Everybody deals with fear at some time or another. I've been frozen in fear before when it comes to talking about Jesus and I can't always figure out what I'm afraid of either. Some times I think I'm afraid of saying the wrong thing, but most of the time if I were to be completely honest I've been afraid of what someone might think of me. What if I couldn't present a compelling argument for the "hope that is within me", what if their arguments were better than my knowledge? You probably know exactly what I'm talking about. But what if I could show you a way to overcome your fears and find God sized courage, would you want it?
Paul told Timothy, "For God has not given you a spirit of fear and timidity, but of power, love and self-discipline." 2 Timothy 1:7. Since a right understanding precedes right action we need to take a look at what this means. The two words in our English translation "fear and timidity" is actually a translation of one Greek word meaning, "cowardice", "one who is overcome with emotion". The words "power" and "love" are self-explanatory, but clarification on the word "self-discipline" is needed. Self-discipline comes from a compound word meaning to have mastery over our emotions, it means to be free from excitement or hesitation. "Self-discipline" is what's needed when our emotions say run, or shut-up.
Getting at the heart of this verse would sound something like this: "If fear is controlling you it may be from a spirit, but not God's Spirit. God's Spirit has given you power, love, and the ability to stay calm when your emotions tell you otherwise." And this is what makes this verse so important. Read 1:8. "So never be ashamed to tell others about the Lord" (emphasis added).
What we need, courage, is what God's Spirit provides. It is not that God's Spirit might give us boldness, but that God's Spirit has given us boldness. The next time you are tempted to shut-up when God's Spirit is prompting you to speak-up remind yourself, "God has not given me a spirit of cowardice, but of power, love, and self-mastery." It's a done deal. Now let's (both of us) boldly seek to make Christ known.
Mark 8:35
Craig
