Tag Archives: Fear

Holy Boldness – Refusing to Give in to Fear and Intimidation

02 Wednesday Sep 2015

Posted by in Bible, Christian, Christianity, Faith, God, Inspiration, Jesus, Jesus Christ, Life, Love, Spiritual

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Bullying has been a phenomenon that has taken place for generations. Throughout history, the art of bullying has been built off of one or more individuals who assert a greater amount of power over those who are considered to be weaker. Regardless of a person’s age, bullying can occur and often does occur. Whether it be in the workplace, in one’s neighborhood, or even in school, bullying can happen to anyone. However, there is one thing that can and often deters a person who is a bully.

When an individual finally realizes that the treatment that they are receiving deserves a level of indignation and boldness, then that is when the bullying ceases. Contrary to popular belief, violence is usually not necessary to deter a person who bullies. Rather, it is the desire of the person who is pushed around to realize their self-worth and to stand up in courageousness against those who are seemingly in power. It is then that the bully retreats and begins to back down because a person who uses force or insults to dictate, feed off of the fear of others.

In the time that we are living in, there are many Christians who have given up their God given authority. Many have decided to capitulate to the lawlessness that many nations have incorporated in their culture. Instead of speaking the truth to the powers that be, many Christians have become silenced by the wickedness who represent the majority. In the book of Numbers chapter 13, 12 scouts are sent by Moses to survey the land of Canaan.

Canaan was a land that was promised by God to the people of Israel. The Israelites were told that they would inhabit the land. In verses 1-21 of this chapter, Tribal leaders were sent to Canaan in order to give a report of the land and its inhabitants. Here is what the leaders reported:

Verses 27-29:

(NLT) “This was their report to Moses: “We entered the land you sent us to explore, and it is indeed a bountiful country—a land flowing with milk and honey. Here is the kind of fruit it produces. But the people living there are powerful, and their towns are large and fortified. We even saw giants there, the descendants of Anak! The Amalekites live in the Negev, and the Hittites, Jebusites, and Amorites live in the hill country. The Canaanites live along the coast of the Mediterranean Sea and along the Jordan Valley.”

Notice that the leaders say that the land is “flowing with milk and honey.” This meant that the land was prosperous and plentiful.  Also take note of the inhabitants of the land. The leaders stated that the inhabitants were powerful and that they were giants.

Verse 30:

(NLT) “But Caleb tried to quiet the people as they stood before Moses. “Let’s go at once to take the land,” he said. “We can certainly conquer it!”

Caleb who was one of the spies that Moses had sent to Canaan believed that they were capable of possessing the land. However, notice the rebuttal in the final verses:

Verses 31-33:

(NLT) “But the other men who had explored the land with him disagreed. “We can’t go up against them! They are stronger than we are!” So they spread this bad report about the land among the Israelites: “The land we traveled through and explored will devour anyone who goes to live there. All the people we saw were huge. We even saw giants there, the descendants of Anak. Next to them we felt like grasshoppers, and that’s what they thought, too!”

Notice that in the last verse the leaders felt as if they were miniscule or quite incapable of conquering the land. The report that the leaders gave was as the scripture said a “bad report.” Essentially, most of the Tribal leaders were afraid of their opposition because they saw themselves as smaller compared to the giants. Thus, they believed they couldn’t possess the land nor did they think it was worth trying.

When you look at our world today, there are many things that can cause those who are in Christ to believe that the effort to proclaim the Gospel is simply not worth it. Some may believe that living for God and standing for God’s righteousness isn’t the path to take. If the majority of society is going in one direction, why shouldn’t we do the same? The answer to such a question is that God has given every Christian a responsibility.

The responsibility is none other than to stand firm in the faith which the Apostle Paul encourages us to do in 1 Corinthians 16:13. In Numbers, chapter 13, the Tribal leaders were of the belief that they could not conquer the land of Canaan because they were intimidated by the sheer size of the giants. Many Christians have assumed the same philosophy that the Tribal leaders had which is that they were incapable of doing what God had given them the power and ability to do.

God had already promised the land of Canaan to the Israelites, but fear and intimidation caused them to doubt that it was possible. In the context of having Holy boldness, you and I need to have the fearlessness that it takes to stand firm in the faith even in these times. The world is constantly showing signs of decay both morally and spiritually, and yet it is the same world that has silenced many in the body of Christ.

Instead, we who are truly in Christ must be willing to stand for God’s principles and choose not to give into what the world has dictated. Many fear persecution and criticism from the media or from unbelievers. However, in order for us to accomplish what God desires which is to proclaim the Gospel of Jesus Christ to a dying world, we must stand unashamed. Christians should not look at the ratio of those who believe and those who don’t, and merely give up due to the majority choosing not to believe.

It is true that the trends are now against those who are seriously following Christ. However, that is not the baseline to follow as it relates to seeking God and following Him. Our basis for truth and spreading the Gospel should be hinged upon the mandate that God has given to us which is the Great Commission. Regardless of what laws are instituted to silence Christians, we must stand. Allowing ourselves to be intimidated by what has become ‘the law’ is not how God wants us to operate. While we are supposed to support and pray for our leaders, we should not forsake Godly principles.

Regardless of the sin that has become approved by society, we who are in Christ should remain authentic to the calling that God has given to us. Not only are we called to share the Gospel with everyone we meet, but we are to abstain from sin. This is not a time for the called of God to be ashamed of the Gospel or to shrink back in fear. The days are becoming more dangerous as we reach the coming of Jesus Christ.  Now is the time to stand for Christ and to do so unashamedly.

