FOR GOD HAS
NOT GIVEN US A SPIRIT OF TIMIDITY: ou gar edoken (3SAAI) hemin o theos : pneuma deilias:
(Acts 20:24; 21:13; Ro 8:15; Heb
2:15; 1Jn 4:18)
For God has not given us - This phrase reiterates again Who the
gift is from. Note that not (ou) means absolutely not! So what?
One practical application of this truth is that if are vacillating and
apprehensive, we can be sure it is not from God but is because our focus
is on ourselves and our own human resources rather than on the Lord and
His fully sufficient resources.
As Peter writes...
His divine power has granted to
us everything pertaining to life and godliness, through the true
knowledge of Him who called us by His own glory and excellence. For by
these He has granted to us His precious and magnificent promises,
in order that by them you might become partakers of the divine nature,
having escaped the corruption that is in the world by lust. (2Pe 1:3;
1:4 see notes
2Pe 1:3;
1:4).
Spirit (4151)
(pneuma from pnéo = to breathe) means a blowing
(wind), a breathing (breath) and can refer to the seat of the inner
spiritual life of man, capacity to know God.
Arnold Glasgow's words are
fittingly applied to Timothy
Make your life a mission—not an
intermission.
Spurgeon put it this way...
It is an abomination to let the grass
grow up to your knees and do nothing towards making it into hay. God
never sent a man into the world to be idle. (Adding that) Now
is the watchword of the wise.
D. Edmond Hiebert comments
that...
"Some would interpret "spirit"
here to mean the Holy Spirit. It seems better... to regard the reference
to the inner qualities, the spiritual character wrought in us
by the Holy Spirit. This Spirit-wrought character, described
negatively and positively, is the gift of God's grace.
Negatively, it is "not a spirit of fearfulness." God did not give us a
spirit of fearfulness, cowardice, or timidity, so that we cower and let
our flame die down when confronted with the prospects of suffering.
"But," on the contrary, God gave us a spirit "of power and love
and discipline." These three graces are especially needed by one in
Timothy's circumstances. Threatening clouds are rapidly darkening the
sky; added to the prevailing local hostility to the planting and
development of the Church there is now imperial hostility. In the face
of these ominous developments there is need for
power,
aggressive energy in the face of difficulty, which overcomes
the weakness of cowardice and enables one to work, to endure, to suffer,
and to die if need be. Needed also is the spirit "of
love,"
that self-forgetting love to Christ, the church, and the souls of
men, which exhorts, warns, rebukes with boldness and fidelity at
whatever risk of consequences to self. The third quality mentioned
is "discipline."
The original word means "the act of making sober, or calling to
soundness of mind"...The meaning is rather that of self-control,
self-discipline, the exercise of a sane, balanced mind. "As Paul grew
older and richer in experience, he realized the value to the preacher of
religious sanity"
(Greene)." (2 Timothy by D. Edmond Hiebert) (Bolding added)
Spirit of timidity - Is Paul
suggesting his young protégé is a "Timid Timothy"? Many commentaries and
expositors take Paul's phrase as suggesting that Timothy was fearful.
For example Guy King gently addresses the issue of Timothy's supposed
timidity writing...
However, Paul writes to brace him up;
he assures him that he need not fear, with such a GOD above him, and
before him, and behind him, and beneath him, and beside him, and within
him. "What time I am afraid, I will trust in Thee", says David, in Ps
56:3; but Paul would prefer the prophet's word for him, "I will trust,
and not be afraid", Is 12:2 - an attitude which, as a matter of fact,
the Psalmist did also himself afterwards take up, in Ps 56:4 and Ps
56:11. We will not dare to criticize Timothy for any tendency to
fear, for are we not also much inclined that way? How often we
refrain from some right word, or action, because we are so dreadfully
afraid of what other people would think, or say, or do! Do we not
hesitate again and again from starting upon some good course, or
undertaking, because of that stupid fear of falling, of not being able,
after all, to carry it out, or to keep it up! Are we not constantly
halted, or crippled, in Christian endeavour because we are afraid of
looking a fool! Well, this "spirit of fear" has no right to be
there. As we think of the old worthies of past days, how completely free
they were of all such unworthy feeling. (2Timothy 1:3-7
Grandmotherly Religion)
The able expositor Steven Cole
seems also to allude to some degree of reticence in young Timothy
observing...
It seems that Timothy had a tendency
to retreat from the front lines of serving Christ. He was rather shy and
timid, and not in the best of health (1Ti 5:23). His relative
youthfulness caused him to be a bit unsure of himself when difficult
issues required confident leadership (1Ti 4:12). Once Paul had to write
to the Corinthians (1Co 16:10), “Now if Timothy comes to you, see that
he is with you without cause to be afraid.” Paul knew that the rowdy
Corinthians might run roughshod over this insecure man.
As Paul sat chained in a Roman dungeon, awaiting execution, he knew that
he had to hand off the torch to Timothy. So he wrote this final letter
to encourage Timothy to keep running the race in spite of difficulties
and opposition. He words should encourage any of us who may be tempted
to draw back from actively serving the Lord to persevere. And this book
exhorts all who know Christ, but are not serving, to get into the race.
In 2Ti 1:6-11, Paul is encouraging Timothy to continue serving the Lord
with all of his strength, in spite of opposition. His flow of thought
goes like this: “Because you are saved, you must serve (2Ti 1:6, 7); but
when you serve, be prepared to suffer (2Ti 1:8); when you suffer,
remember your salvation and God’s call to preach the gospel (2Ti 1:9,
10, 11).” Then Paul points to his own example of serving in spite of
suffering (2Ti 1:12) and to the example of Onesiphorus (2Ti 1:16, 17,
18). The theme here is, even if you suffer for serving Christ, do not be
ashamed of the gospel or of those who preach the gospel (2Ti 1:8, 12,
16). (2 Timothy 1:6-7
Saved to Serve)
Notice that Paul does not address
this statement specifically to Timothy but "us", declaring that
"God has not given us...", and so he would seem to include
himself in this statement. Furthermore, why would Paul send Timothy into
spiritually difficult situations if he was so timid? For example, it is
well known that Timothy was given leadership in the difficult venue of
the church at Ephesus church, and it would seem quite unlikely that a
timid soul would be entrusted with such an important post. Furthermore,
why would Paul make statements like he did in Philippians if Timothy was
so fearful...
For I have no one else of kindred
spirit who will genuinely be concerned for your welfare. (Php 2:20-note)
Comment: The key word in
regard to this discussion of Timothy's timidity is "kindred spirit"
which is the Greek word isopsuchos (from ísos = equal +
psuche = soul, mind) which literally means one of equal soul,
thus like–minded or of like character and activated by the same motives.
One would hardly classify Paul as a timid believer!
