1 00:00:02,680 --> 00:00:03,520 Speaker 1: Life Audio. 2 00:00:03,880 --> 00:00:06,680 Speaker 2: Good morning, friends and faithful listeners, and welcome to the 3 00:00:06,680 --> 00:00:09,360 Speaker 2: Bible Explain podcast. We're going to be in a brand 4 00:00:09,360 --> 00:00:12,360 Speaker 2: new book of the Bible today. We're starting in two Timothy, 5 00:00:12,560 --> 00:00:15,920 Speaker 2: chapter one, and very likely this is the last book 6 00:00:16,000 --> 00:00:26,400 Speaker 2: that Paul ever wrote before he died. All righty, faithful listeners, 7 00:00:26,440 --> 00:00:28,680 Speaker 2: Here is a quick word from one or two of 8 00:00:28,720 --> 00:00:33,960 Speaker 2: our sponsors before we begin today's episode. So just a 9 00:00:34,040 --> 00:00:38,839 Speaker 2: quick note about the advertisements on this podcast. Life Audio 10 00:00:39,000 --> 00:00:41,400 Speaker 2: is the one who pushes them to the podcast, and 11 00:00:41,479 --> 00:00:44,160 Speaker 2: Life Audio, however it works. They try to filter out 12 00:00:44,159 --> 00:00:47,040 Speaker 2: the weird ones so that pharmacies aren't selling some sort 13 00:00:47,080 --> 00:00:50,159 Speaker 2: of drug on my podcast, or casinos aren't selling their 14 00:00:50,200 --> 00:00:54,000 Speaker 2: services either, but sometimes those things do slip through. And 15 00:00:54,040 --> 00:00:57,160 Speaker 2: when I've gone back to listen to my podcast episodes 16 00:00:57,160 --> 00:01:00,600 Speaker 2: in the past, I have not heard any bizarre advertise yet. 17 00:01:01,080 --> 00:01:02,560 Speaker 1: But a couple people reached out. 18 00:01:02,360 --> 00:01:05,800 Speaker 2: Telling me that there was a casino advertisement that slipped through. 19 00:01:06,120 --> 00:01:08,440 Speaker 2: So I apologize for that, and I apologize if that 20 00:01:08,520 --> 00:01:10,960 Speaker 2: happens in the future as well, and I will let 21 00:01:11,040 --> 00:01:14,240 Speaker 2: Life Audio know that there's a bizarre advertisement in the mix. 22 00:01:14,840 --> 00:01:16,640 Speaker 2: But faithful listen, theres let's go ahead and read Tewod 23 00:01:16,640 --> 00:01:20,320 Speaker 2: Timothy one one through eight today. I'll be reading, as 24 00:01:20,319 --> 00:01:23,080 Speaker 2: I always do, from the web version, but feel free 25 00:01:23,080 --> 00:01:25,679 Speaker 2: as always to grab your version of the Bible, and 26 00:01:25,720 --> 00:01:27,479 Speaker 2: also your cup of coffee or your cup of tea 27 00:01:27,520 --> 00:01:29,479 Speaker 2: to share with me this morning. But I have water 28 00:01:29,600 --> 00:01:32,080 Speaker 2: here with me. That's all I'm drinking today. But I 29 00:01:32,080 --> 00:01:36,000 Speaker 2: will live vicariously, especially through you coffee drinkers, not through 30 00:01:36,080 --> 00:01:39,800 Speaker 2: ut drinkers. Though. All right, guys, let's read twod Timothy 31 00:01:39,840 --> 00:01:42,800 Speaker 2: one one through eight and give reverence to God's word together. 32 00:01:45,040 --> 00:01:47,480 Speaker 2: Paul an apostle of Jesus Christ, through the will of 33 00:01:47,520 --> 00:01:49,640 Speaker 2: God according to the promise of the life which is 34 00:01:49,680 --> 00:01:53,680 Speaker 2: in Christ Jesus to Timothy, my beloved child, Grace, mercy 35 00:01:53,800 --> 00:01:57,160 Speaker 2: and peace from God the Father and Christ, Jesus our Lord. 36 00:01:58,000 --> 00:02:00,160 Speaker 2: I thank God whom I serve as my fo or 37 00:02:00,200 --> 00:02:03,720 Speaker 2: fathers did with a pure conscience. How unceasing is my 38 00:02:03,760 --> 00:02:06,600 Speaker 2: memory of you in my petitions night and day, longing 39 00:02:06,640 --> 00:02:09,560 Speaker 2: to see you, remembering your tears, that I may be 40 00:02:09,600 --> 00:02:13,040 Speaker 2: filled with joy having been reminded of the sincere faith 41 00:02:13,080 --> 00:02:15,679 Speaker 2: that is in you, which lived first in your grandmother 42 00:02:15,760 --> 00:02:19,120 Speaker 2: Lois and your mother Eunice, and I am persuaded in 43 00:02:19,200 --> 00:02:22,320 Speaker 2: you also for this cause, I remind you that you 44 00:02:22,320 --> 00:02:24,600 Speaker 2: should stir up the gift of God which is in 45 00:02:24,639 --> 00:02:27,360 Speaker 2: you through the laying on of my hands. For God 46 00:02:27,400 --> 00:02:29,880 Speaker 2: didn't give us a spirit of fear, but of power, 47 00:02:30,160 --> 00:02:33,600 Speaker 2: love and self control. Therefore, don't be ashamed of the 48 00:02:33,639 --> 00:02:37,000 Speaker 2: testimony of our Lord, nor of me his prisoner, but 49 