If you have your Bible, would you turn with me to 2 Timothy 1. I've entitled this sermon, A Faithful Servant. 2 Timothy 1, verse 1. As we look at this, faithful servants of God must be servants of faith. For years, college students have lacked adequate sleep. I think older people also lack adequate sleep. But anyways, living like zombies, they're perked up with caffeine. Students have even bragged about their few hours of rest. But recent studies have shown that sleep deprivation is related to poor academic performance. So universities really are trying to promote some better sleep habits and some using slogans like, want A's, get Z's. Adequate sleep really is a prerequisite for academic success as we think about this. But what are some prerequisites to being a faithful servant of God? You know, some of such things as knowing God's will for your life, having a daily time in the Word of God, having an eye open to serve the Lord and others. If you were to think about maybe a catchy slogan to promote faithful service to God, such things may be, the greater you empty yourself, the more you're filled with God's goodness. But as we look at this idea tonight of being a faithful servant, we're going to look at the Apostle Paul and his interactions with a young Timothy, a pastor. And so let's look at 2 Timothy 1, and we'll read verses 1-8 in this passage of Scripture this evening. Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ, by the will of God, according to the promise of life which is in Christ Jesus. To Timothy, my dearly beloved son, grace, mercy, and peace. From God the Father in Christ Jesus our Lord, I thank God, whom I serve from my forefathers with pure conscience, that without ceasing I have remembrance of thee in my prayers night and day. Greatly desiring to see thee, being mindful of thy tears, that I may be filled with joy when I call to remembrance the unfeigned faith that is in thee, which dwelt first in thy grandmother Lois and thy mother Eunice, and I am persuaded that in thee also. Wherefore I put thee in remembrance that thou stir up the gift of God which is in thee by the putting on of my hands. For God hath not given us a spirit of fear, but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind. Be not thou therefore ashamed of the testimony of our Lord, nor of me as prisoner, but be thou partaker of the afflictions of the gospel according to the power of God. Let's go to the Lord and ask for his blessing. Dear Heavenly Father, Lord, I so love you. I thank you for your grace. Father, I need your help tonight to preach your holy word. Father, we thank you for the good fellowship, Lord, we thank you for that was had recently, and Father, just for your grace. Father, I thank you for the ways with which you protect us and you keep us and you guide us. Father, I pray tonight that you just encourage hearts. Lord, as the weather's changing and Lord, we see things going on in our world. Father, it's easy to lose hope. And Father, tonight I pray that you just lift up hearts, and Lord, encourage. Lord, I pray that I would just have the thoughts and words that you want me to speak. I really do need your help. And Lord, for anyone that is not saved tonight, Lord, I pray that they would settle that very decision, and Father, that they would place their total faith upon you as their Savior. Lord, I thank you for being an amazing God. I sure love you. In Jesus' precious name I pray. Amen. Here in 2 Timothy, Paul, the penman of this book, and years before Paul wrote 2 Timothy, God had laid hold of Saul of Tarsus on the Damascus road, and God really changed him. And through the messenger Ananias in Damascus, he told Saul that he was to be an apostle to the Greeks and to kings, as well as to the children of Israel. In Acts chapter 9 verse 15 we see this, but the Lord said unto him, go thy way for he is a chosen vessel unto me to bear my name before the Gentiles and kings and the children of Israel. Paul was chosen to be an apostle of Christ by the will of God. We see that in 2nd Timothy 1.1 as it says here, Galatians 2.8. for he that wrought affectionately in Peter to the apostleship of the circumcision, the same was mighty in me toward the Gentiles." And so Paul was an apostle to the Gentiles, though his heart was for his own people, the Jewish people. But he didn't appoint himself to that role. It was no human authority, but Christ himself. And it says here in verse eight, it says, you know, be not thou therefore ashamed of the testimony of our Lord, nor of me as prisoner. And he begins to talk about this. What does he mean when you think about this idea that Paul was a prisoner Paul was indebted and submitted to the Lord. Really, Paul reminisces, really, as he's sitting here in chains. One of the last books, it is thought, that the Apostle Paul penned. Now, note how many times memory is mentioned. There's a number of times here. We find it in verse 3, his memory