Our entire world system is set up as a fear based existence which has its roots in the fall of the adam, the man. There was a heavenly rebellion which took place long before mankind was created as Paul has explained. Humans were created to bring down the rebellious regime which is in charge for the time being. Yet we are living as though we are worms compared to other sons of God. For the believer in Christ, that is not the case. We understand that the mystery is now revealed, which is Christ in us the hope of glory, and that we are fellow heirs and of the same body. What is this system of fear and why have we fallen for the propaganda of bondage when we are not subject to it? We want to look at the first place that fear and timidity is used and start to build our recognition of the situation we are in.
Paul tells us we have not received the spirit of the world, but instead the Holy Spirit.
1 Corinthians 2:12 G1473 But we G1161 G3756 [2not G3588 3the G4151 4spirit G3588 5of the G2889 6world G2983 1received], G235 but G3588 the G4151 spirit, G3588 the one G1537 from G3588 G2316 God, G2443 that G1492 we should know G3588 the things G5259 [3by G3588 G2316 4God G5483 1being granted G1473 2to us].
13 G3739 Which G2532 also G2980 we speak G3756 not G1722 in G1318 [2instructed G442 3by human G4678 4wisdom G3056 1words], G235 but G1722 by G1318 words instructed G4151 [2spirit G39 1of holy]; G4152 [3in spiritual ways G4152 1spiritual things G4793 2being interpreted].
We have the Holy Spirit in us so that we should know the things granted to us. We are here to reestablish all things in Christ.
Ephesians 1:10 G1519 for G3622 administration G3588 of the G4138 fullness G3588 of the G2540 times, G346 recapitulating G3588 G3956 all things G1722 in G3588 the G5547 Christ, G3588 the things G1722 in G3588 the G3772 heavens, G2532 and G3588 the things G1722 on G3588 the G1093 earth, G1722 in G1473 himself.
What happened? The created beings rebelled, attempting a coup to overtake creation from the Creator. We are the creation that they want to enslave because they thought we were subjects under them. They developed a system of fear for us to live under. However we are not subjects under the dogma of the orderly arrangement of the cosmos.
The Lord had a plan in place from before the age of humans.
Ephesians 3:9 G2532 and G5461 to enlighten G3956 all G5100 as to what is G3588 the G2842 fellowship G3588 of the G3466 mystery G3588 of the G613 thing being concealed G575 from G3588 the G165 eons G1722 by G3588 G2316 God, G3588 to the one G3588 [2all things G3956 G2936 1having created] G1223 through G* Jesus G5547 Christ,
10 G2443 that G1107 should be made known G3568 now G3588 to the G746 sovereignties G2532 and G3588 to the G1849 authorities G1722 among G3588 the G2032 heavenlies G1223 through G3588 the G1577 assembly, G3588 the G4182 multifarious G4678 wisdom G3588 G2316 of God,
11 G2596 according to G4286 the intention G3588 of the G165 eons, G3739 which G4160 he made G1722 in G5547 Christ G* Jesus G3588 G2962 our Lord; G1473
Who is this mystery being revealed to? The sovereignties and the authorities among the heavenlies. The heavenly sons of God, the fallen, and the faithful. We are the “ace in the hole”. We are the beings that will overthrow the rebellious coup and judge those who attempted this mutiny. We will close out this age by judging the angels, and start a new age with Jesus Christ our Lord.
Meanwhile, we are on the earth and we don’t understand what is taking place around us. We are bombarded with fear all day long. We react via fear and organize our lives so as not to bring on our fears. We want to start by exploring the adam and the situation that he created by his disobedience. He became timid. Timidity and cowardice is an interesting recognition of fear. Let’s explore.
