Storm Warnings
Bible Journaling – Fear
Lift Jesus Higher!
We have been studying the gospel of John in our Sunday School class. This week our focus was parts of John 3. As is my way, I take the scripture of the teachers and pastors and look for myself at the Word they have given. I meditate on it and study it; I write about it and sometimes draw pictures based on it. More than anything I want the Words of the Lord and those that others speak that are His true Words to be alive in me. God speaks to our leaders but the Bible says His sheep know His voice and so I know He speaks and all with a listening ear can hear something from the Lord as well. So in my own study this week the Lord has had this lamb focused on John 3:14-18.
14 And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up: 15 That whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life. 16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. 17 For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved. 18 He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.
4 And they journeyed from mount Hor by the way of the Red sea, to compass the land of Edom: and the soul of the people was much discouraged because of the way. 5 And the people spake against God, and against Moses, Wherefore have ye brought us up out of Egypt to die in the wilderness? for there is no bread, neither is there any water; and our soul loatheth this light bread. 6 And the Lord sent fiery serpents among the people, and they bit the people; and much people of Israel died. 7 Therefore the people came to Moses, and said, We have sinned, for we have spoken against the Lord, and against thee; pray unto the Lord, that he take away the serpents from us. And Moses prayed for the people. 8 And the Lord said unto Moses, Make thee a fiery serpent, and set it upon a pole: and it shall come to pass, that every one that is bitten, when he looketh upon it, shall live. 9 And Moses made a serpent of brass, and put it upon a pole, and it came to pass, that if a serpent had bitten any man, when he beheld the serpent of brass, he lived.
Numbers was familiar to Nicodemus. He knew the scriptures very well. This passage is the story of sin, for the nation rebelled against God and had to be punished. God sent fiery serpents that bit the people and many died. It is also a story of grace. Moses interceded for the people, and God provided the remedy. God told Moses to make a brass serpent and lift it up on a pole for all to see. Any person that was stricken who looked at the serpent on the pole would immediately be healed. So then, it is also a story of faith. When the people looked, by faith, they were saved.
In this passage the verb lifted up has two meanings. It means to be crucified but also to be glorified and exalted. We can see that in these passages:
- Then said Jesus unto them, When ye have lifted up the Son of man, then shall ye know that I am he, and that I do nothing of myself; but as my Father hath taught me, I speak these things. ~ John 8:28
- And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all men unto me. This he said, signifying what death he should die. The people answered him, We have heard out of the law that Christ abideth for ever: and how sayest thou, The Son of man must be lifted up? who is this Son of man? ~ John 12: 32-34
In other passages of the gospel of John, John points out that our Lord’s crucifixion was actually the means of His glorification!
- And Jesus answered them, saying, The hour is come, that the Son of man should be glorified. ~ John 12:23
The cross was not the end of His glory; it was the means of His glory!
- Therefore being by the right hand of God exalted, and having received of the Father the promise of the Holy Ghost, he hath shed forth this, which ye now see and hear.~ Acts 2:33
Just as the serpent was lifted up on that pole, so the Son of God would be lifted up on a cross. Why? To save us from sin and death. In the camp of Israel, the solution to the “serpent problem” was not in killing the serpents, making medicine for the bites, pretending they were not there, passing more laws or climbing up the pole. The answer was in looking by faith at the uplifted serpent.
In my study of these passages I was taken to another verse of scripture in Isaiah 45:22: Look unto me, and be ye saved, all the ends of the earth: for I am God, and there is none else, which reminded me of the following true story –
On January 6, 1850, a snowstorm shut down much of the city of Colchester, England. A teenage boy was unable to get to the church he usually attended so he when instead to a nearby Primitive Methodist chapel. There a seemingly unprepared layman was substituting for the absent preacher. His text was Isaiah 45:22.
For many months the young teenager had been miserable and under deep conviction, but though both his father and grandfather were preachers and so he had been reared in church, he did not have the assurance of salvation.
