Day 1

2 Timothy

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

In the letter of second Timothy, Paul clearly is trying to get his protege Timothy to be established in the gospel so that he is totally committed to preaching it, and totally committed to the guidance he had received from his mentor. That”s why we read in verse six of second Timothy chapter one;

for this reason, I remind you to fan into flame the gift of God which is in you through the laying of hands.

Which suggests that there may be Timothy is slowing down and Paul wants his passion fanned up like we said. And then verse seven is saying,

for the spirit God gave us does not make us timid.

This reminds Timothy, timidity is not a sign of commitment to the gospel. This is because, the spirit of God given us,

gives us power, love and self-discipline.

These are three very important things if you are going to do exploits for the kingdom of God: spiritual power, love for the people that God has sent you to and the ones you are working with, then self-discipline. My children used to call this last one the “D-word” because of my repeating it many times. the D-word is crucial. And it’s clear, you cannot accomplish much in life unless you have that D-word, discipline.

What is discipline? This is doing something which you may not be enjoying to do, but is important to do for meeting your mission and objectives. Then verse eight finally says:

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.

How do you show you have a commitment to the gospel? First don’t be ashamed. You can’t be apologizing for your Christian life and still be proud of and be committed to it. You know, there are Christian girls who the non-Christian boss wants to date and wants to take them to an entertainment spot. She replies, I’m sorry, I’m a Christian.

Really? Are you sorry you’re a Christian? Why can’t you tell him, I am happy I have something far much better than alcohol. I don’t have to be a drunkard to enjoy life. Paul is saying, my young friend Timothy,

do not be ashamed of the testimony about Jesus, nor of this prisoner of His called Paul.

Day 2

2Timothy 1

7 For the Spirit God gave us does not make us timid, but gives us power, love and self-discipline.

So, join with me in suffering for the gospel by the power of God. You really can’t call yourself a Christian if you’re not ready to suffer for the gospel. The gospel is so different from our traditional religion, so different from modernity, so different from the things people are calling progressive, that the moment you make a stand for Christ, you should expect to suffer.

Then verse nine says: This God we are committing ourselves to

has saved us and called us to a holy life.

You can’t claim to be a Christian and not be committed to holiness. You cannot live the way you want, or the way the devil wants, or the way your backsliding girlfriend wants you to.

Thus, once you become a Christian, one of the disciplines you must have is holiness. Why? Not because of anything we have done, the Bible is saying, but because of His own purpose and grace. The reason we attain holiness is not because we are good; it is because of God”s own purpose and grace. It is God”s intention that we live in holiness, and it”s God”s grace that will help us to achieve that. Which grace?

This grace was given us in Christ Jesus before the beginning of time.

In other words, although you may have been saved the other day, but right from the beginning of time, in the Garden of Eden, God started planning how He would rescue you through His grace.

What”s grace? Undeserved favour. Verse ten says,

but it has now been revealed through the appearing of our Savior.

Yes, this grace was there from the beginning; it”s only you heard about it recently. And of course, for us in Africa, it took another one thousand nine hundred years for us to be reached by that grace. But the Savior, Christ Jesus, is the one who brought it when he became flesh and dwelt among us on earth.

In the process He has destroyed death and has brought life and immortality to light through the gospel. See why you”re committing yourself to it? What you get out of it is immense. Death Is Destroyed. No wonder elsewhere He says, death, where is your sting?

By Christ”s coming, living a righteous life, dying on the cross, and rising up again, He destroyed death. And then in the process, He brought us life and immortality to light through the gospel.

Thus, once you become a Christian, you are assured of eternal life; immortality. This body will die, but you yourself will continue. Then verse eleven, continuing on these themes, Paul says,

and of this gospel, I was appointed a herald and an apostle and a teacher.

In other words, if you want to be like me then you must be the gospel”s herald. What”s a herald? Somebody who carries a message and runs to tell the people. That is to herald the message of the King. But Paul is also an apostle. An apostle is one who is going from place to place introducing the gospel and planting churches.

Day 3

2 Timothy 1

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.

And also, he also is a teacher. A teacher will not only talk to new people becoming Christians, but the ones that are already Christians will be nurtured. So, verse twelve says,

this is why I’m suffering as I am.

In other words, he has just told Timothy to be ready to suffer. He says, for me, it’s not something in the future, I’m already inside the suffering yet, this is no cause for shame. I’m not ashamed that I’m in jail. To be in jail for Christ, is not shameful at all.