Genesis 3:8 G2532 And G191 they heard G3588 the G5456 voice G2962 of the lord G3588 G2316 God G4043 walking G1722 in G3588 the G3857 paradise G3588 G1168.1 at dusk and feared G2532 and G2928 [5hid G3739 G5037 1both G* 2Adam G2532 3and G3588 G1135 4his wife] G1473 G575 from G4383 the face G2962 of the lord G3588 G2316 God G1722 in G3319 the midst G3588 of the G3586 tree G3588 of the G3857 paradise.
1168 LSJ Gloss:δειλιάω to be afraid
Dodson:δειλιάω I shrink, am fearful I shrink, am fearful, timid, cowardly.
TBESG:δειλιάω be timid
G:V
δειλιάω, -ῶ
(< δειλία), [in LXX for חתת ni., פּחד, etc. ;]
= the more freq. ἀποδ-, to be cowardly, timid, fearful: Jhn.14:27.†
(AS)
Thayer:
1) to be timid, fearful
δειλιάω
deiliaō di-lee-ah'-o From G1167; to be timid KJV Usage: be afraid.
Deiliaō is used as “dusk” 5 times, which isn’t quite right. This could read: And heard the sound of Yahweh Elohim walking in the paradise, they feared, and which hid both adam and his wife, away from the face of Yahweh Elohim in the middle of the tree of paradise. We really do not know what time of day or night it was. This word deiliaō has nothing to do with the time of day, it has everything to do with the adam’s reaction after sin. The adam became timid and hid.
The Masoretic Text suggests something very different here.
Genesis 3:8 H8085 וישׁמעו And they heard H853 את H6963 קול the voice H3068 יהוה of the LORD H430 אלהים God H1980 מתהלך walking H1588 בגן in the garden H7307 לרוח in the cool H3117 היום of the day
H7307 רוּח
rûach roo'-akh From H7306; wind; by resemblance breath, that is, a sensible (or even violent) exhalation; figuratively life, anger, unsubstantiality; by extension a region of the sky; by resemblance spirit, but only of a rational being (including its expression and functions)
KJV Usage: air, anger, blast, breath, X cool, courage, mind, X quarter, X side, spirit ([-ual]), tempest, X vain, ([whirl-]) wind (-y).
Brown-Driver-Briggs' Hebrew Definitions
רוּח
1. wind, breath, mind, spirit
a. breath
b. wind
1. of heaven
2. quarter (of wind), side
3. breath of air
4. air, gas
5. vain, empty thing
c. spirit (as that which breathes quickly in animation or agitation)
1. spirit, animation, vivacity, vigour
2. courage
3. temper, anger
4. impatience, patience
5. spirit, disposition (as troubled, bitter, discontented)
6. disposition (of various kinds), unaccountable or uncontrollable impulse
7. prophetic spirit
d. spirit (of the living, breathing being in man and animals)
1. as gift, preserved by God, God's spirit, departing at death, disembodied being
e. spirit (as seat of emotion)
1. desire
2. sorrow, trouble
f. spirit
1. as seat or organ of mental acts
2. rarely of the will
3. as seat especially of moral character
g. Spirit of God, the third person of the triune God, the Holy Spirit, coequal, coeternal with the Father and the Son
1. as inspiring ecstatic state of prophecy
2. as impelling prophet to utter instruction or warning
3. imparting warlike energy and executive and administrative power
4. as endowing men with various gifts
5. as energy of life
6. as manifest in the Shekinah glory
7. never referred to as a depersonalised force
Origin: from H7306
TWOT: 2131a
Parts of Speech: Noun Feminine
TBESH:
רוּחַ
ru.ach
H:N-F
spirit
1) wind, breath, mind, spirit
1a) breath
1b) wind
1b1) of heaven
1b2) quarter (of wind), side
1b3) breath of air
1b4) air, gas
1b5) vain, empty thing
1c) spirit (as that which breathes quickly in animation or agitation)
1c1) spirit, animation, vivacity, vigour
1c2) courage
1c3) temper, anger
1c4) impatience, patience
1c5) spirit, disposition (as troubled, bitter, discontented)
1c6) disposition (of various kinds), unaccountable or uncontrollable impulse
1c7) prophetic spirit
1d) spirit (of the living, breathing being in man and animals)
