Fear Not
David Hess has been called as minister to the Middle East to proclaim the truth of the gospel… the good news of Jesus Christ. He was led to present a 2020 vision to believers at his local church a few weeks ago.
Proverbs says that where there is no vision the people perish. Many churches around the world had no vision for 2020 and they were caught totally unaware when the worldwide pandemic laid bare those who were unprepared. There is much confusion in the world today. However, God has given his church an opportunity to either listen to the bad news according to the prince of the power of the air or to listen to His Word which liveth and abideth forever.
The world is searching for reliable sources of truth… of good news to counteract the bad news of the world. James says, count it all joy when you fall into diverse temptations for the testing of your faith produces patience and endurance which when they have finished make you perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.
God will make a way where there is no way. When we cooperate with the revelation of His Holy Spirit. His mercies are new every morning. This year has been a year of purification… of trial by the refining fire of tribulation. In the midst of the trials God will bear his mighty arm when men forsake their own power to rely on the power of the Holy Spirit.
Updraft turbulence is the air pressure gradient that allows an eagle to soar. Despite the wind and turbulence around us, the power of God is the wind beneath our wings. Isaiah 40 concludes….. they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength. They shall mount up with wings as eagles. They shall run and not be weary, they shall walk and not faint.
God presents us with a choice to proceed with either fear or faith. He never honors fear… he always honors faith. The faith is in the Word of God. God is faithful to His word. He is no respecter of persons. He is a respecter of the conditions according to his revealed word.
The command “do not fear” is the most common commandment in scripture. The Lord said to Israel through the prophet Isaiah in Isaiah 41:10: “Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness.“ 2 Timothy 1:7 says, “For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.”
The church thrives and proliferates in the midst of persecution. What men meant for evil, God meant for good. In the first century the church multiplied when the Christians in Jerusalem were persecuted and scattered to distant lands.
Hebrews chapter 2 says that Jesus Christ himself took part of the same nature as ours…. that we would no longer fear death. So that he through his own death would render powerless the one who had the power of death, that is the devil. God has called a remnant unto him to show the world that His church would thrive in the midst of the turmoil and confusion of this world of darkness. God will use what the devil throws at us in order to show that light triumphs over the darkness.
God shows up and shows off when men to him are loyal. God calls us to bloom where he’s planted us. We’re given the choice to prove whether or not the Bible is the true word of God. In Luke 18, “will the son of Man find faith when he returns?” The question is this: are you driven by faith or fear? There is no fear in love, for perfect love casts out fear. He who fears is not made perfect in love. We’re called to contend for the faith that was once given to the saints. According to Jude 1:3, …contend earnestly for the faith which was once delivered to the saints. Our challenge is to remain in the arena, striving to press toward the mark of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.
Tribulation separates out the true believers. Those who are afraid will cut and run when the crisis comes. However, when the crisis comes and coiurage Is required, God expects his men to have such faith and confidence in him that they will be the faithful reliable ones.
According to Romans 8:28, all things work together for good to those who love God and are called according to His purpose. What men meant for evil God meant for good. Despite the darkness of this world, the darker the night the brighter the light shines. Therefore, let your light so shine among men, that they may see your good works and glorify your father which is in heaven…
… that we may live to the praise of the glory of His grace!
Your brother in Christ,
Michael
