Fear vs FEAR

Today is a day when fear is raging. 

• COVID 19 continues to consume lives across the world, 
• Monkey pox, is the coming, 
• Russia fighters are killing and fear is striking into the hearts of the west,
• Oil and food prices skyrocketing 
• and the economies of the west (in which many people have placed their trust) are beginning to crumble and fall.

Against this background of fear and terror the words of the bible ring true.

Psalm 27

¹ The Lord is my light and my salvation—
    so why should I be afraid?
The Lord is my fortress, protecting me from danger,
    so why should I tremble?
² When evil people come to devour me,
    when my enemies and foes attack me,
    they will stumble and fall.
³ Though a mighty army surrounds me,
    my heart will not be afraid.
Even if I am attacked,
    I will remain confident.

Psalm 46

¹ God is our refuge and strength,
    always ready to help in times of trouble.
² So we will not fear when earthquakes come
    and the mountains crumble into the sea.

Against this background of fear and terror the truth of the words of the eternal God answer the fear that many feel.

And yet where is your God, many ask? Is He weak? Unable? Unwilling? And why are the Christians in this world dying once again for their faith in fields unknown, while many of the pulpits call out the prosperity Gospel in all its "glory"? Why doesn't God answer my wishes, we ask? Why doesn't he remove my fears?

The answer is too strange to be anything other than the voice of God. The answer is so foreign to this world's thinking that people perceive those repeating it to be disconnected from realty, mentally unstable and unable to reason.

The answer is simple, but it is not what we expect or want... 

"THE FEAR OF GOD IS THE BEGINNING OF WISDOM."

Oh sure I have taught this but when I sit down in silence and I ask myself the simple question do I fear God, the question echoes in my heart. So do I?

Instead of the triumphant answer, "of course I do", coming from my lips... I instead answer this question with my own reasoning, my own decisions and my own direction... and I wonder.

And yet...

And yet...just as my heart and my mind remain self absorbed a small flame is lit in my spirit. I hear a call to walk the short distance into the Tabernacle of the Spirit of God. To answer the terror that this world presents with a walk that is far more fearful. I must no longer avoid the walk that each of us must follow, towards the presence of God. Just as my heart turns towards this walk, I hear his voice calling to me, "David, I am the way, I am the truth, I am the light." 

And to my surprise, each name reflects one of the three entrances towards the Holy of Holies, in the Tabernacle. 

Through the outer gate, I step from this world into the truth of salvation. Rabbinical tradition calls this entrance of the outer court, "THE WAY" Here the bronze altar is located, here I am judged. My past, present and future all laid bare, but it is through faith in Christ alone I enter into His Tabernacle. Through his blood I pass from outside of his will into his plan of salvation for me. 

But it does not end there, as I walk I hear the ringing of the bells attached to the robes I wear. the very robe of righteousness that Jesus gave me... "Why the bells?". No matter... I say... I love the new robes of righteousness that I have been given. I revel in His love. I am overjoyed to know the salvation of God.

But soon I am called to the second entrance, "THE TRUTH" I discover the need for the power of the Holy Spirit to purify, and sanctify. I have come into this in-between place where the love of God is overwhelming but so is the Power of God. God's Holy Spirit begins a process of preparing the sacrifice, the living sacrifice. The washing of the Word... washing clean... washing me clean. 

Wait, what's this? A rope? Why are you tying a rope unto my leg. The bells were one thing, but now a rope? Why? Why would a loving God insist on a rope tied to my ankle? 

Surely my loving God would not... 

Surely, his love for me is not asking me to...

...into the presence of the Father I am about to enter... alone... and you are tying a rope to drag me back out if I die? If I drop dead? All because of the presence of God? Okay... Now, I'm really afraid!

And yet, once again I'm called to come closer... but now closer means the Holy of Holies. I am called to come closer to the very thing that I fear the most. The manifest presence of the Father. 

Each step closer to the last entrance brings me closer to the power and presence of God. Each step closer to his glory. Each step closer to my death. My robes are washed in Jesus blood, yes... or course... my hands are clean... by the work of the Holy Spirit but as I step closer to his presence I, once again, hear the bells attached to the bottom of my robe, ringing the message... for all to hear...

...so far... David still lives.

There is hope here... (surrounding me, within me) yes I can feel that surrounding me, but there is also fear, because this is the realm of light, blinding light (too bright to even look at) there is a light that leaves nothing standing. Here I have come... from the land of the living into the land of the dead. Here, the entrance into the Holy of Holies is called "THE LIGHT" according to rabbinical tradition. 

I feel the drag of the rope as it unspools from the safety of the place I was... into this new place where I am now called to step... face to face with the father... I fall face down, for now I'm going to die. 

