2 Timothy 1:6-14 Loyal

Theological Proposition/Focus: The Gospel is worth the ultimate sacrifice whether that be death or the full investment of one's life.

Homiletical Proposition/Application: We have been entrusted with the most important message in history. The message of the Gospel.

Introduction:

Image: Cracking the enigma machine

The Enigma machine, developed in the early 20th century, was a groundbreaking encryption device that became synonymous with German military secrecy during World War II. Designed initially for commercial use, the German military adapted and enhanced the Enigma, turning it into a highly complex cipher machine to safeguard their sensitive communications. The device consisted of a keyboard and a set of rotors that encrypted messages in a seemingly random manner, making it extremely challenging to decipher. Each press of a key triggered a series of mechanical movements, constantly changing the encryption pattern. The Enigma's cryptographic strength lay in its ability to generate an astronomical number of possible combinations, rendering traditional codebreaking methods ineffective.

Capturing an Enigma machine held immense strategic significance during World War II. The Enigma, a highly sophisticated encryption device used by the German military, was instrumental in securing their communications. When Allied forces managed to seize an Enigma machine, it provided invaluable insights into German encryption methods. The captured machines, along with associated codebooks and settings, allowed Allied codebreakers to further unravel the complexities of the Enigma system. This breakthrough significantly expedited the process of decrypting intercepted German messages, granting the Allies access to critical intelligence in real-time. The knowledge gained from captured Enigma machines played a pivotal role in shaping military strategies, enabling the Allies to anticipate and counter German actions effectively.

Cracking the Enigma code during World War II stands as one of the most significant achievements in the history of cryptography. The Enigma machine, employed by the German military to encode sensitive communications, presented a formidable challenge to Allied codebreakers due to its complexity and regular reconfigurations. Alan Turing, a pioneering mathematician and computer scientist, played a crucial role in deciphering Enigma-encoded messages. Turing's team at Bletchley Park developed the Bombe, an electromechanical device designed to rapidly test possible Enigma settings. Their perseverance, innovation, and ability to adapt to the evolving Enigma configurations were essential. But also secrecy of their codebreaking efforts mattered. Turing's team was entrusted with protecting one of the most significant truths, the Allies had cracked the enigma. The decoding of Enigma not only unveiled the enemy's plans and significantly accelerated the end of the war, saving countless lives and altering the course of history.

The ministry of the Gospel of Jesus is of monumental importance and those in whom this message has been entrusted have the capacity to be part of the salvation of countless souls. However, unlike the Bletchley Park team, this mission is no secret.

Setting the Stage:

2 Timothy, is one of the pastoral letters attributed to the Apostle Paul in the New Testament of the Bible. The letter was probably written during Paul's second imprisonment in Rome, around AD 64-67 shortly before his execution. I see this letter as very much Paul's last will and testament. The letter serves as a personal and instructional message from the elder apostle to his beloved disciple and co-worker in the faith, Timothy. The letter emphasizes themes such as enduring faith, steadfastness in the face of challenges, and the responsibility of Christian leaders to faithfully carry on the teachings of Christ. As Paul faces the imminent prospect of martyrdom, he takes on a poignant tone, providing a glimpse into the profound spiritual legacy he wishes to impart to the next generation of believers, particularly Timothy, who is encouraged to guard the deposit of faith and continue the work of spreading the Gospel.

In 2 Timothy 1:6-14, Paul appeals to Timothy to remain loyal to the Gospel.

The sermon today has a lot of items that are directed specifically at Tim, are good reminders for our other deacons and pastors, but really apply to everyone. You see all of us have been called to Gospel ministry. Some of us are called to hold a particular office but we all have a responsibility to the Gospel.

Let's read 2 Timothy 1:6-14,

6 For this reason I remind you to fan into flame the gift of God, which is in you through the laying on of my hands. 7 For the Spirit God gave us does not make us timid, but gives us power, love and self-discipline. 8 So do not be ashamed of the testimony about our Lord or of me his prisoner. Rather, join with me in suffering for the gospel, by the power of God. 9 He has saved us and called us to a holy life—not because of anything we have done but because of his own purpose and grace. This grace was given us in Christ Jesus before the beginning of time, 10 but it has now been revealed through the appearing of our Savior, Christ Jesus, who has destroyed death and has brought life and immortality to light through the gospel. 11 And of this gospel I was appointed a herald and an apostle and a teacher. 12 That is why I am suffering as I am. Yet this is no cause for shame, because I know whom I have believed, and am convinced that he is able to guard what I have entrusted to him until that day.

13 What you heard from me, keep as the pattern of sound teaching, with faith and love in Christ Jesus. 14 Guard the good deposit that was entrusted to you—guard it with the help of the Holy Spirit who lives in us.

Body

The first point I want to make is that.

You have been called to minister but that does not mean ministry will always be easy (6-8).

