7th Day Christians

Doubting
Thomas
John 20:19 Then the same day at evening, being the first [day] of the week, when the doors were shut where the disciples were assembled for fear of the Jews, came Jesus and stood in the midst, and saith unto them, Peace [be] unto you.
20:20 And when he had so said, he showed unto them [his] hands and his side. Then were the disciples glad, when they saw the Lord.
20:25 The other disciples therefore said unto him, We have seen the Lord. But he said unto them, Except I shall see in his hands the print of the nails, and put my finger into the print of the nails, and thrust my hand into his side, I will not believe.
20:26 And after eight days again his disciples were within, and Thomas with them: [then] came Jesus, the doors being shut, and stood in the midst, and said, Peace [be] unto you.
20:27 Then saith he to Thomas, Reach hither thy finger, and behold my hands; and reach hither thy hand, and thrust [it] into my side: and be not faithless, but believing.
20:28 And Thomas answered and said unto him, My Lord and my God.
20:29 Jesus saith unto him, Thomas, because thou hast seen me, thou hast believed: blessed [are] they that have not seen, and [yet] have believed.

Thomas' policy was to see is to believe yet faith is something that you cannot see. This evil trait of unbelief must be removed from a true Christian's life. Thomas also didt not believe what his brethren said to him regarding how they have seen the Saviour.

Peter
Matthew 14:28 And Peter answered him and said, Lord, if it be thou, bid me come unto thee on the water. 14:29 And he said, Come. And when Peter was come down out of the ship, he walked on the water, to go to Jesus. 14:30 But when he saw the wind boisterous, he was afraid; and beginning to sink, he cried, saying, Lord, save me. 14:31 And immediately Jesus stretched forth [his] hand, and caught him, and said unto him, O thou of little faith, wherefore didst thou doubt?

When you doubt – you start to sink
Jesus helps when you sink but only if you ask Him

It’s not just God’s people are tested of doubt. Also, the unbelievers doubt a lot.

John 10:24 Then came the Jews round about him, and said unto him, How long dost thou make us to doubt? If thou be the Christ, tell us plainly.

The Jews who didn’t believe Jesus were unbelievers and were the ones to doubt yet they accuse Jesus as the cause of their doubt.

Why will they blame Jesus as the cause of their doubt? It’s because they reject Him. They had no faith. All they can do is accuse or blame him instead of blaming themselves for their unbelief.

Doubting people cast blames to others instead of looking at themselves and what they are not doing

Kent - Doubting hinders prayers to be answered
James 1:6 But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering. For he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed.
1:7 For let not that man think that he shall receive any thing of the Lord.
1:8 A double minded man [is] unstable in all his ways.

Matthew 21:21 Jesus answered and said unto them, Verily I say unto you, If ye have faith, and doubt not, ye shall not only do this [which is done] to the fig tree, but also if ye shall say unto this mountain, Be thou removed, and be thou cast into the sea; it shall be done.
21:22 And all things, whatsoever ye shall ask in prayer, believing, ye shall receive.

Faith moves mountains

Doubt builds up more mountains
doubting about what to do with your life
1. you are afraid to make mistakes
Psalms 37 (KJV)
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²³ The steps of a good man are ordered by the LORD: and he delighteth in his way.
²⁴ Though he fall, he shall not be utterly cast down: for the LORD upholdeth him with his hand.

2. you are confused about yourself

3. you are not ready to face the mountain

Deuteronomy 31:6 (KJV)
“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.”

4. you lack faith

Matthew 14 (KJV)
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²⁸ And Peter answered him and said, Lord, if it be thou, bid me come unto thee on the water.
²⁹ And he said, Come. And when Peter was come down out of the ship, he walked on the water, to go to Jesus.
³⁰ But when he saw the wind boisterous, he was afraid; and beginning to sink, he cried, saying, Lord, save me.
³¹ And immediately Jesus stretched forth his hand, and caught him, and said unto him, O thou of little faith, wherefore didst thou doubt?

