Biblical Answers for Security

            Security is defined as, “The state of being secure; freedom from danger, poverty, or apprehension.”  It is our desire to be safe and have an abundant life.  Security is so fundamental for survival and the enjoyment of life that it is one of our deepest needs.  Fear is our natural response to a threat to our security.  Fear is “an agitated feeling aroused by awareness of actual or threatening danger or trouble.”  It provides the energy to defend ourselves from a threat.  Anxiety is a generalized fear due to a perceived or buried threat or conflict.  (The Standard College Dictionary, Funk & Wagnalls, 1963)  Feelings of security are fundamental to our happiness, and feelings of insecurity underlie almost all types of dysfunction and emotional torment.

   

How We Develop Our Feelings of Security 

 

            All of us begin life with certain basic fears: a fear of falling, noise, and maybe a fear of abandonment.  During the first six to seven years of our lives, fears play a major role since children lack the means to judge or independently interpret the dangers of the world around them.  Most overreactions in adult life and irrational fears come from traumatic childhood experiences.  Fears are simply emotions that warn us when we may be in danger and provide the motivation and energy to escape from that danger.  They activate our body to be prepared to protect itself.  Our body undergoes a number of different changes as it prepares for our defense.  The most noticeable changes include deeper respiration, increased pulse rate, higher blood pressure, a movement of the blood supply away from the stomach and intestines to the heart, muscles and lungs.  Furthermore, all processes in the alimentary canal cease, the spleen contracts and sends corpuscles to damage control stations, adrenaline is excreted and sugar is freed from liver.  (Morris, 1996) 

 

            As a child, we are just about as secure as our parents are.  An infant’s emotional makeup begins with that of the mother.  It has been suggested that fear and anxiety can even be felt by the unborn child in the womb.  As we have learned in the case of self-worth and significance, we learn about our world from our parents and accept their views as reality.  An overprotective mother sends the message that the world is a dangerous and scary place.  A secure mother transmits a feeling of security to the child.  Of course, as the child grows, the experiences of life modify his or her view of life.  Traumatic experiences can drastically alter views.  As an example, men returning from war or those who have been traumatized by a great catastrophe may suffer from Post Traumatic Stress Disorder for a lifetime.  Women who have been raped may suffer severe anxiety or panic attacks years after the event.  Our overall outlook on life is set by these events and, because of them; we might remain a pessimist or optimist throughout the rest of our lives. 

 

The World’s System 

 

            When we realize that we live in a world filled with fearful possibilities, we naturally seek some way to make it safe.  If we choose to rely on ourselves, we may work hard to cope with our fears, learn karate, lift weights, install a security system, put bars on our windows, wear a bulletproof vest or carry a gun.  Other ways of coping include amassing large amounts of money, becoming powerful, or hiring somebody to protect us.  Some, like the Pharisees try to be good enough to deserve God’s protection.  Whatever the method, we will work hard to make our world secure and prosperous.

 

            How we view life significantly affects our emotional makeup and the intensity of our emotions, especially fear and anger.  In one of my domestic violence groups, one of the men who attended described the world as “a sea of sharks that will devour you if you show any sign of weakness.”  Because of this perception of the world, he was a very angry person who tended to perceive almost everything that happened to him as a serious threat.  Because of these perceptions, he had a significant problem with uncontrollable anger and violence.  

The Consequences of the World’s System for Security—Fear of Catastrophe

 

1.    We can never become absolutely safe by our own efforts.  We simply do not have enough information or capability.  The attacks on the World Trade Center on September 11th made this very clear.  Terrorist attacks, diseases, earthquakes, tornadoes and accidents can happen to all of us without warning and there is little we can reasonably do to prevent them.  What could have the family driving under the overpass have done to prevent a steel beam from falling on their car at the split second that they drove by?  Even if we try to be good enough to deserve protection as Job did, we will never be fully protected since we all sin.

 

Ec 8:8  There is no man that hath power over the spirit to retain the spirit; neither hath he  power in the day of death: and there is no discharge in that war; neither shall wickedness deliver those that are given to it.

Job 24:22  He draweth also the mighty with his power: he riseth up, and no man is sure of life. 

