Fear Not, Because of Prayer

And there appeared to him an angel of the Lord standing on the right side of the altar of incense. And Zechariah was troubled when he saw him, and fear fell upon him. But the angel said to him, “Do not be afraid, Zechariah, for your prayer has been heard (Luke 1:11-13 ESV)

What if God did what we ask Him to do? When we are asking God for obvious, easy things… like finding a parking space, or arriving at a meeting on time, or finding lost keys, it is not that surprising. We ask small, and God gives small… and no one is amazed.

But what if we ask God for something amazing. Zechariah did. He was asking God for a miracle that was even bigger than Zechariah and Elizabeth knew. The impossible baby that Elizabeth would name John was not merely a miracle of birth to an elderly couple. That baby was the fulfillment of Scripture. That baby was part of the Messiah story. That baby was part of the redemption of Israel.

Zechariah asked big… and received bigger. And that reception took first the form of an angel. A shocking, amazing, incomprehensible being come recently from the very face of God. No wonder Zechariah was afraid.

But if Zechariah had asked small, he would not have been amazed with God’s answer. And the angel would not have come. And the angel would not have had to tell Zechariah that there was nothing to fear… because what was happening was God’s answer to Zechariah’s prayer.

If we are scared to ask big… this angel reminds us that asking big actually leads to less fear. If we don’t dare ask God for the IMPORTANT, the NECESSARY, and the IMPOSSIBLE, then we won’t learn, like Zechariah, that Prayer ENDS fear. Prayer FIXES fear. Prayer UNDOES fear.

Fear not, because of prayer.

Fear Not, Because of God's Words

“O man greatly loved, fear not, peace be with you; be strong and of good courage.” And as he spoke to me, I was strengthened and said, “Let my lord speak, for you have strengthened me.” (Daniel 10:19)

The power and importance of words are displayed in the song, “Home on the Range.”  Kansas is depicted to be a great state because in Kansas, “seldom is heard a discouraging word.”  Dr. Brewster Higley, writing those lyrics, reminds us that our hearts are affected by words, as much as by deeds.

Michael (the Archangel) gives Daniel many reasons to stop being afraid.  Daniel was faced with such an array of enemies that fear had overwhelmed him.  The visions of the future that God had sent Daniel were giving him even more reasons to be afraid.  And as Daniel prays, he becomes like a bowl of quivering jelly.  Because of his fear, Daniel was physically weak, emotionally discouraged, and spiritually empty. 

Michael particularly heartens Daniel with a reminder that Daniel is loved (probably quoting the Psalms,) a suggestion that Daniel choose  to be at peace (probably quoting the Torah’s worship instructions,) and to be strong and courageous (clearly quoting the books of Deuteronomy and Joshua!)  But note that Daniel does not record the effectiveness of those three things.

He does not say, “I am loved, so I will not be afraid.”  Although he could have. It is encouraging to be loved.

He does not say, “I choose peace, so I will not be afraid.”  Although he could have. It is encouraging to have peace.

He does not say, “I will be strong and courageous, so I will not be afraid.”  Although he could have. It is encouraging to be strong and courageous.

He instead asks Michael for more words.  Because Michael’s words abolished Daniel’s fear.

Today, we tend to discredit words.  We desire words to be proven before we accept them.  Even when reading God’s Word, we want to see God’s Word proven true, rather than rest in God’s Word.  Don’t our hearts quicken when archaeologists find evidence of the ark, or the Red Sea Crossing, or Jesus’ empty tomb?

But Daniel found courage, strength, and hope in Michael’s words.

Even though Daniel was visited by God’s messenger who was detouring from Spiritual battles out and about in the world, I believe that Daniel would have traded that message for what we have.   Daniel only had available what we call the Old Testament up through the prophets.  Basically, Genesis through Ecclesiastes.  And supplemented by Michael’s words, Daniel was encouraged, even though he had fewer words to hear than we do.

Because we have more.  Not only do we have Michael’s words, recorded by Daniel for us, we have the rest of the prophets.  We have the book of Esther.  We have the precious New Testament.  All of which would have made Daniel giddy. 

I think he would look at us today and ask, “WHAT ARE YOU AFRAID OF??  Look how many WORDS you have!”

And he would be right.

Fear not, because of God’s words.

Fear Not, Because God's Truth is Coming

Then he said to me, “Fear not, Daniel, for from the first day that you set your heart to understand and humbled yourself before your God, your words have been heard, and I have come because of your words.” (Daniel 10:12)

Ever since I removed and replaced the rear wheel of my old Craftsman Riding Lawn Mower, something was wrong. The engine ran enthusiastically, but the mower would not move. Reverse and forward no longer worked. Vroom, vroom, vroom, but no movement.

