Thank you for joining me. I pray the Lord will encourage you with the truth of His Word presented in the post today. We are going to look at what the Word reveals about the things we do in response to His Word and His will and how He desires us to face the trials and difficulties that come into our lives. Eric

The small group we are attending is studying a course on knowing God more intimately through developing our relationship with Him. As we learn to obey God, we have to overcome the obstacles that hold us back from obedience.

I believe the largest obstacle the enemy uses against God’s children is fear. There are numerous reasons we could become fearful in relation to our directives and obedience to God. Perhaps we fear that we are inadequate for the task? We might fear that we have not heard the directives correctly, or that we have trouble distinguishing between God’s voice and the voices that are in the world? Maybe we have trust issues and are not sure God is trustworthy and fear He will not come to our aid when needed. If that is the case, then we fear that we or someone we love would be harmed. Many fear the unknown and quite often, the Lord will ask us to trust Him and venture into that unknown.

In dictionary.com, ‘fear’ is defined as: “a distressing emotion aroused by impending danger, evil, or pain, whether the threat is real or imaginary; concern or anxiety, and something that causes feelings of dread or apprehension.”

Our enemy (satan), is called the father of all lies and the great deceiver. He constantly attempts to keep us from doing the will of God by paralyzing us with fear and doubt. We understand that he comes to steal, kill, and destroy and His kingdom is a kingdom of darkness. He whispers in our ears that we will not be able to be successful, or that following the directives of God could lead us to face a dangerous and painful circumstance. He also works hard to try to make us believe that God will not come through and be able to deliver us or keep us safe from harm.

In Scripture regarding the birth of Jesus, we find numerous individuals who faced fearful and potentially dangerous scenarios in order to accomplish doing the will of God. Zachariah (Luke 1:11), Mary (Luke 1:20), Joseph (Matthew 1:20), and the shepherds were all approached by the angel Gabriel when they were facing tasks of miraculous proportions. Upon their receiving the directives of God for them, Gabriel also exhorted each of them to “not be afraid.”

As we look briefly at their encounters, I ask that you especially take note of how or why they faced their directives without allowing fear to affect their decisions and actions.

Zachariah, a priest, and his wife, Elizabeth were both righteous before the Lord. Elizabeth was barren and they were “well advanced in years.” As Zachariah was fulfilling his duty of burning the incense in the Holy Place (often only a one time event in a lifetime of a priest), the angel, Gabriel appeared to him. Zachariah was immediately troubled (struck with fear, seized with alarm and startled by strange sights or occurrences) and fearful. Gabriel said, “Do not be afraid…for your prayer is heard; and your wife Elizabeth will bear a son and you are to call him John.” Gabriel expressed that John would be used mightily by the Lord. He was to herald the arrival of the Messiah. After John was born and circumcised, when Zachariah spoke, he was praising God. (Luke 1:12-24; 59-64).

Mary was told by Gabriel that she “was favored of God” when he appeared to her and gave the directive that she was to “be the mother of the Messiah.” When she first heard Gabriel, she was troubled (agitated, troubled greatly). However, after hearing the directive and knowing it was God’s will, she responded in great faith when she said, “Behold the Maidservant of the Lord, let it be to me according to your word.” The loss of her reputation was a very real possibility when as a virgin when she accepted God’s assignment for her. (Luke 1:28-38).

Joseph was told by Gabriel to “not be afraid to take Mary as his wife,” even though she was pregnant by the overshadowing of the Holy Sprit. In Jewish law betrothal involved a formal binding contract before witnesses, that the couple would abstain from sexual relations until the wedding ceremony. The contract could be broken by only death or a formal divorce decree, which would have brought great shame to Mary. Or she could have been stoned to death. Joseph was not willing to bring that upon Mary. The word for ‘afraid’, phobeo, in this verse, means: to fear such as hesitate to do something for fear of harm. Joseph was willing to face his fears because, he knew that these directives were the will of God. (Matthew 1:18-24).

When Jesus was born, Gabriel appeared and the glory of the Lord shone around the shepherds. They were “greatly afraid.” Gabriel told them, “Do not be afraid.” Why did they have no need to fear? The reason for the manifestation of the angels and the glory of the Lord was announcing the birth of the Messiah! Then, a multitude of the heavenly host appeared in the sky and praised God. The shepherds went into Bethlehem, saw the Child, and spread the good news! (Luke 2:8-20).

We all will face frightening things occasionally, and it is reasonable to experience fear. Some examples include: falling from a great height, finding ourselves near an angry snake, or seeing a tornado coming toward us. When we encounter such dangerous situations, that fear, helps keep us safe from the danger.

