Harmony 55: Enough Faith To Forgive (Luke 17:1-10)

I am sometimes surprised where my study takes me. Today’s passage is one of those days.

Jesus said to his disciples: “Things that cause people to stumble are bound to come, but woe to anyone through whom they come. It would be better for them to be thrown into the sea with a millstone tied around their neck than to cause one of these little ones to stumble. So watch yourselves.”

We covered this several weeks ago. I’m just giving us the context leading up to today’s passage. Don’t cause God’s children to stumble out of their faith. Jesus wasn’t suggesting the millstone as a punishment; he was referencing a thing the Romans did to the worst of traitors to make a point about how serious this is. Next, he gives an example on how not to make them stumble.

“If your brother or sister sins against you, rebuke them; and if they repent, forgive them. Even if he sins against you seven times in a day, and seven times returns to you saying, ‘I repent,’ you must forgive him.” The disciples said to the Lord, “Increase our faith (increase your gift of faith to us).”[1]

The apostles recognized this kind of forgiveness was not something they were doing; in fact, they didn’t think they could. It’s an incredibly challenging teaching. “Um, Jesus, we are going to need more faith if you want us to do this kind of forgiving.” Jesus responded with an analogy similar to one we’ve heard before, then told them a parable to make an important point – and here’s where I was surprised where my study led.

I had always thought of this as a prayer I ought to pray. In the context of Jesus’ response, I don’t think it is. Jesus basically responds to their request by saying, “You don’t need more faith. You need to use the faith God has already given you.” Here’s the text, then I will explain my conclusion and its implications for us. 

So the Lord replied, “I tell you the truth, if you have faith like a mustard seed, you can say to this black mulberry tree, ‘Be pulled out by the roots and planted in the sea,’ and it would obey you.[2]

“Suppose one of you has a servant plowing or looking after the sheep. Will he say to the servant when he comes in from the field, ‘Come along now and sit down to eat’? Won’t he rather say, ‘Prepare my supper, get yourself ready and wait on me while I eat and drink; after that you may eat and drink’? Will he thank the servant because he did what he was told to do?  So you also, when you have done everything you were told to do, should say, ‘We are unworthy servants;[3]we have only done our duty.’”

Does that sound a little harsh or maybe even demeaning? Is that how God will speak to His servants – His children?

First, let’s note that this perspective on being a servant would not have been new information to the disciples. Similar teachings about humility and service to God appear in Jewish writings.

• Rabbi ben Zakkai (contemporary of Jesus) is cited in the Mishnah as saying, “If you have wrought much in the Law claim not merit for yourself, for to this end you were created.”

• Antigonus of Soko (3rd century BCE) said, "Be not like servants who serve their master for the sake of reward; rather, be like servants who do not serve their master for the sake of reward, and let the awe of Heaven be upon you.”[4]

The circumstances of service and duty that Jesus describes here between the servants and the master were not demeaning; they were normal in that society, and Jewish audience would have seen no insult in this.[5]

Second, let’s talk about the ‘unprofitable’ part. I believe this parable affirms something else already taught in Judaism: we cannot increase God’s glory. We can’t add to the treasury of spiritual riches that come from the throne of God.

“Can a man be of benefit to God? Can even a wise person benefit him? What pleasure would it give the Almighty if you were righteous? What would he gain if your ways were blameless? (Job 22:2-3)

Oh, the depth of the riches of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable his judgments, and his paths beyond tracing out. Who has known the mind of the Lord? Or who has been his counselor? Who has ever given to God, that God should repay them? For from him and through him and for him are all things. To him be the glory forever! Amen. (Romans 11:33-36)

You have derived your being from the infinite fountain of life: you are upheld by the continued energy of the Almighty: his glories are infinite and eternal, and your obedience and services, however excellent in themselves, and profitable to you, have added nothing, and can add nothing, to the absolute excellencies and glories of your God. (Adam Clarke)

If you are righteous, what do you give to him, or what does he receive from your hand? Your wickedness only affects humans like yourself, and your righteousness only other people.” ( Job 35:7-8)

Being ‘unprofitable’ reminds us that we don’t add to the greatness of God; therefore, we aren't bargaining with God in the sense that God owes us because we have enriched Him in some fashion. However, our righteous living impacts other people, which brings me to the next point.

