2 Timothy 1:6-7 NIV – For this reason I remind you to fan into flame the gift of God, which is in you through the laying on of my hands. For the Spirit God gave us does not make us timid, but gives us power, love and self-discipline.
The timidity or fear factor that Apostle Paul addresses here for Timothy is not consistent with the power and reality of God’s perfect love already poured out in his heart through the Holy Spirit. So, in the same way for us – in these moments of “fanning” into flame God’s gift of the Holy Spirit, we are making a conscious turn from the sinful hindrances or limitations that we allow of the old self – like fear or timidity. And we come back in surrender to fully depend on the Holy Spirit’s empowering where the old self is gone, “I no longer live” and the new has come, “Christ lives in me” (Gal. 2:20). In this humble desperation, we are asking of the Holy Spirit to fill us once again – to be filled with the “Niagara Falls” pouring of his love that is already there.
And like Apostle Paul encourages the Ephesians church to “keep on” being filled with the Spirit (Eph. 5:19), it is the same here, where we need to “keep on” fanning into flame. The flame in our hearts for the Lord needs to be continually tended to – by how we “keep on” fanning into flame.
Let’s make the most of every opportunity we have in seeking the Spirit’s filling together whether in our church worship and prayer times or in our missional group or campus meetings.
Let’s seek the Lord in worship with “Fire Fall,” by Planet Shakers (Click here).
Prayer: Father, as we surrender our hearts to you once again, would you fan our hearts into flame? May our hearts burn with greater love and passion for you and may it overflow in “fearless” love for others. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
– EK