of Timothy, of Timothy's tears. Verse 4, of faith that Timothy and his forebears possessed. Verse 5, And so Paul wants to bring to Timothy's remembrance, bring to his mind, to stir up some of these memories of the goodness and greatness of God. If I was to think about some faithful servants, if you've ever read, there's a gentleman many people have heard of, David Brainerd. But there's a less known man that did more in his works was Isaac McCoy. A great man that ended up burying most of his children. Sometimes he was off doing some diplomatic work. He was also a church planter and helping those to whom he was ministering. A man that suffered incredible hardships and yet he persevered. If you ever get your hands on, I have his book on Isaac McCoy. I think my mother has it, but anyways. A tremendous, tremendous book of a man who labored for years doing similar work to what David Brainerd did, but yet with much more effectiveness. And Timothy's name as we begin to look at this just kind of laying the foundation here for second Timothy Timothy's name means honoring God or honored by God and Paul during periods of time would honor Timothy Timothy was a tremendous tremendous help to the Apostle Paul and Timothy was a man of a tremendous tremendous great reputation there in Lystra and Paul recruited him to join the team and It actually says in Acts chapter 16 verses 2 and 3, with respect to Timothy, which was well reported of by the brethren that were at Lystra and Iconium, him would Paul have to go forth with him, and took and circumcised him because of the Jews which were in those quarters, for they knew all that his father was a Greek. Timothy's mom is a Jew, his dad is a Greek, and just because of the relationship there, he made deference in the fact that he, at an older age, was circumcised. A very difficult decision to make, but yet he made that decision. And Timothy was a man that was just focused upon doing God's will. Sometimes he would travel with Paul, other times he would move on and build up believers here, as we would see in verse 3. but Paul would also send him to a church as a messenger. 1 Corinthians 4 17 lets us know about this and the fact he says in 1 Corinthians 4 17, for this cause have I sent unto you Timotheus who is my beloved son and faithful lord who shall bring you into remembrance of my ways which be in Christ as I teach everywhere in every church. And it also talks about in 1 Thessalonians 3, 1 and 2 similar sentiments. And the fact is that Timotheus, Timothy, I mean, Timothy was a man that just said, I just want to do God's will. And Paul, if I can be with you and help you serve in the ministry, praise the Lord. I just want to be used of God. It doesn't matter what I'm doing as long as I'm used of God. And there were times he was a pastoring, other times he was ministering with Paul in the missionary journeys. And he just was one of those guys that was just a tremendous encourager. I mean, he came alongside Paul, and just when Paul would be discouraged, there was Timothy, just to encourage him and lift him up, lift his spirits when Paul was maybe discouraged and thinking, man, I'm ready to give up now. We find, you know, in 2 Timothy 4, verse 21, do thy diligence to come before winter. Ubulus greeted thee, and Putin, and Linus, and Claudius, and all the brethren. And so here's a summoning of Timothy, and to join Paul. We also find that Timothy would accompany Paul on his way to Jerusalem after his third missionary journey as seen in Acts chapter 20 verses 4 and 5. How about Timothy was with Paul in Rome during his house arrest when Paul wrote Philemon? And it says, Paul, a prisoner of Jesus Christ, and Timothy, our brother. When you think about Timothy, think, I mean, yes, he was a young man, and you know, that's why he says, don't despise thy youth. Just because a person may be young, or they can be older, does not necessarily limit them on their abilities of what they can do for God. Timothy said, well, if God can use me, I'm willing to be used. And he came alongside Paul. And you read in Romans chapter seven, the Apostle Paul seemingly discouraged in first Corinthians as a passage of scripture there, second Corinthians, excuse me, the Apostle Paul and Paul's discouraged. And Timothy is such a man to come alongside of him and help lift up his heavy hands. And they ministered together. And Timothy is frequently mentioned, but he's a man of impeccable reputation. They were like-minded regarding their concern for the ministry and for churches. I'd like you to look with me at Philippians chapter two, and you can see an incident here of this in Philippians chapter two, verse 19. You know what, if you're doing it, have you ever had a job you've had to do? And maybe it's a difficult job. You know, if you're doing it alone, It can be discouraging. You can think, man, this is really, really tough when I'm doing it all by myself. I'm an individual, and