Third, let’s look at other places in Scripture that are not parables to see the heart of God toward those who serve Christ and His kingdom.[6]

• “Epaphras, our dear fellow servant, who is a aithful minister of Christ” (1:7)

• Tychicus, a beloved brother, faithful minister, and fellow servant in the Lord” (4:7)

• “Onesimus, a faithful and beloved brother” (4:9)

• “When the Lord comes, He will both bring to light the hidden things of darkness and reveal the counsels of the hearts; then each one’s declaration of praise will come from God” (1 Corinthians 4:5)?

• “Blessed is the man who endures temptation; for when he has been shown approved, he will receive the crown of life which the Lord has promised to those who love Him” (Jas 1:12).

• “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith…there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give to me on that Day” (2 Tim 4:7-8)?

• “Do not forget to do good and to share, for with such sacrifices God is well pleased.” (Heb 13:16)

• “We make it our aim, whether present or absent, to be well pleasing to Him.” (2 Cor 5:9)

Clearly, the point of the parable is not that serving God is useless or unworthy of affirmation. Let’s not make this parable carry more weight than it’s intended to bear. Jesus is making a point that has to do with faith.

• According 1 Corinthians 12, faith is a gift of the Holy Spirit who “apportions to each one individually as he wills.”

• Romans 12:3 says, "For through the grace given to me I say to everyone among you not to think more highly of himself than he ought to think; but to think so as to have sound judgment, as God has allotted to each a measure of faith."[7]

Notice that faith is not a thing we make, or drum up by focusing really hard, or earn. It is a gift from God.[8] A prayer to increase faith would be asking God to give a larger measure of faith than God had already given – as if God did not know what He was doing the first time, or wasn’t keeping track of what our needs are.

The disciples seem to be asking, “Give us more faith than what you have given us. There’s no way we can do what you are calling us to do with our current amount of faith.” Jesus basically responds, “You don’t need special merit or favor in your faith. You have what you need. If you are doing that which your faith asks of you, you’re good. The faith I have given you makes you capable of far greater things than you understand.”

I don’t think it was a question of them needing more faith. I think they simply needed to live out the faith God had already given them. And what would this look like? The parable comes back to the theme we’ve been riffing on for weeks now: They should use the faith they have been given in service to God and others.

Faith demonstrates its power when it is put into practice by serving God and others. God uses…

“faith that is pure and simple, that is, faith with integrity. Our faith does not make us powerful authorities but humble servants of God.”[9]

Jesus has equipped us to faithfully do what our faith leads us to do.

Here, I think, is the problem: the disciples wanted an instantaneous abundance of maturity. “Jesus, snap your fingers and makes us spiritually powerful.” I heard a popular preacher once tell an audience that Jesus appeared to him in a dream and told him he (God) was giving him an instant 10 years of spiritual maturity because God didn’t have time to wait for him to get it one day at a time. It may come as no surprise that this man’s ministry crashed and burned.

Jesus told his disciples, “It doesn’t work like that. You have faith. Even the smallest amount of faith has great power. Do the things your faith calls you to do.”[10]

“A small measure of real faith was sufficient to teach them that God would give them strength enough to keep themselves from committing this offense against love and charity of which he warned them so solemnly...”[11]

“The general sense of the parable is clear. It teaches two things to all who would be, then or in the ages to come, his disciples - patience and humility. They were not to look to accomplishing great things by a strong faith given to them in a moment of time, but they were to labor on patiently and bravely, and afterwards, as in the parable-story, they too should eat and drink.”[12]

This is not a glamorous teaching. It turns out that, when we follow Jesus, we not only take up a cross, but we begin what Eugene Peterson called “a long, slow obedience in the same direction” as Jesus.

• How do you hike the Appalachian Trail? One step at a time.

• How do you become Mr. Olympia? One workout at a time.

• How do you get to the stage of the Grand Old Oprey? One gig at a time.

• How do you make a feast? One ingredient at a time.

How does the life-changing power of our faith become real to us in such a way that we experience the transformation into maturity that God intends for us? One act of Holy Spirit - enabled obedience at a time.

