Fear

Major Tim at Ripley Salvation Army spoke about fear on Sunday evening, we all have fears that are quite irrational, I had no idea that there were people who had a fear of churches, ecclesiophobia. People are frightened of all sorts of things, and Major Tim reminded us of some of them, people fear about losing their job, about their health, losing a loved one etc. etc

Forget

Everything

And

Run

That is the experience of many people, they really don't want to have to face their fears. Fear is a very distressing emotion and it is aroused by impending danger whether true or false. We can spend hours of sleepless nights in anxiety and fear over something that will not happen.

As I was studying God's word this morning I found I was reading from the same chapter that Major Tim had spoke on 1 John 4:18 There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear, because fear involves torment. But he who fears has not been made perfect in love.

Isn't that amazing?  Perfect love of course can only come from God because He is perfect. The greatest fear that man has is the fear of death, of the unknown, is there life after death? Is there a heaven and hell? If there is a heaven how do I know if I'm going? Have I been good enough, have the good things in my life far outweighed the bad? 

The answer to your fears is in the Bible, God's Word, which tells us that everyone has sinned whoever they are, and wherever they are, and no no-one is good enough, and no no-one has done enough good to outweigh the bad. And yes there is life after death, and yes there is a literal heaven and hell. The Bible tells us how we don't have to go to hell and what we have to do to go to heaven. And no, there is nothing for you to do apart from repent of your sins and believe on the Lord Jesus Christ. Does that sound to simple? Do you think that perhaps you can earn your salvation? Or do you think perhaps if you do enough good works, go to church, pray, read the Bible, and sing in the choir you'll get an automatic ticket to heaven? No, you won't, only the born again will go to heaven, and we can only be born again because Jesus took our punishment on the cross at Calvary and suffered a cruel, agonising death. It was Jesus who said that you must be born again. John 3:1-21 It is a new birth, a spiritual birth. 

Pastor Philip at Ripley Elim told a story of a young boy years ago who was brought before a judge for breaking the law, there was a fine to pay, and the boy had no idea how he was going to pay it, but his dad paid it for him and he was free to go and he didn't have to pay it back. That is what Jesus has done for us, He has paid the price for our lawbreaking, no-one can keep God's laws. So we either receive this free gift of God's grace in the here and now or we will stand condemned on the Day of Judgement. Everything that you have ever done will be held against you and you will have to pay.

Psalm 34:4 

I sought the Lord, and He heard me,

And delivered me from all my fears.

Do you want to be released from the fear of death, from the fear of, is there life after death? God's perfect love manifested itself when He gave His Son to take the penalty for us. Repent, believe, and turn to the Saviour and live your life for Him. The fear of the Lord, that is a healthy fear to have. It's not a terrifying, nail biting fear when we are His child, but a reverence and awe for who He is. 

A. W. Tozer said: "The greatness of God rouses fear within us, but His goodness encourages us not to the afraid of Him. To fear and not be afraid, that is the paradox of faith". 

This is the second verse of the wonderful hymn, 

Amazing Grace:

’Twas grace that taught my heart to fear,
And grace my fears relieved;
How precious did that grace appear
The hour I first believed.

Psalm 111:10 

The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom; 
A good understanding have all those who do His commandments.

His praise endures forever.

Psalm 19:7-11

⁷ The law of the Lord is perfect, converting the soul;
The testimony of the Lord is sure, making wise the simple;
⁸ The statutes of the Lord are right, rejoicing the heart;
The commandment of the Lord is pure, enlightening the eyes;
⁹ The fear of the Lord is clean, enduring forever;
The judgments of the Lord are true and righteous altogether.
¹⁰ More to be desired are they than gold,
Yea, than much fine gold;
Sweeter also than honey and the honeycomb.
¹¹ Moreover by them Your servant is warned,
And in keeping them there is great reward.

A wise old owl sat in an oak,
The more he heard, the less he spoke;
The less he spoke, the more he heard;
Why aren't we all like that wise old bird?