51.
Fear of old age (1)
Psa 92:12 The righteous shall flourish like the
palm tree: he shall grow like a cedar in Lebanon.
Psa 92:13 Those that be planted in the house of the
LORD shall flourish in the courts of our God.
Psa 92:14 They shall still bring forth fruit in old
age; they shall be fat and flourishing;
Psa 92:15 To shew that the LORD is upright: he is
my rock, and there is no unrighteousness in him.
God's salvation is now, and a
continued heritage for the believer! God's righteousness will not fade nor
fail those who are planted in Christ.
Concerning Psa 92:12-14 (JFB)
"The vigorous growth, longevity, utility, fragrance, and beauty of these noble
trees, set forth the life, character, and destiny of the pious; "
verse 15 --- "and they thus declare God’s glory as
their strong and righteous ruler."
52.
Fear of old age (2)
Psa 71:9 Cast me not off in the time of old age;
forsake me not when my strength faileth.
Psa 92:14 They shall still bring forth fruit in old
age; they shall be fat and flourishing;
Isa 46:4 And even to your old age I am he; and even
to hoar (grey) hairs will I carry you: I have made, and I will bear; even
I will carry, and will deliver you.
God's eternal arms
will lovingly support us in old age. We will always be under the power and
protection of God. In contrast to the golden idols people bore and carried
into the temples, things that cannot save (Isa. 46:6-7), the true God will not
fail us; He will continue to sustain us throughout all of life's challenges.
53.
Fear of old age (3)
2Co 4:16 For which cause we faint not; but though
our outward man perish, yet the inward man is renewed day by day.
2Co 4:17 For our light affliction, which is but for
a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory;
2Co 4:18 While we look not at the things which are
seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are
temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal.
Yet the inward man is renewed day
by day; that is, continually; an Hebraism;
(see Est_2:11) the internal hidden man of the heart,
the new man is in a prosperous condition; our souls are in good health; the work
of God is comfortably carried on in us; we have sweet and repeated experiences
of the love of God; we are growing in grace, and in the knowledge of Christ;
and, like the palm tree, the more weight is hung upon it, the more it thrives;
and, like the children of Israel in Egypt, the more they were afflicted the more
they grew (Gill).
54.
Fear of old age (4)
2Co 12:9 And he said unto me, My grace is
sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly
therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may
rest upon me.
Hab 3:19 The LORD God is my strength, and he will
make my feet like hinds' feet, and he will make me to walk upon mine high
places.
Psa 68:35 O God, thou art terrible out of thy holy
places: the God of Israel is he that giveth strength and power unto his people.
Blessed be God.
We suffer
affliction because our own strength or power, in our human condition, is limited
and weak. When we lean on God, it's the power of God that enters in and
fortifies and delivers us from that destructive power that would otherwise
consume us. Christ already won the victory, in our behalf, and He gives us
the power and strength to bear up against it. Paul is not glorying in his
afflictions per se, but he is glorying in the opportunity provided by these
infirmities, for the manifestation of the overcoming power and brilliance of
Christ made present against his current situation.
55.
Fear of old age (5)
Psa 71:16 I will go in the strength of the Lord
GOD: I will make mention of thy righteousness, even of thine only.
Psa 71:17 O God, thou hast taught me from my youth:
and hitherto have I declared thy wondrous works.
Psa 71:18 Now also when I am old and gray headed, O
God, forsake me not; until I have shewed thy strength unto this generation, and
thy power to every one that is to come.
The psalmist, an eyewitness to the strength and
power of God, acknowledges the presence and faithfulness of God from his youth
up, and continues to be encouraged. In old age, he is full of hope and
life and seeks to pass on God's fulfillment of redemption and victory to all who
will listen.
56.
Fear of old age (6)
Psa 73:26 My flesh and my heart faileth: but God is
the strength of my heart, and my portion for ever.
Pro 20:29 The glory of young men is their strength:
and the beauty of old men is the gray head.
