What Do You Fear?

Empty eyes know real fear.

I say, "fear". You say, "____________"

Word associations were a fun game when I was growing up. We also called it free associations so everyone knew any answer was correct.

Fear, panic, terror. Palms sweating, heart palpitated, heading to a dizzy spin.

FEAR!!!!!     what do you fear?  You can whisper your answer to yourself.


I am told the greatest fear among all people is death, followed by speaking in public. I know darkness brings fear to many souls. And when the economy is bad, losing a job, losing a house, or getting seriously sick are top on the public's list.

What did or do you fear the most?

I feared my father, and it was not a healthy loving fear of disappointing him. It was a realistic fear of a psychopathic angry violent father that laughed at evil. I fear him no more.

At church today we talked about fear. Jesus taught about fear. In Luke 14:4-5, Jesus taught the need for fearing God:

⁴ “And I say to you, My friends, do not be afraid of those who kill the body, and after that have no more that they can do. ⁵ But I will show you whom you should fear: Fear Him who, after He has killed, has power to cast into hell; yes, I say to you, fear Him!"

 Have you ever had a healthy fear of God? God loves you, and God is love. His perfect love casts out all fear. But before we can know God as our Father, we must have first bowed to Him as our LORD (master). We must become his slave, giving up all we own, want or do to become His willing obedient slave. This is the invitation God offers to every person in the world. He offers us the opportunity to be His slave, and for Him to be our Master. Do you feel uncomfortable about God? Does this seem repulsive to freedom loving people?

I need to tell you something beautiful about God being your Master. He is going to adopt you as His child, His son or daughter. You are going to be an heir to all He is and owns, and you will know Him better than your best friend on earth.

The object of our greatest fear is our Master, with the ability to control our mind, will and emotions. Who or what do you most fear? The answer is your current Master, your earthly Lord!

In coming to know God, who is All-powerful, All-seeing, All-hearing, Just and Holy.... it is easy to see how before you are in a right relationship with Him that you SHOULD fear Him. He alone has the power to end your physical life AND he determines whether you go to heaven or hell. Once again I ask, "Do you not like this God I am describing; does He not fit your comfortably teddy bear papa in the sky image?" Have you read the Bible? Do you really know God?

Do you fear surrendering all to Him? Do you fear losing face with family or friends? Do you fear being outcast at work? Do you feel the humiliation of bowing to Him? Oh,THAT IS NOT THE GOD YOU SIGNED UP TO BE FRIENDS WITH, the One you were told you would be following? This is the tradgedy of say a prayer with me, join the love fest, easy believism. You were tricked to commit to and believe a part of God, a censored God, a joyful celebrating laughing fun God. Are you willing to risk your eternity on waiting to hear God say to you, "Depart from Me. I never knew you."?

Do you fear having to give up fun activities? What about hanging out with friends, drinking, partying late into the night? Does God want to take that away? But I love to.....(you fill in). Do you love it more than God? Will you place it in His hands? Will you give Him every talent, dream, gift, vision, ability for Him to tell you how to use these to bring HIM that greatest glory?

When we bow before God in fear, accept His invitation to be His slave for life, He will lift our head up and looking deep within our being saying, "I have not given you a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of sound mind." (paraphrase 2Tim 1:7)

In fearing Him, we conquer ALL other fears: death, broken relationships, bankruptcy, standing up for justice, speaking in crowds, going on mission trips, changing jobs, moving to other cities, giving our money for His Kingdom work, being labeled a freak (or Fundie - Fundamental Christian), or basically, taking the plunge into anything He asks with a strong "Yes, God."

In turn, God will supply all your needs abundantly. He will give you a spirit of power (Holy Spirit Power, Resurrection Power, Enabling Power), love (sacrificial, selfless, abandoned love) and of sound mind (having the mind of Jesus Christ through meditating and studying His Holy Bible, His Word). We learn to grow into using His power, love and sound mind in and through us every day.

So, let me ask again, what/who do you fear? Even what did you fear, before you learned the freedom and wisdom in fearing God?

I feared my father. God showed me He is the kindest, caring, available, personable Father in the world! He is the Father to the fatherless, the abandoned, the beat, the raped, the belittled, the hurting wounded child.

What about you? What have you learned to not fear? Or do you still fear someone or something?