January 15, 2015

“For This Reason I Remind You…”

Blessings folk!

The next verse begins with “for this reason…”
What reason?

Paul reminded Timothy of the sincere faith they both had...now…

2 Timothy 1:6-7
6 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,
7 for God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control.

Paul had encouraged Timothy by reminding him of the faith in momma and grandma.

Now, Paul exhorts Timothy to do something.

Fan into flame the gift of God.

Interesting.

What is the “gift of God” that is referenced?
We learn some things…

• Timothy had the capability to fan it into flame...which means…
• The gift was there...even if in ember form…
• It can be fanned into flame...intensified…
• It can be “unfanned”...quenched?...yet not doused
• The gift came through the laying on of Paul’s hands

We are not told specifically what the gift is.

I suspect it has to do with receiving the power of the Holy Spirit and the giftedness of the Spirit. In Timothy’s case specifically related to proclaiming the gospel message and teaching. The Lord used Paul to release such through Timothy.

But, note what else is said in the same sentence.

Paul tells Timothy that God has given us a spirit of…

• power
• love
• self-control

...not fear.

This tells us some about Timothy...he was experiencing fear...he was withdrawn in spirit. Paul was telling him to walk not in fear, to fan into flame what the Lord provided.

We will learn more about Timothy as we progress through the letter.

We also see that we as True Believers have not a spirit of fear, but rather we have power, we have love, we have self-control.

The Spirit provides all three.
We simply need to appropriate what is provided...abide in the Lord...walk in obedience.
The Lord will do as He desires in each of us.

Today:

• fear not
• fan into flame the giftedness the Lord is releasing
• live in the power of God
• love
• manifest self-control