1d1) as gift, preserved by God, God's spirit, departing at death, disembodied being
1e) spirit (as seat of emotion)
1e1) desire
1e2) sorrow, trouble
1f) spirit
1f1) as seat or organ of mental acts
1f2) rarely of the will
1f3) as seat especially of moral character
1g) Spirit of God, the third person of the triune God, the Holy Spirit, coequal, coeternal with the Father and the Son
1g1) as inspiring ecstatic state of prophecy
1g2) as impelling prophet to utter instruction or warning
1g3) imparting warlike energy and executive and administrative power
1g4) as endowing men with various gifts
1g5) as energy of life
1g6) as manifest in the Shekinah glory
1g7) never referred to as a depersonalised force
H3117 יום
yôm yome From an unused root meaning to be hot; a day (as the warm hours), whether literally (from sunrise to sunset, or from one sunset to the next), or figuratively (a space of time defined by an associated term), (often used adverbially) KJV Usage: age, + always, + chronicles, continually (-ance), daily, ([birth-], each, to) day, (now a, two) days (agone), + elder, X end, + evening, + (for) ever (-lasting, -more), X full, life, as (so) long as (. . . live), (even) now, + old, + outlived, + perpetually, presently, + remaineth, X required, season, X since, space, then, (process of) time, + as at other times, + in trouble, weather, (as) when, (a, the, within a) while (that), X whole (+ age), (full) year (-ly), + younger.
Brown-Driver-Briggs' Hebrew Definitions
יום
1. day, time, year
a. day (as opposed to night)
b. day (24 hour period)
1. as defined by evening and morning in Genesis 1
2. as a division of time 1b
c. a working day, a day's journey
d. days, lifetime (pl.)
e. time, period (general)
f. year
g. temporal references
1. today
2. yesterday
3. tomorrow
Origin: from an unused root meaning to be hot
TWOT: 852
Parts of Speech: Noun Masculine
TBESH:
יוֹם
yom
H:N-M
day
1) day, time, year
1a) day (as opposed to night)
1b) day (24 hour period)
1b1) as defined by evening and morning in Genesis 1
1b2) as a division of time
1b2a) a working day, a day's journey
1c) days, lifetime (pl.)
1d) time, period (general)
1e) year
1f) temporal references
1f1) today
1f2) yesterday
1f3) tomorrow
The Holy Spirit, ruach, is referred to here as “cool” but that is a mistranslation. Technically the “cool of the day” is also incorrect as dusk was usually the warmest part of the day. Some literal translations translate the idea of rauch yom as the “breeze of the day”. The suggestion is that there is a time when the Spirit or wind of the Spirit would come over the earth. Yet this is not what the Greek tells us. Regardless of the hour, it was deiliaō, fearful or timid.
The idea according to the other four Greek usages of deiliaō as “dusk” show us the comparison of morning offerings and the cowardly, shrinking back, fearful, offerings. However only one offering is suggested to be the fearful or timid time of offering. The first offering is daybreak or dawn, the second was known as the fearful offering, suggesting two things, approaching nightfall was a fearful time, and/or the visitation of Yahweh Elohim is a fearful time.
As we know, the Greek Septuagint was written long before the Hebrew Masoretic Text. English translators have tried to reconcile the word deiliaō by using the MT. The 250 BCE scribes under the direction of the High Priest in the Temple of Nehemiah suggest that any time Yahweh Elohim stops by, is a frightening time. They also suggest that one sacrifice is made at dawn and another is made at the fearful time. The fearful time for the second sacrifice is the time when Yahweh Elohim visits. The temple had been destroyed for over 600 years by the time the Masoretes translated the Greek back into Babylonian Hebrew, of which they did not have a true command of either language as they were writing between 600-1000 CE.
