Ezekiel 2
Gain a Right Perspective of Fear!
Good morning! This is Pastor Jerry Ingalls from New Castle First Baptist Church and today is Tuesday, June 4.
Fear is about perspective, because, as a primal emotion, it is designed by God to alert us to prospective danger. Fear is intended to assist us in this life, not rule over our hearts and minds. Jesus taught His disciples in Matthew 10:28, “Do not fear those who kill the body but are unable to kill the soul; but rather fear Him who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.” By emphasizing the eternal danger inherit to disobeying God, He diminishes the mortal danger that can come from disappointing people. Jesus elevates our personal ambition from merely surviving in this life to living forever with God in Heaven, which then causes us to see threats differently, ultimately, bolstering our courage to remain steadfast in difficult circumstances. God gave the prophet a right perspective of fear when He called him in Ezekiel 2:4-7:
“I am sending you to them who are stubborn and obstinate children, and you shall say to them, ‘Thus says the Lord God.’ As for them, whether they listen or not – for they are a rebellious house – they will know that a prophet has been among them. And you, son of man, neither fear them nor fear their words, though thistles and thorns are with you and you sit on scorpions; neither fear their words nor be dismayed at their presence, for they are a rebellious house. But you shall speak My words to them whether they listen or not, for they are rebellious.”
Seize the moment and gain a right perspective of fear – “By this, love is perfected with us, so that we may have confidence in the day of judgment; because as He is, so also are we in this world. There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear, because fear involves punishment, and the one who fears is not perfected in love” (1 John 4:17-18).
God bless you!
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YOUTUBE:
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