The substitute minister did not have much to say, so he kept repeating the text. “A man need not go to college to learn to look,” he shouted. “Anyone can look – a child can look!” About that time, he turned to the visitor sitting to one side, and he pointed at him and said, “Young man, you look very miserable. Young man, look to Jesus Christ!”
The young man did look by faith, and that was how the great preacher Charles Haddon Spurgeon was converted.
The difference between perishing and living, and between condemnation and salvation, between bondage and freedom is faith in Jesus Christ. Jesus came to this world in love, as our Savior, and He died for us on the cross. He became the uplifted serpent. The serpent in Moses’ day brought physical life to dying Jews, but Jesus Christ gives eternal life to anyone who trusts Him. He has salvation for a whole world! But not only does He give salvation, but He still gives healing, He delivers, He restores! He is according to Hebrews 13:8, Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and today, and forever.
Look to HIM!
Lift Jesus Higher!
Tears!
Oh God, give me back the tears that I once took for granted!!! Amen!!!
DID CHRIST OVER SINNERS WEEP?
TEXT: Henry Lyte
MUSIC: Blake Mundell
Did Christ over sinners weep,
And shall our cheeks be dry?
Let floods of penitential grief,
Burst forth from every eye
Burst forth from every eye
Chorus: Behold the Son of God in tears,
The angels wondering see
Hast thou no wonder, O my soul?
He shed those tears for thee!
He wept that we might weep,
Might weep over sin and shame
He wept to show His love for us,
And bid us love the same
And bid us love the same (Chorus)
Then tender be our hearts,
Our eyes in sorrow dim
Til every tear from every eye,
Be wiped away by Him
Be wiped away by Him
Be wiped away by Him (Chorus)
F.E.A.R. – a little homework
Yesterday our Pastor preached a sermon on fear and how people of the Bible had times of fear. Great fear just like we do at times. Pastor used some standard acronyms for fear and for faith but toward the end he changed it up and did some of his own acronyms that were different – using the word “fear” to make versions that would empower rather than just define. We were to do the same as homework – to make an acronym from the word “fear” that would strengthen us and encourage us during our own times of fear. So this is mine.
F.E.A.R. – Focused Expectation Assurance (&) Reverence
My F.E.A.R. Acronym to meditate on when I am fearful so that fear will not stop me in my tracks but can instead be used to empower and strengthen my faith.
From that exercise the following was added – taken from the words above. It just seems to all fit so well…and sure is something good to meditate on. Thank you Lord when you use the pen I hold in my hand to speak to my heart.
Turn your fear into F.E.A.R. – Focused Expectation Assurance (&) Reverence
FOCUS on JESUSFOCUS on JESUS with EXPECTATION – That is HOPEFOCUS on JESUS with ASSURANCE – That is FAITHFOCUS on JESUS with REVERENCE – That is LOVEFOCUS on JESUS
Faith, Hope and Love…but the greatest of these is LOVE which casts out ALL fear.
“And now abideth faith, hope, charity, these three; but the greatest of these is charity.” – 1 Corinthians 13:13
Come As You Are!
But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. ~ Romans 5:8
Hiding His Word – How God?
I believe we are coming into a season where we will not only be very aware of but we will embrace that specific anointing that God has put on us individually but also corporately. I believe with His anointing, God is preparing each of us to do our part in helping usher in what is being birthed on this earth. I believe His anointing will bring us into a place of unity and intimacy with HIMSELF and with others in the body. I also believe that with His anointing we will see the fullness and blessing of the promises of God for our own lives. We will bring them forth!
Sometimes God gives us a promise or calls us to do something that seems bigger than us and we have no idea how He’s going to do it or how we can even co-labor with Him to bring it about. Bringing forth the promises of God is like giving birth and birth in the spiritual is very much like the natural.
The best example we have in Scripture is where I have been planted this last week – in Luke 1:26-45.
