It’s All in Your Mind

emphasizing the power of the Holy Spirit to the detriment of His love and sound thinking. And there are those who emphasize His love to the detriment of power and sound thinking. There are those who highlight the mind to the desolation of power and love. The word for power is the word for energy. We are so prone to only testify of the Holy Spirit's power in the light of Acts 2 that the simple meaning of energizing is tumed aside. Many Christians are lazy and Timothy could have been one of them. This word is the word for work. The spirit or attitude of fear makes you sit down and accomplish nothing. Fear just draws away every bit of energy including that which is available by the Holy Spirit. Paul said that Timothy was going to have to stir up himself in order to work! This word is also the word for efficiency. Timothy was not too efficient, because he was always leaning on Paul. When Paul wasn't with him, he became a normal human being-lazy and inefficient. This word is the word for enthusiasm. When we do nothing, it is because we make a mental decision. We, like Timothy, have the spirit of power, and in this power, there is energy and efficiency and enthusiasm. But we will never use it sitting. waiting for the Holy Spirit to push us. We have it and we will have to stir it up. It is not that we actually stir the Holy Spirit. but as we move out in His power, He energizes and enthuses us. Timothy had not been given the spirit of fearfulness, which is the opposite of faith; he had been given the ability to do. Look at these three phrases-the abiliiy to do, the ability to love, and the abiliiy to think. Every believer has this three-fold gift or these three gifts of the Holy Spirit. But we will never use them unless we stir them up. The second gift or part of the gift is, "11,,e Jpi.1iL.. o/- / .o.tn ." As believers, we have been given the ability to love. That is hard for us to believe. Every Christian has the spirit of love. What gifts did Timothy have? Well, not the gift of fearfulness, but the gift of power, work, energy, enthusiasm-and the gift of the abiliiy to love. Basically this is the love of 1 Corinthians 13. Christian husbands have the ability to love their wives. Parents have the ability to love their children. We have the ability to love fellow believers even when we do not agree with them. Believers even have the abilify to love their pastors. Everyone today wants to preach and teach in the power of the Holy Spirit. But few refer to the power of love and the power to think. Our real interest for the moment is the third phrase, "du d.piril. .. o/, a .wand mind."' Here is a common phrase in the New Testament. It is not always in the same forn1 or translation, but it helps us identify this third phrase. Luke 16 carries the account of the wise steward. This wise steward devised a scheme to get some of his friends involved so when he lost his stewardship he would not have to work. In verse eight the Lord commends the unjust steward. He told him that he had done wisely. The Lord commended him for being prudent. This is not a word \Ne easily understand, but the Lord commends the steward for being intelligent. Here is our word for sound mind. As believers. we have been given the spirit of intelligence, the spirit of prudence. We have been given the spirit of the abilify to think. Most Christians belittle their minds. Yet, God has given the gift of the Holy Spirit, which includes the spirit of a sound mind. Timothy worried that Paul was not with him to discuss his plans and help him think. He probably was ready to quit. Do you see why Paul had to tell Timothy that he had the ability to think? 79 I I