Battle Can Be Easy

Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour. Resist him, steadfast in the faith, knowing that the same sufferings are experienced by your brotherhood in the world. – 1 Peter 5:8-9

 

You are of God, little children, and have overcome them, because He who is in you is greater than he who is in the world. – 1 John 4:4

 

Children, Children, Children you are in a battle and as long as your physical body draws breathe you will be in a battle. On that day when you come to be in glory with Me then, you will cease to battle. The battle however, does not have to be so hard. It is made hard by a couple of things that you, My children, do daily when dealing with your worst enemy, Lucifer. He is a defeated foe, but not one to be taken lightly while your human tents remain in the earthly realm.

Remember:

Lucifer is waiting to devour any and all aspects of your life. He will devour you entirely – eternally – if he can. If he loses that battle, then he moves on to devouring your use to others, the kingdom, and Me. If he loses that battle, he will move on to devouring your daily walk with Me, your daily enjoyment of the abundant life I want for you to have. Then lastly, he will attempt to devour one moment or event at a time. Nevertheless, he will never give up his attempts to devour as many aspects and moments of your life as he possibly can.

I am within you, and with Me, you are well able to overcome anything and everything Lucifer has to bring against you. I made overcoming possible for you on the cross.

Key to you overcoming him is to remain sober minded in your thinking and actions. To always be vigilante and recognize when he is attempting to ensnare you in your behavior and inner attitudes.

Always remember I am there, keep your faith in My faithfulness. Then RESIST; so many battles can be won at the onset by resisting whatever temptation the clever one brings when he swaggers up.

 

Why the Fear – The Phantom of Fear Cont.

Written February 12^th 2008 – Tuesday

Posted February 25^th 2008 – Monday  

Why the Fear  

     God wishes us to be of sound mind and not indulge fears.  Then why don’t we?  We are going to explore some possibilities regarding that question and come to greater place of understanding what is involved with having or not having a sound mind.   

     Jesus was perfection and as perfection, He could perceive what was in people’s minds and hearts.  Luke 9:47 gives us an example of just that; “And Jesus, perceiving the thought of their heart,…” yet, we are not the same.  It is often our perception of things, which cause us undue fear.  We are wiser to inform and educate ourselves on matters where we do not have or know all the details; this would alleviate some fears.   Our feelings take place and are fueled very much in our minds.  An example of this can be found in 2 Samuel 17:8 – “For,” said Hushai, “you know your father and his men, that they are mighty men, and they are enraged in their minds, …” If we act with a sound mind we will discipline and control what we allow to fester in our minds, cutting it off at the onset.  It is at this root when fear is easiest to destroy.   We find several things that can easily generate fear in the minds of the most sincere Believers. Worry and doubt among them.  Even so, some mental and spiritual disturbances can also cause fear in people who dearly love God.  At times, these fears can be quite serious.   

Jesus knew that His people would worry so He addressed that fear monger in Luke 12:29-31 when He told them, “And do not seek what you should eat or what you should drink, nor have an anxious mind. “  For all these things the nations of the world seek after, and your Father knows that you need these things.  “But seek the kingdom of God, and all these things shall be added to you.”  Worry rarely serves any useful purpose and will only contribute to your fears.   

Doubt regarding our Christian walk and/or service can often be cause for fear.  Fear of God and fear of people, which is unfounded.  We are responsible for our own walk with the Lord and others likewise.  What another is doing or not doing should place no burden upon us or cause concern for us to the point we are fearful.  God made it clear to us whom and what we are to concentrate on in Romans 14:4-7 – “Who are you to judge another’s servant?  To his own master he stands or falls.  Indeed, he will be made to stand, for God is able to make him stand.  One person esteems one day above another; another esteems every day alike.  Let each be fully convinced in his own mind.  He who observes the day, observes it to the Lord; and he who does not observe the day, to the Lord he does not observe it.  He who eats, eats to the Lord, for he gives God thanks; and he who does not eat, to the Lord he does not eat, and gives God thanks.  For none of us lives to himself, and no one dies to himself.”  

