There is one giant that often stands in our way when operating in the gifts of the Spirit; the big ugly giant called Fear. It isn’t a new problem – when Paul tells Timothy to use his spiritual gifts he reminds him not to be held back by fear (2Tim 1:6-7). This fear can come in all sorts of ways including fear of man, fear of the future and fear of failure. Here is a thought: One way or another you deal with your fear – you can either let the love of Jesus deal with it OR you there are other lesser options take over.
This is how C.S. Lewis puts it: “Perfect love, we know, casts out fear (1 John 4:18). But so do several other things — ignorance, alcohol, passion, presumption, and stupidity. It is very desirable that we should all advance to that perfection of love in which we shall fear no longer; but it is very undesirable, until we have reached that stage, that we should allow any inferior agent to cast out our fear.”
Paul reminds Timothy that the answer to his fear is that God has given us Power (the Holy Spirit), Love (the love of Jesus) and a sound mind (a renewed mind). In my way of thinking the place to start is the love of Jesus. This reminds us of who we are in Him and the future we have in Him. The more you know you are a loved son or daughter of the King the more you will use the kingly gifts he has given you.
Carl Mutzelburg 