THE FEARFUL

THE FEARFUL 

Teaching By Pastor Joel Dabbas 

SCRIPTURE: But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death | Revelation 21:8 KJV

The Scripture reveals what can take one into the lake of fire and it opens with "the fearful" at the top of the order. What is in fear that God will decide to throw anyone out of the Kingdom because of It? Why is it that God won't condone the fearful in the Kingdom?
There are different types of fear. Many times you would have been afraid because of one thing or the order. For instance if all of a sudden you hear that there is a lion running down the street, you will be afraid and run for safety. The adrenaline surge will be immediately triggered because of the information you just received. This is fear that pushes you to look for safety. This is not the type of fear God is talking about here. The type of fear God is talking about is that fear that impacts the soul of a man. Any fear that makes one sale his soul to the devil will take anyone from the Kingdom of God.

For instance:

1. Those Who Because Of Fear Couldn't Reject The Mark Of The Beast:

"It has been decreed by God that whoever excepts the mark of the beast will not enter into Heaven" (Revelation 14:9-10).
The events after the rapture of the Church will be so horrific, i can't even imagine it. In Revelation 13:17 the Scripture states that the anti-Christ will tighten the situation of things to the point that people cannot buy or sell except they have the mark of the beast. Now those believers who were not raptured will have to pay for their salvation with their own blood. And many for the fear of survival, the prevailing circumstances and laws will give in. These are in the class of the fearful. That is is why i beg of you to lead your life in a way that is pleasing and acceptable unto God. So that you and I will be part of the first flight when Christ returns.


2. Those Who Are Too Fearful To Be Called Christian:

"Whosoever therefore shall be ashamed of me and of my words in this adulterous and sinful generation; of him also shall the Son of man be ashamed, when he cometh in the glory of his Father with the holy angels" (Mark 8:38).
I checked the word ashamed in the Oxford English dictionary and I picked up these two meanings:
First it is to be embarrassed or guilty because of one's actions, characteristics, or associations.
Second, it is to be reluctant to do something through fear of embarrassment or humiliation.
There are times people feel embarassed to stand for Jesus and His word in the society, amongst friends, colleagues and so on. They bury their head in shame and flow with the crowd.
When they are attacked by group of mockers they become afraid and disassociate themselves with Jesus.
There are those who are ashamed amongst friends to be known by Jesus. Also there are those who are ashamed to make a post about Jesus on social media. I have seen many who won't hold their Bible just because they are ashamed of carrying the word of God or called a Christian.
When I was in the university, there were times I have been mocked at for carrying the Bible. One time some Muslims threatened me for carrying the Bible. I was bold and not ashamed of the Gospel. Apostle Paul said in Romans 1:16 "For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek."
When people are doing wrong thing in your place of work; they want to manipulate figures and so on. Stand like Daniel and friends for God. Don't because of the fear of condemnation and mockery of friends, family and the society become ashamed to be named with Jesus.

3. Those Who Were Too Fearful And Denied The Lord Jesus:

Jesus says: "But he that denieth me before men shall be denied before the angels of God" (Luke 12:9). 
I have heard of believers and pastors in Northern Nigeria who during crisis and persecution for the fear of been killed denied Jesus. Some of them even after denouncing Jesus were killed. There are sisters who have denied Jesus because they wanted money and the good life. There are brothers who have denounced the Lord because they want a good job and so on.
These are part of the fearful. When your conviction is tested, two things are called into play. It is either you chicken out or stand firm for Jesus. We are in perilous times already things will come up to test our resolve and conviction in God don't deny Jesus.
Recently, the Boko Haram sect in Northern Nigeria beheaded a pastor and posted the video on the internet: because he refused to denounce Christianity and our Lord Jesus. There is another young girl (a fifteen year old) by the name Lydia a secondary school student who was abducted by the Islamic sect and was not released because she refused to deny Jesus. And many people through history and many nations have stood valiantly even in the face of death for Jesus. They refuse to be the FEARFUL but the FEARLESS.


4. Those Who Are Too Fearful To Overcome Evil Manipulation:

Then there are those who are bound by fear and have become too fearful because of evil reports and bad news. Their hearts and soul is now encapsulated by it. For instance the doctor says that the condition is bad and from that time you allowed the devil to grip your spirit, soul and body with fear. You suddenly forget the divine promises of God and all you can think of is that lie of the devil. This is been fearful and can drive one away from the Kingdom. If you are passing through such right now don't go through it in fear. David said "even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death I fear no evil." What you are passing through should not become the reason to be fearful. Be bold and very courageous holding unto "Jesus the author and finisher of our faith."
Don't allow yourself be overcome by the spirit of fear that the devil is trying to use to deceive people today. Some from the fear of the situation they are in have disbelieved God and abused God. Some just like Jobs' wife have said "curse God and die" This are sins that leads to damnation. Never allow any condition manipulate you against God.

5. Those Ahat Are Too Fearful To Be Single:

There are Christian ladies who have kept themselves all along and because it seems there is delay or marriage is not forthcoming as they thought or for the fear of never been married or able to give birth because of menopause, they begin to engage in fornication. And some of them have come up with logic backing what they are doing. They fell because of fear.

Why is God not interested in the fearful?

A. Who you are afraid of determines who you will give your allegiance to:

Any fear that steals your allegiance to God, His words and kingdom makes God uninterested in having you with Him in glory.

B. Who you are afraid of is the one who will Lord over your life or control you

Anything you are afraid of is what you will honour and what you honour will Lord over you.

C. When you are afraid you abuse God's presence:

Psalm 23:4 says that
"Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me." God's presence in you and with you when acknowledged kills fear and makes you not to become the fearful.

D. To be fearful is to have a strange spirit: "For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind" (2 Timothy 1:7 KJV)
People who are fearful are controlled by a spirit that is alien to the kingdom.

"Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, he 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; And deliver them who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage. For verily he took not on him the nature of angels; but he took on him the seed of Abraham" (Hebrews 2:14-16; KJV)
Do you see that? One of the reasons that Jesus had to put on the human body and not come in the form of an angel was to pull people whose soul were bound in perpetual fear. Mankind was terrorized by the slave master the devil and he ruled man by fear. The devil captures men by fear and rules them by fear.

Finally, Remember that any fear that is looking for your soul, looking for how to disconnect you from God will take you out of eternity with God.