# 294 Fear Not

The Book of Genesis

Day 294

Ge 32:1 So Jacob went on his way, and the angels of God met him.  2 When Jacob saw them, he said, "This is God's camp." And he called the name of that place Mahanaim.

Jacob takes off for home and is met by the angels of God. I wonder what THAT looked like? This time it was not a dream, he actually saw them and said, “This is God’s camp.” The King James reads, “This is God’s host.”

The word “host,” means “encampment or army.” This must’ve been one impressive sight for Jacob and quite a privilege! Not many people get a glimpse into the realities of the unseen spiritual realm. Let me tell you about another similar incident that is recorded in Scripture in 2 Kings, 6.

Elisha’s servant was very concerned because the Syrian army  had sent a “host” of horses and chariots, and they had surrounded the city….it didn’t look good, and he said, “Alas my master, how shall we do?” Elijah answered, “Fear not: “ Ah, there’s those words again, “fear not!!” God has not given us a spirit of fear but of power and of love and of a sound mind.” (2 Tim 1:7)

I find it interesting that the phrase here in 1 Kings is followed by a colon punctuation mark. It’s like the Holy Spirit  is telling us to “fear not, and here are some reasons not to fear. Check out His reason for not fearing, his very next words were: “For those who are with us are more than those who are with them.”

Ha! At this point Elisha’s servant was probably thinking, “Excuse me, but we are totally surrounded here.” But Elisha prays that God would open his servant’s eyes to the spiritual reality taking place in this battle that was about to unfold. And the servant saw the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire all around them and the Syrian army. The Syrian army didn’t know it, but they were surrounded by God’s army, they were in big trouble:

What a “fear removing” privilege to be given such a glimpse.

Well, Jacob was on his way home to face his brother Esau, who at last report wanted to kill him. How reassuring it must’ve been for him to meet up with this army of God along the way.

You or I will likely never be given such an opportunity to physically see the angels around us, but know this as you walk this road of life as a follower of Jesus Christ:  Seen or unseen, they are with us! Speaking of angels in Heb 1:14, we read, “Are they not all ministering spirits sent forth to minister for those who will inherit salvation?”

Fear not brother. Fear not sister. God’s angels will minister to you in your hour of need.

Learn From Joseph and Mary

496 - Today's Prime Time Devo comes from: 2Sa 11:4,5 “Then David sent messengers, and took her; and she came to him, and he lay with her, for she was cleansed from her impurity; and she returned to her house. 5 And the woman conceived; so she sent and told David, and said, "I am with child." (2 Sam 11:4,5) Two married consenting adults, caught up in sexual passion commit adultery in the middle of the night, and when lust has been spent, “she returned to her house.” It was as if it never happened. But oh oh, what's this? Bathseba's pregnancy test comes back positive, and she gets word to David, “I'm pregnant.” How many times in history have those two words sent tremors of fear into the hearts of those who have illicitly dallied. High school sweethearts who went too far. A night of partying away at college or a singles bar that crossed a line, and suddenly another life has been brought into this world. (You should know by now that life begins at conception) What to do? Perhaps the best thing to do in that situation is to learn from the experience of another couple who were surprised by a pregnancy. Joseph and Mary were engaged to be married, when Mary discovered that she was pregnant. Both Mary and Joseph were sent heavenly messengers who's first words to them were, “ “Do not fear!” This tells us that their initial reaction to the news was fear. It's a perfectly normal reaction under the circumstances! But the heavenly advice is meant for all of us. Don't let your fear guide your actions! Fear will lead you into all sorts of misguided steps to cover your actions. Rather, make the most of the situation! Embrace this new life created and loved by God. Remember there are more than the plans for your life at stake here, God has plans for that little one as well. In Mary and Joseph's case. God planned to use their little Bundle of Surprise to save the world from their sins, yes even their sins of sexual passion and abortion. Fear not beloved, and never forget that even if you have reacted negatively to fear, God forgives and He heals.

