Our SECURITY is where we go for strength, where we find our security, confidence, and safety. But whatever power we trust to take care of us, it takes over us. So we need to make sure our protector wants us to surrender not to his control, but to his care. Good security protects our freedom, not our walls. The fruits of FAITH include peace, confidence, courage, calm, focus, and hope. A bad protector keeps us in the spirit of FEAR, making us and others bear the fruits of insecurity, worry, anxiety, doubt, panic, and nervousness.
HARMFUL ways to take security, strength, and safety, and what harm they cause
Idolizing a person (see Samson in Judges 13) or an institution (Israel and its kings, 1&2 Samuel) * Don’t fear and fall for popular conspiracy theories: You’ll stumble into a trap Isa 8: 12-5 * Dealing with the devil to make your world safe: Disaster for Judas, Luke 22: 3-53, Acts 1:16-25
NATURAL, NEUTRAL ways to take security and safety, and what results from these
Worrying about tomorrow, your body, your death weighs you down Pr 12:25, 29:25; Matt 6: 25-34 * Trusting in your own heart (deceitful Jer. 17:9) or judgmental (Pr 14:12): self-help will exhaust you.
HELPFUL, HEALTHY ways to take security and safety, and what good comes from these
Make the Lord your refuge: no evil will conquer you, God will rescue and honor you Psalm 91: 9-16 * When in court facing prison and torture, trust God to put words into your mouth Matt 10: 16-8 * Your awareness can dwell on/live in your body, heart, mind, or soul. Focus on/Live in your soul, as no one can touch you there, because that’s where God is in complete control Matt 10: 28-31 * Trust that the presence of God calms storms, including our storms of fear and doubt Matt 14:22-34 * Ask God for more faith: worked well for father of demoniac son Mark 9 and Thomas Jo 20: 24-8 * Trust God as sheep trust a shepherd (Ps 23); listen for the voice of the Good Shepherd Jo 10:10-6 * Reframe suffering to see the full part of glass; find fellowship with Christ’s suffering 2 Cor 4:8-12 * Believe the faith God gives is the first sign of other supernatural things God will also do Heb 11:1
Memorize, remember, and trust in the promises of God:
“The Lord is my helper; I will not be afraid. What can mere mortals do to me?” Ps 118: 6, Mt 10: 28, Heb 13: 6 * “Seek the kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need. And don’t worry about tomorrow, for it will bring its own worries.” Matt 6: 33-4 NLT * “We know that God causes everything to work together for good for those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them…. Nothing can ever separate us from God’s love. Rom 8: 28,38 NLT * God doesn’t take all our fears and doubts away. Our thorns in the flesh are left to keep us humbly aware of our need for God, for the strength that’s made perfect in weakness. 2Cor 12: 7b-10 * “Don’t be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus…. Whatever is true…noble…right…pure…lovely…admirable, think about such things.” Phil 4: 6-8 NIV * “For God has not given us a spirit of fear and timidity, but of power, love, and self-discipline.” 2 Tim 1:7 * “Cast all your anxiety on him, because he cares for you. And after you have suffered for a little while, God will himself restore, support, strengthen, and establish you.” 1 Pet 5: 7,10-1 NRSV