The following are:

MERE EXAMPLES OF MENTAL AND SPIRITUAL DISTURBANCES.  THEY CAN MANIFEST IN DIFFERENT WAYS THROUGH DIFFERENT MEANS, SUCH AS AREAS OF WOUNDED-NESS, FEARS, OR WEAKNESSES.   

Mental disturbance example from Scripture:

2 Thessalonians 2:2 – “not to be soon shaken in mind or troubled, either by spirit or by word or by letter, as if from us, as though the day of Christ had come.”

     God knew that there would be things coming at His people through different means that would attempt to shake the stability of their mind.  In this case, it was rumors of the end of time.  If God wanted His people to remain stable in their spirit and minds on such an important matter as the end of the world, as we know it, of course, He would have them “not to be soon shaken” by anything else.  

Spiritual disturbance example from Scripture:  

Romans 7:23-25 – “But I see another law in my members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members. O wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death? I thank God—through Jesus Christ our Lord! So then, with the mind I myself serve the law of God, but with the flesh the law of sin.”

     Paul clearly acknowledged here and other places that a war of spiritual disturbance went on around and within him.  The same is true for many people attempting to walk closely with God.  The sad thing is that the majorities of them do not realize what is happening to them and therefore, feel powerless to do anything about their circumstances.  God did give us the power and the ability to have that sound mind which though it will not always rid us of spiritual disturbances it will equip us to cope with the situation quiet nicely.      

Whether it be mental disturbances, spiritual disturbances or both which have resulted from wounded-ness we have experience in the past, unfounded or irrational fears, or personal weaknesses we have yet to have victory over; it is critical for our success that we have a trusted, solid, base of people in our inner circle who can help us with these issues.  Counseling for the dedicated Christian is best left to other devoted Christians or a Christian Counselor.  The worldview on mental and spiritual health and the truly spiritual Christian view differ too vastly to be effective together.  If you need help in an area, please seek it as soon as possible!  

How to find this sound mind and what are the results of having one?  Next we will tackle that question.

 

Sound Mind – The Phantom of Fear Cont.

Written February 12^th 2008 Tuesday

Posted February 19^th 2008 Tuesday 

Sound Mind 

     I am willing to guess that many people have questioned if God truly grants His people a sound mind.  Some might even say the opposite is true.  I might even say the opposite is true if you caught me on a bad day.  Nonetheless, God does grant His people a sound mind.  That sound mind is meant to keep fear and distress at bay.  Yet, what is a sound mind exactly?  That is what we are going to investigate.    

2 Timothy 1:7

For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind. 

Exploring Sound Mind:  

PLEASE NOTE MY UNDERLING AS YOU READ THE FOLLOWING DEFINITIONS:  

SOUND MIND – FROM THE GREEK LANGUAGE DEFINITION =

WE WILL HAVE TO TRACE THIS WORD[S] BACK THROUGH THE LANGUAGE AS IT IS DERIVED FROM VARIOUS WORDS.

4995.  swfronismov” soµphroánismoás, so-fron-is-mos´; from 4994; discipline, i.e. self-control:— sound mind. 

4994.  swfronivzw soµphroánizoµ, so-fron-id´-zo; from 4998; to make of sound mind, i.e. (fig.) to discipline or correct:— teach to be sober. 

4998.  swvfrwn soµphroµn, so´-frone; from the base of 4982 and that of 5424; safe (sound) in mind, i.e. self-controlled (moderate as to opinion or passion):— discreet, sober, temperate. 

4982.  swvzw soµzoµ, sode´-zo; from a primary  sw`” soµs (contr. for obs.  savo” saoás, “safe”); to save, i.e. deliver or protect (lit. or fig.):— heal, preserve, save (self), do well, be (make) whole. 

5424.  frhvn phreµn, frane; prob. from an obs.  fravw phraoµ (to rein in or curb; comp. 5420); the midrif (as a partition of the body), i.e. (fig. and by impl. of sympathy) the feelings (or sensitive nature; by extens. [also in the plur.] the mind or cognitive faculties):— understanding. 