Pro 16:31 The hoary (gray) head is a crown of
glory, if it be found in the way of righteousness.
The beauty of the "gray head" is "an index of
wisdom and prudence;" the young are powerful in strength and the old in
knowledge and "counsel" (Gill).
Back to table of
contents
57.
Fear of Losing Hope (1)
A. The broken hearted
Psa 147:3 He healeth the broken (burst)
in heart (feelings, will, intellect), and bindeth (stop) up their
wounds.
Psa 147:11 The LORD taketh pleasure in them that
fear him, in those that hope in his mercy.
Psa 28:7 The LORD is my strength and my shield; my
heart trusted in him, and I am helped: therefore my heart greatly rejoiceth; and
with my song will I praise him.
The Lord is
greatly affectionate towards all who acknowledge Him and seek His kindness.
He understands the despairing heart and promises to cure, or "causes to heal" a
heart in pain and sorrow, and restore hope in an individual placing their trust
in Him.
58.
Fear of Losing Hope (2)
A. The broken hearted
Isa 40:29 He giveth
power to the faint (fatigued); and to them that have no might (power)
he increaseth strength.
Isa 40:31 But they
that wait (tarry with expectation) upon the LORD shall renew their
strength; they shall mount up (to ascend) with wings as eagles; they
shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.
Psa 119:117 Hold thou me up, and I shall be safe
and I will have respect unto thy statutes continually.
God will supply
vigor and strength to the weary soul. In an act of faith, we "wait" or
rather remain in Christ in expectation of the supernatural power of God to
uphold us and renew our hope; He will continue to empower us in our unique
situations. The eagle was thought to molt and renew his feathers, and with
them his strength (JFB).
59.
Fear of Losing Hope (3)
A. The broken hearted
Pro 15:13 A merry heart maketh a cheerful
countenance: but by sorrow of the heart the spirit is broken.
Psa 25:17 The troubles of my heart are enlarged: O
bring thou me out of my distresses.
Psa 42:11 Why art thou cast down, O my soul? and
why art thou disquieted within me? hope thou in God: for I shall yet praise him,
who is the health of my countenance, and my God.
Lu 4:18 ". . . he (God) hath sent me (Jesus) to
heal the brokenhearted, . . ."
When we no longer
have a mighty God to go to, only then we have no hope. The Lord knows and
understands the plight of the broken hearted. He asks us to come and seek
Him in time of trouble, and to encourage ourselves, knowing that He will bring
to pass what He has promised.
60
.
Fear of Losing Hope (4)
A. The broken hearted
Isa 53:4 Surely he (Jesus) hath borne our griefs,
and carried our sorrows . . .
Psa 138:3 In the day when I cried thou answeredst
me, and strengthenedst me with strength in my soul.
Jer 30:17 For I will
restore health unto thee, and I will heal thee of thy wounds, saith the LORD;
Isa 61:3 . . . to give unto them beauty for ashes,
the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness;
that they might be called trees of righteousness, the planting of the LORD, that
he might be glorified.
beauty for ashes — . . . literally, “ornamental
headdress” or tiara (Eze_24:17), worn in times of joy, instead of a headdress of
“ashes,” cast on the head in mourning
garment of praise — bright-colored garments,
indicative of thankfulness, instead of those that indicate despondency, as
sackcloth.
oil of joy — Perfumed ointment was poured on the
guests at joyous feasts (Psa_23:5; Psa_45:7, Psa_45:8; Amo_6:6). On occasions of
grief its use was laid aside (2Sa_14:2)(JFB).
61.
Fear of Losing Hope (5)
A. The broken hearted
Psa 55:22 Cast (throw) thy burden upon the
LORD, and he shall sustain (hold, guide, provide) thee: he shall never
suffer the righteous to be moved (slip, shake, fall).
Phi 4:6 Be careful for nothing; but in every thing
by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known
unto God.
Phi 4:7 And the peace of God, which passeth all
understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.
