What’s Under the
Hood?
After an especially wet spring one
year, the muddy condition of our dirt road made it nearly impossible to
navigate and our little 4-cylinder Pontiac was not up to the task. I declared
in frustration after almost two weeks of being housebound, “I want a Jeep!”
Noted; my husband bought my first Jeep in 1994. To say I enjoyed driving the
vehicle would be an understatement. And for several years I had the pleasure of
sitting high and traversing whatever roads came my way.
When
it was time to trade in my beloved Jeep my husband insisted on purchasing an
8-cylinder vehicle. Not knowing anything about cars I protested vigorously
because I did not want a different SUV. He prevailed and gave me the keys to a
beautiful, new 1996 Black Jeep Grand Cherokee Limited (Gold Package). I
had to admit it was impressive. I guess I was just into the aesthetics and had
no idea what was under the hood. I soon discovered why he wanted this size
engine. One day as I was merging on to the highway, I saw traffic was heavier
than I anticipated as I started my merge. I gunned the accelerator and was
astonished by the distance I put between me and the oncoming cars! I almost ran
into the rear end of one of the cars in front of me! Wow! That’s why he wanted
the 8-cylinder!
My
goal today is not to convince you to buy an 8-cylinder vehicle, but to share
with you that God has put more under our hood than most of us realize. II Tim
1:7 tells us that God has not given us the spirit of fear, but of power, love
and a sound mind. I noticed that power was first, love second and a sound mind
is third.
I
like to do a word study as I read the bible to get a better understanding of
the scripture, so as I looked up the words in this passage I came away with a
far better awareness of what God has put “under the hood”.
Spirit:
Pneuma: primarily denotes “the wind” (akin to pneo, “to breathe, blow”); also
“breath”; then, especially “the spirit,” which, like the wind, is invisible,
immaterial and powerful; the rational soul; mental disposition.
(Vine,
W.E. Vine's Complete Expository Dictionary of Old and New Testament Words: With
Topical Index (Word Study) (Kindle Locations 44827-44829). Thomas Nelson.
Kindle Edition.)
There
are multiple types of spirits. The Holy Spirit, our own human spirit, and of
course demonic spirits as well. The word ‘the’ in front of spirit in this
passage expresses that this is not the Spirit of God and that it is a
destructive spirit.
Fear:
timidity, cowardice. deilia (1167), “fearfulness” (from deos, “fright”), is
rightly rendered “fearfulness” in 2 Tim. 1:7, RV (for KJV, “fear”). That spirit
is not given us of God. The word denotes “cowardice and timidity” and is never
used in a good sense,
(Vine,
W.E. Vine's Complete Expository Dictionary of Old and New Testament Words: With
Topical Index (Word Study) (Kindle Locations 26972-26974). Thomas Nelson.
Kindle Edition.)
Power:
1411. δύναμις dýnamis doo'-nam-is Definition: force (literally or
figuratively); specially, miraculous power
Ref:
Strong, James. KJV Bible with Strong's Markup and Dictionary of the Bible
(Kindle Locations 242777-242779). Miklal Software Solutions, Inc.. Kindle
Edition.
(usually
by implication, a miracle itself)
KJV
Translation(s): ability, abundance, meaning, might(-ily, -y, -y deed), (worker
of) miracle(-s), power, strength, violence, mighty (wonderful) work.
Ref:
Strong, James. KJV Bible with Strong's Markup and Dictionary of the Bible
(Kindle Locations 242779-242780). Miklal Software Solutions, Inc.. Kindle
Edition.
Love:
Agape, the God kind of love. agapé: love,
goodwill
Definition: love, goodwill
Usage: love, benevolence, esteem; plur: love-feasts;
Agape-properly, love which
centers in moral preference. So too in
secular ancient Greek agape focuses on preference, likewise the verb form agapáō meant
to prefer. In the New Testament agape refers to divine love.
A sound mind: II Tim 1:7, This
phrase is taken from the Greek word sophroneo, which is a
compound word combining sodzo and phroneo. The
Greek word sodzo means to be saved or delivered. It
suggests something that is delivered, rescued, revived, salvaged,
and protected and is now safe and secure. One
expositor suggests that the word sodzo could actually depict a
person who was on the verge of death but then was revived and resuscitated because
new life was breathed into him.
https://renner.org/what-does-it-mean-to-have-a-sound-mind/
All of this to say that God did not
leave us on the side of the road waiting for the tow truck. He has made
available to us the power we need to do the job He has for us. Even if we get
muddy, He has provided resources (angels) to come to our aide to get us out of
the situation. The Blood of Jesus, the Word of God, the name of Jesus, the love
of God, and the Holy Spirit to lead and guide us. He says in Acts 1:8 that we
would receive POWER after the Holy Spirit comes upon us. In Rom 5:5 He said the
LOVE of God has been shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who has been
given to us and in I Cor 2:16 we are told that we have the MIND of Christ. I
John 1:7 ... and the blood of Jesus, His Son, cleanses us from all
unrighteousness. Let's get out there in traffic and show them what's
under the hood!
