We are continuing in our study of the Doctrine of "No fear" per the mandate for the believer not to fear that is found in Matt 10:28,31; Rev 2:10; Isa 41:10; LXX.
The word translated "fear" in these passages is the Greek word "phobeo" in the imperative mood.
In the Matthew passage, Matthew records that TLJC presents fear in two ways, in a positive way as in fear, respect, awe, or reverence toward God and in a negative way as the emotional sin of fear that is a mental attitude sin.
Both are commands to the believer since they are both in the imperative mood of command in the original language. We started to look at the Lord's command not to fear first.
The emotional sin of fear is characterized by panic when one is in a dangerous situation or under sudden pressure. When someone is intimidated they are usually under pressure to compromise their norms and standards.
In such a state, the application of the principles of Bible Doctrine may become less important to the believer than the desire for security or self preservation.
Fear and the divinely provided spiritual mechanics of the PPOG cannot coexist in the believer's soul because function in the PPOG and function in the kosmic system are mutually exclusive.
We saw that the Faith Rest Drill is God's solution to fear, which when matured per 1Cor 13:13 ultimately completely drives out fear 1John 4:18;
Faith-rest as a problem-solving device is broken down into four stages:
(1) Claiming promises,
(2) concentration on doctrinal rationales,
(3) arriving at doctrinal conclusions of how the seven remaining problem-solving devices should be applied to the situation, and
(4) the committing of injustices to the supreme court of heaven under the Royal Family Honor Code.
In stage one, Faith reaches out and claims promises. This presumes that the believer knows some promises through their Perception of Bible Doctrine in Bible class.
God has made promises to the three categories of mankind; Israel, the Gentiles and the Church and we are looking at some of the promises that God has made to each category.
Last time we started looking at Paul's statement in Phil 4:12; and at the moment we are examining the prosperity he had based on his heritage as an Israelite, a Roman citizen, a Pharisee, and a member of Sanhedrin, the Jewish Judiciary.
Paul describes himself as a "Hebrew of Hebrews." because his lineage as part of the tribe of Benjamin can be traced back to Abraham through Jacob and Rachel.
It is from this background that Paul knew "how to live in prosperity, but his life was not always overtly prosperous since he is in prison when he writes this.
Paul was appointed by God as the apostle to the gentiles and his presentation of the Gospel to the gentiles ultimately let him into Europe. In his travels, he often lived on the most meager of provisions while encountering extreme difficulties from many sources.
Paul describes what he had endured to the believers at Corinth.
2Cor 11:3 I am afraid, lest as the serpent deceived Eve by his craftiness, your minds should be led astray from the simplicity and purity of devotion to Christ.
v 4 For if one comes and preaches another Jesus whom we have not preached, or you receive a different spirit which you have not received, or a different gospel which you have not accepted, you bear this beautifully.
False teachers had come into the Corinthian church and led many astray into legalism while boasting that they were as qualified to be apostles as was Paul. In refuting their claims Paul describes the adversity he faced as a true apostle of Christ.
2Cor 11:22 Are they Hebrews? So am I. Are they Israelites? So am I. Are they descendants of Abraham? So am I.
v 23 Are they servants of Christ? (I speak as if insane) I more so; in far more imprisonments (Acts 16:23), beaten times without number, often in danger of death.
v 24 Five times I received from the Jews thirty-nine lashes.
v 25 Three times I was beaten with rods (Acts 16:22), once I was stoned (Acts 14:19), three times I was shipwrecked, a night and a day I have spent in the deep (Acts 27).
v 26 I have been on frequent journeys, in dangers from rivers, dangers from robbers, dangers from my countrymen, dangers from the Gentiles, dangers in the city, dangers in the wilderness, dangers on the sea, dangers among false brethren.
v 27 I have been in labor and hardship, through many sleepless nights, in hunger and thirst, often without food, in cold and exposure (1 Corinthians 4:9-13).
v 28 Apart from such external things there is the daily pressure upon me of concern for all the churches.
This provides us with some idea of what Paul means when he writes in Philippians 4:11a; "I know how to get along with humble means."
