God-given Spirits
9 December 2018 AM – 2 Timothy 1:7 – Our Spirit – Scott Childs
Introduction: The apostle Paul wrote this second letter to Timothy just prior to his execution in Rome. Paul was now an old man, but Timothy was still relatively young. God had called Timothy to preach and Paul laid his hands on him and ordained him to this work (2Ti 1:6). Because Timothy was young and rather timid by nature, Paul had earlier encouraged him to be an example of the believers (1 Timothy 4:12) “Let no man despise thy youth; but be thou an example of the believers, in word, in conversation, in charity, in spirit, in faith, in purity.” Tradition states that Timothy was the pastor at the church of Ephesus. Now in Paul’s farewell letter to young preacher Timothy he reminds him that “… God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.” (2 Timothy 1:7)
In this verse, Paul identified four spirits which we may have. One is a bad spirit and three are good spirits.
Transition: To encourage Timothy and us, God states several facts about these four spirits that we need to learn this morning.
The first fact that we need to learn is that …
1. God has NOT given us the spirit of fear
a. God’s will is often a difficult challenge
1) God’s will for Timothy was to be a pastor. He was young, fearful and timid. The task seemed overwhelming.
2) Today, God is looking for men who will stand in the gap and preach His word. The prophet Isaiah wrote, (Isaiah 6:8) “Also I heard the voice of the Lord, saying, Whom shall I send, and who will go for us? Then said I, Here am I; send me.” During the Babylonian captivity, God told Ezekiel, (Ezekiel 22:30) “And I sought for a man among them, that should make up the hedge, and stand in the gap before me for the land, that I should not destroy it: but I found none.” Before Jesus returned to heaven, He commanded, (Mark 16:15) “… Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.”
a) God’s will for some of you men may to become a pastor like Timothy.
b) If so, though it is a fearful task, do not let fear and a timid spirit keep you from answering God’s call.
3) God does not call every man to preach, but He wants every Christian to witness for Him. We may fear what people will say. We may fear persecution. We may fear failure. We may fear that we are incapable.
4) God may want you to become a Sunday school teacher or a youth leader. That too can be a fearful task.
5) God wants us to trust Him when burdens come, yet fear of the “what ifs” often troubles us.
b. The spirit of fear NEVER comes from God
1) Whenever we are afraid to do something that we know God wants us to do, that fear is not from God.
2) Feelings of fear and timidness come from our flesh and the devil, not from God. When we have a spirit of fear, what should we do? Ponder God’s character, believe God, and quote scripture.
a) (Lamentations 3:23) “… great is thy faithfulness.”
b) (Hebrews 13:5) “… he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.”
c) (Psalms 56:3) “What time I am afraid, I will trust in thee.”
d) (Psalms 118:6) “The LORD is on my side; I will not fear: what can man do unto me?”
e) (Isaiah 41:10) “Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness.”
The second fact that we need to learn is that …
2. God HAS given us the spirit of power
a. God will never give us more than we can handle.
1) Gideon was fearful to do all that God called him to do, (Judges 6:16) “And the LORD said unto him, Surely I will be with thee …”
2) When Jeremiah was fearful, God said, (Jeremiah 1:8) “Be not afraid of their faces: for I am with thee to deliver thee, saith the LORD.”
3) Though Timothy was fearful as a young preacher, God was not giving him more than he could handle.
4) If God calls you to preach or teach, it will NOT be more than you can handle with God’s help either. Witnessing is not more than you can handle. Trusting God in trials is not more than you can do with God’s help.
b. God always gives the ability to do His will.
1) God has given us a spirit of power. The word translated “power” is dunamis which means strength, power or ability. (Acts 1:8)
2) This is God’s power given to us to do His will. (Romans 8:31) “What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us?”
The third fact that we need to learn is that …
3. God HAS given us the spirit of love
It can be a fearful thing to be in a position of leadership, but God gave us a spirit of love to enable us to lead without fear.
a. Christ, our example, was a loving leader.
