"Encouraging Potential" - a sermon based on 2 Timothy 1:1-7

1. Potential recognised

Timothy was obviously someone who Paul had seen a lot of potential in. If this is the same Timothy that we read about in other parts of the ‘new testament’ as we suppose, then Timothy became one of Paul’s travelling companions and highly valued co-workers. We read that Paul had constantly prayed for Timothy night and day. This is what you would do for someone in whom you recognised great potential ... because potential IS ONLY potential. And as human behaviour and decision-making is fragile and often on a knife-edge, we know that potential can easily be wasted. Potential is something there within a person, but to actually be effective in any way, potential has to realised – potential has to one day be turned into action.

You know that many footballers, when they’re young, promise a great deal ... you hear the supporters say, “... when they get 100 games under their belt they’ll help us win a premiership”! But how often does it work out that way; how often is all that promise actually realised in the heat of battle (especially when setbacks like injury occur)? There will never be an easy ride – all of life’s potential has to be realised in the midst of difficulty and opposition.

And we sense that this was the case for Timothy, because in verse 4 we read about Timothy having shed tears. These were likely to be tears of frustration as Timothy faced opposition, and the challenge of trying to find a way forward through this. Timothy would have to adapt to the reality of resistance to the unpopular yet necessary messages he would have to give. No wonder why Paul desperately wanted to get to see Timothy and encourage him. And no wonder why Paul prayed for Timothy night and day! Such tears would indicate that Timothy was trying hard to undertake the responsibilities Paul had given him, but obviously under some strain.

Yet there is great credit to Timothy here! If one wasn’t so committed to their cause, they wouldn’t be so prone to cry, but rather just quietly walk away. So we see in Timothy one who was trying to turn his potential into a reality!

2. Prayers of Gratitude

We also read that part of Paul’s prayers concerning Timothy, were expressions of gratitude. For Paul knew that he couldn’t carry on his mission to the Gentiles alone, nor forever. So the fact that God would put potential within (and a calling over the lives of) other up-and-comers, was for Paul a source of joy (and a reason for thankfulness). Paul would be able to invest some of his experience in Timothy and others, so that God’s good work would go on uninterrupted. So indeed Paul was very grateful to God (for what God was doing within Timothy).

And I’m sure, with this type of example, Timothy would learn to be likewise grateful. I’m grateful to God for all those who have prayed and invested in me over the years. For me to hear at a very young age that I was heading in the direction of ministry was very daunting ... I even viewed this as a bit of a curse. I spent a bit of time rebelling against this. Yet the patient and caring support of many people got me over the line towards what God would have me doing. God not only calls and raises up people into God’s own mission, but provides supporters, teachers and mentors along the way. This indeed should raise up prayers of gratitude.

3. Sincere faith

We get a glimpse here, in verse 5, of what lay behind Timothy’s potential ... “sincere faith”.

This faith had earlier been clearly evident in both Timothy’s mother and grandmother, which had obviously laid a great foundation for him. G Campbell Morgan has written that: “It is very difficult for some children not to believe, because of what they have seen of the power of faith in their parents”. This is certainly true of my experience and my upbringing, for which I feel very privileged (but also I am very conscious of what is expected of me because of this great advantage I’ve had). There was never a moment that I doubted God’s existence, because of the consistent application of faith by my parents.

Parents cannot bequeath faith (like you leave things to your children in your will), but parents can make it much easier for their children to embrace faith. If this is possible, so of course is the reverse ... making it harder for our children to have faith! Sadly the reverse of what Campbell Morgan wrote has been true where ‘Christianity’ has been applied in an iron-fisted and totally inappropriate way – parents completely destroying any hope of faith in their children.

The other comment to make on this is that no young person can rely alone upon the faith of their parents, but must come to ‘own’ and develop their own faith and their personal relationship with God. A ‘borrowed’ faith will not survive the test of time!

Returning to Timothy’s situation ... it was not as easy for Timothy as it might sound here, for we are led to believe in Acts (16:1) that his father was a Gentile and an unbeliever in God. This no doubt led to some dissension in the home over issues of religion and spirituality – to the extent that Timothy had not been circumcised in the normal Jewish pattern. So Timothy had to carve out his faith in the midst of dissenting voices. Yet when Timothy did embrace a faith in God, we read that it was a “sincere” faith. This again shows that potential was set to blossom.

How would you define/explain/describe “sincere” faith?

“Sincere” faith is “un-hypocritical”; it is faith that does not pretend; it is genuine and real; a good Aussie definition would be “fair dinkum” faith.

But we know that faith, especially in a young person, or someone who is new to Christian commitment, can be very fragile. We can’t ever expect that they’ll make it on their own; and we can’t ever expect that they’ll maintain faith without it becoming “sincere” or “fair dinkum”! And the way for faith to become more mature and be regarded as “fair dinkum” is by putting it into action. We can’t sit on our own potential (endlessly); and we can’t let others just sit on their potential (endlessly)! For it just might fizzle out!

