Continuing with our theme FIRM IN THE FACE OF FEAR, as usual, we will do a brief review of the previous section,

and we said that in the Bible we frequently find at least two types of fear, and we also presented some examples of each of them

We were referring to REVERENT FEAR, which is presented as a simple emotion but being propelled and stimulated, driven by the Holy Spirit of God, helps us to advise, identify, prepare, and act appropriately, (in other words according to the will). of God)

and we also said about the COMMON OR NATURAL OR IREVERENT FEAR. which refers to the type of fear that is not driven by the Spirit of God but by foreign agents, we said such as the flesh, the mind, etc.

and far from clearing our minds, and preparing us to respond adequately to challenges, it darkens and confuses our minds, creating chaos and confusion.

We also clarified that we are not talking about different emotions but rather a single one that is identified with different names depending on the circumstances or situations that expose it. We also gave examples,

We also said that the natural results of each of these types of fears become evident in our lives,

REVERENT FEAR will always strengthen us and make us closer to God, and it always manifests itself in the face of the danger of doing something that we know will bring disgrace or break our communion with God.

On the contrary, COMMON OR NATURAL FEAR will weaken us and distance us from God and always manifests itself in relation to the danger of losing or damaging our own honor, and communion with other people.

and these are results of fear in both directions

Here are two clear examples of the effects of fear depending on the type

Proverbs 14:26In the fear of the Lord is strong confidence; REVERENT FEAR strengthens our trust in God

1Samuel 28:3 Now Samuel had died, and all Israel had mourned him, and they had buried him in Ramah, his city. And Saul had driven out the enchanters and soothsayers from the land. 4 So the Philistines gathered together, and came and camped at Shunem; and Saul gathered all Israel, and they camped at Gilboa. 5 And when Saul SAW the camp of the Philistines, he was afraid, and his heart was greatly troubled. 6 And Saul inquired of the Lord; But the Lord did not answer him by dreams, nor by Urim, nor by prophets.

The description that we find of the events reveals to us not only external activities such as the arrival of the Philistines to the battlefield,

but also of the events that occur inside the protagonists, of what is not seen with the naked eye that only the person and God knows, there are times that you have fear and your spouse does not know it, your family, brothers, friends do not know it. You know, maybe a person, a brother or sister, might be struggling with some immoral behavior, some activity,

I am not saying that I am practicing it deliberately, I mean that I am fighting because that happens in the Christian life,

He fights constantly, to the point of exhaustion, he achieves many triumphs but also fails on occasions, however, no one but he/she and God know it, this can be a cause of fear, there are those who struggle with some type of depression or silent illness, which only the person and God they know

The Bible tells us about the presence of the Philistine army, but it also informs us of something that is happening inside the king, I am not sure if this had any importance to anyone in the Philistine or JEWISH camp, probably no one cared,

But it is precisely this detail that had to be taken into consideration, to avoid the catastrophe that the people of Israel suffered at that moment in history,

If only the king had been able to understand the meaning of natural or irreverent fear, he would have acted differently,

But that is the problem of irreverent or natural fear, that the one who possesses it tends to justify it, denying or justifying its effects so as not to have to face and deal with the problem,

Have you encountered an alcoholic or drug addict? Everything else is the cause of their misery except alcohol and drugs, they ignore their lack of clothing, food, housing, etc. about not blaming drugs and alcohol because they love them

Because fear, according to God's saying, has the purpose of alerting people to danger, preparing, and acting in the correct way, but what did we say about irreverent or natural fear? Rather than alerting us and preparing us to act appropriately, such emotions get out of control and we used the Rio Esteban river as an example, which is what we are familiar with, and begin to wreak havoc everywhere, clouding understanding and creating chaos. and confusion

This is how the scripture tells us that Saul was afraid (a clear indicator of defeat and failure, when faced with any circumstance or situation that is presented to us, we feel afraid!

It is not the time to listen to what our mind or heart tells us, it is not the time to listen to our desires or to our friends, family and neighbors, it is time to listen and follow the instructions and voice of God, here we have a clear example.

This is the typical situation that occurs to those who for a long time ignore and are indifferent to the advice of the voice and the call of God, and I am not referring only to born unbelievers, but also to those who say or profess to be believers, but for long periods of time years after years they ignore and are indifferent to the will of God,

Then comes that crucial moment in life where there is no way out, and they realize that only God can deliver them, and they cry out to God, but God does not respond in the way they expect or wish, so they quickly find another alternative, which will surely be to your own ruin,

Because any alternative we find to God is nothing more than our own ruin, as we see in the case of King Saul, which we are using as our example of "IREVERENT FEAR" today.

The text tells us that he showed humility and great reverence (respect), to a spirit that made the earth with the appearance of the prophet Samuel, the fortune teller woman identifies him as gods according to verse 13

1Samuel 28:13 And the woman said to Saul, I have seen gods coming up from the earth.

And we know with complete certainty that any other God apart from the one and true God is nothing more than an idol,

We also know that behind fear, respect or reverence, greater than fear, respect, or reverence, offered to the true God, there is one or more demons.

We express fear and reverence for everyone and for everything except the living and true God. That is pure common or natural FEAR. IREVERENT at its maximum and we say that we fear God.

2 Kings 17:40 But they did not listen; but they did according to their ancient custom.

41 So those nations feared Jehovah, and at the same time served their idols; and also their children and their grandchildren, as their fathers did, so they do to this day.

1 Corinthians 10:19 What do I say then? That the idol is something, or that what is sacrificed to idols is something? 20 But I say that what the Gentiles sacrifice, they sacrifice to demons, and not to God;

Saul, accustomed to acting under the power and influence of this type of fear, and not under the power and fear of God, ended his days in the only way that this fear can offer, in rebellion, and in defiance of God, by consulting with a witch or fortune teller, or enchanter, and who after that, ended up committing suicide when she couldn't find a way out, a clear example of what irreverent fear to which we give very little attention and importance can do to a person.