Previous article in this series: July 2025, p. 375.

For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind—2 Timothy 1:7

God has not given us the spirit of fear. Those were encouraging words for young Timothy. He was a young pastor who labored in the hostile city of Ephesus. Not only did he contend with the general pagan population, but he also had to confront the false teachers within the church. In the midst of all his good Christian ministry, Timothy was understandably fearful. It’s not easy confronting false teachers. It’s not a pleasant prospect having to rebuke a Demetrius (Acts 19) or an Alexander (2 Tim. 4:14). There were times when young Timothy was hesitant to proclaim boldly the gospel, and even hesitant to associate himself with the apostle. Paul says to Timothy, “Be not thou therefore ashamed of the testimony of our Lord, nor of me his prisoner” (2 Tim.1:8).

That spirit of fear can plague the child of God. In that state of fear we become paralyzed. It’s hard to make a decision. It’s difficult to continue on in the moment. We worry and fret. When that spirit of fear sets in we let the reaction of others govern our behavior.

That spirit of fear does not come from God.

God gives His people a different spirit. A spirit that is antithetical to the spirit of fear—the spirit of power, and of love, and of a sound mind. We do not manufacture these gifts ourselves. These are gifts God dispenses to His people through the Holy Spirit. Power, love, and a sound mind are not ideals out of reach. They are gifts not only for the aged saints, but also for the young people of the church. They are realities for the naturally fearful child of God, realities that we embrace and enjoy.

THE SPIRIT OF POWER

The spirit of power does not refer to physical strength or even to political power. Therefore you can be physically weak and feeble and yet be one who possesses this spirit of power. This spirit of power is the power of God bestowed upon His people, through which power it pleases God to accomplish His purpose. It’s the power of God whereby we are able to do God’s will and walk in all His good commandments.

The Scriptures reveal God as the One who empowers His servants. The Lord declared to Joshua, “Be strong and of a good courage; be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed: for the Lord thy God is with thee whithersoever thou goest” (Josh. 1:9). This isn’t a strength that Joshua produces. “The Lord is the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid” (Ps. 27:1b). Jehovah God Himself is the strength of His people. This is made especially clear in the promise Jesus speaks to His disciples, “But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you” (Acts 1:8). And note, what would the disciples do now that they were empowered with the Holy Spirit? Jesus continues in Acts 1:8, “And ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.” This spiritual power and strength was given to the disciples, not that they would now be immune to hardship and difficulty, but that they would go out and be faithful in their calling and preach the gospel. A simple survey of the book of Acts shows the apostles and the members of the Christian church speaking boldly, enduring suffering, and persevering in obedience, not because they were fearless by nature, but because God strengthened them.

This teaches us that the power of God is evidenced in the life of the believer through faithful endurance as we rely upon God as our strength.

For the youth in the body of Christ, this understanding of power is crucial. Many feel pressure to project confidence, to have life figured out very early, and to measure up to the ideals of society. Scripture cuts through these expectations. God’s power is often most evident when believers feel weak and know that they stand in need of divine help. “For when I am weak, then am I strong” (2 Cor. 12:10).

With this God-given spirit of power we are able to say “no” to sin, to speak the truth graciously and firmly in hostile environments, and to remain faithful to Jesus Christ even as we observe others enjoying the pleasures of sin. With this spirit of power we are able to resist temptation. The spirit of power enables us to follow God’s calling in life and to count our discipleship of Jesus Christ a very precious thing.

THE SPIRIT OF LOVE

God not only gives the spirit of power, but also the spirit of love. Where you find the one you will always find the other. The two go together and cannot be separated. One cannot claim to have the spirit of power and yet show no spirit of love. If that’s the case, then that supposed spirit of power is revealed simply to be a spirit of worldly power, which is nothing but arrogance and self-confidence and pride. But a true God-given spirit of power will always be accompanied with this spirit of love.

This spirit of love is given by God. That’s because first God is love (1 John 4:8). He loves Himself in His own Triune being as Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. But that covenant love that God has for Himself doesn’t remain confined in the Godhead, but God, “…commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us” (Rom. 5:8).

This love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Spirit. As such, this love becomes a defining mark of discipleship of Jesus Christ. “By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another” (John 13:35). As we live in love and show this love, we will be patient, kind, humble, forgiving, and enduring (1 Cor. 13). Love rejoices in the truth and seeks the good of others, even at great personal cost.

Imagine what a comfort this was for Timothy as he was called to bring the gospel in Ephesus. He was a fearful young minister. There was opposition from without. There was opposition from within. But knowing that God gave him the spirit of power and the spirit of love, Timothy could engage in the labor with all confidence and conviction. “I will bring the gospel in love for God and in love for fellow sinners. The Lord is my helper, and therefore I will not fear what man shall do unto me. God not only empowers me but also gives me the spirit of love…and therefore I cannot help but press on in the labor!”

This spirit of love combats the natural spirit of fear that we all have. For example, it’s fearful having to confront a close friend who is walking in a sinful way. We hesitate and become anxious at the very prospect of doing so. But in love for God, and in love for this person’s soul, we speak the truth in love. We speak those necessary words of rebuke and admonishment, not as if we ourselves are immune from that sin, but out of a deep concern for the well-being of the neighbor.

The spirit of love banishes fear. “There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear” (1 John 4:18). The love of God has been shed abroad in our hearts. God commended His love and sent His only begotten Son to the death of the cross with the result that our sins are washed away. The guilt has been removed. No curse for us. No punishment. And on our part then— no fear! What is there left then to make us afraid? Are we not more than conquerors through Him who loved us? If we have nothing to fear as we stand before God, then surely we have no fear as we stand before and live among men.

There is that natural fear that finds its way into our lives, especially as young people and young adults. This time of life is often marked by transition—leaving home, making vocational decisions, making all kinds of life decisions. This can be a season when fear easily enters: fear of failure, fear of rejection, fear of missing out, fear of standing alone, fear of sticking out in this world and drawing attention to myself.

Second Timothy 1:7 speaks directly to these realities. God does not give us the spirit of fear. Fear may be a natural human response, but it’s not a divine gift. Power and love are. Together, this spirit of power and love frees believers from the tyranny of fear.

Next time, the Lord willing, we will consider “The spirit of a sound mind” (1 Tim. 1:7).

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