By COGWriter
Major portions of this paper are from an article by Dr. Hoeh in the old Radio Church of God (Hoeh HL. How To Conquer Your Fears. Plain Truth, November, 1955) which is in the public domain. Though here this article has been edited, updated, and expanded to over twice its original length.
Billions of people are afraid.
While people have long had fears, and Satan has long attempted to use these fears to his advantage, with COVID-19 we are seeing fears and government actions on a scale not seen for at least a century, if at all.
The media, politicians, government bureaucrats, and various ones in the medical profession have gotten people afraid to go out of their houses. And actually, have essentially made it illegal, unless under certain circumstances in various parts of the world in 2020.
Here is a link to a related sermon: Ten Plus Steps to Rid Yourself of Fear.
Are you afraid of the coronavirus? Do you have doubts about holding your job? Do you worry over loss of money — or over the lack of money you need? Does the dread of illness or of a nervous breakdown or of insanity haunt you? Are broken friendships, repressed love affairs robbing you of health?
THEN HERE'S WHAT YOU NEED TO DO!
NEVER IN the history of the world have people enjoyed so many laborsaving devices, so much leisure, such benefits from public sanitation. Yet, strange to say, the fear of nervous disorders, heart disease, cancer and insanity is robbing millions of health and happiness. And many are afraid of COVID-19 and other pathogens.
People everywhere are under needless mental strain. Business pressure and family troubles worry millions. Government rules, taxes, and paperwork requirements can add to that.
Many don't know how to relax (though keeping the Sabbath helps).
Why is there such anxiety, such nervous strain? Why are people FAILING to master our fears and worries?
This is not alone in the age of the novel coronavirus. We have seen it in the past, like since the latter portion of the 20th century in the age of the atom and hydrogen bombs and other weapons of mass destruction.
This is the AGE OF MISMANAGED MINDS!
Uncontrolled, undirected minds are ruining the lives of countless thousands. Millions more are rendered miserable and unproductive because their minds have been enslaved to FEARS — needless, unreasoned fears!
Needless fears rob us of contentment, warp our personality, and poison both mind and body.
People need to realize that fear is an emotion — an emotion directed toward the SELF. Have you ever noticed that those who suffer most from fear and worry are "wrapped up" in themselves? "I'm afraid of this..." and "I'm worried about that...or other things that may happen to me" is the way they talk.
We are living in a selfish age, but that was prophesied! The Apostle Paul warned Timothy:
1 But know this, that in the last days perilous times will come: 2 For men will be lovers of themselves ... (2 Timothy 3:1-2)
And the more we become concerned with ourselves, the more afraid we become that the self will get hurt. We become fearful of what might happen to the self. Our misdirected minds coddle and pamper the self.
In many instances this uncontrolled emotion of fear leads to grave consequences — to real desperation.
In other instances this uncontrolled emotion results in feelings of inferiority, in mental inadequacy, in sexual impotency. One fear leads to another until our mental outlook and our physical health are permanently impaired!
God's people do not need to live in fear, but rest in hope:
8 I have set the Lord always before me; Because He is at my right hand I shall not be moved. 9 Therefore my heart is glad, and my glory rejoices; My flesh also will rest in hope. (Psalm 16:8-9)
Christians are not to let fear move them away from God.
For millenniums the problem of fear has confronted and perplexed our greatest thinkers. Philosophers have found no satisfactory solution — or their lives wouldn't have been so often frustrated! Psychologists have spawned the idea of autosuggestion as the solution to overcoming fears. Those who have tried this method still find themselves spiritually devoid of happiness. Of course! For autosuggestion can be a clever way of saying self-deception! And deception never solved anything.
Others have tried sedatives to relieve their nervous fears. Countless pills to calm nerves and keep people happy have been sold by druggists and doctors. But fears and worries and mental and physical illnesses still continue!
For us to reach the solution, we must recognize there are TWO fundamental types of fears: 1) helpful fears and 2) harmful fears.
Without normal, helpful fears none of us would be alive today! Proper fear is merely the drive for self-protection. Without this fear we would not exercise proper caution against injury.
It is the kind of fear we need!
But notice! When the mind is not properly managed, the natural fear for self-protection is turned into unnatural fears for the protection of SELF.
The control of the drive or emotion of fear is a learned process — it is a matter of education. We first need to learn what proper fear is. Then we need to exercise proper control over it. But we must also avoid misdirected and harmful fears.
Proper fear is wisdom. It is also knowledge. Suppose, for a moment, that we are confronted with a real danger. It is only natural that we should be fearful. But let's master our fears. Fear tells us something is wrong. It warns us that we must calmly and carefully face our danger. We must get busy and take ACTION. Action solves the danger! But simply worrying about it and being afraid that the worst will happen won't help us.
People who are chronic worriers who have countless fears, are usually procrastinators and indecisive. They are afraid to take action. Their fears become their master. They become slaves to their fears.
The time to learn to master our fears is when we are young — yet THE PROPER DIRECTION OF THE MIND IN THESE FORMATIVE YEARS IS NOT BEING TAUGHT IN EITHER THE HOME OR IN THE SCHOOL!
But it is never too late to learn. Life is too important for us to remain in ignorance, no matter how old we are. Let's learn to DISTINGUISH between helpful and harmful fears.
Sometimes our fears are insignificant or even laughable — to the other fellow, of course. Here are some of the petty fears that plague people: fear of an expanse of water, fear of air travel, fear of silence, darkness, shadows in the moonlight, fear of telephone, telegrams, hunchbacks and mice!
These fears usually are the result of past experience which we have either consciously or subconsciously allowed to haunt us.
Usually far worse are the common phobias which afflict people abnormally. Fear of the sight of blood, fear of animals, fear of being alone, FEAR OF AN UNATTRACTIVE FIGURE, FEAR OF BEING AFRAID, and the FEAR OF FAILURE. To this list we might add the fear of everything, a characteristic of the person who runs away from life!
Underlying some of these abnormal phobias are normal fears. But in every case the normal, natural fear has been allowed to get OUT OF CONTROL. Witness the countless millions of girls and women who are afraid they have or may sometimes have an unattractive figure. Serious mental, emotional and physical injury has often been done to "remove" this fear. The worsened condition creates more fears. A vicious circle results.
Haven't you known people who were fearful of being afraid? They can't explain their fears, but they know something fearful is going to happen to them! They haven't learned the lesson of life that our worst fears and experiences NEVER HAPPENED!
Sometimes, however, we bring fears and worries on ourselves.
There is a view that what we the fear becomes more likely that we will experience.
Being afraid of something does NOT stop it from happening. Notice the following:
8 You have feared the sword; and I will bring a sword upon you," says the Lord God. (Ezekiel 11:8)
While it is prudent to see dangers and take appropriate steps (cf. Proverbs 22:3; see also Physical Preparation Scriptures for Christians), being afraid of something without actions does not help.
