Jan
29
2010
Forgotten God – Chapter 2 – What are you afraid of?
Author: pastoroffishingMost of you know me already as a big anti-fear guy. I am finding that the majority of the reasons things are not done by a church or an individual is the fear of the what-ifs. This fear can be formed out of a variety of things. As stated in the book, fear is normal…but is it a pattern that God wants from us when we read Scriptures?
This is something that is tough for me as I look to those around me. I hate even when I don’t do something because I am a wuss and am afraid. This chapter though focussed alot on are you ready to be open to the Spirit? Are we ready to let our guard down? Can we open our hearts to the Spirit and what He has for us?
Recently in my own walk I have been trying to be more obiedient not so much in the “rules” of the bible but more in how the Holy Spirit is teaching me. Things from being more organized to setting down foundational spiritual disciplines…all of these are keys to a fuller life with Christ. So what makes us afraid to tread into the deeper waters?
Chan has a header that questions, “What if God doesn’t come through?”. I think many times this can be us or the concept that nothing happens so now what? Fear of praying boldy is a difficult journey at times. As Chan continues to write I notice he goes after our own compensation for the lack of answer from him.
There is alot in this chapter…so I want to hear from all of you on what it is that you are afraid of? What slows you down with the Spirit?
“Fear is faithless and Faith is fearless!” – Roth
Tags: American Church, christ-like, christian, fear, fearless, Forgotten God, Frances Chan, God, life, theology
January 29th, 2010 at 9:18 pm
He quotes from the bible “Do not treat Prophesies with contempt”, certainly this is the attitude I’ve seen in many churches. I’m sorry to admit but this has been my attitude at times. I will have to work on this. I need to test everything that is supposedly supernatural rather then outright rejecting it.
January 30th, 2010 at 12:52 pm
THIS IS JOE – I AM A BOY!! ok, that being said – i find myself hiding behind the “What if God does answer” camp – What if the Holy Spirit really does act when I ask – - – So I found myself talking to God about my co-worker George this week. George has had a very rough past – biker guy (and not your pretty t.v. biker guy) hard core – jailtime – beat people up biker guy – that was the old George – he’s still very rough but a good guy and we get along – so, i’ve been talking to God about George – my part of the conversation usually goes “really, George – you want me to talk to George?? What do I do?” so on Wednesday I received my answer – George asks me if my Church has an open house where new people can come check it out – I say “every Sunday is like that”? George says “Hows come you never invited me” yeah OUCH!! I told him he is always welcome and consider this your invite – I followed up on him Friday and made sure he knew that i was true about the invite – Really God? Is it that easy sometimes?? HUMILITY COMES IN MANY DIFFERENT FORMS!!
February 17th, 2010 at 4:16 pm
THIS WAS POSTED BY KELLY ON THE WRONG CHAPTER>>>>FIXING IT
Chap 2 – It’s amazing how the Sunday School class chapter coincides with the Women’s Bible Study every week. Last week the ladies talked about what we were afraid of.
I know it seems silly, but last summer I was really afraid to lead the crafts part of VBS. I HATE public speaking in any shape or form, even if it’s to a bunch of monkeys from 3-11 yrs old. Especially since I had been diagnosed with panic disorder a few years ago. God had spoke to me thru the Women’s Bible study book we were doing at the time telling us to SEIZE EVERY OPPURTUNITY for Him. I said, OK God, I get it. I was thinking of every excuse in the world why I couldn’t do it, (the “what-if syndrome” is how my counselor once put it),but God came back with an answer for every excuse as to why I COULD do it. Well I did it, and had a blast in the meantime!
I had also in the recent past been whining in my cubicle to the Lord (there’s a shocker) that I never felt like I was doing anything worthwile in my job just shuffling papers from one side of my desk to another. A week later I got Federal Jury duty in Phila, and guess who got picked as juror # 1? Ha. I thought Oh my gosh! I’m never going to be able to handle this, Lord you’re gonna have to tell me quick whether or not this person is really guilty and make it obvious so I’m not the only person with that opinion. I’ll never be able to convince 11 others (one a Muslim)that he’s not guilty just because “the Lord told me”. I’d end up in the looney bin! As soon as I walked in the first day & saw the accused’s face I heard God say to me in my head, “He’s innocent”. As the trial went on for the next 3 days everybody else discovered that was the truth as well. Another man was put on the stand to testify about the crime & he confessed to it all!
So I know that I can trust God in the little things, why do I have a problem trusting Him with the bigger things? Such as what’s going to happen in the next two months when I’m laid off, and why am I afraid to go for a job that’s my hearts desire instead of paper shuffling in a 4×4 cube? Why am I afraid of success if I know “through Him I can do all things”?