DILUTED FAITH? EXPIRING WITH FEAR?
By Wade Martin Hughes, Sr. Kyfingers@aol.com (This is part of a series on fear.)
Text: Deuteronomy 31:8 And the LORD, he it is that doth go before thee; he will be with thee, he will not fail thee, neither forsake thee: fear not, neither be dismayed.
HAVE WE EVER COMPROMISED OR DILUTED WHAT GOD DESIRED FOR US BECAUSE THE MEAN, CRUEL ENEMY OF FEAR AND DREAD? Fear is one of the greatest spiritual pitfalls a human can face. Fear’s goal is to get you to settle for less than God has planned for you.
Do we focus on fear or do we focus on the plan of God and trust Him completely? Goliath was a mighty big champion. David was small in comparison to the Giant. Fear gripped the camp of God’s men. Any one of the soldiers could have taken Goliath’s head off… Fear made the men go into their tents and cry themselves to sleep. Along comes a lad carrying cheese and bread and he had not heard all the NEGATIVE MESSAGES that had breed fear. Twice a day for 40 days the GIANT’S MESSAGE RELEASED FEAR IN GOD’S CAMP. Arise little David, see how big God is… not how big the giant made himself to be. QUIT ALLOWING FEAR TO LIVE IN YOUR BRAIN RENT FREE.
FEAR WILL BE ONE OF THE MOST COMMON AND FREQUENT TRAITS OF THE LAST DAYS BEFORE JESUS’ RETURN.
Are we prepared to face the GIANTS OF DREAD AND FEAR? You might as well buckle your belt and get ready to FACE THE TOOLS OF OUR ENEMY. Fear and depression our first cousins. We better be ready and expect the TESTING SEASONS OF FEAR.
Luke 21:26 (AMP) Men swooning away or expiring with fear and dread and apprehension and expectation of the things that are coming on the world; for the (very) powers of heaven will be shaken and caused to totter.
FEAR IS A BY-PRODUCT OF THE LACK OF REPENTANCE, CORRECTION, AND CONSTANT BLAME.
Why would a person hid from God? Do you think God knew where Adam and Eve was? Instead of repentance the first couple found it easier to “RUN AWAY” AND HID. Fear has several options: DENY FEAR? RUN AWAY (FLIGHT) OR STAND AND FIGHT.
Genesis 3:8 And they heard the voice of the LORD God walking in the garden in the cool of the day: and Adam and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the LORD God amongst the trees of the garden. 9 And the LORD God called unto Adam, and said unto him, Where art thou? 10 And he said, I heard thy voice in the garden, and I was afraid, because I was naked; and I hid myself. 11 And he said, Who told thee that thou wast naked? Hast thou eaten of the tree, whereof I commanded thee that thou shouldest not eat? 12 And the man said, The woman whom thou gavest to be with me, she gave me of the tree, and I did eat. 13 And the LORD God said unto the woman, What is this that thou hast done? And the woman said, The serpent beguiled me, and I did eat.
Adam and Eve were guilty of disobedience to God. There is not record of sorrow, shame, or repentance. As a matter of fact Adam blamed Eve and turned the situation to the point that Adam blamed God? THAT WOMAN THAT YOU GAVE ME…
Then EVE shows no godly sorrow and no confession to wrong, she BLAMES THE ENEMY? The SERPENT TRICKED ME. He was subtle. He caught me away from my husband and in the moment of being alone ---
SO FEAR IS BIRTH BY BAD ATTITUDES AND NO CORRECTION AND NO SELF EVALUATION. Adam and Eve should have had a discussion about what they did and said we were wrong and we will confess to the Father when he visits today? BUT SIN BROUGHT FEAR. God’s very nature is LOVE and FORGIVENESS.
THE CHOICE OF DENYING THE CONSEQUENCES OF THEIR ACTION ESTABLISHED A STRONGHOLD OF FEAR THAT WILL FOLLOW DOWN THROUGH THE YEARS OF HISTORY AND ESTABLISH A SPIRIT OF GRIEF, WANT, WOE… JUST LOOK AT THE FACES OF A LOST AND DYING HUMMANITY, WHERE FEAR HAS THE DOMAIN.
Luke 21:26 Men's hearts failing them for fear, and for looking after those things which are coming on the earth: for the powers of heaven shall be shaken.
Luke 21:26 (MSG) in an uproar and everyone all over the world in a panic, the wind knocked out of them by the threat of doom, the powers-that-be quaking.
Luke 21:26 (AMP) Men swooning away or expiring with fear and dread and apprehension and expectation of the things that are coming on the world; for the (very) powers of heaven will be shaken and caused to totter.
GOD SAYS TRUST ME --- I HAVE THIS COVERED. NOTHING CATCHES GOD BY SURPRISE.
A GOOD LEADER IS AWARE OF HIS PEOPLE, BUT MORE THAN LISTENING TO THE PEOPLE… A GOOD LEADER HEARS FROM GOD AND TRIES HIS BEST TO PREPARE THE PEOPLE… THE BATTLE OF FEAR IS BEFORE US.
