Tag: fear
A Word of Knowledge!
Scripture reading for February 21: Mark 10
“And they were on the road, going up to Jerusalem, and Jesus was walking ahead of them. And they were amazed, and those who followed were afraid. And taking the twelve again, He began to tell them what was to happen to Him, saying, “See, we are going up to Jerusalem, and the Son of Man will be delivered over to the chief priests and the scribes, and they will condemn Him to death and deliver Him over to the Gentiles. And they will mock Him and spit on Him, and flog Him and kill Him. And after three days, He will rise.” Mark 10:32-34
This passage of Scripture describes the disciples and Jesus walking on the road to Jerusalem for the last time. Jesus had already told them on two other occasions that He would suffer and die in Jerusalem and then rise again on the third day. This was not fully understood by the disciples, and they were afraid as the journeyed onward. It is insightful that Jesus walked ahead of them. A good leader goes ahead and Jesus sought to help them by telling them what lie ahead as well. Through prayer and consultation with His Father, Jesus knew in detail the path that He would walk. He understood the mission and the demonstration of love that He would give to bring many souls to salvation and glory.
Jesus gave His disciples a word of knowledge of events to come. He demonstrated that as God, He knew the end from the beginning. He revealed details of the events to come that we know today took place just as He had foretold. Not only that, these events fulfilled Scripture thus proving God’s awesome fore-knowledge. He is comforting these disciples and us as well as He reveals the triumphant resurrection after three days. Our world view is expanded by Jesus’ amazing words of truth.
Have you ever followed Jesus with amazement and fear at the same time? Was there ever a time in your life when someone or God gave you a word of knowledge that calmed your fears? How does this story help you to trust Jesus Christ and His knowledge of your future?
Prayer: I thank You Father, that You know all things past, present and future. Thank You for calming my fears and amazing me at Your understanding and knowledge of details to come. As I call to You in my fear, reveal what I need to walk in faith through my trial. Amen.
Flying by instrument!
Scripture reading for February 14: Numbers 13-16
Walking by faith is not always easy to learn. We are prone to be strongly influenced by what we see, our feelings, and what our past experiences have conditioned us to believe. In my younger days, I wanted to learn to fly an airplane. Several of my friends and I got together and bought a Cessna 172 with instrument rating. I wanted to learn to fly by instruments so that weather and clouds would not cause me to crash. To help me learn to trust the instruments, my flight instructor would put a hood over my head so I could only see the instrument panel. When we would turn, or go up or down, I would watch the instruments to learn where the wings were. My mind, however, would often play tricks on me. I felt like we were flying sideways or going up or down, when the instruments said we were flying level. Senses can lead us astray in flying and in life!
The twelve Israelite spies were sent into the promised land. They were told to determine what the land was like and what the inhabitants of that land were like. God had already told them that the land was flowing with milk and honey. He had already told them that He would take care of the inhabitants. God was to them like the instruments in the plane. If they had kept their focus on what God had said, they would not have veered off course! Joshua and Caleb were the only spies to stay focused! They pleaded with the others to get ready to go on in and possess the land that God had promised them. (Numbers 13:30-33) Ten spies got their eyes on the difficulties and began to spread fear, doubt and unbelief!
The whole community began to complain and grumble against Moses and the Lord. They even talked of stoning Moses, when the glory of the Lord appeared at the Tent of Meeting. God viewed their grumbling and rebellion against Moses as against Him! (Numbers 14:11, 27) God’s judgment on them was to give them what they had feared–the whole generation 20 years and older died in the desert because of their grumbling and unbelief! They all would wander in the wilderness for 40 years as punishment for their rebellion! (Numbers 14:29-35)
Do you remember a time when your feelings or a ‘bad’ report caused you to live in fear? How does God’s punishment of Israel fit their sin of unbelief?
