Here I want to write on Fear. (I had previously written a blog on Pride please click here to read.)
The book of Isaiah, chapter 7 speaks of King Ahaz of Judah and his great fear of his enemies. Through his prophet Isaiah, the Lord speaks to the king to not worry about his enemies, but Ahaz's great fear gets the better of him. The Lord refers to Ahaz's enemies as "two burned out embers." The Lord says to him, "If you want me to protect you, learn to believe what I say." (In other words - HAVE FAITH!) The same chapter reminds us of an omniscient and omnipresent God who knows exactly where you are and exactly where your enemy is, and what your enemy is up to. Isaiah 7:3 speaks to the omniscience of the Lord, for he tells Isaiah, " Then the LORD said to Isaiah, "Go out to meet King Ahaz, you and your son Shear-jashub. You will find the king at the end of the aqueduct that feeds water into the upper pool, near the road leading to the field where cloth is bleached."
Against the LORD's promise of safety, King Ahaz decided to get help from the Assyrian King - Tiglath Pileser III and in turn invokes God's anger on himself. Lord speaks to Ahaz through Isaiah and tells him that the help he thought he could obtain by paying another king was going to be an albatross around Ahaz's neck. For Isaiah 7:20 (NLT) says, 'In that day the Lord will take this "razor" - these Assyrians you have hired to protect you - and use it to shave off everything: your land, your crops, and your people.' The one he hired to help, fleeced him off of everything he had. There is a steep price to pay for disregarding God's instructions.
Be like Shadrach, Meshech and Abednego, bold in the face of certain death for not worshipping the statue of the king, who told King Nebuchadnezzar, "If we are thrown into the blazing furnace, the God whom we serve is able to save us. He will rescue us from your power, Your Majesty. But even if he doesn't, Your Majesty can be sure that we will never serve your gods or worship the gold statue you have set up." (Daniel 3:17-18)
Be like Daniel, who upon hearing that his enemies were successful in passing a law that required King Darius' subjects to worship no other gods but the king for thirty days, went home and knelt down as usual in his upstairs room, with its windows open toward Jerusalem. He prayed three times a day, just as he had always done, giving thanks to his God. (Daniel 6:10)
Though Shardrach, Meshech and Abednego where thrown in to the fire and though Daniel was thrown into the lions' pit, in the middle of their trials their LORD GOD stepped in to protect them. The Bible says regarding Shadrach, Meshech and Abednego that "Not a hair on their heads was singed, and their clothing was not scorched. They didn't even smell of smoke!" (Daniel 3:27). And regarding Daniel, the Bible says, God sent his angel to shut the the lions' mouths so that they would not hurt him. "Not a scratch was found on him because he had trusted in his God." (Daniel 6:22-23)
Trust in this Lord, and He will see you through. For apostle Paul in Romans 8:11-17 reminds us that the spirit that lives within us is the Spirit that raised up Christ. It is not a spirit of fear or timidity, but might. Therefore, Paul encourages us to stop acting like cowering slaves, instead act as the children of the Almighty God.
I would like to encourage you, as the Bible does, to pray continuosly so that Satan who roams around roaring like a devouring lion will not have an opportunity to use your weakness. God bless you!
Casting Crowns - Fear
Jars of Clay - Two Hands
The Sidewalk Prophets - Words I would say
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