The presence of God the Father brings us to the apex of our fears. The bells stop ringing as our legs stop shaking in fear, the rope lies still as we humble ourselves before the wonder and majesty of God. And then, as I breathe out my last breath and breathe in his life into my life...the truth become clear... 

"God uses dead men."

Luke 12:4-5
 “I tell you, my friends, do not be afraid of those who kill the body and after that can do no more. But I will show you whom you should fear: Fear him who, after your body has been killed, has authority to throw you into hell. Yes, I tell you, fear him.
"Yes, I tell you, fear him"

To my fears, Jesus now speaks across the miles into my life...

Jesus speaks hope that is not found in thought or ideology, not philosophy nor religion, but only in the pathway of death that Christ himself walked ahead of us all and broke through to the other side. To me from the pathway to Golgotha, I hear his words... 

"David, pick up your cross, and follow me."

Why am I no longer afraid? Not afraid of life, or death, principalities or power, things above or below... why am I not afraid? because...

You can't kill a dead man!

Outside of God's presence you will find the chains that absorb your passions, distort your purpose and empower your pain... in answer to your fears this world gives you false hope, artificial choices, all the while insisting that you have the power, and it's your decisions that matter. 

But you see... Dead men have no choice! 

And more than anything else, 

Satan and this world fear  "Dead Men".

And now, standing in the presence of God, feeling my life drain from my body and the life of the Holy Spirit of God surge into every fibre of this dead man's spirit, the truth of this journey becomes so clear... 

... inside of the death of Christ, and our subsequent death... 

...there is the fear that sets you free.

The beginning of wisdom is found in the fear of the Lord... 

...Lord, you and you only do I fear!

 

Here I am Lord...send me...

How often... in the past few years  I have expressed a question to the churches and groups that I have had the pleasure to lead. 

How often... I would ask the listeners a question without really grasping what I was actually asking? 

How often... I would wait quietly until the moment of silence, the moment of peace when ask, "Are you ready to die for your faith?" 

You know the drill... the room quiets, look over your glasses and quietly and slowly challenge each person to live for Jesus and then quote the call from Christ...

Matthew 16:24-26 New Living Translation (NLT)

^"Then Jesus said to his disciples, “If any of you wants to be my follower, you must turn from your selfish ways, take up your cross, and follow me. ²⁵ If you try to hang on to your life, you will lose it. But if you give up your life for my sake, you will save it. ²⁶ And what do you benefit if you gain the whole world but lose your own soul? Is anything worth more than your soul?"

As I sit here in front of my computer I am listening to the voice of a young man describe his call from God to reach the youth and children of Mozambique. I listen as he describes his desire to serve God with all that he is and all that he has. I sit here in front of my computer listening as to his voice cracks and he stands describing his desire to live 100% for his Lord. I'm thrilled.

As I sit here, I now listen as a man full of the spirit of God describes his desire to help children in West Ghana. Containers being sent... books, bed and clothing traveling to those in need... faith filled people going to the ends of the earth to share the truth of Christ. I'm encouraged. 

And then...

Against this moment, my heart travels across the sea to the deserts of Syria where a young man is kneeling, hands tied behind his back, a shot is fired and a young christian sinks into the sands of the desert and into the sands of time. 

Against this moment, my heart breaks as I realize that entire fellowships of believers are being removed from this world and are being ushered into eternity by the hands of evil men and corrupt groups.


Against this moment, my heart is soaked by the reality of the lives dying daily for Jesus. 


Against this moment, my heart sinks as I look into my heart and ask that very same question to my spirit, my soul and find the reality of fear and pain. Am I ready to die for my faith?

Against this moment, I cry...

Jesus said in Matthew 10:18-24,  “Look, I am sending you out as sheep among wolves. So be as shrewd as snakes and harmless as doves.  But beware! For you will be handed over to the courts and will be flogged with whips in the synagogues.  You will stand trial before governors and kings because you are my followers. But this will be your opportunity to tell the rulers and other unbelievers about me.  

When you are arrested, don’t worry about how to respond or what to say. God will give you the right words at the right time. For it is not you who will be speaking—it will be the Spirit of your Father speaking through you.

“A brother will betray his brother to death, a father will betray his own child, and children will rebel against their parents and cause them to be killed.  And all nations will hate you because you are my followers. But everyone who endures to the end will be saved. When you are persecuted in one town, flee to the next. I tell you the truth, the Son of Man will return before you have reached all the towns of Israel."

Historians have said for years that the church of Jesus Christ grows on the blood of it's martyrs... that being true... 
prepare my heart... prepare for hope... prepare for harvest. 

Maranatha... Christ is coming... even so Lord Jesus come quickly.