“It is enough for a disciple that he be like his teacher, and a servant like his master. If they have called the master of the house Beelzebub (A Philistine deity), how much more will they call those of his household!” “Therefore, do not fear them. For there is nothing covered that will not be revealed, and hidden that will not be known. “Matthew 10:25,26.
Fear, phobeo Strong’s # 5399. Phobeo is defined as a panic that grips a person resulting in that person running away, to be alarmed, scared, frightened, dismayed, filled with dread, intimated, anxious and nervous.
Our Lord is urging us not to have a Phobeo of men, which is destructive, but to have a reverential awe or fear of God, which is constructive.
“The fear of man brings a snare, but whoever trusts in the Lord shall be secure.” Proverbs 29:25. This syndrome is up graded in 1 John 4:18, “perfect love casts out fear.”* More on this in a later post.
Yielding to the person of the Holy Spirit will cause us to become fearless. “For God has not given us a spirit (evil) of fear, but of power and love and a sound mind.” 2 Tim. 1:7. As Christian’s we need to meditate on this very powerful verse which is relatively short but loaded with magnificent truths.
God has not given us a spirit of fear… The spirit of fear often finds a place by reason of one’s natural temperament, but it is not merely a human disposition; it is not from God; it can immobilize and torment its victims, making them feel powerless and alone. It is a spirit of fear!
As stated above in this verse we have the Trinity at work. …but of power (person of the Holy Spirit) and of love (God the Father) and of a sound mind (Lord Jesus).
Chris
Oct 24, 2012 @ 01:26:00
The greek translation really sheds a light on the fear that the Bible is noting here. Thanks again, Manny, for a very instructive piece.
Mannyr
Oct 24, 2012 @ 04:05:14
I enjoy digging for these words, thanks Chris.