Before telling him things like "be diligent," "pursue righteousness, faith, love, peace," "do not quarrel," "Preach the word," Paul actually begins his exhortation by pointing Timothy to the source of his power and strength. He says, "stir up the gift of God which is in you through the laying on of my hands. For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind." (2 Timothy 1:6-7)
This gift of God is the Spirit of God. The word "stir up" in the Greek denotes "to keep in full flame." In Strong's Concordance the definition continues, "the 'gift of God' is regarded as a fire capable of dying out through neglect." Did you catch that?
As a believer we have been given His holy Spirit as a gift, a foretaste, of glory divine. His Spirit is power to the believer. But if we neglect the fire of His Spirit then the flame will die out. To walk in power we must be diligent to kindle the fire. So how do we stir up His Spirit within us? We meditate on truth! Friends, to have a life--a spirit--that is fiery in the power of His might we must be in His Word. It is a discipline vital--absolutely necessary--to the life of victory.
Persecutions will come. Trials will fall. People will disappoint. If we as children of God want to truly stand firm as a victor in spite of our circumstance, we must stir up the gift within us. We must have truth enveloping our minds--taking every thought captive to obedience to Christ.
Dig in. Taste and see that He is good. His Word is life to our weary bones. His Word disposes of fear and cuts to the very core. As Paul reminds Timothy, "All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man (or woman) of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work." (2 Timothy 3:16-17)
So, stir IT up.
1 comment:
I like that terminology. What a crazy thing to think about, that the amazing power of the spirit of God within us can actually sizzle out with neglect, like the embers of a fire--still there, but not nearly as powerful. I'm with ya. Stir IT up, girl!!!
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