2 Timothy 1:7(NKJV)
7For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.
As we close out this week, I want to look at one more scripture related to overcoming fear in our lives. This was critical to Israel’s ability to cross into the destiny God had for them as they faced the impossible obstacle of the Red Sea. It is also vital to us as we believe God for the move of the spirit that will bring us into the destiny God has planned for our generation. The devil wants us to be dominated by fear, but God calls us to live a life dominated by faith in him. We have looked at many things that helped Israel do that and we can apply these same principles and attitudes to our own lives.
Today I want to look at something Israel did not have. They did not have this promise in 2 Timothy, but we do. I have not been given a spirit of fear. I have been given a 3 fold gift by God that will render fear powerless in my life.
As we have noted this week, the world tends to flow from a fear orientation. Life is evaluated on the basis of what we must fear and how we avoid whatever that is. We fear the future so we must plan for retirement. We fear for our health so we must have health insurance. We fear that a catastrophe will come into our life so we have all sorts of insurance to cover any eventuality. We fear the flu so we must have flu shots just in case we get the disease. We spend so much time preparing to endure the rainy day we forget to enjoy the sun.
None of this is wrong. We should be wise in our approach to such things, but while we are exercising wisdom, lets not forget that our primary source of confidence and security for the future is The Lord. If I have healing I don’t need health insurance. I may get it anyway, but I don’t trust in it. If I have the promise of God to supply my needs, I may have a savings account but I have no problem making it available to help others or build the kingdom of God. What is my focus? Is it fear or is it faith? If it is fear we have a problem.
Fear is like a cancer. If we don’t deal with it it will grow and negatively affect some area of life. How do I get rid of it. I believe this verse is a major key for the believer. Paul wrote this to his son in the faith. Timothy was very important to Paul and he would have been careful to give him the counsel he really needed. The context of this advice is Timothy’s tendency to be timid where the gift and call of God were concerned. To Paul, nothing was more important in Timothy’s life. Timothy could not allow fear to hinder God’s gift through him to the church.
How did Paul attack fear in Timothy’s life. By letting him know what he had been given by the Lord. You see in Timothy’s life fear was a product of a number of things. It was probably a tendency in his personality. It might have been rooted in the fact that he seems to have grown up in a household without a male parent. At the very least his father was not a man of faith since Paul mentions the faith of Timothy’s mother and grandmother but not his father. It might have been the simple fact that Christianity was considered a sect and was subject to persecution. Whatever the cause, Timothy was struggling against a spirit of fear. The devil was trying to get him to live by fear and not by faith.
What was Paul’s solution? Paul reminded Timothy that, although the world and his personality may have made him subject to a spirit of fear, God had given him something else. God had given Timothy a spirit of power, love and a sound mind. This was Timothy’s heritage in the Lord. Timothy needed to receive that by faith. This letter was not just written to Timothy. It made it into the new Testament. That means it was also written to you and me.
Whatever the source of fear may be in your life, remember this. It did not come from God. It may be a personality weakness. It may be real life issues that you face. It may be an attack of the devil himself, but it did not come from God. Never, ever, no way!
What was given to you by God is a different spirit. It is a spirit of Love. Perfect Love casts out fear. (1 John 4:18) Just as fear will hinder and even cancel our faith, love cancels fear. Where the love of God flows fear cannot exist. This love has been shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Spirit. (Rom 5:5) It’s in there. When fear tries to come upon us we need to call on this wonderful gift.
He has also given us access to his power. What do I have to fear if the power of God is working in my life.
Finally God has given me a sound mind. Fear attacks the mind, but my Father has given me a sound mind. A mind full of faith. A mind under the control of the Word of God.
Fear cannot stand against these things. Lay hold of them by faith today. Prepare for the future cultivating these gifts from God before fear strikes. When it does you will see these three forces rise up from you spirit and attack fear before it has a chance to gain a foothold. What will result is a life lived by genuine faith in God.
Leave a Reply