Dear Sisters and Brothers
in Christ,
Paul, in II Corinthians 11:3, addresses a “righteous fear” he has concerning The Body of Christ, in particular the Church at Corinth. His fear was the Body of Christ would be deceived or beguiled by the subtilty of satan so their devotion to Christ would be corrupted. This is just as true today, if not more so. The Scriptures tell us in the last days, much of the Body of Christ, on earth, will be deceived. We see this already in many denominations and churches. God’s Word is being abandoned for “feel good” and “social justice” ministries. Fools. You see the results on television, the news, and around you in daily life. This, too, can happen to us, to our families, if we are not diligent and disciplined in our walk with Jesus Christ. “The thief” is hard at work today to steal away ALL devotion to the One True Living God and His Son, Jesus Christ.
II Corinthians 11:3
But I fear, lest by any means, as the serpent beguiled [deceived] Eve through his subtilty [slyness, cunning], so your minds should be corrupted [depraved, spoiled, marred, bribed infected with errors] from the simplicity [single-hearted faith in Jesus Christ] that is in Christ.
Subtilty = “Slyness in design; cunning.”
Devotion comes from the word vote. The word vote means vow. Vow means commitment.
So, to be “devoted to” means one has “voted or vowed their commitment to something.”
Genesis 3:8-10
8 And they heard the voice of The LORD God walking in the garden in the cool of the day: and Adam and his wife hid themselves from the presence of The LORD God amongst the trees of the garden.
9 And The LORD God called unto Adam, and said unto him, Where art thou?
10 And he said, I heard thy voice in the garden, and I was afraid, because I was naked; and I hid myself.
Genesis 3:8-10 is the first response by MAN to God after sin came into the world. Notice it is the emotion of FEAR. Fear had never existed prior to sin entering the earth. Fear of satan and the curse. To practice fear is to be devoted to satan’s words and his lordship.
There is a “righteous fear” and an “unrighteous fear.”
Proverbs 1:7
The fear of The LORD is the beginning of knowledge: but fools despise wisdom and instruction.
Righteous Fear = The beginning of knowledge and wisdom is to fear The Lord. The word “fear,” as used in Proverbs 1:7 means “respect, honor, awestruck.” It means to have “reverential trust in His Word.”
The number one, imperative commandment, mentioned the most times in The Scriptures is “fear not.” Don’t be afraid. If we’re in fear, we’re in sin.
Unrighteous fear IMMEDIATELY shows up in Genesis 3:8 when Adam and Eve now “fear” God. God had never done anything to Adam and Eve to cause them to fear Him.
The thief of devotion is FEAR.
We must first understand “worship” before we can address fear. Worship is made of two Hebrew words: “wor” which means “worth” and “ship” which means “state of.” So, “worship” means “state of worth.” Lordship, state of being Lord. Discipleship, state of being a disciple. Fellowship, state of being a fellow or friend to someone else. Relationship, etc.
Man’s Top Three Fears and God’s Answer to Each:
1. Fear of Rejection
We were created by love. God is love (I John 4). We were created to love and be loved. Number one fear of rejection is because my number one need is love and acceptance. The number one thing you are afraid of is the number one thing, its opposite, you worship. If you are afraid of rejection, you will worship acceptance. We will dress, speak, act, etc. to avoid rejection. satan tempted Eve with what she already had. If you eat this, you will be like God. Eve was already like God (Genesis 1:26).
Whatever we have unrighteous fear of, we will have unrighteous worship for its opposite.
If you’re devoted to acceptance, you’re committed to acceptance.
Ephesians 1:6 addresses “acceptance.”
To the praise of the glory of His [God] Grace, wherein He hath made us accepted in The Beloved [Christ].
If satan is tempting us with acceptance, our answer needs to be Ephesians 1:6: I’m already accepted in Christ.
Example: my business God gave me is not successful based on the business rules and wisdom of the world. It is based on God’s wisdom and rules. My business will succeed regardless of the world, the economy (domestic or global), or
2. Fear of Failure
When you fear failure, you are fully devoted to success. You will live your life trying to be successful.
You will value success. You will value the things you think make you a success: money, power, status, position, things, etc. This will be your state of worth – your worship and devotion.
Matthew 6:24 No one can serve two masters.
No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon.
Christian definition of success is “obedience.” If you obey, you are successful no matter how the project turns out. Joshua 1:8.
Everything satan tempts us with as Believers, we already have the genuine article in Christ. satan cannot create anything because he is death. He can only pervert what God has created.
II Corinthians 2:14 always triumph in Christ and Joshua 1:8
Now thanks be unto God, Which always causeth us to triumph in Christ, and maketh manifest the savour of His knowledge by us in every place.
Don’t worship something you already have and don’t fear something Christ has already defeated. Don’t fear rejection or failure. Christ has already defeated both.
3. The Fear of Death
The closer we get to The Lord, the less we fear death. The more peace we have in our lives, the closer we are in relationship to the Lord. To fear death is to worship life. Nothing wrong with life, but it’s what we worship in life that matters. Temporal life and eternal life.
Philippians 1:21-24
21 For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain.
22 But if I live in the flesh, this is the fruit of my labor: yet what I shall choose I wot [know] not.
23 For I am in a strait betwixt [between] two, having a desire to depart, and to be with Christ; which is far better:
24 Nevertheless to abide in the flesh is more needful for you.
Temporal life did not come into this world until sin came into the world. There was no death until sin came into the world.
Romans 5:12
Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned:
If you fear death, you’ll actually worship temporal life. You’ll seek after the temporary for joy, but you won’t find it. As a Believer, I live in the temporary now, but my joy is everything I’m doing that’s eternal.
As a Believer, The Scriptures teach us we will not see, taste, or experience death. We will only experience relocation and a redeemed body.
John 8:51 (Shall not See Death)
Verily, verily, I say unto you, If a man keep my saying, he shall never see death.
Hebrews 2:9 (Shall not Taste Death)
But we see Jesus, Who was made a little lower than the angels for the suffering of death, crowned with glory and honor; that He by the grace of God should taste death for every man.
John 5:24 (Shall not Experience Death)
Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth My Word, and believeth on Him that sent Me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life.
As Believers, we DIED [the old man or our old spirit and nature], the day we accepted Jesus Christ as Savior!!
Jesus has already conquered death, hell, sin, and the grave, and He lives inside us!!’ Praise God!!!!
All of the fears have been overcome already by Jesus Christ. Jesus makes clear to us that acceptance, success, and life will be added to us if we seek first The Kingdom of God and His righteousness. This happened with Solomon when he answered God’s request to ask for anything he wanted. Solomon asked for wisdom to rule God’s people. God gave him the wisdom, unlike any man before or after him would ever have, and then added power, riches, strength, honor, glory, and blessing to him.
Matthew 6:33
But seek ye first The Kingdom of God, and His righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.
“You don’t have time to meditate The Word, but you have time to worry. Worry is meditating satan’s words. Who is your God?
In Christ,
Larry