On the other hand, there is no
question that when you receive a letter from your mentor explaining that
most of his associates have left him (2Ti 1:15, 4:10, 16), that he has
been imprisoned (2Ti 1:8, 11, 12, 16, 2:9) for the very truths he is
trusting to you (2Ti 1:13, 14, 2:2, 3:10, 11, 4:1,2) and that he
himself is about to die for that gospel (2Ti 4:6), would not these
realities send a "shiver" through even the most bold of disciples?
Indeed they would and such a real human reaction, far from detracting
from one's usefulness, would actually make them potentially more
effective in their ministry. In other words, such a person would not
foolishly brush off the many hindrances to proclamation of the gospel,
but be aware of them and in this awareness would understand that they
could only "succeed" with the Lord's gracious gift (fully adequate!) of
"power and love and sound mind." It is in the recognition and
acknowledgment of our human weakness, that the Spirit of Christ can be
strong (2Co 12:9, 10). The point is that timidity or fear is not an
abnormal human emotion, but it should not be one's prevailing mindset,
for we have all, like Timothy, been given the abundant provision of
grace in God's "power and love and sound mind."
Timidity (1167)
(deilia
from
deilos = fearful, timid as in Mt 8:26 where it
equated their fear with little faith and in Septuagint of Jdg
7:3-note,
other uses of deilos = Mk 4:40, Re 21:9, deiliao - used only in
Jn 14:27) (this is the only use of deilia in the NT) means
lack of mental or moral strength,
timidity (lacking courage, self confidence,
boldness or determination), reticence (inclination
to be silent or uncommunicative in speech), cowardice
(lack of courage or
resolution) or
shameful fear that is generated by weak, selfish character. The picture
is one who is in a state of fear because of a lack of courage or moral
strength.
As noted deilia is used only
here in the NT, which makes a discussion of the definition more
difficult than if there were numerous NT uses to compare the contextual
uses. Deilia however is used in the
Septuagint (LXX)
which might help
substantiate the meaning of deilia. For example Moses
records...
Lv 26:36 (or Lv 26:36ESV) As for
those of you who may be left, I will also bring weakness into
their hearts in the lands of their enemies. And the sound of a driven
leaf will chase them and even when no one is pursuing, they will flee as
though from the sword, and they will fall.
Comment: In Lv 26:36, the
Hebrew noun morek is translated "weakness" (NAS) or
"faintness" (ESV) and conveys the idea of fearfulness or timidity
(Dictionary of Biblical Languages with Semantic Domains). The Septuagint
translators choice of deilia for morek is compatible with the
definition outlined above. Morek is grouped in the TWOT in a list of
Hebrew words that William White states all convey...
The psychological notion of “weak
resolve,” which is the basic and underlying meaning is easily understood
in all of the contexts in which it occurs.
(Harris,
R L, Archer, G L & Waltke, B K Theological Wordbook of the Old
Testament. Moody Press)
So again the Hebrew ideas conveyed by
morek are very compatible with deilia signifying a lack of
mental resolve which results in timidity or cowardice.
In addition Spicq writes that
this word group (deilia, deiliao, deilos) is...
Associated with phobos (Wis 4:17),
eklusis (2 Macc 3:24), anandria (cf. 4 Macc 6:20), atolmia (Philo,
Virtues 25; Josephus, Ant. 4.298; 15.142; Aeneas Tacticus, Polior.
16.20), faintheartedness or cowardice can be defined as “a failure of
spirit caused by fear.” Rarely mentioned in the papyri, it is used for
mere reserve or abstention, a lack of courage and of reaction, a sort of
torpor, and finally fright (tarassō, Ps 55:4; John 14:27; Josephus, Ant.
5.216) which can become panic and terror in the face of extreme danger.
Jesus reproaches the apostles for this psychological fear when they are
terrified by the storm (Mt 8:26; Mk 4:40), because it involves a moral
deficiency: they no longer have faith, or they have but little faith in
the presence of the Savior, who has to reassure them. (Spicq, C.,
& Ernest, J. D. Theological Lexicon of the New Testament. 1:300-301.
Peabody, MA.: Hendrickson)
Deilia is never used in
a good sense, whereas another word for "fear" (phobos) can be
used in either a good sense (fear of the Lord) or a bad sense. Deilia
is only used here in the NT.
Related Resource:
Click
4 part series on Biblically
How to Handle Fear
Trench commenting on the
comparison of deilia, phobos and eulabeia writes that...
Of these three words the first,
deilia, is used always in a bad sense; the second, phobos
, is a middle term, capable of a good interpretation, capable of an
evil, and lying indifferently between the two; the third, eulabeia,
is quite predominantly used in a good sense, though it too has not
altogether escaped being employed in an evil. (Trench, R. C.
Synonyms of the New Testament. Page 34)
Friberg defines deilia
as a shameful state of fear from lack
of courage
(Friberg,
T., Friberg, B., & Miller, N. F. Analytical Lexicon of the Greek New
Testament. Baker Academic)
As noted above, although deilia is not
used elsewhere in Scripture, Jesus does use the related verb deliao
in His parting words of comfort to His disciples whose hearts were
troubled and agitated...
Peace I leave with you; My peace I
give to you; not as the world gives, do I give to you.
Let
not your heart
be troubled,
(present
imperative = stop
letting this happen. Verb tarasso = cause one inward commotion, take
away calmness of mind, disturb equanimity; disquiet, make restless) nor
let it
be fearful.
(Deliao =
present imperative
with a negative - conveying that may have been occurring so the idea is "Stop being fearful" or "Stop
lacking courage".) (John 14:27)
So here we see the antidote for
"fearfulness" or "timidity" is the peace that Christ gives. J Vernon
McGee adds these practical comments on Jesus words in John 14:27...
The peace He is talking
about here is not the peace of sins forgiven. This is the glorious,
wonderful peace that comes to the heart of those who are fully
yielded to the Lord Jesus Christ. It is the peace of heart and
mind of those who are in the will of God." (McGee, J. V. Thru the
Bible commentary. Vol. 4, page 464. Nashville: Thomas Nelson) (Or
Listen to the Mp3 of John 14:16-31) (Bolding
added)
Warren Wiersbe adds that...
The world bases its peace on its
resources, while God’s peace depends on relationships. To be right with
God means to enjoy the peace of God. The world depends on personal
ability, but the Christian depends on spiritual adequacy in Christ. In
the world, peace is something you hope for or work for; but to the
Christian, peace is God’s wonderful gift, received by faith. Unsaved
people enjoy peace when there is an absence of trouble; Christians enjoy
peace in spite of trials because of the presence of power, the Holy
Spirit. People in the world walk by sight and depend on the externals,
but Christians walk by faith and depend on the eternals. (Wiersbe,
W: Bible Exposition Commentary. 1989. Victor
or
Logos)
Fearfulness arises from our own
natural condition and should never mark the spirit of the believer. The
Lord is never responsible for our cowardice, our lack of confidence, or
our being shameful of Him. Under the severe persecution of Nero, with
Paul in prison and condemned to death, it would be natural for Timothy
and other believers to be afraid and to refrain from speaking out for
Christ.