00:02:37,160 --> 00:02:40,080 Speaker 2: endure hardship for the good news according to the power 50 00:02:40,120 --> 00:02:44,120 Speaker 2: of God. As we go through the Book of two Timothy, 51 00:02:44,280 --> 00:02:47,720 Speaker 2: you're going to notice an urgency in this book. And 52 00:02:47,720 --> 00:02:50,720 Speaker 2: that's because this is likely the last book that Paul 53 00:02:50,840 --> 00:02:54,000 Speaker 2: ever wrote before he died, and First Timothy would have 54 00:02:54,000 --> 00:02:56,799 Speaker 2: been written around sixty four to sixty six a d. 55 00:02:57,639 --> 00:03:02,440 Speaker 2: And now Sewod Timothy written around sixth sixty eight eighty, 56 00:03:03,160 --> 00:03:05,400 Speaker 2: so it's a possibility that up to four years had 57 00:03:05,440 --> 00:03:08,440 Speaker 2: passed since the writing of First Timothy. So a lot 58 00:03:08,440 --> 00:03:12,280 Speaker 2: can change in four years for Paul. We know that 59 00:03:12,320 --> 00:03:15,399 Speaker 2: in the Book of First Timothy, based upon his language 60 00:03:15,400 --> 00:03:18,639 Speaker 2: and based upon historical documents, Paul was a free man. 61 00:03:19,280 --> 00:03:22,639 Speaker 2: He was traveling the earth, most likely on his fourth 62 00:03:22,720 --> 00:03:25,760 Speaker 2: missionary journey, after he had been in prison for two 63 00:03:25,840 --> 00:03:26,720 Speaker 2: long years. 64 00:03:26,760 --> 00:03:27,720 Speaker 1: In Rome. 65 00:03:29,120 --> 00:03:32,480 Speaker 2: But now in two Timothy, Paul tells us that he's 66 00:03:32,520 --> 00:03:36,560 Speaker 2: back in prison once again, and historical records tell us 67 00:03:36,600 --> 00:03:40,400 Speaker 2: that Paul died either sixty nine AD or a couple 68 00:03:40,520 --> 00:03:43,360 Speaker 2: years before that at the hands of Nero, and by 69 00:03:43,400 --> 00:03:47,240 Speaker 2: seventy eight Nero was no longer the emperor. So that's 70 00:03:47,280 --> 00:03:50,480 Speaker 2: how we get the timeline of things regarding first and 71 00:03:50,520 --> 00:03:53,960 Speaker 2: Tewod Timothy. So there's some urgency. You know, when you're 72 00:03:53,960 --> 00:03:56,720 Speaker 2: reading the Book of Two Timothy, Paul is writing a 73 00:03:56,800 --> 00:04:00,000 Speaker 2: letter to his best friend. You know, Timothy had been 74 00:04:00,040 --> 00:04:03,520 Speaker 2: and with Paul all the way back, possibly twenty twenty 75 00:04:03,520 --> 00:04:06,040 Speaker 2: five years prior to this, when Timothy was just a 76 00:04:06,080 --> 00:04:09,000 Speaker 2: young man, a little boy, even Paul took him under 77 00:04:09,240 --> 00:04:15,440 Speaker 2: his wing and trained him for preaching and evangelism and 78 00:04:15,680 --> 00:04:19,440 Speaker 2: ministry around the globe. And now Timothy for however many 79 00:04:19,520 --> 00:04:24,479 Speaker 2: years it was, is most likely still in Macedonia, very 80 00:04:24,600 --> 00:04:26,800 Speaker 2: likely still at the church that Paul left him at. 81 00:04:27,160 --> 00:04:29,239 Speaker 2: So you're gonna see at the end of this letter, 82 00:04:29,920 --> 00:04:33,840 Speaker 2: Paul desperately asking Timothy to come and see him one 83 00:04:33,920 --> 00:04:36,520 Speaker 2: last time. It's actually a really sad thing when you 84 00:04:36,560 --> 00:04:39,440 Speaker 2: think about it. This is the last letter most likely 85 00:04:39,480 --> 00:04:43,839 Speaker 2: that Paul ever wrote before his death. So let's start 86 00:04:43,839 --> 00:04:47,240 Speaker 2: in verse one. It says, Paul an apostle of Jesus Christ, 87 00:04:47,360 --> 00:04:49,760 Speaker 2: through the will of God, according to the promise of 88 00:04:49,800 --> 00:04:52,920 Speaker 2: the life which is in Christ Jesus. That is a 89 00:04:53,000 --> 00:04:56,000 Speaker 2: very different way that Paul writes this introduction compared to 90 00:04:56,040 --> 00:04:57,960 Speaker 2: a lot of his other letters. Like if you look 91 00:04:57,960 --> 00:05:00,679 Speaker 2: at his other letters, he often starts and by saying, 92 00:05:01,400 --> 00:05:04,280 Speaker 2: I am Paul, a slave of Jesus Christ. Grace and 93 00:05:04,440 --> 00:05:06,440 Speaker 2: peace to you. I'm praying for you all the time. 94 00:05:06,680 --> 00:05:09,960 Speaker 2: Like that is essentially how Paul usually starts his letters. 