Flashpoint

Read This Week: 2 Timothy 1

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. For the Spirit God gave us does not make us timid, but gives us power, love and self-discipline. – 2 Timothy 1:6

When firefighters enter a burning building, they know there is only a short amount of time before they encounter a flashpoint, or an explosion of fire that happens when the right temperature in the air and the flame meet. When the flashpoint occurs, it instantly consumes and changes everything around it.

Applying this to our lives, the Bible encourages us to have our own flashpoints, moments where we come together with the Holy Spirit’s power and explode into action that can change things. Every aspect of our life can be places where we fan into flame God’s will and desire for the world and even build on the good that others have done before us.

Imagine a community, relationship or workplace that is consumed by the love, kindness, justice and integrity of God expressed through our lives? If we can capture the power of these flashpoints, nothing can stop us from being a positive force for good every day. We might even have opportunities to make a difference in ways we never dreamed possible.

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Please join the conversation and contribute your thoughts on this topic below in the comments section. Click in the box marked COMMENT and then click SUBMIT COMMENT when you’ve finished your post.

21 Comments

  1. Trina Barnhardt on February 11, 2019 at 2:48 pm

    When I woke up this morning, God placed upon my heart to begin reading 2 Timothy Chapter 1. After doing so, my flashpoint was to share verses that spoke to me and encourage my Social Media friends to become messengers for Christ. I typically share a good morning post and knew God placed the urgency to read His word and share the discernment with others.

    • reachchurch on February 11, 2019 at 3:57 pm

      Trina, thank you for your comment and more importantly for having the desire and passion to encourage your friends and others on social media to not only read the Bible but to be messengers of its life-changing truths. It will make a difference and that flashpoint will consume others for good perhaps like you never imagined.

    • Ken Allison on February 11, 2019 at 11:50 pm

      So proud of you Trina.

  2. Sam Centers on February 11, 2019 at 6:49 pm

    As we get closer and closer to him. We can feel his presence not only in our hearts. But also in our surroundings. The people we associate with and the life we lead with him shows out to others. We as Christian’s have a responsibility. And that is to share his love and bring them closer to him

    • reachchurch on February 12, 2019 at 1:38 pm

      That is so true, Sam. There is a direct correlation between drawing close and being intimate with God and and being prepared and ready for our flashpoint to lead others to Him. The two go hand in hand. We can’t carry our responsibility to share his love with others if we are not walking closely with him.

  3. Ken Allison on February 11, 2019 at 11:47 pm

    2 Timothy 1:5-6. Paul talks to Timothy about the flow of God through his family, (we need our Mothers in the church) and fanning the flame of the Holy Spirit in his life. God empowers you directly and through other people in the family of God. We are so blessed to have our family of God. We are not meant to go through life alone, but with God and each other. Fan the Flame!

    • reachchurch on February 12, 2019 at 1:39 pm

      That’s such an incredible promise to know we don’t have to go through this life and fan the flame alone. We have God’s spirit and each other. That reality brings such hope and confidence to make a difference in the world.

  4. Ken Allison on February 13, 2019 at 12:58 am

    Just finished our Tuesday night meeting and God was speaking through His people. Such an honor and pleasure.

    God drew my attention to 2 Timothy 1:7 and He said to me “My power, I give to you through our love relationship. I give you My wisdom. discernment, knowledge and direction. I give you what you need, so you do not have to be anxious for anything. Just stay connected to Me, God says, listen to Me and follow My instructions and I will give you a victorious life, full of my perfect peace.”

    Thank you God. That really encourages me, because it is so easy for the struggles of life to stress you out. God’s peace comes when you set your mind on Him, listen to Him and trust Him enough to follow His instructions.

  5. Heidi Allison on February 13, 2019 at 1:04 am

    God was sharing with me at our meeting tonight in 2 Timothy 1:13-14, about Paul teaching Timothy and to everyone who reads the Bible to guard your work that you do for the family of God.

    He said to me “Guard My teachings and my lessons thaT I have given you! Live them so everyone knows that I love you, you love us and others, for us! The Holy Spirit lives in you to help you in all you do, especially to spread the good news about Jesus, how much He loves you and loves others. So keep at your good work, your faith and love rooted in Christ Jesus.”

    What this means to me, it’s so important to spend time with God, Jesus and the Holy Spirit and to remember that The Holy Spirit lives in you and will help you to guard my heart and to teach His teachings, lessons and messages to those who desire to know Him. To share the good news about Jesus and to share His love.

    • reachchurch on February 14, 2019 at 1:55 pm

      That’s such a good word. Heidi. Intimacy and devotion always lead to a greater understanding of God’s heart and therefore His desire for our lives. It also compels us to share His gospel.

