Tag:

Fear

Received

by TerryLema

“All those led by God’s Spirit are God’s sons. For you did not receive a spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you received the Spirit of adoption, by whom we cry out, ‘Abba, Father!’ The Spirit Himself testifies together with our spirit that we are God’s children.” [Romans 8:14-16 HCSB]

Fear is an atmosphere the enemy of our soul loves, promotes and rejoices in.  The devil knows that if he can keep us in a spirit of slavery to fear, he has effectively made us irrelevant in the kingdom of God.

Fear is one of the greatest issues of our time. It is promoted daily in the media and on social media. It comes through loud and clear. We are to fear the virus. We are to fear our government is not being truthful about the virus. We are to fear the vaccine. We are to fear those who refuse to be vaccinated. We are to fear the vaccine will not be enough to stop the virus. We are to fear our economy will never recover. We are to fear our economy being opened up without better safeguards.

Wherever your opinion on this virus-and fear pandemic, there is enough fear to go around. But notice the solution Paul provides in Romans 15 … “you received the Spirit of adoption by whom we cry out, ‘Abba Father!’”

The antidote to a spirit of slavery to fear is “adoption.” The word for adoption is “huiothesia” and it means to be adopted into a divine family. We know it is a divine adoption because Paul links that adoption to the Spirit of God. The word he uses for “Spirit” is “pneuma” and signifies the Holy Spirit of God is involved in that adoption.

Now we have the closest of relationships … instead of crying out in fear we cry out “Abba, Father!” as we remember that our relationship with God is far stronger than our fears.

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What Are You Afraid of …?

by TerryLema

I need a new dresser. One of the drawers is broken on my old one, so broken it had to be removed. So now there is this annoying gaping hole where a drawer should be. I am a little OCD, so the key word in that last sentence is “annoying.” Every time I walk by, I am reminded that I need a new dresser.

I looked online at various furniture sites but hesitated to buy. Either they were too expensive, or they had to be assembled on arrival, or the quality was a bit iffy. I decided then to venture out of the house, mask on, and went to various thrift stores, furniture stores and big box stores. That was not an easy decision. I have not been inside those kinds of places for months and I will admit that with my immune-compromised health, it was a bit scary.

So, upon reading 1John 4 this week, I came across a wonderfully familiar verse. “There is no fear in love; instead, perfect love drives out fear, because fear involves punishment” [v4:18 HCSB]

I thought it interesting that I had a bit of fear going shopping, but I had no fear about accepting Almighty God’s invitation to come into His presence this morning. I know my Father loves me. I know that my condemnation and punishment has been removed because of His perfect love for me, and because of what Jesus, my Savior, did on the cross.

Romans 8:1 promises me that “Therefore, no condemnation now exists for those in Christ Jesus.” [HCSB]

 I can come to my Father with great respect, awe, adoration, amazement, and reverence, but I do not fear Him. I know that He will accept me, cherish me, discipline me when needed, and guide me. There is no fear in His love for me.

That makes this one Wonderful Wednesday!  (Oh, and I still haven’t found a dresser. Sigh.)

 

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Do Not Fear

by TerryLema

“Do not fear, for I am with you; do not be afraid, for I am your God. I will strengthen you; I will help you; I will hold on to you with My righteous right hand.” [Isaiah 41:10 HCSB]

Whenever I read this verse I am reminded of my husband and our children. Whenever we were walking anywhere that had danger, a parking lot, along a sidewalk in a busy street, in a crowded theme park, he made sure they held his hands. I always see the “Righteous Right Hand” of our Father God in that. I remember that it was not the strength of our child’s hand in Bob’s that kept them safe. It was the strength of Bob’s hand holding them that assured them of safety.

While this verse was written to Israel originally, I know that God is now holding out His Hand to His beloved children from every nationality, tribe and tongue, to all those who have come to Him through the work of His Son Christ Jesus on the cross.

We are not to be afraid for He is with us. He is our God. He will strengthen us for this difficult time. He will help us as we speak out for the truth of the Gospel. He will hold on to us in the face of all danger with the strength of His righteous right hand where Jesus has ascended and now continues to make intercession for us.

As I read this verse, I am also thrilled by the promises contained in the verses that follow it.  “Be sure that all who are enraged against you will be ashamed and disgraced; those who contend with you will become as nothing and will perish. You will look for those who contend with you, but you will not find them. Those who war against you will become absolutely nothing. For I, Yahweh your God, hold your right hand and say to you: Do not fear, I will help you.” [vs 11-14 HCSB]

One day, in the presence of our God, we will look around and see that every opposition, all enemies are gone. They will have “become absolutely nothing,” and all that remains will be our Wonderful, Amazing Father God and His children. Amen & Amen.