4. Potential realised

This “potential” might simply be life oriented, i.e. the potential to be the best husband, wife, mother, father, son, daughter, friend or neighbour imaginable. Or this potential may be career orientated, i.e. to do the best work you can and progress as much as possible. Or this potential might be in the area of a person’s spiritual giftedness. This latter situation was the case with Timothy. And we read in verses 6 & 7 the strong and direct advice given by Paul to Timothy about maximising his spiritual potential. But, of course, in maximising his spiritual potential, this would benefit Timothy in all facets of his life. In fact, here is a lesson on the importance of dealing with our spiritual needs as a priority.

Timothy was to “rekindle the gift of God that is within you”. This refers to making the most of the gifts given by God’s Holy Spirit through which Timothy would minister amongst others. The reference to the “laying on of hands” (in verse 6) must refer to Paul’s action of commissioning Timothy to his special missional cause.

Each of us have been given grace-gifts that are to be “used and cultivated through diligent effort” (M Griffiths). Such spiritual gifts do not work automatically, just because they have been given, irrespective of the attitude of the receiver. Such gifts have to be actively unleashed! There is a lot of potential contained within a box of matches, but of course this is of no value unless they are utilised properly. And this box of matches becomes useless if it is doused in a whole lot of cold water!

To “rekindle” gives the picture of putting small thin pieces of wood on a fire that looks like it is about to go out. Sometimes this needs to be done desperately as the fire looks a bit grim in the face of some adverse weather. And we know that some people’s faith certainly gets shaky at times and needs a new injection of fuel. Yet this is not just a once-off “rekindling” of the fire, but rather a continual maintenance so that the fire never goes out – a picture of continually adding whatever wood the fire requires to stay ablaze! We need to keep ‘stirring-up’ that inner fire (Griffiths).

The beginning of verse 6 is often translated “fan into flame the gift of God”, which gives the picture of frantically waving a fan of newspaper (or something like that) over the smoke, hoping to get enough oxygen moving into the right places to get the fire going better. Such activity begins with the faith that, such procedures as applying new dry kindling or waving a fan over the little glowing embers, will actually work. But there will also be effort required, like looking for and collecting the little sticks and the bigger logs, and bringing them over to the fire, and then working on and building up that fire as big as it can go towards being a raging inferno (well just short of the need of having to call the CFA to come and get it back under control).

We act on our potential by having a go, by taking a risk here and there, by trying some new things, by getting involved.

We grow in our potential by trusting in God, through listening to the feedback we’re given, by evaluating what works for us and what doesn’t, through undertaking some training to hone our skills.

We reach our potential when we experience our various gifts and abilities complimenting the gifts and abilities of others in effective mutual service to the wider world.

5. The Holy Spirit’s undertaking

For, as Paul goes on (in verse 7a), fear is not an option for us ... or shall we say that, giving in to fear is not an option! “Cowardice” is not part of the Jesus following life – following, as we do, the One who was so committed to his cause that he did not avoid any challenge, nor did he seek to avoid the cross. Nor is the softer translation often given here “timidity” something we should give in to. Yes, some of us are naturally shy or introverted or conservative or a bit on-the-back-foot naturally. We can lack a little confidence in approaching people or dealing with controversy; but we can no longer hide behind this.

It seems from other ‘new testament’ passages that Timothy lacked in confidence, perhaps because he was so young (refer 1 Tim 4:12). We read Paul saying to the church in Corinth: “If Timothy comes, see that he has nothing to fear among you, for he is doing the work of the Lord just as I am” (1 Cor. 16:10).

God asks us to find ways of building our confidence through (“sincere”) faith and trust, and also gives us the resources we need to do so. So, we don’t seek to act on our potential alone, for we have been given, and will continue to be given, all that we need, as we sincerely embrace and express our faith – that is, the Spirit of power, the Spirit of love, and the Spirit of self-discipline (verse 7b).

The Spirit of “power” means having God’s effectiveness within us, and God’s resources available to us ... this is where things happens, as a result of our prayers and faithful activity, that previously we would have never dreamed of being possible.

The Spirit of “love” is becoming able to love people beyond the limitations of our human prejudices ... seeing each human being as God sees them (it is now God’s eyes that look from behind our eyes, and thus we see differently). This then releases us to offer free service to others.

The Spirit of “self-discipline” enables us to make the right moral and ethical decisions, so that we can make a positive contribution in each of our human interactions; also leading us toward a serious development of our belief and value systems. Such “self-control” will allow Timothy to properly focus and be sound-minded, and thereby accurately and creatively share the Word of God, without drifting off into trivialities, error or personal agendas.

This all should fuel our fire, should it not!!

So if we experience fear, lack of confidence, tiredness, or discouragement, this may indicate that we have just momentarily forgotten to rely on God’s Spirit. Because there are so many difficult and distracting circumstances around our daily lives, we should make it a habit to often recall the Holy Spirit’s resources implanted within us.

May each of us, I pray, experience the realisation of our potential, and take the time to encourage others in their journey of discovering and acting on their potential. And in this way, may God’s Kingdom come; may God’s will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Amen!