 

2.   The more we rely on ourselves, the more vulnerable to fear we become.  When we imply that we are going to rely on ourselves and be our own God, God watches until we learn that He alone can provide for our safety.  The more we trust in ourselves, the more we realize how limited we really are.  The result is anxiety and fear.  

Ps 20:7  Some trust in chariots, and some in horses: but we will remember the name of the LORD our God.

Mic 5:10  And it shall come to pass in that day, saith the LORD, that I will cut off thy horses out of the midst of thee, and I will destroy thy chariots: 

 

3.   The more we try to control people or circumstances, the more we lose our ability to control them.  If we try to control people, they will eventually rebel against our attempts to control them.  When we try to control our circumstances, our very attempts tend to overcompensate and cause our circumstances to spiral further out of control.  What we learn in the end is that we are truly powerless over most of the events of our lives.  The only real way to gain control of our lives is to give up trying to control our lives and yield them to God—the only one who is truly in control of everything. 

 

Lu 17:33  Whosoever shall seek to save his life shall lose it; and whosoever shall lose  his life shall preserve it.

Jo 12:25  He that loveth his life shall lose it; and he that hateth his life in this world shall keep it unto life eternal.

Pr 16:25  There is a way that seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death. 

 

4.   The more we have or gain, the more we have to fear.  The more successful in life we are at playing the game of “king of the hill,” the more we become a target of those hoping to replace us.  The richer we are or the more we possess things that others want, the more we become a target for theft or con games.  Armies, no matter how powerful, are never enough.  This has become clear in Iraq.  In fact, our power and abundance makes us the prime target of terrorist organizations.  Today, it is much safer when traveling abroad to be a citizen of an undeveloped and impoverished country than it is to be a citizen of the sole superpower on Earth. 

 

Isa 31:1  Woe to them that go down to Egypt for help; and stay on horses, and trust in chariots, because they are many; and in horsemen, because they are very strong; but they look not unto the Holy One of Israel, neither seek the LORD! 

 

5.   The more we possess on earth, the more we have to do to maintain and protect what we have acquired.  Life becomes a constant fight to stay ahead.  The greater our house and yard, the more we have to paint and mow.  The more money we have, the more we are consumed with our investments.  The larger the business, the more we have to struggle to maintain our market share.  Riches do not really increase our security, but increase our responsibilities and, therefore, can make us feel even more insecure.

 

Mt 6:19  Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal:  20  But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal: 

 

6.   The more we focus on our fears the greater they become.  Sometimes we feel that by thinking about our problems we will feel more in control.  The opposite is true.  The more we are concerned and focus on our fears, the greater they become in our minds until we become obsessed by them.  Howard Hughes, who had everything he wanted, eventually became consumed with a fear of germs and protecting himself from disease to such a degree that he isolated himself for the remainder of his life. 

 

Job 3:25  For the thing which I greatly feared is come upon me, and that which I was afraid of is come unto me.  26  I was not in safety, neither had I rest, neither was I quiet; yet trouble came. 

Ps 48:6  Fear took hold upon them there, and pain, as of a woman in travail.

Lu 21:26  Men’s hearts failing them for fear, and for looking after those things which are coming on the earth: for the powers of heaven shall be shaken. 

 

7.   The more successful and prominent we become, the greater our potential for having a significant failure.  The recent trial of Martha Stewart for lying to an investigator about inside trading is a good example.  Even the prosecution agreed that if she was not so prominent they possibly would have dropped the case.  The more we build our security on our performance and the approval of others, the more vulnerable we become when we fail. 

 

Pr 29:25  The fear of man bringeth a snare: but whoso putteth his trust in the LORD shall be safe. 

 

8.   The level of stress that we experience in life increases as we accomplish more, achieve greater position, or have more possessions.  This is because with greater accomplishments and success, come more responsibility.  In fact, the more we have, the more that is required of us, and the more that is required of us, the more we will feel that all the demands on our lives exceed our capabilities.  Stress results when we perceive that what we are required to do exceeds our current capabilities.  I counseled an engineer who was experiencing anxiety attacks, not because he feared failure, but because of the added responsibility that went along with his continued successes. 

 

9.   Riches do not make you happy.  It is interesting to note that today there are psychologists that specialize in just helping the very rich and famous cope with their anxiety and the problems associated with being rich and famous.  The Bible makes it clear that leading a normal life is best. 

