Remembering

It's great to be with you again and great to be sharing as we continue looking at 2 Timothy. Speaking of sharing, I've got something I'd like to share with you today. I'm sorry there's not enough for everybody, but I wonder who'd like to share one of these with me? In our house it feels like we're spending a lot of time talking about sharing at the moment! In today's passage Paul has something he wants Timothy to share in. But it's not as nice as a packet of Tim Tams. Instead he wants Timothy to join him in suffering for the gospel. In fact, Paul wants all of us to know that we have to share in suffering for the gospel. I wonder how that makes you feel? I wonder if I invited you to share in suffering with me, if you would've come up as eagerly?

As we read through 2 Timothy, it's clear that Paul's suffered a lot. Twice in last week's passage he spoke of suffering for the sake of the gospel. Because he's a herald, an apostle and a teacher of the gospel he's currently a prisoner. He's under arrest, chained like a common criminal because of the gospel. In chapter 3 Paul urges Timothy to remember the example that he's set:

11my persecutions and suffering the things that happened to me in Antioch, Iconium, and Lystra. What persecutions I endured! Yet the Lord rescued me from all of them.

Paul calls Timothy to join with him in suffering for the gospel. In chapter 4 we'll see that he wants Timothy to visit him in Rome soon, to walk into the lion's den as it where. But Paul doesn't just want Timothy to join with him. In fact, he calls all of us to share in suffering for the gospel, with these sobering words in 3:12:

12Indeed, all who want to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted.

Paul knows that when the going gets tough we'll face a difficult choice. In the face of persecution we'll be tempted to shrink back, to be ashamed or to turn away like Paul says Phygelus and Hermogenes and all in Asia have done. Instead Paul wants us to stand up and be counted, to be firm and to not be afraid to share in suffering for the sake of the gospel. Paul wants Timothy to follow the example of Onesiphorus, to follow Paul's example, to follow Christ's example and to endure.

Timothy is often labelled as'timid'. Some people think that's why Paul had to write these letters to him. To encourage him, to give him confidence in his leadership, to kind of prod him along. But I'm not sure it's really an accurate description. Sure, Timothy is young, his a little less experienced that Paul and he's facing a difficult situation in his church and society. But is he really timid, or just human? Is he that different to us?

How would we go in the face of suffering? I've struggled with this question this week. The reality is we don't face suffering in the way that Paul did. We're not about to be put in chains for speaking the gospel. We're not facing persecution the way that millions of our brothers and sisters around the world endure every day. We just don't suffer in the same way. Sure, we can talk about suffering rejection by society or being scorned by those around us, but let's be honest, it's not the same is it? Even if we are ridiculed, for most of us it's likely to be relatively polite. It's often no worse than if you were to say that you barracked for Collingwood! In the face of the freedom and the safety that we face, how much more should be standing up for Christ? How much more boldly should we be proclaiming the gospel to those around us? How much more should we be praying for those who do suffer? And thanking God for the freedom that we have? And how much more should we be praying that God enables us to be prepared to suffer when the time comes? The climate, the cultural conditions that we enjoy at the moment could change. If that happens will we be ashamed, will we shrink back or will we stand up and suffer as a good soldier of Christ Jesus?

As I've thought about this, I've realised there is another kind of suffering that we all do go through and that we need to endure. It might not quite be the suffering that Paul had in mind here, but it does fit very well with the images that he gives in verses 4-7. It's the suffering that comes as part of discipleship. It's the result of the war that wages within us. The daily discipline of putting to death our old self and living for Christ involves suffering. I see this suffering as I struggle against my sinful desires, as I pray, not my will but thine be done. Life would be easier if we could live however we want. Sarah & I face that suffering at the start of every month, when after our pay has come in we transfer a good percentage of it back to the church as part of our giving. I'm reminded of this suffering whenever some is surprised after I've told them that I work 6 days a week. You might feel the same, giving up part of your weekend to be here at church. And I know many of you give up even more time during the week. That's all time that could be spent doing whatever you liked, reading a good book, hanging out with people, enjoying good food. Actually they're all bad examples because we do those things here! But subjecting our wills and desires to God's involves a form of suffering. And it requires dedication and endurance. Like soldiers, we're not to get entangled in the affairs of this world. That's not to say we're to withdraw from the world or give up our jobs. No, we're called to live in the world but not to be part of it. To not get trapped in the affairs and cares of this world. Like an athlete we must compete according to the rules, training hard, competing the way God desires. And like the farmer Christ calls us to work hard, toiling to produce the fruit in our lives and in the lives of others. Following Jesus, living for God is hard work! Though it does have its rewards.