But I did not give up. I knew that somehow that Craftsman would work. It had to be something simple, practical, and obvious. I believed in that lawn mower. I kept trying, from time to time. I kept searching, consulting the internet, my experience, and experts.

And eventually I found the answer. A small piece of metal that had fallen off when I had replaced the wheel. It was obvious once I was given good advice. And now that old lawn mower roars and cuts and levels.

Somehow, though, I never really doubted. I had trust in the reality of the practical side of the lawn mower. I had faith that the answer was not ‘out there,’ but was just beyond my eyes and understanding.

Daniel had even bigger faith.

Daniel did not fear, but not due to a passive, doormat sort of faith. He KNEW that God’s truth was absolute. And so Daniel prayed hopefully… asked optimistically… spoke actively… and never doubted that SOMEHOW, SOMETIME, God would make the frightening reality of exile make sense.

“Fear not,” did not mean for Daniel to relax in boring sleepy nothingness. “Fear not,” for Daniel meant actively searching, KNOWING that the answer is just out of sight. “Fear not,” for Daniel meant a passionate hope that the mysteries of life were about to be made clear. “Fear not,” for Daniel meant confidence that Daniel did not need to know all things yet… but that Daniel had nothing to be afraid of.

And that God would make all things clear.

And this is true for us, too. When life seems more chaotic than orderly… when problems fill our horizons… when the news is scary, and dark, and unsure… imitate Daniel. Pray for understanding and TRUST that God’s truth IS truth.

That kind of faith leads to knowledge.

Fear not, because God’s truth is coming.

Fear Not, Because of Forgiveness

“…so again have I purposed in these days to bring good to Jerusalem and to the house of Judah; fear not.” (Zechariah 8:15)

I acknowledge that I am not a patient man. I give up on my chainsaw after four stalls. I push either of our cats off my lap when their weight feels just a little warm. I fast-forward through television commercials.

Maybe you aren’t patient, either. Do you give up on a leader after they say two stupid things? Do you walk away from a friend after they don’t treat you the way you need? Do you forgive once, maybe twice… but never three times?

God’s wrath is a terrible thing. He is infinite, and His capacity for justice, just desserts, and righteous anger at Sin and sinners is infinite. As much as we might fear tornados, diseases, government overreach, cruelty, hate, and Satan, God’s wrath is much worse.

But God’s patience is a wonderful thing. He is infinite, and His desire to forgive, to ease the effects of our Sin, and to bless is infinite.

The story of Biblical Israel is a story of rebellion, forgetting God, and contumacy. And God reacts each time, over and over, repeatedly, numerous times, with patience. The story of Biblical Israel seems to end, though, with God’s anger finally reaching a limit. Both the Northern Kingdom AND the Southern Kingdom are gone. God’s people are spread throughout the Middle East.

And then God shows once more His patience.

He promises to bless His people again.

And He does.

Even the worst thing in the universe, God’s Wrath, ends with forgiveness. Even the worst thing in the universe, God’s Wrath, ends with faith, hope, and love. Even the worst thing in the universe, God’s Wrath, ends with Jesus.

Because God decided to expend ALL of that wrath on His Son, on the Cross, instead of on God’s People.

Fear not, because God is patient.

Fear Not, Because of Wisdom

She is not afraid of snow for her household, for all her household are clothed in scarlet. (Proverbs 31:21)

A few months ago I got to fly a small airplane!  The owner/pilot was giving a few of us a birds’ eye view of Northern California, and he turned to me and said, “Wanna take over?”

I eagerly did.  But I was nervous.  My few flying lessons were decades ago.  My few opportunities to take the yoke were in the distant past.  I hadn’t even flown virtually in years.  I not only had forgotten the details of flying, but I didn’t even remember the basics.

I did ok.

But when the pilot took control again, I noticed (because I was thinking about it) that HE was not nervous.  His confidence was founded in his knowledge of the basics AND the details.

Just like the woman in Proverbs 31.  She is not afraid of inclement weather for two reasons.   

First, she has taken care of the details of her family’s well-being.  That is what the ‘scarlet’ indicates.  It is not just a color, but probably refers to the quality of the clothing that she has been able to provide for her family. 

So perhaps I could write, “Fear Not, Because You’ve Covered the Details.”

But I don’t think that is really the point here.

Because second, if you look at the rest of Proverbs 31, you will see that this woman is Wise.  She is not afraid because she is Wise.