Consider also that Job said:
25 For the thing I greatly feared has come upon me, And what I dreaded has happened to me. (Job 3:25)
Do you think it was an accident that God allowed Satan to afflict Job with various trials and troubles?
Well, it was not.
Job, though an otherwise capable and successful man (Job 1:1-3), had lessons to learn, and we all do.
Many capable men and women have become failures simply by yielding to the uncontrolled FEAR OF FAILURE. This fear has led to the FEAR OF LACK OF SECURITY. Notice how one anxiety breeds another. These fears are all characteristic of lack of knowledge and lack of wisdom.
The CAUSE of these abnormal worries and fears lies in inadequate recognition and control of emotional problems we experience in maturation. Domineering parents, inconsiderate fathers, over-possessive mothers, family jealousies and arguments, fussy grandparents — these created many of our emotional problems. But the fundamental CAUSE of OUR fears is OUR failure to recognize and solve these emotional problems.
Dr. Hoeh wrote:
A Common Example
Here is an example of the consequences due to the failure to discipline our mental emotions. A young girl is engaged to be married. Instead of being happy, she is crushed with conflicts and fears. She is frightened with the responsibilities of married life and motherhood. A nervous breakdown seems inevitable. Why?
Usually in her background you will find a carefree father, a frustrated mother, spinster school teachers, no companions of her own age while an adolescent. Mental problems, unsolved, produced physical disturbances. Menstruation became abnormal and often painful. Fears of childbirth haunted her because of stories she heard from "friends." This is no isolated case. This is a COMMON EXAMPLE. Some of you are suffering from just such a problem as this.
Let's understand, now, why emotional disorders lead to physical disorders, as in the case just mentioned.
There is a direct mind-body relationship in every individual. We must direct and coordinate both mind and body before we can really achieve happiness and conquer our fears. Solomon understood this problem when he wrote:
30 A sound heart is life to the body, But envy is rottenness to the bones. (Proverbs 14:30)
13 A merry heart makes a cheerful countenance,
But by sorrow of the heart the spirit is broken.14 The heart of him who has understanding seeks knowledge,
But the mouth of fools feeds on foolishness.15 All the days of the afflicted are evil,
But he who is of a merry heart has a continual feast.16 Better is a little with the fear of the Lord,
Than great treasure with trouble.
17 Better is a dinner of herbs where love is,
Than a fatted calf with hatred. (Proverbs 15:13-17)
Dr. Hoeh also wrote:
There is a direct connection of digestion and health with the mind. When the mind is fearful, it sends out messages to the various glands and organs to be prepared for danger. The organs fill the bloodstream with materials to enable us to ACT to meet the danger. When we procrastinate or are indecisive, our body becomes filled with unused material. Our glands are needlessly drained. Constant self-induced fears soon cause the glands to function abnormally. Our whole body suffers, and with it the personality and even the mind.
Let me add that how people react to stress affects their immune systems and can make them more susceptible to many types of infection (e.g. see Systemic Mycoses (Yeast): An Overview).
Dr. Hoeh also wrote:
Unconquered fears are the cause of a major portion of diseases. Of course, proper food habits, proper exercise and elimination also play a part in overall health — both mental and physical.
When our bodies become filled with toxins that should have been used up in ACTION to meet real dangers, we find ourselves "nervous" and "upset." People often say: "It's my nerves." Nerves are not wrong. We need them to live. It is what we have done to our nerves that is the problem. We have frayed them through overuse arising from uncontrolled fears and worries. We have turned the nerve mechanism created for SELF-PROTECTION into a weapon for SELF-DESTRUCTION.
In naturopathic parlance, mental reactions can cause enervation, which results in an inability to proper clear toxins, and this can result in disease--as can eating wrong and making a physical environment that certain pathogenic microorganisms can thrive in.
Dr. Hoeh also wrote:
Frightful Dreams
When once we have created physical disorder in our body, the imagination begins to play tricks on us. Our imagination should be utilized to create new and better ideas. It is an instrument for progress. Instead, we let our imagination frightens us with new and added FEARS. We imagine we are suffering from indigestion, then ulcers, then cancer — and finally DEATH, the greatest fear of all! Sometimes we imagine ourselves suffering from a nervous breakdown or mental derangement. Life becomes frightful.
Horrifying DREAMS begin to afflict us. Most dreams come from an overworked mind. Daily problems weigh us down AS we seek rest at night. We don't know how to relax.
Solomon said: "For a dream cometh through a multitude of business" (Ecc. 5:3).
Since the conscious business with which so many have been occupied is that of creating new fears and worries, is it any wonder that a blood engorged brain will recreate these same fears in DREAMS?
Note that the NKJV translates the word as "activities" as opposed to business.
When the state of mental worry takes a severe form, dreams and premonitions build up the FEAR OF DEATH — and usually cause premature death. MOST OF THE WORLD is enslaved by this dreadful fear! This fear wrecks mental balance and poisons the body. It creates spiritual misconceptions that sometimes exert themselves in religious persecution. Persecution is a release valve for pent-up spiritual frustrations, fears, and the sense of self-condemnation. But persecution doesn't solve the problem.
But there is a way to correct this problem. There is a way to conquer fear!
Once we recognize these unfounded fears which we need to battle, we must find the right way to CONQUER them. Psychological self-deception won't help. It doesn't really do any good to tell ourselves that death is not really an enemy — that it is a good friend. Such autosuggestion doesn't change the fact that death is a mortal enemy. The way to solve this fear — and to solve every unnecessary fear — is to recognize what it really is.
Yet unlike Job who had been unable to see various of his faults until AFTER what he feared affected him, you do not have to be like that.
This article will cover ten ways.
The first is, instead of having your mind on things you dread, have your mind on spiritually productive things.
As Paul also wrote:
8 Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy — meditate on these things. 9 The things which you learned and received and heard and saw in me, these do, and the God of peace will be with you. (Philippians 4:8-9)
Notice that if you think as the Apostle Paul admonished, the God of peace, not the god of fear, will be with you!
Paul tells us death is an enemy:
26 The last enemy that will be destroyed is death. (1 Corinthians 15:26)
God has not given us a spirit of fear, but sent His Son Jesus Christ make a way to escape deaths eternal consequences:
7 For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.
8 Therefore do not be ashamed of the testimony of our Lord, nor of me His prisoner, but share with me in the sufferings for the gospel according to the power of God, 9 who has saved us and called us with a holy calling, not according to our works, but according to His own purpose and grace which was given to us in Christ Jesus before time began, 10 but has now been revealed by the appearing of our Savior Jesus Christ, who has abolished death and brought life and immortality to light through the gospel, (2 Timothy 1:7-10)
But how do we lose the dread of death — and of all the other fears and worries that haunt us?
