christian thought series sep oct issue 2013

ave you wondered how skillful and successful we are in

burying the worst-known fears deep into our sub-conscious

terrain? Fears lie there all piled up for ever. We do not want to Hface our fears, simply because we are afraid! Afraid of our own fears. Let

us raise this question: Are we as Christians set free completely from the grip

of fear? The answer is both a resounding “yes” and ”No.” Most of our

songs that over-emphasize the phrase, “I am not afraid,” seem to betray

us. For we are truly afraid in spite of the fact we sing in order to allay our

fears.

Do we know when exactly did fear enter human kind? It was soon

after the beginning of creation. The first man Adam replied His Creator

God in this way: “I heard you in the garden and I was afraid because I was

naked, so I hid.”( Gen.3:10). Ever since, it had been the story of man

covering himself up with fig leaves! We are afraid, therefore we cover up.

Perhaps, Adam and Eve enjoyed the company of God in the cool of the day.

Soon, something happened and fear gripped them.

Since then, we are not accustomed to gaze

into the beauty of who God is. This was the

longing of David which he expresses it in Psalm

27: 4b ”… that I may gaze upon the beauty of

the Lord and seek him in his temple.” If only

we knew God in intimate terms as a loving

Father, then there would be no untoward fear

about the God who is a consuming fire.

Unfortunately, God had to be feared in the

wrong sense all through the ages. For God placed Cherubim and a flaming

sword flashing back and forth to guard the way to the tree of life

(Gen3:24).

Intimacy with God provides man with due information about who God

is. This is to say that man begins to understand the heart of God. In other

words, we call this spiritual knowledge. Man is created in the image of God

and therefore he is a spiritual being. The knowledge of God on the basis of

one’s faith removes unnecessary fear from the heart of man.

Christian Thought Series Vol 10 Issue 11

If only we knew God in intimate terms as a loving Father, then there would be no untoward fear about the God who is a consuming fire.

EDITORIALEDITORIAL

The biggest problem that human race faces today is the fear of the

unknown. Fear of holocaust, nuclear war, financial melt-down, epidemic-

and most of all, the fear of God’s judgment! Who among us is without fear?

Fear can paralyze normal people useless and unproductive. Fear is an

abnormal symptom. It begins at the mind – where imaginations go wild.

A lady dreaded of almost every disease she had heard of and greatly

feared which one of the diseases might befall her and thought she would

suffer from any one of them. But in reality, in few years time, she died not

because of one disease – but a multiple of diseases!

Fear originated in Eden, but not out of God.

Devil invented it! God, on the other hand

provided man freedom – to enjoy, to control, to

be fruitful, to increase and to rule! But the first

man was found to be afraid of something that

he was unable to explain or express. Today, we

share Adam’s DNA – which goes on from

generation to generation. If evolutionists deny

God’s Creation, they must also be able to

explain as to how fear entered all mankind. Was it just an accident- simply

evolved?

How accurate it is one does not know, but there is a saying that there

are about 365 “Fear Not’s” in the Bible – one promise for each day!

People everywhere are stricken with fear. Instead of pointing them to

dispense the right dose of antidote for fear from God’s Word, more and

more trickster-evangelists are manipulating people’s fear to their own

advantage.

David was forthright in confessing to God: “When I am afraid, I will

trust in you. (Ps.56:3).

It was way back in 1975, a movie was released called the “Fear Over

The City” It was a suspense thriller depicting a serial killer stalking women

who were considered very free due to their emancipation. Nearly 40 years

later, don’t we see this fear in our own cities? Young women are afraid to

live and work in bigger cities. Child molestation, rape and murder has

become a kind of terror to all the city-dwellers. Fear has its root in sin. Sin

and Fear are connected. Where there is sin, there exists fear. When fear

resides in us, it is always connected to some form or manifestation of sin.

If evolutionists deny God’s

Creation, they must also be

able to explain as to how

fear entered all mankind.

Was it just an accident-

simply evolved?


Fear of Rejection - Fear of darkness – Fear of future – Fear of financial

insecurity – Fear of the loss of loved ones – the list is endless. Now simply

let us ask ourselves: Where is God in all this? When there is the loss of

perfect love for God, fear creeps in. Believers are no exception. I had been

more than once afraid, seeing believers caught up in the grip of fear!

Paul reminded Timothy: For God did not give us a spirit of timidity, but

a spirit of power, of love and of self-discipline (2 Tim.1:7). Timidity means

lacking in confidence and courage. Healthy fear is helpful. “The fear of

God is the beginning of wisdom” “The man who fears the Lord will be

blessed.” There are not many people who are used to this kind of positive,

reverential and holy fear. There is one thing we should be afraid about. And

that is, never to hurt the heart of God who is a loving Father. If we call

ourselves believers and caught up endlessly in the web called fear, then it is

probable that we are hurting God. There can be no other reason for oneself

to be fearful all the time. They may be those who pray, sing, go to church,

participate in all the Christian activities. But they are the most joy-less,

fearful people. They may those who call God as “Lord, Lord” but have

failed to do the will of Him Who is in Heaven. If a believer is constantly

found to be out of the will of God- religious on the outside and rebellious to

the ways of God on the inside, it may be, that person is said to be all the

time stricken with some kind of fear.

