"Fear"

“Fear”

For God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control.     2 Tim. 1:7

Behold, the eye of the LORD is on those who fear Him, on those who hope in His steadfast love.    Psalm 33:18



To FEAR or not to FEAR?  That is the question.  Some think that the only meaning for the word FEAR means to be AFRAID.  However, that is NOT the case.   The word FEAR has MORE than ONE meaning.  It may mean:  The condition of being AFRAID, or, to have a reverential awe of, or a feeling of apprehensiveness or uneasiness and usually followed by the word “for”. 



Our first Scripture, taken from 2 Timothy 1:7, is one of the Apostle Paul’s letters to Timothy.  Paul wanted Timothy and ALL TRUE BELIEVERS to KNOW that God did NOT give us a spirit of FEAR (being afraid), but He gave us a spirit of POWER, and LOVE and SELF-CONTROL.  POWER, to overcome our feelings of FEAR, being afraid.  We can have that POWER, when we ACCEPT Jesus Christ, God’s Son, as our SAVIOR and LORD.  We can EXPERIENCE God’s UNFAILING LOVE, and have the ASSURANCE as King David did, when He penned: “The LORD is my LIGHT and my SALVATION; whom shall I FEAR?  The LORD is the STRONGHOLD of my life of whom shall I be afraid?” (Ps. 27:1) When our HEARTS and MINDS are on the ALMIGHTY GOD, we can have a SOUND MIND, and SELF-CONTROL.



Our Second verse, is from Psalm 33:18, this Scripture tells us that:  “The Eye of the LORD is on those who FEAR Him, on those who HOPE in His STEADFAST LOVE.”  The word FEAR here is NOT talking about being AFRAID, but it is talking about having REVERENCE and RESPECT for God and His Son.  Being OBEDIENT to His LAWS, and FOLLOWING His Spirit’s Leadership in our LIVES.  Those whose HOPE is in the LORD and relying on His STEADFAST LOVE, to see them through their darkest hours.  Do you possess that HOPE? 



If you have NOT given your HEART and LIFE to God.  Then you should be experiencing FEAR, being AFRAID, of your ETERNAL DESTINY.   Because, you are headed for an ETERNITY in HELL, with ALL its HORRORS and NO WAY to ESCAPE.  But, because of God’s UNFAILING LOVE, He has provided a way for you to change your ETERNAL DESTINY.  You MUST BE WILLING to TURN AWAY FROM your sinful lifestyle, and TURN TO GOD, with a TRUE REPENTANT HEART.  CONFESS your sins to HIM and ASK Him for His FORGIVENESS.  Then BELIEVE with ALL your HEART, that JESUS died for YOU, and is ALIVE in Heaven, making intercession for you, before God.  And ACCEPT His gift of SALVATION, and have a FEAR (reverence, respect) for the ALMIGHTY GOD and His SON, Jesus Christ.  And change your ETERNAL DESTINY from HELL to HEAVEN.  Do this NOW, while you still can.  He’s waiting and coming SOON!!!