Text:
2 Timothy 1:5-6
5 I am reminded of your sincere faith,
which first lived in your grandmother Lois and in your mother Eunice and, I am
persuaded, now lives in you also.
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.
Background:
Paul understood what it was like to have his faith
severely tested. His words to Timothy (above) was his reminder to Timothy in
how to survive when life’s storms come crashing down upon him.
Our faith in God (Jesus) is being tested in a big
way.
Question:
As our world continues to face this horrid covid-19
virus, we can easily become discouraged.
Our faith is tested and hope sometimes seems to be fading. We might be asking… where is God in all of
this? How can we survive the storm(s) we
are facing?
Message in a sentence:
Like Paul, like Timothy, and yes like me, and most
likely you, discouragement can come knocking when facing hard times. Out of his own experience, Paul offers encouraging advice for all of us to follow when our faith gets tested.
My thoughts about Paul's advise.
1.
Look for Christian
examples.
Timothy looked
up to Paul, who stood firm in His faith despite persecution, imprisonment, and
beatings. The church looked to Pastor
Timothy to stay strong despite trials.
Who do you have as examples of unwavering faith during these trying times?
2.
Look at what God has
done for you.
Paul reminded
Timothy how God used others, like mom and grandma, to have a sincere faith.
Who can you
credit with pointing you to faith in Christ? or to helping you grow in your faith?
3.
Look at how God might be
using this “storm” we are facing for His purposes.
Paul
knew from experience that God used the storms of life to bring about his
greatest desire, that being, for us to look to Jesus and accept His grace and love.
Are
you praying only for God to fix our problem or do you pray that He might use
this time for his purposes in your life and in the lives of others?
4.
Look at how the enemy
(Satan) is using this “storm” in order to attack not just unbelievers but
believers as well.
Do you recognize his darts being
thrown your way like…. discouragement, fear, anger,
impatience, doubt or hopelessness? Why do you think Satan attacks Christians?
5.
Look to Jesus, our Saviour
and Champion, who himself healed the broken-hearted, calmed the angry sea, fed
the multitude with a boys lunch, cast out legions of demons, accepted the
outcasts, the downtrodden, the poor, the estranged, and GAVE THEM LIFE through
his own suffering and death. Above all
remember HE IS ALIVE and lives in you. (The gift of God)
This
passage from John’s gospel is one I readily need to stand on.
It reminds me of the One who lives within
me.
John 16:33
“I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace.
Stay tuned for the next couple of weeks as we discover more about
"the gift of God".
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