What are you afraid about right now – at this point of time? Is your

employment at stake? Or, your marriage is falling apart? Your children

going astray in spite of prayer and upbringing? Deep hurt inflicted by

friends or family? - A sin that is bothering you – and that you are unable to

come out of it?

Let us also get this right: Being in the will of God and obeying Him also

does not mean that we would be completely free from fear. As God’s

people, we know there are times when we are afraid. Conflicts within and

troubles without tend to control us. But we must see that fear does not

linger on over our heads. It is as if to say in Martin Luther’s words: “We

cannot avoid birds from flying over our heads, but we can definitely stop

them from building their nests over there!”

I have seen cowardly-godly men in my ministry. They are fearful about

almost everything – their positional security, possible loss of their income,

reputation and so on. I read somewhere that cowards are not wanted in

heaven! There are men and women who are supposedly godly (by the way,


the previous issue covered the subject on

Godliness!), but are fearful. I know of a

supposedly godly and prayerful lady who used

to suffer with bouts of fear. At nights, she was

known to wake up screaming with the slightest

jerk on her body. I met scores of counselees

who have had problems in their very thinking

that they imagined fearful things. For example, that their spouse will elope

with another man or woman, and the worst that I have heard was the fear

of a spouse who would murder her! Do we see the point? Sin and Fear are

always connected. A sinful mind is often capable of bringing out trash from

the sub-conscious level. There are some very godly men who are deeply

worried and being fearful about their ministry. Some of them built up a

church or a ministry without a proper leadership to follow later on. The

worry about how the work would be carried on after their demise is the

greatest worry that some of them possess. This only shows that they have

built for themselves a citadel in the name of the ministry – rather than

building the Kingdom of God. John Wesley said: God changes His

workmen, but His work goes on!

Are there not TV channels that induce unhealthy fear about the

Coming Of Our Lord? There must be joyful anticipation and godly

preparation instead of fear.

A man has built up a business house. He finds his health failing all of a

sudden. He is unable to pass on the baton to a suitable person. He suffers

financial loss. He is afraid. An elderly lady left to fend for herself by her

children – simply worried and at times afraid about her future. The causes

for worry and fear are endless.

We might not be able to evade any of these issues that are real. What is

the way out of our threatening situations?

Here is David’s answer to this question:

God is our refuge and strength, an ever present help in trouble.

Therefore we will not fear, though the earth give way, and the mountains

fall into the heart of the sea, though its waters roar and foam, and the

mountains quake with their surging. (Ps.46:1,2).

This should be a tonic for our weary souls – and our fearful minds.

Sin and Fear are always connected.

A sinful mind is often capable of bringing out trash

from the sub-conscious level .

-Joshua Dhanabalan



hen was the last time did you recognize that fear is no

more a stranger but taking hold of you on many counts?

Unless rooted out, sooner or later fear would destabilize Wwhat is otherwise a normal, and joyful life of a Christian. Fear can bound a

believer in what may be called a prolonged preoccupied state of anxiety.

Such a Christian would soon become unproductive and inactive and

spiritual matters would make no sense to him or her.

Thoughtless Conduct: Believers are admonished to experience the

“renewal of their minds” (Rom.12:1,2). This is when they enjoy spiritual

transformation. Henceforth, they would apply their minds to adopt,

accept, reject, remove, understand or discern things that may please or

displease God. Are there Christians who are thoughtless and

unimaginative? Even the people of the world with whatever light remains

with them are better off than many believers in their general conduct. If

one has not surrendered his or her mind to the

Lordship of Christ, then there is every

possibility that the mind getting corrupt by

worldly thinking which is largely dominated by

the prince of this world. Such a mind is always

confused and experiences conflict of different

kinds. There are people all around us who are

restless and they attempt doing things in haste.

Behind restlessness and haste lurks fear. Aren’t we familiar with some

people who rush in and out in Railway stations and Airports? Look at their

faces. They are pale and fearful. With sweaty faces and parched throats

they are seen pitifully dragging their luggage. Co-passengers either take

pity or poke at them. But these are people who have not over come fear.

Fear destabilizes effectiveness in the course of one’s normal activity. A

fearful person cannot think rationally. It alters his/her thinking. The Bible

declares: “You will keep in perfect peace him whose mind is steadfast,

because he trusts in you. (Isa. 26:3)”.

Panicking: The result of this kind of fear is that it makes a person lose

his control in a given situation. Such people make rash and foolish

F e a r d e s t a b i l i z e s

effectiveness in the course

of one’s normal activity.

A fearful person cannot

think rationally.

EFFECTS OF FEAR EFFECTS OF FEAR I will fear no evil Ps.23:4 I will fear no evil Ps.23:4


decisions without prior thought. This kind of behavior found in a believer

would result in a prolonged and catastrophic effect on him and to those

who are associated with him. Believers who make undue claims about

their visions and dreams must ensure if such things originated from God.

It is one thing to talk about spiritual experience or about “Rebirth.” What

is of vital importance to a Christian is when these things form the basis for

every other decision made on the direction of God and His Word. When

the enemies were in hot pursuit after David, he did not fear or panic.

Instead, he sought the counsel of God and strengthened Himself in the

Lord. When fear takes over, it blinds our eye and for a while, we do not

think. We seldom pray. We do not relax. We tend to do things in a huff.

God’s Word encourages us in this way: “In repentance and rest is your

salvation, in quietness and trust is your strength (Isa. 30:15). The fact of

salvation experience is that we do not just receive forgiveness of sins, but

also rest and quietness. Believers going through a ‘topsy-turvy’ kind of life

indicates their lack of perfect peace.

