Fearlessness, Power, Love, and Self-control

Sept 25

Read: 2 Timothy 1:1-7

Fearlessness, Power, Love, and Self-control

“…for God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control.” (v.7)

Paul penned these words to Timothy while awaiting his execution in prison. The book of 2 Timothy (which we are starting our study of today) are Paul’s final bits of crucial instruction to Timothy-his “beloved child”. (v.2) In some ways, Paul’s very actions put into practice his words to Timothy. How else would one write letters of encouragement and instruction while their execution looms over them? Paul’s words paint a picture of “fearlessness, power, love, and self control”. I wonder what would be most pressing on our own hearts if we were in the same situation? Who would we write letters to? What would we say?

These words of Paul are no less powerful today … delivered to us… than they were back then. On a daily basis, we ALL need to be encouraged and reminded that the Lord has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power, love, and self-control. With such a great number of things pressing against us as God’s people, it would be easy to become pessimistic and afraid… paralyzed by fear and doubt. God does not leave us this way. In fact, one of Jesus’ goals is actually to take away fear. Read Jesus’ words in John 14:27

“Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid.”

We are not called to be “scaredy-cats” in Christ, but rather FEARLESS ones on account of the one who dwells with in us… the Living God. Whatever it is that you are afraid of, bring it to Christ today. Tell the Lord about what scares you… truthfully tell him… and watch as he will take your fear away. Fear is not a fruit of The Spirit of God. (cf. Gal. 5) Fear is a tool of the enemy…plain and simple. Our spirit is one of “power, love, and self control”

That is a weird combination isn’t it? We need all three to be effective in the Kingdom work God is doing in us and through us. Think about it for a moment: If you have power without love and self control… there is a good chance you will “make a mess”, seek to use it in an unloving way, and not know when to stop or reign it in. If you have love without power and self control… that love will have little impact in the world around you - imagine loving so deeply but doing nothing about it and not knowing how to direct that love in a healthy way. If you have all the self control in the world but no love and power… what are you going to do with this mastery of self anyways? We need all three of these things together in unison.

My hunch is that everyone of us doubts that this is true about us. Some of us live in fear. Others feel weak and lacking power. Some are riddled with anger … or apathy… and absent of love. Yet others feel out of control and unable to control themselves. Maybe (like me) you struggle with all three at times - ha! Maybe you are strong in one of these areas… and struggling in the others - an imbalance as mentioned above. No matter what the situation is, the answer remains the same: What do we do when we find ourselves doubting or wrestling? We turn to the Lord and speak truthfully to him. You have ALREADY BEEN GIVEN what you need in Christ. The “fearless, powerful, loving, and self-controlled” spirit is what God “gave us”. See it. Past tense… it has been given in Christ. It is TRUE about us… we simply don’t believe it. This is why we turn to the Lord and confess (speak truthfully) to him and he reminds us of who we are… just like Paul reminding Timothy and Jesus reminding the disciples (cf. John 14). May I now remind you… “God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control.” Love you guys. - JDP