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“For God has not given us a spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.”
— 2 Timothy 1:7 (KJV)
This one verse exposes a major strategy of Satan and reveals a major provision of God.
The song simply repeats what God has already said. It is a musical proclamation of a spiritual fact. God has not given us a spirit of fear. If we tolerate fear, nourish fear, agree with fear, we are cooperating with something God did not send. At the same time, God has given us a different kind of spirit: one of power, of love, and of a sound mind.
Everything in the Christian life depends on recognizing the source of what we are dealing with. Is it from God, or is it not from God? This verse draws a clear dividing line.
We will see that:
The song places these words on our lips. That is crucial. Truth in the Bible must become truth in our mouth before it becomes consistent victory in our life.
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The words of 2 Timothy 1:7 come from Paul’s final letter. He is in a Roman prison, facing probable execution under Nero. This is not theory. This is a man about to seal his testimony with his blood.
He is writing to Timothy, his spiritual son, a younger man with obvious tendencies toward timidity and physical weakness.
We see this in the immediate context:
> “Wherefore I put thee in remembrance that thou stir up the gift of God, which is in thee by the putting on of my hands.
> For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.”
> — 2 Timothy 1:6–7 (KJV)
Paul is urging Timothy to:
1. Stir up the gift of God.
2. Refuse the spirit of fear.
3. Move in power, love, and a sound mind.
Timothy was serving in Ephesus—a center of idolatry, occult power, and persecution (Acts 19). The church was under pressure. False teachers were spreading error. Some believers were turning away from Paul out of shame (2 Tim. 1:15).
So Timothy faced:
Paul does not comfort Timothy by saying, “The situation will soon get easier.” He does something different. He points Timothy to the spiritual resources God has already given him.
Note the connection:
If Timothy does not deal rightly with fear, he will not operate rightly in his God‑given gift. Fear is one of Satan’s primary tools to neutralize spiritual gifts and callings.
Paul reminds Timothy of his spiritual heritage (2 Tim. 1:5), his imparted gift (v. 6), and his spiritual equipment (v. 7). The same three elements apply to every serious believer:
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Paul writes in Greek. Two key words here open the meaning:
### 1. “Fear” – *deilia* (δειλία)
The phrase “spirit of fear” uses the word deilia.
It is always negative in the New Testament. It describes fear that paralyzes, silences, and causes retreat in the face of duty.
So when Paul says God has not given us a “spirit of *deilia*,” he is not talking about healthy caution or reverence, but a cringing, paralyzing inner attitude that stops us from obeying God.
This is important: Paul speaks of a spirit—not just a mood. A spirit that pushes the believer into cowardice. That is why, in spiritual warfare, fear must be treated as an enemy to be resisted, not a personality trait to be accepted.
### 2. “Sound mind” – *sōphronismos* (σωφρονισμός)
The phrase “a sound mind” translates sōphronismos. This word is rich:
Other translations render it “self-discipline,” “self-control,” or “good judgment.”
So the spirit God gives produces a redeemed, ordered, disciplined mental state. It is not mystical confusion. The Holy Spirit does not drive people into irrationality. He produces clear, sober, governed thinking—even in the midst of pressure.
This helps us understand the lyrics when they say:
> “God has not given us a spirit of fear,
> but power, love, and self-control.
> A spirit of power, love,
> and a sound mind.”
“Self-control,” “self-discipline,” and “sound mind” are all capturing aspects of sōphronismos: a Spirit-empowered, governed inner life.
The deep truth:
The same Spirit who gives power and love also gives mental and emotional stability.
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### Stanza 1:
> For God has not given us a spirit of fear,
> but of power and of love
> and of a sound mind.
This is almost exact KJV wording. Let us take it phrase by phrase.
#### “For God has not given us a spirit of fear”
First, this is stated negatively. There is something God has not given.
That implies two things:
1. If we find a “spirit of fear” operating in us, we must conclude: This did not come from God.
2. If it did not come from God, we are not obliged to keep it, submit to it, or agree with it.
Fear in this sense is:
“For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption…” (Romans 8:15).
“Fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love.” (1 John 4:18).
