Compiled By: Lisa K Gonzales
From: The Life Application Study Bible
5 “I know that you sincerely trust the Lord, for you have the faith of your mother, Eunice, and your grandmother, Lois. 6 This is why I remind you to fan into flames the spiritual gift GOD gave you when I laid my hands on you. 7 For GOD has not given us a spirit of fear and timidity, but of power, love, and self-discipline.” ~ 2 Timothy 1:5-7
Timothy’s mother, Eunice, and his grandmother, Lois, were early Christian converts, possibly through Paul’s ministry in their home city of Lystra. – “Paul and Silas went first to Derbe and then on to Lystra. There they met Timothy, a young disciple whose mother was a Jewish believer, but whose father was a Greek.” – Acts 16:1 – Timothy is the first second-generation Christian mentioned in the New Testament. His mother, Eunice and grandmother Lois, had become believers and had faithfully influenced him for the Lord. Although Timothy’s father apparently was not a Christian, the faithfulness of Timothy’s mother and grandmother prevailed. We should never underestimate the effect of GODly parenting of our children. These women had communicated their strong Christian faith to Timothy, even though his father was probably not a believer. – Do not hide your light at home; our families are fertile fields for planting seeds of the Good News. We all need to let our parents, children, spouse, brothers and sisters know of our faith in Jesus, and be sure they see Christ’s love, helpfulness, and joy in us.
At the time of his ordination, Timothy had received special gifts of the Spirit to enable him to serve the church. – “Do not neglect the spiritual gift you received through the prophecies spoken to you when the elders of the church laid their hands on you.” – 1 Timothy 4:14 – In telling Timothy to “fan into flames the spiritual gift GOD gave you”, Paul was encouraging him to persevere. Timothy did not need new relations or new gifts, he needed the courage and self-discipline to hold on to the truth and to use the gifts he had already received. If Timothy would step out boldly in faith and proclaim the Good News once again, the Holy Spirit would go with him and give him power. When we use the gifts GOD has given us, we will find that GOD will give us the power we need. It is clear that Timothy’s spiritual gift had been given to him when Paul, and the elders laid their hands on him and set him apart for ministry. – GOD gives all Christians gifts to use to build up the body of Christ, and HE gives special gifts to some through church leaders, who serve as GOD’s instruments.
Timothy was experiencing great opposition to his message and to himself as a leader. His youth, his association with Paul, and his leadership had come under fire from believers and nonbelievers alike. Paul urged him to be bold. – When we allow people to intimidate us, we neutralize our effectiveness for GOD. The power of the Holy Spirit can help us overcome our fear of what some might say or do to us, so that we can continue to do GOD’s work.
Paul mentions three characteristics of the effective Christian leader: power, love, and self-discipline. These are available to us because the Holy Spirit lives in us. Follow His leading each day so that your life will more fully exhibit these characteristics.
By-products of the Holy Spirit: – 22 “But when the Holy Spirit controls our lives, HE will produce this kind of fruit in us: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, and self-control. Here there is no conflict with the law.” – Galatians 5:22-23
We sincerely trust YOU, LORD. Thank YOU, for the gifts of the Holy Spirit. Help us Father GOD, to fan into flames the spiritual gifts YOU have given us. Help us to be bold, because YOU have not given us a spirit of fear and timidity, but of power, love, and self-discipline. We know that the power of the Holy Spirit can help us overcome our fear of what some might say or do to us, so that we can continue to do YOUR work, and we know that when the Holy Spirit controls our lives, HE will produce this kind of fruit in us: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. Thank YOU, LORD that these characteristics are available to us because of the Holy Spirit who lives inside of us.
Photo: Sunset at Surfside (Surfside Beach, Texas)
Photo By: Lisa K Gonzales
Click on the photo to enlarge