Today, the world has kidnapped that word.  The world says that wisdom is common sense.  The world says that wisdom is applying knowledge.  The world says that wisdom is gained through experience and time.

But the Bible says that Wisdom is following God’s path, instead of any other way.

Any Christian can be Wise.  Simply choose to do things God’s way instead of your way.  It is not gained by experience, or being old, or having common sense.  It is gained by asking God what to do, and then doing what He says to do.  In His Word, usually.

We can be Wise.  And when we do, fear slips away into the dark.  Because God has told us to not be afraid.  Many times.

Fear not, because of Wisdom.

Fear Not, Because God is Bigger

The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? The Lord is the stronghold of my life; of whom shall I be afraid? (Psalm 27:1)

General Thomas (Stonewall) Jackson appeared shockingly calm to his companions. Even when examining the battlefield from the back of his horse, Stonewall didn’t seem to mind the flying bullets, earth-breaking explosions, or bayonet-wielding Yankees.

“… my religious belief teaches me to feel as safe in battle as in bed,” Jackson said. Notice that he did not deny the danger… but he knew something greater.

“There is nothing to be afraid of,” is not the same as merely, “Do not be afraid.” In fact, the reality of the danger is what makes our reliance on God necessary.

David, the author of Psalm 27, mentions three fearful things. Darkness, Sin, and a threat to his life. All three of these are legitimate reasons to be afraid.

Darkness refers to more than a child’s fear of the dark. It refers to God’s enemy, the World. The Kingdom of Darkness that is opposed to God’s Kingdom. Evil exists. Evil is dangerous. The Psalmist logically SHOULD be afraid of Darkness, but because God’s Light is more powerful, the Psalmist can relax. The very real enemy, Darkness, will lose. So David is not afraid.

Sin caused (and causes) the rift between God and humans that makes creation groan, hearts break, and lives difficult. Sin is the underlying cause to every problem. We see Sin and Sin’s effects all around us… threatening us with ALL of life’s difficulties, but also with eternal death. But the Salvation given by God is stronger than Sin. David logically SHOULD be afraid of Sin, but because God’s Salvation is more powerful, David can relax. The very real enemy, Sin, will lose. So David is not afraid.

While we do not know the circumstances surrounding this Psalm, we do know that David had enemies with sharp swords. Many people wanted David dead. And they came close to success. David knew the threat, and he knew that the danger was real. David logically SHOULD be afraid of the threat of death, but because David rested beneath God’s wings, David can relax. The very real enemy, death, will lose. So David is not afraid.

A brave person does not ignore or deny real danger. There ARE things to be afraid of. But God is bigger than all of them. A brave person chooses to act in spite of the danger.

Fear not, because God is bigger.

Fear Not, Because God Outnumbers Hordes

Do not be afraid and do not be dismayed at this great horde, for the battle is not yours but God’s. (II Chronicles 20:15 ESV)

One rat would be bad enough.  I watched a TV show recently in which a man endured HUNDREDS of rats running over his reclining body.

One reminder to clean one’s room is good advice.  Repetitive repetition repeatedly repeating the suggestion is usually considered nagging.

One zombie is humorous.  A thousand zombies are a reason for zombie movies to be produced.

We moderns have become worshippers of numbers.  Power seems to be found in numbers.  Truth seems to be determined by majority opinion.  And the old motherly quip, “would you jump off a cliff if EVERYONE jumped?”  Now seems to be answered, “Hmmmm… maybe…”

Jehoshaphat and Judah are in trouble.  An army is coming.  A large army.  A horde.  But the singer Jahaziel brings a fear-killing reminder.

No matter HOW big the army, God is bigger.  When it comes to numbers, our God actually outnumbers everything.

An army is not encamped at our doorstep.  But we DO face a horde.

A horde of voices.

Watch the news, and you will be presented with a horde of reasons to be afraid.

“Look out for yourself!” is shouted from most street corners, dramatized in video blogs, and ALL-CAPPED in headlines.  Those voices are a horde.

The majority of Americans are doubting God’s existence.  And those that DO believe sometimes seem to believe in a different God than Scripture presents.  We’re outnumbered by a horde.

But don’t let the numbers fool you.

Jahaziel sings to us, too.  The Lord is on our side, and His Three-in-One outnumber anyone.  All truth is stated by God, not determined by public opinion.  And even if you stand (for Him) alone, you are not alone.

A bigger, better, stronger, cooler, caring, loving, planning, succeeding, victorious Horde is on our side.

