Choice of Fear It’s not a matter of whether or not you will fear. The matter is what will you fear. The thing you fear the most is what you abandon other fears to follow. Once the dictates of that fear are chosen, it’s as if the others no longer exist. What they require will be completely disregarded. For example, the fear of any harm that might come to one’s body is abandoned for either fear of what others might think or the fear of missing out on a temporary gratification. Fear of death is causing many to abandon any fear for loss of personal freedoms or unknown potential long-term physical ramifications. Fear of cancellation and financial ruin is bending knees that once stood tall for belief in rights from our Creator. And fear of temporary physical, emotional, financial, political, and security threats is rendering completely nonexistent the most critical fear of all, the fear of God. To have any foundation for determining the path of wisdom, this fear is essential. Which fear is chosen, then, is most critical for ultimate outcomes. Determination of this choice is completely dependent upon input of information and life experiences. This is why there is a very effective attempt to manipulate fears through control of information intake. As long as the world’s provision dominates the content, there will be no way for the heart to make a wise choice. It will just be subject to the whims of the worldly info creators. The only freedom from the power of fear that is randomly binding to its various dictates is learning of and experiencing the only legitimate source of truth, the Creator of all. With an authentic experience of His overwhelming presence and a prevalence of information from His Word, it will become entirely apparent that fear of His power to both save and destroy makes all other fears obsolete as a choice. There is hope for this time of fear’s great dominance. This hope is found alone in another fear, the fear of the Great I Am. When we’re told to “fear not” in His Word, it comes with this understanding that any other fear will be lost completely when ensconced in full awareness of His glory. This is our access and privilege by the blood of Jesus. We come boldly to our place beyond the veil, where all the world’s fears are not allowed. As He alone is discovered it is the fear of being anywhere apart from His approval and protection that will disallow a return to any other service of fears. The fear of Him will establish in righteousness that is far from oppression for lack of fear, and from terror that won’t even get close. (Is 54:14) Notes Given with life in Christ – peace/freedom from fear that is unavailable in the world John 14:27 (NLT) “I am leaving you with a gift—peace of mind and heart. And the peace I give is a gift the world cannot give. So don’t be troubled or afraid. Commanded to fear Deuteronomy 10:20 (NKJV) You shall fear the LORD your God; you shall serve Him, and to Him you shall hold fast, and take oaths in His name. Commanded not to fear Genesis 15:1 (NLT) Some time later, the LORD 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.” The answer to tormenting/binding fear – fear of the Lord Get beyond the temporal to the eternal ramifications Matthew 10:28 (NLT) “Don’t be afraid of those who want to kill your body; they cannot touch your soul. Fear only God, who can destroy both soul and body in hell. From the greatest fear of death – fear of the Lord Proverbs 14:27 (NLT) Fear of the LORD is a life-giving fountain; it offers escape from the snares of death. Isaiah 25:8 (MKJV) He will swallow up death in victory; and the Lord Jehovah will wipe away tears from all faces. And He shall take away from all the earth the rebuke of His people. For Jehovah has spoken. 1 Corinthians 15:55 (MKJV) O death, where is your sting? O grave, where is your victory?" Goodness and severity Romans 11:22 (NLT) Notice how God is both kind and severe. He is severe toward those who disobeyed, but kind to you if you continue to trust in his kindness. But if you stop trusting, you also will be cut off. His terrible consuming fire Hebrews 12:27-29 (NLT) This means that all of creation will be shaken and removed, so that only unshakable things will remain. [28] Since we are receiving a Kingdom that is unshakable, let us be thankful and please God by worshiping him with holy fear and awe. [29] For our God is a devouring fire. Fire fixes the fear choice 1 Kings 18:21 (NLT) Then Elijah stood in front of them and said, “How much longer will you waver, hobbling between two opinions? If the LORD is God, follow him! But if Baal is God, then follow him!” But the people were completely silent. 1 Kings 18:38-39 (NLT) Immediately the fire of the LORD flashed down from heaven and burned up the young bull, the wood, the stones, and the dust. It even licked up all the water in the trench! [39] And when all the people saw it, they fell face down on the ground and cried out, “The LORD—he is God! Yes, the LORD is God!” Both fear and faith come in the same way – information Fear of God enables powerful faith – no fear of God/no faith Acts 5:11-12 (NLT) Great fear gripped the entire church and everyone else who heard what had happened. [12] The apostles were performing many miraculous signs and wonders among the people. And all the believers were meeting regularly at the Temple in the area known as Solomon’s Colonnade. When exposed to His holiness, will tremble Psalms 96:9 (NLT) Worship the LORD in all his holy splendor. Let all the earth tremble before him. Psalms 96:9 (YLT) Bow yourselves to Jehovah, In the honour of holiness, Be afraid of His presence, all the earth. When fear of God chosen above all - bending Romans 14:11-12 (NLT) For the Scriptures say, “‘As surely as I live,’ says the LORD, ‘every knee will bend to me, and every tongue will declare allegiance to God.’” [12] Yes, each of us will give a personal account to God. Romans 13:11-14 (NLT) This is all the more urgent, for you know how late it is; time is running out. Wake up, for our salvation is nearer now than when we first believed. [12] The night is almost gone; the day of salvation will soon be here. So remove your dark deeds like dirty clothes, and put on the shining armor of right living. [13] Because we belong to the day, we must live decent lives for all to see. Don’t participate in the darkness of wild parties and drunkenness, or in sexual promiscuity and immoral living, or in quarreling and jealousy. [14] Instead, clothe yourself with the presence of the Lord Jesus Christ. And don’t let yourself think about ways to indulge your evil desires. Overview: Fear inevitable – choice is critical The fear followed eliminates other fears Fear comes like faith – information In Christ – freedom from greatest fear of death With God’s fear – enormous power Critical for this time – to lose bondage to other fears by trembling in His presence. Action: Observe both the goodness and severity of God in Word an in His presence. Yield to His consuming fire in removing service to other fears. By faith receive the gift of peace from Christ and deny any of the old fear tendencies. Become continually ensconced in the goodness of the Lord with an awareness of His severity. With freedom from worldly fears, activate kingdom purpose in fearless sharing of Christ. Declaration: Because of His mercy and love I continually live and move in the very presence of the Great I Am. I desire to grow in revelation of just how awesome You are, to completely tremble before You. In the fear of You all other fears are consumed by Your perfect love. I am delivered from serving all worldly lusts and am empowered to fearlessly share just how awesome You are to a world bound in the fear of death Prayer: “Surround me with Your awesome presence as I yield myself to Your will and ways. I receive Your peace that overwhelms all those old chains of fear with Your liberating perfect love. Keep me from ever again following those worldly fears over the faith-empowering fear of You.”