Fearlessly Courageous
Desk of Dennis Piller
10 23 2024
How fear steals the power and love from our lives,
Paul is in prison in 1st Tim 1: 3-4, but he is seriously still a mentor and an encourager to Timothy, even from a distance. Timothy is discouraged. The word is being preached, but the people are not walking out their faith. So Paul, in constant prayerfulness over Timothy knows what he needs.
He emphasizes that Tim’s “genuine faith” provides a solid foundation to withstand the constant roller coaster of challenges that are part of living life.
Some say fear is the opposite of faith. Which is “the essence of things hopes for,
the clear evidence of things not yet seen”. 2 Timothy 1:7 says
“For God DID NOT give us a spirit of fear, but of power, and love and self-control/ a sound of mind”. Many of us have grown up on that scripture. But Pastor Mike Ash shared a vivid picture of what fear does to us. It actually steals our power, steals our love and steals our self-control. Fear makes you believe you are less than you are. It keeps us from moving forward and apathy actually sets in. It decisively takes away our power to fight. For? Our marriages, our kids, stepping out and seeking a better job. We become observers of our lives versus creators of a vibrant spirit filled life. We become paralyzed.
The second thing it does is it takes away our love and understanding to be kind and forgiving.
It makes us believe that too many are out to get me or hurt me.
If we don’t trust, we won’t be let down. We are less likely to be betrayed.
Love requires transparency and trust and if I trust you, you can hurt me.
When the spirit of love is stolen, our trust in others disappears. We become unforgiving,
and that even turns on ourselves when we do and say the stupid things we are known to do.
We withdraw further because we know if we see us… So will others.
So we draw further away and turn inward… reclusive and it neutralizes our trust in people so what do we do? We pull back… we go inward thinking it will protect us,
but in truth, it is stealing from us a little at a time. We stopped talking.
We stopped being transparent because fear says that we need protection.
So all that is good from God shrinks away, and our power wains,
and our love becomes more of a word than an adjective.
Fear then continues its stealth of deception and whittles down the soundness of our thinking.. our minds. Fear is a thief that comes in to rob and destroy the gifts of power, love and a sound mind that the Holy Spirit gives us. The fear rises up and creative even greater chaos. We become more convinced that WE need to be in control and when we see we aren’t, then the anxiety and fear grows and grows. Peace vanishes, without God’s peace of mind we are in serious trouble because humanly speaking we must be in control of the uncontrollable. Fear is a panic pill that dumbs us down.
But I must come back to God’s word. Who does God say that we are. He called Gideon a Mighty Warrior as he was cowering in a pit. He called Saul our from searching for donkeys so He could make him a King. David was a shepherd boy and even in his tumultuous life was King and called a man after God’s own heart. Who does God say that you are. He said, I didn’t give you the spirit of FEAR. Never! But power, love and a sound mind… all of this by the power of the Holy Spirit who is a person of the Trinity. Sent to empower us…give us wisdom. He said you are a Holy Priest…Called by name…your name to be a mighty warrior…You are a royal priesthood and a part of a Holy Nation.
So who exactly are we listening to?
- Paul encourages Timothy to be faithful and to remember the wholesome teaching he learned from Paul. Paul also says that God has given people a spirit of power, love, and self-discipline, not fear. 2 Timothy 1:3-14
- This verse encourages people to “fight the good fight of the faith” and to take hold of eternal life. 1 Timothy 6:12
- This verse says that people should strive and toil because they have hope in the living God, who is the Savior of all people. 1 Timothy 4:9-10
- This verse encourages people to present themselves to God as workers who are approved and who rightly handle the word of truth. HAVE FAITH!
- Paul’s second letter to Timothy is a letter of encouragement that reminds Timothy of his faith and the responsibilities that come with it. Paul encourages Timothy to remain strong and anchored in the Word, even during difficult times. 2 Timothy 2:15
In closing, Paul was clearly a mentor to Timothy. We all need a mentor. We need others to hold us accountable and to draw up alongside of us and hold up our arms when we are too weary to do it ourselves. Fear is never of God. Don’t let Satan steal your Power…Your Love… or your Sound Judgement. He is closer than a brother. Trust the Lord and he will set you free.
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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H3zFN54X7nc
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