40 Days of Encouragement
Dr Jim Brown's TruNorth Devotional
40 Days of Encouragement
Day 8 | FAN THAT FLAME WITH NO FEAR
40 Days of Encouragement
Day 8 | FAN THAT FLAME WITH NO FEAR
FAN THAT FLAME WITH NO FEAR
2 Timothy 1:6-7
“This is why I remind you to fan into flames the spiritual gift God gave you when I laid my hands on you. For God has not given us a spirit of fear and timidity, but of power, love, and self-discipline.” (NLT)
Every Believer in Christ has received a spiritual gift. They are varied and designed to be used in the church with other believers to provide – via the Holy Spirit – all the talents needed to make a local church work well.
In this last letter to the young pastor, Timothy, Paul was encouraging him (and us too) to USE the spiritual gift he had received from the Holy Spirit. And he gives the picture of fanning a flame in a firepit to make it bigger, hotter, and more effective.
Sometimes though, we are timid when it comes to ministering to others. We are not always sure of ourselves or don’t know what to say or do when we’re in a position to help a brother or sister in Christ. We want to help but are being discouraged (by who, I wonder?) from boldly using what we have received… to minister the spiritual gift we have received from the Holy Spirit. We want to be effective, of course but are often afraid that we’ll goof up or not be appreciated, practical, or even pleasing to the Lord.
Let me say this… the problem I think most Believers have is NOT being ineffective but rather, letting the enemy of our faith talk them out of exercising their gift to another Believer.
I can almost hear the enemy: “Play it safe.” “Don’t embarrass yourself.” “You weren’t invited to do (this or that).” “You’re not a pastor.” And on and on.
Let me say… don’t be afraid! That spirit of FEAR you are feeling is NOT from God, for He "has not given us the spirit of fear but power, love, and self-discipline."
Prayer: LORD, help me to remember this verse and repeat it when I feel afraid to minister my gift to others in the Christian family. Amen.
2 Timothy 1:6-7
“This is why I remind you to fan into flames the spiritual gift God gave you when I laid my hands on you. For God has not given us a spirit of fear and timidity, but of power, love, and self-discipline.” (NLT)
Every Believer in Christ has received a spiritual gift. They are varied and designed to be used in the church with other believers to provide – via the Holy Spirit – all the talents needed to make a local church work well.
In this last letter to the young pastor, Timothy, Paul was encouraging him (and us too) to USE the spiritual gift he had received from the Holy Spirit. And he gives the picture of fanning a flame in a firepit to make it bigger, hotter, and more effective.
Sometimes though, we are timid when it comes to ministering to others. We are not always sure of ourselves or don’t know what to say or do when we’re in a position to help a brother or sister in Christ. We want to help but are being discouraged (by who, I wonder?) from boldly using what we have received… to minister the spiritual gift we have received from the Holy Spirit. We want to be effective, of course but are often afraid that we’ll goof up or not be appreciated, practical, or even pleasing to the Lord.
Let me say this… the problem I think most Believers have is NOT being ineffective but rather, letting the enemy of our faith talk them out of exercising their gift to another Believer.
I can almost hear the enemy: “Play it safe.” “Don’t embarrass yourself.” “You weren’t invited to do (this or that).” “You’re not a pastor.” And on and on.
Let me say… don’t be afraid! That spirit of FEAR you are feeling is NOT from God, for He "has not given us the spirit of fear but power, love, and self-discipline."
Prayer: LORD, help me to remember this verse and repeat it when I feel afraid to minister my gift to others in the Christian family. Amen.