Fear not, because God outnumbers all hordes.

Fear not, Because Change Isn't Bad

him; do not be afraid of him.” (II Kings 1:15 ESV)

Change can be scary. Not necessarily changing the sheets, changing the oil, or changing the water in your water bottle… but change that involves realizing you had been wrong, and need a new path.

The King of Israel had gone to false gods to get advice and help. And Elijah was appropriately not happy about it. The King had rejected Jahweh. But the help from the false gods never materialized.

So the King turned to the One True God. And that effected Elijah.

At first, Elijah wouldn’t even meet with the King. Elijah made strong statements in effect saying, “I’ll die before I meet with you, oh Evil King.” Today, Elijah might have written angry, condemning, absolute statements on Facebook… or Twitter… or in a blog.

And Elijah would have been correct.

But then God wanted Elijah to meet with the King, after all.

Elijah had to go against his previous statements. He had to walk back from his absolutes. “Never” became “tomorrow.” And that is a scary thing to have to do.

We don’t readily do it. We don’t often do it. Change is scary.

But an angel told Elijah to do it, and not to be afraid. The angel told Elijah that the King, or the King’s opinion, or PUBLIC opinion didn’t play into it.

Elijah’s position had to change. And no matter how scary, Elijah had to swallow hard… gird up his loins… and do what God wanted, now that Elijah had discovered what it was.

Because what matters is GOD’S position… not our position.

Our fear of that kind of change is what makes it hard for us to publicly forgive. Our fear of that kind of change is what makes it hard for us to change life directions, careers, friends, or political views. Our fear of that kind of change is what makes us rarely say, “I was wrong.”

But the things we are afraid of (the opinion of others, effects of our new direction, or the effort involved) don’t play into it.

When God says to do something, do it. Even if it is new. Even if it is different. Even if it is hard.

Let God’s Word guide you, EVEN to change.

Fear not, because change isn’t bad.

Fear Not, Because We Are Redeemed

Fear not, you worm Jacob, you men of Israel! I am the one who helps you, declares the Lord; your Redeemer is the Holy One of Israel. (Isaiah 41:14 ESV)

The people of Alaska developed a unique mindset at the end of the 19th century.  On the one hand, their land was harsh.  It’s awfully cold.  In the Winter, the sun only rises for minutes each day.  Even the Sea was usually frozen solid for over six months.  While some financial success had been achieved with the hunting of whales, walruses, and seals… those resources were dwindling. 

Alaska was the worm on the food chain of the Pacific Rim.

But on the other hand, the Alaskans were persistently sought, haggled over, purchased… and desired.  Throughout the modern era, the Eskimos, the Siberians, the Russians, the French, the Spanish, the British, the Canadians, and the Americans all laid claims to Alaska’s vast land.

And those two hands made for an odd grip on life.

They knew they were worms… but they knew they were wanted.  And so they smiled, even in the dead of Winter.

Christians, the post-cross ‘men of Israel,’ are similar.

We know we aren’t worth much.  We know our sins and our sinfulness.  We know our unreliability and our backsliding.  We know how much we forget and how much we ignore.  Isaiah is right to call us worms, spiritually. 

But we have been sought, haggled over, and purchased.  And we are desired by the Holy One of Israel!

Worms have a lot to fear. 

But the Redeemed Worms of Israel do not!

Fear not, because we are Redeemed.

Fear not, Because God Holds Your Hand

For I, the Lord your God, hold your right hand; it is I who say to you, “Fear not, I am the one who helps you.”  (Isaiah 41:13 ESV)

In almost every scary movie that you have ever seen, you KNOW the scariest part is about to happen because the victim and the hero on the big screen hold hands.  Whether the terrified victim reaches out and takes the hero’s hand, or the hero, in comfort, reaches out and takes the victim’s hand… that clasping denotes the climax of the film.

Parents and their children know this.

Couples walking through a dark woods or rough part of town know this.

Even soldiers before and after battle know this.

Held hands have comforted many a heart.

So how can God hold your hand?  He doesn’t reach out and physically take your hand when you are worried.  (That might actually make us MORE afraid!)

God holds our hand through the words of His Word.  God holds our hand through the actions of His people.  God holds our hand through His Spirit, attesting to our spirit. 

Whenever those things happen, it is God holding your hand.  It is God saying, “do not fear.”

God holds our hand through everything that He does, which He does for the good of those who love Him. (Romans 8:28)

Fear not, because He holds your hand.

