Everyday Kingdom
What if the Kingdom of God wasn't just for Sundays - but for every moment of your life?
Everyday Kingdom is where deep biblical truth meets real-world living. Hosted by Kaleb and Rafael, this show unpacks Scripture, explores powerful God-stories, and breaks down big spiritual concepts into practical steps you can live out right now.
From understanding how God speaks, to seeing Jesus in the Old Testament, to finding faith when life is hard, each episode will inspire, challenge, and equip you to walk out your faith with authenticity and courage.
Whether you're a seasoned believer, new to following Jesus, or just curious about Christianity, you'll find honest conversations, relatable stories, and practical wisdom to help you experience the reality of God's Kingdom...every...single...day.
Everyday Kingdom
79. Should I Be Afraid Of God?
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In this episode we talk about the Fear of The Lord, and what it ACTUALLY means.
Welcome back to the Everyday Kingdom podcast. I am Caleb, and I'm here with my great friends Raphael and Miriam.
SPEAKER_01Hello, hello.
SPEAKER_05Rafael still, hello. Gonna be quiet over there today. Over in that section.
SPEAKER_00Listen, I'm loud enough all the time. You know, it's good.
SPEAKER_05You might be the loudest person that I know.
SPEAKER_01He knows some loud people, too.
SPEAKER_05I know some loud people. I think Raf, you might be, I it was probably a couple weeks ago. We were in service and we were we were worshiping the Lord, and the music was playing, and and for those of y'all don't know, like we keep the music pretty decently loud, you know, between you know 85 to 95 decibels. And uh and I could hear Raphael singing over the music, and I loved it. I was like, let's go. So not rough rough, you are loud, but it's a powerful loud. It's a passionate, it's not just a noisy, like yeah, clanging cymbal loud. It's a it's a passionate loud, and I so appreciate that. So when I say you're the loudest person I know, I say that with affection. Sing it, baby.
SPEAKER_00I was called motor mouth at one point growing up by my uncle Terry multiple times. Yeah. I am very proud. Uh uh pleased.
SPEAKER_05I love it, I love it. I love it. Well, today uh we want to talk about fear. And uh actually earlier today, I went to the doctor, and while I was at the doctor, uh they took my blood pressure and wasn't normal blood pressure, they say, is like what 120 over 80?
SPEAKER_01Yeah, roughly. Like that's the a benchmark for if it's this or lower, you're great.
SPEAKER_05Right, right, right, right. So here's a little insight into Caleb. Since I was a kid, I always had white coat syndrome. So if I go to the doctor, my blood pressure will be like, whoa, skyrocket. And uh, so they took my blood pressure. It was 160 over 72. And I texted my wife and I said, 160 over 72, is that high? And she goes, calm the heck down, bro. And I and I loved it because I was the thing of it is like I wasn't nervous going in. It was nothing like that. Like I didn't, I wasn't anxious about it. Uh, it was nothing serious. I I just my body was responding to what was going on physically and naturally, you know, all around me. And so, because my mind was actually at peace. I was, I was very much like I wasn't thinking about it or anything like that. But uh my body was responding in such a way, and I I was thinking about that and thinking about fear and how sometimes there's things that we are carrying that we don't even realize we're carrying. We might not even be mentally focused on it, but it might be something that has been so ingrained in us that it comes out when we get in a certain environment. And I was thinking about that, you know, in being at the doctor, and I don't normally have high blood pressure because I I check it regularly and I exercise consistently, and so my blood pressure is typically actually pretty good. In fact, most of the time it runs low. But when I go to the doctor for whatever reason, it shoots through the roof. And I can only attribute that to, you know, when I was younger, there were a couple of traumatic uh things that happened in my life where I had to go to the doctor at a very young age and deal with the the traumatic things. And so being there in that environment because of an experience that I had early on uh is something that has been ingrained in me. So that every time that I go to the doctor, even if it's for something, you know, simple and not scary or anything like that, my blood pressure wants to shoot up. And so, in thinking of that, I thought, man, I know that happens for me in life going to the doctor. I wonder spiritually, does that same thing happen to people that because of something that they have inherently experienced, maybe at a young age, maybe it was at a church service one time when they were younger, something traumatic happened, maybe it wasn't even a church at all, maybe it was something that somebody told them, or something that they heard uh from a preacher or from a person who interpreted a preacher or something that they even maybe read in scripture by themselves, that then marked them in such a way that they begin to experience that high blood pressure, anxiety type situation just like I would when I go to the doctor. And I think that happens all the time with people.