Remember the first lesson we learned is that we need to recognize the distinction between helpful and harmful, uncontrolled fears. Fear may be either right or wrong depending upon our direction of this emotion. Proper fear stems from the drive for self-preservation. It is a signal of danger — a signal that we need to take ACTION.
Proper fear is in two forms. One is natural fear of physical danger — the warning that we need to protect this life.
The other is SPIRITUAL FEAR for our eternal protection. This fear almost no one recognizes. Yet without it, we will never be able to CONQUER uncontrolled fear.
This SPIRITUAL fear is called the FEAR OF THE LORD or the FEAR OF GOD. Like every other fear, it, too, has been misguided my the world until it has become the fear of the devil!
The natural emotion of physical fear warns us of physical hazards. This is a learned fear. The spiritual FEAR OF GOD warns us of eternal dangers. It, too, is a learned fear. We have to learn about the power and authority of God. We learn that God gives life and also takes life.
Maybe you are like the woman who wrote Dr. Hoeh saying: "I can't seem to make myself fear God."
Of course you can't make yourself fear God! You have to experience the need of fearing God. Perhaps you need to become a constant reader of the Bible and CCOG literature and sermons to learn the authority and power of God!
We are not to be afraid of people or anything else that can kill us physically: Jesus said:
28 And you should not be afraid of those killing the body but not being able to kill the soul. Indeed rather you should fear the One being able to destroy both soul and body in Gehenna. (Matthew 10:28, Berean Literal Bible)
Yes, we should fear only the second death (see The Second Death) and that can be avoided.
Notice something else that Jesus taught:
25 "Therefore I say to you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink; nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food and the body more than clothing? 26 Look at the birds of the air, for they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? 27 Which of you by worrying can add one cubit to his stature?
28 "So why do you worry about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin; 29 and yet I say to you that even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. 30 Now if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is, and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will He not much more clothe you, O you of little faith?
31 "Therefore do not worry, saying, 'What shall we eat?' or 'What shall we drink?' or 'What shall we wear?' 32 For after all these things the Gentiles seek. For your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. 33 But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you. 34 Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about its own things. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble. (Matthew 6:25-34)
Do not worry about the physical. Do not project your current worries to the future as you are to take your troubles and opportunities one day at a time.
This present age has lost this healthy respect for God. Notice the example of Noah:
7 By faith Noah, being divinely warned of things not yet seen, moved with godly fear, prepared an ark for the saving of his household, by which he condemned the world and became heir of the righteousness which is according to faith. (Hebrews 11:7)
Noah feared the power of God. That was a right fear a proper spiritual fear. But Noah controlled his fear of God. He didn't let his fear worry and frustrate him. Noah ACTED on his fear. He did something about it!
The great importance of the FEAR OF GOD has been woefully misunderstood. Let's understand its full significance:
13 The fear of the Lord is to hate evil; Pride and arrogance and the evil way And the perverse mouth I hate. (Proverbs 8:13)
6 ... And by the fear of the Lord one departs from evil. (Proverbs 16:6)
This fear warns us to hate evil and that God will punish us if we harm ourselves by doing evil!
When we do evil, we harm ourselves. To teach us NOT to do evil, God sometimes has to punish us. That is how the fear of God leads us away from the danger of evil both physical and spiritual danger:
33 The fear of the Lord is the instruction of wisdom, And before honor is humility. (Proverbs 15:33)
When we fear God, we respect what He says. What He says has been recorded in His Word, the Bible. In the Bible is the wisdom of God. Its instruction tells us right from wrong. It defines for us the pitfalls of sin. It warns us of the dangers of evil which robs us of happiness and prosperity and eternal life:
23 The fear of the Lord leads to life, And he who has it will abide in satisfaction; He will not be visited with evil. (Proverbs 19:23)
The need for the fear of the Lord is a New Testament teaching. Peter said: "Fear God" (1 Peter 2:17). It is repeated again in Revelation:
7 ... Fear God and give glory to Him, (Revelation 14:7)
The early Church of God had peace when, as Acts 9:31 points out, they were "walking in the fear of the Lord and in the comfort of the Holy Spirit, they were multiplied."
How will the proper REACTION to the fear of God rid us of all the needless mental suffering we impose on ourselves? How will the fear of God teach us to manage, and direct our minds until we master every nervous fear?
The apostle John wrote:
18 There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear, because fear involves torment. But he who fears has not been made perfect in love. (1 John 4:18)
The worries and mental torments stemming from fears occur when LOVE has not been perfected. LOVE is doing what God commands:
3 For this is the love of God, that we keep His commandments. And His commandments are not burdensome. (1 John 5:3)
The commandments of God define right and wrong. They tell us of the dangers of sin. sin is the "transgression of the law" (1 John 3:4, KJV).
By OBEYING God we avoid the dangers of evil and we fill our minds and emotions with LOVE. Love removes worries and torments. This is how we ACT upon the fear of God.
In the Bible a teenage woman was faced with a choice. She could ignore or discount a request from God or she could accept it and risk a lifetime of being talked against and cast aside.
26 Now in the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent by God to a city of Galilee named Nazareth, 27 to a virgin betrothed to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David. The virgin's name was Mary. 28 And having come in, the angel said to her, "Rejoice, highly favored one, the Lord is with you; blessed are you among women!"
29 But when she saw him, she was troubled at his saying, and considered what manner of greeting this was. 30 Then the angel said to her, "Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. 31 And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bring forth a Son, and shall call His name Jesus. 32 He will be great, and will be called the Son of the Highest; and the Lord God will give Him the throne of His father David. 33 And He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of His kingdom there will be no end."
34 Then Mary said to the angel, "How can this be, since I do not know a man?"
35 And the angel answered and said to her, "The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Highest will overshadow you; therefore, also, that Holy One who is to be born will be called the Son of God. 36 Now indeed, Elizabeth your relative has also conceived a son in her old age; and this is now the sixth month for her who was called barren. 37 For with God nothing will be impossible."
38 Then Mary said, "Behold the maidservant of the Lord! Let it be to me according to your word." And the angel departed from her. (Luke 1:26-38)
Mary did what was right, despite her fears.
Growing up, Mary most likely was aware of the following:
5 Trust in the Lord with all your heart,
And lean not on your own understanding;
6 In all your ways acknowledge Him,
And He shall direct your paths.7 Do not be wise in your own eyes;
Fear the Lord and depart from evil. (Proverbs 3:5-7)
Mary knew if she did not do anything wrong, God would be with her. But those who are wiser in their own eyes than God fear the world more and that drives them towards evil.
Mary, as scripture shows, trusted God.
She was not the only one.
Notice the following:
13 Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were uneducated and untrained men, they marveled. And they realized that they had been with Jesus. (Acts 4:13-14)
The apostles knew there were risks. In Acts 5:40 we see that they were beaten for their obedience to God.
