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ARE WE BORN EVIL
or
DO WE LEARN EVIL?
by: Pastor Max Solbrekken, D.D.
"For
My people have committed two evils; they have forsaken Me the fountain of
living water and have hewn themselves out cisterns, broken cisterns that
can hold no water." (Jeremiah 2:8-13)
EVIL
- IS EVIL INHERENT OR LEARNED BEHAVIOUR?
Several
years ago, on Canada Day, I was a guest of RADIO CJCA'S Ron Collister
Show. For many years I had joined the popular host and his
listeners in lively debates, on interesting and relevant topics.
Our
July 1 program
featured the very important subject, 'Is Evil inherent or it evil a
product of environment or learned behaviour?' Is a person born with
the propensity to do evil or is evil a learned behaviour?
IS
GOOD OR EVIL WINNING IN OUR WORLD TODAY?
Ron
Collister asked each caller the same question he asked me: "Which of
these - GOOD or EVIL - is winning in our world today"?
Most
of the callers seemed to think that the scourge of evil was dominating
our society and winning big. The callers felt that evil was ruling
this world.
INCREASE
OF EVIL IS SIGN OF LAST DAYS
My
answer mirrored the words of Jesus when he referred to the increase of
evil as a sign of the last days: "Because iniquity shall abound, the
love of many shall wax cold." (Matthew 24:12) "As
it was in the days of Noah, so shall it be in the days of the Son on
man...Likewise also as it was in the days of Lot...even thus shall it be
when the Son of man is revealed." (Luke 17:26-30)
HOW
EVIL WERE CONDITIONS ON EARTH, BEFORE GOD SENT THE FLOOD AND WIPED OUT
SODOM & GOMORRAH WITH FIRE & BRIMSTONE?
The
conditions on earth were very evil, very corrupt, perverted and violent
in the days of Sodom & Gomorrah - much like the world is today.
Here is the Bible record of the EVIL that existed during those 2 time
periods.
"And
God saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every
imagination of his heart was only EVIL continually." "And
it repented the Lord that He had made man on the earth, and it grieved
Him in his heart. And the Lord said, I will destroy man...."
(Genesis 6:5-7)
Again,
Moses reports: "The earth also was corrupt before God, and the earth
was filled with VIOLENCE." (Genesis 6:11)
DID
GOD DESTROY THE EARTH WITH THE FLOOD DUE TO MUCH EVIL ON THE EARTH?
What about Sodom & Gomorrah? Were the people evil?
The
people of Sodom & Gomorrah was so IMMORAL, EVIL & VIOLENT
that when two angels visited Lot - to evacuate him and his family before
the destruction began - they demanded that Lot bring out the two
strangers so they might sodomize them.
"But
before they lay down, the men of the city, even the men of Sodom,
compassed the house round, both old and young, all the people from every
quarter.
And
they called unto Lot, and said unto him, Where are the men which came
into thee this night? bring them out unto us, that we may know
(have sex) them." (Genesis 19:4-5)
When
Lot refused, the large crowd of homosexuals tried to break down his door,
TO COMMIT GANG RAPE! They told Lot to get out of the way, warning
him: "Now we will deal worse with thee than with them."
(Genesis 19:4:9)
THE
HOMOSEXUALS IN SODOM WERE VIOLENT, EVIL & BRUTAL
Please
NOTE:....the homosexuals in Sodom were violent, evil and brutal.
They threatened Lot with violence and punishment if he refused to turn
over these two young strangers to satisfy their abnormal, EVIL and
perverted lust
The
angels forcibly rescued Lot and smote the attackers with blindness, in
order to prevent them from tearing down the door.
OUR
WORLD IS NOW AS EVIL AS THE DAYS OF THE FLOOD AND SODOM & GOMORRAH
Wow!
That is strong, and hits very close to home. When you consider what
is presently happening in many unhealthy, suicide plagued, AIDS infested
and fear charged homosexual communities around the world. The
violence and evil is all over this earth, this world, and we are in days
as EVIL as the time of Sodom & Gomorrah.