Spiritual Breathing

# 159 - Today's Du-votional comes from: 1Sa 12:19,20 “And all the people said to Samuel, "Pray for your servants to the LORD your God, that we may not die; for we have added to all our sins the evil of asking a king for ourselves." 20 Then Samuel said to the people, "Do not fear. You have done all this wickedness; yet do not turn aside from following the LORD, but serve the LORD with all your heart. Samuel has called on God to deliver a miraculous thunderstorm, and God did just that. This thundering caused the people to fear both God and Samuel. This “thunder” is a good picture of the Law of God. One of the purposes of the Law is to strike fear in the hearts of men. The Law showed the people their sin. This fear causes godly sorrow over sin, and a desire for someone to intercede on behalf of the sinner, lest he die. And here Samuel serves as a type of Jesus for these people. Note his reply to those afflicted with godly sorrow, “Do not fear,” which is another way of saying, you will not die, your sins are forgiven.“ And now, that they have a new lease on life, Samuel reminds them to not turn aside from following the Lord and to serve Him (be a slave to Him” with all their heart. The phrase, “turn aside” in the Hebrew means to stretch or spread out, to bend away. This is a simple reminder to not go chasing after other gods. Seek to serve and love God alone with all your heart, soul, and might. Remember the woman caught in the act of adultery? Jesus told her, “I do not condemn you, go and sin no more.” In other words, go and henceforth, walk a straight path with God, don't bend away from Him and His righteousness.” This bending away is a natural tendency of our flesh and should be dealt with on a daily basis, as we are convicted of our sins by the Law of God, (reading of God's Word) have godly sorrow over them, which leads to confession, and the gospel words of absolution, “fear not, your sins are forgiven in Christ, ” and then the admonition to “go and sin no more.” This is the daily breathing process of a follower of Jesus. It is our life! Embrace it

God Knows Your Every Possible Anxious Moment

# 662 Today's Du-votional comes from: Mr 13:11 "But when they arrest you and deliver you up, do not worry beforehand, or premeditate what you will speak. But whatever is given you in that hour, speak that; for it is not you who speak, but the Holy Spirit.”

Wow! This is an incredible piece of Scripture! So much to talk about! First of all as Jesus speaks of the immediate future of His apostles, He makes no bones about it....they will be arrested, they will be delivered up to church councils and civil authorities. And they were! Just read the Book of Acts!

I remember the two times I have been brought before the court to face OWI charges. I was shaking in my boots, and rightly so. Ro 13:4 For he (the judge in my case ) is God's minister to you for good. But if you do evil, be afraid; for he does not bear the sword in vain; for he is God's minister, an avenger to execute wrath on him who practices evil.”

Now I was shaking in my boots for an OWI, what are the Apostles going to be feeling like facing whippings, stonings, and possible tortuous death? If you were in that situation wouldn't you be consumed about your defense?

But Jesus seeks to calm their fears immediately by telling them not to worry about the words they will use in the courtroom. The Holy Spirit will consume them and supply what they need.

Lesson #1 for us. Fear not, even in your own present situation. God knows your every anxious moment. HE will supply what you need to get you through..

Father, we have a great fear of the unknown. Help us at those times when fear gats a grip on us. Help us to remember that nothing is unknown to You.

The Gift of Peace

# 598 - Today's Du-votional comes from: Mr 10:32-34 “Now they were on the road, going up to Jerusalem, and Jesus was going before them; and they were amazed. And as they followed they were afraid. Then He took the twelve aside again and began to tell them the things that would happen to Him: "Behold, we are going up to Jerusalem, and the Son of Man will be betrayed to the chief priests and to the scribes; and they will condemn Him to death and deliver Him to the Gentiles; "and they will mock Him, and scourge Him, and spit on Him, and kill Him. And the third day He will rise again."

Amazed and afraid. The idea of being amazed is they were dumbfounded....found to be dumb, in other words they were speechless. They couldn't believe that their Master was bent on going to Jerusalem! Grave danger lay ahead for Him!

They were also afraid. The word in the Greek is phobea, from which we get the word phobia. This was not an ordinary fear, it was paralyzing. It explains why they missed what Jesus said next. They missed the part about Him rising from the dead!

All they could focus on was their fears. None of us hear very well when we are panicked. Too bad, because if we would but listen to Him here, perhaps we could better handle are own times of fear.

The worst possible scenario was going to happen to Jesus, yet in the end, He wins. He rises from the dead, and so will we. Let that fact bring peace to your troubled soul.

Think of all the times in Scripture, where the Lord says, “Fear not.” I don't think it is a suggestion. I believe it has the full authority of a command, and when He commands the spirit of fear to depart from our flesh, it has no choice but to leave.

I have come to believe through my own personal experience, that peace (a lack of fear) is a gift from God, and that it can depart at any time, therefore I thank God every day for peace, and I pray that He will continually command the spirit of fear to depart when my heart is troubled.
Father, guard our hearts from fear and grant us Your peace.