From Calvary Chapel of Roswell

Pastor Jim Suttle

Msg #501                       Wednesday, March 19, 2008

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The fear of man brings a snare,

But whoever trusts in the Lord shall be safe.

(Pr 29:25) 

Imagine seeing this warning sign: Beware, Traps Ahead

If you saw such a sign on the road you are walking on – what would you think?  What would you do?

Yet, here in the Word of God – exactly such a sign is placed along the road of life.   Part of the problem is – you cannot avoid this road.  You and I are steadily moving along in life – and God warns us of traps in the way.

What kinds of traps?  The trap is “the fear of man”. 

Picture this trap like a cage – a cage that once ensnared hinders us from moving forward in things we should be doing or out of things we should not be doing.  When the fear of man grabs us – it can lock us down from progress.

Picture this like a string.  Imagine it almost as a puppet string.   When fear of man gets a hold of us – it is like having a strings attached that seek to control us…move us and cause us to be doing things or hindered from right things.  The person or persons we fear begin to wield conscious or unconscious control over our lives.  And we can guarantee that the enemy of our souls, satan, will look to take advantage of such hindrances in our lives.  

How do we escape these traps?

Knowing that traps are in our course – can in itself be helpful.  Traps, by their nature, work best when they are unexpected.   So hopefully, just seeing this trap of the fear of man will be helpful. 

Yet we need more.  Know of these snares in our course will not be enough to help us to escape them.  Our passage draws us higher and gives us more. 

We are called to trust God.   In some ways, it is so simple…and yet at the same time so difficult.   If you can trust God – even when…especially when…you don’t understand all that God is doing and allowing – there is a security that hinders fear.

The idea of being safe in this passage can literally be translated being “set on high”.  The picture is of one being out of reach of the snares in the way.  Wow!  That is what God is calling you to.

In the most simple way – can I encourage you to trust God today

Trust in the Lord with all your heart, And lean not on your own understanding; In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He shall direct your paths. (Pr 3:5-6)

“We fear man so much, because we fear God so little.” William Gurnall

Jim

PS: For the few weeks, I will be traveling in Israel.   If the Lord opens a way, I will send out the e-mail edifications.  Yet, if you don’t hear from me for a couple weeks- now you know why. J

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