FAN INTO FLAME THE GIFT OF GOD
In the first
chapter of the Second Letter to Timothy, Apostle Paul encourages his beloved
disciple, to ‘fan into flame the Gift of God’ (2Timothy 1:6).
Some interpreters
assume Paul was referring to Timothy’s ordination, when he was entrusted by the
Presbytery to the Ministry (1Timothy 4:14), but judging by the context, it
seems he was referring to the Holy Spirit, whom is assumed, Timothy received by
the hands of Paul alone (2Timothy 1:6), also evaluating Paul’s affirmation of
the characteristics of the Spirit of God, when is conferred to us (‘Spirit of
power, love and self-control’). Qualities that identify more with the regenerated
nature of a common Christian, than gifts that pertain to the ordained Ministry.
Regardless, the
main idea is that Timothy was able to ‘fan’ the Holy Spirit in him.
We receive the
Holy Spirit as a gift, meaning, not by ‘earning’ the right to have it, but by
purely the Grace of God (Titus 3:5). But if we receive Him by Grace, why do we
need to ‘fan’ it?.
Firstly, we must
have our Pneumatology straight. We need to come to terms and know that the Holy
Spirit is not, by essence, just a force sent by God or Jesus, but an
independent entity from the Father and the Son, even though it shares the
divinity with them (John 14:16,26; 16:7; Romans 8:27; 1Timothey 4:1). When we
are regenerated, this regeneration includes the coming of this Holy Spirit, who
in his divinity carries also the presence of Father Lord YHWH and our Lord
Jesus Christ (John 14:17-18, 23).
If the Holy
Spirit is an entity, independent and divine, we cannot ‘fan’ Him like if He was
an energy or a faculty. We cannot increase Him or diminish Him, like if He was
a measurable element. We either have Him or not have Him, and if we do, we have
Him entirely, not partially.
To what does
Paul refers then when he recommends to ‘fan the Spirit’, or to not ‘quench the
Spirit” (1Thessalonians 1:9), like if He was a flammable element?
He means to the
faculties and gifts of this Divine Spirit within us.
We cannot diminish
God. God is omnipresent and omnipotent; much more of what the brightest mind could
conceive. But his manifestation in us, his gifts and freely given faculties,
can be used or ignored by us, through negligence and sinfulness, and that is
what Paul is speaking about.
We can ‘quench’
the gifts of the Spirit in us, if we neglect a personal relationship with God,
or through sinfulness and pride, which makes us follow our own desire and
passion, by ignoring the impulses of the Spirit of God in us.
On the other
side, we can ‘fan the gifts of the Spirit’, by maintaining a close relationship
with God, living in holiness and according to God’s will. This will increase
our devotion and closeness to God, and as a consequence, will develop the growth
of the divine gifts in us.
To growth in
closeness to the Divine Spirit, or to distance ourselves from Him, is entirely
our own prerogative and doing. God never rejects a contrite spirit (John 6:37)
and willing heart.
We are the ones
who decide to follow the path of holiness, to which we are all called; or the path
of worldliness, which we are supposed to have renounced when we converted and
were baptized.
However, the
Seal of God, the Holy Spirit, remains in us, through our entire lives,
regardless (Ephesians 1:13). Until we come to the Great White Throne at the
Judgement Day.
Omar Flores.
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