Why?Because I know whom I have believed.

What a testimony. Because I know whom I’ve believed, I”m convinced that he is able to guard what I have entrusted to him until that day.

How are you going to be able to face the suffering, the challenges that come your way as a Christian leader? Like Paul, first of all is to know the goodness of this Gospel, which insulates from fear of death and gives us immortality. That’s very important.

Number two, you know you have been appointed to herald it despite all the suffering and challenges you face. So, when you suffer, you are not surprised. You are not even ashamed of what you happen to be in. How come you can be suffering and you don’t feel embarrassed? Because you know why and for who you are suffering. You”re okay with the suffering. Why? Paul says, because you know who you have believed.

The reason why we people backslide is because we haven’t understood what Christ accomplished for us on the cross. They haven’t quite realized what a blessing Christ coming was to us. Backsliders haven”t seen what is on offer. Paul says, for me, I know who I have believed, number one. Do you know who you have believed? Do you know his abilities? Do you know his love for you? Do you know that He is Almighty?

Paul argues that not only do I know, but also I am convinced that he is able to guard me and everything I have committed to him until the day Jesus Christ comes back. So, I can face any challenge the future with courage. When you know who you have believed and then you know his ability to guard you and protect you right up to the end of the journey, you stand your ground.

Verse thirteen says;

13 What you heard from me, keep as the pattern of sound teaching, with faith and love in Christ Jesus.

Paul is advising him, whatever you heard from me, that is me as your mentor, keep as your pattern of sound teaching. So, don’t start teaching new things. The Gospel doesn”t change over time. It”s consistent. So, stick with it. Keep to the Pattern of sound teaching with the faith and love in Christ Jesus.

That”s what you are to teach as Christian leader. Sound teaching includes asking people or encouraging people to have faith. Number two, to have love in Christ Jesus.

Then, Paul finally says: Guard the good deposit that was entrusted to you. Guard it with the help of the Holy Spirit who lives in us. So, although it is true Christ is guarding you, but he”s also saying, No, no, no, no. You also must participate. He will not force himself on you. It is you to determine that you are going to stay with Him. Very bold.

Therefore, do not be ashamed. You know, whenever you see the word therefore, you must find out what it is there for. Paul had just told him before verse eight, about the fact that he has the spirit of power, love, and sound mind. If you have that, you certainly will have courage and not be ashamed. That”s a birth right of you as a Christian.

So, from then onwards, once you have committed to follow Christ fully, then allow God to guide you in your thinking. And of course, it”s the same question we can ask, why doesn”t Paul feel that what he”s being asked to do is impossible? Because he knows very well that there is nothing he will face on his own. He is going to face it with Christ on his side. I think that”s something we must note.

So, like we have said there before: Do not be ashamed. So, you must ask yourself: is there a time when you have not admitted you”re a Christian because you are feeling embarrassed, or people are making fun of you and you don”t want to make a stand? You are not the first. Peter was told by a girl, a servant girl, you were with Jesus and he denied three times.

So, Timothy is being told: No, no, no shame. You must show courage because God has given you courage. Remember the testimony of our Lord Jesus Christ. How he stood his ground even before Pilate. Maybe our problem is that we forget about the crucifixion of Christ. We need to keep reading that Passion Week story very well repeatedly. And I’m happy that somebody has even put it on film just to see how Christ suffered for us and how he faced it. And Christ is saying, I’ll be in you. I’ll be helping you to face it. You can see how you end up standing your ground just like Christ did.

Day 4

2Timothy 1

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,

So, this new Christianity where you want to be politically correct, you want not to mention too much about hell and why the cross, and it sounds like it”s just a way of you becoming more civilized. No, it cost Jesus heavily. It cost Paul. It cost the people who have gone before us suffering. And if Christ suffered for us, he says we should follow in his footsteps.

That’s what Jesus taught Timothy and us. That”s what Paul is repeating here. The same thing that Jesus was saying, if you want to be great, you must be the servant of all. You must be like a slave, although you are the leader. That’s what we call servant leadership. That’s what Timothy is being taught.

