Devotionals

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“For this reason I remind you to kindle afresh the gift of God which is in you through the laying on of my hands.” II Timothy 1:6 NASB

Paul, knowing the time of his death was soon approaching, wrote his last letter to encourage Timothy to carry on with the ministry. He reminded Timothy of his ordination to the work of the ministry and that it was Paul himself who laid his hands on Him. Paul also reminded Timothy of the spiritual gift of God that was in him.
The NASB tells us to, “kindle afresh,” while the NIV says, “fan into the flam.” It illustrates a picture of a fire that has dwindled down to embers and stands in need of being kindled afresh or fanned so it will grow from an ember to a flame. I like the King James wording the best. It says, “stir up the gift of God.” These words give a picture of a fire that is about to die out and stands in need of revival.
For eleven years of my childhood I lived in central California on Vandenberg AFB. That part of California had a very dry climate leaving the land parched and therefore susceptible to wild fires. We were constantly warned to be careful knowing that the smallest spark could set off a raging fire. However, it wasn’t the parched land in and of itself that caused such raging fires. The Santa Ana Winds would kick up out of the east quickly turning the smallest of embers into an inferno.
The Word of God teaches that all Christians have spiritual gifts. Those spiritual gifts are given to us for the purpose of building up the Kingdom of God. (I Corinthians 12:1-11). Clearly, God has called all His children to serve Him. If we chose not to use the spiritual gifts God has given to us, they will die down to a small ember and are of little use. However, if we chose to walk in the gifting and calling God has placed upon our lives the spiritual gifts will be stirred up, kindled afresh, and set aflame for the Lord. If you are unsure of what your spiritual gifts are pray to the Lord that He would show you.
There is no doubt we live in a spiritually parched land. I am thoroughly convinced that it wouldn’t take much of a spark to set off the fires of revival within this dry and weary land. People are hurting, and therefore searching today like never before. They don’t know it yet but what, or who, they are truly searching for is the Lord. It is our responsibility to tell them-whether by word or action.
Imagine, if God’s people as a whole stood up and started stirring up their spiritual gifts in service to the Lord. Imagine, those same people praying for the wind of the Spirit of God to blow a mighty anointing upon those spiritual gifts. Wow! What a fiery, inferno, of a revival we would see. The only question now is, what are we waiting for?

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