Overcoming Fear

II Timothy 1:1-14

Fear is a strong emotion.  Sometimes it can work for good, such as keeping us from going down a dark alley in a bad neighborhood.  At other times it can be a deterrent from allowing us to accomplish all that we might want to for the Lord.  In our Scripture passage today we will read what the Apostle Paul counselled his protege Timothy, who had allowed fear to affect his ministry.

Timothy had become one of the main leaders of the church in Ephesus.  However there he experienced some opposition to his ministry due to his young age, his more introverted character, the message he brought, and by some, his association with Paul.  His fear was leading him to pull back from his ministry and from using the spiritual gifts that he had. When Paul heard this, he wrote to Timothy, telling him that he couldn’t allow this to happen.  Paul encouraged him to be bold and continue on, not allowing fear to take control (vs. 6-7). Timothy needed courage, self-discipline, and perseverance to hang on to the truth, and to use his spiritual gifts.  Paul did not want to see Timothy’s God-given gift for preaching, teaching and evangelism fall into disuse.

In addition to the opposition Timothy felt from those at the church in Ephesus, there were other reasons he must have had for being afraid.  When Paul wrote this second letter to Timothy he was in prison in Rome for the last time, and would be executed soon. During Paul’s first imprisonment there he was kept in a house, under house-arrest where he could freely have visitors and teach.  Now this time he was probably in a cold, damp dungeon in chains. Christians were experiencing persecution across the Roman Empire. However, Paul tells Timothy not to be afraid to proclaim Jesus’ message (vs. 8). God will give strength if one must suffer.

Fear can consume us if we let it.  Fear and timidity does not come from God (vs. 7).  He has given us a sound mind - one that is disciplined, has proper priorities, and is self-controlled, which is the opposite of fear and cowardice.  We must obey God and use the gifts He has given us. He is the one who is ultimately in control of our future. Believers are triumphant in Christ, and must act like it.  One thing we can do is to encourage and motivate others to be faithful to the Lord (vs. 6). Though God doesn’t take away our spiritual gifts, they can lose their effectiveness through neglect or misuse.

Don’t let the fear of what others may think of us make us afraid to speak out about Jesus (vs. 8).  Don’t be ashamed to name the Name of Christ because of persecution. Paul was not afraid of persecution or death because he was so confident that God had sealed his future glory and blessing (vs. 12).  Paul was fully convinced of the power of God’s truth. He knew that God will keep every promise He makes to us. We can be absolutely confident in Jesus’ provision at the cross, and that His Word is infallibly true.  As Paul says here (vs. 12), God will guard our faith and safely guard all that we have entrusted to Him, especially our souls, until the day of His return. Even in the worst of times, God is still in control. No matter what we face, we can fully trust God.

Pretty soon Timothy would be without Paul, even from a distance.  But he would have everything he needed to face the future if he would hold on tightly to the Lord (vs. 13-14).  Jesus is the foundation of our faith. God has a hold on us that is even stronger than our hold on Him. His faithfulness does not depend on ours.  Like Timothy here, our faith and resolve may waver, but we are kept by Jesus. Remember Paul’s words to Timothy, and don’t let fear control us.