LEARNING DAILY

 

2 Timothy 1:6-7, Therefore I remind you to stir up the gift of God which is in you through the laying on of my hands. For God has not given you a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.

 

You have probably started a camp fire or a fire in a fire pit at some time. You might have started with a little kindling to start the fire. Maybe you put some small twigs on it as well. You put the match to this to get things started and then added some larger pieces of wood to get a nice fire –just like you wanted. Perhaps later the fire had died down to just embers and you wanted the fire again. What did you do? You did not need to strike a match; you only needed to increase the oxygen by blowing on the embers and fanning them to get the fire going again.

 

I wonder if after a person has been saved for awhile our fire for the Lord stops burning and becomes embers. We really do not need to have to strike a match to be “saved” again; once saved, we do not lose our salvation. No, we just need to have the embers fanned until the embers of our salvation becomes a fire once again!

 

The gift received by Timothy is compared to a fire that he must fan into a flame. This gift may have been a special anointing and power from the Holy Spirit to fulfill his ministry. You and I received a gift or gifts from the Holy Spirit when we were saved. Remember the fire that stirred inside you when you got saved? Now think about your spiritual life right now. “The gift(s) do not automatically remain strong and energetic. Just as the fire needs oxygen to burn, we need the “oxygen” of the Holy Spirit for us to burn brightly in our spirit Our spirit must be fueled by the grace of God through our prayer, faith, and obedience” (LSSB).

 

I wonder if Paul is encouraging all of us for times when we are in danger of being discouraged or fearful when faced by circumstances or difficulties. Fear seems to be the result of focusing on our situation rather than on God’s sovereignty and His ability to see us through what we are facing. The DJSB states, “Following fear to it logical conclusion will obliterate all opportunities for service. To stir up means to rekindle or reignite the fire.” In 1 Thessalonians 5:19, Paul would write, “Do not quench the Spirit!” In other words, fan the flames; do not let the fire started within you go out!

 

“For God has not given you a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.” If we are faithful and obedient to God’s Word, we will be disciplined, self-controlled, use His wisdom, and use solid judgment. Our minds will be different from those set on the things of this world. God has also given us a spirit of love. His love is the ability to do the right thing toward Him and to others; it is the ability to do the right thing as we trust Him to work things out. Our responsibility is to be faithful and let God be responsible for the results (Have I said I have taken on Tony Gungy’s saying?). Paul also tells us God has give us a spirit of power. This is not for personal use; it is the power of God working through us to accomplish His desires and His will.

 

Let me write one last thing. The greatest gift a parent or grandparent can give their children and grandchildren (and great grandchildren for some of you) is a legacy of genuine faith. My sincere desire is to be able to look back and see others, especially my family members, are walking by faith on the narrow way to eternal life in God’s kingdom!

 

Fan the flame!

 

From now on DJSB will be used to note information or quotes from the David Jeremiah Study Bible and LSSB will refer to information and quotes from the Life in the Spirit Study Bible.  I have added Jimmy Swaggart’s Expositor’s Study Bible to be referred to from now on as JSESB.