Perspective:
Matt. 6:34
; Isa. 33:2
; Ps. 90:4
; Lam. 3:21-24
:Sin is man choosing
to be independent of God's love. It is taking sides with Satan
in defiance of God, turning to one's own way. When man came out
from under God to live in the Lie of " I can be independent
and alongside of God, "he walked out of God's shalom. The
first words of man were "I was afraid". When we seek
to be in control of our lives, independent of God , we create
a world of fear and anxiety. Believing the Lie that he is the
source and master of his own life, his world and all his futures,
man seeks to create shalom independently of God. To do this he
must have control over all that happens in life, today and in
all tomorrows, in his own life and in the lives of those who affect
his happiness.
This leads to compulsion to control every detail of his existence and that of everyone around him. If he is a god, then he must be in control. This is the world of non-existence, the territory of the Lie, that exists only in our darkened imagination and in the minds of demons.
Hope:
Matt. 6:34
; Isa. 33:2
; Ps. 90:14
; Lam. 3:21-24
: Jesus commands
believers to live life in increments of one day at a time, and
within that, one hour at a time. We have grace for today to be
used entirely on today's quota of problems and challenges. The
only action we can take today is to use that grace to do what
must be done today in preparation for tomorrow . We then place
all the problems of tomorrow in God's hands. Scripture advises
us to receive from God in the morning the grace that is needed
for that day.
Ps. 23 ; Heb. 13:8 ; Isa. 26:3 ; Deut. 33:25 :David spoke of God in the present tense, giving him the strength and enablement he needs in the present moment. Resting in the fact that God is now his Shepherd gives him the wisdom to handle the problem when he actually faces it. We don't try to imagine the changing future or what we will do with it;we focus our attention on the unchanging Christ, the Ruler of history. Instead of imagining a tomorrow without God, we concentrate our picture-forming ability on who God is to us, and in us now. As he is, so are we.
Change:
Lu. 22:31-34
; John 15:10-11
;16:33
; Phil. 4:7
; Ps. 91:11-13
:We
not only want to control tomorrow, but all the people who are
part of our lives, who fill our todays and tonorrows. We believe
it is our responsibility to heal all the wounds and hurts of our
family and associates; we must have the answers to all their problems,
we are responsible to provide for family and to counsel and discipline
children. . God commands us never to manipulate others or try
to live life for them. We must repent of our sinful attempts to
control the lives of others, and release them to God Who is responsible
for them.
Num. 13:25-14 :35; Phil. 4:6-7 ; James 4:6-8 ; l Pet. 5:5-6 :We are afraid of change, the fear of the unknown that causes anxiety. We procrastinate learning a new skill, driving a car, fear changing jobs, meeting new people, moving to a new area, afraid of success and new challenges, fear of being found wanting. We worry over things we have no control over: the life or death of loved ones, their joy and their sadness, and the choices they make. We worry because the Lie has taught us we should control them. The fear of death is the ultimate fear of the unknown and uncontrollable.
These types of fear lead to murmuring and complaining and often directed at God. We must do as Joshua and Caleb in not fearing the unknown: they self-talked the truth, confronting themselves and their fears in the presence of God. They knew God's presence with them, and they knew God's track record.
Rom. 6:3-6
; 2 Cor. 5:17
, 21
; Rom. 8:1-2
; Heb. 11:1
:The only way
to be free from all fear, especially the anxiety arising from
the compulsion to control, is to pass through the ultimate fear,
fear of death. We must become new persons, no longer dominated
and controlled by the Lie and the liar. The only way that can
happen is for that lie-controlled self to die ! Jesus took our
place in death and resurrection. Our response to that announcement
is to repent and renounce the Lie, specifically in the area of
control. Faith means death to the controlling self because the
act of faith in the Gospel is admitting we can do nothing to save
ourselves from ourselves and our sin. Faith abandons all efforts
to make self right with God and rests with thanks in what God
has done in Christ.