Deuteronomy 1:27-31 (MSG) 27 You complained in your tents: "GOD hates us. He hauled us out of Egypt in order to dump us among the Amorites—a death sentence for sure! 28 How can we go up? We're trapped in a dead end. Our brothers took all the wind out of our sails, telling us, 'The people are bigger and stronger than we are; their cities are huge, their defenses massive—we even saw Anakite giants there!' " 29 I tried to relieve your fears: "Don't be terrified of them. 30 GOD, your God, is leading the way; he's fighting for you. You saw with your own eyes what he did for you in Egypt; 31 you saw what he did in the wilderness, how GOD, your God, carried you as a father carries his child, carried you the whole way until you arrived here.
MOSES WAS CALLED OF GOD TO LEAD THE PEOPLE… Moses knew DREAD-FEAR was a terrifying enemy of God’s plan. Seems it took 40 years to GET EGYPT OUT OF THE HEARTS OF GOD’S PEOPLE.
Deuteronomy 1:29 Then I said unto you, Dread not, neither be afraid of them.
FEAR IS A VERY COMMON EMOTION THAT ALL HUMANS FACE. I ONCE READ I HAVE NOTHING TO FEAR, BUT FEAR ITSELF….
** Fear can make no sense and be totally irrational. Fear can become very real and threating to one that perceives the danger of fear. Today we hear of anxiety, panic, and phobia attacks. They are real to those that experience them.
* There are healthy fears and then there are fears that will bring great harm.
*Fear can grow and take dominance of a person.
*FEAR IS CONTAGIOUS, fears can be passed on from generation to generation.
*Many fears are persistent and grow in intensity and duration.
*The next thing you know fear has grown to become excessive and habitual.
*Once fear has taken roots it becomes very hard to avoid and lay down.
** PUT ALL THESE FEARS ON A SLIDE:
Ablutophobia= fear of taking a bath or shower. Acrophobia= fear of heights.
Agoraphobia= fear of large crowds. ALEKTOROPHOBIA= fear of chickens.
Arachnophobia= fear of spiders. AQUAPHOBIA= FEAR OF WATER.
AUTOPHOBIA= THE FEAR OF BEING ALONE. BATRACHOPHOBIA= fear of frogs.
CANCERPHOBIA= fear of cancer. CARDIOPHOBIA= fear of heart attacks.
CLAUSTROPHOBIA= the fear of small, tight places. COULROPHOBIA= fear of clowns.
Cyberphobia= fear of surveillance, fear of computers and technology.
Cynophobia= fear of dogs. Dentophobia= fear of dentist.
ECCLESIOPHOBIA= fear of churches. Glossophobia= fear of public speaking
Geohyriphobia= fear of bridges. Hemophobia= fear of seeing blood.
Nomophobia= fear of going without technology, cell phone, etc. Fear of not being able to get a signal.
Nyctophobia= fear of darkness. Ornothophobia = fear of birds.
Pentherphobis= FEAR OF MOTHER-IN-LAW. Pyrophobia= fear of fire.
Somniphobia= fear of sleep. THANATOPHOBIA= FEAR OF DEATH.
Turophobia= fear of cheese.
IN A PREVIOUS STUDY WE LOOKED AT WHAT AN IMPERATIVE COMMAND WAS. IMPERATIVE COMMANDS ARE MORE THAN A SUGGESTION OR AN OPTION. THE FULLNESS OF THE GOSPEL IS WHY WORRY, FRET NOT,
GIVE NO GROUND TO FEAR AND DREAD.
There is a LITERARY TOOL CALL REPETITION. We repeat something already said or written to reinforce how important the statement. Imperative commands tell people to do something. To repeat an imperative command puts great emphasis on how important the thought or order is to be carried out.
ACCEPT GOD’S VISION FOR HIS PEOPLE: FEAR NOT!
God gives ABRAHAM A VISION, THE VISION IS CLEAR… FEAR NOT! THERE IS NO REASON TO FEAR! There is a power greater with you than the power that you face.
Genesis 15:1 After these things the word of the LORD came unto Abram in a vision, saying, Fear not, Abram: I am thy shield, and thy exceeding great reward.
God is saying to His servant: There is no reason to fear: I AM YOUR PROTECTION.
GOD KNOWS THE ENEMY. GOD KNOWS THE TACTICS AND THAT THE ENEMY USES FEAR TO KILL OUR HOPES. WHEN OUR HOPES ARE KILLED WE WILL ALWAYS HAVE LIMITED VICTORIES.
Genesis 26:24 And the LORD appeared unto him the same night, and said, I am the God of Abraham thy father: fear not, for I am with thee, and will bless thee, and multiply thy seed for my servant Abraham's sake.
CONCLUSION: Today we face the big giants of fear and dread. We seem to dilute God’s Word and His promises as we face huge obstacles. The world seems to be in a process of decay, physical, spiritual and moral decay. We must trust God’s plan. See beyond the reach of your hands. Can God? Vs God can!
Proverbs 3:5 Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.
His servant, Wade Martin Hughes, Sr. Kyfingers@aol.com
I want to thank you for reading my work. I invest hours in these lessons. My work is in vain without readers. Thank you! Could you enlarge my hands and pass my work to others?
