FEAR!
Kill it, or it will kill you!
Job 3:25 For the thing which I greatly feared is come upon me, and that which I was afraid of is come unto me.
FEAR – False Evidence Appearing Real.
Heard a guy say once, that most of the bad things that I thought were going to happen, didn’t.
It is the darkroom of our mind, where negatives are developed.
In this case, it is the key to understanding the book of Job. God did not bring evil to him, it was there already, pacing outside his guarded gate, for satan is a predator, seeking to kill, steal and destroy.
Job’s fear, his dread, unlocked the gate, the hedge of protection that God had set around him, by his faith and words.
Notice the conversation between God and satan:
Job 1:8 And the LORD said unto Satan, Hast thou considered my servant Job, that there is none like him in the earth, a perfect and an upright man, one that feareth God, and escheweth evil?
9 Then Satan answered the LORD, and said, Doth Job fear God for nought?
10 Hast not thou made an hedge about him, and about his house, and about all that he hath on every side? thou hast blessed the work of his hands, and his substance is increased in the land.
11 But put forth thine hand now, and touch all that he hath, and he will curse thee to thy face.
12 And the LORD said unto Satan, BEHOLD all that he hath is in thy power; only upon himself put not forth thine hand. So Satan went forth from the presence of the LORD.
Notice the word, BEHOLD. God was not delivering Job into satan’s hand, as many have taught, rather, He simply revealed to that slavering dog, the hole in the hedge, the open door.
Fear believes that bad things are going to happen, and according to our belief, they do.
FAITH – Fantastic Adventures In Trusting HIM
Faith believes that God loves us, and has prepared GOOD Works for us to walk in. That good and perfect gifts are coming down into our lives, each day, because we have a heavenly Father that is a giver, He delights to give, He loves to create, for He is the Creator, and He loves to be trusted, and ALWAYS honors our active trust in Him.
So, each day, we choose what we are going to do that day. Will we choose, love, life, liberty, and to believe, on purpose, the promises of God, receiving this day, the bread of heaven, and provision of his promises, or will we let down our guard, become complacent, or worse yet, become afraid of the future, and actively open the door to hell on earth…
One thing I love about America is this: truly, it is the land of the free, home of the brave, where we fight for freedom, liberty, and justice for all.
Bravery, or courage is not the absence of fear, it is the conquering of it.
I remember when my dad was posted to Victoria, British Columbia, and then promptly began to take 3 week trips to sea, as a naval officer. We bought a house, and moved to new school, and a gang of bullies beat the fire out of me several days in school. This went on for about a month, of them chasing me, and almost killing me on several occasions, until one day, I had had enough. In gym class that day, we were assigned to play floor hockey. I had been a leader on my little league hockey team before we moved from Nova Scotia, and that day, a gang of bullies got seriously hurt. The gracious gym teacher knew of their reign of terror, and looked the other way, as one by one I took them on, and took them out in brutal play.
Next day, they tried again, and there was another trail of bloody noses, and cracked ribs in phys. Ed class, and that was the end of it. Sure, I took a few lumps too, but compared to the beatings I had already been given, nothing serious. Was I scared? Yes! I feared for my life! Yet, I was not going to allow bullies to dictate my life!
From that day on, I was one of the gang, and everyone befriended me. Lesson: Strong people only respect strength.
Spiritual truth: The sword and the gospel go hand in hand. Soldiers, policemen, and strong government, that govern righteously, are no threat to people wanting peace, truth, and the gospel, they only restrain the criminal element in society. However, they too are subject to the Word of God, and must govern in the fear of the Lord, or the very sword they wield, will be turned against them, as one special force military unit declares: Every so often the banner of freedom, must be washed afresh in the blood of tyrants. Fearing God, and walking with Jesus, will prevent needless bloodshed, if we would only love, honor and respect each other, using our strengths to uphold the weak, not to bully them!
Never would have happened if I had kept allowing them to beat on me all year.
Couple of questions:
What are you afraid of?
What are you going to do to face your fears?
What are you believing God for?
What are you doing to strengthen your faith and see, manifest in your life, that you have believed for?
Let’s pray:
‘Father, fear is of the heart. You know what we are afraid of. Please, reveal to us, Your perfect love, that destroys our deepest fears and insecurities. Now, Lord Jesus, You are the high priest of my confession, ever watching over Your Word today, to perform it. I ask you for wisdom, strength, courage, special faith, revelation, the hearing of Your voice, clear direction, favor, healing, health, provision, prosperity, dreams and visions of Your glory granted to us. I choose to look to You, and believe I receive these things, now, for I ask you Father, in Your name Lord Jesus, AMEN!’