Ray Stedman adds these practical thoughts
I do not know any
statement in Paul's writings that is more practically important to us
than that ("God has not given us a spirit of
fear"), because, if you are like me, you are
oppressed and assaulted by a spirit of fear most of the time. Anxiety,
worry, trembling about what is going to happen, a sense of terrible
disaster looming, of chaos and crisis that is about to break upon us --
these are forms of fear; this is the spirit of fear. This verse says
that these do not come from God. Did it ever occur to you that
Christians are forbidden to fear? How many times in the Scriptures do we
read that Jesus said, "Fear not!" (Ed:
however not the same Greek word) "Let not your
heart be troubled," {Jn 14:1, 14:27}. Do not let it go in that
direction. Stop it when it starts going that way. God does not give us a
spirit of fear. If we have such it is coming from another source, the
enemy, who is the spirit of fear. (See the full sermon
The Promise of Life)
John MacArthur records a powerful example of the spirit Paul is
writing about in this verse:
During the Boxer Rebellion (1899–1900), extreme nationalist Chinese
fomented a campaign of terror against officials of foreign governments,
Christian missionaries, and even Chinese Christians. After they
surrounded a certain mission station, they sealed all exits except one.
They placed a cross in the dirt in front of the opened gate and told the
missionaries and students that anyone who walked out and trampled the
cross would be spared. According to reports, the first seven students
who departed trampled the cross and were sent on their way. The eighth
student, a young girl, approached the cross, knelt down, prayed for
strength, carefully walked around the cross, and was immediately shot to
death. The remaining 92 students, strengthened by that girl’s courageous
example, also walked around the cross to their deaths. (MacArthur,
J. 2 Timothy. Chicago: Moody Press
or
Logos)
Today in the Word writes
that...
Mickey Mantle, the late Hall-of-Famer
for the New York Yankees, was a teenager when the Yankees sent him back
to the minors in 1951. Convinced he couldn't make it as a ballplayer,
Mantle called his father, who came to Kansas City and found a tearful
Mickey ready to quit the game. 'OK, son, if that's all the guts you
have, you might as well come home with me and work in the zinc mines,'
the elder Mantle said. His dad's challenge stung Mantle back to reality,
and he went on to greatness. Paul's challenge to Timothy wasn't a
stinging rebuke, but the apostle did urge his young spiritual son to
'get back in the game,' so to speak. For some reason, Timothy's
spiritual fervor had begun to lag, even though he was in his youthful
years (see 1Ti 4:12). He needed to rekindle the flame of his
spiritual gift (2Ti 1:6) and get back in the game. (Ref)
><>><>><>
People Of Courage - Police
found it hard to believe, but an unarmed housewife captured three
burglars singlehandedly. The woman had come home and found three men
loading household items into their car parked in her driveway. She
pulled her van behind their car and then ordered the men to carry her
belongings back into the house and sit on the couch until the police
arrived. Later, when asked why they didn't escape, she replied, "The
Lord was with me. . . . I wasn't going to move my van so they could get
away. What was I to do? Run away?"
The apostle Paul also showed unusual courage. His friends probably
thought he was being reckless when he insisted on going to Jerusalem
after he had been warned of the danger that awaited him (Acts 21:11, 12, 13).
A strong argument could be made for him to delay his trip. After all, on
another occasion he had escaped from danger (Acts 9:23, 24, 25). Yet Paul
knew what he had to do. With unwavering determination he courageously
headed for Jerusalem.
It's not easy to know when such boldness is wise or foolish. Only the
Spirit can show us. But one thing is sure, Christians have reason to be
courageous. God is our helper. And when we rely on Him, He'll enable us
to stand firm no matter what danger we may face. —Mart De Haan (Our
Daily Bread, Copyright RBC Ministries, Grand Rapids, MI. Reprinted by
permission. All rights reserved)
Ask God for good judgment and courage
To face unexpected events;
To follow the teachings of Scripture
Is the best, most effective defense. —Hess
Courage is fear that has said its prayers.
BUT OF
POWER: alla dunameos kai agapes kai sophronismou:
(Micah
3:8; Zech 4:6; Lk 10:19; 24:49; Acts 1:8; 6:8; 9:22; 10:38; 1Cor 2:4)
Micah
after condemning the false prophets, whose true character had been
disclosed by their "bad fruit" -- receiving "no answer of God" (Micah
3:7; cp Dt 18:20, 21, 22, notes on "bad fruit" to aid discernment
-Mt 7:16; 17; 18; 19; 20 - see notes
Mt 7:16;
17;
18;
19;
20),
Micah asserts his own power to reveal God's Word through the Holy
Spirit. His own prophecies would soon be fulfilled, and thus he
declares...
On the other hand I am filled with
power (Lxx
=
ischus)
-- (Where/Who is the Source of His power?) With the Spirit of the LORD--
And with justice and courage to make known to Jacob his rebellious act,
even to Israel his sin. (Micah 3:8)
Zechariah
hears the following famous words of encouragement for the civil leader
Zerubbabel, regarding the rebuilding of the Temple in Jerusalem...
Then he (the angel speaking to
Zechariah) answered and said to me, "This is the word of the LORD to
Zerubbabel saying, 'Not by might nor by power, but by My Spirit,' says
the LORD of hosts (see
Jehovah Sabaoth).
(Zech 4:6)
Comment: Neither is man's
weakness a hindrance to God, nor is his strength an aid to God. O, how
we need to remember this basic principle of spiritual life, cp John
15:5.
In some of our Lord's last words the
King granted His apostles (and applicable to all believers of all ages)
the following beatitude...
And behold, I am sending forth the
promise of My Father upon you; but you are to stay in the city until you
are clothed with power (dunamis)
from on high. (Luke 24:49)
Our Lord reiterated this glorious
promise in Acts in what were literally His parting words before His
ascension...
but you shall receive power (dunamis)
when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be My witnesses
both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and even to the
remotest part of the earth. (Acts 1:8)
Regarding our power versus
God's power Spurgeon phrased it this way...
Power in the creature is like
water in the cistern. Power in the Creator is like water in the
fountain. (From the
The Mighty Arm)
J. Hudson Taylor affirmed this
axiom for every Christian worker...
Depend upon it. God's work done in
God's way will never lack supplies. All God's giants have been weak men
who did great things for God because they reckoned on His being with
them. God uses men who are weak and feeble enough to lean on Him.
Power
(1411)
(dunamis
from dunamai = to be able, to have power) power
especially achieving power. It refers to intrinsic power or inherent ability, the power or ability to carry out some function,
the potential
for functioning in some way (power, might, strength, ability,
capability), the power
residing in a thing by virtue of its nature.
