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Empowered by Faith: Embrace Your Spirit of Boldness

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II Timothy1:7, “For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.”

Encouragement of Paul to Timothy

Timothy was young and had a similar spirit of Paul (Philippians 2:19-20). He does the work of the Lord as Paul did (I Corinthians 16:10), who is Paul’s beloved and faithful son in the Lord (I Corinthians 4:17), having a good cheerful spirit (Acts 18:5) and is a faithful steward (Acts 19:21-22.)

Paul encourages Timothy, saying “I am continually praying day and night remembering…..”

  1. Your Sincere Faith, Genuine faith (II Timothy 1:5)
  2. Prayerfulness, Mindful of your tears (II Timothy 1:4)
  3. Holding steadfast the sound words from Paul. (II Timothy 1:13 – 15)

Paul instructed Timothy that (II Timothy 1:8)

  • He should not be ashamed of the Gospel.
  • He should not be ashamed of The Gospel preacher.
  • He should be a partaker of the afflictions of the Gospel.

Why? The GOSPEL.

It Saved us, Called us with a Holy calling, Blessed us with His own purpose & Grace and Planned for us even before the time began.

Spirit of Boldness/Courage:

Romans 8:15: “you have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but you have received the spirit of adoption, whereby we cry Abba, Father.”

  • Once, we were under the bondage of sin and of this world, but now we received the Spirit of Freedom and Sonship to break every bond (Ephesians 2:1 – 6; John 8:32 – 34).
  • We have Not received the Spirit of Fear and Terror (Hebrews 2:14).
  • Fear of Death
  • Fear of our Future
  • Fear about our Children
  • Fear of unbelievers

Adoption:

  • Sonship means the same rights and privileges as being born in the same family, having the right to call “Abba, Father”.
  • The slaves are never allowed to say ‘Abba’ to their master.

We read in Romans 8:16 -17: 16 The spirit itself bears witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God.17 Not only children but even heirs, heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ.

Also, Proverbs 28:1 says, “……. the righteous are as bold as a lion”.

Examples:

  • Early disciples witnessed Lord Jesus’s resurrection with boldness. (Acts 4:13) When they saw the boldness of Peter & John, they found that they were with Jesus. If we also have such fellowship with Jesus and with the power of the Holy Spirit, then we will also be able to witness Jesus Boldly.
  • Paul and Barnabas preached the Gospel boldly (Acts 13:16; Acts 14:3).
  • Joseph of Arimathaea went boldly to receive the body of Jesus (Mark 15:43).
  • Jonathan boldly went to face the enemies singlehandedly saying to his servant “Come, let’s go over to the Philistine outpost on the other side.” (I Samuel 14:1).
  • Four lepers at the city gate entrance boldly said to each other, “Why stay here until we die? If we say, ‘We’ll go into the city’ (II Kings 7:3)
  • Esther went before the King boldly to intercede for her People. “I will go to the king, even though it is against the law. And if I perish, I perish” (Esther 4:16).

Spirit of Power:

Luke 24:49 says, “And, behold, I send the promise of my Father upon you: but tarry ye in the city of Jerusalem, until ye be endued with power from on high.”

Acts 1:8 says, “But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”

Dunamis means Inherent Power/ Power to reproduce itself.

Paul reminded Timothy,

  • To fan into flame the gift of God given to him, “to stir up the Spirit” (II Timothy 1:6).
  • Do not neglect your gift, which was given to you through prophecy when the elders of the church laid their hands on you (I Timothy 4:14).

His divine power has given us everything we need for a godly life through our knowledge of him who called us by his Glory and Goodness (II Peter 1:3) (I Corinthians 2:14)

Demonstration of the Spirit and Power. (Romans 15:18 – 29; Hebrews 2:4; Mark 16:17 – 20)

Spirit of Love:

I Corinthians 13:4 – 7

  1. Patience: believes, hopes, and endures all things, suffers long.
  2. Kindness: love in action.
  3. Generosity: not envious or jealous
  4. Humility: does not parade itself
  5. Courtesy: Polite, never rude or discourteous.
  6. Unselfishness: seek good for others.
  7. Good temper: never irritated
  8. Righteousness: love in conduct, hate sin, not glad when others go wrong.
  9. Sincerity: Always Honest, not a hypocrite, never boastful.

Spirit of Sound Mind:

Galatians 5:22 – 23 describes the Fruit of the Spirit.

We need to overcome all the problems and difficulties we face in our life, for which God has given us the Power of Understanding.