Paul learned that regardless of his circumstances that he could be content. This indicates that no matter what the situation, Paul was in a complete state of contentment and gratitude that was the result of his having learned "secret of being filled and going hungry, both of having abundance and suffering need".
He had learned to be completely dependent on TLJC for his situation. He describes this in Phil 4:13 I can do all things through Him who strengthens me.
In this passage the Greek word for "strengthen" is the present active participle of the verb "endunamoo" "I can keep on doing all things by means of the one who keeps on empowering me."
Because of this, Paul has absolute confident expectation in God's provision for himself and other believers.
He speaks to the believers at Philippi regarding this in Phil 4:19 My God shall supply all your needs according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus.
We learn from this that those who are focused on fulfilling the assignment God delegates to them will not only be supernaturally supplied but also supernaturally protected.
When we keep on advancing in the PPOG, God will keep us alive until the day arrives that He has determined is the time for us to exit this planet and not before.
Therefore, believers never need worry about their logistical provision or situation in life.
Psalm 84:11 - No good thing does He withhold from those who walk with integrity.
God's promises for life include the provision of food to eat.
Psalm 37:25 I have been young and now I am old, yet I have not seen the righteous forsaken or his descendants begging bread.
Paul instructs believers regarding the source of their provision in 1Cor 4:7b What do you have that you did not receive?
We have seen that divine grace was constantly extended to the rebellious Israelites of the Exodus generation in spite of their disobedience and their complaining.
Deut 2:7b "These 40 years the Lord your God has been with you. You have not lacked a thing."
Deut 8:3 "He humbled you and let you be hungry and fed you with manna which your fathers did not know in order that He might make you understand that man does not live by bread alone but by everything that proceeds out of the mouth of the Lord."
Deut 8:15 "He led you through the great and terrible wilderness, with its Egyptian cobras and scorpions and thirsty ground where there was no water; He brought water for you out of the rock of flint."
From this we learn that nothing can cut off our logistical support from the One Who "supplies all our needs according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus.
God promises to provide all of the necessities of life while we are on this planet and immutable God always fulfills his promises.
In chapter 8 of Romans, Paul provides us with all the assurance we need to eliminate any fears we may have regarding a loss of provision.
Romans 8:38; - I stand convinced that neither death nor life; neither angels nor rulers of angels; neither present things nor future things; neither powers;
v 39 - neither heaven nor hell; nor any other created thing shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
God's unconditional love for the believer finds its greatest evidence in the doctrine of logistical grace support.
Another illustration is the comparison made by TLJC of the believer with the sparrows in Matt10: 29; - "Are not two sparrows sold for a cent? And yet not one of them will fall to the ground apart from your Father.
v 30 -"But the very hairs of your head are all numbered.
v 31 -"Therefore, do not fear; you are of more value than many sparrows."
Another necessity for life is water. It is necessary to grow the food we eat, filter the air we breath, and sustain the body. God promises to insure our constant supply of water.
Isa 44:3; -I will pour out water on him who is thirsty and streams on the dry ground...
The Israelites saw the faithfulness of the Lord in their time of thirst at Rephidim after they had failed the Faith Rest test he presented to them Exod 17:1-6;
That rock was a type of Christ and its provision of water spoke of the unconditional love of God expressed in the grace of God.
Christ is the true Rock.
1Cor 10:1; -I do not want you to be unaware, brethren, that our fathers …
v 4 -all drank the same spiritual drink, for they were drinking from a spiritual rock which followed them, and that rock was Christ.
In grace, they all received water but none were worthy of it due to their lack of faith.
Exod 17:2; -The people quarreled with Moses and said, "Give us water that we may drink." And Moses said to them, "Why do you quarrel with me? Why do you test the Lord?"
v 3 -But the people thirsted there for water and they grumbled against Moses and said, "Why now have you brought us up from Egypt to kill us and our children and our livestock with thirst?"
The grace provision of water teaches us that God provides all the logistics that wee need, free of charge and they are available to any who will receive them.