Payback Can Circle Back

Have you ever had a boss you couldn’t stand?  My goodness I thank God for Jesus.  Of course I am referring to a time passed.  It was in the early 90’s.  I used to work at D’Agostino’s in New York.  It was a chain of high end supermarkets mainly located in Manhattan and other areas that were sort of pricey to live.  I worked both the produce and deli areas.  The store manager used to ride me for every little thing.  At one time I wrote down everything he made an issue about and I made sure I corrected them.  This man found another set of things that was an issue.  This was one of those jobs that were fun to have because you speak to different people every day, however knowing he was going to be in the store just killed it.  I used to imagine myself beating him silly.  I used to think that one day, I will show up at the job around closing time and mask myself, and just beat him until I was bored.  Yes, that is how angry this man made me. 

            Then the most beautiful thing happened.  The big bosses came by, and the store was a mess.  That is what they used to do.  They would pop in to see if a good store is always maintained.  Apparently it was bad enough to terminate him.  When I said I rejoiced, I rejoiced!  I had conversations with co-workers telling them how he got what he deserved.  I spoke with customers sharing the same sentiment.  I mean I was really a happy camper.  To be honest, when I look back and seen my behavior, I was outright mean about it.   Two weeks later, I was terminated.  No reason was given, and the union did nothing about it.  I moved on and did not think much about it, until I was saved and studied God’s word.

            In Proverbs, which is known as the book of wisdom, there is a verse that speaks to my behavior back then.  It reads “Do not rejoice when your enemy falls, And do not let your heart be glad when he stumbles; Lest the LORD see it, and it displease Him, And He turn away His wrath from him.”  (Pr 24:17-18)  We are to have compassion on those who wrong us.  I know it is hard, and trust me it is hard for me, but we must.  We do not know what they are going through for them to behave this way.  You know how we can get.  Have you ever been real hungry or tired, and one of your friends chooses this time of all times to now want to play with you?  Have you ever had a sore foot, just for someone to step on it by accident?  How about having a severe headache and your kids are making their normal playful sounds when they have their toys in front of them?  Well it is the same with people who seem to just be mean.  The key word there is “seem.”  We all handle trials and tribulations differently, and although it does not make sense at the time, that person needs our love.  However, when we hope they fall, and rejoice in it, do we not show the same kind of ugly that they’ve showed us?

            I tell everybody that is hard to be a child of God, especially if you are used to punching someone in their mouth for being hard to you.  However we are to show compassion always, and understanding, and not perform a victory dance if that same person falls.  God, for the sake of that person’s soul, will lift his punishment off of them, and turn it on to you.  Payback can be a….emm emm, but it can easily find its way back to you.  Amen!

Your Faith Walk Can Kill You

There are so many religions out there, and there are so many people following them.  This points to a natural draw that we have, to connect with a higher power.  Should it be Hinduism, Judaism, Islam, Christianity, Buddhism, or others I have not mentioned?  That is between the individual and the spirit that is leading them in those specific directions.  One’s faith walk is very important.  It can decide what choices to make regarding their finances, their relations with family and friends, who they select as their spouse, where they choose to live, how they observe certain celebrations, the doctors they visit, and the choice to live or to die depending on the circumstance.  I am about to talk about a specific faith.  I am not bashing the faith, but would like to make known what people may not know.  The faith is that of the Jehovah Witnesses.

            I can go into the history and show many things that should be considered but that would require you to read too much, and it may take away from the meat of the message.  Let me share with you a story about a young man named Joshua McAuley.  He was 15 years old.  15!!!!!  You guessed right he is no longer with us.  Joshua, who lived with his parents Jerome and Denise McAuley, was described as a popular young man by his friends.  One friend, Wali Ahmadi, aged 16, said: “Josh was a really good guy and was into his sports, especially basketball.”  Another,  Shakeeb Hanif, aged 16, said: “He was a kindhearted person who never caused any trouble.”  Sixteen-year-old Sohail Khan said: “Joshua was the best person at school, hands down, he was caring, he was kind and he never did anything wrong. He brought something good to the world.”  It is evident that this young man had a good character about him.  He also was a member of the Kingdom Hall of Jehovah's Witnesses in Smethwick, West Midlands UK   

Everything seemed to be going well in this young man’s life until, one day he was out witnessing, and decided to go into a store.  In a freak accident, a car hit him and pinned him against a wall.  The injury was severe enough to cause serious abdominal and leg injuries.  It is understood, that a blood transfusion was advised, but he was conscious enough to decline it.  He died later on that evening.  Click here to read more on the story.           

