Timothy was going about preaching the good news of Christ Jesus. He was starting to have opposition because of his message from believers and non-believers alike. Paul encouraged him to be bold and not be intimidated and fearful as it would neutralize the effectiveness of his message.
Jesus knew we were going to face times that we would need some help to get through. He explained to the disciples that he would ask the Father to send a Helper to step in when he left this earth. He was not going to leave the believer alone as orphans.
John 14:16-8
16 And I will pray the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may abide with you forever—
17 the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees Him nor knows Him; but you know Him, for He dwells with you and will be in you.
18 I will not leave you orphans; I will come to you. (NKJV)
That Helper is the Holy Spirit. He has many names: Comforter, Guide, Intercessor, Teacher, Witness, Counselor and Advocate to name a few.
It is this spirit residing in us that enables us to have the power, love and sound mind that our scripture speaks of. In order to go about in this evil world testifying to the message of Jesus Christ we must have the boldness that Paul spoke of. We cannot be afraid to speak nor feel helpless when life events come at us. It is in those life events that our testimony is greatest.
We are going to have trials in this life. We are going to have fear and dread approach us sooner or later. We are going to experience pain, sadness and grief but we will not experience it alone. Not as an orphan who has no one. Our God has made sure that we are never left alone. Our Comforter goes where we go. He intercedes on our behalf.
Romans 8:26-27
26 Likewise the Spirit also helps in our weaknesses. For we do not know what we should pray for as we ought, but the Spirit Himself makes intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered.
27 Now He who searches the hearts knows what the mind of the Spirit is, because He makes intercession for the saints according to the will of God.(NKJV)
For years, I had the verse 2 Timothy 1:7, taped on my computer at my workplace. If I found myself in a situation of fear or foreboding I would see that scripture and immediately feel myself calming so that I could handle whatever was coming my way.
I recommend you put it by your bedside, on the refrigerator, your computer or somewhere that it is readily available. It is an awesome reminder that though we are hearing news that breaks our heart, on the receiving end of anger, illness, depression, dread of the days ahead… Our Helper is with us!
I recall sitting in the movie theater with my ten year old granddaughter in 2005. We were seeing the movie Narnia. At one very intense moment after Aslan had died the leaves begin to rustle and a wind sweeps through. Christi leaned over and informed her MiMi that it was the Holy Spirit. I remember tears welling up in my eyes as I finally grasped what a gift the indwelling of the Holy Spirit means to the believer. He is our Comforter and Helper in times of trouble when we feel fear and our heart rate rising. I believe at that moment our Advocate has already begun interceding on our behalf to bolster us up for the crisis.
Scripture for Today:
2 Timothy 1:7 For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind. (NKJV)
Prayer for Today:
Hello Father! Thank you that you love us so much that you would not only send Jesus to die in our place, but you made sure that each believer would have access to the Comforter when Jesus sat down at your side, in heaven. We are never alone! No matter what comes our way in this life, we are not alone. There truly is no greater love. Father, thank you for power, love and a sound mind. In Jesus’ name. Amen.