Fear Not - Shalom!

Isaiah 41: 8 – 16

One of my favorite speeches of all time is Russell Conwell’s classic of encouragement and wisdom, Acres of Diamonds. It is about a wealthy farmer who was one of the richest men in all of Africa, who did not know that those shiny looking rocks that were peppering his property were actually diamonds.

Conwell was pointing to four weapons of mass destruction which the enemy of our souls uses against the Body of Christ in an attempt to render us ineffective in our work for the Kingdom of Heaven. The Body of Christ is being attacked by four heavy guns… four spirits which have been latching onto God’s people for years, and in some instances, stopping us dead in our tracks. These are spirits straight from the enemies’ camp, and we have the authority in the Name of Jesus to roll these attacks and render them ineffective. The true identity of these attacking spirits are Lack, Limitation, Hindrance, and Devouring. And while these spirits are pretty daunting we need to remember that greater is he that is in us than he that is in the world.

Martin Luther was trying to tell us something when he wrote his famous hymn “A Mighty Fortress Is Our God…” He was telling us that God has already given his children the victory over the forces of darkness…
Where there is lack… God has no lack…
Where there is limitation… God is limitless…
Where there is hindrance… God has no hindrance…
Where the enemy devours… God is the God of abundance!

The enemy would attack us with the Spirit of Lack…. The enemy wants us to believe that there is just not enough… That nothing we can do will ever be enough to make ends meet… The enemy is waiting in the wings to see the church fall on its face… God’s word says something different… Paul writes “I know my God will provide all your needs according to his riches in Glory by Christ Jesus!

The enemy would attack us with the Spirit of Limitation… The enemy wants us to believe that we will never be able to do enough – that because of whatever situation we face, we will never amount to anything… that we are fighting a losing battle… The Word of God says something different… “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me…”

The enemy would attack us with the Spirit of Hindrance… The enemy has tried to stop God’s faithful people in so many ways… sickness, injury, “accident”, financial trouble, strife…” The Great “I AM” says something different… “Those who wait upon the Lord will renew their strength… they will mount up with wings as eagles… they will run and not grow weary… they will walk and not faint.” “He sent his word and healed them…” “By the stripes of Jesus we are healed!”

The enemy would attack us with the Spirit of Devouring…. The enemy seeks to rob, to kill, to destroy the things that God’s people have… our finances… our health… our families… our marriages… our relationships…our children… our parents…
The promise that the enemy does not want you to know is that God says himself that He WILL REBUKE THE DEVOURER FOR OUR SAKES!

The Greatest weapon that the enemy has to level against the church is the spirit of fear… Evangelist and Pastor Dwight Thompson uses a very revealing acrostic for the word FEAR…
FALSE EVIDENCE APPEARING REAL.

A Mighty Fortress is our God, a bulwark never failing…
We have on our side…
God himself (His word says “Fear not, for I am with you…)
We have the Word of God… We have his faithful promises…
We have the Blood of Christ… Without the shedding of his blood there is no remission for our sin…
We have the Cross of Christ…
We have the Resurrection of the Carpenter…
That is resurrection power!
HE is our shield and our great reward!

God’s word is simple and straightforward about paralyzing fear… This week I had a day in which the Spirit of Fear seemed to be encroaching on all sides, and it seemed as if there were no way out of the fear that was looming all around me… and it reminded me of an experience I had many years ago one autumn day walking along the beach at LaJolla, California. It was during a very difficult time in my life many years ago. I had taken a moment to sit on the rocks and watch the surf roll in and crash on the breakers below… as I was watching the seagulls rolling and playing above me, and the seals frolicking on the beach below me, I could faintly hear the voice of one speaking through the crashing waves, “fear not… fear not… fear not…”

God’s word has specific guidelines for navigating through rough waters and uncertain times.

II Timothy 3: 16 – 17 “All scripture is God-breathed, and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the Man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work…”

II Timothy 1:7 “God did not give us a spirit of fear (or timidity), but a spirit of power, of love, and of self-discipline.

Isaiah 26: 3 “You will keep him in peace whose mind is stayed on you, because he trusts in you…”
And these words from Jesus himself…

“Peace I leave with you. My peace I give you. I do not give you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled, and do not be afraid.

Jesus invites us to come to his table today…
If you are anguished… he says “come”
If you are troubled… he says “come”
If you are careworn… he says “come”
If you are feeling condemned… he says “come”
If you are in pain… he says “come”
Whoever you are…
Where-ever you are in your journey of faith…
You are welcomed at his table…

I Bid You Peace...
Dr. Ken+