Good Morning Sunshine! It’s Stirring Time! 

2 Timothy 1:6-7 NKJV ~ “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.”

Paul wrote to his mentee Timothy while he was in prison waiting to be executed. He had a few things that he needed Timothy to know before his death.  Paul knew Timothy and he knew what he was going to face as a servant of God, he wanted to lay a good solid foundation down for him. It is good to have someone that you can count on to encourage you in the Lord.

Let’s look at what stir up means in Greek? According to Strong’s Concordance 2042 it means to arouse, the kindling of a fire. Part of Speech: Verb, erethizó Phonetic Spelling: (er-eth-id’ zo). 

What does “to stir up” really mean? I can remember cooking with my grandmother, and she would put everything in the pot together and then she would pull out a big spoon and start to stir, she would say, you have to stir it up so that everything can mix together and taste good. Think about this, you are making some fresh lemonade and when pour the sugar into it, it goes straight to the bottom and if you were to taste it, it would probably be sour, but all you have to do is give it a good stirring, mixing it all together, it will sweeten the whole pitcher and now the purpose has been fulfill and now you can drink the lemonade! It’s so good and sweet! 

The gift of God is likened to a fire. If it is not constantly maintained and fed, it will die out. You have to keep your gifts stirred up so that they are not hidden or that they don’t disappear! You have to fan the flames of your faith by continuing to keep in step with the Holy Spirit and by following the Holy Spirits direction in every area of your life. Galatians 5:25. As you position yourself as a servant of God, you will need strong people with you, those that have lived the life that you are now walking. Follow those that you know that you know are following Jesus Christ, that you may be sharpened by them. The Word does say, iron sharpens iron. “Dear brothers and sisters, pattern your lives after mine, and learn from those who follow our example” (Philippians 3:17). Who has served as a pattern for your life? Who helps you to keep the flames going! It’s like when you are barbecuing, one coal cannot stay lit for a long time by itself, just like you, you can’t do it alone! You need your gifts stirred up! 

How do you stir up your gifts?

You stir up your gift by using the gift that God gave you. No more desiring other people’s gifts, you’re is enough! 

You stir up the gift through godly discipline, which produces the fruit of the spirit. It envelops God’s nature in your life. But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law” Galatians 5:22-23, 

You stir up your gift by We keep the gift ablaze by not letting our spiritual selves grow cold or, worse, lukewarm, as the church in Laodicean, had become Revelation 3:15-16.

You stir up the gift by not quenching or neglecting the Spirit of God, but allowing Him to thrive you like a living, blazing fire 1 Thessalonians 5:19. 

You cannot neglect the gift of God in you, that means you have to walk in it daily. You must be, you’ve got to be grounded and settled in the faith and you must be persistent in your prayer life, hold on tight, and don’t let it go. You must also watch. Stay awake. Be focused and specific, not vague. You must also be consistent and instant in prayer! You have received a gift from God, to use, to serve others with all of your strength and energy give to you through God. The work you do, and the work that you are going to do is not your reward, but for God’s Glory! You should serve with all your heart!

Let’s Pray:

Father, You are great and highly to be praised. Your greatness is unsearchable. You are my strength and shield. My heart trusts in You, I give You thanks for every good and perfect gift that is from above and from You, my Father. For the gifts and the calling You gave me are irrevocable. You gave me a special gift through Jesus Christ’s generosity. “When he ascended to the heights, he led a crowd of captives and gave gifts to his people.” You gave some to be apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors, and teachers so that God’s people will be equipped to do Your work and build up the body of Christ so that we will be mature in the Lord. Therefore, when I remember You, I shall stir up the gift that You put in me. I ask You to bless me with the spiritual gifts so that I may use them to help others. In the Name of Jesus Christ. Amen!

Blessings…

Minister Jean