I am sorry to have to say this but it is reality. There are times when ministry is hard. Paul, as he wrote, was facing imminent death. Early Christian tradition and historical accounts suggest that Paul was executed in Rome, likely during the reign of Emperor Nero, around AD 64-67. One widely accepted tradition is that Paul was beheaded. This belief is based on a reference in early Christian writings, specifically in the "Acts of Paul," an apocryphal work that describes Paul's execution by beheading.

So imagine Paul, sitting in a prison knowing that the end is near. Ministry is hard! But imagine Timothy also, his mentor is imprisoned and he will likely never see him again. What's more, prison often brings shame. Ministry is sometimes hard. But hard does not mean impossible and Paul has some important reminders for Timothy. First, he reminds Timothy that

Remembering decisions made and the time of a calling provide important motivation (6).

In verse 6 Paul reminds Timothy that he needs to exercise the gifts for ministry fanning them. The idea here is that as the gift is used it is brought to full potential. But how does one do that in the midst of hard ministry? By remembering that they have been called by God. This is, I think, the point of verse 6. Paul is saying, "Timothy remember that we laid hands on you calling you to ministry. That call was our recognition of God's gifting you. Don't forget, God has called you!"

At this point, you might be wondering if there is something spiritual or magical that happens when we lay hands on someone whereby they receive a special gift or grace. My answer, I don't think so. The Greek word διὰ (through) that we translate as "through the laying on of my hands" is very imprecise and can mean nothing more than an "association between Timothy's ordination and the young man’s awareness of his own abilities."

I really think Paul is saying. Timothy, don't forget that we all recognized God's calling. When the going gets tough remember God's call.

We only have one side of the story so we don't know how Timothy felt, but it seems that perhaps Timothy was feeling threatened, defensive or even ashamed. Again ministry is hard. Paul reminds Timothy

You have received the most important resource (7).

You do not need to be timid in your ministry for the Gospel because you have the most important resource, the Holy Spirit. The word "timid" δειλίας is a hapax legomena in the New Testament, that is a word that is only used once. The word could be translated as cowardice. Paul is reminding Timothy not to be afraid to minister. God's Spirit is the Spirit of power, the Spirit of love, the Spirit of self-discipline.

When ministry is hard and you feel like giving up, remember you have access to the very power of God. When ministry is hard and you feel like giving up remember the love for your brothers and sisters. When ministry is hard and you feel like giving up, dig deep and remember your training, God has been teaching you self-discipline for this moment!

Finally, remember, you are not alone. You have the indwelling Holy Spirit and you have your brothers and sisters in Christ. We need to realize that

Relationships matter far more than we often realize (8).

Ministry is hard and Paul knew it, but instead of giving up, Paul reared up under the weight of ministry and invited Timothy to join with him. When ministry is hard remember you are not alone as you minister. You have others with whom you may join, with whom you may depend. Timothy, Paul says, join with me in bearing this weight by the power of God.

Image: Brotherhood Among Marines

I doubt there is anybody who understands the importance of relationships in the midst of difficulty quite like a marine understands it

The concept of brotherhood holds deep significance for members of the Marine Corps. In the Marine Corps, brotherhood refers to the strong bond and camaraderie that develops among Marines. This bond is rooted in shared experiences, mutual respect, and a commitment to the Corps' core values of honor, courage, and commitment.

Marines often use the term "brother" to address one another, emphasizing the familial and supportive nature of their relationships. The intensity of Marine training, the challenges faced during deployments, and the shared sense of purpose create a unique and unbreakable bond among Marines. The idea is that each Marine is not just a comrade but a brother, united by a common mission and a commitment to watch out for and support one another.

This sense of brotherhood extends beyond active service, lasting throughout a Marine's life. Marines often refer to their fellow service members as "brothers for life," and many marines take offense if they are ever described as "was a marine" No a marine is a marine for life.

I don't want to cheapen what Marines have but I want all of us to realize what we have in Christ!

MTR: Check your tool belt and make sure the tools are all in place.

Beyond remembering the calling and tools it is important that we also remember what it is we are doing. I want to remind all of you

Never forget that you are a minister of the Gospel (9-12a).

The fact that the Gospel is central matters. We are not ministers of health and wealth. We are not seeking to merely bring good deeds to society. We are not even ministers of peace, welfare, or comfort. These are all nice things but what we are ministers of is the Gospel and we must remember what that means. Recall that

The Gospel is grounded in the reality of God's unmerited favor (9).

The call of a minister of the Gospel is a call to be set apart for God but it is not based on the works they have done. The saving and setting apart of a Christ follower is a past event. We follow Christ not that we might be saved but because we are saved. We minister not to earn our way to heaven but because we have already been appointed to heaven. God has done this not because of what we have done but because of his purpose and unmerited favor. There are times when anybody ministering with the Gospel can lose sight of grace. they can begin to think of themselves as something or because of failure they can think of themselves as not possessing salvation. Both are lies, the minister of the Gospel must remember that there is nothing they have done to earn the salvation of God and nothing they can do to lose it. The truth of the Gospel is the truth that God has shown unmerited favor.

