Wow, I have been a Christian for awhile and did not until recently realize how prevalent the fear of man was in my life. I do not want you to think that I have been hiding in my closet afraid to leave the house. I have not been hiding, I have been out in the world which is evidenced by my life being very good according to mans standards, money, stuff and a beautiful wife, etc. These things did not just fall in my lap as I set terrified in my home. I have been out there.
The lurking problem that I ignored for years but really knew was there was my fear of man. What are they thinking about me? It did not matter if the answer was negative or positive it was the question that posed the problem. The world renamed it co-dependency, people pleasing and peer pressure so that they could say it was their discovery but it has been in the Bible all of the time listed as the "the fear of man brings a snare" Proverbs 29:25.
In the years when I was actively working because my fear of being broke and not keeping up my successful image was greater than my fear of man, I was able to manage things. A bigger fear always cancels out the lesser fear. Just think if you feared going broke and then the doctor told you you only had 30 days to live. Wouldn't the fear of going broke disappear in comparison to your fear of death? When we sold our business a couple of years ago and I had more time to think about things and the fear of man started to surface more. Today I realize it has been at the root of the vast majoriaty if not all of my issues.
Thankfully I have been pursuing the Truth found in Gods Word for years now. Its ironic because the one thing Christians fear the most, "witnessing" is the thing God started having me do 5 years ago. Must be he knew how afraid I was of it to. I was a perfect fit being so inept at it and so fearful of confrontation. He always likes to pick on those that fill the part the least.
He led me first to the tools to witness that I love and are so effective in Ray Comforts Way of the Master. www.livingwaters.com. He then led me to learn apologetics, the solid evidence that supports the Truth of Jesus and the Bible. My favorite so far is the book and videos " I do not have enough faith to be an atheist" by Geisler and Turek. God told me to not be be afraid to dig to verify the Truth of scripture. Look at the evidence, turn it upside down and inside out. Rest assured that the Truth will never change. Now with more assurance than ever I know the Bible is my compass that always points to Truth.
Now to refine the process in what to many may seem like a reversed order, He has me furiously studying on the Fear of the Lord. Wow, I wish I would have known about this sooner! I used to ignorantly reject it as Old Testament. What a beautiful thing it is. Not only has it helped set me even more free in the area of witnessing it is setting my whole life free from the snare of the fear of man. The Fear of the Lord is the only legitimate fear. The Bible tells us over and over to not fear, (which is worship) man or anything in creation. Jesus tells us if you are going to fear anything Fear God.
Jesus in Luke 12:15 "But I will warn you whom ye shall fear: Fear him, who after he hath killed hath power to cast into hell; yea, I say unto you, Fear him."
The Fear of the Lord dispels all other fears along with a whole host of other benefits that scripture promises us. So don't let anyone tell you the Fear of the Lord is out of date. You may not understand it but I challange you to study it for 30 days straight and ask God to teach you the Fear of the Lord. There are some wonderful studies online if you simply google Fear of the Lord. You will be amazed at the new freedom you will discover. It is the most beautiful thing and as scripture says it is the beginning of wisdom.
Today because my Fear of the Lord is greater than any other fear I have, the question on my mind is not what man thinks of me but what does the Lord think of me. I am truly worshipping the Lord and solidly on my way to dispeling all other fears.
Replace all those fears of anything created with a Fear of the Creator who holds your breath in his hand. Job 12:10 "In whose hand is the soul of every living thing, And the breath of all mankind?" A Creator that Loves you and has made a way through Jesus Christ for those that want to go home.
In His Grip, Mike
