Daily Devotional

A Ministry of the Kerwin Baptist Church

December 28, 2018

by Pastor Hawtree

I AM PERSUADED THAT HE IS ABLE:

TO RENEW MY MIND (part 1)

II Timothy 1:7 For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.
12 For the which cause I also suffer these things: nevertheless I am not ashamed: for I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded that he is able to keep that which I have committed unto him against that day

Notice first what self-confidence produces:
FLESHLY FEAR

This is what our ability produces. The word “fear” is the word timidity. Fear caused by intimidation. Often, damage is not done by what we fear. Damage is normally done by the fact that we fear it. Damage is done by our fear, not by what we fear. It is like watching a scary movie: we don’t jump because the person reached out of the TV and grabbed us, we jump because our mind is afraid that they will.

• Psalm 53:5 There were they in great fear, where no fear was:

There is often no real substance to what we fear. We are afraid of what people might say, not what they have said. We are intimidated by what might happen, not by what has happened. We are worried about what people might think, not what they really do think. God didn’t create this or start that. That comes from us. Satan cannot really damage us, He just needs to convince us to be intimidated as if he could.

Notice what confidence in God produces:
MIRACULOUS MIGHT

This word power is the Greek word ”dunamis” which means force, miraculous power, a miracle itself, ability, abundance, or mighty work. What an amazing word.

• Isaiah 40:29 He giveth power to the faint; and to them that have no might he increaseth strength.

That fear stuff and intimidation stuff came from our flesh. This miraculous power stuff came from God. That is why we must be PERSUADED THAT HE IS ABLE. Our strength runs out, but God has given us the spirit of miraculous might. We get tired, but God gives miraculous energy. In its very name, it is not a physical manifestation, but a “spirit” of power. We will not access this in our flesh, but only through the Spirit of God.