5420.  fravssw phrassoµ, fras´-so; appar. a streng. form of the base of 5424; to fence or inclose, i.e. (spec.) to block up (fig. to silence):— stop. 

     Just through looking into the Greek Language and the depth of meaning of “sound mind”, we know that God has not called us to be rattled by fear.  Instead, He desires that our minds be disciplined and self-controlled; not a rambling mess that the Enemy can use to control us.  God would have our thinking to be correct; correct being in line with His Word and the Truths of His Word.  We must teach our minds to be sober, temperate, and discreet in our thinking.  It will not come naturally.  We run our minds they do not run us. When our minds begin to become extreme we know that we are in trouble.  We are to be moderate in our opinions and passions; which is inclusive of what goes on in our minds.  We reign in our feelings and our sensitive nature, silencing the screams of the fears and stopping their affect upon us.  Fear cannot hold us when we know in our minds, spirits, and hearts, that God meant for us to feel [believe in our minds] we will be saved, delivered, protected, healed, preserved, do well, be made whole, etc. either literally or figuratively, as is needed.  

     Considering all of this, we will have to look next at why we do not necessarily live in this type of mindset, the “sound mind” way of thinking.  For unless we do, we cannot enjoy the freedom from fear God would wish us to have.

Love – The Phantom of Fear Cont.

Written February 10^th 2008 Sunday

Posted February 11^th 2008 Monday  

Love

God told us in our key verse what emotion He has given us to live by.  It is time to explore God’s great gift of love; God’s love for us, our love for others, and ourselves. Would you call “love” a weapon, an attribute or both?  I believe it is both and as we look at what it is and does, you might come to agree.     

2 Timothy 1:7

For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind. 

Exploring Love:  

PLEASE NOTE MY UNDERLING AS YOU READ THE FOLLOWING DEFINITIONS:  

LOVE – GREEK LANGUAGE DEFINITION =

26.       ajgavph agapeµ, ag-ah´-pay; from 25; love, i.e. affection or benevolence; spec. (plur.) a love-feast:  — (feast of) charity ([-ably]), dear, love

25.       ajgapavw agapaoµ, ag-ap-ah´-o; perh. from  a[gan agan (much) [or comp. 5689]; to love (in a social or moral sense):— (be-) love (-ed). comp. 5368.

5689.  bg¾[; >aÆgab, aw-gab’; a prim. root; to breathe after, i.e. to love (sensually):— dote, lover.

5368.  filevw phileáoµ, fil-eh´-o; from 5384; to be a friend to (fond of [an indiv. or an obj.]), i.e. have affection for (denoting personal attachment, as a matter of sentiment or feeling; 

LOVE – NELSON’S NEW ILLUSTRATED BIBLE DICTIONARY DEFINITION =  

The high esteem that God has for His human children and the high regard, which they, in turn, should have for Him and other people.  Because of the hundreds of references to love in the Bible, it is certainly the most remarkable book of love in the world.  It records the greatest love story ever written—God’s unconditional love for us that sent His Son to die on the cross (John 3:16; 1 John 4:10).

Love is not only one of God’s attributes; it is also an essential part of His nature (Deut. 7:7–8).  “God is love,” the Bible declares (1 John 4:8, 16)—the personification of perfect love.  Such love surpasses our powers of understanding (Eph. 3:19).  Love like this is everlasting (Jer. 31:3), free (Hos. 14:4), sacrificial (John 3:16), and enduring to the end (John 13:1).

1. Agape love indicates the nature of the love of God toward His beloved Son (John 17:26), toward the human race generally (John 3:16; Rom. 5:8), and toward those who believe on the Lord Jesus Christ (John 14:21).

2. Agape love conveys God’s will to His children about their attitude toward one another.  Love for one another was a proof to the world of true discipleship (John 13:34–35).

3. Agape love also expresses the essential nature of God (1 John 4:8).  Love can be known only from the actions it prompts, as seen in God’s love in the gift of His Son (1 John 4:9–10).  Love found its perfect expression in the Lord Jesus.  Christian love is the fruit of the Spirit of Jesus in the believer (Gal. 5:22).

