Fears

2 Timothy 1-Part 5 For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.
2 Timothy 1:7


LET IT GLOW

Standing on the edge of the South Bend of the Grand Canyon, a cold, strong wind blew. I was afraid to get too close to the edge in fear of falling off into the deep canyon below. That happened when I was 11 years old. One summer my brother, mother, and I went on a vacation out west. You must not visit Arizona without going to the Grand Canyon because no words can describe it. (Linda's Law) This marvelous place is so evident of God's power displayed by water flowing through rocks. (I think it happened during the Flood.) The various colors of rocks is so gorgeous. How can a person stand there gazing at God's creation and not believe in Him is beyond me. Although I wasn't a Christian at that time, I did believe in God. To me, it has to take the power of God to make something as magnificent as the Grand Canyon. What an awesome God He is!

There have been other things that I have feared? Certainly.  How about you? Yet, this verse tells us that God has not given us a spirit of fear. So why do we fear?

The Greek word for fear means "timidity, cowardice." It denotes a cowardly, shameful fear caused by a weak, selfish character. Timothy may have been overwhelmed by the Roman persecution under Nero's rule, hostility within the Ephesian church, and false teachers assults.

Swindoll said: "The 'spirit' in this verse should be 'Spirit' with a capital S. Paul's reference to the Holy Spirit in 1:14 strongly suggest the divine spirit here, God-given courge emanating from a life submitted to and dependent on Him. We might be timied-as Timothy apparently was-but the Holy Spirit is bold. Our competence might falter, but the Spirit never fails. We might lack confidence, but the Spirit of God never disappoints and never suffers uncertainty."

If a person is fearful, it didn't come from God. (MacArthur)

Blackaby had this to say about fear in his devotional book, Experiencing God Day-By-Day:

Fear causes us to stop and question what God has clearly told us to do. Perhaps we were confident in our obedience until persecution came; now we doubt whether we heard God correctly. Most fear is fear of the unknown. We do not know what lies ahead of us, so we become apprehensive. Our imaginations can magnify problems until they seem insurmountable. We need a sound mind to see things in proper perspective. That is why God gave us His Holy Spirit, to enable us to see things as God sees them.
Fear is no excuse to disobey God. Fear will enslave you, but Christ has come to set you free. As He reveals the reality of your situation, He will enable you to continue in obedience.

"Fear is human, not divine," said Charles Swindoll.
"Fear is not of God! Satan must be resisted and rebuked by faith (James 5:7, Matt. 16:23)," states Liberty Bible Commentary.

This has put a new perspective on what things I fear.


LET IT GROW

Paul describes the qualities produced by the Holy Spirit in the man or woman who yields to His control:

• dynamis-power, the supernatural ability to do the will of God;
• agape-love, the distinctly Christian brand of love that begins with a decision, behaves unselfishly, seeks the highest and greatest good of another, and flows with deeply-felt godly emotion;
• sophronismos-discipline, a rational, reasonable, sound-minded manner of thinking and behaving that reflects the orderly mind of God; it is seeing the world from His perspective.

[Resource: Swindoll's New Testament Insights on 1 & 2 Timothy, Titus]

As believers, we already have spiritual resources for every trial and threat (Matt. 10:19-20). Divine power-effective, productive spiritual energy-belongs to believers (Eph.1:18-20). This kind of love mentioned centers on pleasing God and seeking others' welfare before one's own (Rom. 14:8). This sound mind is a
disciplined, self-controlled, and properly prioritized mind. Focusing on the sovereign nature and perfect purposes of our eternal God allows believers to control their lives with godly wisdom and confidence in every situation (Rom 12:3). [MacArthur Bible Commentary]

1 John 4:18 says 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.

I think I need to read this more than once so it can sink in.


LET IT GO

Instead of fearing, turn to God.

Pray for His Holy Spirit to take control.

Have faith.