2 Timothy: UnashamedFair weather fans need not apply.
Welcome To BARAH MINISTRIES
Al Gleason Guest Teacher
Good morning!
Welcome to Barah Ministries…an intimate, local Christian church with a worldwide impact. My name is Al Gleason, and I will be teaching today. Thank you, Pastor Rory Clark, for the opportunity to share God's Word. It is always a privilege and an honor when I have the opportunity to teach.
To everyone studying with us today, thank you for tuning in, listening, and allowing God's Word to become a part of your life. Today we continue move through Paul's final letter—Second Timothy.
TODAY’S BIBLE LESSON Unashamed
LESSON INTRODUCTION
Have you ever noticed how many fans a team has when they're winning?
When a team is on top, everybody wants the jersey. Everybody wants the hat. Everybody wants to post on social media that they've been a fan "from the beginning." The parking lots are full and the stadium is packed. People proudly wear the team colors everywhere they go.
But something interesting happens when that same team starts losing.
The jerseys disappear. The social media posts stop. The conversations get quieter. Suddenly, the people who couldn't stop talking about the team don't seem quite as eager to be associated with them anymore. We call those people bandwagon fans. A bandwagon fan is loyal when loyalty is easy. They're committed when commitment costs nothing. They're present for the victories but absent during the struggles.
The true fans are different. They show up whether the team is winning or losing, and they stay when everyone else leaves. They wear the colors when it's popular and when it's embarrassing. They don't base their loyalty on circumstances. They base it on commitment. That's the issue Paul addresses in today's passage.
When Paul wrote First Timothy, he was a respected apostle and leader of the Christian movement. When he wrote Second Timothy, he was sitting in a Roman prison awaiting execution. The culture had turned hostile and persecution was increasing. Association with Paul now carried risk. Following Jesus now came with significant consequences. If you recall, Nero had gone so far as setting Christians on fire to light the garden at night.
Paul essentially asks Timothy a simple but powerful question: "Now that following Christ has become costly, are you still going to stand with Him?" That question isn't just for Timothy, but it’s also for us. It's easy to identify with Jesus when life is good. It's easy to talk about faith when everyone agrees with us. It's easy to stand for Christ when standing costs nothing. The real test comes when faith becomes unpopular, when obedience becomes uncomfortable, or when following Jesus costs us something.
In today's lesson, Paul challenges Timothy, and every believer, to move beyond bandwagon faith and develop the kind of conviction that stands firm no matter the circumstances.
Let’s read Romas 1:16 where Paul declares where he stands on this issue:
ROMANS 1:16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek.
Paul wasn't a bandwagon believer. He wasn't following Jesus because it was easy, popular, or profitable. He followed Jesus because he knew Him. The conviction he had gave him the courage to write the words we're about to study today.
OPENING SONG INTRODUCTION
The Apostle Paul was not ashamed of Jesus. Not when he was beaten, imprisoned or abandoned. He facing execution and he still was not ashamed. As we discussed last lesson, his confidence wasn't based on circumstances. It was based on the One he believed.
This next song is a declaration that no matter what happens around us, Christ is worth standing for. Let's worship together.
MUSIC OPENING SONG
I Speak Jesus Charity Gayle
OPENING PRAYER
Let us pray…
Heavenly Father,
We thank you for the blessing of being able to gather today. We thank you that we have a heart that wants to learn your Word and get it in our hearts so that we can live it. Although we don’t face the consequences that the early church faced for serving you, we thank you for the courage we need to follow you in whatever situations we face. Thank you that we are not like bandwagon fans that only follow you when it is easy to do so.
We ask that you will give us the boldness to witness, speak up, or stand when it is time to. Equip us to demonstrate faithfulness under pressure like Job did. Give us the ability to not shrink back.
We thank you that our thinking if different after the Word today. We thank you that our minds are different, in a way that makes us more in line with you.
We ask these things through the power of God the Holy Spirit, in Christ's name.
Amen.
TODAY’S BIBLE LESSON Unashamed
LESSON PART ONE
Last week we studied Paul's command to Timothy to "fan into flame" the gift of God. Paul reminded Timothy that God had not given him a spirit of fear. Now Paul immediately puts that principle to the test. Courage sounds good in theory, but it is only proven when fear has a reason to exist. To remind you, Timothy had plenty of reasons to be afraid. Nero is Emperor. Christians are being persecuted. Paul is sitting in prison awaiting execution. False teachers are creating problems in Ephesus. Many believers are beginning to distance themselves from Paul because association with him has become dangerous. It reminds me of times when I challenge people about being afraid. One of the top responses is “it’s too dangerous”. It is often an indication of fear-based thinking driving the decision.
