DO NOT FEAR!

Paul’s message to Timothy…
DO NOT FEAR!

2 Timothy 1:1-18

In these verses, Paul looked back upon his own heritage of faith, then reminded Timothy of the rich legacy he possessed as well.

Remembering this can impart courage and strengthen commitment to one’s duty and calling.

In his characteristic style, Paul next breaks into thanksgiving.

As we read this, we should remember that he was writing from a Roman dungeon.

He had been imprisoned for preaching the gospel and was now treated as a common criminal.

The Christian faith was being actively suppressed by the Roman government, and many believers had already been put to death.

In spite of all these adverse circumstances, Paul can begin his Letter to Timothy with the words, “I thank God!”

We don’t know when Paul and Timothy last parted, but it was probably when Paul was arrested and taken to Rome for his second imprisonment.

The tears they shed at parting revealed the depth of their relationship.

Timothy’s mother and grandmother, Eunice and Lois, were early Christian converts, possibly through Paul’s ministry in their home city, Lystra (Acts 16:1).

They had communicated their strong Christian faith to Timothy, even though his father was probably not a believer.

Don’t hide your light at home; our families are fertile fields for planting seeds of the gospel.

Let your parents, children, spouse, brothers, and sisters know of your faith in Jesus, and be sure they see Christ’s love, helpfulness, and joy in you.

At the time of his ordination, Timothy had received special gifts of the Spirit to enable him to serve the church (see 1 Timothy 4:14).

In telling Timothy to “stir up” those gifts, Paul was encouraging him to persevere.

Timothy did not need new revelations or new gifts; he needed the courage and self-discipline to hang on to the truth and to use the gifts he had already received (see 1:13, 14).

If Timothy would step out boldly in faith and proclaim the gospel once again, the Holy Spirit would go with him and give him power.

When you use the gifts God has given you, you will find that God will give you the power you need to accomplish whatever task He gives you.

Timothy was experiencing great opposition to his message and to himself as a leader.

His youth, his association with Paul, and his leadership had come under fire from believers and nonbelievers alike.

Paul urged him to be bold.

When we allow people to intimidate us, we neutralize our effectiveness for God.

The power of the Holy Spirit can help us overcome our fear so that we can continue to do God’s work.

In telling Timothy to “fan into flames the spiritual gift God gave you,” Paul was encouraging him to persevere in exercising his special gifts and growing in his understanding of how to use them to serve others.

Timothy did not need new revelations or new gifts; he needed the courage and self-discipline to hang on to the truth and to use the gifts he had already received (see 2 Timothy 1:13-14).

If Timothy would step out boldly in faith and continue proclaiming the Good News, the Holy Spirit would go with him and give him power.

When you use the gifts God has given you, you will find that He will also give you the POWER you need to accomplish the tasks he has given you (see 1 Corinthians 12:4-31).

Clearly Timothy’s spiritual gift had been given to him when Paul and the elders had laid their hands on him and set him apart for ministry (see 1 Timothy 4:14).

God gives all Christians gifts to use to build up the body of Christ (see 1 Corinthians 12:4-31), and he gives special gifts to some through church leaders, who serve as His instruments.

Paul mentions three characteristics that effective Christian leaders need: power, love, and self-discipline.

Power does not refer to having a dynamic personality but to the boldness that comes from confidence in the gospel (Romans 1:16).

Love pairs care and concern with tenderhearted treatment of those we serve.

A good leader must have a cool head and keep a tight rein on his or her selfish desires.

These are available to us because the Holy Spirit lives in us.

Follow His leading each day so that your life will more fully exhibit these characteristics. (See Galatians 5:22-23 for a list of the by-products of the Holy Spirit living in us.)

In this time of mounting persecution, Timothy may have been afraid to continue preaching the Good News.

His fears were based on fact because believers were being arrested and executed.

Paul told Timothy to expect suffering—Timothy, like Paul, would indeed be jailed for preaching the Good News (Hebrews 13:23).

But Paul promised Timothy that God would give him strength and that he would be ready when it was his turn to suffer.

Even when we don’t face persecution, sharing our faith in Christ can be difficult.

Fortunately, we, like Paul and Timothy, can rely on the Holy Spirit to give us courage to testify without shame about our personal faith in Jesus Christ.

If we allow fear in our lives then we are given a foothold to the enemy in our lives!

Fear is a spirit that does not come from God, and we need to avoid it like the plague!

The spirit of fear may find a place by reason of one’s natural temperament, but it is not merely a human disposition; it is not from God; and it can immobilize and torment its victims, making them feel powerless and alone (1 John 4:18).

Indecision or wrong decisions are then made that could give place to bondage and great human suffering.

In the face of fear, we are to remember our calling from God (2 Tim. 1:6).

We have within us:

(1) the power of God, through the Holy Spirit, enabling us to no longer be victims (v. 7);

(2) the perfect love of God, poured into our lives through Jesus Christ and His abiding presence (Rom. 5:5); and

(3) the mind of Christ by which we can apply the ways of God in making “sound” choices (2 Tim. 1:7).

Applying this truth determines whether we overcome fear or are overcome by it (see 1 John 5:4).

Fear comes to either paralyze us or cause us to run in the opposite direction; but the Spirit of God comes to teach us how to face our fears in the power that God gives to us, that allows us to navigate through ALL the storms of life.

SELAH (let us pause and calmly think about these things)
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In With the Faith, Out With the Fear…
by Larry Ollison

Luke 12:32 says, “Do not fear, little flock, for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom.”

Most of the time when I’ve heard teaching on this scripture, the emphasis is on how God takes pleasure in giving us the kingdom.

I agree that this is a great teaching. In fact, I often tell God, “Make Yourself happy!”

Let’s take a look at the command in the first part of this verse,

“Do not fear!”

Fear is not from God. Fear is from the devil.

As Christians we are commanded, “Do not fear.”

Once, after teaching a lesson on fear, a gentleman approached me and told me that it was impossible for him to live without fear.

When I asked him why, his response was,

“There is so much around me every day that looks like impending disaster, that I am in a constant state of worry.

You would be too, if you had to look at the circumstances I see daily.”

One of this man’s major problems in getting rid of fear is that he was not operating in faith.

Let me explain. Faith will eliminate fear.

Fear is based on what we see and what we hear.

Faith is based on what God says and what we believe.

If we truly believe God’s Word, then it would be impossible for fear to enter our minds or our hearts.

Psalm 34:19 says,

“Many are the afflictions of the righteous, But the LORD delivers him out of them all.”

Yes, we know that afflictions do come against the righteous of God.

However, our faith is not to be in the affliction, but in the deliverance.

Actually, our faith is in the Deliverer Himself.

If you know that God said He would deliver the righteous, and if you know that you are the righteous, and if you know that God doesn’t lie, then why in the world would you fear?

The only room that fear has to work in is the empty space where faith should be.

In with the faith and out with the fear!

Source: Life is in The Blood by Larry Ollison
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