SPEAKER_01Well, think about it right now, we're going through Revelation in, you know, you've been preaching on that in service, and just even saying that word can spike people's anxiety, you know, and that fear because of the way that was presented in the past.
SPEAKER_05Well, and that was that was one of the things that I even asked at the beginning was, you know, how many of you have even read the book of Revelation? Or or and how many of you have not read it because of what you've heard about it? And it was probably close to 50-50 of people who had either read it or who hadn't read it, and they hadn't read it because they were scared to read it. And it's like thinking about something like that, you know, we're talking about reading scripture.
SPEAKER_01Don't think about reading scripture as, you know, inciting fear or like stirring up fear in your heart.
SPEAKER_05Exactly. But un but if you've heard something negative about it, yes, or you've experienced something traumatic, then then what happens is it begins to shape or frame your perspective. We talked about this a little bit um a couple weeks ago when we were talking about you know anxiety, spirit living with spiritual anxiety. You know, it's that there's there's sometimes there's stuff that happens in our lives that that affects how we see and and then affects how we interpret what we are experiencing. Because feelings aren't the first thing that happens. We have an interpretation first, then feelings happen. And so it's like I see something, I interpret it in my mind, and then I have a feeling about it. And all that happens within like a split second, right? But I see something that happens, whether I read it or maybe I hear something that happens, or I I see it out here and I'm experiencing it in my life. And then I interpret it through my lens. And depending on what my lens looks like, it's going to shape then the emotions that follow. You know, and so if my if my lens is one of fear, then the emotions that follow are the emotions that produce anxiety. It's the the and my body just is my body is just a latent response of my mind. That's it, it just happens. Your body doesn't act autonomously, it's not independent of your mind.
unknownRight.
SPEAKER_00I think there's reactions that are similar in the spirit, but it's an an excitement, it's an awe. And I think your body can experience healing in in those moments. I feel like deaf ears can be opened up. I I feel like you can cry, you can shout, you can be quiet. And there's many manifestations of the same spirit. And I know that that God heals in in circumstances like this. Your heart may be racing because it's being healed. You get into a certain environment and you you're just like, I know this environment, it's the Garden of Eden. There's peace here. This peace is upon me. And I I know it's inside and how I feel it everywhere. And I'm thankful for opportunities to receive that peace and that and to receive that opportunity. You know, you have the opportunity to go to a doctor's office. You have the opportunity to go to church. The church is even better than a hospital. It should be a garden when you go. And I feel like personally when I come into this place. I feel like there's a garden here.
SPEAKER_05And and that's that's and that's the hope, and and I wish that that were the experience of every person that would encounter a church or or a spiritual environment, is that they would they would encounter it in such a way that it would bring life. You know, because that these are the words of life, you know. This is this is uh Christ is the resurrection and the life. And so as Christ is preached, resurrection and life is what should be coming out. Yeah because that's that's who he is. Unfortunately, that's not always the case because he gets mixed with some other things, you know, some religious stuff and junk gets in there, and when that junk gets in there, then it clouds your lens and perspective and and it causes you to see things uh through a glass darkly. It causes you to see things um not as they are. And when that happens, then now all of a sudden your perspective is uh informing your emotions and and then you're living from that. And so I think for each of us, Raf, you you said something there that I thought was pretty profound, which is um you talked about healing, that that God wants to heal that. And I truly 100% believe that God wants to heal and and make clear each one of our lenses so that we can see very clearly uh who he is and who we are. And when we do that, now all of a sudden we begin to experience life in a whole different manner. Um, the the life that Jesus came to bring is a life of peace, of joy, of righteousness. Like this is the kingdom of God at hand in our lives, and it's and it's brought to us by his Holy Spirit. And and so if we aren't living from that space, all that that means is that there's another kingdom that is vying for our attention and and is trying to shape us and and and and form us in such a way. And so uh what we get to do is we get to examine that in our own lives and say, okay, God, what what how what does my life look like? You know, what is the perspective, what is the lens that I'm carrying? And and and and uh so much of that is surrounded or is it has to do with fear. Fear is is such a I mean it's it's one of the main fear and deception are the like the main tactics of uh of the enemy, the adversary that would try to shape how we see. Yes, you know, and and and honestly, most fear is just deception. It it's it's not even truth. It's not even it's not even real. It's it's it is false and it and it seems as though it's real to us when it's it's not actually. And if I if I can get you to believe something that is false uh about God and then about yourself, now I can get you to live from an alternate reality. And it's not it's not the truth of who he is or who of who you are, and so then now you're gonna live suboptimally because you're not living from life and resurrection, you're living from something else. You know, and so uh in in in in in understanding that I think that's part of our growth and maturation, and and as leaders and as ministers, it is to proclaim a gospel that is good, right? You know, it is to proclaim a truth that is Christ, that is resurrection and life, and and and the gospel that we present is news that is good and not fear.
