FAITH AND FEAR

THE OTHER SIDE OF FEAR

Fear is an emotion caused by the threat of danger, pain or harm. Fear is experienced in different aspects of life. The Holy Bible uses the phrase “do not be afraid" 365 times assuring us everyday not to fear for anything. God already knows the enemy will use fear as a weapon in our life to deviate from HIS plan. We try to end our life, we limit our talents, we fail to see the future ahead of us by the current status, we go into fear for no reason. David says, “He delivered me from all my fears. Those who look at Him are radiant; their faces are never covered with shame" (Psalm 34 : 4 & 5 – NIV). When we look upon God no matter what the situation is, God will provide us HIS strength to overcome it. All we need to do is stand on the promises of God with faith till the very end by preserving our holiness.

The other side of Fear is Faith. Faith works through love, “The only thing that counts is faith expressing itself through love" (Galatians 5: 6 b - NIV). Faith comes by the word of God, “Consequently,  faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the word of Christ" (Romans 10: 17 – NIV).

Recently, I was facing some fear and confusion about one particular matter. I felt that there is no hope even though I have all the promise words of God. At the end, I decided to give up as I don’t see anything working out for a long time. 24^th June 2020, when I was going to the Chapel I found a magazine placed in front of me where I sat, which captured my eyes. The cover page had the topic “WHERE IS YOUR FAITH?”.

Joseph had a dream about his future but there was no one to believe in him. Mother Mary, got a message from the angel which troubled her (Luke 1: 29-31). Joseph’s brothers thought life story of Joseph is over (Genesis 37). Mary thought how a supernatural promise possible to happen. Joseph was taken to Egypt, the place of an unknown culture, language,  food style etc. Mary have to take a strong decision as she is not married, not knowing how Joseph (the father of Jesus) will react, how to face the society?. Both have the promise from God, but the circumstances are not in favour. Joseph and Mother Mary had Faith over their Fear.

To overcome fear we must have faith in God.

1.       To have faith in God, we must learn to love God because “He first loved us" (1 John 4 : 19 - NIV).
2.       To love God we must learn to hear His voice “The words I have spoken to you are spirit and they have life" (John 6 : 63 b – NIV).
3.       We must learn to hear His words because it shows the way, “Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light for my path” (Psalm 119 : 105 - NIV).
4.       God’s word will never fail, “In the beginning was the word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God" (John 1:1 – NIV)

We must learn to adapt some changes and prepare us to receive the blessing,

                                                                                  

1.       Holiness - “Since we have these promises, dear friends, let us purify ourselves from everything that contaminates body and spirit, perfecting holiness out of reverence for God" (2 Corinthians 7 : 1 – NIV).
2.       Prayer – “He answered their prayers, because they trusted in him" (1 Chronicles 5 : 20 – NIV)
3.       Waiting for God’s timing - “For the revelation awaits an appointed time; it speaks of the end and will not prove false. Though it linger, wait for it; it will certainly come and will not delay” (Habakkuk 2 : 3 – NIV).
4.       Patience – “But if we hope for what we do not yet have, we wait for it patiently” (Romans 8 : 25 – NIV)

Joseph practised integrity for his vision to get fulfilled. At God’s time it was done without any delay it was quick at an unexpected moment, Pharaoh said to Joseph, “I hereby put you in charge of the whole land of Egypt” (Genesis 41 : 41 – NIV). Mother Mary fulfilled the prophetic words of Isaiah, prophesied around 700 years before the birth of Christ, “Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign: The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and will call him Immanuel" ( Isaiah 7 : 14 – NIV).

Whatever may be the situation we are facing right now, let us learn to hold on to the promises that we have received with faith and let us learn to overcome our fears by the help of Holy Spirit.

“I know that you have little strength, yet you have kept my word and have not denied my name" (Revelation 3 : 8 – NIV)

God’s unfailing and unconditional love is forever.

All glory and honour belongs to Him alone,

By,

 

07/07/2020.