LET’S GET STIRRED UP!
2TIM 1 3-10
2 Timothy 1:3-10 (NKJV)
3 I thank God, whom I serve with a pure conscience, as my forefathers did, as without ceasing I remember you in my prayers night and day,
4 greatly desiring to see you, being mindful of your tears, that I may be filled with joy,
5 when I call to remembrance the genuine faith that is in you, which dwelt first in your grandmother Lois and your mother Eunice, and I am persuaded is in you also.
6 Therefore I remind you to stir up the gift of God which is in you through the laying on of my hands.
7 For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.
8 Therefore do not be ashamed of the testimony of our Lord, nor of me His prisoner, but share with me in the sufferings for the gospel according to the power of God,
9 who has saved us and called us with a holy calling, not according to our works, but according to His own purpose and grace which was given to us in Christ Jesus before time began,
10 but has now been revealed by the appearing of our Savior Jesus Christ, who has abolished death and brought life and immortality to light through the gospel,
**THIS PHRASE IS USED 3 TIMES IN THE NEW TESTAMENT, AND IT HAS 3 DIFFERENT MEANINGS- HENCE 3 DIFFERENT GREEK WORDS ARE USED IN THESE TEXTS WHICH WILL HELP US IF WE APPLY THEM TO OUR LIVES!
1. HERE IN 2 TIMOTHY THE WORD SIMPLY MEANS TO RE-KINDLE THE GIFT THAT IS ALREADY IN YOU, IF IT NEEDS RE-KINDLED, IT MEANS THAT THE FLAME HAS WENT WAY DOWN AND NEEDS FANNING.
**ARE YOU SITTING ON THE SIDELINES FOR GOD??
TAKE A SPIRITUAL EVALUATION OF YOURSELF (WITH THE HELP OF THE HOLY SPIRIT) ARE YOU USING YOUR GIFT MORE TODAY THAN YOU WERE LAST WEEK? MONTH? YEAR? 10 YEARS? IF YOU ARE NO LONGER ACTIVE IN THE SERVICE FOR THE KING, WHY? WHAT HAS CHANGED?? IS HE STILL NOT WORTHY??
A young, smart-alec cowboy was riding his horse one day and saw an old man on a mule.
* The young cowboy decided to have a little fun, so he drew his 6-shooter and told the old man
to get off the mule and dance! * He said to the old man, "Have you ever danced?"
B) Then he began to empty his revolver near the feet of the old man, laughing while he danced!
* After a few minutes, the cowboy ran out of bullets!
* The old man wiped his brow, then slowly reached into his belongings and pulled out a huge
loaded shot gun.
C) He points the shot gun at the young cowboy and says,
* "Young man, have you ever kissed a mule?"
**THE GIFT THAT HE IS TALKING ABOUT HERE I BELIEVE IS THE GIFT OF THE HOLY SPIRIT, WHICH DOES PRODUCE DIFFERENT SPIRITUAL GIFTS, WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT WE RE-KINDLE THE PERSON/POWER THAT IS WITHIN US TO LIVE A VICTORIOUS LIFE:
2 Timothy 1:7 (NKJV)
7 For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.
**IN THE DAYS IN WHICH WE ARE LIVING- TIMES OF ADVERSITY, HATE, AND UNCERTAINTY WE NEED TO HAVE OUR LOVE RELATIONSHIP WITH JESUS STRONGER THAN EVER AND THAT HAPPENS WHEN WE “STIR UP” THE GIFT THAT IS WITHIN US. **IT IS OUR CHOICE ON HOW WE LIVE, GOD IS NOT GOING TO FORCE US TO LIVE THAT WAY, BUT HE SO LONGS FOR US TO LIVE A LIFE OF VICTORY THAT IS ONLY FOUND IN HIM!!
2 Chronicles 7:14 (NKJV)
14 if My people who are called by My name will humble themselves, and pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land.
Psalm 73:28 (NKJV)
28 But it is good for me to draw near to God; I have put my trust in the Lord GOD, That I may declare all Your works.
Hebrews 10:19-23 (NKJV)
19 Therefore, brethren, having boldness to enter the Holiest by the blood of Jesus,
20 by a new and living way which He consecrated for us, through the veil, that is, His flesh,
21 and having a High Priest over the house of God,
22 let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water.
