The apostle Paul writes to his young protégé, Timothy, because he wants him to flourish in the ministry that God has appointed him to. 2 Tim 1:6, “Therefore I remind you to stir up the gift of God which is in you through the laying on of my hands.” Timothy is able to use his gift because of what God had done in him and for him. V7, “For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.”
What was true for Timothy is true for all believers. Paul transitions from addressing Timothy in v6 “you”, to addressing everyone who reads his letter “us” in v7. Like Timothy, when we believed the gospel we did not receive a spirit of fear – best understood as cowardice or timidity. Such a spirit inhibits people from serving the Lord. Rather, we have been blessed with a spirit of power, love and a sound mind.
Power: the gospel is powerful in that it brings change. We pass from death to life, from bondage to freedom – no longer enslaved to a fallen nature. This transforming power enables us to overcome the many things that would otherwise keep us from the purposes of God. We can stand on our own two feet and make God-honouring decisions without being swayed by the opinions or threats of others. When we are confident in the Lord and His Gospel, the fear of man is suppressed. We stay focused on what He would have us to do.
Love: love is essential to the Christian life. Without love we will not relate to God or to others as we should. The apostle John states that perfect love (mature love) casts out fear (1John 4:18). The more we know God’s love in our own lives the less we will have an unhealthy fear of Him. Some Christians struggle with assurance and they fear that God is still angry with them for their sins and failures. They are inhibited from living fruitfully as believers. Perfect love casts out this servile fear; perfect love is experienced through Christ. It is in Christ’s loving sacrifice for us that we find assurance and the desire to serve, worship and obey.
A sound mind: the idea of a sound mind is self-control. It was a word used in the ancient world to describe the taming of a wild horse. The horse once tamed was then useful, it could be harnessed and guided , it was responsive, it was calm when approached. Without a sound mind we can be unpredictable, erratic, we don’t think clearly, liable to extremes such as fear. The sound mind is the mind which has been and is being shaped by the truth. We take control of our thoughts by thinking God’s thoughts. As we do, so we are being conformed to the character of the Lord Jesus Christ.
With every challenge, temptation, disagreement, opportunity you are in a position to honour God and fulfill His purposes will in your life. You have received the spirit of power – you are no longer enslaved to a sinful nature. You have the received the spirit of love – knowing God’s love you are able to walk in love toward Him and toward others. You have received the spirit of a sound mind – a mind that is controlled by the Word of God and not given to unpredictability and extremes. Let us, therefore, stir up the desire to use our gifts, resources, time and energy to worship and serve God.