Fear is the one emotion that seems to paralyze us more than anything else. Christian or not. Religious or not. Completely confident in your God or not. Fear seems to be that one emotion that most can’t seem to get a handle on.
Yet, it is that one emotion or even spirit that Jesus NEVER experiences. We see every other emotion come through His expressions, but fear never gets in front of Jesus.
Fear of the unknown, the enemies, the simple provisions, the impossibilities, the mountains and the battles in life is also something God continues to tell His followers not to listen to or give in to. God specifically tells us not to be afraid over 100 times in the Bibles. If you take into account all the times He shows us not to be afraid with out using the exact words it is closer to 365 times.
Romans 8:15
For you have not received a spirit of slavery leading to fear again, but you have received a spirit of adoption as sons by which we cry out, “ Abba! Father!”2 Timothy 1:7
for God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control.
This Sunday at The Summit we are talking about “Fasting through Fear.” In 2 Chronicles 20 we see one of the ,most intriguing stories you will read about restoration and redemption. Jehoshaphat is the king of Judah. He has just led the people back to restore God as the one true God of their worship and their country. He is doing the right things. When everything seems to be going in the right direction he discovers that 3 different armies have joined together to come against him and the nation of Judah. When this news arrived the first reaction of the people was to fear and sorrow. Why would this happen? It seems to be a natural reaction. But Jehoshaphat was a godly man and king and he immediately led his people to “fast.”
Of all things, fast. He knew that when the people honored and worshiped God by presenting themselves as a living sacrifice that God would hear them and they would know their assignments. Fasting they did! Every man, woman and child from all the cities came and pressed into God for direction.
3 Jehoshaphat was afraid and turned his attention to seek the LORD, and proclaimed a fast throughout all Judah. 4 So Judah gathered together to seek help from the LORD; they even came from all the cities of Judah to seek the LORD.2 Chronicles 20:3-4 (ESV)
They knew if there was any hope it would be in the lap of God. This battle was way over their heads and fear would hurt the enemy, it would only destroy their nation. Of course, when they sought God for the outcome they would find His burden to be easy.
“thus says the LORD to you, ‘Do not fear or be dismayed because of this great multitude, for the battle is not yours but God’s.” 2 Chronicles 20:15b (ESV)
Fear can be paralyzing…when we give into it. But when we turn to God we often find that His solution is victory, not fearful defeat. For Judah they spent more time bringing home the victory than they did fighting the battle. They chose to Fast through the Fear!
Be Blessed!
January 27th, 2012 at 1:42 pm
Always uplifting to see your emails, Bryan and Dana. Thank you for your devotion and work in our lives.
Sandra