2 Timothy 1:7- For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind. NKJV
Today, I want to begin going through the book of 2 Timothy! It is believed that 1 Timothy was written when Paul was arrested in the book of Acts. However, the time for the writing of 2 Timothy was later, before Paul was executed. Paul writes to Timothy to give him final instructions on how to live for God. These instructions are not only beneficial to leaders but also to the body of Christ. Before blogging on a subject, I typically check to see what I have already written. I discovered this post in the early part of 2022 and decided it was worthy of reposting. I have edited it and made some changes, so if you so desire, you can go back and read the original post!
We’ve finally gotten to a place where COVID isn’t dictating our every move and we can breathe a little easier! Or can we? This school year alone, we have had a string of people in our building who were reinfected with the virus. Fortunately, they recovered and are doing well! As the world watches what is unfolding in Ukraine and Israel we can’t help but wonder, where will this all end? Fear is always looking for a way to overtake us, but God’s plan involves us overtaking fear!
The first part of this verse is really key to understanding the entire verse. For God has not given us the spirit of fear! Whether Paul is referencing an evil spirit or an attitude of fear, we know that he is saying it doesn’t come from God!
We don’t have to do a Google search to figure out what is meant by the word fear. Fear enters our hearts when we become anxious, worried, sense danger, or are distressed over something. And fear is something that we have all experienced on some level! But again, the wonderful thing about fear is that it doesn’t come from God!
As I mentioned already, there is a lot of fear being stirred over what is happening in Ukraine. I can hardly stand to view the news coverage of what they are going through. I applaud their strength and tenacity to fight for their freedom while mourning for the country and its people. It’s enough to cause us all to fear. Then there is the war in the Gaza Strip. There are no words to express the sorrow of what happened in Israel, or of what is happening in the Gaza Strip! We need divine intervention in both of these situations. But as believers, we have been admonished by God to not embrace fear. Let’s continue to pray that God will indeed intervene in these conflicts!
The psalmist wrote these words that give me great comfort:
You shall not be afraid of the terror by night, nor of the arrow that flies by day, nor of the pestilence that walks in darkness, nor of the destruction that lays waste at noonday.
Psalm 91:5-6 NKJV
The psalmist didn’t write that we would not witness these things. Nor did he promise that they would never happen around us. But he encourages us to not be afraid of the things that happen during the night. He tells us that bombs, arrows, and even bullets on the highway may be a reality, but we are not to take on fear. He said that we would experience world pandemics and a threat of destruction, but we are not to lay hold to fear! Although we can attribute these words to the psalmist, we know that God authored them! It is He who continues to encourage us to not be afraid!
The second thing Paul tells us about fear is that it is a spirit. And since he told us that it’s not from God, it has to be from lies we have embraced or the devil! In 1 John, we are told that fear involves torment. When we allow the spirit of fear (actual spirit or an attitude of fear) to have a dominant role in our lives, we invite torment to come and reside with us! Torment has the power to make our lives miserable. It paralyzes us, causing us to become immobile so that all we can do is wallow in our fears!
David wrote these words:
Whenever I am afraid, I will trust in You. In God (I will praise His word), In God I have put my trust; I will not fear. What can flesh do to me?
Psalm 56:3-4 NKJV
David’s attitude is the attitude that we should all embrace and it is key when fear comes around. We must learn to trust in God. There is no getting over fear without trust in God. David said that when he put his trust in God, he was determined to not give in to fear. That has to become our attitude to walk free of fear!
Paul wrote that God did not give us the spirit of fear, but there are some things that God has given us. He has given us a spirit of power! Dunamis power! Why would fear and power be in the same thought in Paul’s mind? I am sure it’s because Paul is telling us that God has given us the power to conquer our fears.
Paul was actually encouraging Timothy in this passage. Paul fondly remembers the time he spent with Timothy. Paul told Timothy that every time he thinks of him, he stops and prays for him. This is an example that we can all follow. How many times do people come to mind that you haven’t seen or spoken with in a while? That’s probably a good time to stop and pray for them!
Paul reminisces about Timothy’s heritage of faith which he received from his maternal side of the family. Paul rejoices in the gift that Timothy received when he laid his hands upon Timothy and the Holy Spirit flowed through him. Then Paul encouraged Timothy to keep that gift flowing in his life and ministry. Don’t let fear overtake you, overtake it! That’s not from God, so don’t receive it!
What God did give to Timothy, and to us when He gave gifts, was the power to operate in the gift! Many people are gifted, but if that gift is being hidden because of fear, what good is the gift? When God bestowed gifts on us, it was with the intent that we would use them for His glory. Fear is designed to keep us from operating in our gifts for the glory of God! Don’t allow it!
I know people whom God has gifted to sing, but they allow fear to keep them on the sidelines of life. The fear of standing in front of a crowd, or the fear of messing up, or not being good enough has them paralyzed! Well, if that’s you, it’s time to break free of that spirit and allow God’s power to enable you to operate in your gift!
Then God gave the spirit of love!
And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing.
1 Corinthians 13:2 NKJV
Ministry is most effective when the people of God feel loved! Whether it is a kind word, a hug, a phone call, or some type of service, people have a greater appreciation of it when they sense the love behind it. For Timothy to continue to honor God with his work in the ministry, love had to be preeminent in all that he did. The same is true for those of us who serve in the church today!
Lastly, Paul wrote that God has given us a sound mind! Yes! And thank you, Jesus! When people aren’t thinking right, it isn’t God! God has given His children a sound mind. Well, in this case, in keeping in mind what Paul is talking about, a sound mind refers to a disciplined mind. A person who walks in the knowledge of who they are in Christ, even in their mind. So when fear comes to the attack, you don’t lose your mind! Your mind stays at peace and in agreement with what God has already said about the situation! You resist the spirit of fear, and because you have a sound mind, you don’t give over to your emotions!
There’s so much in this single verse that Paul was writing to Timothy, and therefore to us! There will always be something going on around us designed to cause fear to rise up in us! There will always be a new task, step, or endeavor we can walk into, and fear will be hanging around, waiting to keep us from being a success! But when we understand what God has given us, to overcome that fear, it will be powerless to stop us! Wonderful Jesus!
Wonderful Jesus! 