Does the Spirit of the Lord breathe creating a wind when Yahweh Elohim visits? We cannot tell that from the text. The Septuagint scribes did not suggest that either. What we know from the words they used, which they took from Moses’ paleo Hebrew, was that the adam and his wife were afraid, timid, fearful, and then hid. Now the adam will actually explain his actions.
Genesis 3:9 G2532 And G2564 God called G3588 G2316 G3588 G* Adam, G2532 and G2036 said G1473 to him, G* Adam, G4226 Where G1510.2.2 are you?
10 G2532 And G2036 he said G1473 to him, G3588 G5456 [2your voice G1473 G191 1I heard] G4043 while walking G1722 in G3588 the G3857 paradise, G2532 and G5399 I feared, G3754 for G1131 I am naked, G1510.2.1 G2532 and G2928 I hid.
5399 LSJ Gloss:φοβέω to put to flight
Dodson:φοβέομαι I fear, am terrified I fear, dread, reverence, am afraid, terrified.
Thayer:
1) to put to flight by terrifying (to scare away)
1a) to put to flight, to flee
1b) to fear, be afraid
1b1) to be struck with fear, to be seized with alarm
1b1a) of those startled by strange sights or occurrences
1b1b) of those struck with amazement
1b2) to fear, be afraid of one
1b3) to fear (i.e. hesitate) to do something (for fear of harm)
1c) to reverence, venerate, to treat with deference or reverential obedience
For Synonyms see entry G5841
φοβέω
phobeō fob-eh'-o From G5401; to frighten, that is, (passively) to be alarmed; by analogy to be in awe of, that is, revere KJV Usage: be (+ sore) afraid, fear (exceedingly), reverence.
The adam says he heard Yahweh Elohim walking in paradise. He then heard Yahweh Elohim call him. But instead of responding to Yahweh Elohim, the adam hid among the trees. The adam eventually responds. Yahweh Elohim may have found him first and then the adam responded. Considering that the adam was hiding it is reasonable to understand that he didn’t answer until he was found. The adam said he feared, phobeō. The adam knew he did something that he was not supposed to do, therefore he was frightened. But that is not the only reason that he was fearful.
The adam was uncovered. Not simply naked as in undressed, he had always been undressed. He finally recognized that he had always been undressed. The adam’s vision was opened thoroughly and his mind’s eye now came to know, or ascertain that he was laid bare. He didn’t notice it before as his eyes were not opened. Yet now he was like the elohim knowing good and evil.
The sons of God, the angels, the cherubim, the devil, and the satan are elohim. Men are elohim as well. Elohim means “ruler, king, president, or magistrate”. We translate Elohim as “God”, but then we incorrectly use God as a name, when instead it is a title. Men can be rulers over humans, as well as animals and the elements. Men who are believers in Jesus Christ are a spiritual elohim over other humans, animals, the elements, the fallen sons of God, and the disembodied spirits of the Nephil, aka demons. There is The Elohim, and there are other elohim, magistrates. Elohim is plural in the Hebrew, meaning three or more. The adam became like the other elohim in knowing good and evil. The fallen sons of God know evil because they intentionally practice it. It may be that the adam did not understand what the fallen sons of God had done, but he did see the comings and goings of the heavenly sons of God.
Being naked was not good or evil before the adam’s eyes were opened. There was no differentiating and judging things as good or evil. Everything simply was the way it was, neither good or evil. From the point of the adam’s eyes opening, he truly had become like the elohim. He lost his spiritual covering just as the fallen sons of God had lost their spiritual covering. The adam was created to prove the manifold or multifaceted wisdom of the Creator. Through Jesus we regain our spiritual covering. Although we now judge good and evil, we have the choice as to who we align with. If we choose correctly, we regain our spiritual covering, Christ in us and the Holy Spirit in us.
