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.
The first thing to consider here is “what is the Gift Of God?”. In other to answer this question, we would have to read some preceeding and proceeding verse(s).
2 Timothy 1:3-7
I thank God, whom I serve from [my] forefathers with pure conscience, that without ceasing I have remembrance of thee in my prayers night and day; Greatly desiring to see thee, being mindful of thy tears, that I may be filled with joy; When I call to remembrance the unfeigned faith that is in thee, which dwelt first in thy grandmother Lois, and thy mother Eunice; and I am persuaded that in thee also. 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.
Based on the context, you’d observe that the gift is “faith” or ”unfeigned faith” like Paul called it. This is really amazing!
The greek word translated faith in 2 Tim 1:2 is “pistis” and this means “the conviction that God exists and is the creator and ruler of all things, the provider and bestower of eternal salvation through Christ” it also means “the belief with the predominate idea of trust (or confidence) in God”
Merging both we can say that it is the total trust in God and in his abilities in us.
so it’s in two ways, you have total trust in God and you have total TRUST in his abilities in you. This is the gift that Paul said Timothy had.
In referring to this gift of unfeigned faith, he buttressed “. For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.” Telling us that God had not given us the spirit of fear, but he then explains the characteristics of this gift:
Power
Love
Sound Mind
Another synonym that can be used here is boldness, launching out on God’s word, knowing he’s not gonna let you fall to the ground. For example, someone is paralysed and you walk up to him lay your hands on him with TOTAL TRUST that the healing power of God flowing through your hands will heal him of that condition, and you lay your hands on him. That is faith unfeigned . TOTAL TRUST in God and in his abilities at work in me.
And wow! this is a gift, Paul then admonishes the young pastor and evangelist, “Stir up the gift of God”
So how?
The word “Stir” in verse 6 is the greek word “anazopureo” and this means “to kindle up, inflame one’s mind, strength, zeal”
So Paul was saying,
““kindle up” the gift of God, light it up!”
“inflame your mind with the gift of God” Let your mind swell with the gift of God
“Strengthen the gift of God”
“Be zealous in the gift of God”
KNOWLEDGE OF GOD
Romans 10:1-2
Brethren, my heart's desire and prayer to God for Israel is, that they might be saved. For I bear them record that they have a zeal of God, but not according to knowledge.
So the way to actually be stirred in the unfeigned faith (the gift of God) is through knowledge. Zeal without knowledge is suicide. You need to know what you have become and who you have become. When you come to terms with these as revealed by the word of God, your actions can now be based on a conviction from God’s word.
Just like the second meaning of the word stir you “inflame your mind with the gift of God”, you study the word of God more, the more you know the word, the more you know you! You study the word of God, until you become the word of God.
Your actions are based on who you think or believe you are, when the full and accurate knowledge that the healing power of God resides in you, healing the sick and raising the dead will become easy. But when it is something you’ve heard preachers preach and people say, that gift of God (TOTAL TRUST IN GOD AND IN HIS ABILITIES AT WORK IN YOU) you’d not be different from every other Christian, so inflame your mind! Go for the word. Take that bible and and study it.
““kindle up” the gift of God, light it up!”
Matthew 5:14-16
Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid.
Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.(KJV)
So you’re the light, but you need to be turned on. You’re like a candle, you need to be lit, you don’t shine until you’re lit. Some people say it is the responsibility of God to light them up, but that is not what verse 15 of Mt chapter 5
Mt 5:15
“Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick”
so who lights the candle? MAN.
Luke 8:16
No man, when he hath lighted a candle, covereth it with a vessel, or putteth [it] under a bed; but setteth [it] on a candlestick, that they which enter in may see the light.(KJV)
Luke 11:33
No man, when he hath lighted a candle, putteth [it] in a secret place, neither under a bushel, but on a candlestick, that they which come in may see the light.(KJV)
Luke 15:8
Either what woman having ten pieces of silver, if she lose one piece, doth not light a candle, and sweep the house, and seek diligently till she find [it]?(KJV)
So the responsibility of the knowledge of the abilities that is within you is your responsibility. If you knew better, you’d act better and your life and the life of those around you would be better.
And this is not exclusive to pastors because Jesus said in Mt 5:14 “ye are the light of the earth”. So the world is waiting for you to be lit.
SPEAKING IN TONGUES
Proverbs 20:27
The spirit of man [is] the candle of the LORD, searching all the inward parts of the belly.
1 Corinthians 14:14
For if I pray in an [unknown] tongue, my spirit prayeth, but my understanding is unfruitful.
What guides you into deeper truths of who you truly are and reveals more and more of who you’re in God is ‘the spirit of man’ that why when you get born again ‘the holy spirit comes into you’. Paul then said, if i pray in tongues my spirit (that same spirit that stirs me up) is actually talking or chanting.
So as i chant in tongues, my spirit pulls all the right answers, it takes away all the fear, because “God has not given us the spirit of fear” . So for the Power, Love and the Sound Mind of God to be seen by man, i chant in the language of the spirit as i do,the gift of God, working through the knowledge of him that i have, would vent out through me.
Jude 1:21 says “Keep yourselves in the love of God…” but how do i do this, the answer was in verse 20
Jude 1:20
But ye, beloved, building up yourselves on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Ghost.
This is how you stir up the gift of God within.
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