Conversations with Paul: Unchained!: Sermon 2 Timothy 2:8-15

Lord, open our hearts and minds by the power of your Holy Spirit, that as the Scriptures are read and your Word is proclaimed, we may hear with joy what you say to us today.

Have you ever been trapped? Perhaps you’re trapped in your house because you are sick. Maybe you are trapped in hospital bed for a time. Maybe you have injured yourself someway and the doctor has order you strictly to “stay off your feet.” Now for some of us that would be a welcomed change for a few days. We could take some time off, sit back, watch some TV, and just relax. After a week maybe we start to get that itchy feeling, we know that there are things to be done and we have a hard time letting someone else do them. We start to get that cabin fever and we would really like to get back to our normal routine even if it is stressful. We know that we have responsibilities to fulfill and we want to get back at it. What if that condition was permanent? Despite all that we try we cannot escape to get back to our normal lives and back to our responsibilities.

Now you know what Paul was feeling sitting, chained up, in that Roman prison. Paul had things to do and people to see. He had started many churches in Asia Minor and he needed to check in on them and he had other churches he needed to start, but he couldn’t. He was stuck in jail, chained to a wall. So Paul does the next best thing he writes to the only person who remained loyal to him after he was jailed, Timothy. This week we continue to look at Paul’s final letter to Timothy. Last week, we saw how Paul tried to stir up Timothy’s connection to the Holy Spirit, his connection to God. Paul is pressing Timothy to carry on the work that Paul had begun, but could not longer do because he was chained. Paul tells Timothy not to let anything get in the way of spreading the Gospel of Christ.

Paul once again tells Timothy that working for God is not easy work. In fact it the hardships far outweigh the rewards at least in this life. Paul was right in telling Timothy this because in those days being an evangelist for the Gospel could land you in prison, look at Paul. It could also get you killed by an angry mob. The early Church was persecuted everywhere it went and by many different groups. It was not an easy life, but if those people had not made the sacrifice we would not be here this morning. We would never know the truth of Christ.

Paul was chained, literally. He was bound by the wrists and ankles and locked behind bars. He could not go out physically and spread the word himself. He was chained. Paul knew that even though he could not physically go out and do what he wanted, Timothy was able and so Paul does all he can to encourage him. Then Paul makes an incredible statement; he says that even as he is chained, the WORD of God is unchained. It is free and is unable to be bound by any human means. Even in the midst of his prison Paul knew that the Word of God, the Gospel itself could never be chained and imprisoned and the one who proclaims the word of God; even if they are in the midst of a physical prison, have the freedom and power of the Word and the Spirit.

Some of the most powerful proclamation and conversion happen within the walls of a prison. A few weeks ago we had a pastor’s meeting and they were talking about the prison ministry at the South Central Correctional Facility in Clifton, TN. They talked about how a few years ago they began Disciples Bible study there with one class and about 10 prisoners and only a few years later there are 4 classes with more than 50 prisoners wanted to begin a life with Christ. Even at our own Giles County Jail there are men and women coming to Christ. It is truly and amazing sight. So even while the people might be imprisoned, chained the word of God can never be chained.

There are other things than shackles and bars that can imprison us. There are things that chain us spiritually and mentally and prevent us from doing the task which has been entrusted to all Christians that is to lead people to Christ. I want to spend some time talking about the things that chain us and how we can break free from those things by the unchained power of God. What are the things that prevent us from evangelizing? The first thing is always fear or embarrassment. We talked about this last week. Timothy had a bad case of shyness. Paul reminded him that the power of God is bold and that Timothy must shake off the shyness and fear that was holding him back. We have to let go of our fear and embrace the power of the Spirit.

What else hinders us from spreading the Gospel? Perhaps we have physical limitations. As we get older we cannot do the things we once could. Our bodies grow weaker and we are limited physically to what we can do. The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak. We cannot allow our age or our physical conditions to prevent us from working for Christ. There are lots of jobs that need doing that we all can do regardless of our physical limitations. We can offer encouragement to others. We can call those who are out on the front lines and offer encouraging words and words of comfort. You can never know how a phone call or a letter can offer support. This is what Paul is doing in this letter to Timothy. He is offering encouragement to Timothy to do what Paul cannot do. There is always a job to be done that can match your gifts and physical abilities.

What is another limitation that attempts to chain us? You might say “Preacher, I’m just not a Biblical scholar. What if people ask me hard questions? I don’t want to come off like a bumbling idiot.” First, I would say you could never come off like and idiot because none of you are idiots. Secondly, I would remind you that the power is in the word itself not in the person. The power is in the Spirit which dwells within us and so you might not believe you’ve got it in you, but remember Moses and so many other leaders of God. God provided the words they speak. I have never written a sermon on my own, I always have the Spirit with me. Thirdly, remember that the truth of Christ is simple. Scholars and preachers try to make it complex sometimes but it is not. Paul reminds Timothy of the truth of Christ in our passage for today. The saying is sure:
If we have died with him, we will also live with him; ¹²if we endure, we will also reign with him; if we deny him, he will also deny us; ¹³if we are faithless, he remains faithful—
for he cannot deny himself. This is part of a hymn that was sung in the early Church. Because they did not have printed Bibles or books on the subject, they would sing songs to remind them of the truth of Christ. When we were children what was the first song that we remember singing about God, the first song that taught us the truth of the Gospel. That same song is the simplicity of the truth of Christ. Do you remember it? “Jesus loves me! This I know, For the Bible tells me so. Little ones to Him belong; they are weak, but He is strong. Yes, Jesus loves me! Yes, Jesus loves me! Yes, Jesus loves me! The Bible tells me so.” That is the simplicity of the Gospel. That is all you need to know. We try to make things complicated, but when we boil everything else down. We see the simple truth that God so loved the world that he sent his son to save the world.

The next chain that prevents us from spreading the word stems from the last. There are so many denominations with so many different ways of doing things that it is a confusing mess. We spend so much time arguing with the Baptists, the Church of Christ folks, and the Catholics that we lose the simplicity of the truth. We bicker over how much water to use in baptism, how many times should we offer Communion, who should be allowed to receive communion, what day of the week should we have service. We have to remember our core beliefs and trust in the things that unite us. Christ came down to love us, he died on the cross for us, and he defeated death by rising from the grave three days later. This is what our focus should be and this is what we should be proclaiming. We will never succeed if we demonize one another.

Are we living unchained for God? Are we allowing things to binds us and prevent us from doing the work of God? Live free for God. Let us put aside all the things that chain us. Let’s live free from the worries and strife that the world would put on us. Let us live free from the limitations that we put on ourselves. Let us live free from the negativity that permeates our lives. Let us live free so that we can to the work that God has called us to do.

Let us pray…

Grant, O Lord,

That what has been said with our lips we may believe in our hearts,

And that what we believe in our hearts we may practice in our lives;

Through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.