Lessons

The lesson on January 17, 2010 was given by Derek McCammon on 2 Timothy 1:3-7 KJV “7 For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.”  There is evil in the world.  We have challenges as Christians dealing with fear and it was the same thing that Timothy had a problem with.  Timothy had challenges in Ephesus.  Perhaps fear came to him because he was young.  There were others that were smarter than him that were causing challenges in his ministry.  In 1 Timothy 4:14 Paul was speaking of his gift, reminding him that God has given him the tools to be of sound mind.  In chapter 6:17, we see that there are some rich people that Paul is reminding Timothy to address so they use their wealth wisely.  When we were saved, God called us into the ministry and He has not left us alone.  God tells us that there will be godly suffering in our walk.  In 2 Timothy 1:8 Paul says not be ashamed of Christ and his ministry.  Paul says God hasn’t given US the spirit of fear.  God is a giver but he hasn’t given us the spirit of fear.  What he gives us is Christian character in our walk of service.  If God is for us, who cares who is against us.  The one who gives fear is the Devil.  The first occurance of fear was in Genesis 3:8-10 KJV with Adam when he sinned and lost his relationship with God: “8 And they heard the voice of the Lord God walking in the garden in the cool of the day: and Adam and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the Lord God amongst the trees of the garden. 9 And the Lord God called unto Adam, and said unto him, Where art thou? 10 And he said, I heard thy voice in the garden, and I was afraid, because I was naked; and I hid myself.”  The Devil is the source of fear.  We get challenged in the world with temptations and we build character as we struggle through fear.  The spirit God has given us is listed in verse 7: the spirit… “of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.”