Dunamis (Click here
for all the NT verses that use dunamis) is a key word in the NT being found
in 115 verses in the NAS most
often in the Gospels and especially by Dr. Luke and in the
Revelation (Matt. 7:22; 11:20, 21, 23; 13:54, 58; 14:2; 22:29;
24:29, 30; 25:15; 26:64; Mk. 5:30; 6:2, 5, 14; 9:1, 39; 12:24; 13:25,
26; 14:62; Lk. 1:17, 35; 4:14, 36; 5:17; 6:19; 8:46; 9:1; 10:13, 19;
19:37; 21:26, 27; 22:69; 24:49; Acts 1:8; 2:22; 3:12; 4:7, 33; 6:8;
8:10, 13; 10:38; 19:11; Ro 1:4, 16, 20; 8:38; 9:17; 15:13, 19; 1 Co.
1:18, 24; 2:4, 5; 4:19, 20; 5:4; 6:14; 12:10, 28, 29; 14:11; 15:24, 43,
56; 2Co 1:8; 4:7; 6:7; 8:3; 12:9, 12; 13:4; Gal. 3:5; Eph. 1:19, 21;
3:7, 16, 20; Phil. 3:10; Col. 1:11, 29; 1Th 1:5; 2Th 1:7, 11; 2:9; 2Ti
1:7, 8; 3:5; Heb. 1:3; 2:4; 6:5; 7:16; 11:11, 34; 1Pe 1:5; 3:22; 2Pe
1:3, 16; 2:11; Re 1:16; 3:8; 4:11; 5:12; 7:12; 11:17; 12:10; 13:2; 15:8;
17:13; 18:3; 19:1) and translated variously as: ability, 4; meaning, 1;
mightily, 1; mighty, 1; miracle, 2; miracles, 17; miraculous
powers, 3; power, 83; powers, 6; strength, 2; wealth, 1.
There are some 369 uses of dunamis in the non-apocryphal
Septuagint (LXX).
Matthew
and Mark fittingly use dunamis as a proper name of God = "Power"
(see Matthew 26:64 , Mark 14:62)!
Dunamis is the implied ability or capacity to perform. It conveys the idea of
effective, productive energy, rather than that which is raw and
unbridled.
Dunamis is the word generally
used by Paul of divine energy.
Scripture uses dunamis to
describe deeds that exhibit the ability to function powerfully (deeds of
power, miracles, wonders) (eg, see Mt 11:20, 23, 13:54, 58, etc)
Sometimes dunamis is used to
represent an entity or being that functions with remarkable power,
especially being used to describe angel as powers (eg, see
Romans 8:38-note
Ephesians 6:12-note)
There is an instructive use of
dunamis later in 2 Timothy where Paul describes men...
holding to a form of godliness,
although they have denied its power (dunamis); and avoid such men as these.
(See 2 Timothy 3:5-note)
(Comment: The point is that the so-called godliness of these men
is a sham and devoid of any real divine power to break the power of
Sin. Those who practice such deception enjoy the
enjoy expressions of
evangelical worship but they are
violently at odds with the gospel’s internal effects of subduing sin and
nurturing holiness. They lack the inherent ability or capability, the
dunamis, because they lack the indwelling Spirit Who strengthens with
power for which Paul prays in Ephesians 3:16 (note)
The corollary is that those who possess the indwelling Spirit and divine
dunamis have the inherent ability to wage victorious battle with the
believer's three mortal enemies, the world, the flesh and the devil, all seeking to
turn us from God and unto self --
flesh
-- and its ungodly, unholy
attitudes and actions. One can readily see the importance of praying for
believers to be strengthened with dunamis power through the Spirit in
their inner man - see Ep 3:16-note)
William MacDonald
comments on Paul's reminder to Timothy of his access to God's "dunamis"
writing that...
"Unlimited strength is at our
disposal. Through the enabling of the Holy Spirit, the believer can
serve valiantly, endure patiently, suffer triumphantly, and, if need be,
die gloriously."
MacDonald quotes F B Meyer
It is power. It is His power. It is
great power; nothing less would suffice. It is exceeding great power,
beyond the furthest cast of thought.
This is the power which God
used in our redemption, which He uses in our preservation, and which He
will yet use in our glorification. Lewis Sperry Chafer writes: Paul
wants to impress the believer with the greatness of the power which is
engaged to accomplish for him everything that God has purposed according
to His work of election, predestination and sovereign adoption." (MacDonald,
W & Farstad, A. Believer's Bible Commentary: Thomas Nelson)
Note that in his letter to the
Ephesians Paul did not pray that believers might be given divine
power but that they might be aware of the divine power they already
possessed. ( Ep 1:18, 19, 20-See notes
Ep 1:18-19;
20).
I pray that the eyes of your heart
may be enlightened, so that you may know what is the hope of His
calling, what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the
saints, 19 and what is the surpassing greatness of His power
(dunamis) toward us who believe. (What kind of power is Paul praying
for?) These are in accordance with the
working of the strength of His might 20 which He brought about in
Christ, when He raised Him from the dead, and seated Him at His right
hand in the heavenly places
Through Christ we have the resource
of God’s own supernatural power, the very power (dunamis) He used to
raise Christ from the dead. It is of utmost importance to understand
that God does not provide His power for us to misappropriate for our own
purposes. He provides His power to accomplish His purposes through us.
When our trust is only in Him, and our desire is only to serve Him, He
is both willing and “able to do exceeding abundantly beyond all that we
ask or think, according to the power that works within us” (Ephesians
3:20-note).
Although God promises us and provides us with His dunamis power, we must
learn wait upon His timing (Acts 1:8) and also be willing to humble
ourselves that His power may be perfected in us (2Cor 12:9). Note that
Jesus Himself had at least in one sense the same power available to
believers today (see Lk 4:1,14,18 ...God
anointed Him with the Holy Spirit and with power)
Barclay writes that dunamis...
can be used of any kind of
extraordinary power. It can be used of the power of growth, of the
powers of nature, of the power of a drug, of the power of a man’s
genius. It always has the meaning of an effective power which does
things and which any man can recognize. (Barclay,
W: The Daily Study Bible Series, Rev. ed. Philadelphia: The Westminster
Press)
John MacArthur reminds us (as Paul was reminding Timothy) that because the
"resources we have from
our heavenly Father are power and love and discipline, when we are
vacillating and apprehensive, we can be sure it is because our focus is
on ourselves and our own human resources rather than on the Lord and His
available divine resources." If God has told us to do something this
verse takes away the excuse
"I can't do it, it's too hard". (MacArthur, J. 2
Timothy. Chicago, Ill.: Moody Press.) (Bolding added)
Dunamis is the root from which we derive the English word
dynamic, (synonyms = energetic, functioning, live,
operative, working) which describes that which is marked by usually
continuous and productive activity or change. That which is dynamic is
characterized by energy or forces that produce motion, as opposed to
that which is static. Another English word dynamite, is
derived from dunamis and since dunamis is used by Paul to describe the
"power of God", some have suggested that the gospel is "God’s dynamite".
