"God did not give us a spirit of fear but of power, of love, and of self-discipline." 2 Timothy 1:7
My brother is certain he is a world-class snow skier. Several days swishing down slopes out west during his twenties secured this idea in his mind. If only he had not grown up in the Deep South where sand was much more abundant than snow and where the closest thing to a big hill was many miles away! Alas, the world will never know what could have been! Such postulating is humorous, but true unfulfilled potential is frustrating. We’ve all known people who just never seemed to live up to what we knew they could be? So much talent, so much charisma, so much ability – a lot of possibility but little productivity. It makes us wonder “why?” What holds others (and us) back from doing the things we know we ought to do and want to do? The reasons are assorted and abundant, but one common element exists in almost every answer. FEAR.
What if I fail? What if I look stupid? What if people make fun of me? What if I mess it all up? What if I’m not as good at it as others? Fear looms larger than our faith, and instead of going at it with gusto, we tiptoe out in trepidation. I think Timothy just might have been a “tip-toer”! And Paul was the cheerleader with the Nike JUST DO IT! logo plastered across the front of his uniform! However, Paul was wise, for instead of simply shouting, “Go! Fight! Win!” he told Timothy not only what he should do but also why he should do it and how he could do it. “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 God did not give us a spirit of fear but of power, of love, and of self-discipline.” 2 Timothy 2:6-7
Paul is saying, “Timothy, God has given you ability. Activate it! He’s given you a knack for something. Knock it out! He’s He has given you a gift. Get busy!” We can hear the earnest plea in Paul’s voice as he reminds Timothy that God has provided all he will need to pursue God’s plans. Paul knows that Timothy is scared and that his fear could paralyze him into not reaching his potential or doing his best, so Paul encourages Timothy with a great truth – a truth that can help us live a winning life in a losing world. God has not filled us with fear but with power, passion, and purpose! This spirit must be the vital principle of our lives. These must define our attitude, influence our way of thinking, and impact our actions. They must be what fills us up.
That’s what the word “spirit” actually means. It comes from the Greek word “pneuma.” If, like me, you think pneumonia when you see that word, you’re on the right track! Pneumonia is a sickness of the lungs – the very place we take the breaths that give us life. In the same way, God breathes into us His Spirit, who gives us life and fills us up with power, passion, and purpose.
We are graciously given all three so we can fulfill our divine potential. They work together to “help us live up to what we have already attained.” (Philippians 3:16) A close look at each can help us understand and appreciate the great gift we have received.
Let’s begin with power! The definition of this word is “ability, boldness, strength.” The actual word is “dynamis.” Yep, that’s where we get the word “dynamite.” We are given God’s dynamite to enable us to live His life in this life! In fact, true power is simply God’s life in us.
Most every good gift comes in a package! Who can resist a beautifully wrapped, bow-adorned, your-name-on-the-tag present? So how is this gift of power packaged? And how do we plug in?
Our power is packaged in the gospel.
A friend called last week and said, “Do you want the good news or…the good news?” I like those kinds of calls! Did you know the word “gospel” means Good News! The gospel is God’s good news to you and to me. And within that good news lies incredible power. Power God gives to us so we can live a life of triumph.
We don’t often think about the good news of Jesus in terms of power, but Paul surely did. Listen to what he wrote about the power of the gospel. Romans 1:16 says, “I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes…” I Corinthians 1:18 tells us that “The message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.”
Paul says the gospel is the power of God for everyone who believes. So what exactly is this gospel? This good news so full of power? Well, it’s good news that begins with bad news -- God is good but we are not. When I say “good,” I don’t just mean good like, “It’s all good!” or “That would be good.” I mean “good” like totally good, perfectly good, nothing but good. That’s not us. We’re not that kind of good.
So the bad news is that no matter how hard we try to get to God, we can’t. Our best at trying to be good enough, won’t even bring us one step closer. We are hopelessly and helplessly separated from God because of our sin – the choices we make to do things our own way not His. And here’s more bad news, because of our sin we will remain separated from Him forever. Our destiny is an eternity of no hope, no help, no good, no God. Just us living out the just consequences of our selfish choices – eternally.