St.
Paul warns that Evil will escalate as we near the last days, the end of
this age: "This know also, that in the last days PERILOUS TIMES
SHALL COME. For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous,
boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful,
unholy,"
"Without
natural affection, truce breakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce,
despisers of those that are good, traitors, heady, high-minded, lovers of
pleasures more than lovers of God."
EVIL
WILL INCREASE GREATLY AS WE GET CLOSER TO THE LAST DAYS
"But
evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse, deceiving and being
deceived." (2 Timothy 3:1-4, 13)
Again,
he admonished: "Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the
latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing
spirits, and DOCTRINES OF DEVILS;"
"Speaking
lies in hypocrisy; having their conscience seared with a hot iron."
(1 Timothy 4:1-2)
When
you consider the recent evil, brutal and horror filled deaths of eight
foreigners in Uganda's National Park by Rwandan rebels, it is not hard to
believe that they were very unconscionable.
A
study of the horrible raping and killing of dozens of young women by
pornography sadist Ted Bundy, and the serial killings of dozens of young
homosexual men - whom he first sodomized - by pervert killer John Wayne
Gacy proves that consciences can become seared.
The
killing of little children by their mothers like Jones of Alabama, and
recently the three small children killed by their mother, as well as the
killing of parents by children like the Menendez case when the 2 Menendez
brothers brutally murdered their mom and dad for their wealth is ample
evidence of the evil that reigns in the heart of lost and depraved
humanity.
No
wonder the prophet declared: "The heart is deceitful above all
things and desperately wicked: Who can know it?"
IN
THE END, RIGHTEOUSNESS SHALL TRIUMPH BECAUSE JESUS SHALL RETURN AS KING
OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS
I
answered Ron Collister: "Yes, it appears that evil is gaining ground
and at present, may have the ascendancy but in the end, RIGHTEOUSNESS
WILL TRIUMPH. One day, Jesus Christ will return and put away EVIL
for good."
I
interjected that there is however, some good news, a great revival of
righteousness is presently occurring in our world.
Since
the break up of the Soviet Union, a revival of Christianity is sweeping
Eastern Europe. Recent estimates put the figure at 6,000
conversions to Jesus Christ every day.
Although
gangsters, evil and crime is rampant in those countries, yet a mighty
statement of righteousness and goodness is being made through the
successful endeavors of God's people.
I
miight add, that in our recent crusade (1992) in Truskavets, Ukraine - a
health resort city which boasts many sanitariums and draws people from
across Eastern Europe - Mikhael Gorbachev's sister - Galina Sergiovana -
answered a salvation altar call to confess Jesus Christ as her Saviour.
Evangelical
Christianity is so strong in South Korea, the Church is growing faster
than the population in that former Buddhist stronghold! And in 1986,
Newsweek carried a story titled, 'LATIN AMERICA: TRADITIONALLY ROMAN
CATHOLIC RED IS TURNING PROTESTANT BLACK'.
The
large feature article reported that the gospel of Christ as preached by
Evangelical Christians were gaining converts at 400 per hour. That's
9,600 every 24 hours! The 'red' spoke of the scarlet colors used by Roman
Catholic prelates and the 'black' referred to the Bible carried to church
by Protestants.
CHRISTIANS
TORTURED DYING FOR THEIR FAITH
Believers
in Jesus Christ are being tortured in a number of Muslim dominated
countries, and forced to convert to paganism under threat of death and
starvation! A classic case is Sudan, where fanatical Muslims have since
1989 murdered more than a million black Christians in an unparalleled
"religious cleansing".
They
are being given the ultimatum, "Convert to Islam, or die". From
numerous authenticated reports, we understand that this present genocide
is much greater than that of the demonized Muslim strongman, Idi Amin,
who terrorized Uganda in the not too distant past.