What do you need to do if you are doubting?
Proverbs 3 (KJV)
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⁵ Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.
⁶ In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.

Laziness
Proverbs 6:6 Go to the ant, thou sluggard; consider her ways, and be wise:
6:7 Which having no guide, overseer, or ruler,
6:8 Provideth her meat in the summer, [and] gathereth her food in the harvest.
6:9 How long wilt thou sleep, O sluggard? when wilt thou arise out of thy sleep?
6:10 [Yet] a little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to sleep:
6:11 So shall thy poverty come as one that travelleth, and thy want as an armed man.

Sluggard
atsel – (aw-tsale)
indolent, slothful

Sluggard loves to sleep even when it’s not time to sleep
Proverbs 26:14 [As] the door turneth upon his hinges, so [doth] the slothful upon his bed.
They just roll on their bed like hinges of the doors.

sleeping outside the hours of sleep is wasting time and is robbery against God
Laziness makes the body grow old, why? If you don’t exercise the body by working, the body will naturally slow down training itself to slowly age and die.

Also notice the ants do not have a leader, guide or ruler yet they work. A lazy person need a ruler or a guide or someone to direct him on what to do. He cannot work unless being told

A lazy person also does not prepare for the future. They do not understand how to store provisions in times of calamities or emergency.

Laziness finds all excuses not to work:
Proverbs 19:24 A slothful [man] hideth his hand in [his] bosom, and will not so much as bring it to his mouth again. 21:25 The desire of the slothful killeth him; for his hands refuse to labour.

Proverbs 20:4 The sluggard will not plow by reason of the cold; [therefore] shall he beg in harvest, and [have] nothing.

Proverbs 22:13 The slothful [man] saith, [There is] a lion without, I shall be slain in the streets.
Explain the verse. Show how the rich countries work amidst snow and storm.

Proverbs 15:19 The way of the slothful [man is] as an hedge of thorns: but the way of the righteous [is] made plain.
The sluggard always finds difficulties on their way that is why they say they cannot do this and that. They always find excuses as to why they cannot work.

Some people are afraid to work under the sun because they will get dark

Those who refuse to repent from laziness think that they are okay.
Proverbs 26:16 The sluggard [is] wiser in his own conceit than seven men that can render a reason.

But no matter how wise they think of themselves, their end result speaks that they are in denial of their true condition.

Sluggardness results to:
Proverbs 13:4 The soul of the sluggard desireth, and [hath] nothing: but the soul of the diligent shall be made fat.

Proverbs 6:11 So shall thy poverty come as one that travelleth, and thy want as an armed man.
Proverbs 24:30 I went by the field of the slothful, and by the vineyard of the man void of understanding; 24:31And, lo, it was all grown over with thorns, [and] nettles had covered the face thereof, and the stone wall thereof was broken down.

The life if a sluggard will be taken over by trials and difficulties and they will be drown with it and their life is like broken walls.

Matthew 25:18 But he that had received one went and digged in the earth, and hid his lord's money. 25:24 Then he which had received the one talent came and said, Lord, I knew thee that thou art an hard man, reaping where thou hast not sown, and gathering where thou hast not strowed:
25:25 And I was afraid, and went and hid thy talent in the earth: lo, [there] thou hast [that is] thine.
25:26 His lord answered and said unto him, [Thou] wicked and slothful servant, thou knewest that I reap where I sowed not, and gather where I have not strowed:

a lazy person is also afraid and then become wicked
look at those people who end up in jail due to robbery etc. They refuse to work the decent work but choose the wicked way to earn money and then they end up in trouble.

