Let's talk about FEAR again

We have choices to make and a mission to fulfill

These are my own words and AI is not used. Have grace. I’m not great at writing and grammar is like kryptonite.

The kitchen table is a familiar place, a safe place, where we fellowship with other members of the Watchmen Community and more broadly the Body of Christ. Something affected me several weeks ago that I’ve been thinking about quite a bit. A follower made a critical statement of the Technology Roundtable because it causes him fear, anxiety, and fatigue. Each of our panelists, John Haller, Britt Gillette, Patrick Wood, Pete Garcia, Tom Hughes, David Bowen have meaningful updates to share. Our role as Watchmen—no different than your own, by the way—leads to sharing what we’re concerned about. In the green room, as Pastor John likes to call it, there is a sizable viewership all with various backgrounds. What we talk about is worrisome. How could it not be? We try to take what we call a commercial break to encourage listeners. It is a difficult line we’re trying to walk … and I know we don’t always get it right.

As I process my own fear and anxious thoughts from time to time, fear is a feeling that I can personally relate to. Let’s talk about this a bit. We definitely see how peace and safety for Israel could be achieved in our near future. There are various opinions about this, but I think the consensus is that for many decades of conflict, no one could really see how peace would be possible anytime soon. With the war effort showing so much progress, doesn’t it appear like a major setback is coming for the enemies of Israel? It does to me. And with this, everything is falling into place at an ever increasing rate. Imaging Israel living in (relative) peace and safety isn’t such a stretch anymore.

But the struggle with fear is real, isn’t it?

A growing awareness

This is personal, but I’m being impressed right now that I have to take on a warrior’s mentality. What keeps rolling around in my head is to work on more mental toughness for what is coming. I’m not setting my expectation that maintaining normal is possible. At the fringes of my mind, not yet fully coalesced, is this notion that total, complete, and focused attention for the final yards of the race is coming.

When? I don’t know. But it just feels closer now.

Total commitment to my wife, family, Bible Study, Church community, and my many ministry initiatives and the amazing volunteers that are helping. It’s funny how having that kind of focus changes our field of view. For me, it seems like things in the periphery of my direct observation are less pronounced. Things that have the most Gospel impact and the are the lowest hanging fruit are brighter and more distinct. If we are so close to the conclusion of the Church Age then this is what we would expect. Life should get simpler. Our choices are more in alignment with the prompting of the Holy Spirit.

Key Verses

Distressing times are no further than the chatter on the latest news broadcast. It seems like there is a flood of priming for very bad things to come. Part of me knows that we’ll see some of it, but the Lord will take us at exactly the right point in time. No sooner, no later than the Father has chosen. I heard a sweet conversation describing how Jesus is sitting on the throne and LONGING to bolt out of his chair to come and get us. His anticipation to bring his Bride to the Father’s house is growing each day. This is something that we should tenderly hold in our minds. He wants us and wants to be with us. And it will happen soon enough. One day shorter each and every day.

But we also need to be girded by Scripture. Not more YouTube videos, although those are helpful. Scripture is where we should be spending much more time now. So, let’s go over a list of Scriptures that can help us with perspective.

INSTRUCTIONS — Please read these slowly. They are not in a particular order. Just let each verses speak to your spirit. Listen for what the Lord wants to say to you. Grasp the love He has for you. He is equipping us right now.

Nehemiah 8:9–10 “Then Nehemiah, who was the governor, and Ezra the priest [and] scribe, and the Levites who taught the people said to all the people, “This day is holy to the LORD your God; do not mourn or weep.” For all the people were weeping when they heard the words of the law. 10 Then he said to them, “Go, eat of the fat, drink of the sweet, and send portions to him who has nothing prepared; for this day is holy to our Lord. Do not be grieved, for the joy of the LORD is your strength.”

Habakkuk 3:17–19 “Though the fig tree should not blossom And there be no fruit on the vines, [Though] the yield of the olive should fail And the fields produce no food, Though the flock should be cut off from the fold And there be no cattle in the stalls, 18 Yet I will exult in the LORD, I will rejoice in the God of my salvation. 19 The Lord GOD is my strength, And He has made my feet like hinds’ [feet,] And makes me walk on my high places. For the choir director, on my stringed instruments.”

Isaiah 12:2 “Behold, God is my salvation, I will trust and not be afraid; For the LORD GOD is my strength and song, And He has become my salvation.”