This is misapplication of this English derivative in an attempt to try
to picture the life saving power of the gospel. Dunamis
does not refer to explosive power, as if the gospel will blow men to
bits but as discussed above, it refers to intrinsic power. The gospel is
dynamic, God’s dynamic, and so is powerful in the transformation of
human lives.
Regarding dunamis power available to believers today the Open Bible comments
that...
"The power of the Holy Spirit was not
designed solely for the first-century church. Rather, all Christians are
indwelt by the Spirit and thus have His power available (1Corinthians
6:19). However, living the Christian life under the Spirit’s power must
not be thought of as simply allowing the Spirit to take control while
the believer does nothing. Believers still must live the Christian life,
though they do it through the Spirit’s power. Romans 8:13
(note) says, “if by the Spirit you put to death
the deeds of the body, you will live.” It is you who are to put to death
the sinful deeds of the body, but you are to do it through the Spirit’s
power. Christians who struggle in their own strength to live the
Christian life will fail. They must by faith appropriate daily the power
of the Holy Spirit (Ro 8:4; 8:5 -see notes
Ro 8:4;
8:5). Described
practically, this means that believers trust the Spirit to empower them
in specific instances such as sharing their faith with others, resisting
temptation, being faithful, and so on. There is no secret formula that
makes the Spirit’s power available. It is simply a reliance on the
Spirit to help." (The Open Bible: New King James Version. Nashville:
Thomas Nelson Publishers)
Dunamis is
the word most often translated as "miracles" ("miraculous
powers") {compilation of articles:
Miracle (ISBE);
Miracle (Torrey);
Miracles (Naves);
Miracles (Smith);
Miracles (Baker's);
Miracle (Easton);
Miracle (ATS);
Miracles (Holman)
} are defined as an extraordinary work of God, generally though transcending the ordinary
powers of Nature; an extraordinary event manifesting divine intervention
in human affairs; an event that is contrary to the established laws of
nature and attributed to a supernatural cause.
Tyndale Bible Dictionary defines a miracle
as...
A divine act by which God reveals
himself to people. The classical definition of miracle assumes that it
is contrary to natural law, but this is a misnomer for two reasons.
First, many of the miracles of the Bible used nature rather than
bypassed it (e.g., the wind that parted the Red Sea, Ex 14:21).
Second, there no longer is a concept of “absolute natural laws”; rather,
a phenomenon that is not readily explainable may reflect laws that
scientists do not yet fully understand. In Scripture the element of
faith is crucial; a natural approach cannot prove or disprove the
presence of “miracle.” The timing and content of the process can be
miraculous, even though the event may seem natural. The revelatory
significance is also important. In every case God performed the miracle
not merely as a “wonder” to inspire awe but as a “sign” to draw people
to Himself.
(Elwell,
W. A., & Comfort, P. W. Tyndale Bible Dictionary. Wheaton, Ill.: Tyndale
House Publishers)
Power
as used by Paul here in 2 Timothy conveys the idea that Timothy (and all believers)
have the God given inherent ability necessary for meeting difficulties and for the
fulfillment of the service committed to us.
God never commands us to do what He does not also enable us to complete.
God gives us the
power
to overcome all obstacles and to face all dangers.
In Colossians Paul has an instructive use of "dunamis" explaining that...
"for
which
(that he might present every man complete in Christ) also I labor
(kopiao
= engage in hard work implying difficulties and trouble
and speaks of intense toil even sweating and straining to the point of
exhaustion if necessary),
striving (agonizomai
- was used of an Olympic athlete
giving their best as they competed in the games) according to His
working (energeo
= active work producing effect),
that is working (energeo) in me in power
(dunamis) The struggle is carried on in proportion, not to
Paul's natural powers, but to the mightily working energy of Christ
within him. All his toil and hard labor would have been useless
apart from God’s power (dunamis) in his life. Paul was
most himself when he was least dependent on his own resources. So it is
for all persons in Christ. We are not reliant on our own power, but that of Christ whose Presence works mightily
within us. This truth answers the question often asked “How was it
possible for one man (and a man with a thorn in the flesh!), even
with the help of fellow-workers, to accomplish so much?” Day by day,
yes even moment by moment Christ’s enabling Spirit was at work within
Paul’s entire person, bestowing dunamis power upon body and soul.
(see note
Colossians 1:29)
Peter uses dunamis to
describe God's power which provides believers everything we need to live
the Christian life writing..
Grace and peace be multiplied to
you in the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord seeing that His divine
power (dunamis - Christ’s inherent power is the source
of the believer’s sufficiency - His power saves us in the first place,
and His power energizes us to live holy lives from then on - this power
is active, dynamic, and compelling—and it is mightily at work on our
behalf. We don't always sense it, but it is there and available
nonetheless) has
granted to us everything (do you really believe this?)
pertaining to life (life to the fullest, as God intended and as is
now possible only in Christ) and godliness (eusebeia
= living reverently,
loyally, and obediently toward God), through the true knowledge
(epignosis
- an intimate and complete knowledge - as His divine power is the
source of godliness, so true, full knowledge of Him is the channel - to
know Him is eternal life [John 17:3] and progress in
knowing Him is progress in godliness) of Him who called us by His own
glory and excellence. (See note
2 Peter 1:3)
John MacArthur in a thought
parallel to the passage in 2 Peter explains where we get this dunamis power writing that...
It is the Word of God that infuses
us with power, but there’s nothing worse than feeling like an
impotent Christian. In
Acts 1:8 we read, “But ye shall
receive power.” The Greek word for “power” is
dunamis, which means “miraculous power” or “dynamite.” Now someone
might say that you ought to be exploding all over the world with this
tremendous power. But you say to yourself, “Exploding! I don’t even
fizzle. I feel like a dud.” Someone else might say that you ought to be
out there winning people to Jesus Christ. But you say, “Are you kidding?
Not me. I’m like Moses, I—I—I—I can’t talk” (cf. Exodus 3:10). Sometimes we get hung
up with our impotence because we really don’t know the “power”
available to us. Listen, the Word of God will infuse us with “power.”
From my own life I’ve realized that the more I know about the Word
of God, the less I fear any situation, because the Word is my resource."
(MacArthur,
J., Jr. How to Study the Bible. John MacArthur's Bible Studies. Chicago:
Moody Press
) (See related online studies by
Dr MacArthur [1]
How to Study Your Bible: Interpretation
[2]
What it Takes to Study God's Word;
[3]
Steps to Solid Study)
In a key passage in Acts Jesus
explains to His disciples that they..
shall receive power (dunamis) when the Holy Spirit has
come upon you; and you shall be My witnesses (martus - English
"martyr") both in
Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and even to the remotest part
of the earth. (Acts 1:8
)
John MacArthur commenting on
Acts 1:8 writes that because of this
dunamis power...
All believers have in them
spiritual dynamite for use of gifts, service, fellowship, and witness.
