Background Story: The books of 1 Timothy and 2 Timothy were letters from Paul to a young believer named Timothy. Paul refers to Timothy as his son because, like a spiritual father, he wanted to encourage him to keep living his faith with boldness, passion, and calling.

Read 2 Timothy 1:5-14

⁵ 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. ⁶ This is why I remind you to fan into flames the spiritual gift God gave you when I laid my hands on you. ⁷ For God has not given us a spirit of fear and timidity, but of power, love, and self-discipline.

⁸ So never be ashamed to tell others about our Lord. And don’t be ashamed of me, either, even though I’m in prison for him. With the strength God gives you, be ready to suffer with me for the sake of the Good News. ⁹ For God saved us and called us to live a holy life. He did this, not because we deserved it, but because that was his plan from before the beginning of time—to show us his grace through Christ Jesus. ¹⁰ And now he has made all of this plain to us by the appearing of Christ Jesus, our Savior. He broke the power of death and illuminated the way to life and immortality through the Good News. ¹¹ And God chose me to be a preacher, an apostle, and a teacher of this Good News.

¹² That is why I am suffering here in prison. But I am not ashamed of it, for I know the one in whom I trust, and I am sure that he is able to guard what I have entrusted to him until the day of his return.

¹³ Hold on to the pattern of wholesome teaching you learned from me—a pattern shaped by the faith and love that you have in Christ Jesus. ¹⁴ Through the power of the Holy Spirit who lives within us, carefully guard the precious truth that has been entrusted to you.

Big Idea: Watch out for apathy.

There is epidemic going around and it isn’t related to a virus. It’s an epidemic of apathy. The word apathy means, “lack of interest, enthusiasm, or concern.” It’s that “I don’t really care… what difference does it make” attitude that lacks zeal or excitement. It feels like our culture went to the dentist, but instead of getting Novocain to numb our cavity, our hearts were numbed instead. As believers in Christ, we are not called to live apathetic numb lives but to be imitators of God. So what moves God’s heart?

PEOPLE- people move God’s heart!

• God has a heart for people to know Him and love Him above all other things. (Matthew 22:36-38)

• God has a heart for people to live full, rich, satisfying, lives set free from sin. (John 10:10)

• God has a heart for people to live on mission where God uses them for His glory to bring others to salvation. (Ephesians 2:8-10)

So how can I tell if my heart is becoming numb? Let’s do a heart physical and ask yourself…

• Do I have a heart hungry to know God? Is He my greatest desire?

• Am I living a satisfying life in Jesus or just existing? Have I stopped fighting the battle with sin allowing it to control my life?

• Am I asking for God to use me? Is my heart moved with compassion when I see broken and hurting people?

Now take your heart to God… the true physician. God is working, “giving you the desire and the power to do what pleases him” (Philippians 2:13). Pray and surrender any areas of numbness to God asking the Holy Spirit to revive and awaken your heart to serve God with abandonment, freedom and purpose.

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