95 00:05:10,520 --> 00:05:13,800 Speaker 2: But he says right here, Paul an apostle of Jesus Christ, 96 00:05:14,000 --> 00:05:16,719 Speaker 2: through the will of God, according to the promise of 97 00:05:16,800 --> 00:05:19,719 Speaker 2: the life which is in Christ Jesus. So he's reminding 98 00:05:19,800 --> 00:05:23,919 Speaker 2: himself and Timothy that he is an apostle because of 99 00:05:23,920 --> 00:05:27,960 Speaker 2: God's will and because of the promise of the life 100 00:05:28,200 --> 00:05:33,280 Speaker 2: which is in Christ Jesus. Paul most likely knew he 101 00:05:33,320 --> 00:05:36,240 Speaker 2: was going to die, and he's reminding everybody who reads 102 00:05:36,240 --> 00:05:40,480 Speaker 2: this letter that there is life in Christ Jesus. No 103 00:05:40,520 --> 00:05:43,320 Speaker 2: matter what happens to him, no matter who kills him, 104 00:05:43,520 --> 00:05:45,000 Speaker 2: he has a life in Christ. 105 00:05:45,080 --> 00:05:45,479 Speaker 1: Jesus. 106 00:05:46,520 --> 00:05:48,840 Speaker 2: They can't take his soul away, they can't take his 107 00:05:48,880 --> 00:05:52,920 Speaker 2: life away. Then he says in verse two, to Timothy, 108 00:05:53,080 --> 00:05:57,080 Speaker 2: my beloved child, Grace, mercy and peace from God the 109 00:05:57,120 --> 00:06:00,000 Speaker 2: Father and Christ Jesus our Lord. So this letter is 110 00:06:00,360 --> 00:06:04,719 Speaker 2: addressed directly to Timothy, not to Timothy in the church, 111 00:06:05,040 --> 00:06:09,800 Speaker 2: but just to Timothy. He says, Timothy, my beloved child, Grace, 112 00:06:09,920 --> 00:06:12,440 Speaker 2: mercy and peace be to you from God the Father 113 00:06:12,520 --> 00:06:15,280 Speaker 2: and our Lord Jesus Christ. This is not the first 114 00:06:15,320 --> 00:06:18,800 Speaker 2: time we see Paul call himself Timothy's father. Like I 115 00:06:18,839 --> 00:06:21,880 Speaker 2: said earlier, Timothy had been traveling around with Paul from 116 00:06:22,200 --> 00:06:26,440 Speaker 2: a very young age. Timothy was very close to Paul. 117 00:06:26,760 --> 00:06:29,240 Speaker 2: They were kind of like father and son. You know 118 00:06:29,279 --> 00:06:34,000 Speaker 2: what's interesting, Timothy's real dad is barely mentioned. Timothy's dad 119 00:06:34,080 --> 00:06:36,480 Speaker 2: was a gentile man. He was a Greek man, I believe, 120 00:06:36,839 --> 00:06:40,320 Speaker 2: but Timothy's mom was mentioned far more often. She was 121 00:06:40,360 --> 00:06:45,080 Speaker 2: a Jewish woman. So it's very possible that Timothy's dad 122 00:06:45,160 --> 00:06:47,680 Speaker 2: was actually not a believer. So if you think about it, 123 00:06:47,920 --> 00:06:53,520 Speaker 2: Paul kind of did become Timothy's spiritual father in a sense. 124 00:06:53,880 --> 00:06:56,640 Speaker 2: Paul kind of seems to have adopted Timothy a little bit. 125 00:06:57,680 --> 00:07:00,840 Speaker 2: So he says, I thank God, whom I serve as 126 00:07:00,880 --> 00:07:04,680 Speaker 2: my forefathers did, with a pure conscience. Now, as we know, 127 00:07:04,839 --> 00:07:08,880 Speaker 2: Paul's ancestors were from the line of Benjamin, but his ancestors, 128 00:07:08,920 --> 00:07:12,680 Speaker 2: it sounds like, did actually serve God, and maybe Paul's 129 00:07:12,680 --> 00:07:16,360 Speaker 2: appreciative of that. He says, I serve as my forefathers 130 00:07:16,400 --> 00:07:20,320 Speaker 2: did with a pure conscience. How unceasing is my memory 131 00:07:20,360 --> 00:07:23,680 Speaker 2: of you in my petitions night and day, longing to 132 00:07:23,720 --> 00:07:26,920 Speaker 2: see you, remembering your tears, that I may be filled 133 00:07:26,960 --> 00:07:32,480 Speaker 2: with joy. Paul remembers Timothy's tears, and I wonder if 134 00:07:32,520 --> 00:07:36,200 Speaker 2: that's because Timothy was left in Macedonia when it's very 135 00:07:36,320 --> 00:07:39,480 Speaker 2: likely that he didn't want to be. You remember as 136 00:07:39,520 --> 00:07:42,440 Speaker 2: we were going through first Timothy last month that Timothy 137 00:07:42,480 --> 00:07:44,200 Speaker 2: it kind of sounded like didn't want to be there. 138 00:07:45,040 --> 00:07:48,280 Speaker 2: The entire letter was Paul almost convincing Timothy to stay 139 00:07:48,320 --> 00:07:52,000 Speaker 2: in Macedonia while Paul was on his fourth missionary journey. 