Also don”t be ashamed that becoming a Christian has even caused your boss to be in trouble, or your leader, your pastor to be in trouble. You know, once you know who God is, and you know who Jesus is, that should encourage you that he is with you everywhere. He has promised, I’ll never leave you nor forsake you. Leave you means leave for a short while, forsake means abandon you. He has said he’ll not do either. You know, he is the one who has saved us and is active in our life, transforming us, and then giving us the power to transform others.

So how can you be ashamed of such a privilege? How can we be ashamed? I should be asking. But the other thing is, Paul thinks that although you might not be ashamed of Christ, but you’re ashamed of the church. You are ashamed of other brothers. So, you become a lone ranger, you don’t want to fellowship with others. Timothy is being told: no, no, no, no, no. One of the ways of showing you are committed to Christ is you are committed to others who are suffering for Christ. Like me, Paul, a prisoner.

Of cause it’s not easy to support a prisoner because that may make authority suspicious of you. The Roman government may end up giving you trouble yourself. But, can you see? Paul does not see himself as a prisoner of Rome, he sees himself as a prisoner of Christ. Christ’ prisoner. He is saying: don’t be ashamed of His prisoner, Christ’ prisoner. He knows if God did not want him to go and witness in the palace, he would not have allowed him to be arrested. So, the reason he is a prisoner, or the reason you are in that trouble, is Christ. Don’t give devil the credit, don’t give your boss the credit. The reason you have been fired is because God has allowed it.

So, Paul says: yes, I am God’s prisoner not emperor”s prisoner. Not the prisoner of the palace either. So, I hope you start understanding something that’s missing in modern Christianity. We think that Christ is involved in our Sunday service, in our fellowships, but not when we leave church. How we run our lives in our place of work, we can do it our way.

But Paul says: no, no, no. God is involved in every one of my circumstances. When he is free, he is God’s free man. If he’s in prison, he is Christ”s prisoner. God is involved in his life all the time. And I think that’s what we need to be aware of ourselves. And it’s important to understand that for contentment in life. So, Timothy don’t be ashamed of me in prison, Paul is saying.

Also, be a participant with me, share my life with me. Not only should you not be ashamed, you are being invited to share the suffering with him. And I think there’s a similar message in Romans twelve verse fifteen:

Rejoice with those who rejoice, and weep with those who weep.

In other words, identify with other Christians who are being persecuted, or who are going through difficulties. Identify with them. Enter into their shoes and feel their pain. That is the way the church fellowship is supposed to be like. Christ is in us encouraging us to stand our ground in suffering, but the fellowship is supposed to be supporting us also. How will we do it? We must keep remembering that God”s power is in us. So, we ought therefore to stand our ground according to the power of God in us. And you see, that means if the power of God is in us, He can move us out of the trouble anytime. If He has not removed us, it”s because He wants to accomplish something through it. Not by taking us out of the difficulty, but taking us through the difficulty. So, yes, you feel the pain, it”s not comfortable, but at the same time, you know that you are with God in it.

Can you imagine that, Paul is writing this from a prison? You would have assumed he is the one to be encouraged, but he”s the one encouraging this young pastor. The power of Rome did not intimidate him, yet he was in a real prison. But he was conscious about God”s power with him and the fact that he knew there”s nothing wrong he had done before God. The Roman Empire may have power for now, but not for long. You know the truth is, if you know history, the empire finally collapsed, but the message Paul was preaching is still with us.

Isn”t that what we are discussing even now? The gospel of Jesus Christ outlives every tyrant who wants to go against it. You see, if you”re ashamed of the gospel, then you”ll be ashamed of God”s plan of salvation.

Isn”t that what verse nine to ten is talking about? He has saved us, called us with a holy calling, not according to our works, but according to His own purpose and grace. Yes, it is not you who took yourself from the world, it”s the grace of God. We are saved by grace through faith, not of ourselves, it”s a gift of God.

Day 5

2 Timothy 1

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.

So, Paul reminds Timothy, it is Christ who has saved us, for its Him who has called us. It”s not us who initiated the search for ourselves; it”s the Holy Spirit who picked us. He placed us where we could hear God’s word. And He’s the one who saved us. We on our part only responded to his love. And I think that’s important to remember all our life.

Secondly, Paul wants you to remember, you are not saved because of your works. No, no, no. It’s according to God’s power in you. We owe everything about our Christian walk to Christ. Either the way we got saved or even the way we continue as Christians. Why? He called us in order to spend time with us. Just like when in Mark chapter three when he called the disciples, say, he called them that they may be with him. Before sending us on mission he wants to first be with us. And of course, we only accomplished that through his grace like we saw earlier.

