Bible League: Living His Word For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.The Apostle Paul felt it was necessary to encourage Timothy to utilize the spiritual gift he had been given. He said, "Do not neglect the gift that is in you, which was given to you by prophecy with the laying on of the hands of the eldership" (I Timothy 4:14) and he said, "I remind you to stir up the gift of God which is in you through the laying on of my hands" (II Timothy 1:6). Why would Paul feel the need to encourage Timothy in this way? Whenever a person puts the gifts of the Holy Spirit into action the Kingdom of God is advanced and enhanced. As a result, opposition from the enemy may arise. There is temptation, then, to refrain from using the gifts in order to avoid the opposition. From Paul's point of view, however, yielding to the opposition is unacceptable. In our verse for today he gives four reasons for this. First, the spirit we have been given is not a spirit of fear. Since the spirit we have been given is the Holy Spirit, the point is well taken. The Holy Spirit has no "gift of fear." If a person experiences fear when faced with opposition, it comes from self or Satan, not the Holy Spirit. Second, the spirit we have been given is a spirit of power. The Holy Spirit enables us to utilize our gifts. This enablement is a powerful spiritual force working in us in order to help us advance and enhance the Kingdom of God. The whole point of it being given is to help us resist opposition, not to shrink back from it. Third, the spirit we have been given is a spirit of love. The Holy Spirit fills us with love for the people to which we minister. This love keeps us from shrinking back as well. It impels us to use our gifts so that people will be helped. Finally, the spirit we have been given is a spirit of a sound mind. When the opposition comes we don't yield to it because we understand what is happening. We act appropriately under the circumstances in order to withstand and overcome the opposition. Don't shrink back in fear. Rather, step forward with all the power, love, and soundness of mind you have been given. Bible in a Year Old Testament ReadingDaniel 3, 4 Daniel 3 -- Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego Refuse to Bow to Golden Image, Survive the Fiery Furnace NIV NLT ESV NAS GWT KJV ASV ERV DRB Daniel 4 -- Nebuchadnezzar's Confession of God's Kingdom; Daniel Interprets the Vision of a Great Tree NIV NLT ESV NAS GWT KJV ASV ERV DRB New Testament Reading 1 John 3 1 John 3 -- He laid down his life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for the brothers. NIV NLT ESV NAS GWT KJV ASV ERV DRB Reading Plan Courtesy of Christian Classics Etherial Library. Tyndale Life Application Daily Devotion And it is impossible to please God without faith. Anyone who wants to come to him must believe that God exists and that he rewards those who sincerely seek him.Insight Believing that God exists is only the beginning; even the demons believe that much. God will not settle for mere acknowledgment of his existence. He wants a personal, dynamic relationship with you that will transform your life. Those who seek God will find that they are rewarded with his intimate presence. Challenge Sometimes we wonder about the fate of those who haven't heard of Christ and have not even had a Bible to read. God assures us that all who honestly seek him—who act in faith on the knowledge of God that they possess—will be rewarded. When you tell others the gospel, encourage them to be honest and diligent in their search for truth. Those who hear the gospel are responsible for what they have heard. Morning and Evening by Spurgeon Acts 18:10 I have much people in this city.This should be a great encouragement to try to do good, since God has among the vilest of the vile, the most reprobate, the most debauched and drunken, an elect people who must be saved. When you take the Word to them, you do so because God has ordained you to be the messenger of life to their souls, and they must receive it, for so the decree of predestination runs. They are as much redeemed by blood as the saints before the eternal throne. They are Christ's property, and yet perhaps they are lovers of the ale-house, and haters of holiness; but if Jesus Christ purchased them he will have them. God is not unfaithful to forget the price which his Son has paid. He will not suffer his substitution to be in any case an ineffectual, dead thing. Tens of thousands of redeemed ones are not regenerated yet, but regenerated they must be; and this is our comfort when we go forth to them with the quickening Word of God. Nay, more, these ungodly ones are prayed for by Christ before the throne. "Neither pray I for these alone," saith the great Intercessor, "but for them also which shall believe on me through their word." Poor, ignorant souls, they know nothing about prayer for themselves, but Jesus prays for them. Their names are on his breastplate, and ere long they must bow their stubborn knee, breathing the penitential sigh before the throne of grace. "The time of figs is not yet." The predestinated moment has not struck; but, when it comes, they shall obey, for God will have his own; they must, for the Spirit is not to be withstood when he cometh forth with fulness of power--they must become the willing servants of the living God. "My people shall be willing in the day of my power." "He shall justify many." "He shall see of the travail of his soul." "I will divide him a portion with the great, and he shall divide the spoil with the strong." Daily Light on the Daily Path Job 28:12 "But where can wisdom be found? And where is the place of understanding?James 1:5,6 But if any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all generously and without reproach, and it will be given to him. • But he must ask in faith without any doubting, for the one who doubts is like the surf of the sea, driven and tossed by the wind. Proverbs 3:5,6 Trust in the LORD with all your heart And do not lean on your own understanding. • In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He will make your paths straight. 1 Timothy 1:17 Now to the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honor and glory forever and ever. Amen. Proverbs 3:7 Do not be wise in your own eyes; Fear the LORD and turn away from evil. Jeremiah 1:6-8 Then I said, "Alas, Lord GOD! Behold, I do not know how to speak, Because I am a youth." • But the LORD said to me, "Do not say, 'I am a youth,' Because everywhere I send you, you shall go, And all that I command you, you shall speak. • "Do not be afraid of them, For I am with you to deliver you," declares the LORD. John 16:23,24 "In that day you will not question Me about anything. Truly, truly, I say to you, if you ask the Father for anything in My name, He will give it to you. • "Until now you have asked for nothing in My name; ask and you will receive, so that your joy may be made full. Matthew 21:22 "And all things you ask in prayer, believing, you will receive." New American Standard Bible Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation, La Habra, Calif. All rights reserved. For Permission to Quote Information visit http://www.lockman.org. |
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