But the apostles were not always so bold.
They all had times of fear that they should not have had.
Now notice something that was initially bold about Peter:
25 Now in the fourth watch of the night Jesus went to them, walking on the sea. 26 And when the disciples saw Him walking on the sea, they were troubled, saying, "It is a ghost!" And they cried out for fear.
27 But immediately Jesus spoke to them, saying, "Be of good cheer! It is I; do not be afraid."
28 And Peter answered Him and said, "Lord, if it is You, command me to come to You on the water."
29 So He said, "Come." And when Peter had come down out of the boat, he walked on the water to go to Jesus. 30 But when he saw that the wind was boisterous, he was afraid; and beginning to sink he cried out, saying, "Lord, save me!"
31 And immediately Jesus stretched out His hand and caught him, and said to him, "O you of little faith, why did you doubt?" 32 And when they got into the boat, the wind ceased.
33 Then those who were in the boat came and worshiped Him, saying, "Truly You are the Son of God." (Matthew 14:25-33)
This incident is alluded to on the front cover of our booklet: Faith for Those God has Called and Chosen.
Mark recorded the following:
27 Then Jesus said to them, "All of you will be made to stumble because of Me this night, for it is written:
'I will strike the Shepherd,
And the sheep will be scattered.'28 "But after I have been raised, I will go before you to Galilee."
29 Peter said to Him, "Even if all are made to stumble, yet I will not be."
30 Jesus said to him, "Assuredly, I say to you that today, even this night, before the rooster crows twice, you will deny Me three times."
31 But he spoke more vehemently, "If I have to die with You, I will not deny You!"
And they all said likewise. (Mark 14:27-31)
The disciples all had a certain self-confidence.
But they failed to "walk by faith, not by sight" (2 Corinthians 5:7).
How do we know that?
Mark also recorded:
50 Then they all forsook Him and fled. (Mark 14:50)
Yes, there were afraid, afraid with a carnal fear.
Despite their fears, the apostles later became bold and most, according to tradition, were put to death for their faith in Jesus.
Here are EIGHT STEPS, which we could say are from Peter, you need to follow to rid yourself of fear!
Now let us learn HOW TO ACQUIRE PERFECT LOVE. Here is what Peter says:
5 But also for this very reason, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue, to virtue knowledge, 6 to knowledge self-control, to self-control perseverance, to perseverance godliness, 7 to godliness brotherly kindness, and to brotherly kindness love. 8 For if these things are yours and abound, you will be neither barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. 9 For he who lacks these things is shortsighted, even to blindness, and has forgotten that he was cleansed from his old sins. (2 Peter 1:5-9)
If you do not have these things, you tend to be shortsighted and subject to falling prey to physical fears you should not have.
First, notice that you begin with faith. What is faith?
6 But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him. (Hebrews 11:6)
You cannot FEAR God without having faith that He exists and that He rewards us for what we do, whether good or evil. Faith is not something you try to make yourself think you have when you don't have it. Faith is the recognition that God exists and that it is fatal to fall into His hands unless you turn from your sins! This faith is acquired. It is learned by experience. You cannot hypnotize yourself into receiving faith.
What is faith?
1 Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. (Hebrews 11:1)
Improper fear is the evidence you are influenced by Satan's lies.
The Apostle Paul wrote:
13 I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. (Philippians 4:13)
So can you! And the includes overcoming fear.
Let's follow the instruction of Peter throughout his eight-fold plan to conquer fear by filling the mind with LOVE.
Second, add virtue to your faith in the power of God. Virtuous means decent, chaste, modest, and well mannered. It is the opposite of coarseness and vulgarity (see Third Commandment: Words Matter and/or watch Third Commandment Plus: Words Matter). The second step is to remove the cause of self-condemnation, the secret sins that are often committed under the guise of extreme prudery!
8 You have set our iniquities before You, Our secret sins in the light of Your countenance. (Psalm 90:8)
You cannot hide your sins from God.
We must let the Bible define decency, chastity and good manners (though some manners are cultural) for us. Study the lives of men and women recorded within its covers. Recognize their mistakes--many would be shocked to realize that their public and secret sins have been so widely known. Don't make the same mistakes. Remember, too, that the fear of God teaches us not to make up our minds as we wish to believe, but to believe and act upon what God lays virtue is. It is neither self-righteousness nor coarseness. It is proper refinement. Also, when you are reading events in the Bible, understand that the participants generally did not know how things would turn out, and were not always convinced that God used leaders that He did. Do not make their mistakes. Rather, consider they were examples to us:
8 Nor let us commit sexual immorality, as some of them did, and in one day twenty-three thousand fell; 9 nor let us tempt Christ, as some of them also tempted, and were destroyed by serpents; 10 nor complain, as some of them also complained, and were destroyed by the destroyer. 11 Now all these things happened to them as examples, and they were written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the ages have come.
12 Therefore let him who thinks he stands take heed lest he fall. 13 No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it. (1 Corinthians 10:8-13)
This takes faith and virtue. We must believe that God will see us through despite whatever fears we may have. In this age of the internet, more and more have the supposedly 'secret' sin of being involved with pornography (see also Pornography: A scourge on society).
Third, add knowledge to virtue. Knowledge refers to the learning of ideas and principles of conduct. We must continually increase in knowledge until we clean up our character! Peter wrote:
2 Grace and peace be multiplied to you in the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord, (2 Peter 1:2)
17 You therefore, beloved, since you know this beforehand, beware lest you also fall from your own steadfastness, being led away with the error of the wicked; 18 but grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. (2 Peter 3:17-18)
Notice some scriptures related to faith and knowledge so Christians will not be led away with the error of the wicked:
10 "The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, And the knowledge of the Holy One is understanding. (Proverbs 9:10)
14 How then shall they call on Him in whom they have not believed? And how shall they believe in Him of whom they have not heard? And how shall they hear without a preacher? 15 And how shall they preach unless they are sent? As it is written:
"How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the gospel of peace,
Who bring glad tidings of good things!
16 But they have not all obeyed the gospel. For Isaiah says, "Lord, who has believed our report?" 17 So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God. (Romans 10:14-17)
11 And He Himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers, 12 for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ, 13 till we all come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a perfect man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ; 14 that we should no longer be children, tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, in the cunning craftiness of deceitful plotting, 15 but, speaking the truth in love, may grow up in all things into Him who is the head — Christ — 16 from whom the whole body, joined and knit together by what every joint supplies, according to the effective working by which every part does its share, causes growth of the body for the edifying of itself in love. (Ephesians 4:11-16)
Study the word of God, study CCOG literature, pay attention to sermons (ContinuingCOG YouTube sermon channel) and sermonettes (BibleNewsProphecy YouTube sermonette channel).