Jehovah's Witnesses are taught that passages of the bible forbid blood transfusions.  Members who do accept such treatment can be cast out of the church. Many Jehovah's Witnesses carry a signed and witnessed advance directive card absolutely refusing blood and releasing doctors from any liability arising from this refusal. I’ve always heard of this, but it is because of personal reasons why I decided to look into this further.  After research, the bible verse that is used to support refusal of blood transfusions is Acts 15:20 which reads “but that we write to them to abstain from things polluted by idols, from sexual immorality, from things strangled, and from blood.”  I read it, and read it, and read it some more, and all I did was shake my head in disappointment.  Is this the verse that is used?  Is this the verse why so many people who could have lived, died for not accepting blood transfusions?  Is this the verse that young Joshua bravely stood on and chose death?  It hurts me family.

            What is meant by this verse?  They were referring to Mosaic Law.  Not to do what the pagans did.  Do not follow in their sacrifices.  Do not partake of animals that were not killed properly.  Properly, meaning the draining of blood.  Most importantly the apostles referred back to that law as an example they were trying to make.  Family, there were no blood transfusions back then, so what was the real intent?  It was to abstain from a practice of worship by eating animals with the blood still in them.  Theologian Albert Barnes states:

“The eating of blood was strictly forbidden to the Jews. The reason of this was that it contained the life, (Le 17:11,14). The use of blood was common among the Gentiles. They drank it often at their sacrifices, and in making covenants or compacts.”

Family, we are talking about Mosaic Law in contrast to saving a life.  The bible states “And you, being dead in your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, He has made alive together with Him, having forgiven you all trespasses, having wiped out the handwriting of requirements that was against us, which was contrary to us. And He has taken it out of the way, having nailed it to the cross.” (Col 2:13-14)  Family, the handwriting of requirements is the law.  We are no longer bound by that covenant.  We are under a new covenant.  A covenant of freedom hand delivered to us by God in the form of our savior Jesus Christ.  Did Jesus choose the Sabbath over healing?  You know the answer.

            There are so many stories like Joshua’s where a life was loss due to adhering to a scripture that may have not been understood or preached or taught properly.  Christianity is not innocent either.  Many were tortured and killed in the name of the church.  It is imperative that one take extreme care in what religion they are going to follow.  Their life may depend on it.  Amen!

The Necessity of Prioritizing

Do you have a friend or loved one who just seems to never get it together?  They never seem to keep a relationship.  They never seem to hold down a job.  Their finances are up and down.  Their friends seem to change often.  It just seems like their life is discombobulated.  It sort of reminds me when I first tried to cook dinner for my wife.  I had it all planned out in my head.  I was going to make steak with rice, with some steamed broccoli, and a chocolate cake (she loves chocolate cake), with some ice cream for dessert.  She will be reading this, so she probably is wondering when this took place.  Keep wondering babe.  Nonetheless, what I saw in my head did not turn out in reality.  Not by a long shot.  I had the place spic-n-spam before she got home.  Take out anyone?  I failed because there was an order that I should have followed.

            I believe our friends and loved ones fall into the scenario I described because of not following an order.  They have their priorities in disarray.  The bible states “But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.” (Mt 6:33)  Jesus gave an instruction and he said “seek first.”  Seek first.  Do this first.   Start here first.  Anyway you look at it, there must be a start.  There must be a beginning.  Something have to be done prior before this or that.  Jesus stated that there is a chronological order to achieve certain things, and it must begin by seeking God and His righteousness.  If I was in a church, you should be saying Amen right about now!  God must come first, and everything else will line up.  The scripture did not say some may be added, or most may be added, or part of it may be added.  The scripture stated that all things shall be added to you.  The “all” was referring what was described in verse 25.  How it will relate to us?  Your finances will be in order.  Your house will be in order.  Your marriage will be in order.  Things at your job will be intact.  You will have the proper friends around you. All of these things will be in synchronization with your life, if you make God the nucleus.  Amen!