Zephaniah 3:14–17 “Shout for joy, O daughter of Zion! Shout [in triumph,] O Israel! Rejoice and exult with all [your] heart, O daughter of Jerusalem! 15 The LORD has taken away [His] judgments against you, He has cleared away your enemies. The King of Israel, the LORD, is in your midst; You will fear disaster no more. 16 In that day it will be said to Jerusalem: “Do not be afraid, O Zion; Do not let your hands fall limp. 17 “The LORD your God is in your midst, A victorious warrior. He will exult over you with joy, He will be quiet in His love, He will rejoice over you with shouts of joy.”

Philippians 3:1 “Finally, my brethren, rejoice in the Lord. To write the same things [again] is no trouble to me, and it is a safeguard for you.”

Psalm 112:6–8 “For he will never be shaken; The righteous will be remembered forever. 7 He will not fear evil tidings; His heart is steadfast, trusting in the LORD. 8 His heart is upheld, he will not fear, Until he looks [with satisfaction] on his adversaries.”

Psalm 118:14–15 “The LORD is my strength and song, And He has become my salvation. 15 The sound of joyful shouting and salvation is in the tents of the righteous; The right hand of the LORD does valiantly.“

Hebrews 10:31-39 “It is a terrifying thing to fall into the hands of the living God. 32 But remember the former days, when, after being enlightened, you endured a great conflict of sufferings, 33 partly by being made a public spectacle through reproaches and tribulations, and partly by becoming sharers with those who were so treated. 34 For you showed sympathy to the prisoners and accepted joyfully the seizure of your property, knowing that you have for yourselves a better possession and a lasting one. 35 Therefore, do not throw away your confidence, which has a great reward. 36 For you have need of endurance, so that when you have done the will of God, you may receive what was promised. 37 FOR YET IN A VERY LITTLE WHILE, HE WHO IS COMING WILL COME, AND WILL NOT DELAY. 38 BUT MY RIGHTEOUS ONE SHALL LIVE BY FAITH; AND IF HE SHRINKS BACK, MY SOUL HAS NO PLEASURE IN HIM. 39 But we are not of those who shrink back to destruction, but of those who have faith to the preserving of the soul.”

1 Peter 4:12–13 “Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery ordeal among you, which comes upon you for your testing, as though some strange thing were happening to you; 13 but to the degree that you share the sufferings of Christ, keep on rejoicing, so that also at the revelation of His glory you may rejoice with exultation.“

John 15:9-11 “Just as the Father has loved Me, I have also loved you; abide in My love. 10 “If you keep My commandments, you will abide in My love; just as I have kept My Father’s commandments and abide in His love. 11 “These things I have spoken to you so that My joy may be in you, and [that] your joy may be made full.”

Psalm 51:12 “Restore to me the joy of Your salvation And sustain me with a willing spirit.”

1 John 1:1–4 “What was from the beginning, what we have heard, what we have seen with our eyes, what we have looked at and touched with our hands, concerning the Word of Life-- 2 and the life was manifested, and we have seen and testify and proclaim to you the eternal life, which was with the Father and was manifested to us-- 3 what we have seen and heard we proclaim to you also, so that you too may have fellowship with us; and indeed our fellowship is with the Father, and with His Son Jesus Christ. 4 These things we write, so that our joy may be made complete.“

John 17:13 “But now I come to You; and these things I speak in the world so that they may have My joy made full in themselves.“

1 Peter 1:8–9 “…and though you have not seen Him, you love Him, and though you do not see Him now, but believe in Him, you greatly rejoice with joy inexpressible and full of glory, 9 obtaining as the outcome of your faith the salvation of your souls.“

Isaiah 61:1–3 “The Spirit of the Lord GOD is upon me, Because the LORD has anointed me To bring good news to the afflicted; He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, To proclaim liberty to captives And freedom to prisoners; 2 To proclaim the favorable year of the LORD And the day of vengeance of our God; To comfort all who mourn, 3 To grant those who mourn [in] Zion, Giving them a garland instead of ashes, The oil of gladness instead of mourning, The mantle of praise instead of a spirit of fainting. So they will be called oaks of righteousness, The planting of the LORD, that He may be glorified.“

Jeremiah 31:13b–14 “…For I will turn their mourning into joy And will comfort them and give them joy for their sorrow. 14 “I will fill the soul of the priests with abundance, And My people will be satisfied with My goodness,” declares the LORD.“

Psalm 16:9–11 “Therefore my heart is glad and my glory rejoices; My flesh also will dwell securely. 10 For You will not abandon my soul to Sheol; Nor will You allow Your Holy One to undergo decay. 11 You will make known to me the path of life; In Your presence is fullness of joy; In Your right hand there are pleasures forever.“

John 16:22 “Therefore you too have grief now; but I will see you again, and your heart will rejoice, and no one [will] take your joy away from you.”