And in the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God unto a city of Galilee, named Nazareth, 27To a virgin espoused to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David; and the virgin’s name was Mary. 28 And the angel came in unto her, and said, Hail, thou that art highly favoured, the Lord is with thee: blessed art thou among women. 29 And when she saw him, she was troubled at his saying, and cast in her mind what manner of salutation this should be. 30 And the angel said unto her, Fear not, Mary: for thou hast found favour with God. 31 And, behold, thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and bring forth a son, and shalt call his name Jesus. 32 He shall be great, and shall be called the Son of the Highest: and the Lord God shall give unto him the throne of his father David: 33 And he shall reign over the house of Jacob for ever; and of his kingdom there shall be no end. 34 Then said Mary unto the angel, How shall this be, seeing I know not a man? 35 And the angel answered and said unto her, The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee, and the power of the Highest shall overshadow thee: therefore also that holy thing which shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God. 36 And, behold, thy cousin Elisabeth, she hath also conceived a son in her old age: and this is the sixth month with her, who was called barren. 37 For with God nothing shall be impossible. 38 And Mary said, Behold the handmaid of the Lord; be it unto me according to thy word. And the angel departed from her. 39 And Mary arose in those days, and went into the hill country with haste, into a city of Juda; 40 And entered into the house of Zacharias, and saluted Elisabeth. 41 And it came to pass, that, when Elisabeth heard the salutation of Mary, the babe leaped in her womb; and Elisabeth was filled with the Holy Ghost: 42 And she spake out with a loud voice, and said, Blessed art thou among women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb. 43 And whence is this to me, that the mother of my Lord should come to me? 44 For, lo, as soon as the voice of thy salutation sounded in mine ears, the babe leaped in my womb for joy. 45 And blessed is she that believed: for there shall be a performance of those things which were told her from the Lord.
In this passage Mary gets this incredible promise through the angel Gabriel – the Word of the Lord. He tells her she is going to give birth to JESUS – Immanuel. This happened in the natural but this also had great impact in the spiritual and we can learn much from Mary’s responses and how Mary brought forth that Word – Jesus.
First, let’s look at verse 28, And the angel came in unto her, and said, Hail, thou that art highly favoured, the Lord is with thee: blessed art thou among women.
In this verse one word stood out to me – the word “IS.” The Lord IS with you. That was the promise of the Lord through the angel Gabriel. The Lord said, “I am with you.” And that is the Word of the Lord for you and for me as well – God is with you. You are one with the Lord. If you have said “YES” to Jesus Christ and He is Lord and Savior of your life, then you are one with God. It’s all about restored relationship thru the finished work of the cross and HE IS WITH YOU.
Don’t go by your feelings. Go by faith. I can hear some thinking, “well, I know that is the Word of the Lord but it so often doesn’t FEEL like God is with me.” Sometimes we do feel all alone, but we know the righteous don’t live by their feelings… they live by faith. Don’t let your feelings talk you out of the truth of the Word of God which is the very fact that GOD IS WITH YOU.
Second, look at Luke 1:34.Then said Mary unto the angel, How shall this be, seeing I know not a man?
In other words, Mary has gotten this great promise from God; this amazing, mind blowing promise from God and the first thing she thinks of is, “HOW am I going to do this? How is it going to work? I don’t get it.”
But look at Gabriel’s response in Luke 1:35. And the angel answered and said unto her, The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee, and the power of the Highest shall overshadow thee: therefore also that holy thing which shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God.
Mary had questions. She had a promise that did not make sense. I like that because sometimes I have questions. For Mary, God’s answer isn’t to explain exactly all the step by step details of how it is going to work. God’s answer to her was to say through the Angel Gabriel, “The power of the Highest shall overshadow thee.” The Holy Ghost; the power, the anointing of the Holy Ghost – that is how God’s going to do it. And God is saying the same things to us today. Don’t try to figure out all of how God is going to birth your promises – those callings, favor, miracles, and the salvations. Don’t try to figure out how he is going to heal you. Just trust that He is going to and start being grateful.
Mary was available and we know that even though Mary made herself available, as we all must do, she came into times of fear and confusion. There was one point where the Angel has to actually say to her, “be not afraid.” We, like Mary must say “no” to fear and confusion. “No” to that lying voice of the enemy that says it’s never going to happen; hasn’t happened yet and never will. Imagine if Mary had believed a lie anywhere along the way. But instead she believed.
