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GLEANINGS FROM THE WORD
Experience an extraordinary God in ordinary life
Issue #1,075 April 5, 2004 Fear Not
Kathy, Genni the wonder dog and I walked around the lake yesterday evening. The temperature was well above freezing, there are small patches of open water on the lake, and there are many species of birds back for the summer. The tree buds that were [bless and do not curse][bless and do not curse][bless and do not curse][bless and do not curse][bless and do not curse] willows a week ago are in full seed setting mode. The whole park area was bustling with people taking advantage of the spring Sunday.
As we passed the toboggan hill, we saw that the ground squirrels (gophers) were out in full force and obviously doing spring maintenance on their tunnels and dens. They're cute to watch (although I suspect they would be a lot less so if I were a farmer and it was my field being torn apart), but they're very timid. I suppose when everything bigger than you can eat you, you tend to be very watchful. The smallest move in their direction or shadow passing overhead causes them to squeak out a warning and send them deep into the tunnels.
As we walked passed the gophers both Kathy and I knew that there was a Gleanings or an object lesson in what we had seen. Interestingly enough they were very different in their perspective. I'm using one of them this morning, and the other will likely appear sometime during the summer as Holy Spirit leads.
Gophers seem to live their lives in a perpetual state of fear. In that regard, they are much like many Christians that I've encountered over the years. It's sad because we're called to live in victory not bondage.
They fear that God is angry with them and everything that they do and they forget about His love. We're told that the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, but that fear is a healthy awe and reverence for a holy, omnipotent, omnipresent, omniscient God, not the fear that God is going to strike us dead any moment. We're told repeatedly through the Scriptures to not be afraid, to fear not.
Yes God is holy, and His righteous wrath burns against sin, BUT, as believers He sees Christ in us and we are forgiven. We needn't walk in an unhealthy fear of Him. Instead our standing in Jesus Christ should give us boldness and confidence.
Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has gone through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to the faith we profess. For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are--yet was without sin. Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.
Hebrews 4:14-16 NIV
We have standing in Jesus. We can approach the throne in confidence. There is no need to fear.
Yes if we continue to walk in unrepentant sin and ignore God, He is going to discipline us, just as we would discipline a child. Knowing that we are forgiven is not an excuse to live in unrepentant sin, He loves us too much to allow that. His discipline may well be uncomfortable, but it's nothing to fear. It is designed to mould us more and more into His image.
Until next time, if you know Jesus, do not be afraid. Fear not! Walk in the freedom that being a child of God brings.
Hallelu Yah (Praise God)
Be blessed
Kevin
Never let the enemy tell you that you are worthless or insignificant. You have value in the eyes of God so great that it was worth dying for. You are a blessing to the world. You are so precious to God that heaven will not be complete without you.
HELP FOR THE HURTING
Are you afraid of God because the things you've done in your life would not be pleasing to Him? You're not alone, all people have done things that are displeasing in His eye. He's a holy and perfect God, we're unholy, imperfect people.
If you're a non-believer you will face the eternal consequences of His righteous wrath ... UNLESS ... you turn to Him for forgiveness. He promises that all who turn to him with repentant hearts and that are willing to put Him first in his/her heart will be forgiven. There's no point waiting until you "have it all together" before approaching God, none of us ever has it all together. That's why we need His help.
He offers peace; hope; love; joy; spiritual blessings; forgiveness; eternal life and more. It's all there for the asking. Will you ask today?
If you want to know how to do that simply email us and we'll send you some Bible verses that will explain it to you.
You can simply begin the relationship by honestly and completely opening your heart; admitting you need God's help; turning away from your sin and saying a prayer along the lines of the one below. There isn't any "magic" in the prayer, it's simply a way to open up to the gift that Jesus already bought for you with His very life. You can't earn it. You don't deserve it. He freely offers it to all who will accept it.:
Jesus:
I have made many mistakes in my life and done things I am not proud of. I have sinned. I need your love and forgiveness. I believe that you came into this world and gave your life on a cross to pay for my sins and that you defeated death and rose again. Please forgive me, and be the Lord of my life. I give my life to you Lord.
Amen
If you pray this prayer for the first time let me know so I can rejoice with you. It's not the end of the process, it is the beginning of a wonderful journey to become more like Jesus. It's your starting point. Email us and we can direct you to some resources that will help you grow in your new faith.
NEED PRAYER? GOT QUESTIONS?
If you're in need of prayer or answers to questions about the faith email us
BACK ISSUES
Looking for a previous issue of Gleanings From The Word? Selected back issues are available on our website
SHARING GLEANINGS
If you enjoyed this issue of Gleanings From The Word, email it, in its entirety, to a friend. Better still, get their permission and sign them up for their own subscription, after all it's free.
We do not rent, sell, trade or share our mailing list with anyone. Your email address is kept completely confidential. We also send no forms of unsolicited email.
For information on use of Gleanings in your church newsletter or other situations please visit the permissions page on our website.