            What I love about the Scripture is it always line up.  In the bible Solomon pleased the Lord where the Lord said to Solomon “Ask! What shall I give you?”  Solomon pretty much was granted a wish.  He could have asked the Lord for anything, but he chose to ask for discernment.  He wanted to be wise to judge God’s people.  This pleased the Lord so much he gave him that and then some.   The Lord said "And I have also given you what you have not asked: both riches and honor, so that there shall not be anyone like you among the kings all your days.” (1Ki 3:13)  Read here to get a full picture.  You see family,  Solomon’s eye was set on the right thing.  He mentally made an order of what should be ascertained first.  He asked for something that can only be bestowed by God, and he received it and more.  His priorities were in order.

            Family.  We have to have the right eye candy.  House will come.  Husband or wife will come.  That dream car will come.  Decent friends will come.  Something has to happen first.   The promise is made that if we seek Him first, and His righteousness, all earthly wants will be supplied.  Oh what a promise.  Amen!

Corporal Punishment: It Is Effective

Steve Harvey performed one of his stand up shows in front of church folks.  It was titled “Don't Trip... He Ain't Through With Me Yet!”  There was a part that had me in stitches.  He was describing a visit to the mall, and a lady wanted an autograph for her son.  He was willing to oblige her, and when she called to get her son’s attention, the son said “hey bite me mom.”  Apparently she called to him again and the boy repeated it again.  What was funny is how Steve Harvey said he ducked for cover because he felt something was about to happen to that boy for that blatant display of disrespect to his mom.  To add more to the humor, there was another lady with her son who was watching the whole thing, and she began to beat her child just in case if he had any ideas of trying that in the future.   I was rolling.  To get a better idea, click here.

            I tell you family, when I look at some of these young people, especially the young males, even more, the young black males,  I wonder if they had anybody in their life that gave them a can of whoop donkey.  The things that come out of their mouth, the disregard to their elders, the sagging of their pants which shows their dirty drawers, my goodness, I am urged to take my belt off and offer my services.  Here is a familiar verse for you.  The bible says “Do not withhold correction from a child, For if you beat him with a rod, he will not die.  You shall beat him with a rod, And deliver his soul from hell.”  (Pr 23:13-14)  Ok family. It is in the bible, and in no way am I condoning child abuse, however, limited physical punishment was acceptable.  The question:  Why was it acceptable?  Charles Spurgeon wrote:

“Is it not cruel love that turns away from painful duty?  To suffer sin upon a child is tantamount to hating him in our heart.  Is it not better that the flesh should smart than that the soul should die?  What if thy child should reproach thee throughout eternity, for the neglect of that timely correction which might have saved his soul from hell."

When we discipline our children, we are saving them from a possible demise in the future.  For example, and you may not agree with the method, but I am glad for it,  I grew up in Edenwald Projects in the Bronx.  I remember sitting on the bench in front of my building listening to two men talk about a topic I was familiar with.  I only knew one of them.  His name is Casper.  This man was talking with Casper and because I seen someone familiar I decided to interrupt them and add my two cents in it.  The man told Casper to hold on a bit.  He asked me if he was talking to me and I of course responded in the negative.  That man slapped me so hard, a little urine escaped from me.  Casper did deal with him harshly, and the man later on apologized, but that stranger did for me more, than what Casper did.  I never, ever opened my mouth unless I was being addressed.  Again, I grew up in the projects so that was a valuable lesson to me.  There are many stories of people losing their lives because they felt comfortable running off their mouth when they weren’t supposed to.  This man saved me from growing older and bolder in an environment where the minute thing can get you shot.  Harsh discipline  is necessary family.

            When you can, I would like for you to read this.  It is another story in the bible that points to my subject.  You had a father who was a priest, and he had two sons who he raised as priests.  There are two verses to consider.  The first verse is “Now the sons of Eli were corrupt; they did not know the LORD. (1Sa 2:12).  The second is “For I have told him that I will judge his house forever for the iniquity which he knows, because his sons made themselves vile, and he did not restrain them.”  (1Sa 3:13)  It is not that the sons of Eli did not know the Lord.  They did not perform their priestly duties like they supposed to.  Their father Eli chose a gentler method to deal with them, and look at what the Lord stated.  How many rapists, murderers, serial killers, drug dealers, strippers, prostitutes, etc, would not have been, if somebody had whooped that tail a few times?   My mom dealt with me the best way she could, but she could not raise me to be a man.  My father came into the picture late.  Trust me, I have done plenty, but I would have ended up a lot worst, if it was not for my mother being very generous with the belt.  Do you remember this saying, “it is going to hurt me more than it is going to hurt you”?  There is a reason family.  We have to associate the seriousness of things with pain.  It helps in the end.   Amen!

