TUESDAY May 27, 2025

Stirring up Your Spiritual Gifts

Therefore I remind you to stir up the gift of God which is in you through the laying on of my hands.
2 Timothy 1:6

When we see the word therefore in Scripture, it is referring back to what was previously stated. The Apostle Paul had reminded Timothy of his Christian heritage which was passed down to him by his grandmother Lois and his mother Eunice. Considering this foundation of biblical truth in his upbringing and the call of God upon his life, Paul also reminded him of the spiritual gifting given to him by the Lord. God chose Timothy, and the action of laying on hands was a testimony of his call to the ministry.

In this passage, receiving the gifts of the Holy Spirit was by laying on of hands. The words stir up mean “to keep a fire alive.” Timothy had the responsibility of stoking the fire of his spiritual gift––he needed to keep exercising his gifts of teaching and his calling to be a pastor. If he slacked off using his spiritual gifts, he would not be as effective in the ministry.

It is important to take to heart and apply Paul’s exhortation to our own lives. Keep your spiritual gifts sharpened by regular use. Know this: Sin will put God's fire out in your life. Do not yield to sin; otherwise, you will quench or grieve God’s Spirit. Always guard God’s call upon your life. It is so sad to see people who have become disqualified in ministry when God had an awesome plan to use their lives.

As we stir up our spiritual gifts, we shall “keep a fire alive.” Our spiritual gifts will be exercised through the power of the Holy Spirit. Honestly, the way this world is heading, we need to use the full extent of our spiritual gifts because people need to hear the Gospel message like never before. We do not need to use the gift of teaching to share the Gospel. Each of us have a testimony, and that is a powerful way to share with others what God has done for us, so that they, too, may come to Christ.

Spirit filled souls are ablaze for God. They love with a love that glows. They serve with a faith that kindles. They serve with a devotion that consumes. They hate sin with fierceness that burns. They rejoice with a joy that radiates. Love is perfected in the fire of God.
~Samuel Chadwick~

For more from Raul Ries, please visit SomebodyLovesYou.com!