On Fire for God
To Be on Fire For God We Must Be People Of Prayer
2 Timothy 1:3 ~ "I thank God, whom I serve, as my forefathers did, with a clear conscience, as night and day I constantly remember you in my prayers."
Paul told Timothy to continue on in his faith. Paul knew Timothy would be timid and fearful and he encouraged him in his faith. Paul was in his mid thirties and in not that good of health.
The answer to culture is God. Seeing lives being changed from the inside out.
There was a trunk that had a label on it that said, "Danger Dynamite!" When the trunk was opened, it was found to just be full of junk and nothing of worth. Do we have a label on ourselves that is saying, "Danger Dynamite"? If we are opened up from the inside, are we going to find out that we are just full of junk? What's in your trunk? Dynamite or junk? We become powerful for God when we learn to be a people of prayer.
To Be On Fire For God We Need A Sincere Faith
2 Timothy 1:4-5 ~ "Recalling your tears, I long to see you, so that I may be filled with joy. v.5 I have been reminded of your sincere faith, which first lived in your grandmother Lois and in your mother Eunice and, I am persuaded, now lives in your also."
Timothy wasn't relying on his Mother or Grandmother's faith, but on his own faith. To make it your own and not someone else's is the key. What is getting in our way to being on fire for God in our lives?
Something To Think About:
We need a new generation that wants to digest the meat of God's Word.
To Be On Fire For God We Need A Bold Endurance
2 Timothy 1:6-8, 13 ~ "For this reason I remind you to fan into flame the gift of God, which is in your through the laying on of my hands. v.7 For God did not give us a spirit of timidity, but a spirit of power, of love and of self-discipline. v.8 So do not be ashamed to testify about our Lord, or ashamed of me his prisoner. But join with me in suffering for the gospel, by the power of God. v.13 What you heard from me, keep as the pattern of sound teaching, with faith and love in Christ Jesus."
At this time, Timothy was in Ephesus and Paul was in Rome and both of them were in danger. Here are some things Timothy needed to do:
- Timothy needed to stir up the gift that was in him.
- Timothy needed to be fearless, strong and loving.
- Timothy needed to be unashamed of Jesus.
- Timothy needed to be willing to suffer for Jesus.
- Timothy needed to guard God's Word.
We too have giftings in our lives and we need them stirred up as well. Cowardess and fearlessness, Timothy struggled with both of these. In our lives as well, there are many we meet along the pathway of life who oppose Jesus, mimic the Church, talk against Jesus, etc.. We too need to stand strong, firm and fearless. With knowing that no matter what comes our way in life, that God is with us to protect us and keep us safe. We also need to be unashamed of Jesus as we encounter those who would come against us. Just as Timothy needed to be willing to suffer for Jesus, so we too need to be able to suffer as well. We also need to guard God's Word too.
Something To Think About:
We need to wake-up spiritually, clean-up morally, grow-up responsibly and stir-up the fire of God within us.
If at some point in our lives, would we be willing to lay down our life for the cause of Christ? I think of those who are put into jail for having a Bible study in their homes, or those who are put into prison for confessing that they are a Christian, and the list goes on... Would we have cowardess and fear well up within us, or would we stand strong knowing that God is with us and on our side? It really makes you think, doesn't it?
It is the spirit of God within us that gives us the power to overcome fear and timidity. It also gives us power and a sound mind. If you have a fire within yourself, what are you going to do with it? Are you not, or are you going to keep the fire burning? Will you keep putting wood on the fire to keep it stoked and going strong? As a campfire has to have wood put on it to keep it going throughout the night, I ask you, is the wood on your fire? The choice is all yours. What are you going to do with your fire?
Matthew 28:19-20 ~ "Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, v.20 and surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age."
© 2012 Field-Of-Flowers