And
who is presently being granted protection by Saudi Arabia. Several years
ago, 'Newsweek' carried a report by one of their journalists who had
proof that the Muslims of the north were selling black animist &
Christian women as slaves for $15 US. Recently, Rev. Cal Bombay, long
time TV broadcaster with 100 Huntley Street together with a TV camera
crew traveled to Sudan, met the Muslims and documented the purchase of
319 black Christian & animist women and girls, into freedom.
After
his initial success, Bombay undertook a second dangerous and costly
journey to purchase the freedom of hundreds more slaves from their Muslim
captors! The 'Canadian Press' quotes Bombay: "I want the
world to know what a rotten thing is happening in the south of Sudan, by
a rogue government that is fundamentally violent and trying to force
people to become Islamic".
INHUMANE
EVIL TREATMENT OF CHRISTIANS IN MUSLIM COUNTRIES HAS INCREASED
The
inhumane, EVIL treatment of Christians in Muslim dominated lands today,
has to go down in history as comparable to Adolf Hitler's holocaust of 6
million Jews, Joseph Stalin's murder of 7 million Ukrainians by
starvation in 1933 and Mao tse Tung's genocide of between 40 to 80
million Chinese.
According
to Dr. David Barrett, an Anglican minister & statistician - who has
been tracking this phenomenon for more than a decade - an estimated
330,000 Christians are martyred every year, somewhere in the world - for
their faith in Jesus Christ! That is what I call real EVIL.
Oral
Roberts said a number of years ago: "I don't know how we're doing
it, but somehow we are winning." And Billy Graham stated, "I
have read the last chapter in the book and it says: 'We win'!"
EVIL
- EXACTLY WHAT IS EVIL?
The
Webster Dictionary meaning of evil: Daniel Webster defines 'evil'
as "morally wrong, immoral, sinful, wicked, causing injury,
mischief, trouble, pain, bad, harmful, repulsive".
The
Webster Dictionary meaning of inherent: And his definition of
'inherent' is: "forming an essential or intrinsic element of;
existing inseparably within an object or person".
Is
the human race cursed with two strikes against it at birth? Could there
be a genetic defect in those who rise to infamy such as Attila the Hun,
Adolf Hitler, Benito Mussolini, Saddam Hussein, Jeffry Dahmer or John
Gacy?
Or
has this evil come to us because of the fall of our first parents, Adam
and Eve, as the Bible states?
WHAT
ABOUT ENVIRONMENT: home, church, school, friendships, fraternities?
What part does upbringing, training, nurturing, learning and
companionship play in a person's character?
I
BELIEVE THAT EVIL IS BOTH INHERENT & LEARNED
In
more than 40 years of very active Christian Ministry, I have formulated a
definite opinion that - without doubt - EVIL is both inherent and
learned.
The
Bible states, "The wicked are estranged from the womb. They go
astray as soon as they are born, speaking lies". (Ps alms 58:3) And,
"The scripture hath concluded all under sin". (Galatians 3:22)
You
don't need to teach infants how to lie. We've all seen them do that even
before they can talk. Holding a cookie behind his back, little Billy will
shake his head saying, "No, I didn't raid the cookie jar".
St.
Paul blames Adam for our fallen condition: "Wherefore, as by one man
sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon
all men, for that all have sinned". (Romans 5:12)
THE
REMEDY or ANTIDOTE AGAINST EVIL
Then,
he gives us the antidote or remedy against EVIL. "For as by one
man's (Adam) disobedience many were made sinners, so by the obedience of
One (Jesus Christ) shall many be made righteous". (Romans 5:19)Again,
the Bible says, "For all have sinned and come short of the glory of
God; Being justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is
in Christ Jesus". (Romans 3:23-24)
Here,
we find the dilemma of the human race. We were born with a nature that is
at enmity with God. We are sinners by birth, by nature and unfortunately,
sinners also by choice.
But
God, sending His Son to die for our sins - as our substitute - paid the
ransom price to purchase our salvation. Through His grace, we receive a
new nature and are born again from above.
Here
is the good news, then: "For the wages of sin is death; but the gift
of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord". (Romans 6:23)
In the letter to the Romans, St. Paul agonizes over the fact that.