When we learn about spiritual matters we become fearful or afraid because we judge according to good and evil. We now know that there are evil beings, but we do not know how to deal with them. We do not understand how we look to other sons of God. We have Christ in us. Christ is not in angels, cherubim, seraphim, etc. Christ is inside those who believe that Jesus died and rose up. We are forever changed. Our eyes are being thoroughly opened to our new nature. As Paul explained to us, we are not under the rules and dogma of the fallen spiritual authorities in the cosmos. We are not subject to their parameters. Love supersedes fear. Fear, as John tells us, has punishment.
1 John 4:18 G5401 Fear G3756 is not G1510.2.3 G1722 in G3588 the G26 love, G235 but G3588 the G5046 perfect G26 love G1854 [3outside G906 1casts G3588 G5401 2fear]; G3754 for G3588 G5401 fear G2851 [2punishment G2192 1holds], G3588 and the one G1161 G5399 fearing G3756 has not G5048 been made perfect G1722 in G26 love.
5401 LSJ Gloss:φόβος flight
Dodson:φόβος fear, terror, reverence (a) fear, terror, alarm, (b) the object or cause of fear, (c) reverence, respect.
Thayer:
1) fear, dread, terror
1a) that which strikes terror
2) reverence for one's husband
φόβος
phobos fob'-os From a primary φέβομαι phebomai (to be put in fear); alarm or fright KJV Usage: be afraid, + exceedingly, fear, terror.
2851 LSJ Gloss:κόλασις chastisement, correction, punishment
Dodson:κόλασις chastisement, punishment chastisement, punishment, torment, perhaps with the idea of deprivation.
Thayer:
1) correction, punishment, penalty
For Synonyms see entry G5859
κόλασις
kolasis kol'-as-is From G2849; penal infliction KJV Usage: punishment, torment.
2849 LSJ Gloss:κολάζω to curtail, dock, prune
Dodson:κολάζω I chastise, punish I chastise, curtail, punish; mid: I cause to be punished.
Thayer:
1) to lop or prune, as trees and wings
2) to curb, check, restrain
3) to chastise, correct, punishment
4) to cause to be punished
κολάζω
kolazō kol-ad'-zo From κόλος kolos (dwarf); properly to curtail, that is, (figuratively) to chastise (or reserve for infliction) KJV Usage: punish.
If fear is not in love, we can recognize that the adam did not make his decision to disobey Yahweh Elohim out of love. He was tempted to be like the other elohim. The adam was made an elohim over Yahweh’s creation, yet he did not know good and evil. Unfortunately once his eyes were thoroughly open he became fearful. The reality of good and evil throughout the universe is a fearful thing. However, the adam was fearful because he lost something and he was now naked.
Fear has punishment. Fear itself is something that punishes and chastises us. We know we have to deal with demons and seducing spirits and these beings will put us in fear if they have an opportunity. If we look at the Book of Job as a whole, it is an interesting perspective of fear. Job’s friend Eliphaz had a dream and a spirit caused him great fear. Eliphaz says that if Job was telling the truth none of the evil things would have come upon him. Eliphaz is wrong. Eliphaz is assuming he had a revelation from God, but it was not from Yahweh.
Job 4:12 But if there had been any truth in thy words, none of these evils would have befallen thee. Shall not mine ear receive excellent revelations from him? 13 But as when terror falls upon men, with dread and a sound in the night, 14 horror and trembling seized me, and caused all my bones greatly to shake. 15 And a spirit came before my face; and my hair and flesh quivered. 16 I arose and perceived it not: I looked, and there, was no form before my eyes: but I only heard a breath and a voice, saying, 17 What, shall a mortal be pure before the Lord? or a man be blameless in regard to his works? 18 Whereas he trust not in his servants, and perceives perverseness in his angels. http://ecmarsh.com/lxx/Job/index.htm
We know that this is an evil spirit, as any spiritual beings that align with the Almighty Most High always announce themselves by saying “fear not”. This man, Eliphaz had an evil spirit visit him and he was in terror, filled with dread, he was trembling and shaking. His hair and flesh quivered. The evil spirit questioned Eliphaz saying “shall a mortal be pure before the Lord or a man blameless in regard to his works?” Well the answer to this sly seducing spirit is yes. Jesus paid the price by his blood for us to be pure before the Lord. Today we are blameless when we believe on Jesus Christ. In Job’s time men were also able to be pure before the Lord. The Holy Spirit would reside in Holy men, and holiness was not out of reach. But the perspective that the evil spiritual beings would like us to believe is that men are corrupt, dirty, and unable to stand before Yahweh Elohim. The evil spiritual beings would like us to believe that we are naked. We are not if we have Christ in us.