So the believer must treat crippling fear as illegitimate—a trespasser in the temple of the Holy Spirit.
#### “But of power…”
The “spirit” God gives is primarily the Holy Spirit. Jesus said:
> “But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you…”
> — Acts 1:8
The Greek word is dunamis—miracle-working power, dynamic ability.
Paul prays that believers would know:
> “…the exceeding greatness of His power (*dunamis*) to us-ward who believe…”
> — Ephesians 1:19
This power:
Fear says, “You are weak. You cannot.”
The Holy Spirit says, “You are empowered. You can obey. You can endure. You can overcome.”
#### “…and of love…”
The second manifestation of this Spirit is love—*agapē*.
Romans 5:5:
> “…the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us.”
Supernatural love is the greatest safeguard against fear:
> “There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear…”
> — 1 John 4:18
Not all “boldness” is from God. Carnal boldness can be harsh, proud, or self-assertive. True spiritual courage is always governed by love—love for God, love for people, even love for enemies.
#### “…and of a sound mind.”
As we saw, this is a disciplined, saved mind—*sōphronismos*.
It means:
2 Corinthians 10:4–5 shows how this operates:
> “(For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;)
> Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God,
> and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ.”
The spirit of fear builds strongholds in the mind—patterns of thought that exalt fear, danger, failure, rejection, above the knowledge of God.
The Spirit of a sound mind enables us to take thoughts captive and judge them by God’s Word.
The lyrics put this truth in our mouth repeatedly. Repetition is not vain when it is the Word. It is meditation—filling our heart, renewing our mind, and aligning our speech.
---
### Stanza 2:
> God has not given us a spirit of fear,
> but power, love, and self-control.
> A spirit of power, love,
> and a sound mind.
Here “self-control” emphasizes the disciplinary aspect of *sōphronismos*.
This ties closely to another important text:
> “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith,
> Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.”
> — Galatians 5:22–23 (KJV)
“Temperance” is self-control—Spirit-produced mastery over desires, impulses, and emotions.
So the Spirit who banishes fear also trains the believer to:
Self-control is not mere willpower. It is Spirit-empowered discipline cooperating with the truth.
Again, notice the order:
1. Power – ability.
2. Love – right motivation.
3. Self-control / sound mind – right inner government.
Fear attacks all three:
The Holy Spirit restores all three.
---
### Stanza 3:
> For the Spirit God gave us
> does not make us timid,
> but gives us power, love
> and self-discipline.
Here the lyric echoes more closely the NIV.
“Does not make us timid” again emphasizes that cringing timidity does not come from the Holy Spirit. Many believers excuse timidity as “personality.” But the New Testament does not.
When God called Jeremiah, the prophet protested that he was too young and could not speak (Jer. 1:6). God answered:
> “Say not, I am a child… be not afraid of their faces: for I am with thee to deliver thee…”
> — Jeremiah 1:7–8
Similarly, when Joshua took over from Moses, God said again and again:
> “Be strong and of a good courage… Only be thou strong and very courageous…”
> — Joshua 1:6–7
The Spirit of God produces:
This is not personality-driven; it is Spirit-driven.
---
### Stanza 4 (repetition and reinforcement)
> God has not given us a spirit of fear,
> but power, love, and self-control.
> A spirit of power, love,
> and a sound mind.
Musically, the song returns to the central line. This is significant spiritually. Faith is often released and strengthened through repetition of truth.
Joshua 1:8 gives God’s pattern:
> “This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night…”
“Meditate” in Hebrew (*hagah*) includes “to mutter, to speak under the breath.” Biblical meditation is verbal—repeating God’s Word, pondering it, applying it.
This song functions as a tool of meditation. Each repetition:
When truth is sung and spoken, it penetrates deeper than when it is merely read. It engages mind, heart, and will together.
---
### Spiritual Realities Highlighted
1. Fear as a Spirit
Scripture shows fear can be more than emotion:
It can be an invading spiritual presence, whispering:
This must be resisted as we would resist any demon: by the blood of Jesus, by the Word of God, and by deliberate rejection of its lies.
