Hi Folks!
Did you realize the Word of God exhorts us to “fear not” 365
times in the Bible. That's a fear not command for each and every day of
the year! To me that says, “David - don't be afraid today.”
My Father God wouldn't give me a command to “fear not” and not
give me the ability to not fear, for that would be unjust. Yes, you and
I can walk through this life down here full of faith, and with no fear at
all. Praise God! That's good news isn't it?
Jesus is with us 24/7 and we need not fear anything because He is with us. Not only is the Master with us, but He lives in each and every one of God's children. If you are born again, the Creator lives in you now. Look at 1John 4:4, You are of God little children and have overcome them, because He who is in you is greater than he who is in the world. The Holy Spirit lives in you and He is much greater than anything this world can throw at you.
My friend you have nothing to be afraid of in this world, for Jesus is right by your side. The Lord himself said that He would never leave us nor forsake us. Hebrews 13:5b-6 (NLT) says, For God has said, "I will never fail you. I will never forsake you." That is why we can say with confidence, "The Lord is my helper, so I will not be afraid. What can mere mortals do to me?"
Look also at Isaiah 41:10 (NLT) Don't be afraid for I am with you. Do not be dismayed for I am your God. I will strengthen you. I will help you. I will uphold you with my victorious right hand.
We have been on the subject of faith for some time now. God lives in you and a deposit of His faith was given you freely when you were born again. We have looked at how faith comes, how it works, how to use it and how to make it grow. We have seen that we are required to have our lives sustained by faith. We have noticed that faith is a spiritual force, and that true faith will put substance to what you are hoping for. Fear also is a spiritual force and it will put substance to what you do not desire to come to pass (dreading). Fear is faith's opposing force. Fear is opposite to faith. Faith and fear are opposing forces, each going in entirely different directions. Let me explain this by way of Hebrews 11:1 Faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen... (Fear is the substance of things dreaded...) God's kingdom operates by faith. Satan's kingdom operates by fear. Faith is of God and fear is of the devil. Faith will bring God on the scene, while fear will bring the devil on the scene.
When Adam bowed his knee to Satan in the garden, what was once faith in his heart became perverted and twisted and turned into fear. Notice as God questioned him after he sinned; his first response was that he was afraid. What was once a fountain of faith inside of Adam was now a fountain of fear. All people outside of the kingdom have this same fear lodged in their heart. This has been a fruit of the fall of mankind, and the whole world lies under its influence.
Because God's children are human beings - made of flesh and blood - Jesus also became flesh and blood by being born in human form. For only as a human being could He die, and only by dying could He break the power of the devil, who had the power of death. Only in this way could He deliver those who have lived all their lives as slaves to the fear of dying. Hebrews 2:14-15 (NLT)
As Hebrews 2 declares, the “root” fear that influences the unbeliever is the fear of dying. As a Christian you have done all the dying you will ever do spiritually when you were born again. You were once disconnected from the Lord, but through Jesus you have been brought near to God through His precious blood. We are now connected through the new birth when we received our new nature - free of fear! All that happens when we die apart from our body dying is that we change physical locations. We move from earth to Glory hallelujah!
The whole of God's kingdom operates by faith. If we are to receive anything from the Lord, or if we are to walk in any kind of victory it will come through faith only. This requires yielding to our hearts as faith is of the heart. Faith is in your heart right now and fear can only come to you from the outside. To the unbeliever, fear flows from the inside (from their heart).
For you did not receive the spirit of bondage again to fear, but you received the spirit of adoption by whom we cry out, “Abba Father.” Romans 8:15
For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love
and of a sound mind.
2 Timothy 1:7
You see, fear should be alien to a born again child of God. Fear is not a part of our new nature in Christ Jesus, and we should resist it's influence in our life every time it shows up. Fear has been controlling so many children of God and it should not be so. We need to rise up in Christ and say NO to fear. Don't let fear move you - be moved by faith only. Let God's will (His Word) be the deciding factor in your life always and not the circumstances around you that may be screaming otherwise. Many people have compromised in their Christian walk because they have feared that God wouldn't come through for them, or that His Word wouldn't work this time. Folks, God can be trusted more than any person, and His Word is our sure foundation.
