Why Frightened? Why Doubtful?

"Why are you frightened? Jesus asked. 

Why are your hearts filled with doubt?" 

Luke 24:38 NLT

This is the memory verse for week 3 of the A Confident Heart (ACH) Bible study I am participating in online.  I honestly cannot say it is a verse I would think to memorize and yet, as I took it apart and did a bit of digging God showed me some great application.

The first thing that really hit me was the WHYs.. Jesus did not say Don't be frightened.. Don't have doubtful hearts.. He did not scold or condemn (Romans 8:1 NO Condemnation!).. instead He asked Why?  He wanted those doubting.. those frightened.. to stop and look at why they felt this way.. why they were reacting like this.  I believe He wants us to do the same. To not just accept our fear and doubts, but to stop and look at WHY we have them.  Only when we deal with the why can we get past the fear and doubt.

In fact, I believe it is ok for us to have fear and doubt.  The Message version of this verse says "Don't be upset and don't let all these doubting questions take over."  We can look throughout the Word and find times where someone doubted.  Just read the Psalms or Habakkuk... or what about the Dad in Mark 9 (I believe, Lord help my unbelief!.. Unbelief is a first cousin to doubt.)  Again, no condemnation, but a call here to not allow the doubt (and fear) to take over. 

So what does that look like? Doubt and Fear taking over? And how do we prevent or remedy it?

When we look at the key words in the verse, we get a bit of insight.  Frightened in the Greek is tarasso which means to stir, to agitate, to roll water. Sound familiar? Hop over to James 1 verses 6 through 8. 

But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea that is driven and tossed by the wind. For that person must not suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord; he is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways. 

James equates one who doubts to a wave being tossed about on the sea.. rolling water.. agitated.. stirred up. 

If we look at a modern day dictionary, we will see that Frighten means to make afraid, to drive or force, panic, scare, terrify.  Our fear drives us.. forces us to do or not do things. I spent 8 years captive to fear and panic. Trust me.. in that state you are agitated and stirred up much like that tossing sea.

The opposite of Frighten is reassure.. to restore confidence. And that is exactly what we want and need! 

The other key word is really a phrase... "hearts filled with doubt."  The King James Version says "thoughts arise in your hearts."  The Greek word for Thoughts (translated doubts in our version) is diaglogismos (see dialogue in there?).  It means discussion, internal consideration, debate, doubting, imagination, thought.  All of this happens where? In the Mind... the Battlefield of the Mind!  

The Greek word for heart is kardia and can be translated the heart, but also thoughts, feelings or Mind!   

Heart and Mind.. they go hand-in-hand!

Look at a few of the things the Word tells us concerning our hearts and minds...

Romans 12:2.. Be transformed by the renewing of your mind

Ps. 26:2 Examine your heart and mind

Prov. 4:23 Guard your heart for it is the wellspring of life

Isa 26:3 You want perfect peace? Keep your Mind steadfast on Him.

Matt. 22:37 Love the Lord with all your heart, soul and mind

Eph. 4:23 be made new in the attitude of your minds

Col. 3:2 Set your mind on things above not on earthly things

Rev. 2:23 I AM He who searched the hearts and minds.

Ps. 86:11 Give me an Undivided heart (remember James 1:8 talks about being double-minded.. I would call that a divided mind)

And when you look at a modern day dictionary you find that doubt (as a noun) means an uncertainty of belief or opinion that often interferes with decision-making, hesitation, lack of confidence, inclination NOT to believe.  

Not to Believe!  Takes us back to Mark 9:24 when the doubting father says Lord, I Believe, help my unbelief!  

To Believe starts in your mind but doesn't end there. It is an ACTIVE verb.  Belief brings about action (this is why James says Faith without works is dead.)

So how does this all tie together and what do we do with it? The enemy gets in our head and whispers his lies.. and our flesh latches on and the battle begins.. a debate within our mind over whether or not to trust God..to Believe Him.. and that battle will lead to inaction.  The enemy cannot snatch us from the Lord's hand, but he can keep us ineffective and uninvolved... living a dead faith instead of an abundant life! Remember his goal is to Kill, Steal, and Destroy (John 10:10).  

To prevent this... or do battle once it starts.. we must.. MUST.. be in the Word AND get the Word in us!  There is no other way!  We renew our mind... get to KNOW the one we are called to believe so that we can say with Paul.. I know who I have believed and am convinced (confident!) that He is able to guard what I've entrusted to Him for that day. (2 Tim. 1:12)

2013 Word of the Year Take 2

I am about to start teaching the Spring Bible study for ladies at my church. We are going to step back and do an older Beth Moore Study.. Believing God. I did this one years ago and it still impacts my life. One of the best studies I have ever done.

Last night I piled up and watched the first video....preview and getting ready for when we start next week.  She talks in the video and the work book about the verse that started her on this journey to Believe God.. take Him at His Word.  It is Isa. 43:10...

     You are my witnesses, declares the Lord, and my servant whom I have chosen, 

     so that you may know and believe me and understand that I am He.

KNOW and BELIEVE

Last year my word of the year was a pair of words.. Less.. More.. I think I will amend my 2013 word of the year to be a pair also.. Know.. Believe.

Know there is the Hebrew word Yada ... that intimate knowing that I talked about in my original post.  Believe is the Hebrew word Aman which means to trust, believe, have assurance in, have faith in, put trust in.. and when I look at it, I can't help but see Amen.  So I did a bit of research on the word Amen and found that while it does show up in Greek and Aramaic, its roots are in the Hebrew Aman.