Lazy people keep asking for money without working for it
laziness leads to stealing as well
laziness leads to scamming
physical laziness leads to spiritual laziness just like the slothful servant

laziness results to unclean homes and surroundings

lazy person cannot finish his tasks and duties and their work piles up and become impossible to finish

lazy persons are unproductive, much time wasted doing nothing

lazy to follow God
lazy to overcome evil traits
Lazy to prepare for heaven

Lodicean sluggard syndrome
They wait to proclaim the loud cry message for the reason that the latter has not fallen yet
They wait to be teletransported to go to other places
They are afraid of the weapons forming against them
They wait for signs and miracles as if these signs will be given to themselves
They are not sluggard to think evil and condemn others but they are sluggard to do what is good.
They want to hide the loud cry message thus delaying Sunday laws
Foolish virgins hiding their hands and waiting for something to happen
When crisis comes, they expect to make it
no latter rain = lazy, no motivation, cannot understand calling
They rely on other books and sluggard to read the Bible yet claim they are Bereans

Why do they act and feel like this?
Revelation 3:16 So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth.
3:17 Because thou sayest, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing; and knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked:
3:18 I counsel thee to buy of me gold tried in the fire, that thou mayest be rich; and white raiment, that thou mayest be clothed, and [that] the shame of thy nakedness do not appear; and anoint thine eyes with eyesalve, that thou mayest see.

God calls us to get rid of laziness:
1. multiply the talents
2. not slothful with our duties
Romans 12:11 Not slothful in business; fervent in spirit; serving the Lord;
3. Dont wait for miracles to happen in order to move and do something
4. Stop robbing God of the hours you spent in sleeping when it is not needed
5. Work and be blessed
1 Corinthians 4:12 And labour, working with our own hands: being reviled, we bless; being persecuted, we suffer it:
Ephesians 4:28 Let him that stole steal no more: but rather let him labour, working with [his] hands the thing which is good, that he may have to give to him that needeth.
Psalms 128:1 A Song of degrees. Blessed [is] every one that feareth the LORD; that walketh in his ways.
128:2 For thou shalt eat the labour of thine hands: happy [shalt] thou [be], and [it shall be] well with thee.

1 Corinthians 9:24 Know ye not that they which run in a race run all, but one receiveth the prize? So run, that ye may obtain.

Yet the foolish virgins and folding hands murmuring about others but cannot see their true sluggish condition.

6. Hebrews 6:12 That ye be not slothful, but followers of them who through faith and patience inherit the promises.

Judges 8:9 And they said, Arise, that we may go up against them: for we have seen the land, and, behold, it [is] very good: and [are] ye still? be not slothful to go, [and] to enter to possess the land.
18:10 When ye go, ye shall come unto a people secure, and to a large land: for God hath given it into your hands; a place where [there is] no want of any thing that [is] in the earth.

Murmuring
First murmuring:
Exodus 15:22 So Moses brought Israel from the Red sea, and they went out into the wilderness of Shur; and they went three days in the wilderness, and found no water. 15:23 And when they came to Marah, they could not drink of the waters of Marah, for they [were] bitter: therefore the name of it was called Marah. 15:24 And the people murmured against Moses, saying, What shall we drink?

Issue: Water
Location: wilderness of Shur
Complain: the water is bitter
Against: Moses

They forgot that God had parted the Red Sea (water). God can do anything with water.
Why worry about water when God parted the red sea?

Solution:
Exodus 15:25 And he cried unto the LORD; and the LORD showed him a tree, [which] when he had cast into the waters, the waters were made sweet: there he made for them a statute and an ordinance, and there he proved them,

Even in their murmuring, the problem was solved.

Second murmuring:
Exodus 16:1 And they took their journey from Elim, and all the congregation of the children of Israel came unto the wilderness of Sin, which [is] between Elim and Sinai, on the fifteenth day of the second month after their departing out of the land of Egypt.
16:2 And the whole congregation of the children of Israel murmured against Moses and Aaron in the wilderness:
16:3 And the children of Israel said unto them, Would to God we had died by the hand of the LORD in the land of Egypt, when we sat by the flesh pots, [and] when we did eat bread to the full; for ye have brought us forth into this wilderness, to kill this whole assembly with hunger.

Issue: Food
Location: Wilderness of Sin
Accusing: Moses and Aaron would want them all killed with hunger.
Against: Moses and Aaron

We can see how murmuring leads to accusing to not just Moses but now with Aaron.