I pray that encourages you today. Any promise that you’ve gotten from God and anything that He is stirring in you that seems WAY too big for you to do and almost too big to even believe in. Any of those promises that make you question, HOW GOD? Or if you’ve been believing for awhile and haven’t seen it come forth and now you have gone from great faith to fear and doubt and you’re questioning God because you don’t see it or understand it. Remember, even Mary had those questions and God’s answer to her was,” I’m going to do it. I’m going to overshadow you. It’s in my strength that it is going to come forth. “
Maybe you think if an angel would come tell you to believe then you would believe…but you have someone so much better than an angel because you have the Holy Ghost with you and He is your counselor, your mentor, your guide, your comfort and He is saying to you today – Believe!
Last, I want to look at Mary’s prayer in Luke 1:38. It is wonderful. And Mary said, Behold the handmaid of the Lord; be it unto me according to thy word. And the angel departed from her.
I think in the really big promises; the “HOW IS THIS EVER GOING TO HAPPEN GOD” type of promises, this should be our prayer and the posture of our heart. Like Mary we should say, “Lord, I’m your servant and I’m open, I’m willing, I’m available for you to do whatever you want. Let it be unto me according to thy will.”
—
It is no accident that as we continue reading that Luke 2 begins ”and it came to pass.” The time of Mary’s promise had come. Very soon those Words will ring true for you… “and it came to pass.” All that you have been promised, you will see. All we have been promised as a Body, we will see. It is also no accident that Luke 2:7 we see the fulfillment in the Word… “and she brought forth her firstborn Son.”
Mary brought forth her firstborn son. I think it is important to note here that Mary co-labored with God to bring forth Jesus. God will do it in His strength but He uses us, just like He used Mary. In His strength Mary believed and in His strength she walked in obedience just as we are to believe and walk in obedience. God gave Mary the promise of Jesus and He helped her, strengthened her, led her along the way…but Mary brought forth her firstborn Son. To co-labor with God means just that – we have to do our part. It is an active part, not just sitting around waiting on it to happen. It may be painful at times but oh my, my, my… just like birth!
—
Today I would encourage you to take an extra measure of time with the Lord. Time worshiping, in His Word, prayer. Listen to Him and make Him your source. Be mindful about carving out time with God because as you say “YES” to that time together, as you welcome the Holy Ghost, as He comes down and the most High overshadows you, He is going to stir you up. He is going to stir up the promise within you. He is going to stir the memory of all He’s done and truth of Words that have been spoken over you and your life.
Birthing anything begins with unity and intimacy and it ends with unity and intimacy and the in between time is that time of preparation that is in the natural and spiritual the time where we tend to get impatient. It is hard to wait. During the in-between time at first no one else can really see the promise. It is a time when because they cannot see many will not even believe it to be so. But you know because you know the promise. As a mom with child, before anyone else can see the fruit, you KNOW it, can feel it….and in that time you also KNOW – the most unified and intimate you will ever be with another human. That child becomes precious to you.
It is the same with the Lord. As you spend the time with God you will see and know unity and intimacy with Jesus come forth and along with that unity and intimacy you will see the anointing on your life. You will see His promises, the miracles, the favor.
But not only will you see your promises brought forth but you WILL help usher in the great things that are getting ready to be birthed on this earth. During the time of waiting on the promise; when you have only a promise to go on but you have the promise -don’t forsake this time or despise it. In this time your promise will become precious to you.
TRUST and BE OBEDIENT and remember the bigger the promises, the more impossible they seem, the bigger the HOW…the more glorious it’s going to be because God is not only going to have to do it but He will do it.
It says in 2 Corinthians 1:20, “For all the promises of God in Him are “yea”; and in Him “amen” unto the glory of God by us.”
Make yourself available to the Lord, start declaring that you are His and He can do whatever He wants in your life and come into agreement with Him and say, “Lord – this promise – may the fullness of it come forth according to Your will, according to Your Word and ALL to YOUR GLORY!”
