Hello Everyone,

Fear Destroys our Lives.

Proverbs 29:25 Fear of man will prove to be a snare, but whoever trusts in the LORD is kept safe.

A snare is a trap. What does a trap do? Immobilize! Makes you ineffective!

In our text the enemy wants to trap Nehemiah with fear. There was a prophet named Shemaiah, not a real man of God, but a hireling who did it just for money.

The enemy uses Shemaiah by paying him to set a trap. He hid in his house and pretended his life was in danger. He got Nehemiah's attention and urged him to run ... an attempt to get him to leave the work of the wall.

In v. 12 Nehemiah recognized Satan's fear trap. Satan is still laying that trap for us today.

Fear brings a snare, and it also brings torment.

1 John 4:18 There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love.

You can torment yourself physically with fear. Anxiety, ulcers, high blood pressure, stomach problems of all kinds.

Fear is to the body what sand is to machinery. But faith is like oil.

Fear brings a snare, torment, and...Fear brings bondage.

Hebrews 2:15 and free those who all their lives were held in slavery by their fear of death..

Many cannot enjoy the moment because they are so afraid of what might happen.

Some can't fully enjoy their own children because they're so afraid of what might befall them. They become overprotective, and that breeds fear into those children, and it becomes a vicious cycle.

Some can't focus on their job because they are so afraid of losing it. Some can't enjoy life because of fear of death, or losing their health. Every time they hear about a disease they think they've got it. They hear symptoms and think they are developing them, psychosomatically.

Fear destroys our lives, degrades our Lord...

Fear Delights our Enemy.

Nehemiah was a gifted leader, but it doesn't matter if he is paralyzed with fear, his talents would be of no value.

And if we don't use our gifts, we fail to be a blessing to God, but we delight the enemy.

Matthew 25:25 So I was afraid and went out and hid your talent in the ground. See, here is what belongs to you.’

What is the answer to fear? Do what Nehemiah did. Stay God focused, rather than enemy focused. Remember His sovereignty, providence, and POWER.

1 John 4:4 You, dear children, are from God and have overcome them, because the one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world.

Psalm 27:1 The LORD is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? the LORD is the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?

Romans 8:31 What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us?

Fear of God alleviates all other fears. And if you kneel before God, you can stand before man!

Greater Things Are Still To Come!

Pastor Phil