Paul's Exhortations & Instructions to Brother Timothy 2nd Letter Volume 5

Paul Reminds Timothy of the Greatness of God the Holy Spirit

2 Timothy 1:7 For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind. KJV

The Apostle Paul tells Timothy now the very reason why he (and everyone of us who are true believers in our Lord, Master, and Savior Jesus Christ) should stir up the gift of God in him and in us is, "For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind." (2 Timothy 1:7) (KJV). The Holy Spirit is not just the gift from God to us, but He is God (the third member of the Trinity) in each and everyone of us who have been born again by Him. The little English phrase 'of fear' used here is translated by the Greek word deilia meaning (as used here this one time only in the entire New Testament)  timidity or better, of cowardice: - fear. The little English phrase  'of power' used here is translated by the Greek word dunamis (as used here) meaning force (literally or figuratively); specifically miraculous power or even extreme boldness. The little English phrase 'of love' used here is translated by the Greek word agapē (as used here) meaning love, that is, affection or benevolence; specifically (plural) a love feast: - (feast of) charity, dear, love. In other words, Timothy and each and everyone of us who are true believers 'in Christ' have been in dwelt and eternally sealed by God the Holy Spirit Himself as it is written by this same Apostle Paul with these words to the Corinthian Church, "But it is God Who confirms {and} makes us steadfast {and} establishes us [in joint fellowship] with you in Christ, and has consecrated {and} anointed us [enduing us with the gifts of the Holy Spirit]; [He has also appropriated and acknowledged us as His by] putting His seal upon us and giving us His [Holy] Spirit in our hearts as the security deposit {and} guarantee [of the fulfillment of His promise]." (2 Corinthians 1:21:22) (Amplified Bible).

Therefore, we know that God is All Powerful and Almighty. We just learned this past week of a fellow brother 'in Christ' who was moved by God the Holy Spirit to take the Gospel of Jesus Christ to a people living on a remote Island south of India. This man was warned about the reality of the danger of trying to go there and make contact with these people (who have in times past killed people who ventured onto the Island they occupy), however, this follower of Christ was compelled by his love for our Lord Jesus Christ (2 Corinthians 5:14) and his desire to be obedient to God the Holy Spirit (who surely led him to that place) with these words of our Lord Jesus also sounding in his heart and mind, "I tell you, My friends, do not dread {and} be afraid of those who kill the body and after that have nothing more that they can do. But I will warn you whom you should fear: fear Him Who, after killing, has power to hurl into hell (Gehenna); yes, I say to you, fear Him! Are not five sparrows sold for two pennies? And [yet] not one of them is forgotten {or} uncared for in the presence of God. But [even] the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Do not be struck with fear {or} seized with alarm; you are of greater worth than many [flocks] of sparrows. And I tell you, Whoever declares openly [speaking out freely] {and} confesses that he is My worshiper {and} acknowledges Me before men, the Son of Man also will declare {and} confess {and} acknowledge him before the angels of God. But he who disowns {and} denies {and} rejects {and} refuses to acknowledge Me before men will be disowned {and} denied {and} rejected {and} refused acknowledgement in the presence of the angels of God." (Luke 12:4-9) (Amplified Bible).

Note: "When we grieve God the Holy Spirit (who indwells all of us true Christians), then we cause Him to be inactive in our daily lives and we have no boldness or power from Him to witness for our Lord Jesus Christ, but instead we are operating in the flesh which is of no use or benefit to and for Christ Jesus our Lord and for the building up of His Body the Church." Here is what Albert Barnes had to say about not being given the spirit of fear but of power and of love, "A timorous and servile spirit. This is said in order to encourage Timothy, who was not improbably modest and diffident. Power to encounter foes and dangers; power to bear up under trials; power to triumph in persecutions. That is, it is the nature of the Gospel to inspire the mind with holy courage. Love to God and to the souls of men. The tendency of This, also, is to 'cast out fear' 1 John 4:18, and to make the mind bold and constant. Nothing will do more to inspire courage, to make a man fearless of danger, or ready to endure privation and persecution, than 'love.' The love of country, and wife, and children, and home, makes the most timid bold when they are assailed; and the love of Christ and of a dying world nerves the soul to great enterprises, and sustains it in the deepest sorrows."

