Fear that Makes you Fearless

"Do not be afraid. God has come to test you, so that the fear of God will be with you..." Exodus 20:20. God said this to the Israelites through Moses just after God's holiness and power were displayed on Mount Sinai--thunder, lighting, smoke, shaking. The Israelites trembled with fear at only a glimpse of the Lord God's awesome power. This display was not to make them "afraid," but to give them strength and courage to live for God, whose presence was with them wherever they were. So, in a real sense, the fear of the Lord makes a believer fearless. Why? Because those who fear God, are those who are wholly sold out to and submitted to God, so they are empowered by the greatest power of all to live faithfully for him.

A lot of fear is being spread in the U.S. A lot of people are fearful of the economic situation, so much that they are self-fulfilling an economic decline. Unfortunately, a lot of believers are becoming fearful as well--fearful of that they will not have what they need due to the "economic downturn," fearful to speak the name of God in conversations because it might offend, fearful that they may miss out on what this life offers so they fill their lives with the desires, activities and pursuits of this world, fearful to step out in the spiritual battle for God as a humble sacrificial servant because they might get taken advantage of, and fearful of death.

There is absolutely no reason for a genuine believer to have any fear at all, except the fear of the Lord, loving God with all your heart, mind and soul, believing wholeheartedly in God's promises, trusting entirely in his incomparable power. As disciples of Christ, we have to be willing to face any "threat," challenge or danger that the prince of this world might put before us or disregard any "promises" that this world says we might miss out on--in order to serve God fully and fulfill God's purpose and mission.

There is no power greater, no authority higher, no ruler stronger than the God we serve. So live a fearless life for God.

Erwin McManus puts it this way, "When we fear God and God only, we are no longer bound by all the other fears that would hold us captive. The fear of death, the fear of failure, the fear of rejection, the fear of insignificance--all of the fears that we know by name and haunt us in the dark of the night become powerless when we know the fear of the Lord. And if this is not enough, we discover that perfect love casts out all fear. Not even God will hold us or control us by fear. When we fear Him, we in essence begin to live a life where we are fearless."

God through Paul reminds us of His power,
"I pray also that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints, and his incomparably great power for us who believe. That power is like the working of his mighty strength, which he exerted in Christ...And God placed all things under his feet and appointed him to be head over everything for the church, which is his body, the fullness of him who fills everything in every way...For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us." Ephesians 1:18-20, 22-23; 2:10