SPEAKER_00Right. Jesus is in the garden of Gethsemane. He starts sweating great drops of blood. His body was physically doing something. Your your body may be physically doing something, but you can rest in the garden. You can even cause other people to sleep in the garden. You know, he's asking other people, I believe it was so peaceful around Jesus. Yeah, he was sweating great drops of blood, and that's why these guys honestly were passed out, and he's just like, personally in my mind, this isn't something I think about. Maybe maybe I'm off. Okay. But this is one thing that I think about that's possible. He was so it was so peaceful with Jesus praying there and he's sweating great drops of blood that Peter and James or whoever is around him is just falling asleep. He's just like, Can't you guys just stay with me like one one more hour? Right. And he's and he's just rocking them to sleep while he's shedding blood, while he's sweating great drops of blood.
SPEAKER_05And what like what a picture that is. That someone in their most anxious moments can still have a peace about him that that others are experiencing a peaceful space. Most of the time, think and think about it like this: most of the time when you are anxious, the people around you, A, know you're anxious, and B start getting anxious with you. You know, because an anxious person can cause anxiety in others just by their own behavior. Yet, Christ, in in the extreme pressure that he was under, like you said, sweating blood, that that is an I an anxiety that is so high, it's it's literally a bursting of your capillaries that then blood begins to come out of your sweat glands. A rare, rare medical condition caught brought on by high stress.
unknownYeah.
SPEAKER_05That he is in such a place of anxiety that his body, everything is screaming at him one thing, yet his spirit and his soul says, Not my will, but yours be done. He he still is in total control of what's going on inside of his mind. He's saying, God, this is what Father, this is what I'm experiencing. I don't want to do this. If it be possible, take this cup from me. Nevertheless, not my will but yours be done. And then the scriptures say the angels then came and ministered to him because God knows how to take care of his babies. He knows how to take care of us. And Jesus is our prime example of what that looks like and what it looks like to trust God in the midst of our anxiety, to trust God in the midst of the scary situations, you know, and and and I think a lot of times, you know, we can get caught up in just what we see. You know, you you have examples of that with Peter walking on water and then he gets caught up with what he sees. You you see examples of that one when the disciples are in the boat and the storms are raging and they get caught up in what they see. Jesus is over here taking a nap. You know, and so you you have examples of this throughout scripture where there's a circumstance that takes place and there's a perspective on, you know, there's a person who sees what's going on, and and it makes them scared, right? Because humans in general live by what we see, which is why I think that we're taught as Christ followers to walk by faith, not by sight. Don't live by what you see. Don't live by your don't live by your your your senses, your taste, your touch, your smell. Like live by your faith. Live by what you believe, the spirit of God. I was just talking to my wife about this the other day, and I was talking about, you know, this uh the the uh encounter that Jesus has with Nicodemus, and he's talking about being born again, and and he's explaining something to Nicodemus, who is someone who's intelligent. He's you know, religiously, uh he's he's not ignorant, uh, and and uh he's a more high moral guy, you know, so it's not like he's behaviorally is is is off. Uh and and and Jesus is trying to explain to him being born again and Nicodemus is like, what are you even talking about right now? And he says something that I think is just super profound. And it's like those who are born of the spirit, they they are like the wind. That they they they move, they ebb, and they flow and they go, and no one knows where they're going. And this is what it's like for those who are born of the spirit of God. And in that, what I see is that we were created to live such a life that we're not so moved by our emotions, we're not so moved by the the stuff around us. We're moved by the spirit of God. And the way that the spirit moves is left, right, up, down. You don't know where it's going, you don't know where it's been. It's it's in it's in such a way that it's like I can't predict what is about to happen. Which we all know that that is like contrary to human nature. I want to predict what's about to happen because I want stability because I feel as if I need to control what's about to happen. Because if I don't, I'll get scared. You know, so we're talking about that, and I thought this is the life that we were created and designed to lead, but it requires a rebirth. A rebirth is a is a is a change in our perspective, it's a change in the way that we think, you know, which is consistent with what Paul teaches, you know, and talks about with renewing your mind, being transformed by renewing your mind, not conforming to how everyone else lives and moves and has their being. And and so in thinking about that within the context of us living our lives, me going to the doctor's office and things being experienced growing up. Miriam, what do you think why do you think Christians still deal with things like fear? Let me let me let maybe phrase it this way. Do you believe that Christians or people who who profess Christianity still get a blood pressure of 160 over 72 when they go to church?
