Transformative Faith: The Journey of Timothy

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Timothy came from a Christian family, even though his father was a Gentile. We did not hear much about his father; most likely his father passed away when he was a little child. So, in a sense, Timothy was brought up by his grandmother and by his mother. [00:04:36]

It is very probable that his grandmother and mother were among those thousands who were converted to the Lord on the day of Pentecost in Jerusalem. So, from his childhood, he was brought up by his mother and grandmother in the Lord. He says he knew the scripture even when he was young. [00:05:05]

But it was through the Apostle Paul that Timothy came to conversion, to really know the Lord. When Paul was in Lystra, this young man grew before the Lord in such a way that both the brethren in Lystra and Iconium recommended him to Paul. [00:06:05]

Paul had a special gift. He had a gift of helping young people grow in the Lord Jesus Christ. So, we find in the scripture how he surrounded himself with young people, such as Titus, such as Timothy. He brought these young people with him, traveled with him, trained them, and according to the various gifts, he sent them out to use them in the work of the Lord. [00:07:39]

Timothy was a young man totally different from Titus. Titus was so extroverted, that is to say, he was a person who looked outside and forward. He did not look within himself. But Timothy was exactly the opposite. He was an introvert, that is to say, he was a person who tends to look about himself, to look within himself. [00:08:55]

God created us all differently. We cannot say who is better, whether you are an extrovert or you are an introvert. God loves variety, so He created us all differently. But however different we may be, He may be able to train us and use us accordingly. [00:10:16]

Timothy was not saved until Paul came and brought him to the Lord. And that was usually the case. I think of myself. Thank God I was brought up in a Christian family. My father came to the Lord when he was in a missionary school. [00:11:44]

Brothers and sisters, God has His strange way of touching people. When I really began to try to repay Him for His goodness, you know what He did in me? His Spirit began to touch me. He began to reveal to me that I was not as good as I myself thought. [00:21:15]

Timothy was an introvert. That is to say, he is a person who tends to look within himself, not an extrovert that looks outside of himself. And because he tends to look into himself, he tends to be dealing very drastically with himself. [00:31:03]

Paul knew his weakness. Paul knew what he needed. So, when you find in a letter of Paul to Timothy, he encouraged him to faith. In other words, he said, you don't look into yourself, you look unto Jesus, the author and finisher of faith. [00:34:55]

Whether you are an extrovert or an introvert, if you put yourself in the hand of God, He is able to use you. He is able to mold you. He is able to use you in a way that will really perform the purpose of God. [00:36:31]

Dear Heavenly Father, we want to thank you because you are able to use whatever kind of person we may be, whether we be an extrovert or we be an introvert. Lord, if we put ourselves in your hand, you are able to transform us, able to use us accordingly. [00:41:24]

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