23 Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful.
James 4:8 (NKJV)
8 Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and purify your hearts, you double-minded.
2. IN HEBREWS 10:24 WE SEE THIS PASSAGE- THE GREEK WORD USED HERE MEANS TO PROVOKE:
Hebrews 10:24 (NKJV)
24 And let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works,
Robert Schuller tells a story about a banker who always tossed a coin in the cup of a legless beggar who sat on the street outside the bank. But, unlike most people, the banker would always insist on getting one of the pencils the man had beside him. "You are a merchant," the banker would say, "and I always expect to receive good value from merchants I do business with." One day the legless man was not on the sidewalk. Time passed and the banker forgot about him, until he walked into a public building and there in the concessions stand sat the former beggar. He was obviously the owner of his own small business now. "I have always hoped you might come by someday," the man said. "You are largely responsible for me being here. You kept telling me that I was a ’merchant’. I started thinking of myself that way, instead of a beggar receiving gifts. I started selling pencils -- lots of them. You gave me self-respect, caused me to look at myself differently."
Ephesians 5:15-21 (NKJV)
15 See then that you walk circumspectly, not as fools but as wise,
16 redeeming the time, because the days are evil.
17 Therefore do not be unwise, but understand what the will of the Lord is.
18 And do not be drunk with wine, in which is dissipation; but be filled with the Spirit,
19 speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord,
20 giving thanks always for all things to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ,
21 submitting to one another in the fear of God.
3. IN 2 PETER 3:1 WE SEE IT USED AGAIN, AND HERE IT MEANS TO ROUSE OR TO WAKE FULLY- ARE WE SLEEPING AT THE WHEEL SPIRITUALLY??- GOD WANTS US FULLY ALERT IN HIS SERVICE, THE REASON THIS PASSAGE IS WRITTEN IS BECAUSE PETER WANTED HIS READERS/LISTENERS TO UNDERSTAND THAT JESUS’ COMING IS NEAR AND HE WANTED(AS A GOOD PASTOR) TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY WERE READY, ARE WE?
2 Peter 3:1 (NKJV)
1 Beloved, I now write to you this second epistle (in both of which I stir up your pure minds by way of reminder),
Matthew 25:1-13 (NKJV)
1 "Then the kingdom of heaven shall be likened to ten virgins who took their lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom.
2 Now five of them were wise, and five were foolish.
3 Those who were foolish took their lamps and took no oil with them,
4 but the wise took oil in their vessels with their lamps.
5 But while the bridegroom was delayed, they all slumbered and slept.
6 And at midnight a cry was heard: 'Behold, the bridegroom is coming; go out to meet him!'
7 Then all those virgins arose and trimmed their lamps.
8 And the foolish said to the wise, 'Give us some of your oil, for our lamps are going out.'
9 But the wise answered, saying, 'No, lest there should not be enough for us and you; but go rather to those who sell, and buy for yourselves.'
10 And while they went to buy, the bridegroom came, and those who were ready went in with him to the wedding; and the door was shut.
11 Afterward the other virgins came also, saying, 'Lord, Lord, open to us!'
12 But he answered and said, 'Assuredly, I say to you, I do not know you.'
13 Watch therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour in which the Son of Man is coming.
2 Timothy 3:1-5 (NKJV)
1 But know this, that in the last days perilous times will come:
2 For men will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy,
3 unloving, unforgiving, slanderers, without self-control, brutal, despisers of good,
4 traitors, headstrong, haughty, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God,
5 having a form of godliness but denying its power. And from such people turn away!
2 Timothy 3:13-17 (NKJV)
13 But evil men and impostors will grow worse and worse, deceiving and being deceived.
14 But you must continue in the things which you have learned and been assured of, knowing from whom you have learned them,
15 and that from childhood you have known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.
16 All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness,
17 that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work.
Revelation 13:16-18 (NKJV)
16 He causes all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and slave, to receive a mark on their right hand or on their foreheads,
17 and that no one may buy or sell except one who has the mark or the name of the beast, or the number of his name.
18 Here is wisdom. Let him who has understanding calculate the number of the beast, for it is the number of a man: His number is 666.