Love is like oil to the wheels of obedience.  It enables us to run the way of God’s commandments (Ps. 119:32).  Without such love, we are as nothing (1 Cor. 13:3).  Such Spirit-inspired love never fails (1 Cor. 13:8) but always flourishes. 

LOVE – VINES DICTIONARY DEFINITION =    

“Love can be known only from the actions it prompts.  Love seeks the welfare of all, Rom. 15:2, and works no ill to any, 13:8-10; love seeks opportunity to do good to ‘all men, and especially toward them that are of the household of the faith,’ Gal. 6:10.

In respect of agapao as used of God, it expresses the deep and constant “love” and interest of a perfect Being towards entirely unworthy objects, producing and fostering a reverential “love” in them towards the Giver, and a practical “love” towards those who are partakers of the same, and a desire to help others to seek the Giver.

In our day-to-day lives, love should shield us from fear.  For if God loves us with the type of love which has been defined above, He can be trusted to guard our lives from those things which will serve no purpose.  If God allows something to enter our lives then in His loving care, He knows it will serve a greater purpose for us toward His Will being manifest in and around our lives.  We must trust His love for us and release our fears to Him. Love being an attribute of God’s; God personifying perfection in love cannot be doubted, it will never stop.  People may stop loving us but God never will do such. God’s consistent great love and interest in us causes a respect and love for God from us toward Him. 

Our love for others also has the ability and power to remove fear.  As Christians, we are to be marked by the love we show to others.  It is part of who true Christians are.  When a person claims to be a Christian but has no love for other people, their sincerity should be questioned.  Love is not just a feeling however, toward others, it is an act of charity, an act of goodness and deeds done to make people lives better.  Benevolence is the act of doing good deeds born out of love for people.  Love is action not just a feeling!  That type of love is a powerful weapon in our day-to-day lives, we can use, to fight the ravishes of fear on others and ourselves.

Power – The Phantom of Fear Cont.

Posted February 4^th 2008 Monday / Written January 30^th 2008 Wednesday  

Power  

God told us in this verse what He has given us to live our lives in and too use in dealing with fear.  It is time to explore God’s greatest weapons, for dealing with fear.  

2 Timothy 1:7

For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind. 

     No, it is not God’s desire that we live weak, cringing lives filled with fear.  His desire is that we posses power, love, and a sound mind.  What are these three things however, and how can we go about applying them to our lives?  Weapons, attributes or both?  What difference might they make in our day-to-day existence?  Over the next few segments, we will explore in more depth those questions; praying the answers transform our lives, just as God’s Word is meant to do.    

Exploring Power:  

PLEASE NOTE MY UNDERLING AS YOU READ THE FOLLOWING DEFINITIONS:  

POWER –  GREEK LANGUAGE DEFINITION  =

1411.  duvnami” dunamis, doo´-nam-is; from 1410; force (lit. or fig.); spec. miraculous power (usually by impl. a miracle itself):— ability, abundance, meaning, might (-ily, -y, -y deed), (worker of) miracle (-s), power, strength, violence, mighty (wonderful) work.

1410.  duvnamai dunamai, doo´-nam-ahee; of uncert. aff.; to be able or possible:— be able, can (do, + -not), could, may, might, be possible, be of power. 

POWER – VINES DICTIONARY DEFINITION =

koach (3581), “strength; power; force; ability.” This Hebrew word is used in biblical, rabbinic, and modern Hebrew with little change in meaning. The root is uncertain in Hebrew, but the verb is found in Arabic (wakaha, “batter down,” and kwch, “defeat”). The basic meaning of koach is an ability to do something. The “ability” here is not physical but mental. The internal fortitude was best demonstrated by the difficulties and frustrations of life. A strong man withstood hard times. The proverb bears out this important teaching: “If thou faint in the day of adversity, thy strength is small” (Prov. 24:10).  The Septuagint gives the following translations: ischus (“strength; power; might”) and dunamis (“power; might; strength; force; ability; capability”).   