They need to experience the release of that power in their lives through
not grieving the Spirit by sin (see Ephesians 4:30-note),
and being continually filled and controlled by the Spirit (see Ephesians
5:18-note). The latter takes
place as believers yield moment by moment control of their lives to Him,
and is the same as yielding their minds to the Word (see Colossians
3:16-note).
(MacArthur,
J: Acts 1-12; Acts
13-28 Moody Press)
MacDonald adds that
dunamis in
Acts 1:8 describes power which...
is the grand indispensable of
Christian witness. A man may be highly talented, intensively trained,
and widely experienced, but without spiritual power he is ineffective.
On the other hand, a man may be uneducated, unattractive, and unrefined,
yet let him be endued with the power of the Holy Spirit and the world
will turn out to see him burn for God." (MacDonald,
W & Farstad, A. Believer's Bible Commentary: Thomas Nelson)
J Vernon McGee agrees with the
previous comments on dunamis in
Acts 1:8 adding that...
"Although it is our business today
to get out the Word of God, there is no power in us, there
is no power in the church, but there is power in the Holy Spirit.
It is the Holy Spirit Who moves through an individual or through the
church or through a radio program. The question is whether we permit Him
to do so." (McGee,
J V: Thru the Bible Commentary: Thomas Nelson)
(See his Mp3's on
Acts)
What does this dunamis
power to be a witness for Jesus look like? It radically touches our
inner complexities—who we are deep inside. Not only must we have the
message, the gospel, but we should seek to have the compliment
made of us that Sir Henry Stanley gave David Livingstone after discovering and
spending time with him in Central Africa:
“If I had been with him
any longer, I would have been compelled to be a Christian, and he never
spoke to me about it at all.”
David Livingstone’s witness went far
beyond mere words because it was not his power but God's supernatural
inherent (dunamis) power flowing through him. May the compliment be
given to Livingstone be multiplied in our lives beloved, for the glory
of God alone and for His Kingdom. God protect us from the danger of
forgetting that we cannot do what God can do and that God will not do
what we can do.
Kenneth Wuest
says that dunamis...
"power in the sense of that which
overcomes resistance or effects a change" (In
Mark 5:30
literal Greek = “Jesus, perceiving
in Himself the out from Him power going out”) It was some of (Jesus') supernatural power which He felt leaving Him in
the accomplishing of the miraculous cure".
(Describing the effect of the gospel
Wuest writes) Paul chooses dunamis to describe the effectual working of
the good news of salvation (See Romans 1:16 -note For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power [dunamis] of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also
to the Greek.). Dunamis is power, natural ability,
inherent power residing in a thing by virtue of its nature, or, power
which a person or thing exerts or puts forth. The gospel is the
inherent, omnipotent power of God operating in the salvation of a lost
soul that accepts it. “Unto” is eis a preposition often signifying result. The gospel is God’s
power resulting in salvation to the one who believes. The definite
article is absent before “power,” “The gospel is a power of God.” Denney
says, “It does no injustice to render a ‘divine power.’ The conception
of the gospel as a force pervades the epistles to the Corinthians; its
proof, so to speak, is dynamical, not logical. It is demonstrated, not
by argument, but by what it does; and looking to what it can do, Paul is
proud to preach it anywhere.” Vincent says that the gospel is “not
merely a powerful means in God’s hands, but in itself a divine energy.”
It is the good news of salvation energized by the Holy Spirit. Our word
“dynamite” is the transliteration of this Greek word but not its
translation. Dunamis does not refer to an explosive powder.
The Greeks knew nothing about gunpowder. The gospel is not the dynamite
of God. It is a sweet and loving message of mercy and grace which the
Holy Spirit in sovereign grace makes operative in the heart of the
sinner elected to salvation before the foundation of the universe."
(Describing the effect of dunamis
in Paul's prayer in Ephesians 3:20
(note) "Now to Him who
is able to do exceeding abundantly beyond all that we ask or think,
according to the power [dunamis] that works [energeo] within us") "The
power (dunamis) that is putting forth
energy in us (energeo), is the operation of the Holy Spirit in
His work of sanctification. God is able to do for us and answer our
prayers according to the efficiency, richness, and power of the
working of the Spirit in our lives. This latter is determined by the
yieldedness of the believer to the Holy Spirit. Thus, the saint
determines what God is able to do for him. In His inherent ability,
there is no limit to what God can do in and through the saint. But the
saint limits the working of God in and through him by the degree of his
yieldedness to the Spirit."
(Wuest,
K. S. Wuest's Word Studies from the Greek New Testament: Eerdmans)
(Bolding added) (See note on
Ephesians 3:20)
William Barclay writes that
dunamis...
"literally means power; it is the
word from which dynamite comes. It can be used of any kind of
extraordinary power. It can be used of the power of growth, of the
powers of nature, of the power of a drug, of the power of a man’s
genius. It always has the meaning of an effective power which does
things and which any man can recognize." (Barclay,
W: The Daily Study Bible Series, Rev. ed. Philadelphia: The Westminster
Press)
Vance Havner emphasizes the
importance of the necessity of a spirit of "power" in
ministry writing that...
"We are seeing much today of
service without the spirit. There is an appalling ignorance of the
Person and work of the Holy Spirit in our great church bodies. It is not
what is done for God that counts, but rather what is done by Him, the
work of His Spirit through our yielded wills. Programs, propaganda, pep,
personnel, these are not enough. There must be power. God's work
must be done by God's people God's way."...He adds "The Quakers
got their name from the fact that they trembled under the power
of the Spirit. At least their faith shook them! Too many of us today are
shaky about what we believe but not shaken by what we believe."...Too
many people assemble at God's house who don't really believe in the
power of God. Having begun in the Spirit, we live in the flesh....Never
has the church had more wire stretched with less power in it.
"All is vain unless the Spirit of the Holy One comes down." Sad to say,
we seem not even to know that we have not the Spirit in power. If
He ceased His work many church members would never know the difference.
Like Samson, we wist not that He has departed, but we keep "shaking
ourselves" in the prescribed calisthenics...Our righteousnesses
are as filthy rags, and only when we see them so and rend our garments
can we be clad in His righteousness alone to stand faultless before the
Throne. And not only that, but the believer who would live and work in
the power of God must rend the garments of self‑sufficiency and
tear up the vestments of the flesh if he is to go clothed in the Lord.
God will not drop the mantle of His Spirit around the dirty raiment of
our own goodness. We must rend our own clothes if we wear the garment of
God....Walking in the Spirit is exactly what the name means: not
taking a "step" or a "stand" to pose like statues on the rock of a Bible
truth, but living day by day in the name of Christ by the power
of the Holy Spirit.
A. W. Tozer comments on the
spirit of power Paul refers to declaring that...
