Fear

Fear afflicts our lives one time or another. There are 300 references in the Bible, showing how serious 

the problem is. Fear of the unknown is the greatest  fear.

There are two kinds of fear in Scripture:

1. The fear of the Lord- Pro.1:7, 19:2.

2. The fear of man, Pro.29:25.

The 2nd is a direct product of sin-Gen.3:9-10.

God wants us to be free from its grip- Is. 41:10. (a command?)

Fear paralyses and makes us disloyal. We cannot live healthy Christian lives if we are gripped by fear.

There is healthy fear, that protects us (e.g. a passing car), but also unhealthy fear (the fear of man or from the devil).

How do we free ourselves from fear? 'Perfect Love....'-1 John 4:18. The command is 'Fear God' which is the conclusion- Eccl.12:13, but we also need to work out our Salvation with Fear and Trembling- Phil.2:12.

How do we recognize true fear? 

1. By its rise. It causes saving conviction of sin. It drives the soul to lay hold of Christ for Salvation.

2. It produces in the soul great reverence for God , His Word, His ways, keeping us afraid to turn to wrong, or do anything that offends or grieves His Holy Spirit, or causes the enemy to speak reproachfully.

God is not the Author of unclean Fear, that usually comes from a spirit-2 Tim.1:7-8.

The Holy Spirit dwells in the life of the believer, we cannot hold two opposing spirits simultaneously. There is no room for fear in the life of a true believer.

What do we do when fear comes upon us?  Ps.56:3.

Prophets 

Prophets are God's vehicle for communicating His Word. What is the mark of a true Prophet?

1. A prophet is an ordinary man. There is nothing extraordinary about the man God uses. Not a super Christian.

2. The prophet is an obedient man. He is a man that does not speak of himself. A vehicle to bring the Word. The Word he gives is not his own. Furthermore he does not take it personally when his message is rejected, nor when it is accepted.

3. He is a man who recognizes that his role is completely out of his hands. His message is from beyond- 1 Cor.4:10. As servants of God we must see that the role we have to play is out of our hands. Success or failure will not ultimately be charged to us.

4.The prophet is impartial in his administering the Word. He becomes like God who is not a 'respecter of persons'. He is one who cannot be bribed to change his message, like Balaam. When people harm God's prophets they do a dangerous thing - Ps.105:15. When anyone harms a prophet of God it can backfire in one of two ways. It maybe that the person who has done so will soon be struck down. Sometimes when people harm  God's prophets the consequences is a general famine of the Word of God, Jer.23:28-29.

How different the prophet in the O.T. were to the ones of today. When they spoke to bring the Word, people knew that God had spoken .The true prophets of God were indeed holy men of God. They had an awesome responsibility before God and they were aware of it fully.

Suffering

Why does God allow suffering and evil? A puzzling question. Why the good suffer, the evil seem to prosper, etc.- Ps.73:1-5. 

Nobody escapes suffering in this life. We live in a world full of evil, pain and suffering. A world under the curse, Rom.8:20-23.

What is the cause, what is the answer?

Firstly, the primary cause of all suffering and evil is Sin that came into the world.

Secondly, there are two main causes that bring about suffering:

1. Can be caused by people's actions, attitudes and behaviour. Remember- one of Adam's sons killed his brother.

2. Can be caused by Satan and demonic activity. Look at Job's case- Job. 1-2.

The results of most suffering are:- sickness, pain, mental afflictions, wounds, distress and lots more.

But suffering can also come as a form of judgement, e.g. the flood, Sodom and Gomorrah, the plagues in Egypt, etc.

Suffering can also come upon the believer. Why?

As a remedial cause to correct us and shape us for eternity. But believers must face suffering with the right attitude, Heb.12:4-6.

Job, when suffering thought it was because of sin, Job 42:3. The Disciples thought the blind man sinned  John 9:1-3.  Paul's, ' thorn in the flesh' became a source of blessing to countless people, 2 Cor. 

12:7-10. The Psalmist's experience- Ps.119:67.

What is our attitude to suffering? Do we blame God and people or view it as a means of growth in the Faith? Look at Job's attitude: Job 1:20-21.

Matthew 8:18-27

'I will follow you.....'

The scribe must have meant it and so do many of us in deciding to follow Jesus.

"the foxes have holes" Jesus promises nothing, only Himself. Christianity is not a bed of roses. full of endless bliss.

Another said, "let me bury...." they all had something on their minds. Jesus said, ' No one having put his hand on the plough....' Luke 9:62.

Following Jesus is not always being in a Church meeting or singing Hallelujahs. Sometimes we find ourselves in a storm or a test to take. Sometimes we are ridiculed, falsely accused or have a cross to bear. They did the same to Him and will do the same to you. They said to Him on the Cross, 'If you are....' .

He told His disciples, 'Go to the other side', no mistake. They paid little attention to His word. So do we often, while following Him. They were experienced fishermen, yet frightened, but he was in the boat with them. We are perishing! He promised, 'I will never leave you nor....' They cried out, 'Lord save us' Men of little faith.

Do we have a mustard seed of faith? God put us in a school down here, to prepare us for Heaven. Paul and Silas, following Jesus, landed in a jail. but praised God and found deliverance. The three boys found themselves in a furnace obeying God, but God came down to be with them.

The frightened disciples learned a lesson to remember forever.

Not pleasant when going through difficulties, but when on the other side we will be better persons for God. Heb. 12:11.