FEAR IS NO THREAT
"And the Angel of the Lord appeared to him and said to him, The Lord is with you, you mighty man of [fearless] courage." (Judges 6:12, AMP)
Whenever God's people discuss faith and fear, it seems as if we (people) have a storehouse of faith--or at least we (think we) should; and we should never have any fear or trepidation. Truthfully, and honestly, all humans experience fear--it's apart of what makes us human. Fear is necessary for us to be safe. We won't respond appropriately in dangerous situations, without it. There is something called the "fight or flight response"; and it is our bodies natural (and innate) reaction to any perceived attack, and this response prepares us to react quickly in a potentially hazardous crisis or circumstance. God put this in us. Still, many of us, think of fear as an enemy. We assume, I believe wrongfully, that if God detects any vestige of fear in us, than He cannot or will not work in us or for us, doing any exploits--much less great ones.
It is a widely held belief today, that God only responds to our faith. I don't quite understand that, because any faith that "we" have, God gives it to us--we don't muster it up, by our own willpower or strength of mind or spirit, it is His gift. Furthermore, faith is built. Faith comes as we hear the Word of God. When we hear the Word, and it takes root in our hearts, and we begin to live the Word that we hear, and "our" faith grows. More accurately, God's faith in our hearts, grows and stretches, with use. As this happens, fear lessens more and more because we get accustomed to the power of God in our lives to do above all that we ask or think. However, God doesn't wait until we have enough (of our own) faith to interact with us, or to help us--if He did that, none of us would have received salvation, because we couldn't possibly muster it up. God responds to our need, and He responds to repentant hearts.
That's the thing about reading the Bible, without context. The Word of God must be ingested "line upon line and precept upon precept" but not in a monotonous, lifeless way (Isaiah 28:13). The Word of God is to give life to the Spirit of man. We are not to pick and choose one verse here and there, out of context, that makes us feel good--and so, change the meaning that was intended. Context is of the utmost importance in the reading and study of God's Word. That (dismissing the context) is how we can think that we can't receive from God (or be used by Him) unless we come to God having faith already. It is impossible to please God, without faith--but the great thing about our God is that whatever He requires of us, He supplies to us. He doesn't ask anything of us that He does not give us. He requires holiness--He sanctifies us. He demands righteousness--He counts us righteous, by His own righteousness. And He wants our faith to be in Him--He gives us all the faith that we need--when we need it. We never have to come up with it, on our own. Ask Gideon.
In Judges 6, the Israelites, having fallen back into the old idolatrous ways, now find themselves suffering great oppression under the hands of the Midianites. The Midianites were extremely cruel and destructive. They didn't take from the Israelites, only because they wanted what they had, but often they took from them, simply for the pleasure of destroying it. The name "Midian" means strife. And, they were contentious. Gideon was extremely fearful of them so instead of threshing wheat in the threshingfloor--he took to threshing wheat in the winepress. It had to be most difficult to do, because the winepress was made so opposite of the threshingfloor. But Gideon was desperate to conceal whatever he could from the Midianites. When the Angel of the Lord comes to Gideon, Gideon was soaked in his fear, hiding and threshing, yet the Angel approaches exclaiming, "The Lord is with you, you mighty man of valor"! (KJV). Immediately, Gideon begins his diatribe of all that the people are going through--no mention of the cause (sin, specifically--idolatry); but questions how could God be with them? Also, Gideon does not even address what the Angel of the Lord (God, Himself) has called him. Gideon questions God's faithfulness. Isn't that what we often do when times are desperate? We want to know why God is silent. Why God doesn't change the situation--after all, we have been faithful, haven't we? Why do bad things happen to good people? Why did God let our loved one die. Gideon had those kind of questions, too. He didn't doubt God's ability--He knew what God could do--He'd heard all about it, his whole lifetime. He questioned why God wouldn't do it.
