Rekindle the Flame

Rekindle the Flame

by Pastor Russell Henderson

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

 [2Timothy 1:6 NKJV]

Timothy was a young pastor at the church of Ephesus.  Paul had planted this church on one of his missionary journeys and later sent Timothy, one of his students, to go and lead it.  Ephesus was not a perfect church.  There was some false teaching and false worship that Timothy had to deal with as well as removing unqualified leaders and elders and installing new ones.

It also seems from some of Paul’s teaching and encouragement to him that he was not a boisterous, outspoken type of person.  He might have even been considered somewhat of an introvert.  But Paul noticed something special in Timothy.  In 2 Timothy 1:5 Paul recognizes his faith as being sincere.  In other words it was pure.  There was no deception in his life of faith.  He loved God and was willing to serve in whatever capacity he could.  God can use someone with sincere faith.

This brings us to verse 6 above.  Timothy apparently went through some sort of ordination ceremony where the elders of the church laid hands on him, prayed for him, and commissioned him into ministry.  (We can also see this in 1 Timothy 4:14).  It was also during this ceremony that Timothy was imparted with a new spiritual gift that he needed to help him in his ministry. 

It seems that Timothy might have been feeling overwhelmed in his new position.  He worried about people taking him seriously because he was younger than most of them.  He dealt with fear and timidity.  He might have even been tempted to revert back into his introverted shell.  But Paul encouraged him to “stir up the gift”.  The Greek word for “stir up” is anazōpyreō.  It is a combination of three words:  ana means up or again, zoon means alive, living, or beast (animal), pyr means fire.  When you combine zoon and pyr you get a word that describes a living, burning fire--not just some smoldering ashes.  Imagine a college pep rally with the biggest bonfire you have ever seen.  Also think of a wild animal that has been caged, but is suddenly released.  Hopefully that paints the picture for you. 

Ana means “up” or “again”.  It means to take that living fire that might be diminishing and add some more wood.  As a matter of fact, go ahead and add some gasoline to it.  If the fire is going out, stir it up.  Add wood and fuel to get it going again.  If the fire is still burning, take it up a notch.  Make it even bigger.  I’m reminded of one of John Wesley’s famous quotes,  “Light yourself on fire,….and people will come to watch you burn.”

When you were filled with the Holy Spirit, there was a living fire placed inside of you.  It was never meant to be contained, but it was meant to be let out.  Maybe at one time your fire was burning hot and bright, and lately you’ve noticed more smoke than fire.  Take encouragement from Paul’s words.  Stir up that fire once again.  Don’t contain it.  Don’t let it die.  Be refilled with the fuel of the Holy Spirit and let your fire out so that it can grow and spread.