What helped us is a grace that was there from before the time began. But like we saw earlier, which was revealed by the appearing of the Savior. So, there would have been no gospel if Christ did not appear and did not send Paul and others, including you and me to continue with it.

And again, I repeat, this was a fantastic mission of Christ to abolish what we lived in fear of’€¦ death. People lived in the fear of death. That’s the message of Hebrews chapter two verse fifteen. The reason Christ came was to rescue us who all our lives lived at the fear of death.

Hebrews 2:15

15 and free those who all their lives were held in slavery by their fear of death

So, he abolished death. That’s what we need to preach to the whole world that fears death. That’s why you cannot be ashamed when you have such a major message that whatever people have lived fearing, you now can give them a solution to.

It is pleasant to know that even if, for example, somebody was to kill you, you just translate from this life into the presence of the Lord. We call it, you have gone to sleep. You know death does not take anything from a Christian. You just graduate to glory. So, death is not something to be feared. It’s the message of the gospel.

So, isn’t it the reason why it’s totally unchristian for somebody to go talking about a brother who has died and he writes R.I.P. Rest In Peace? Your such prayer is useless. Before he ever died, he was already in peace and he went to a place of peace. So, don’t pray that again. Don’t pray that he rests in peace. He’s already in peace.

Somebody has said, and I think they are right, we should be writing on our tomb, Christ Abolished Death. Maybe instead of writing R.I.P., we should be putting in newspapers HGP that is happy in God”s presence. That death does not have this guy. The guy who has gone, is happy in the presence of the Lord.

So, we then understand the meaning of immortality that the gospel brings our way. Immortality means life without death. You know, after this life, which is very, very disturbing, not very attractive, we need to understand we are translating into God’s wonderful presence.

Hell is not our destination. Being with the ancestors, is not a Christians destination. Like in African tradition religion you talk about going to spend time with our ancestors. No, that’s not the destiny of Christians. The destiny of Christians is not to spend time with the ancestors; it’s to spend time with Christ. And that is the truth that we have as a gospel, and that’s what we need to be sharing with people.

Day 6

2 Timothy 1

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.

Body is where you are staying earlier; it was just your tent. Now, once you are dead, you spend time in the presence of the Lord. And that is the gospel we need to preach. If you preach it fully it frees mankind. It’s such a unique gospel, why would you be ashamed of it? And all these things we are getting because of Christ and His gospel. It is Good news. The good news of the Lord Jesus Christ. So, what are we saying? God’s plan of salvation began for us in eternity past, before time began. It’s what these passages say, and we need to keep reminding ourselves of that.

It didn’t begin just when Christ came to earth. Christ was sent to fulfil its plan. Number two, this plan of salvation continues to date, especially after the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ. This message comes to us when He saved us or wherever each one of us was saved and called to the kingdom of God. It also continues with us as we walk in holiness and because of that, we now realize we are walking in immortality, eternal life. That’s something you need to remind yourself. When we consider the greatness of this great message, that it abolishes death, can you see why it has to be called good news? That God loved you enough, loved me enough to rescue us from the fear of death anymore.

Yes, it is Good news because Christ came, lived as man, without sin. That way we know you can live as man with spiritual victory. We are told He was tempted everywhere yet without sin. It is Good news because we are saved from eternal damnation. We are then assured of God’s presence forever. Good news because we are now able to live holy, holy lives, which we could not have done on our own. And good news because we now live with eternity in mind. Isn’t that a message worth talking about? Paul is saying he is proud despite being in prison, he is proud to have been given that kind of a responsibility.

He’s very proud about it. Are you proud of salvation? In verse eleven we saw it’s talking about Paul being specifically appointed to this work. And because he’s called by Christ, not by a bishop, he preaches it with confidence. Maybe the reason why we don’t preach with confidence is because we are appointed by human beings who don’t even practice the gospel themselves. So, you get discouraged. But what about if you realize your calling is not from the bishop or the apostle, it’s from God Himself? You will commit fully to preaching it.Paul is saying, yes, I have been appointed a preacher by Christ.