I kind of like the cooking analogy. I wish I were a more capable cook than I am. But you know what? I have the ingredients in the house. I have recipes. I have my wife’s presence and wisdom. If she would say, “Why don’t you make Sea Urchin Guacamole Tacos with Spicy Moroccan Carrot Salad and Charred Brussels Sprouts With Anchovy Butter,” that would seem like way too much. But what if I have what I need? Maybe I haven’t used anchovies before, but I can now. It’s right there. I have ingredients, and directions, and the presence and help of the one who called me to this task and equipped me for it. I have what I need to do what I have been asked to do. Am I really good at it? Not yet, but I could be if I commit to learning how to use that which I have been given.

I think this is the point of Jesus’ response. God is a good father who knows how to give good gifts to His children. When God gives you a measure of faith, it’s a good and sufficient gift. He has equipped you for that to which He has called you. Peter noted that we can add things to our faith that are good for our maturity and growth, but God has given us the faith He determined we needed.  From 2 Peter 1:1-8.

Simon Peter, a servant and apostle of Jesus Christ, to those who through the righteousness of our God and Savior Jesus Christ have received a faith as precious as ours: Grace and peace be yours in abundance through the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord.

His divine power has given us everything we need for a godly life through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness. Through these he has given us his very great and precious promises, so that through themyou may participate in the divine nature, having escaped the corruption in the world caused by evil desires.

For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; and to godliness, mutual affection; and to mutual affection, love. 

For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.

I wonder if we strengthen the faith we have been given by exercising it like a muscle. When we use it, it becomes stronger. Or to my kitchen analogy, if you want to become proficient with the ingredients you have been given, you have to keep cooking with them. One day we will realize we have the resources and strength from the provision of God’s storehouse to do that which seemed impossible.

• How do you become a person who is known for speaking with grace and truth? By drawing from the faith God has already given you, adding Holy Spirit-enabled knowledge and love, and speaking with grace and truth next time. And then the next time.

• How can you become a person who is known for patience? By drawing from the faith God has already given you, adding Holy Spirit enabled self-control, and being patient next time…and next time…

• How can you become a person who is known for kindness and gentleness? By drawing from the faith God has already given you, adding Holy Spirit enabled goodness and mutual affection, and being kind and gentle next time…

• How can we possible be the kind of person who forgives 70x7 times? By drawing from the faith God has already given you, adding Holy Spirit enabled perseverance and love, and forgiving next time…and next time…

If God calls us, He will equip us. He has called us to follow in his footsteps. God has given us the Holy Spirit to work and move and transform us; He has given us his Word to nourish and guide us; He has given us the church to stabilize, and comfort, and encourage us.

Once again, 1 Corinthians 12 lists faith as a gift of the Holy Spirit who “apportions to each one individually as he wills.” I wonder if what Jesus was intending to convey to his disciples was that the better request is this:

“Lord, thank you for the faith you have given us; increase our trust; increase our servant’s heart; increase our love of God and others; increase our strength to add character to our faith; help us to put the faith you have given us into practice.”

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[1] Faith and belief are not interchangeable in the Bible. God gives us faith; we respond with belief. See this commentary at biblehub.com (https://biblehub.com/greek/4102.htm)

[2] “The passives (verbs) here are probably a circumlocution for God performing the action (the so-called divine passive). The issue is not the amount of faith (which in the example is only very tiny), but its presence, which can accomplish impossible things. To cause a tree to be uprooted and planted in the sea is impossible. The expression is a rhetorical idiom. It is like saying a camel can go through the eye of a needle (Luke 18:25).” – notes from the NET Bible on biblegateway.com

[3] “Ἀχοεῖος is not worthless or of no value; for that servant is not useless who does all that his master orders him. Ἄχρηστος is… of whom there is no need, one to whom God the Master owes no thanks or favor. Human pride is liable to fancy that it has done God a favor by doing well, and that God could not do without men’s services...”(Bengals Gnomen)

[4] Zondervan Illustrated Bible Backgrounds of the New Testament

[5] Expositor’s Bible Commentary

[6] Thank you, https://transformingourconforming.com/a-profitable-servant/, for compiling this list.

[7] “Faith (4102/pistis) is always a gift from God, and never something that can be produced by people…faith for the believer is "God's divine persuasion" – and therefore distinct from human belief (confidence)…The Lord continuously births faith in the yielded believer so they can know… the persuasion of His will (1 Jn 5:4).” HELPS Word Studies

[8] HELPS Word Studies once again:” Belief and faith are not exactly equivalent terms. When Jesus told people, "Your faith has made you well," faith was still His gift (Eph 2:8,9). Any gift however, once received, becomes the "possession" of the recipient. Faith however is always from God and is purely His work (2 Thes 1:11). Note: The Greek definite article is uniformly used in the expressions "your faith," "their faith" (which occur over 30 times in the Greek NT). This genitive construction with the article refers to "the principle of faith (operating in) you" – not "your faith" in the sense that faith is ever generated by the recipient.”

