I wrote a post called Making Me Think the other day - I'd watched and read a couple of sermons by Paul Washer and had gone into a bit of a decline. In my flesh I am a worrier and fearful and I had fallen into fear. A comment made on that post today reminded me that I have given into a spirit of fear. A number of scriptures came to mind:
For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.(2 Timothy 1:7)
Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid. (John 14:27)
For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father. (Romans 8:15)
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 4:18).
It is quite correct to feel godly sorrow for wrongful actions - but this brings life compared to the worldly sorrow that brings only death and depression:
Now I rejoice, not that you were made sorry, but that your sorrow led to repentance. For you were made sorry in a godly manner, that you might suffer loss from us in nothing. For godly sorrow produces repentance leading to salvation, not to be regretted; but the sorrow of the world produces death. (2 Corinthians 7:9,10).
Jesus didn't die on the cross and rise from the dead to give us new life and then have us wandering around full of fear and misery. Oh we'll have trouble, but praise God because Jesus has overcome the world. What a beautiful, joyous hope we have in Christ.
I ought to write those scriptures out and post them about the house! :)
