Tag: Spirit of Love

Love Your Neighbor…

Matthew 7:12 (NIV)

So, in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets.

Our Verse of the Day reminds us of what we have heard since childhood – known as the “Golden Rule.” Instilled within us was the adage: “Treat other people the same way you want them to treat you.”  You will find this same message recorded in Luke 6:31 as well. This relational concept stems from the command to “love your neighbor as yourself” found in Leviticus 19:18. Jesus quotes this OT passage in His teachings found at Matthew 22:39, Mark 12:31, and Luke 10:27. But Jesus goes on to explain that love is the essence of what all the Law and the Prophets were revealing from God.

The Apostle Paul affirmed this teaching in his epistles:

Romans 12:9-11 (NIV)

Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good. Be devoted to one another in love. Honor one another above yourselves. Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord.

Romans 13:8-10 (NIV)

Let no debt remain outstanding, except the continuing debt to love one another, for whoever loves others has fulfilled the law. The commandments, “You shall not commit adultery,” “You shall not murder,” “You shall not steal,” “You shall not covet,” and whatever other command there may be, are summed up in this one command: “Love your neighbor as yourself.” Love does no harm to a neighbor. Therefore, love is the fulfillment of the law.

Ephesians 4:1-3 (NIV)

As a prisoner for the Lord, then, I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received. Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love. Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace.

Galatians 5:13-15 (NIV)

You, my brothers and sisters, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the flesh; rather, serve one another humbly in love. For the entire law is fulfilled in keeping this one command: “Love your neighbor as yourself.” If you bite and devour each other, watch out or you will be destroyed by each other.

The Apostle Peter confirmed the same instruction:

1 Peter 1:21-23 (NIV)

Now that you have purified yourselves by obeying the truth so that you have sincere love for each other, love one another deeply, from the heart. For you have been born again, not of perishable seed, but of imperishable, through the living and enduring word of God.

1 Peter 3:8-9 (NIV)

Finally, all of you, be like-minded, be sympathetic, love one another, be compassionate and humble. Do not repay evil with evil or insult with insult. On the contrary, repay evil with blessing, because to this you were called so that you may inherit a blessing.

And the Apostle John preserved for us the spiritual depth of this command: To love one another as Jesus has loved us:

John 13:34-35 (NIV)

“A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.”

1 John 3:10-11 (NIV)

This is how we know who the children of God are and who the children of the devil are: Anyone who does not do what is right is not God’s child, nor is anyone who does not love their brother and sister. For this is the message you heard from the beginning: We should love one another.

1 John 4:11-13 (NIV)

Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. No one has ever seen God; but if we love one another, God lives in us and His love is made complete in us. This is how we know that we live in Him and He in us: He has given us of His Spirit.

So, I pray we will take this message to heart as we prepare for His Coming.  I pray we will make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace. I pray we will be proactive in our communities to show the love of God to others … bringing the Good News of Jesus to fill their hearts with the knowledge of the truth: “For God so loved the world.” Amen.

So Now You Know…

Have a Blessed Day!

 If you fulfil the royal law according to the scripture that says, you shall love your neighbor as yourself – you do well. ~ James 2:8

Thankful For Peace…

Colossians 3:15 (NIV)

Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful.

As we begin the third day of this week of Thanksgiving, our Verse of the Day is a call for us to live in peace with one another … and be thankful. The context here that the peace of God should “rule” within our hearts. It is not a passing feeling or an occasional work of His grace. Peace is a fruit of the Spirit! It becomes embedded in the character of a believer, and it is expressed through other fruit of the Spirit as the agent of unity. Paul made this same point in his letter to the church at Ephesus:

Ephesians 4:1-6 (NIV)

As a prisoner for the Lord, then, I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received. 2 Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love. 3 Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace. 4 There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called to one hope when you were called; 5 one Lord, one faith, one baptism; 6 one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all.

