For God has not given us a spirit of fear and timidity, but of power, love, and self-discipline. 2 Timothy 1:7
During our current series, “You Were Made for This,” we are studying Nehemiah’s story in the book of Nehemiah. In our Bible study yesterday, we saw that when God gave Nehemiah, the cupbearer to the king of Persia, an opportunity to do something about the divine burden that He had given him to see the walls of Jerusalem be rebuilt, he seized it. He recognized the opportunity God had given him and shared his divine burden with the king. There is a very interesting piece of information that Nehemiah gives us that, if we do not read carefully, we might miss. As he brought up the state of Jerusalem and requested a chance to go to Jerusalem to help rebuild its walls, he wrote, “I was terrified” (Nehemiah 2:2). Nehemiah understood that the king might not respond favorably to his request. He knew that things might not go well for him if he had a conversation about Jerusalem and its lack of walls with the king. He was not just fearful, but terrified. Even still, he courageously had the necessary conversation with the king, sharing with him his grief over the state of Jerusalem and its walls. Even though Nehemiah felt fear, He did not choose to give in to fear. Instead, he chose to keep moving forward. He chose to, as we were reminded in the weekend message, "do it scared."
Throughout Scripture, we are called to move forward in spite of fear. For example, the apostle Paul told Timothy not to give in to fear in the book of 2nd Timothy. As he wrote to Timothy, he commended Timothy for his faith, then said to him, “Fan into flames the spiritual gift God gave you when I laid my hands on you” (verse 6). In other words, Paul encouraged Timothy to use the gifts that God had given him to honor God through his words and actions. Next, Paul wrote, “For God has not given us a spirit of fear and timidity, but of power, love, and self-discipline” (verse 7). What was true for Timothy is also true for us. Instead of fear, God has given us a spirit of power, love, and self- discipline. As a result, we can act and live confidently, even if we feel fear. The power, love, and self-discipline that God gives us are greater than our fear.
When it comes to the divine burdens that God has given us, fear might creep up. Even if we feel fearful, we can move forward, courageously acting on the burdens God has given us. We can "do it scared." After all, God has given us a spirit of power, love, and self-discipline. Even more, if he has placed a divine burden on our hearts, we can be confident that He will give us the courage and ability to act on it.
Memorize 2nd Timothy 1:7. Let this verse come to mind any time you begin to feel fearful, especially when it comes to acting on the divine burden that God has given you. Choose to lean in to the power, love, and self-discipline that God has given you instead of fear.
2nd Timothy 1:1-18
1 This letter is from Paul, chosen by the will of God to be an apostle of Christ Jesus. I have been sent out to tell others about the life he has promised through faith in Christ Jesus.
2 I am writing to Timothy, my dear son.
May God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord give you grace, mercy, and peace.
3 Timothy, I thank God for you—the God I serve with a clear conscience, just as my ancestors did. Night and day I constantly remember you in my prayers. 4 I long to see you again, for I remember your tears as we parted. And I will be filled with joy when we are together again.
5 I remember your genuine faith, for you share the faith that first filled your grandmother Lois and your mother, Eunice. And I know that same faith continues strong in you. 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.
8 So never be ashamed to tell others about our Lord. And don’t be ashamed of me, either, even though I’m in prison for him. With the strength God gives you, be ready to suffer with me for the sake of the Good News. 9 For God saved us and called us to live a holy life. He did this, not because we deserved it, but because that was his plan from before the beginning of time—to show us his grace through Christ Jesus. 10 And now he has made all of this plain to us by the appearing of Christ Jesus, our Savior. He broke the power of death and illuminated the way to life and immortality through the Good News. 11 And God chose me to be a preacher, an apostle, and a teacher of this Good News.
12 That is why I am suffering here in prison. But I am not ashamed of it, for I know the one in whom I trust, and I am sure that he is able to guard what I have entrusted to him until the day of his return.
13 Hold on to the pattern of wholesome teaching you learned from me—a pattern shaped by the faith and love that you have in Christ Jesus. 14 Through the power of the Holy Spirit who lives within us, carefully guard the precious truth that has been entrusted to you.
15 As you know, everyone from the province of Asia has deserted me—even Phygelus and Hermogenes.
16 May the Lord show special kindness to Onesiphorus and all his family because he often visited and encouraged me. He was never ashamed of me because I was in chains. 17 When he came to Rome, he searched everywhere until he found me. 18 May the Lord show him special kindness on the day of Christ’s return. And you know very well how helpful he was in Ephesus.
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