“Now to him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us” (Ephesians 3:20 – King James Version) My genuine hope and primary purpose for the Ephesians 3:20 Faith Encouragement and Empowerment Blog is to assist all people of faith, regardless of your prism of experience, to grow spiritually toward unconditional self-acceptance and develop personally acquiring progressive integrity of belief and lifestyle. I pray you will discover your unique purpose in life. I further pray love, joy, peace, happiness and unreserved self-acceptance will be your constant companions. Practically speaking, this blog will help you see the proverbial glass in life as always half full rather than half empty. I desire you become an eternal optimist who truly believes that Almighty God can do anything that you ask or imagine.

Wednesday, May 4, 2011

2 Timothy 1:7 - An Important Utility Verse

2 Timothy 1:7 – An Important Utility Verse


I characterize 2 Timothy 1:7 as a “utility” verse.  These biblical verses are spiritual tools for resolving daily challenges.  2 Timothy 1:7 reads, “For God did not give us a spirit of timidity but a spirit of power, of love and of self-discipline.” [NIV]  The King James Version says, “For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but love, power and a sound mind.”  In trials, this verse empowers us to forsake fear, access the power of the Holy Spirit, rely upon the steadfast love of God and utilize our mental faculties.

Fear is life’s greatest enemy.  It robs us of peace of mind.  Fear imprisons us to persistent self-doubt.  It makes cynics of some of us.  We doubt we will ever know love, truth and justice, the enduring riches of life.  Fear also paralyzes others of us.  Because we are afraid to fail, we do not try.  Like the third servant in the “Parable of the Talents,” we bury our dreams and goals.  We choose to do nothing rather than try and fall on our faces.  There are incredible latent talents and gifts within all of us.  Fear entombs them. 

In addition, fear steals the joy of life.  Some of us are simply afraid to live!  We chain ourselves to the monotony of life: waking, washing, working, eating, watching television, sleeping and waking again.  Fear prevents us discovering our passions and finding fulfillment in realizing them.  Fear additionally destroys our hope for abundant and eternal life in our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.  Many faithful church members do not truly believe the gospel message.  They fear it is not actually true.  They have greater confidence in “rugged individualism” of secular and humanistic society.  Given the tests of their lives, they consider the hope of the gospel as futile.  Summarily, fear is the enemy whom Jesus states in John 10:10, “comes only to steal, and kill and destroy.”

Practically speaking, fear is the most irrational emotion.  Responding to fear leads to really regrettable actions.  Because we are afraid to face people, we go out of our way to avoid them.  We travel unnecessary miles; we miss church; we do not answer the phone; and we do not open our email.  We fear we do not have enough money to pay all of our bills, so we pay none of them.  We are unsure whether we have the wherewithal to complete a task, so we procrastinate.  Moreover, living in fear leads to escapism.  We forget everything and run.  Some people move from town to town to avoid facing hard realities about defects in their characters.  They fail to realize they are moving their personalities everywhere they go.  Other people use work and busyness to cloak self-doubt and low self-esteem emerging from their deep-seated and heart-felt fears.  Like anger, fear turns off the light in the mind.  Thereby, it deprives us of the logical tools to resolve any anxiety-provoking situation.

Equal to Goliath, fear awakens each morning before we do.  When we rise, fear begins to yell at us.  It reminds us of last night’s anxieties.  It further rehearses many other doubts that plague us.  Before we leave the house, fear extracts surrender from us.  We admit defeat and agree that we will do nothing in the course of the day that will remove our perpetual fear.  Goliath primarily defeats Israel’s army by provoking gut-wrenching fear in their minds and hearts.  As they freeze in response, they are unable to even pick up a weapon yet alone fight.

However, David eventually appears.  He stands against Goliath in the name of the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel.  David’s courage demonstrates the utility of 2 Timothy 1:7.  When we stand in the name of God, He eliminates our fear.  More significantly, God empowers us with the Holy Spirit; we fight in His strength when our abilities are insufficient to meet the task.  The Israelite army made fear larger than life.  The sound and sight of Goliath paralyzes them.  But, David realizes God’s strength exceeds any challenge.  He calls upon the name of the Lord.  David fights in the strength of the Lord.  “Courage is fear that has said its prayers.”  In Psalm 34:4, David declares, “I sought the Lord.  He heard my cry and delivered me from all my fears.” 

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