"For
I know that in me (that is in my flesh), dwelleth no good thing: for to
will is present with me; but how to perform that which is good I find
not, for the good that I would I do not: but the evil which I would not
that I do."
"O
wretched man that I am! Who shall deliver me from the body of this
death?" THEN HE GIVES US THE KEY: "For the law of the Spirit of
life in Christ Jesus has made me free from the law of sin and
death". (Romans 7:18, 19, 24; 8:2)
EVIL
IS ALSO A LEARNED BEHAVIOR
The
Bible verifies this as well: "Be not deceived: evil communications
corrupt good manners". (1 Corinthians 15:33)
Here
are a couple of true sayings: "Birds of a feather flock
together", and "Show me who your friends are and I'll show you
who you are".
It's
a known fact that most child abusers were themselves abused as children.
And the majority of perverts were themselves corrupted by older
relatives, friends or authority figures.
Sad
to say, the fourth case involving molestation of young boys in the
Edmonton area - within the last number of years - was reported among the
Uncles-at-Large membership.
Homosexual
perverts know how to infiltrate places of respectability, influence and
position of authority among the most vulnerable to their advances, namely
teenage boys.
Proof
of this has been documented and reported far too often in the past few
years, about young Canadian hockey players sexually manipulated,
intimidated and perverted by coaches and others working around hockey
arenas.
EVIL
HOMOSEXUAL SEX CRIMES IN THE NHL
Our
hats go off to NHL hockey player Sheldon Kennedy - who fingered
well-known hockey coach, the homosexual predator, who is now serving time
in prison for his EVIL sexual crimes.
It
is no wonder the sodomist community around the world rejoiced in
jubilation when OUR GUTLESS CANADIAN GOVERNMENT, against all decency -
lowered the legal age of homosexual activity to 14, something which the
perverts who have been lusting after young boys have desired for years.
RONALD
REAGAN CALLED FORMER SOVIET UNION an "evil empire"
COMMUNISM
- EVIL OF EVILS! US President Ronald Reagan called the former
Soviet Empire an "evil empire" and he was right! Now we know
the enormity of the crimes of that wicked system, with Eastern Europe
bankrupt economically and the ecology so terribly polluted that it will
take billions of dollars and decades of hard work to bring things back to
normal there.
The
Bible says that God will destroy those who destroy the earth! (Revelation
11:18) The callous attitude of Soviet Communists toward human life and
the ecology has brought God's judgment upon them.
GOD
WARNS US ABOUT PEOPLE "WHO CALL EVIL GOOD AND GOOD EVIL"
God's
Word warns us about those who, "call evil good and good evil".
(Isaiah 5:20) Prophet Amos exhorted, "Seek good and hate evil".
(Isaiah 5:14-15) And Moses warned: "Thou shalt not follow a
multitude to do EVIL". (Exodus 23:2)
THE
LORD'S PRAYER: Deliver us from Evil
Jesus
knew that we would be targeted by the "enemies of
righteousness", who seek our destruction. Being in "all points
tempted" like ourselves. He knew that we would be tempted, tried and
buffeted by the flesh, the world and the devil.
He
gave us 'His Model Prayer'; so that we would know how to pray and what to
pray about, in order to receive strength from Almighty God! Our
Lord declared: "Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit;
but a good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree
bring forth good fruit."
"Wherefore
by their fruits ye shall know them." (Matthew 7:17-20)
Again
Jesus stated: "For out of the heart proceed EVIL thoughts, murders,
adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, blasphemies:"
(Matthew 15:19)
10
YEAR OLD BOYS COMMITTING MURDER - NOW THAT IS EVIL
The
tragic killing of two-year-old James Bulger in Liverpool, England a
number of years ago by two ten-year old boys certainly tells us something
about EVIL.
How
the two boys could have conceived in their hearts to trick a little
toddler -- who had walked away from his mother in a shopping mall - into
accompanying them to his death is inconceivable! - Except for one thing
..
