Letter 6: Fear

Review:

War is not necessarily good for Satan's cause. It brings the reality of the need of God to the forefront.

Outline:
  • Want to stress the anxiety of war, the uncertainty; brings doubt into mind.
  • The Lord wants us to submit to Him ,"Thy will be done".
  • Focus not on what we are afraid of, but on fear itself.
  • Different than previous letter where told to concentrate inwards.
  • General Rule: "in all activities of mind which favour our cause encourage the patient to be un-selfconscious and to concentrate on the object, but in all activities favourable to the Enemy bend his mind back on itself."
  • Do not rely on hatred. Force hatred to those around him, and benevolence towards those outside (which becomes manufactured).
  • Keep the true revelation as far away from the 'heart' as possible.

Terminology:

  • Milksops - unmanly man, a wimp.
  • Pernicious - desctructive
Questions/Discussions:
  • What are you afraid of? Do you spend more time thinking of the fear or what you are afraid of?
  • Do you recognize when you are entering into a state of sin?
  • Or do you only reflect on your state of mind when you're being a Christian?
  • In my life, I was afraid of being baptized after coming to know Christ - I knew there were people who knew the darkness of my past sins. Satan had convinced me that I could not survive the scrutiny of others.
Scripture:
  • Psalm 56:1-4
  • Matthew 10:26-32 - Fear no one but the Lord, if your faith is in Him, nothing of consequence will happen to you. Only your soul is of importance.
  • Matthew 5:1-12 - The beatitudes, 'blessed are pure in heart'.
  • Matthew 6:19-23 - Where your treasure is, there is your heart; the eye is the light of the lamp.
  • Matthew 5:27-28 - Look upon a woman with lust, one commits adultery in their heart.
  • 2 Corinthians 10:3-6 - The importance of taking every thought captive.

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