Tag: Authority in Christ

  • II Timothy‬ ‭1:7‬ ‭

    “For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.” – II Timothy‬ ‭1:7‬ ‭

    For us to understand why Paul spoke these words to Timothy, we must consider the context of Paul’s situation and what Timothy was about to face. When Paul wrote Second Timothy, he knew that the hour of his departure was very near. He said plainly, “The time of my departure is at hand. I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith” (2 Timothy 4:6–7). Paul understood that his earthly race was almost over, yet he also knew that much work still needed to be done for the body of Christ.

    So when Paul said to Timothy, “For God has not given us a spirit of fear…” he was not speaking theory. He was speaking from his walk with God. Paul knew what it meant to face persecution. He knew the pain of being beaten, stoned, imprisoned, hated, betrayed, shipwrecked, and nearly killed. He wrote, “In labors more abundant, in stripes above measure, in prisons more frequently, in deaths often” (2 Corinthians 11:23). None of these trials discouraged Paul. Instead, they strengthened him. Every hardship pushed him deeper into the will of God. And why was this so? Because of the Holy Spirit who dwelt in him. The Holy Spirit gave Paul the power to accomplish everything the Lord appointed him to do. The Spirit strengthened his hands, sustained his body, and filled his heart with courage.

    The Holy Spirit also poured love into Paul’s heart, as it is written, “The love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us” (Romans 5:5). His love for the brethren are poured out by the Holy Spirit, a love that moved him to serve with patience, grace, and mercy. This love compelled Paul to endure all things for the sake of God’s people. And the Holy Spirit reigned with peace in Paul’s mind and heart. This was that peace of God which surpasses all understanding, guarding his heart and mind through Christ Jesus (Philippians 4:7). 

    Paul Speaks of the Time of His Departure

    Now we understand where Paul is coming from, and now we see where he is going as he speaks these words to Timothy. Paul was close to death, and he was fully aware of the suffering Timothy was enduring. He reminded Timothy that he was “mindful of your tears” (2 Timothy 1:4). As a young maidservant of the Lord, I know that serving in the church is not an easy task. How much more for Timothy, a young minister carrying such enormous responsibility.

    Timothy had been charged by Paul to shepherd the church in Ephesus. A church surrounded by opposition, troubled by false doctrines, filled with souls needing guidance, and requiring a steady hand to lead them in the way of truth (1 Timothy 1:3). Paul knew exactly how heavy this responsibility was. He understood the weight of pastoring, the spiritual battles that come with leadership, and the daily concern for all the churches (2 Corinthians 11:28). And now Paul who had shared the same mind, the same heart, and the same spirit with Timothy was leaving.

    Anyone who has served in ministry understands how heavy this burden can be. When a brother who has walked beside you, who guided you, nurtured you, and sharpened your walk with the Lord Jesus Christ begins to fade from this life, it brings sorrow to the heart. Paul knew that he had been a spiritual father to Timothy. He trained him, instructed him, strengthened him, and showed him how to carry out the work of God with faithfulness and fearlessness.

    And Paul also knew that his departure would be discouraging to Timothy. Timothy would lose not only a beloved brother in Christ, but also the one who had mentored him from his youth, the one who helped him discern the will of God, the one who stood beside him in the ministry.

    The Mantle and Its Burden.

    Because of this, Timothy understood the burden laid upon him. He knew he was not being called to a position, but to a entrust to him a people of God. He recognized that this calling was far greater than simply preaching sermons or teaching doctrine. He was being entrusted with precious souls purchased “not with corruptible things, like silver or gold… but with the precious blood of Christ” (1 Peter 1:18–19). The price paid for our salvation was nothing less than the life of the Lord Jesus Himself. And the Lord declared the worth of a soul when He said, “For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul?” (Mark 8:36). One soul outweighs all the treasures of earth. If a servant of God truly understands this, he will also understand the holy burden that comes with ministry. It is a burden that only the Spirit of God can help a man bear.

    Timothy understand that we are not merely taking care of the flock. As a shepherd, he must guide them in the way of truth, guard them diligently, and protect them from every form of error. The Holy Spirit had already spoken plainly to Paul concerning the future of the church, saying, “In latter times some will depart from the faith, giving heed to deceiving spirits and doctrines of demons” (1 Timothy 4:1). With this prophecy in mind, Paul understood well the kind of battles Timothy would face once he was gone. But added to this burden were the expectations of the people. Many often forget that pastors and ministers are human beings, carrying their own weaknesses and limitations. Timothy himself had his frailties, and for that reason Paul instructed him so that no one would despise his youth or dismiss his authority (1 Timothy 4:12). Paul knew Timothy would need courage to stand firm, for he was still young, and the weight of leadership can lie heavily upon the young.