Now, consider the example of the Exodus.
God had the children of Israel experience the first three of the 10 plagues of Egypt. They went through water becoming blood, which must have been very difficult. They went through the plague of frogs, and then they went through the plague of lice.
Many Israelites probably thought that God did not care for them as they went through the same plagues that the Egyptians did.
But notice:
20 And the Lord said to Moses, "Rise early in the morning and stand before Pharaoh as he comes out to the water. Then say to him, 'Thus says the Lord: "Let My people go, that they may serve Me. 21 Or else, if you will not let My people go, behold, I will send swarms of flies on you and your servants, on your people and into your houses. The houses of the Egyptians shall be full of swarms of flies, and also the ground on which they stand. 22 And in that day I will set apart the land of Goshen, in which My people dwell, that no swarms of flies shall be there, in order that you may know that I am the Lord in the midst of the land. 23 I will make a difference between My people and your people. Tomorrow this sign shall be."'" 24 And the Lord did so. Thick swarms of flies came into the house of Pharaoh, into his servants' houses, and into all the land of Egypt. The land was corrupted because of the swarms of flies. (Exodus 8:20-24)
Logically, carnally speaking, lice turn into flies. The Israelites had lice, so they would have been expected to have to experience the plague of flies--but they did not. That knowledge should help us realize that God is in charge.
And, like now, as we all go through the COVID-19 problems with the world, the time will come--after the beginning of sorrows, which the Philadelphians will have to go through--and when God will make a distinction between the Philadelphian Christians are the trials the rest of the world will go through.
Fourth, add self-control to knowledge. When we learn that God permits us to use things that we thought were forbidden, we must exercise the proper balance in handling any new freedom. We must be temperate. Temperance does not mean prohibition. Prohibition is abstention. Temperance is moderate use! Paul said:
25 And everyone who competes for the prize is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a perishable crown, but we for an imperishable crown. 26 Therefore I run thus: not with uncertainty. Thus I fight: not as one who beats the air. (1 Corinthians 9:25-26)
Temperance means SELF-CONTROL. This is one of the most vital steps in controlling the mind and stilling fears. You need to exercise self-discipline over mind and body if you want to overcome fears. Fighting like one who is beating the air is what unnecessary fear is like. Lack of self-control tends to cause the mind to obsess about irrational fears, or overly obsess about more rational ones.
Paul wrote:
19 Now the works of the flesh are evident, which are: adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lewdness, 20 idolatry, sorcery, hatred, contentions, jealousies, outbursts of wrath, selfish ambitions, dissensions, heresies, 21 envy, murders, drunkenness, revelries, and the like; of which I tell you beforehand, just as I also told you in time past, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.
22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, self-control. (Galatians 5:19-23)
Without self-control, people sin. James wrote:
7 ... Resist the devil and he will flee from you. 8 Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and purify your hearts, you double-minded. (James 4:7-8)
Do not fall for the fearful lies from Satan. Have the self-control to resist. Be careful that you do not verbalize much about fears.
Why?
Notice the following:
8 Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour. 9 Resist him, steadfast in the faith, knowing that the same sufferings are experienced by your brotherhood in the world. (1 Peter 5:8-9)
Satan wants us to be afraid--he does not want us to support the work. Notice also:
13 The lazy man says, "There is a lion in the road! A fierce lion is in the streets!" (Proverbs 26:13)
Modern people may laugh at that, but modern people make excuses from fear and/or laziness all the time.
Being fearful makes it easier for Satan to harm us. Therefore:
14 ... give no opportunity to the adversary to speak reproachfully. 15 For some have already turned aside after Satan. (1 Timothy 5:14-16)
26. When you become angry, do not sin. Do not let the sun go down on your anger; 27. Neither give place to the devil. 28. Let the one who stole, steal no more; rather, let him labor with his hands, working at what is good, so that he may impart something to the one who has need. 29. Do not let any corrupt communication come out of your mouth, but that which is good and needful for edification that it may give grace to those who hear. 30. And do not vex the Holy Spirit of God by which you have been sealed for the day of redemption. 31. Let all bitterness, and indignation, and wrath, and clamor, and evil speaking be removed from you, together with all malice; (Ephesians 4:26-31, AFV)
Being fearful of what you should not be, and speaking much about it in a state of worry, can be construed as evil speaking that Satan will tend to exploit.
Satan has power over death wants you in bondage to fear physical death:
14 Inasmuch then as the children have partaken of flesh and blood, He Himself likewise shared in the same, that through death He might destroy him who had the power of death, that is, the devil, 15 and release those who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage. (Hebrews 2:14-15)
Satan wants you to think that you cannot keep the Sabbath because you might lose your job and die. Satan wants you to think you cannot afford to tithe, lest you get too hungry and die. Satan wants you to think that if you refuse to observe holidays he sanctions, you will lose friends, relatives, and possibly your job and be unhappy and then die. Satan does not you to really believe you can trust God and wants you to not have self-control, but to accept what his society pushes, despite its flaws and contradictions.
Jesus warned:
25 For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will find it. 26 For what profit is it to a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul? Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul? 27 For the Son of Man will come in the glory of His Father with His angels, and then He will reward each according to his works. (Matthew 16:25-27)
Don't think that compromising with the world will save you. Furthermore, as the Apostle John wrote:
15 Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. 16 For all that is in the world — the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life — is not of the Father but is of the world. 17 And the world is passing away, and the lust of it; but he who does the will of God abides forever. (1 John 2:15-17)
Jesus tells His followers to be faithful even if that leads to death:
10 Do not fear any of those things which you are about to suffer. Indeed, the devil is about to throw some of you into prison, that you may be tested, and you will have tribulation ten days. Be faithful until death, and I will give you the crown of life. (Revelation 2:10)
Have the self-control to not let various lusts or desires keep you from following Jesus. That is the real way to gain life--do not be deceived that this temporal existence is all that there is.
Remember:
13 But if there is no resurrection of the dead, then Christ is not risen. 14 And if Christ is not risen, then our preaching is empty and your faith is also empty. 15 Yes, and we are found false witnesses of God, because we have testified of God that He raised up Christ, whom He did not raise up — if in fact the dead do not rise. 16 For if the dead do not rise, then Christ is not risen. 17 And if Christ is not risen, your faith is futile; you are still in your sins! 18 Then also those who have fallen asleep in Christ have perished. 19 If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men the most pitiable. (1 Corinthians 15:13-19)
Since there is a resurrection, exercise self-control so you will not be in bondage to the fears Satan arouses, but instead will be rewarded with eternal life in the Kingdom of God.
