The phrase “stir up the gift” comes from 2 Timothy 1:6, which says “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.” This verse contains an important exhortation for Timothy and all believers about using and developing the spiritual gifts God has given them.
In this verse, Paul is reminding Timothy not to let the spiritual gift he was given remain dormant, but to keep it alive and active. The word translated “fan into flame” in some translations or “stir up” in others was used to describe rekindling a fire. Just as we would stir up glowing embers to reignite the flames, Paul tells Timothy to stir up the gift within him so that it is kept burning brightly.
There are a few important things to understand about what it means to stir up our spiritual gifts:
- 1. God has gifted each believer – Every Christian has received at least one spiritual gift from God for the purpose of building up the church (1 Corinthians 12:7). These gifts are distributed by the Holy Spirit according to His sovereign will (1 Corinthians 12:11).
- 2. Gifts need to be employed and developed – Spiritual gifts are not meant to remain idle. Just as muscles atrophy when they go unused, gifts can fade in impact when they are not exercised. Believers have a responsibility to employ their gifts for the purpose they were given – to serve others and bring glory to God.
- 3. We must make intentional efforts – Stirring up the gifts within us requires intentionality and effort on our part. We stir them up through prayer, regular practice and exercise of our gifts, and an eagerness to step out and use them whenever opportunities arise.
- 4. Stirring them up aids spiritual growth – Using our gifts regularly keeps them sharpened and helps develop them to their full potential. Exercising the gifts God has given causes them to grow and increases their effectiveness for furthering God’s kingdom.
- 5. It combats complacency – Fanning our gifts into flame is an antidote to spiritual laziness, apathy, and ineffectiveness. We must actively fight against tendencies to become complacent and neglect using the gifts God has entrusted to us.
How to stir up the gift within you
Practical ways we can actively stir up the gifts within us include:
- Prayer – Ask God to reveal areas where your giftedness can be employed, to open doors of opportunity, and to give you strength and courage to step out in faith.
- Take inventory – Periodically consider and reflect on what gifts you have been given and how they might be used more.
- Experiment and step out – Be willing to try new areas of service and use your gifts in faith even when unsure of the outcome.
- Pursue growth – Take classes, read books, or get training that provides insight on how to further develop and employ your gifts.
- Serve consistently – Use your gifts regularly, not just when it’s convenient. Consistent exercise strengthens gifts.
- Allow accountability – Share your gifts and desires for growth with mature believers who can encourage you to fan them into flame.
As we actively stir up the gifts within us, we will see them strengthened and increasingly effective for God’s glory.
Why we need to stir up our gifts
Stirring up the spiritual gifts within us is so important because of the valuable purposes they serve including:
- Glorifying God – Using our gifts brings glory and honor to God who blessed us with them (1 Peter 4:10-11).
- Serving the church – Our gifts build up and strengthen the church when used to minister to fellow believers (1 Corinthians 12:7, 14:12).
- Reaching the lost – Spiritual gifts equip us for evangelism and sharing the gospel with the world around us (Ephesians 4:11-12).
- Bearing fruit – Employing our gifts causes them to grow and be more fruitful in advancing God’s kingdom (2 Peter 1:8).
- Blessing others – The service flowing from our gifts blesses those we minister to and helps meet their needs (1 Peter 4:10).
- Role modeling – When we actively use our gifts, it provides an example for others to follow (2 Timothy 2:2).
- Finding purpose – Exercising our gifts gives us a sense of purpose and fulfillment in carrying out God’s calling (Ephesians 2:10).
If we neglect gift-stirring, we miss out on these blessings and become spiritually ineffective. But when we regularly fan our gifts into flame, it unleashes these rewards for God’s glory and our own joy.
Barriers to gift-stirring
There are some obstacles that can prevent us from stirring up the spiritual gifts God has given us. Being aware of these barriers is the first step to overcoming them:
- Fear and insecurity – Anxiety about using our gifts can paralyze and prevent us from taking risks to step out in faith.
- Inexperience – When gifts go unused they do not develop, so lack of practice feeds on itself.
- Misunderstanding gifts – Believers may not have a good grasp on what their spiritual gifts actually are.
- Distraction and busyness – The daily cares of life can crowd out attentiveness to developing gifts if we are not proactive.
- Comparison with others – Focusing on the gifts and abilities of others instead of developing our own can douse flame.
- Laziness and apathy – Gifts unused will atrophy, so passivity and slothfulness stunt growth.
- Lack of teaching – Believers may have untapped gifts because of never being taught about spiritual gifts.
- Deprioritizing gifts – Treating them as optional rather than integral to God’s calling leads to neglect.
Part of stirring up the gifts within is identifying and overcoming whatever might be hindering us from employing them.
Biblical examples of gift-stirring
There are many positive examples throughout Scripture of people who actively stirred up and employed the gifts God had given them:
- Moses – After initial reluctance, Moses embraced the gift of leadership to boldly lead Israel out of slavery in Exodus 3-4.
- David – He vigorously used his musical gifts to worship God and write skillful Psalms to glorify Him (1 Samuel 16).
- Solomon – He pursued and cultivated the gift of wisdom that God granted him, compiling profound Proverbs (1 Kings 4).
- Nehemiah – He eagerly employed his leadership gifts to motivate and organize Israel’s rebuilding of Jerusalem’s walls (Nehemiah 1-6).
- Stephen – He faithfully exercised gifts of service and teaching despite persecution, becoming the church’s first martyr in Acts 6-7.
- Timothy – Paul’s protégé developed his ministerial gifts through discipleship and shepherding churches (Philippians 2:19-24).
- Aquilla and Priscilla – This couple actively used their teaching gifts to strengthen Apollos’ preaching and instruct other believers (Acts 18:24-28).
These examples display the blessings that come when believers embrace God’s gifts to them and vigorously fan them into flame for His glory.
Gift-stirring for today
The command to stir up our gifts remains vital for Christians today just as in Timothy’s day. In our modern context, here are some ways we need to be proactive in gift-stirring:
- Resist cultural tendencies toward passivity and self-centeredness that can quench using our gifts.
- Combat the notion that busyness equals maturity since being too busy can stunt gift development.
- Balance utilizing gifts within the church and externally for evangelism and community service.
- Emphasize using gifts over self-promotion or jealousy over the prominence of others’ gifts.
- Remember that new gifts can emerge over our lifetime as God sees fit to bless us.
- Set an example for younger believers on passionately exercising gifts for God’s glory.
- Take advantage of modern resources and training opportunities to enhance and expand gift utilization.
The vital timeless principles of gift-stirring apply to us just as much as Timothy. We too must actively fan into flame the gifts God has given us, to avoid spiritual apathy and become fully devoted disciples making the most of what God has entrusted to us for His glory and purposes.
Conclusion
Stirring up the spiritual gifts within us is an important biblical command for all believers. When Scripture tells us to “fan into flame” the gifts, it is conveying the need to vigorously exercise and stoke them through committed use. Doing so causes our gifts to grow and fully achieve God’s purposes in giving them. We stir up gifts by taking inventory of them, praying over them, stepping out in faith to employ them, finding avenues to develop them, and seeking accountability and training. Consistently fanning our gifts combats complacency and empowers us for serving the church and reaching the world around us. There are obstacles to gift-stirring that must be identified and overcome. Scripture gives inspirational examples of those who fanned gifts into flame. For modern Christians, gift-stirring remains just as vital as ever to fulfill our calling. As we actively exercise the gifts God has chosen to bless us with, they will increasingly fan into a raging fire set ablaze for bringing Him glory and furthering His kingdom.