many times, things that I'm doing, I like to have someone there with me. Teamwork, I like teamwork, many times, and doing things together, working on it hard. It is an encouragement, hence the two by two going out and witnessing, but here in Philippians chapter two, verse 19, he says, But I trust in the Lord Jesus to send Timotheus shortly unto you. That I also may be of good comfort when I know your state." So what's he doing? He's sending Timothy to the church of Philippi to know how that church is doing, going on. For I have no man like-minded who will naturally care for your state. For all seek their own, not the things which are Jesus Christ, but ye know the proof of him. That as a son with the Father, he hath served with me in the gospel. Him, therefore, I hope to send presently, so soon as I shall see how it will go with me." Paul is here in prison, and Paul is struggling, and Paul desires to be comforted. Do you know how he got comforted? It was Timothy that went to the church of Philippi to know how things are going. They formed an effective and faithful ministry team. Teamwork is, as we would say in the military, it's probably said elsewhere, teamwork is dream work, right? A very overused statement, cliche. But when you think about teamwork, God does great work through teamwork. Because when one person is becoming discouraged, the other can lift them back up. It talks about there in Ecclesiastes, a three-fold cord is not easily broken. Three people, you know, three cords, it makes it harder. And the teamwork, working together, when those are like-minded, they're going the same direction, they have the same aspirations, they're moving, you know, everything. See, Paul and Timothy were not at odds. Now, there was a time, obviously, Paul and Barnabas, and there was a great schism between them, and obviously they separated. Barnabas ended up joining up with John Mark, and Paul with Silas, and we begin to see another team moving forward in this aspect. But Paul and Timothy had like minds, and Timothy looked up to Paul. And I'm so thankful for some of the men that the Lord has put in my life that I've been able to look up to and encouraged by them. I can call them and chat with them. One of my mentors is obviously no longer. He's fallen into sin and great devastation there. we find that these are servants of faith. And when you think about the life of Timothy, he reminds me in this passage of scripture, some other servants of faith we'd find in verse five. For when I called her in remembrance, the unfeigned faith that is in thee, which dwelt first in thy grandmother Lois, and thy mother Eunice, and I persuaded that in thee also. This is a reminder, actually this is a passage of scripture I used when I went back and did my grandmother's funeral because my grandmother was a tremendous example of a life of faith. She was saved later on in life, had been in alcoholism and at the taverns and just a very rough life for quite some years until around her 40s, somewhere in her 40s, she accepted Jesus Christ as her personal savior. Here are Timothy, Eunice, and Lois with an unfeigned faith. I mean these, what does this idea of unfeigned mean? It means unhypocritical or genuine. They had a faith that, you know, when you think about what is unfeigned or how would unfeigned faith demonstrate itself? Someone that wants to tell others about Christ. They love church. They love the Word of God. They love other believers. And Timothy's faith was from the heart, and Timothy had a grandmother and a mother that dearly loved God. They had a great impact upon his life. I would have to say for my own life that had my grandmother not been what she was, I'm not sure if I would be there where I'm at today. She gave me a tremendous example. I didn't always agree with her, I wasn't always in church like she was when I was younger, but man, when God got a hold of my grandmother, man, that faith was genuine. It was even said that my grandmother was a prayer warrior, and she would have a list of other prayer warriors there at the church, and just fervently praying for the needs of the church. And Timothy's faith, as he's talking here, it comes from his heart. It's not just lip service. It's not just activity at church. It's not just attendance at church. What Timothy did for the Lord, he did from the sincerity and the bottom of his heart. He had a mother and a grandmother that would show him what it was like to walk in faith for God. He was noted as being a beloved son and faithful in the Lord, bringing to remembrance, you know it says in 1 Corinthians 4, 17, For this cause I have sent unto you Timotheus, who is my beloved son and faithful in the Lord, who shall bring you into remembrance of my ways which be in Christ, as I teach everywhere in every church. So, Paul describes him as faithful in the Lord, a beloved son. Could there be any greater compliment that Paul could give towards Timothy? Timothy