Let’s look at the last statement, verse 18. The evil spirit that tormented Eliphaz says that Yahweh does not trust his servants and he perceives perverseness in his angels. Has Yahweh found perverseness in his angels? Yes. Angels with freedom of choice choose to subvert their positions, coming to earth and corrupting mankind. There were some other sons of God who rebelled prior to the Nephilim, therefore can Yahweh trust his servants? No. Notice the statement. The statement is an attempt to discredit Yahweh Elohim the Creator. As if our Creator is not justified in distrusting some of the spiritual sons of God. Then the evil spirit continues to denigrate humans by suggesting that since we are simple clay we have even less regard from our Creator. This is not true at all. As Paul told us, it was the Creator’s manifold wisdom to create the human race to make known to the principalities and powers the eternal purpose of the mystery, the fellowship of the mystery, that it is Christ in us, the hope of glory. We judge angels.
The game that evil spiritual beings play with humans is to make us think that we are simple dirt or clay. They would like us to think that they are greater than we are. While we are struggling to understand spiritual beings, they simply take advantage of us. The time to stop this sleight of hand magic trick is now. Notice what Paul writes to Timothy.
2 Timothy 1:7 G3756 [3did not G1063 1For G1325 4give G1473 5to us G3588 G2316 2God] G4151 a spirit G1167 of dread, G235 but G1411 of power G2532 and G26 of love G2532 and G4995 of a sound mind.
1167 LSJ Gloss:δειλία cowardice
Dodson:δειλία cowardice cowardice, timidity.
TBESG:δειλία timidity
G:N-F
δειλία, -ας, ἡ (< δειλός), [in LXX for אֵימָה, מְחִתָּה, etc. ;]
cowardice, timidity (never in good sense): 2Ti.1:7.†
SYN.: φόβος, fear, in general, good or bad; εὐλάβεια (which see), apprehension generally, but chiefly pious fear, "that careful and watchful reverence which pays regard to every circumstance in that with which it has to deal" (cf. Tr., Syn., § x).† (AS)
Thayer:
1) timidity, fearfulness, cowardice
For Synonyms see entry G5835
δειλία
deilia di-lee'-ah From G1169; timidity KJV Usage: fear.
This word deilia is the same word we looked at earlier deiliaō, in regard to the adam being fearful when Yahweh Elohim came into paradise. (Remember it is not the word “dusk”.) God did not give us a spirit of deilia, timidity, or cowardice. Who would we be afraid of? Other men? Maybe, but really other spiritual beings. The Lord never sends a spirit of fear to us either, just like the Lord did not give us a spirit of the world/cosmos. Instead what do we have?
1411 LSJ Gloss:δύναμις power, might, strength
Dodson:δύναμις might, power, marvelous works (a) physical power, force, might, ability, efficacy, energy, meaning (b) plur: powerful deeds, deeds showing (physical) power, marvelous works.
Thayer:
1) strength power, ability
1a) inherent power, power residing in a thing by virtue of its nature, or which a person or thing exerts and puts forth
1b) power for performing miracles
1c) moral power and excellence of soul
1d) the power and influence which belong to riches and wealth
1e) power and resources arising from numbers
1f) power consisting in or resting upon armies, forces, hosts
For Synonyms see entry G5820
δύναμις
dunamis doo'-nam-is From G1410; force (literally or figuratively); specifically miraculous power (usually by implication a miracle itself) KJV Usage: ability, abundance, meaning, might (-ily, -y, -y deed), (worker of) miracle (-s), power, strength, violence, mighty (wonderful) work.
