WALKING IN POWER

Dear Pastor,

Good morning, from America and ServingHIM! Grace, mercy, and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord! (2 Timothy 1:2)

I believe we are in about the seventh week of COVID-19 in America and currently, it appears that the intensity of this pestilence is beginning to wane, for which we are truly thankful. Yet that underlying fear that has been so prevalent in these past weeks is still present, and though the fear of the virus is not as great, the fear of the immediate future is still before us. As it is in your country, so it is in America! Many have lost jobs and pay or have taken pay-cuts and are working part-time. There is a great concern, anxiety, and fear of the future. 

Not only is there fear of the disease itself but being quarantined and unable to provide for their families is very troubling. Fear and panic are manifested in the hearts of many in America by greed and hoarding. These are times that try the hearts and souls of men. Satan uses circumstances of life to produce fear, and fear, if embraced will promote panic and chaos. In Romans 8:6 Paul writes, “The mindset on the flesh is death, but the mindset on the Spirit is Life and Peace.” Recall that Gideon found peace in the presence of God.

A great report that is coming out of this time of COVID-19 is the increased number of people viewing and listening to live streaming of God’s Word from our local churches through their online church services. Some churches have reported increases of several hundred thousand to millions. We heard a report yesterday from an exceptionally large church in Oklahoma, which averages a thousand salvations per week. From online streaming last week, they reported fifteen thousand salvations. Our God has a Ways and Means Committee that is highly active and effective. I was reminded that what the enemy means for evil God uses for good. He can use a crisis to accomplish His purposes! Indeed, our Lord is on His throne!

Franklin Graham, son of Billy Graham and President of Samaritan’s Purse, reports that their telephone lines have been overwhelmed with calls for prayer and asking, “How do I find the Lord?” Out of the circumstances and challenges of life we will see and experience what I call Hinge Moments of life. (Life-changing events. We will save this topic for a later time.)

Paul wrote to Timothy in 2 Timothy 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 did not give us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.” I can only imagine the number of times this scripture has been preached the last two to three weeks!

In verse 6, Paul reminds Timothy “to stir up the gift of God which is in you through the laying on of my hands.” Stir up, rekindle, and revive the spark that you received at your ordination by the laying on of hands by the Presbytery or Eldership. (1 Timothy 4:14) The term, Presbytery, may imply, the accomplishment of his assistants. Paul, an Apostle, probably had Elder assistants with him when Timothy was ordained. Timothy was set apart and consecrated by the Presbytery to empower him to pastor the Church at Ephesus.

Paul is telling Timothy to call to remembrance the grace gift he received when Paul laid his hands on him. The gift Paul is speaking of is a free gift, a grace gift, a divine gratuity, a spiritual endowment. The Greek word for gift is derived from the root word “char”. Chara means joy, cheerfulness, and delight. Charis is another Greek derivative used to designate the gifts of the Spirit as outlined in 1 Corinthians 12:4-10. Paul exhorts Timothy to stir up, (rekindle, revive the spark), the gift that was imparted to him.  It is a gift or empowerment to accomplish a mission God has called and purposed us to do.

Verse 7: “For God has not given us a spirit of fear.” The word fear is defined as a spirit of timidity, cowardice, holding back or shrinking back; the opposite of being bold. Fear is a spirit of bondage. (Romans 8:15) Do not be fearful! Fear is a spirit, but we have been given the Holy Spirit to help us combat and overcome all spirits. We will be attacked by a spirit of fear when we embrace lies from the devil. All negative thoughts are from Satan and many of the negatives from the devil begin with, “What if this happens or what if that happens?” “Has God indeed said…?” (Genesis 3:1) We must stop all the negative conversations we have with ourselves and proclaim what God thinks about us. (See Psalm 91)

God did not give us a spirit of fear, but a Spirit, (Holy Spirit), of power, of love and of a sound mind!

Spirit of Power, ( dunamis  power), the same power that raised Jesus from the dead dwells within us. (Romans 8:11) Selah! We have been given the authority, (Matthew 28:18-19), (exousia power). The exousia and dunamis power accompanied by the Holy Spirit are working together to deliver us from the spirit of fear, (bondage), and from any other spirits of bondage. In fact, Paul in 2 Corinthians 10:3-5 told the Corinthians, “For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh. For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty in God for the pulling down of strongholds, casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought,(foreign thoughts, vain imaginations), into captivity to the obedience of Christ, and being ready to punish all disobedience when your obedience is fulfilled.”

Dunamis is demonstrated power, (demonstrated in a fearless testimony for Christ). Do not be ashamed of the gospel Paul writes to Timothy. 2 Tim.1:8 Speaks of faith and power. The Word anointed by the Holy Spirit is God’s avenue to manifest His power.

Pastor, as Timothy was admonished by Paul, from time to time we need to exhort each other to stir up the gift God has imparted to us.

Spirit of Love, (Agape-Life giving) In Ephesians 4:14-15, we read,” That we should not be tossed about and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, in the cunning craftiness, (deceptive, scheming, arrogant, shrewdness, false teaching), of deceitful plotting, but speaking the truth in love, that all may grow up in all things into Him who is the head – Christ. There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear. 1 John 4:17-19 says, Love and trust in our Lord is the result of that face-to-face encounter, as experienced by Gideon, which resulted in peace and boldness manifested in him and through him. Remember God is love. Paul is encouraging Timothy to walk in the gift he received from the Lord and to minister in His love.

Spirit of a Sound Mind, or sober-mindedness. Sound mindedness denotes good judgment, disciplined thought, patterns, and the ability to understand and make the right decisions. Paul in 2 Tim. 2:4 encourages Timothy and us to give up worldly entanglements which, as thorns, choke His Word. (Luke 8:14) Remember we have been given the mind of Christ! (1Corinthians 2:16)

Pastor, thank you for holding steady during these days of uncertainty! Your steadfastness and commitment to Christ and the Body of Christ is so very comforting to us and Psalm 91 is our prayer over you, your family, and your church family. Our God is Jehovah-Jireh our provider, and in His name, we proclaim His provision to be sufficient for you; in this name, there is also the connotation that His provision shall be seen!

Thank you for partnering with ServingHIM and please know ServingHIM is praying for you! Please let us know any testimonies that you have of how God is working in your church during this time of crisis.

The Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit. Grace be with you. (2 Timothy 3:22)

Brother Gene Lamberth

ServingHIM Prayer Team Lead