The Lodestar

I met a ninety-year-old lady today who came to hear me preach. She carries a bag with Bible verses printed on it. She would ask passersby if she could explain the verse's message; most people said no. She told me that, though many people had let her down, she would continue to do so as long as her health permitted. Her boldness was awesome.

Paul exhorts Timothy to “fan to flame” the gifts for ministry that are imparted to him. The Holy Spirit that Timothy has received in his life and ministry is not one of fear.

The Greek word for “fear” here denotes the feeling of a person running away from the battlefront; it is another word for cowardice. But the mark of the Holy Spirit is boldness. When the disciples received the Holy Spirit, they boldly preached the Word. “And when they had prayed, the place in which they were gathered together was shaken, and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and continued to speak the word of God with boldness” (Acts 4:31). The Jewish leaders had arrested them and charged them not to preach in the name of Jesus any more (Acts 4:18). Still, they refused but continued even more powerfully.

Cowardice is not the mark of the godly but the hallmark of the ungodly. “The wicked flee when no one pursues, but the righteous are bold as a lion” (Proverbs 28:1). The reason we shrink from sharing the goodnews of Jesus Christ is fear; we are comfortable with any other topic, but it is difficult to talk about Jesus, our saviour. But when we rely on the Holy Spirit, it becomes easy.

The Holy Spirit gives us courage and love toward the people who do not know Jesus the way we know. Love leads to witnessing. We keep what we have from the sight of others if we do not love them.

The Holy Spirit also gives us control over our lives. In this context, it decides what to say, when, and to whom. It also controls our emotions, patiently listens, and is kind as we share about Jesus with those who do not yet know him.

When we fan the flame of the gifts that the Holy Spirit has endowed us with, the flame first consumes our fear so that boldness emerges, making us soldiers on the move, determined not to retreat.

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