When I think about peace within relationships, I find are two intertwined aspects: receiving the peace of God and extending the peace of God. The Gospel is the message of peace! As Paul remarked in Ephesians 2:17, “He came and preached peace to you who were far away and peace to those who were near.” And in Colossians 1:19-20, Paul affirmed, “For God was pleased to have all His fullness dwell in Jesus, and through Him (Jesus) to reconcile to Himself all things, whether things on earth or things in heaven, by making peace through His blood, shed on the cross. Likewise, in Romans 5:1, Paul stated, “Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ” Oh, my friends, God IS the God of peace! (Cf. 1 Thessalonians 5:23)

In our relationships with one another, we are called to live in the bonds of peace. So, I want to reference a few Scriptures that address this point:

Romans 8:6 (NIV)

The mind governed by the flesh is death, but the mind governed by the Spirit is life and peace.

Romans 12:18 (NIV)

If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone.

Romans 14:19 (NIV)

Let us therefore make every effort to do what leads to peace and to mutual edification.

1 Corinthians 16:11 (NIV)

For God is not a God of disorder but of peace—as in all the congregations of the Lord’s people.

2 Corinthians 13:11 (NIV)

Finally, brothers and sisters, rejoice! Strive for full restoration, encourage one another, be of one mind, live in peace. And the God of love and peace will be with you.

Hebrews 12:14 (NIV)

Make every effort to live in peace with everyone and to be holy; without holiness no one will see the Lord.

Well, perhaps, this reminder will encourage us to make every effort to do what leads to peace.  And let us be thankful for the peace we have with one another as members of His Body. Yes, in this season of Thanksgiving, I pray we will remember that peace is an outward expression of our inward gratitude to the Father who sent His Son to this earth to bring us peace and reconciliation. Yes, may the peace of Christ rule in our hearts today … and let us be thankful.  Amen.

So Now You Know…

Have a Blessed Day!

Now may the Lord of peace Himself give you peace at all times and in every way. The Lord be with all of you. ~ 2 Thessalonians 3:16

Follow God’s Example…

Ephesians 5:1 (NIV)

Follow God’s example, therefore, as dearly loved children…

Our Verse of the Day continues to focus on the theme of love as the full expression of what it means to walk with God. At first glance, I was intrigued by this one sentence verse. Parsing it out, I saw two key points that I wanted to explore: “God’s example” and “as dearly loved children,” so I read further to Verse 2.

Ephesians 5:1-2 (NIV)

1 Follow God’s example, therefore, as dearly loved children 2 and walk in the way of love, just as Christ loved us and gave Himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.

Key Point 1: We just needed to go one more verse to nail “God’s example” for us to follow. We are to walk (live) “in the way of love”! And our example of this “way” is our Lord Jesus Christ. His way of love is sacrificial in every aspect of relationship – first and foremost as the atonement for our sins … but also as a covering for offenses. (Cf. Proverbs 10:12; Proverbs 17:9; 1 Peter 4:8) As Paul shared: “But God demonstrates His own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” (Romans 5:8) Gone is the idea that we extend love to others after they have “earned” it. Gone is the notion that we only express or demonstrate love to another person because we feel like (based on our own determination) he/she deserves it. God’s example looks deeper than our transient emotions and human feelings.

1 John 4:7-12 (NIV)

7 Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God. 8 Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love. 9 This is how God showed His love among us: He sent His one and only Son into the world that we might live through Him. 10 This is love: not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins. 11 Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. 12 No one has ever seen God; but if we love one another, God lives in us and His love is made complete in us.

Key Point 2: Did you see it? Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God! “As dearly loved children” comes to life for us here. We did not become children of God until we were born of God; and that did not happen until we received Jesus as Lord and Savior. (Cf. John 1:12-13) So a child of God, by definition, loves in the same manner that God loves them. And the text says we are “dearly loved”. That speaks to the intimacy of our relationship with the Father we experience through Christ Jesus. And so, let us continue to look at how the Apostle John further articulates this “way of love” for us:

1 John 4:15-21 (NIV)

15 If anyone acknowledges that Jesus is the Son of God, God lives in them and they in God. 16 And so we know and rely on the love God has for us. God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in them. 17 This is how love is made complete among us so that we will have confidence on the day of judgment: In this world we are like Jesus. 18 There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love. 19 We love because He first loved us. 20 Whoever claims to love God yet hates a brother or sister is a liar. For whoever does not love their brother and sister, whom they have seen, cannot love God, whom they have not seen. 21 And He has given us this command: Anyone who loves God must also love their brother and sister.