The little English phrase 'of a sound mind' is translated by the Greek word sōphronismos meaning (as used here this one time only in the entire New Testament) discipline, that is, self control: - sound mind. Here is what Alexander MacLaren had to say concerning the sound mind, "We have only to look at ourselves and see how there are in us a whole clamorous mob of desires, like nine-days kittens, with their eyes shut and their mouths open, yelping for their sustenance; and, further, to mark how in each man there is a voice that says, 'Thou shalt, thou shalt not; thou oughtest, thou oughtest not' - we need only, I say, look at ourselves to know that he is meant to coerce and keep well down under hatches all these blind propensions and desires, and to set sovereign above them a will that cannot be bribed, a reason that will not be deceived, and a conscience that will be true to God. Govern yourselves, or you will come all to pieces. Yes, and what is the use of saying that to men who cannot govern themselves, whose very disease is that they cannot; and who cry out often and often, sometimes before they have gone wrong and sometimes afterwards, 'Who shall deliver me from the body of this death?' It is no use to tell a discrowned and deposed monarch to rule his kingdom. The mischief is that it is in full revolt, and he has no soldiers behind him. As Bishop Butler says, 'If conscience had power, as it has authority, it would govern the world.' But authority without power is but a jest. So it is no good for conscience to give forth proclamations that are worth no more than the paper that they are written on, when my will has been talked over or enfeebled, and my desires and passions have got the bit between their teeth, and are tearing down the road to the inevitable collision. Brethren, there is only one thing that will give complete self-command. If you make trial, I will guarantee that it will not fail. Trust to Jesus Christ; ask Him to govern, and He will help you to control yourselves. That is the noblest conquest that any man can make. 'Every man is a king, and crowns himself when he puts on his own hat,' says our quaint moralist. Wherever you are master, be you master inside your own soul. And that you may, be the servant of Him who alone will make you master of yourself and of the world. In Christ the most timid may 'wax valiant in fight,' the weakest may be made strong, the most self-centred heart be opened for love which is peace and joy, and the wildest revolt in the little kingdom within may be subdued. If we will only go to Him, and trust Him with ourselves, and live in true communion with Him, and in patient exercise of the gifts that He bestows, then He will say to us as of old, 'Fear not! My strength is made perfect in weakness.' His love will kindle answering flames in us; and He who brought the raging maniac, whom no chains could bind, to sit quietly at His feet, will give us authority over the one city which we have to govern, and will make the flesh the servant of the emancipated and enfranchised spirit."

If you do not know the Lord Jesus Christ and His amazing healing power, pray this from your heart to the Lord Jesus Christ (you speaking directly to Him), Dear Lord Jesus, I confess to You that I am a sinner and I need Your forgiveness. I believe You shed Your Blood and died for my sins. I believe that You rose from the dead proving that You alone are God. I repent of my sins. I want to turn from my sins. I ask You Dear Lord Jesus to come into my heart and take control of my life. I want You to be my Lord, Savior, and my God. Amen...

Sincerely in Christ,

Clifford D. Tate, Sr.
Author of “Silent Assassins of the Soul - Are you Broken by Pornography and Masturbation? You can be Restored by the Lord Jesus Christ and brought into Deliverance, Freedom, and Victory! A Guide for Men and Women in the Enemy’s Crosshairs” e-book available now @ Amazon Kindle, @ Apple I Bookstore for IPod, Barnes and Noble for Nook, Reader Store for Sony Reade, Kobo, Copia, Gardners, Baker and Taylor, and eBookPie…