'..so I was afraid and..'
Rev. C. A. Crawford
Copyright © 2012 by CAC
The True Motives of our Un-Scriptural and Fear Based Decisions!
Matthew 25:14-30 Amplified Bible (AMP)
For it is like a man who was about to take a long journey, and he called his servants together and entrusted them with his property.
To one he gave five talents [probably about $5,000], to another two, to another one--to each in proportion to his own personal ability. Then he departed and left the country.
He who had received the five talents went at once and traded with them, and he gained five talents more.
And likewise he who had received the two talents--he also gained two talents more.
But he who had received the one talent went and dug a hole in the ground and hid his master's money.
Now after a long time the master of those servants returned and settled accounts with them.
And he who had received the five talents came and brought him five more, saying, Master, you entrusted to me five talents; see, here I have gained five talents more.
His master said to him, Well done, you upright (honorable, admirable) and faithful servant! You have been faithful and trustworthy over a little; I will put you in charge of much. Enter into and share the joy (the delight, the blessedness) which your master enjoys.
And he also who had the two talents came forward, saying, Master, you entrusted two talents to me; here I have gained two talents more.
His master said to him, Well done, you upright (honorable, admirable) and faithful servant! You have been faithful and trustworthy over a little; I will put you in charge of much. Enter into and share the joy (the delight, the blessedness) which your master enjoys.
He who had received one talent also came forward, saying, Master, I knew you to be a harsh and hard man, reaping where you did not sow, and gathering where you had not winnowed [the grain].
So I was afraid, and I went and hid your talent in the ground. Here you have what is your own.
But his master answered him, You wicked and lazy and idle servant! Did you indeed know that I reap where I have not sowed and gather [grain] where I have not winnowed?
Then you should have invested my money with the bankers, and at my coming I would have received what was my own with interest.
So take the talent away from him and give it to the one who has the ten talents.
Nothing Good Came Out Of His “Fear Based Reasoning, But Total Loss!”
For to everyone who has (HAS FAITH) will more be given, and he will be furnished richly so that he will have an abundance; but from the one who does not have, even what he does have will be taken away.
And throw the good-for-nothing servant into the outer darkness; there will be weeping and grinding of teeth"
Fear Based Decisions
Will Render A Person; A Good For Nothing Servant; and Produces Nothing but Ruin!
Let's look at Abraham’s Legacy of 'Fear Based Decision making' he planted a bad seed that produced ''Weeds'' meaning; ''His Simular Behavior''
Weed: An undesirable or troublesome plant, especially one growing profusely where it is not wanted; in this case in his own children's lives!
See:
Gal. 6:7 (AMP)
Do not be deceived and deluded and misled; God will not allow Himself to be sneered at (scorned, disdained, or mocked by mere pretensions or professions, or by His precepts being set aside.) [He inevitably deludes himself who attempts to delude God.] For whatever a man sows, that and that only is what he will reap!
So How Many Sin’s and character flaws are we carelessly ‘passing down to our descendants and disciples???
Abraham's Mess: Genesis 20:1-18
Genesis 20:11-12 (AMP)
And Abraham said, Because I thought, Surely there is no reverence or fear of God at all in this place, and they will slay me because of my wife.
But truly, she is my sister; she is the daughter of my father but not of my mother; and she became my wife.
*Abraham was afraid of Abimelech, So he Told a 'Falsehood' 1/2 truth or 1/2 lie or a “Mis-Speak” as today’s Politicians would say!
And set in motion an ‘Evil Tendency’ of Fear, and Lying that affected his son; Isaac and his grandson; Jacob and Great Grandson’s!
*Remember when Isaac copied his Father Abraham’s lead Lying about being married to His Wife saying She was His Sister!
Although Abraham was ½ right Sarah was his ½ sister! So this Lying gets worse, and this Lying and Deceiving Business was copied by his son ‘Jacob’ too! It snowballed! n Fact Jacob’s very name meant deceiver! See Gen 32:7
Isaac's Mess just like Abraham's!
And the men of the place asked him about his wife, and he said, She is my sister; for he was afraid to say, She is my wife--[thinking], Lest the men of the place should kill me for Rebekah, because she is attractive and is beautiful to look upon.
Jacob's Mess; deceiving his father Isaac to get his brother's Birthright! Then
Esau later wanted to Kill Him!
Then Jacob was greatly afraid and distressed; and he divided the people who were with him, and the flocks and herds and camels, into two groups,
So we see Jacob in action, motivated by ‘Fear’
*Remember what Joseph’s brothers did to him? In Gen. 37 because of their Father’s favor for Joseph, they hated Joseph! After they disposed of him, they lied to Jacob about where Joseph was!
Jacob's Son's Mess: Gen. 37:1-36
*Even after Jacob’s encounter with God in Gen. 32 that 'Family Curse' was still working;
*I sure Father Abraham had no idea what he set in motion when he allowed his fear to motivate him into lying!