Psycho-somatic Disorders: Fear can cause syndromes both in the

body and mind. In India, mostly among the rural masses, children are given

into unhealthy fear by parents telling them about ‘ghost’ under a tree or in

the dark store-room. Who on earth invented stories where ghosts appear

in the dead of the night, right at 12 o’ clock?

Where did these superstitious stories emerge

from? Unfortunately, in the interior villages,

the evil-spirit wanderings are real – for most of

these places are barren and uninhabited.

Again, the temples and their worship places are

considered to be places for demons’ habitation

– for they are being invoked and worshipped

there. When a believer gets converted from a background such as this, he

or she tends to bring along this mind-set which had been deeply imprinted

in their psyche. It is not uncommon to find Christians having been

possessed by demonic spirits even after the claim of their “salvation and

Spirit-filled-Anointing” experience! In fact, they are not set free in their

body and mind. Those of us who share the good news of Jesus Christ must

make sure that we spell clearly the truth of the gospel and what it does to

those who believe, so that the deliverance Christ offers is complete and

real. As I have already quoted elsewhere in the previous issue of these

columns, that some years ago in my ministry, I had encountered a demon-

It is not uncommon to find Christians having been possessed by demonic spirits even after the claim of their “salvation and Spirit-f i l l e d - A n o i n t i n g ” experience!


possessed woman who suddenly became unconscious and fell into the

baptism tank , just when I uttered, “In the name of the Father, the Son and

the Holy Spirit…” The local pastor in that village had brought men and

women to be baptized and I was asked to baptize all of them! There are

again cases where people are stricken with diseases and no proper

diagnosis is available at hand. It is fear that paralyzes them and the devil

takes hold of their body and mind in such cases.

Multiple-Disorder: Fear can inflict pain of different sorts. First, when

the mind is not able to think clearly, the body also gets affected in due

course of time. The cognitive failure at the awareness level affects the body

also. For example, there are so many people suffering from various kinds of

pain which are in fact imaginary! But they are real too. They are induced

by constant suggestion. There are people who invent diseases and pains

which become real to them. A thorough study would reveal that they are

“afraid” to come out of their pain. For many, pain is their comfort zone. As

long as they are unwell, they get all the attention and sympathy. Just think

of anyone whom you know who suffers like this. It is hard for them to come

out of it. They are on constant medication. When one ailment goes away,

another one is ushered in. It is a form of curse that people have invited to

themselves. Jesus said: “I came that they may have life – life in its

abundance ( John 10: 10)”. This is the reason why we also need to pray for

the sick in our churches – for there is a promise in the Word that says the

“prayer offered in faith will make the sick person well.. (James 5:15). A

thoughtfully planned “Healing Service” once in a month in our churches

could be a blessed effort. The church must be the catalyst that brings

about deliverance from such disorders.

Fear Factors: Fear raises its ugly head in so many forms. Christian

believers are not exempt from these. Do you know of people suffering

from mood swing, panic attacks, anxiety disorder, autophobia (Fear of

isolation), claustrophobia (fear of being

shut in, say in an elevator etc.),

trypanophobia (fear of needle pricks),

hydrophobia (abnormal fear of water)?

Are you suffering from any one of these? There are more and more

phoebic disorders in this modern world. Isn’t it true that the devil holds

countless number of people as captives? More mental asylums and greater

need for psychiatric medical care is required than ever before. There is a

paradox. Intelligent people who are brilliant in the career are bound by

The more a person wanders away from God, the greater his panic attacks!


irrational fears. Most people who have not known the Creator God are

fearful about death. The more a person wanders away from God, the

greater his panic attacks! Men and women tend to seek remedy from

medical science. Medical science may provide relief, but it can never

liberate a soul from the slavery of sin – from where comes every other form

of fear.

“Fear Not! – for I am with you…” It is not just a magical wand through

which we operate our lives. When Christ says, “Come to Me..” we need to

respond to His call through humble obedience by offering ourselves before

Him. Christ’s call and our response and commitment to Him work together.

Any Christian who enjoys this relationship and communion with Christ

would not be controlled by many of the fears that exist in this world.J.D.

Friends, neighbours and relatives upon meeting one another

may make general enquiries such as: “Have you married off

your son or daughter?,” Or, Have been able to purchase a

house, a car or the latest electronic system?” Never would

any ask: “Have you grown in the Lord over the years?”

We are not matured enough to think on those lines yet!

Do people discuss subjects such as: “Why does God take us

through strange and mysterious ways?” “What is the

outcome of this pain and perplexity?” “Why does God

permit suffering in a believer’s life?”

None of the above things would interest an average

Christian.

One of the pains of living is to see people who were made in the

image of God wasting their time in trivial pursuits. It is especially

sad to see Christians prostituting their strength and talents on

something that does not matter. Corrie Ten Boom wrote: “When a

house is on fire and you know there are people in it, it is a sin to

straighten the picture in that house. When the world about you is

in great danger, works that in themselves are not sinful can be

quite wrong.” (William MacDonald: My Heart, My Life, My all, p133)

J.D.