    Timothy also lived in perilous days, when persecution was a constant reality. Fear surrounded the church. Brethren betrayed one another in an attempt to save their own lives. False teachings spread like wildfire, false prophets rose up in abundance, and confusion swept through many congregations. The pressure resting upon Timothy as a young overseer was truly great. And yet Timothy understood that he must one day present these souls entrusted to him before the Lord Jesus Christ. Paul described this sacred duty when he said, “that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus” (Colossians 1:28). Simply writing these things already makes my own heart feel the weight of the burden. If it burdens us just to read it, how much more must Timothy have felt it upon his shoulders?

    The Message Paul Longed Timothy to Grasp

    Paul was fully aware of the fear rising in Timothy’s heart. He knew exactly how heavy the responsibility was that he was placing into Timothy’s hands. Yet Paul encouraged him with great assurance that he would not bear this burden alone. When Paul said, “For God…” he was turning Timothy’s focus away from himself and back to the Lord. He was reminding him of the God who had called him, the God who would equip him, and the God who would sustain him in all things.

    Paul knew Timothy could never fulfill this calling by his own strength. And Paul himself had never carried the ministry in his own power. Near the end of his letter he testified,

    “But the Lord stood with me and strengthened me, so that the message might be preached fully through me, and that all the Gentiles might hear. And I was delivered out of the mouth of the lion. And the Lord will deliver me from every evil work and preserve me for His heavenly kingdom. To Him be glory forever and ever. Amen.” (2 Timothy 4:17–18)

    The God who stood with Paul, who strengthened Paul, and who delivered Paul from every evil work is the same God would also enable Timothy. He would strengthen him to preach the word, to endure persecution, to shepherd and edify the churches, and to finish the work assigned to him by the Lord Jesus Christ.

    Paul did not tell Timothy, “God has not given you a spirit of fear.” He said “us.” Paul wanted Timothy to understand that this gift of the Holy Spirit is not reserved only for apostles. The Holy Spirit is given to all who believe and receive the Lord Jesus Christ. And the Spirit whom God gives is not a spirit of fear.

    The Holy Spirit is the Spirit of power.

    The Holy Spirit who empowered Samson, so that with supernatural strength he struck down the Philistines who oppressed Israel (Judges 14–16).

    The Holy Spirit who strengthened King David, giving him courage to face Goliath, wisdom to rule Israel, and power to serve his generation by the will of God (1 Samuel 16:13; Acts 13:36).

    The Holy Spirit who came upon the prophets, granting them boldness to declare the word of the LORD God in the midst of wicked kings and rebellious nations (2 Peter 1:21).

    The Holy Spirit who overshadowed Mary, giving life to the Holy One conceived in her womb (Luke 1:35).

    The Holy Spirit who empowered the Apostles, turning fishermen, tax collectors, and ordinary men into bold witnesses who turned the world upside down (Acts 1:8; Acts 4:13).

    The Holy Spirit who transformed Peter, the man who denied Jesus three times, into a fearless preacher who proclaimed Christ and saw three thousand souls saved in a single day (Acts 2).

    The Holy Spirit who strengthened Stephen, filling him with courage to preach the LORD Jesus Christ even as stones rained down upon him (Acts 7:55–60).

    He is the same Spirit who dwells in you today!

    And this same Holy Spirit is the Spirit of love. He pours the love of God into our hearts (Romans 5:5). He teaches us to love as Jesus Christ loves, and He gives us the strength to put that love into practice, even when it is difficult, even when it costs something.

    He is also the Spirit of a sound mind. He quiets our anxieties. He eases our burdens. He gives rest to our souls in the midst of trouble. He grants us understanding in the will of God and clarity concerning the calling He has assigned to each of us. He gives wisdom for every situation we face, for the Spirit searches all things and reveals the things that freely belong to us in Christ (1 Corinthians 2:12).

