"LETTING GO OF FEAR"

Oftentimes we gather up our fears and worries like prized possessions. We are afraid to loosen our grip on them, because we just don't know what will happen if we let go. They take root in our minds, we cultivate and water them and soon they grow even bigger. They consume our thoughts, our actions and our relationships; they become our identity.

"For as he thinks in his heart, so is he."

Proverbs 23:7

Fear can be defined as:

False   Evidence   Appearing   Real

Fear is the outcome of our trying to control the future instead of trusting God and living for Him in the present. It is made up from our own imaginations of what could be if this happens or that happens and our wrong perceptions of who we are and what is truly important. Fear and worry make us irrational, unproductive, and stunts our spiritual growth.

"And the one on whom seed was sown among the thorns, this is the man who hears the word, and the worry of the world and the deceitfulness of wealth choke the word, and it becomes unfruitful." Matthew 13:22

 

It is only by casting our cares on the Lord and leaving them there that we will ever overcome them. This is not to say that we will no longer have these issues in our life; but it does mean they will no longer rule our life. As Christians, it is only when we can learn that our identity is not who we are, but Whose we are that we will truly be able to find our real self.

 

“Until you have given up your self to Him you will not have a real self.” C. S. Lewis

 

"The worst evils of life are those which do not exist except in our imagination. If we had no troubles but real troubles, we should not have a tenth part of our present sorrows. We feel a thousand deaths in fearing one, but the Christian is cured of the disease of fearing."
Charles Spurgeon

 

"I sought the LORD, and he heard me, and delivered me from all my fears.” Psalm 34:4

 

 “Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight. Do not be wise in your own eyes; fear the LORD and shun evil. This will bring health to your body and nourishment to your bones” Proverbs 3:5-8.

 

UNEQUALLY YOKED

 ^"Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness? And what concord hath Christ with Belial? or what part hath he that believeth with an infidel?" ~2 Corinthians 6:14-15
 

What is Paul's message to Christians in these verses? Are we to live in our own little world? A place where we only fill up our gas tanks, buy food and clothing for our families, seek medical attention, or seek employment from fellow Christians? Do we pay our mortgages, light bills, taxes...only if the company or government institution we are dealing with is ran by Christians? Is all contact with unbelievers excluded?

Of course not, Paul himself addresses this misconception in 1 Corinthians.

 

"I wrote you in my letter not to associate with immoral people; I did not at all mean with the immoral people of this world, or with the covetous and swindlers, or with idolaters, for then you would have to go out of the world."

~1 Corinthians 5:9-10

 

If you look up non-Christian owned businesses on the internet you will find gas stations, food manufacturers, banks, hospitals, mortgage companies, pharmaceutical companies, clothing manufacturers, book stores, restaurants, car manufacturers and much more. If we use this mindset as our guideline, we would actually have to camp in the wild, grow our own food, and make our own clothing and medication; that is assuming we can figure out where to purchase our gardening tools, utensils, seeds, cloth and sewing supplies. 

 

"Paul is not saying, cut off all contact with non-Christians. He's not saying that because we have to reach them with the gospel. That is not the issue. He's not saying don't evangelize the unconverted, don't confront people in false religions. He's not saying that. We must do that. He is also not saying that you can't work or play or do business or be engaged in common earthly enterprise with unbelievers. He's not saying that, of course you can. What he is saying is you cannot link up with unbelievers in religious causes...or religious enterprises... You can't engage them in anything that involves ministry, teaching, or worship. Where there is ministry, teaching and worship there has to be absolute separation.  So he's referring in actuality to harnessing up believers and unbelievers in any common religious, spiritual enterprise. But that is precisely what the Corinthians were doing.” ~John Macarthur

 

We are not to be unequally yoked in marriage or in ministry. We would be on different paths and have different goals. It would be ineffective in growing our family, our ministry and our spiritual walk, because we would be working against each other and not working together for the furtherance of God's kingdom. However, our daily interaction with others is how we share His love with a lost world. We are called to be the "light of the world." We cannot do that if we refuse to have any dealings with unbelievers. 

 

"Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid. Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven." ~Matthew 5:14-16