Fifth add patience to self-control. Patience is that broadness of mind by which you wait for the result to be achieved. Patience is the opposite of worry. One who is patient does not become frustrated because problems don't always solve themselves immediately. Patience comes from exercising self-control under trial. "Tribulation worketh patience," wrote Paul (Romans 5:3, KJV). Let's see that in context in the NKJV:
1. Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. 2. Through Whom we also have access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and we ourselves boast in the hope of the glory of God. 3. And not only this, but we also boast in tribulations, realizing that tribulation brings forth endurance, 4. And endurance brings forth character, and character brings forth hope. 5. And the hope of God never makes us ashamed because the love of God has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, which has been given to us. 6. For even when we were without strength, at the appointed time Christ died for the ungodly. (Romans 5:1-6, AFV)
You really can't just sit down and make yourself patient. You must work at it, under trial and test! As you get through the tests and trials you should have the faith to recognize that God got you through them and that you do not need to fear.
Notice:
14 Stand therefore, having girded your waist with truth, having put on the breastplate of righteousness, 15 and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace; 16 above all, taking the shield of faith with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one. 17 And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God; 18 praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this end with all perseverance ... (Ephesians 6:14-18)
Have the patience to persevere. Jesus also taught:
12 And because lawlessness will abound, the love of many will grow cold. 13 But he who endures to the end shall be saved. (Matthew 24:12-13)
Do not let your fears cause you to give up!
Sixth, add godliness to patience. Godliness means to be like God in character. God defines His character throughout the Bible. Many "religious" people pretend to have godliness, however, in reality they are:
3 unloving, unforgiving, slanderers, without self-control, brutal, despisers of good, 4 traitors, headstrong, haughty, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, 5 having a form of godliness but denying its power. And from such people turn away! (2 Timothy 3:3-6)
God is a powerful being, not a weakling. Godliness means strength of character — it sums up virtue, knowledge, patience, self-control. Too many try to imagine what God is like apart from reading the Scripture. Little wonder that they deny His Power!
What is godliness? The late Dibar Apartian wrote:
Godliness
Just what is godliness (II Pet. 1:6)? How does the Bible define it?
To be godly is to have a godlike attitude. You must learn to gradually think like God and behave like Him. God commands you to "lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty" (I Tim. 2:2).
Indeed, you have to endeavor to be godly and respectful in every way — to think and act as God does — to be patient and kind as He is. Unfortunately, the much misunderstood words pious or piousness have been substituted for godliness in some English versions of the Bible, and people are confused.
Godliness is synonymous with true Christianity or true religion. In fact, in the Revised Standard Version, this is how the same Greek word has been translated in I Timothy 2:10: "But by good deeds, as befits women who profess religion [godliness]."
As you can see, to practice godliness is to have godlike religion – the true religion. Faith without godliness is dead. (Apartian D. What Are the Works of Faith? Good News, February 1982)
Note that he tied godliness to true religion. That would seem related to pure religion, which as James wrote:
27 Pure and undefiled religion before God and the Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their trouble, and to keep oneself unspotted from the world. (James 1:27)
Many have also deceived themselves to think that they only need to be concerned about widows and orphans in their own family or their own culture. Furthermore, as Christians, we do not have to have the fears that the world has who has no hope. But we are also to help the widows and orphans.
Seventh, add brotherly kindness to godliness. It is often easier to act righteous than to be kind to a brother!
James says of the human tongue:
7 For every kind of beast and bird, of reptile and creature of the sea, is tamed and has been tamed by mankind. 8 But no man can tame the tongue. It is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison. 9 With it we bless our God and Father, and with it we curse men, who have been made in the similitude of God. 10 Out of the same mouth proceed blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not to be so. (James 3:7-10)
God is perfect. We need to be perfect. But our brothers have faults of the flesh. It is difficult to be kind, to be helpful, to be generous..
In misguided zeal many impose their "kindnesses" on others. We must learn to exercise good judgment in being kind. On the other hand, many neglect kindnesses, which they can never make up This breeds sorrow and worry.
The Bible teaches:
1 Let brotherly love continue. (Hebrews 13:1)
Now, as the Greek literally can be portrayed, that statement could also be translated, "Let Philadelphia continue" (Hebrews 13:1). Philadelphians show love for their physically poor brethren by being kindly supporting them (including widows and orphans; cf. James 1:27) in places like Africa and Asia (Galatians 2:10; Romans 12:13; cf. James 1:27, 2:14-16; Hebrews 13:16; Isaiah 58:7; Proverbs 28:27; for specific financial details on how the Continuing Church of God does this, check out the CCOG Donations page) and for the spiritually poor around the world, doing the Philadelphian work to proclaim the Gospel of the Kingdom of God (Matthew 24:14), teaching all Jesus commanded (Matthew 28:19-20), and other aspects of the Final Phase of the Work.
Eighth on Peter's list (but ninth overall), add LOVE as a climax to perfection. Jesus said:
44 But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you, 45 that you may be sons of your Father in heaven; for He makes His sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust. 46 For if you love those who love you, what reward have you? Do not even the tax collectors do the same? 47 And if you greet your brethren only, what do you do more than others? Do not even the tax collectors do so? 48 Therefore you shall be perfect, just as your Father in heaven is perfect. (Matthew 5:44-48)
When you love your enemies this much, you won't fear what they can do to you. Love, when perfected, casts out all fear! Jesus also said:
12 This is My commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. 13 Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one's life for his friends. (John 15:12-13)
Perfect love (1 John 4:18) even removes the most terrible fear of all — the fear of death!
Love is selfless giving, and the perfection of God's law according to its spirit or intent:
9 ... You shall love your neighbor as yourself." 10 Love does no harm to a neighbor; therefore love is the fulfillment of the law. (Romans 13:9-10)
You cannot love anyone without fulfilling the law. And you cannot fulfill the law completely without loving your neighbor and your enemy! Love sums up the spirit and intent of God's law. It is the summation of all that is good and right. The fear of God leads us to love.
Notice how the Scripture defines love in its fullness:
4 Love suffers long and is kind; love does not envy; love does not parade itself, is not puffed up; 5 does not behave rudely, does not seek its own, is not provoked, thinks no evil; 6 does not rejoice in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth; 7 bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. (1 Corinthians 13:4-7)
Brotherly kindness without LOVE profits nothing eternally! Love suffers long" — it is patient — is kind" — it includes brotherly kindness; "love envieth not, vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up" — it doesn't exalt itself, it is virtuous — "is not unseemly, seeketh not its own" — love is directed away from the SELF — "is not provoked, taketh not account of evil" —it is patient and not resentful — "rejoiceth not in unrighteousness, but rejoiceth in the truth" — it is godliness.
Love "covereth all things" — it covers every requirement — "believeth all things" — love is not gullible (which a misreading of this verse might imply), but it believes all things written in God's Word — "hopeth all things" — it hopes for all the promises, which gives us courage — "endureth all things." LOVE rises above all conflicts, making it possible for us to rise above the sufferings and fears, which engulf this age.
