The Lord is awe-inspiring, fearsome, fascinating, intriguing, majestic, and full of splendor: breathtaking! Here is what I saw of him and what came to my heart and mind in 2 Timothy 1:7,
"The Spirit God gave us does not make us timid, but gives us power, love and self-discipline."
The "Spirit God gave us" is the Holy Spirit, commonly referred to as the third person of the Trinity, (God in three persons.) The other two persons, of course, would be God the Father and God the Son (Jesus Christ). Each are fully God and are not one person wearing three hats. The Scriptures reveal to us in a variety of places three distinct persons that comprise the Trinity.
Here is a sample from John 14 where Jesus tells his followers, "I will ask the Father, and he will give you another advocate to help you and be with you forever— the Spirit of truth. The world cannot accept him, because it neither sees him nor knows him. But you know him, for he lives with you and will be in you." Verses 16-17. This is the Spirit Paul made reference to in writing to Timothy that I quoted above. In John 14, Jesus goes on to say, "All this I have spoken while still with you. But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you." Verses 25-26.
"The Spirit God gave us does not make us timid, but gives us power, love and self-discipline."
The "Spirit God gave us" is the Holy Spirit, commonly referred to as the third person of the Trinity, (God in three persons.) The other two persons, of course, would be God the Father and God the Son (Jesus Christ). Each are fully God and are not one person wearing three hats. The Scriptures reveal to us in a variety of places three distinct persons that comprise the Trinity.
Here is a sample from John 14 where Jesus tells his followers, "I will ask the Father, and he will give you another advocate to help you and be with you forever— the Spirit of truth. The world cannot accept him, because it neither sees him nor knows him. But you know him, for he lives with you and will be in you." Verses 16-17. This is the Spirit Paul made reference to in writing to Timothy that I quoted above. In John 14, Jesus goes on to say, "All this I have spoken while still with you. But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you." Verses 25-26.
The Holy Spirit, (just as Jesus promised us), comes to dwell within our lives when we embrace Jesus Christ in faith. Of course, when a person experiences this indwelling, God now living within us, it produces amazing changes within our lives. Where God was not - and now is - is going to have impact. Great impact. In Romans 8:9, Paul tells us that all who have embraced Jesus Christ in faith will have the Holy Spirit come to dwell within them, and that if one does not have the Holy Spirit within, then he does not belong to Jesus Christ. That confession of faith would simply not be genuine.
In this, what we call his second letter to Timothy, Paul reminds him that the Holy Spirit does not make us timid but gives us power, love and self-discipline when he comes to dwell within us. All who have placed their faith and trust in Jesus Christ should be seeing these things take shape in their lives (or at least those around a believer should see them take place in the believer's life.)
Power, love and self-discipline... these are recognizable changes that should take shape within us as believers. I just find this fascinating! How about you?
For some further things the Holy Spirit brings to our lives, see Galatians 5:22-23. Love is repeated there, as well as self-discipline (self-control) There are seven other specific things mentioned there. Do you know what they are? If not, you may want to read up on what is taking place within you.
Pretty amazing, isn't it?!
Anything of the Lord capture your heart from Scripture today? Share what moved you about him from your Bible reading today. I'd love to hear from you!
If you have someone you would like to receive these ruminations, send me their email address. I'm happy to add them to the list. If you are receiving this and would like to be removed from the list, just respond and let me know.
Trevor Fisk
trevor.fisk@gmail.com
Anything of the Lord capture your heart from Scripture today? Share what moved you about him from your Bible reading today. I'd love to hear from you!
If you have someone you would like to receive these ruminations, send me their email address. I'm happy to add them to the list. If you are receiving this and would like to be removed from the list, just respond and let me know.
Trevor Fisk
trevor.fisk@gmail.com
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