The question is no longer: "Do you believe?", but it has become: "Will you still believe when belief costs you something?"
That's where we begin. Let's read Second Timothy chapter 1, verse 8:
SECOND TIMOTHY 1:8 Therefore do not be ashamed of the testimony of our Lord or of me His prisoner, but join with me in suffering for the gospel according to the power of God,
The first word of this verse is important. "Therefore." Whenever you see "therefore" in Scripture, you should ask: "What is it there for?" Here, Paul is connecting this verse to the previous one. In verse 7 he says:
SECOND TIMOTHY 1:7 For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and love and discipline.
Then he immediately says "Therefore...". In other words, because God did not give you fear, don't act like fear is in charge or don’t let fear be in charge.
Paul doesn't tell Timothy not to feel fear, He tells Timothy not to surrender to fear.
There is a difference. Fear is a spirit that will influence you to make decisions that are anti-Christ. What I mean is it will influence you to make decisions that are not faith based. If you recall from last lesson, without faith it is impossible to please God. It is a big part of the enemy’s plan. As a result, we all face fear, even the bravest people feel fear. Joshua felt fear. David felt fear. Esther felt fear. The disciples felt fear. Records of the greatest of us, tell us that they experienced fear. The difference between them and the average person, is that they obeyed God anyway.
Paul tells us, “Do not be ashamed of the testimony of our Lord."
The testimony of our Lord is the Gospel itself, the message that Jesus Christ is God. That He died for sinners and He rose from the dead. That salvation comes through faith in Him alone. That message wasn't popular then, and it isn't always popular now.
Think about our culture today. People will applaud almost any belief system except one that claims Jesus is the only way. People are comfortable discussing spirituality and discussing religion. They're comfortable discussing personal truth. But mention Jesus as Lord and Savior and suddenly the room changes. The Gospel has always created division because it forces a decision.
Then Paul adds something surprising: "Do not be ashamed of me His prisoner." He says “His prisoner.” Paul understood something profound. Rome didn't ultimately put him in prison, but God allowed him to be there. Paul never viewed his circumstances as being controlled by Nero, but he viewed them as being controlled by God. That's a completely different perspective. When things happen that we don’t perceive as good, we generally considered it an attack from the enemy.
Imagine two men sitting in identical prison cells. One sees himself as a victim. The other sees himself as a servant. The circumstances are the same, but the perspective is different. Paul sees himself as serving Christ even from a prison cell.
Then Paul says something that nobody wants to hear. "But join with me in suffering for the gospel..."
Paul’s invitation is not what most people would want. I want health, wealth, and peace, but you can keep that suffering. Christianity has never promised a pain-free life. Jesus didn't promise it, Paul didn't promise it. In fact, Jesus said:
JOHN 16:33 In the world you have tribulation, but take courage; I have overcome the world.
One of the greatest misconceptions in modern Christianity is the belief that suffering means something is wrong. Sometimes suffering means something is right. Paul wasn't suffering because he failed, Paul was suffering because he was faithful.
Think about an athlete training for a championship. Nobody sees the early mornings. The extra workouts, the sacrifices, and numerous other challenges. They only see the medal.
The medal is a result of the suffering, but suffering wasn't evidence that the athlete was doing something wrong. In fact, it was the exact opposite. Suffering was evidence they were pursuing something valuable. Choosing to suffer was an act of faith, because doing the work isn’t a guarantee of success.
The same principle applies spiritually. The world will reject you and people may misunderstand you. You may lose opportunities and face criticism. None of it will be because you've done something wrong. It will be because you're standing for something right. One important distinction I want to make is that the success as an athlete isn’t guaranteed, but Jesus’ promise of salvation is!
Paul explains why suffering is worth it:
SECOND TIMOTHY 1:9 Who has saved us and called us with a holy calling, not according to our works, but according to His own purpose and grace which was granted us in Christ Jesus from all eternity,
This maybe one of the most encouraging verses in the New Testament. Paul says that God saved us, then he called us to a holy calling. He didn’t require us to be holy or meet some type of standard before we have the opportunity to be saved. He did all the hard work for us. We only have to believe. This is what we call grace. You don’t have to work to be accepted or to get the reward.