Rom 15:13 Now the God of hope fill you with all joy
and peace in believing, that ye may abound in hope, through the power of the
Holy Ghost.
The Lord is the
"God of Hope." We can find courage and take hold of our hearts by
believing in the reality of the power of the Holy Spirit within us, and
anticipate God filling us with the kind of peace that transcends all our
thoughts, feelings, and wills. The Lord encourages us to articulate every
need (be anxious for nothing) to Him
and to believe that He will take hold of our immediate situation and provide for
our tomorrows, because He will.
What power do we have when our spirit is broken and we
don't know how to feel whole again?
WE HAVE THE POWER OF GOD!
Never give up!
62.
Fear of Losing Hope (6)
A. The broken hearted
Pro 13:12 Hope deferred maketh the heart sick: but
when the desire cometh, it is a tree of life.
Psa 119:114 Thou art my hiding place and my shield:
I hope in thy word.
Psa 38:15 For in thee, O LORD, do I hope: thou wilt
hear, O Lord my God.
Rom 5:5 And hope maketh not ashamed; because the
love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the
Holy Ghost which is given unto us.
As we continue in our
relationship with God, the supernatural love of God is "poured
forth," or "gushes"
into our hearts, in which we discover true purpose, wholeness and direction in
our lives. We experience a living hope because we are made alive in
Christ. The things of this world cannot offer this kind of hope, an
eternal hope, a hope that will not eventually pull the rug from under our feet.
63.
Fear of Losing Hope (7)
A. The broken hearted
Psa 146:5
Happy is he that hath the God of Jacob for his
help, whose hope is in the LORD his God:
Psa 18:28 For thou wilt light my candle: the LORD
my God will enlighten my darkness.
2Co 4:8-9
We are troubled on every side, yet not
distressed; we are perplexed, but not in despair;
Persecuted, but not forsaken; cast down, but not
destroyed;
Troubled ----
to crowd
(literally) afflict (figuratively)
Not Distressed
(not cramped or hemmed in)
Perplexed ---- seeing no way out, mentally lost,
Not Despaired
(not utterly lost)
Persecuted ---- to pursue, suffer,
Not Forsaken
(never left behind or deserted in that
place)
Cast down
---- Thrown down, Not Destroyed
(not lose,
mar, perish)
In the witness of Paul, ". . . that the
life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our mortal
flesh - 2 Cor. 4:11b.
Back to table of contents
64.
Fear of Losing Hope (8)
B. Death
Rom 6:5 For if we have been planted together in the
likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection:
1Th 4:13 But I would not have you to be ignorant,
brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others
which have no hope.
1Th 4:14 For if we believe that Jesus died and rose
again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him.
Although, we understandably
grieve over the loss of our loved ones, we are always in hope as we
simultaneously anticipate our reunion with them. As real as physical death
is, so will be the resurrection and the life at the Lord's return. Death
will no longer have dominion over our bodies.
65.
Fear of Losing Hope (9)
B. Death
1Co 15:26 The last enemy that shall be destroyed is
death.
1Co 15:54 So when this corruptible shall have put
on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be
brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory.
1Co 15:55 O death, where is thy sting? O grave,
where is thy victory?
It is clear in
scripture that God describes death, rightfully so, as an enemy of the human
race. Although Christ has already won the victory over death, its power
over the world will be finally and permanently destroyed in the future.
Death is a curse but through Christ we will see and experience, with Him, His
triumphant victory over death in the first resurrection!
Heb 2:15 And deliver them who through fear of death
were all their lifetime subject to bondage.
Death will not have the final say for the believer, but the saint's hope will be
fulfilled.
66.
Fear of Losing Hope (10)
B. Death
Heb 2:14 Forasmuch then as the children are
partakers of flesh and blood, he (Jesus Christ) also himself likewise took part
of the same; that through death he might destroy him that had the power of
death, that is, the devil;
Rev 1:18 I am he (Jesus) that liveth, and was dead;
and, behold, I am alive for evermore, Amen; and have the keys of hell and of
death.
