The Spirit of Fear

This post was written in the midst of a dark time for our world.

The original date was August of 2020.
Please note that the listed applications are specified to what Christians were facing at that time.

2 Timothy 1:7

"For God hath not given us the spirit of fear;

but of power, and of love,

and of a sound mind."

This verse does not say "God hath not given us the spirit of fear until...

money is tight

the world is a mess

there's a toilet paper shortage

there's a mask mandate

people are rioting in the streets

...

until a loved one gets sick."

No.

There are no stipulations. No protocols. No "case-by-case scenarios".

No fear.

Only power.

Only love.

Only a sound mind.

Our focus is so skewed. When you first read this verse, what did you apply it to?
Would I be too bold to assume that you applied it to some sort of trial in your life? Would it be brass of me to imply that you may have thought something along the lines of, "Oh yes, I do not need to fear! I need to rest in God because He's allowing this trial in my life so that I can grow. I need to put aside worry and trust in Him. I will simply stay put right here, rest in His love, and wait on His guiding." So many times we lean on the phrase from Psalm 46:10, "Be still, and know that I am God:", as a verse addressed to children of God for our times of great turmoil.

Dear one, may I tell you that your mindset is wrong?

Let's look at what Paul is really saying here.

To give some background on the situation at hand in this first chapter of 2 Timothy, Paul is writing to Timothy (his "son in the faith") shortly before his death. These are the last words Paul will write under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit. He writes to Timothy a letter, encouraging him to keep on striving for the sake of the Gospel. Let's dive into the context of this passage (2 Timothy 1:1-12).

As with any well-written letter, Paul begins with an introduction - "Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, according to the promise of life which is in Christ Jesus, to Timothy, my dearly beloved son: Grace, mercy, and peace, from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord." Paul goes on to give thanks to God for his opportunity to pray for and invest in Timothy as a rising servant of Jesus Christ. Paul acknowledges Timothy's heritage, and the faith of both his mother and grandmother. Then, Paul moves on to share exhortations and words of encouragement.

Beginning in verse 6, Paul writes, "Wherefore I put thee in remembrance that thou stir up the gift of God, which is in thee by the putting on of my hands. For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind. Be not thou therefore ashamed of the testimony of our Lord, nor of me his prisoner: but be thou partaker of the afflictions of the gospel according to the power of God;" Viewing verse 7 in context, we see that this spirit of fear is in reference to the sharing of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. 

Paul is not telling Timothy, "oh, be not afraid, just live your life and wait on the Lord." No! Paul is giving an exhortation to Timothy! We see this through the remainder of the passage. After acknowledging that we must be willing to face persecution for the sake of the Gospel, Paul writes: "Who [God] hath saved us, and called us with an holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began, but is now made manifest by the appearing of our Savior Jesus Christ, who hath abolished death, and hath brought life and immortality to light through the gospel: whereunto I am appointed a preacher, and an apostle, and a teacher of the Gentiles." Here Paul details the beauty of the Gospel and the payment Christ fulfilled on our behalf. He says that he is appointed and committed as a preacher and teacher of this Gospel, and as an apostle of Jesus Christ.

Finally, we come to verse 12, "For the which cause 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 that which I have committed unto him against that day." Paul labors for the sake of the Gospel. He endures with the hope of Jesus Christ that, though he suffers many trials and persecutions on this earth, God holds those earthly sacrifices dear and moves His Gospel forward, and all efforts are not in vain.

How can we apply this to our own lives?

We must strive for the sake of the Gospel, and put aside the fear of persecution! Our lives are not our own and we are bought with a price. For the child of God, all strivings ought be for the sake of the Gospel, and we must realize that trials and tribulations we face for the sake of the Gospel are not to be feared! We must rather rely on the spirit God gives - of power, of love, and of a sound mind. 

All of this, for the furtherance of the Gospel!