To the saints of Grace Baptist Church of Dallas, Oregon
Blessings on you in the courageous name of Jesus!
In today’s climate there seems to be quite a bit of fear. It is driving the election, and a record number of people have already cast their ballots. There is fear if the other party wins… what will happen? Record breaking fundraising is built off this fear. There is also the fear of corona virus taking place and it is robbing Americans of their freedom to travel and associate like they used to. There is fear… what will happen if I or a loved one gets the virus? Unprecedented things are taking place. Fear is quite a motivator for us to do all kinds of things we normally would not do. But fear also paralyzes us, keeping us from doing the things we would normally do. How are we as the people of God to respond to the fear and various threats we have in our lives? What is the Bible’s take on fear? Do we want to live in fear—and is there a remedy for it?
In the Bible fear is used in basically two categories. In one category fear is beneficial, meaning it is helpful and good for us. In the other category fear is baneful, meaning it is harmful and destructive to us.
Baneful fear causes us to flight, fright or fight. Fear triggers a sense that something terrible is going to happen to us and these are proper responses. It’s a feeling we get. For example, Proverbs 28:1 says, “The wicked flee though no one pursues…” is a flight response. Cain was seized with dread after he slew his brother and was afraid that someone would kill him. He was looking over his shoulder, ready for a fight. King Herod had guilt over killing John the Baptist and his wrongdoing haunted him, see Matt. 14:1f. Hearing about Jesus he feared that this was John the Baptist raised from the dead. Fear causes us to think things that are not true or envision things that are not real in order to try and make sense of this debilitating condition. In Elisha’s day the Syrian army fled, panic-stricken, in the night. Why did they do that? The Bible gives us some insight saying: “for the Lord had caused the Arameans to hear the sound of chariots and horses and a great army, so that they said to one another, “Look, the king of Israel has hired the Hittite and Egyptian kings to attack us!” So, they got up and fled in the dusk and abandoned their tents and their horses and donkeys. They left the camp as it was and ran for their lives.” 2 Kings 7:6-7. These were trained soldiers running for their life from fear. Fear terrorizes, disorganizes, demoralizes, and demonizes others. When Belshazzar saw the fingers of a man’s hand writing on them “His face turned pale and he was so frightened that his legs became weak and his knees were knocking,” Dan. 5:6.
People do not do well living in fear. This often leads to anxiety, hypertension, exhaustion, and depression. We aren’t made for this. Yet, it is a part of our reality. The Bible cautions us saying, “Fear of man will prove to be a snare, but whoever trusts in the LORD is kept safe,” Proverbs 29:25. I think that this is why God is constantly reassuring His people saying, “Fear not!” The unknown causes us to fear, and typically those “unknowns” rarely come to pass. But even in the face of real difficulties, we don’t have to fear because we have Someone with us. David declared this in Psalm 23:4 “Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me.” In fact, Jesus has told us that He will never leave us or forsake us and that He would surely be with us even till the end of the age. See Matt. 28:20. I’m told that 365 times in the Scriptures God tells us to “Be not afraid.” And for the most part He always adds something to the effect that “He is with us.” But you see that this requires us to have faith—trusting that God is with us and that He is capable of saving us and getting us through every trial. Even when we are walking through the darkest valley.
But now the Bible speaks quite a bit about the beneficial kind of fear. In fact, it tells us many times to “Fear the Lord.” This is beneficial because of the good things that come from this proper fear. Proverbs 1:7 says, “The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and instruction.” Proverbs 9:10 says, “The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom, and knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.” In another Proverb we are told, “To fear the LORD is to hate evil; I hate pride and arrogance, evil behavior and perverse speech,” vs. 13. And Proverbs 14:27 states: “The fear of the LORD is a fountain of life, turning a person from the snares of death. So, we see that this kind of fear brings about knowledge, wisdom, life, and the rejection of evil, pride and arrogance. And this is good for our souls.
Now when we talk about “Fearing the Lord” we are not talking about fear in its baneful sense—because this is the beneficial fear that inspires us to awe and reverence. In this fear, we are essentially afraid of bringing disappointment, insult, or letting God down. It is the kind of fear that wants to make sure that God is honored and lifted up; praised and exalted. This kind of fear inspires us to godly living for His name’s sake. When we come into His presence, the majesty of God cannot help but instill this holy fear into us. Much like when we gaze into the Grand Canyon or lift our eyes to the heavens or survey the vastness of the ocean… we can’t help but sense this feeling of awesome fear. They take our breath away, for we are seeing something so much greater than us. No wonder David writes: “LORD, our Lord, how majestic is your name in all the earth! You have set your glory in the heavens. Through the praise of children and infants you have established a stronghold against your enemies, to silence the foe and the avenger. When I consider your heavens, the work of your fingers, the moon and the stars, which you have set in place, what is mankind that you are mindful of them, human beings that you care for them?” Psalm 8:1-4.
