Howdy folks! Sorry it has been awhile since my last post, but we had some things to take care of in Oklahoma.
I wanted to talk a little while about fear. What are you afraid of? Going broke? Most people are afraid of that, especially with all of the economic troubles the good ole' USA is having right now. Are you afraid of not being accepted? What about the fear of death? Most humans are afraid of death.
Let me ask you one more question. What phrase did Jesus say more than any other in the Bible? Now before you start thumbing through you concordance I will tell you. He said "Don't be afraid, Fear not, Why are you afraid?"
I think the word fear is an acronym. F.E.A.R stands for False Evidence Appearing Real. You see when you let fear move into your heart faith moves out. I'll give you an example. In the book of Mark chapter4, verse 35 through 41 it tells when Jesus and the disciples was on the boat and the storm moved in. I'm going to give you the "Readers Digest Condensed version" Jesus was sleeping on the boat when the storm came up. The disciples knowing who Jesus was, the Son of God, should have just woke Him up and said, "Master there is a bad storm can you calm it". Do you think that is what they did? Nope, they go over to Him, wake Him up and said " do you not care we are about to die". You see fear of the storm moved into their hearts and their faith moved out. What did Jesus do? He got up, said "Peace be still!" took care of the problem then asked the disciples, "why are you so fearful?" and then He asked them "How is it that you have no faith?"
Fear is a method used by Satan to destroy your faith. Because it is when we fear, we take our eyes off of Jesus. What happens when we take our eyes off of Jesus? Well for the answer to that we have to look at Matthew chapter 14, verses 26 through 33. Again we find the disciples out on a boat and they see Jesus walking toward them on the water and they immediately think it's a ghost and you guest it, they become afraid. Jesus once again tells them to Be of good cheer. Don't be afraid. Well Peter says Lord if it is you let me come to you on the water. Peter steps out and is walking on the water when he starts to thinking I can't do this, and he looks down and starts to sink. You see he let fear guide his thinking and took his eyes off of Jesus and then started to sink. Is that not the same thing that we do. We have a problem; we become afraid; we take our eyes off of Jesus and we start to sink. I want to tell you that Jesus wants you to turn your fears over to Him. Keep your eyes upon Jesus and He will not fail you. Jesus says to us in John 14 : 27, Peace I leave with you, My peace I give you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid. Jesus gives true peace. Know Jesus know peace. No Jesus, no peace. I know it sounds like a bumper sticker but it speaks truth.
I want to encourage you to turn your fears and troubles over to the Master. We cannot handle our problems but He can. Just remember there can be no testimony without the test.
Also if you haven't read "Fearless" by Max Lucado, I would encourage you to read it as well.
Well it's good to be back and until next time keep you saddles cinched and may your trails be smooth.