This is completely contrary to the world that says you must perform first or meet a particular standard first, then maybe we’ll accept you. That’s a big maybe. In God’s kingdom, we don’t work to become accepted, we work because we’ve been accepted. It is important to recognize that Paul says not according to our works. Many people feel like they can work to earn God’s approval, and many religions, teach this and are built on this principal. But we can’t work to earn God’s approval. If salvation could be earned, there will be no need for Jesus to die.
Paul says we were called according to God's purpose and grace. God had a purpose for Timothy before Timothy knew it. God had a purpose for Paul before Paul knew it. God has a purpose for you before you fully understand it.
One of my favorite coaching experiences is watching an athlete discover something about themselves that their coach already knew. The athlete finally runs the time or makes a play. They have this excitement that is contagious. The coach is smiling because they've seen it coming all along.
That's a tiny glimpse of God's perspective. God sees what we can become long before we see it ourselves. He know the end from the beginning. Then Paul takes us a little deeper.
SECOND TIMOTHY 1:10 But now has been revealed by the appearing of our Savior Christ Jesus, who abolished death and brought life and immortality to light through the gospel,
Death is humanity's greatest fear and everything else is connected to it. Fear of loss, fear of failure, fear of pain, and ultimately fear of death. Jesus abolished death when he died on the cross. People still die a physical death, our bodies die, but death is no longer the final word. Our relationship with Jesus gives us the opportunity to be with him for eternity and avoid hell for eternity. Death now becomes a doorway to heaven instead of eternal damnation.
Think about how different people would live if they truly believed that. How would you live differently if that was your prevailing belief in practice? How much fear would disappear? How many excuses would vanish? How many risks for the Kingdom would suddenly become worthwhile?
I know that things would be different for me, I definitely have some work to do in this area. Let’s take a five-minute break.
FIVE-MINUTE BREAK
NOBODY Casting Crowns
TODAY’S BIBLE LESSON Unashamed
OFFERING INTRODUCTION
Stewardship is recognizing that everything we have has been entrusted to us by God to be used for His purposes. Our time, our talents, our resources, and even our opportunities come from Him.
Paul understood that his life was not his own. It belonged to the Lord.
As believers, we have the opportunity to demonstrate that same trust every time we give. We are saying, "Lord, I trust You more than I trust what I'm holding in my hand."
Today, let's give with grateful hearts, confident that God is able to do far more with what we place in His hands than we could ever do on our own.
Let's welcome Deacon Denny Goodall Jr. for today's offering message.
THE OFFERING
Dec. Denny Goodall
OFFERING VERSE
Acts 1:8 …but you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be My witnesses both in Jerusalem and in all Judea, and Samaria, and as far as the remotest part of the earth.
OFFERING SONG
Jireh Maverick city Music
TODAY’S BIBLE LESSON Unashamed
LESSON PART TWO
Welcome back!
Before the break, Paul challenged Timothy to do something most people naturally resist. He challenged him to stop being ashamed. I remember the elders saying things like, “have some shame” or “that person ain’t got no shame!”. Implying that we should be ashamed to do certain things that are not considered the right thing to do. Sometimes it meant we should have some pride about ourselves and what we do. Maybe this type of teaching is where we learn the resistance.
Instead of worrying about your shame, Paul invited Timothy to participate in the suffering that often accompanies faithfulness. That sounds strange to modern ears, because so much being created today is to help people be comfortable as possible and avoid suffering.
Paul says suffering may be part of the assignment. Why? Because some things are worth suffering for. Some things are worth sacrificing for. Some things are worth standing for. Paul’s life is a great example, but in this letter to Timothy he also explains why.
SECOND TIMOTHY 1:11 For which I was appointed a preacher and an apostle and a teacher.
Paul reminds Timothy that his suffering is connected to his calling. Paul says his suffering came because he faithfully carried out the assignment God gave him. That's an important distinction. Sometimes suffering is self-inflicted, but sometimes suffering is the cost of obedience. In the same way, firefighters encounter smoke or must deal with fires, we have to recognize that opposition and challenges are often just a part of the job. Jesus experienced it, Paul experienced it, Timothy would experience it, just like we will experience it. Assuming your suffering is because you have done something wrong is erroneous. Everyone on a mission, attempting to achieve something great, experiences suffering in the pursuit of greatness. Let’s read verse 12:
SECOND TIMOTHY 1:12 For this reason I also suffer these things, but I am not ashamed; for I know whom I have believed and I am convinced that He is able to guard what I have entrusted to Him until that day.
