Fear Not; Shine Forth

What are you afraid of? Pain, suffering, poverty, sickness, looking foolish, losing love, being disliked, failing at your job, a bad marriage, a country in chaos? There is plenty to fear if we let our minds go that route. But God gave you free will and the ability to think His thoughts. Then you can claim His power and shine forth for Him!

Fear Not!

Our loving Father doesn’t want us to fear. Neither does our Lord Jesus Christ. Here are a few places in the Bible where people are told to “fear not.”

God told those afraid in the Old Testament to fear not, because He would help them: Abraham—I am your shield [Genesis 15:1]; Isaac—I will bless and multiply you [Genesis 26:24]; Jacob—I will make you a great nation [Genesis 46:3]; Joshua—be not dismayed [Joshua 8:1]; Daniel—your words were heard [Daniel 10:12]; Moses to the children of Israel—be not discouraged [Deuteronomy 1:21]; David to Solomon—God will be with you [I Chronicles 28:20]; Isaiah to those of a fearful heart—be strong, your God will come [Isaiah 35:4]; Joel to Israel—be glad and rejoice [Joel 2:21]; Zechariah to Israel and Judah—you will be a blessing, your hands will be strong [Zechariah 8:13].

In the New Testament, God sent His angels to bring encouragement and help people overcome their fear: Joseph—take Mary your wife [Matthew 1:20]; Zacharias—your son will be John [Luke 1:13]; Mary—you have found grace with God to bear the Messiah [Luke 1:30]; Shepherds—tidings of great joy to all people for Christ is born [Luke 2:10]; the women at the tomb—for Christ is risen [Matthew 28:5,6]; Paul—God will save you and those in the ship with you [Acts 27:24].

Jesus reminded his followers of God’s promises and his Father’s goodness. He told them to fear not, because God is faithful to care for us: Peter—you will catch men [Luke 5:10]; Jairus—believe and your daughter will be healed [Luke 8:50]; disciples—the hairs of your head are known to God [Luke 12:7]; little flock—it is your Father’s pleasure to give you the kingdom [Luke 12:32].

Overcoming Fear

When I was a university student, I found myself full of anxiety and fear. I was even ready to end my life. I asked God for his help. He sent a believer to teach me about Jesus Christ and I was saved. But years later, after being a minister, I found myself alone in the basement of a small apartment. I felt like I was chained to my living room chair. Fear imprisoned me. I had lost contact with my wife and son. I was being torn up on the inside. The things around me had gotten me to take my eyes off of the Lord.

But one day, I realized that I had plenty of Bible verses, but not much trust in my heavenly Father. I asked His forgiveness and my marriage and family were healed and restored. I decided not to let fear keep me from living the way God wanted me to live for Him.

Peter was a man with the same pressures and worldly circumstances we all face. He had a positive experience with the Lord, but fear got the better of him. Yet Jesus rescued him. Jesus Christ lives to make intercession for us. We should accept his help.

Matthew 14:25-31:
And in the fourth watch of the night Jesus went unto them, walking on the sea.
And when the disciples saw him walking on the sea, they were troubled, saying, It is a spirit; and they cried out for fear.
But straightway Jesus spake unto them, saying, Be of good cheer; it is I; be not afraid.
And Peter answered him and said, Lord, if it be thou, bid me come unto thee on the water.
And he said, Come. And when Peter was come down out of the ship, he walked on the water, to go to Jesus.
But when he saw the wind boisterous, he was afraid; and beginning to sink, he cried, saying, Lord, save me.
And immediately Jesus stretched forth his hand, and caught him, and said unto him, O thou of little faith, wherefore didst thou doubt?

Jesus told those in the ship not to be afraid. Peter took him up on that promise. He literally walked on water when he kept his eyes on Jesus. But when he looked around at the circumstances he faced, fear set in and he began to sink beneath the waves.

Shine Forth

What should we keep our focus on?

Colossians 3:2,3:
Set your affection [thoughts] on things above, not on things on the earth.
For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God.

Don’t be distracted by earthly things. We are dead to those things that cause us to fear. Where is your life today? It is hidden with Christ in God. Jesus said we could be one with the Father just as he is.

John 17:17-21
Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth.
As thou hast sent me into the world, even so have I also sent them into the world.
And for their sakes I sanctify myself, that they also might be sanctified through the truth.
Neither pray I for these alone, but for them also which shall believe on me through their word;
That they all may be one; as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us: that the world may believe that thou hast sent me.

Jesus is the word made flesh. Now he is seated at the Father’s right hand. Yet, we still live on earth. The Bible shows us what to believe. When we confess with our mouth Jesus as Lord and believe the Father raised him from the dead, we are saved, born again from above, sons of God [Romans 10:9,10]. God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself through His Son [II Corinthians 5:19]. Now it is Christ in you, the hope of glory [Colossians 1:27]. We have God in Christ in us. We are God’s dwelling place [Ephesians 2:22]! God is light [I John 1:5]. Jesus is the light of the world [John 8:12; 9:5]. We can shine!

Philippians 2:13-16:
For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure.
Do all things without murmurings and disputings:
That ye may be blameless and harmless, the sons of God, without rebuke, in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation, among whom ye shine as lights in the world;
Holding forth the word of life; that I may rejoice in the day of Christ, that I have not run in vain, neither laboured in vain.

We can learn to listen to God’s spirit within us. It will never go against what God says in His Word. We can know that we are really hearing from the spirit by seeing if it lines up with scripture. We can know that we are rightly understanding scripture by God’s spirit working within us.

Jesus came so we can have an abundant life [John 10:10]. Let’s claim it and shine forth for him!