God told us before He approached Gideon why He allowed the misery to befall Israel--sin. However, when Gideon asked, He gave no reason. Sometimes, God doesn't answer us, either. He doesn't have to. The thing we have to understand is that sin is always the reason bad things happen (directly or indirectly). It could be our own, it could be someone else's choice to sin around us (and we are affected by it) or it (ultimately) is because sin exists in this world--and has since the fall of man. Because sin is in the world, death, destruction, starvation, trafficking of children, incest, molestation, hatred, racism, rape, violence, murder, domestic violence, verbal and emotional abuse, lying, prostitution, homosexuality, and all manner of evil are in the world and we will we touched by these things, because we are in the world. It is par for the course--and, it is ignorant to think that we will go through life in a sin-marred world without experiencing its effects. God never promised us that. What He promised us is victory over it, and that we won't be swallowed up by it, if we choose to walk by faith, in grace.
In essence, God ignored Gideon's questions and complaints. God had a plan, and Gideon was in that plan--fears and all, God was unmoved, by them. It was time. And, there was no time to entertain the complaints--it was time to equip Gideon to be the solution. Gideon didn't know that he was to be the solution. God had already called and chosen Gideon, now He is ready to send Gideon, but Gideon is still having an identity crisis. He goes on to tell God how insignificant he is--and we all are, really we are, but God sees us with Himself, in us--and that is a totally different image. When God is in us, we are "mighty men of valor" able to do great exploits!
Our fears don't frighten God. Our fears don't repulse God. Our fears and doubts really don't mean anything to God--when He calls and chooses us, the fears and doubts that linger simply mean that God will be able to get that much more glory. You see, it will be obvious that it wasn't us or our flesh, or any human ability that wrought the work.
I won't be able to take any credit--all the credit will have to go to God, because I was trembling in the winepress, like Gideon. I was marred by past and feeling hopeless. I was overlooked, rejected and given up on by men, but God saw me and put Himself in me. His Word came alive in me, and took root. He became great in me, and I am a Warrior tearing down the strongholds of the enemy--idolatry, pride, carnality, self-righteousness, elitism, and every facade of righteousness. It is my vocation to build up the Kingdom of God with His Words in my mouth, to encourage God's people on to repentance, to good works, to care for the "least of these" and away from selfishness and self-absorption, greed and building bigger barns. I am called to tear down every wall that divides and separates us, so that we can be one. It is by God's strength--and His faith in me that I will walk in my vocation, victoriously, with others who are called to this same ministry.
Lord prepare me, and raise up many more soldiers for this intense battle!
Whenever God's people discuss faith and fear, it seems as if we (people) have a storehouse of faith--or at least we (think we) should; and we should never have any fear or trepidation. Truthfully, and honestly, all humans experience fear--it's apart of what makes us human. Fear is necessary for us to be safe. We won't respond appropriately in dangerous situations, without it. There is something called the "fight or flight response"; and it is our bodies natural (and innate) reaction to any perceived attack, and this response prepares us to react quickly in a potentially hazardous crisis or circumstance. God put this in us. Still, many of us, think of fear as an enemy. We assume, I believe wrongfully, that if God detects any vestige of fear in us, than He cannot or will not work in us or for us, doing any exploits--much less great ones.
It is a widely held belief today, that God only responds to our faith. I don't quite understand that, because any faith that "we" have, God gives it to us--we don't muster it up, by our own willpower or strength of mind or spirit, it is His gift. Furthermore, faith is built. Faith comes as we hear the Word of God. When we hear the Word, and it takes root in our hearts, and we begin to live the Word that we hear, and "our" faith grows. More accurately, God's faith in our hearts, grows and stretches, with use. As this happens, fear lessens more and more because we get accustomed to the power of God in our lives to do above all that we ask or think. However, God doesn't wait until we have enough (of our own) faith to interact with us, or to help us--if He did that, none of us would have received salvation, because we couldn't possibly muster it up. God responds to our need, and He responds to repentant hearts.
That's the thing about reading the Bible, without context. The Word of God must be ingested "line upon line and precept upon precept" but not in a monotonous, lifeless way (Isaiah 28:13). The Word of God is to give life to the Spirit of man. We are not to pick and choose one verse here and there, out of context, that makes us feel good--and so, change the meaning that was intended. Context is of the utmost importance in the reading and study of God's Word. That (dismissing the context) is how we can think that we can't receive from God (or be used by Him) unless we come to God having faith already. It is impossible to please God, without faith--but the great thing about our God is that whatever He requires of us, He supplies to us. He doesn't ask anything of us that He does not give us. He requires holiness--He sanctifies us. He demands righteousness--He counts us righteous, by His own righteousness. And He wants our faith to be in Him--He gives us all the faith that we need--when we need it. We never have to come up with it, on our own. Ask Gideon.
