Looking at Fear and Part 3 of Standard Bearers....

Reading Part 3 of Norm Wakefields Standard Bearer's this morning, and I sit and meditate on the similarities and differences between the Standard bearer, and the True Image Bearer of Christ Jesus... Reading it reminds me of when my husband and I sat in Nouthetic Counseling Training sessions, and learned that the motive of the heart can change, it can change very quickly, in just a moment.

One example given by Norm was that the Standard Bearer ... "He lives in fear of others discovering his faults and inconsistencies (Prov. 10:9). " Where as the True Image bearer "He lives securely without fear (Prov. 10:9). "

Fear... the only fear one ought to have is Fear of the Lord... for it is the beginning of Wisdom...(Pr 9:10)

Yet fear can grip is, grabbing hold and simply terrorize us... Fear unchecked, and gone unnoticed can begin to take hold, with one of the first symptoms being Anger... Yes, anger, rage, quick fused responces.... With every unmet expectation, fear will sink its hideous claws deeper into the flesh... Fear of what others think, fear of not meeting life goals, fear of not achieving the days goals, fear of not... fill in the blank, fear of an outcome... what will happen...if... when..., fear of failure, fear of success... yes... because if one REALLY has any TRUE success in ONE are, will the other areas, those areas that one desires to remain hidden, will they be revealed for all to see... Fear is simply terrible... damned if you do... damned if you don't.. Fear can paralyze it's victim.. Christ came to Free us from this captivity...

Romans 8:15 "For you have not received a spirit of slavery leading to fear again, but you have received a spirit of adoption as sons by which we cry out, "Abba! Father!" "
I have learned through the study of Scripture, through reading good books like "Fear Worry and the God of Rest"(E. Welch) as well as this particular study by Norm Wakefield, The Standard bearers, as well as a variety of other worthy resources, that Fear can abound when you are a Standard Bearer as well as when you are under the direct influence of a Standard Bearer.... And this Fear, simply must be dealt with..... or it will grow...

I have also learned, as I briefly touched on earlier, that motives of the heart can change in a moment... And being surrounded by "Standard Bearers", can breed such a spirit in you.... motives once pure for Christ can suddenly through, the influence of often powerful, influencial, motivational, and very convicted speakers (the Standard bearer can be Very attractive), can be twisted and changed into a "standard..." You can find yourself bearing a standard someone else has placed upon you, and it's YOLK is NOT easy, it's BURDEN is not light...

Jesus explained how to know when it is HIM.... for His yolk IS easy.... His burden LIGHT....

for more on The Curse of the Standard Bearer, please click on the Link, and read what Norm has to teach... He has two helpful charts in Part 3, and they are most helpful indeed... I have walked through this series before, and am walking through it again for the third time.... Why?

Because breaking free of this mindset is ONE thing, but helping others, is another... I have need to break the cycle in my own home.. That my children would walk as True Image Bearers, knowing real relationship with Christ, and living IN Grace, not trying to live UP to anything, or anyones idea of it... May God's grace wash over you,

may His mercy heal and restore,

and may we rejoice in His fellowship Now, and Always...

remember YOU are loved...

Christ died for you....