Good article Phil.
Vicki

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Phil Scovell" <[log in to unmask]>
To: <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: Wednesday, February 07, 2007 10:20 AM
Subject: [ECHURCH-USA] Fw: THE FEAR THAT EXPELS ALL OTHERS


> And you thought I was weird.
>
> Phil.
>
>
>> by Neil Anderson
>>
>>
>> THE FEAR THAT EXPELS ALL OTHERS
>>
>> Proverbs 14:26
>> In the fear of the LORD there is strong confidence, and his children will
>> have refuge
>>
>> I was conducting a conference for the leadership of one of America's
>> flagship churches. The pastor is one of the most gifted Bible teachers I
>> know and his
>> staff is among the best. I asked the 165 leaders present if they had ever
>> experienced a direct encounter with something they knew was demonic, such
> as
>> a frightening presence in their room or an evil voice in their mind.
>> Ninety-five percent answered yes. I went one step further to ask how many
>> had been
>> frightened by something pressing on them that they couldn't immediately
>> respond to physically. At least a third raised their hand. Are these
>> Christian
>> leaders mentally ill? No, and neither are you or your children when you
>> struggle against demonic influences in your life.
>>
>> We warn our children about strangers in the streets. Don't you think we
>> should warn them about "strangers" in their rooms? Our research suggests
>> that 50
>> percent of Christian kids have encountered an evil presence in their
> rooms.
>> Most of my students at seminary have had such an experience, and by the
> time
>> they complete my class on resolving spiritual conflicts, several tell
> about
>> having such an experience that semester. Would you know what to do if you
> or
>> your child was terrorized by a presence alone at night? Do you fear such 
>> a
>> possibility?
>>
>> Most people fear demonic things they can't see, but have no fear of God.
>> That's just the opposite of what Scripture commands. We are told to fear
> the
>> Lord
>> (Proverbs 1:7), but we are never told to fear Satan. Fear of the devil is
> an
>> inappropriate response to the reality of the spiritual world. Knowing his
>> schemes and learning to resist him and take authority over him is the
>> biblical response.
>>
>> Isaiah 8:13, 14, reads, "It is the LORD of hosts whom you should regard 
>> as
>> holy. And He shall be your fear, and He shall be your dread. Then He 
>> shall
>> become
>> a sanctuary." The fear of the Lord is the one fear that expels all other
>> fears.
>>
>> Prayer:
>>
>> Lord, You are the only legitimate fear-object in my life. You are the
>> omniscient, omnipotent, omnipresent God.