POWER – NELSON’S NEW ILLUSTRATED BIBLE DICTIONARY DEFINITION = 

the ability or strength to perform an activity or deed. Power is sometimes used with the word authority. If power suggests physical strength, authority suggests a moral right or privilege.One can have power to perform a task but not authority to do it. Jesus Christ had both power and authority (Luke 4:36), and He bestowed these upon His followers (Luke 10:19). 

Power is a great force literally or figuratively which God has given us to do and live, as He would have us in this world.  At times this power can even be a miraculous power to accomplish a great assignment that He might want done.  Those moments are the exception not the rule.  We live on level ground not a mountaintop.  

In our day-to-day lives, it is the ability to be able or make possible what He wants us to do.  To live free from unhealthy fear is one of those things He desires for us.  That might and strength needed to do just that is made possible through a power He has granted us.  In those times when fear real or imagined raises it’s ugly head we need to batter it down with the Truth of God’s Word, that He had given you power, power, power.  Courage not fear is your mark!  

When God has given us a task or assignment, He has also given us an ability to do that task or assignment, therefore, fear has zero value toward our accomplishment of that ‘something.’  Let us make sure that task is from God, for we will need the authority to go forward.  That authority is necessary.  If we have the power to perform a task but not authority to do it, the deed will be fruitless, or its fruit will not ripen.  Never confuse the ability or strength to perform an activity or deed with authority to do so.  On the flip side, if we have the authority from Christ then the capability will always be presence.  They are a checks and balance for each other.    

When fear comes, because the going has as they say, got tough, that internal fortitude, not physical but mental strength will carry you through, whatever it may be.  That power is presence when needed to overcome, face with courage, and / or walk through anything.   

The Effects of Fear – The Phantom of Fear Cont.

Posted January 28, 2008 – Monday / Written January 21, 2008 – Monday 

The Effects of Fear 

     We turn now to a glimpse into just a few of the effects of fear.  Though only a few, I believe some of the most deadly, spiritually, mentally, emotionally, and physically.  When fear effects our actions and reactions, it has us in its hideous grip.  

Demoralization is almost immediate, in some form, once fear as set into our hearts.  Discouragement is often a desired effect of fear, which leads to undermining us.  Once undermined in some or many areas we see the demoralization continue in the form of depression and dejection.  Once those have a firm footing, we reach the point of total disheartenment.  Now what?  Demoralization is an emotionally and mentally dangerous effect of fear.  An example = [1 Samuel 13:5-8 – Then the Philistines gathered together to fight with Israel, thirty thousand chariots and six thousand horsemen, and people as the sand which is on the seashore in multitude.  And they came up and encamped in Michmash, to the east of Beth Aven.  ⁶When the men of Israel saw that they were in danger (for the people were distressed), then the people hid in caves, in thickets, in rocks, in holes, and in pits.  ⁷And some of the Hebrews crossed over the Jordan to the land of Gad and Gilead.  As for Saul, he was still in Gilgal, and all the people followed him trembling.] 

Paralysis physically and of ones actions is an effect found where fear resides.  It is very hard to act when one is gripped by fear.  Hence, our need for courage.  Courage is acting even though fear is surrounding you.  Without courage, we would surely die a slow and painful death via fear, one action, and one aspect of our lives at a time.  [Matthew 28:4 – And the guards shook for fear of him, and became like dead men.]  Why should we hand over our lives to fear and sit paralyzed at its mercy?  

 

Silence of our testimony is most likely the most spiritually dangerous effect of fear.  This is Satan’s second greatest desire.  Once Satan has lost us to a personal relationship with Christ, he sets out to shut us down, in our ability to be effective for God.  Silencing our testimony and ministry for Christ is the greatest gift Satan can hope for at this point.  Fear helps him obtain that goal.  Yet, it out not be!  [John 9:22 – His parents said these things because they feared the Jews, for the Jews had agreed already that if anyone confessed that He was Christ, he would be put out of the synagogue.]  What have you not done for Christ or for another out of fear of rejection?  