140 00:07:52,280 --> 00:07:55,200 Speaker 2: Or maybe Timothy had cried the first time Paul had 141 00:07:55,240 --> 00:07:58,600 Speaker 2: gone into prison back in Rome, so many years earlier 142 00:07:58,640 --> 00:08:02,480 Speaker 2: than that, and Paul is reminded of this deep friendship 143 00:08:02,680 --> 00:08:06,679 Speaker 2: that he and Timothy have. He says, I remember your tears, 144 00:08:06,760 --> 00:08:08,840 Speaker 2: and I long to see you, that I may be 145 00:08:08,920 --> 00:08:12,840 Speaker 2: filled with joy having been reminded of the sincere faith 146 00:08:12,960 --> 00:08:15,920 Speaker 2: that is in you, which lived first in your grandmother 147 00:08:16,000 --> 00:08:19,680 Speaker 2: Lois and your mother Eunice. And I am persuaded in 148 00:08:19,760 --> 00:08:22,880 Speaker 2: you also. So at the beginning of this paragraph, remember 149 00:08:22,880 --> 00:08:27,280 Speaker 2: that Paul mentioned his forefathers, and that was a common 150 00:08:27,480 --> 00:08:30,440 Speaker 2: thing that Jewish people would do if you think about it. 151 00:08:30,760 --> 00:08:34,320 Speaker 2: They were very big into their ancestry. They kind of 152 00:08:34,320 --> 00:08:37,320 Speaker 2: believed that their ancestry saved them. But Paul did not 153 00:08:37,400 --> 00:08:41,000 Speaker 2: believe that. He's not giving credit to all of his 154 00:08:41,200 --> 00:08:46,440 Speaker 2: ancestors that have ever existed like the Jewish people would have. Instead, 155 00:08:46,440 --> 00:08:50,520 Speaker 2: he gives credit to the forefathers that truly did serve God. 156 00:08:51,200 --> 00:08:52,520 Speaker 2: And he might be like, well, Jen, what was the 157 00:08:52,559 --> 00:08:55,360 Speaker 2: point of Paul saying that, Like, that's kind of a 158 00:08:55,360 --> 00:08:58,160 Speaker 2: bizarre thing to say. Well, maybe he said it as 159 00:08:58,200 --> 00:09:02,280 Speaker 2: a segue into commending Timothy's family, because that's what he 160 00:09:02,280 --> 00:09:04,960 Speaker 2: does right here. He's like, you have such sincere faith, 161 00:09:05,320 --> 00:09:08,480 Speaker 2: which first lived in your grandmother Lois and also your 162 00:09:08,520 --> 00:09:11,800 Speaker 2: mother Eunice, and I am persuaded in you also, So 163 00:09:11,880 --> 00:09:14,800 Speaker 2: in spite of the fact that Timothy had an unbelieving father, 164 00:09:15,120 --> 00:09:18,560 Speaker 2: Timothy's grandmother and mother went against the grain and taught 165 00:09:18,600 --> 00:09:22,760 Speaker 2: Timothy the scriptures early on. Here's what it says if 166 00:09:22,760 --> 00:09:26,520 Speaker 2: you go back to Acts sixteen when Paul first met Timothy, 167 00:09:27,160 --> 00:09:30,200 Speaker 2: Verses one through three, it says he came to Derby 168 00:09:30,240 --> 00:09:33,880 Speaker 2: and Lystra and behold, a certain disciple was there named Timothy, 169 00:09:34,240 --> 00:09:36,800 Speaker 2: the son of a Jewis who believed, but his father 170 00:09:36,960 --> 00:09:39,319 Speaker 2: was a Greek. The brothers who were at Lystra and 171 00:09:39,400 --> 00:09:43,200 Speaker 2: Econium gave a good testimony about him. Paul wanted him 172 00:09:43,200 --> 00:09:45,480 Speaker 2: to go out with him, and he took and circumcised 173 00:09:45,559 --> 00:09:47,520 Speaker 2: him because of the Jews who were in those parts, 174 00:09:47,720 --> 00:09:49,520 Speaker 2: for they all knew that his father was a Greek. 175 00:09:50,000 --> 00:09:54,240 Speaker 2: So Paul goes to Listra and a disciple named Timothy 176 00:09:54,400 --> 00:09:58,800 Speaker 2: was already there, meaning that Timothy had already believed in 177 00:09:58,880 --> 00:10:02,600 Speaker 2: Jesus by the time Paul had come to Listra. Now 178 00:10:02,600 --> 00:10:04,560 Speaker 2: we do know that Paul went to Listra one time 179 00:10:04,559 --> 00:10:07,120 Speaker 2: before this, actually in Acts chapter fourteen. 180 00:10:07,200 --> 00:10:08,319 Speaker 1: That story has talked about. 181 00:10:08,559 --> 00:10:12,840 Speaker 2: But Paul didn't have a lot of success there initially 182 00:10:13,360 --> 00:10:16,960 Speaker 2: because he was stoned, possibly to death, and also the 183 00:10:16,960 --> 00:10:19,600 Speaker 2: people of Listra tried to worship him as a god. 184 00:10:20,120 --> 00:10:22,640 Speaker 2: So the first time Paul went to Listra, it wasn't 185 00:10:22,720 --> 00:10:25,640 Speaker 2: a great situation for him, but still the message of 186 00:10:25,720 --> 00:10:29,720 Speaker 2: Jesus could have spread even from the short time that 187 00:10:29,760 --> 00:10:34,200 Speaker 2: Paul was in Listra, and maybe Eunus, Timothy's mom or Lois, 188 00:10:34,360 --> 00:10:38,800 Speaker 2: Timothy's grandmother, heard about Jesus and started believing and taught 189 00:10:38,840 --> 00:10:42,880 Speaker 2: their entire family about Jesus. That's going against the grain 190 00:10:43,120 --> 00:10:45,679 Speaker 2: for the time period because the dad was the one 191 00:10:45,679 --> 00:10:49,960 Speaker 2: who controlled the entire household, including the religion in these days. 192 00:10:50,400 --> 00:10:54,120 Speaker 2: So these two women were truly evangelists, and they taught 193 00:10:54,480 --> 00:10:58,400 Speaker 2: Timothy all about Jesus to the point that Timothy was 194 00:10:58,520 --> 00:11:02,040 Speaker 2: already a disciple of Jesus by the time Paul met 195 00:11:02,120 --> 00:11:05,840 Speaker 2: him when he went to Lystra again in Acts chapter sixteen. 