Fear Filters
A few nights ago, I received a practical picture from the Lord concerning how the church is to cope with fear. Let me say, before I continue, that I strongly believe God-given illustrations aid in the remembrance and application of devoted execution. So I hope and pray this word bears fruit among the body of Christ.
In the case of this word, filter is the object and fear is the subject. If we combine subject and object into one, then, clearly, we derive what will be our primary term for this particular blog: fear filter.
The parameters are quite wide is defining fear’s framework here: fear of man, fear of the times, fear of failure and rejection, fear of death, etc. Many fears, on a day by day basis, inevitably hit our fear filter. So if heart is the filter, then God is the repairman. However, a filter isn’t cleaned without physical intervention. Before a repairman can work, he must be called first.
We, as one church, must open ourselves up for holy purification. We cannot control what flows into our filters, but we can make sure that what flows out is pure, clean and full of fear of the Lord (loving what God loves, hating what God hates).
Eschatology, from this point on, will always be a hot ecclesiastical topic. And the temptation to give into fear will generally increase near proportionally to the amount of uncertainty outside church doors. But what about the sanctuary? What will happen inside the house of God, surrounding the altar? That is one of several questions churning within me.
The charge is simple: tune up your antennas, brothers. Make straight its direction, sisters. Do not be afraid to ask the question, “What will our response be within church doors?” For it is, with a spirit of devoted faith, a trust in Jehovah Jireh that whatever is conceived internally can and will have a profound missional effect on the lost. So no matter what the degree of adversity is, faith-based solidarity will strengthen among a community contending for the Kingdom.
It is by God and God alone that man-based fear can be absorbed and terminated. Remember that a fear filter is more corporate than individualistic. As a union of persons seeking reformation and transformation to the likeness of Christ, it is righteousness that compels us to look out for another’s fear filter.
So fear not. Do not fret over what cannot be controlled by finite action (i.e. what flows to the fear filter). Let God in. Let him continually adjust, tweak, align and fix us so what flows out pleases and honors Him.
Acts 9:31 captures this word perfectly (note the unity among locations):
31 “So the church throughout all Judea and Galilee and Samaria had peace and was being built up. And walking in the fear of the Lord and in the comfort of the Holy Spirit, it multiplied.”
I may come back to this and add on, but for now, I believe you understand the jist of this piece.
In the case of this word, filter is the object and fear is the subject. If we combine subject and object into one, then, clearly, we derive what will be our primary term for this particular blog: fear filter.
We, as one church, must open ourselves up for holy purification. We cannot control what flows into our filters, but we can make sure that what flows out is pure, clean and full of fear of the Lord (loving what God loves, hating what God hates).
Eschatology, from this point on, will always be a hot ecclesiastical topic. And the temptation to give into fear will generally increase near proportionally to the amount of uncertainty outside church doors. But what about the sanctuary? What will happen inside the house of God, surrounding the altar? That is one of several questions churning within me.
The charge is simple: tune up your antennas, brothers. Make straight its direction, sisters. Do not be afraid to ask the question, “What will our response be within church doors?” For it is, with a spirit of devoted faith, a trust in Jehovah Jireh that whatever is conceived internally can and will have a profound missional effect on the lost. So no matter what the degree of adversity is, faith-based solidarity will strengthen among a community contending for the Kingdom.
It is by God and God alone that man-based fear can be absorbed and terminated. Remember that a fear filter is more corporate than individualistic. As a union of persons seeking reformation and transformation to the likeness of Christ, it is righteousness that compels us to look out for another’s fear filter.
So fear not. Do not fret over what cannot be controlled by finite action (i.e. what flows to the fear filter). Let God in. Let him continually adjust, tweak, align and fix us so what flows out pleases and honors Him.
Acts 9:31 captures this word perfectly (note the unity among locations):
31 “So the church throughout all Judea and Galilee and Samaria had peace and was being built up. And walking in the fear of the Lord and in the comfort of the Holy Spirit, it multiplied.”
I may come back to this and add on, but for now, I believe you understand the jist of this piece.
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