[9] Africa Bible Commentary

[10] “They had been asking for faith, not only in a measure sufficient for obedience, but as excluding all uncertainty and doubt. They were looking for the crown of labor before their work was done, for the wreath of the conqueror before they had fought the battle.” (Ellicott’s Bible Commentary)

[11] Pulpit Commentary

[12] Pulpit Commentary

Jesus: Destroyer of Death; Guardian of the Day (2 Timothy 1:9-12)

 6 For this reason I remind you to fan into flame the gift of God, which is in you through the laying on of my hands. 7 For the Spirit God gave us does not make us timid, but gives us power, love and self-discipline. 8 So do not be ashamed of the testimony about our Lord or of me his prisoner. Rather, join with me in suffering for the gospel, by the power of God. 

9 He has saved us and called us to a holy life—not because of anything we have done but because of his own purpose and grace. This grace was given us in Christ Jesus before the beginning of time, 10 but it has now been revealed through the appearing of our Savior, Christ Jesus, who has destroyed the idea of death as the end and has brought life and shone the light on immortality through the gospel. 

11 And of this gospel I was appointed a herald and an apostle and a teacher. 12 That is why I am suffering as I am. Yet this is no cause for shame, because I know whom I have believed, and am convinced that he is able to guard what I have entrusted to him until that day.

I would like to offer a version of this portion of the letter with all the ‘extras’ filled in. The letter was written in a context that is 2,000 years old, with a different language and different culture and different kind of formative world. 

The Bible Project guys like to talk about the Bible being full of all kinds of “hyperlinks” that the original audience would have clicked on in their heads, but which we don’t, often because we don’t even know they exist. It’s hard to see everything that’s going on. As I was reading the commentaries this week with all that kind of information, I though it might be easier to just present this as a letter with all the hyperlinks filled in. 

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Timothy, the Holy Spirit gives gifts to the children of God. You, my son, have a supernatural gift – the gift of teaching.  This gift comes as an ember from the Holy Spirit; you must respond by making the right decisions and taking the right actions to fan it into flame.  You aren’t the only one working that gift – that Holy Spirit is the pneuma, the wind, fanning the ember from God’s side, bringing light and life just as it has done since the beginning of the world. Remember - God never commissions anyone to a task without imparting a special gift appropriate to it.[1]

“Fire may be quenched, not only by pouring water upon it, or heaping upon it earth and ashes, but by withholding fuel from it, or even by neglecting to stir it up. (‘Neglect of cultivating the Christian graces, or of prayer, of the Bible, of the sanctuary, of a careful watchfulness over the heart, will do it. Worldliness, vanity…ambition, pride… indulgence in [impure] thought will do it.’[2]) So the enlightening, quickening, renewing, purifying, and comforting operations of the Spirit may be quenched, not only by the commission of known and willful sin, and by immersing our minds too deeply in worldly business, and burdening them with worldly cares, but by omitting to use the private or public means of grace, the fuel provided to nourish this sacred fire, and by neglecting to stir up the gifts and graces which are in us.” [3]

The Spirit God gave us does not intend for us to be timid with the gift that is given. Timothy, my son, you are a teacher who isn’t teaching. You are ashamed to speak boldly about of the testimony of Jesus. When the Spirit of God blows over the embers of a teacher – which it is - and when a teacher fans that ember into flame – which you will -  timidity or shame in talking about the gospel of Jesus Christ is not the result. How do I know this? Because the Holy Spirit brings three very important things to enlarge the gifts of those speaking about Jesus. 

First, the Spirit gives us Resurrection power, the reality of placing our faith in Jesus, who has the power to conquer sin as proven by his ability to conquer death. What can separate us from the love of that kind of God? Nothing.[4] This is the rock that cannot be shaken,[5] the cornerstone, the firm foundation[6] on which our life finds stability and hope. In addition, we have the Holy Spirit, the promised Advocate or Helper who will be with us forever.[7]  You stand on Resurrection power and receive ongoing power to live the gospel and share the gospel in a way that connects with people. God himself is helping you live with gospel integrity and teach with boldness, because He gave you the gift to ‘fan into flame’ for this purpose. When God calls you, He equips you. When God places you in the world on His behalf, He fills you with the power to do what He has called you to do with your flaming ember in your sphere of influence.