I encourage you to read further into Ephesians 5:1-20 (Link to Bible Gateway Provided Here). I want to draw your attention to how Paul contrasts walking in the way of love with our former conduct as unbelievers. Before we encountered the love of God through Jesus Christ, we were unable to walk in perfect love. Paul illustrates this and provides us with practical, concrete examples of the tension between light and darkness … between love and the absence of love. Just as light exposes the darkness, so the love of God exposes the behaviors we exhibit as humans that are unloving, unkind, and therefore, unholy. And it is imperative for us to be filled with the Holy Spirit so that we can truly walk in the way of love. Christ Jesus lived the sacrificial love the Father has in mind for each of us to imitate. And He challenges believers with this spiritual standard: “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me.” (Cf. Luke 9:23) James and Peter weighed in on this instruction as well. James: “Who is wise and understanding among you? Let them show it by their good life, by deeds done in the humility that comes from wisdom.” (Cf. James 3:13) And Peter: “Now that you have purified yourselves by obeying the truth so that you have sincere love for each other, love one another deeply, from the heart.” (Cf. 1 Peter 1:22)

Although love is spiritual, it will always express itself in the physical or natural. The Father expects us to imitate Him, to be conformed to the image of His Son, and walk in the way of love. Love is to be the expression of our faith in Jesus … the outcome or fruit of the Holy Spirit who lives within us. Indeed, every fruit of the Spirit is rooted in love.

1 John 3:16-18 (NIV)

16 This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down His life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers and sisters. 17 If anyone has material possessions and sees a brother or sister in need but has no pity on them, how can the love of God be in that person? 18 Dear children, let us not love with words or speech but with actions and in truth.

2 John 1:6 (NIV)

And this is love: that we walk in obedience to His commands. As you have heard from the beginning, His command is that you walk in love.

I just feel impressed that the Spirit of God is very concerned that we as believers not only hear the command to walk in love, but to make it actionable in our lives. As I have shared before, God saved us … created us in Christ Jesus to do good works which He prepared in advance for us to do. (Cf. Ephesians 2:10) We have been saved to serve! This is His call on the life of every believer! We just need to be obedient as opportunities and divine appointments to share the love of God with others come our way. As the inspired writer of the Book of Hebrews urged: “Let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds….” (Cf. Hebrews 10:24) Indeed, being the love of God in this world is the responsibility and purpose of the Church. We are called to be the physical expression of God’s love to the world … and I pray we will do so with intentionality as we see the Day approaching….

So Now You Know…

Have a Blessed Day!

Links to Bible Gateway for Additional Study on The Way of Love:

1 Corinthians 13

Romans 12:9-21

Light Has Come…

1 John 1:7 (NIV)

But if we walk in the light, as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, His Son, purifies us from all sin.

Good Afternoon!

Earlier this week, we looked at how believers are called to be light in the world.  The Apostle John spent considerable time on this theological issue in his gospel as well as the epistles that he wrote.  In 1 John, we find this declaration that God is Light … as another attribute of His nature.  Let’s look at it in context:

1 John 1:5-10 (NIV)

5 This is the message we have heard from Him and declare to you: God is light; in Him there is no darkness at all. 6 If we claim to have fellowship with Him and yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not live out the truth. 7 But if we walk in the light, as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, His Son, purifies us from all (every) sin.  8 If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. 9 If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. 10 If we claim we have not sinned, we make Him out to be a liar and His word is not in us.

