Fear

Fear is a powerful emotion.

Fear can bind you. Fear can make you Lie, Cheat, and Steel. Fear can cause you to commit Murder. Fear can give others power over you. Fear can enslave you. Fear can rob you of your very life. Fear is very real. In the Psychology Field, Fear is so predominant that they have named it a Phobia. From Arachnophobia, to Acrophobia {Fear of heights}, all the way to Pantophobia. One of my favorite lines, EVER, in Doctor Who is this "That's what it's called. Pantophobia. Not fear of pants though, if that's what you're thinking. It's fear of everything. Including pants, I suppose. In that case... Sorry. go on."

But Fear is a very real and very powerful force. I will never forget back in the days when I was a Hotel Manger, I met this Woman and her soon to be Husband. They were asking me to host their Wedding Guests and the Wedding itself they wanted to have in the Lounge. Well, that's not possible I told them because the Lounge is a Night Club and we would not be able to shut it down for a Private Function, and I offered to show them other Rooms and put them in touch with my Sales person.

Well, the Woman said, "I really need to speak with you privately." So we went into my office and she told me that her Sister has been Diagnosed with Agoraphobia, Anthropophobia, and Ochlophobia. I said, understandably, "What?" So she explained it to me. Agoraphobia - Fear of open spaces, Anthropophobia - fear of people or the company of people, and Ochlophobia- Fear of crowds. She believed that she also suffered from Xenophobia - Fear of strangers. Now setting aside my wondering how Anthropophobia, Ochlophobia, and Xenophobia, are any different, and what would that difference really matter, I said "Please go on."

She said, "Well, the lounge has that Green House Dinning Room attached that can be seen from the Rooms, and my Sister could stand outside it and watch the wedding. This way she would not miss it." So I agreed. She is going to have the Wedding in the Lounge. But she was not done. "Can I ask you a HUGE favor?" I thought, "You already did." But what I said was "Sure." Then she said, "I need you to meet my Sister. She cannot go outside by herself, and she really wants to see me get Married. If you meet her and spend some time with her, she may trust you enough to go outside and stand with you for the Ceremony." "Uh, OK."

So I did. I met her. Through the door. I went to the room often for two days. She eventually opened the door. To my surprise, here is this absolutely stunning young lady. I mean it. She was Beautiful. I kinda pictured an Igor looking person. I know, I know, not nice. But it's the truth. I thought she would be homely, and mousy. But here stood this Model looking young lady.

At first, she would not make eye contact. But we talked and I spend time listening to her. Then she asked if I would bring her something to eat. So I did. After sometime, she looked up and into my eyes. "Will you come and get me right before the Ceremony?" "Of course I will." Was my response.

So there it was, time. I went and got her. She opened the door and was all dressed up. She was wearing what she would wear if she could go in. It took her a little bit to step outside. I had to remind her that the Ceremony was about to start. To my absolute shock, and even startled me for a second, she took my hand. We walked together to the outside of the Greenhouse and she watched her Sister get Married. She asked if we could stay a bit longer so she could watch the dancing and stuff. To my surprise and without thought, I said "We can stay here all night if you want." She smiled. We only stayed for about 30 minutes and she felt she needed to go back to the room. So we went back and I brought her some food and cake from the Wedding with her Sister.

I saw first hand, call it what you will, how Fear can rob you of your very life. This absolutely beautiful Woman was a prisoner to her Fear.

However, you, as a Child of God, have NOTHING to fear. Seriously.

Fear of Death? Death itself is nothing.

Ecclesiastes 3:

1 To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven:

2 A time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck up that which is planted;

3 A time to kill, and a time to heal; a time to break down, and a time to build up;

4 A time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance;

5 A time to cast away stones, and a time to gather stones together; a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing;

6 A time to get, and a time to lose; a time to keep, and a time to cast away;

7 A time to rend, and a time to sew; a time to keep silence, and a time to speak;

8 A time to love, and a time to hate; a time of war, and a time of peace.

Death itself is as natural to life as living. Death is not a punishment. It just is. It is only appoint for us to die one time.

Hebrews 9:

27 And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment:

28 So Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many; and unto them that look for him shall he appear the second time without sin unto salvation.

This is why Jesus tells us...

Matthew 10:

28 And do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather fear him who can destroy both soul and body in hell.

Then Jesus tells us that He will be there to greet us. He tells us that all will come before Him..

Matthew 25:

31 When the Son of man shall come in his glory, and all the holy angels with him, then shall he sit upon the throne of his glory:

32 And before him shall be gathered all nations: and he shall separate them one from another, as a shepherd divideth his sheep from the goats:

33 And he shall set the sheep on his right hand, but the goats on the left.

34 Then shall the King say unto them on his right hand, Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world:

35 For I was an hungred, and ye gave me meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me in:

36 Naked, and ye clothed me: I was sick, and ye visited me: I was in prison, and ye came unto me.

37 Then shall the righteous answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungred, and fed thee? or thirsty, and gave thee drink?