Second, the Spirit fills you with agape love. A teacher who offers truth without love is just bringing noise.[8] Love without truth isn’t a great option either, of course. Teachers need both. But because of the nature of agape love and the Savior who embodied it, you know that agape love demands that you be “broken and spilled out” so the truth can be heard in love. You have the power to serve. You have the power to give yourself sacrificially for others. You have the power to bring humility, gentleness and kindness to beautify your life and your message.

Finally, the Spirit gives you a sound mind, the ability to exercise wisdom and self-discipline. You know how passionately I worked not to disqualify myself from the race of an apostle, the race God called me to and prepared me to run.[9] I am passionate about this for you too. This gift is what helps us do two things: live with gospel integrity, and fit our gift to the situation. Listen, your message has God-given power. You have God’s heart of love. And God will help you to wisely read a room or a situation or a person and speak truth appropriately – with boldness and love. 

So, don’t be timid in sharing the testimony about our Lord or of associating yourself with me. God has made you to teach the gospel; don’t deny him like Peter did. God has placed you in his family; don’t deny us. I know persecution will follow when you proclaim - with loving and prudent boldness - that salvation is found in Jesus. For that matter, you will get persecuted when people find out you are associated with me. But if that’s the cost of faithfulness, pay it. You will likely join with me in suffering for the gospel. You can do it by the power of God. 

He who saved us has also called us to this holy life, set apart for his purposes. This isn’t because of anything we have done;  it’s because of his own purpose and grace – a grace that was planned for us before God created the world, a grace that has now been revealed in bodily form through the appearing of our Savior, Christ Jesus.

He has destroyed death, Timothy. He has made death of no effect, because by His resurrection he destroyed the idea that death is the end. Death is a gateway to the life to come. The resurrection of Jesus shone a spotlight on a reality that had been shadowed for too long: the fact that God offers His children an uncorrupted eternal life with joy unspeakable, and full of glory. 

“Before the Gospel revelation from God, [we] had but a glimmering idea of the possibility of a future being of the soul, but not the faintest idea of the resurrection of the body.[10] If Christ were not "the life," the dead could never live; if He were not the resurrection, they could never rise; had He not the keys of hell and death,[11] we could never break through the bars of death or gates of hell.”[12] But now we have been shown what is to come. 

This idea of real, eternal life after death is going to be a hard notion for people to wrap their heads around.

Our Jewish ancestors had a pretty vague idea of life after death in Sheol, right?  They believed in an invisible realm of departed spirits with some kind of distinction between those in misery and those in some kind of joy, but they didn’t really understand what God was truly planning to offer in the world to come.

The Greeks in your church who have gotten saved think that only the gods and maybe some heroes like Hercules can obtain immortality, and half the Romans think they are going to be reincarnated.[13]

You know God has gifted and called me to the Gentiles, so I think there is a way to approach them that might help them understand. 

 They love Socrates, right? At his death, he said, "I hope to go hence to good men, but of that I am not very confident; nor doth it become any wise man to be positive that so it will be. I must now die, and you shall live; but which of us is in the better state, the living or the dead, only God knows." Only God knows. Hmmm. Cicero, when writing about all the different speculations about the afterlife, said, "Which of these opinions is true, some god must tell us.”[14]

And here is where God steps in! God does know, and God has told us. We know Jesus is God because He raised himself from the dead. He knows what happens after death, and he has told us. We will “taste death,”[15] but we know we will be “saved out of death.”[16] That’s why we say with confidence that death has lost its sting.[17] What hurt can it now do to the believer who dies, any more than a wasp, or hornet, or bee, that has lost its stinger? The thing that presented itself as the conqueror of all flesh is now clearly conquered; it claimed what it thought was a victory, but now, O death, where is your victory?[18]

This, Timothy - this revelation of God through Jesus’ loving life, sacrificial death and death-defeating resurrection and the reality of the Kingdom of God both now and in eternity - this is the gospel message to which I was appointed as a herald, an apostle and a teacher. In fact, it’s why I am suffering as I am. Yet this is no cause for shame, because I know the one in whom I have trusted. I am convinced that he is able to guard that which He has given to me and I have entrusted to him[19] – not only my soul, but the sacred trust of my commission to be a teacher of the message of the gospel.[20]