And like it was said of Mary in Luke 1:45, it will be said of you, “Blessed is she that believed: for there shall be a performance of those things which were told her from the Lord.”
Overcoming Fear
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. ~ 1 John 4:18
And he said unto me, It is done. I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end. I will give unto him that is athirst of the fountain of the water of life freely. He that overcometh shall inherit all things, and I will be his God, and he shall be my son. But the fearful, the unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death. ~ Revelation 21:6-8
fearful – feeling fear (to be reluctant to do, meet, or experience; anticipation of the possiblity that something unpleasant will occur), dread (to be reluctant to do, meet, or experience), apprehension (anticipation of adversity or misfortune; suspicion or fear of future trouble or evil), or solicitude (state of anxiety/concern; expressing excessive attentiveness)
unbelieving – skeptical; to not believe (have confidence in the truth, the existence, or the reliability of something, although without absolute proof that one is right in doing so)
adominable – repugnantly hateful; detestable; loathsome
murderers – someone who kills another human being (to deprive of life in any manner; to destroy; do away with; extinguish)
whoremongers – someone who consorts (associates, joins, unites) with whores; a lecher (person given to excessive sexual indulgence)or pander (person who caters to or profits from the weaknesses or vices of others)
sorcerers– someone who practices sorcery (the art, practices, or spells of a person who is supposed to exercise supernatural powers through the aid of evil spirits; black magic; witchery)
idolators – a worshiper of idols (any person or thing regarded with blind admiration, adoration, or devotion). A person who is an immoderate admirer; devotee.
liars – a person who lies (speaks falsely or utters an untruth knowingly, with intent to deceive).
And he said unto me, It is done. I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end. I will give unto him that is athirst of the fountain of the water of life freely. He that overcometh shall inherit all things, and I will be his God, and he shall be my son. But the fearful, the unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death. ~ Revelation 21:6-8
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. ~ 1 John 4:18
______________
We often talk about the sexual sins, abominations, witchcraft and even unbelief and lying…but we rarely talk of fear as sin.
Fear is not some cute, poor me, excusable emotion. It is sin just like all of the sins of this scripture passage. Some have made fear an idol in that they put so much focus on their fear(s) that they are feeding and feeding them and because of their focus it grows until fear takes over their lives. Fear manages their lives and what they do and even what their families do. I was one of those in that kind of bondage to fear and it is an awful way to live. Some have more of a controlled type of fear. It not in the forefront but more hidden, like a phobia that only rears its ugly head on occasion…but fear or fear by another name… it is all SIN. As Christians we need to deal with fear the same way we deal with any other sin. Get it out of our lives and cut it off at the root. Overcome!The Bible says in Revelation 12:11 Andthey overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto the death.
I don’t care who you are, what position you do or do not hold, what you have been through in your life, what you have done or has been done to you, what may or may not be getting ready to happen in your life, in your family or in this world….we are not to fear. FEAR, except for the fear of the Lord, is sin. Period. FEAR almost sent me straight to hell for eternity and if you make the choice not to deal with it in your life then it will send you there too!!!
Overcome (to get the better of in a struggle or conflict; conquer; defeat) and you will inherit ALL things. That is the Word of the LORD! AMEN!!!
______________
I have so much to say on this subject but I need to close and end with this…
How do I overcome fear in my life???
I always use the Word of God and the authority I have been given through my Lord Jesus Christ! When I was trying to get rid of that bondage of fear and even these days when the enemy tries put it back on me I turn to what I call my “Father’s Love Cast Out Fear” cards. 101 cards that I have written scripture on – 50 of what the Bible says about fear and 51 of what the Bible says about the Father’s Love. I say them out loud until fear breaks. It always breaks because the Word of God is powerful and the enemy cannot stand against TRUTH. The only reason the enemy brings fear into our lives is so that we will cower in our God given assignments for our lives or even for that moment.
Overcome!




You must be logged in to post a comment.