Fan Into Flames the Gift Of God Within You!!!

Brothers and sisters, are we hot, cold or lukewarm? Paul says we are responsible for our own condition! This is very sobering. We are not robots. As children of the Most High God, we can "fan into flames the gift of God that is within" us. We are responsible for our own condition. 

I want to encourage you as I have been so cold or lukewarm most of my life. I can testify to the fact that the more I seek after God, surrendering my will and crucifying my old nature, the hotter I get. I have no clue how hot I am, but I am confident in the Lord I am hotter than I was. The hotter I get, the more I cry out to my Father to help me get hotter. There is more joy the hotter we get! Also, there is not a better request, as we see Paul telling his spiritual son Timothy just that.   

In 2001, I wept before the Lord as I realized I was lukewarm. I asked the Father to please not let me be like Lot. I can tell you it will cost you if you do so. There will be trials, but the reward is infinitely more valuable than the pain cost. I began to seek after the Lord more and more. The more I sought him, the more I wanted him and the more he gave me boldness to be his witness. I began to cry out for him to rule and reign in me. There were experiences of what must have been a baptism of the Spirit. In early 2010, as I was surrendering my all including my tongue, I was baptized in the Spirit and given the gift of tongues and more boldness and love. 

2 Timothy 1  ISV

1From:a Paul, an apostle of the Messiahb Jesus by God’s will in keeping with the promise of life that is in the Messiahc Jesus.

2To: Timothy, my dear child.

May grace, mercy, and peace from God the Father and the Messiahd Jesus our Lord be yours!

3I constantly thank my God—whom I servee with a clear conscience, as my ancestors did—when I remember you in my prayers night and day, 4recalling your tears and longing to see you so that I can be filled with joy. 5I am reminded of your sincere faith, which first existed in your grandmother Lois and your mother Eunice, and I am convinced that this faithf also exists in you. 6For this reason, I am reminding you to fan into flames the gift of God that is within you through the laying on of my hands. 7For God did not give us a spirit of timidity but one of power, love, and self-discipline.g8Therefore, never be ashamed of the testimony about our Lord or of me, his prisoner. Instead, by God’s power, join me in suffering for the sake of the gospel.

9He saved us

and called us with a holy calling,

not according to our own accomplishments,

but according to his own purpose and the grace

that was given to us in the Messiahh Jesus

before time began.i

10Now, however, that gracej has been revealed

through the coming of our Savior the Messiahk Jesus,

who has destroyed death

and through the gospel has brought life

and release from death into full view.

11For the sake of this gospell I was appointed to be a preacher, an apostle, and a teacher of the gentiles.m 12That is why I suffer as I do. However, I am not ashamed, for I know the one in whom I have put my trust, and I’m convinced that he is able to protect what he has entrusted to men until the day that he comes.o 13Hold on to the pattern of healthy teachings that you have heard from me, along with the faith and love that are in the Messiahp Jesus. 14With the help of the Holy Spirit who lives in us, protect the good treasure that has been entrusted to you.