2 Timothy 1:7 For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and love and a sound mind.
As we pursue the fullness of life as described throughout Scripture, we find that Jesus Christ is the personification of this walk. HE is our greatest example. HE was subject to the same challenges that we face everyday and fully understood our walk. Our flesh would have us believe that there is no way for us to walk in the same power and authority so therefore do not pursue it. Our flesh would have us focus on just about anything else other than this walk. The adversary also wants us to pursue any other walk as well. It was necessary for Jesus to be tempted of the devil before HE started HIS ministry. Jesus was tempted with the fundamental carnal desires in an attempt to keep HIM from walking in power, Love, and “self-discipline”. The enemy of this walk is fear.
Paul understood this reality when he wrote to Timothy. He had to encourage Timothy that he had access to the Spirit of power and Love and to walk in the Spirit. The fear of failure is directly tied to the ego. What will people think if I fail? We all know that we have walked an imperfect life but we want to project the facade that we are somehow superior to the failures. We attempt to exalt the old man. That is the place of unfruitfulness.
I can attest that when you pursue this revelation of power and Love you will be challenged on several fronts. Those challenges are designed to test your commitment to overcome the old man. It is not much different than many of the physical challenges we face today. It is much easier to sit on the couch than to pursue a disciplined physical workout regimen. It is much easier to sit in a pew week after week and let someone else seek a new revelation from Our Heavenly Father. We sanction laziness, unfruitfulness, and a slow death. “I came that you might have life and that you might have it more abundantly.” These are the words of Jesus who only spoke what HE heard HIS FATHER speak. Here we have a word of direction from Jesus yet we resist the path that leads to life. We need to embrace the new man and lay aside the old man. Yes, we will have resistance. We will rationalize why we shouldn’t pursue this path. But deep down our spirit knows that there is more to life than your current state. It is available now. We all marvel when miracles come forth and prophecies are fulfilled. The problem is that we are often distant observers, not participants. There are plenty of miracles available for all of us to experience and the need for those miracles are as great today as ever before.
Embrace the Spirit of power and Love and self-discipline and then start expecting fruit to come forth. Don’t be denied. Don’t let initial failures to dissuade you from pursuing this path. Jesus was challenged, you will be too. It is written!