Love NEVER FAILS, (1 Corinthians 13:8).
Now getting to the tenth step, notice some passages from Hebrews:
1 Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. 2 For by it the elders obtained a good testimony. (Hebrews 11:1-2)
7 By faith Noah, being divinely warned of things not yet seen, moved with godly fear, prepared an ark for the saving of his household, by which he condemned the world and became heir of the righteousness which is according to faith. (Hebrews 11:7)
23 By faith Moses, when he was born, was hidden three months by his parents, because they saw he was a beautiful child; and they were not afraid of the king's command.
24 By faith Moses, when he became of age, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh's daughter, 25 choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God than to enjoy the passing pleasures of sin, 26 esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures in Egypt; for he looked to the reward.
27 By faith he forsook Egypt, not fearing the wrath of the king; for he endured as seeing Him who is invisible. 28 By faith he kept the Passover and the sprinkling of blood, lest he who destroyed the firstborn should touch them.
29 By faith they passed through the Red Sea as by dry land, whereas the Egyptians, attempting to do so, were drowned.
30 By faith the walls of Jericho fell down after they were encircled for seven days. 31 By faith the harlot Rahab did not perish with those who did not believe, when she had received the spies with peace.
32 And what more shall I say? For the time would fail me to tell of Gideon and Barak and Samson and Jephthah, also of David and Samuel and the prophets: 33 who through faith subdued kingdoms, worked righteousness, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions, 34 quenched the violence of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, out of weakness were made strong, became valiant in battle, turned to flight the armies of the aliens. 35 Women received their dead raised to life again.
Others were tortured, not accepting deliverance, that they might obtain a better resurrection. 36 Still others had trial of mockings and scourgings, yes, and of chains and imprisonment. 37 They were stoned, they were sawn in two, were tempted, were slain with the sword. They wandered about in sheepskins and goatskins, being destitute, afflicted, tormented — 38 of whom the world was not worthy. They wandered in deserts and mountains, in dens and caves of the earth.
39 And all these, having obtained a good testimony through faith, did not receive the promise, 40 God having provided something better for us, that they should not be made perfect apart from us. (Hebrews 11:23-40)
Moses and others had the courage to live their faith.
They had confidence and faith in God. Notice also the following:
26 In the fear of the Lord there is strong confidence,
And His children will have a place of refuge.
27 The fear of the Lord is a fountain of life,
To turn one away from the snares of death. (Proverbs 14:26-27)
Yes, many in the CCOG probably will get COVID-19--some may even die, but if our confidence is with God, we have the promise of eternal life.
That does not mean we go out of our way to get ill or intentionally try to be reckless, but we have faith that "all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose" (Romans 8:28).
But the world does not see it that way.
Jesus said:
13 "Enter by the narrow gate; for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and there are many who go in by it. 14 Because narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life, and there are few who find it.
15 "Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravenous wolves. 16 You will know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes from thornbushes or figs from thistles? 17 Even so, every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. 18 A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a bad tree bear good fruit. 19 Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. 20 Therefore by their fruits you will know them.
21 "Not everyone who says to Me, 'Lord, Lord,' shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven. 22 Many will say to Me in that day, 'Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?' 23 And then I will declare to them, 'I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!' (Matthew 7:13-23)
So, no, you are not to have confidence because your church or religion is large. The major numerical groups are not faithful Christians.
Consider:
10 If you faint in the day of adversity, Your strength is small. (Proverbs 24:10)
Furthermore, in the time of the end, most Christians will NOT even be Philadelphian (cf. Revelation 3), hence numbers do not tell the whole story (though some numbers can help regarding discerning fruits).
5 "If you have run with the footmen, and they have wearied you,
Then how can you contend with horses?
And if in the land of peace,
In which you trusted, they wearied you,
Then how will you do in the floodplain of the Jordan? (Jeremiah 12:5)
The above looks to a reference to fleeing to the place of safety (There is a Place of Safety for the Philadelphians. Why it May Be Near Petra)--if you are too fearful now, you may be too fearful to flee when it is time!
If massive numbers were expected, Jesus would not have said:
32 Do not fear, little flock, for it is your Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom. (Luke 12:32)
Now, consider the following:
9 Now the Lord spoke to Paul in the night by a vision, "Do not be afraid, but speak, and do not keep silent; 10 for I am with you, and no one will attack you to hurt you; for I have many people in this city." 11 And he continued there a year and six months, teaching the word of God among them. (Acts 18:9-11)
Basically, Jesus said, instead of fearing what might happen to you, have the courage to do what God wants you to do. He also said:
33 … In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world. (John 16:33b)
As Christians we need to have that attitude of good cheer, not fear. Notice also that Paul taught others to not be afraid, but to "take heart' (have courage):
21 ... Paul stood in the midst of them and said, "Men, you should have listened to me, and not have sailed from Crete and incurred this disaster and loss. 22 And now I urge you to take heart, for there will be no loss of life among you, but only of the ship. 23 For there stood by me this night an angel of the God to whom I belong and whom I serve, 24 saying, 'Do not be afraid, Paul; you must be brought before Caesar; and indeed God has granted you all those who sail with you.' 25 Therefore take heart, men, for I believe God that it will be just as it was told me. 26 However, we must run aground on a certain island." (Acts 27:21-26)
So, things were going to be rough, but they should remain courageous because it would work out.
Many are even physically afraid, when they should not be:
1 The wicked flee when no one pursues, But the righteous are bold as a lion. (Proverbs 28:1)
The above brings to mind the following quote:
The coward dies a thousand deaths, the brave but one (Hemmingway E. A Farewell to Arms)
“A coward dies a thousand times before his death, but the valiant taste of death but once. (Shakespeare W. Julius Caesar)
Which I have also said as:
A coward dies a thousand times, but a brave man dies just once.
We are not to be overly fearful in this life.
Christians are looking for something beyond this life:
6 being confident of this very thing, that He who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ; (Philippians 1:6)
Do you have the courage to believe that?
6 So we are always confident, knowing that while we are at home in the body we are absent from the Lord. 7 For we walk by faith, not by sight. 8 We are confident, yes, well pleased rather to be absent from the body and to be present with the Lord.
9 Therefore we make it our aim, whether present or absent, to be well pleasing to Him. 10 For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive the things done in the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad. 11 Knowing, therefore, the terror of the Lord, we persuade men; but we are well known to God, and I also trust are well known in your consciences. (2 Corinthians 5:6-11)
Yes, we are to be CONFIDENT, not fearful. We only need to fear disobeying God, and even if we do that, we can confess our sins and God will forgive (1 John 1:9).