I find this passage deep … and quite convicting. Verse 6 is very direct about how our relationship with the Father is dependent upon His light.  You and I cannot be wavering in our practice of faith when it comes to abiding in God.  We either live in the light of truth under its full conviction; or in essence, we have no relationship with God.  John asserts we cannot walk in the darkness and still claim that we have fellowship with God.  It is an “all light” or “no light” proposition as I read it….  But here is the wonderful outcome:  If we walk in the light of truth; we not only have fellowship with God but also with one another.  Just think of how much better our nation and world would be if each person lived in the light of truth.  There would be fellowship instead of division, conflict, and strife, among us.  As I shared in our last lesson, our country is not divided upon political lines; rather, it is divided between light and darkness.  But if we walk in the light … we will have fellowship with one another.  Think about it….

What is so interesting about light is that it is necessary for sight.  We cannot see anything in darkness. There must be light to illuminate darkness for our physical eyes to have the benefit of vision. The same is true for our spiritual eyes. As we studied, Paul affirmed, “The god of this age has blinded the minds of unbelievers, so that they cannot see the light of the Gospel that displays the glory of Christ, who is the image of God.” (Cf. 2 Corinthians 4:4) And why is spiritual light so important?  It exposes the darkness of sin!  John addressed this issue as well because it is at the heart of why God sent His Son into the world … the core message of the Gospel:

John 3:19-20 (NIV)

16 For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life. 17 For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through Him. 18 Whoever believes in Him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because they have not believed in the name of God’s one and only Son. 19 This is the verdict: Light has come into the world, but people loved darkness instead of light because their deeds were evil. 20 Everyone who does evil hates the light, and will not come into the light for fear that their deeds will be exposed. 21 But whoever lives by the truth comes into the light, so that it may be seen plainly that what they have done has been done in the sight of God.

With this in mind, we can better understand when Jesus declared: “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.” (Cf. John 8:12) And later Jesus would state, “While I am in the world, I am the light of the world.” (Cf. John 9:5) The connection we need to make here is that Jesus is still in the world … right now!  You might ask, “How?” Well, He lives in each believer and abides in them through His Spirit to form the Body of Christ … the Church. It is the purpose and mission of the Church to be the light of the world.  (Cf. Matthew 5:14) But here is the problem we can face with unbelievers: “If we claim to have fellowship with Him and yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not live out the truth.” We cannot be light if we ourselves walk in darkness. It is hypocrisy! We just deceive ourselves! Light is going to expose all sin! Light is going to expose darkness! As Paul exhorted, “What shall we say, then? Shall we go on sinning so that grace may increase? By no means! We are those who have died to sin; how can we live in it any longer?” (Cf. Romans 6:1-2)

Now what is the application? When we share the Gospel with others, I believe a major point to share is the liberation that comes with light.  The knowledge of the truth is what sets a person free. (Cf. John 8:32) Sin and darkness holds a person captive, but Jesus was sent to be the light of life:

Isaiah 42:6-8 (NIV)

“I, the Lord, have called you in righteousness; I will take hold of your hand. I will keep you and will make you to be a covenant for the people and a light for the Gentiles, 7 to open eyes that are blind, to free captives from prison and to release from the dungeon those who sit in darkness. 8 “I am the Lord; that is my name! I will not yield my glory to another or my praise to idols.

Isaiah 61:1(NIV)

The Spirit of the Sovereign Lord is on me, because the Lord has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim freedom for the captives and release from darkness for the prisoners (the blind).

Jesus declared that these prophetic words were fulfilled in Him. (Cf. Luke 4:16-20) He is the Good News!  He is the Healer of brokenness!  He is the liberator of those held captive in darkness and sin! In Him is life, and that life is the light of all mankind! (Cf. John 1:4) This is what we need to be sharing with the prodigals and unbelievers! Paul said, “I am not ashamed of the Gospel, because it is the power of God that brings salvation to everyone who believes.” (Cf. Romans 1:16) And before his death, Paul reflected on the necessity of sharing the Gospel in his parting instructions to Timothy … which has been preserved for our admonition as well:

2 Timothy 1:6-14 (NIV)

6 For this reason I remind you to fan into flame the gift of God, which is in you through the laying on of my hands. 7 For the Spirit God gave us does not make us timid, but gives us power, love and self-discipline. 8 So do not be ashamed of the testimony about our Lord or of me his prisoner. Rather, join with me in suffering for the Gospel, by the power of God. 9 He has saved us and called us to a holy life—not because of anything we have done but because of His own purpose and grace. This grace was given us in Christ Jesus before the beginning of time, 10 but it has now been revealed through the appearing of our Savior, Christ Jesus, who has destroyed death and has brought life and immortality to light through the Gospel. 11 And of this Gospel I was appointed a herald and an apostle and a teacher. 12 That is why I am suffering as I am. Yet this is no cause for shame, because I know whom I have believed, and am convinced that He is able to guard what I have entrusted to Him until that day. 13 What you heard from me, keep as the pattern of sound teaching, with faith and love in Christ Jesus. 14 Guard the good deposit that was entrusted to you—guard it with the help of the Holy Spirit who lives in us.

Like Timothy, and all of the earliest disciples and apostles of Christ, we are to join with them in proclaiming, and yes, suffering for the Gospel. For it is Christ Jesus who has destroyed the death that comes from darkness. He is the One who has brought life and immortality to light through His sacrificial love and life. It is this Gospel … this Good News … we are to manifest to the world.  And if we should suffer for sharing the light of the truth, then we simply join our Lord Jesus, the Apostles, Paul, and all those who have devoted their lives to the making the love God known in this world. Jesus said, “Remember what I told you: ‘A servant is not greater than his master.’ If they persecuted me, they will persecute you also. If they obeyed my teaching, they will obey yours also.” (Cf. John 15:20) Peter addressed this issue as well:

1 Peter 4:12-19 (ESV)

12 Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery trial when it comes upon you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you. 13 But rejoice insofar as you share Christ’s sufferings, that you may also rejoice and be glad when His glory is revealed. 14 If you are insulted for the name of Christ, you are blessed, because the Spirit of glory (power) and of God rests upon you. 15 But let none of you suffer as a murderer or a thief or an evildoer or even as a meddler. 16 Yet if anyone suffers as a follower of Jesus, let him not be ashamed, but let him glorify God in that name. 17 For it is time for judgment to begin at the household of God; and if it begins with us, what will be the outcome for those who do not obey the gospel of God? 18 And “If the righteous is scarcely saved, what will become of the ungodly and the sinner?” (Here Peter is quoting Proverbs 11:31) 19 Therefore let those who suffer according to God’s will entrust their souls to a faithful Creator while doing good.

So, here is the conclusion.  Let us walk in the light as He is in the light!  We must abide in His light in order to have fellowship with God and one another.  If we walk in darkness, we will not have fellowship with God nor one another. That is why we must receive and share the light of life which has been given to us in Christ Jesus. The light of God will bring us to the unity of faith and knowledge of the truth.  And it is the truth that we must guard with our hearts…. Let us not be ashamed of the Gospel; rather, let us convey it in truth.

Mark 8:34-38 (NIV)

34 Then He (Jesus) called the crowd to Him along with His disciples and said: “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me. 35 For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me and for the Gospel will save it. 36 What good is it for someone to gain the whole world, yet forfeit their soul? 37 Or what can anyone give in exchange for their soul? 38 If anyone is ashamed of me and my words in this adulterous and sinful generation, the Son of Man will be ashamed of them when He comes in His Father’s glory with the holy angels.”

So Now You Know….

Have a Blessed Day!

Verse of the Day – 02/28/19

2 Timothy 1:7

For the Spirit God gave us does not make us timid, but gives us power, love and self-discipline.  Another Translation: For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.