26
ἀγάπη
agapē ag-ah'-pay From G25; love, that is, affection or benevolence; specifically (plural) a love feast KJV Usage: (feast of) charity ([-ably]), dear, love.
4995 Dodson:σωφρονισμός self-control, self-discipline self-control, self-discipline, prudence.
Thayer:
1) an admonishing or calling to soundness of mind, to moderation and self-control
2) self-control, moderation
σωφρονισμός
sōphronismos so-fron-is-mos' From G4994; discipline, that is, self control KJV Usage: sound mind.
4994 LSJ Gloss:σωφρονίζω to recal
Dodson:σωφρονίζω I admonish I make sober-minded, admonish, control.
Thayer:
1) restore one to his senses
2) to moderate, control, curb, disciple
3) to hold one to his duty
4) to admonish, to exhort earnestly
σωφρονίζω
sōphronizō so-fron-id'-zo From G4998; to make of sound mind, that is, (figuratively) to discipline or correct KJV Usage: teach to be sober.
Why was it part of the mystery and the multifaceted wisdom of God to give us dunamis? Why do we need miracle working power? Why do we need inherent power and strength? Aren’t we wrestling against principalities powers and the dark ruler of the age, the kosmokratōr, the satan? Aren’t we to fight against spiritual wickedness? Therefore we should not be timid or afraid. We should recognize that we have power.
We also have love, agape. We can love other humans which will help to set them free. The devil does not love humans. The satan does not love humans. The fallen sons of God do not love humans. We don’t even see angels who love other angels. What we do see is that our Creator, Jesus Christ, loved us first, and now we can love others.
One more thing that we have been given instead of a spirit of fear is a sound mind to moderate self control. We do not have to be overtaken in anything. We have a sober mind. With Christ in us we are not just dirt, we can be clear thinking temperate humans. The evil sons of God would like us to believe that we are like animals who cannot control their bodies or passions. That is not true; we may be tempted, but we have been given a sane sensible mind. We do not need to be afraid.
Solomon writes of a coward as someone who is effeminate.
Proverbs 19:15 Cowardice possesses the effeminate man; and the soul of the sluggard shall hunger.
Anyone can be effeminate, which is someone who is more lady-like. This is an interesting point. Women are not necessarily effeminate. Women are the strongest and toughest spiritual warriors in the world. The reason is because the woman was made a boēthos, a helper who hastens to the war cry. Woman is the helper that man is to call out to and who was given to man by Yahweh. The devil would like women to believe that they are not suppose to be fierce. The devil would like women to have a spirit of fear instead of power. The devil would like women to believe that they are subpar compared to men. Women are intense warriors, ready to rip demon heads off when called upon.
Some people behave like a waif, helpless, and always wanting someone else to do the hard things for them. Waif’s and effeminate people are cowards. Hard things are not bad, they are just hard. We have to teach people how to stand on their own, how to fight for themselves, and how to war on behalf of others. Be fearless. Courageous.
Jesus called out the disciples. He asked them why they were timid. After Jesus’ death these disciples were fearless, filled with the Holy Spirit, they turned the entire world right-side up. But early on, the disciples did not understand that they too had power and authority over the elements. Again we see the same word as we saw in Genesis. Timid, not dusk.
Matthew 8:24 G2532 And G2400 behold, G4578 [2quaking G3173 1a great] G1096 took place G1722 on G3588 the G2281 sea, G5620 so as to G3588 G4143 [2 the boat G2572 1cover] G5259 under G3588 the G2949 waves; G1473 but he G1161 G2518 was sleeping.
25 G2532 And G4334 [2coming forward G3588 G3101 1his disciples] G1473 G1453 roused G1473 him, G3004 saying, G2962 O Lord, G4982 save G1473 us! G622 we perish.
