THE CHRISTIAN AND FEAR
Sakkie Parsons
Translated from Afrikaans: “Die Christen en Vrees”
Someone asked me if I could write a ‘Thought from the Word’ about how we as Christians should look at fear.
Personally, I think we should not be afraid in our being as the world experiences it. It is a fact that fear is one of satan’s great weapons against us as Christians.
To tell the truth (and I say this with my tongue in my cheek because who want a approve from satan) but it seems to me that satan uses fear when he thinks that your steadfastness in our Lord is very high.
He used it against Peter when he was the leader of the church here on earth and it took my great hero Paul to help him through it.
Gal 2:11-12 Peter (Cephas) Opposed by Paul
11Now when Cephas (Peter) came to Antioch, I opposed him face to face [about his conduct there], because he stood condemned [by his own actions]. 12Before certain men came from James, he used to eat [his meals] with the Gentiles; but when the men [from Jerusalem] arrived, he began to withdraw and separate himself [from the Gentile believers], because he was afraid of those from the circumcision.
The NLT translation read:
Gal 2:12 When he first arrived, he ate with the Gentile believers, who were not circumcised. But afterward, when some friends of James came, Peter wouldn’t eat with the Gentiles anymore. He was afraid of criticism from these people who insisted on the necessity of circumcision.
Fear forced Peter to give wrong guidance for a short time.
I would like to show you one more example in this regard:
In Jerusalem, the cream of the church assembled, you could say, the foundation on which Jesus will build His church – and God send to them, in my opinion, the greatest apostle of all time.
Here I just have to add, that it is not just me who thinks that Paul was the greatest apostle of them all, it seems to me that our Lord also thought so, because not only did He lead Paul to write a very large part of the New Testament, but even if Paul was not present at the last Easter Supper of Jesus with His disciples, he is the only one who is trusted to teach you and me about the Lord’s Supper.
1Cor 11:23-26 The Lord’s Supper
23For I received from the Lord Himself that [instruction] which I passed on to you, that the Lord Jesus on the night in which He was betrayed took bread; 24and when He had given thanks, He broke it and said, “This is (represents) My body, which is [offered as a sacrifice] for you. Do this in [affectionate] remembrance of Me.” 25In the same way, after supper He took the cup, saying, “This cup is the new covenant [ratified and established] in My blood; do this, as often as you drink it, in [affectionate] remembrance of Me.” 26For every time you eat this bread and drink this cup, you are [symbolically] proclaiming [the fact of] the Lord’s death until He comes [again].
Here our Lord send, you can say, to the cream of the church, this highly educated dynamic man, whom our Lord pulled to a stop.
Do you remember?
Acts 9:3-5
3As he traveled he approached Damascus, and suddenly a light from heaven flashed around him [displaying the glory and majesty of Christ]; 4and he fell to the ground and heard a voice [from heaven] saying to him, “Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting and oppressing Me?” 5And Saul said, “Who are You, Lord?” And He answered, “I am Jesus whom you are persecuting, 6now get up and go into the city, and you will be told what you must do.”
Here our Lord send this man to them and what does the cream of the church do – the foundation that must set the example?
ACTS 9:26
27When he arrived in Jerusalem, he tried to join the disciples; but they were all afraid of him, not believing that he really was a disciple.
Therefore, you and I don’t have to think that it is only weaklings who fear, for satan have caught much greater people than me or you with that “trick” of his.
Now the question is: How do our Lord want you and I to look at fear?
Now I am of the opinion, and I am sure you will also pick it up from the examples I am going to show you, that our Lord look with compassion and care on our fear and dread, but that He do not want it to be part of us.
You belong to Him; He is your God and Savior.
You can hear the compassion; “I understand that you are fearful” in the words of Jesus when you read these verses:
Matthew 14:27
27But immediately He spoke to them, saying, “Take courage, it is I! Do not be afraid!”
John 20:19 So when it was evening on that same day, the first day of the week, though the disciples were [meeting] behind barred doors for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood among them, and said, “Peace to you.”
You see, although God understand that we can have fears and as you have seen, He also sympathize with our fears, the goal we must pursue is to overcome those fears with His help, because fear should not be part of us.
2 Tim 1:7
7For God did not give us a spirit of timidity or cowardice or fear, but [He has given us a spirit] of power and of love and of sound judgment and personal discipline [abilities that result in a calm, well-balanced mind and self-control].
Hebrews 13:6
6So we take comfort and are encouraged and confidently say,“THE LORD IS MY HELPER [in time of need], I WILL NOT BE AFRAID.
WHAT WILL MAN DO TO ME?”
Also remember, as God’s Word says, the same Jesus who said more than two thousand years ago that His followers should not be afraid, that same Jesus is standing here with you today – and He says the same to you.
Heb 13:8
Jesus Christ is [eternally changeless, always] the same yesterday and today and forever.
People today come with all kinds of deceits, but I tell you, that if you really have a love relationship with Jesus, you have everything you need to overcome fear.
John 14:1 “Do not let your heart be troubled (afraid, cowardly). Believe [confidently] in God and trust in Him, [have faith, hold on to it, rely on it, keep going and] believe also in Me.
John 14:27. Peace I leave with you; My [perfect] peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Do not let your heart be troubled, nor let it be afraid. [Let My perfect peace calm you in every circumstance and give you courage and strength for every challenge.]
Furthermore, this Jesus who always remain the same, say this:
Matthew 11:28 “Come to Me, all who are weary and heavily burdened [by religious rituals that provide no peace], and I will give you rest [refreshing your souls with salvation]
It is also said about this Jesus – who never changes:
Matthew 12:20-21
20“A BATTERED REED HE WILL NOT BREAK,
AND A SMOLDERING WICK HE WILL NOT EXTINGUISH,
UNTIL HE LEADS JUSTICE TO VICTORY.21“AND IN HIS NAME THE GENTILES (all the nations of the world) WILL HOPE [with confidence].”
All you and I have to do with this knowledge in our hearts is:
“We must live it, if we believe it.”
Sakkie
Email: bediening@sakkieparsons.co.za
Website: www.sakkieparsons.co.za
Cell: 083 457 6669
Jude 1:24-25 To him who is able to keep you from stumbling and to present you before his glorious presence without fault and with great joy, to the only God our Saviour be glory, majesty, power and authority, through Jesus Christ our Lord, before all ages, now and forevermore! Amen.
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