What To Do When You Dont Know What To Do Part 2 From Fear To Faith Series

WHAT TO DO WHEN YOU DONT KNOW WHAT TO DO PART 2 FROM FEAR TO FAITH

2 Chron 20:3

And Jehoshaphat feared, and set himself to seek the Lord, and proclaimed a fast throughout all Judah.

Jehoshaphat received a bad report concerning a multitude of enemy forces and his First response was fear.

This is understandable ….a great coalition of three enemy armies were aligned against Him.

Not much has changed over the centuries. When we receive a bad report, or face a multitude of problems--when we don’t know what to do—we usually respond with fear. But understand that impossible situations are never resolved by fear

So then, after recognizing our problem or situation is a spiritual battle…..and taking the situation to the Lord …the first thing we must do is replace fear with faith.

THERE ARE TWO TYPES OF FEAR SEEN THROUGHOUT THE SCRIPTURE

The first One is positive, reflecting a healthy respect for God, and it is foundational to spiritual wisdom:

The psalmist said in Psalms 111:10 The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom; a good understanding have all those who do His commandments. His praise endures forever.

This positive fear of God results in blessings:

Psalms 112:1 declares, “ Praise the Lord! Blessed is the man who fears the Lord, who delights greatly in His commandments.

Those who fear God are protected from evil:

Psalm 34:7

The angel of the Lord encamps all around those who fear Him, and delivers them.

He will fulfill the desire of those who fear Him; he also will hear their cry and save them. (Psalm 145:19)

In the fear of the Lord there is strong confidence, and His children will have a place of refuge. (Proverbs 14:26)

Those who fear God know no want:

Oh, fear the Lord, you His saints! There is no want to those who fear Him. (Psalm 34:9)

There is a tremendous spiritual heritage for those who fear the Lord. They receive mercy, salvation, and compassion from God: For You, O God, have heard my vows; you have given me the heritage of those who fear Your name. (Psalm 61:5)

For as the heavens are high above the earth, so great is His mercy toward those who fear Him (Psalm 103:11)

Surely His salvation is near to those who fear Him, that glory may dwell in our land. (Psalm 85:9)

As a father pities his children, so the Lord pities those who fear Him. (Psalm 103:13)

The fear of the Lord is the fountain of spiritual life:

The fear of the Lord is a fountain of life, to turn one away from the snares of death. (Proverbs 14:27)

The fear of the Lord is a positive emotion that enables you to reject evil: In mercy and truth atonement is provided for iniquity; and by the fear of the Lord one departs from evil. (Proverbs 16:6)

To have a Godly, Holy fear of the Lord has many benefits…the Child of God is truly blessed…but our enemy works very hard at trying to discourage us and blinding our eyes and our minds from focusing on these benefits

NOW LOOK AT THE SECOND TYPE OF FEAR..THE NEGATIVE FORCE OF FEAR

Negative fear first This type of fear first appeared when Adam and Eve were ashamed and fearfully hid themselves from God’s presence.

Shame over the past and fear of the future were the two responses that resulted from man’s fall in the garden

And shame and fear are the root of all other negative emotions. ...This type of fear is tormenting:

You see Psychologist are not really so smart…all the counseling methodologies I learned while studying for my doctorate are located right in the Bible and available to every born again believer…You don’t have to be a PHD to solve the problems of Mankind….You do have to be a BAB…Born again Believer…and the key word there is BELIEVER

1 Jn 4:18 says

There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear, because fear involves torment. But he who fears has not been made perfect in love.

When you are “perfect in love,” you will not fear because you know there is no circumstance of life that can separate you from God’s love.

The Apostle Paul declared in Romans 8:35,38-40 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?...For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Listen Gods word declares the you did not receive the spirit of bondage again to fear, but you received the Spirit of adoption by whom we cry out, “Abba, Father.” (Romans 8:15)