We sometimes think or don’t think ‘Our Conduct’ will affect our children’s lives and future!!!!
*The Lord says; Do Not Be Afraid, He Will Provide for us!
Genesis 50:21Now therefore, do not be afraid. I will provide for and support you and your little ones. And he comforted them [imparting cheer, hope, strength] and spoke to their hearts [kindly]. Genesis 50:20-22
Joshua 1:9Have not I commanded you? Be strong, vigorous, and very courageous. Be not afraid, neither be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.
Psalm 27:1THE LORD is my Light and my Salvation--whom shall I fear or dread? The Lord is the Refuge and Stronghold of my life--of whom shall I be afraid? Psalm 27:1-3
Psalm 112:7-8;7“He shall not be afraid of evil tidings; his heart is firmly fixed, trusting (leaning on and being confident) in the Lord.
8“His heart is established and steady, he will not be afraid while he waits to see his desire established upon his adversaries. Psalm 112:7-9
Isaiah 12:2 Behold, God, my salvation! I will trust and not be afraid, for the Lord God is my strength and song; yes, He has become my salvation. Isaiah 12:1-3
Isaiah 51:7Listen to Me, you who know rightness and justice and right standing with God, the people in whose heart is My law and My instruction: fear not the reproach of men, neither be afraid nor dismayed at their revilings.
Look at the observations the Herodians had made of our Fearless Lord Jesus!!! The World is 'Observing us too' What are 'their' observations of us?
Matthew 22:16And they sent their disciples to Him along with the Herodians, saying, Teacher, we know that You are sincere and what You profess to be and that You teach the way of God truthfully, regardless of consequences and being afraid of no man; for You are impartial and do not regard either the person or the position of anyone.
Do We want to be ‘Just Like’ Jesus?
Then “Let’s...Teach the way of God truthfully, regardless of consequences, being afraid of no man; and stop being impartial and do not regard either the person or the position of anyone!!!!
Jesus gives Us 'His Peace'
Stop being Afraid!
John 14:27Peace I leave with you; My [own] peace I now give and bequeath to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Do not let your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid. [Stop allowing yourselves to be agitated and disturbed; and do not permit yourselves to be fearful and intimidated and cowardly and unsettled.] John 14:26-28
FEAR OF MAN IS ALWAYS A WRONG MOTIVE
What did Jesus say about it?
Matthew 10:28And do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul; but rather be afraid of Him who can destroy both soul and body in hell (Gehenna).
What Paul had to say about it?
Galatians 1:10 (AMP)
Now am I trying to win the favor of men, or of God? Do I seek to please men? If I were still seeking popularity with men, I should not be a bond servant of Christ (the Messiah).
Peter Struggled with 'it' see Matthew 16:22 and later in Galatians 2
Matthew 16:21-23 Amplified Bible (AMP)
From that time forth Jesus began [clearly] to show His disciples that He must go to Jerusalem and suffer many things at the hands of the elders and the high priests and scribes, and be killed, and on the third day be raised from death.
Then Peter took Him aside to speak to Him privately and began to reprove and charge Him sharply, saying, God forbid, Lord! This must never happen to You!
But Jesus turned away from Peter and said to him, Get behind Me, Satan! You are in My way [an offense and a hindrance and a snare to Me]; for you are minding what partakes not of the nature and quality of God, but of men.
Galatians 2:11-13 (AMP)
But when Cephas (Peter) came to Antioch, I protested and opposed him to his face [concerning his conduct there], for he was blameable and stood condemned.
For up to the time that certain persons came from James, he ate his meals with the Gentile [converts]; but when the men [from Jerusalem] arrived, he withdrew and held himself aloof from the Gentiles and [ate] separately for fear of those of the circumcision [party].
And the rest of the Jews along with him also concealed their true convictions and acted insincerely, with the result that even Barnabas was carried away by their hypocrisy (their example of insincerity and pretense).
*Oh how many times we’ve dealt with people like this! Concealing their real feelings! Their mistake was being insincere about it, and covering up their true feelings.
The fear of rejection stops many of us from speaking the truth in love. Although if we do we must be respectful,
We all need to be honest, and we need to be open to hear someone else’s convictions and opinions that differ from ours without making others afraid that we may not agree!
I've made this mistake of 'Not Being Open to listen' out of frustration and later had things go off like a Volcano!!!
Remember; How can 2 walk together except they are in agreement?!
A Lack of Real Love is a breeding place for fear!
1 John 4:18There is no fear in love [dread does not exist], but full-grown (complete, perfect) love turns fear out of doors and expels every trace of terror! For fear brings with it the thought of punishment, and [so] he who is afraid has not reached the full maturity of love [is not yet grown into love's complete perfection]. 1 John 4:17-19
A Position taken because of Fear is Not a Safe Position At All! Let's reevaluate our motives for our decisions and with God's help make the necessary changes!
End of Part 1
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Jesus of The Now
International Ministries
CAC
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Banning, Ca. 92220
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