What does it mean to stir up the gift (2 Timothy 1:6)?

TL;DR:

To “stir up the gift” means to use the gifts God has given us to glorify Him and edify the body of Christ.

In his second letter to Timothy, Paul exhorted his young charge to "stir up the gift of God which is in you" (2 Timothy 1:6 NKJV) or to “fan into flame the gift of God” (ESV). By this, he meant that Timothy should use the gifts given to him by the Holy Spirit so he would continue to grow in them. In the Old Testament people were temporarily filled with the Holy Spirit to do God’s service (Exodus 31:2–3; Numbers 11:17; Judges 6:34). Since Christ’s death, resurrection, and ascension, believers have had the permanent indwelling of the Holy Spirit (John 14:16–17; Acts 2:1–4). When we are saved, we are filled with the Holy Spirit (Ephesians 1:13–14). The Spirit gives us spiritual gifts to use for His kingdom, not just for our own sake but for the sake of others (Romans 12:3–8; 1 Corinthians 12:7). The Holy Spirit provides the support and wisdom we need to navigate every situation (Luke 12:11–12; Acts 1:8; Romans 8:26). We must do our best to surrender to Him so we may be willing vessels, filled by the Spirit (Galatians 5:16; Colossians 3:10, 12–17; 2 Peter 1:5–8). When we do, God shows Himself strong in our weakness (2 Corinthians 12:9–10). God calls us to stir up the gifts He has given us for His glory and for the good of others, especially to edify the body of Christ.

from the old testament

Though the Holy Spirit did not indwell believers in the Old Testament, God in-filled some with the Spirit to do service for Him, as in Exodus 31:2–3: “See, I have called by name Bezalel the son of Uri, son of Hur, of the tribe of Judah, and I have filled him with the Spirit of God, with ability and intelligence, with knowledge and all craftsmanship.” Bezalel was temporarily filled with the Spirit to give him the skill needed to help craft the tabernacle and furnishings.
In Numbers 11:17, God filled seventy men of Israel with the Spirit so they could help Moses lead the people: “And I will come down and talk with you there. And I will take some of the Spirit that is on you and put it on them, and they shall bear the burden of the people with you, so that you may not bear it yourself alone.”

from the new testament

In Paul’s second letter to Timothy, he writes, “Therefore I remind you to stir up the gift of God which is in you through the laying on of my hands” (2 Timothy 1:6 NKJV). Other translations say, "fan into flame the gift" (ESV, NIV), "rekindle the gift" (CSB), and "keep ablaze the gift" (HCSB). The idea in all these is to keep a dying fire alive by stoking it. We are called to use the gifts God has given us so they do not lie dormant within us. The indwelling Holy Spirit and His gifts help us walk boldly into all God has called us to. This is probably why Paul continues by saying, "for God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control" (2 Timothy 1:7).
Our gifts are not identical, as Romans 12:6–7 explains: “Having gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, let us use them: if prophecy, in proportion to our faith; if service, in our serving; the one who teaches, in his teaching.” Whatever our spiritual gift, we should not squander it by not using it.
No matter what variety of gift God has graced us with, the purpose of it is the same: service to His kingdom to reveal Him and to build others up. First Corinthians 12:7 explains, “To each is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good.”
We must keep in step with the Spirit and not neglect or quench the work He is trying to do in and through us (1 Thessalonians 5:19; 1 Timothy 4:14).

implications for today

Have you ever gotten a gift and thought, “What’ll I do with this?” Those kinds of presents usually end up in storage, donated, or re-gifted. Not every gift is a keeper. But believers receive a precious gift that no one could ever buy us: the Holy Spirit (Romans 8:9, 15–17; Ephesians 1:3–14). Through the Holy Spirit, we’re given abilities that help us serve God and edify others. That does not mean we only serve or use our gifts, but it means that each of us have a special gift used to glorify God and encourage as well as build up the church. Our gifts aren’t identical to those of other believers (1 Corinthians 12:4–11). Some are blessed with the gift of teaching, others with encouraging, others with hospitality, and so on. The gifts we are given must be cultivated as we continue to grow and mature in our walk with God. We’re to use them to advance God’s kingdom. What gifts has the Holy Spirit blessed you with? Are you using them? If not, why not? We wouldn’t squander costly presents, yet we sometimes squander the gifts the Holy Spirit has given us. When we use our Spirit-given gifts, though, we are blessed even more as is the body of Christ that is built up when we use our gifts (John 15, 17; Ephesians 4).

understand

The Holy Spirit is a gift given to believers by God.
The Holy Spirit gives spiritual gifts to all believers.
We are to stir up the gifts that the Holy Spirit has given us to glorify God and edify His people.

reflect

What spiritual gifts do you believe the Holy Spirit has given you? How have you been stirring them up or using them?
How can you intentionally "stir up the gift" within you?
How can you help others stir up the gift within them?

engage

How can we encourage other believers to recognize, use, and develop their spiritual gifts?
How do the different spiritual gifts mentioned in Romans 12:3–8 and 1 Corinthians 12:4–11 contribute to the overall health and growth of the body of Christ?
What challenges do we face in stirring up our gifts? How can we support each other in pursuing what God has given us?

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