PERSUADING PEOPLE TO CHRIST (Seven Suggestions of Persuation) Rev.Dr. John Paul

(Continued from last Issue. The first Two Suggestions covered earlier)

3. APPROACH:

I heard a story of a very zealous Christian witnessing. He was by

profession a barber in the older days when they used to lather the foam by

a hand brush, sharpen the razor on the thick leather piece that would be

hanging on the wall before they begin shaving the customer’s face. This

Christian barber was constantly and faithfully witnessing to everyone who

came to be served by him. Once he applied the lather (soap) on the cheeks

of the customer, then turned to the wall to give a sharpening touch for the

razor in the leather piece that was hanging on the wall. As he was moving

up and down the razor on the leather sharpener, he said to the customer:

“Sir, where will you spend eternity, if you die today?” The customer startled

and was frightened by the question as he was looking in the mirror that was

in front of him and noticed the barber sharpening the razor. He ran out of

the shop as fast as could without a word spoken!

Here is this case the man was very sincere but the method he used was

not persuasive but frightening. But when we look at the Master, our Lord

Jesus Christ, the prince of personal worker, G. Campbell Morgan writing in

the Great Physician, that Jesus “Not only viewed individual individually, He

viewed humanity generically. He knew that what was in man. Reverently

we may say in this connection, like God. He even remembered that man is

dust, and equally like God. He knew that man was infinitely more than

dust. That was the basis of His approach, and of course, finally interprets

His leading power, his ability to deal with all sort of condition of men.”

(Campbell Morgan, The Great Physician, Fleming H, Revell Company, Old

Tappan, New Jersey P4-5).

Therefore our approach is based upon universal recognition of man’s need.

a) No excess baggage: Self righteousness, “holier than thou” attitude,

leaving the security of blankets at home in order “to develop an

attitude of a redemptive person most persuasive and what it takes

to facilitate and encourage those attitudes


b) No Pretence: When our pretension of success of happiness are

superfluous, we become open and vulnerable to those we are

approaching.

c) No control: The agenda implying our approach must be one of not to

control, to possess or dominate.

d) Not Telling God: God is sovereign and He is a God of surprises too.

God uses men through varied methods. Methods are tools. Let God

work whatever the tool we use. There is no stereo type method we

may use. Methods vary as meetings are made possible by God

engineering people and circumstances for His glory.

God uses emptiness of life, as in the case of Samaritan woman to seek

water that never dries up, or it may be the religious life as per rule of law but

not obeying the supreme law – loving God – as it was the case of the rich

young ruler (Mark 10), or a learned teacher of the law like Nicodemus who

had to experience a rude shock by what Jesus said in John 3 or creating

hope in the hopeless like the sick man at the pool of Bethesda.

Being an evangelist myself for over 50 years, I leave it to God to work in

His sovereign way and be willing to do my best, even a bit of social concern

to care for the needy individual in my endeavour in evangelization as a

means to an end.

4. Apolegetics:

According to R.C Sproul “The test or science of Christian apologetics is

primarily concerned with providing an intellectual defence of the truth

claims of faith. The term apologetics comes from the Greek word apologia,

which literally means “a reasoned statement or verbal defence.”

Scripture contained 1 Peter 3:14-16, written in the context of dispersed

Hellenistic Christian and those from Judaism, admonishes thus, “Have no

fear of them…”

Christianity was viewed by the Roman empire as a subject or sect of

Judaism, before the destruction of Jerusalem. Later Christianity was

charged with sedition, traitors of the empire – undermining its

authenticity. By the 29 B.C, emperor worship had emerged – Kaisar Kurios

(Ceasar is Lord). Since the believers in Christ refused to worship the

pantheon of Roman gods, they were considered atheists.

Plycarp, Bishop of Smyrna and Justin Martyr were murdered during

Marcus Aurelius reign. Again their meetings in catacombs for love feasts


and Holy Communion attesting their union with Christ sent out rumours of

incest and sexual perversion. Finally, the very practice of Eucharist itself

brought upon the believers the allegation to be charged with cannibalism.

Hence, the admonition of 1 Peter 3 to defend, answer, explain and even

exhibit the true meaning of our faith and practice to impress upon those

who accuse falsely.

5. Application To Life:

Evangelism is a way of life. All the cultures of this world of race of

people have as their hub belief system that makes the wheel of culture as

reflected in their life, habits, religious practices, family life, sickness and

death. Therefore, if any man is in Christ is a new creation. Hence is a

cultural transformation, not cultural transportation (West to the East) or

cultural annihilation which is not what we are supposed to expect. So it is

essential or the part of the witness to cultivate a way of revealing the

universality of God’s character through a particular everyday living that

involves both lip and life.

1. Open pages of life

Spurgeon once said something like this: “My life is open secret written in the sky that all can see. Paul wrote; “You are our epistle written in our hearts, known and read by all men.”

2. Penetrating Perfume

Perfume by-passing intellect captures the heart. Aesthetically pleasing, silently attractive, markedly distinctive standing out from other aromas of the world. Paul, again uses this picture in 2 Cor. 2:15:”For we are to God the fragrance of Christ among those who are being saved and among those are perishing.”

3. Silent Influence Like Salt

“You are the salt of the earth”- Matt. 5:13. Salt maintains flavor while maintaining contact. That is how a believer in Christ must be – to make impact must have contact and contact should not contaminate the believer to compromise and thus lose flavor.

