Nothing benefits us more than having someone who believes in us and in what we do. Somehow having supporters and cheerleaders in one’s faith-life inspires one to continue from day to day. Timothy’s greatest supporter was Paul. He believed in Timothy and the work God called them both to do—preaching the Word of God through the power of the Holy Spirit. Paul encouraged Timothy in three ways in 2 Tim 1:6-7. “Therefore I remind you to stir up the gift of God which is in you through the laying on of my hands. For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.”
First, Paul reminds Timothy that God chose Him. Second, that he needed constantly to stir what had been conferred to him. He was to rekindle the divine giftedness, the fire or literally, “keep the fire alive” in order to preach effectively the Word of God. Third, He was to always be conscious of character qualities that mark the Christian—courage, power, love and a sound mind or literally self-disciplined and mature.
If you are a believer in Christ you have experienced the same. You are chosen, gifted and given a spirit not of fear but of courage, power, love and a sound mind. But like Timothy we often recoil into a spirit of timidity. We need encouraging and we sometimes lose touch with the giftedness God gives to us. We find that we too must “stir” the gift a bit. We need day by day and week by week to “keep the fire alive.”
Every time I attend the City View First Baptist Church I find this encouragement and inspiration. There is always a word from God and others to cheer me on and inspire me. I want to encourage you to make plans now to attend City View First in Greenville SC. Begin now to pray for our worship time. Come and be inspired. Keep the fire alive!
Until Christ Returns,
Pastor Mike