Solution:
Exodus 16:4 Then said the LORD unto Moses, Behold, I will rain bread from heaven for you; and the people shall go out and gather a certain rate every day, that I may prove them, whether they will walk in my law, or no.

Even in their murmuring, still God answered the problem.

Third Murmuring:
Exodus 17:1 And all the congregation of the children of Israel journeyed from the wilderness of Sin, after their journeys, according to the commandment of the LORD, and pitched in Rephidim: and [there was] no water for the people to drink.
17:2 Wherefore the people did chide with Moses, and said, Give us water that we may drink. And Moses said unto them, Why chide ye with me? wherefore do ye tempt the LORD?
17:3 And the people thirsted there for water; and the people murmured against Moses, and said, Wherefore [is] this [that] thou hast brought us up out of Egypt, to kill us and our children and our cattle with thirst?
17:4 And Moses cried unto the LORD, saying, What shall I do unto this people? they be almost ready to stone me.

Issue: no water for people to drink
Location: Rephidim
Against: Moses

Accusing: that Moses would kill them, their children and cattle with thirst

From accusing that Moses would kill them with hunger, now with thirst.

chide – grapple, wrestle,
They were ready to stone (kill) Moses.
They rather kill the servant of God than remember the other 2 incidents where they murmured yet their problems were solved.

They also tempted the Lord.
Exodus 17:7 And he called the name of the place Massah, and Meribah, because of the chiding of the children of Israel, and because they tempted the LORD, saying, Is the LORD among us, or not?

If the Lord was not with them, He should have not delivered them out of Egypt.
If the Lord was not with them, He should have not parted the Red Sea.
If the Lord was not with them, He should have not given them free water and food in the wilderness in their journeying.

Solution:
Exodus 17:5 And the LORD said unto Moses, Go on before the people, and take with thee of the elders of Israel; and thy rod, wherewith thou smotest the river, take in thine hand, and go.
17:6 Behold, I will stand before thee there upon the rock in Horeb; and thou shalt smite the rock, and there shall come water out of it, that the people may drink. And Moses did so in the sight of the elders of Israel.

The rod: that brought many miracles even before they were still in Egypt.
Exodus 4:17 And thou shalt take this rod in thine hand, wherewith thou shalt do signs.

It was also a rod that was used when God parted the red sea.
They still forgot the token of God’s deliverance against the armies of Pharaoh.

Fourth murmuring:
Numbers 14:1 And all the congregation lifted up their voice, and cried; and the people wept that night.
14:2 And all the children of Israel murmured against Moses and against Aaron: and the whole congregation said unto them, Would God that we had died in the land of Egypt! or would God we had died in this wilderness!
14:3 And wherefore hath the LORD brought us unto this land, to fall by the sword, that our wives and our children should be a prey? were it not better for us to return into Egypt?

Issue: They were scared to move forward to conquer Canaan, so, they murmured and thought that God would want them dead.

From murmuring and accusing against Moses, to Moses and Aaron, then now against God.

Their plan to return to Egypt as the solution:
Numbers 14:4 And they said one to another, Let us make a captain, and let us return into Egypt.

5th murmuring:
Numbers 16:30 But if the LORD make a new thing, and the earth open her mouth, and swallow them up, with all that [appertain] unto them, and they go down quick into the pit; then ye shall understand that these men have provoked the LORD.
16:31 And it came to pass, as he had made an end of speaking all these words, that the ground clave asunder that [was] under them:
16:32 And the earth opened her mouth, and swallowed them up, and their houses, and all the men that [appertained] unto Korah, and all [their] goods.
16:33 They, and all that [appertained] to them, went down alive into the pit, and the earth closed upon them: and they perished from among the congregation. 16:41 But on the morrow all the congregation of the children of Israel murmured against Moses and against Aaron, saying, Ye have killed the people of the LORD.

Issue: The congregation believed that Korah, Dathan and Abiram and all that sympathized with them were the people of the Lord but were all killed.