26 G2532 And G3004 he says G1473 to them, G5100 Why G1169 are you timid, G1510.2.5 G3640 O ones of little belief? G5119 Then G1453 having arisen, G2008 he reproached G3588 the G417 winds G2532 and G3588 the G2281 sea; G2532 and G1096 there became G1055 [2calm G3173 1a great].
27 G3588 And the G1161 G444 men G2296 marveled, G3004 saying, G4217 What kind G1510.2.3 is G3778 this one, G3754 that G2532 even G3588 the G417 winds G2532 and G3588 the G2281 sea G5219 obey G1473 him?
1169 LSJ Gloss:δειλός cowardly, craven
Dodson:δειλός cowardly, timid cowardly, timid, fearful.
Thayer:
1) timid, fearful
δειλός
deilos di-los' From δέος deos (dread); timid, that is, (by implication) faithless KJV Usage: fearful.
Jesus wants to know why these burly fishermen who have sailed for many years, and probably dealt with their fair share of storms, are so deilos, fearful. It would seem an odd thing for people who spent their entire lives fishing to all of a sudden become effeminate cowards. This was probably not an ordinary storm. This storm was probably a spiritual storm, meaning that evil spiritual beings probably conjured the elements into a kind of storm these people had never seen. The quaking was seismos, seismic activity. Was there an earthquake under the water? The waves and winds were sinking the boat. But Jesus censured and forbid the winds and the sea. Then the disciples started to learn.
Fear and timidity hinders faith. We cannot command the elements or rebuke the evil spirits if we do not have faith. Jesus essentially asked them what they were afraid of. Considering that the devil promotes fear every day all day long, we humans are in fear over many things. We are especially fearful and timid over understanding our potential and abilities in Christ. These men had never experienced the spiritual power and authority of rebuking the elements. They were always victims of bad weather. And while they were not effeminate cowards, they knew when to set sail and when not to.
It is really important for the Body of Christ to understand this and to overcome fear. Jesus tells us that if we overcome we will inherit all and he will be our God and we will be his children.
Revelation 21:7 G3588 The one G3528 overcoming G2816 shall inherit G3956 all, G2532 and G1510.8.1 I will be G1473 to him G2316 God, G2532 and G1473 he G1510.8.3 will be G1473 to me G5207 a son.
8 G3588 But to the G1161 G1169 timid ones, G2532 and G571 unbelieving ones, G2532 and G268 sinful ones, G2532 and G948 ones being abhorrent, G2532 and G5406 murderers, G2532 and G4205 fornicators, G2532 and G5333 dealers in potions, G2532 and G1496 idolaters, G2532 and G3956 to all G3588 the G5571 liars, G3588 G3313 their part G1473 G1722 is in G3588 the G3041 lake G3588 G2545 burning G4442 with fire G2532 and G2303 sulphur, G3739 which G1510.2.3 is G3588 the G2288 [2death G3588 G1208 1second].
The timid ones, the effeminate cowards, and the unbelieving ones, will have their inheritance in the lake of fire. Somehow we have relegated fear and unbelief as minor infractions, but Jesus tells us the end result is the lake of fire. When we think of this we have to put it in perspective. Are we too afraid to stand up against adversity? Are we afraid to believe on Jesus because our family and friends might not like us any longer? Are we too timid to rebuke evil spirits? Are we concerned that the elements won’t obey us?
Those people who make decisions based on fear are making a mistake. One of the reasons that the Body of Christ gets roughed up by the evil spirits and fallen sons of God is to keep us from using our God given power against them. If we rise up, remembering what Paul told us in Colossians regarding being delivered from the power of darkness into the kingdom of Jesus, and that we are dead from the rudiments/elements of the world, the dogma of the principalities and powers, and the religion of angels, and that it is Christ in us the hope of Glory, we will not live a timid fearful life. We are Jesus’ calling card that the age of heavenly rebellion is almost over. We will explore more about fear next week.