Fear Not, Because You Are His

Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by name, you are mine. (Isaiah 43:1 ESV)

The peace of a dog’s life is a cliché. Usually we mean that a dog’s life is lazy, advantageous, and pleasant. But when I think of my dog’s life, I think of other things.

My dog had a scary life. But he doesn’t need to be afraid anymore.

We got Ambrose from the Wichita Animal Center. He was skinny, sickly, and while his smile was friendly and welcoming, mostly he cowered.

The Center could not tell us of Ambrose’s past. But it probably was not good. He continues to be a bit skittish around men, until I shake the visitor’s hand, and the dog sees that the stranger is not a stranger.

We bought Ambrose. That’s closer to what “redeemed” actually means that the idea of salvation we usually attach to that word. IF Ambrose had been ours to start with, and had lost him, when we bought him back from the pound it would be exactly a redemption. But this is close.

We called him by name. He was “Donny” when we first saw him in his kennel. But he didn’t look like a Donny. We didn’t like the name Donny. The dog was coming to a new home (more than a new house) and so he got a new name. We called him Ambrose.

And he is ours. He knows we’ll take care of him (even in a thunderstorm, he runs to us for protection.)

I could tell Ambrose, “Fear not, for we have (sort of) redeemed you… (sort of) called you by a new name… and you( sort of) belong to us.” And if he were smarter, he’d feel more at peace.

You might not like being compared to a dog. Yet it’s a pretty good example of God’s purchase of us, His calling us Christians, and our relationship to Him.

We ran away from home (and sometimes we keep running away from home.) He bought us back and brought us back. Doesn’t that diminish fear? We have affection for the things we buy at Target. But the things we lost and got back… THOSE we hold more closely.

We had old names. Rebel. Sinner. Selfish. Blind. Deaf. Me First. And He gives us new names and calls us by those names. He calls us Sons and Daughters. Beloved. Precious. The Bride of His Son. Christian. Every time He calls us by those names it is a chance to diminish fear. Some of you name your cars because you like those cars. Some of you name your land because you protect your land. Some of you name your children because you love them.

We are His. He not only bought us back, but He MADE us in the first place. And God takes care of what is His. Remembering that we are His diminishes fear. We take care of our yard but ignore the yard across town. We embrace our teddy bear but never touch another’s stuffed bedtime toy. We run out in the rain to retrieve our chainsaw but are not even aware when a neighbor’s chainsaw was left outside.

Fear not, because you are His.

Fear Not, Because of Bread

Only do not rebel against the Lord. And do not fear the people of the land, for they are bread for us. Their protection is removed from them, and the Lord is with us; do not fear them.” Numbers 14:9 ESV)

 I am terrified of bees.  To me, they have evil purpose in their little bee-brains.  To me, they desire to drive their railroad spikes into my arm, neck, or face.  To me, they are sneaky, secretive, and unsportsmanlike.

But a certain friend is NOT afraid of bees.  I used to think that he was in denial of the dangerous bee conspiracy.  But now I realize that he sees bees differently.  To him, bees make honey.

They still drive railroad spikes into his arm.  They still sneak up on him.  They still do not like him.

But they make honey.

Most of the spies coming back from Canaan saw that the Canaanites were terrifying.  They had railroad spokes on the end of their spears.  They were sneaky.  They were entrenched in their land flowing with milk and honey.  The Canaanites were not going to leave without a fight.  And there were Giants.

But Caleb and Joshua saw something different.  Caleb and Joshua did not deny how tough the Canaanites were.  Caleb and Joshua also saw the railroad spikes, the fortresses, and the Giants.

But they knew that God was going to use those tough, angry, dangerous, scary Canaanites as bread for the People of God.

God, in fact, DID use that rebellious civilization of the Canaanites to provide a kickstart for the new nation of Israel.  Joshua probably thought of this when later he said, “I gave you a land on which you had not labored and cities that you had not built, and you dwell in them. You eat the fruit of vineyards and olive orchards that you did not plant.” (Joshua 24:13 ESV)

But Caleb and Joshua understood something bigger than that.  God smiles at, favors, and provides for His People.  And the means He uses are often found outside of God’s Kingdom.  One of the reasons that God allowed the nations around Israel to exist was that He was always using them for the benefit of His people.  Even when those nations did things like carry Israelites into captivity.  Those other nations are the breadbaskets for God’s People.

So those other nations were nothing to fear.  They were merely God’s tools.

Somehow, God will use the things that you are fearing for your good.  They are His tools.  They are nothing to fear, say Caleb and Joshua.

Fear not, because of bread.