was a man He said I just want to do God's will I just want to do God's Word wherever you want me Lord, whatever you want me to do and Here in this book of 2nd Timothy. There's a focus upon faithfulness to God We must understand clearly that faith in God has to precede faithfulness to God One must exercise saving faith before he can faithfully serve God and walk with God. You gotta put your faith, so Timothy had already placed his faith in God, he knew he could trust God, and as a result of being able to trust God, he walked in faithfulness to God. and they were servants of faithfulness. Paul lives a faithful life, though Paul's life was very difficult. Much persecution did he suffer, but certainly when he died it could be said, well done thou good and faithful servant, as the apostle Paul would be martyred and killed. Can you imagine if he comes to heaven someday? I'd like to think that some of the persecution that he had placed upon the early believers there in the Church of Jerusalem, some of that same persecution he endured. I mean, Paul was a hated man. The Jews hated him, the religious leaders hated him. I mean, Paul was a man, and even the Gentiles would hate him, but many times a lot of the schisms and conflict that would arise around him was the religious Jews creating much problems for him. But Paul has a heritage for which to be thankful. He says in 2nd Timothy 1 3, I thank God whom I serve for my forefathers with pure conscience that without ceasing I remembrance of thee in my prayers night and day. And he learned about God from his ancestors. You know, obviously Paul was a Pharisee of Pharisees. Paul knew the law. Paul knew of the covenants. Paul was an incredibly educated man. But so he was blessed in growing up as a Jew, knowing of Jehovah God. He didn't serve the pagan gods, however, he didn't know God personally. But after he continued, after he was saved, as you think about after the Damascus Road incident, the conversion, Paul's whole life turned upside down and he had a wholehearted dedication to serve God. Paul was a man who was focused on this idea of faithfulness. I'd like you to look with me at 2 Timothy 4, 7, just a few chapters over here in the book of 2 Timothy. Chapter 4, verse 7. 2 Timothy 4, 7, I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith. Paul didn't deviate from his mission. Paul left us a commendable example. He left one of praying as I think of today even and as I was chatting with my dad recently over the incident of my truck being stolen. I was chatting with my dad and received encouragement there from him and he was praying for us and just seeing my dad grow in the Lord through go through some hard times. seeing my grandmother on her knees praying for us and just different things. When we begin to see the faith of other people who have gone through some difficult circumstances, you know what, it does encourage us. We can go through some hard times and I look at someone else and say, you know what, if they can do it, I can do it. And Paul was not a man, you know, super spiritual and Paul can keep himself encouraged all the time, no. Paul, Paul needed a comfort and encouragement. I mean, he had people come into the house where he was under house arrest. Paul had letters written to him. Paul had churches writing to him. Paul was encouraged by many people. It's showing us again, this value of there is servants helping one another. And Paul brought a, you know, if you think about the apostle Paul and the prayers, of Paul's prayers for Timothy. He says, Paul, I'm praying for you. Excuse me, Paul tells Timothy, I'm praying for you daily. It's kind of that pray without ceasing. There's an unceasing prayer that's going on here in Paul's heart. You know what? I love those who are serving God. I love those. You know what? I'm going to keep my heart upon those who've set their heart to do right, who've set their heart to put God first. Now, Paul obviously did some tent making there, and he was also supported by some churches through missions giving, but you know what? To know that you have someone praying for you, you know what? It encourages me. Have you ever had someone say, I'm praying for you today? It is an encouragement to know that there are other faithful servants that are in the fight. And you know what? It's normal for us from time to time, we can become discouraged. It doesn't matter. I mean, Apostle Paul, I mean, you think of a giant of faith, how God used the Apostle Paul, but yet Paul became discouraged. And Paul desires to be reunited with Timothy. I mean, his heart yearns to be with Timothy. I mean, there's such joy and such, you know, how excited he was through Timothy's heart and zeal for God. I mean, you almost want to think of it as a kind of my, you know, a pride and how a young person or not necessarily pride in a bad way, but kind of a an excitement and a joy to watch the accomplishment for the Lord that Timothy had he says in verse 4 greatly desiring to see thee being mindful of thy tears that I may be filled with joy Paul cries And Paul desires Here's Paul a real man of God crying We as believers, there are times where we shed emotion in a liquid form. Yes, we need to be strong in the Lord, stand for what is right, brave in warfare for Christ, but yet at the same time compassionate, gentle, and tender. Jesus Christ was known for his own weakness and gentleness. In 1 Timothy chapter 3, notice with me, 1 Timothy 3.3, we notice Paul's instruction to the leaders to be gentle. 