  6. Jeri Centers on February 13, 2019 at 1:20 am

    2 Timothy chapter 1 Verse 7
    What God said to me in this Verse!!
    Fear is the opposite of Faith, the spirit of fear is the enemy. God has given us, the power to overcome fear in our life. Great faith does away with fear. God’s love for us is enough to keep us going. And give all of us a sound mind.

    What that means to me.
    Usually problems come because of things we cannot decide in our life. When we are at peace with God and man, our mind is clear. And the Holy Spirit brings the power of God in our life.

    • reachchurch on February 14, 2019 at 2:01 pm

      So true, Jeri! The peace of God brings understanding and clarity to the confusion and chaos of our lives. He gives us his spirit of power to see, live and go through the fear and uncertainty that life brings. That’s such an encouraging word for anyone, anywhere no matter what they are going through in life.

  7. Sam Centers on February 13, 2019 at 1:25 am

    God drew me to 2 Timothy verse 14. And he was saying: I have entrusted you worth love and teachings. To take me and my word to other’s of this world. Never be ashamed to speak of me in public or private.

    And what that means to me is.
    Never turn from him. And never be afraid to speak of him or his love

  8. alma schmidt on February 13, 2019 at 1:58 am

    Timothy 2 chapter 1 verse 7 God gave me a song.
    Having the spirit of the lord spirit of the lord spirit of the Lord YOUR power of love; your power of love
    Your power of love lord which gives us calmness peace and love What a beautiful thing to let our minds
    fill with your calmness, peace, and love. Calm peace and love. Thank you, Lord.

    God was saying to me that with him anything is possible. Think positive and ask him for help and He will give it to us. It’s about his timing. Love on others and let him do the work.

    • Ken Allison on February 14, 2019 at 2:52 am

      Thank you for your New Song from the Lord Alma. We love hearing you sing as God inspires you with songs from Him. It is an awesome and so special flow of God’s love.

    • reachchurch on February 14, 2019 at 2:10 pm

      Alma, your beautiful post about the spirit of God and the power of his love that brings us peace, made me think of the lyrics to a song that has always meant so much to me. It goes like this:

      Lord, I come to You
      Let my heart be changed, renewed
      Flowing from the grace
      That I’ve found in You
      Lord, I’ve come to know
      The weaknesses I see in me
      Will be stripped away
      By the power of Your love

      Hold me close
      Let Your love surround me
      Bring me near
      Draw me to Your side
      And as I wait
      I’ll rise up like the eagle
      And I will soar with You
      Your Spirit leads me on
      In the power of Your love.

      Anything is truly possible with God and within the power of His love. It can compel us to love others, seek the truth, overcome challenges, hold onto hope and make a difference.

  9. Sam Centers on February 13, 2019 at 11:17 pm

    Today I spent an hour with my pastor and we talked about 2 Timothy. Fist off, I enjoy the time we get to spend together discussing this. And God drew me to 2nd Timothy verse 8 as Paul was in prison and still getting his letters to Timothy. He was not really asking for prayer for himself but praying for Timothy and the people around “him” and all the disciples that we’re bringing others to God. And what that means to me is as Christians we must remember where we came from; as young Christians in the life we know the troubles that we’ve gone through. It is our responsibility to share that with the young and inexperienced so that they have the tools taught to us by Jesus. Then they can carry them on to others and fan the flame

    • Ken Allison on February 14, 2019 at 2:50 am

      I enjoyed our time at lunch today as well. God reminded us that we can fan the flame of our inner fire, the gifts from God when we focus on Him and worship Him, He fills us fresh with His love and peace. So faithful, so accessible are You Holy Spirit of God. We are so grateful for You. We appreciate You, who You are and all that You do.

  10. Sam Centers on February 15, 2019 at 12:54 am

    I was watching a sporting show and a commercial came on about a boat bringing you closer to the waters and I heard God say to me: be like a fisherman and bring people closer to the waters; to the water of life. Jesus is the water of life and He always provides what we need and will always do so. Thank you, God!

  11. Sam Centers on February 17, 2019 at 9:31 pm

    Today God drew my attention to Timothy 2:1:9. It says “I sacrificed my self in human flesh without hesitation so that you would be free of sin and gave you eternal life. So is the end of your physical life and you will be able to spend an eternity with me. And learn far more than you have ever learned here on Earth.” And what that means to me is that he held “me” in his heart and thoughts when he placed his self on the cross. They did not place him on the Cross. He did it all for me and you.

  12. Mike Taylor on August 29, 2022 at 3:50 pm

    I love (and struggle) with the idea that God invites us into that journey of fanning our own gifts into flame. But that simple act of committing to the gift is in itself an act of faith. Because simply receiving a fire and running around ablaze requires no closeness, no intimacy, and no reliance with God for the flashpoint. Thank you for the reminder today!

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