4. Shining Lights

“You are the light of the world” (Matt. 5:13). Jesus said I am the light of the world, he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness but have light of life (John 8:12). The radiance released from the light guides, exposes, shines to be of service. Compromise with darkness will cover the light out of use.


6 . ADMONITION FOR RETRIEVING FROM FALSEHOOD

A fence at the top of the precipice is far better than an ambulance at

the bottom of it. “They may recover themselves out of the snare of the

devil (2 Tim. 2:26).

Here are some preventive approach suggestion

a) Avoid foolish question (2 Tim. 2:23) – Keep the main theme

b) Don’t strive (v.24) Don’t argue continuously

c) Be gentle (v.24) Even to those who oppose or insult us.

d) Must be apt to teach; not merely apt to talk

e) Be patient (v.24) Forbearing with those who are too bewitched or

too headstrong

f) Must exhibit meekness (v.25) any semblance of pride in us will

beget prejudice in them.

g) Must be real instruction from the word – not mere human opinion.

7. ACCEPT DIVINE DYNAMICS – ACCEPT HUMBLY THE DIVINE DYNAMICS

“For it is God who works in you both to will and to do of His good

pleasure” (Phil.2:13). Jesus answered and said to them “This is the work of

God that you believe in Him whom He sent” (John 6:29). I am strongly

convinced that God’ sovereignty is in action to fulfill His will. Salvation of

such is His will that is why He sent His Son (John 3:16, 5:24). As we seek to

depend entirely on the power of God, power of His Word, power of the

blood of the Cross and the power of His Holy Spirit – we will recognize the

divine dynamics at work.

I remember in 1980 or so I was in Bangkok to speak in a conference

organized by a ministry of the Gospel from Taipei, Formosa, Republic of

China. After I gave the message, a brother invited me to come to Taipei to

speak at the university students camp he was organizing. So I went to

Taipei. The gentlemen met me at the Air Port. Checked me into YMCA

guesthouse. On the next day , he took me over a seaside camp with a group

of young, bright, intelligent men and women. They were all Buddhists and

were never exposed to the Gospel. I was at that time not quite acquainted

with the predicament of a pluralist! I knew something of Buddhist Nirvana

and God not being at the centre of their religion. Somehow I prayed for

wisdom, words and way to communicate the unchanging universal

message of the cross of Christ, submitting myself to the sovereign work of


God. In the end it was God who worked both to will and had done of His

good pleasure! Several received the Saviour.

We must submit to the authority and sovereignty as we endeavour to

make Christ known. In the communication of the gospel, there is divine

activity. The dynamics of conversion is the dynamic of the Holy Spirit.

(Rev. Dr. John Paul can be contact through email : [email protected])

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All our thoughts and actions on the issues of ethics and morality

without reference to God and our failure to rightly understand His

character will end up in self-righteousness. J.D.

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The Silence of God

Our understanding of theology based on faith is that God is One who

speaks to His people. He communicates His mind, His heart and His will.

Nevertheless, there comes a point in Christian life when a Christian

moves beyond this basic knowledge of faith. It is a stage when a believer

who once enjoyed the presence of God begins to experience the silence of

God. David laments: “Lord why are you silent?” He further cries out to God

in his anguish: “I cry out to you during the night. My heart is perplexed.

Why do you stand afar when trouble comes?”

God’s people who talk about the imminence of God must also know to

talk about His transcendence. At times we wait to hear God speak to us.

His word does not seem to come through. Morning after morning we come

before Him and sit before His Word. There are times we simply close the

pages of the Bible – as if nothing really had impacted in our heart or mind.

Our time of meditation does not seem to yield any fruit. For some it

lingers on for days – even months. The danger is that many succumb to this

condition and become spiritually barren in due course. “What is the point

of going any further? My readings and prayer had brought me no

blessing!” is how many have concluded.

To those who struggle with such perplexity – the question is: How does

God work though the day when we are not so conscious about his

presence? Apart from the routine devotional time, has God said things

which we had failed to register in our mind? Look for God’s interruption……

There are of course, dull moments in Christian life – when thoughts are

scattered and mind distracted. Perhaps, it may have to do with some

physical, financial or emotional need that is clouding our mind. At such

moments the joy and vigour of seeking the living Christ is absent. It is a real

phase in a Christians’s faith life. If people come and bring down judgment

or condemnation, do not bother. Normally, such people do not offer the

“counsel of God” which is a timely balm to the weary soul. They judge

according to their own “measure of faith.” We need to just make sure that

the cycle of “spiritual depression” is over and we are back once again into

our normal loving relationship with the triune God.

J.D

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(By Mr. Ignatius Manickam) FEAR AS I SEE IT

We are living in times where humanity is constantly gripped with

various kinds of fears.

Young or old, poor or rich, educated or unnumbered, sick and the

healthy, weak and the strong, meek and the proud, none ever dared to face

the dread called fear.

There are many people who suffer from

the fear of heights, fear of darkness and fear of

what the future would hold for them. Some

have fear for life itself and eventually commit

suicide. As the rupee is crumbling down under

the planning of the policy makers, most of us

are living in fear not knowing how to cope with

life’s demands. Despite technological

innovations, verbal quibbles of the politicians,

false promises and the soothing messages of the prosperity-preachers, the

spirit of man is very much vulnerable to this fear-factor.

What causes fear? It is almost considered an acceptable basic human

instinct to fear for our own safety, well being and concern regarding the

future of our own family members. These cause all anxieties, resulting in

fear. To all those who have fear, the comforting words of Jesus is: “Fear

not, for I am with you”.