SPEAKER_01When they go to church? Yeah. I think yeah, I think they could have that blood pressure at any point.
SPEAKER_05I mean So why do you think that is?
SPEAKER_01Why do I think their their blood blood pressure spikes when they go to church? Sure. Because there's stress associated with it. You know, like you said it before, something happened. Somebody said something. I think a lot of it is probably it it has to come from I don't know who I am. So I was defined by something somebody said to me one time at church. So as soon as I walk in the door, that's who I am. So the stress of be trying to be something that they were never meant to be.
SPEAKER_05Can you give me an example of that?
SPEAKER_01Um. I mean, like I might be able to, but it's gonna sound really convoluted. I'm trying to think. Um yeah. We're on the spot. So yeah.
SPEAKER_00Take your time.
SPEAKER_05Order whenever you're ready.
SPEAKER_01Uh, you know, because you're talking about stress associated with church, right? And with people being like worked up and and in fear about church, right? Or God in general. Or God in general. Well, I mean, I think if you have a picture of God, if somebody told you that God was wrathful, that Jesus had to save you from God. Okay, so if I'm gonna go to where God is, refusing to believe that he's everywhere, you know, believing that he's in the church. So if I'm gonna go to where God is, I'm gonna encounter wrath, right? Whether it's fire, fire raining down on me if I go into this building because I sinned today, you know, I cut off that guy in traffic on the way here. Um, or if somebody's gonna say something to me and call me out for seeing me at the bar last night, you know, or whatever. That kind of that shame. Yeah. So it's that fear of the wrath of God or this picture that I have of a God that's anything other than love. If I have a picture of him that's anything other than love, then that allows place or room for fear to be present in my life, right?
SPEAKER_05I remember as a kid, I grew up in a prophetic church. And I remember being so scared as a kid that someone who was prophetic was going to call out publicly the sin in my life and all my shortcomings. And so it would cause me to not want to be around it. Uh when, you know, knowing now it's like that's not how how it's done. Now, I'm not saying that that's not what some people do, because some people do that. Um but because I didn't understand the culture of love, uh, it caused me to be afraid. You know, and I I honestly I think that that's I think that the majority of people's fear is based in judgment.
SPEAKER_01Sure.
SPEAKER_05And and as you said, how they see God. Um so that's maybe that's the question we should pose. Should you fear judgment?
SPEAKER_01Well, the Bible says that the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom.
SPEAKER_05You know, I'm so glad that you brought the Bible up because I brought a Bible excellent. Excellent. And not just quote it, you know, from heart.
SPEAKER_03Uh-huh.
SPEAKER_05We could actually read the scriptures for those who don't think we know the Bible. We're just gonna read it word for word. Do it. I love it. Uh the Bible says the Bible says a lot about a lot of things. Um but Paul writes in Second Corinthians chapter five, verse ten. That everyone is going to appear before the judgment seat of Christ. So that's that's something I think that is is. Should we fear judgment? No. No. We should not fear judgment. We'll get to why we shouldn't fear judgment. We should get we'll get to why we shouldn't fear at all. Paul says we shouldn't fear judgment.
SPEAKER_00I'm sorry. No, sorry.
unknownI'm sorry.
