During these challenging times what is driving your decisions? Are you ruled by faith in God’s word or faith in the words of men? Are you running their life based on pseudo-science, half-truths, ideologies of men, your feelings, the words of a trusted friend or colleague? In all times Christians are called to walk by faith and not by sensory perception. You may have to reason certain things out and even though reason is good, it is limited. Proverbs 3:5-6, tells us to thrust the Lord with everything and not to lean on our own understanding. It acknowledges that we do have an understanding, but it should not be preeminent over God’s truth or reality. It concludes that he who trust (has faith) in God’s truth will have a straight path. In a time when many are despondent, we are called trust in God. Not because we can not see or feel the misery but because our God is bigger and more powerful.
Faith in God is not commonplace – you do not listen to CNN, BBC, and FOX news all day and get it. It comes by the word of God. Faith occurs when the word of God is activated in your heart and produces a corresponding action. Faith is akin to a muscle that only gets bigger, stronger, and powerful through exercise. Faith is not a blind walk. It is trust in a known God, that he is who he says he is and is a rewarder of those that diligently seek him. It is an exercise in trust. Like all exercise it can be difficult when the muscles are weak. Interestingly, its weakness is proof that exercise is needed. As the world goes through series of events that cause fear in men, it is time to put your faith to work. It is time to fight the good fight of faith and replace the fear files with faith in God files. Fear kills but faith gives life. Fear paralyses but faith energies. Faith often stands alone but the result is celebratory. Faith is not careless. Faith may be cautious (watchful, vigilant, attentive) but never fearful (worried, dismay, panic).
A little word to help the beginners. Sometimes caution may be misinterpreted as fear. Fear and caution are often misunderstood and wrongly applied. Interestingly, there is an enormous difference between these two words and immense benefits when we understand the difference. Christians are to work by faith in God and not by fear in the opposition. They are also to be cautious (watchful, vigilant, attentive) but never be so cautious that they freeze – and not take faith steps. The word of God changes a man’s mindset from a man that was running their life based on negative news, feelings, news, and pseudo-science that spew uncertainties, half trusts and obfuscation to a man that lives by absolute trust in God’s word.
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Interestingly, fear and caution exist in the realms of our mind. Of cause there are terrible events happening all over the world that should cause fear for the natural man. But you see the believer is not a natural man. The believer is a spirit reborn of the word and by the power of the Spirit. What cause fear to the natural man should propel faith in God in the believer. Paul could have taken a detour and not go to Jerusalem knowing he will die there but went all the same because of faith in God. Job said while men say there is a casting done though shall say there is a lifting up (Job 22:29). Notice that the believer focuses on what God says and not what the world says and acts on it.
Fear is an intense often uncontrollable emotional feeling usually associated with present or perceived danger. Caution or precaution is careful attention to a probable effect of danger before it occurs to avert it. Pre-caution is initiative-taking, but fear is retrogressive. Pre-caution is an awareness of the need to do something to avert danger or effect goodness. Fear is a feeling of flight or panic. Fear is of the Devil and often uncontrollable. Pre-caution can be controlled, and proactive steps taken to avert or embrace probable danger. Those who do not take precaution may experience events that may result in fear. Philippians 4:6, says be anxious (fearful, worried) for nothing but instead take proactive steps of – making prayer, supplication (specific requests) and thanksgiving to God. In the place of prayer and thanksgiving to God fear-files seizes to exist – they are deleted and rendered in operative. So, in the place of fear take action, pray fervently in the spirit and avert perceived danger instead of being fearful and executing fear files.
Fear files in men result in the execution of fear programs like flight, anxiety. irrationality, faith in the adversary, weakness, cowardice, gullibility, and despondency. As a Christian your fear files were deleted the day you got born again (2 Timothy 1:7). If you still ‘feel’ fear, delete them. They are left-over files from a past operating system (OS). That means though they were deleted, you still left them in the recycle bin. Empty the recycle bin! You have a brand-new OS now called Eternal Life with righteousness in Christ Jesus (ERCJ). This new OS is primed to execute faith files though if you restore the once deleted fear files like some do they will be executed. So take conscious steps to execute only faith files.
Be vigilant, aglow, and let your faith in God activate liberty, love, wisdom, courage, hope and an expectation. The word of God builds faith in God while the words of men build fear which powers unbelief. We are called to work by faith and not by sight (sensory perception) – 2 Corinthians 5:7. Even when all your physical senses tell you to be afraid, refuse to be afraid. Have faith in God, act acting on his word and be led by his Spirit.
Prepare for the coming of the Lord, be vigilant and active, work by faith and not by fear always. Remember the fearful distribute fear – fear-mongers. But the faithful distribute – faith in God. The fearful will be thrown into the lake of fire (Revelations 21:8). Be always a ‘faithmonger’ and not a fearmonger. The results will show and give glory to God.
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