Notice something about the Christian hope from Paul and Peter:
15 I have hope in God, which they themselves also accept, that there will be a resurrection of the dead, both of the just and the unjust. (Acts 24:15)
13 But I do not want you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning those who have fallen asleep, lest you sorrow as others who have no hope. 14 For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so God will bring with Him those who sleep in Jesus.
15 For this we say to you by the word of the Lord, that we who are alive and remain until the coming of the Lord will by no means precede those who are asleep. 16 For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. 17 Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we shall always be with the Lord. 18 Therefore comfort one another with these words. (1 Thessalonians 4:13-18)
3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His abundant mercy has begotten us again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, 4 to an inheritance incorruptible and undefiled and that does not fade away, reserved in heaven for you, 5 who are kept by the power of God through faith for salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.
6 In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while, if need be, you have been grieved by various trials, 7 that the genuineness of your faith, being much more precious than gold that perishes, though it is tested by fire, may be found to praise, honor, and glory at the revelation of Jesus Christ, 8 whom having not seen you love. Though now you do not see Him, yet believing, you rejoice with joy inexpressible and full of glory, 9 receiving the end of your faith — the salvation of your souls. (1 Peter 1:3-9)
Why is having this hope and courage important?
Well, we have to overcome our fears because the cowardly will not make it:
7 He who overcomes shall inherit all things, and I will be his God and he shall be My son. 8 But the cowardly, unbelieving, abominable, murderers, sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars shall have their part in the lake which burns with fire and brimstone, which is the second death. (Revelation 21:7-8)
Now, those who are cowardly are unbelieving--they do not have proper faith. Cowards end up believing lies--and are subject to the second death (see also The Second Death). Notice also the following from the last chapter of the Bible:
14 Blessed are those who do His commandments, that they may have the right to the tree of life, and may enter through the gates into the city. 15 But outside are dogs and sorcerers and sexually immoral and murderers and idolaters, and whoever loves and practices a lie. (Revelation 22:14-15)
Since Satan is the father of lies according to Jesus (John 8:44), cowards are not following the way of Jesus.
Notice the following:
13 for not the hearers of the law are just in the sight of God, but the doers of the law will be justified (Romans 2:13).
22 But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. 23 For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man observing his natural face in a mirror; 24 for he observes himself, goes away, and immediately forgets what kind of man he was. 25 But he who looks into the perfect law of liberty and continues in it, and is not a forgetful hearer but a doer of the work, this one will be blessed in what he does. (James 1:22-25)
Hearers, who are not doers, tend toward cowardness and deceive themselves.
For more on courage and cowardice read the article Christian courage vs. cowardice and/or watch the sermons Courage and Cowardice and Cowardice and Overcoming Fear.
In closing let's consider the 23rd Psalm:
1 The Lord is my shepherd;
I shall not want.
2 He makes me to lie down in green pastures;
He leads me beside the still waters.
3 He restores my soul;
He leads me in the paths of righteousness
For His name’s sake.4 Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,
I will fear no evil;
For You are with me;
Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me.5 You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies;
You anoint my head with oil;
My cup runs over.
6 Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me
All the days of my life;
And I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever. (Psalm 23)
Brethren, trust God, for we are destined to “dwell in the house of the Lord forever.”
Here is the list of ten steps to help rid yourself of fear:
This is how YOU can conquer your fears and worries! Ask God for help to carry out His ten-fold plan to attain real peace of mind.
If those ten are not enough, make sure you are praying daily and fasting--if your health permits--regularly-- for help with those, check out the free online booklet Prayer: What Does the Bible Teach?
Fasting should show you that YOU can endure and trust God.
Christians do not need to fear death. Notice Paul's attitude:
21 For to me, to live is Christ, and to die is gain. 22 But if I live on in the flesh, this will mean fruit from my labor; yet what I shall choose I cannot tell. 23 For I am hard-pressed between the two, having a desire to depart and be with Christ, which is far better. 24 Nevertheless to remain in the flesh is more needful for you. (Philippians 1:21-24)
While we are not to seek death or intentionally unnecessarily risk our death, we should realize that departing and being with Jesus is FAR better than being in this life.
Therefore, there should be nothing that we should fear in the flesh that Satan wants to take advantage of.
At risk of repeat, remember that Jesus said “Do not fear, little flock, for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom” (Luke 12:32).
"Ask, and it shall be given you" (Luke 11:9). Trust God!
Here is a link to a related sermon: Ten Plus Steps to Rid Yourself of Fear.
Some items of related interest may include:
Christian courage vs. cowardice As you courageous? What biblically is cowardice? Do YOU really understand this? Two sermons related to this article are available and are titled Courage and Cowardice and Cowardice and Overcoming Fear. A Spanish language article is also available: Valor Cristiano vs Cobardía.
Faith for Those God has Called and Chosen What is faith? Can faith be increased? Are you saved by faith? What about works? Do Christians need to keep the Ten Commandments? What is the 'faith chapter'? How do the just live by faith? Is faith one of the weightier matters of the law? How does faith come? Marque aquí para ver el pdf folleto: Fe para aquellos que Dios ha llamado y escogido. In German: Glaube für die von Gott Berufenen und Auserwählten. In French: La Foi pour ceux que Dieu a Appelés et Choisis. Here is a link to a related sermon titled: Faith for the Called and Chosen.and here is a link to another sermon Faith and Courage. Here is a link to shorter version of the written article in Mandarin Chinese N{ÇQsNŽOáNðv„\e‡zà.
Prayer: What Does the Bible Teach? This free booklet contains 28 biblically-based tips on improving the effectiveness of your prayers. This is a pdf. A related two part sermon is available: What Does the Bible Teach About Prayer? and What does the Bible Teach About Prayer (& Healing)?
Is God Calling You? This booklet discusses topics including calling, election, and selection. If God is calling you, how will you respond? Here is a link to a related sermon: Could God be Calling You? A short animation is also available: Is God Calling You?
Christians: Ambassadors for the Kingdom of God, Biblical instructions on living as a Christian This is a scripture-filled booklet for those wishing to live as a real Christian. A related sermon is also available: Christians are Ambassadors for the Kingdom of God.
The MYSTERY of GOD’s PLAN: Why Did God Create Anything? Why did God make you? This free online book helps answers some of the biggest questions that human have, including the biblical meaning of life. Here is a link to three related sermons: Mysteries of God’s Plan, Mysteries of Truth, Sin, Rest, Suffering, and God’s Plan, and The Mystery of YOU.
The Gospel of the Kingdom of God This free online pdf booklet has answers many questions people have about the Gospel of the Kingdom of God and explains why it is the solution to the issues the world is facing. Here are links to three related sermons: The World’s False Gospel, The Gospel of the Kingdom: From the New and Old Testaments, and The Kingdom of God is the Solution.
Thiel B. Ten Steps to Rid Yourself of Fear. COGwriter (c) 2020 https://www.cogwriter.com/fear.htm 2020 0418