So how do we acquire this kind of holy fear that is so helpful to our lives? I would like to point you to Psalm 130.
“1 Out of the depths I cry to you, LORD; 2 Lord, hear my voice. Let your ears be attentive to my cry for mercy. 3 If you, LORD, kept a record of sins, Lord, who could stand? 4 But with you there is forgiveness, so that we can, with reverence, serve you. 5 I wait for the LORD, my whole being waits, and in his word I put my hope. 6 I wait for the Lord more than watchmen wait for the morning. 7 Israel, put your hope in the LORD, for with the LORD is unfailing love and with him is full redemption. 8 He himself will redeem Israel from all their sins.”
In verse one the Psalmist goes to God “Out of the depths.” This is a poetic way of saying that he was distraught. So, what does he do there? He cries out to the Lord. So, when you are distraught for whatever reason. When you are afraid, the Bible tells us that we are to cry out to God. Verse 2 highlights his desire to be heard. “Let your ears be attentive to my cry for mercy,” he says. And now in verse 3 we know what he was concerned about. He had fallen under conviction of sin, and should he face God on that day he would be guilty before God. All of us standing before God in our sin are doomed. The Psalmist says as much, “Who could stand?” Answer: none!
But now the Psalmist knows something about God, something about God’s character. In verse 4 we read, “But with you there is forgiveness, so that we can, with reverence, serve you.” Understanding our great sin in light of God’s great forgiveness brings about a holy reverence (holy fear) so that we can serve God. The New Testament affirms this very truth, that “All have sinned and have fallen short of the glory of God,” Romans 3:23. In Romans 6:23 we find that the “wages of sin is death but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” You see, it was Jesus that paid the penalty of sin on the cross that made this great forgiveness possible. God didn’t simply look the other way at our indiscretions; He didn’t sweep them under the rug. No, God paid for every sin in full through the atonement of Christ on the cross. So, like the Psalmist, we can view these great realities in our life—the awfulness of our sin juxtaposed to the great forgiveness of God. It’s by immersing ourselves in the Gospel over and over again that will provide this kind of beneficial fear/reverence.
And then comes the declaration in verse 7. Israel—you put your hope in the Lord. God is telling us through this Psalm that we too are to put our hope in Him. Why? Because with Him there is unfailing love and redemption. You no longer need to fear in the baneful sense as long as you truly fear God in the beneficial sense because our Father truly loves us and will bring about redemption for us. In fact, Jesus Himself has fulfilled verse 8 that says, “He himself will redeem Israel from all their sins.” For God so loved the world that He gave His One and only Son that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life, John 3:16. Bottom line, the beneficial kind of fear leads us into a life void of the baneful kind of fear. 1 John 4:18 says, “There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love.”
“Anywhere with Jesus,” by Jessie B. Pounds
“Anywhere with Jesus I can safely go, Anywhere He leads me in this world below;
Anywhere with without Him dearest joys would fade, Anywhere with Jesus I am not afraid.
Anywhere! Anywhere! Fear I cannot know; Anywhere with Jesus I can safely go.
“Anywhere with Jesus I am not alone, Other friends may fail me, He is still my own;
Though His hand may lead me over dreary ways, Anywhere with Jesus is a house of praise
Anywhere! Anywhere! Fear I cannot know; Anywhere with Jesus I can safely go.
Anywhere with Jesus over land and sea, Telling souls in darkness of salvation free;
Ready as He summons me to go or stay, Anywhere with Jesus when He points the way.
Anywhere! Anywhere! Fear I cannot know; Anywhere with Jesus I can safely go.
I hope this letter today is an encouragement to you. Put your hope in Jesus!
Benediction:
“And the God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast. “To him be the power for ever and ever. Amen. 1 Peter 5:10-11
I look forward to joining you on the Lord’s day to draw close to him and declare the good news of Jesus. This coming Sunday we will be talking about what kinds of things we should be thinking about as Christ followers. I hope to see you there.
Lastly, this Covid-19 situation still lingers, and cases are rising in our State. Please be mindful to wash your hands and cover your face when out and about. We love you and miss you all. By no means bring any symptoms to church or anywhere else. Take care of yourself. We love you and hope to see you when possible. Please feel free to contact me if you would like to talk. I’m available for you. Call me: 503.586.6727