Everyone faces adversities and challenges in life. But we find

encouraging word in the book of prophet Jeremiah 17:7, 8 – Blessed is the

man who trusts in the Lord and whose hope is the Lord. For he shall be like

a tree planted by the waters which spreads out its roots by the river, and

will not FEAR when heat comes. But its leaf will be green, and will not be

anxious in the year of drought, nor will cease from yielding fruit.

All God’s promises and blessings are preconditioned. If you trust and

hope in the Lord and obey His commands, then you will live in the land

without fear.

SAUL – HIS ANXIETIES AND FEARS Saul was anointed as the first king

over Israel by the prophet Samuel. There are lessons we learn from his

Despite technological innovations, verbal

quibbles of the politicians, false promises and the

soothing messages of the prosperity-preachers, the

spirit of man is very much vulnerable to this

fear-factor.

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follies. Prophet Samuel instructed Saul to wait until he arrived so that the

man of God could come down to Gilgal to offer burnt offering before Saul

could go for battle (1Sam 10:8). Saul waited seven days, according to the

time set by Samuel. His patience was running out. The Israel’s army was

garrisoned by the Philistines’ army whose soldiers outnumbered the

Israelites. People were scattered from Saul. All these factors culminated in

fear in Saul.

Why this fear? The simple reason is that he had LACK OF

UNDERSTANDING (WRONG PERCEPTION AND PRESUMPTION) OF GOD’S

WORDS/COMMANDS given by Prophet Samuel. Being impatient, people

were deserting him; Saul wanted to engage in a battle first sacrificing to

God. Saul was overcome by circumstances as time was running out.

Therefore, he decided to handle the holy things of God by his own hands.

This is utter disobedience to the instructions given by the Lord. This is the

fundamental reason why men are gripped with fear. Jesus says: “Whoever

has my commands and obeys them, he is one who loves me”( Jn 14:21)

and also in verse 23, “Jesus answered and said-if anyone loves me, he will

obey my teaching and my Father will love him, and we will come to him

and make our home with him.

These are the two major problems with many of us like Saul. How can

we love Jesus Christ unless we know His words? How can we obey Him

unless we know His words?

Many of us have little or no time to read the scripture in our busy

world. People have the luxury of spending time watching TV, glued to the

computer, conversing hours together through their mobile phones and

texting countless messages of trash. But for the reading of the scriptures or

meditating upon it, they shrink back. Medical science is struggling to find

out new names for new phobias. Unless we know what lies at the root of

this disease called fear (instead of looking at the symptoms only), we

cannot be cured of this malady.

WHERE ARE YOU?

Fear started with the first man Adam. Here, Adam was commanded

not to eat the forbidden fruit. In the Garden of Eden, Satan enticed Eve to

eat the fruit which God told not to touch. She saw that the fruit of the tree

was good for food and pleasing to the eye, and also desirable for gaining

wisdom. She took some and ate it. She also gave some to her husband, who

was with her and he ate it. The eyes of both of them were opened and they

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realized they were naked. They sewed fig leaves and covered their

nakedness (Once they were covered with the garment of righteousness).

Their new attire was absolutely and completely inadequate, and they were

in a very embarrassing position before God.

Now in the cool of the day the voice of God was calling, “Adam, where

are you?” Adam was not answering God’s question of “where” but “why

are you hiding?” Look at his reply. “I heard you in the garden, and I was

AFRAID…… because I was naked; so I hid”. As usual God wanted to have

fellowship with him. But there was a breach in that relationship. That was

replaced with FEAR when they ate the fruit. Dear brothers and sisters, the

effect of sin is always fear, shame (self-consciousness) and a tendency to

hide ourselves away from God’s presence. At times, we also want to hide

ourselves from others. Please notice again how Adam replied. He said

that he was afraid. He did not mean to say that he was afraid of God’s

punishment, but he was afraid to know that he was naked. Something had

gone drastically wrong here. We read in the scripture in Gen 2:17: “…For in

the day that you eat of it, you shall surely die…” In Gen 3:3 Eve quoted the

instructions adding that you must not touch it, or you will die. As for

Adam’s part, he committed the sin of disobedience. When some fruit was

offered by his beloved Eve, he should have seen the change in her.

Ignoring, (willful disobedience), with the full knowledge of what he was

doing, Adam defied the Word of God by eating the fruit. When sin

entered this way, fear engulfed both of them.

Sin separated them from God and it does the same with us too. Now,

to them God was no longer a loving God, but a fearful God. Fear always

separates us from the presence of God. As the word of God says in Heb

4:13: “Nothing in all creation is hidden from God’s sight. Everything

uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of Him to whom we must give

account”.

God is not interested in reason or

information but confession; confession of a

humble heart and contrite spirit in the first

place. If we confess our sins, He is faithful and

just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from

all unrighteousness 1 John 1:9. God gives you

and me an opportunity to repent then and there

like Adam. We are all prone to pass the buck like Adam and shirk our

responsibility; do we accept humbly our faults when God confronts us?

God is not interested in

reason or information but

confession; confession of a

humble heart and contrite

spirit in the first place.

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Strangely, Adam was at the verge of trying to blame God too…(Gen 3:12).

Think for a moment. Why humanity is constantly being suffocated by

various fears?