Rev 21:4 And God shall wipe away all tears from
their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying,
neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away.
1Jo 3:14 We know that we have passed from death
unto life, because we love the brethren. He that loveth not his brother abideth
in death.
The devil is the author of death and not
God. Christ took part in humanity's flesh, that through the Lord's death
and resurrection we will live. The devil's power over death is
already broken, even though we are waiting for the full manifestation of
Christ's victory for us. We have the token of the Holy Spirit living
within us, and the love we have for the brethren testifies to the reality of
God's life within.
Back to table of
contents
67.
Fear of Chronic Insomnia (1)
Pro 3:24 When thou liest down, thou shalt not be
afraid: yea, thou shalt lie down, and thy sleep shall be sweet.
Psa 127:2 It is vain (useless) for you to
rise up early, to sit up late, to eat (feed oneself ) the
bread of sorrows: for so he giveth (makes) his beloved sleep.
Psa 4:8 I will both lay me down in peace, and
sleep: for thou, LORD, only makest me dwell in safety.
We all experience sleepless nights on
occasion, but when we experience prolonged insomnia, we can become concerned
about our health and our ability to function at our best.
When we are truly trusting in the promises of God,
we put our minds at rest and defeat the worry that causes restlessness and robs
us of sleep. We are thankful for the abundance of God's promises (our
inheritance) found in His Word, in which we can fill our minds and hearts with
and reap the benefits of peace.
68.
Fear of Chronic Insomnia (2)
Ecc 5:12 The sleep of a labouring man is sweet,
whether he eat little or much: but the abundance of the rich will not suffer him
to sleep.
Gen 2:21 And the LORD God caused a deep sleep to
fall upon Adam, and he slept: and he took one of his ribs, and closed up the
flesh instead thereof;
Psa 3:5 I laid me down and slept; I awaked; for the
LORD sustained me.
In the wisdom of Solomon, work is a
promising antidote to sleeplessness; however, when our circumstances
exceed the norm, God, Who caused a deep sleep to fall upon Adam, is both
willing and able to bless us with sleep.
69.
Fear of Chronic Insomnia (3)
Luk 12:25 And which of you with taking thought can
add to his stature one cubit
Luk 12:26 If ye then be not able to do that thing
which is least, why take ye thought for the rest?
Luk 12:31 But rather seek ye the kingdom of God;
and all these things shall be added unto you.
Joh 14:27 Peace I leave with you, my peace I give
unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be
troubled, neither let it be afraid.
God reasons with us; if we cannot
perform a small task like adding a cubit to our physical stature, then why are
we worrying about the larger things. What we can do is take one thought at
a time and replace it with a promise of God, nurture and build ourselves up on
that promise, and the power of God
will enter into our situation and enable us to
triumph through Him.
Rom 4:21 And being fully persuaded that, what he
had promised, he was able also to perform.
Back to table of
contents
70.
Fear of Not Receiving One's Salvation or Losing One's Salvation (1)
Act 2:38 And Peter said unto them, Repent
ye, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ unto the
remission of your sins; and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.
Act 2:21 And it shall be, that whosoever
shall call on the name of the Lord shall be saved.
Act 11:16 And I remembered the word of the
Lord, how he said, John indeed baptized with water; but ye shall be
baptized in the Holy Spirit.
1Pe 1:23 Being born again, not of corruptible seed,
but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever.
To repent simply means to acknowledge the
truth of God's message and to likewise respond to His call in faith. It is a
decision to turn away from the old way to God's way by receiving Christ.
To be
baptized simply means that at the moment a
person accepts Christ he or she is given or is baptized in the Holy Spirit.
The Holy Spirit that we received at the moment of salvation, this new nature and
token of our salvation can never be corrupted. We are God's children
forever because we are born again of His seed. This is analogous to, that
no matter what we do, we are always the seed of our parents. Our heavenly
Father knows exactly how to save and to keep those who have placed their trust
in His salvation.
