Why does Jesus keep telling us to “Fear Not?” He tells us because we need to hear it. We have pretty amazing minds that can create vivid pictures of whatever we focus on.
If you watch and listen to the news, most of what we see or hear is pretty dismal. There are wars, famines, fires and threats of all sorts.
We have real enemies who would love to destroy us. We think our enemies are terrorist groups or specific people, but if you pull the veil back, it’s orchestrated by demonic powers.
There is a spiritual battle raging until the day Jesus returns and completely demolished ‘the enemy.’
I met a pastor from Laos. He told us that when the Communists took over at first it wasn’t too bad. Then there was a shift and the Christians were arrested.
He had only been married one year when he and his new wife were both in prison. He was chained to men and she was chained on the other side of the prison to women. He told us that he was so angry that he forgot that he was a Christian. After three months he remembered and started praying again.
God told him he had to forgive the ‘enemy.’ He did, and although still in chains, he felt ‘free.’ He shared several stories of how God fed them when they were hungry, etc. For example, fish and lobster would swim into their aprons and they managed to hide them from the guards. God met him in the prison.
Paul tells us to take every thought captive to the obedience of Christ. From experience, I know if you focus on what’s happening around the world, it can be pretty unsettling.
I guess our hearts were made for Heaven and want perfect peace. This isn’t heaven, but Jesus promised to give peace to those whose hearts are focused on Him. I love that old hymn…
“Turn your eyes upon Jesus,
Look full in His wonderful face,
And the things of earth will grow strangely dim,
In the light of His Glory and Grace.”
We have a choice moment by moment where to focus our minds. Satan would want us to choose fear, but God desires us to choose Faith and Love. In fact, “Perfect love casts out all fear.” FEAR NOT!
My friend Carlton Jones sent me this wonderful song he wrote it with his wife. He gave me permission to share it with you.
[S3AUDIO file=’jw/mp3/through-the-fire.mp3′]
I am very happy to hear and know about your ministry. I live in Ghana and one of the guys who like listening to instrumental music especially guitar. I play guitar so I like guitar Music. I am also a Christian who attends Seventh-Day Adventist Church in Ghana. I have always being looking forward for organization like your to apply for a durable guitar which will last and suit the weather in Ghana. I hope to hear and to know the conditions in getting one. Thank you.
You can contact Carlton from his website in the guitar ministries article. Guitars are too expensive to mail overseas. It’s easiest to send them with missionaries.
Thank you for the short message on fear not. I needed to hear this just at this time when my life in in utter, and complete turmoil. The storm is raging, but many days I forget that Jesus is in the boat with me, and as the deciples I feel; How can you be sleeping Jesus, can’t you see we parish. Yet His gentle sweet voice says to my heart fear not, and He speaks a word calming my raging sea.
Thank you Jean
God Bless you
Steven
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