 

Pr 30:8  Remove far from me vanity and lies: give me neither poverty nor riches; feed me with food convenient for me:  9  Lest I be full, and deny thee, and say, Who is the LORD? or lest I be poor, and steal, and take the name of my God in vain. 

 

10.  We eventually all lose the battle to make ourselves secure and eventually die.  As we become older, most people feel less and less secure, especially when they come face to face with the day of their death.  We cannot take our power, accomplishments or possessions with us, and if we are without Christ, we must face the greatest of all fears alone.  Ultimately, without God, there is no answer for our fears and, especially, for our security beyond the grave. 

 

Mt 10:28  And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell. 

 

God’s System for Security 

 

            How we view God colors our entire world and what we believe about Him determines how secure we are in life.  Is He a taskmaster that demands obedience waiting for us to make a mistake so He can punish us, or is He a loving God that gives us unmerited favor and even uses our mistakes for our long term good?  Does He protect us from every danger or are we just rolling the dice waiting for a catastrophe in our lives? 

 

            Because even many Christians do not totally understand what the Bible has to say concerning the protection that God provides, they are not able to live in the security and peace that He meant for us to have.  Many are confused about what God promises to do to protect us, what part we play in our own protection, what we need to do or not do to remain in God’s protection, and how to deal with the tragic events in our lives that do not seem to line up with what the Bible promises.  A number of excellent books have been written on this subject, but let us examine briefly, what is clear from the Word of God.

 

1.  The only way to obtain an abundant, secure life is to follow Christ. 

 

Mr 8:35  For whosoever will save his life shall lose it; but whosoever shall lose his life for my sake and the gospel's, the same shall save it.       

Lu 12:33  Sell that ye have, and give alms; provide yourselves bags which wax not old, a treasure in the heavens that faileth not, where no thief approacheth, neither moth corrupteth.

Mt 7:13  Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat:  14  Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it. 

 

2.  We can either try to make ourselves secure in this life through our own efforts and the world’s system, or we can serve God.  We cannot have both.  There is no security trying to ride on the fence of life. 

 

Mt 6:24  No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon. 

 

3.  God has promised to take care of us, just like He cares for all of creation. 

Mt 6:25  Therefore I say unto you, Take no thought for your life, what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink; nor yet for your body, what ye shall put on. Is not the life more than meat, and the body than raiment?  26  Behold the fowls of the air: for they sow not, neither do they reap, nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feedeth them. Are ye not much better than they?

 

4.  We must realize that what we can accomplish, no matter how hard we try, is extremely limited. 

 

Mt 6:27  Which of you by taking thought can add one cubit unto his stature?

 

5.  We can never, in our own efforts, take care of ourselves as well as God can provide for us when we fully trust Him. 

 

Mt 6:28  And why take ye thought for raiment? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they toil not, neither do they spin:  29  And yet I say unto you, That even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these.  30  Wherefore, if God so clothe the grass of the field, which to day is, and to morrow is cast into the oven, shall he not much more clothe you, O ye of little faith? 

 

6.  We are not to worry about things like food or clothing, for God knows that we need them. 

 

Mt 6:31  Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed?  32  (For after all these things do the Gentiles seek:) for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things. 

 

7.  Having our needs met and finding security in life can only be obtained indirectly, by seeking the good of God’s kingdom and living right, always trusting in His power. 

 

Mt 6:33  But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you. 

 

8.  When we have put our trust in God, we should not even be concerned about what could happen tomorrow. 

 

Mt 6:34  Take therefore no thought for the morrow: for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself. Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof.

De 31:6  Be strong and of a good courage, fear not, nor be afraid of them: for the LORD thy God, he it is that doth go with thee; he will not fail thee, nor forsake thee.           

 

9.  God is not limited in power, but can help in all circumstances. 

2 Chr 14:11  And Asa cried unto the LORD his God, and said, LORD, it is nothing with thee to help, whether with many, or with them that have no  power: help us, O LORD our God; for we rest on thee, and in thy name we go against this multitude. O LORD, thou art our God; let not man prevail against thee.

Job 26:2  How hast thou helped him that is without power? how savest thou the arm that hath no strength?

Isa 40:29  He giveth power to the faint; and to them that have no might he increaseth strength.

