God has not given us a spirit of fear... regarding what?

Reading through the books of 1 and 2 Timothy in one sitting, I ran across a very familiar verse:

2 Timothy 1:7 (NIV)For God did not give us a spirit of timidity, but a spirit of power, of love, and of self-discipline.

I remember hearing this verse often as a child, quoting it to myself when I was afraid.  I tell it to myself as an adult when I am having anxiety driving through heavy traffic, or any other situation that makes me feel the grip of fear seizing me.  But something I have realized lately is that a lot of people memorize verses, which is great, but they do not go back and look at how those verses come in context.  Today I was struck by the context of this verse.  Take a look at the verse that comes before it:

2 Timothy 1:6 (NIV)For this reason I remind you to fan into flame the gift of God, which is in you through the laying on of my hands.  

 Then comes 2 Timothy 1:7 (NIV):

2 Timothy 1:7 (NIV)For God did not give us a spirit of timidity, but a spirit of power, of love, and of self-discipline.

When looking at these verses in context, it appears that Paul was writing to Timothy and telling him not only to be unafraid, but to be unafraid to use the "gift" he received through the "laying on of hands".  Since I had read 1 Timothy just moments before, I realized Paul mentions this gift in his first letter as well:

1 Timothy 4:14 (NIV)Do not neglect your gift, which was given you through a prophetic message when the body of elders laid their hands on you.  

Using Strong's Concordance, I looked up the word for gift in Greek, since the translation from the original Greek into English can lead to a word that's vague.  I also looked up the word for gift in English to compare the two.

The New Oxford American Dictionary defines the English word "gift" as a noun, a thing given willingly to someone without payment; a present; or a natural ability or talent.

Strong's says the word used in both 1 and 2 Timothy is the Greek word "charisma", perhaps where the "charistmatic" label comes from in our language.

The NAS New Testament Greek Lexicon defines "charisma as":

• "a favour with which one receives without any merit of his own

• the gift of divine grace

• the gift of faith, knowledge, holiness, virtue

• the economy of divine grace, by which the pardon of sin and eternal salvation is appointed to sinners in consideration of the merits of Christ laid hold of by faith

• grace or gifts denoting extraordinary powers, distinguishing certain Christians and enabling them to serve the church of Christ, the reception of which is due to the power of divine grace operating on their souls by the Holy Spirit"

This word "charisma" per Strong's is also used in Romans 1:11, Romans 5:15-16, Romans 6:23, Romans 11:29, Romans 12:6, 1 Corinithians 1:7, 1 Corinthians 7:7, 1 Corinthians 12:4, 1 Corinthians 12:9, 1 Corinthians 12:28, and 1 Corinthians 12:30-31, 2 Corinthians 1:11, and 1 Peter 4:10.  A majority of these verses are listed below for ease of looking them up (I've listed the ones I feel are pertinent):

Romans 1:11 (NIV)I long to see you so that I may impart to you some spiritual gift to make you strong-- 

Romans 11:29 (NIV)for God's gifts and his call are irrevocable.

Romans 12:6 (NIV)We have different gifts, according to the grace given us.  If a man's gift is prophesying, let him use it in proportion to his faith. 

1 Corinthians 1:7 (NIV)Therefore, you do not lack any spiritual gift as you eagerly wait for our Lord Jesus Christ to be revealed. 

1 Corinthians 7:7 (NIV)I wish that all men were as I am.  But each man has his own gift from God; one has this gift; another has that. 

1 Corinthians 12:4 (NIV)There are different kinds of gifts, but the same Spirit. 

1 Corinthians 12:9 (NIV)to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healing by that one Spirit, 

1 Corinthians 12:28 (NIV)And int he church God has appointed first of all apostles, second prophets, third teachers, then workers of miracles, also those having gifts of healing, those able to help others, those with gifts of administration, and those speaking in different kinds of tongues. 

1 Corinthians 12: 30 -31Do all have gifts of healing?  Do all speak in tongues?  Do all interpret?  But eagerly desire the greater gifts.  And now I will show you the most excellent way. 

 1 Peter 4:10 (NIV)
Each one should use whatever gift he has received to serve others, faithfully administering God's grace in its various forms.

As can be seen, it seems as if in context, Paul is telling Timothy to not have a spirit of fear regarding the use of "grace or gifts denoting extraordinary powers, distinguishing certain Christians and enabling them to serve the church of Christ, the reception of which is due to the power of divine grace operating in their souls by the Holy Spirit", which Timothy received through prayer from elders in the church.

It makes me wonder which gift Timothy received.  The verses above indicate that spiritual gifts can be prophecy, faith, healing, working miracles, healing, the ability to help others, administration, tongues, interpretation of tongues.  There may be more listed not mentioned here, since this is not a study on gifts but on not being afraid to use them.  The context of the familiar verse 2 Timothy 1:7 really strikes home, however, as in our modern post-Christian day and age, where people eat food prepared in factories and live in big cities, I really feel as if some parts of the church have come to neglect the spiritual gifts that are Biblical.  Like Timothy, we have become afraid of them, so afraid, in fact, that we use the verse about fear and do not talk about what comes before it.

I wonder if that is why the church has seemingly lost its power.  I hear many young people speaking about how they wish we could go back to the days of Acts when the early church experienced power when the holy spirit came upon them, why we cannot see miracles such as in the days of Jesus or even in Old Testament times.  I believe we have forgotten that God has not give us a spirit of fear in regards to these things, but of power to use our gifts, of love to motivate our use, and of self-discipline to learn how to use them.

I believe that 2 Timothy 1:7 is ok to use out of context when it comes to any fear, for all fear except the fear of the Lord (which is essentially reverence or respect) is not from God.  The verses that come to mind are the many times in the Old Testament, such as in Deuteronomy, where God tells his people to be strong and courageous.  We also walk by faith, not by sight, as said in 2 Corinthians 5:7, which indicates we act on what we know God to be and how we know him to operate, not by the dangers we know that are out there.  This is pleasing to God (Hebrews 11:6). 

The New Oxford American dictionary defines fear as a noun, an unpleasant emotion caused by the belief that someone or something is dangerous, likely to cause pain, or a threat.

So actually fear is a normal human response based off of what we perceive with our senses, such as our sight.  But since we are to walk by our faith-- our beliefs-- and not our sight or senses, I believe the Word of God teaches that God does not want us to be ruled by our fears.  So I think it is a correct use of scripture to remind oneself that God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and self-discipline.  But I believe we are missing so much of our spiritual walk if we neglect the gifts of the spirit.  We won't truly be as Jesus was without this empowerment.

Paul writes that each man has his own spiritual gift in 1 Corinthians 7:7, and it is implied in the letters to Timothy that we can receive gifts through prayer.  I encourage you, as a Christian, to seek God as to what your spiritual giftings are and to use them with power, for love, and to discipline yourself in the use of them.  If you do not know your gifts, or wish to receive one, I encourage you to ask for prayer.  For God has not given us a spirit of timidity in regards to them, but of power, of love, and of self-discipline.