DON’T BE ASHAMED OF THE SPIRIT OF GOD WHO LIVES IN YOU

From The Heart

Publish date: 12/06/2004

Paul, an apostle (special messenger) of Christ Jesus by the will of God, according to the promise of life that is in Christ Jesus, 2 To Timothy, [my] beloved child: Grace (favor and spiritual blessing), mercy, and [heart] peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord! 3 I thank God Whom I worship with a pure conscience, in the spirit of my fathers, when without ceasing I remember you night and day in my prayers, 4 And when, as I recall your tears, I yearn to see you so that I may be filled with joy. 5 I am calling up memories of your sincere and unqualified faith (the leaning of your entire personality on God in Christ in absolute trust and confidence in His power, wisdom, and goodness), [a faith] that first lived permanently in [the heart of] your grandmother Lois and your mother Eunice and now, I am [fully] persuaded, [dwells] in you also. 6 That is why I would remind you to stir up (rekindle the embers of, fan the flame of, and keep burning) the [gracious] gift of God, [the inner fire] that is in you by means of the laying on of my hands [with those of the elders at your ordination]. 7 For God did not give us a spirit of timidity (of cowardice, of craven and cringing and fawning fear), but [He has given us a spirit] of power and of love and of calm and well-balanced mind and discipline and self-control.  2 Timothy 1:1-7 AMP

 

God has a wonderful plan and purpose for every person on the face of the earth, but most of them don't know it at all, because the devil tries to keep them ignorant of the perfect will of God for their lives. Even Christians sometimes are ignorant of the word of God and His calling on their lives, because they don't keep God's word before their eyes and in their mouth. Even if you know that God has called you, anointed you, and appointed you, you might forget to trust and rely on Him and the power of the Holy Spirit that already resides on the inside of you.

 

Paul speaks to Timothy here in this epistle, but his advice applies to all of us. Stir up the gift of God that is in you. Don't forget what God has done in you and don't take His anointing for granted. God anoints you for the same purpose that He anointed Jesus. He anoints you with the Holy Spirit, strength, ability and power so that you can do good and heal all who are harassed and oppressed by the power of the devil, in the wonderful Name of Jesus (Acts 10:38). Because of this, the devil will try to stop you by causing you to draw back through the fear – through fear of the devil, himself, and through fear of man. When you are too afraid of man you will back off of the word of God, the power of God and the anointing that resides in you.    

 

However, God has not given you a spirit of timidity - of cowardice or craven, cringing and fawning fear - but He has given you a spirit of power and a spirit of love and of a calm and well-balanced mind and He has given you a spirit of discipline and self-control. You have the ability and the spiritual equipment to carry out the plan and purpose of God for your life. Do not allow the devil to hinder you or harass you. Don't be afraid of people's opinion. Don't allow them to stop you from operating in your call and your anointing and your gift.

 

Do not blush or be ashamed then, to testify to and for our Lord, nor of me, a prisoner for His sake, but [with me] take your share of the suffering [to which the preaching] of the Gospel [may expose you, and do it] in the power of God. 9[For it is He] Who delivered and saved us and called us with a calling in itself holy and leading to holiness [to a life of consecration, a vocation of holiness]; [He did it] not because of anything of merit that we have done, but because of and to further His own purpose and grace (unmerited favor) which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began [eternal ages ago]. 10[It is that purpose and grace] which He now has made known and has fully disclosed and made real [to us] through the appearing of our Savior Christ Jesus, Who annulled death and made it of no effect and brought life and immortality (immunity from eternal death) to light through the Gospel.  2 Timothy 1:8-10

 

God has not called and anointed you because of anything of merit that you have done, but because of His own purpose and grace, which was given to you in Christ Jesus, and also in order to further this purpose and grace. You will suffer persecution and some even are killed for the Gospel's sake, but don't be afraid, because Jesus has conquered death for you. He is the One who set you apart, called you, and who will never let you down. There is no pressure on you to perform. Put the pressure on the word! Trust in the Spirit that lives in you! Do not be ashamed to testify of Jesus and what He has done and what He will do!

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