Don't Get Punked By The Devil

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Don’t Be Punked By the Devil

To get punked - to have something taken from you and publicly be made a fool of in the process.

The Devil is wanting to paralyze you from using your gifts and talents. He wants to take from you all that God has given you and publicly make you look like a fool in the process.

Paul is writing to Timothy to encourage him. Timothy had a great spiritual heritage that lead to a sincere faith. His mother and grandmother were believers. He was personally mentored in ministry by the Apostle Paul. Paul starts out his letter to make sure that his passion wasn’t growing cold nor his fear paralyzing him from being bold. Timothy was young and had a great start in ministry, but that does not guarantee him boldly finishing well. 2 Timothy definitely challenges and encourages us to live fearlessly and finish well.

Four questions to ask to make sure you don’t get punked by the enemy:

1) Is your faith sincere?

“I am reminded of your sincere faith”

2) Is your gift on fire?

“I remind you to fan into flame the gift of God, which is in you…”

3) Is your fear conquered? 

“For the Spirit God gave us does not make us timid, but gives us power, love and self-discipline.”

4) Am I more on fire for God now than ever before in my life?

(This message was preached at the 9am service at New Life Community Church - Midway that was at the time lead by Pastor Mike Berry. It was preached in September of 2006 or 2007.)

2 Timothy 1:1-7

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.

I thank God, whom I serve, as my ancestors did, with a clear conscience, as night and day I constantly remember you in my prayers.  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.