Isa 50:2  Wherefore, when I came, was there no man? when I called, was there none to answer? Is my hand shortened at all, that it cannot redeem? or have I no power to deliver? behold, at my rebuke I dry up the sea, I make the rivers a wilderness: their fish stinketh, because there is no water, and dieth for thirst.

Jos 1:5  There shall not any man be able to stand before thee all the days of thy life: as I was with Moses, so I will be with thee: I will not fail thee, nor forsake thee.

21:45  There failed not ought of any good thing which the LORD had spoken unto the house of Israel; all came to pass. 

 

10.  Our security in life depends on doing what God tells us to do in the Word of God, not just hearing His Word. 

 

Mt 7:24  Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock:  25  And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell not: for it was founded upon a rock.  26  And every one that heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them not, shall be likened unto a foolish man, which built his house upon the sand:  27  And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell: and great was the fall of it. 

 

11.  God has given us supernatural power. 

 

Mt 10:1  And when he had called unto him his twelve disciples, he gave them power against unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to heal all manner of sickness and all manner of disease.

Lu 10:19  Behold, I give unto you power to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy: and nothing shall by any means hurt you.           

 

12.  It is in our weakness that we manifest the power of God most effectively. 

2 Co 4:7  But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power may be of God, and not of us.

12:9  And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.

13:4  For though he was crucified through weakness, yet he liveth by the power of God. For we also are weak in him, but we shall live with him by the power of God toward you. 

 

13.  When we rely on God, His power within us makes all things possible. 

Eph 3:20  Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us,

6:10  Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might. 

 

14.  Only God can protect us from the ultimate insecurity of death. 

1Co 15:52  In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.  53  For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality.  54  So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory. 

 

The Consequences of God’s Plan for Security—Peace and Happiness

 

             If we choose to end our attempts to provide our own security and rely on God for our protection and prosperity, this choice will significantly affect the quality of our lives and eventually lead to the abundant life that God has promised us.

 

1.  We will be protected from catastrophe if we rely on Him. 

Ps 91:1 He that dwelleth in the secret place of the most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty.  2  I will say of the LORD, He is my refuge and my fortress: my God; in him will I trust.  3  Surely he shall deliver thee from the snare of the fowler, and from the noisome pestilence.  4  He shall cover thee with his feathers, and under his wings shalt thou trust: his truth shall be thy shield and buckler.  5  Thou shalt not be afraid for the terror by night; nor for the arrow that flieth by day;  6  Nor for the pestilence that walketh in darkness; nor for the destruction that wasteth at noonday.  7  A thousand shall fall at thy side, and ten thousand at thy right hand; but it shall not come nigh thee. 

 

2.  Everything will work for our good. 

Ps 91:9  Because thou hast made the LORD, which is my refuge, even the most High, thy habitation;  10  There shall no evil befall thee, neither shall any plague come nigh thy dwelling.  11  For he shall give his angels charge over thee, to keep thee in all thy ways.  12  They shall bear thee up in their hands, lest thou dash thy foot against a stone.  13  Thou shalt tread upon the lion and adder: the young lion and the dragon shalt thou trample under feet.  14  Because he hath set his love upon me, therefore will I deliver him: I will set him on high, because he hath known my name.  15  He shall call upon me, and I will answer him: I will be with him in trouble; I will deliver him, and honour him.  16  With long life will I satisfy him, and shew him my salvation.

Ro 8:28  And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose. 

 

3.  We will be delivered from our fears. 

Ps 27:1  The LORD is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? the LORD is the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?

27:3  Though an host should encamp against me, my heart shall not fear: though war should rise against me, in this will I be confident. 

 

4.  We will experience the peace of God.   

Ps 4:8  I will both lay me down in peace, and sleep: for thou, LORD, only makest me dwell in safety.  46:2  Therefore will not we fear, though the earth be removed, and though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea; 

56:4  In God I will praise his word, in God I have put my trust; I will not fear what flesh can do unto me. 

 

5.  We will be prosperous and have all that we need. 

Ez 34:27  And the tree of the field shall yield her fruit, and the earth shall yield her increase, and they shall be safe in their land, and shall know that I am the LORD, when I have broken the bands of their yoke, and delivered them out of the hand of those that served themselves of them.

2 Pe 1:3  According as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue:

Ps 34:9  O fear the LORD, ye his saints: for there is no want to them that fear him. 

