Wednesday, July 31, 2013

The Fear of Tomorrow is Bondage Today

The Bondage of the Fear of Tomorrow.


Last time we talked about Yesterday. How the things in our Past, the good, bad, and the ugly, can put us in bondage of the fear of them repeating, or by attempting to recreate them. Dwelling on Yesterday, and fearing Tomorrow, makes us lose our Today.

As we started to discuss, it is not totally our fault. Some of the fear and worry of Tomorrow has been taught us from Birth. We have been conditioned to fear Tomorrow. There are people who make a lot of money, stoking that fear.

Now, some of the things we are going to discuss today, may upset some of you. You may become offended. You may become angry. You may not agree. That's because we have been so conditioned that it has become the Norm. It's just what we do. In a way, it makes perfect sense. However, you need to think about one thing. One very important thing, that is always left out of the equation. Lets look at some of the Norm.

Car insurance? We pay money every month to a company that claims they will be there if we have an accident. Lets say you pay them $100 a month. In a year, you paid them $1200. Ten years? $12,000. Now lets say you have an accident. What do they do? In most cases, pay out, maybe, a couple hundred, or say the car is only worth a grand and total it out. They have armies of Lawyers looking for any reason whatsoever to pay you as little as possible.

Life Insurance? You are paying people to take care of your family if something happens to you. There are so many loopholes and small print, that some do not even pay out at all. If you die your family get's A Million Dollars. If you die during a Snow Storm, in July, wearing a blue hat and pink underwear.

College Funding? Putting money away for your kiddies to go onto higher education. Do you know they are going to? Do you know they are going to become something that NEEDS a college degree?

Retirement? Saving money your whole life, so that you can quit work, sit on the couch, and do nothing all day. I know people that work two jobs just to save for Retirement. I now know people that work two jobs just to pay for Car, Health, and Life Insurance. What if you lose you Job tomorrow. What then?

The fear of the loss of a Job can cause Bosses and Corporations to become abusive. If they think you fear the loss of your Job, they may start taking advantage of you. I actually once had a Boss tell me "A Trained Monkey can do your Job." In other words, you are not important, if you do not do what I say, there are a hundred people waiting to take over. He was demoted and moved out of our Department shortly after.

Fear of Death? That's a big one. Some fear tomorrow, because they fear what Tomorrow may bring. Lets deal with this one first. Once you lose your fear of death, does anything else TRULY matter? You see, last time we talked about the things of your Past are gone. Once you have been adopted into the Family of God, and God Himself becomes your Daddy, you become a New Creature. All that Good, Bad, and Ugly stuff is gone. Blotted out. Forgotten. You are no longer the person that did, or, lived them.

Romans 8:
1 There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.

2 For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death.
And,,,,
15 For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father.

16 The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God:

17 And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together.
Now?
28 And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.

29 For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren.

30 Moreover whom he did predestinate, them he also called: and whom he called, them he also justified: and whom he justified, them he also glorified.

31 What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us?

32 He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things?

33 Who shall lay any thing to the charge of God's elect? It is God that justifieth.

34 Who is he that condemneth? It is Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us.

35 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?

36 As it is written, For thy sake we are killed all the day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter.

37 Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us.

38 For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come,

39 Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
The Lord Himself tells us, as His Children,,,,

Isaiah 41:
10 Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness.
So if we have God promising us, "I am with thee", and we now know that "tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword, death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God", Then we need not worry about Death.

Think about this. What is Heaven?

Luke 23:
43 And he said to him, “Truly, I say to you, today you will be with me in Paradise.”
John 14:
2 In my Father's house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you?
Revelation 21:
4 He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.”
Revelation 22:
1 And he shewed me a pure river of water of life, clear as crystal, proceeding out of the throne of God and of the Lamb.

2 In the midst of the street of it, and on either side of the river, was there the tree of life, which bare twelve manner of fruits, and yielded her fruit every month: and the leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations.

3 And there shall be no more curse: but the throne of God and of the Lamb shall be in it; and his servants shall serve him:

4 And they shall see his face; and his name shall be in their foreheads.

5 And there shall be no night there; and they need no candle, neither light of the sun; for the Lord God giveth them light: and they shall reign for ever and ever.
So I ask you. Which is better? That to which we go? Or this of which we leave behind? If death is no longer something to be feared, then WHY fear anything else? "But Pete, it's not the dying that worries me, it's the living. What if I can't feed my family? Pay my Rent or Mortgage. What if?" Jesus Himself answered this on the Sermon on the Mount....

Matthew 6:
25 Therefore I say unto you, Take no thought for your life, what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink; nor yet for your body, what ye shall put on. Is not the life more than meat, and the body than raiment?

26 Behold the fowls of the air: for they sow not, neither do they reap, nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feedeth them. Are ye not much better than they?