Some instances of fear you can examine, at your own leisure, can be found in the examples of: Abraham Genesis 20:11, Jacob Genesis 32:9–11 and the soldiers Matthew 27:54. 

This type of fear we have been examining is not from God and not what God wants for us.  God told us in our focus verse 2 Timothy 1:7 what He has given us to live our lives in and too use in dealing with fear effectively.  We will turn our attention next to God’s greatest weapons, those He has given us to deal with fear.

 

Causes of Fear – The Phantom of Fear Cont.

Posted January 21^st 2007 – Monday  

    

     One might describe fear as anxiety would is a result of approaching danger real or perceived.  We will be examining the causes and effects of fear.  During this portion, we will look at the causes.  Then later we will look at the effects.  Each one should be view separately though, a person may relate to several examples givens.  

Disobedience can be a root cause of some fear.  [Genesis 3:10 – So he said, “I heard Your voice in the garden, and I was afraid because I was naked; and I hid myself.”]  Adam knowing he had gone against what God wanted Him to do, which is what the heart of sin is, was afraid to be in God’s presence.  His disobedience had lead to His shame.  Disobedience of God’s written command or a personal command He requires of us can lead to a fear of Him, His presence, and / or the consequences.  This fear is easily remedied through our daily obedience to God and His plan for our lives.   

Impending judgment would cause most anyone to fear.  Noah had knowledge of the judgment that was to come on the world via a flood, because of God’s heartbreak of what sin had done to His creation.  Noah responded to that godly fear with obedience and faithfulness to what God had instructed him to do.  [Hebrews 11:7 – By faith Noah, being divinely warned of things not yet seen, moved with godly fear, prepared an ark for the saving of his household, by which he condemned the world and became heir of the righteousness which is according to faith.]  Yet, still another judgment awaits those who have not accepted Christ as their Lord and Savior, an impending judgment that will bring condemnation – condemnation, which can be avoided.   

Persecution of any type will often strike fear in the heart of most people.  No person wishes to be mistreated for their beliefs or who they are. The disciples knew what it meant to feel fear born out of persecution.  [John 20:19 – Then, the same day at evening, being the first day of the week, when the doors were shut where the disciples were assembled, for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood in the midst, and said to them, “Peace be with you.”]  Jesus came to the disciples to bring peace to them during their persecution and He is still very much available to us to do the same.  During times of fear caused by persecution, call out to Christ to bring peace to your heart and rest to your mind.  He is waiting to be asked for He loves to help us.  

Suspicion can often cause fear, which is only perceived not real.  Deeply ingrained distrust can enter a person through a wounded spirit.  That wound, forming as a result of a breech of trust by someone the person dearly loved and / or depended upon.  This type of wound is a breeding ground for suspicion.  Where suspicion is, fear is near by.  Even among Christians, we find much suspicion of each other and the fear, which results from that suspicion.  Paul experienced it during Biblical times.  [Acts 9:26 – And when Saul had come to Jerusalem, he tried to join the disciples; but they were all afraid of him, and did not believe that he was a disciple.] Ask yourself how many times your suspicions were founded.    

Uncertainty could partly have been to blame for Eve’s susceptibility to Satan that fatal day in the garden.  When uncertainty creeps in our minds, we begin to fear what we believe we know.  [2 Corinthians 11:3 – But I fear, lest somehow, as the serpent deceived Eve by his craftiness, so your minds may be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ.]  

Final events on earth have long been something that people fear.  Christian and Non-Christian fear what will happen when it is time for this earth to be perfected by God.  Jesus spoke about this fear.  [Luke 21:26 – “men’s hearts failing them from fear and the expectation of those things which are coming on the earth, for the powers of heaven will be shaken.]  One has to ask however; “Why do we fear something that will end in perfection?”  