Our Verse of the Day revisits some direction and guidance that the Apostle Paul shared with Timothy.  As you probably know, Timothy was a young convert who had sat under the teaching of the Apostle Paul “as a true son in the faith” – 1 Timothy 1:2. I think that in many ways, Timothy represents each of us who have struggled with theological and doctrinal questions as we mature in our faith and grow in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus.  In his letters to Timothy, Paul often offered insight and wisdom to Timothy who needed encouragement to remain steadfast when challenges and hardships occurred along his own journey of faith.  Here we find Paul explaining the gift and power of the Holy Spirit … and what believers should expect from Him.  I’m going to reprint the verse in its surrounding context:

2 Timothy 1:1-14 (NIV)

1 Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, according to the promise of life which is in Christ Jesus,

2 To Timothy, a beloved son: Grace, mercy, and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord.

3 I thank God, whom I serve with a pure conscience, as my forefathers did, as without ceasing I remember you in my prayers night and day, 4 greatly desiring to see you, being mindful of your tears, that I may be filled with joy, 5 when I call to remembrance the genuine (honest, sincere, transparent) faith that is in you, which dwelt first in your grandmother Lois and your mother Eunice, and I am persuaded is in you also. 6 Therefore I remind you to stir up the gift of God which is in you through the laying on of my hands. 7 For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.

8 Therefore do not be ashamed of the testimony of our Lord, nor of me His prisoner, but share with me in the sufferings for the gospel according to the power of God, 9 who has saved us and called us with a holy calling, not according to our works, but according to His own purpose and grace which was given to us in Christ Jesus before time began, 10 but has now been revealed by the appearing of our Savior Jesus Christ, who has abolished death and brought life and immortality to light through the gospel, 11 to which I was appointed a preacher, an apostle, and a teacher of the Gentiles. 12 For this reason I also suffer these things; nevertheless I am not ashamed, for I know whom I have believed and am persuaded that He is able to keep what I have committed to Him until that Day.

13 Hold fast the pattern of sound words which you have heard from me, in faith and love which are in Christ Jesus. 14 That good thing which was committed to you, keep by the Holy Spirit who dwells in us.

Well, this passage is filled with many exhortations, but the key point I believe we need to understand is Verse 7.  When we come to faith in Christ Jesus and are born-again of the Spirit, we receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.  We are sealed for the day of redemption. (Cf. Ephesians 4:30) And the Spirit we received is not a spirit of fear; rather, it is a spirit of power … of love … and of a sound mind.  Maybe we should break that down:

Spirit of Power:

Micah 3:8 (NIV)

But as for me, I am filled with power, with the Spirit of the Lord, and with justice and might, to declare to Jacob his transgression, to Israel his sin.

Acts 1:8 (NIV)
But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.”

1 Corinthians 2:4 (NIV)

And my speech and my preaching were not with persuasive words of human wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power

People, in general, are in pursuit of power – power over their own lives, but often, power over others.  But the power of the Holy Spirit appears to be more associated with the preaching, teaching, and sharing of the Gospel – the message about Christ Jesus revealed within the Word of God.  The few examples I cited above are indicative of this function.  Through the Holy Spirit, power is given to proclaim the Gospel.  Power is necessary to go beyond reading the Bible to living out and proclaiming its truth.  Why?  Well, consider how timid you and I … Christians in general … are in this current age?  Do we not keep our Christianity to ourselves because of fear of confrontation, intimidation, or persecution?  It is not popular to take a stand based on the Word of God or you’ll be labeled narrow minded, bigoted, racist, unloving, just to name a few kinder labels..  But the Gospel was not always received or believed then … and it certainly is not much better now.  Paul is telling Timothy (and us) that we have received a Spirit of Power … that overcomes this fear and intimidation.  And the implication is that we need to harness that power to be effective witnesses for Christ.

The Spirit gives us power to be bold and courageous – to be fully convinced of the truth we have received through Christ Jesus so “that we should no longer be children, tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, in the cunning craftiness of deceitful plotting, but, speaking the truth in love, may grow up in all things into Him who is the head—Christ.” (Cf. Ephesians 10:14-15) The Holy Spirit gives us power to be passionate about what we believe … and He guides our walk with wisdom toward those who are lost and ensnared in the culture of this world.  The Holy Spirit gives us power to recognize and redeem every opportunity that presents itself to share the Gospel; and He empowers us to guard words with grace and to season the conversation with salt so that we might know how to answer others with their questions or their assaults. (Cf. Colossians 4:5-7)

Spirit of Love:

Romans 5:1-5 (NIV)

1 Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, 2 through whom also we have access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God. 3 And not only that, but we also glory in tribulations, knowing that tribulation produces perseverance (endurance); 4 and perseverance, godly character; and godly character, hope. 5 Now hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us.

