WHOSE FEAR OCCUPIES YOUR HEART?

Service was great, the message was on fear (which is something I deal with everyday) so I was very interested in the sermon. The pastor talked about what you read as the topic and he defined fear as an unpleasant feeling/emotion that restricts you from leaving your comfort zone to take hold of things that God has designed/destined for you.

2 Tim 1:7 says “For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind”. Pastor said that fear is a spirit that is present in hearts that do no t have God in them (as they ought). How can God and fear be in your heart at the same time? Whatever on earth could the Creator of the heavens and the earth be afraid of?

Numbers 13: 27-33 talks of the Israelites when God told them to go send spies to Canaan to check out the land and get ready to occupy the land. Twelve spies were sent out, only two came back with the boldness of God bursting through their speech. The other ten likened themselves to grasshoppers before the sons of Anak. You can be sure they didn’t form the number that possessed the land; see what fear robs us of?

Malachi 3: 6 says “For I [am] the LORD, I change not; therefore ye sons of Jacob are not consumed”. Wow!! Are you a son/daughter of God? Are you sure? Then what is there to be afraid of?

If you carry the fear of the Lord in your heart, you will not fear what people of the world fear. Job 3:25 says “For the thing which I greatly feared is come upon me, and that which I was afraid of is come unto me.” Have you noticed that it is the things we fear that happen, sometimes feels like we attract evil just by being afraid of it.

If you take your time to study Mathew 6: 25 – 32, you’ll be convinced that worry and anxiety are not necessary. No need for them at all.

Below are some of the things we fear, categorized into three

1. Fear of the past – eroding in your mind the things God has done for you in the past

2. Fear of the present – robbing yourself of the joys of today

3.  Fear of the future – holding yourself back from the hope and the things God has planned for you

Gospel!

Flip side to that, here are some benefits of fearing God….

1. Uncommon experiences. 2 Kings 6:8-20 (please read on your own)!

2. Deliverance from evil. Psalm 33: 16-18 – “There is no king saved by the multitude of an host: a mighty man is not delivered by much strength/ An horse [is] a vain thing for safety: neither shall he deliver [any] by his great strength/ Behold, the eye of the LORD [is] upon them that fear him, upon them that hope in his mercy”

3.  God’s leading and guidance. Psalm 25: 12-14 – “The secret of the LORD [is] with them that fear him; and he will shew them his covenant.”

4.  God will perfect everything that concerns you. Psalm 138:8 – “The LORD will perfect [that which] concerneth me: thy mercy, O LORD, [endureth] for ever: forsake not the works of thine own hands”.

5. Total satisfaction. Proverbs 19: 23 – “The fear of the LORD [tendeth] to life: and [he that hath it] shall abide satisfied; he shall not be visited with evil.”

6. A long, fulfilled life. Proverbs 9:10 – 11 – “The fear of the LORD [is] the beginning of wisdom: and the knowledge of the holy [is] understanding/ For by me thy days shall be multiplied, and the years of thy life shall be increased”. Isaiah 8: 12b, 10.

Totally captures the essence of today's message!

Bottom line? God is bigger (and scarier) than anything you can ever be afraid of. Why not concentrate that emotion on Him (especially since He loves you and only wants the best for you), and leave Him to sort out everything else that is ‘fronting’ scary for you? Makes sense if you ask me!

Have a fabulous, fearless, and extra productive week; I insist!