Kindle Afresh the Gift of God

2 Timothy 1:6-10

Verse 6. "For this reason I remind you to kindle afresh the gift of God which is in you through the laying on of my hands."

"Use it or lose it" remained a popular expression in the late 20th Century, and it was applied to both mental and physical activities. What we have received from God, such as our muscles, should be used if possible or they will atrophy. Most people do not even recognize that God gives additional abilities through His Holy Spirit to those who will receive them, but He does, and Timothy is encouraged here to USE the "gift of God," lest it atrophy within him. Timothy's "gift of God" is not specified, which is just as well because this warning, this concern applies to all who have trusted in the Lord and have received the various gifts of the Holy Spirit. We are to use what we have been given.

If you have been given a gift of what is called "healing," then keep on praying for the sick, for your gift will grow stronger as it is used and people will be restored. Many of the gifts are listed in 1 Corinthians Chapters 12 and 14, with a break in between, showing us in Chapter 13 that the greatest gift of all is the agape "love" of God in us. Listed in Chapter 12 are, "wisdom... knowledge... faith... healings... miracles... prophecy... discerning of spirits... tongues... (and) interpretation of tongues" (1 Corinthians 12:4-10). The gifts take differing forms in different people, and it is likely that each one of us is uniquely gifted, and all of us are absolutely necessary to all others in the body of Christ. So whatever God has gifted you with, "kindle afresh" that gift and use it for the glory of God.

Verse 7. "For God has not given us a spirit of timidity, but of power and love and discipline."

Actually, the "spirit of timidity" seems to be strangely prevalent in our churches of today. Where currently are the gifts of God mentioned by Paul in Verse 6? Imitations of them abound, but where are the real gifts? Paul had prayed for Timothy, who, as a result received a "gift of God" as a response to the prayerful "laying on of (Paul's) hands" on the younger man. We do not directly know through the context of these verses what that gift might have been, but the fact is, there were many gifts in operation in the church of that time which are not seen today. How often has "discerning of spirits" been used in your church? The answer to the question, "Where did they go?" maybe at least partly due to the fact that most of them are "low-key" in nature and usually not seen by others, but also due to the "timidity" of those in today's church.

Paul is giving us a look at the OPPOSITE of "timidity," which he referred to as "power and love and discipline." The Greek word for "discipline" here can also be translated as "saving the mind" or a "sound mind." Now, none of the three, power, love and a sound mind can be made ours through our own strength and abilities. Paul observes the human tendency toward "timidity," whereas "power and love and discipline" are given to us by God. As is true of all that is given by the Lord, there are indeed imitations of these qualities, but what we need, what the world needs, is that which is directly from the Throne of God to those who have faith in the Lord, through His Holy Spirit.

Verse 8. "Therefore do not be ashamed of the testimony of our Lord or of me His prisoner, but join with me in suffering for the gospel according to the power of God,"

There are two areas of our Christian walk through life in which we can become confused: 1) The Gospel, the Good News about the Lord can be a stumbling block for those who don't fully understand what was done for us as individuals and for humanity; and 2) We can study the lives of Christians we know or hear about and become very troubled because of what they have done and what has happened to them. In the first place it is clear that our Leader, Jesus the Christ who is the "Gospel" incarnate, died the death of a common criminal. Some have stumbled because of the nature of His death. Note that lots of people have died in such a manner, but His was utterly different because it was the only death in human history that offers LIFE to all who place their faith in the One who died and rose again.

Paul was fully aware that some are ashamed, as seen in this verse and in places like Romans 1:16, where he cried out, "I am not ashamed of the Gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes, for the Jew first and also for the Greek." Our part is merely to TRUST in what the Lord has done. Paul continued in Romans 1:17, "For in it (the Gospel) the righteousness of God is revealed from faith; as it is written, 'The just shall live by faith.'" And we can be put-off by the people who are often called "Christians." Many have become role models for others and then have fallen. Paul did nothing wrong, but was in prison and many were disturbed by what had happened to him. Let's give one another the freedom to repent of what we or they have done, and as to those like Paul who are wrongly convicted by society, by the church, or by our own attitudes, let's become willing to receive them, to surround them with the love of God that is supposed to be in us.

Verse 9. "who has saved us and called us with a holy calling, not according to our works, but according to His own purpose and grace which was granted us in Christ Jesus from all eternity,"

Many have been blessed through the centuries by the words of Ephesians 2:8-9, which says, "For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast." We can all breathe a sigh of relief as we read those words and the words of this verse originally written to Timothy, because it is written that we do not have to strive or work to be saved. Our attitudes are the basis of our outward actions, and all of us have had thoughts that would disqualify us from the kingdom of God. As Paul pointed out in another place, "ALL have sinned and come short of the glory of God" (Romans 3:23).

"Works" do not save us, but when we place our faith in the Lord and let Him into our lives, the good works do begin to happen. That can be seen in Ephesians 2:10, where Paul continued, "We are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them." God has "His own purpose" for us, and He gives us "grace, which was granted us in Christ Jesus from all eternity." The Lord established a blueprint, a plan for each of our lives before we were ever born and when we relax and let ourselves trust in Him, He will bring that blueprint to pass in our lives.

Verse 10. "but now has been revealed by the appearing of our Savior Christ Jesus, who abolished death and brought life and immortality to light through the gospel,"

There is so much grief in the world because of death, a humanly irreversible ending for every one of us. It takes those we love, one-by-one, and then we, too, are swept into its grip. "Fear of death" keeps all humanity in bondage, for we have all become its slaves as you can read in Hebrews 2:15. These verses in 2nd Timothy are extremely important because we are shown how we can be released from death altogether. It's as though we are in a crowded theater and someone shouts "Fire, Fire!" We don't want it to be true, but we can smell the smoke and people are running.

And then through the darkness we see the neon sign that says, "Exit." There is a way out and what we must do is go through that door. Our "Exit" door is "our Savior Christ Jesus who abolished death and brought life and immortality to light through the gospel." As Jesus Himself said, though His listeners at the moment did not understand His words, "I am the door. If anyone enters by Me, he will be saved..." (John 10:9). If at this moment you simply allow yourself to have the faith that the "Exit" door offered in Christ will take you to safety, then "death" WILL be "abolished" for you. Your body may die for a time, but you will live. Will you trust in the Lord?

Thank You, Lord, for when You saw our condition, You did not turn Your back on us or destroy us, but came to us, responded to our need and died a terrible death in our place that gives us life. We confess our sins, and ask that You will forgive us. Save us, Lord; we trust in You now. Thank You. In Jesus Name. Amen.

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"While we were yet sinners, Christ died for us" (Romans 5:8)