SPEAKER_05Most Christians are afraid of judgment. Right. And and Paul writes that that everyone is going to be before the judgment seat of Christ. Now, that can be interpreted a couple of different ways. One of the ways that most people will will interpret that is, you know, you're going to give account for your life because of what it says. You know, you in fact, you know, I'm just going to read it to you. I'm going to read it, I'm going to read it so that way there's no uh confusion. No confusion. Yep. As to uh what it explicitly says. Okay. Second Corinthians chapter 5, verse 10. For we must all appear for the judgment seat of Christ, so that each may receive what is due for what he has done in the body, whether good or evil. So, with that being said, should we fear judgment? Some people will take and interpret that as, you know, God is going to judge me at the at the end of my life. And if I've done good things, I'm in. If I have not done good things, it's it's it's you know, gladiator. You know, you got your thumb, yes or no, kill or or live.
SPEAKER_01If you believe any of the skits from the mid-90s to early 2000s, then you're gonna see a movie of your life. You're gonna see the movie of your life. You could have done this, and each one's gonna be judged.
SPEAKER_05And you'll be judged by it. And and if you did well, then I'm gonna let you into heaven.
SPEAKER_03Yeah.
SPEAKER_05And and you're gonna stand here before the tribunal of God and give account for your life. And so many people see that, hear that, interpret that, and are, and rightfully so, totally afraid of it.
SPEAKER_04Sure.
SPEAKER_05Come like completely scared of it. And then so then you have that, and you'll couple that with well, the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom. So you should be afraid. You should be afraid. This is why you should live your life right. Because if you don't live your life right, look what's gonna happen.
SPEAKER_01Well, if you don't have wisdom, if you're not afraid, you can't possibly have wisdom because it says it right there.
SPEAKER_05Right, the Bible clearly says the Bible clearly says that the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom. Yeah, and so unfortunately for the Americans who don't speak Hebrew, the word fear is used multiple times, and just the same as the word love is used multiple times, we have one word for love. But when I say that I love God, when I say that I love my wife, when I say that I love my brother, and when I say that I love ice cream, those mean different things.
SPEAKER_00Yes.
SPEAKER_05Right? And we contextually can understand that because we understand that we have one word for love. The Greek has multiple words for love. In the same way, the Hebrew has multiple words for fear. So when we read things like fear the Lord, for it's the beginning of wisdom, we take and interpret that as be scared of God. Why should I be scared of God? Well, I should be scared of God because I gotta stand before him in judgment. And if I do the wrong things, he's gonna lightning bolt my butt, you know, and cast me out of heaven. And I gotta get my life right in order to, you know, be loved and accepted by God.
SPEAKER_01Yeah, and the only way to know how to act or to know that wisdom is to be afraid.
SPEAKER_05To be afraid of him.
SPEAKER_01Yeah.
SPEAKER_05And unfortunately, that contradicts the entire gospel. Yeah. Because what that now does is it makes it a religious-based works system that Christ came to demolish, to fulfill, to make obsolete. Yeah. Come on. So what is cool though, is that the Hebrew has two words for fear. And what's the other one?
SPEAKER_01Pakad.
SPEAKER_05Because you got a remember that Picard. I think of Ahmed. I think of Ahmed the dead terrorist.
SPEAKER_01Oh my god.
SPEAKER_05Yes, because why? And why? Because Pachad means terror.
SPEAKER_03Yeah.
SPEAKER_05It means to frighten. That's how I remember it. And and and Yurah is like, ha ha. So there's two types of fear: the your rah and the pacad. Your ra means awe. It's it's it's an experiential moment where you know, like, it's like somebody walks into the room and you're like, whoa. It's not fear as in I'm scared. It's like it's it's fear as in, whoa, this is glorious.
SPEAKER_00This is glorious. This is incredible.
SPEAKER_05It's like it's like it's like you go to a concert and that first bass note is hit, and it's like and you're like, whoa, that is your raw.
SPEAKER_00Yes.
SPEAKER_05That is what the scriptures use when they say it is the raw of the Lord that is the beginning of of wisdom. It is the experiential awe of God that is the the and the reverential awe of God that is the beginning of wisdom. Not the pacad. The pacad is terror. It is it is to be frightened, it is, and it specifically has to deal with future events, like it's like worry. It's things that have yet to come to pass that I am concerned about coming to pass. That is the pacad. And in and nowhere in scripture is that associated with how we are to relate to God.