God enables us to be faithful to our calling, in spite of the sufferings which attend it, until the day when we are summoned before the throne of God to give a final account for our lives. This has cost me much in "suffering" and persecution, and it will for you too. But don’t be ashamed, Timothy. Don’t be timid. We know the One in whom he believed, and like me you have been persuaded that God is able to guard[21] our souls, our message and our ministry until the day of the Lord,[22] when our fervent but imperfect service will be reviewed, and the grace-saturated kindness of a perfect God will be revealed when we receive our eternal reward.[23]

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[1] Guthrie

[2] Barne’s Notes On The Bible

[3] Benson Commentary

[4] Romans 8

[5] Psalm 62

[6] Isaiah 28:16

[7] John 14:16

[8] 1 Corinthians 13

[9] 1 Corinthians 9:27

[10] Acts 17:18, 32

[11] Revelation 1:18

[12] Bishop Pearson, as quoted in  Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary

[13] “Some in the Greco-Roman world believed in transmigration of souls or reincarnation after death since it was introduced to the Greeks by Pythagoras in the sixth century b.c. There is, for instance, a famous and vivid passage in Virgil’s Aeneid where Aeneas visits the underworld only to see the souls of the dead as they flit across the river to reinhabit bodies in the world above (Aeneid 6; late first century b.c.). In contrast, the Judeo-Christian worldview is expressed in Hebrews 9:27: “Man is destined to die once, and after that to face judgment.”  - Zondervan Illustrated Bible Backgrounds Commentary of The New Testament

[14] Barne’s Notes

[15] John 8:52, Hebrews 2:9

[16] Hebrews 5:7

[17] Hebrews 2:14-15

[18] Paraphrase of Matthew Poole’s commentary

[19] “to keep that which I have committed unto him] R.V. places in the margin the alternative sense, according to its rule when the balance of authority is nearly even, ‘that which he hath committed unto me’; and gives the literal Greek ‘my deposit.’ The genitive of the personal pronoun rendered ‘my’ may be either subjective here or objective; hence the uncertainty, which the context does not clear up entirely.” Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges

[20] “There is one deposit which, committed to us by God, we ought to keep, 2 Timothy 1:13; comp. ch. 2 Timothy 2:2, παράθου, commit: there is another which, committed to God by us, and mentioned in this verse, He keeps; and this is indeed our soul, 1 Peter 4:19; comp. Luke 23:46, that is, ourselves and our heavenly portion. Paul, with death immediately before him, had two deposits, one to be committed to the Lord, and another to Timothy.”  Bengel's Gnomen

“The παραθήκη or thing committed to him was the same as that which he had committed to Timothy that; he might teach others (1 Timothy 6:20). It was the form of sound words (2 Timothy 1:13); that which Timothy had heard from Paul (2 Timothy 2:2); that fair deposit (2 Timothy 1:14). It was the gospel to which Paul had been appointed (2 Timothy 1:11); which had been entrusted to him (1 Timothy 1:11; Titus 1:3; comp. 1 Corinthians 9:17; Galatians 2:7; 1 Thessalonians 2:4).“ Vincent's Word Studies

[21] “But what has Paul entrusted to God? The Greek speaks of ‘my deposit’. Some have seen it to relate to what God has entrusted to Paul, i.e. his commission or his doctrine, and this would be in agreement with the use of the same word in v 14. But the preceding passage would be better served by regarding Paul’s ‘deposit’ as something Paul is entrusting to God, i.e. himself and the success and continuation of his mission, everything in fact that is dear to him. The words for that day must refer to the day when Paul knows he must give account of his stewardship. He was living and working in the light of the final day of reckoning, but was sure that he could entrust the result to God. This was intended to bring real encouragement to Timothy.”  – New Bible Commentary

[22] Paraphrase from Expositor’s Bible Commentary

[23] Paraphrase from Believers Bible Commentary

Power, Love And A Sound Mind (2 Timothy 1:7-8)

Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, in keeping with the promise of life that is in Christ Jesus, To Timothy, my dear son: Grace, mercy and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord.