 

6.  We will be happy.

Ps 144:15  Happy is that people, that is in such a case: yea, happy is that people, whose God is the Lord. 

146:5  Happ is he that hath the God of Jacob for his help, whose hope is in the Lord his God:

1 Pe 3:14 But and if ye suffer for righteousness' sake, happy are ye: and be not afriad of their terror, neither be troubled:

 

 7.  Nothing will be able to shake our optimism about life. 

Ps 23:1 The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want.  2  He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters. 3  He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name's sake.  4  Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.

 

8.  We will have the great and wonderful life that God intended for us. 

Ps 23:5  Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over.  6  Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the LORD for ever.

 

Lu 12:32  Fear not, little flock; for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom.  

 

9.  We will be delivered from the fear of death. 

1 Co 15: 55  O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory?  56  The sting of death is sin; and the strength of sin is the law.  57  But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. 

 

The Process of Transformation by Faith to Have a Secure Life

 

            We have just examined the basic principles of security outlined in Bible.  The process of developing a secure life is based primarily on knowing the truth about what God will do for us, believing His truth in our heart and acting according to it by facing our fears.  In order to help my clients, I use the following steps to teach them a summary of what we have already learned and challenge them to choose which system of security they want for their lives:  God’s which results in peace and safety,  the world’s which results in a fear of catastrophe, or the devil’s which will result in catastrophe.

 

1.  We must learn what the Word of God promises us concerning fear and our protection from catastrophe.  Because this is an essential and complex subject, I have provided an outline of these important principles and a chart labeled Protection from Catastrophe at the end of this chapter.

 

2.  Although fear is a natural response, we must learn to master it for our good.  Rational fears warn us about danger, but irrational fears can debilitate us.  Fear can manifests itself through anxiety, panic attacks, phobias, posttraumatic stress disorder, obsessions and compulsions.  If we do not master it, it will hinder our life, stop what God has called us to do and prevent us from having the abundant life that God has provided for us. 

 

3.  We must quit trying in our own strength to feel secure and completely yield our lives to God, trusting in Him for our protection.  Because we are so limited in this life, the more we rely on ourselves, the more we will feel insecure.

 

4.   Since faith in God is the opposite of fear, we must establish a close, intimate  relationship with God in order to trust Him more than our fears.  We must do everything we can to build and strengthen our faith since it is the key for overcoming our fears and having a happy life.  (See the previous chapter on methods for increasing our faith.) 

   

5.  We must focus on God instead of our fears.  The more we concentrate on our problems and fears, the more they grow in strength.  The more we focus on God, the more our faith in Him will overcome our fears.  This principle is clearly illustrated when the children of Israel sinned by speaking against Moses and were being bitten by snakes.  The brass serpent on the pole is a type of Jesus taking our sins upon the cross.  When we concentrate our focus on Him, we are healed of our fears; and when we focus on our fears, they become larger and will eventually consume us.

 

Nu 21: 7  Therefore the people came to Moses, and said, We have sinned, for we have spoken against the LORD, and against thee; pray unto the LORD, that he take away the serpents from us. And Moses prayed for the people.  8  And the LORD said unto Moses, Make thee a fiery serpent, and set it upon a pole: and it shall come to pass, that every one that is bitten, when he looketh upon it, shall live.  9  And Moses made a serpent of brass, and put it upon a pole, and it came to pass, that if a serpent had bitten any man, when he beheld the serpent of brass, he lived.

 

6.  Facing our fears is the most effective way to overcome them.  Facing them systematically, a little at a time, is a very effective method for overcoming all types of insecurity.  When the Hebrew children faced the fiery furnace, they were not harmed by its fire.  (For the steps for overcoming fear, see the model of the fiery furnace later in this book.) 

 

7.  God promises that, if we will put our trust in Him, we will never be tempted beyond what we are able and that He will protect us from catastrophe. (1 Corinthians 10:13)  It is critical that we believe this in all of our heart and especially in our spirit.  If we do, we can face any fear knowing that we can overcome it with God’s help. 

 

8.  We must totally abandon our own pride and self-reliance, do our part to face our fears through faith and trust God to protect and deliver us from all of our fears.  As long as we try to provide even a small part of our own security and protection, we will fail. 

