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; Who 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 Saviour Jesus Christ, who hath abolished death, and hath brought life and immortality to light through the gospel: 2 Timothy 1:6-10 KJV
We have all at sometime or the other come to the point where we ask the following or similar questions, Is this all there is to this Christian thing? Is it really just this, a routine thing every time, going through the motions? Or is there more? Are we satisfied and content with our present status, or is it time for an update?
There really is more! It all depends on what we do about it! God has given us all things! What are we doing about it?
Maybe we have gotten too comfortable in a routine and fear a disruption! I have it on very good evidence, that there is more, and that every time God intervenes, intrudes and gets involved in the affairs of men, there is extensive disruption of routine and dynamic changes in everyday living.
Most of our lives, all we have to show, or testify about, is some tiny, indistinct blessing that is the major highlight in our testimony! As Gideon asked, Where...where be all his miracles which our fathers told us of...?
Moses was content to dwell in the relative peace and quiet of his shepherd lifestyle, and then God appeared in a burning flame, and a bush spoke to him! The children of Israel were in slavery and were in a submissive resignation to their lot, and then Moses came with the message from God. Here there was no rising up in protests marches, or lying down pretending to be dead! It was a patient waiting on God while He had power negotiations with Pharaoh through Moses!
Gideon's life was also projected from obscurity, hiding behind a wine-press, into public notoriety, with 300 men shouting "the Sword of the LORD and of Gideon!"
Mary's life was routine and ordinary, then she was visited by an angel. Joseph her fiancé was content, going along with the status quo, then he had a dream of an angel. Zacharias' life was a religious routine, then an angel of the Lord came to him. Life was not the same ever for them. And the list goes on! They all found out that there was something more!
Yes! There is something more! And the only ones who are in the way of this something more is what we refer to as "little old me"!
We have been content to sit down, and have been laid back in our commitment to God and His gift within us! We have carried on as usual, with our own pet plans and programs, while either diligently or dumbly avoiding all commitment to the release of His power that resides in us! Be reminded that He is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us, Ephesians 3:20 KJV
We should not allow the gift of God to die out like a neglected fire! A fire goes out when unattended, and not supplied with that which is essential to keep it going. Fuel and oxygen! We should be making ourselves available to the Holy Spirit. Stir up the gift. Fan it back into flame. How does one fan a dying fire back into a flame?
There was a gift imparted to Timothy through the laying on of hands by the apostle Paul.
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. 2 Timothy 1:6-7 KJV
It's possible Timothy was so freaked out by the excesses of manifestation exhibited by others that he pulled back from an outward demonstration. He therefore had to be reminded and urged to exercise that which had been bestowed on him, and not to be afraid, but to demonstrate the power of God in love and self control, as opposed to the excessive prideful excesses of others.
Many of God's saints have neglected the gift they received through the laying on of hands through the ministry. That gift needs to be stirred up, or fanned back into flames. We look for that spark and blow gently on it. We supply kindling material to feed that flame. The kindling should catch fire easily to boost that flame. The environment should promote rather than destroy the progress of the flame. Wet logs will not serve here but dry flammable kindling material. Damp conditions will not help.
Kindling, flame and oxygen! Scraps and pieces of paper will only last so long. Sooner or later we have to add the firewood for sustained flames.
Moses was so saturated with the presence of God that his face literally shone! Joshua would not depart from the tabernacle even when Moses went out to speak to the people. And the LORD spake unto Moses face to face, as a man speaketh unto his friend. And he turned again into the camp: but his servant Joshua, the son of Nun, a young man, departed not out of the tabernacle. Exodus 33:11 KJV Do we wonder why Joshua became Moses' successor?! A hunger for the presence of God must be a priority in our lives
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But if from thence thou shalt seek the LORD thy God, thou shalt find him, if thou seek him with all thy heart and with all thy soul. Deuteronomy 4:29 KJV
And ye shall seek me, and find me, when ye shall search for me with all your heart. Jeremiah 29:13 KJV
It is the flame of God's gift that fuels the vision! Like an old fashioned reel to reel projector we can have the film properly threaded and the reels turning but until the lamp is burning there is no projection of what is in the film. Even so, unless the flame of God is encouraged and allowed to burn brightly and freely, the projection of the vision will be non-existent! The vision becomes our goal, the ever present mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.
Joseph never lost sight of the visions given to him by God. The vision kept him on track with God, and patient in the middle of all the adversities he went through.
If we allow this vision to remain buried, we will bury ourselves in despair and defeat. What God has given to us has to be kept, nurtured, and unquenched! We should not bury it under a mountain of clutter that reduces the flame to the faintest glimmer. We should always ensure that the fire is burning unimpeded and brightly. It's the only way we can respond effectively when crisis hits the nation, threatening to affect the rest of the known world.
We can allow pressure to expand the distance between us and God by placing it between us, or we can allow that same pressure differently positioned to move us closer to God.
Neglect not the gift that is in thee, which was given thee by prophecy, with the laying on of the hands of the presbytery. 1 Timothy 4:14 KJV
Rejoice evermore.
Pray without ceasing.
In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.
Quench not the Spirit.
Despise not prophesyings.
Prove all things; hold fast that which is good.
Abstain from all appearance of evil.
1 Thessalonians 5:16-22 KJV
Believers, disciples of Christ, saints of God should never be content with the status quo! They should have what I would call a holy discontent with business as usual! We need to press into the presence of God, and allow His flame to ignite a passion in us, and a longing for His presence to be made manifest to the church and the world!
People look the following verses and totally ignore the real message from them:
Not that I speak in respect of want: for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content. Philippians 4:11 KJV
And having food and raiment let us be therewith content. 1 Timothy 6:8 KJV
Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee. Hebrews 13:5 KJV
But covet earnestly the best gifts: and yet shew I unto you a more excellent way. 1 Corinthians 12:31 KJV
Follow after charity, and desire spiritual gifts, but rather that ye may prophesy. 1 Corinthians 14:1 KJV
Wherefore, brethren, covet to prophesy, and forbid not to speak with tongues. 1 Corinthians 14:39 KJV
As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby: 1 Peter 2:2 KJV
What are we doing with the gift of God which has been given to us? Have we pushed it into a corner of our lives and carried on with business as usual? Or are we ready to nurture it and fan it back into flame until all the combined flames become a conflagration so intense and immense, it consumes everything before it!
Wherefore we receiving a kingdom which cannot be moved, let us have grace, whereby we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear: For our God is a consuming fire. Hebrews 12:28-29 KJV
The Spirit of the Lord changed Peter from a denier to a declarer! From a deserter to a defender! He moved from ordinary to extraordinary by the Spirit of the Lord!
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