196 00:11:06,520 --> 00:11:10,880 Speaker 2: So I think this shows that ancestry does not mean nothing. 197 00:11:11,480 --> 00:11:14,920 Speaker 2: Your family definitely has an impact on you, whether for 198 00:11:15,000 --> 00:11:18,200 Speaker 2: good or for bad. You know, I'm sure people in 199 00:11:18,200 --> 00:11:22,479 Speaker 2: the day were claiming that Paul was against all things Jewish, 200 00:11:22,960 --> 00:11:25,600 Speaker 2: that he was against the Old Testament law, that he 201 00:11:25,679 --> 00:11:29,240 Speaker 2: was against talking about ancestors, and yet Paul is proving 202 00:11:29,320 --> 00:11:32,600 Speaker 2: right here, He's like, no, I will commend the family 203 00:11:32,640 --> 00:11:36,960 Speaker 2: members who believed in Jesus that taught their family members 204 00:11:37,120 --> 00:11:40,120 Speaker 2: about Jesus. I will absolutely commend them, But I'm not 205 00:11:40,160 --> 00:11:43,200 Speaker 2: going to commend every single one of my ancestors just 206 00:11:43,280 --> 00:11:48,640 Speaker 2: because they're Jewish. And same goes for Timothy. So, yes, 207 00:11:48,679 --> 00:11:51,720 Speaker 2: your family does have power over you, if that makes sense, 208 00:11:52,400 --> 00:11:55,320 Speaker 2: And that's why Paul commends the ones in his family 209 00:11:55,360 --> 00:11:59,199 Speaker 2: and Timothy's family who went against the grain to ensure 210 00:11:59,200 --> 00:12:01,640 Speaker 2: their family members truly believed in Jesus. 211 00:12:02,640 --> 00:12:03,520 Speaker 1: But before I move. 212 00:12:03,440 --> 00:12:06,439 Speaker 2: Past this paragraph real quick, there's one more thing I 213 00:12:06,480 --> 00:12:09,520 Speaker 2: want to say. It says in verse three, how unceasing 214 00:12:09,640 --> 00:12:12,800 Speaker 2: is my memory of you in my petitions night and day. 215 00:12:14,440 --> 00:12:19,160 Speaker 2: That means Paul was praying for Timothy night and day. 216 00:12:19,760 --> 00:12:21,480 Speaker 2: You know, when Paul was in prison, you could tell 217 00:12:21,480 --> 00:12:23,679 Speaker 2: the first time around that he did not like it. 218 00:12:23,720 --> 00:12:25,600 Speaker 2: He wanted to be out on the streets. He wanted 219 00:12:25,640 --> 00:12:28,560 Speaker 2: to be preaching, he wanted to be evangelizing and traveling around. 220 00:12:29,120 --> 00:12:31,520 Speaker 2: I'm sure he was like, why am I stuck in prison? 221 00:12:32,240 --> 00:12:34,760 Speaker 2: It very well could be that Paul thought that he 222 00:12:34,880 --> 00:12:38,280 Speaker 2: was useless in prison, but that couldn't be further from 223 00:12:38,280 --> 00:12:42,520 Speaker 2: the truth. When he was in prison unable to preach, 224 00:12:42,960 --> 00:12:46,680 Speaker 2: he was praying night and day. He says, I pray 225 00:12:46,760 --> 00:12:49,960 Speaker 2: for you constantly. You are in my memories all the time, 226 00:12:50,520 --> 00:12:53,480 Speaker 2: and in my prayers and petitions night and day. So 227 00:12:53,520 --> 00:12:56,560 Speaker 2: we are definitely not useless if God has us put 228 00:12:56,600 --> 00:12:59,440 Speaker 2: in one position, Like if you feel like you are 229 00:12:59,480 --> 00:13:02,439 Speaker 2: stuck in a certain place you can't go out and 230 00:13:02,480 --> 00:13:05,600 Speaker 2: do what you want to do, you are not useless. 231 00:13:06,320 --> 00:13:09,160 Speaker 2: God has a different purpose for you. If you are 232 00:13:09,160 --> 00:13:12,320 Speaker 2: stuck in one position, you can pray, You can sit 233 00:13:12,400 --> 00:13:15,040 Speaker 2: down and have conversations with God. You can keep a 234 00:13:15,080 --> 00:13:19,280 Speaker 2: prayer journal, you can write down anybody and everything that 235 00:13:19,320 --> 00:13:21,600 Speaker 2: you want to pray for. That is what Paul did 236 00:13:21,679 --> 00:13:24,360 Speaker 2: when he was stuck in prison. But moving down to 237 00:13:24,440 --> 00:13:28,160 Speaker 2: verse six, for this cause, I remind you that you 238 00:13:28,160 --> 00:13:30,760 Speaker 2: should stir up the gift of God which is in 239 00:13:30,800 --> 00:13:34,760 Speaker 2: you through the laying on of my hands. Now, once 240 00:13:34,760 --> 00:13:37,880 Speaker 2: again we do not know what Timothy's gift is. It 241 00:13:37,920 --> 00:13:41,640 Speaker 2: was mentioned very briefly again in first Timothy and Paul 242 00:13:41,679 --> 00:13:44,240 Speaker 2: said something very similar like, Timothy, you have a gift 243 00:13:44,520 --> 00:13:48,160 Speaker 2: that you received through the laying on of hands, use it. 244 00:13:48,760 --> 00:13:50,600 Speaker 2: And he says the same thing here. But man, like, 245 00:13:50,600 --> 00:13:52,840 Speaker 2: I'd really like to know what Timothy's gift is, you know, 246 00:13:54,080 --> 00:13:56,520 Speaker 2: But I guess we didn't have to know. Timothy knew 247 00:13:56,559 --> 00:14:00,080 Speaker 2: what it was, and that was what was important. Lot 248 00:14:00,120 --> 00:14:03,800 Speaker 2: of people guess that it was the gift of evangelism 249 00:14:04,040 --> 00:14:07,040 Speaker 2: or the gift of being able to speak very well 250 00:14:07,160 --> 00:14:09,920 Speaker 2: or teach very well. Kind of makes sense that those 251 00:14:09,920 --> 00:14:11,920 Speaker 2: were his gifts if he was going to be a 252 00:14:11,960 --> 00:14:16,920 Speaker 2: shepherd of a church. But whatever it is, Paul once 253 00:14:16,960 --> 00:14:20,800 Speaker 2: again encourages Timothy to stir up the gift of God 254 00:14:20,880 --> 00:14:24,120 Speaker 2: which is in him. So whatever spiritual gifts he has, 255 00:14:25,000 --> 00:14:29,360 Speaker 2: use them, stir them up, fan the flames, get excited 256 00:14:29,640 --> 00:14:33,280 Speaker 2: about the spiritual gift that God gave you. For God 257 00:14:33,280 --> 00:14:36,640 Speaker 2: didn't give us a spirit of fear, but of power, love, 258 00:14:36,800 --> 00:14:39,680 Speaker 2: and self control. And those two verses are tied together. 259 00:14:40,000 --> 00:14:43,120 Speaker 2: A lot of people take verse seven and kind of 260 00:14:43,240 --> 00:14:45,040 Speaker 2: use it like all on its own, and that's fine. 261 00:14:45,080 --> 00:14:45,400 Speaker 1: You can. 262 00:14:45,920 --> 00:14:47,440 Speaker 2: I am not one of those people that say that 263 00:14:47,480 --> 00:14:50,400 Speaker 2: you can't take individual verses and apply them to your life. 264 00:14:51,080 --> 00:14:54,120 Speaker 2: You definitely can. And I think it's good to take 265 00:14:54,200 --> 00:14:56,480 Speaker 2: this verse. God didn't give us a spirit of fear 266 00:14:56,920 --> 00:14:59,120 Speaker 2: and use it in your day to day life. But 267 00:14:59,240 --> 00:15:02,800 Speaker 2: it is tied to get with verse six. So what's 268 00:15:02,840 --> 00:15:06,360 Speaker 2: the context of verse seven. Well, the context is that 269 00:15:06,960 --> 00:15:10,880 Speaker 2: we should not be afraid to use our spiritual gifts. 270 00:15:11,440 --> 00:15:12,680 Speaker 1: God didn't give us. 271 00:15:12,600 --> 00:15:17,160 Speaker 2: A spirit of fear. He gave us a spirit of power, love, 272 00:15:17,280 --> 00:15:20,000 Speaker 2: and self control. So this is just me spitballing here. 273 00:15:20,000 --> 00:15:22,240 Speaker 2: But maybe Timothy was kind of like a shy guy, 274 00:15:22,800 --> 00:15:26,320 Speaker 2: because there's there's multiple times in first and tewod Timothy. 275 00:15:26,360 --> 00:15:32,200 Speaker 2: Now where Paul really encourages Timothy to use his gift. 276 00:15:32,880 --> 00:15:36,440 Speaker 2: Maybe Timothy was just naturally very shy, or maybe he 277 00:15:36,600 --> 00:15:40,320 Speaker 2: was insecure about something we don't know. But whatever it was, 278 00:15:40,360 --> 00:15:44,120 Speaker 2: Timothy was hesitant to use his gift that he received. 279 00:15:44,800 --> 00:15:46,560 Speaker 2: He was hesitant to use it. And so that's why 280 00:15:46,560 --> 00:15:49,960 Speaker 2: Paul says, use this gift. God didn't give you a 281 00:15:50,000 --> 00:15:53,560 Speaker 2: spirit of fear, Timothy. He gave you a spirit of power, love, 282 00:15:54,000 --> 00:15:58,640 Speaker 2: and self control. Therefore, don't be ashamed of the testimony 283 00:15:59,000 --> 00:16:02,240 Speaker 2: and of ours Lord, nor of me his prisoner, but 284 00:16:02,440 --> 00:16:05,320 Speaker 2: endure hardship for the good news according to the power 285 00:16:05,360 --> 00:16:08,520 Speaker 2: of God. So that's the second context of verse seven, 286 00:16:09,320 --> 00:16:12,520 Speaker 2: that God doesn't give us a spirit of fear, but 287 00:16:12,600 --> 00:16:16,200 Speaker 2: he gives us a spirit of power to endure all 288 00:16:16,240 --> 00:16:19,280 Speaker 2: sorts of persecutions for the faith. And he doesn't give 289 00:16:19,360 --> 00:16:21,720 Speaker 2: us fear, but he gives us love of our enemies. 