 

9.  We must believe and expect that through faith, God will provide all we need, protect us from all evil and work everything for our good; so that we can possess the fantastic wonderful life of peace and happiness that He wants and has provided for each of us.  Insecurity and fear are the greatest hindrances to achieving God’s abundant and eternal life; and finding our security through faith is one of the most important keys to obtaining this life.  We must do everything we can to develop the faith to win this critical victory in our lives.

 

            One of the most significant issues to be addressed in helping a Christian client feel more secure in life is to teach them the biblical principles of protection from catastrophe.  Almost everyone will agree that God does not promise to remove all seemingly negative events from our lives at the moment that we are saved.  However, most Christians do not have a clear understanding of what they can expect from God.  We have three choices in life concerning protection from catastrophe.  We can follow God’s plan, the world’s plan or the devil’s plan.  Each will lead to very different consequences for our lives.

   

God’s Plan for Our Security—Peace and Safety 

 

1.  God’s plan for us:  only good. 

Jer 29:11  For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the LORD, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end.

 

2.  Because God loves us and has our best interests in mind, He will work everything—even our mistakes—for our good if we love and yield to His plan for us.

 

Ro 8:28  And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.

Ps 23:6  Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the LORD for ever. 

 

3.  God promises to protect us if we will accept His love, rely on Him for protection and pray in faith. 

 

Ps 91:1  He that dwelleth in the secret place of the most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty.  14  Because he hath set his love upon me, therefore will I deliver him: I will set him on high, because he hath known my name.  15  He shall call upon me, and I will answer him: I will be with him in trouble; I will deliver him, and honour him.

Pr 18:10  The name of the LORD is a strong tower: the righteous runneth into it, and is safe.

2 Pe 1:4  Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust. 

 

4.  When we accept Christ, we are accepted in Him.  Because Christ perfectly fulfilled the law, we are free from the law that through sin leads to catastrophe. 

Ro 6:8  Now if we be dead with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with him:  9  Knowing that Christ being raised from the dead dieth no more; death hath no more dominion over him.  22  But now being made free from sin, and become servants to God, ye have your fruit unto holiness, and the end everlasting life. 

 

5.  Although God allows the direct consequences of our choices so we can learn from our mistakes, He never allows us to be placed into a situation from which recovery is impossible or where we cannot, with His help, endure our circumstances.  

 

1 Co 10:13  There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it. 

 

6.  God does not promise to protect us from all the struggles of this world, because they are tools for our growth, and when we overcome them He gets the glory.  

 

Ro 8:35  Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?  36  As it is written, For thy sake we are killed all the day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter.  37  Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us. 

 

7.  God’s protection is based on His eternal viewpoint of good knowing all things present and future, though it may not appear to be the obvious good from our temporal standpoint. 

 

Isa 55:8  For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the LORD.  9  For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts.  12  For ye shall go out with joy, and be led forth with peace: the mountains and the hills shall break forth before you into singing, and all the trees of the field shall clap their hands.

Jo 9:2  And his disciples asked him, saying, Master, who did sin, this man, or his parents, that he was born blind?  3  Jesus answered, Neither hath this man sinned, nor his parents: but that the works of God should be made manifest in him. 

 

8.  When our perception of things seems to indicate that He has failed us, God asks that we have faith in Him and trust His infinite wisdom.  He does not owe us an explanation.  

 

Job 40:6 Then answered the LORD unto Job out of the whirlwind, and said, 7  Gird up thy loins now like a man: I will demand of thee, and declare thou unto me.  8  Wilt thou also disannul my judgment? wilt thou condemn me, that thou mayest be righteous?  9  Hast thou an arm like God? or canst thou thunder with a voice like him?  10  Deck thyself now with majesty and excellency; and array thyself with glory and beauty.  11  Cast abroad the rage of thy wrath: and behold every one that is proud, and abase him.  12  Look on every one that is proud, and bring him low; and tread down the wicked in their place.  13  Hide them in the dust together; and bind their faces in secret.  14  Then will I also confess unto thee that thine own right hand can save thee. 

 

9.  The result is peace and safety.

Philippians 4:7  And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.