Paul says that he’s not ashamed because he knows whom he believes. What Paul is pointing to here is relationship. Today many people know facts about Jesus and Bible stories, and Christian lingo but they don’t have a personal relationship with Christ. Paul did and that’s where his confidence came from. Not all of the information that he had memorized. Because Paul knows Him, he trusts Him. One of the reasons fear controls, so many people is because they focus on circumstances rather than relationships. If you recall the miracle when Peter was walking on water, he was fine as long as his eyes stayed on Jesus, which was because of relationship. The moment he focused on the wind and the waves, which was the circumstances, fear took over. Circumstances create fear, but relationship with Christ creates confidence.
Let's think about trust for a moment. When you board an airplane, you don't personally inspect the engines. You don't verify every bolt, probably not even the ones you see as you are walking through the door, and you definitely don't review the pilot's credentials. Yet we sit down and trust the plane.
Why? Because we trust the people responsible.
Every day we place trust in things we don't fully understand. Paul says his confidence is greater than that. He knows the One he's trusting and he is convinced that Jesus is able. Paul is a mature believer that has spent time with God. God continued to show Himself faithful to Paul. He delivered him, strengthened him, comforted him, and sustained him. Those experiences are what convinced him.
The same is true in our lives. If we choose to spend time with God and follow his instructions, we will also build confidence when he shows himself faithful in our lives. Every asset prayer, every moment of grace, and every active provision solidifies who God is in our lives. But you have to have faith and trust Him. One of the reasons mature Christians can stay calm through the storm is because they have accumulated evidence. They have seen God work before, and they trust him to do it again. God has always been faithful and always will be. Let’s look at a few scriptures that say so.
LAMENTATIONS 3:22-23 The LORD'S lovingkindnesses indeed never cease, for His compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is Your faithfulness.
DEUTERONOMY 31:8 The LORD is the one who goes ahead of you; He will be with you. He will not fail you or forsake you. Do not fear or be dismayed.
FIRST THESSALONIANS 5:24 Faithful is He who calls you, and He also will bring it to pass.
HEBREWS 10:23 Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful.
These are just a few of the scriptures that confirms our God’s desire to be faithful to us. He is love and full of compassion. He goes ahead of us but is also with us and tells us He will not fail or forsake us. On top of all of that, His compassions are new every morning!
Many believers just trust Jesus with Sunday, but not Monday. They say they trust Him with heaven, but not the challenges of everyday life. They say they trust him with eternity, but not their current problem. Our elder brother Paul, trusted Him with everything. That continues to be a challenge for us. What fear in your life is holding you back? The more we trust God, the less power fear has over us. With all that was going on with Paul and Timothy, Paul still said, “Timothy, trust Christ”, and he is saying the same thing to us all today.
We are about to close, but I want to leave you with three questions to think about this week.
THE GOSPEL MESSAGE The Good News of Jesus Christ’s Salvation Offer to the Human Race
The closing moments of this lesson could be the ten most important minutes of your life. You’ll be introduced to the good news concerning how you can spend all eternity in heaven when you close your eyes in this life. We want you to know that…
GOD WANTS YOU! He Wants You to Make the Most Important Decision of Your Life
…and what He wants for you is that you make the most important decision of your life.
God wants a RELATIONSHIP with you! The Lord’s half-brother says in James, Chapter 4, Verse 8…
JAMES 4:8 Draw near to God and He will draw near to you.
The enemy of God, Satan wants you to be part of a RELIGION. Religion is Satan’s strategy against the human race and it is designed to make you indifferent or antagonistic to God. It works! The Bible describes religion in Second Timothy, Chapter 3, Verse 5 as…
SECOND TIMOTHY 3:5 …a superficial form of godliness (a counterfeit to Christianity) … that denies godliness’ divine power…
You have a choice…relationship or religion…what’s your choice?
Religion can’t get you to heaven! Religions propose that if you don’t do everything their “god” expects, the god will be disappointed. Regardless of your best efforts to follow religious rituals, the religion does not GUARANTEE you will get to heaven.