Lastly, Death the biggest fear of all for most everyone.  So many people spend their lives recklessly trying to prove they are not afraid of the one thing they are most afraid of, death.  The daredevil ways merely a cover for an overwhelming fear.  [Hebrews 2:15 – and release those who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage.]  Fear of dying can keep us from fully living.  For most will die, knowing, and accepting that can free us to live as God would have us live. 

Next, we reflect on the effects of fear.  Think about what you believe them to be. 

 

What is Fear? = The Phantom of Fear

January 15^th 2007 – Tuesday  

What is Fear? 

It is time to take an actual look into what “fear” really is and where it comes from.  In review of our Scripture Text we are using as our bases for this study it is printed below.  

For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind. – 2 Timothy 1:7 

Immediately we can see from this verse that “fear” or “a spirit of fear” does not come from God.  

Now a glimpse into the meaning of the word “fear” in this text from the Greek Language.  

FEAR=

1167.  deiliva deáilia, di-lee´-ah; from 1169; timidity:— fear. 

1169.  deilov” deáiloás, di-los´; from  devo” deáoás (dread); timid, i.e. (by impl.) faithless:— fearful.

 

The primary meanings are timid, timidity, and faithless.

Here are the definitions and a list of synonyms for each. 

Timid and Timidity =  

1. Lacking self-confidence; shy.

2. Fearful and hesitant: problems that call for bold, not timid, responses.  

Synonyms: nervous, fearful, timorous, retiring, hesitant, apprehensive, faint-hearted, tentative, timid, timorous. The central meaning shared by these adjectives is “hesitating to take action or assert oneself out of fear, apprehensiveness, or lack of self-confidence”: too timid to protest; timorous of venturing an opinion.  

Faithless =   

1. Not true to duty or obligation; disloyal.

2. Having no religious faith.

3. Unworthy of faith or trust; unreliable.  

— faithʹless·ly adverb
 

— faithʹless·ness noun 

Synonyms: faithless, untrustworthy, unfaithful, fickle, false, disloyal, traitorous, treacherous, perfidious, recreant. These adjectives mean not true to duty or obligation. Faithless and unfaithful are approximately interchangeable and imply failure to adhere to promises, obligations, or allegiances: has never been faithless to her ideals; an unfaithful spouse. False emphasizes a tendency to be faithless or deceitful: a false friend. “To thine own self be true,/And it must follow, as the night the day,/Thou canst not then be false to any man” (Shakespeare) 

We must not confuse this term in this particular text with the term “fear” found in other parts of the Bible which has a totally different type of meaning.  Here are some notes from the, Nelson’s New Illustrated Bible Dictionary, on that type of fear. 

FEAR – a feeling of reverence, awe, and respect, or an unpleasant emotion caused by a sense of danger. Fear may be directed toward God or humankind, and it may be either healthy or harmful.

A healthy fear is reverence or respect. The Bible teaches that children are to respect their parents (Lev. 19:3) and wives are to respect their husbands (Eph. 5:33). The Scriptures also declare that “the fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge” (Prov. 1:7) as well as “the beginning of wisdom” (Prov. 9:10).  

The type of fear we are dealing with in our text of 2 Timothy 1:7 most definitely comes from Satan. Fear is a hideous controller. Worry comes from a lack of trust in Christ.  

Next we will look at some different facets of fear.

 

Thoughts Pertaining to “Spirits”

January 7^th 2008 – Monday 

Thoughts on Verses Pertaining to “Spirits”

The following verses say various things about spirits. In the verses various spirit are described. Here are some things to ponder about both.

Genesis  1:2= The earth was without form, and void; and darkness was on the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God was hovering over the face of the waters.

Ø     This is a description of the Holy Spirit which was in existence before the creation of the world.  

Hebrews 1:7, 14= ⁷And of the angels He says: “Who makes His angels spirits – And His ministers a flame of fire.” ¹⁴Are they not all ministering spirits sent forth to minister for those who will inherit salvation?

Ø     We can see that angels are spirits of sorts which come and give aid to those who know or will know Christ as Savior and inherit salvation.  

1 Corinthians  2:11= For what man knows the things of a man except the spirit of the man which is in him? Even so no one knows the things of God except the Spirit of God.

