Are You Operating In FAITH or FEAR?
By Gulf South Men Director Elmo Winters
“For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.”
II Timothy 1:7 KJV
While attending a national men’s ministry leadership training a few weeks ago, I was approached by one of the leaders with an odd request. He had a friend who was in a state of panic and asked me to help him. The friend who was an African-American man was literally afraid to walk outside his home for fear he would be lynched. With the election of Donald Trump as president, he was sure there were white men just waiting to hang him from a tree.
Now, before you laugh or think I am joking, consider the behavior of so many people, both white and black since the November 8th election. In some corners, I would call it widespread panic! Now what is even more disturbing is that this is too often the attitude of those who say they are believers. As I surf the web and check out social media, I am seeing so much fear and negativity. Thus, I ask, “Are you operating in faith or in fear?” Please know you cannot be doing both; it’s either faith in your lifestyle or it is fear!
Another way to look at this is to ask yourself, “Who has the greater impact on your life, God or man?” So much scripture addresses this dilemma. Consider for our discussion Matthew 10:28.
“And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.”
The word “fear” in this passage in its original form means to be alarmed or exceedingly afraid. This describes very adequately what we have seen since the election of Donald Trump. People of God, Mr. Trump is not God, nor does he have the power of God. Thus, if we are going to fear anyone, let it be God. And our fear of God is a reverence of Him and not one of being scared. He is our Father, our protector, our provider and not one to be scared of.
Furthermore, how can we say we are people of faith and even entertain the thought of fear. The words of Hebrews 11:1, if taken seriously as a factor of our lives will not allow us to walk in fear. Faith destroys fear. Faith removes fear. Faith completely wipes out and erases fear. Faith, if truly embraced will move us to have an attitude of “if God be for us, who can be against us?” Who can operate in fear with that kind of attitude?
So, I pose the question again, are you living in fear or are you living a lifestyle of faith? As for me and my house, we have chosen God over man. Thus, we are genuine people of faith and not fear! I am praying for our new president, but I do not fear him or any man!
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