Don't Be Afraid!

Don't be afraid. Just have faith.— Mark 5:36 NLT

Fear with its abominable effects and the need to be courageous is a theme that is emphasized repeatedly in the scripture. Every Old Testament prophet, every New Testament writer has mentioned about its loathsome consequences and its destructive power often. It is said that the command “fear not” is there 365 times in the Bible, directly or indirectly. Every  one born on earth, whether  great or small had at some time in His life, felt its vice-like grip. Great men like Elijah and Simon Peter have been its merciless victims and only God’s direct intervention could rescue them from fear’s dehumanising effects.

The leader of a synagogue named Jairus came to Jesus and pleaded fervently, "My little daughter is dying . . . Please come and lay your hands on her; heal her so she can live" (Mark 5:23). Jesus went with him, but on the way messengers came and told them that his daughter had died. Jesus must have sensed the fear that came over Jairus and in response He spoke the words of our verse for today: "Don't be afraid. Just have faith."

Like Jairus, we may have to deal with problems that can cause real fear to come into our lives. Like Jairus, it could be a health issue of a family member. It could be our own health issue. It could be a business or financial issue that causes the fear. It could be a legal issue that threatens us. It could be anything. In this dispensation fear can arise from problems in any area of life.

When these problems and issues come up and fear tries to take control of us, we may have no idea of what to do. All seems lost. The roof has caved in. Everything we tried to do about it failed. We ask the Lord, "What do I do now?" We ask, but without really expecting an answer. 
The Lord, however, always has an answer. The Lord always answers each and every one of us the same way every time. He always answers with the two commands of our title verse.  

First of all, He says, "Don't be afraid." Fear is an emotion. It arises within us as a response to problematic situations. It can only arise within us, however, when our hearts are filled with unbelief. When we don't believe that God will help, fear has its way with us. That's why the Lord always adds the second command to the first: "Just have faith." When we have faith, when we choose to put into practice the faith the Lord has given us, fear has to go and we are able to enter the rest of the Lord (Hebrews 4:3). 

Apparently fear left Jairus and faith filled his heart because he allowed Jesus to enter his home and Jesus raised his daughter from the dead. If you want the Lord to help you deal with your problem, then do likewise. 
Don't be afraid. Just have faith.

Satan told Adam he wont die if he ate the fruit. The death he referred to was physical death. Indeed, man did not die physically when he disobeyed God, but the spiritual death that he experienced caused him to loose eternal life and brought him under the curse of sin.   Satan brought him under his control by holding out the threat of death and the terror of wages of sin, eternal death in hell. Jesus Christ left the glory of heaven became a man. He abolished death, and brought life and immortality (2Tiimothy 1:10) by overcoming death, hell and the grave. He arose to live for ever, taking hold of the keys of hell and death. He says “fear not”. The resurrected Jesus tells His disciple: "Stop being afraid! I am the first and the last, the living one. I was dead, but look—I am alive forever and ever! I have the keys of Death and Hades. (Revelations 1:17, 18)

 ‘’Fear not…I am the first and the last’’

Many fear the future, the unknown, but Jesus who is both the first and the last – the beginning and the end, tells us not to fear. He has a definite plan for us. When we accept Him as our Lord and Saviour and choose to obey His word and will in baptism, we become part of His perfect plan for us. He is the author and finisher of our faith. What he began, He will finish. He proved this on Calvary when - in spite of all that the enemy wrought against Him - He triumphantly cried from the cross  “it is finished”. We are His workmanship, His hand has saved us (Psalms 20:6), His hand has upheld us (Isaiah 41:10). His hand will surely finish the work He had started in us (Philippians 1:6).

‘’ Fear not…I am He that lives”

Many are not sure how to live their life on earth. Each is filled with fear as they face different trials, needs and battles. But God says “fear not”. He has lived here and faced temptations and trials in all points and overcame them (Hebrews 4:15; 2:18). He is the one who lives with us, who lives in us – through the baptism of the Holy Spirit. The Psalmist says He is the strength of our lives. At the dawn of each day we confess ‘’Christ is my life’’. He  promises that the all-sufficient grace will abound in our lives. His life in us will equip us to face and fulfil the tasks God has planned for us for every day. As we allow Christ’s life to fill us more and more, we are transformed. We will see every situation as part of God’s plan to renew us. We will be filled with the hope that we will ultimately become like Jesus (Colossians 1:27).