38 When saw we thee a stranger, and took thee in? or naked, and clothed thee?

39 Or when saw we thee sick, or in prison, and came unto thee?

40 And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me.

41 Then shall he say also unto them on the left hand, Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels:

42 For I was an hungred, and ye gave me no meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me no drink:

43 I was a stranger, and ye took me not in: naked, and ye clothed me not: sick, and in prison, and ye visited me not.

44 Then shall they also answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungred, or athirst, or a stranger, or naked, or sick, or in prison, and did not minister unto thee?

45 Then shall he answer them, saying, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye did it not to one of the least of these, ye did it not to me.

46 And these shall go away into everlasting punishment: but the righteous into life eternal.

It tells us of this time in,,,,,

Revelation 20:

11 And I saw a great white throne, and him that sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away; and there was found no place for them.

12 And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works.

13 And the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them: and they were judged every man according to their works.

14 And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death.

15 And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.

"Wait right there Pete. You see, this is one of those contradictions that fill that book you love so much. You just said it is appointed onto man to die once, and now you say this is the second death. So? Which is it."

When you leave this world, that is not truly death. As you just read, when you die in the flesh, you stand before Jesus Himself. If you have accepted Jesus and been adopted into the Family of God, you allow Him to be your substitute. He died for you. You died already. If not, then you truly die. You are cast into the lake of fire. That is your true death. Most see our departure from here on earth as death. So if you are rejected by Jesus after, many see this as your second death. But it really isn't. You only truly die once. Either here and now, so that you may live, or then, after you made your choice. However, if you are a Child of God, then you have been there and done that. Your life is no longer yours to give, nor, anyone's to take. So why fear?

Fear losing your job? Your needs will be met. {Matthew 6: 25-34}
Fear anything else related to it? Bills, Debt, Food? Same thing. Your needs will be met.
Fear God? He is now your Daddy? {Romans 8}
Fear the Devil? He has no power over you. Look at Job.

Job 1:

6 Now there was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before the Lord, and Satan came also among them.

7 And the Lord said unto Satan, Whence comest thou? Then Satan answered the Lord, and said, From going to and fro in the earth, and from walking up and down in it.

8 And the Lord said unto Satan, Hast thou considered my servant Job, that there is none like him in the earth, a perfect and an upright man, one that feareth God, and escheweth evil?

9 Then Satan answered the Lord, and said, Doth Job fear God for nought?

10 Hast not thou made an hedge about him, and about his house, and about all that he hath on every side? thou hast blessed the work of his hands, and his substance is increased in the land.

11 But put forth thine hand now, and touch all that he hath, and he will curse thee to thy face.

12 And the Lord said unto Satan, Behold, all that he hath is in thy power; only upon himself put not forth thine hand. So Satan went forth from the presence of the Lord.

Again....

Job 2:

1 Again there was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before the Lord, and Satan came also among them to present himself before the Lord.

2 And the Lord said unto Satan, From whence comest thou? And Satan answered the Lord, and said, From going to and fro in the earth, and from walking up and down in it.

3 And the Lord said unto Satan, Hast thou considered my servant Job, that there is none like him in the earth, a perfect and an upright man, one that feareth God, and escheweth evil? and still he holdeth fast his integrity, although thou movedst me against him, to destroy him without cause.

4 And Satan answered the Lord, and said, Skin for skin, yea, all that a man hath will he give for his life.

5 But put forth thine hand now, and touch his bone and his flesh, and he will curse thee to thy face.

6 And the Lord said unto Satan, Behold, he is in thine hand; but save his life.

Remember Peter?

Luke 22:

31 And the Lord said, Simon, Simon, behold, Satan hath desired to have you, that he may sift you as wheat:

Satan can do nothing to you without permission from God. He cannot take your life. He can do nothing. He can only whisper, encourage, entice. The Sins you fall into are by your own hand. Job remained faithful and was restored so much better than before. Why fear Satan?

So if we should have no fear of Death, our needs being met, God, or even the Devil himself, then what is left to fear? Open spaces? There is nothing in them that can harm you. Strangers? They are fields you should be attempting to Sow in. Or, they are people who have made their choices and there is nothing they can do to you. If the Devil himself cannot touch you without permission from God, what can Joe Schmo do to you?

Fear is completely irrational, and has no place in your life, when you come to the full realization of who you are as a Child of God. Who your Daddy now is. Do not allow the fear of anything to place you into Bondage. To rob you of your very life itself. "Greater is He in you, than in all the World." {1 John 4:4}

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!