27 Which of you by taking thought can add one cubit unto his stature?

28 And why take ye thought for raiment? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they toil not, neither do they spin:

29 And yet I say unto you, That even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these.

30 Wherefore, if God so clothe the grass of the field, which to day is, and to morrow is cast into the oven, shall he not much more clothe you, O ye of little faith?

31 Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed?

32 (For after all these things do the Gentiles seek:) for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things.

33 But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.

34 Take therefore no thought for the morrow: for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself. Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof.
You see, this is why Jesus tells us these things. Our needs will be met. Rely on God and stop relying on ourselves. With us, we can doing nothing. But with God, all things are possible. Who do you trust more? You? Or the Creator of all things? "But Pete, I have to work. I have to save for the future." Why? "Why? What do you mean WHY? This is what we do. We work now, save for later. If not, how are you going to live?"

Luke 12:
15 And he said unto them, Take heed, and beware of covetousness: for a man's life consisteth not in the abundance of the things which he possesseth.

16 And he spake a parable unto them, saying, The ground of a certain rich man brought forth plentifully:

17 And he thought within himself, saying, What shall I do, because I have no room where to bestow my fruits?

18 And he said, This will I do: I will pull down my barns, and build greater; and there will I bestow all my fruits and my goods.

19 And I will say to my soul, Soul, thou hast much goods laid up for many years; take thine ease, eat, drink, and be merry.

20 But God said unto him, Thou fool, this night thy soul shall be required of thee: then whose shall those things be, which thou hast provided?

21 So is he that layeth up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God.
Jesus tells us plainly "Take therefore no thought for the morrow: for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself. Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof." Tomorrow is not guaranteed. Tomorrow is NEVER guaranteed. Think about that. Jesus says "But God said unto him, Thou fool, this night thy soul shall be required of thee." What if, this morning was the last time you ever ate Breakfast? The very last time you ever had coffee. The very last time you ever took a shower, got dressed, and kissed your Loved Ones goodbye. The last time. You go out the door, and a truck has a blowout and crashes into you. A plane flies into a building. You have a Heart Attack. Just because the World may not end today, doesn't mean this is not your last day on it.

Did you know that Retirement is a man-made concept. Nowhere in the Bible does it talk about saving for the future and so you can stop working and take it easy. Nowhere. I have known many people that live for Retirement, and they get there and Retire, only to die shortly after. Their kids now inherit that car, house, and all that money they, in some cases, kill themselves obtaining.

Jesus tells us to "Sell that ye have, and give alms; provide yourselves bags which wax not old, a treasure in the heavens that faileth not, where no thief approacheth, neither moth corrupteth." "For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also." Jesus tells us that if we truly want to save for the future, we should do so by doing the Will of the Father. Store up treasures in Heaven. Add jewels to your crown in Glory.

Am I telling you to cancel all your Insurance Policies? Of course not. Car and now Health Insurance is now the Law of the land. You MUST have them. I'm not telling you to violate the Law, I'm saying start relying on God. Trust Him. Believe what He tells you. Remember, Jesus said "for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things." And...

Luke 11:
11 If a son shall ask bread of any of you that is a father, will he give him a stone? or if he ask a fish, will he for a fish give him a serpent?

12 Or if he shall ask an egg, will he offer him a scorpion?

13 If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children: how much more shall your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to them that ask him?
We must "seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added" on to us. We must not live if fear. We must trust in Him. Would God really allow you and your family to starve to death if you lose your Job? Whatever that Job may be? Do you really think God will allow your Family to lose everything if He calls you home today? Do you really think that God, the Creator of all there is was or ever will be, in unable to get you a Car if needed? Seriously? How big is your God? Do you see Him AS God? I ask you again, of whom do you trust more? God, or yourself?

Tomorrow is coming. The things that are in it, are coming. There is NOTHING you can do to change it. NOTHING you can do to prevent it. Nothing. It's coming. It's here. It's gone. Another Tomorrow is coming. Will you be in it? It's not even a guarantee. Why worry? Why fear? God is with you. Stop worrying about the Creation, and start trusting in the Creator.

Do you know Jesus as your Savior? Have you been adopted into the Family of God? If not, say this Prayer. Right now. Wherever you may be. Say it in your own words, and do not doubt in your heart. God will hear you. He will send the Spirit of Life to you. Let us Pray..

"Oh heavenly Father, Lord God. I am a sinner. I know this. I know there is nothing I can do to change that. But I know you can. I accept Jesus's sacrifice for me. I repent my sins. Please send the Spirit of Adoption into my life. Help me to get to know the real you. Save me. Please. In the name of Jesus, Amen!"

That's it. It really is that simple. Now go tell someone what you have just done. "That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved." {Romans 10:9} You need to find a Church that God leads you to, and be Baptized the way Jesus said to be. You are now a Child of God. A new Creature. You "have put off the old man with his deeds, and have put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him." {Colossians 3:10}

If you want to tell me, or comment, question, give testimonials, or just say "Hi," the Email is opntalk@gmail.com

Until next time, be blessed, be a blessing, and Jesus IS Lord of all!

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