Timothy, you are constantly in my prayers. Day and night I remember you before God and give thanks to Him whom I serve with a clean conscience, as did my ancestors. Recalling your tears, I long to see you, so that I may be filled with joy. I am reminded of your sincere faith, which first lived in your grandmother Lois and in your mother Eunice and, I am persuaded, now lives in you also. 

For this reason I remind you to fan into flame the gift of God, which is in you through the laying on of my hands. For the Spirit God gave us does not make us timid, but gives us power, love and self-discipline. So do not be ashamed of the testimony about our Lord or of me his prisoner. Rather, join with me in suffering for the gospel, by the power of God.

 We talked last week about the first 6 verses. God had given to Timothy a charisma, a spiritual gift.[1] Paul tells him to fan it into flame, a metaphor drawn from the fanning of the embers of a fire.  I suspect that the Holy Spirit takes virtually everything about life and “give gifts” of extraordinary ability to make that part of life an outpost of the Kingdom of God. “Fan these embers into flame.” How do we do this?

·      Identify them (https://spiritualgiftstest.com/spiritual-gifts-test/#gf_7, which also has a personality test. Or https://gifts.churchgrowth.org/spiritual-gifts-survey/. Or 

https://www.lifeway.com/en/articles/women-leadership-spiritual-gifts-growth-service. This isn’t everything on the above list , but it’s a start. 

·      Build them. Study, learn, observe in others.

·      Use them. Like, do stuff! Where do your desires, skills and opportunities intersect?

·      To the glory of God. How does this build the church or make God’s name great in the community?

\This brings us to verses 7-8.

For the Spirit God gave us does not make us timid, but gives us power, love and self-discipline. So do not be ashamed of the testimony about our Lord or of me his prisoner. Rather, join with me in suffering for the gospel, by the power of God.

This seems like a kindly phrased rebuke, as if Timothy had been timid with the testimony of the Gospel when he should have been bold. This is the only time this form of the word is used in the New Testament, and Strong’s Concordance says it involves “reticence”, which is silence.Timothy was a teacher who wasn’t teaching; based on verse 8, that silence had to do with being ashamed to teach about of the testimony of Jesus and apparently his relationship to Paul. 

So Paul reminds him that when the Spirit of God blows over the embers of a teacher, and when a teacher fans that ember into flame, timidity or shame in talking about Jesus or his relationship with a persecuted Paul  is not result. Why? Because the Holy Spirit brings three very important things to those speaking about Jesus. 

Power. The commentaries are in almost unanimous agreement that this is two things, First, the Resurrection power on which we stand, the reality of placing our faith in Jesus, who has the power to conquer sin as proven by his ability to conquer death. What can separate us from the love of that kind of God? Nothing. (Romans 8) This is the rock that cannot be shaken (Psalm 62), the cornerstone, the firm foundation (Isaiah 28:16) on which our life finds stability and hope.

Second, we see the presence of God descended on Jesus with the imagery of a dove (Luke 3:22; 4:14) and on believers at Pentecost with the imagery of fire (Acts 2:1-13) as the presence of the promised Advocate or Helper who will be with us forever (John 14:16) became clear. 

What happened? Well, in that case, we see 15 people groups confounded that Galileans were speaking in a language they could understand. They said, “What does this mean?” And Peter stood up immediately and preached the gospel. 

God’s people stand on Resurrection power and receive ongoing power to live the gospel and share the gospel in a way that connects with people.

For Timothy, this meant living with gospel integrity and teaching with boldness, because that was his gift ‘fanned into flame’ for this purpose. For you, this means…. Well, that’s something you get to wrestle with. God has given you an ember to fan into flame; God empowers you to that which he has called you. 

When God calls you, He equips you. When God places you in the world on His behalf, He fills you with the power to do what He has called you to do with your flaming ember in your sphere of influence.

I know this involves living with gospel integrity – that’s universal – but for you, this means you will _________ without being timid in using it in a way that as doors open and opportunities arise, it becomes a vehicle for the testimony of Jesus. 

Love.  Love is a fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5:23), without which all we do is as annoying and obnoxious as walking around banging a cymbal (I Corinthians 13). This word for love is, of course, “agape” – the plural, by the way, is “love feast” (remember Jude?) It’s not just a mindset; it’s an action.  

