Transforming Your Life: The Process of Conversion (Continues) How to Stir Up God’s Spirit The apostle Paul admonished members in one of the churches he started, “Do not quench the Spirit” (1 Thessalonians 5:19). He also urged the young evangelist Timothy: “Stir up [rekindle] the gift of God which is in you through the laying on of my hands. For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind” (2 Timothy 1:6-7). Paul likened God’s Spirit to an ember in a dying fire. He encouraged Timothy to stir up that live coal, to fan it into flames. He knew that we must guard against neglecting the gift of God’s Spirit and letting it grow cold. How can we maintain the courage, strength and love God gives us through His Spirit? We find the answers in several scriptures.Paul tells us in Ephesians 6:13: “Take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day . . .” Satan will do all in his power to discourage us, to induce us to become disillusioned and afraid—to abandon our confidence in God. What, then, did Paul mean by putting on “the whole armor of God” as our defense? What may we use to resist such self-defeating attitudes as fear, apathy and discouragement?Paul continues: “Stand therefore, and fasten the belt of truth around your waist, and put on the breastplate of righteousness. As shoes for your feet put on whatever will make you ready to proclaim the gospel of peace. With all of these, take the shield of faith, with which you will be able to quench all the flaming arrows of the evil one. Take the helmet of [the hope of] salvation,and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God” (verses 14-17, NRSV; compare 1 Thessalonians 5:8). Paul tells us we need to stand fast in the truth we have learned, concentrating on living righteously regardless of circumstances. We also must be active in doing our part in furthering the spread of the true gospel, never losing sight of eternal life as our goal and using God’s Word as the sword that cuts through all deception. But equally important is what Paul mentions next in Ephesians 6: “And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord’s people. Pray also for me, that whenever I speak, words may be given me so that I will fearlessly make known the mystery of the gospel, for which I am an ambassador in chains. Pray that I may declare it fearlessly, as I should” (verses 18-20, NIV). Our ability to remain spiritually strong and active depends on how much we rely on God. And our line of communication for that help is through prayer. Paul encouraged Christians to make it their practice to pray not only for themselves but also for him and for others. “Continue earnestly in prayer, being vigilant in it with thanksgiving; meanwhile praying also for us, that God would open to us a door for the word, to speak the mystery of Christ, for which I am also in chains,that I may make it manifest, as I ought to speak”(Colossians 4:2-4). Amen
Posted on: Thu, 06 Mar 2014 05:50:07 +0000
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