by Pastora Ruth Cube Keijdner
Who among you has felt a sense of fear? A really scary sense of fear? All of us has felt that, even when we were children, we have felt that. But God gave us not a spirit of fear, but of power and love and self-control.
Let us break this down.
1. God - not man , not a neighbor , not a politician , not parents
There is this God who gave us something. Who is this God ? Jesus is the one who died on the cross and rose again from the dead. He is Omnipotent - able to do everything. Jeremiah 32:17 says, “Ah, Sovereign LORD, you have made the heavens and the earth by your great power and outstretched arm. Nothing is too hard for you." That is the God you serve. Nothing is too difficult for the God that we serve. And since Jesus is in our hearts, nothing is too difficult for us either.
He is Omniscient - knowing everything.
Isaiah 46:9-10 says, "I am God, and there is no other; I am God, and there is none like me. I make known the end from the beginning, from ancient times, what is still to come. I say: My purpose will stand, and I will do all that I please”
“Who can fathom the Spirit of the LORD, or instruct the LORD as his counselor? Whom did the LORD consult to enlighten him, and who taught him the right way? Who was it that taught him knowledge, or showed him the path of understanding?” (Isaiah 40:13-14). Nobody taught Him but He is the all-knowing God. And because He lives in us, we have access to everything we ever need to know.
“Before a word is on my tongue you know it completely, O LORD” (Psalm 139:4). Whatever it is that we are thinking, feeling, planning, or deciding, God knows.
He is Omnipresent - present everywhere.
Psalm 139:7-12 says"Or where can I flee from Your presence? If I ascend to heaven, You are there; If I make my bed in Sheol, behold, You are there."
2. Gave us - we have a giving God (we are not the source) John 3:16 shows usGod's ultimate generosity by giving His own son Why would He do that? He knows us , that we have nothing apart from Him. He is our only source of everything. But God is the provider. He will be the one to helpus
3. A Spirit - not just a spirit but Holy Spirit 1 Corinthians 6:19-20 says "Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God?" Now we always have a companion; we have somebody to help us all the time.
4. Not of fear - the nature of God is not to give fear. GOD does NOT GIVE THAT TO US . The opposite of it is trusting God. Healthy fear however, is reverential fear of the Lord. It is being in awe of God , honor , reverential awe , like a son to a father. It is knowing and believing a reverential God.
5. He gave us 3 amazing tools
A. Mighty Power - Holy Spirit power Matthew 10:8 tells us that we can heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse those who have leprosy, drive out demons. You have the Holy Spirit to help you do the supernatural. Jesus is the one who answers prayers but you have to do your part.
B. Love - We do not have love; our love is conditional. We think we can love, but it is actually God's grace. God gave that to us. So we ask God to exchange our conditional love to His unconditional love. He knows when we have love. 1 Corinthians 13 says, "Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth.
C Self control - if we do not have self control, we will be slaves to what controls us. Food, list, money, our words... these are just some of the things that can control us. We can find ourselves overwhelmed with the consequences of not having self control in many areas of life. Being self controlled is the very foundation for living a life of righteousness and selflessness that reflects Jesus and brings glory to God. We have the power to bring sins under control! Even that is given by the Lord
2 Timothy 1:7 says "For God will never give you the spirit of fear, but the Holy Spirit who gives you mighty power, love, and self-control."
What are your fears ?
Fear of men ? What they will say , how they may react , rejection.
Fear of failures? Parenting , jobs , marriage , relationships
Fear of losing someone ?aoone sick ?
Fear of not having enough ? Debt , monthly bills ?
Fear of nightmares ?
Fear of Critisms ?
What are your fears ?
These fears are not from God.
So how do we respond to these fears?
1. Intimacy - Love the Lord your God with all yourheart.
Mark 12:20 says, "And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength." The reason why you are afraid is because the love of God is not perfected in you. If you love a person, you will do everything and anything for him or her. Why don't you do it with God?
2. Trust - Trust in the Lord with all your heart.
Proverbs 3:5 says, "Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight."
God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power, love and sound mind. It seems so easy but when you are there, it seems very difficult. Stand firm in the promises of the Lord, that His love for you is perfect, and that live will not allow you to fall. Unless you allow it. So when you are afraid, kneel down and trust that He can do it for us. He is so worthy of our trust. You cannot even trust yourself. God has already given it to you, the mighty power of the Lord.
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