Fear not, part 5

From: Ben Kelley
Subject: Fear not, part 5

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 experiencing 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.

Fear not, daughter of Sion: behold, thy King cometh, sitting on an ass's colt. (John 12:15 (KJV) The words translated fear not express absolute negation. That means HE was telling them to have absolutely no trace of anything resembling worry or fear. Why? because their King was arriving, in exact fulfillment of a prophecy made through Zechariah hundreds of years before: Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion; shout, O daughter of Jerusalem: behold, thy king cometh unto thee; he is just, and having salvation; lowly, and riding upon an ass, even upon a colt the foal of an ass. (Zechariah 9:9 (ASV) Having a God Who knows and tells the future in such exacting detail should be enough to convince them (and us) HE is in control and will do what HE says He will. If common man had written such a thing in advance, depicting their candidate for "supreme leader", the prophecy would have told of a grand and glorious entry, with trumpets heralding, the "king" resplendent in the finest clothing available, and his transportation being the most expensive "ride" available. Who would have imagined Jesus' "grand entry" being such a "low budget" affair!!? No, this was further proof HE was Who HE claimed to be and was and is sufficient evidence they and we could relax and trust Him to take care of everything. In the past few years, a very popular line of products for young people, including sports equipment, car decals, sports drinks, and clothing lines, sported the logo, "No fear.- This was a boastful claim, predicated on emptiness, for the foundation for its customers to have no fear was themselves That may suffice when the sun is shining and everything is going your way, but it's not very reassuring when the way is dark and scary and your adversary is brutal and immensely powerful. No, only the assurance that Almighty God is for you, reachable by you, and dedicated to taking care of you will allay such fear as that would generate. That's just what this fulfillment of prophecy said: HE came to them, HE brought salvation with Him, and HE was reachable to even the lowliest. Plenty of reason for the believers of that day and today to not be in fear of anything or anyone!

For there stood by me this night the angel of God, whose I am, and whom I serve, Saying, Fear not, Paul; thou must be brought before Caesar: and, lo, God hath given thee all them that sail with thee. (Acts 27:23-24 (KJV) Paul and the other occupants of the ship they were travelling on had been riding out a terrible storm, having done everything they could imagine to improve their chances of survival. Reading the few verses leading up to our text, we find: After hoisting it (the anchor) up, they used supports to undergird the ship. Then, fearing that they would run aground on the Syrtis, they lowered the gear, and thus they were driven along. Since we were violently storm-tossed, they began the next day to jettison the cargo. And on the third day they threw the ship's tackle overboard with their own hands. When neither sun nor stars appeared for many days, and no small tempest lay on us, all hope of our being saved was at last abandoned. (Acts 27:17-20 (ESV) Have you ever been in that condition, where you have exhausted everything you know in an effort to get through the horrible situation you are in; when you have given up all hope of being saved? As an old phrase puts it: "when you are flat on your back, there's no where to look but up!" Paul had been doing just that; despite the apparent hopelessness of their situation, Paul continued to call on the One Who is hope, and God had given him an answer. Paul called Him, the "God, whose I am, and whom I serve." Since Paul acknowledged he belonged only to God, and had no other hope besides Him, God honored that and sent him a message of hope. If we place ourselves into that same position, namely, in to the arms of God, we will receive the same message. It may or may not include the message of earthly deliverance that Paul got, but it will be the admonition to have no fear, to fear not! It will be a reminder that God has each of His children in His hands, where no person or thing can have us. Fear not! no matter the size or strength of the adversary, for none are a match for the Almighty God! And when I saw him, I fell at his feet as dead. And he laid his right hand upon me, saying unto me, Fear not; I am the first and the last; and was dead; and, behold, I am alive for evermore, Amen; and have the keys of hell and of death. (Revelation 1:17-18 (KJV) The uncovered glory of Jesus is too much for our earthly eyes to take in. This is John's attempt at describing the One before him: Then I turned to see the voice that was speaking to me, and on turning I saw seven golden lampstands, and in the midst of the lampstands one like a son of man, clothed with a long robe and with a golden sash around his chest. The hairs of his head were white like wool, as white as snow. His eyes were like a flame of fire, his feet were like burnished bronze, refined in a furnace, and his voice was like the roar of many waters. In his right hand he held seven stars, from his mouth came a sharp two-edged sword, and his face was like the sun shining in full strength. (Revelation 1:12-16 (ESV) Wow, what a sight that must have been! It was so awesome, John fainted! That would have struck fear in all of us, seeing the unveiling (revelation) of Jesus' glory, but Jesus instead presented His appearance and description as a reason to fear not. The more we learn of Who Jesus really is, the more reason we have to fear not! The One Who is more awesome than we can possibly imagine is also our Savior and our dearest Friend. Yes, HE is more fearsome than we can comprehend, and therefore, we are able to fear not! fear not! fear not!