Both faith and fear cannot operate together. We must decide to go the way of faith. Faith always works when it is put to work, whether it looks like it will or not. I will now close with an example from the Bible in Mark 5:21-43 of both a man and a woman, both receiving what they believed from the Lord. Jairus, a religious leader found himself at the Jesus' feet in the midst of a huge crowd. His daughter was back at home at the point of death, and he was begging the Master to come lay His hands on her and that if He did this she would be healed. You can see the man's faith at work here can't you? Well as you will see upon study of this real life situation, Jairus had plenty of opportunity to get into fear and let his faith fall by the wayside. Even upon having a major hold up along the way to his home, listening to a lady's whole life testimony and even finally receiving the report that his daughter had finally died, would be enough one would think, to make you want to give up. But not a man of faith!! All that was needed was to “fear not, only believe”.
I will not go into further detail about the story here as I would encourage you to read the passage at the end of this message, or go to your own Bible and read it. There is much to be learned about our walk of faith from this illustration from the Bible. I pray the Lord will give you understanding of the story which will help you in your walk of faith.
Mark 5:21-43 Now when Jesus had crossed over again by boat to the other side, a great multitude gathered to Him; and He was by the sea. And behold, one of the rulers of the synagogue came, Jairus by name. And when he saw Him, he fell at His feet and begged Him earnestly, saying, “My little daughter lies at the point of death. Come and lay Your hands on her, that she may be healed, and she will live.” So Jesus went with him, and a great multitude followed Him and thronged Him. Now a certain woman had a flow of blood for twelve years, and had suffered many things from many physicians. She had spent all that she had and was no better, but rather grew worse. When she heard about Jesus, she came behind Him in the crowd and touched His garment. For she said, “If only I may touch His clothes, I shall be made well.” Immediately the fountain of her blood was dried up, and she felt in her body that she was healed of the affliction. And Jesus, immediately knowing in Himself that power had gone out of Him, turned around in the crowd and said, “Who touched My clothes?” But His disciples said to Him, “You see the multitude thronging You, and You say, ‘Who touched Me?’” And He looked around to see her who had done this thing. But the woman, fearing and trembling, knowing what had happened to her, came and fell down before Him and told Him the whole truth. And He said to her, “Daughter, your faith has made you well. Go in peace, and be healed of your affliction.” While He was still speaking, some came from the ruler of the synagogue's house who said, “Your daughter is dead. Why trouble the Teacher any further?” As soon as Jesus heard the word that was spoken, He said to the ruler of the synagogue, “Do not be afraid; only believe.” And He permitted no one to follow Him except Peter, James, and John the brother of James. Then He came to the house of the ruler of the synagogue, and saw a tumult and those who wept and wailed loudly. When He came in, He said to them, “Why make this commotion and weep? The child is not dead, but sleeping.” And they ridiculed Him. But when He had put them all outside, He took the father and the mother of the child, and those who were with Him, and entered where the child was lying. Then He took the child by the hand, and said to her, “Talitha, cumi,” which is translated, “Little girl, I say to you, arise.” Immediately the girl arose and walked, for she was twelve years of age. And they were overcome with great amazement. But He commanded them strictly that no one should know it, and said that something should be given her to eat.
May God bless you richly!
David Pearce
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THE FAITH WALK 10
Two Opposing Forces
When you go out to battle against your enemies, and see horses and
chariots and people more numerous than you, do not be afraid of them for
the Lord your God is with you who brought you out of Egypt. So it shall
be when you are on the verge of battle that the priest shall approach and
speak to the people, and he shall say to them, “Hear, O Israel: Today
you are on the verge of battle with your enemies; do not let your heart
faint, do not be afraid, and do not tremble or be terrified because of them;
for the Lord your God is He who goes with you, to fight for you against
your enemies, to save you..
Deuteronomy 20:1-4