FEELINGS OF FEAR --- PART 2

FEARING YHVH LEADS TO KNOWING HIM MORE FULLY.

Friendship with Adonai is reserved for those who fear Him. YHVH offers intimate and lasting friendship to those who revere Him, who hold Him in highest honour. What relationship could ever compare with having Adonai of all creation for a friend? Your everlasting friendship with YHVH will grow as you revere Him.

FEARING YHVH DOES NOT MEAN BEING TERRIFIED OF HIM.

Don’t be afraid, Moses said, for YHVH has come in this way to show you His Awesome Power. From now on, let your fear of Him keep you from sinning. -- Exodus 20:20. Throughout the Bible we find this phrase: Don’t be afraid. YHVH wasn’t trying to scare the people. He was showing His Mighty Power so the Israelites would know He was the true Elohim and would therefore obey Him. If they would do this, He would make His Power available to them. YHVH wants us to follow Him out of love rather than fear. To overcome fear, we must think more about His Love. 1 John 4:18 says that: perfect love expels all fear.

AVOIDABLE FEAR

HOW CAN WE HANDLE OUR FEARS?

THE PROMISE OF YHVH’S PROTECTION CAN KEEP US FROM FEAR.

Afterward ADONAI spoke to Abram in a vision and said to him, ‘Do not be afraid Abram, for I will protect you and your reward will be great.’ -- Genesis 15:1. Why would Abram be afraid? Perhaps he feared revenge from the kings he had just defeated -- 14:15. YHVH gave him two good reasons for courage: 1. He promised to defend Abram, and 2. He promised to give Abram great blessings. When you fear what lies ahead, remember that YHVH will stay with you through difficult times and that He has promised you great blessings.

BE CAREFUL NOT TO LEAVE YHVH OUT OF YOUR THINKING.

I command you -- be strong and courageous! Do not be afraid or discouraged. For Adonai your Elohim is with you wherever you go. -- Joshua 1:9. Joshua’s new job consisted of leading more than 2 million people into a strange new land and conquering it. What a challenge -- even for a man of Joshua’s calibre! Every new job is a challenge. Without YHVH it can be frightening. With YHVH it can be a great adventure. Just as YHVH was with Joshua, He is with us as we face our new challenges. We may not conquer nations, but every day we face tough situations, difficult people, and temptations. However, YHVH promises that He will never abandon us or fail to help us. By asking YHVH to direct us we can conquer many of life’s challenges.

FEARS CAN BE RESISTED BY REMEMBERING YHVH’S GREATNESS.

The king asked: ‘Well, how can I help you?’ With a prayer to YHVH of heaven, I replied, ‘If it please Your Majesty and if you are pleased with me your servant, send me to Judah to rebuild the city where my ancestors are buried. -- Nehemiah 2:4-5. The king noticed Nehemiah’s sad appearance. This frightened Nehemiah because it was dangerous to show sorrow before the king, who could execute anyone who displeased him. Anyone wearing sackcloth [mourning clothes] was barred from the palace -- Esther 4:2. Nehemiah wasn’t ashamed to admit his fear, but he refused to allow fear to stop him from doing what YHVH had called him to do. When we allow our fears to rule us, we make fear more powerful than YHVH. Is there a task YHVH wants you to do, but fear is holding you back? YHVH is greater than all your fears. Recognizing why you are afraid is the first step in committing it to YHVH. Realize that if YHVH has called you to a task, He will help you accomplish it.

IT IS FAR BETTER TO FEAR YHVH THAN TO FEAR MAN.

Fearing people is a dangerous trap, but to trust Adonai means safety. -- Proverbs 29:25. Fear of people can hamper everything you try to do. In extreme forms, it can make you afraid to leave your home. By contrast, fear of YHVH -- respect, reverence and trust-is liberating. Why fear people who can do no eternal harm? Instead, fear YHVH who can turn the harm intended by others into good for those who trust Him.