SPEAKER_00I love judgment. Why? Because you know, if Joseph is in the dungeon and he's proven not guilty, wow.
SPEAKER_05What's the judgment?
SPEAKER_00What's the judgment? Not guilty. And if you've done good or evil, but God's judgment is to call you out of the prison. Why are you scared? Why aren't you in awe? Like you're all like even Barabbas, when he was free, I bet he's just like there was this holy fear that came over here him, and he was just like, I've been forgiven, I've been set free, I am gonna be able to move again. I'm I'm I'm he's freaking out, dude. Come on, like it's good.
SPEAKER_05So you know what's even cooler about that? Barabbas. We see scripturally that was the one who Jesus took his place, yes, right? Where do where else do we see bar in scripture? Bar means son of. Simon, bar Jonah. Yes, Simon, son of Jonah. That's what it literally means. So bar Abas is son of the father, Abba. Abba is father, bar is son of. So we see Jesus taking place, the place of sons of the father, yeah, who were sentenced to death because of what they'd done, right, but were set free because of Jesus. It's it's throughout scripture. This is literally, it's all about what Jesus did. Barabbas was not set free because he was good. Barabbas was not set free because he did the right things. Barabbas was set free because Jesus went in his place. Right. And just as Jesus is gone in each of our places, we are set free, so we no longer have to fear judgment because of what Jesus has done. Which leads me to John, first John chapter 4, verse 13.
SPEAKER_00I did not come to condemn the word.
SPEAKER_05It says, By this we know that we abide in him and he in us, because he has given us his spirit. And we have seen and testify that the Father has sent his son to be the Savior of the world. This is what has happened. We've seen it and we testify of it. Whoever confesses that Jesus is the Son of God, God abides in him and he in God. So we have come to know and to believe, to know and to believe the love that God has for us. God is love. And whoever abides in love abides in God, and God abides in him. By this is love perfected with us, so that, okay, so why? So that we may have confidence for the day of judgment, because as he is, so are we in this world. What did John just say God was? Love. As he is, so are we. Then we continue on. The very next verse says, There is no fear in love, but perfect love cast out all fear. Why? Because fear has to do with punishment, and whoever fears has not been perfected in love. So I love this passage because it shares with us that the reason that people fear is because of judgment and punishment. Why am I fearing? I don't have to fear if I'm in Christ. Why? Because He is love. God is love. And we have seen, experienced, testify, believe, and receive these things. This is what it is. Jesus took our place. Barba's place. He took the place. And so now, what judgment do we have to fear? Because what Paul writes as everyone's going to stand before the judgment seat of Christ, what is that judgment? He specifically says it's the judgment of what we have done with life. Is it the judgment of salvation? No. That was taken care of with Christ. We have confidence because of Christ, and he has perfected us in love. What is the judgment of? The judgment is of what are you doing with your life. And that that word, that the judgment seat, what are you talking about? Is is literally it's the word Bema, which is used both in court and as a uh as the the uh like the judge of a uh sporting event. So like when you have think about the Olympics, when you have uh a competition that takes place, there is a judgment that takes place at the end of that competition that says you deserve the gold medal because of what you did during this competition, how you ran your race. You get a silver medal because of how you ran your race. This is how you've placed. This is the judgment seat or the bama in in sporting competition. It's the same Corinthians still have that, like that's still part of the the uh Corinthian tribunals. It's also part of the the law and and and and uh in that aspect as well. So it can be interpreted multiple ways, but the idea still is the same. It is this the judgment and the reward is based off of what did you do with your life, which means this. Number one, salvation is secured in Christ. This isn't about in and out, right? Christ purchased that, that's what he's done. But two, your life still matters. What I do with what I've been given matters. We see that all throughout scripture. Jesus talking about that. What did you do with the talents? What have you done with what's been given you? How are you walking out your life now? It's not that it doesn't matter. Well, Jesus, he saved me. Yes, he did. And how are you living your life now? It should look changed because Jesus comes in and he gives you his life and it changes your life. And so the the the judgment in that sense now is okay, what kind of reward are you receiving because of what you've done with your life? Did you clothe those who are naked? Did you visit those in prison? Did you feed those who were hungry? Did you lay down your life? Did you endure? What have you what are you doing with what I gave you? Are you being a good steward? So it's a judgment of are you being faithful? How are you stewarding your life? And I think that's the question for each of us that we get to examine in our own hearts today. You know, and am I living my life from fear because I'm scared of being judged? Or am I living my life from love and the confidence that I have? And I'm so because of that, I'm stewarding my life well. I'm not afraid that God is going to strike me down with lightning bolts. I don't have the Pakad of God, but I have the ya. I'm in such awe of who he is and what he's done. And I live from that because my perspective of him is one of love. It changes then how I live and how I interpret things. How the stuff that happens to me or takes place in my life, I I don't have to be afraid of it. I can actually interpret it through a lens of love. And when God moves in my life, it's it's not I'm not scared of him moving. I'm appreciative. I'm in awe of it.