If you don’t know Jesus as your as your personal savior, then you are living in sin which separates you from the knowing God’s love. Now is the time for you to accept Christ’s precious gift of salvation while you have a chance. Once you have accepted this gift of life, then you will also be called to take a stand against the enemy and all who stand with Him. All of us who are in Christ must live by godly principles and we must do so with Holy boldness.

Do Not Worry – Trusting in God Despite Your Surroundings

08 Wednesday Jul 2015

Posted by in Bible, Christian, Christianity, Faith, God, Inspiration, Jesus, Jesus Christ, Life, Love, Spiritual

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If there is one thing that we as humans have in common, it is that of economic security. Regardless of what country you come from, or what your social status is – we all need a form of currency to sustain our day-to-day lifestyle. Essentially, currency is a way to barter or seek an exchange for products that we may need or want. It is such an important part of our lives, that whenever there are threats to our economic stability, panic begins to ensue.

For example, in recent news, the government of Greece has sought its 3rd bailout in 6 years. The current amount owed on the Greek National debt is at a staggering 242.8 billion in Euros.  As a result, Greece is in the process of negotiating with the European Union to avoid a default which would mean bankruptcy.  However, such negotiations have stalled, leaving Greek citizens in a debilitating state.

The crisis in Greece hasn’t exactly been isolated in terms of its effects.  China is now reporting a decline in its economy as a result of the crisis in Greece, which may even mean that other countries could feel the ripple effect.  Many are looking at this crisis and are worried about their own livelihood. Questions such as, “What will this mean for my retirement?” and “Will my country’s economy be affected?” are being asked by many worldwide.  The fact is, the world is intertwined economically, which means that if one major country falters, others will follow.  You might read this, and you too may be worried.

However, in Matthew Chapter 6, verses 25-34, Jesus is teaching His Disciples by admonishing them not to worry.  He starts off in verses 25-27 by saying:

(NIV) “Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes? Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life?”

One of the interesting things about what Jesus references in these verses is, the example of nature.  Basically, Jesus mentions the birds of the air and He points to the fact that God provides for the birds. Have you ever seen a bird providing for itself?  In your time, it is likely that you have not. That is because, birds are unable to provide for themselves. Which means, that God provides in various ways for the birds since they are incapable of doing so on their own.

What Jesus wants you and I to understand is that we should not worry about our lives. Instead, Jesus is teaching the concept of trusting in God and understanding that He will provide for us. Jesus says at the end of verse 26, “Are you not much more valuable than they?” This is to say, that if God can provide for the birds of the air, He can certainly provide for you, regardless of what your needs are.

He then goes on to say, “Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life?” The thing about worrying is, it is a useless condition to exist in. Worrying only leads to panic, which creates discomfort in your mind and body. While in our humanity, we react to various situations, we must realize that living in worry and fear detracts from our trust in God and what He is capable of doing.  So, rather than living in worry and fear, we should grasp the condition of absolute trust which is to lean on God’s ability and not our own. 

In verses 31-32, Jesus says:

(NIV) “So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them.”

Jesus says that we should not worry for material things or even the things we are in need of. He even goes on to say that the “pagans run after these things,” which essentially means that the world operates in worry, fear, and panic. Those in the world seek after materialistic means to satisfy and build their hopes upon. If you were to turn on your local or national news, you would find that much of what is reported is negative. Buzz words such as “Breaking news” and other terms that are used,capture our attention. However, much of what is reported doesn’t inspire or produce hope. Most of what the media spews is hopelessness and fear.  As a result, we who watch begin to operate out of the fear that was disposed upon us.

Those who are not in Christ put their hope in the ever fallible and weakening world system.  Many who are not anchored in God, have sought the words of their politicians, or the value of their economic currency.  While at the same time we can see the very plight that is occurring in just about every nation concerning government and the global economy. Those who put their trust in a decaying world system will find themselves in despair and without hope.

However, Jesus says that “your heavenly Father knows that you need them,” meaning, God already knows what you and I are in need of.  If you are trusting in Him wholeheartedly, then you will experience what Philippians 4:19 says, which is that God shall supply all of our needs according His riches and glory in Christ Jesus. That is the hope that we have.

Jesus ends this chapter by saying:

(NIV) “But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.” 

The condition that Jesus gives here is that if we seek God’s Kingdom first, then everything that we need and desire will be given unto us. Seeking God’s Kingdom means to first, give your life to Christ. If you have not done so, then you have an opportunity to receive Christ in the pardon of your sins.  Then, once you are in Christ, you must begin by living in your God-given purpose which ties into elevating the Kingdom of God.

Finally, Jesus ends with the words, “do not worry about tomorrow.” Have you ever found yourself in fear or worried about your future? Jesus says that we should not worry about tomorrow, because for one, God already knows what we are in need of.  Secondly, every day has its own responsibilities.  Our future is in God’s hands, which means that He knows the beginning to the end.

Regardless of what the media says, or what your own life may look like, God knows where you are. Worrying only gives power to your enemy who is satan. He knows that if you concentrate on all of the negativity, then you will hinge your hopes on finding a human solution. Attempting to solve problems by human means results in confusion and an increase in chaos. The proof in that is, that we have various issues worldwide while global leaders are attempting to solve them in their own power. It doesn’t work without seeking God for the answers.

We should be aware of our reality and the world around us, but we are not to worry about what occurs.  Simply because, God can and will protect those who are hidden in Him.  Are you trusting in God with your life? Seek the Lord, and find out what it is like to live in His security.