August 1, 2021
Sunday Sermon
REKINDLING YOUR SPIRITUAL FLAME
2 Timothy 1:6-10
Introduction: An Illustration by Bruce Ball
One day in the middle of the woods, a hawk, a lion, and a skunk were arguing about which one was most powerful. The hawk said it was because he could fly down and catch his dinner so quickly, they could not get away.
The lion said he could run the fastest and had the bigger teeth to eat his prey with. The skunk said he was the most powerful because with one flick of his tail, he could chase them away.
About that time, a large grizzly bear came out from the trees and ate them all; hawk, lion, and stinker.
There have been many people down through the years who bragged about their ability and what they were able to do just like the hawk, the lion and skunk. But when it came time to prove it, it wasn’t them who were able to get the job done, it was someone else.
Their inability to get the job done wasn’t necessarily based upon their physical strength or courage, but because of their non-reliance in the power they possessed in their spirit and their connection to God.
Even Samson, the strongest man ever recorded in the Bible, when he tried to use only his power he possessed, he failed.
He learned that the presence of God in his life and reliance on God in his life, made him victorious.
In order to rekindle your spiritual flame, you need the presence of God in your life. Let’s look at three requirements to help us today.
I.
REMEMBER YOUR SPIRITUAL RESOURCES
v. 6-7
A. We all need spiritual rekindling, as Paul writes to Timothy: “Wherefore I put thee in remembrance that thou stir up the gift of God.” To stir up means to kindle into flames. It is present tense, which means continuous action. Also, you can say, “keep the flame of the fire burning. Keep your spiritual gift burning!
B. Paul continues to encourage Timothy. “For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.” Satan’s most effective weapon in quenching our spiritual flame is fear. Here is an acrostic for fear – JOURNEY TO A FAITHFUL FINISH
False
Evidence
Appearing
Real
Being very honest, we have all experienced fear at one time or another. We failed to witness---fail to use our gift in speaking up for Christ and in proclaiming the gospel lest we suffer persecution.
Remember your spiritual resources:
1. The Holy Spirit actually injects power into the believer’s spirit.
2. The Holy Spirit infuses love into the believer’s spirit.
3. The Holy Spirit infuses a sound mind into the believer’s spirit.
II.
RELY ON SPIRITUAL POWER
v. 8
A. No believer is to shrink from identifying with the gospel and the Lord of the gospel.
B. No believer is to shrink from identifying with strong believers who are living for and sharing Christ.
We are to share the gospel---share by living for Christ and by speaking up for Him, bearing testimony of His saving grace. We are to stand up for those who are being ridiculed and persecuted. When we are in an intimidating situation, we should not be ashamed of the testimony of our Lord.
III.
REVIEW YOUR SALVATION
v. 9-10
A. If your spiritual flame starts to get dim, remember who saved you and called you with a holy calling (1:9a). God saved us so we would live holy lives in a sinful world. We are to let our lights shine.
B. Remember, we are saved not according to our works, but how (1:9b). “According to his own purpose and grace.” The reason for our salvation is God’s purpose for our lives, and the means of our salvation is God’s grace. Grace means we don’t deserve salvation, but God saves us anyway. God gave us His saving grace in Christ Jesus before the world begun (1:9c).
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