The Spirit of Power, Love, and a sound Mind

The Spirit of Power, Love, and a sound Mind

Text: 2 Timothy 1:7 (KJV 1900)

7 For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.

Introduction:

1) The Lord was constantly telling folks “fear not” or “be not afraid” 2) Definition of Fear:

Fear is a distressing emotion aroused by a perceived threat. There are two types of fear:

a) Fight or flight-part of a small set of basic instincts which include joy, sadness and anger. This type is innate, and occurs by real, outward, stimulus. This is a healthy fear God has put within us for our good.

b) Anxiety, or worry- This kind of fear is not created by any real threat, but is created by the perception of threats that appear uncontrollable or unavoidable. This fear is not from God, but is from Satan and is put into our minds to cause us to doubt God.

3) Satan’s plan is to conquer each and every Christian with Fear.

Illustration: Satan, jealous of man’s relationship with God, held a meeting with his demons- How can we mess relationship between God and man up? Answer: Let’s make them worry, (doubt, fear), that God is not telling the truth. Let’s make them doubt his Word and rob them of their relationship with God. Let’s start with Eve…

4) Fear is an emotional response

a. Emotions are part of the corrupt flesh.

b. God expects us to use mind over heart.

5) Fear, the anxiety type is a matter of perception of the mind:

Illustration: My experiences as a security guard.

Walking by the Grave Yard last night.

Review of our Text: 2 Timothy 1:7 (KJV 1900)

7 For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.

* Our Text verse tells us that we have not been given a spirit of fear, but a Spirit of

I. Strength- Displaying faith in the Power of God with our lives.

II. Love- Displaying our Love for God and others by our courage and bravery.

III. Sound Mind- A mind that is made up, immovable, resolute.

* Let’s take a look at the Spirit of Strength, the Spirit of Courage, and the Spirit of Resolution this morning, because this is how God desires and expects every Christian to be:

I. A Spirit of Strength “Displaying our faith in God’s Strength”

Definition of Strength:

strength

* Strength is the quality or state of being strong.

* Strength can mean mental power, force, or vigor.

* Strength can mean moral power, firmness, or courage to stand for morals.

* Strength can mean Power by reason of influence, authority, resources, numbers, etc.

* Strength can mean the the power to resist force, strain, wear, etc. The power to remain firm.

* Strength can refer to a high level of action, language, or feeling.

* Strength can refer to something or someone that gives aperson strength, or is a source of power or encouragement or sustenance: The Bible was her strength and joy.

* Synonyms of Strength: “What a spirit of Strength is”

Durable, Firm, Powerful, Stable, Toughness, Backbone, Might, Muscle, Nerve, Potency, Secure, Soundness, Stable, Steady, Stout, Sturdy, Strong Armed.

*Antonyms of Strength: “What Strength is not”

Cowardice, instability, Infirmity, Weakness, Powerlessness, Disadvantaged, Lacking.

A. We are strong because our salvation is strong and holds fast:

Hebrews 6:17–19 (KJV 1900)

17 Wherein God, willing more abundantly to shew unto the heirs of promise the immutability of his counsel, confirmed it by an oath: 18 That by two immutable things, in which it was impossible for God to lie, we might have a strong consolation, who have fled for refuge to lay hold upon the hope set before us: 19 Which hope we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and stedfast, and which entereth into that within the veil;

* David was an example of a believer that displayed the spirit of strength by His courage:

1 Samuel 17:28–29 (KJV 1900)

28 And Eliab his eldest brother heard when he spake unto the men; and Eliab’s anger was kindled against David, and he said, Why camest thou down hither? and with whom hast thou left those few sheep in the wilderness? I know thy pride, and the naughtiness of thine heart; for thou art come down that thou mightest see the battle. 29 And David said, What have I now done? Is there not a cause?

II. A Spirit of Courage. Displaying our Love for Chirst with Courage.

Definition of Courage:

cour·age

* Courage is the quality of mind or spirit that enables a person to face difficulty, danger, pain, etc., without fear; bravery.