As we walk into the doors that open and the opportunities that arise, we need love. Why? Because truth without love is just noise (see 1 Corinthians 13). Love without truth isn’t a great option either. We need both. Love and truth. And because of the nature of agape love and the Savior who embodied it, we know that this kind of love demands that we be “broken and spilled out” so the truth can be heard. 

 Timothy had the power to teach, but a teacher without love? Think back to your school days. Whether or not you believed a teacher cared about you made a HUGE difference between how impactful that teacher was in your life. They could be the most skilled teacher in the building, but if they were cold or uncaring, you couldn’t wait to get out of their class, and it probably tainted your view of the subject matter being taught. But that teacher that stayed after class, and talked with you about your life, and attended your games…

Our gifts need love.  

A sound mind.  Translations have quite a bit of variety here. A better word is “self-discipline” or “self-control”, another fruit of the Spirit. This is essential first of all so that we do not disqualify ourselves from the race God has called and prepared us to run (1 Corinthians 9:27). It’s what helps us live with gospel integrity. If you are a human being, you know that our own acts of self-discipline have a sketchy history. The promise is that the power of the Holy Spirit lies behind a supernatural strength we would never have on our own to stand firm in the faith.

However, there is more to it. According to Ellicott’s Commentary, 

“sound mind” is “properly, safe-minded, issuing in prudent ("sensible") behavior that "fits" a situation, i.e. aptly acting out God's will by doing what He calls sound reasoning (used only in 2 Tim 1:7).”

 I wonder if Timothy’s timidity had something to do with believing his approach or method wasn’t working.  Paul is building him up: “Listen, your message has power. You have God’s heart of love. And you aren’t stupid. You know to wisely read a room or a situation and speak appropriately.”

I wonder – my speculation – if Paul is reminding him that God will help Timothy with Timothy’s gifts “fit” a situation prudently.  Timothy doesn’t have to witness like anybody else. They do their thing; Timothy does his thing. He doesn’t have to use the same approach or words or system every time. There is no template. The Holy Spirit is creative – like, see Genesis. 

I grew up with a lot of pressure to share the gospel ‘this way’ like ‘that person.’ (“You don’t have the 4 Spiritual Laws memorized? You don’t have that color coded wrist band? You don’t want to knock on doors? Do you even care about the lost???”) I also grew up with the idea – I don’t know if it was taught, but it was absorbed – that there were just some jobs, some talents, some gifts, some personalities – that God likes and uses more than others. If I REALLY wanted to make a difference in the Kingdom, I need to do that other thing in that other way – which usually boiled down to “be like that person over there.”

But I’m not going to stand before God and explain why I didn’t share the gospel like Billy Graham - or you. I have been given an ember that is not like yours. That is the one The Holy Spirit invites me to fan into flame.[2] You have been given an ember that is not like mine. The Holy Spirit invites you to fan it into flame. 

So I don’t need to be just like you. And…. I should not demand you be just like me. What I should do is help you fan your gift into flame. I don’t feel called to do what Sal and Heather do, but I want to fan that into flame in them. They don’t feel called to do what I do, but they have fanned that into flame in me. 

When God gives us the ember of a gift, He wants us to use it in the service of taking the good news of the gospel of Jesus Christ to the world.

He gives us power –Not coercive or destructive power, but power that stabilizes and energizes us as we live and spread the Gospel. 

God gives us love. The Gospel lived and spoken from a heart of love is golden.

God gives us a sound mind- prudent sensibility so that our behavior and words fit a situation. Don’t panic. Just be present. You are filled with Resurrection power, and the love of God overflows from you. Live and speak the Gospel on that foundation and with that heart. 

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[1] ‘God never commissions anyone to a task without imparting a special gift appropriate to it’ (Guthrie).

[2] “The Holy Spirit works, in those to whom it is given, power, or strength, to fight the fight of God;  power, not only patiently to endure, but also to strike good blows for Christ—the power, for instance, of steadfastness in resisting temptation, the strong will which guides other weaker ones along the narrow way “of love.” It works, too, in those to whom God gives the blessed gift, that strange, sweet love for others which leads to noble deeds of self-surrender—that love which never shrinks from a sacrifice which may benefit the friend or even the neighbor. And lastly, the Spirit works in us “self-control” - that power which, in the man or woman living in and mixing with the world, and exposed to its varied temptations and pleasures, is able to regulate and to keep in a wise subjection, passions, desires, impulses.”[2]