2 Timothy 1:7 - Holy Spirit Power, Love and Self-Control.
2 Timothy 1:7 (NIV) For the Spirit God gave
us does not make us timid, but gives us power,
love and self-discipline.
2 Timothy 1:7 (CEV) God's Spirit doesn't
make cowards out of us. The Spirit gives us
power, love, and self-control.
2 Timothy 1:7 (ERV) The Spirit God gave us
does not make us afraid. His Spirit is a source
of power and love and self-control.
INTRODUCTION
God does not give a spirit of fear, that
is, timidity or cowardice; rather God provides:
Power -- We do not need to have
naturally powerful personalities. God gives strength
of character and confidence that wins us
respect when we face opposition as we speak, preach,
and live the truth. God supernaturally replaces
any timidity on the servant's part with
boldness.
Love -- Accompanying the power to
speak the truth must be love for the
listeners, believers and
nonbelievers alike. Love separates Christians
from the heathen world around them.
Jesus promised, "By this all will
know that you are My disciples, if
you have love for one another" (John
13:35 NKJV).
Self-discipline -- This can also
be translated "self-control" or "sound
mind." In order to lead others, the
true minister must have control over
himself. To put it another way, a
good leader must have a cool head.
Self-discipline and self-control
sound like self-effort. But Paul
explained them as divinely bestowed
on his servants, resulting in
soundness of mind.
All of these qualities (boldness, power,
love, and self-control) are gifts of the Spirit,
not just natural tendencies. They function best
in harmony. Boldness and power are tempered by
love and self-control. Under the pressures of
leadership, people tend to gravitate toward a desire for
power and boldness as the most effective tools for
success. But used alone, these qualities are
self-defeating. The inclusion of love and self-control
clearly indicates that a leader's effectiveness
comes from God's Spirit. We may be impressed by a
leader who exhibits boldness and power, but without
love or self-control, such a leader is little
more than a bully.
The expression a spirit of timidity is
probably another way of saying "a timid disposition,"
which Timothy probably had by nature. But the Holy
Spirit has given believers power (Acts 1:8), love
(Rom 5:5), and self-control (Gal 5:22-23). Thus,
to have a spirit with these qualities is to
have a human spirit that has been regenerated by
the the Holy Spirit. (Life Application
Commentary)
COMMENTARY PEARL
A few weeks ago, I was talking to my
friend Tina about how I have changed over the years
- and not in the best way. As a young adult, I
was fearless, tackling new situations with
gusto. As I've gotten older, I am more afraid. How
did I shift from being an excited world traveler
in my college years to a middle-aged mom who
shoots anxious texts to her college-age children in
the middle of the night? How did I go from
believing that Jesus could fling open new and exciting
doors of possibility in my career to just hoping I
can land a writing gig that will cover the
bills? There are moments when I find my hope
faltering instead of flourishing. I grow anxious about
family, work, and the world in general.
Then I remember who Jesus is. He is the
Savior and Deliverer (Acts 4:12). The All-Powerful
One (Hebrews 1:1-4). The Alpha and Omega
(Revelation 1:8). The Storm Whisperer (Mark 4:37-39).
The Light Bringer (John 8:12).
The fears that crowd my mind don't come
from Him. They flood in when I forget that His
power and love are working in my life and in the
world. Jesus is my peace, no matter how old I am.
Susanna Foth Aughtmon
Faith Step: Write down all the names of
Jesus on sticky notes and place them around your
house. When fear starts to move in, call on His
name. Rest in His love and power. [Mornings With
Jesus 2024 Devotional by Guideposts and
Zondervan]
COMMENTARY
Find the Courage to Connect
When youre full of fear and anxiety,
you dont get close to other people. Instead,
you back off. You fear being rejected,
manipulated, vulnerable, hurt, or used, and these fears
cause you to disconnect from the people around
you.
This fear is as old as humanity. When
Adam and Eve sinned, God came looking for them.
