I was reading this week from II Timothy, chapters 1 and 2, and noticed that Paul informed Timothy that he was convinced that the faith in him was first in his grandmother Lois and then his mother Eunice, and then he encouraged Timothy to “stir up that gift of God” that was in him.  One translation says, “…keep blazing the gift of God.”

I think it is interesting that the word “stir” is derived from “ anazōpurein. ” This Greek word is made from three smaller words, pur (meaning fire), ana (meaning again) and zōpuron (meaning a live fire), and can be also be used for a pair of bellows used to excite live coals into a flame. So, it is that Paul is admonishing his son in the gospel to not permit the fire of Faith to go out, but to fan it into flames. Paul is, in effect, saying to Timothy that the size and effect of your fire is up you. It is your task to excite the embers of faith into an open blaze. This can explain why some men of smaller gifts make a bigger flame. It is because they fan the coals of their faith with greater effort.

To this end, I thank you for your exceedingly faithful remembrance of this ministry. Your monthly gifts of support are super important without which our work for the Lord at CTF would be reduced to small flameless coals. But you faithfully fan these coals by your prayer and giving, and stir them as a result.  This causes them to explode into holy flames of burning truth into the hearts of the hearers of the CTF speakers. Glory be to God!!

G. Thomas Sharp