“Fear not…I am He that was dead”

The devil still tries to attack many with the fear of physical death and to keep him in bondage but He who was dead, who tasted death for us – is risen. He says ‘fear not’. He has overcome death, rendered death powerless (Hebrews 2:14, 15). He has gone that way before us and He promises to be our guide unto death. He is with us in life and will be with us in death. We are never alone. The Psalmist says:   Even when I walk through a valley of deep darkness, I will not be afraid because you are with me. Your rod and your staff—they comfort me. Man can come only as far as the entrance to that valley, but beyond that we still have our God. Death is only a sleep, until we awake in His arms to share His glory. So we can confidently say: (1Corinth 15:55 -57) "Where, O death, is your victory? Where, O death, is your sting?"  Now death's stinger is sin, and sin's power is the Law.  But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus the Messiah!

“Fear not…Behold, I am alive forever”

Some fear the standards of our high calling. “Will I ever make it at the Coming of our Lord?”, they wonder and tremble. But our God assures us He’s alive for ever more – to make intercession for us, He is able to save us to the uttermost (Hebrews 7:25, 26).  Our High Priest has entered the Most Holy Place having rent the veil for ever, opening the new and living way to heaven. We are assured the most intimate fellowship of our Lord (Hebrews 10:19, 20). We need not fear the throne of grace, but come boldly and receive mercy and grace to help us in time of need. The grace that started  us on our way, the grace that has protected us so far, the same grace will lay the foundation of headstone, the final stone in the building of our life (Zechariah 4:7). We can come boldly and look up confidently for the grace that is ours at His appearing – the unremitted favour of God that will keep us ready for His return (1Peter 1:13).

“Fear not…..I have the keys of hell and death”

Jesus said in Mathew 10:28 “Stop being afraid of those who kill the body but can't kill the soul. Instead, be afraid of the one who can destroy both body and soul in hell”. It is, not hell-fire we are to fear, but it is God. What an irony it is to expose our souls to endless ruin, which should enjoy God eternally; and to save and pamper the body. Let us not fear what the enemy can do for us. He is only a defeated foe. Our Lord has taken the victory for us and now all the power belongs to Him. He has the final decision. Understand the awesome power and authority that are His.      

Revelations 5:12, 13 ….."Worthy is the lamb who was slaughtered to receive power, wealth, wisdom, strength, honor, glory, and praise!"  ………To the one who sits on the throne and to the lamb be praise, honor, glory, and power forever and ever!" We need not fear because our Almighty God is for  us and has promised to be with us. We need not fear loneliness or sickness or weakness (Isaiah 41:10) or the reproaches of man or his reviling (Isaiah 51:7). Or the troubles or trials we have to pass through (43:1, 2). They will be beaten hallow by us! That is what our God can do and will do in us and through us. For every need of us He is there and He says “Fear not”.

Fear is a great hindrance to faith. Faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God. [Rom. 10:17]. Conversely, fear comes by hearing the word of Devil. What we hear will produce either faith or fear. And when fear is sown, it produces a harvest of torment in our lives. 1John 4:18 says “No fear exists where His love is. Rather, perfect love gets rid of fear, because fear involves punishment. The person who lives in fear doesn’t have perfect love”. “2Tim. 1:7 God didn’t give us a cowardly spirit but a spirit of power, love, and good judgment”. Fear brings torment and ultimately produces dread. When we fear something, we dread doing it. But God says in 1 John 4:18 that walking in perfect love will remove the apprehension, dread and fear.

The more time we spend developing a relationship with the Lord, the less time we’ll spend operating in fear. When we exercise our love for God by obeying Him, fear leaves our lives. Just as God uses faith to bring His words to pass, Satan uses fear to bring his words to pass. He uses fear as a weapon to torment us. When you fear, you are cooperating with the devil. The things you generally meditate on are the things that eventually happen. That is why God admonishes us to occupy our minds with good things.  St. Paul writes in Phillip.  4:8-9…” whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is gracious, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things. What you have learned and received and heard and seen in me, do.”

Jesus said: “Aren’t two sparrows sold for a penny? Not one of them will fall to the ground without your Father’s permission.  Every hair on your head has been counted.  Don’t be afraid! You are worth more than many sparrows!” (Mat 10:29-31). Don't be afraid. Just have faith.

><><><><><><><><><