1) Christ gave Himself to meet the needs of others. He did not lead His disciples with a whip. He did not lead them my manipulation to persuade them against their will. He did not lead them as a dictator. Christ led His disciples with love. He gave Himself to meet their needs and they longed to follow and please Him.
2) True Christian love is a fruit of the Spirit (Ga 5:22).
3) God gave Timothy and us a spirit of love that we might lead by meeting the needs of others.
4) When unbelievers see the love of Christ in us, it can soften their hearts to our Gospel witness.
b. Love oils the gears of leadership.
1) When we love those under our leadership, they are more willing to follow our leadership. Leading with love will help in pastoring, in teaching, at work, in parenting and for husbands leading their wives.
2) Instead of fear, Timothy needed to depend on the spirit of love God had given him. We need to do the same.
The fourth fact that we need to learn is that …
4. God HAS given us the spirit of a sound mind
Leaders must make decisions. Staying calm and reasonable under pressure can be a fearful task, but God has given us a spirit of a sound mind.
a. God gives the ability to control the mind
1) The word used here describes one who has self-control or moderation. He thinks clearly. He disciplines himself and holds himself to his duty.
2) A person with a sound mind governs his thoughts, words and actions by the Word of God.
3) God has given us all that we need to live the Christian life. (2 Peter 1:3) “According as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue:”
b. With God’s help, you CAN stay calm and reasonable under pressures of leadership.
1) You must keep our focus on the Lord. (Isaiah 26:3) “Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee.”
2) You must wait on the Lord for guidance. (Isaiah 40:31) “But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.”
3) When stressed, we must give our cares to the Lord. (Philippians 4:6-7) “Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.”
Conclusion: Obeying God’s call, whether to preach, teach, witness, trust Him, lead your family, or to lead at work can be a fearful task. When fear fills your mind, remember God gives Christians a spirit of power, love and a sound mind, not a spirit of fear!
If fear is keeping you from doing what God wants you to do, trust Him and depend on the power, love and sound mind He gives.
Song: Have Thine Own Way – 388
9 December 2018 AM – 2 Timothy 1:7 – Our Spirit – Scott Childs
Introduction: The apostle Paul wrote this second letter to Timothy just prior to his execution in Rome. Paul was now an old man, but Timothy was still relatively young. God had called Timothy to preach and Paul laid his hands on him and ordained him to this work (2Ti 1:6). Because Timothy was young and rather timid by nature, Paul had earlier encouraged him to be an example of the believers (1 Timothy 4:12) “Let no man despise thy youth; but be thou an example of the believers, in word, in conversation, in charity, in spirit, in faith, in purity.” Tradition states that Timothy was the pastor at the church of Ephesus. Now in Paul’s farewell letter to young preacher Timothy he reminds him that “… God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.” (2 Timothy 1:7)
In this verse, Paul identified four spirits which we may have. One is a bad spirit and three are good spirits.
Transition: To encourage Timothy and us, God states several facts about these four spirits that we need to learn this morning.
The first fact that we need to learn is that …
1. God has NOT given us the spirit of fear
a. God’s will is often a difficult challenge
1) God’s will for Timothy was to be a pastor. He was young, fearful and timid. The task seemed overwhelming.
2) Today, God is looking for men who will stand in the gap and preach His word. The prophet Isaiah wrote, (Isaiah 6:8) “Also I heard the voice of the Lord, saying, Whom shall I send, and who will go for us? Then said I, Here am I; send me.” During the Babylonian captivity, God told Ezekiel, (Ezekiel 22:30) “And I sought for a man among them, that should make up the hedge, and stand in the gap before me for the land, that I should not destroy it: but I found none.” Before Jesus returned to heaven, He commanded, (Mark 16:15) “… Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.”
a) God’s will for some of you men may to become a pastor like Timothy.
b) If so, though it is a fearful task, do not let fear and a timid spirit keep you from answering God’s call.
3) God does not call every man to preach, but He wants every Christian to witness for Him. We may fear what people will say. We may fear persecution. We may fear failure. We may fear that we are incapable.