Karma Can Affect Your Family Also

Why is a Christian man using the word Karma?  Is it not the truth?  Whatever goes around comes around.  You reap what you sow.    Chickens come home to roost.  Do onto the others what you want others to do onto you.  It all means the same thing.  I am lazy, so to describe all of that in one word works for me.  Amen!  It is the natural law of the universe.  Even scientists agree.  They say for every cause there is an effect.  So, you have different avenues of faith saying it, and you have those who are contrary to faith saying it.  I wonder how important is it then?  Suppose I tell you, that what you say or do can not only affect you but affect your family?  Would you take extra care in the words you use when speaking to people?  Would you really think about a desired course of action prior to executing it?  Or is that you were so caught up in emotion that you really never thought about it? 

            There is a story in the bible that speaks specifically to the title.  In Daniel 6 you read about a young man who was trust worthy.  You read about a young man whose faithful.  You read about a young man who had no fault in him.  The bible states that Daniel had an excellent spirit in him (Dan 6:3).  Praise God!  Because of this spirit, it made him stand out more than his colleagues.  So much that the King (Darius) exalted him above his colleagues.  Amen!  Now you would think it would be done and over it.  Nope.  You had haters.  Doesn’t that get to you sometime?  You pray and are obedient to the Lord, and when the Lord rewards you, people hate.  My goodness.  You are reading from the same book they can read from.  You pray to a God they can pray to.  The bible states “But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.” (Heb 11:6)  So because you follow instructions and seek God, and receive the reward they hate on you.  WHY DON’T THEY SEEK GOD FOR THEMSELVES THEN!!!! 

            This type of hate ran deep.  This type of hate caused them to be wicked.  This type of hate clouded their judgment.  This type of hate was not warranted.  The bible states “Then the presidents and princes sought to find occasion against Daniel concerning the kingdom; but they could find none occasion nor fault; forasmuch as he was faithful, neither was there any error or fault found in him. Then said these men, We shall not find any occasion against this Daniel, except we find it against him concerning the law of his God.”  (Dan 6:4-5)  This is what happens when you have a wicked nature.  They tried to find something but they couldn’t.  Instead of leaving it alone, they connived and deceitfully thought of a way to destroy him.  They had the king create a decree that will punish anyone by death if they prayed to God for thirty days.  They knew Daniel’s faith.  They knew that his faith will not waiver.  They felt they had him now.  But what they did not know was the God who Daniel served is faithful.  Their wicked and malicious effort was futile.  God did not allow any harm to come to him.  They also did not consider the king’s heart.  This is what happens sometimes when the devil is allowed to play with your thoughts.  The king showed Daniel favor.  Did it ever occur to them, what may happen if it did not go as plan?  Well, it did not go as plan.  Now what they sowed, they are about to reap.  What they caused, they will feel the affect.  The chickens are now coming home to roost.  The bible states “And the king gave the command, and they brought those men who had accused Daniel, and they cast them into the den of lions-them, their children, and their wives; and the lions overpowered them, and broke all their bones in pieces before they ever came to the bottom of the den.”  (Dan 6:24)

            Karma, if you will, not only came back to them, but it also visited their families.  Wickedness is a terrible friend to have.  We should have no part with it.  These men’s heart was filled with malicious intent, so much that they never weighed the possible consequences.   If they felt that there was a chance that punishment can not only come back to them, but come to their family, they would have reconsidered.  At times we fall victim to our emotions especially when someone hurt us.  There is a reason why God says “vengeance is mine.”  There is a reason why He says “do not render evil for evil.”  There is a reason why He says we are to “love our enemies.”  There are set properties in existence that God set when he created the universe and all in it.  It was set by His word, and God is not a man that lies.  If these laws are violated then the results will be undesirable.  The sad part of this story is Daniel was innocent but he survived the punishment.  The families of the wicked were also innocent, but they did not.  Amen!

How Bad Do You Want It?