1 Timothy 3.3, obviously, this is a passage dealing with pastors. But 1 Timothy chapter 3.3, not given to wine, no striker, not greedy, a filthy lucre, but patient. So again, there's this patient gentleness with which a pastor is to orchestrate himself. There's great emotional ties. I mean, they've prayed together, they have labored together, they have suffered together. And Paul and Timothy have been just great help to one another. Now, Paul is the older one, obviously, and knew what suffering was. Paul being shipwrecked and stoned and left for dead. And I mean, you just think about all that Paul went through. And yet, He persevered. And in this situation here in 2 Timothy, it appears that the Apostle Paul is writing to 2 Timothy because he realizes Timothy is discouraged. Timothy, keep on keeping on. Stir up the gift of God. Look with me, verse 6 of 2 Timothy 1, wherefore I put thee in remembrance that thou stir up the gift of God which is in thee by the putting out of my hand. Hey, Timothy, remember what God's given to you. The gift that Timothy possessed is not necessarily identified in scripture, but it seems to indicate his ordination. And we find the ordination in Acts 13.3 of Paul and Silas. And when they had fasted and prayed and laid their hands on them, they sent them away. And so Paul and Silas went into the ministry as they laid their hands on them. We find something else also about this idea of the gift here. 1 Peter 4, verses 10 and 11. 1 Peter chapter 4 verses 10 and 11, kind of the gift here. Verse 10 of 1 Peter 4, as every man hath received the gift, even so minister the same one to another as good stewards of the manifold grace of God. If any man speak, let him speak as the oracles of God. If any man minister, let him do it as of the ability which God giveth, that God in all things May be glorified through Jesus Christ to whom be praise and dominion forever and ever amen So these these verses teach us about the spiritual gifts are for the edification of others Timothy I'm just writing to you. I'm thinking about you every day. I'm praying for you Timothy, you're God's man. You're God's man for the work that God's called you to. Timothy, stay in the fight. Don't let up. And we are to, you know, in that gift that God gives us, that spiritual gift that God has given to you, when you get saved, there's that spiritual gift. he says i want you to be a good steward of it that's what it tells us here in first peter four you know what you need to be a good steward if someone gave you a million dollars and they said i want you to invest this money and make me money you would be very cautious you're like oh man i gotta deal with this very you know i'm gonna get the try to get the best uh rates you know the best uh return on investment. I'm going to look at the different stocks or different properties or different items with which to give the owner of that money the best return on their investment. And I want to do my best in the same way God has given to you that special gift. and to use it wisely. Now, it may not necessarily be as a pastor, but God gives you a gift to use. Some of you, it might be musical, some of you it's administrative, some of you it's hospitality. There are various gifts that God gives, but nevertheless, those are things that God gives, and they're precious. And so he exhorts Timothy, listen Timothy, don't let your fire burn out. Timothy, don't take for granted the gift you've been given. Don't neglect it. Don't let it die down. Don't let that fire burn out. Stir it up. Stoke that fire. Get that fire nice and hot in your life. Timothy had a gift as they would place hands upon him and ordain him. First Timothy 4 four. It discusses this first Timothy 4 four for every. 