THE PACIFICATION BY FEAR

THE PACIFICATION BY FEAR

If anyone sins because they do not speak up when they hear a public charge to testify regarding something they have seen or learned about, they will be held responsible. —Leviticus 5:1

The partner of a thief hates his own life; he hears the curse, but discloses nothing.  The fear of man lays a snare, but whoever trusts in the LORD is safe.. —Proverbs 29:24-25

Have nothing to do with the fruitless deeds of darkness, but rather expose them. —Ephesians 5:11

            If we know something that we have seen or learned about and do not bear witness to it then it is sin.  That is a challenging and thought provoking statement.  How often, I wonder, have we as part of the body of Christ, the Church, have not spoken out about something we know that is wrong and not according to the truth?  Fear… it is a crippling emotion.  It can paralyze someone into not doing the right thing or saying the right thing.  Fear of man does this.

            The Ephesians 5 passage tells us not to have anything to do with the “fruitless deeds of darkness.”  But that is not the only action we are to take.  We are told also to expose those “fruitless deeds of darkness!”  It is not enough to abstain from “deeds of darkness” and be a good example of “shining our light.”  We must also speak the truth and expose the “fruitless deeds of darkness.”  Wow… this is thought provoking… and challenging!

            John the Baptist exposed the “fruitless deeds of darkness” in Herod’s life.  “But when John rebuked Herod the tetrarch because of his marriage to Herodias, his brother’s wife, and all the other evil things he had done, Herod added this to them all: He locked John up in prison” (Luke 3:19-20).  Herod eventually killed John— “The king was distressed, but because of his oaths and his dinner guests, he ordered that her request be granted and had John beheaded in the prison” (Matthew 14:9-10).  Standing for the truth in John’s case, and so many others down through the ages, cost him his life.  Yet, he did not allow the fear of man to paralyze him from speaking the truth!

            How faithful am I in this area.  There are so many areas of dark deeds going on in our world and in our culture.  How often do I or you speak the truth to refute the lying “deeds of darkness?”  I am not even going to list some of what is going on in our culture that needs to be exposed by the light of His Word, the Truth.  Wow… what are we going to do with this truth?  If anyone, then, knows the good they ought to do and doesn’t do it, it is sin for them” (James 4:17).  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BYu8ZyETnKo

Dear Father… oh, please help me to do and be what You desire and all that means.  Please guide me as You have promised to do.  I desire to be and do what You desire me to be and do.  Oh, that I would be sensitive and lovingly obedient by the power of Your Holy Spirit and in the authority of Your Son Jesus.  So be it!