Those 3 and their sympathizers were not God’s people
They rose up against Moses accusing him of kingly power. V3, 13
They questioned God’s servant and murmur against Aaron. V 11
They wanted to take the office of priesthood. V 9-10
Murmurers need sympathizers and play politics. V 19
They murmur against God’s judgment.

Lessons for us:
You cannot murmur against God’s leading and judgment against unrepentant sinners.
do not sympathize with evil surmisers
Do your assigned job and do not covet other’s duties and responsibilities.

How many times did the Israelites tempted God?
Numbers 14:22 Because all those men which have seen my glory, and my miracles, which I did in Egypt and in the wilderness, and have tempted me now these ten times, and have not hearkened to my voice;

The Consequence:
Numbers 14:23 Surely they shall not see the land which I sware unto their fathers, neither shall any of them that provoked me see it: 14:29 Your carcases shall fall in this wilderness; and all that were numbered of you, according to your whole number, from twenty years old and upward, which have murmured against me,
14:30 Doubtless ye shall not come into the land, [concerning] which I sware to make you dwell therein, save Caleb the son of Jephunneh, and Joshua the son of Nun.
14:31 But your little ones, which ye said should be a prey, them will I bring in, and they shall know the land which ye have despised.
14:32 But [as for] you, your carcases, they shall fall in this wilderness. 14:35 I the LORD have said, I will surely do it unto all this evil congregation, that are gathered together against me: in this wilderness they shall be consumed, and there they shall die.

Every murmuring and complaining has a consequence.
Canaan = represents the Heavenly Kingdom

Murmurers and complainers cannot inherit the kingdom of God.

Murmurers are evil people:
Number 14:27 How long [shall I bear with] this evil congregation, which murmur against me? I have heard the murmurings of the children of Israel, which they murmur against me.

Who caused the congregation to murmur?
Numbers 14:36 And the men, which Moses sent to search the land, who returned, and made all the congregation to murmur against him, by bringing up a slander upon the land,

The evil reporters (10 spies) caused the congregation to murmur.
It is evil to deliver evil reports for it will cause others to sin.
You become a stumblingblock.

What did God say for those who become stumblingblocks?
Matthew 18:6 But whoso shall offend one of these little ones which believe in me, it were better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and [that] he were drowned in the depth of the sea.

Murmurers tend to believe evil reporters.
Murmurers become accusers and backbiters.

Other Examples of Murmurers:
Matthew 20:8 So when even was come, the lord of the vineyard saith unto his steward, Call the labourers, and give them [their] hire, beginning from the last unto the first.
20:9 And when they came that [were hired] about the eleventh hour, they received every man a penny.
20:10 But when the first came, they supposed that they should have received more; and they likewise received every man a penny.
20:11 And when they had received [it], they murmured against the goodman of the house,
20:12 Saying, These last have wrought [but] one hour, and thou hast made them equal unto us, which have borne the burden and heat of the day.

Matthew 20:16 So the last shall be first, and the first last: for many be called, but few chosen.

If you are new in the truth, or been there for a long time, the reward is just one.
It’s like these labourers were jealous.
Stop complaining
Dont compare your blessings with others.
Be content.
Be happy of the blessings of others.

Fearful || Afraid || Scared

1. Soldiers of Gideon:

Judges 7:3 Now therefore go to, proclaim in the ears of the people, saying, Whosoever [is] fearful and afraid, let him return and depart early from mount Gilead. And there returned of the people twenty and two thousand; and there remained ten thousand.

Why were they afraid of the Midianites?

Judges 6:3 And [so] it was, when Israel had sown, that the Midianites came up, and the Amalekites, and the children of the east, even they came up against them; 6:4 And they encamped against them, and destroyed the increase of the earth, till thou come unto Gaza, and left no sustenance for Israel, neither sheep, nor ox, nor ass. 6:5 For they came up with their cattle and their tents, and they came as grasshoppers for multitude; [for] both they and their camels were without number: and they entered into the land to destroy it. 6:6 And Israel was greatly impoverished because of the Midianites; and the children of Israel cried unto the LORD.