 

The World’s Plan for Our Security Without God—Fear of Catastrophe

 

1.  The world without God:  Chance. 

 

Ec 9:11  I returned, and saw under the sun, that the race is not to the swift, nor the battle to the strong, neither yet bread to the wise, nor yet riches to men of understanding, nor yet favour to men of skill; but time and chance happeneth to them all. 

 

2.  After God entrusted the world to us, we chose to be our own god and provide our own protection. 

 

Ge 2:15  And the LORD God took the man, and put him into the garden of Eden to dress it and to keep it.  6  And the LORD God commanded the man, saying, Of every tree of the garden thou mayest freely eat:  17  But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it: for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die.

3:5  For God doth know that in the day ye eat thereof, then your eyes shall be opened, and ye shall be as gods, knowing good and evil.  6  And when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree to be desired to make one wise, she took of the fruit thereof, and did eat, and gave also unto her husband with her; and he did eat.

 

3.  Our selfish choices bring evil consequences into the world and this can result in catastrophe in our lives. 

 

1 Cor 10:6  Now these things were our examples, to the intent we should not lust after evil things, as they also lusted.  7  Neither be ye idolaters, as were some of them; as it is written, The people sat down to eat and drink, and rose up to play.  8  Neither let us commit fornication, as some of them committed, and fell in one day three and twenty thousand.  9  Neither let us tempt Christ, as some of them also tempted, and were destroyed of serpents.  10  Neither murmur ye, as some of them also murmured, and were destroyed of the destroyer.  11  Now all these things happened unto them for ensamples: and they are written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the world are come.

  

4.  It is not “God’s fault” for “allowing evil” because God is not responsible for our free choices. God does not do evil, neither can He be tempted to do evil. 

 

Ps 5:4  For thou art not a God that hath pleasure in wickedness: neither shall evil dwell with thee.

Jas 1:13  Let no man say when he is tempted, I am tempted of God: for God cannot be tempted with evil, neither tempteth he any man: 

5.  Although a sinless person would be protected, all without Christ are vulnerable since we all sin.   

 

Job 4:7  Remember, I pray thee, who ever perished, being innocent? or where were the righteous cut off?

Ro 3:23  For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God; 

 

6.  The more we rely on ourselves for our protection the more fearful we become as we realize how limited we are. 

 

Job 3:25  For the thing which I greatly feared is come upon me, and that which I was afraid of is come unto me.  26  I was not in safety, neither had I rest, neither was I quiet; yet trouble came. 

 

7.  God actively opposes those who are proud and want to be their own God so that they will eventually understand their need for Him. 

Job 33:17  That he may withdraw man from his purpose, and hide pride from man.

Jas 4:6  But he giveth more grace. Wherefore he saith, God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble. 

 

8.  Because we choose to rely on ourselves and we do not have enough information or capability, we can never guarantee our own protection. 

 

Job 4:6  Although affliction cometh not forth of the dust, neither doth trouble spring out of the ground;  7  Yet man is born unto trouble, as the sparks fly upward.

Lu 13:2  And Jesus answering said unto them, Suppose ye that these Galilaeans were sinners above all the Galilaeans, because they suffered such things?  3  I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish.  4  Or those eighteen, upon whom the tower in Siloam fell, and slew them, think ye that they were sinners above all men that dwelt in Jerusalem?  5  I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish. 

 

9.  The result is fear of catastrophe.  

Heb 2:15  And deliver them who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage.

 

 

The Devil’s Plan for Our Security—Catastrophe

 

1.  The devil’s Plan:  Catastrophe 

 

Jo 10:10  The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.

 

2.  The devil introduced evil into the world when he tempted Adam and Eve and they sinned.  

 

Ge 3:13  And the LORD God said unto the woman, What is this that thou hast done? And the woman said, The serpent beguiled me, and I did eat.  14  And the LORD God said unto the serpent, Because thou hast done this, thou art cursed above all cattle, and above every beast of the field; upon thy belly shalt thou go, and dust shalt thou eat all the days of thy life:  15  And I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel.  16  Unto the woman he said, I will greatly multiply thy sorrow and thy conception; in sorrow thou shalt bring forth children; and thy desire shall be to thy husband, and he shall rule over thee.  17  And unto Adam he said, Because thou hast hearkened unto the voice of thy wife, and hast eaten of the tree, of which I commanded thee, saying, Thou shalt not eat of it: cursed is the ground for thy sake; in sorrow shalt thou eat of it all the days of thy life;  18  Thorns also and thistles shall it bring forth to thee; and thou shalt eat the herb of the field;  19  In the sweat of thy face shalt thou eat bread, till thou return unto the ground; for out of it wast thou taken: for dust thou art, and unto dust shalt thou return. 

