Fan Into the Flame
- Adele Creasey
- 2 days ago
- 2 min read
Fan into flame the gift of God, which is in you through the laying on of my hands. For the Spirit God gave us does not make us timid, but gives us power, love and self-discipline.
2 Timothy 1:6-7
A sign of spring is when I clean the wood-burning stove inside out. Throughout the winter, we use it as our primary source of heat. As part of our routine to keep our home warm, we get up in the night and fan the flame using the billows. Sometimes, we have to rekindle it because we slept too long. I must admit, my husband is the one who keeps the night fire most nights. I enjoy the warmth of the fire when I wake up early in the morning. Caring for the fire is a constant job, and when it goes out, the house gets cold. Then, it becomes a big task to build a new fire.
What is Paul conveying to Timothy in the scripture above? I find the word “into” particularly intriguing. When you fan a flame, you must position the billows close to the source of heat, which could be a tiny spark or a coal. Proximity is crucial for the spark to catch fire. It’s remarkable how that small spark can transform into an all-consuming fire that burns wood and provides warmth.
Our primary source lies in the Holy Spirit, who empowers us to be bold, loving, and self-disciplined. He transforms our timid nature into a powerful force. If you haven't, seek someone to pray for you, releasing the divine gift within you. Paul exemplified this by laying hands on Timothy and praying for his gift to ignite. Fan into flame the Gift of God which is in you! Be bold in the Spirit! Ignite!
Imagine worship in our church if we all were consumed by the Holy Spirit's Fire!