So whether it's suffering at the hands of others because we believe in the gospel, or suffering that we go through living the gospel how are we to endure? How can we share in suffering?

Well the first thing Paul says is'be strong'. Actually, what he says is more like'be strengthened by the grace of God that is in Christ Jesus.' We have to recognise that we can't do it alone. How often do you try to do things in your own strength instead of relying upon God? My father is from England, so from his side of the family I've inherited the British stiff upper lip. It's not a physical stiff lip, but an attitude of not showing weakness, of showing fortitude in the face of adversity, of not letting your lip tremble in fear or emotion. You might say it's about keeping face. Actually I'm only half British, so my lips a bit floppy! But Paul's reminding us here that we can't do it on our own. Back in chapter 1 we read that we've been saved by grace, through God's power. But God's grace doesn't stop there. It continues to work in us, strengthening us to live for him, enabling us to endure suffering.

But that doesn't mean that we sit back and do nothing. That we don't prepare ourselves or the church for the reality of the suffering we might have to endure. Back in chapter 1 Paul told Timothy to

13Hold to the standard of sound teaching that you have heard from me, in the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus. 14Guard the good treasure entrusted to you, with the help of the Holy Spirit living in us.

Here though, Paul says that Timothy must pass the gospel on. Timothy is to look for those who are reliable and who are able to teach. He's to entrust the message of the gospel to them. We've called this series Kingdom Olympics, and it's clear Paul has something like a relay race in mind. It's a relay where the gospel is the baton. Christ gave the gospel to Paul, Paul's passed it onto Timothy and now Timothy is to pass it on to others who can then teach it to others. Why is there a need to do this? Well for one thing you'd want to know that the gospel was handed down faithfully. You'd want to know that the message wasn't watered down or changed. As we read through the letters to Timothy, we see this was something that was happening, people have been swerving from the truth as we'll see next week. And there are others who've abandoned Paul and the church. They've left a need for faithful leaders and teachers within the church. Timothy is to find and train up those who will stand firm in the face of opposition, from within and from without. If the reality of being a Christian is that suffering is inevitable, it's especially true for those in leadership. Those in leadership constantly face the temptation to walk away or to water down the message. So Timothy is to look for those who'll do neither, who will be willing to join in suffering for the sake of preserving, of teaching and passing on the gospel. We need to look for leaders who will teach the bible faithfully and who will stand firm in the face of suffering, who will be models and examples to us of how to share in suffering. And we should be praying for our leaders, that God will sustain them in this. And we should be training up new generations of leaders who are reliable and able.

Beyond the instructions and illustrations, Paul gives us two examples and a great encouragement as he calls us to share in suffering for the gospel. Paul says;

8Remember Jesus Christ, raised from the dead, a descendant of David??that is my gospel,

Why do you think he puts the resurrection first? Logically, it makes more sense to say remember Jesus Christ, a descendent of David who was raised from the dead. Why does Paul change the order? I think it's to emphasis Jesus example. Jesus endured suffering, he suffered death but he was raised from the dead. He endured and now he reigns! This is the gospel!

The second example is that of Paul. For the sake of the gospel he's in chains. But even though he's suffering he rejoices because nothing can stop God's word from going out. Paul willing endures all things for the sake of God's chosen people. He willingly suffers so that others might come to faith and so that they might grow in their faith. Along with praying for our brothers and sisters who endure suffering, we should be encouraged by their example. We should share their stories as an example of the power of the gospel. We should be fired up because of what they do. That way their suffering bears fruit in our life too!

Finally Paul ends with one of his trustworthy sayings.

11The saying is sure:
If we have died with him, we will also live with him;
12 if we endure, we will also reign with him;
if we deny him, he will also deny us;
13 if we are faithless, he remains faithful??
for he cannot deny himself.

These pairs of sayings are a final encouragement and final warning. If we stand firm, if we endure suffering, if we die to self, even if we die at the hands of others, we will be rewarded. We will not only live with Christ forever, we'll reign with him. But if we fold under pressure, we're in trouble. If in the face of opposition we deny him, well Jesus will deny us. If faced with the challenge of following Jesus we turn out to be faithless, Christ won't. God will keep his promises to judge, even if we'd rather he didn't.

The reality is there's a lot at stake. Much more than the chance of sharing in a Tim Tam! There's a saying,'no pain, no gain.' It means nothing worthwhile is easy. How much more is that the case when it comes to eternal life? Jesus said, ??If any want to become my followers, let them deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me (Luke 9:23). Unless we are prepared to endure suffering, to follow Christ's example and to share in it, how can we expect to be crowned with glory? Let's pray that God strengthens us to endure with him.