The prayers of Paul
Paul is praying for Timothy, and God gives him a clear picture of Timothy’s faith which Paul now shares with Timothy. This is an example of the gift of prophecy in action.
This is a series of the prayers of St Paul found in the letters attributed to him in the order he is believed to have written them. Letters to the same place or person will be treated together with the first letter to that destination.
3 I thank God whom I serve, as did my ancestors, with a clear conscience, as I remember you constantly in my prayers night and day. 4 As I remember your tears, I long to see you, that I may be filled with joy. 5 I am reminded of your sincere faith, a faith that dwelt first in your grandmother Lois and your mother Eunice and now, I am sure, dwells in you as well. 6 For this reason I remind you to fan into flame the gift of God, which is in you through the laying on of my hands, 7 for God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control.
2 Timothy 1:3-7
The gift of prophecy, many people believe, revolves around predicting future events. However, in the Bible, its purpose goes beyond that. Prophecy serves as a means through which God communicates about our present circumstances, with the potential to include promises for the future. When Paul interceded for Timothy in prayer, he received a vivid revelation of Timothy’s faith, prompting him to write a second letter addressed to him. This illustrates how prophecy functions in conveying divine messages pertaining to our current state.
The boy band Take That had a hit duetting with Lulu with the dan hartman song Relight my Fire. That is not my genre of music, but I was at that time a father bringing up children who should be allowed to listen to music appropriate to their age without their parents complaining. The song is about rekindling a relationship.
Paul’s prayer here is for Timothy, a young leader of the church in Ephesus which Paul previously pastored, to reignite his gift which he received when Paul laid hands on him.
What was that gift? We have no idea, Paul knew, Timothy knew, but it is not written down here, elsewhere in the Bible or in early church writings. What exact skills, traits, and capabilities should one possess in order to guide and inspire others within the realm of a faith community? Leaders are not merely figureheads, but individuals entrusted with the responsibility to guide and nurture their flock, instilling in them a sense of purpose, faith, and unity in the pursuit of a living in God’s kingdom.
What could it have been?
- Prophetic utterance?
- Perhaps, or tongues?
- The ability to interpret scripture and teach God’s word with power?
- Was it the authority and ability to lead a congregation?
Whatever it was, Timothy does not naturally have this but God has gifted him for this. In churches, we look for things people are naturally good at to put them into ministry positions, but are we truly looking for God’s call or for the ministry of the Holy Spirit to be seen in them? If the call of God and the power of the Holy Spirit are ignored then Timothy would never have become a church leader: He lacked the natural abilities and the first letter showed that he had been criticised for being too young.
I am pleased we do not know what Timothy’s gift was. Expanding the text, we can reflect on the significance of Timothy’s undisclosed gift. By deliberately leaving it unspecified, the Apostle Paul’s message becomes applicable to a broader audience. If Paul had said, rekindle your gift of prophecy or your gift in speaking tongues then the interpretation of this verse becomes too narrow. Instead, we can apply it to ourselves. Has God given you a gift which he has called you to use? Paul encourages us to contemplate our own unique gifts bestowed upon us by God. These gifts, whatever they may be, are meant to be cherished and utilized for the greater good. Hence, it is essential for us to rekindle and employ our individual God-given talents to fulfil God’s purpose in our lives.
Lord, help me relight my fire.
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