Freedom from fear/Fear versus Concern

I took a long walk this morning before church. We went to the late service so I had time. I read three newsletters as I went along. (Yes I am careful.) Two of them had as a theme fear. One was from the current Jews for Jesus newsletter reprinting an older article by founder Moishe Rosen. This is a link to where these newsletter can be found. But the most recent one uploaded is June. The other was by David Wilkerson in his World Challenge Pulpit series. Both of these men are deceased, DW very recently. The WC newsletter is dated August 1. I think he died before this but it was probably already in the process of being published when he died.

If you are feeling fearful you might want to go and read these articles, especially the second one. At this time the first one is not online. Perhaps it will be later. I will summarize but nothing beats reading the real thing.

Is it an accident that fear of the subject of two current newsletters. My first impulse is to think it a happy accident. But no, with the current state of affairs in our economics, both locally and in Europe. And with the state of the federal government deficit spending.... We have Al Qaeda attacks, running two wars, famines in the world, a drought in the south, people are afraid.

Those of us who thought all their scrimping and planning for a carefree retirement was foolproof now see it could all be ruined by economic collapse. We did not predict the low current interest rates. Put you treasure in heaven.

Collapse is an unspoken catastrophe that many leaders are sort of trying to stop. And yet some of the things being tried may actually make it more likely. People cannot control the economy. We need to be on our knees.

I feel helpless. If I understood it better I might feel more helpless.

So truthfully both of these articles make it clear our only hope is in God. God promises to take care of us. But it may not be like we planned.

David Wilkerson contrasts the fear that Satan puts on us with the fear of God that is a good thing. Moishe Rosen prefers to use the word concern, Godly concern for what God calls us to, in faith.

Rosen states that Satanic fear paralyzes us. Godly concern heightens our ability to think and plan. If we have confidence in God we are set free to use our faculties. Rosen uses illustrations from World War II and mentions Franklin Roosevelt's repeated speech that "the only thing we have to fear is fear itself".

To overcome that fearful paralysis we can remember, rehearse God's goodness, faithfulness to take care of us, and his ultimate control. Remember Satan's power is limited. His bark is loud, his bite is minimal. God will take care of us and him.

"Take your stand that God is good, that he loves you, an that He will not let any test befall you that He will not give you the strength to overcome. (1 Corinthians 10:13). - Moishe Rosen

David Wilkerson uses examples from the Bible. He makes it clear that to get rid of that fear we must turn our lives over to God. That is probably why I fear, I have not totally turned over my life.

But I was encouraged by forgetting the general statement and thinking of specific instances. Do I give my life to God in specific challenges. I think I do. The fear that I have not given my life to God is a lie from Satan. In specific tests I do submit my will to God. Probably not always but I do consciously try.

Giving my life to God means I can know God will take care of me, despite what happens in the economy. My finances could be ruined but that is OK. God will take care of me.

David Wilkerson has been a prophet of doom for our country. It has not exactly happened yet. If it does finally happen he will not be here. Perhaps that is for the best. He is enjoying his reward.

This time he mentions another prophet of doom, John Owen in 1680 England. Wilkerson believes that Owen's prophesies ultimately did occur. Owen tried to get people to repent and change their ways just as Wilkerson has. Were they both wrong? Was it appropriate to say and write such things?