290 00:16:22,080 --> 00:16:26,080 Speaker 2: And he gives us also self control, the ability to 291 00:16:26,200 --> 00:16:31,000 Speaker 2: not be super angry or bitter against our enemies. He 292 00:16:31,040 --> 00:16:35,080 Speaker 2: gives us the power to endure under every circumstance. For 293 00:16:35,120 --> 00:16:38,280 Speaker 2: some reason, I keep receiving in the mail the Voice 294 00:16:38,280 --> 00:16:41,080 Speaker 2: of the Martyrs. I don't know what happened. I think 295 00:16:41,120 --> 00:16:43,200 Speaker 2: with my husband and I purchased some Bibles for the 296 00:16:43,320 --> 00:16:46,800 Speaker 2: church for the youth group, and we received like a 297 00:16:46,840 --> 00:16:48,760 Speaker 2: free copy of Voice of the Martyrs. And so now 298 00:16:48,840 --> 00:16:51,840 Speaker 2: I keep getting this magazine. And I remember when I 299 00:16:51,840 --> 00:16:54,320 Speaker 2: was a little kid, my mom would read it all 300 00:16:54,360 --> 00:16:56,440 Speaker 2: the time, and so I had never had any interest 301 00:16:56,480 --> 00:16:58,800 Speaker 2: in it. I'm like, that's an old person magazine. But 302 00:16:58,840 --> 00:17:01,560 Speaker 2: for some reason, one of them caught my attention. I 303 00:17:01,560 --> 00:17:04,840 Speaker 2: didn't just throw it in the trash as like spam mail. 304 00:17:05,119 --> 00:17:07,720 Speaker 2: I actually sat down and read it and it touched 305 00:17:07,840 --> 00:17:11,639 Speaker 2: my heart to read with some of these martyrs around 306 00:17:11,680 --> 00:17:14,160 Speaker 2: the world are going through. And so now I love 307 00:17:14,160 --> 00:17:15,600 Speaker 2: the magazine. I want to read it every time it 308 00:17:15,600 --> 00:17:18,560 Speaker 2: comes in the mail. But it's amazing what these martyrs 309 00:17:18,600 --> 00:17:23,080 Speaker 2: go through. It's amazing the fortitude that they have to 310 00:17:23,320 --> 00:17:28,240 Speaker 2: endure under some of the worst circumstances. One of the 311 00:17:28,480 --> 00:17:35,200 Speaker 2: stories recently was talking about this Muslim woman who lived 312 00:17:35,200 --> 00:17:40,240 Speaker 2: in a Muslim household. She was transformed by Jesus, but 313 00:17:40,359 --> 00:17:44,560 Speaker 2: she still had a Muslim husband and Muslim children, and 314 00:17:44,640 --> 00:17:49,119 Speaker 2: her husband would beat her because of her faith, and 315 00:17:49,200 --> 00:17:52,520 Speaker 2: yet she would still express her faith. She would still 316 00:17:52,840 --> 00:17:57,560 Speaker 2: go to church even when he was beating her. And 317 00:17:57,640 --> 00:18:02,080 Speaker 2: now two of her four children are saved because of 318 00:18:02,080 --> 00:18:06,600 Speaker 2: her testimony, and her husband is beginning to attend a 319 00:18:06,680 --> 00:18:10,639 Speaker 2: church with her, even though he's still a Muslim and 320 00:18:10,680 --> 00:18:14,360 Speaker 2: he's still pretty anti faith, he is now coming around 321 00:18:14,400 --> 00:18:18,159 Speaker 2: to the idea of faith because of his wife. And 322 00:18:18,280 --> 00:18:22,880 Speaker 2: man like that is that story like made me cry. 323 00:18:23,119 --> 00:18:25,960 Speaker 2: Even thinking back on it, I'm getting a little teary 324 00:18:25,960 --> 00:18:32,760 Speaker 2: eyed because God truly does give people power, love, and 325 00:18:32,800 --> 00:18:37,679 Speaker 2: self control under some of the worst possible circumstances. And 326 00:18:37,760 --> 00:18:40,679 Speaker 2: who knows what Timothy was going through right now. He 327 00:18:40,720 --> 00:18:43,320 Speaker 2: could have been going through some kind of persecution, or 328 00:18:43,359 --> 00:18:48,600 Speaker 2: maybe Timothy was afraid because of Paul's situation. Maybe Timothy 329 00:18:48,720 --> 00:18:51,200 Speaker 2: knew that Paul was about to die, that Paul was 330 00:18:51,240 --> 00:18:54,359 Speaker 2: being persecuted for his faith, and Timothy looks up to 331 00:18:54,359 --> 00:18:57,159 Speaker 2: Paul so much, and he's like, is that going to 332 00:18:57,200 --> 00:18:59,200 Speaker 2: happen to me someday? And maybe Timothy is starting to 333 00:18:59,240 --> 00:19:03,159 Speaker 2: feel some fear. Paul says, God didn't give you a 334 00:19:03,200 --> 00:19:06,520 Speaker 2: spirit of fear, Timothy. He gave you a spirit of power, 335 00:19:07,040 --> 00:19:11,080 Speaker 2: of love, of self control. Trust in God that He 336 00:19:11,160 --> 00:19:14,560 Speaker 2: is going to help you when the