The Apostle Paul charged his spiritual son Timothy with these words: “For this reason I remind you to fan into flame the gift of God, which is in you through the laying on of my hands” 2 Timothy 1:6 (NIV). Believers are sitting in churches or not attending churches because of some hurt, disappointment, or misunderstanding, and the gift that God has placed in their life is slowly dying. As Paul said to Timothy, I also say to you it’s time to:
“Fan into flame the gift of God in you!”
We cannot win others to Christ when the flame of our gift ceases to function and our passion slowly disappears. We cannot fully be who God has destined us to be without passion. Jesus commissioned the disciples to “go into all the world and preach the Gospel.” However, in order to fulfill this commission, like Timothy, we need to be on fire. Paul reminded Timothy to “fan into flame the gift of God” which was in him.
What gift of God did Paul charge Timothy to fan into flame? Those of us of Pentecostal persuasion might say that it was the gift of speaking in Tongues, but that’s questionable because Paul placed less emphasis on spiritual gifts in his latest writings and considered miracles as being more common among unbelievers. I believe that the flame that Paul speaks of in verse 6 is the gift of Eternal Life and the Holy Spirit. A gift is something given to someone free of charge. God surely has given us a gift and the first and greatest gift He has given us is eternal life (salvation). The second gift is the gift of the Holy Spirit.
How do I fan the flame of God in my life when I am hurt? Have I allowed hurt to prevent me from fulfilling my passion? When you allow hurt to keep you seated or inactive in your walk, you are in essence not allowing the gift of God to flourish! In the natural, a gust of wind will cause a small or dying flame to become a great fire. Therefore, the first step to “fan the gift of God” is through opening the “windows” and “doors” to allow God in.
Most people who are hurt have shut down; however, fresh wind cannot enter when doors and windows are closed. Therefore, it is necessary to open your mind, emotions, and will to God. Open your entire soul, open your heart, and open your spirit. As you begin to open up, God will supply fresh wind that will ignite the fading flame of the gift of God that is within you. This is not a one-time occurrence; you must allow the Lord to send fresh wind daily. As Paul instructed the believers in Rome, “Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect.” Romans 12:2 (NLT)
“Let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think.” Every morning, give God access – open yourself to Him. Remove every obstruction and open up to the fresh wind He is blowing! Your life will then become an intense outburst of passion that will catch others on fire for Christ. “Fan into flame the gift of God in your life.”
Be Blessed,
Bishop Jemmott