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Reverence for God Almighty

by TerryLema

Uzzah. Ananias and Sapphira. Those names bring up two events, one in the Old Testament and one in the New, that often leave us puzzled or confused. If you read the story of Uzzah in 2 Samuel 6, you know that Uzzah was one of the priests charged with bringing the Ark of Covenant to the city of David. As a priest, he should have known how the Ark was to be transported on the shoulders of priests. Instead the Ark was placed on a cart and when the oxen pulling the cart stumbled, Uzzah reached out his hand to steady the Ark.  For that, “the Lord’s anger burned against Uzzah, and God struck him dead on the spot for his irreverence, and he died there next to the ark of God.” [v7 CSV]

Well, that was the God of the Old Testament, and surely the God of the New Testament is more lenient and gracious regarding irreverence. We might believe that except for the account in Acts 5 of Ananias and Sapphira.

Shortly after the new church was formed, Barnabas, known as the son of encouragement, sold some property and gave the money to the apostles to be used for the poor. Ananias and Sapphira, not wanting to be outdone, also sold some property. When they brought a portion of the profit to the Apostles, they led them to believe it was all the profit. Lying to the Holy Spirit brought about the immediate judgment of God and a quick trip to the cemetery. Verse 11 tells us when that happened, “Great fear seized the whole church and all who heard about these events.”

 These events highlight the consequences of irreverence. They also highlight the fact that we serve a God who is dangerous and not safe. God will not be mocked. If we sow to irreverence, we will reap judgment.

Part of me, when I read these two stories, always wonders what the church would be like if men and women both behind and in front of the pulpit today—who knowingly disrespect God—suffered the same immediate consequence.  Then I think great fear would seize the church, and, maybe, we would be that pure and holy Bride God has called us to be.

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He Set Me Free!

by TerryLema

When I needed an attitude adjustment, God took me to Psalm 118, and the reminder that “This is the day the LORD has made, I will rejoice and be glad in it.”

In order not to allow my attitude to become maladjusted again, God is having me pray through the Psalm. Today I am praying through verses 5-7: “In my anguish I cried to the LORD, and he answered by setting me free. The LORD is with me; I will not be afraid. What can man do to me? The LORD is with me; he is my helper. I will look in triumph on my enemies.”

What is the greatest fear playing out in the world today? It is the fear of death. We are sheltered-in-place because we fear what a virus can do to us. It not only has the potential of making us sick, it has the potential to kill us. We are bombarded with that fact constantly every day. The airways are filled with the latest statistics about how many are acquiring the virus, how many are on ventilators, how many have died, where the latest outbreak has occurred. We leave our homes in trepidation and see people wearing masks, avoiding contact with others. We cannot help but be fearful.

The Psalmist reminds us however, that when we cry out to God, His answer is to set us free from that fear. He reminds us that whether we shelter-at-home or venture out He is with us. He is our helper. Paul confirms that in 2 Timothy 1:7: “For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.”

God is with us. I will add my voice to that of the psalmist, “I will not be afraid. What can man [or virus] do to me?” All my days are already numbered. When it is my time to go, via virus or some other conveyance, I will march into the presence of my God in triumph.

Father, remind us today that you are with us every moment, whether we are inside our homes or outside of them. Keep us in Your precious care. Give us that spirit of power, love, and a sound mind so that every fear is driven far from us. Amen & Amen.

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Fill You

by TerryLema

Romans 15:13: “May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.”

Right now the world isn’t overflowing with joy, peace or hope. That doesn’t mean Christians can’t. After all, while we are “in the world” and to a certain extent vulnerable to the world’s trials and difficulties, we are not “of the world.” We view things from a different perspective. Our view is a heavenly view. We see things through the eyes of the Holy Spirit.

Our buildings are closed, but the church is not. What an amazing time for the church to show this frightened, locked down world, that our God is bigger than our buildings.

If we allow our Father God, He will through the power of His Spirit, fill us with joy and peace – all He asks is that we trust in Him. Once we are filled, we begin to overflow, and our overflow is hope for those who are bound by fear and anxiety amid this present COVID-19 crisis.

Sure, we are “locked down” in our homes, but we have telephones and social media. We can call people, check on them, encourage them, pray with them. We can remind people that our lives are not governed by human officials but by the power of God’s very Spirit through Christ Jesus our LORD. When all is said and done, God will still be on His throne.

So church, be the church today. Share Jesus. Pray for Revival. Encourage the Hopeless. Help Others. This is an amazing time for God to be exalted in our everyday actions and attitudes.

Press on Beloved!

 

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Let’s Glorify God

by TerryLema

If there is a question we should be asking right now, it is, “how do we glorify God in the midst of this crisis?”

And yes, it is a crisis in the sense of the definition: a time of intense difficulty, trouble, or danger.

No matter how this crisis began, it is ours now. As Christians we should be leading the way. We should see this as opportunity to do good and to show courage and strength amid all the fear around us. We can use Abraham as our model. Paul wrote of him, “He did not waver through unbelief regarding the promise of God, but was strengthened in his faith and gave glory to God, being fully persuaded that God had power to do what he had promised.” [Rom 4:20-21 NIV]

Abraham believed God for the son God promised him, even though he and Sarah were way beyond child-bearing years. God fulfilled His promise to Abraham.

God will fulfill His promise to us. This is a good time to show those in bondage to fear, those who are acting out their fears with inappropriate behaviors, that our God is good and that we glorify Him when we believe His promises.