2. Disciples:
Matthew 8:23 And when he was entered into a ship, his disciples followed him.
8:24 And, behold, there arose a great tempest in the sea, insomuch that the ship was covered with the waves: but he was asleep.
8:25 And his disciples came to [him], and awoke him, saying, Lord, save us: we perish.
8:26 And he saith unto them, Why are ye fearful, O ye of little faith? Then he arose, and rebuked the winds and the sea; and there was a great calm.
8:27 But the men marvelled, saying, What manner of man is this, that even the winds and the sea obey him!

Luke 4:40 And he said unto them, Why are ye so fearful? how is it that ye have no faith?
4:41 And they feared exceedingly, and said one to another, What manner of man is this, that even the wind and the sea obey him?

Fearful Servant who received one talent:
Matthew 25:24 Then he which had received the one talent came and said, Lord, I knew thee that thou art an hard man, reaping where thou hast not sown, and gathering where thou hast not strowed: 25:25 And I was afraid, and went and hid thy talent in the earth: lo, [there] thou hast [that is] thine.

Fearful is also called what?
Matthew 25:26 His lord answered and said unto him, [Thou] wicked and slothful servant, thou knewest that I reap where I sowed not, and gather where I have not strowed:
25:27 Thou oughtest therefore to have put my money to the exchangers, and [then] at my coming I should have received mine own with usury.
25:28 Take therefore the talent from him, and give [it] unto him which hath ten talents.
25:29 For unto every one that hath shall be given, and he shall have abundance: but from him that hath not shall be taken away even that which he hath.
25:30 And cast ye the unprofitable servant into outer darkness: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.

Final fulfillment of outer darkness:
Revelation 21:8 But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death.

4. Last Days Christians:
Matthew 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?
6:26 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?
6:27 Which of you by taking thought can add one cubit unto his stature?
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:
6:29 And yet I say unto you, That even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these.
6:30 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?
6:31 Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed?
6:32 (For after all these things do the Gentiles seek:) for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things.
6:33 But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.
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.

There is no need to fear because God can supply if we obey Him:
Philippians 4:19 But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus.

Fear of:
Persecution from family members:
Fear to follow God because you will be persecuted by your own family members:
Matthew 10:37 He that loveth father or mother more than me is not worthy of me: and he that loveth son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me.
10:38 And he that taketh not his cross, and followeth after me, is not worthy of me.
10:39 He that findeth his life shall lose it: and he that loseth his life for my sake shall find it.

If they disown you:
Psalms 27:10 When my father and my mother forsake me, then the LORD will take me up.

God’s promises:
Deuteronomy 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.

2 Timothy 1:7 For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.

Persecution [NO buy and sell || Death Decree :
Mark 13:11 But when they shall lead [you], and deliver you up, take no thought beforehand what ye shall speak, neither do ye premeditate: but whatsoever shall be given you in that hour, that speak ye: for it is not ye that speak, but the Holy Ghost.

Mark 13:12 Now the brother shall betray the brother to death, and the father the son; and children shall rise up against [their] parents, and shall cause them to be put to death.
13:13 And ye shall be hated of all [men] for my name's sake: but he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved.

John 16:2 They shall put you out of the synagogues: yea, the time cometh, that whosoever killeth you will think that he doeth God service.

Revelation 20:4 And I saw thrones, and they sat upon them, and judgment was given unto them: and [I saw] the souls of them that were beheaded for the witness of Jesus, and for the word of God, and which had not worshipped the beast, neither his image, neither had received [his] mark upon their foreheads, or in their hands; and they lived and reigned with Christ a thousand years.

1 Thess 3:1 Wherefore when we could no longer forbear, we thought it good to be left at Athens alone;
3:2 And sent Timotheus, our brother, and minister of God, and our fellowlabourer in the gospel of Christ, to establish you, and to comfort you concerning your faith:
3:3 That no man should be moved by these afflictions: for yourselves know that we are appointed thereunto.
3:4 For verily, when we were with you, we told you before that we should suffer tribulation; even as it came to pass, and ye know.

