Fan The Flame Series

In the Southwest United States, there is a fire code that helps distinguish the fire danger for the day. WIMS, the Weather Information Management System collects various data and issues these ratings everyday. A low risk is coded by the color green. A moderate risk is alerted by the color blue. A high risk is issued by the color yellow. A very high risk meaning that the conditions are very ripe for a fire to start and spread quickly are indicated by the color orange. An extreme warning is issued when condition are present for a fire to start quickly, spread furiously and burn intensely. This is identified by the color red.

Paul wants the fire in Timothy to be extreme. He wants a code red. He wants Timothy to develop his gift and fan into flame his gift to the point where through Timothy the gospel spreads furiously and its followers burn intensely with a passion for serving Christ and accomplishing his mission.

“But each man has his own gift from God; one has this gift, another has that.” I Corinthians 7:7 The Bible tells us that we have all been gifted just as Timothy was gifted. Are you developing your gift? Do you know what your gift is? Find out what you are gifted at. Once you discover it, do everything in your power to develop that gift so that you can use it for service to God. Fan into flame your gift. Make it so that it burns intensely in your heart and you can’t help but exercising it all the time. Don’t waste what God has given you.

III. DISPLAYING HIS SPIRIT OF GODLINESS.

Timothy has gift of ministry. It was given to him by God through the laying on of Paul’s hands. Paul has instructed Timothy to fan into flame that gift by drawing on his spiritual heritage and developing this God given gift. He now instructs him to display a new spirit- a spirit of godliness.

Timothy was known for having a spirit of timidity. He was shy and sensitive. We’ve already mentioned how he wept when Paul had left him previously. Paul reminds Timothy that God has given him a new spirit. “For God did not give us a spirit of timidity, but a spirit of power, of love and of self-discipline.” II Timothy 1:7 In order for Timothy to fan into flame his gift and assume the responsibility of the ministry that Paul is leaving him, he would have to take on a spirit of godliness.

The spirit of godliness consists of three different areas:

1. Power- Timothy would have to take on a more authoritative role and rely completely on the power of God to sustain him through this time. This would prove to be difficult because of Timothy’s age. He was probably in his early to mid thirties and yet was still considered a youth in the faith. This is probably why Paul wrote these words to Timothy in I Timothy 4:12, “Don’t let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in speech, in life, in live, in faith and in purity.”

2. Love- The Bible declares that God is indeed love. He has given every believer His spirit of love. God’s love for man is so great that it drove him to send his Son Jesus to die on the cross for our sins. He held back nothing for the world that he loves. Timothy must take on that same spirit of love as he fulfills his ministry.