CONTACT US
To share your questions, comments, thoughts, prayer concerns and praise reports:
You can email us
Or you can write to us at
Gleanings From The Word Ministries International
114 Oak St Sherwood Park, AB Canada T8A 0V8
© 2001-2004 Gleanings From The Word Ministries International - All Rights Reserved
Submitted by Richard
Experience an extraordinary God in ordinary life
Issue #1,075 April 5, 2004 Fear Not
Kathy, Genni the wonder dog and I walked around the lake yesterday evening. The temperature was well above freezing, there are small patches of open water on the lake, and there are many species of birds back for the summer. The tree buds that were [bless and do not curse][bless and do not curse][bless and do not curse][bless and do not curse][bless and do not curse] willows a week ago are in full seed setting mode. The whole park area was bustling with people taking advantage of the spring Sunday.
As we passed the toboggan hill, we saw that the ground squirrels (gophers) were out in full force and obviously doing spring maintenance on their tunnels and dens. They're cute to watch (although I suspect they would be a lot less so if I were a farmer and it was my field being torn apart), but they're very timid. I suppose when everything bigger than you can eat you, you tend to be very watchful. The smallest move in their direction or shadow passing overhead causes them to squeak out a warning and send them deep into the tunnels.
As we walked passed the gophers both Kathy and I knew that there was a Gleanings or an object lesson in what we had seen. Interestingly enough they were very different in their perspective. I'm using one of them this morning, and the other will likely appear sometime during the summer as Holy Spirit leads.
Gophers seem to live their lives in a perpetual state of fear. In that regard, they are much like many Christians that I've encountered over the years. It's sad because we're called to live in victory not bondage.
They fear that God is angry with them and everything that they do and they forget about His love. We're told that the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, but that fear is a healthy awe and reverence for a holy, omnipotent, omnipresent, omniscient God, not the fear that God is going to strike us dead any moment. We're told repeatedly through the Scriptures to not be afraid, to fear not.
Yes God is holy, and His righteous wrath burns against sin, BUT, as believers He sees Christ in us and we are forgiven. We needn't walk in an unhealthy fear of Him. Instead our standing in Jesus Christ should give us boldness and confidence.
Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has gone through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to the faith we profess. For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are--yet was without sin. Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.
Hebrews 4:14-16 NIV
We have standing in Jesus. We can approach the throne in confidence. There is no need to fear.
Yes if we continue to walk in unrepentant sin and ignore God, He is going to discipline us, just as we would discipline a child. Knowing that we are forgiven is not an excuse to live in unrepentant sin, He loves us too much to allow that. His discipline may well be uncomfortable, but it's nothing to fear. It is designed to mould us more and more into His image.
Until next time, if you know Jesus, do not be afraid. Fear not! Walk in the freedom that being a child of God brings.
Hallelu Yah (Praise God)
Be blessed
Kevin
Never let the enemy tell you that you are worthless or insignificant. You have value in the eyes of God so great that it was worth dying for. You are a blessing to the world. You are so precious to God that heaven will not be complete without you.
HELP FOR THE HURTING
Are you afraid of God because the things you've done in your life would not be pleasing to Him? You're not alone, all people have done things that are displeasing in His eye. He's a holy and perfect God, we're unholy, imperfect people.
If you're a non-believer you will face the eternal consequences of His righteous wrath ... UNLESS ... you turn to Him for forgiveness. He promises that all who turn to him with repentant hearts and that are willing to put Him first in his/her heart will be forgiven. There's no point waiting until you "have it all together" before approaching God, none of us ever has it all together. That's why we need His help.
He offers peace; hope; love; joy; spiritual blessings; forgiveness; eternal life and more. It's all there for the asking. Will you ask today?
If you want to know how to do that simply email us and we'll send you some Bible verses that will explain it to you.
You can simply begin the relationship by honestly and completely opening your heart; admitting you need God's help; turning away from your sin and saying a prayer along the lines of the one below. There isn't any "magic" in the prayer, it's simply a way to open up to the gift that Jesus already bought for you with His very life. You can't earn it. You don't deserve it. He freely offers it to all who will accept it.:
Jesus:
I have made many mistakes in my life and done things I am not proud of. I have sinned. I need your love and forgiveness. I believe that you came into this world and gave your life on a cross to pay for my sins and that you defeated death and rose again. Please forgive me, and be the Lord of my life. I give my life to you Lord.
Amen
If you pray this prayer for the first time let me know so I can rejoice with you. It's not the end of the process, it is the beginning of a wonderful journey to become more like Jesus. It's your starting point. Email us and we can direct you to some resources that will help you grow in your new faith.
NEED PRAYER? GOT QUESTIONS?
If you're in need of prayer or answers to questions about the faith email us
BACK ISSUES
Looking for a previous issue of Gleanings From The Word? Selected back issues are available on our website
SHARING GLEANINGS
If you enjoyed this issue of Gleanings From The Word, email it, in its entirety, to a friend. Better still, get their permission and sign them up for their own subscription, after all it's free.
We do not rent, sell, trade or share our mailing list with anyone. Your email address is kept completely confidential. We also send no forms of unsolicited email.
For information on use of Gleanings in your church newsletter or other situations please visit the permissions page on our website.
CONTACT US
To share your questions, comments, thoughts, prayer concerns and praise reports:
You can email us
Or you can write to us at
Gleanings From The Word Ministries International
114 Oak St Sherwood Park, AB Canada T8A 0V8
© 2001-2004 Gleanings From The Word Ministries International - All Rights Reserved
Submitted by Richard