THERE
IS A REAL DEVIL and he came only to "STEAL, KILL &
DESTROY", and the devil is to blame! But so are parents
who refuse to serve God themselves, and have no regard for their
children's spiritual upbringing.
And
now, the golden text of the Bible: "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". (John 3:16)
Jesus
said: "And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the
world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because THEIR DEEDS WERE
EVIL". (John 3:19)
He
invites us all: "Come unto Me all ye that labour and are heavy laden
and I will give you rest". (Matthew 11:28)
WE
CAN NEVER BECOME GOOD ENOUGH, IN OUR OWN STRENGTH, TO PLEASE GOD OR
BECOME RIGHTEOUS:
ONLY
THROUGH THE ALL-ATONING DEATH OF JESUS CHRIST ON THE CROSS FOR US, CAN WE
ATTAIN RIGHTEOUSNESS OR GOODNESS.
The
Bible says, "The blood of Jesus Christ, His Son, cleanseth us from
all sin"! (1 John 1:7)
And
St. Paul states: "If any man be in Christ Jesus, he is a new
creature; old things are passed away, behold all things are become
new". (2 Corinthians 5:17)
FOR
BY GRACE ARE YE SAVED
"For
by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is
the gift of God; Not of works, lest any man should boast. For we are His
workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath
before ordained that we should walk in them." (Ephesians 2:8-10)
"For
unto us a child is born, unto us a Son is given...of the increase of His
government and peace there shall be no end....with justice from
henceforth even for ever." (Isaiah 9:6)
God
is eternal and infinite. He does not think with a finite mind as we
do! His thoughts and actions reflect His omnipotence, omniscience,
omnipresence and eternalness.
God's
plans and purposes for this universe and all of us, were formulated in
His mind before He created the foundations of the world.
He
cannot make a mistake, lie or be wrong in His intentions of deeds, for He
is totally righteous, all knowing and all wise.
EVERYTHING
GOD DOES IS FOR ETERNITY
He
knows the future and sees the pitfalls and snares that await our
stumbling feet. And He helps us, protects us from the devil, the
world and ourselves! In these the last days, the last days before Christ
returns in the blessed Rapture, God is protecting his children from evil.
WHY
ARE WE SO IMPORTANT TO GOD?
Firstly,
we were made in His image. Secondly, Jesus personally died for our
sins and finally, through the new birth, we are a part of Him - his body.
The
words, "there shall be no end" and "for ever", show
the eternal purposes of God in the birth of Christ. THE INCARNATION
WAS SERIOUS STUFF.
The
moment, of God the Son - wrapping Himself in human flesh - coming down to
save us, was deliberately and perfectly timed and executed.
"But
when the fullness of time was come, God sent His Son, made of a woman,
made under the law, To redeem them that were under the law, that we might
receive the adoption of sons." (Galatians 4:4-5)
This
wasn't an after thought or a fill in. The decision to send King
Messiah to this earth, was communicated to Satan - the adversary -
immediately after Adam and Eve's tragic fall.
"And
I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and
her seed; it shall bruise thy head and thou shall bruise His heel."
(Genesis 3:15)
Here,
God promises a "virgin born" savior (her seed), Who
would conquer Satan through His substitutionary death. In the
process, the Savior would suffer a minor wound (bruise His heel), and
Satan would be totally defeated (bruise his head).
Although
Jesus suffered more than any man, was wounded and marred for our total
salvation, it was minor because He laid down His life of His own free
will. (John 10:15-18)
Satan
could not take it from Him! And He arose again on the third day,
destroying Satan and his power over us!
"Forasmuch
then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, He also Himself
likewise took part of the same; that through death He might destroy him
that had the power of death, that is, the devil;" (Hebrews 2:14)
FROM
THE INCARNATION TO THE RESURRECTION, AND THROUGHOUT THE 'GOSPEL AGE', GOD
HAS CONTINUED THE EXECUTION OF HIS ETERNAL WILL, THROUGH HIS CHURCH, THE
CALLED-OUT-ONES.