1 Peter 1:2-23 (NIV)

22 Since you have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit in sincere (honest, genuine, transparent) love of the brethren, love one another fervently with a pure heart, 23 having been born again, not of perishable seed but imperishable, through the word of God which lives and abides forever.

The Spirit gives us the ability to know the love of God has for us in Christ Jesus AND the ability to love one another in deed and truth.  The Spirit endues us with power to fulfill the commandments of God: To love Him with all our heart, soul, mind, and strength … and to love our neighbor as ourselves. It is through knowing the love of God that we are enabled to love one another as He has loved us.  Love is the motivation for the power we receive through the Spirit.  Love for others is demonstrated through sharing the Gospel of Truth with them … both with words and with actions. (Special Topic – Love: See 1 Corinthians 13)

Spirit of a Sound Mind:

I looked up the definition of “sound mind”.  Here are some of the definitions I found:

  • To be sane or rational;
  • To have the capacity to think, reason, and understand oneself;
  • To mentally calm and self-confident in your actions.

I like these descriptions of a “sound mind” because too often people inside, and especially outside of the Church, tend to associate Spirit-filled believers with “craziness”.  There have been different labels used such as “charismatics”, “holy rollers”, “snake handlers”, “Jesus freaks” to describe what I would simply characterize as “fervent or passionate”. But I think Paul wants Timothy (and us) to know that Spirit-filled believers are sane, rational, mentally calm, and possess the capacity to think and reason.  And I believe it is important for us to understand that the Spirit has been given to us both to exercise freedom in the expression of praise and thanksgiving to God AND to equip us with rational, intentional thought for the purpose of engaging the culture of this world through the fruit of the Spirit.  (Special Topic – Fruit of the Spirit: See Galatians 5:22-23)

2 Corinthians 5:11-13 (NIV)

11 Since, then, we know what it is to fear the Lord, we try to persuade others. What we are is plain to God, and I hope it is also plain to your conscience. 12 We are not trying to commend ourselves to you again, but are giving you an opportunity to take pride in us, so that you can answer those who take pride in what is seen rather than in what is in the heart. 13 If we are “out of our mind,” as some say, it is for God; if we are in our right mind, it is for you.

The Spirit of God has been given us to overcome the fear and trepidation we might naturally feel when confronted by outsiders who do not believe in Christ Jesus.  The Spirit has been sent to indwell us in order to complete the love of God demonstrated to us.  The Holy Spirit is intelligible and He is relational. Yes, we can be cognizant of His presence and we can enjoy fellowship with Him as we do the Father and the Son!  And He is imperative for us (our souls) to grow in the knowledge of God, the truth of His love, and the understanding of His will for us.  Power, love, and a sound mind are essential to our fellowship with God and with one another.

I want to end with a couple of passages that I believe will drive these last few points home:

Ephesians 3:16-21 (NIV)

16 I pray that out of His glorious riches He may strengthen you with power through His Spirit in your inner being (soul), 17 so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, 18 may have power, together with all the Lord’s holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, 19 and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled with all the fullness of God. 20 Now to Him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to His power that is at work within us, 21 to Him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.

2 Peter 1:3-8 (NIV)

3 His divine power has given us everything we need for a godly life through our knowledge of Him who called us by His own glory and goodness. 4 Through these He has given us His very great and precious promises, so that through them you may participate in the divine nature, having escaped the corruption in the world caused by evil desires. 5 For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; 6 and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; 7 and to godliness, mutual affection; and to mutual affection, love. 8 For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Well, I am not sure if I have done an adequate job here, but I hope that I have reminded you to stir up the gift of God within you … that is … to awaken the Spirit of God and His presence and power within you to proclaim the Gospel … to love others … and to do so with a sound mind and intentionality. “For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.”  Indeed, we need to allow the Holy Spirit to empower and guide our spirits so that we will be effective and productive for the Kingdom of God….

So Now You Know….

Have a Blessed Day!