God has indeed given us such boldness and power to witness our Lord and demonstrate the power of the Holy Spirit in this world.

As Matthew 5:16 says, “let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.”

My dear brothers and sisters in Christ, do you have such courage to share the word of God in this present dark world? Let’s pray that our Lord and Savior, the true Light of the World, gives light to everyone to shine.

Good vs Bad Fruits in Jeremiah 24: A Biblical Insight

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In Jeremiah 24:1, God shows HIS prophet Jeremiah, 2 baskets of figs kept before HIS temple with two different types of fruits. One basket full of good ripe fruits.

Another basket full of bad fruits which can’t be eaten.

By showing this, God speaks HIS plan for the tribe of Judah, whom God called out of the world to HIS kingdom to be HIS people.

Though the all-fig trees grow in the same type of soil under the same climate conditions, they give different types of fig fruits. Similarly, though God has called the whole tribe of Judah (church) to be part of HIS kingdom, only few accept and bear good fruits.

 In Jer 22: 3,9,17 God speaks of the bad behavior of many of the people of Judah who are called by HIM.

Jer,22:21 God feels sad about these people who turn deaf ears to God once they receive all earthly blessings from HIM.

Though these people started well, but as they went through different paths of life, they lean towards world, idolatry, forget God and HIS covenant with them.

So, God decides to destroy them in their own land through famine, wars, and deadly diseases.

But there is still a small group in whom God delights as they just wholeheartedly obeyed God in all their hardships.

They did what pleases God. Jer 22:16.

Mathew 3:12. shows God is the judge, and HE separates the good from the bad and has different plan for each.

Similarly in Jer 24:5 -7; God speaks to Jeremiah how HE is going to deal with this small chosen group of people and bless them.

 HE will send them into Babylon captivity and recognize them and do the following

1) Put HIS eyes upon them to do good (Psalms 32:8) Psalms 34:8

2) Build them (Psalms 127:1)

3) Plant them (Numbers 23:21, Isaiah 61:3)

4) Give them heart to know God (Ezekiel 36:26)

5) Shall become God’s own people and HE shall be their God.

Today Let’s check ourselves which basket do we belong to.

Do we belong to the basket of good fruits?

May God help us recognize our ways and return to God totally surrendering our life into HIS MIGHTY HANDS who is eagerly waiting to welcome us into HIS KINGDOM OF Godliness and goodness.

THE LORD IS THE STRENGTH OF MY LIFE

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Psalm 27: 1 The Lord is my light and my salvation; Whom shall, I fear? The Lord is the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?

Psalm 29: 11 The Lord will give strength to His people; The Lord will bless His people with peace

Psalm 84:5 Blessed is the man whose strength is in You, whose heart is set on pilgrimage.

Habakkuk 3:19 The Lord God is my strength; He will make my feet like deer’s feet, And He will make me walk on my high hills.

God brings them out of Egypt; He has strength like a wild ox. It’s our Lord God who strengthens His people. He brought out the Israelites from Egypt (which represents our sins or bondages) in their weak state and transformed them into a mighty Nation. God sent His word through Moses again and again which made them stronger. Hence, He was able to change them from Slavery to Sonship, to be God’s own Chosen Generation. (Numbers 23:22 / Numbers 24:8)

As we read in Deuteronomy 33:29   Happy are you, O Israel! Who is like you, a people saved by the Lord, The shield of your help And the sword of your majesty! Your enemies shall submit to you, And you shall tread down their high places.

And also, in Deuteronomy 32:30   How could one chase a thousand, And two put ten thousand to flight, Unless their Rock had sold them, And the Lord had surrendered them?

God was their sure defense and deliverer against every threat, fear, and enemy. Similarly, we were powerless to save ourselves, But God, in His mercy and grace, saved us through the sacrifice of His Son and has conveyed us from the power of darkness into the Power of Kingdom of His son.

Ephesians 2:1 – 2   1And you He made alive, who were dead in trespasses and sins, 2 in which you once walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit who now works in the sons of disobedience,

We were once sinners, under the bondage of Satan; But now God has chosen us and adapted us into his family.

Romans 8:14 – 16 14 For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God. 15 For you did not receive the spirit of bondage again to fear, but you received the Spirit of adoption by whom we cry out, “Abba, Father.” 16 The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God,

We were once weak in our body, mind and soul, without hope and without God. Even today, Devil compels us to commit sin and become addicted to sin. Eg: Addiction of drugs, alcohol, and smoking.