Ø     Man’s immaterial nature does not allow him to have knowledge and understanding of the things of God; unless and until said man has the Spirit of God dwelling in him. 

1 Samuel  16:14–23= ¹⁴But the Spirit of the Lord departed from Saul, and a distressing spirit from the Lord troubled him. ¹⁵And Saul’s servants said to him, “Surely, a distressing spirit from God is troubling you. ¹⁶“Let our master now command your servants, who are before you, to seek out a man who is a skillful player on the harp; and it shall be that he will play it with his hand when the distressing spirit from God is upon you, and you shall be well.” ¹⁷So Saul said to his servants, “Provide me now a man who can play well, and bring him to me.” ¹⁸Then one of the servants answered and said, “Look, I have seen a son of Jesse the Bethlehemite, who is skillful in playing, a mighty man of valor, a man of war, prudent in speech, and a handsome person; and the Lord is with him.”¹⁹Therefore Saul sent messengers to Jesse, and said, “Send me your son David, who is with the sheep.” ²⁰And Jesse took a donkey loaded with bread, a skin of wine, and a young goat, and sent them by his son David to Saul. ²¹So David came to Saul and stood before him. And he loved him greatly, and he became his armorbearer. ²²Then Saul sent to Jesse, saying, “Please let David stand before me, for he has found favor in my sight.” ²³And so it was, whenever the spirit from God was upon Saul, that David would take a harp and play it with his hand. Then Saul would become refreshed and well, and the distressing spirit would depart from him.

Ø     This particular spirit was, by its definition in the Hebrew, a spirit of anger and violence which was placed upon Saul by God; something we might find hard to comprehend or accept from a loving God.  

1 Corinthians 5:3,5= ³For I indeed, as absent in body but present in spirit, have already judged (as though I were present) him who has so done this deed. ⁵deliver such a one to Satan for the destruction of the flesh, that his spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus.

Ø     Man’s body is an immaterial nature and a temporal existence [therefore, should be the least of our concerns]; only the spirit will live on for all time [therefore, should be our top priority in life].  

Isaiah 29:10= For the Lord has poured out on you – The spirit of deep sleep, – And has closed your eyes, namely, the prophets; – And He has covered your heads, namely, the seers.

Ø     God through His Spirit is the controlling influence of what His Messengers see, hear, and speak.  

Romans 2:29= but he is a Jew who is one inwardly; and circumcision is that of the heart, in the Spirit, not in the letter; whose praise is not from men but from God.

Ø     The presence of God’s Sprit, the Holy Spirit, within us is an inward reality of our personal relationship with Him.  

Hebrews 12:23 and 1 Peter 3:19= Hebrews 12:23 = ²³to the general assembly and church of the firstborn who are registered in heaven, to God the Judge of all, to the spirits of just men made perfect, 1 Peter 3:19= ¹⁹by whom also He went and preached to the spirits in prison,

THIS IS A BIT TOUGHER TO CATCH.

Ø     This is a reference to God’s presence in a disembodied state; which would be the Holy Ghost.

  

The Phantom of Fear – Various Spirits

Posted December 27^th 2007 – Thursday 

VARIOUS SPIRITS =  

The Spirit is an immaterial being but nonetheless a being. One Spirit, the Holy Spirit, is the third person of the Holy Trinity. Which makes the Holy Spirit a very real presence of the Person of God through Christ here on earth. 

What do the following verses say about spirits? In the verses where a spirit is described, what spirit is being talked about?

Genesis  1:2=    

Hebrews 1:7, 14=   

1 Corinthians  2:11=   

1 Samuel  16:14–23=   

1 Corinthians 5:3,5=   

Isaiah 29:10=   

Romans 2:29=   

Hebrews 12:23 and 1 Peter 3:19=   

Next, I will share my Thoughts on these verses pertaining to “Spirits”. 

Happy New Year!! 

We will resume our usual by Tuesday evening weekly postings on the 8^th of January.  Everyone have a great New Years and I look forward to growing together in 2008!