Before the beginning of time, God gave grace by appointing Jesus, God the Son, to die on the cross. We are not going to get into Supralapsarianism and Infralapsarianism today. Instead what I want you to see is that from the very beginning, God has been a God of grace. That grace was fully realized in Christ and as a result, the Gospel must be grounded always in God's grace.

Beyond being grounded in grace, we also must remember that

The Gospel is the message of death's defeat and eternal life (10).

Romans 5:12 and 21 state

Therefore, just as sin entered the world through one man, and death through sin, and in this way death came to all people, because all sinned—

so that, just as sin reigned in death, so also grace might reign through righteousness to bring eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Sometimes when you have an idea it is easy for that idea to bloat. Mission creep is a real thing and the same holds for concepts. In verse 10 Paul gives us bookends to the Gospel so that we don't have mission or idea creep. The bookends of the Gospel are really simple death and eternal life. The Gospel is bounded by the reality of our death as a result of sin and the expectation of eternal life through Jesus Christ. Sitting in the middle is the reality of the Cross resting firmly on God's unmerited favor. This is the Gospel. We need to remember that we are first and foremost ministers of the Gospel. There are all sorts of problems in society and we should seek to improve life but never at the expense of the Gospel. What is the Gospel? the message that we all sin and fall short of the glory of God, the wages of that sin is death, but Jesus came, died on the cross paying the price for sin, and rose the third day the first fruits of eternal life that is offered to all who place their faith in Christ's payment for their sins. That is it, that is your mission, spread the Gospel.

If you choose to be a minister of the Gospel you may face opposition but

The Gospel is the greatest news ever (11-12a).

The Gospel is the greatest news imaginable. It has been said "if you were born in America you have won the lottery." And there is some truth to that statement, we have incredible wealth available to us. But being born in America is nothing compared to being called to follow Christ. We all face a reality, one day we are going to die and all the wealth we have earned cannot stop that. I was talking with one person a few months ago and he mentioned an interesting idea. Americans spend an incredible amount of money attempting to extend life by insignificant amounts. The Gospel is the message that for the low low cost of zero dollars, you can extend your life forever! You have been entrusted with this message and while you might suffer for spreading the message it is worth it!

So, what do we do with this?

MTR: Remind yourself of the Gospel.

We must remember that

The Gospel is worth it (12b-14).

I know that everyone thinks I am a risk taker but that is not how I see myself. If you look at things like investments I am actually pretty risk-adverse. If I make an investment I don't want much risk exposure. Well let me tell you

The investment in the Gospel is secure (12b).

In the second half of verse 12 we see that our Gospel investment is not insured by the FDIC, it is insured by the Savior. The God of the universe is able to secure your investment. The Gospel is worth it because there is no safer investment.

If I am being honest I will tell you that I am actually banking everything on this investment. I hesitate to say this very often because I don't want to sound proud, it is not pride that drives me to say this but instead, it is a desire to put my money where my mouth is. I am banking everything on my investment in the Gospel. I never wanted to be a pastor growing up. I had the opportunity to take my dream job but God said no, I took another job that really set me up financially for life but again God said no. I remember laying in bed one night thinking of the adventures I could have in life and God very clearly laid it upon my heart "you have all eternity for that sort of thing, right now you need to minister for the Gospel."

If someone ever tells you to invest all your money in X ask them if all their money is also invested in X, if it is not then you know what to do.

When I tell you that the investment in the Gospel is secure I mean it, I am banking everything on it.

The truth of the Gospel must be preserved (13-14a).

With such a valuable message the reality is that some seek to corrupt the message. The call given in verse 13 is a call to preserve the Gospel.

This really comes down to a pretty strong imperative. Guard the Gospel. Watch over it, protect it.

The responsibility to the Gospel is profound (14b).

Beyond the command to guard the Gospel, I want you to notice that there is an important reality embedded in here. The Gospel was entrusted to Timothy. Paul had been a faithful minister of the Gospel and invested this into Timothy now it was Timothy's turn. Now, almost 2000 years later everybody in this room has a responsibility to guard the Gospel that has been entrusted to you for generations. If that feels like a lot of weight then realize it is, but you are not alone. You have the indwelling Holy Spirit to help. Your responsibility is profound but the God who we serve is able to ensure your success.

Image: Military officer commissioning.

I still remember my younger brother's commissioning as an Air Force officer.

An Air Force officer in the United States takes the Oath of Office, which is a solemn pledge affirming their commitment to uphold and defend the Constitution of the United States. The oath is as follows:

"I, [full name], having been appointed a [rank] in the United States Air Force, do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic; that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same; that I take this obligation freely, without any mental reservation or purpose of evasion; and that I will well and faithfully discharge the duties of the office upon which I am about to enter. So help me God."

The oath underscores the officer's dedication to the principles of the Constitution and the responsibilities associated with their position in the United States Air Force.

Here is what I want you to consider, you may not be an officer in the military but God has called you to be a minister to the Gospel. Today we are ordaining Tim and part of that process is really commissioning him to serve faithfully as a deacon. We did not make up some oath for Tim to take but I want you to realize that Tim has expressed his commitment to the Gospel that has been entrusted to him.