But God, in His immense Grace gives His people His strength. God’s “light” delivers us from the darkness of this evil world. Psalm 27: 1 The Lord is my light and my salvation; Whom shall, I fear? The Lord is the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?

We all want to be happy, healthy with prosperity in our lives. God never promised a smooth or painless life. But, When God’s strength is prioritized above our own, we will never be disappointed or left defenseless. As His divine power has given us all things that pertains to life and Godliness, through the knowledge of Him who called us. (I Peter 1:3)

Our strength should never depend upon our ability, wealth, education, or worldly wisdom. Psalm 52:7 Here is the man who did not make God his strength, But trusted in the abundance of his riches, And strengthened himself in his wickedness. In all, our strength is God Himself.

Our God wants to STRENGTHEN US in

  • Our SOUL,
  • Our SPIRIT and
  • Our BODY

Let’s investigate Apostle Paul’s life as case study.

STRENGTH IN SOUL

Acts 9:22 But Saul increased all the more in strength, and confounded the Jews who dwelt in Damascus, proving that this Jesus is the Christ.

If we read from Acts 9:17 verse onwards, we see how God had sent Ananias to Paul who was blinded on his way to Damascus, to receive sight and be filled with the Holy Spirit. The Jews were amazed. Paul preached that Jesus is Christ being enthusiastic and He also proved it.

Acts 17:3 – 4 3 explaining and demonstrating that the Christ had to suffer and rise again from the dead, and saying, “This Jesus whom I preach to you is the Christ.” 4 And some of them were persuaded; and a great multitude of the devout Greeks, and not a few of the leading women, joined Paul and Silas.

Acts 18:5 “When Silas and Timothy had come from Macedonia, Paul was compelled by the Spirit, and testified to the Jews that Jesus is the Christ.” People received salvation and followed Christ. Because Paul had received strength in his soul, he was able to bring many souls to Christ.

Do we have such Strength in us today? For what do we read in Acts 1:8  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. Such power comes from the anointing of the Holy Spirit alone.

STRENGTH IN SPIRIT

Philippians 4:13 I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me

Paul vehemently proclaims that he is able to do all things (his calling) through GOD’S Strength alone. We see how Paul begins his letter to Timothy saying,

I Timothy 1:12 And I thank Christ Jesus our Lord who has enabled me, because He counted me faithful, putting me into the ministry,

And Paul also ends his letter to Timothy saying, 

II Timothy 4:17 But the Lord stood with me and strengthened me, so that the message might be preached fully through me, and that all the Gentiles might hear. Also, I was delivered out of the mouth of the lion

God made a promise; God gave him a calling; and God kept him from stumbling to accomplish the task which was assigned to him. Of course, the task is made hard to make sure we rely on His Strength and not ours, the fear is real, but it won’t break us.

For our God will not fail us nor forsake us, but will surely Strengthen our spirit with HIS Strength. Ephesians 3:16 that He would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with might through His Spirit in the inner man

The word “might” be used instead of “power” to indicate that apart from inheriting potential and ability, it also connotes excellence on the inside. That’s where we need the Strength of God, for that’s where our character is built. God wants us to be strengthened with might in our inner man; He wants us to be energized/strengthened with His might in our human spirit!

What happens when we’re Strengthened in our Spirit?

Philippians 4:11 – 12 Not that I speak in regard to need, for I have learned in whatever state I am, to be content: 12 I know how to be abased, and I know how to abound. Everywhere and in all things I have learned both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need.

We have a content life. We are strengthened to face all our troubles, persecutions and sorrows that comes our way. Thus, Contentment and Spirit of Endurance is established in us when we are strengthened in our Spirit.

STRENGTH IN BODY

II Corinthians 12:7 – 10 7 And lest I should be exalted above measure by the abundance of the revelations, a thorn in the flesh was given to me, a messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I be exalted above measure. 8 Concerning this thing I pleaded with the Lord three times that it might depart from me. 9 And He said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. 10 Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in needs, in persecutions, in distresses, for Christ’s sake. For when I am weak, then I am strong.

We read about Paul’s weakness and infirmities, yet he boldly professes that in Christ he is strong though weak in body.

  1. Nehemiah 8:10 ..The Joy of the Lord is your strength
  2. Habakkuk 3:19 The Lord God is my strength (Holy Spirit)
  3. Isaiah 30:15 Quietness and Confidence shall be your Strength