As I grow to know God better.. deeper.. I'll be able to Aman what I knew.. to trust the one who is the Amen (Rev. 3:14)

No matter how many promises God has made, they are "yes" in Christ. And so through Him the "Amen" is spoken by us to the glory of God. 2 Cor. 1:20

Decision without Commitment

"Many have made the decision to beleive in Jesus without making a commitment to follow Jesus."  -- Kyle Idleman Not a Fan

What the Bible says about itself?

I have started a study on Psalm 119... Sweeter than Chocolate by Pam Gillaspie.  I have only done the first few pages and am already loving it and being challenged by it.  

The first thing we are looking at are the claims the Bible makes about itself. The author of the study wrote:

"If God's Word really is what it claims to be; if it really does what it claims to do, and if you choose to align your life with its claims, it could change your life forever. ...  The questions that at the end of the day will make all the difference are these: Is the Bible actually what it claims to be Does the Bible actually do what it claims to do?  If the answers are yes, we are fools if we don't align ourselves according with its truths.  If the answers are no, we are fools if we bother."

She then asks what I, the seeker, know about the claims the Bible makes about itself?  So I did a quick concordance search and found verses that talk about the Word and made a quick list of some of the things the Bible claims about itself.

Here is what I found...

Deut 8:3b Man does not live by bread alone but on every Word that comes from the mouth of the Lord.  

God's Word is as necessary for me to live as food 

Deut 31:26 The Word of Law (specifically the Torah) is a witness against Israel and really against us also. It is a mirror of how we should live that shows our shortcomings and unrighteousness. (Which sounds awful but hang on there is more!)

Joshua 1:8 (one of my favorite verses) Do not let this book of the Law (again at this point the Torah) depart from your mouth; meditate on it day and night so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful.

Word  = Instructions for me on living

Basic Instructions Before Leaving Earth

2 Sam. 22:31 -- The Word of the Lord is FLAWLESS

Ps 19:7-8 .. the Word is perfect, trustworthy, right, radiant.  It revives my soul, makes me wise, give joy to my heart and gives light to my eyes.

v. 9 says it is Sure and altogether righteous.

v. 10 -- it is more precious than gold and sweeter than honey

Ps 119:9 to keep my way pure, I must lie according to the Word

v 11 It keeps me from sinning WHEN it is a part of me

v 105 -- it guides, illuminates

Prov. 30:5 Every word of God is FLAWLESS

Isa 55:11 -- The Word will not come back void.. it will accomplish what God desires and achieve the purpose for which He sent it.

John 1:1 -- the Word has always been and according to v. 14 it became flesh - Jesus!

Luke 21:33 Heaven and Earth will pass away, but my Words will never pass away.

Eph 6:17 -- Sword of the Spirit (our only offensive weapon in the armor of God) is the Word of God.

Phil 2:16 -- It is the Word of Life

Col 3:16 -- It should dwell richly in me.  Col. 3:16 starts with the word LET so it is a choice I make to let it dwell richly in me. How? bu choosing to be in the Word and to have the Word in me!

2 Tim 3:16 - 17 ALL Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness. SO that the man (woman) of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work. 

Heb. 4:12 For the Word of God is living and active, sharper than any double edged sword.  It penetrates even to diving soul and spirit, joints and marrow.  It judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.

I believe every one of those claims.. but I have to ask myself if I live like I believe them? Do I live like I believe God and what He says?

Do you?

I would encourage you to take a bit of time and look up what the Bible says about itself.  And then stop and think of each point you find and decide 1) Do you believe it and 2) Do you live like you do

Barb

I Believe Therefore I Speak.. and Think...

As I read my Daily Devotional this morning, the author talked about how "God wants His people whole -- spirit, soul and body" -- and how "words have power and our bodies will try to fulfill the word we speak."

Several scriptures came to mind as I read that.  2 Cor. 4:13 says we believe therefore we speak.  This verse reminds me to Believe God's Word and to Speak It with assurance and boldness.  I learned some time ago the need to speak God's truth out-loud -- there is power in the Spoken Word!

I also thought how our minds "speak" to us -- no one else hears our thoughts, but we do and they effect us. Romans 12:2 talks of our need to renew our mind. Phil. 4:8 lists the things which should occupy our mind. Things that are pure, righteous, excellent, praiseworthy, lovely, admirable, noble and true.  We should think on these things.

Eph. 4:29 tells us to speak only that which is useful for building up. We usually consider this verse in light of what we say to others and well we should, but we also can apply it to the words we speak to ourselves whether spoken aloud or thought. We need only to build up not tear down.  We must speak the Truth even to ourselves!

Imagine how different our world would be if we spoke only Truth and held to the Phil. 4:8 plumb line in our thought life?

This is not about having a positive attitude, although it is good to be positive instead of negative. It is about walking in the Word... in the truth of our Lord ... with confidence and assurance.

This is how we are able to live life as more than conquerors through Christ Jesus. (Rom. 8:37)

I'm Not Satisfied....

We sang Hillsong's "Believe" in church yesterday.. a powerful song.. I went to bed and woke up with it playing in my head... especially the line "I'm not satisfied...." I'm not, you know. I live life like I am, but deep inside I want more.... more love... more compassion... more passion.... more desire for the Word... to be more burdened for the lost... more of HIM! And today, I am praying for just that... MORE!

I wonder if you are Satisfied with our life as it is... to sit where you are... to stay in your nice comfortable spot and live the status quo? If you want more, there is One and Only One who can give it to you... Jesus! I'm not talking about giving you Stuff... who needs more of that! I am talking about giving you more of Him so that you can live that abundant life He has for you (John 10:10).

If you feel satisfied, pray for God to stir your heart and show you areas in your life where you should want more... where you need more... to make you unsatisfied! If you are already there, praise Him and then share where you are not satisfied and thank Him for the work He is going to do in those areas.