Fear - Part Two - Our Witness

1 Timothy 1:7 "For God has not given us a spirit of fear but of Power and of love and of a sound mind."  

Michael continues his massage on our Testimony and Witness, pointing out that when Nicodemus came to Jesus with his problem, Jesus said that the solution was "you must be born again" – John 3:7. The adversary will turn our hearts to alleviate the symptom with drugs, alcohol, sex, pleasure or whatever the self-medication to fuel our addiction and associated depression. However, Jesus cuts to the root of the problem. The solution to the problem is not in our ability. The solution is our availability: which is availing ourselves of His ability. Whatever the physical problem, the root cause is always spiritual. There is a limit to what men and women can do. Some things are beyond human ability. However, with God, all things are possible to him that believes.  Even the wind and the waves during the midst of the storm were subject to His command when Jesus said, "peace be still" – Mark 4:39.

Fear is phobia and anxiety as a result of being aware of danger. There are hundreds of phobias for specific things. "Normal" people would think that many of these phobias are unreasonable. However God says, "I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand." God's solution is not to remove the pain. Rather His purpose is to deliver us through the pain and tribulation of this world.  

To make it to the place where Paul said “I've finished the course, I have fought the good fight”, we must come to Paul's conclusion, whether by death or by life, my purpose is the furtherance of the gospel. My life is not for my own glory but rather for His glory. My purpose is to glorify God that my life may be a living epistle of His work within me to will and to do of His good pleasure.  My eyes are on the prize of the upward calling of God in Christ Jesus. To live without fear, live in the peace, grace, mercy and love of God. To get through the pain, we need to come to the place where we understand that thy strength is made perfect in my weakness, thy grace is sufficient for me.

The prophet Jeremiah said, "morning by morning new mercies I see." God gives enough love, strength, mercy and grace for each new day. My God will make a way when there is no way. Jesus said, "come unto me all ye who are weak and heavy laden and I will give thee rest." God is the author, writing each chapter in the book of our lives ... for you are our epistles, our letters from God, written not in tables of stone, but in the tables of the heart, known and read of all men. Our testimony is our witness written by the loving hand of God. Our lives are a record for history ... our-story in the context of His-story.

May God richly bless you!

Your brother in Christ,

Michael