It is all because of SIN. Sin brought fear; all kinds of fears. God asks the

same question to us.

Where are you? This is to give us the knowledge that we are eternally

lost. Lost our way to eternity.

The way back to God should be restored. It was restored indeed by God

Himself by sending forth his only begotten son Jesus Christ. He humbled

himself even until the cross of Calvary for our sake ( Phil. 2:8). He gave His

life for us. Once the way to the tree of life was shut and guarded by the

cherubim with the flaming sword flashing back and forth. Now the way is

opened for us (Heb 10:19).

If we have a lenient view about the written instructions of God, the

Bible will remain in our shelves as a mere printed book. But we are

repeatedly exhorted by God and by the holy men that we need to read His

Word to have a personal encounters

with Him. We are to meditate it day and

night; apply it in every area of our lives

we are dealing with. If anyone wants to

lead a life of fearlessness, fearlessly read

the scriptures and apply it in your life.

Read Psalms 111:10; Proverbs 10:27;

14:26.

Lastly, there is a positive fear King Solomon is talking about in the book

of Ecclesiastes 12:13- “…now all has been heard; here is the conclusion of

the matter. Fear God and obey his words; for this is the whole duty of

man. For God will bring every deed into judgement, including every

hidden thing whether it is good or evil”.

This is a fear which is healthy and positive! The fear of God dispels the

fear of every other thing in this world. In fact, the Bible says that the fear of

God is the beginning of wisdom (Prov. 1:7).

By fearing God the Creator, you will escape from every fear and anxiety.

Take time to read the Scriptures. Pray and ask God so the Holy Spirit will

guide you understand them. Apply the truths of God in your everyday life;

assimilate them in your entire being. May God bless us as we fear Him!

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(Mr. Ignatius can be contacted through e-mail :[email protected])


WATCH WHAT YOU FEAR

Is there a positive reverence and holy fear of God, (which brings wisdom, understanding and discernment)? Or,

Do you fear of every inconceivable thing – when leaves fall, when there’s a splatter, a crackling of the window, a moving image in the dark and so on.

People are more conscious and fearful about the devil. The Bible says: “Greater is He who is in you than he who is in the world.” (1 Jn.4:4).

Do people have an unhealthy curiosity to dwell on occult realm of the spirit world? There is definite command given by God in the Old Testament to Israel forbidding them to enter into the spirit world? “Do not practice divination or sorcery. Do not turn to mediums or seek out spiritists, for you will be defiled by them.” (Lev. 19:26, 31).

In some parts of Southern most Tamil Nadu and in Kerala people are notoriously engaged in witchcraft or black-magic. A friend of mine confided that he was taken by his aunt to a witch-doctor as there was an urgent cure needed for someone in the family. His aunt belonged to a family of a pastor! God’s word declares: Is any one of you sick? He should call the elders of the Church to pray over him and anoint him with oil in the name of the Lord. And the prayer offered in faith will make the sick person well; the Lord will raise him up. (James 5:14).

A man desperately called me to say that his son was vomiting out nails, rubber-bands and other objects. He said it was the diabolical act of his relatives who were Church- going Christians. It is no wonder that some Christians are well-versed with occult practices. There are those who are bound by times and days -that are believed to be good and bad. The Bible says:” My times are in your hand.” “This is the day which the Lord has made – we will rejoice and be glad in it.” (Ps.31:15;Ps.118:24). Sadly, but truly such people are found to be keen members of the Christian churches as well. They pay their offerings, attend the church and serve through leadership positions. They hear the messages delivered in their churches. In all seriousness, they seem to be reading their Bibles too. Unfortunately, their minds are blinded by the devil and the light of the knowledge of the glory of the gospel is veiled to them (2 Cor.4:4).

Too many Christians are bound by fear induced by the devil. He is a liar, deceiver and destroyer. Much of our fears are rooted on what the devil

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might do to us than that of God ‘s mighty power. Again, we must never underestimate the power of the devil. For he is the prince of the power of darkness. He possesses power that should never be equated with God. Christians tend to

equate God as against the devil. Satan and all the devils are the fallen angels created by God. He was in the presence of God and enjoyed privileges before the throne of God. He was called as the morning star. Here is a prophetic allusion of how Satan was cast out from the presence of God.

All your pomp has been brought down to the grave, along with the noise of your harps; maggots are spread out beneath you and worm cover you. How you have fallen from heaven, O morning star, son of the dawn! You have been cast down to the earth you who once laid low the nations! You said in your heart, I will ascend to heaven; I will raise my throne above the stars of God; I will sit enthroned on the mount of assembly, on the utmost heights of the sacred mountain. I will ascend above the tops of the clouds; I will make myself like the Most High. (Isa.14:11-14 See also Ezek.28:13-17).

Since the time of his expulsion from heaven, the devil had been determined to frustrate God’s purposes. One of his chief aims is to cause havoc on mankind – man being the crown of creation who was created in the image of God. Satan caused sin and rebellion to destroy humankind in so many ways. He held men and women as captives. But when Christ came, the sting of sin was removed by the shed-blood of Jesus Christ on the cross. By faith and humble obedience and response to God’s saving grace, all those men and women are redeemed. Such people are said to be without fear – of all that the devil would bring. No doubt, they are pushed to extremes, tempted by the devil. The devil is capable of inflicting pain, suffering and destruction even on the saints of God. We have this wonderful story of Job in the Bible who out of untold suffering emerged victorious after all the catastrophe. Paul declares: “…In all these things we are more than conquerors through Jesus Christ….” (Rom.8:37). He further states: What, then, shall we say in response to this? If God be for us, who can be against us? And we know that in all things, God works for the good of those who love him who have been called according to his purpose. (v.31 & 28).

