2 Timothy 1:6–7 (NKJV)
6 Therefore I remind you to stir up the gift of God which is in you through the laying on of my hands. 7 For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.
Timothy was called and ordained by God. God’s power was imparted to Timothy to carry out His purpose through him. When Timothy was saved, he received the power of the Holy Spirit. Paul reminded Timothy of his calling and God’s power that worked in him.
It is easy to forget God. Sadly, we allow the things of this world to come between us and God. We are bombarded with worldly ideas and philosophy. Through the media of today we are surrounded by the evil of the world. Radio, television, newspapers (I think they are still being published), billboards and just plain talk with others. The evil in this world is ubiquitous.
Paul was reminding Timothy that no matter what situation he found himself, God was with him. The power of God lived in him. Therefore, do not fear. Being shy and introverted makes it difficult to share Jesus with others.
God never calls us to do anything that He is not empowered us to do. That is why Paul could say in verse 8, “Therefore do not be ashamed of the testimony of our Lord, nor of me…” We are called by God and empower by His Holy Spirit to minister to the world. One man I know has a burden for another person to come to the Lord. Through his daily life he witnesses to this person. He has paid a price in doing so. But he continues to witness.
It is easy to be led down the road of complacency. We may think that we are saved and going to Heaven. We may enter into the worship service and praise God for our salvation but if that is as far as our relationship with God takes us then we are deceived by the wrong god. We are allowing the philosophy of this world to guide us instead of the Holy Spirit.
Paul tells Timothy in verse 9 that God has call us with a holy calling. What is important it is God who is working in us “according to His own purpose and grace…”
When we have come to God in salvation we are filled with His Holy Spirit. God called us into his love and power. We were saved but not to just go to Heaven. We were saved and impowered by God to be His witness to the world. No matter if you are the greatest introvert or extrovert ever born, you were empowered by God to be His witness to the world. As Paul told Timothy he tells us “…God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of sound mind.”
Jesus tells us in Acts 1:8 “But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.”
NOW GO AND BE A WITNESS FOR GOD!