Posts Tagged ‘fear’

I read some great chapters in Luke today, specifically Luke 11-12 and was struck by some statements made by Jesus to 2 groups of people.  He talked in these passages to 1.) religious leaders and 2.) his followers.  I believe the thesis of what Christ is saying in these 2 chapters is that we can have treasures on earth that will spoil and fade, or we can have treasures in heaven.

My heart was impressed to look further at this, so here are some of my thoughts as it relates to treasures in earth or heaven:

1. The Pharisees and religious leaders valued treasures on earth – opinions of others, standing in the community, fame, money, reputation, and social scenes. (Luke 11:37-54)
2. Jesus instructed his followers to beware of the teachings and lifestyles of the Pharisees – they claim to know God but don’t.  (Luke 12:1-4)
3. Jesus instructed his followers to fear and not to fear
4. Followers of Christ shouldn’t fear people, because all they can do is kill the body and that’s the extent of their power. (Luke 12:4)
5. Followers of Christ should fear one who has much more power then simply killing the body…they should fear the one who has the ability to determine their destination after death…that’s much more power! (Luke 12:5)
6. Followers of Christ shouldn’t fear because the one who has the power to determine eternal destinations loves his people much more than sparrows who God never forgets. (Luke 12:6-7)
7. Followers of Christ shouldn’t fear because God has numbered the hairs on our heads, and knows us inside and out individually, and loves us that much. (Luke 12:6-7)
8. Followers of Christ shouldn’t fear when persecuted and brought before rulers and authorities because the Holy Spirit will empower and embolden us with great grace when appropriate. (Luke 12:8-12)
9. Followers of Christ shouldn’t fear because they’re treasure is God, not stuff. (Luke 12:13-21)
10. Followers of Christ shouldn’t fear need of food, clothing, drink, etc. because God clothes lilies who have no job, and feeds ravens who have no job with everything they need; and the people of God are loved by God much more than lilies and ravens because we are made in His image. (Luke 12:22-28)
11. Followers of Christ shouldn’t fear because he knows our needs. (Luke 12:30)

I’m enjoying my time right now reading through Mark in my personal time with the Lord.  There’s something so powerful when reading through the gospels, and God never ceases to amaze me with more and more wonder at His Son, Jesus.

Mark 4 is where I was this morning, and reading through a familiar passage of the boat that was almost sunk.  You know the story.  Disciples get in a boat with Jesus, heaing over to the other side of the lake to do some ministry.  Storm comes.  Jesus is sleeping.  Disciples are freaking out.  Jesus speaks and the winds die down and the waves come to a calm.  Then Jesus asks them a question that gripped me this morning:

“Why are you so afraid?” (Mark 4:40, ESV)

Well, the obvious answer I would have said would go something like this:  Jesus, I’m afraid because those waves are huge, the wind is blowing so hard that it’s hard to stay in the boat.  Jesus, I’m afraid because we’re taking in too much water in the boat and we’re about to capsize, and ultimately sink and drown and die.  That’s why I’m afraid.  I’m afraid because ultimately, I CAN DO NOTHING AND I’M AT THE MERCY OF THIS STORM.

That would be my answer.

And I think that’s where Jesus wanted to get them – to the place where they understand they can do nothing…BUT, He can do all things.  You see, Jesus was sleeping, relaxing during this storm.  They had to wake hiim up to tell him about the storm.  Was just not aware of the commotion and the motion of the winds and waters?  Was Jesus not aware that his friends were freaking out?  Was Jesus not getting wet due to the water?  We simply don’t know.  But what we do know is Jesus wasn’t freaking out like his followers, and Jesus wasn’t afraid of the situation – Why was Jesus acting differently?

Because unlike the disciples being at the mercy of the storm, Jesus wasn’t at the mercy of the storm.  He held the all the cards.  He was all-powerful, even over the winds and waves.  He wasn’t threatened by the storm.  He was OVER the storm on the hierarchy level.  He created the water and the wind and the seas.  He created the disciples.

• What are you walking through right now that could be characterized as a storm?
• Where do you feel threatened?
• Why are are you so afraid?
• Recognize that Jesus is over your storm, and that he’s with you in the middle of it!

Dig Deeper,

PC

Hard interpretation of Gideon’s fears yesterday in Judges 6.  This story really gets me.  It’s hard to decipher and thank God we have the Holy Spirit to teach us difficult truths.  One thing I did love about the story of Gideon’s journey towards freedom is that he as a fearful dude!

Do you consider yourself fearful?  What are some major fears you have?  Snakes is one of my greatest fears.  I’m a girl when it comes to snakes.  My wife makes me look bad.  I once tried to run over a snake in our Explorer instead of chopping it’s head off, and almost hit the house with the vehicle due to incredible fear.

But one good thing that Gideon teaches us is how God responds to our fear when we take it to God with a seriousness and heart for obedience to him in the face of fear.   We learned that Faith isn’t the absence of fear…rather it’s action in the face of fear.  So…if you’re fearful about following God with something in your life he’s leading you towards.  Join the party!  Couple of insights on what to do with fear:

1. Talk to God in the middle of your fear. We see Gideon not running from God as Jonah did, rather he was talking to God the entire time of his fear – See Judges 6
2. Take your fear to God with a submitted heart – Gideon had a heart that was saying, this assignment is so big God, and if you are not leading me to do this, I want to know.  Please show me and I’ll follow through.
3. Make a costly sacrifice demonstrating an obedient heart – Gideon gave a young goat and and ephah of flour.  That was expensive stuff at the time, because food was scarce in Manasseh.  But he desired to hear from God so badly, that he was willing to give up these things in order to have God speak into his fear.  What can we do that’s costly?  Pray a bunch.  Fast.  Do community with other believers.  Be willing to wait on God for answers that he’ll reveal in his timing.
4. Look back at God’s clear revelation of himself in order to Identify and Tear down any idols you may be trusting in - Gideon was led by God to immediately tear down the Baal idols and the Asherah idols.  He forsook what he grew up with.  He went against the people of his town, and even his family’s idols.  He was willing to do the hard work while fearful.  But he let his recollection of what God did in his life propel him towards faithfulness.

What about you?  What are you doing with fear?  Take your fear to God.  Talk to him.  Let him speak into it.  It’s OK to go to God with hesitation as long as you’re going there with a heart to follow hard after him.

Dig Deeper.

PC