414 excuse me. First Timothy 414 neglect not the gift that is in thee which was given thee by prophecy with the laying on the hands of the Presbyterian. So the other pastors would lay their hands on Timothy and ordain him to the ministry. Timothy. You have God's hand of blessing. You have God's gifts. Timothy, don't let it down. You may be discouraged, Timothy. Don't let go. They accepted the prophetic words and identified with Timothy by laying hands on him. Now the word presbytery in the Greek means, in the English, means elders. So probably the elders, pastors of the church at Ephesus gathered around Timothy and put their hands on him. Elders, pastors, and bishops. Same person, various different things that a pastor may do. And I won't go into that tonight. but they put their hands on him. They recognize God's call on Timothy's life, and 1 Timothy 3 gives us those qualifications, as well as Titus 1, and we've alluded to that here recently, the last month or so. But the qualifications of a pastor. And the church noticed, listen, that Timothy, man, he believes God's called him. We as the pastors, God's got something special on this young man's life. And the church says, wow, look at him. Timothy is a man that just loves God and he wants to do something for God. And so Timothy, he says, listen, Timothy, remember what you've been given. Remember the ordination. Remember that you wanted to serve Christ. Don't let up, Timothy. And as a young person, and even as an older person, there's times in our lives, our personalities and tendencies, we can become discouraged. We can begin to look around at the circumstances of life around us and we can become disheartened. We can become discouraged. We can begin to want to quit. Timothy, don't quit. Remember. His inner spirit needed encouragement and Paul knows that. Now fear should not keep us from exercising our abilities and fulfilling our ministry for Christ. You know what, that's why he says here in verse 7 of 2 Timothy 1, For God hath not given us a spirit of fear. Timothy, don't worry what's happening around you. Timothy, don't dwell on it. For God hath not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind. Timothy, God wants you to have a sound mind. Remember the love. Remember the balance. Ephesians chapter 1 verse 18 the eyes of your understanding being enlightened that she may know what is the hope of his calling and what the riches of the of the glory of his inheritance in the Saints and what is the exceeding greatness of his power to us word who believe according to the working of his mighty power which he wrought in Christ when he raised him from the dead and set him his own right hand in the heavenly places When you think about this passage of Scripture, the power that works in you and me is the power of Christ's resurrection, Christ's ascension into heaven. Every day that I get up and that I go out into the secular world, I leave my house, every day that maybe even if you're at your own house, you have resurrection power in you to accomplish all that God wants you to do. What cannot take the place of God's power when it comes to serving Him faithfully? God's power cannot be placed upon a person who does not believe in Him. God's power also can't work if I try serving under my own strength. If I try to do the ministry in my own power, in my own strength, and in my own knowledge and wisdom, then I am denying that resurrection ascension power. The faithfulness and all the things that I do, I get discouraged, and I wear out, and I fall, and I just begin to become... I look at around us. Timothy! Look up! Timothy! Remember your grandma! Remember your mom. Remember my faithfulness. Timothy, remember I pray for you daily. Timothy, I love you and I cry for you. Timothy, you are important to me. Don't let up, Timothy. Don't give in. Timothy, the power is on your side. Timothy, you don't stand alone. And God accompanied this here with a love of power and of love. You see, a love for God and the lost doesn't come naturally. A love for the things of God only comes if I'm walking there with God. The kind of love flows from God through us. If I love myself and my own things, then I'll stop serving God the moment any discomfort arises. What is God's servant able to do because he or she has a love for God? They're able to not fear, they're able to love, they're able to have a sound mind. And Timothy has this love of God in him that motivates him to the lost. And rather than being fearful, he can remember God's still in control. Timothy, I'm so glad you're in the ministry. Timothy, you bring great joy to my heart. And when you think about a sound mind or spirit of self-control and calm, it is needed to serve the Lord. You know what? What we need this day is a sound mind. And there are various enemies, and Satan seeks to upset our mind and create great unrest. People fail us. They don't follow through. People say things. Can I tell you, even recently with the theft of my truck as it was stolen, I've had to battle my mind. It's been a little battle. Things change. Flexibility is needed. What was it that made Timothy fearful in his service? We find some, you know, several things that can bring some shame. In Mark 8, 38, whosoever therefore shall be ashamed of me and of my words in this adulterous and sinful generation, of him also the son of man be ashamed when he cometh in the glory of his father with the holy angels. You know what, that's why in verse 8, be not thou therefore ashamed of the testimony of the Lord. Timothy. Jesus