Many things can happen to the heart of a man. Some things are good and some, not so much. The Word says that wickedness and evil are devised in the heart of man. Reverence and respect for God also come from the heart of man. Faith in the heart of man is a spiritual force or God-given ability to operate in the spiritual realm. Since man is essentially a spirit being, this faith realm is used to contact and fellowship with the Father. Fear is also a spiritual force or ability that operates in the heart of man to destroy or neutralize faith.
The word "fear" in the Bible, doesn't always have the same meaning or the same outcome. In Psalm 86:11 (Amplified) we read, "Teach me Your way O Lord, that I may walk and live in Your truth; direct and unite my heart (solely, reverently) to fear and honor Your name."
The word "fear" here is used in the form of reverence and honor in the heart of a man. The psalmist asks for a united heart; a heart, soul and will united as one, to praise and honor God. This fear is built from love and respect and faith in and for God and not fear of terror or cowardly trembling.
Isaiah spoke about those coming into the new covenant through Jesus' sacrifice in Isaiah 54:14 (Amplified) saying, "You shall establish yourself in righteousness (rightness in conformity with God's will and order) You shall be far from even the thought of oppression, or destruction, for you shall not fear, and from terror, for it shall not come near you."
The Lord says in this scripture that we shall not fear, be afraid, be frightened, or be in dread. He also said that the dismissal of fear from our hearts would remove even the thought of oppression or destruction by not allowing fear to enter into our heart by establishing in righteousness.
Because we are spirit beings and all of us are open to fear or faith, we must make choices of which we will allow in our hearts. Isaiah 54:14 (Amplified) said that we are to establish ourselves in righteousness. By so doing, we can remove the fear and can unite our hearts in faith in God and His Word. We learned that a divided heart is one of the fatal heart conditions in the Body of Christ today. The reason for a divided heart is lack of a revelation of righteousness in Christ through faith.
Fear, dread and terror that comes into a heart is a spiritual force of the enemy. It always tries to remove faith in God and His Word so it can work its devilish work in the heart. The prime personality of fear is satan himself. He is fear and the most fearing creature in all of creation. His entire character is fear. He tries to get us to move in fear and mostly the fear that God's Word isn't going to work. This fear in the Christan's heart, holds us down into a merely human existence instead of the mighty power of God in our spirit. "Greater is He Who is in us than he who is in the world."
2Timothy1:7 (Amplified) says, "For God did not give us a spirit of fear (timidity, of cowardice of craven and cringing and fawning fear), but (He has given us a spirit) of power and of love and of a calm and well-balanced mind and discipline and self control."
Since fear is a spirit and it's not God given, we are to resist it by the Spirit of Love, power and a sound mind. The Spirit that God gave us is the Holy Spirit as well as a born again spirit in His likeness and image.
This spirit, or this new heart He has place in us, is to be guarded by faith in His Word. A fearful heart is something that has no place in the Christian life. When people talk about being a "God fearing Christian," it doesn't mean someone who's afraid of God, but someone who reverances and honors God. Luke 21:26 (Amplified) says, "Men swooning away or expiring in fear and dread and apprehension and expectation of the things that are coming on the world; for the (very) powers of the heavens will be shaken and caused to totter." He isn't necessarily speaking about the heart as the blood pumping organ, although that heart can and will be seized up by fear as well as the spirit man.
The apathy and futility that's already come upon the earth, is claiming lives by fear today. People fear the loss of a job or the lack of funds needed to pay the mortgage and household bills. Without the faith in your heart to trust God, these things will cause the stress and strain of everyday to make a person just give up. This fear is probably the greatest fear allowed into a man's heart. We have more fear of the world than we do in the Word today. This brings a divided heart and fear that God's promises won't come to pass. We confess to believe in God's Word, but only have faith in what we can see. Fear has crowded out faith and we only walk in what we can see.
The Lord said in Isaiah 54:15 (Amplified), that terror, fear, oppression or destruction may gather against you, but not by Him. He said that, "if we will establish ourselves in righteousness, whoever (or whatever) stirs up strife again us shall fall and surrender to us." Proverbs 4:23 (Amplified) tells us, "Keep and guard your heart (your spirit) with all vigilance and above all that you guard, for out of it (your spirit) flows the springs of life."