* Courage is what we call “Heart.” This is what Jesus displayed when He went to the cross.

*A Christian who displays the spirit of courage shows the ability to stand for their personal convictions God has given them from the Bible.

* A Christian with the Spirit of Courage stands up for what the Bible says, especially in spite of criticism and even persecution.

* Synonyms of courage “What Courage is”

Fearlessness, Bravery, Valor, Bravado, Audacity, Daring, Heroic, Dauntlessness, Guts, Nerve, Stoutheartedness, Lion-heartedness

* Antonyms of Courage- “What courage is not”

Cowardice, Fearful, Timidity, Weakness, Faint-heartedness

* Abraham is an example of a believer that displayed the spirit of love for God.

* Abraham believed that the love of God had the power to do anything!

Genesis 18:10–15 (KJV 1900)

10 And he said, I will certainly

return unto thee according to the time of life; and, lo, Sarah thy wife shall have a son. And Sarah heard it in the tent door, which was behind him. 11 Now Abraham and Sarah were old and well stricken in age; and it ceased to be with Sarah after the manner of women. 12 Therefore Sarah laughed within herself, saying, After I am waxed old shall I have pleasure, my lord being old also? 13 And the Lord said unto Abraham, Wherefore did Sarah laugh, saying, Shall I of a surety bear a child, which am old?

14 Is any thing too hard for the Lord?

At the time appointed I will return unto thee, according to the time of life, and Sarah shall have a son. 15 Then Sarah denied, saying, I laughed not; for she was afraid. And he said, Nay; but thou didst laugh.

* The first time love is mentioned in the Bible is when Abraham is asked by God to give up his precious, promised son, and kill him offering him up as a sacrifice to God.

* In this story we see the spirit of strength displayed in the life of Abraham loved God so much he is totally persuaded that God has the power to raise his son Isaac from the Dead.

* This story of Abraham and his love is fulfilled one day by the act of God the Father giving His own precious Son an a cross to be an offering for our sins.

Ephesians 5:1–2 (KJV 1900)

Be ye therefore followers of God, as dear children; 2 And walk in love,

as Christ also hath loved us, and hath given himself for us an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweetsmelling savour.

* Jesus was talking with a learned man of the Bible, a ruler of the Jews, named Nicodemus one day and He was having a difficult time getting him to understand the power of God’s love.

* Nicodemus could not make the connection of the power of God to cause a man to be born again into the kingdom of God.

* Because of this conversation with Nicodemus we have the great worlds of John 3:16 concerning the power of the Love of God.

John 3:16 (KJV 1900)

16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

* The love of God for you and I this morning was illustrated to us by the courage of Jesus as He went to the cross.

* I want you to know that it required of Jesus the ultimate courage for Jesus to show us the love of God for us this morning.

* Listen to the words of Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane that night just before the soldiers took Him away to crucify Him:

Matthew 26:36–39 (KJV 1900)

36 Then cometh Jesus with them unto a place called Gethsemane, and saith unto the disciples, Sit ye here, while I go and pray yonder. 37 And he took with him Peter and the two sons of Zebedee, and began to be sorrowful and very heavy. 38 Then saith he unto them, My soul is exceeding sorrowful, even unto death: tarry ye here, and watch with me. 39 And he went a little further, and fell on his face, and prayed, saying, O my Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me: nevertheless not as I will, but as thou wilt.

Matthew 26:42 (KJV 1900)

42 He went away again the second time, and prayed, saying, O my Father, if this cup may not pass away from me, except I drink it, thy will be done.

Luke 22:43–44 (KJV 1900)

44 And being in an agony he prayed more earnestly: and his sweat was as it were great drops of blood falling down to the ground.

* I want you to understand the power and strength of Love for God displayed the spirit of courage in a believer this morning.

* By the courage of Jesus the Power of the Love of God overcame death:

Song of Solomon 8:6–7 (KJV 1900)

6 Set me as a seal upon thine heart, As a seal upon thine arm: For love is strong as death;

Jealousy is cruel as the grave: The coals thereof are coals of fire, Which hath a most vehement flame. 7 Many waters cannot quench love, Neither can the floods drown it: If a man would give all the substance of his house for love, It would utterly be contemned.

