‘Stirring Up The Gift’ Within Us But How?

2Tim.1:6] Wherefore I put thee in remembrance that thou stir up the gift of God, which is in thee by the putting on of my hands.

[7] For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.

[8] Be not thou therefore ashamed of the testimony of our Lord, nor of me his prisoner: but be thou partaker of the afflictions of the gospel according to the power of God;

Oftentimes, we could learn ‘how’ to do something, before we actually do the ‘hands on’ project. Similar with having a child for the first time, many parents read books, and take classes before the child is born, so they will be prepared when the child comes in the world. We have been given by our Father the doctrine of His will, and we are taught that He “hath abounded toward us in all wisdom and prudence;” and that He has “made known unto us the mystery of his will.” And for those who have ‘knowledge’ of this Doctrine, they are exhorted to “put on” the doctrine of His will. And this is when some will say, ‘well that’s easier said than done.’ But it is the doctrine which does the “work” as it ‘worketh effectually within us.’ But it is the saint who must ‘believe’ with his heart “that form of doctrine which was delivered” unto him.

2Tim.1:13] Hold fast the form of sound words, which thou hast heard of me, in faith and love which is in Christ Jesus.

[14] That good thing which was committed unto thee keep by the Holy Ghost which dwelleth in us.

Furthermore, this “gift,” and “good thing” is our wisdom in the knowledge of God. And just having that understanding of His knowledge is not all that our Father desires, and this is evident by Paul’s exhortation throughout his epistles when he says “put on,” or that we be “led of the Spirit,” and that we “walk in the Spirit.” God designed that His Living Word lives within the Saints, and that they will allow this gift to “work effectually within” them, and that they will “walk,” be “led by,” and “put on” the doctrine. And those words of exhortation are one in the same as to ‘stirring up’ the gift of God within the believer, and because the Saint has ‘knowledge’ of the doctrine, this does not mean that he will walk in the Doctrine. That “form of sound words” will only work for him when he desires to “hold fast” unto the doctrine, and by selfless love, “walk” in it, not in the lusts of his flesh. And he must believe that Selfless Love of Christ towards him, and desire to walk in His Holy likeness and now serve the Lord, not the lusts of his flesh any longer.

2Cor.13:5] Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves. Know ye not your own selves, how that Jesus Christ is in you, except ye be reprobates?

Rom.6:16] Know ye not, that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey; whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness?

[17] But God be thanked, that ye were the servants of sin, but ye have obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine which was delivered you.

[18] Being then made free from sin, ye became the servants of righteousness.

Therefore, the only way the Saint could “stir up the gift of God” is by becoming a “living sacrifice,” and a living sacrifice no longer ‘serves themselves,’ but becomes the servant of another. And in Romans chapter 6 above, we see the foundational doctrine of ‘how’ we obtain the understanding to put our Sanctified lives into ‘practice.’ And that is by ‘obeying from the heart that form of doctrine,’ Timothy did not ‘obey from the heart’ the doctrine. This is why Paul says that Timothy ought to have been operating upon “power, and love, and of a sound mind.” Because this is ‘how’ the Saint will walk in service, this is Paul’s ensample unto the Saints, and notice the heart is what becomes affected by what he has learned. The heart of the Saint will serve who, and what he loves, and Timothy cared more about his own flesh and being ashamed, and afraid, instead of operating upon the power, and Selfless Love, with a sound mind.  And we too are taught that the only way that we can walk, stir up, and be led by His Word, is that our ‘motivation’ becomes what our heart ‘obeys.” And who, or what we desire to “serve,” and notice in the verse below Paul says “let the word of Christ dwell in you,” and stirring up the gift of God is doing just that, but we must first understand that our service belongs to the Lord Jesus Christ and not ourselves.

Col.3:16] Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.

Rod Jones