Fear leads to unbelief:
Acts 9:26 And when Saul was come to Jerusalem, he assayed to join himself to the disciples: but they were all afraid of him, and believed not that he was a disciple.

Isaiah 35:4 Say to them [that are] of a fearful heart, Be strong, fear not: behold, your God will come [with] vengeance, [even] God [with] a recompense; he will come and save you.

Revelation 21:8 But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death.

Why we should not fear:
Luke 21:8 And he said, Take heed that ye be not deceived: for many shall come in my name, saying, I am [Christ]; and the time draweth near: go ye not therefore after them.
21:9 But when ye shall hear of wars and commotions, be not terrified: for these things must first come to pass; but the end [is] not by and by.
21:10 Then said he unto them, Nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom:
21:11 And great earthquakes shall be in divers places, and famines, and pestilences; and fearful sights and great signs shall there be from heaven.
21:12 But before all these, they shall lay their hands on you, and persecute [you], delivering [you] up to the synagogues, and into prisons, being brought before kings and rulers for my name's sake.
21:13 And it shall turn to you for a testimony.

During Sunday law:

Romans 14:8 For whether we live, we live unto the Lord; and whether we die, we die unto the Lord: whether we live therefore, or die, we are the Lord's.

Matthew 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.

Bitterness || Anger || Hatred || Wrath

Saul
1 Samuel 18:6 And it came to pass as they came, when David was returned from the slaughter of the Philistine, that the women came out of all cities of Israel, singing and dancing, to meet king Saul, with tabrets, with joy, and with instruments of music. 18:7 And the women answered [one another] as they played, and said, Saul hath slain his thousands, and David his ten thousands. 18:8 And Saul was very wroth, and the saying displeased him; and he said, They have ascribed unto David ten thousands, and to me they have ascribed [but] thousands: and [what] can he have more but the kingdom? 18:9 And Saul eyed David from that day and forward.

Bitter people are usually afraid of the one they hated so much:
1 Samuel 18:28 And Saul saw and knew that the LORD [was] with David, and [that] Michal Saul's daughter loved him. 18:29 And Saul was yet the more afraid of David; and Saul became David's enemy continually.

Those people who are hated are usually the ones successful:
1 Samuel 19:8 And there was war again: and David went out, and fought with the Philistines, and slew them with a great slaughter; and they fled from him.

Pharisees and Jews Against Jesus
John 5:16 And therefore did the Jews persecute Jesus, and sought to slay him, because he had done these things on the sabbath day. 5:17 But Jesus answered them, My Father worketh hitherto, and I work. 5:18 Therefore the Jews sought the more to kill him, because he not only had broken the sabbath, but said also that God was his Father, making himself equal with God.

Pharisees and Jews Against Paul:
Acts 9:20 And straightway he preached Christ in the synagogues, that he is the Son of God. 9:21 But all that heard [him] were amazed, and said; Is not this he that destroyed them which called on this name in Jerusalem, and came hither for that intent, that he might bring them bound unto the chief priests? 9:22 But Saul increased the more in strength, and confounded the Jews which dwelt at Damascus, proving that this is very Christ. 9:23 And after that many days were fulfilled, the Jews took counsel to kill him: 9:24 But their laying await was known of Saul. And they watched the gates day and night to kill him.

Proverbs 4:14 Enter not into the path of the wicked, and go not in the way of evil [men]. 4:15 Avoid it, pass not by it, turn from it, and pass away. 4:16 For they sleep not, except they have done mischief; and their sleep is taken away, unless they cause [some] to fall. 4:17 For they eat the bread of wickedness, and drink the wine of violence.

Another incident:
Acts 21:30 And all the city was moved, and the people ran together: and they took Paul, and drew him out of the temple: and forthwith the doors were shut. 21:31 And as they went about to kill him, tidings came unto the chief captain of the band, that all Jerusalem was in an uproar. 21:32 Who immediately took soldiers and centurions, and ran down unto them: and when they saw the chief captain and the soldiers, they left beating of Paul.

