From: Ben Kelley
Subject: Fear not, part 4
From the introduction to part 1-
Fear is an emotion we experience more often than we
would admit. Sometimes, it is concerning "small" things, such as fearing
you might not have quite enough gas to make it to the gas station. Other
times, it arises from something much larger, such as a car suddenly swerving
head on into our path as we drive along. It almost always, though,
stems from our realized inability to do anything about the situation, a sudden
helplessness we experience towards the danger we face at that moment. Some
try to handle their fear like the imagined way an ostrich does (it's not true
about them, though), by "hiding their head in the sand." Others put out a
false bravado, saying "I'm not afraid of that!" No matter how we try to
handle it, the fear remains, for we know inside we really cannot handle it on
our own. Many times the Bible reveals examples of people as they experience
fear, but God never recommends the person suffering it handle it
themselves. HE always recommends looking to Him, reminding them and us HE
can and will handle anything if we look to Him for help and deliverance. I
want to give a series of messages dealing with several of these Biblical
examples, so we can learn to apply them to ourselves as we face similar events
or situations.
While he yet spake, there cometh one
from the ruler of the synagogue's house, saying to him, Thy daughter is dead;
trouble not the Master. But when Jesus heard it, he answered him,
saying, Fear not: believe only, and she shall be made
whole. (Luke 8:49-50
(KJV) What a terrible enemy is this thing called death. People spend
billions of dollars annually in a futile attempt to stay its dread hands.
Many subject themselves to painful treatments, over long periods of time, vainly
trying to beat the inevitable. Many are afraid of their own deaths, but
what really hits most of us hard is the thought of losing a dear loved one to
the grave. This father in the passage we just read was seeking help from
this healer he had heard of. Earlier in the text we read he had "fallen at
Jesus feet", plaintively calling upon this Jesus to come and deliver his
precious little 12 year old daughter from what he saw as the monster of
death. Falling at Jesus' feet signified he didn't care what any one
thought of him, he only cared about his daughter, and he was willing to beg and
grovel in the dirt if only this itinerant preacher would respond and help.
The others showed their thoughts on this when they said, in our vernacular,
"she's dead, you can quit grovelling before this "teacher" (what the word
translated master means), there's nothing he can do." They had no faith. Jesus helped this
man's "mustard seed" faith by telling him to "fear not! Only believe and you will see
her alive again (made whole)." Obviously this man did just that, for Jesus
responded by raising his daughter up from her death bed. Even that great
enemy death is no match for Jesus and his power unleashed by even our tiny faith
in Him. "Fear not!!! I have
conquered death, hell, and the grave!!!" What a relief! Paraphrasing
a television commercial for a certain medication- "How do you spell
relief? 'I spell it J-e-s-u-s!'" The grave cannot hold us, or our loved
ones; Jesus holds us, and "no" can pluck us
from His hands. (John 10:27-30)
But rather seek ye the kingdom of God; and
all these things shall be added unto you. Fear not, little flock; for it is
your Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom. (Luke 12:31-32
(KJV) This admonition to fear not
is found in the middle of Jesus telling us that we are to put our efforts into
following and serving Him. Believe on and in Him. If we do this, HE says, "I will handle all those temporal needs. I
will feed you, clothe you, and give you shelter." All His promises are true, so we can
fear not . HE takes care of those serving Him. Let
Him provide. Don't "sweat the small stuff; everything is small stuff" to our big
God! Every good gift and
every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of
turning. (James
1:17 (KJV)