Fear Not, Because the Lord is Never Surprised

Do not be afraid of sudden terror or of the ruin of the wicked, when it comes, for the LORD will be your confidence and will keep your foot from being caught. (Proverbs 2:25,26 ESV)

My toe hit that root in the woods and I stumbled. That root was NOT there, earlier. It must have suddenly grown and maybe even JUMPED up at my foot. I was not prepared, and it was startling.

Unexpected things are often the most frightening. That is why children cry when something jumps out and says, “BOO!” Strange noises, odd lights, and unexpected visitors all speed up our heartrates.

We sometimes think that being prepared is the answer. Think of the old Boy Scout motto: Be Prepared. Avoid danger by planning ahead… be ready for anything… fill your pantry with extra food… squirrel money away ‘just in case.’

“Preparing” is even a political movement.

How is all that preparing working out for you? Do you really feel safer? Is it possible to prepare for everything and anything? Or is there always ONE more thing you should have done…

This proverb tells us the answer to the fear that comes from being unprepared.

The answer is not, “stash away more stuff.”

The answer is not, “practice, practice, practice.”

The answer is not, “More guns, more fences, more kung-fu, or more freeze dried bacon.”

The answer to this fear is, find confidence in the Lord.

He is never surprised. He is never unprepared. The future is as sure for Him as the past.

Fear not, because the Lord is never surprised.

Fear Not, Because You Can Say God's Words

And Joshua said to them, “Do not be afraid or dismayed; be strong and courageous. For thus the LORD will do to all your enemies against whom you fight.” (Joshua 10:25)

Words are important. They are not cheap.

God had told Joshua this same command when Joshua was just starting out as Israel’s General. When God told Joshua to be strong and courageous, Joshua did not keep that idea to himself. He spoke to others what God had spoken to him. He spread the news.

More importantly, Joshua spoke his words after God had amazingly defeated the enemy. Joshua was not sitting at home, thinking things. He was not reflecting on God’s promise. He was not guessing what God had meant.

Joshua said those words with his foot actually on the neck of the defeated enemy.

Joshua’s admonition was not merely looking to the future. It was based on God’s triumphs of yesterday and today.

Joshua accomplished two things when he told the Israelites to not fear. First, he spread the ‘do not fear” virus. Rather than worry about the TOUGH enemies still ahead, Joshua spoke good words. He spoke God’s true words.

Second, in repeating God’s encouraging command, Joshua strengthened his own resolve. Repeating good news makes it even better.

We’ve been hearing God’s promises for over two months. God has said, “do not fear,” repeatedly. Be like Joshua, and repeat God’s good words!

For your friends’ sake… and for your own.

Fear not, because you are passing on God’s good news.

Fear Not, Because God Says So... a Lot!

You came near when I called on You; You said, ‘Do not fear!’ (Lamentations 3:57 ESV)

People seem to like over-arching statements. “The best tv show of all time is Gilligan’s Island.” “The best breakfast food is grits.” “The message of the Star Trek universe is: Yay, humans!”

I find such statements are rarely true. But there is something satisfying in absolutes.

Poor Jeremiah. He was a prophet without an audience. If you read the book named after him in the Bible, you will find that whatever words Jeremiah uttered, the people of Jerusalem did the opposite. The leaders were particularly adversarial.

Jeremiah was preaching bad news. He was informing them that even though they were God’s chosen people, Judah and Jerusalem were about to be utterly defeated. A fierce and cruel nation was on the move, as God’s disciplining hand. But no one wanted to hear Jeremiah.

So Jeremiah was the only person afraid in Jerusalem. He was afraid of the Babylonian army. He was afraid of the result of God’s wrath. He was afraid of the leaders’ deafness, AND the leaders’ retaliation for Jeremiah’s words.

Just before Jerusalem fell to the very real Babylonian army, Jeremiah was thrown into an empty cistern, and left to die. And in Jeremiah’s fear, God said, “Fear not.”

While I toyed with fear last night, with word of protests only a few miles up the road… while my heart sped up reading of the violent threat made on social media to the two small towns that surround my home… while I start to worry about the polarization forming all around me… while the purposeful rejection of God and the rebellion against His Word (EVEN in the church!) brings to mind the exact situation that Jeremiah and Jerusalem faced…

My reasons to fear are minimal compared to Jeremiah’s.

And God spoke to Jeremiah in that cistern. God told Jeremiah to stop being afraid.

Sometimes I want to make an over-arching statement about the Message of the Bible. God is always saying, “Don’t be afraid.”

- GOD made everything, so even though creation is an intimidating thing… don’t be afraid.

