The Possession of the Spirit: More Than Just a Profession
Even though our livestream started a few minutes late due to technical difficulties, the Lord was already “moving in the camp” by the time the cameras began to roll. Continuing our study in 2 Timothy 1, Pastor Arville Duncan delivered a stirring message on the difference between merely claiming to be a Christian and actually possessing the Spirit of God.
As Brother Duncan put it, when the Holy Ghost gets inside a person, things change from the inside out. “You don’t change, you ain’t saved,” he reminded us. “You made a little profession, but you don’t have a possession.”
1. The Joy of the Lord is Your Strength
Focusing on 2 Timothy 1:4, Brother Duncan spoke on the “tears” and “joy” of the Christian life.
- Feeding the Spirit: Just as the physical body needs food, the spirit must be fed. Brother Duncan challenged those who are still on the “milk” of the word to grow into the “strong meat” so they can have the strength to do the work God has called them to do.
- A Pure Conscience: Following the example of Paul, we should serve God with a pure conscience, keeping our prayer lives active “night and day.”
2. Faithful Stewardship and Service
Brother Duncan didn’t mince words when it came to our duty to the Lord. He reminded us that we are all stewards, and “it is required in stewards, that a man be found faithful.”
- Don’t Be Shoddy: He used the illustration of a family who volunteered to help with church work but quit after one week. “There are going to be a lot of people ashamed to get anything from the Lord one day because they’ve been so shoddy in serving Him.”
- The Father’s Business: Just as children should mind their earthly fathers, we must mind our Heavenly Father. We should be busy with the tasks He has set before us—not out of laziness, but out of love.
3. The Results of Earnest Prayer
“We really don’t know the results of our prayers yet,” Brother Duncan shared. “But our Lord in due time will reveal them to us.”
- God’s Timing: Sometimes we pray for things for years before we see the answer. God knows if we can handle what we are asking for, and He supplies our needs according to His riches in glory (Philippians 4:19).
- Mueller’s Example: He shared the famous story of George Mueller, whose faith provided bread and milk for orphans through a “broken-down” milk truck. When we are on “praying ground,” God can break down a truck or open a door to meet our needs.
4. Unfeigned Faith: A Family Affair
The message concluded with a beautiful look at 2 Timothy 1:5, where Paul remembers the “unfeigned faith” that dwelt in Timothy, his mother Eunice, and his grandmother Lois.
- Not a Counterfeit: Using the 1828 Webster’s Dictionary, Brother Duncan defined “unfeigned” as not counterfeit, real, and sincere. * Firm Faith: Just like a good biscuit needs the right ingredients to hold together, our faith needs the substance of God’s Word so it doesn’t “crumble” when things get tough.
- The Real McCoy: When a family has the “real thing,” their faith causes “heaven’s joy bells to ring.”
Closing Thought: Are You Ready?
Brother Duncan reminded us that at 81 years old, he knows his time is shorter than it once was, but the same is true for all of us. Whether we are 18 or 81, we must ensure we are truly saved and ready to stand before the Judgment Seat of Christ.