2 Timothy 1:7 states: For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.
These three attributes- power, Love, and a sound mind work together to bring us forth into maturity as Sons of GOD. If you want to know the mind of Our Heavenly Father, you must focus on His ways or attributes. As I have mentioned before, if you want to know a person, look at his “checkbook” and you will see what is important to him. Is your focus to consume, hoard, or to give? It is true that all of us must consume to survive but that represents the lowest state of our existence. It is also true that we must be “savers” for retirement in this current system since there is no Biblical system set up to care for the elderly. But there is a balance between saving and giving. True Biblical giving is rewarded by Our Heavenly Father to those whose hearts are in line with His.
Nobody disputes the “power” of GOD for HIS creation provides an excellent example of this. We all marvel at HIS creative power. Paul writes to Timothy and reveals to him (and us) that we too have the creative power of Our Heavenly Father through the empowering by the Holy Spirit. Further, fear is not an attribute of the Holy Spirit. Our flesh responds with fear.
There is a “power” associated with the Holy Spirit. Before Jesus went into the wilderness to be tested, He was baptized with the Holy Ghost and fire. The devil was unable to tempt his ‘ego’ or flesh. Could He be tempted with bread to satisfy His bodily hunger after forty days? No. Could He be tempted by exalting and testing the “power” given to Him by Our Heavenly Father? The final temptation was an attempt to exalt Him over His Heavenly Father. These temptations were designed to challenge the attributes of the baptism He received prior to entering the testing period.
For us to operate in power, we must have Love and a sound mind (or self-control). As we continue to pursue selfless acts of Love, we will be found worthy of the “power” aspect of the Holy Spirit. In the past, Christians have focused on the “power” without Love and self-control. The flesh desires control so that it can exalt itself over others thus immature Christians want the “power” without the responsibility and accountability. As we pursue Love, self-control is developed. Once we are walking in both Love and self-control, Our Heavenly Father will unlock the “power” attribute of the Holy Spirit. Do you really think HE would assign you such power without these conditions? Not once did Jesus abuse the power from On High! Power without Love destroys, power with Love creates.
The prerequisite of Love and self-control has not been a popular topic among the leaders of the church. Love requires you to give and self-control requires you to pursue a righteous walk and not be a slave to “things”. Jesus never found it necessary to build a church building but went to where the lost sheep were at. Am I opposed to buildings? No. I am opposed to exploiting a congregation to build an edifice to exalt the ego of man. Self-control promotes moderation, not extravagance. Love promotes distribution, not hoarding to a level of excess.
The Sons of God will be empowered by Our Heavenly Father to bring forth the Kingdom of GOD on this earth. That power will be distributed according to the calling of each person’s life. However, each person will be operating in Love and self-control. Think not that this move of Our Heavenly Father will come before those who are called, have received the revelation and baptism of Love. Jesus spoke of the importance of Love as the foundation of The Law. A son represents a “likeness” of his father. Look in the mirror. Who do you look like?