Another incident:
Acts 25:1 Now when Festus was come into the province, after three days he ascended from Caesarea to Jerusalem. 25:2 Then the high priest and the chief of the Jews informed him against Paul, and besought him, 25:3 And desired favour against him, that he would send for him to Jerusalem, laying wait in the way to kill him. 25:4 But Festus answered, that Paul should be kept at Caesarea, and that he himself would depart shortly [thither]. 25:5 Let them therefore, said he, which among you are able, go down with [me], and accuse this man, if there be any wickedness in him. 25:6 And when he had tarried among them more than ten days, he went down unto Caesarea; and the next day sitting on the judgment seat commanded Paul to be brought. 25:7 And when he was come, the Jews which came down from Jerusalem stood round about, and laid many and grievous complaints against Paul, which they could not prove.

Bitter people treat those they hated as enemies:
1 Samuel 19:17 And Saul said unto Michal, Why hast thou deceived me so, and sent away mine enemy, that he is escaped? And Michal answered Saul, He said unto me, Let me go; why should I kill thee?

Galatians 4:16 Am I therefore become your enemy, because I tell you the truth?

John 15:18 If the world hate you, ye know that it hated me before [it hated] you. 15:19 If ye were of the world, the world would love his own: but because ye are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you.

The worldly and the professed Christians Hating or Being Bitter against other people

Psalms 64:3 Who whet their tongue like a sword, [and] bend [their bows to shoot] their arrows, [even] bitter words: 64:4 That they may shoot in secret at the perfect: suddenly do they shoot at him, and fear not. 64:5 They encourage themselves [in] an evil matter: they commune of laying snares privily; they say, Who shall see them? 64:6 They search out iniquities; they accomplish a diligent search: both the inward [thought] of every one [of them], and the heart, [is] deep. 64:7 But God shall shoot at them [with] an arrow; suddenly shall they be wounded. 64:8 So they shall make their own tongue to fall upon themselves: all that see them shall flee away.

What to do with those who are bitter or hateful towards you?

1. Jesus
John 7:1 After these things Jesus walked in Galilee: for he would not walk in Jewry, because the Jews sought to kill him.

2. David
1 Samuel 19:1 And Saul spake to Jonathan his son, and to all his servants, that they should kill David. 19:2 But Jonathan Saul's son delighted much in David: and Jonathan told David, saying, Saul my father seeketh to kill thee: now therefore, I pray thee, take heed to thyself until the morning, and abide in a secret [place], and hide thyself: 19:10 And Saul sought to smite David even to the wall with the javelin; but he slipped away out of Saul's presence, and he smote the javelin into the wall: and David fled, and escaped that night. 19:11 Saul also sent messengers unto David's house, to watch him, and to slay him in the morning: and Michal David's wife told him, saying, If thou save not thy life to night, to morrow thou shalt be slain. 19:12 So Michal let David down through a window: and he went, and fled, and escaped.

David did not revenge:
1 Samuel 24:5 And it came to pass afterward, that David's heart smote him, because he had cut off Saul's skirt. 24:6 And he said unto his men, The LORD forbid that I should do this thing unto my master, the LORD'S anointed, to stretch forth mine hand against him, seeing he [is] the anointed of the LORD.

Proverbs 4:14 Enter not into the path of the wicked, and go not in the way of evil [men]. 4:15 Avoid it, pass not by it, turn from it, and pass away. 4:16 For they sleep not, except they have done mischief; and their sleep is taken away, unless they cause [some] to fall. 4:17 For they eat the bread of wickedness, and drink the wine of violence.

Exodus 14:14 The LORD shall fight for you, and ye shall hold your peace.

If this happens within the church, God commands:
Ephesians 4:31 Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all malice: 4:32 And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you.

Colossians 3:8 But now ye also put off all these; anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy communication out of your mouth. 3:9 Lie not one to another, seeing that ye have put off the old man with his deeds; 3:10 And have put on the new [man], which is renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him:

Psalms 37:8 Cease from anger, and forsake wrath: fret not thyself in any wise to do evil.