71. Fear of Not Receiving One's Salvation or Losing
One's Salvation (2)
Eph
1:13 In whom ye
also trusted, after that ye heard the word of
truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom
also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with
that holy Spirit of promise,
1Th 5:9
For God hath not appointed us to wrath, but to
obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ,
2Th 2:13
But we are bound to give thanks alway to God for
you, brethren beloved of the Lord, because God
hath from the beginning chosen you to salvation
through sanctification of the Spirit and belief
of the truth:
Sealed:
One of the most important
uses of sealing in antiquity was to give a proof
of authenticity and authority to letters, royal
commands, etc. It served the purposes of a
modern signature at a time when the art of
writing was known to only a few. Thus Jezebel
“wrote letters in Ahab's name, and sealed them
with his seal”
Nehemiah and many others affixed their seal to
the written covenant between God and His people
(Neh_9:38; Neh_10:1 ff). An additional use
was the preservation of books in security. A
roll or other document intended for preservation
was sealed up before it was deposited in a place
of safety.
Christians are sealed
up by the Holy Spirit “unto the day of
redemption” (Eph_1:13; Eph_4:30; 2Co_1:22)
(ISBE)
72.
Fear of Not Receiving One's Salvation or Losing One's Salvation (3)
Isa 49:16 Behold, I have graven thee upon the palms
of my hands; thy walls are continually before me.
Joh 10:28 And I give unto them eternal life; and
they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand.
Joh 10:29 My Father, which gave them me, is greater
than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father's hand.
2Co 7:10 For godly sorrow worketh repentance to
salvation not to be repented of: but the sorrow of the world worketh death.
"Not to be repented of"
means irrevocable.
We need not fear because our salvation is truly founded
on the righteousness of Christ and not on our own works.
Back to table of
contents
73.
Fear of Evil Spirits (1)
Mat 28:18 And Jesus came and spake unto them,
saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth.
Mat 10:1 And when he had called unto him his twelve
disciples, he gave them power against unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to
heal all manner of sickness and all manner of disease.
Mar 3:15 And to have power to heal sicknesses, and
to cast out devils:
Luk 4:36 And they were all amazed, and spake among
themselves, saying, What a word is this! for with authority and power he
commandeth the unclean spirits, and they come out.
We understand and are
confident that the power of Christ far surpasses all the powers of darkness, in
which this same authority and power is given to the church (the body of Christ )
in His name.
74.
Fear of Evil Spirits (2)
Col 1:13 Who hath delivered us from the power of
darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son:
Luk 10:19 Behold, I give unto you power to tread on
serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy: and nothing shall
by any means hurt you.
Mar 16:17 And these signs shall follow them that
believe; In my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new
tongues;
Mar 16:18 They shall take up serpents; and if they
drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them; they shall lay hands on the
sick, and they shall recover.
The moment we received God's
gift of Holy Spirit we were rescued from the powers of darkness and we were
endued with the power of God. As we, from the heart, remain in close
fellowship with God, pray, and believe His Word, God tells us that miraculous
signs will follow.
I'll never forget
the time I was at a Christian retreat. Storm clouds formed and were moving
fairly rapidly in our direction. A young man suggested that we gather
together, hold hands and pray that God would rebuke the pending storm, as the
first few drops of rain began to fall. This very large group gladly
complied, and within minutes the storm clouds, in reverse, moved back into the
direction from whence they came, and the sun appeared and lit up the sky.
We cheered!
75.
Fear of Evil Spirits (3)
Eph 1:6 To the praise of the glory of his grace,
wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved.
Mar 13:34 For the Son of man is as a man taking a
far journey, who left his house, and gave authority to his servants, and to
every man his work, . . .'
Phi 2:10 That at the name of Jesus every knee
should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the
earth;
Mat 10:8 Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise
the dead, cast out devils: freely ye have received, freely give.
The will of God concerning
the powers of darkness is clear. As Christians, we are made lovely and
acceptable in Christ and Christ alone, in which God has given to us the
authority of His name in order to defeat the works of these evil forces.