Following God’s directives, choosing to get in on what He is doing, should never be a cause of fear for us. Jeremiah 29:11 reveals that God has a plan for each of us and it is for good and not calamity, that we would have a future and a hope.

We need to absolutely comprehend the Lord’s heart and desires for us. Jeremiah 29:7 reveals that heart. In this verse, we read that God, through the Prophet, told His exiled (because of disobedience) Israelites to seek the peace and prosperity of the city they were captives in. Why? If that place prospered, they would also prosper. The people were told to not place their hope in their dreams (of a quick turn around of their situation) or in what diviners were saying. The Lord had already spoken that the captivity would last 70 years, then, He would still fulfill His good promises to them. They would be returned to their homeland and prosper. Jeremiah had spoken “Repent” to them for 23 years and yet they refused to listen. Thus, they faced a very difficult consequence.

God will never give us an assignment or directive, except, that He will enable and help us to achieve or fulfill it. In Hebrews 13:5b and 6a (NIV), “God has said, “Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.” 6 So we can say with confidence, “The Lord is my Helper, I will not be afraid!” ‘Helper’, boethos in the Greek is one who comes running when we cry for help. The word, boethos described the Lord as poised and ready to rush to the relief of His oppressed children when they shout for His assistance. (Word Wealth, New Spirit Filled Life Bible). Wow! Then, ‘afraid’ phobeo, in this verse means: to be in a panic that grips a person causing him to run away; be scared, frightened, or anxious. Don’t fear man - reverence God!

John 14-16 reveals that this Helper, will abide with us forever! We have many wonderful examples in Scripture of those who refused to fear because they knew God was with them. They accomplished His will for their lives.

We read the account of David and Goliath in 1 Samuel 17. “The army of Saul (himself included) had been very valiant men who previously acted with much courage against the Ammorites, Philistines, and Amalekites - however, when they encountered Goliath, the Spirit of God had departed from Saul and he had become fearful and it carried down to the entire army. They were “dismayed and greatly afraid” (verse 11) and (Gills Exposition of the Entire Bible). Matthew Pooles Commentary stated, “When God withdraws his help, the most valiant and resolute persons cannot find their hearts nor hands.”

MacLarens Exposition added this tremendous insight - “The terror that came upon Saul and his army paralyzed them.” (Goliath challenged them for 40 days and no one was brave enough to face him!) “The true faith found in David shows us how we can surround ourselves with an atmosphere which will keep prevailing the faint-heartedness off us and make us impervious to the chill mists of faithless fear which saturates all around. He who trusts in God should be as a pillar of fire, burning bright in the darkness of terror and making a rallying point for weaker hearts. The unarmed hand which grips God’s hand should never tremble; and he who can say, ‘I come…in the name of the Lord of hosts; has no need to be afraid of an army of Goliaths.” Hallelujah!

Gideon was from the weakest clan and the least in his family when the Israelites were terrorized by the Midianites. (Another consequence for disobedience - are you making the connection?) The Lord told Gideon, “I am sending you to defeat the Midianites!” Gideon built an altar for the Lord, then tore down the altars of Baal. The Lord pared Gideon’s army to 300 men and told him, “With the 300 men…I will save you and give the Midianites into your hands.” (Judges 7:7). Gideon was not alone in the battle!

When Joshua led the Israelites into the Promised Land - God’s exhortation and instruction to him was that he be “strong and very courageous.” (three times) and that “he not turn to the right or the left from following the law Moses commanded.” Why? So that “he would prosper wherever he went.” Joshua was in a partnership with God! Joshua was obedient and God fulfilled His promises! (Joshua 1). We can experience that same partnership with God!

Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego trusted God and told Nebuchadnezzar, “We will not serve your gods or worship your image.” They fell into the fiery furnace when the ones throwing them in died and lost their grip. The three of them came out with “no harm to their bodies, not a hair on their head singed, their robes not scorched, and no smell of fire on them.” (Daniel 3:16-18).

I will close today by sharing these two quotes.

“The faithful servants of God find Him able to control and override all the powers armed against them, “Lord if Thou wilt, Thou canst,” If He be for us, we need not fear what man can do unto us. God will deliver us, either from death or in death.” (Matthew Henry’s Concise Commentary). A win - win scenario for us either way!

Finally, in MacLaren Expositions, we read, “No trials faced in obedience to God will be borne alone.”

How do we know these statements are true? We have the following promises in the Word of God.

Isaiah 41:10, “So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.”

Isaiah 43:1 and 2, “But now, this is what the LORD says--he who created you, Jacob, he who formed you, Israel: "Do not fear, for I have redeemed you; I have summoned you by name; you are mine. 2 When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned; the flames will not set you ablaze.”

All Scriptural references were taken from the New International Version.

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