* The Bible says in Romans 5:12 that we were condemned to death by sin:

Romans 5:12 (KJV 1900)

12 Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned:

Romans 6:22–23 (KJV 1900)

22 But now being made free from sin, and become servants to God, ye have your fruit unto holiness, and the end everlasting life. 23 For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

1 John 3:14 (KJV 1900)

14 We know that we have passed from death unto life, because we love the brethren. He that loveth not his brother abideth in death.

* We as believers must display the spirit of the Love of God by taking up our own cross with the courage as well this morning.

1 Corinthians 13:1–13 (KJV 1900)

Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not charity, I am become as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal.

2 And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries, and all knowledge; and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, and have not charity, I am nothing. 3 And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, and have not charity, it profiteth me nothing.

4 Charity suffereth long, and is kind; charity envieth not; charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up, 5 Doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil; 6 Rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth; 7 Beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things. 8 Charity never faileth: but whether there be prophecies, they shall fail; whether there be tongues, they shall cease; whether there be knowledge, it shall vanish away. 9 For we know in part, and we prophesy in part. 10 But when that which is perfect is come, then that which is in part shall be done away. 11 When I was a child, I spake as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child: but when I became a man, I put away childish things. 12 For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known.

13 And now abideth faith, hope, charity, these three; but the greatest of these is charity.

* A Christian who displays the spirit of the Love of God in his life must face the trials and disappointments of the Christian life with a courage that displays the Love of God as Jesus did.

* This is what Jesus meant when he said:

Luke 14:26–27 (KJV 1900)

26 If any man come to me, and hate not his father, and mother, and wife, and children, and brethren, and sisters, yea, and his own life also, he cannot be my disciple. 27 And whosoever doth not bear his cross, and come after me, cannot be my disciple.

Mark 8:34–38 (KJV 1900)

34 And when he had called the people unto him with his disciples also, he said unto them, Whosoever will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me. 35 For whosoever will save his life shall lose it; but whosoever shall lose his life for my sake and the gospel’s, the same shall save it. 36 For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? 37 Or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul? 38 Whosoever therefore shall be ashamed of me and of my words in this adulterous and sinful generation; of him also shall the Son of man be ashamed, when he cometh in the glory of his Father with the holy angels.

III. A Spirit of Resolution. “A Sound Mind”

Definition of Resolution:

res·o·lu·tion

* A spirit of resolution is the ability to a make decision or determination; a resolve: to make a firm resolution to do something.

*To have a Spirit of Resolution is to determine and focus upon an action or course of action, method, procedure.

* A Christian who displays a spirit of resolution in his life not only has made a determined decision to follow Christ and live according to the Bible, but they will also show a determination to know the will of God for their lives and do it with all their might.

* A Christian who displays a spirit of resolution shows firmness of purpose; they show the mental state or quality of being resolved or resolute to follow Christ and live according to the Word of God.

* Synonyms of Resolution: “What a Spirit of Resolution is”

Settlement, Boldness, Aim, Dedication, Bull-Doggedness, Earnestness, Firmness, Fortitude, Guts, Heart, Immovability, Intention, Perseverance, Purpose, Relentlessness, Steadfastness, Stubbornness, Tenacity, Grit

* Antonyms of Resolution: “What a Spirit of Resolution is not”

Indecision, Apathy, Cowardice, Fearful, Insincerity, instable, Lazy, Lethargic, Timid, Weak, Compliant, Questioning, Troublesome

*Job is an Example of a Believer who displayed a spirit of Resolution:

Job 13:15–18 (KJV 1900)

15 Though he slay me, yet will I trust in him:

But I will maintain mine own ways before him. 16 He also shall be my salvation: For an hypocrite shall not come before him. 17 Hear diligently my speech, And my declaration with your ears. 18 Behold now, I have ordered my cause; I know that I shall be justified.