To a Christian, there are things we believe we can obtain simply by walking out on faith.  We speak things into existence.  We speak words of victory instead of defeat.  We do not look at our circumstances for we walk by faith and not by sight.  We just trust in God’s word, and move knowing that God will guide us.   Are you with me so far?  Amen.  However there are times where things do not seem so clear.  There are situations where it just seems impossible to conquer.  It can be getting control over finances, tired of fighting with the spouse, tired of fighting with the kids, a major health issue, a family member in the hospital, or just tired of falling short. In situations like these, we then have to go before the Lord in prayer.   What do you do, when prayer is not enough?  This is when you have to incorporate fasting with the prayer, but are you willing to?

            Fasting is the practice of abstaining from food or specific items or actions for a specific period of time.  We have so many distractions in our lives where God is not the full focus. And if you believe in God, then you have to also acknowledge demonic forces that work against God and his children.  It is these demonic forces or spirits that come in the form of constant bickering between spouses or a health issue that just cannot be shaken.  They can be very stubborn and cause us to struggle more than usual.  This is where we have to not only pray, but we must fast.  We have to be able to deny ourselves the comforts that we are accustom to and concentrate solely on communing to God to move in our favor.  Because of these distractions, when we fast we are actually weakening the physical and mental faculties, which in essence makes room for an unhindered communication with God.

            If you are willing to fast, your fast must be serious and done correctly.  The bible says “Why have we fasted,' they say, 'and You have not seen? Why have we afflicted our souls, and You take no notice?' "In fact, in the day of your fast you find pleasure, And exploit all your laborers”  (Isa 58:3)  What is happening here, is the children of Israel is petitioning the Lord to move on their behalf, and have incorporated fasting in their prayers, however they are complaining for not seeing any results.  So God via the prophet Isaiah is rebuking them for their hypocrisy.  They claim to be fasting, yet they are still satisfying flesh.  When they fast, their servants are supposed to also observe it and no work should be performed, yet they had their servants working.  So God is pretty much saying, I did not work on your behalf, because you were half stepping.  When you fast, you really need to fast.  If you normally do not eat breakfast, then to say you are fasting from breakfast, is not considered a fast because you are accustomed to do without.  Your accepted fast would be to miss lunch as well. 

            There will be a time where we will need to go into deep prayer for something, and we will come to the realization that we must also fast.  We have to be willing to give up some comforts.  We have to be willing to put a halt to certain habits.  We have to be willing to display a measure of sacrifice to show God the importance and seriousness of our petition.  Remember, God knows what you are going through, so therefore your fast does not point out the unknown to Him.  It shows where you are lacking, and what you are willing to give up as an example of reverence.  Do you want God to move on your behalf?  What are you willing to give up?  This action also shows you where your heart and priorities are.  Amen!

Fear Or Love God……..Or Both?

As a Minister and teacher of the Gospel, it is my desire that whenever I speak, I speak sound doctrine.  That is why I study hard, very hard to preach and teach with clarity.  You sometimes have a mixed audience and that is normal.  You have those who believe, and you have those who are skeptical.  It is always a challenge to teach the skeptics.  Everything is a conspiracy to them.  They have so many questions, which in essence points more to doubt and not necessarily seeking to truly learn.  I was speaking to a friend of mine and she was sharing her beliefs.  One of the things she shared is that she loves the Lord, she does not fear Him.  She expressed how she was tired of sitting in pews where the messages were more toward fear than love.   I could relate to where she was coming from and never really discussed it any further.  She believes in God she goes to church, and she reads her bible.  Amen!  No need to stay on that subject.  Funny thing though.  Two days later, one of my young brothers in Christ shared this verse with me:

“There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear, because fear involves torment. But he who fears has not been made perfect in love.” (1Jo 4:18)

Then he asked me why are we to fear the Lord if love casts out fear.  I began to chuckle to myself.  My friend sometimes read my blog, and I pray she is chuckling too.  However, I had to apologize to God, because I did not attempt to offer clarity.  The bible states:

“And the spirit of the LORD shall rest upon him, the spirit of wisdom and understanding, the spirit of counsel and might, the spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the LORD;” (Isa 11:2)

“The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge: but fools despise wisdom and instruction.” (Pr 1:7)

"But I will show you whom you should fear: Fear Him who, after He has killed, has power to cast into hell; yes, I say to you, fear Him!” (Lu 12:5)

“It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.” Heb 10:31 (Red Heb 10:26-31)

In looking at these verses, it appears we have a contradiction, key word “appears”.  God’s word is inerrant and infallible.  There is no contradiction in His word.  So pertaining to these verses, is there a contradiction or is there a case of misinterpretation?

