Good evening church family. It’s an honor to come to your homes and private places of study. I do realize this is an unconventional way of meeting together, but God will still be in this tonight. This is out of the norm for all of us. Not just in our church, but others as well. This won’t be perfect, I am not good with typing or computers in general. Do not pay attention to my poor grammar or anything else but God’s word. I would like to personally thank our church leaders here at Eddy for making such a safe decision that was necessary. We ask God’s Blessings to be upon this study tonight.

Please start tonight in your home with prayer with your family. Pray for our country, President, military. Pray for our church and its leaders as well as other churches…as we are all in this together. Pray for this world as a whole that God would see fit to make this terrible sickness cease and die. Remember those specifically who have been affected by COVID-19.

Let’s look together to God’s word. Please open your Bible to 2^nd Timothy 1:7. Just some background for you…This is one of the “Pastoral Epistles” written by Paul. The Apostle Paul is writing to Timothy (whom he loved) in prison. The purpose of 2^nd Timothy was centered around Paul wanting to help prepare Timothy for things to come…centered around the ministry. Paul wrote this book requesting another (final) visit from Timothy to give final exhortations. A seasoned preacher teaching a “green” preacher if you will. Also, keep in mind Paul is in his last imprisonment, awaiting execution….just a few weeks from death at the most. If Paul could work and have a desire to work in bonds, so should we during the time of quarantine!

Tonight, lets talk about the word “fear”. During these times it is safe to say that we have all became fearful and scared. If you can say that you haven’t had fear in your heart the least bit than I admire you for having such strong faith. Or, however, you could be oblivious to the facts.  Either way most of us in our human minds get scared from time to time. Someone may ask, preacher does that mean I am not spiritual enough or have a lack of faith? No, it means you are a human being that is fleshly and carnal like we all are. Congratulation’s! If anyone was contemplating if you were a human, your question has been answered! It is easier said than done not to have fear. Fear can be a gripping position and destroy you and your home if you allow it to. Just like greed, jealousy and worldly lusts the same is with fear.

Definitoin of “fear”: A painful emotion or passion excited by an expectation of evil, or the apprehension of impending danger. fear expresses less apprehension than dread, and dread less than terror and fright. The force of this passion, beginning with the most moderate degree, may be thus expressed, fear dread, terror, fright. fear is accompanied with a desire to avoid or ward off the expected evil. fear is an uneasiness of mind, upon the thought of future evil likely to befall us.

Fear is of the Devil of Satan, not of God. This is not to be mistaken with the fear of God (as we are told to in the scriptures in multiple places). If Satan can get you fearing God then by doing this you are taking your focus off of God and not trusting Him. It can also consume your faith if you allow it to. How do we overcome fear? Fear is overcome with the peace, love and power of God. May I remind you dear friend that God is still in control and still on The Throne. This pandemic has not in the slightest way caught him off guard. 

Paul said in our text tonight “For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind”. Is that not comforting to know church? God granted us with the spirit of power, love, and a sound mind. What a comfort in today’s times we are living in! Tonight if you are dealing with fear in your life, I encourage you get to your altar place or in your prayer closest and call out to the name above every name the name of Jesus, and ask him to rid you of all fear in your life that is of the devil and replace it with what you are meant to have. Fall on your knees before Him and get a hold of God tonight. Friend, God has the peace that the world in in search of tonight, if only we are willing to trust and believe in Him as Lord of our lives He will grant us with the peace to overcome fear. (Psalms 34:4)

To complete this study look at these individual scriptures:

-Romans 8:15, 8:38-39, 15:13
-Proverbs 29:25
-Psalms 56:3-4, 46:1-7
-Isaiah 41:10, 26:1-4
-St. John 16:33
-1 John 4:18
-Deuteronomy 31:8
-Hebrews 13:5

I can’t help but to feel led that we should all sing or listen to the old hymn of the church “How Firm a Foundation”.

I hope and pray that this devotional was a help to you. Feel free to share it with someone in need. As we close this service tonight, please know that God does not want us to fear but he does expect us to use the knowledge and wisdom that He has given us. I like to call it good old fashioned common sense! I do realize this is not what any of us want, but for now, it is the best and safest option that we have. We are told in the Bible to also obey our rulers and the laws of the land. How long will this pandemic last? Only God knows…until we meet again good night and may God Bless you and yours!

“The Lord bless thee, and keep thee: The Lord make his face shine upon thee, and be gracious unto thee:  Lord lift up his countenance upon thee, and give thee peace”. -Numbers 6:24-20 KJV