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Topic: When Fear Becomes A Snare
(Open Heaven 12 April 2019)
Memorise: “But the fearful, and 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.”- Revelations 21:8
Read: Isaiah 51:9-13, Job 3:25 (KJV)
Isaiah 51:9-13:
9 Awake, awake, put on strength, O arm of the LORD; awake, as in the ancient days, in the generations of old. Art thou not it that hath cut Rahab, and wounded the dragon?
10 Art thou not it which hath dried the sea, the waters of the great deep; that hath made the depths of the sea a way for the ransomed to pass over?
11 Therefore the redeemed of the LORD shall return, and come with singing unto Zion; and everlasting joy shall be upon their head: they shall obtain gladness and joy; and sorrow and mourning shall flee away.
12 I, even I, am he that comforteth you: who art thou, that thou shouldest be afraid of a man that shall die, and of the son of man which shall be made as grass;
13 And forgettest the LORD thy maker, that hath stretched forth the heavens, and laid the foundations of the earth; and hast feared continually every day because of the fury of the oppressor, as if he were ready to destroy? and where is the fury of the oppressor?
Job 3:25:
25 For the thing which I greatly feared is come upon me, and that which I was afraid of is come unto me.
Bible in One Year: Genesis 1-2, Jeremiah 16:1-13
Open Heaven 12 April 2019 Friday MESSAGE:
Fear expresses itself as an attitude of anxiety or distress caused by concern over threat to a person’s well-being. While speaking about fear the Lord said in Matthew 10:28
“And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.”
This verse of scripture contains some truth about fear which we should all recognize. One important lesson to learn here is that the emotion expressed as fear is not in itself evil; rather, it’s the direction this emotion is channelled to that can make it an evil thing. When Jacob was told that his brother, Esau, was coming to meet him with four hundred men, the Bible says he was greatly afraid and distressed, prompting him to make some critical decisions and to seek the face of God (Genesis 32:7). This is an example of fear being channelled in the right direction. From Matthew 10:28, we understand that God alone is to be feared, and moments of fear should be viewed as opportunities for developing a closer and deeper relationship with him. What exactly is a snare, and how does fear become snare? The word “snare” is used in the Bible to describe a trap. In relation to mankind, it is a situation in which someone lies in wait to lunch a surprise attack against a person, or a trick by which a person he’s misled into acting against his own interest.
In today’s Bible reading, the Holy Spirit speaks on how fear can become a snare. Fear becomes a snare when it comes in response to anything but God. Job was ensnared by the fear of losing all he had, and that was exactly what happened to him. Whatever you fear has a way of controlling you, and that is why the Holy Spirit says that God is displeased whenever we exhibit fear for mere mortals or creatures created by Him. God infers from such an attitude that we have forgotten His awesomeness and the greatness of His works. God wonders why His children, who acknowledge Him as the creator of Heaven and Earth, entertain the fear of mere mortals irrespective of their status or position! The fear of man is a snare that enslaves a person into living by the dictates of a fellow human, contrary to the will of God. No wonder. Proverbs 29:25 says:
“The fear of man bringeth a snare: but whoso putteth his trust in the LORD shall be safe.”
Those who fear and honor God will never have to fear anything again. If you fear God you need not fear anything else, because God is supreme over all. Hallelujah!
Open Heaven 12 April 2019 Friday Prayer Point:
Father, help me to fear you alone for the rest of my life, in Jesus’ Name.
Open Heaven 12 April 2019 Friday Hymn 13: I Am A Victor
1 Yes, I know I am a victor
For the Bible tells me so
God made me more than a conqueror
Much stronger than all my foes
CHORUS
Jesus loves me and I love Him
Together we rule the world
Christ with me I will overcome
By His Blood, His Name, His Word
2 Yes, I know I am a victor
Stronger than demons I am
To Satan I am a terror
I am free, o yes, I am
3 Yes, I know I am a victor
Stronger than lack, poverty
All my needs Jesus provides for
I have life abundantly
4 Yes, I know I am a victor
Barrenness no more indeed
Fruitful is the God I live for
All my dreams shall be fulfilled
5 Yes, I know I am a victor
By His strength I shall succeed
No more loss and no more failure
Glory to glory proceed
6 Yes, I know I am a victor
No more sorrow, no despair
Jesus Christ is my own Succour
Tomorrow is joy and cheer
7 Yes, I know I am a victor
Very soon I’ll reign with Him
His promise is my sure anchor
He’s coming to take me home
8 Jesus loves me and I love Him
We rule this world together
As He is so right now I am
Hear me shout Halleluyah
9 Jesus loves me Halleluyah
Hear me shout Halleluyah
Halleluyah, Halleluyah
Glory be to God on high