But here’s the good news (the gospel!). God came to us. Because of love. Because of grace. God came to this earth in Jesus Christ to live perfectly and to die purposefully. Jesus died on the cross to pay the consequence of death which we owe for our sins. He died to pay for our sins, and He rose again to give us life – abundant, forever life! As we believe and trust in Him, God gives us His life and makes us His own. That’s the gospel. That’s good news! That’s powerful stuff!
But Paul is honest and he says that this good news sounds crazy to those around us who don’t believe it and won’t receive it. I agree. It is quite absurd. God becoming man. Dying. Coming back to life. Yea right. No, yeah!! Right!!! It does not matter what anyone else thinks about the truth. It’s still the truth. For thousands of years men have tried to do away with God’s good news. Emperors tried to destroy it with decrees. Armies sought to stamp it out with war. Governments attempt to eradicate it with intimidation, torture, and violence. Currently around the world over 50,000 people are killed each year for trusting the truth of the gospel. And yet it remains. The simple story that God loves so much that He gave and when we believe Jesus, we receive life, has no ending and never will. In Revelation 5, where God gives us a glance into the future, we see Jesus on His heavenly throne surrounded by countless millions, singing the same “old, old story.” “You are worthy…because you died and with your blood you bought men for God from all around the world! To You be praise, honor, glory, and power!” And that truly is the song that never ends!
Nothing can change the power of the gospel, but the power of the gospel can change everything. Paul says, “Timothy, God has given you power. He’s given you life by the power of the gospel, and He will give you the power you need to live this life. In fact, 2 Peter 1:3 says, “God’s divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness…” Everything we need! What do you need power for? What makes you feel timid? A bit like a coward? What situations, circumstances, or people make you fearful? Here’s an honest confession: In my Bible by that verse on July 1, 2003, I wrote, “As I parent…” At that time my three girls were six, four and a half, and almost three. I was needy. I needed wisdom. I needed grace. I needed patience. I needed love. I needed…well, if you’re a parent, you know what all I needed! I think “need” isn’t even the right word. I was desperate. I remember reading those words as I prepared to teach a Wednesday night Bible study. The verse jumped right off the page and smacked me square in the face. God’s power has given me any and every single thing I will ever need for any and every single thing I will ever need it.
Paul is trying to help Timothy understand this as he tells him to not be afraid but to be assured and not ashamed. “For God did not give us a spirit of timidity but of spirit of power, of love, and of self-discipline. So do not be ashamed to testify about our Lord or of me His prisoner. But join with me in suffering for the gospel, by the power of God, who has saved us and called us to a holy life – not because of anything we have done but because of His own purpose and grace.” 2 Timothy 1:9
When God’s good news becomes your good news, His power becomes your power. Psalm 68:35 says, “The God of Israel gives power and strength to His people.” Paul knew this and reminded Timothy in chapter 2 verse 1 to “be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus.” Our strength comes from God’s power. Paul experienced this first-hand. He’s the one who wrote the well-loved verse, “I can do everything through Him who gives me strength!” We love the triumphant confidence of that verse. We picture a conquering warrior raising his hands in victory after toppling a formidable foe. But here’s the reality – Paul wrote those words from prison while in chains. He penned them in a letter to the Christ-followers in Philippi. He said that knowing he could do everything through God who gave him strength was the secret of being content in any and every situation.
The people in Philippi knew that Paul walked his talk. It was in their city that he and his mission partner Silas had been seized from the street for freeing a slave girl from demon possession. They had been dragged before city officials, stripped, severely flogged, and flung into jail. At about midnight, their bodies pulsing with pain and their feet shackled in stocks, God’s power and strength had flowed through their unbound hearts in prayer and praise. Acts 16:25 says the other prisoners were listening to them. That’s all they were able to do – just listen. But God could do more than just hear – and He did. His power shook the earth, threw open the prison doors, loosened the binding chains, and softened the jailer’s heart. Paul knew about God’s power – God’s dynamite, and he declares to us that God has given this same power to us. As His children, it pulses through our very being as His spirit lives in us, guiding us, strengthening us, teaching us, growing us up in Jesus.
Let’s not be like my brother, who around the holiday dinner table occasionally laments his unused talent, let’s daily plug into the power of God’s presence through prayer and through His Word. It’s time to let go of fear and to live in His power! God’s power will never run out and it will never stop. It is endless and eternal. It is the gift of Himself.
Let’s be all He wants us to be – through the One who gives us strength!
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