We are turning out from the Bible
schools of this country year after year young men and women who know the
theory of the Spirit-filled life but do not enjoy the experience. These
go out into the churches to create in turn a generation of Christians
who have never felt the power of the Spirit and who know nothing
personally about the inner fire....The only power God
recognizes in His church is the power of His Spirit whereas the
only power actually recognized today by the majority of
evangelicals is the power of man. God does His work by the operation of
the Spirit, while Christian leaders attempt to do theirs by the power
of trained and devoted intellect. Bright personality has taken the place
of the divine afflatus. Everything that men do in their own strength and
by means of their own abilities is done for time alone; the quality of
eternity is not in it. Only what is done through the Eternal Spirit will
abide eternally; all else is wood, hay, stubble....We have the blessed
Holy Spirit present, and we are treating Him as if He were not present
at all. We resist Him, disobey Him, quench Him and compromise with our
hearts. We hear a sermon about Him and determine to learn more and do
something about it. Our conviction wears off, and soon we go back to the
same old dead level we were in before. We resist the blessed Comforter.
He has come to comfort. He has come to teach. He is the Spirit of
instruction. He has come to bring light for He is the Spirit of light.
He comes to bring purity for He is the Spirit of holiness. He comes to
bring power for He is the Spirit of power...God Almighty
is saying to us, “I am not wanting to wake up the power that lies
in you. Ye shall receive the power of the Holy Spirit coming upon you!”
That is a different thing altogether. If we had only to be awakened, the
Lord would simply have gone around waking us up—but we need more than
this. We need to be endued with power from on high...many
Christians spend a lot of time and energy in making excuses, because
they have never broken through into a real offensive for God by the
unlimited power of the Holy Spirit!...Many persons preach and
teach. Many take part in the music. Certain ones try to administer God’s
work—but if the power of God’s Spirit does not have freedom to
energize all they do, these workers might just as well have stayed
home."
><>><>><>
Power Outage - The silence
awakened me at 5:30 one morning. There was no gentle whir of fan blades,
no reassuring hum from the refrigerator downstairs. A glance out the
window confirmed that a power outage had left everyone in our
neighborhood without electricity just as they would be preparing for
work.
I realized that alarm clocks would not sound, and there would be no TV
news. Coffee makers, toasters, hair dryers, and many telephones would be
useless. Beginning a day without power was simply an inconvenience and a
disruption of routine—but it felt like a disaster.
Then I thought of how often I rush into the day without spiritual power.
I spend more time reading the newspaper than the Bible. Talk radio
replaces listening to the Spirit. I react to difficult people and
circumstances in a spirit of fear rather than the spirit of "power and
of love and of a sound mind" that God has given us (2 Timothy 1:7). I
must appear as spiritually unkempt as a person who dressed and groomed
in the dark.
Our power outage was short-lived, but the lesson remains of my need to
begin each day by seeking the Lord. His strength is not for my success
or well-being, but so that I will glorify Christ by living in His power.
—David C. McCasland (Our
Daily Bread, Copyright RBC Ministries, Grand Rapids, MI. Reprinted by
permission. All rights reserved)
There’s never a lack of God’s power
In prayer and reading His Word,
For Jesus in heaven is listening-
Your prayer will always be heard. —Hess
The human spirit fails us unless the Holy Spirit fills us.
><>><>><>
AND LOVE: kai
agapes: (Col 1:8 1Pet 1:22 see Torrey's Topic "Love
to Man")
Elsewhere Paul explains that...
the love of God has been poured
out (past completed event at moment of salvation - picturing a lavish outpouring to the point of overflowing - God’s
love is not rationed drop by drop but is from an endless divine
reservoir, cp
John 4:14, 7:38, 39) within our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was
given to us. (see note
Romans 5:5)
Love
(26)(agape)
(Click
word study of
agape) describes the unconditional,
unselfish, costly love that God is (1Jn 4:16) and which God shows (Jn
3:16) and which was "poured out within our hearts through the Holy Spirit
who was given to us" at the time of our new birth (Ro 5:5-note).
Agape love
is produced in the heart of the yielded, surrendered saint by the Holy Spirit
(Gal 5:22-note)
and has as its chief ingredient, self-sacrifice for the benefit of the
one loved (cf Jn 3:16).
What does agape love look like in everyday life? How is agape manifest? The
behavior of agape is clearly
laid out for us in (1Cor 13:4, 5, 6, 7-see
notes
).
This
love represents a choice of each individual's will which expresses
itself in
real and tangible action including the love for the souls of men (and so
it speaks the truth in love).
Agape love is a prerequisite
for the manifestation of the character of Christ in all our conduct and
service for the Lord, otherwise we are nothing but "a noisy gong or a
clanging cymbal." (1Cor 13:1). As John says
"There is no fear in love;
but perfect love casts out fear because fear involves punishment, and
the one who fears is not perfected in love. We love, because He first
loved us." (1
John 4:18-19)
Stedman has these comments on a spirit
of love:
"We are expected not only to be concerned about our
struggles and problems, but others' too, and we long to reach out to
them to help them with their problems. Nothing is more proof to me that
a person is filled with the Spirit than when he evidences concern for
somebody else's problems. That is the spirit of love."
MacArthur
adds that Agape
"is not emotional and conditional, as philos love often is, and has nothing in common
with eros love, which is sensual and selfish (Ed
note: this Greek word for "love" is not used in Scripture). The love we have from God is constant. It does not share the ebb and
flow or the unpredictability of those other loves. It is a self-denying
grace that says to others, in effect, “I will give myself away on your
behalf.” Directed back to God, from whom it came, it says, “I will
give my life and everything I have to serve you.”
AND
DISCIPLINE: kai sophronismou:
Discipline
or "sound mind" (4995)
(sophronismos
from sophron in turn from
sozo = save + phren = mind) so literally
this word describes "a saved mind" or "a sound mind". (See study of related word
sophronos).
Not only is such a mind secure and sound but it
carries the additional idea that this mind is self-controlled,
disciplined, and properly prioritized.
Sophronismos describes sound-mindedness in action and the opposite mindset is one
predisposed to excessive self-indulgence or lack of good sense.
Sophronismos
describes the individual marked by a sense of sobriety (temperance, moderation), sound judgment, exercise of prudence,
moderation, prudence (prudence includes the ability to govern and discipline oneself, sagacity or
shrewdness in the management of affairs, skill and good judgment in the
use of resources, caution or circumspection as to danger or risk).
Paul reminds Timothy that God has given us a mind which has the
power to keep self (see
flesh) in check
and free from all
excitement. The mind described here has a close parallel in (see
Ro 8:5; 8:6; 8:7-
notes
Ro 8:5;
8:6;
8:7)
Gary Demarest adds that...
the sound mind all alone can become
merely academic or speculative. Power, love, and a sound mind, given to
us by God Himself, is the antidote to the spirit of fear or timidity. (Briscoe,
D. S., & Ogilvie, L. J. The Preacher's Commentary Series, New
Testament. 2003; Thomas Nelson)
Discipline
describes a person who is sensibly minded and balanced, who has his life
under control.