Ps 9:9-10: “The LORD is a refuge for the oppressed, a stronghold in times of trouble. Those who know your name will trust in you, for you, LORD, have never forsaken those who seek you.”

Ps 119:114: “You [LORD] are my refuge and my shield; I have put my hope in your word.”

Heb 13:5-6: “For He Himself has said, ‘I will never leave you nor forsake you.’ So we may boldly say: ‘The LORD is my helper; I will not fear. What can man [or disease] do to me?’”  

 Indeed, let’s be brave and glorify God … He is our refuge, shield, hope, stronghold, and ever present help.

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A Great Awakening

by TerryLema

Never in my wildest imagination did I ever think I’d preach a sermon on a virus, but that is exactly what I did on Sunday. Well, maybe not “preached,” but spent time talking and sharing about it. Jesus said that “truth sets us free.”

While we understand that He was speaking of the truth that is resident in Him that sets us free from the hold the enemy and the curse has on our life, truth of any kind really does set us free.

We certainly need to be cautious about the COVID-19 virus, as we are cautious about any contagious disease, especially if we are in a vulnerable group. Being fearful however is not a response that should be found in Christians. If we know the truth of COVID-19, as best we can with ever-changing information, we can take appropriate measures but let the fear fall away.

This is an amazing time of opportunity for the church. We have been seeking the fires of God’s Spirit to sweep our nation and our world with revival. We have been praying for people who have never known Jesus to come to Him. We have been praying for the hurt and wounded by the church to find healing and freedom to return. We have been praying that churches that have been less than Scriptural in their message to find truth in Christ and return as Bible-believing, Bible-preaching churches that abound in grace.

Often when the church is prosperous, she strays from the vital and important. When difficulties arise, or persecutions come, she become united and back on the narrow path. We have heard and “sensed” that a new awakening is coming, that’s it “right around the corner.” Maybe God is using what the enemy means for harm – the FEAR that is sweeping our planet – to bring us one step closer to that last great awakening.

This is opportunity, beloved, to remind people that there is a God, that He has a purpose for their life (and they have a responsibility to Him), that there is freedom in the salvation of Christ Jesus, and that we need not fear. Remember His words: “Come to me, all you who are weary [hopeless] and burdened [fearful], and I will give you rest.” [Matt 11:28 NIV]

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We’re All Gonna Die!

by TerryLema

Christopher Bullock, an English actor and dramatist, uttered the following quote in the satire “The Cobbler of Preston” in 1716: “Tis impossible to be sure of anything but Death and Taxes.”

Yep, we got both. And when it comes to death and taxes, the accompanying emotion is often fear. That’s what we are seeing all around us now. We have a FEAR-pandemic. It’s spreading around the world. People are afraid of the coronavirus because they are afraid of death.

No one wants to die. There is something ingrained in our DNA that fights death tooth-and-nail. We were created for life. Death is an enemy, a part of the curse of sin. We hate it. Even Christians hate it, as they should.

But hating it as part of sin’s curse and fearing it are not the same thing. Christ Jesus conquered death, and all who come to Him have eternal life. Now we eagerly wait for that final enemy, death, to be forever destroyed. [1 Cor 15:20-28]

In the meantime, we live in the promise that “we walk by faith, not by sight,” and that “to be absent from the body [is] to be present with the Lord.” [2 Cor 5:7-8 NKJV ]

Whatever kills us sends us home to be with our LORD and Savior Christ Jesus. What a marvelous opportunity this FEAR-pandemic is to show the world a face of courage and joy that comes from our salvation in Christ!

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Opportunities Abound!

by TerryLema

The world is in the grips of a FEAR-pandemic. Events are canceled or “suspended.” Government officials are forbidding or “recommending” that any gathering more than a few people be canceled, including church services. The stock market has been on a steady decline. People are not going to restaurants or any place they “fear” they’ll acquire the virus. The media is one talking head after another telling us about the virus and what precautions we should take, what we should expect, what we should or should not do. It’s a response to FEAR unlike anything I’ve seen since Y2K! (Which by the way did not do anything the talking heads predicted it would do.)

Amid this FEAR-pandemic, the church needs to be the source of HOPE and COURAGE. The Bible is cover-to-cover a message from God that those who love Him should not fear. Whether OT or NT, “do not fear” is a major theme.

“Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by your name; you are Mine. When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow you. When you walk through the fire, you shall not be burned, nor shall the flame scorch you. For I am the LORD your God.” [Isa 43:1-3 NKJV]

“Do not fear, little flock, for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom.” [Luke 12:32 NKJV]

Should we use caution, of course, just as we do so we don’t spread the flu or the common cold. But while others are responding to all this with FEAR, the church should be viewing this as an opportunity to share the HOPE we have in Christ Jesus.

Let’s keep our heads, beloved. An average of 115 persons die each day in motor vehicle crashes in the United States — one every 13 minutes. According to the World Health Organization about 3000 people die in crashes each day worldwide. Keep perspective. The world has always been full of danger, but God is full of grace, mercy and goodness. Share His delights with others who are struggling with fear and hopelessness. Don’t miss this time of opportunity!

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