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3 yrs

I AM WITHOUT FEAR – PART 1

In his book Fuzzy Memories, Jack Handey writes: [There used to be this bully who would demand my lunch money every day. Since I was smaller, I would give it to him. Then I decided to fight back and I started taking karate lessons. But then the karate lesson instructor said I had to start paying him five dollars a lesson. So, I just went back to paying the bully.] Too many people feel it is easier just to pay the bully than it is to learn how to defeat him. Every time that we give into fear or lack courage in our walk with YHVH, it is giving into the bully named satan. It is an admission of defeat, when we have all the resources at our disposal to live in and claim victory over, all that would pull us away from our faith. When you are a Moshiach Follower there is no reason to fear. Wherefore I put thee in remembrance that thou stir up the gift of YHVH, which is in thee by the putting on of My hands. For YHVH hath not given us the Spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind. -- 2 Timothy 1:6-7. Paul is encouraging his young friend Timothy in the faith and giving him the reasons why he need not fear the ministry YHVH had placed him in. He had every reason to stand strong in the face of opposition, to be fully aware of; and fully engaging in; the spiritual gift YHVH had placed within him. The Apostle was telling Timothy, as well as telling us, that YHVH grants Moshiach followers the ability to overcome any and all that would try to stop us from fulfilling the dreams YHVH has placed in our hearts. The promise to each and all who accept our Adonai Yeshua Moshiach is the ability to live life with an absence of fear. It is important to note how the word fear is used here; it means to lack courage, to give up hope, to run scared from the ministry YHVH has called us to. It does not mean that we should not be afraid if we were laying on the ground with a lion hovering over us ready to attack. There are some legitimate things to be afraid of in life, in the sense that we know they can bring us harm or affect our lives in a negative way. But when it comes to the absence of courage in the face of implementing YHVH’s will, there is no reason to fear. In fact, there is only one real fear object for the believer:

The Only Legitimate Fear is… Fear of YHVH:

There are well over a hundred references to fearing YHVH in the Bible. Sometimes it refers to those that are not in relationship with Him and their need to fear Him as far as their eternal destiny is concerned. But other times it is speaking to those who are believers and our need to fear YHVH in the sense that we have reverence for Him and will live for Him based on this fact. Having therefore these promises, dearly beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of YHVH. -- 2 Corinthians 7:1. It is this fear of YHVH that gives us the impetus to work for Him and His calling on our lives, not a fear of judgment or condemnation, but a fear of respect, of recognizing our position as mere humans saved by the grace of our Creator. We do not fear what YHVH has called us to accomplish, because we are acting with complete courage and confidence, knowing the one that we do fear equips us. Wherefore I put thee in remembrance that thou stir up the gift of YHVH, which is in thee by the putting on of My hands. For YHVH hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind. -- 2 Timothy 1:6-7. In other words, we have no excuse whatsoever to turn away from the ministry that YHVH has called us to, because He has equipped us to accomplish the task, He has given to us. What are you afraid to do for YHVH? Do you fear witnessing to your friend about your faith? Are you afraid to sacrifice your time, money and skills to build YHVH’s Kingdom? Is there fear in your heart to step out in faith and support your church or ministry by witnessing? What is it that you are afraid to do that YHVH is calling you to? Whatever fears you might have in you at this moment; there is no need to continue living in the defeat of that fear, because YHVH has given us three specific pieces of equipment that will give us the courage to overcome:

1 – YHVH Has Given Me The Power To Accomplish His Will:

For YHVH hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power … -- 2 Timothy 1:7. In May 1995, Randy Reid, a 34-year-old construction worker, was welding on top of a nearly completed water tower. According to writer Melissa Ramsdell, Reid unhooked his safety equipment to reach for some pipes when a metal cage slipped and bumped against the scaffolding he stood on. The scaffolding tilted to one side and Reid lost his balance. He fell 110 feet, landing face down on a pile of dirt, just missing rocks and construction debris. A fellow worker called the emergency services. When paramedics arrived, they found Reid conscious, moving and complaining of a sore back. Apparently, the fall did not cost Reid his sense of humour. As paramedics carried him on a backboard to the ambulance, Reid had one request: Don't drop me. Sometimes we resemble that construction worker! YHVH protects us from harm in a 110-foot fall, but we are still nervous about three-foot heights. Our YHVH Who saved us from hell and spiritual death can protect us from the smaller dangers we face as we work to accomplish His will. What is it that you need to fan into flame the spiritual gift YHVH has given to you? What is it that you are lacking from YHVH? What exactly is it that He is not able to supply to you so that you can accomplish His will in your life? Just how is it possible for YHVH to have enough power to create the world and to resurrect from the dead, yet not have enough power for your ministry? The fact of the matter is, if I am not courageous in exercising my spiritual gift for YHVH, it is not because YHVH has not given me the power; it is because I am relying on my own power to get the job done. YHVH gives us talents, abilities and skills in all different areas and we are to use them for His glory, but if we think that we can only accomplish for Him what we are able to do in and of ourselves, we will not attempt much on His behalf. If all that we have to offer is what we derive from our own natural power it is no wonder we are fearful and timid. We have to realize that YHVH has more power than we could ever possibly need and when we fail to access the power that YHVH has made available to us, that failure demonstrates itself in cowardice when it comes to doing what He has called us to do. Fan into flame the spiritual gift YHVH has given you by trusting in His power to accomplish His will.

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