time comes, when 337 00:19:14,600 --> 00:19:19,040 Speaker 2: persecution comes your way, because we know from Jesus that 338 00:19:19,280 --> 00:19:21,080 Speaker 2: all of us are going to be persecuted from our 339 00:19:21,080 --> 00:19:24,520 Speaker 2: faith at some point in time or another. Here in 340 00:19:24,560 --> 00:19:30,720 Speaker 2: America we have it a little easier because Christianity is 341 00:19:31,359 --> 00:19:34,800 Speaker 2: kind of common around here. We have freedom of religion, 342 00:19:34,960 --> 00:19:39,080 Speaker 2: which is wonderful. But elsewhere around the world that's not 343 00:19:39,160 --> 00:19:42,400 Speaker 2: the case. And for Timothy that certainly was not the case. 344 00:19:42,440 --> 00:19:45,240 Speaker 2: There is no freedom of religion in the Roman world. 345 00:19:45,560 --> 00:19:47,840 Speaker 2: But Timothy, in spite of that, should be unafraid to 346 00:19:47,960 --> 00:19:51,639 Speaker 2: show his gift. He should boldly declare the Gospel to 347 00:19:51,720 --> 00:19:55,600 Speaker 2: these people. Because God doesn't give us a spirit of fear, 348 00:19:55,920 --> 00:19:58,720 Speaker 2: He gives us power love and self control. 349 00:20:07,400 --> 00:20:08,520 Speaker 1: Alrighty, faithful listeners. 350 00:20:08,560 --> 00:20:11,160 Speaker 2: As usual, here is a quick word from our sponsors 351 00:20:11,600 --> 00:20:15,320 Speaker 2: before I end the episode for today. 352 00:20:16,280 --> 00:20:16,840 Speaker 1: So guess what. 353 00:20:18,280 --> 00:20:21,240 Speaker 2: We only have eleven books left in the New Testament, 354 00:20:22,119 --> 00:20:23,640 Speaker 2: and a lot of the books we have left are 355 00:20:23,720 --> 00:20:26,880 Speaker 2: less than five chapters long. A couple of them are 356 00:20:27,240 --> 00:20:31,480 Speaker 2: one chapter. So we are flying through the New Testament. 357 00:20:31,720 --> 00:20:34,880 Speaker 2: We're gonna be done, I would guess pretty soon, maybe 358 00:20:34,920 --> 00:20:37,200 Speaker 2: in the next year and a half, maybe earlier. 359 00:20:37,240 --> 00:20:37,679 Speaker 1: I don't know. 360 00:20:38,040 --> 00:20:39,399 Speaker 2: So I'm gonna have to figure out what to do 361 00:20:39,520 --> 00:20:42,280 Speaker 2: because we're only halfway through the Old Testament right now. 362 00:20:43,200 --> 00:20:45,240 Speaker 2: We've got a long way to go in the Old Testament. 363 00:20:45,520 --> 00:20:47,560 Speaker 2: So maybe when I'm done with the New Testament, I'll 364 00:20:47,600 --> 00:20:51,000 Speaker 2: switch to the Psalms and the Proverbs on Tuesdays and Thursdays. 365 00:20:51,119 --> 00:20:53,000 Speaker 2: I have not decided what I'm going to do with that, 366 00:20:53,119 --> 00:20:56,320 Speaker 2: but we'll see in the future. All Right, faithful listeners, 367 00:20:56,320 --> 00:20:58,879 Speaker 2: I hope you have a fantastic and wonderful rest of 368 00:20:58,920 --> 00:21:00,760 Speaker 2: your day. As you all know, there is not a 369 00:21:00,800 --> 00:21:04,600 Speaker 2: regular scheduled episode on Fridays. Friday is for the members 370 00:21:04,960 --> 00:21:07,360 Speaker 2: and if you want to gain access to the Friday 371 00:21:07,359 --> 00:21:10,240 Speaker 2: podcast episode, which by the way, is ad free and 372 00:21:10,320 --> 00:21:12,679 Speaker 2: will remain ad free. Then click the link in the 373 00:21:12,680 --> 00:21:16,439 Speaker 2: description that says kofee and sign up to become a 374 00:21:16,560 --> 00:21:19,800 Speaker 2: Coffee Tier member over on kofee, and you will gain 375 00:21:19,880 --> 00:21:22,399 Speaker 2: access to the Friday podcast and you can listen to 376 00:21:22,800 --> 00:21:26,280 Speaker 2: an extra Let's see here about seventy episodes that I've 377 00:21:26,280 --> 00:21:29,600 Speaker 2: done on Fridays over the past couple years. All right, 378 00:21:29,640 --> 00:21:33,800 Speaker 2: faithful listeners, have a fantastic and wonderful rest of your day, happy. 379 00:21:33,520 --> 00:21:35,000 Speaker 1: Listening, and God bless. 380 00:21:40,920 --> 00:21:42,399 Speaker 2: I just want to take a second to thank the 381 00:21:42,440 --> 00:21:44,720 Speaker 2: team at Life Audio for their partnership with me on 382 00:21:44,760 --> 00:21:47,320 Speaker 2: the Bible Explain podcast. In fact, if you go to 383 00:21:47,359 --> 00:21:50,560 Speaker 2: lifeudio dot com you'll find dozens of other faith centered 384 00:21:50,560 --> 00:21:55,040 Speaker 2: podcasts in their network. They've got shows about prayer, Bible study, parenting, 385 00:21:55,280 --> 00:21:55,680 Speaker 2: and more.