    This is the Holy Spirit, God has given us. He comforts us, He strengthens us, He loves us, and He intercedes for us. The Scripture says, “the Spirit Himself makes intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered” (Romans 8:26). He helps our weaknesses, for we do not always know what we should pray, but the Spirit prays according to the will of God. And He guides us into all truth, just as Jesus promised, “When He, the Spirit of truth, has come, He will guide you into all truth” (John 16:13).

    Paul is placing Timothy into the hands of the Spirit of God who made Paul able to do the work he did. Paul was not relying on human strength, nor on natural boldness, nor on his own wisdom. He wrote, “By the grace of God I am what I am” (1 Corinthians 15:10). And that same grace, that same Spirit, was given to Timothy.

    The Holy Spirit is the greatest companion we could ever ask for. And truly, we must not grieve Him nor quench Him, for He is our Comforter, our Teacher, and our Helper. He is faithful beyond measure, for the Lord has said, “I will never leave you nor forsake you” (Hebrews 13:5). The Spirit walks with us, strengthens us, and abides in us, just as Jesus promised: “He dwells with you and will be in you” (John 14:17).

  • Acts 28:3,5

    “But when Paul had gathered a bundle of sticks and laid them on the fire, a viper came out because of the heat, and fastened on his hand. …But he shook off the creature into the fire and suffered no harm.” Acts‬ ‭28:3, 5‬ ‭

    The Apostle Paul was on his way to Rome to stand before Caesar and present his case, for he had been falsely accused. While traveling by ship under Roman custody, Paul warned the sailors that danger lay ahead and that they should not continue the voyage. However, they did not listen to him. Soon after, a great storm arose and raged for many days, leaving the ship and all aboard in peril. But in the midst of the storm, God sent an angel to Paul with a message of assurance and protection, saying that no lives would be lost. Just as the Lord had promised, the ship was wrecked, but every person on board survived and the storm brought them safely to the island of Malta. Yet, the natives of the island showed them unusual kindness.

    The Apostle Paul didn’t just sit by the fire resting after the shipwreck. Even though he had gone through so much hardship, he still chose to serve. Instead of expecting others to help him, he picked up sticks to help keep the fire going to helped those around him. Paul lived out what the LORD Jesus taught, that He “did not come to be served, but to serve” (Mark 10:45) so we must all do. We all want to be great, then we must be servant of all.

    As Paul gathered the wood, a venomous snake, a viper, suddenly fastened onto his hand and the people of the island saw the creature hanging from his hand, they said among themselves that this man must be a murderer, whom though he had escaped the sea, yet vengeance suffereth not to live. But Paul shook off the snake into the fire and felt no harm and continued on.

    That moment when Paul shook off the viper into the fire teaches us about the power and authority that Jesus Christ has given to all believers. Through His name, we have been given the ability to overcome and shake off the attacks of the enemy. No matter how strong the serpent’s venom may seem, or how deep its bite, it cannot harm those who are redeemed and covered by the blood of the Lamb. Jesus said, “Behold, I give unto you power to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy: and nothing shall by any means hurt you” (Luke 10:19, KJV).

    When Jesus died upon the cross, He conquered death once and for all. For as it is written, “The wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord” (Romans 6:23, KJV). Death entered the world because of sin, through the disobedience of Adam and Eve. For it is written, Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, he also himself likewise took part of the same; that through death he might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil” (Hebrews 2:14, KJV). In the beginning, mankind was created in the image and likeness of God, not only bearing His nature and attributes, but also possessing the gift of eternal life. Yet through transgression, sin awakened death and brought separation between man and God. Humanity, once destined for eternal fellowship, became subject to mortality, and sin separate us from the presence of God.

    Blessed be the Lord our God, who is rich in mercy and abundant in goodness. He humbled Himself and came down from His throne of glory, being declared to be the Son of God with power, according to the Spirit of holiness, by the resurrection from the dead (Romans 1:4). The Lord Jesus came to preach, to teach, and to show us how to live as sons and daughters of the Most High. Every word He spoke, every work He performed, was a pattern or a blueprint for His church to follow.

    When Jesus began to cast out devils, He revealed the authority that God had given to man from the very beginning. For it is written, “The heaven, even the heavens, are the Lord’s: but the earth hath he given to the children of men” (Psalm 115:16, KJV). The earth was not given to evil spirits nor to fallen angels—they have no inheritance among mankind. Therefore, they must be dispossessed and cast out. As the Scripture declares, “For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that he might destroy the works of the devil” (1 John 3:8).

