by
L. A. Marzulli
2 Tim 1:7 We have not been given a spirit of fear, but of power, love and a sound mind.
I have covered this one very important scripture before, but I bring it back for our consideration, once again, as I have had what I believe are some new insights into it. We are supposed to live in the Kingdom of faith. In other words we have faith that He is more than able to lead us through the trials and tribulations that all of us encounter as we go through life; even as, we walk through the valley of the shadow of death, he is there by our side. The above sentence should be used as a thrust of our sword – Ephesians 6: putting on the armor of God – when fear comes upon us. The enemy seeks to rob, kill, and destroy. All we need to do is to look at the book of Job to see what he wants to do to every one of us; so when a situation arises that makes us fearful, we should fall back on this scripture and here’s why.
…. but of Power. The power that we have, that resides in us, is the power of the Holy Spirit. The word in the Greek is dynamis and we get out English word dynamite from it. It can also be translated: power for performing miracles. We have this power in us and yet most of us when faced with a trial, or the whisperings of the Fallen One, don’t use this power and silence the voice of doubt and fear. This power is far greater than anything we can muster on our own. We have it by asking for it, by stating that it resides in it, by calling to mind that God’s word is true and if He said this power is in me, than it is. While we may not all be involved in raising someone from the dead – it is that power of the Holy Spirit that resides in us to do so – we have the power to overcome the trials, the lies of the enemy, depression, anxiety, and anything else that would rob us of our joy!!!!
….love: The word used here is agape - it means -affection, good will, love, benevolence, brotherly love. This love comes from the Father, because He first loved us. Nothing can separate us from this love.
Romans 8: For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, or height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
This love is what we call to mind when we’re hit by the enemy, when he comes to steal our joy, when he comes to torment and try to trip us up. As the scripture plainly states above, NOTHING can separate us. I take this to heart literally, and find great comfort in it. His love is holy and it burns for us. He loves us so much that He sent His only son to die for us and by His blood we are redeemed and set free from the bondage of sin. When the Fallen One comes with his nonsense, thrust this verse at him. Let us be bold and use our sword, for our enemy is not carnal but spiritual!
… a sound mind: The Greek word here is sōphronismos – which means: an admonishing or calling to soundness of mind, to moderation and self-control. Here we put on the mind of Christ – the anointed one – and this what we openly state. We do not fight with our natural mind, with our carnality, but with the mind of Christ. We declare that we are sound of mind, that we have self-control, that we will not shrink back in the day of calamity or adversity.
In closing today’s Bun. We are all subject to times in our lives where we feel that our backs are up against a wall. Circumstances many overwhelm us. Sickness, the death of a loved one, financial hardship and a list that would run off this page if I were to enumerate them all. The natural man or women has nothing to fall back on except their own mind and resources. We have a divine source and we are told specifically that we are not to fear, but to live in power, love and self-control. Trials will come and as you know I believe that we are about to enter into a time of trail that the world has not yet experienced, the Time of Jacob’s Trouble. When we see the events that may cause us to fear, let us put on our armor and recite this verse knowing, with assurance, that He that is in me, is greater than the sum-bag that is in the world. (L. A. Marzulli translation)





































