Fan the Flame | Pastor Jason McKinnies | Purpose House Church

Sermon Notes:

2 Timothy 1:3–7

Paul’s second letter to Timothy is written from prison. These are some of the last recorded words of the apostle Paul. Knowing his time is short, Paul writes to strengthen Timothy so that he will remain faithful in difficult days.

Paul does not begin by correcting Timothy. He begins by reminding him.

Because sometimes the greatest thing a believer needs is not new revelation — but renewed remembrance.

1. A Call to Remember

2 Timothy 1:3–5

“When I remember your genuine faith, for you share the faith that first filled your grandmother Lois and your mother Eunice. And I know that same faith continues strong in you.” (2 Timothy 1:5 NLT)

Paul intentionally places Timothy in remembrance.

Faith is often strengthened by remembering what God has already done.

Three Things Every Believer Must Remember

A. Remember Your Heritage

Paul reminds Timothy of the faith that lived in Lois and Eunice.

Timothy’s faith did not begin with him. It was modeled before him.

Faith is often caught before it is taught.

Scripture repeatedly emphasizes the power of generational faith:

Psalm 145:4

“One generation commends your works to another; they tell of your mighty acts.” Deuteronomy 6:6–7

“And you must commit yourselves wholeheartedly to these commands that I am giving you today. Repeat them again and again to your children...”

The Christian life was never meant to be lived in isolation. God often uses spiritual parents, mentors, pastors, and faithful examples to shape our faith.

Billy Graham once said: “A faith that is not passed down will soon die out.”

When you remember those who modeled faith for you, it strengthens your resolve to carry the torch forward.

B. Remember Your “Whale” Moments

Every believer has moments like Jonah.

Moments where we tried to run from God. Moments where we tried to create distance. Moments where life placed us in the depths.

Jonah described it this way:

Jonah 2:2

“I cried out to the Lord in my great trouble, and he answered me. I called to you from the land of the dead, and Lord, you heard me.”

The whale moments represent divine interruptions.

Places where God allowed circumstances to turn us around.

David testified similarly:

Psalm 40:2

“He lifted me out of the pit of despair, out of the mud and the mire. He set my feet on solid ground and steadied me as I walked along.”

Those moments remind us of something powerful:

You may run from God — but you cannot outrun God.

C.S. Lewis described God as “The Hound of Heaven who relentlessly pursues the soul.”

When you remember your whale moments, it reminds you of God’s relentless mercy.

C. Remember Your “Oyster” Moments

An oyster produces a pearl because something irritating entered its shell.

What began as irritation becomes something beautiful.

God often works the same way.

The irritations of life The wounds The disappointments The betrayals

When covered by grace, they become pearls of testimony.

Isaiah declared:

Isaiah 61:3

“To all who mourn in Israel, he will give a crown of beauty for ashes.”

Paul echoed this truth:

Romans 8:28

“And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them.”

What once wounded you may become the very testimony that reveals God’s glory.

Remembering Fuels the Future

Paul was not encouraging Timothy to live in the past.

He was reminding him so that his past would fuel his future.

Jesus established the same principle through communion.

Luke 22:19

“He took some bread and gave thanks to God for it. Then he broke it in pieces and gave it to the disciples, saying, ‘This is my body, which is given for you. Do this in remembrance of me.”

Looking back at the Cross should fan the flame of faith forward.

2. Fan the Flame

2 Timothy 1:6

“This is why I remind you to fan into flames the spiritual gift God gave you when I laid my hands on you.” (2 Timothy 1:6 NLT)

The phrase “fan into flames” comes from the Greek word anazōpyreō, meaning: to rekindle a fire that has begun to fade.

Paul does not say Timothy lacks a gift. He says the gift is already in him.

But gifts require cultivation.

Spiritual Gifts Require Attention

A fire requires three things:

Fuel

Oxygen

Attention

Without those elements, the fire slowly dies.

Paul had already said something similar earlier:

1 Timothy 4:14

“Do not neglect the spiritual gift you received through the prophecy spoken over you when the elders of the church laid their hands on you.”

Neglect is often the enemy of calling.

Spiritual passion does not usually die suddenly. It fades slowly through distraction, discouragement, or fatigue.

John Wesley once said: “Catch on fire with enthusiasm and people will come for miles to watch you burn.”

The call of God in our lives must be continually rekindled.

The Church Helps Fan the Flame

Paul reminded Timothy that his gift was affirmed by the laying on of hands by the elders.

Faith was never meant to be sustained alone.

Hebrews 10:24–25

“Let us think of ways to motivate one another to acts of love and good works, and let us not neglect our meeting together, as some people do, but encourage one another, especially now that the day of his return is drawing near.”

God designed the church to encourage the calling in one another.

Sometimes the flame burns brightest in community.

3. The Spirit of Power

2 Timothy 1:7

“For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and a sound mind.” (2 Timothy 1:7 NLT)

The word power here is the Greek word dunamis.

It refers to inherent, explosive power.

It is the same word used for the power of the Holy Spirit.

Jesus promised this power:

Acts 1:8

“But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you. And you will be my witnesses, telling people about me everywhere...”

The Spirit empowers believers to:

Witness boldly

Overcome fear

Walk in authority

Impact their world

The early church did not rely on strategy alone. They relied on Spirit-empowered living.

The Same Power That Raised Christ Lives in You

Paul makes an astonishing statement:

Romans 8:11

The Spirit of God, who raised Jesus from the dead, lives in you. And just as God raised Christ Jesus from the dead, he will give life to your mortal bodies by this same Spirit living within you.

A.W. Tozer wrote: “If the Holy Spirit withdrew from the church today, much of what we do would go on — and no one would notice. But in the early church everything depended on Him.”

Ephesians 3:20 tells us, "Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us." We must align our thoughts and actions with this truth, understanding that God wants to do immeasurably more through us than we can imagine.

God’s work in the world is not limited by heaven’s resources. It is limited by our willingness to believe and respond.

Paul’s message to Timothy echoes to every believer today:

Remember what God has done.

Fan the flame of what God has placed within you.

Walk in the power of the Spirit God has given you.

Because the same God who called you is the same God who empowers you to finish well.

As Paul would later say:

2 Timothy 4:7 “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.”

That is the goal of every believer: Not just to start strong, but to finish with the flame still burning.