Is walking fearless what we all strive for?

[TM19782017]

Living in today's world, there is plenty to make you pause and get scared.

I do believe that if we are always worried about, what will happen if we take that leap of faith?
For instance, you will never learn how to swim if you don't eventually be brave enough to get in the deep end.

I can only imagine what the 3 men were thinking when they wouldn't worship the golden idol OR,
What Abraham was thinking as he was about to sacrifice Isaac?

Abraham had to have known that murder was against the law, yet still obeyed?

What are some others thoughts on this?

 

[p_rehbein]

2 Timothy 1:7 - For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.

1 John 4:18 - There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love.

Romans 8:15 - For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father.

Hebrews 13:6 - So that we may boldly say, The Lord [is] my helper, and I will not fear what man shall do unto me.

 

[crossnote]

Living in today's world, there is plenty to make you pause and get scared.

We shouldn't 'get scared'. God is infinite times greater than the worlds situation AND He is fully in control. The ones who should be scared are those who continue to refuse the sacrifice and Life found in His Son Jesus.

 

[Heyjude]

These verses on Abraham and Isaac are always used against Christians on Gods justice. However, they overlook the part that is supposed to be understood. I guess they cannot be bothered to study the Word but this is a trap as if you do seek the answer you do find it.

Before Abraham was asked to sacrifice Isaac, Abraham "saw things afar off". That means that Abraham remembered Gods promise. He knew in his heart that God would not allow the sacrifice of Isaac because God doesn't lie. He had already promised Abraham that he would make a great nation out of him and his descendants.

This is why Abraham was made "Righteous" as soon as he did what God asked because he knew that Gods plan meant that he had to rely on God not lying to him. If God promises something, you either believe him or you don't.

Abraham was not "righteous" before this point. In fact the way that he and Sarah behaved with the Pharaoh, you could say that at that point, the Pharaoh was being more righteous than they were. It was a test of faith and Abraham was "made righteous" at that point. I do not think God had any plan to sacrifice Issac and it was a test of faith to see if Abraham remembered the promise or even believed God at all. As God promised to make Abraham the father of a great people and said that Abraham and his descendants must obey God. In return God would guide them and protect them and give them the land of Israel. Abraham forgot until "he saw things afar off" then remembered Gods promise.

 

[stonesoffire]

I guess I’ll go a different direction. The fear man has the most....isnt it the fear of death? That which Jesus took away the sting from. It can’t crush us if we know it’s not our end.

 

[Heyjude]

I think "fear" is there for a reason in life as a warning system. There is a difference between being "fearful" of death than being rightfully fearful in life.

Paul wished to be "with Christ" rather than be in the body but knew he had work to do to preach the Gospel. He had no fear of Death as he believed that its only the body that dies and that spiritually dying is the worst thing not physical bodily death. He wanted to save as many as possible by preaching the Gospel. Ideally, we should all "boldly approach the throne of grace" without fear in the life hereafter which is the true life.

But say you were walking in a zoo and you saw a Lion in a cage. You would have no need to fear if the Lion was secure. But on the other hand, if you saw a Lion that was not in a cage but roaming free, you would be rightly fearful. I think that the body has an inbuilt alarm system so you can remove yourself from danger. But that isn't the same as fearing death as you either believe the words of Jesus or not. We would all like to be as confident as Daniel was in the Lions den but I doubt many truly would be nor would not react with rightful fear when faced with such a terrible thing.

 

[Whispered]

We're human. Sometimes we can't avoid being afraid and there is no shame in that. We as Christians should not fear leaving this life because we know where we are bound, home, with our Father.
Maybe one way to look at fear is as a question. What makes me feel insecure in my self and future in this moment of fear?
Of course that introspection should come after you've outran that bear.

 

[crossnote]

I guess I’ll go a different direction. The fear man has the most....isnt it the fear of death? That which Jesus took away the sting from. It can’t crush us if we know it’s not our end.

Perhaps an even deeper fear, than the fear of death, is the fear of Judgment.
Everyone knows deep in their conscience they are guilty (Rom 2:15-16) and shrink from God (Gen 3:7-8)** setting up false systems (fig leaves) that either lower the goalposts so they can bypass Judgment or candy coat Judgment as many New Agers do ("when we die we are incorporated into the ONE").

** Even Adam and Eve did not fear death as much as they feared Judgment. They disobeyed God high handedly even after being warned 'thou shalt surely die', but when it came for Judgment time, they 'hid themselves from the presence of the LORD'.

 

[Nehemiah6]

Living in today's world, there is plenty to make you pause and get scared.

There is no question that there are many things happening today which will make many fearful. And there are yet things to come which will be even more terrible. But for Christians "[God's] perfect love casts out all fear".

On the other hand fear is the primary tool in the hands of Satan to cause many things to happen. For example, the operation of the stock markets and casinos are based upon just two motives -- fear and greed. And there are several other fears which Satan uses on those who are not in Christ: (a) the fear of death, (b) the fear of the loss of loved ones, (c) the fear of loss of health, (d) the fear of the loss of wealth (which is also the fear of poverty), and (e) the fear of the loss of friends or acceptance by others.

 

[dcontroversal]

Abraham had faith and KNEW that the promised seed would come through Isaac.....HE knew GOD would either provide and or raise Isaac.........

 

[Steadfast-Faith]

The fear of Lord Jesus is the beginning of wisdom.

 

[dcontroversal]

Perhaps an even deeper fear, than the fear of death, is the fear of Judgment.
Everyone knows deep in their conscience they are guilty (Rom 2:15-16) and shrink from God (Gen 3:7-8)** setting up false systems (fig leaves) that either lower the goalposts so they can bypass Judgment or candy coat Judgment as many New Agers do ("when we die we are incorporated into the ONE").

** Even Adam and Eve did not fear death as much as they feared Judgment. They disobeyed God high handedly even after being warned 'thou shalt surely die', but when it came for Judgment time, they 'hid themselves from the presence of the LORD'.

It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living GOD<----therefore we persuade men........

 

[crossnote]

It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living GOD<----therefore we persuade men........

Also...

(1Jn 4:18) There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love.

 

[GracethroughfaithinChrist]

Luke 12:4-5
“And I say to you, My friends, do not be afraid of those who kill the body, and after that have no more that they can do. 5But I will show you whom you should fear: Fear Him who, after He has killed, has power to cast into hell; yes, I say to you, fear Him!

Psaslm 36:1-2
{To the chief Musician, A Psalm of David the servant of the LORD.} The transgression of the wicked saith within my heart, that there is no fear of God before his eyes.
2For he flattereth himself in his own eyes, until his iniquity be found to be hateful.

Psalm 25:14
The secret of the LORD is with those who fear Him, And He will show them His covenant.

Fear God and not man.

 

[dcontroversal]

Also...

(1Jn 4:18) There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love.

Obviously there is a balance to be struck......a reverential fear of our Heavenly Father molded by unconditional LOVE