- Sin ruined everything, but even though we see sin’s devastating effect all around us, there is a Savior… don’t be afraid.

- The story of Abram and his transformation into Abraham shows us the extremes to which God will go to create and protect His people… don’t be afraid.

- Every David narrative reminds us that God kills giants, forms governments, forgives grave errors, gives us music, enjoys our dance, and keeps His promises… don’t be afraid.

- And jumping ahead to Jesus’ life and death and LIFE, God SHOUTS, “do not be afraid!”

God has one thing to tell us, down in OUR cisterns… Don’t be afraid. He says it over and over.

Fear not, because God says so.

Fear Not, Because of God's Looks

Fear them not, nor be dismayed at their looks, for they are a rebellious house.” (Ezekiel 3:9)

Was God doing some trash talk about the Israelites in Exile?  It sounds like God is saying, “Don’t be afraid, even though those people are UGLY!”

But that is not God’s intention.  He uses the same word that we hear twice every Sunday in the Benediction.  We translate it “His face” and “His countenance.” Not physical appearance, but deeper than that.  “Looks” refers to intention.  “Looks” refers to demeanor.  “Looks” refers to purpose.

And the exiles had no intention of listening to God, or His prophet, Ezekiel.  In fact, they might want to keep Ezekiel quiet.  They might threaten him.  They might scowl and frown and glare.  And it is THOSE looks that Ezekiel doesn’t need to fear.

Because GOD’S looks are stronger, effective, and familiar.

Ezekiel heard about God’s looks in every Benediction.  God purposefully contrasts the Benediction with the bad looks of the exiles.   Those bad looks don’t matter, because GOD is looking, too.  And His intentions matter.  His intentions are good.  The things He intends are what end up happening.

We face some scary intentions, too.  Some threatening looks.  Some purposes that are against Christ’s kingdom.  And like Ezekiel, it is easy for us to slip into fear. 

But when we might fear conspiracies, Ezekiel would remind us of God’s looks.

When we might fear plans that are being made against us, Ezekiel would remind us of God’s looks.

When we sense the ugly looks of our society towards Christianity, or some politicians against the church, or some folk planning riots, we can listen to what God told Ezekiel.

Pay attention to God’s looks… His looks are what matters.

Fear not, because of God’s looks.

Fear Not, Because of Comfort

Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me. (Psalm 23:4)

Psalm 23 is kind of mathematical. Or maybe geometric. Or maybe visual. David points out that the opposite of fear is comfort. Both are emotions. Both are choices. Both are reactions.

Evil ----------------------------- Fear

Shepherd -------------------- Comfort

Evil corresponds to fear. The ultimate evil, and effect of evil, was death. Evil demands and if our eyes are small deserves fear. It is quite natural to fear evil.

That is why we often assign evil motivations to the things we fear. Economic troubles MUST be the fault of some evil cabal. A terrible disease MUST be the result of an evil laboratory’s experiments. Something new MUST be the effect of an evil intent.

Comfort corresponds to the Shepherd’s presence. A drooling wolf fleas from the Shepherd’s rod. The whitewater rapids nearby the cool pool aren’t a threat when the Shepherd’s staff pulls us back. The dark unknown of tomorrow’s path doesn’t matter when the Shepherd knows where to walk with us.

The evil is there. It is real. It causes trouble, and pain, and tears, and death.

But the Shepherd is more there.

Fear Not, Because of Comfort

Fear Not... Because of Jesus

And the LORD appeared to him the same night and said, “I am the God of Abraham your father. Fear not, for I am with you and will bless you and multiply your offspring for my servant Abraham’s sake.” (Genesis 25:24 ESV)

I was usually chosen last when determining kickball teams. And basketball. And baseball. And football. And soccer. And marbles. It was not a big deal, but with sports such an important part of those days in school, I sometimes felt like I didn’t matter.

But sometimes we feel like nobody, and it hurts. Or it makes us worry. Or it makes us sad. Or it makes us fear. When others seem more blessed than us, or more successful, or more skilled, or more popular, we wonder what our future holds for us.

Isaac was a nobody. The one thing people remember about Isaac is that he was almost sacrificed. He also went from place to place, losing argument after argument about whose water source he could use. And that was when God told Isaac to stop fearing.

God comforted Isaac in a way that we Americans might not appreciate. But we should. God promised Isaac that God would treat Isaac the same way He treated Abraham! Not because Isaac was secretly cool… but for the sake of Abraham. God’s love for Abraham would be extended to Isaac.