This
is why it is so important that we live with "eternity in mind".
All our plans and goals should reflect this mind set, in our
relationships to God, the Church - His body - and the world! We need to
prepare, in these last days, for eternity, for Christ's return and to
spend eternity in heaven with God.
Let
us study the Word, pray, witness and give joyfully, to help build His
eternal Kingdom.
Jesus
said, "Except a man be born again, he cannot see the Kingdom of God.
Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again." (John
3:3,7)
The
Bible makes it clear that, "He who hath the Son hath everlasting
life: and he who believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath
of God abideth on him." (John 3:36)
That
means that all those who do not personally know Jesus Christ, must
receive Him as Savior and Lord in order to be saved.
IS
THERE A REAL HEAVEN & A REAL HELL
St.
John emphasized: "If we receive the witness of men, the
witness of God is greater: for this is the witness of God which He hath
testified of His Son. He that believeth on the Son of God hath the
witness in himself: he that believeth not God hath made him a liar;
because he believeth not the record that God gave His Son. And this
is the record, that God hath given to us eternal life, and this life is
in His son. He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not
the Son of God, hath not life. These things have I written unto you
that believe on the name of the Son of God, that ye may know that ye have
eternal life, and that ye may believe in the name of the Son of
God." (I John 5:9-13)
HERE
IS THE ABSOLUTE TRUTH - All who reject Jesus Christ and refuse to receive
Him as Lord & Savior are calling Almighty God a LIAR, "because
he believeth not the record that God gave of His Son." (I John
5:9-10)
Do
you think for one moment that anyone will escape the judgment of God when
they reject Jesus Christ - His gift to the world - and call Him a liar?
That
is serious stuff, since He is the judge of the entire world! How do
you think an earthly judge would react if someone in his courtroom called
him "a liar"? He would immediately be guilty of 'contempt
of court' of worse.
St.
Paul puts it all in perspective when he says, "For if the word
spoken by angels was steadfast, and every transgression and disobedience
received a just recompense of reward; How shall we escape, if we neglect
so great salvation; which at the first began to be spoken by the Lord,
and was confirmed unto us by them that heard him." (Hebrews 2:2-3)
In
the Apocalypse, St. John warns: "And the DEVIL that deceived
them was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone, where the BEAST and
the FALSE PROPHET are, and SHALL BE TORMENTED DAY AND NIGHT FOR EVER AND
EVER. And I saw a great white throne, and Him that sat on it, from
Whose face the earth and the heaven fled away; and there was found no
place for them."
"And
I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were
opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the
dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books,
according to their works."
And
the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and hell delivered
up the dead which were in them: and they were judged every man according
to their works. And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire.
This is the second death. And whosoever was not found written in
the book of life was cast into the lake of fire." (Revelation
20:10-15)
HERE
IS THE GOOD NEWS
Jesus
invites, "Come unto Me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I
will give you rest." (Matthew 11:28)
"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." (John 3:16)
May
the Grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God the Father and the
fellowship and communion of the Holy Spirit be with us all, both now and
forevermore.
GOD'S WORD ON
THE SPIRIT OF FEAR
by: Pastor Max Solbrekken, D.D.
HOW
TO OVERCOME FEAR & ANXIETY
The
Bible says, "For God has not given us the spirit of fear, but of
love, power, and a sound mind." (2 Timothy 1:7)
MY
PEACE I GIVE TO YOU - LET NOT YOUR HEART BE TROUBLED
"For
the LORD thy God will hold thy right hand, saying unto thee, FEAR NOT, I
will help thee." (Isaiah 41:13)
WHAT
IS FEAR? AND WHAT DOES FEAR DO TO US?
Fear
is a corrupting, constricting and crippling agent! Fear corrupts us.
Fear consumes the thoughts and controls the mind.
Fear
is divisive, demeaning and destructive! Fear creates a divided heart which
brings only condemnation and confusion.
When
we allow fear in our minds and in our hearts, we are not allowing the
Lord to give us the peace that he promises us in the scriptures.