4) God may want you to become a Sunday school teacher or a youth leader. That too can be a fearful task.
5) God wants us to trust Him when burdens come, yet fear of the “what ifs” often troubles us.
b. The spirit of fear NEVER comes from God
1) Whenever we are afraid to do something that we know God wants us to do, that fear is not from God.
2) Feelings of fear and timidness come from our flesh and the devil, not from God. When we have a spirit of fear, what should we do? Ponder God’s character, believe God, and quote scripture.
a) (Lamentations 3:23) “… great is thy faithfulness.”
b) (Hebrews 13:5) “… he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.”
c) (Psalms 56:3) “What time I am afraid, I will trust in thee.”
d) (Psalms 118:6) “The LORD is on my side; I will not fear: what can man do unto me?”
e) (Isaiah 41:10) “Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness.”
The second fact that we need to learn is that …
2. God HAS given us the spirit of power
a. God will never give us more than we can handle.
1) Gideon was fearful to do all that God called him to do, (Judges 6:16) “And the LORD said unto him, Surely I will be with thee …”
2) When Jeremiah was fearful, God said, (Jeremiah 1:8) “Be not afraid of their faces: for I am with thee to deliver thee, saith the LORD.”
3) Though Timothy was fearful as a young preacher, God was not giving him more than he could handle.
4) If God calls you to preach or teach, it will NOT be more than you can handle with God’s help either. Witnessing is not more than you can handle. Trusting God in trials is not more than you can do with God’s help.
b. God always gives the ability to do His will.
1) God has given us a spirit of power. The word translated “power” is dunamis which means strength, power or ability. (Acts 1:8)
2) This is God’s power given to us to do His will. (Romans 8:31) “What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us?”
The third fact that we need to learn is that …
3. God HAS given us the spirit of love
It can be a fearful thing to be in a position of leadership, but God gave us a spirit of love to enable us to lead without fear.
a. Christ, our example, was a loving leader.
1) Christ gave Himself to meet the needs of others. He did not lead His disciples with a whip. He did not lead them my manipulation to persuade them against their will. He did not lead them as a dictator. Christ led His disciples with love. He gave Himself to meet their needs and they longed to follow and please Him.
2) True Christian love is a fruit of the Spirit (Ga 5:22).
3) God gave Timothy and us a spirit of love that we might lead by meeting the needs of others.
4) When unbelievers see the love of Christ in us, it can soften their hearts to our Gospel witness.
b. Love oils the gears of leadership.
1) When we love those under our leadership, they are more willing to follow our leadership. Leading with love will help in pastoring, in teaching, at work, in parenting and for husbands leading their wives.
2) Instead of fear, Timothy needed to depend on the spirit of love God had given him. We need to do the same.
The fourth fact that we need to learn is that …
4. God HAS given us the spirit of a sound mind
Leaders must make decisions. Staying calm and reasonable under pressure can be a fearful task, but God has given us a spirit of a sound mind.
a. God gives the ability to control the mind
1) The word used here describes one who has self-control or moderation. He thinks clearly. He disciplines himself and holds himself to his duty.
2) A person with a sound mind governs his thoughts, words and actions by the Word of God.
3) God has given us all that we need to live the Christian life. (2 Peter 1:3) “According as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue:”
b. With God’s help, you CAN stay calm and reasonable under pressures of leadership.
1) You must keep our focus on the Lord. (Isaiah 26:3) “Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee.”
2) You must wait on the Lord for guidance. (Isaiah 40:31) “But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.”
3) When stressed, we must give our cares to the Lord. (Philippians 4:6-7) “Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.”
Conclusion: Obeying God’s call, whether to preach, teach, witness, trust Him, lead your family, or to lead at work can be a fearful task. When fear fills your mind, remember God gives Christians a spirit of power, love and a sound mind, not a spirit of fear!
If fear is keeping you from doing what God wants you to do, trust Him and depend on the power, love and sound mind He gives.
Song: Have Thine Own Way – 388