They have no authority over the body of Christ. They can gain a foothold
if we believe contrary to the revealed will of God in our thoughts and
actions.
Back to table of
contents
76.
Fear of the weakness of the flesh (1)
Rom 7:21 I find then a law, that, when
I would do good, evil is present with me.
Rom 7:22 For I delight in the law of
God after the inward man:
Rom 7:23 But I see another law in my
members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into
captivity to the law of sin which is in my members.
Rom 7:24 O wretched man that I am! who
shall deliver me from the body of this death?
Rom 7:25
I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord. So then with the mind I
myself serve the law of God; but with the flesh the law of sin.
When we walk
according to our fleshly lusts, we are walking according to the law
of sin from which Christ has already won the victory and liberated
us. No matter how many times we
fail to overcome the weaknesses in our flesh our victory remains and
we should never get discouraged. Sometimes, we lack a clear
decision to overcome certain weaknesses, in which the flesh
continues to control us in these areas.
77.
Fear of the weakness of the flesh (2)
Heb 4:15 For we have not an high priest
which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was
in all points tempted (enticed) like as we are, yet without sin.
Heb 4:16 Let us therefore come boldly
unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace
to help in time of need.
Gal 5:16 This I say then, Walk in the
Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh.
Gal 5:17 For the flesh lusteth against
the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary
the one to the other: so that ye cannot do the things that ye would.
Touched with the feeling
Only here and Heb 10:34. This is more than knowledge of human
infirmity. It is feeling it by reason of a common experience with
men (VWS)
Infirmities
Not sufferings, but weaknesses, moral and physical, which predispose
to sin and facilitate it (VWS).
78.
Fear of the weakness of the flesh (3)
1Co 3:1
And I, brethren, could not speak unto you as unto spiritual, but as
unto carnal, even as unto babes in Christ.
1Co 3:3
For ye are yet carnal: for whereas there is among you envying, and
strife, and divisions, are ye not carnal, and walk as men?
2Co 10:4 (
For
the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to
the pulling down of strong holds;)
A
carnal Christian is one who is still ruled by fleshly desires.
In a sense, we should rightly fear the weaknesses of the flesh,
especially for the misery it invites: envy, strife, and divisions,
and if we feel that we have no power over them. Paul tells us
that we are enslaved by the flesh as long as we walk in the flesh,
but in contrast, through the power of God, we can pull these strong
holds down. Paul describes this condition as "spiritual
warfare" and that the weapons of our warfare are spiritual. Have no
fear, because as we walk in the spirit, we will find ourselves
living in the peace and power of God. Through the overcoming power
of God, even our enemies will be at peace with us.
Back to table of
contents
79.
Fear
of sickness (mental, emotional, physical) (1)
A. In regards to sin:
2Ch 7:14
If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray,
and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven,
and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.
Mar 2:17
When Jesus heard it, he saith unto them, They that are whole have no need of the
physician, but they that are sick: I came not to call the righteous, but sinners
to repentance.
Isa 53:5
But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities:
the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed.
1Jo 1:9
If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to
cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
The Lord took the penalty of our rebellion, sin,
transgression, trespasses, moral evils and perversities on Himself for our
"peace-safety"
80
.
Fear of sickness (mental, emotional, physical) (2)
A. In regards to sin:
1Pe 2:24 Who his own self bare our sins in his own
body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness:
by whose stripes ye were healed.
Mar 2:9 Whether is it easier to say to the sick of
the palsy, Thy sins be forgiven thee; or to say, Arise, and take up thy bed, and
walk?
Mar 2:10 But that ye may know that the Son of man
hath power on earth to forgive sins, (he saith to the sick of the palsy,)
Mar 2:11 I say unto thee, Arise, and take up thy
bed, and go thy way into thine house.