In Judges 6, the Israelites, having fallen back into the old idolatrous ways, now find themselves suffering great oppression under the hands of the Midianites. The Midianites were extremely cruel and destructive. They didn't take from the Israelites, only because they wanted what they had, but often they took from them, simply for the pleasure of destroying it. The name "Midian" means strife. And, they were contentious. Gideon was extremely fearful of them so instead of threshing wheat in the threshingfloor--he took to threshing wheat in the winepress. It had to be most difficult to do, because the winepress was made so opposite of the threshingfloor. But Gideon was desperate to conceal whatever he could from the Midianites. When the Angel of the Lord comes to Gideon, Gideon was soaked in his fear, hiding and threshing, yet the Angel approaches exclaiming, "The Lord is with you, you mighty man of valor"! (KJV). Immediately, Gideon begins his diatribe of all that the people are going through--no mention of the cause (sin, specifically--idolatry); but questions how could God be with them? Also, Gideon does not even address what the Angel of the Lord (God, Himself) has called him. Gideon questions God's faithfulness. Isn't that what we often do when times are desperate? We want to know why God is silent. Why God doesn't change the situation--after all, we have been faithful, haven't we? Why do bad things happen to good people? Why did God let our loved one die. Gideon had those kind of questions, too. He didn't doubt God's ability--He knew what God could do--He'd heard all about it, his whole lifetime. He questioned why God wouldn't do it.
God told us before He approached Gideon why He allowed the misery to befall Israel--sin. However, when Gideon asked, He gave no reason. Sometimes, God doesn't answer us, either. He doesn't have to. The thing we have to understand is that sin is always the reason bad things happen (directly or indirectly). It could be our own, it could be someone else's choice to sin around us (and we are affected by it) or it (ultimately) is because sin exists in this world--and has since the fall of man. Because sin is in the world, death, destruction, starvation, trafficking of children, incest, molestation, hatred, racism, rape, violence, murder, domestic violence, verbal and emotional abuse, lying, prostitution, homosexuality, and all manner of evil are in the world and we will we touched by these things, because we are in the world. It is par for the course--and, it is ignorant to think that we will go through life in a sin-marred world without experiencing its effects. God never promised us that. What He promised us is victory over it, and that we won't be swallowed up by it, if we choose to walk by faith, in grace.
In essence, God ignored Gideon's questions and complaints. God had a plan, and Gideon was in that plan--fears and all, God was unmoved, by them. It was time. And, there was no time to entertain the complaints--it was time to equip Gideon to be the solution. Gideon didn't know that he was to be the solution. God had already called and chosen Gideon, now He is ready to send Gideon, but Gideon is still having an identity crisis. He goes on to tell God how insignificant he is--and we all are, really we are, but God sees us with Himself, in us--and that is a totally different image. When God is in us, we are "mighty men of valor" able to do great exploits!
Our fears don't frighten God. Our fears don't repulse God. Our fears and doubts really don't mean anything to God--when He calls and chooses us, the fears and doubts that linger simply mean that God will be able to get that much more glory. You see, it will be obvious that it wasn't us or our flesh, or any human ability that wrought the work.
I won't be able to take any credit--all the credit will have to go to God, because I was trembling in the winepress, like Gideon. I was marred by past and feeling hopeless. I was overlooked, rejected and given up on by men, but God saw me and put Himself in me. His Word came alive in me, and took root. He became great in me, and I am a Warrior tearing down the strongholds of the enemy--idolatry, pride, carnality, self-righteousness, elitism, and every facade of righteousness. It is my vocation to build up the Kingdom of God with His Words in my mouth, to encourage God's people on to repentance, to good works, to care for the "least of these" and away from selfishness and self-absorption, greed and building bigger barns. I am called to tear down every wall that divides and separates us, so that we can be one. It is by God's strength--and His faith in me that I will walk in my vocation, victoriously, with others who are called to this same ministry.
Lord prepare me, and raise up many more soldiers for this intense battle!
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