Too many Christians are bound by fear induced by the devil. He is a liar, deceiver and destroyer.

The devil is capable

of inflicting pain,

suffering and

destruction even on

the saints of God.

J.D.

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4 Of rumours, or some bad news.

4 Fear before you attempt to do something for God.

4 Discouragement.

4 What if it fails? What’d happen if I attempt it?

4 Either a spouse at home, children or a friend in the office will be quick enough to put a stop to your earnest initiative just because they fear the inevitable.

4 People who fear rumours are weak on facts.

4 Most people just believe in anything – a hearsay. They do not study facts.

4 Fear caused by a pagan, godless society – taboo, superstitious practices etc,

4 Fear of losing a false reputation. We fear that once the reputation is lost, people will fail to regard or respect us. In order to keep our recognition of people from going, we do every other godless thing – displease God – so as to please men. Fear is at the root of all this.

4 We fear our churches, Pastors, Bishops or Christian community just for self-acceptance. We must possess positive fear of God.

4 Men and women of God who stood the ground for godly values were denied, doubted, mocked or scandalized.

4 For social acceptance, we bow to culture’s moral standards.

FEAR NOT!

James Dobson writes about a valuable lesson through the game of Monopoly:

Recently my family played Monopoly, which was the first time I’ve played it in fifteen years. Before long, a bit of the old excitement and enthusiasm came back, especially as I began to win. Everything went my way, and I became master of the board. I owned Boardwalk and Park Palace, and I had houses and hotels all over the place. My family was squirming and I was stuffing $500 bills into my pockets and under the board and seat. Suddenly the game was over. I had won. hirley and the kids went to bed, and I began putting everything back into the box. Then I was struck by an empty feeling. All of the excitement I had experienced earlier was unfounded. I didn’t own any more than those whom I had defeated. It all had to go back into the box!

J.D.

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The Lord showed me that there was a lesson to be learned beyond the game of Monopoly. I recognized that I was also the game of life. We struggle and accumulate and buy and own and possess and refinance and suddenly we come to the end of life and have to put it all back into the box! We can ‘t take a cent with us! There are no trailers that accompany us through the Valley of the Shadow.

Quoted in Decision, Dec. 1981,p12.

Anyone taking seriously the counsel of the world might put up on the wall the following texts:

“Above all else, to your own dear self be true.”

“I am the master of my fate: I am the captain of my soul.”

“If it feels good, just do it.”

“You only live once.”

“The one who dies with the most toys wins.”

“There is no absolute truth: everything is relative.”

“We have all evolved from primordial slime.”

“Immorality and other so-called deviant behavior are not sin but sickness”.

“Law-breakers are not criminals, they are victims”

Christians on the other hand are called to be transformed by the renewing of their minds. This involves our speech, dress, music and entire conduct of life based on a new revolutionary mind-set. Our attitude toward other people, wealth, success, or politics and sexuality will be fashioned on the basis of how God thinks.

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One of the ways by which Satan frustrates God’s work is by creating a counter-productive reaction. For example, the Bible says that God created man and woman – male and female. But the devil created a third gender – calls it transgender! This is not God’s creation, but a perversion of God’s order of things.

J.D.

“The curse of the Church has been her apathy to truth....She has nothing to fear from truth; but she has everything to fear and she has already suffered nearly everything from ignorance”.

Benjamin B. Warfield


1. Reluctance to Speaking boldly – testifying Jesus Christ as Lord and Saviour

2. Turning a blind eye when faced with exploitation and injustice in the society.

3. Preaching which tend to satisfy everyone – so one finds acceptance with all.

4. Ungodliness among Christians is taken for granted –afraid of checking it.

5. One’s power and privileges are regarded more than the cause of Jesus Christ.

6. Having a different name and religion in the work place. Name/Religion not changed even after baptism.

7. Behaving only as a Christian on a Sunday worship.

8. Associating with ungodly people to earn earthly favour .

9. Creating division and forming groups to protect personal interests

10. Lying - the only weapon we constantly wield to cover up who we are.

THE FOLLOWING ARE THE LIST OF THINGS A CHRISTIAN IS PREVENTED FROM ACTION DUE TO FEAR

In his book The Hidden Life, Adolf Saphir had a special appeal to young people:

Let not your biography be summed up: “He turned to God in his youth, he then became lukewarm, being engrossed in the cares and the business and the social demands of the world, and a short time before his death, he saw his mistake, and felt that one thing was needful. For years his spiritual life was barely sustained by the prayers of friends and the weekly services of the sanctuary. He might have been a pillar in the Church, but he was only a weight.”

There is no fear in love.

But perfect love drives out fear,

because fear has to do with

punishment. The man who fears

is not made perfect in love.1 John 4:18

There is no fear in love.

But perfect love drives out fear,

because fear has to do with

punishment. The man who fears

is not made perfect in love.1 John 4:18

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J.D.

christian thought series sep oct issue 2013

Documents

heart of god

knowledge of god

company of god

creator god

image of god

untoward fear

unnecessary fear

fear of holocaust