David Hathaway

'For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power, love, and a sound mind. So we must never be ashamed to tell others about our Lord. For with the strength God gives us, we must be ready to suffer for the proclamation of the Gospel.' (2 Timothy 1.7-8.) In a time of mounting persecution, the apostle Paul told timothy to expect suffering. Timothy, like Paul, would be jailed for preaching the Good News. But Paul promised Timothy, that God would give him strength, and that he would be ready when it was his turn to suffer. God will strengthen us too. Jesus promised He will be with us until the end of the age. Paul mentions three characteristics of the effective Christian leader: power, love, and self-discipline. These are available to us because the Holy Spirit lives in us.