Gtcotr/ws061814
This
evening we are continuing our study in the Book of 2 Timothy. This letter is
best understood when read in light of the circumstances surrounding both the
Apostle Paul and his son in the faith, Timothy, during the time these words
were penned. The best we can imagine from both world and biblical history is
that in or near the year AD67 the Apostle Paul, being about 62 years old
himself, was in prison and knew that he was going to be executed any day.
Paul
had been ministering the Gospel message to the Gentiles and those living under
Roman rule ever since his conversion to Christ on the Damascus Road some 35
years earlier. This was not the first time he had been put in prison for his
faith but he knew it would be his last. Sensing his impending martyrdom coupled
with his strong desire to leave those who followed him instructions on how to
live the victorious life, Paul chooses to write this letter to Timothy who was
most likely still in Ephesus at that time.
Overshadowed
and inspired by the Holy Spirit of Almighty God, Paul writes these words under
the anointing and guidance of the mandate and destiny to which he had been
called. He could not have known on his own how impacting these words would be
for generations and generations of believers for centuries to come.
Today
the book of 2 Timothy is catalogued under the Pastoral Epistles of Paul and
provides each Believer in Christ with strong instructions concerning how to
live and how to die by faith. Without further ado let’s continue our study by
reviewing a verse in chapter 1.
2 Timothy 1:5 When I call to
remembrance the genuine faith that is in you, which dwelt first in your
grandmother Lois and your mother Eunice, and I am persuaded is in you also.
Paul
called Timothy’s faith, “Genuine Faith”! Wow … How can I get some of that
Genuine Faith in my life? Well, I’m glad you asked!!!
First
let’s discover what Paul was talking about when he used the word, “Faith”. This little word, much poured over and
often discussed, holds one of the most simple meanings in the whole bible. The
word used by the Apostle Paul written in the Common Greek of the day was:
·
The Greek word: Pistis
Simply
translated and best understood this word means: Trust. If more clarification is
needed the word faith, mentioned more than 225 in the New Testament comes to
mean: “Trust in the Truth”.
Of
course, God and His Word represent the ultimate truth so one could rightly
argue that faith best means: To put your trust in
God.
There
are several ways to obtain and to increase this genuine faith in your life.
Let’s look at a few which are mentioned in the Bible:
1.
We obtain Genuine Faith through as a Spiritual Inheritance.
a.
2
Timothy 1:5 – Timothy inherited faith from his mother …
2.
We are also given a Measure of Genuine Faith as a gift from God
a.
Romans 12:3 For I say, through the grace given to me, to everyone
who is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to
think, but to think soberly, as God has dealt to each one a measure of faith.
3.
Faith comes by hearing the Word of God.
a.
Romans 10:17 So then faith comes by hearing the Word of God.
4.
Faith grows in our life like a fruit.
a.
John
15:5 Jesus said, “I am the vine and you are the branches. Whoever abides in Me
will bring forth much fruit.”
b.
Galatians 5:22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace,
gentleness, goodness, faith
5.
Faith is also a manifestation of the Holy Spirit.
a.
God
reserves the right to simply show up and manifest Himself by faith in the life
of a believer even when the believer has not inherited that much faith, read or
heard about it, worked to grow it and it exceeds the initial measure they were
given by God.
b.
1 Corinthians 12: to another faith by the same Spirit …