The
Word of God states: "Fear thou not, for I am with thee"
The
Holy Scriptures declare: ”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 4:17-18)
The
Bible states, "Trust in the Lord with all thine heart, and lean not
unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and
He shall direct thy paths."
Fear
destroys the perfect love that God gives us by the unbelief it breeds in
our hearts! When we put our full trust in the Lord, we give him our
troubles and our fears. We are released from fear through the Lord
Jesus Christ, and as we walk with Him, read the Word of God and pray, he
gives us perfect peace.
The
Bible says, "Say to them that are of a fearful heart, Be strong,
fear not: behold, your God will come with vengeance, even God with
a recompense: he will come and save you." (Isaiah 35:4)
It
constricts the flow of the Holy Spirit and reduces the fruit that faith
produces! Its crippling effect erodes the peace and joy that results from
receiving Jesus Christ as Lord and Saviour.
Why?
Fear hampers the normal functions of the Gifts of the Spirit, making
victims and spiritual cripples of servants and emissaries of our Lord.
The
Bible states: ”But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering. For he that
wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed. For
let not that man think that he shall receive any thing of the Lord. A
double minded man is unstable in all his ways.” (James 1:7-8)
The
deacon, Phillip, broke tradition
by preaching in Samaria, among that city’s Jewish-extracted, mixed-race
population. Cornelius’ household were the first Romans to accept the
gospel - two years later - when ‘Shimon bar Yonah’ (St. Peter)
preached to them.
Jesus
said, "Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you, not as the
world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled,
neither let it be afraid." (John 14:27)
Since
God does not give anyone the spirit of fear, it is evident that fear
comes from Satan, and Satan is the ENEMY of God. Satan is also the
enemy of man.
When
Jesus' powerful blood sweeps over our souls, fear must leave
immediately! There
is no room for Satanic bondage of any kind in the life of a Christian.
"Fear
thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I
will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with
the right hand of my righteousness." (Isaiah 41:10)
A
marvelous story of faith has come to us from the Second World War:
In
the Battle of Britain, the German Luftwaffe rained down about thirty-five
thousand bombs upon London during nightly air raids, causing terrifying
fear and tremendous destruction and mayhem in large parts of the city.
For
months, as sirens wailed out warnings of approaching German bombers, the
general population automatically hurried toward the nearest
Air Raid
Shelter! People learned to look after one another during the nightly
raids and the ’morning after’ walk abouts and clean-ups.
After
a terrible night of bombardment, an elderly woman was not seen in a
certain neighborhood for several days. Her neighbors assumed that she had
either been killed by the falling bombs or that she had gone to the
countryside to escape the danger, disruption of life and incessant noise.
Some
time later, a neighbor spotted the elderly woman walking down the street
and articulated his happiness that she was alive and well.
"It’s
nice to
see you back", he said. "I
have not been away", she replied.
"Where
have you been?" he asked. "I’ve
been at home", said the woman.
"What
have you been doing at home during the air raids?” inquired the
neighbor.
"Sleeping",
she answered.
"How
could you sleep with all the noise and
explosions?"
he asked.
"Oh",
she replied, "I was reading my Bible and found in Psalms 121: 4
where it
declares that God doesn’t slumber nor sleep, so I thought
there was no point
in both of us staying awake."
The
Bible says: ”Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I
am thy God; I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea. I will
uphold thee
with with the right hand of My righteousness.” (Isaiah 41: 10)
FEAR
IS A UNIVERSAL ENEMY
Fear
is demeaning because it makes you think, say and do things that makes you
look foolish, puts you outside the will of God and is out of character
with Christian living! It is destructive because it destroys your
confidence in God and His Word and therefore your fellowship with Him.
The
Bible confirms: ”For if our heart condemn us, God is greater than our
heart, and knoweth all things. Beloved, if our heart condemn us not, then
have we confidence toward God. And whatsoever we ask, we receive of Him,
because we keep His commandments, and do those things that are pleasing
in His sight.” (1 John 3: 20-22)
What
is the underlying cause of condemnation? Plain and simple: Sin.
