There is more to you than meets the eye! This is true for everyone. No one truly knows the inner dialogue, feelings, or values that another person carries within. And for those who have become new creatures in Christ, there is even more to them now than there was before they received Jesus! There is so much more on the inside of a new-creation believer than most would dare to believe.
The potential for amazing exploits in God is born into our inner man. Knowing this can make the difference between seeing and experiencing the great things God has designed for us or missing out.
The inner man — what Peter calls “the hidden man of the heart” — is home to the gifts and deposits that were infused into us when we came to know Jesus as Lord. We can learn to live successfully by the strength those deposits provide, or we can remain weak and in lack by allowing God’s deposits to lie dormant and ineffective.
The Apostle Paul gave Timothy, his son in the Lord, specific direction about this very subject. Notice what Second Timothy 1:6-8 says:
“Therefore I remind you to stir up the gift of God which is in you through the laying on of my hands. For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.”
The gift of God within is His deposit into the inner man of the believer. This gift is not to be confused with a talent in music, art, mathematics, or in any other field. Although a person can certainly be gifted in these areas, this isn’t what is referred to in this passage of Scripture.
A look into the original word for gift — the Greek word charis — in this text sheds a lot of light. Our English word charisma comes from this Greek word. The New Testament word translated grace also comes from the word charis. This indicates that God’s gift of charisma is more than having a great personality or being a good leader. It is actually the “grace-gift” He has deposited within the believer.
This is exactly how some Bible translations read. Notice the Mirror Bible paraphrase:
“This gives me all the more reason to remind you to fan the flame of God’s grace gift within you into a blazing hot fire. Your life and ministry mirrors mine; I endorsed the gift of God’s boldness within you within you when I laid my hands on you” (2 Timothy 1:6).
God’s grace-gift within is freely given to us all. We can live in a place where His grace continually empowers and sustains us to live the life He’s prepared for us.
The Apostle Paul provided some of the insights required to make sure this grace-gift within remains strong. He told Timothy—and all believers—that it is vital to “fan the flame of God’s grace-gift within….” It is clear that without maintaining this blazing hot fire within, even the seasoned child of God can become cooled to God’s grace and lose ground in receiving from Him.
Keep in mind that Timothy was not a novice. Although he was younger than Paul and like a son to him, he was also the pastor of the first mega-church found in Ephesus located in the Roman province of Asia (modern-day western Turkey).
Paul believed even this powerful man of God needed to be reminded to stir up the grace-gift within him. And if Timothy needed this reminder, we need it too!
The next verse gives more detail about the gift and how to fan the flame:
“Become fully acquainted with his gift in you. There is nothing timid about it; the dynamic of a mind liberated in the spirit of love is fearless and unstoppable” (v. 7 Mirror Bible).
This grace-gift within liberates the mind to trust in God’s love and results in a life fearless and unstoppable. That is the power within every believer. We are not waiting for God to bring more power. Instead, we are becoming aware of the grace-gift we have received!
There are numerous variations of God’s grace. His grace in our lives is expressed in many ways. First Corinthians 12 details nine different grace-gifts that will flow through us to minister to people or to provide light and direction for our lives. Romans 12 details grace-gifts for serving and ministering that God distributes and assigns.
When these gifts of grace are active in our lives, we can see the power of God’s grace in action. As a result, we are revealing love — the God-kind of love. His grace brings supernatural wisdom, healings, knowledge, and the vast array of blessings that His love provides us.
Just knowing all the possibilities of this great grace will blast the fear of lack, disease, and failure right out of us. Why would we fear the enemy’s strategies against us when we have full access to all of God’s grace supply? This is why becoming more fully acquainted with His grace-gift within is so empowering.
Within the abundance of this place of grace is His complete supply for any need we will ever face. As Romans 5:2 (AMP) says,
“Through Him also we have [our] access (entrance, introduction) by faith into this grace (state of God’s favor) in which we [firmly and safely] stand. And let us rejoice and exult in our hope of experiencing and enjoying the glory of God.”
The grace-gift stirs within us as we meditate on all God has made available to us and boldly declare that His grace is more than enough. The more we allow His Word of grace and righteousness to flood our thoughts and fill our words, the more His power, love, and soundness of mind will dominate our lives.
In Him we have every reason to remain fearless and unstoppable. So don’t stop! Don’t quit! Stir up the grace-gift within, and stay strong in Him.
Dennis Burke, Ph.D.
Author
Dr. Dennis Burke is internationally known as a Bible teacher and author. Since 1979, Dennis has helped thousands discover how to live a victorious life through faith in God’s Word. Dennis has been the keynote speaker in churches, conventions, and seminars around the world.
Dennis and his wife, Vikki, are co-founders of Dennis Burke Ministries in Arlington, Texas. They have one married daughter, Jessica Shook.
In 2003, Dennis earned his Doctorate in Theology from Life Christian University, Tampa, Florida.
They have authored numerous bestselling books such as How to Meditate God’s Word, The Satisfied Life, Empowered by Grace and Vikki’s popular titles, Some Days You Dance and Destiny Held Hostage.
Visit Dr. Burke’s Website at: DennisBurkeMinistries.org