God is our life and the length of our days. The life that flows out of our spirit is the very life of God Himself. The fear that we allow in our hearts by not guarding our hearts, will choke off the power of the Spirit. Fear will negate faith and leave us in a place of total futility and apathy. This leads to the oppression spoken about in Isaiah 54:14 (Amplified). That's why God says we must be established in righteousness of God through Christ Jesus. 2Corinthians 5:21 (Amplified) says that if this is established in our heart, then fear has no place to enter in. That's why we must guard our hearts.
All the enemy has to do is to get our minds focused on the things around us instead of God's Word and fear can enter in. Does this mean that you're not saved or to be lost? No, of course not. But, it will rob you of your peace, your strength and your faith. 2Timothy 1:7 (Amplified) says that, "[God] gave us a spirit (a new heart) of power, and of love (love for Him, the fear of the Lord) and of a calm and well-balanced mind and discipline and self control."
This self control if the ability to take the Word of God and make the mind and flesh obey what the Word says instead of what the world is trying to tell us. And, it's the ability that doesn't allow the things going on around us to determine our lives. The Lord told Joshua in Joshua 1:9 (Amplified), "Have I not commanded you? Be strong, vigorous and very courageous. Be not afraid, neither be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go."
There were certainly more than enough things going on around Joshua to bring fear into his heart. He was to lead all of God's people. He'd seen their disobedience before. He knew of the giants in the land. He knew of the walled cities before him. Only Caleb was in agreement with him about what God called them to do. Notice how God didn't say that there was nothing out there to be afraid of. There were many things that Joshua could have feared. God told him to "be strong, vigorous and of good courage." This was something that Joshua had to do for himself.
God said that "He has given us a spirit of love, power and of a sound mind." Now, it's up to us to be strong in Him and the power of His might. The choice is ours. God has give us provision for all that we need to stand. We have to decide to not allow the things around us to numb our hearts with fear and make them inactive or to be strong and courageous in faith in the Blood, by faith in the Word and by faith in the Spirit of God.
Fear will try entering your heart and choke off your faith if you will allow it. Some find if easier not to teach the Word to God's people and let them think everything that occurs in their lives is God's plan for them. Ephesians 2:10 (Amplified) tells me that God's plan for my life is different than what some would tell me. It says, "For we are God's (Own) handiwork (His workmanship) recreated in Christ Jesus, (born anew) that we may do those good works which God predestined (planned beforehand) for us (taking paths which He prepared ahead of time) that we should walk in them (living the good life which He prearranged and made ready for us to live)."
You must be strong and of good courage to do this and to walk by faith in your heart. A fear filled heart, according to 1Timothy 1:7 (Amplified), is "A spirit of timidity, of cowardice of craven and cringing and fawning fear." This spirit comes from the enemy to turn the Supermen of God back into Clark Kent and to keep us from walking boldly in faith and become cowards in the face of the world.
We see those who once denied Jesus and fled from Him during His trial and execution, in the Upper Room in the entire chapter of Acts 2. Fear had ruled in their hearts and even though they knew Who Jesus was, fear was stronger than faith in their hearts. When God gave them the Holy Spirit, the spirit of love, power and a sound mind, these men (including Peter) who had been cowards, became like lions. There was no timidity, cowardice or craven or cringing fear in them. Acts 2:41 (Amplified) says that, "Because of faith instead of fear, Peter stood and delivered a message that brought 3,000 people unto the Lord, in one sermon." He was no longer ruled by fear, but by faith. A fearful heart caused Peter to even deny knowing Jesus. But, faith cast out fear and delivered those who were lost.
We are intimidated by the world, by those in our own congregations, by those in politics and even by those in our own household. We let the fear of rejection stop us from preaching the power of God. We've let fear of people leaving our church for another control how much of the actual Word we will preach. Fear filled hearts have watered down the Word in our churches until there's very little left to say. It's almost like saying to the people, "Just don't believe God for anything and that way you will never be disappointed." Probably the worst of all fears to enter our hearts is the fear of not having the Word be true.
No comments:
Post a Comment