2 Timothy 1:
7 for God did not give us a spirit of cowardice, but rather a spirit of power and of love and of self-discipline.
8 Do not be ashamed, then, of the testimony about our Lord or of me his prisoner, but join with me in suffering for the gospel, relying on the power of God, 9 who saved us and called us with a holy calling, not according to our works but according to his own purpose and grace. This grace was given to us in Christ Jesus before the ages began, 10 but it has now been revealed through the appearing of our Savior Christ Jesus, who abolished death and brought life and immortality to light through the gospel.
Fear is not a fruit of the Spirit.
Fear is the enemy of the Gospel and a life that is free and being freed from anxiety. Fear tells us that:
we are not good enough
something we do or have done will ruin our lives
we must have control to be content
we must control our family, friends, and fellow-members
we must preserve our way of life at all cost
no one else can be trusted but me and those who think like me
Listen to Paul in Gal. 5 as he shares the “siblings” and the outcomes of fear:
19 Now the works of the flesh are obvious: fornication, impurity, licentiousness, 20 idolatry, sorcery, enmities, strife, jealousy, anger, quarrels, dissensions, factions, 21 envy,[e] drunkenness, carousing, and things like these. I am warning you, as I warned you before: those who do such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.
This kind of living has no concept or reception for Paul’s words to Timothy that he should not “be ashamed” by those taking shots at a life lived out of the Gospel message. Instead, he welcomes Timothy "to join with me in suffering for the gospel, relying on the power of God". People who understand that following Jesus means embracing and running into discomfort and suffering (as opposed to a “fight or flight” response) will reflect the following characteristics in their lives:
22 By contrast, the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against such things. 24 And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. 25 If we live by the Spirit, let us also be guided by the Spirit. 26 Let us not become conceited, competing against one another, envying one another.
The above is NOT first of all about legitimate theological differences and in “debatable areas” among us. Remember that those who often attacked and maligned Paul saw themselves as “the orthodox” and it was the Jewish “orthodox” leaders who led the Crucifixion of Jesus (NOT firstly the Roman Government).
Because we hold certain beliefs that we believe to be “right” and “just” does not mean that our hearts are soft to the Holy Spirit and obedient to our Lord Jesus Christ. Nor does the “rightness” of our cause justify our uncontrolled passions, unforgiveness, and the poor treatment of others.
What are the patterns of your life related to the above lists? What kind of spirit do the people with whom you spend the most time reveal? What kind of spirit do you support and align with? Do you enable or undermine those given over to envy, power, and wrath? Who are those from whom you learn, get council, and welcome to aid you in your growth in Jesus?
Jesus is patient, loving, and forgiving. However, when it comes to how we treat people, minister with people, and forgive people, well…these things have eternal ramifications.
To repeat Paul's words from Galatians 5 above: I am warning you, as I warned you before: those who do such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.
Matthew 6:
14 For if you forgive others their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you; 15 but if you do not forgive others, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.
Let us say “NO” to fear today, and YES to the fruits of the Spirit that only the Holy Spirit can give us as we welcome his work in our lives with obedient, soft, and teachable hearts to Jesus and His ways.
Father Tom
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