SPEAKER_00I think about uh Daniel in the lion's den. And there might have been a physical fear there. But he also had a fear fear of God. Like I'm willing more more than willing to go to this den. And I'm not looking to change the law, Oaking. That I am willing to do whatever. Like if I die, then I die. But I'm trusting God. And I think that it's important if you're Joseph, Daniel, or whoever. They may even put you in prison. But God lets lies circulate when Joseph's are in the prison to show who Joseph truly is and show the hearts of other people. They even put Joseph in prison. And when Joseph comes out, he's very well trusted because everybody knows that all the lies weren't true. And so if you ever feel the fear of man and you hear the lies of the enemy, do not fear. Go into the dungeon and come out. Because when you come out, you'll come out with power. When you go into places like the Garden of Eden, and anywhere could be a garden of Eden, a doctor's office, a hospital, a church. And you may have some real fear going going to these places. Seriously. I I I I do. I I don't I love God and his people. Sometimes it's harder to love. They're harder to love. They are they're they're a lot harder to love. And it's hard for me to communicate because I always feel like I'm speaking parables. And I'm always feeling like I have to conceal things. Because I can't just be open with them. But I want to be open with them. But people see that your openness as love bombing when you're just trying to share the love of God. So you can't be open with people as you want to be. And so how how do you wrap up a gift and give it to people that you love? Because there is manipulation that that looks like love bombing. But then there is a true love of God that passes all understanding that we give. And and so how how do we share God's heart? How do we share that gift of God? Because I know I got a gift. And I know I can heal people, and I and I know I can talk to them and do all these things. I I know I can reveal pro prophecy, but if I sound like a a symbol, if I had if I just I'm speaking idle words and it's not getting sewn into people's heart, it's pointless without love. And I want them to experience the same love that I have, that Father has. How do we do that?
SPEAKER_05If we don't utilize the Holy Spirit, then we are doing ourselves and others a disservice. Because the Holy Spirit knows and God it's God that discerns the intents of the heart and can see the matters of the heart, not me. It's the Holy Spirit who reveals those things to each and every one of us. It's it's how Jesus was able to hear what they were thinking, right, when he's doing his ministry. It is by the the the power and the revelation of the Holy Spirit of God. And so what we get to do is we get to live from that same Holy Spirit. We have the same exact one that Jesus had. We got that same one. We don't have the junior one, we don't have the knockoff Timu brand, Holy Spirit. We have the original, the OG, you know, the same one that was at the beginning of the earth brooding over creation. It's the same Holy Spirit. And so what we get to do is we get to be sensitive to the Holy Spirit because I can, as you say, I can love bomb somebody. You know, I can share openly with one person, but I might not be able to share and communicate the same way with someone else. And the Holy Spirit knows the difference. And so if I if I lead and live from a sensitivity of faith and not by sight, I I live my life in such a way that I'm I'm I'm listening to the direction of the Holy Spirit that he will, as Paul says, help me to be all things to all men so that one might be saved. He'll help me to turn and to navigate life in such a way that I will be able to understand this person needs to receive it this way and this person needs to receive it this way. You know, I have three children and all three of them are very similar and very different. And the way that I talk to each of them is similar and different. But it's because I know each one of them and what they need. If I talk to my oldest daughter, if I talk to her sternly, it will break her because she is so sensitive and turns on a dime. But if I talk to my son quietly, like I would talk to my older daughter, he won't listen at all. I have to talk to him more sternly. And so it's it it by knowing the people, and here's this is the beautiful part of it because this all ties into love. By knowing the people, and because I love them, I choose to love them, I'm not shotgunning words of love towards them and truth and grace towards them. I am considering who they are, which means I'm laying down my life and my preferences, and I heard the preachers preach it this way, so I guess I've got to mock that and copy that and do it just like that. Instead, I say, Okay, Lord, how do I reach this person today? You know, and so instead of it being like, This is my style, I say, What do they need? To me, that's living from love. I can envision Jesus speaking to someone ver both sternly as he did with some of the religious leaders, and also incredibly gently with those like maybe the woman at the well. Because he knows his children. And so for us as his children, we get this beautiful thing called the Holy Spirit. And and because he operates from love, we get to operate from love as well. And and and that is the the the the beautiful thing about living from faith and not from sight, not from experientially, or living from our senses, we're living from him. You know, because I I I have no fear. I know that he is gonna lead me and and however it's it's needed. Because I'll tell you, there are some times where I want to say something very sternly, but the Lord's like, no, I want you to soften it up. And then there's other times, and this is this is more frequently, I want to say something softly. And he says, I need you to, I need you to I need you to be a little harsher, like a little sharper in this. Not mean, but stronger. Because they're not gonna hear it if you're speaking down here. So it's it is it is being sensitive to those things and listening to the Lord. And and we do that because we know that He loves us. We have nothing to fear.