is the greatest gift. There's times in our lives you want to witness, and then all of a sudden that fear grips you. That fear keeps you from witnessing as you ought to. That fear keeps you from being that witness for Christ and saying that little word or little phrase to maybe one of your co-workers. And you know you're supposed to say it. You know you're supposed to do something, but that fear grips you afterwards, later that day, or soon afterwards, you're like, oh, I should have said it. Ah, I wish I would have. Romans 1 16, For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God unto salvation to everyone that believeth, to the Jew first and also to the Greek. Timothy, don't be ashamed. Timothy, I am the Lord's prisoner. You know what, Timothy? Yeah, I'm in prison. Yeah, I'm suffering. But Timothy, you're still upon my heart. I want to encourage you. You know, sometimes when we're discouraged, one of the greatest things we can do is try to reach out to someone else and encourage them. If Timothy was ashamed and fearful, then he'd have to recoil from his faithful service. If we are ashamed or fearful, we also recoil. We step back from being faithful for Christ. Should Timothy boldly live or serve Christ, proclaim Christ, persecution will come. Timothy, I want you to know, Timothy, that if you move forward for Christ, you're going to face persecution. And there's a strong contrast here in chapter 1, verse 8 of 2 Timothy. Be not ashamed. nor of me as prisoner, but be thou partaker of the affliction of the gospel according to the power of God." Timothy, you're going into a hostile world. You're going into a world that hates you. And we see his hostility to Christianity today on a worldwide scale. Paul doesn't hide his affections. He doesn't smooth over it. He says, Timothy, be a partaker, serve God. Understand this from Romans 1.16, for I'm not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God unto salvation. Where do we receive our power? It's the power of God unto salvation to everyone that believe it, to the Jew first and also to the Greek. The power to live our lives victorious Christians, the gospel saving power. And as he would proclaim it, he would suffer, but yet he would be empowered. Timothy, God wants to use you to bring others to salvation. And God might even miraculously deliver Timothy from such certain sufferings, but as he did with Peter and others, in that way manifest his power. As I draw this to a close this evening, Timothy was to take part in these afflictions of the gospel according to the power of God. His power was innate in the gospel, his power to save with others even through the testimony of suffering saints, and his power to deliver suffering saints as he so chooses. If the Apostle Paul were to write a statement describing your faithfulness, what would it be? If he was to write a statement about my faithfulness, what would Paul write? Think about that. If you and Paul, and you see him here in church, and he ministered here in the church, and you saw the Apostle Paul, what would the Apostle Paul write about your faithfulness? What can you do to become more faithful in your service for the Lord? For one, don't be ashamed of his testimony. Don't be ashamed of the Apostle Paul. Don't be ashamed of those other believers who've given their life and they've suffered. You know what, my friend? Be faithful. Remember. Remember those who've gone before. Remember the gift that God has given to you. Remember the loved ones who have had faith. Maybe you've had a parent or grandparent or loved one or friend that has walked with Christ in their life. And you know what? I can forget that faithfulness sometimes. Remember. As we think about this idea of a faithful servant tonight, It's about remembering, being that faithful servant that God can use. As you think about these truths tonight, I just want to challenge your heart. Faithful servants of God must be faithful servants of faith, must be servants of faith. I've just got to keep remembering God. Keep remembering what God has done and what God has given to me. Don't let go. As we come to the time of invitation this evening, I want to challenge your heart. Christian, where is your faithfulness? Where is your remembrance? Where is your mind? If you do not know Jesus Christ as your personal Lord and Savior, my friend, tonight is a night of salvation. I'll have a time, a quiet time of invitation tonight with no piano playing and with all heads bowed and eyes closed. I'd like to give a time of introspection between you and the Lord to just talk with Him. to know Him. If you do not know Jesus Christ, feel free to reach out to me and I'd love to show you from the Bible. Now you too can know for sure that Jesus Christ is your Savior. Friend, be faithful. God's got great things for your life. With all heads bowed and eyes closed, when you're done praying, feel free to look up and I'll conclude in prayer.