And you can even realize how proud he is form he counts it a privilege. No wonder he is not ashamed. He calls himself a preacher and an apostle. The fact that he went to diverse nations taking this gospel of Jesus Christ first trip and then he also went around a second trip to teach them. You can see he enjoyed his life despite the many times he suffered. And he was grateful to God that he had been counted worthy of that suffering. And so, he says, with the privilege of doing that, is it any wonder that I suffer the way I do? because suffering is a part of the package.

Even the fact that he was in prison as he wrote to Timothy, it’s all because of the heavenly appointment. And you know, you can face prison happily, like I said earlier, once you know whom you have believed, and you are persuaded, you are convinced, that He loves you, that He is going to be with you through whatever challenge that will come your way. We must know also not just who we believed, but what we believe. That’s why he has repeated it. What do you believe? You believe that anybody who comes to Christ no longer need to fear death.

You know who you believe, but do you know what you believe? Do you see it as a privilege? Do you see why everybody must know it? You know, sometimes you also have to remind yourself who you are. That if you know yourself, you know yourself as a disciple of Jesus Christ, it will be very easy to spend time with Him. Let me quote Spurgeon: ‘”Know thyself, said the heathen philosopher. That is well. But that knowledge may only lead a man to hell. Know Christ, says the Christian philosopher. Know Him, and then you shall know yourself, and this shall certainly lead you to heaven.”

Day 7

2 Timothy 1

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

Yes, the knowledge of Christ Jesus is saving knowledge So, you know yourself, you know who you have believed, but do you know the message? Are you persuaded that this person who has taken over running of your life has the ability to be with you through any challenge? Are you Persuaded that He is able to keep what I’ve committed to Him, not for a while, but for life? I still remember that message in song in my high school days, more than 50 years ago:

I know not why God”s wondrous grace

To me He hath made known,

Nor why, unworthy, Christ in love

Redeemed me for His own.

Refrain:

But ‘”I know Whom I have believed,

And am persuaded that He is able

To keep that which I”ve committed

Unto Him against that day.'”

I know not how this saving faith

To me He did impart,

Nor how believing in His Word

Wrought peace within my heart.

It still rings in my mind. Yes, I know and He is able. And I can look at the last more than fifty years, as proof of this. That time I was singing it I was a much younger man, now in my seventies, I’m able to say, yes, I know He is able to guard me.I am secure in Him. He has protected me all through the challenges of life in the last over fifty years as a Christian.

Yes, I know whom I have believed. But you see, for you to talk like Paul, you must ask: but have you committed your life to him? Have you committed your business to him? Have you committed your family to him? Have you committed what you value on earth to Him? So that it”s no longer you, you”re not just guarding it; Christ is the one who will guard it.

Whatever I”ve committed to Him, He will guard all my life. Have you committed yourself to Him? Paul knew he could not keep his life by himself. Rome could kill him anytime. But as long as his life was in God, he would not die one minute earlier than the time his Keeper agrees. Yes, God is able. And Paul knew about it. So, he knew he was facing possible death, but he knew he cannot die earlier than Christ day. I know the one I have believed, He is able to keep what I have committed to Him until the day God selects.

That belief gave Paul boldness. This is boldness which did not come from him, but from God whom he trusted. If it was only in this life that Paul had committed himself to God, then you”d be worried: what about if I die? What happens next? But he had already committed his life not just for this life, his life when he”s in body, but even after he”s out of this body. Everything about him was committed to Jesus. His body, his character, his reputation. A lot of time we feel embarrassed, ashamed because we fear our reputation will be lost.

What gives you sleepless nights? But even that has been committed to God. People talk about legacy. What legacy? Just live your life so long as you have committed it to God. And you know, he will guard it ‘€¦. it”s not for two days; it”s until that day.

What was Paul talking about? Which day? It is the day he will meet Jesus. The day when they will now be together therefore, there will be no need of being guarded after that. That”s the day. And even you and me need to be aware of that. Christ has promised to guard, whatever you commit to Him, to guard it until the day you meet Jesus Christ.

Paul lived a life conscious of that day, expectant of that day, assured of that day when Christ Himself would tell him, welcome home. You know, that day is precious to Paul; it should also be precious to you. To keep each day knowing if you died, you meet the Lord. Why don”t you commit your life and everything you hold dear to Him? And once you commit it, stop living a life of worry and care. Trust that He is able, like Paul is saying, to keep it until that day. Anyway, my prayer and hope is that all of us will live a care free life which is kept in God, safe in God, and a life of expecting His coming.