In our previous Facts we discussed (1) The temptation to complain about our situation, and (2) The tendency to challenge God-given authority. In this Facts we will consider our inclination:
#3 TO NOT BELIEVE THAT GOD WILL FULFILL HIS PROMISIS ON OUR BEHALF:
If you are running a business and relying primarily on your genius for success, you have every reason to be fearful. You know that somewhere out there is someone better than you in every respect, and that it may only be a matter of time until he leaves you in the dust. Today, Google is to Microsoft what Microsoft was to IBM a couple of decades ago. What, with the looming political and economic uncertainties of the 21st Century, there is no way, apart from the promises of God for protection and provision, you can guarantee sustained security and success.
Israel also struggled with fear, and with believing God and His promises: God had previously promised Canaan to Abraham and his offspring. (Gen. 12:7; 13:14,15; 15:18; 26:3; 28:3, 13; 48:4 et al) He now instructs Moses to send 12 spies into the Promised Land to survey the situation. When they viewed the powerful inhabitants, ten out of the twelve spires were paralyzed with fear in not believing God was able to grant them victory in taking the land. All they could see was the giants. The people who live there are powerful, and the cities are fortified and very largeWe can’t attack those people; they are stronger than we areThe land we explored devours those living in it. All the people we saw there are of great sizeWe seemed like grasshoppers in our own eyes, and we looked the same to them." (Num. 11:29-34 selected) (See Deut. 1:8; 8:1; 9:23 ; 10:11 ; 11:13 ; Josh. 1:11; 18:3, etc.) Perhaps we are no better!
Following are a number of reasons why we allow ourselves to also be enslaved by fear:
- Seeing the problem before us as larger than Gods ability to deal with it. (Psa. 78:17-20)
- Surrendering to a victim mentality, rather than claiming and appropriating His promises of victory. (Rom. 8:37 ; 2 Cor. 1:20-22; Heb. 10:38 ,39; 11:11 ,13,17,33,39; I John 4:4)
- Allowing Satan to win the battle for the mind by refusing to surrender our mind and intellect to the Lordship of Christ and to the authority of the Scriptures. By our disobedience we are dis-allowing the transforming work of the Holy Spirit to conform our wayward mind into the mind of Christ. (Rom. 12:2; Phil. 2:5-8; I Cor. 2:16; 2 Cor. 5:4, 5; 11:3)
- Allowing fear to become a self-fulfilling prophesy. (Job 3:25 )
- Failing to confront the Enemy at the spiritual warfare level. (Eph. 6:10 -18)
- Allowing fear to immobilize us after an act of disobedience, rather than confessing and forsaking the sin. (Gen 3:10; 20:8,9; Pro. 28:13
If you struggle with fear and most of us do following are some Scriptures you may want to ponder and pray over:
There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fearEven though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me. In righteousness you will be established: Tyranny will be far from you; you will have nothing to fear. Terror will be far removed; it will not come near youFor God did not give us a spirit of timidity, but a spirit of power, of love and of self-disciplineDo not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand. (I Jn. 4:18a; Psa. 23:4; Isa. 54:14; 2 Tim. 1:7; Isa. 41:10)
My friend in Christ, Jesus death and resurrection destroyed the power of the Enemy in your life. God intends for you to live in the glorious freedom of the cross; in joy and in victory. The enemy would like to dig his heel into your neck and immobilize you to the bondage to fear and sin. Choose to believe Gods promises. You are a child of the King. Live like it!
Next week we will conclude this series with a discussion of the sin of presumption.