We probably would like God to love Isaac for Isaac’s sake. He was not REALLY a nobody, after all. But God was teaching the world about Jesus. As God loved Isaac for Abraham’s sake, God was setting the stage for how He loves us.

God doesn’t really have a REASON to love us. It is not that we are worthless worms. We have abilities, personalities, and beauty. We can be kind, thoughtful, selfless, and valuable. But our sinful nature, heritage, and selves taint us in our Holy God’s eyes. For good reason. God cannot stand sin.

But since God loved Isaac for Abraham’s sake, He set a precedent. A big one. A good one.

God loves US for Jesus’ sake.

Perhaps that makes you pout. But it makes me have peace. If God’s love for me depended on ME, I know that I would mess up. Not even eventually, but SOON, I would do something to deserve wrath instead of love. That would give me real reason to fear… every day… constantly. God’s wrath is the most fearful thing there is.

But God loves me, protects me, likes me, grows me, nurtures me, helps me, and is my God… for Jesus’ sake.

Fear not… because of Jesus.

Fear Not, Because Jesus is Our Brother

And behold, Jesus met them and said, “Greetings!” And they came up and took hold of his feet and worshiped him. Then Jesus said to them, “Do notbe afraid; go and tell my brothers to go to Galilee, and there they will see me.” (Matthew 28:9, 10)

Rusty Kidder was a pretty tough-looking kid. He was in the ninth grade, I was a senior, and we met with book-flying results in the middle of the hallway. I was angry, embarrassed, and arrogant. A bad combination. So I demanded that he pick up MY books as well as his own. He refused. I blustered. He ignored.

We agreed to meet after school and resolve the dispute with fisticuffs.

But before the day ended, I remembered something important. Rusty had a big brother, Ted. Ted not only LOOKED tough, he WAS tough. He had been kicked out of school for violence. He had earned black belts in a number of martial arts. He nails for breakfast.

And I knew that Ted would end up avenging Rusty. Because that is what family does. No wonder Rusty wasn’t afraid of fighting a senior.

I apologized. And Rusty and I are now, years later, facebook friends.

Jesus calls His disciples brothers. Most commentaries that I checked called this a tender phrase. But I see it as protective. Jesus, the Brother, is a reason to stop being afraid.

Jesus tells the women at the empty tomb to go to the disciples and give them instructions. Stop fearing and go to Galilee. Up to this point they were hiding in Jerusalem. Afraid of the Roman soldiers. Afraid of the Jewish leaders. Afraid of their mocking friends. Afraid of the future.

And because He is family, He urges them to action. Stop hiding. Get to work. And fear not. He’s tougher than Ted.

Christians are all adopted into that family. Jesus is our Brother, too.

If we are huddling in our upper room, afraid, remember our Brother. If we are more aware of the powers of the enemies, remember our Brother. If we don’t know what to do, remember our Brother.

Fear not, because Jesus is your Brother.

Fear Not, Because of Jesus' Hand

When I saw Him, I fell at his feet as though dead. But he laid his right hand on me, saying, “Fear not.” (Revelation 1: 17)

I did not like playing tag. I ran too slowly. When I was chased, I was usually caught. And when I was chasing, it was hard to catch someone else. That moment of TAG was a terrible moment for me. Because now I had power, authority, and responsibility. I was it.

Jesus’ touch was not a random sentimental act. Jesus was passing on to John all the things John needed to get rid of fear. That right hand was the hand of authority, and Jesus was giving to John power, position, and His presence.

John certainly had reason to fear! He saw Jesus as Jesus IS. All of His people will see Him, too… but we will see Him after we are fully sanctified. John was not, yet. And so when he saw Jesus’ glory, holiness, and power he was awestruck.

He had other reasons to be afraid, too. He was in exile. Exile was not vacation. It was permanent prison and it usually ended with some sort of execution. His physical needs were not guaranteed. He was now old, and what medical assistance was historically present would have been distant.

But the answer to John’s fear was the right hand of Jesus. Not in some vague religious emotional way. Jesus didn’t wave at John. He didn’t point. He didn’t wriggle His fingers. He didn’t keep His hand to Himself.

Jesus laid His hand on John to remove fear.

Because touching someone in like that was the symbolic way that authority was passed from person to person. Jesus was telling and showing John that John had the power of Jesus at John’s disposal.

Tag.

This is one of the reasons that Christians are urged to give each other the right hand of fellowship! We are reminding each other that King Jesus’ power is available for us!

With the power of Jesus, John had nothing to fear.

Us, too.

Fear not, because of Jesus’ hand.