            Before we look into it, I have some questions for you to consider.  A mom loves her son.  She loves her son so much, that she is concerned about the choices he is making.  He is hanging with the wrong crowd, there is evidence of him using drugs, and now one of the friends he was hanging out with, was murdered.  She needs to reach out to him, and she fears that she will lose him if she doesn’t.  Because she exercised this fear, does it cast out the love she has for her son?  When I was a young boy, I remember my mom told me to do something that I did not want to do.  I expressed my disagreement and in the process of that, I raised my voice.  My mom beat me until she was tired.  It never happened again because I feared what the result was going to be.  Even now, as a grown man of the  age of………well, anyway, I still have to check my tone when I speak with her.  No one can tell me I do not love my mother.  What about people who love life, but fear losing it?  So because of this fear, they do not love life?  Surely these examples are absurd, so how do we reconcile this so called “contradiction”?

            Let’s take a look at the verse again.  It states “There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear, because fear involves torment. But he who fears has not been made perfect in love.”  What is the reason for this?  Let’s look at what the previous verses read:

“Whoever confesses that Jesus is the Son of God, God abides in him, and he in God.  And we have known and believed the love that God has for us. God is love, and he who abides in love abides in God, and God in him.  Love has been perfected among us in this: that we may have boldness in the day of judgment; because as He is, so are we in this world.”  (1 Jon 4:15-17)  What these verses are saying is that practicing Christians have nothing to worry about when it comes to God’s judgment (torment).  If we say we love God, then we are obedient to His word, and need not be concerned about what awaits for unrepentant sinners.  The latter part of verse 18 says those who fear has not been made perfect in love, meaning that their faith is wavering.  There are still issues that they know they have yet to overcome and the word of God is convicting them.  Amen!

            What about the other verses and my examples?  Oh, I am sorry, did I share with you the definition of fear?  Fear is defined:

1.  a distressing emotion aroused by impending danger, evil, pain, etc., whether the threat is real or imagined; the feeling or condition of being afraid.

2.  a specific instance of or propensity for such a feeling: an abnormal fear of heights.

3.  concern or anxiety; solicitude: a fear for someone's safety.

4.  reverential awe, esp. toward God.

The example I gave pertaining to the woman who loves her son can be attributed to #3.  The examples I gave pertaining to my mom and one who fears losing life can be attributed to # 1.  However none of them pertains to fearing God’s judgment.  The other verses however speak about fearing the Lord.  I shared two examples in the Old and New Testament.  The word used for fear in the Old Testament is “yir'ah” (Hebrew), which means,; fear (also used as infinitive); morally, reverence:--dreadful, exceedingly.  The word used for fear in the New Testament is “phobeo” (Greek), which means frighten, i.e. (passively) to be alarmed; by analogy, to be in awe of, i.e. revere:--be (+ sore) afraid, fear (exceedingly), reverence.  As you can see in both Hebrew and Greek translations the words used for fear can mean to be afraid or to show reverence.  Was not one of the definitions for fear (#4) was to show reverential awe? 

            So are we to fear or love the Lord?  Practicing Christians need not to fear because the love they have for God does not allow them to fear what will not come to them.  Unrepentant sinners should fear.  Are we to fear or love the Lord?  Yes, we should show reverence to the Lord because this is also a sign of wisdom.  To act contrary to the One who is worthy, is evidence of foolishness.  Finally, you have some who says “what about the verse where it reads “For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.” (2 Tim 1:7)?  The apostle Paul was giving a charge to his young apprentice Timothy, and encouraging him to stand on the word and to preach with power.  The word used for fear here is “deilia” (Greek) which means timidity or fear.  The word timid is defined as lacking in self-assurance, courage, or bravery; easily alarmed; timorous; shy; characterized by or indicating fear. 

            It is important that pastors, ministers, preachers, teachers, or anyone who is going to share the gospel, practice 2 Tim 2:15 “Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.”  If care is not taken to translate the words, to read commentaries from renowned theologians, to read a few verses before and after, and to cross reference other verses to see the alignment, error will be taught and heard instead of truth.  Amen!