For God did not give us a spirit of timidity or cowardice or fear, but [He has given us a spirit] of power and of love and of sound judgment and personal discipline [abilities that result in a calm, well-balanced mind and self-control]. 2 Timothy 1:7 AMP
Context and Charge:
It is a settled matter that when I came to the personal knowledge of Jesus as Lord and Saviour, I received something from God. God does not save a man and leave him the same way He met the man; there is an impact on the life of that man. That impact is personalised by the presence of the Holy Spirit in the life of that man. God also does not give man that which he is not or what He does not have; He can only give of Himself and His nature. My first assignment then from today's extract is to define with certainty that which I hold or have come to know. Is it that which God ordains and is able to sustain?
Why is it important for me to confirm what I hold is the real deal? It is because the days of testing and proving are coming; all that I claim to have will be tested. If I claim to be a child of God, the devil will test that truth in my life. He will bring situations that will make me doubt if God is indeed in charge of my life and the things that happen to me. God does not give a spirit of fear, because He does not have fear. He is the Fear of Israel, that the entire creation must fear. You also look at the capacity, ability and capability of God to do all that he has said, and you know of a truth that this is a God of absolute power.
Conviction and Conclusion:
God does not joke with his nature or gifts and does not leave me high and dry. He does not meet me and leave me empty; He fills me up with what I need for the work He needs to get done in and through me. Check out what He gives: power, love and sound judgement and personal discipline. Check out the jword AND connecting them all together. He will not give me one and deny me the others; His Spirit in me gives me all of these attributes. I also note that what I need for personal, emotional, spiritual, financial and all other kinds of impact are supplied by the Spirit. Nothing is missing for all of life and Godliness.
Of course, the end goal is both earthly impact and eternal life. God does not do wastage; He gives me all of Himself to profit by, both down here on earth and in eternity. His giving of His Spirit is the expression of His love, care and concern for me. He knows that I will not survive on my own, and that nothing of me can help me succeed at the work. Depending on my circle of influence or bank account balance amounts to foolishness; they cannot save on the day of God's wrath. The work is God's, and only that which is God's can help me make a success of the work. God's time of favour is here.
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