The David Spoon Experience 12-18-23 part 1

A) Paul encourages Timothy to kindle the gift of God within him, a gift received through the laying on of hands. While this concept may not be popular in today’s church, it was embraced by the early church. It’s intriguing to hear people express a desire to emulate the early church yet hesitate to practice what the early church did. The act of laying on hands, while seemingly symbolic, is also an act of faith, a tangible manifestation of believing for God’s power.

B) I incorporate this into my daily prayers. God has not given us a spirit of fear but of power, love, and a sound mind. When we experience fear, it is not God instilling that sense of dread. Reverential fear of the Lord expresses awe and respect, whereas being afraid is akin to terror, the kind elicited by horror films. The issue with our struggle against fear is that it’s not merely cinematic.

C) In place of fear, God has bestowed upon us power, love, and a sound mind. This power is the spirit of power or the Holy Spirit, the same force that resurrected Jesus Christ. Love is the foundation of the gospel, not as the world perceives it, but as biblical love. A sound mind implies safe thinking; possibly the greatest challenge Christians face is aligning our thoughts with God.

D) Second Timothy, Chapter one, verse 8, advises us not to be ashamed of the testimony of our Lord. It’s crucial for us to realize that we should never feel shame for the words, life, or testimony of Jesus Christ. Paul emphasizes this in Romans 1:16, declaring, “I am not ashamed of the gospel.” If those who hear it take offense and attempt to shame you, disregard them and move on to the next person. They hold no power over your life.