SPEAKER_00So having an awe in everything that we speak and do. So having a love in everything that we speak and do.
SPEAKER_05Yeah. An awe and a reverence. And that's and that's the thing too, and I think that's what God wants to drive out is this fear of I'm gonna say the wrong thing, I'm gonna do it wrong. I don't have to have that fear, I don't have to live from that. I can live from I you love me. And and even if I were to mess something up, here's the beautiful thing. You know how to work all things together for good. And I'm doing it from a motivation and perspective that is not self-driven. It is because I want to bring honor and glory to you. And and I believe that when you posture yourself in a space of humility, that there is grace that is afforded to you versus when you posture yourself in a place of pride. I know this. This is how we do it. This is when you posture yourself in a place of pride, there's a resistance that takes place. But when you posture yourself from humility and you say, Father, this is this is yours. These are your children, these are your babies, whether they know it or not. I'm gonna speak to them however you want me to speak to them. And if I miss it, I know that you are big enough to correct it. I'm listening, my heart is open, I'm not trying to tune you out. I'm gonna be sensitive to what you have to say and how you wanna how you wanna teach and how you wanna lead. I'm gonna be sensitive to that. And by doing so, you'll see a lot of fruit come out of that. God wants to use stuff like that. And I think we all just get to posture ourselves in humility. And know that we're loved. We don't have to live from fear. And it's a lot easier to live humbly when you're not afraid. Because you know who loves you and who keeps you. I feel like you have some parting thoughts. Miriam's got some thoughts to some wisdom to impart before we go.
SPEAKER_01Well, this is it. It's just you were just talking earlier about Nicodemus and about being born of the spirit, right? And if I'm born of the spirit, you know, sometimes you don't know where it came from or where it's going, right? And we always want to, in our fear of what might happen, we want to control the outcome of things. And that brings in that manipulation, and that's not sitting in a place of love. So if we're gonna be led by the spirit in all things, then we're gonna humbly submit to however he wants to operate. So, Father, I'm not gonna, I'm not gonna dictate how you have to move in this situation. Just because I cried yesterday when I was sharing with somebody doesn't mean I have to cry today when I'm sharing with a different somebody.
SPEAKER_02That's it. Yep, yep.
SPEAKER_01It's not about what I'm doing, it's about what is your spirit doing in me in this moment for this person. What is it that you want to say to this person and how? And I submit myself to that.
SPEAKER_05Yeah. What do they need in this?
SPEAKER_01What do they need?
SPEAKER_05Yeah, what do they need in this? And that's that's a that that perspective, man. That that goes a long way. It's it's you laying down your life. It's you laying down your preferences, it's you laying down your understanding and saying, God, whatever they need. So beautiful.
SPEAKER_01And you're not in a box, you're way bigger than a box, and how awe-inspiring is that, right? And there's the beginning of wisdom.
SPEAKER_05You're rah. Boom. Yay. Well, thank you for listening to the Everyday Kingdom podcast. Go out and you're rah, not Pachad. That's right. Blessings to you.