Trading Fear For Faith
Fear breeds chaos
With our country being very divided right now, I cannot think of a better topic to discuss. “Why is there so much fear in todays culture?” I have been asking myself this question a lot lately, and what I have found is this: fear breeds chaos. There is so much chaos in our country because there is so much fear, and fear is a manipulative tactic created by the enemy to control the human population in the way he sees fit. Hard to swallow, but let me take it a step further. Fear will ultimately infect the entire mind, body, and soul by crippling every part of our lives. Fear will distort our values, manipulate our truths, and rob us from experiencing life’s simple joys. Ultimately, fear sets out to ruin our health, finances, relationships, self-confidence, and more. Why? Because, fear drives us to unholy ends. Fear demands worship.
Worship: to honor or show reverence for; to regard with great or extravagant respect
Jesus talks a lot about fear. One of my favorite stories in the Bible is when Jesus silences the storm in Matthew chapter 8. The disciples follow Jesus onto the boat and shortly after, they begin to panic as a storm starts to overtake them. Looking around, they cannot seem to find the one whom they have followed. Quickly, in the midst of all the chaos, they realize Jesus sleeping at the bottom of the ship!
And when he got into the boat, his disciples followed him. And behold, there arose a great storm on the sea, so that the boat was being swamped by the waves; BUT HE WAS ASLEEP.
How many of us believe Jesus is asleep right now to our countries storm?
When they go to wake him, it may seem as though Jesus is annoyed with them by his response.
And they went and woke him, saying, “Save us, Lord! We are perishing!” And He said, “Why are you so afraid? Do you have such little faith?”
When we are in the presence of God, the first thing He silences is our fear. Why? Because, fear and unbelief coexist but fear and faith cannot. We cannot have faith if we are living in fear. What Jesus was doing was giving us a physical example of how to manage chaos with faith instead of fear.
Then He rose and rebuked the winds and the sea, and there was a great calm. And the men marveled, saying, “What sort of man is this, that even the winds and sea obey him.”
Following Jesus can often times look very much like this story. Starts off fun then the boat starts sinking, and we begin to panic. What the disciples didn’t realize at the time was who Jesus really was and the authority our faith in Him gives us. Replacing fear for faith begins with understanding who or what we are worshipping. Is it politics? Is it our phone? Is it our relationship with our spouses or significant others? Is it our careers? Is it our bodies? Is it our children?
If Jesus is in fact on your boat, do you truly know who He is?
“I AM who I AM” — Exodus 3:14
“I am the way, the truth, the life” — John 14:6
“I am the true vine” — John 15:5
“I am the Alpha and the Omega” — Revelation 1:8
I am the resurrection and the life” — John 11:25
“I am the door” — John 10:9
“I am the light of the world” — John 8:12
“I am the bread of life” — John 6:35
“I am with you always, to the end of the age” — Matthew 28:20
“I am your God” — Isaiah 41:10
“I am the good shepherd” — John 10:11
When we know who Jesus is, we can have assurance over His plan and authority over our lives to rebuke the fear that is trying to consume us. Jesus teaches us to come to him with our fear, but He is also teaching us to rebuke it in His name.
Then God said, “let there be man in our image after our likeness. And let them have dominion and authority over the earth.” — Genesis 1:26
When things stop going according to plan and the boat begins to sink, the enemy wants us to panic whereas Jesus calls us to have faith and worship Him. To live a faith filled life is to first understand that Jesus is LORD. Second, we must know Him, and we cannot know someone unless we spend time with someone in an open and honest way (worship). Third, we must trust His sovereignty. Yes, politics matter, but whoever wins this election should not change my heart posture from faith to fear, because neither candidate is my Savior.
When we begin to not only know these three things, but put them to practice, we begin to live well every day in all areas of life. WE open our hands, walk with integrity, and are ready to not only receive love but give it. WE have faith!
Therefore as you received Christ Jesus the LORD, walk in Him. Rooted and built up in Him and established in FAITH just as you were taught, abounding in thanksgiving. See to it that no one takes you captive by false teaching and empty deceit, according to human tradition, elemental spirits of the world. For in Him, the whole FULLNESS of deity dwells bodily, and you have been filled with Him, who is head of all rule and authority in this life. — Colossians 2:6-11