Jesus perceived
the faith of the sick man, as well as those who carried him to Jesus and
immediately He forgave him. The scribes mocked him saying, " Why doth this
man thus speak blasphemies? who can forgive sins but God only? Jesus then
performs this miracle of healing the sick man (with palsy) as an outward
manifestation of what He already gave him inwardly, the forgiveness of sins
(Mark 2: 5-12).
81
.
Fear of sickness (mental, emotional, physical) (3)
A. In regards to
sin:
Jam 5:13 Is any among you afflicted [undergo
hardship]? let him pray. Is any merry? let him sing psalms.
Jam 5:14 Is any sick [impotent / diseased ]
among you? let him call for the elders of the church; and let them pray over
him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord:
Jam 5:15 And the prayer of faith shall save the
sick, and the Lord shall raise him up; and if he have committed sins, they shall
be forgiven him.
Jam 5:16 Confess your faults one to another, and
pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a
righteous man availeth much.
This portion of
Scripture brings great encouragement to those who hope in God. As the
saints, in the name of Christ, intercede for one another in prayers of faith and
righteousness, healing is ministered through the grace and power of God.
82.
Fear of sickness (mental, emotional, physical) (4)
B. In general:
Pro 3:7 Be not wise in thine own eyes: fear the
LORD, and depart from evil.
Pro 3:8 It shall be health to thy navel, and marrow
to thy bones.
Psa 91:9 Because thou hast made the LORD, which is
my refuge, even the most High, thy habitation;
Psa 91:10 There shall no evil befall thee, neither
shall any plague come nigh thy dwelling.
Pro. 3:8 Septuagint version renders it,
"to thy body"; and this may be put for the whole
person.
and
marrow to thy bones; or, "watering" to them:
that which irrigates and moistens them, and makes and keeps them strong and
solid. (Gill)
83.
Fear of sickness (mental, emotional, physical) (5)
B. In general:
Phi 2:27 For indeed he was sick nigh unto death:
but God had mercy on him; and not on him only, but on me also, lest I should
have sorrow upon sorrow.
Act 28:8 And it came to pass, that the father of
Publius lay sick of a fever and of a bloody flux: to whom Paul entered in, and
prayed, and laid his hands on him, and healed him.
1Co 12:9 To another faith by the same Spirit; to
another the gifts of healing by the same Spirit;
Psa 67:2 That thy way may be known upon earth, thy
saving health among all nations.
Gifts of healing - is one of the 9
manifestations of the Holy Spirit given to the church of Christ.
Thy saving health - deliverance; hence
aid, victory, prosperity: - deliverance, health, help (-ing), salvation, save,
saving (health), welfare.
As Christians we remember that God is the source of all good; therefore, we
place our faith in Him: He is merciful, has given gifts to the church, and His
ways bring about saving health. Sickness and death bring sorrow.
84.
Fear of sickness
(mental, emotional,
physical) (6)
B. In general:
Psa 103:2 Bless
the LORD, O my soul, and
forget not all his
benefits:
Psa 103:3 Who
forgiveth all thine
iniquities; who healeth
all thy diseases;
Psa 103:4 Who
redeemeth thy life from
destruction; who
crowneth thee with
lovingkindness and
tender mercies;
Psa 103:5 Who
satisfieth thy mouth
with good things; so
that thy youth is
renewed like the
eagle's.
Mar 16:18 They
shall take up serpents;
and if they drink any
deadly thing, it shall
not hurt them; they
shall lay hands on the
sick, and they shall
recover.
The Hebrew title for
the Psalter is "book of
praises."
As Ker well says,
'“The book begins with
benediction, and ends
with praise - first,
blessing to man, and
then glory to God."'
Hymns of praise (ISBE).
David praised the
goodness of God often,
as a recipient and
witness to God's tender
mercies and power.
The Psalms are a very
personal expression of
the human soul reaching
out to God and God
reaching out to us.
Back to table of contents
*Verses from KJV or ASV, definitions from Strong's Heb./Gk. Dictionaries.
All sources - esword, unless otherwise stated.