Fear

Randall Q. Lawrence
Faith Bible College
Removing satan’s seat
Sister (Dr.) S.
7/12/2010

Homework Assignment 5: Fear

I could not find the assignment, but I believed the assignment was on fear. I am a little confused because I cannot find where I placed the assignment. I looked in the book, and I do not see a section on fear. The sections addressed are pride (2), rebellion (3), strife (4), and envy (5). I think worry and fear go together and needs addressed.

I would love to use the example of David and Goliath. David focused on the size of his God vs. the size of the giant in front of him whereas King Saul and the army of Israel focused on the size of Goliath in relation to themselves. Goliath would throw out a challenge, “Why are ye come out to set your battle in array? am not I a Philistine, and ye servants to Saul? choose you a man for you, and let him come down to me....” (1 Samuel 17:8 KJV) and “I defy the armies of Israel this day...” (v. 10) David stated in response, “...who is this uncircumcised Philistine, that he should defy the armies of the living God?” (v. 26) and then “And David said to Saul, Let no man’s heart fail because of him; thy servant will go and fight with this Philistine.” (v. 32) and killed Goliath saying, “...for the battle is the Lord’s...” (v. 47). This is a very rich example of the power of fear and power of confidence or faith in the Lord.

Strongholds and the “strongman” (devil and demonic influence) fall and flee like the Philistine army in the presence of one mighty warrior or prayer intercessor of God which David exemplified. “How should one chase a thousand, and two put ten thousand to flight....” (Deuteronomy 32:30) There is a definite principle of spiritual warfare to keep our eyes on the Lord and Savior and not on what is around us. Peter demonstrated this in walking on the water but sinking into the waves when he took his eyes of Jesus to notice the wind and waves (Matthew 14:22-33). Our problems like the fear of the Israelite army grow when we focus on them whereas their power to induce fear and worry shrinks in the Presence of the Lord. David knew his Lord and had confidence in the Lord being with him since he already dispatched a lion and bear in his father’s service as a shepherd. God had plans to make him a shepherd to all of Israel and Judah and demonstrate some characteristics that would foreshadow the Messiah and Son of God, Jesus Christ–focus on God, protection of sheep, understanding importance of humility (broken heart and contrite spirit–Psalm 34:18), leadership of men, and more.

Jesus addressed worry and fear in Matthew 6:25-34: “Therefore I say unto you, Take no thought for your life, what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink; nor yet for the body, what ye shall put on. Is not the life more than meat, and the body than raiment? Behold the fowls of the air: for they sow not, neither do they reap, nor gather into barns; yet your Heavenly Father feedeth them. Are ye not much better than they? Which of you by taking thought can add one cubit unto his stature?....for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things. But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you. Take therefore no thought for the morrow: for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself. Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof.” Jesus points out that our Father in Heaven is aware of all our needs for food, drink, clothes, and more. God is our Jehovah-Jireh–God who sees and provides (Genesis 22:14)

David’s example along with the teaching and example of Jesus show us that a focus on the size, majesty, providence, and love of God the Father makes fear and worry shrink to insignificance. David and Jesus also showed a genius for intimacy and relationship with the Father. David also in the example of repentance with the Bathsheba (lust and adultery) and death of Uriah (pre-meditated murder) then showed how to humble himself in contrition and broken-ness also showed how we should act in response to mistakes less serious than the sins of David (Psalm 51, 2 Samuel 12:9)–way of humility to overcome sin and strongholds of pride, rebellion, strife, and envy.