    Our Lord gave no place to the enemy, neither permitted them to speak, for they were subject unto Him and by His authority, they are also subject unto us. That same authority He has now given to His church. The Lord said, “Behold, I give unto you power to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy: and nothing shall by any means hurt you” (Luke 10:19).

    Therefore, when Paul shook off the viper into the fire, it became a living testimony of this divine truth: “No weapon that is formed against thee shall prosper” (Isaiah 54:17, KJV). This moment also reminds us that being a child of God does not mean we are exempt from trials, struggles, or attacks. The serpent waited for its moment to strike, just as the enemy looks for opportunities to drift us way from our faith. Yet, like Paul, we can shake off every attack of the adversary. Though the serpent may strike, his venom shall not prevail. As the Lord sent His angel to stand beside Paul during the night. The angel spoke, bringing comfort and assurance, saying, “Fear not, Paul; thou must be brought before Caesar: and, lo, God hath given thee all them that sail with thee” (Acts 27:24). Paul suffered no harm because the purpose of God for his life was not yet fulfilled that he must stand before Caesar and bear witness of Christ even in the courts of Rome. The will of the Lord shall always stand, and none can overturn it. For “the counsel of the Lord standeth for ever, the thoughts of his heart to all generations” (Psalm 33:11).

    The blood of the LORD Jesus Christ is our covering, our protection, and our victory. As it is written, “And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto the death” (Revelation 12:11). They say that even when a venomous snake bites a sheep, the sheep does not die. Though the fangs pierce its flesh and the blood flows, the sheep lives for within its blood there is something that neutralizes the poison.  The serpent’s bite could not stop Paul, and the enemy’s attacks cannot stop those who walk in the will of God. Because through the blood of Jesus, no weapon formed against us shall prosper, for His blood is our defense, our covering, and our everlasting victory. To understand how powerful the blood of Jesus truly is, we must look at what it has accomplished for us. Through His blood, we have received redemption and the forgiveness of our sins. By His blood, we are justified and declared righteous before God. Through His blood, we are brought near to the Father and restored to fellowship with Him. We have obtained eternal redemption, not by our own works, but by His perfect sacrifice. Because of His blood, we can now come boldly before the throne of grace, standing in the very presence of God. His blood purifies us and makes us worthy to stand before Him, clothed in His righteousness. Lastly, His precious blood gives us victory over Satan and every power of darkness.

    Lastly, as Paul shook off the serpent into the fire, so also we, by the authority given unto us in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, shall cast down Satan and all his works. That moment was a foreshadowing of what is to come, when the devil and all his minions shall be cast into the lake of fire, as it is written, “And the devil that deceived them was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone… and shall be tormented day and night for ever and ever” (Revelation 20:10). The same fire that brought warmth and light to Paul and to all who were with him is the very fire that consumed the viper. So it is with the power of God’s presence what the enemy meant for harm, God turns for victory. For our God is “a consuming fire” (Hebrews 12:29, KJV), and in His presence, every work of darkness is destroyed.

    And what greater assurance do we have, that the Holy Spirit Himself now dwells within us. The same Spirit who raised up Jesus from the dead, and the very same Spirit who strengthened and worked mightily through Paul. For it is written, “But if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, he that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth in you” (Romans 8:11). That same Holy Spirit continues to strengthen, guide, and empower us to walk in victory, to endure every trial, and to fulfill the will of God upon the earth.

    So you should never feel defeated, nor think that you are overcome, for the same Spirit that raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you. Paul continued to stand firm because he knew what the blood of Christ had done for him, and he trusted in the Holy Spirit who lived within him. Because of that assurance, he did not give in to self-pity or despair. He understood that the power of God within him was greater than the trials around him. We, too, must remember that our circumstances do not limit God’s power. They become the very platform for His glory to be revealed. The hardships we face are not signs of defeat but opportunities for the Kingdom of God to expand on earth. Just as Paul and Silas, though bound in chains, lifted their voices and worshiped the Lord in the midnight hour, and “suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison were shaken” (Acts 16:26), so can our praise in the midst of trials shake the heavens and bring freedom to others.

    Therefore, do not be moved by what you see, nor silenced by what you suffer. The blood of Jesus has redeemed you, and the Spirit of God empowers you. What seems like bondage to the world can become a pulpit for God’s glory a place where His power is made known, and His presence is revealed.