Then Adam said, I was afraid and I hid
myself (Genesis 3:10 ESV). People have been hiding
ever since.
You may not physically hide, but you hide
your true self. You dont let people know what
youre really like. You dont let them see inside
you. Why? Because you believe that if you show
people your true self and they dont like it,
youll be up a creek without a paddle. Instead, you
pretend to be someone youre not.
This fear leads to three things that will
damage your relationships:
Fear makes you defensive. Youre afraid
to reveal yourself, but people inevitably spot
some of your weaknesses. And when they point out
those weaknesses, you defend yourself and
retaliate.
Fear keeps you distant. Youre afraid
to be open and honest - to let people get close
to you. Instead, you withdraw and pull back so
you can hide your emotions. You become defensive
and distant.
Fear makes you demanding. The more
insecure you are, the more you try to control and
dominate. For you, it might look like always having to
get in the last word in a conversation. Being
demanding is always a symptom of fear and insecurity.
Clearly, fear only damages your
relationships. But where do you get the courage to take the
first step to connect with someone and move toward
deeper intimacy?
You get it from Gods Spirit in your
life. Paul says in 2 Timothy 1:7, For the Holy
Spirit, Gods gift, does not want you to be afraid
of people, but to be wise and strong, and to
love them and enjoy being with them (TLB).
How do you know youre filled with
Gods Spirit? Youre filled with Gods Spirit
when youve become more courageous in your
relationships. Rather than fearing people, youre free to
love them and enjoy being with them.
The Bible says that God is love (1
John 4:8 TLB) and that perfect love drives out
all fear (1 John 4:18 GNT). The more of God
you have in your life, the less fear youre
going to have in your life.
The starting point in connecting with
anyone is to pause, pray, and say, God, give me
the courage to take the first step. Are you
ready to pray that for one of your relationships
today? [Daily Devotional by Rick Warren:
https://pastorrick.com/devotional/]
CLOSING PEARL
In my family, Im the designated
door-checker. I can't imagine drifting off to sleep
without going through my nightly routine, making
sure the garage door is down, blinds are closed,
and doors are locked. Maybe that's because as a
child I was so scared from the combination of the
dark and my vivid imagination.
After the crucifixion, the disciples were
together "with the doors locked for fear of the
Jewish leaders" (John 20:19-20, NIV). They had
heard that Jesus had risen from the dead but did
not know what to think. Suddenly, Jesus
appeared, saying, "Peace" and inviting them to see His
scars. The disciples were overjoyed when they knew
He was with them.
When I allow fear to rule my mind, it
locks out many things - opportunities to do His
work, to build relationships, to enjoy daily
blessings. I have the keys of prayer and the Word to
unlock my fear and replace it with faith. Best of
all, I have Jesus, the ultimate locksmith. The
door the disciples hid behind could not keep Him
out. And fear can't keep Him out of my life when
I accept His help.
I suppose I'll always have the habit of
checking my doors before I go to bed. But I also want
to develop the habit of checking my emotions so
that fear doesn't lock out the peace and joy that
Jesus offers me when I fully trust Him. That's one
door I always want to keep open. Dianne Neal
Matthews
Faith Step: Ask Jesus to reveal and help
you confront any fear in your life that might
hinder blessings He wants you to enjoy. [Mornings
With Jesus 2023 Devotional by Guideposts and
Zondervan]
LINKS FOR FURTHER STUDY
2 Timothy 1:7 - Holy Spirit Power, Love and
Self-Control.
https://www.abible.com/devotions/2021/20210211-0931.html
http://www.abible.com/devotions/2020/20201207-1042.html
https://www.abible.com/devotions/2016/20160716-1707.html
2 Timothy 1:7 - God's Spirit of Power, Love
and Self-Control.
https://www.abible.com/devotions/2010/20101022-1309.html
2 Timothy 1:7 - Spirit of Fear or Power,
Love and Self-Control.
https://www.abible.com/devotions/2006/20061023-0828.html
LINKS WORTH CHECKING OUT
https://abible.com/links/