Psalm 100:1–4 “A Psalm for Thanksgiving. Shout joyfully to the LORD, all the earth. 2 Serve the LORD with gladness; Come before Him with joyful singing. 3 Know that the LORD Himself is God; It is He who has made us, and not we ourselves; [We are] His people and the sheep of His pasture. 4 Enter His gates with thanksgiving [And] His courts with praise. Give thanks to Him, bless His name. 5 For the LORD is good; His lovingkindness is everlasting And His faithfulness to all generations.“

1 Thessalonians 5:16–18 “Rejoice always; 17 pray without ceasing; 18 in everything give thanks; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.“

Psalm 126:5–6 “Those who sow in tears shall reap with joyful shouting. 6 He who goes to and fro weeping, carrying [his] bag of seed, Shall indeed come again with a shout of joy, bringing his sheaves [with him.]“

Isaiah 35:10 “And the ransomed of the LORD will return And come with joyful shouting to Zion, With everlasting joy upon their heads. They will find gladness and joy, And sorrow and sighing will flee away.“

Joshua 1:9 “Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous! Do not tremble or be dismayed, for the LORD your God is with you wherever you go.”

Psalm 28:7–9 “The LORD is my strength and my shield; My heart trusts in Him, and I am helped; Therefore my heart exults, And with my song I shall thank Him. 8 The LORD is their strength, And He is a saving defense to His anointed.“

Conclusion

We have choices to make and a mission to fulfill:

• Fear grows when believers magnify circumstances, evil, and human threats.

• Joy grows when believers magnify salvation, God’s sovereignty, and Christ’s finished work.

• Since “the joy of the Lord is your strength” (Nehemiah 8:10), joy is treated not as optional emotion but as a spiritual weapon against fear, despair, and intimidation.

• Salvation is the core antidote to fear: if God has forgiven sin, defeated death, and secured eternal life, then present troubles cannot ultimately destroy the believer.

We have to trust in the Lord

If we don’t trust, He Himself is still faithful. What I’m saying is that it’s His plan, His will, and His timing. It is not about us. We are the object of His affection, remember? We do not control our lives under the withering Antichrist spirit overshadowing the entire world right now. But even if we do, that does not mean that we recoil for long or disengage from the battlefield. He has the victory. He has imputed His righteousness and secured you forever to Himself. What does that mean to you? He gave us a hope and a future. We are not alone. Have you considered why this is? There are people that will come alongside each of us, because we are the Body of Christ and that is what we do.

Keep looking up. Be about the Father’s business. Our redemption could be today!

Take being ready for your wedding seriously. Imagine what that looks like. Are you spotless and pure? Are you yearning to see the Lord soon? Are you focused on seeing Him? Do you want to please Him—especially through your obedience? Are you sensitive to the nudges and impressions from the Holy Spirit? Is He guiding you to what your portion is for this season? Do you thank Him for the way He sustains you?

Do you think your marriage to our Lord Jesus is still far off? Are you living half-in and half-out of the world? Are you distracted with the pleasures of this world? Do these distractions keep your eyes from focusing on Jesus? Are you looking around and not up for the fulness of your redemption? Are you solving long-standing sin problems in your life? Are you growing in maturity and faith? Do you open your hands and pray like a child: “Abba, I want to finish well and to please You … so please help me.” Do you live in service to your family, friends, and others? Are you reading the Word?

As I look at the state of the world right now, it’s hard not to see how unsustainable everything is.

I don’t get the impression it’s going to improve. Tom Hughes taught me that (Israel + Technology) are the authoritative signals as to the nearness of the hour. Do you have alarm bells ringing? The Watchmen and Watchwomen in the audience are at various levels of personal conviction about the nearness of the hour, but from my point of view, I am starting to feel a great sense of urgency. I told I friend today that I feel restless. Now, isn’t that interesting?

God bless you, Brothers and Sisters! I am cheering for you!

#Maranatha

YBIC,
Scott