Living worthy of the Gospel
Scripture reading for June 15th: Philippians 1, Psalm 119, Proverbs 26
Philippians 1:27-30 “Only let your manner of life be worthy of the Gospel of Christ, so that whether I come and see you or am absent, I may hear of you that you are standing firm in one spirit, with one mind striving side by side for the faith of the Gospel, and not frightened in anything by your opponents. This is a clear sign to them of their destruction, but of your salvation, and that from God. For it has been granted to you that for the sake of Christ you should not only believe in Him but also suffer for His sake, engaged in the same conflict that you saw I had and now hear that I still have.”
Paul wrote a positive and encouraging letter to the Church at Philippi. He stated upfront, that God had begun a good work in them and would see it through to the Day of Christ. (1:6) Paul was in jail in Rome and faced uncertainty concerning his ultimate fate at the hands of the Romans. He knew that he could very well be executed and shared his heart about this possibility. But his pastoral concern was for the church. He wanted them to continue in the faith and stay steadfast, even as this would result in suffering just as he was. They were to have no fear of those afflicting them. This peace of God on their lives would bring conviction on their tormentors. God was at work and all who trust in Him will ultimately be kept safe!
Psalm 119:75-77 “I know, O Lord, that Your rules are righteous, and that in faithfulness You have afflicted me. Let Your steadfast love comfort me according to Your promise to Your servant. Let Your mercy come to me, that I may live; for Your law is my delight.”
Prayer: Father God, You are faithful in all our afflictions, working all things for our good and salvation. Help me to live in Your peace in today’s afflictions and to pray for those who are tormenting me. Keep me from fear, evil speech, gossip, or judging others. Use my lips to declare Your love and Truth to those You send me to. My desire is to live a life worthy of the Gospel of Jesus Christ, my Lord.
Proverbs 26:20 “For lack of wood the fire goes out, and where there is no whisperer, quarreling ceases. As charcoal to hot embers and wood to fire, so is a quarrelsome man for kindling strife.”
‘Fear’ and ‘Fear not’!
Scripture reading for July 12th: Matthew 10
Key Scriptures: Matthew 10:28-33 “And do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather fear Him Who can destroy both soul and body in hell. Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? And not one of them will fall to the ground apart from your Father. But even the hairs of your head are all numbered. Fear not, therefore, you are of more value than many sparrows. So everyone who acknowledges Me before men, I also will acknowledge before My Father Who is in heaven, but whoever denies Me before men, I also will deny before My Father Who is in heaven.”
There is a cost associated with following Jesus Christ. As Jesus was sending out the Twelve apostles on a mission, He carefully explained that they would be going out as lambs among wolves (10:16) and they would suffer persecution and hatred because of His Name. He told them to have no fear of those persecuting them but rather to have a reverent fear of God Himself, Who alone could destroy soul and body in hell. Jesus reminded them that God even numbers the hairs on our heads so He knows all things and holds His people closely. As followers of Jesus, His disciples must never be ashamed and freely confess Him before men, even our own family. Those that shrink back and deny Jesus will find that Jesus will deny them before His Father. Thus we have “fear not” men who hate and misuse you but “fear” Him before Whom we must give an account.
Matthew 10:34 “”Do not think that I have come to bring peace to the earth. I have not come to bring peace, but a sword. For I have come to set a man against his father, and a daughter against her mother, and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law. And a person’s enemies will be those of his own household.””
Faith confession and prayer: Father God, I hold You in awe and respect for Who You are. Thank You for this clear instruction on the cost of following Jesus, Your Son. Empower me today to boldly and without fear declare my faith with my own household and the harvest field You send me to.
Daniel 12:2-3 “And many of those who sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, and some to everlasting contempt. And those that are wise shall shine like the brightness of the sky above; and those who turn many to righteousness, like the stars forever and ever.”
Victory in Jesus!