The Amplified Version
reads,
calm and well-balanced mind
and discipline and self-control.
William MacDonald
observes that...
The words a sound mind
do not completely convey the thought. They might suggest that a
Christian should be sane at all times, free from nervous breakdowns or
other mental ailments. This verse has often been misused to teach that a
Christian who is living close to the Lord could never be afflicted with
any kind of mental ills. That is not a scriptural teaching. Many mental
ills can be traced to inherited weaknesses. Many others may be the
result of some physical condition not connected in any way with the
person’s spiritual life. What this verse is teaching is that God has
given us a spirit of self-control or self-mastery. We are to use
discretion and not to act rashly, hastily, or foolishly. No matter how
adverse our circumstances, we should maintain balanced judgment and act
soberly. (MacDonald,
W & Farstad, A. Believer's Bible Commentary: Thomas Nelson)
Guy King observes...
How infinitely more effective is a
horse when its wild freedom gives place to a proper control. What a
wholly revolutionized thing, will that wide-spread, sluggish water
become if it is confined within narrow banks - able now in its
swiftly-running energy to do things, and to turn things. It is all the
difference between waters dissipated, or disciplined, that is suggested
by this quality of self-mastery.
J Vernon McGee
remarks that...
A sound mind means
discipline. In other words, God does not intend that defeat should be
the norm of Christian living. We should be disciplined Christians rather
than slaves to our emotions. We are all moved by our emotions. That is
why people will send money to organizations that advertise with the
picture of a poor, hungry, little orphan. But Christians are not to be
motivated by their emotions. Our emotions are not to master us. We are
to be disciplined. (McGee,
J V: Thru the Bible Commentary: Thomas Nelson)
Ray Stedman adds these practical
thoughts regarding discipline (sound mind):
It is not fanaticism; it is not talking constantly about dreams,
visions, special revelations and wonderful experiences. It is talking
about sober, realistic appraisals of a situation, deciding the right
thing to do, and then, steadfastly, quietly, moving to do it. That is
the spirit of sound judgment."
William Barclay
writes that..
The word sophronismos is
one of those great Greek untranslatable words. Someone has defined it as
“the sanity of saintliness.” Falconer defines it as “control of
oneself in face of panic or of passion.” It is Christ alone Who can
give us that self-mastery which will keep us alike from being swept away
and from running away. No man can ever rule others unless he has first
mastered himself. Sophronismos is that divinely given self-control which
makes a man a great ruler of others because he is first of all the
servant of Christ and the master of himself. (Barclay,
W: The Daily Study Bible Series, Rev. ed. Philadelphia: The Westminster
Press)
John MacArthur adds that a
God-given
discipline allows believers to control every element of their lives,
whether positive or negative. It allows them to experience success
without becoming proud and to suffer failure without becoming bitter or
hopeless. The disciplined life is the divinely ordered life, in which
godly wisdom is applied to every situation...When
we live by the godly discipline that our gracious Lord supplies, our
priorities are placed in the right order, and every aspect of our lives
is devoted to advancing the cause of Christ...The great spiritual
triumvirate of power, love, and discipline belong
to every believer. These are not natural endowments. We are not born
with them, and they cannot be learned in a classroom or developed from
experience. They are not the result of heritage or environment or
instruction. But all believers possess these marvelous, God-given
endowments: power, to be effective in His service; love,
to have the right attitude toward Him and others; and discipline,
to focus and apply every part of our lives according to His will. When
those endowments are all present, marvelous results occur." (MacArthur,
J. 2 Timothy. Chicago: Moody Press)
><>><>><>
Reason Enough - If you are
like most Christians, you didn't go through a long reasoning process
before believing on Jesus. You heard the good news and realized you were
a sinner and needed God's forgiveness. You understood that when Jesus
died on the cross He took the punishment you deserved. You believed that
He rose from the dead, and you placed your trust in Him. This simple act
of faith gave you inner peace and brought you into a personal
relationship with God.
Let's suppose, however, that a well-educated skeptic challenges you to
present solid historical evidence for the truthfulness of the Gospels.
Though some Christians can skillfully defend their faith, you might not
be one of them. Does this mean you believe without reason and your faith
is just wishful thinking? Not at all! You believe because God showed you
your need and His provision for it. That's reason enough! And the peace
you have comes from the Holy Spirit (Ro 8:16, 17-notes).
Study so that you can give reasons for believing in Christ. But don't
worry if you don't have all the answers. The God who helped timid
Timothy be a good soldier for Him (2 Ti 1:7; 2:1, 2, 3, 4) can use you too.
Thank God for enabling you to believe. Then tell others what He has done
for you. —Herbert Vander Lugt
"I put no faith in faith," he said,
"I only trust what's in my head."
So I told him that my reliance
Is faith in God, who thought of science. --Gustafson
The heart has its reasons which reason knows nothing of. --Pascal
><>><>><>
Martin Neimoller (
biography)
was a Man with No Spirit of Fear - In 1934, Adolf Hitler
summoned German church leaders to his Berlin office to berate them for
insufficiently supporting his programs. Pastor Martin Niemoller
explained that he was concerned only for the welfare of the church and
of the German people. Hitler snapped,
You confine yourself to the church.
I’ll take care of the German people.
Neimoller replied,
You said that ‘I will take care of
the German people.’ But we too, as Christians and churchmen,
have
a responsibility toward the German people. That responsibility was
entrusted to us by God, and neither you nor anyone in this world has the
power to take it from us.
Hitler listened in
silence, but that evening his Gestapo raided Neimoller's rectory, and a
few days later a bomb exploded in his church. During the months and
years following, he was closely watched by the secret police, and in
June 1937, he preached these words to his church
We have no more thought
of
using our own powers to escape the arm of the authorities than had the
apostles of old. We must obey God rather than man.
He was soon
arrested and placed in solitary confinement.
Dr. Neimoller's
trial began on February 7, 1938. That morning, a green-uniformed guard
escorted the minister from his prison cell and through a series of
underground passages toward the courtroom. Niemoller was overcome with
terror and loneliness. What would become of him? Of his family? His
church? What tortures awaited them all? The guard’s face was impassive,
and he was silent as stone. But as they exited a tunnel to ascend a
final flight of stairs, Niemoller heard a whisper. At first he didn’t
know where it came from, for the voice was soft as a sigh. Then he
realized that the officer was breathing into his ear the words of
Proverbs 18:10
The name of the Lord is a
strong
tower;
the righteous run to it and are safe.
Neimoller's fear
fell away, and the power of that verse sustained him through his trial
and his years in Nazi concentration camps. (See related story of
Dietrich Bonhoeffer)
(See Related Topic
-
Click here
for A
Simple
Inductive Study
on Proverbs 18:10
-- What Does it Mean to be Safe in Jehovah's Name? <> See also
summary chart on God's Names)
