Fear Part 2: March 15, 2011

MARCH 15, 2011. TODAYS WORD FOR TUESDAY MARCH 15, 2011


FEAR
PART TWO

DEFINITION:

Apprehensive; worry; concern; reverent awe as of God.

SCRIPTURE:

“Do not fear, for those who are with us are more than those who are with them.” II Kings 6:16

“Let all the earth fear the Lord.” Psalm 33:8

KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERIENCE:

Fear is a natural reaction to anything that threatens our well being. We do not have to be taught to be afraid when we are in danger. Fear is a powerful emotion. As we said yesterday, we can become momentarily paralyzed by fear and we can become physically ill as a result of fear.

Fear is ever present in this world. People fear many things. Since the disaster of 9/11, there has been a continuing fear of another terrorist attack here in America. Many people in America and in other countries live with the fear of potential natural disasters such as hurricanes, fires, tornados and earthquakes.

We have heard from many believers that have shared their fears concerning civil unrest in their country. Many people are going through religious wars where Christians are being persecuted because of their faith.

Recently, we communicated with a dear pastor’s widow that told us of terrorists coming into their church during a Sunday morning service and killing half of the congregation and her husband who was preaching on the subject of loving ones enemies. They then set the church on fire destroying it totally. The goal of these terrorists is to eliminate all the Christians in their community.

Even though these dear Christians feared for their very life, they did not let fear paralyze them and prevent them from serving the Lord. They continued to put their trust in their Lord no matter what came their way. The easy way out might have been to just deny their faith in Jesus and stop going to church. Instead they kept their witness and went to church. What a testimony this is as to how genuine their faith was.

Many Christians have died as martyrs for their faith in Jesus. Every Christian should daily remember in prayer those who live in countries that do not enjoy the freedom to worship the Lord and who live in fear because of their faith. By comparison, for those who live in a country with freedom, the things that cause fear might be said to be very minor. For the person experiencing fear the fear is always very real.

God wants us to know that he understands our fears and that is why there are nearly 700 references of fear or being afraid in His Word. God tells us not to fear “things” in life because He wants us to put our trust in Him. He wants to be our protector and wants us to give our fears to Him. God really wants us to trade our fears for trust in Him. He did not promise us a life free of danger, but He does promise to be with us in time of danger.

In Psalms 46:1-2 we are told that: “God is our refuge and strength, an ever present help in trouble. Therefore we should not fear, though the earth gives way and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea.” What this verse really says is that we should not fear even if the world comes to an end. Many people today are consumed with fear with this concern that everything is falling apart. The Bible is clear in stating that God is our refuge even in a time of total destruction.

All who believe and put their trust in the Lord has an eternal refuge with God in heaven. You can have that eternal refuge if you accept the “SALVATION” that God has offered us.

In II Kings 6:16 we are told not to fear because God is on the side of those who serve Him. These words were spoken by Elisha who was a prophet with great faith, to his servant who was in great fear when he saw that their city was surrounded by the army of their enemy, the King of Aram, Ben-Hadad. The servant had reason to fear because Elisha’s life was in danger. God had revealed King Ben-Hadad’s military plans to Elisha and Elisha then gave these plans to the King of Israel. When King Ben-Hadad found out what Elisha had done he sent his army to capture Elisha.

Elisha could tell his servant not to be afraid because he knew that God had a greater army than Ben-Hadad’s. The scripture tells us that Elisha prayed that God would open his young servant’s spiritual eyes, teaching the young man faith and the fear of the Lord. He said that only by faith can we see the invisible host of heaven protecting us and not fear. The Lord opened the young servant’s spiritual eyes and he saw God’s army and could see that it was as Elisha had said, “those who are with us are more than those who are with them.” God is always at work and doing more than we can imagine but our spiritual eyes are blinded by our lack of faith. It is only by faith that we today can see the invisible host of heaven and not fear.

Every servant of God has an edge over the enemies of righteousness. We have these many armaments to fight against fear. They are God’s Word; God’s power; God’s Holy Spirit and God’s protection. Fear not! God is with you.

LEARNING:

Our memory verse for this week is found in Psalm 33:8:

Let all the earth fear the Lord; let all the inhabitants of the world stand in awe of Him.

PRAYER:

Give me the confidence that I need today to release my fears to You. Thank You for Your promise to protect us in our time of danger. Help me to put my trust in You just as Elisha of old did. Help me to remember that you are always with me and protecting me through every fear I may face.