And
what is the antidote or solution for the serious problem of sin? The
answer in a nutshell, is the Blood of Jesus.
What
can wash away my sin?
The
Bible says: ”If we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have
fellowship one with another and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son
cleanseth us from all sins. If we confess our sins, He is faithful and
just to forgive us and cleanse us from all sins.” (1 John 1: 7,9)
When
the sin is cleansed away, condemnation leaves and faith leaps to the
forefront! Then, miracles occur as God answers prayer in response to
sincere faith-filled petitions coming from a clean heart!.
Fear
brings trepidation, torment and terror! It is an enemy, but fear can be
neutralized, beaten and vanquished.
The
Bible states: ”God hath not given us the spirit of fear, but of love
and power and a sound mind.” (2 Timothy 1:7)
Since
God does not give anyone the spirit of fear, it is evident that fear
comes from Satan, Satan who is the ENEMY of God. Satan is the enemy of
man.
The
Holy Scriptures declare: ”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: 17-18)
Jesus
said: ”The thief (Satan) cometh not but for to steal, and to kill and
to destroy. I am come that ye may have life, and that ye might have it
more abundantly.” (John 10: 10)
Former
alcoholic and drug addict, James Payne, wrote a Gospel song titled John
3: 16. Here are the lyrics:
"Alone
one night at the end of my rope
In a hotel in Nashville praying for hope
In
my hand was a Bible I had read as a child
On the table was the bottle that was driving me wild
I
poured the whiskey into the glass
Praying that somehow I could forget my past
Then I remembered how Jesus had died on the tree
I poured out the whiskey and fell down on my knees
The night old Jack Daniels met John 3:16
God’s
Word broke the chains that he had over me
I traded Tennessee whiskey for Calvary’s tree
The night Ol’ Jack Daniels met John 3: 16
That
is the exact reaction of the spirit of fear meeting the blood of Jesus.
When
Jesus' powerful blood sweeps over our souls, fear must leave
immediately!
There is no
room for Satanic bondage of any kind in the life of a Christian.
The
Blessed Holy Spirit makes us free from sin, free from guilt and free from
fear. And He keeps us free for God’s glory.
US
President Roosevelt stated: "The only thing to fear is fear
itself."
In
many cases that is true. Because fear is a spirit, when it digs its
deceptive tentacles into a victim, raw fear often proves to be far worse
than the object of the fear.
In
Middle East folk lore there is story of a great warrior who meets a
mythical rider called Death, carrying a gigantic scythe! . Addressing
him, the warrior says: ” I have just come from a battle where I left
5,000 men dead.
Where
have you been and where are going?” Replying, the mystical rider says:
”I have just left the area to which you are heading."
Inquiringly,
the warrior asks: ”How many dead will I find there?” Death answers:
”The plague killed 5,000."
The
next week, the great warrior again meets the mythical rider on the
windswept desert. He hails the scythe - carrier with a shout: ”You lied
to me. The plague left 50,000 dead . You told me that you had killed
only
5,000!” Death replies: ”I told you the truth. 5,000 perished from the
plague. The rest died of fear!"
An
old adage says: ”Cowards die a thousand times before their death.
The
valiant tastes of death but once!’ Without doubt, fear is a real enemy
and robber. The Bible character Job, after having been attacked by Satan,
confessed: ”The thing which I greatly feared is come upon me.” (Job
3: 25)
DO
NOT BE AFRAID - CALL UPON GOD IN TIMES OF TROUBLE
When
things go wrong and it appears that the bottom has dropped out of
everything, that is not the time to become afraid or to panic.
God’s
Word says: ”And call upon Me in the day of trouble: I will deliver
thee, and thou shalt glorify Me.” (Psalms 50: 15) Jesus said: ”Come
unto me all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you
life.” (Matthew 11: 28)
- Powerful AUDIO Bible
sermons/messages by: Pastor Max Solbrekken
- click on message to listen -
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