2. The Holy Spirit as Spirit of Power, Love, Sound Mind
One Spirit producing three main effects:
This is not three separate spirits. It is one Holy Spirit manifesting in these dimensions.
3. The Human Heart as a Battleground
The issue is not whether fear will try to attack us; it will. The issue is: With which spirit will we agree?
Amos 3:3: “Can two walk together, except they be agreed?”
You cannot walk in power, love, and a sound mind if you are inwardly agreeing with fear’s messages.
---
### First, Recognize and Renounce the Wrong Source
You must settle this:
A spirit of fear is not from God.
When you feel:
Say out loud, in faith:
James 4:7:
> “Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.”
Submitting to God includes agreeing with what He says about fear. Resisting the devil includes refusing to cooperate with a spirit of fear.
If fear has had a long-standing hold, you may need to:
You can say:
“Spirit of fear, you are not from God. I renounce you. I refuse you. In the name and authority of the Lord Jesus Christ, I command you: Go from me now.”
### Second, Receive and Affirm the Right Spirit
Galatians 3:14 says we receive the promise of the Spirit through faith. Luke 11:13 assures us the Father gives the Holy Spirit to those who ask.
Pray something like:
“Father, I thank You that You have given me, not a spirit of fear, but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind. I receive the Holy Spirit afresh. I receive His power, His love, and His soundness of mind into every area of my life.”
Then begin to affirm what God has given, not what you feel.
Faith speaks what God says, before the feelings change (2 Cor. 4:13).
### Third, Discipline Your Thoughts and Words
A sound mind is not automatic. It requires cooperation.
Philippians 4:8 tells us exactly what to think about:
> “…whatsoever things are true, … honest, … just, … pure, … lovely, … of good report…”
You must:
1. Identify thoughts that contradict God’s Word (“I’m doomed,” “I can’t,” “God won’t help me”).
2. Reject them as lies.
3. Replace them with Scripture.
For example, if fear says:
Answer with:
If fear says:
Answer with:
Also, guard your mouth. Do not keep saying:
Proverbs 18:21:
> “Death and life are in the power of the tongue…”
Instead, align your speech with 2 Timothy 1:7, as the song does.
### Fourth, Stir Up the Gift of God in You
Remember verse 6:
> “Stir up the gift of God…”
Fear has one main aim: to make you bury your gift.
The answer is not passivity, but stirring up what God placed in you.
Practically:
Often fear is broken not just by praying, but by acting contrary to it in obedience to God.
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### Proclamation
Speak this out loud, thoughtfully, in faith:
“I proclaim that God has not given me a spirit of fear.
Fear is not from my Father.
In the name of Jesus, I renounce every spirit of fear, every bondage to timidity, every tormenting anxiety.
God has given me a Spirit of power—the power of the Holy Spirit working in me and through me.
God has given me a Spirit of love—His own love poured out in my heart by the Holy Ghost.
God has given me a sound mind—a saved, stable, disciplined mind.
I have power through the Holy Spirit.
I walk in love, because the love of God is in my heart.
I have a sound mind; my thoughts are brought into captivity to the obedience of Christ.
I refuse fear. I choose faith.
I agree with God’s Word:
I have a spirit of power,
a spirit of love,
and a sound mind.
In Jesus’ name. Amen.”
### Prayer
“Father, in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, I thank You for Your clear Word:
You have not given me a spirit of fear, but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.
I confess before You every way I have yielded to fear, agreed with fear, or spoken words of fear. I ask You to forgive me and to cleanse me by the blood of Jesus.
Right now, I renounce the spirit of fear. I refuse its lies. I reject its torment. In the authority of Jesus Christ, I command every spirit of fear, timidity, anxiety, and torment to leave my life, my mind, and my body.
Holy Spirit, I welcome You. Fill me afresh. Manifest in me Your power. Manifest in me Your love. Establish in me a sound, disciplined, stable mind. Teach me to think according to Your Word, to speak according to Your truth, and to act in obedience, even when I do not feel like it.
Use my life, my gifts, and my testimony to glorify Jesus and to set others free from fear. I receive now, by faith, a spirit of power, of love, and of a sound mind.
In the name of Jesus. Amen.”
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