As Paul the
apostle continued his final encouragement and challenge to Timothy
his “dearly beloved son”, he told him to “stir up the
gift of God” which was in him “by the laying on” of
Paul's “hands”. This seems to indicate a reluctance on
Timothy's part to use the gift that God had given him, so in chapter
one and verse seven of his second letter to Timothy, Paul told him
that God has not given “us the spirit of fear”, but
“power, love and a sound mind” where we read:
For God
has not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and
of a sound mind.
The verse begins, “For
God has not given us the spirit of fear;” Paul
began with the word, “For”
which means, “because, since or on account of” “God”
which refers
to “the one and only true God the Father, Son and Holy Spirit”
“has not given”
or “didōmi ou didōmi” in
Greek and means “grant, let have, furnish or supply” “us”
which refers to “those who place their faith and trust in God
Almighty and Jesus Christ His Son” “the
Spirit”
or “the disposition or influence which fills and governs the soul
of any one and the efficient source
of any power, affection, emotion and desire”“of
fear”
which means “timidity and cowardice”. There was a tendency for
Timothy to be “timid” about his gift since he was younger than
many of his church members and elders, so Paul addressed the
“spirit of fear”
which was in him by reminding him that this “timidity and
fearfulness” did not come from God.
The verse goes on to
say, “but of power, and of love, and
of a sound mind.” By
using the disassociation conjunction, “But”,
Paul wrote the contrast to the “spirit
of fear” which
had a natural tendency to reveal itself within Timothy. Paul declared
God's given spirit to be “of power”
which is the Greek word “dynamis” from which we get our English
word “dynamite”, however our English word “dynamo” is derived
from this word as well and is closer to the meaning which is
“strength power, ability, inherent
power, power residing in a thing by virtue of its nature, or which a
person or thing exerts and puts forth”. Paul continued with,
“and of love” which is “agape” or
“affection, good will, love, benevolence, brotherly and
unconditional love”. This is a love that can only be obtained by
the Holy Spirit of God. Finally Paul added, “and
of a sound mind” which is the Greek word,
“sōphronismos” which
means “self-control and moderation”. All three of these traits -
“power, love and a sound
mind” are
super-natural traits and are given to believers in Jesus Christ by
the Holy Spirit of God.
While
we meditate upon Paul's words, perhaps there are areas within our
live in which we are “afraid”. Perhaps we have a “gift
of God”
which we are too timid to use, and maybe there are areas of
“callings” which we have resisted answering for years. Satan
himself would like to keep us in a “spirit
of fear”,
and he would have us to be ignorant that God Almighty has given to us
“power, love and a sound mind” if we will simply accept and
believe it. We will never be or do all the Lord intends if we are
constantly in “fear”
over what may or may not happen if we take a venture. Let us ask the
Lord for wisdom and boldness to receive His great gifts and use them
in a manner that demonstrates his “power,
love and sound mind”
to others as we share His “good news” the gospel of Jesus Christ
throughout the world.
Next
time Paul tells Timothy not to be “ashamed”
of him or “the testimony of the Lord”,
so read ahead, and we shall join together then.
Until
tomorrow…there is more…
Look
for the daily devotional book “Equipped for Battle – From
Generation to Generation”, the marriage book “So, You Want to Be
Married”, and the new devotional “One Year in the Sermon on the
Mount” in all major bookstore sites, http://www.amazon.com
; http://www.barnesandnobles.com
; download to e-books, and find it locally at
http://www.mrzlc.com/bookstore.
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