‘Whosoever shall SEEK TO SAVE his life shall lose it; and whosoever shall lose his life shall preserve it.’ (Luke 17:33)
God isn’t mocked. He knows our hearts. If we realize our attitudes aren’t right . . . see that we are falling short . . . we must repent and ask Him for help.
Yes, there are fearful things ahead–but fear isn’t an option for a Christian, anymore than lust is. We must repent of fear and fight it, through prayer and READING THE BIBLE (faith comes by hearing the Word of God).
It is fear that drives people to cling to the (false) preTrib Rapture doctrine. They ‘seek to preserve [their] life’. This is natural and understandable–but so are lust, lying, stealing, etc. We must overcome our own selfish desires and sinful nature, take up our cross and follow Him. By the power of the Holy Spirit living in us, we CAN have victory over the flesh!! And He WILL sustain us through WHATEVER He calls us to.
Don’t think fear is that big an issue?
‘But the FEARFUL, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the LAKE WHICH BURNETH WITH FIRE AND BRIMSTONE: which is the second death.’ (Rev. 21:8)
Wow. That’s sobering.
As a Christian, when we give in to fear, we negate our testimony to all who are around us. When we give in to fear, we are calling God a liar, because He has promised to take care of us and to be with us always. Our fear says we don’t really believe that’s true.
‘Now the just shall live by faith: but if [any man] draw back, my soul shall have no pleasure in him. But we are not of them who draw back unto perdition; but of them that believe to the saving of the soul.’ (Hebrews 10:38-39)
‘. . . we may boldly say, The Lord [is] my helper, and I WILL NOT FEAR what man shall do unto me.’ (Hebrews 13:6)
‘For GOD HATH NOT GIVEN US THE SPIRIT OF FEAR; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind. BE NOT THOU THEREFORE ASHAMED OF THE TESTIMONY OF OUR LORD, nor of me his prisoner: but be thou partaker of THE AFFLICTIONS OF THE GOSPEL according to the power of God;’
(2 Timothy 1:7-8)
‘FEAR NONE OF THOSE THINGS WHICH THOU SHALT SUFFER: behold, the devil shall cast [some] of you into prison, that ye may be tried; and ye shall have tribulation ten days: BE THOU FAITHFUL UNTO DEATH, and I will give thee a crown of life.’ (Rev. 2:10)
‘ . . . that through death he might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil; And deliver them WHO THROUGH FEAR OF DEATH WERE ALL THEIR LIFETIME SUBJECT TO BONDAGE.’ (Hebrews 2:14-15)
Fear of death is a bondage–a bondage that Jesus (also) died to deliver us from! Only fear God, and the wickedness in your own heart.
I’m not saying you’re in sin to be afraid or to feel fear–it’s what you DO when that happens that matters. Do you ruminate on that fear? Do you worry endlessly? Do you give in mentally, physically, or spiritually? Or, do you fight the fear as though it were an enemy? Do you rebuke it and ignore it and press on?
Faith is the enemy of fear. Faith or fear–when things happen, you make a choice which to yield to.
‘But without FAITH [it is] impossible to please [him]: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and [that] he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.‘ (Hebrews 11:6)
‘Let us hold fast the profession of [our] faith without wavering; (for he [is] faithful that promised;)‘ (Hebrews 10:23)
God is FAITHFUL to perform what He has promised. Read the Bible and find out WHAT He has promised. Read stories of God in action, and how He deals with His people. Build your faith!!
‘So then FAITH [cometh] by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.’ (Romans 10:17)
‘Above all, taking the shield of FAITH, wherewith ye shall be able to quench ALL THE FIERY DARTS OF THE WICKED.’ (Eph. 6:16)
This is my first visit to your blog. I came here after listening to you on several occasions through TruNews.com.
Oh my. I’ve read most of these versus many times but for some reason, the first 3 words of Rev 21:8 hadn’t sunk in that the fearful is grouped with those that end up in the lake of fire. I TRULY believe we are living in the end times, but fear grips me so bad I want to run from it. My husband and I listen to Trunews all the time. I get so fear stricken I can barely breathe after listening to some episodes. Please don’t misunderstand; TruNews is a Godsend and it’s the message not the messenger that brings on fear.
Your comments on TruNews tonight did bring welcoming hope. I pray and stand on Psalm 91 all the time and you talked about that. Many times I am left feeling hopeless because I live in America and will burn to death!?! I don’t know how God will do it, but I believe and have faith He will see us through. So I need to stop worrying about it and stop being afraid.
I am not associated with TruNews, although I listen pretty regularly. I must tell you this–not everyone who is interviewed on the program is speaking truth. Before reading or listening to things you must ‘cover yourself’ in prayer. Pray first, whether God would have you listen or not. If you have peace about it, then pray that anything said that isn’t true would not take root in your heart. Also pray for wisdom and discernment about what you are getting ready to listen to. (There are times I shut the program off, because I can see the person isn’t right.)
If you begin to feel fear, understand that fear is often a spirit. Say out loud: ‘Fear, I bind you in Jesus’ name and command you to leave, and not return.’ Then ignore it. If you are a born again Christian, you have authority in Jesus’ name, and demons must flee.
If it is fear that comes from inside you, you can’t just ignore that. You will have to fight it, by refusing to give in to it. Combat it by filling your mind with The Word. If you are willing to accept the truth, no matter how bad it seems, the Lord WILL give you comfort and strength. He will increase your faith. It may not happen all in a day, but He IS faithful. Whatever He calls us to do, He will EMPOWER us to do, when the time arrives. The Lord has a way of turning our greatest weakness into our greatest strength, when we commit ourselves fully to Him.
God know your name–it is written on the palm of His hand. He hears your every prayer. Nothing happens to you that doesn’t fit His plan for your life, the development of your character, and your sanctification. You are surrounded with a great cloud of witnesses, in the spiritual realm, who are cheering you on. Run the race to the finish!!