Not The Spirit Of Fear

 

 

A choice Bible verse, which gives encouragement and strength to the Christian, is 2 Timothy 1:7.  “For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.”

There are many additional Bible verses which bring out this same thought . . . that it is not God’s will for us to be fearful, but it is His desire to impart to us the spirit of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.

Notice the spirit of the Apostle Paul when he knew that bonds and afflictions awaited him at Jerusalem.  He said, “But none of these things move me, neither count I my life dear unto myself, so that I might finish my course with joy, and the ministry, which I have received of the Lord Jesus, to testify the Gospel of the grace of God.” (Acts 20:24)

He said to the believers, who begged him not to go up to Jerusalem, “What mean ye to weep and to break mine heart? for I am ready not to be bound only, but also to die at Jerusalem for the Name of the Lord Jesus.” (Acts 21:13)  What courage and fortitude are exhibited in these words!

With such personal confidence in the Heavenly Father, it is no wonder that the Apostle Paul could in turn exhort the Roman Christians not to fear.

He said, “For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye hve received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father.” (Romans 8:15)  “There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment.  He that feareth is not made perfect in love.” (1 John 4:18)

The Lord gives us power.  Old Testament prophets experienced that power.  Micah said, “But truly I am full of power by the Spirit of the Lord, and of judgment, and of might, to declare unto Jacob his transgression, and to Israel his sin.” (Micah 3:8)

We gain nothing by our own strength and power.  Zechariah wrote: “Not by might, nor by power, but by my Spirit, saith the Lord of hosts.” (Zechariah 4:6)

We read in the New Testament that when the Lord Jesus Christ was about to leave His disciples and ascend to the Father, He said to them, “And, behold, I send the promise of my Father upon you: but tarry ye in the city of Jerusalem, until ye be endued with power from on high.” (Luke 24:49)  “But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.” (Acts 1:8)

As a result of being filled with the Holy Ghost at Pentecost, the Apostles preached with such mighty power that thousands repented of their sins and were saved.  Stephen, the first Christian martyr, was “full of faith and power, and did great wonders and miracles among the people.” (Acts 6:8)

Mighty as the Apostle Paul was in words and deeds, he humbly wrote, “And my speech and my preaching was not with enticing words of man’s wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power.” (I Corinthians 2:4)

May the Lord open the eyes of our understanding that we, too, may know what is “The exceeding greatness of His power to usward who believe, according to the working of His mighty power.” (Ephesians 1:19)

God gives us the spirit of love for, “The love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us.” (Romans 5:5)  Love is mentioned in Galatians 5:22 as being of the fruit of the Spirit.

Love “beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things.” (I Corinthians 13:7)   “Seeing ye have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit unto unfeigned love of the brethren, see that ye love one another with a pure heart fervently.” (I Peter 1:22)  May the love of God hve full right of way in our hearts and lives.

A “sound mind” is last mentioned in 2 Timothy 1:7.  We read in Psalms 119:80 – “Le my heart be sound in Thy statutes; that I be not ashamed.” (Proverbs 2:7) – “He layeth up sound wisdom for the righteous: He is a buckler to them that walk uprightly.”

In the New Testament we find on several occasions that Jesus restored individuals to their right minds, and none is more outstanding than that of the man out of whom Jesus cast a legion of devils.

The people “went out to see what was done; and came to Jesus, and found the man, out of whom the devils were departed, sitting at the feet of Jesus, clothed, and in his right mind: and they were afraid.” (Luke 8:35)

In the account of the prodigal son, we read that after he had wasted his substance in riotous living, “he came to himself,” and was ready to return to his father’s house.  We shall have sound minds as we realize that all our wisdom and knowledge comes from Christ alone.  “That their hearts might be comforted, being knit together in love, and unto all riches of the full assurance of understanding; to the acknowledgement of the mystery of God, and of the Father, and of Christ.” (Colossians 2:3)

Let us go forth today, not with a spirit of fear due to the times in which we live, but with the Holy Spirit filling our lives with power, and God’s love sweetening our lives, and His mind stamped upon our hearts and minds.  Thus, we shall be all our Lord would have us to be.