line.
The one student who was kept in the dark would put his hand up, look around, and realizing he was all alone, pull it back down. Puzzled and confused at first, but he joined them eventually.
They repeated this test with students from other grades and 75% of the time, it was the same reaction.
The researchers concluded that many would rather stand with the majority than risk being right and alone.
We know that we don’t go by what we see. We go by what we know is true.
• But we need support, we need faith.
• We need encouragement to stand firm and stay strong. We need support to keep to what is true and right.
• Especially so during times of difficulty, confusion or loneliness.
Let’s be generous in doing this – let’s build confidence in one another by:
• AFFIRMING what God has given – look out for that, and
• ASSURING one another of what God can do.
Prayer:
Unite our hearts Lord. Let us grow to love others the way You loved us.
Let us continue to encourage one another and build each other up.
For this is your will. We will pray for one another. We will support and care for each other. Help us all grow to become the person you would have us be, for your glory. AMEN.
