Stir up the Gift of God

When Paul was training Timothy he had few thing in mind.
First: His mission has to be transferred to be carried out by Timothy - Spreading the Gospel, that is why he encourages Timothy and also says to carry out his mission even through troubles and difficulties may arise.

Secondly he always reminded of the presence of God, the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ: so he encouraged Timothy to be aware of the fact that we have a purpose to be pure and blameless at his appearance.

Finally we all have this urge to share God's word, there is always an urgency to reach to the unknown.

In the First chapter of Second Timothy verse 6 - Paul says to Timothy  - 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.

Dwelling in God's word is very much important, meditating in it also, but the most important is to act accordingly. To do things that are of his purpose. Knowingly and willingly.

Two verses from James that always reminds us that God's will for our life is fulfilled only when we do our part.

James 1:22 NIV
Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says.


James 4:17 NIV
If anyone, then, knows the good they ought to do and doesn't do it, it is sin for them.

Jesus also said in many instances,

Matthew 21:28-32New International Version (NIV)

The Parable of the Two Sons

28 “What do you think? There was a man who had two sons. He went to the first and said, ‘Son, go and work today in the vineyard.’

29 “‘I will not,’ he answered, but later he changed his mind and went.

30 “Then the father went to the other son and said the same thing. He answered, ‘I will, sir,’ but he did not go.

31 “Which of the two did what his father wanted?”

“The first,” they answered.

Jesus said to them, “Truly I tell you, the tax collectors and the prostitutes are entering the kingdom of God ahead of you. 32 For John came to you to show you the way of righteousness, and you did not believe him, but the tax collectors and the prostitutes did. And even after you saw this, you did not repent and believe him.

Matthew 7:21-23Easy-to-Read Version (ERV)

21 “Not everyone who calls me Lord will enter God’s kingdom. The only people who will enter are those who do what my Father in heaven wants. 22 On that last Day many will call me Lord. They will say, ‘Lord, Lord, by the power of your name we spoke for God. And by your name we forced out demons and did many miracles.’ 23 Then I will tell those people clearly, ‘Get away from me, you people who do wrong. I never knew you.’

John 4:34 NIV
"My food," said Jesus, "is to do the will of him who sent me and to finish his work.


Paul says to stir up the Faith for this reason. Not to Fear, but that we have to realize that we have power and love and sound mind. Not that we use it to be famous, but to testify Jesus.

So we have to always thing of the moment of God's second coming. Not as unbelievers who think that there is no resurrection, there is no second coming, but as Jesus constantly reminded us to be ready at all the moments of life. Thinking that Jesus will come at any moment will make us be aware of each and every decisions that we make. If we still pretend or if we procrastinate to do what God asks us to do, we may end up being a failure in God's presence, like that of Solomon who neglected God's instructions and followed other God's through the influence of his wife and concubine. Saul who neglected the gift of God and went on his own way. The Ananias and Sapphira in Acts 5:1-11
reminds us of how much awareness we have in our way of life about God's presence and his second coming, his Judgment and his love.

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;