 

3.  Evil continues in the world through lust –meeting needs through the flesh—and this  leads to death.  

 

Jas 1:14  But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed.  15  Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death. 

 

4.  The devil has power over us only when we sin, fail to rely on Christ or do not use the power given to us by Jesus.

 

Lu 10:19  Behold, I give unto you power to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy: and nothing shall by any means hurt you. 

Ro 14:12  So then every one of us shall give account of himself to God. 

 

6.   Pride, which is self-reliance—telling God we want to do it ourselves—removes the protection of God and makes us vulnerable to attack. 

 

Pr 16:18  Pride goeth before destruction, and an haughty spirit before a fall.

 

7.  Presumption, tempting God or direct disobedience makes us vulnerable to attack because we do not rely on God for our protection.

 

Lu 4:9  And he brought him to Jerusalem, and set him on a pinnacle of the temple, and said unto him, If thou be the Son of God, cast thyself down from hence:  10  For it is written, He shall give his angels charge over thee, to keep thee:  11  And in their hands they shall bear thee up, lest at any time thou dash thy foot against a stone.  12  And Jesus answering said unto him, It is said, Thou shalt not tempt the Lord thy God.  13  And when the devil had ended all the temptation, he departed from him for a season.

Nu 14:41  And Moses said, Wherefore now do ye transgress the commandment of the LORD? but it shall not prosper.  42  Go not up, for the LORD is not among you; that ye be not smitten before your enemies.  43  For the Amalekites and the Canaanites are there before you, and ye shall fall by the sword: because ye are turned away from the LORD, therefore the LORD will not be with you.  44  But they presumed to go up unto the hill top: nevertheless the ark of the covenant of the LORD, and Moses, departed not out of the camp.  45  Then the Amalekites came down, and the Canaanites which dwelt in that hill, and smote them, and discomfited them, even unto Hormah.

Jo 5:14  Afterward Jesus findeth him in the temple, and said unto him, Behold, thou art made whole: sin no more, lest a worse thing come unto thee. 

 

8.  Not using the tools of faith, prayer or the armor of God to defeat the devil makes us vulnerable to being defeated.

 

Jas 4:2  Ye lust, and have not: ye kill, and desire to have, and cannot obtain: ye fight and war, yet ye have not, because ye ask not.  3 Ye ask, and receive not, because ye ask amiss, that ye may consume it upon your lusts.

Eph 6: 10  Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might.  11  Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.  12  For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.  13  Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.  14  Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness;  15  And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace;  16  Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked.  17  And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God:  18  Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints;  

 

9.  The result is catastrophe. 

1 Th 5:3  For when they shall say, Peace and safety; then sudden destruction cometh upon them, as travail upon a woman with child; and they shall not escape. 

 

Steps for Overcoming Insecurity 

 

1.  We learn to be insecure based on what we learn in our families of origin, what others tell us, and through the experiences of life. 

 

2.  Fear is a natural response to perceptions of threats to our well-being, prosperity or success.  Fear manifests itself through anxiety, panic attacks, phobias, Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, obsessions and compulsions.

 

 3.   Because we are limited, the more we rely on ourselves the more we will be insecure.

 

4.  Faith in God is the opposite of fear.  We must establish a close, intimate relationship with God in order to trust Him more than our fears. 

 

5.   The more we concentrate on our problems and fears, the more they grow in strength; and the more we focus on God, the more our faith in Him grows to overcome our fears. 

 

6.   Facing our fears is the most effective way to overcome them.  Facing them systematically a little at a time is a very effective method for overcoming all types of insecurity. 

 

7.  God promises that, if we will put our trust in Him, we will never be tempted beyond what we are able and that He will protect us from catastrophe.

 

8.  Therefore, the answer for overcoming insecurity is to abandon our own pride and self-reliance, and to face our fears through faith that God will provide for all our needs and keep us safe in every situation.

 

9.  Winning the victory over fear is key to achieving an abundant life filled with peace and happiness. 

 

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