Scripture reading for June 21st: Job 1-3, Romans 7
Key Scriptures: Romans 7:21-25 “So I find it to be a law that when I want to do right, evil lies close at hand. For I delight in the law of God, in my inner being, but I see in my members another law waging war against the law of my mind and making me captive to the law of sin that dwells in my members. Wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death? Thanks be to God Through Jesus Christ our Lord!”
Paul describes the battle that he had as a sinner trying to keep God’s law in his own power. The law of sin always opposed him and took him captive. He answered his own question about deliverance: “Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord!” Job experienced a similar battle and found faith to be the answer.
Job 3:25-26 “For the thing that I fear comes upon me, and what I dread befalls me. I am not at ease, nor am I quiet; I have no rest, but trouble comes.”
Prayer: Lord, thank You for winning the battle with sin and defeating death through the sacrifice of Jesus Christ. Amen.
Rejoicing in confidence!
Scripture reading for June 5th: Psalm 24-28
Key Scriptures: Psalm 27:1-3 “The Lord is my light and my salvation–whom shall I fear? The Lord is the stronghold of my life–of whom shall I be afraid? When evil men advance against me to devour my flesh, when my enemies and my foes attack me, they will stumble and fall. Though an army besiege me, my heart will not fear; though war break out against me, even then will I be confident.”
David faced many enemies and obstacles from his enemies. He learned that his real ‘stronghold’ was the Lord Himself and His flawless word. There was no need to live in fear. The light of God’s truth would enable him to face whatever trouble might come with strong confidence and calm assurance!
Rejoicing in confidence: “God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in him. In this way, love is made complete among us so that we will have confidence on the day of judgment, because in this world we are like Him. There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love.” (1st John 4:17-18)
The Fear of the Lord!
Scripture reading for January 31st: Leviticus 6-10
Key Scriptures: Leviticus 10:1-3 “Aaron’s sons Nadab and Abihu took their censers, put fire in them and added incense; and they offered unauthorized fire before the Lord, contrary to His command. So fire came out from the Presence of the Lord and consumed them, and they died before the Lord. Moses then said to Aaron, “This is what the Lord spoke of when He said: “Among those who approach Me, I will show Myself holy; in the sight of all the people I will be honored.””
Our holy God demands obedience and honor among those who serve Him. These two young men were careless in coming before the Lord. Alcohol and intoxication may have been involved. (Leviticus 10:8-10) A healthy fear of the Lord is needed among His people to keep them from doing that which displeases Him.
Thankful for a holy fear: The Holy Spirit is a ‘Spirit of the Fear of the Lord’. (Isaiah 11:2-3) “Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, let us be thankful, and so worship God acceptably with reverence and awe, for our “God is a consuming fire.”” (Hebrews 12:28-29)
Sin’s disconnect!
Scripture reading for January 2nd: Genesis 3-5
We are introduced to the “serpent” who was “more crafty” than any of the other animals that God had made. This “serpent” talked to the woman Eve. His words contradicted what God had told Adam and Eve. They were words designed to appeal Eve’s desire for that which was forbidden by God. The serpent had the ability to craft a plan that got around truth. Eve was taken in by it and took the forbidden fruit. She gave it to her husband who ate as well. They suddenly are aware of their nakedness and hide, covering themselves. Rather than being clothed with God’s Glory, shame now clothed them with a fig leaf!
God was walking in the garden. He reached out to those made in His image. He called out seeking to connect with those who were now lost! He knew what they had done but wanted to help them re-connect. When they emerged shaking in fear, God asked them to confess what they had done and take responsibility. They attempted to blame someone else or God himself! Neither wanted to confess or admit guilt.
Today, do a quick survey of your life. Ask the Holy Spirit if there are things you are doing that you need to take responsibility for. Confess them to the Lord and ask for forgiveness and cleansing. It’s the only way I know to get rid of sin and reconnect with God!
The blame game: The man said, “The woman you put here with me–she gave me some fruit from the tree, and I ate it.” Genesis 3:12
Truth: “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.” 1st John 1:9