In Matthew, Chapter 23, Verse 27 and 28, the Lord Jesus Christ Himself expresses his disdain for religion…
MATTHEW 23:27 “Woe to you (religious) scribes and Pharisees…you hypocrites! For you are like whitewashed tombs…which on the outside appear beautiful…but inside they are full of dead men’s bones and all uncleanness.”
MATTHEW 23:28 “Outwardly you appear righteous to men, but inwardly you are full of hypocrisy and lawlessness (you are unrighteous unbelievers).”
The Bible is a gift from God that introduces you to the possibility of a relationship with the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Hebrews, Chapter 4, Verse 12 describes the power of Scripture…
HEBREWS 4:12 For the word of God is alive and powerful and sharper than any two-edged sword…and it’s piercing…even as far as the division of soul and spirit…of both joints and marrow…and it is a critic of the thoughts and intents of the heart.
God’s plan is to teach you the truth about how to have a relationship with Him through the Bible. Satan’s plan is to teach you lies that obscure the truth of the Bible.
What happens when you close your eyes in this life? If you have a relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ, counting on Him to save you, good things happen. If are counting on religion to save you, bad things happen.
The Bible makes it clear that salvation is a gift that we receive through faith. Let read a few scriptures that illustrate this…Ephesians, Chapter 2, Verses 8 and 9…
EPHESIANS 2:8 For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God…
EPHESIANS 2:9 …not as a result of works, so that no one may boast.
Titus, Chapter 3, Verse 5…
TITUS 3:5 He saved us, not on the basis of deeds which we have done in righteousness, but according to His mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewing by the Holy Spirit,
Romans, Chapter 3, Verses 23 and 24…
ROMANS 3:23 …for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God…
ROMANS 3:24 …being justified as a gift by His grace through the redemption which is in Christ Jesus…
No matter how much work you do, you can’t work your way into heaven and be able to brag.
The requirement to get saved is simple. Acts, Chapter 16, Verse 31…
ACTS 16:31 They said, "Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved by God, you and everyone in your household who also believes."
Romans, Chapter 10, Verses 9 and 10…
ROMANS 10:9 …if you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that God the Father raised Him from the dead, you will be saved…
ROMANS 10:10 …for with the heart a person believes, resulting in righteousness, and with the mouth he confesses, resulting in salvation.
It is as simple as making a decision and having faith that God will do the rest. We cannot do it on our own.
When you die it is heaven or the Lake of Fire for all eternity. You get to make the choice where you spend eternity. Relationship or religion? What’s your choice?
God wants a relationship with you because He doesn’t want ANYONE to spend eternity in the Lake of Fire. Second Peter, Chapter 3, Verse 9 says…
SECOND PETER 3:9 The Lord is not slow about His promise of salvation as some accuse Him of… instead, He is patient toward unbelievers…not wishing for any of you to perish (in the Lake of Fire) … but for all of you to come to repentance (a change of mind about having a relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ).
THE GOSPEL MESSAGE The Good News of Jesus Christ’s Salvation Offer to the Human Race
CLOSING SONG INTRODUCTION
Paul's confidence didn't come from favorable circumstances. It came from the belief he had in a faithful Savior. Although Nero controlled the prison, Paul knew that Jesus controlled Paul's future. The chains, the suffering, the uncertainty were all real back then as they would be today. Still, Paul's trust was greater than all of them.
As we close today, remember these words from Paul: "I know whom I have believed." Not "I know what.", "I know whom." When you know Him, you can trust Him. When you trust Him, fear loses its grip. When fear loses its grip, you can live unashamed.
Let's worship together as we enjoy our closing song, Yet Not I But Through Christ In Me by CityAlight.
MUSIC CLOSING SONG Let’s Sing the Lord’s Praises
Yet Not I But Through Christ In Me CityAlight
CLOSING PRAYER Let us pray...
Heavenly Father…
Thank You for the example of Paul. Thank You for his courage, his faithfulness, and his confidence in You. Help us become believers who are not ashamed of the Gospel. Help us trust You when circumstances are difficult. Help us remain faithful when obedience becomes costly.
Teach us to fix our eyes on Christ rather than our circumstances. Show us how we can make time for you in our busy schedules. The more time we spend with you, the more we learn to trust you. May we leave today with the same confidence Paul had when he declared:
"I know whom I have believed."
…we ask these things through the power of God the Holy Spirit…in Christ’s name...Amen.
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KEEP ON STUDYING THE WORD OF GOD DAILY!
Thanks for watching! Thanks for listening!
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