Fear Not... Then Fellowship

Though I have much to write to you, I would rather not use paper and ink. Instead, I hope to come to you and talk face to face, so that our joy may be complete. (II John 12 ESV)

Fear Not… Then Fellowship

When God told Adam that, “It is not good that the man should be alone;” (Genesis 2:18 ESV) God was certainly talking about marriage.  But God was not only talking about Adam and the Eve to come.

He was talking about humankind.

Perhaps God could have created us all on our own planet… or at least placed each of us on our own islands.  But we were created to be in community.  Whether we are introverts or extroverts, we need others.  Whether we are people-people or not, we need others.  Whether we like our own space, or prefer crowds, we need others.

In fact, other people are a good next step after fear.

Companionship heals.  Fellowship completes us.  The Church is how God blesses us.

Perhaps this is a part of being created in God’s image.  God is never alone.  God is trinity.  And God, when creating the universe, capped that creation with beings.  And then immediately had relationship with those beings.

Too much time alone breeds sullenness.  Too much time alone leads to self-pity or self-centeredness.  Too much time alone shrinks our world, our knowledge, and our well-being.

And do not forget, Christ’s summary of the law requires us to BE with others.  We can not love if we are alone.

Fear not, then fellowship.

Fear Not... Then Ask

Now the wife of one of the sons of the prophets cried to Elisha, “Your servant my husband is dead, and you know that your servant feared the Lord, but the creditor has come to take my two children to be his slaves.” (II Kings 4:1 ESV)

Fear Not… Then Ask

I thought I deserved a raise.  My work had been exemplary.  I had done well and had been training others to do well.  My wages, though, were underwhelming.  And it was time to ask.

But I was afraid.

My father had taught me that if you have to ASK for a raise you deserve, you are working at the wrong place.

The boss was not known for generosity.

It would be an embarrassing conversation.

But finally, I asked.  And the conversation was surprisingly uneventful.

Something like… “Sure.  No problem, Tom.”

The woman in II Kings had great needs.  And it looks like she had gotten past the fear of her predicament.  God had, perhaps, granted her faith.

And so, she asked for help.

Rather than return to fear, she asked Elisha for help.

Knowing her God… knowing, in a way… the Messiah to come… she asked Elisha for help.

Knowing that whether she received the exact help she sought, God WOULD be her rock, her fortress, her salvation, she asked Elisha for help.

No matter how big or small your crisis…

Fear not, then ask.

Fear Not... Then Be Hospitable

 Beloved, it is a faithful thing you do in all your efforts for these brothers, strangers as they are, who testified to your love before the church. You will do well to send them on their journey in a manner worthy of God.  (III John 5 ESV)

Fear Not… Then Be Hospitable

I am not fond of strangers.  Unknown knockers at my door make me nervous.  Fellow shoppers starting a conversation with me make me suspicious.  I rarely answer telephone calls from unknown numbers.

And it is usually fear that keeps me to myself.

John writes to his friends, though, that hospitality is the correct response to strangers.  John does not write that fear of others is sometimes justified, even though perhaps it is.  John does not write that fear of others allows us to protect ourselves, even though perhaps it does.  John does not write that fear of others is safe, although perhaps it is.

He commends his readers for simply being hospitable. 

This is more than simply a command to do nice things.  It is based in the gospel.  We were strangers to God.  Worse than strangers, we were His enemies.  Worse than enemies we were betraying rebels, and often continue to be in our thoughts, words, and deeds.

Yet God, the hospitable One takes us into His home. (II Corinthians 5:1)

Yet Jesus, the hospitable One, prepares a home for us. (John 14:1,2)

Yet the Spirit, the hospitable one, makes US His home. (I Corinthians 3:16)

Remembering God’s hospitality, copy Him.
Fear not, then be hospitable.

Fear Not... Then Grow

Beloved, we are God’s children now, and what we will be has not yet appeared; but we know that when He appears we shall be like Him, because we shall see Him as He is. (I John 3:2 ESV)

Fear Not… Then Grow

Once, as a child, I left a coffee can full of crayons in the back window of our car.  The state of those crayons declined.

Recently I found a hatchet in the grass by my woodpile.  The state of that hatchet had clearly declined.

Our mechanic warned us a few years ago that the suspension of our car might need some work.  Yesterday, we found out that the state of the struts had dangerously declined.

Things generally decline. 

Other than a Christian’s relationship with God.  That does not decline.  We are God’s children, now.  But we will grow so much that we will see God.

You know… that thing that sinful man cannot do and live? (Exodus 33:20)

We will see Him… because we will have grown that much.

That growth in Christ is not a smooth, upward sloping path.  The path goes up and down.  The path goes down and up. 

But it is heading up.

We will grow.

We will see Him as He is!  We will be with Him! 

Maybe today did not feel like it.  Maybe tomorrow will not seem like it.  Maybe this week will be more down than up.

But we will see Him!

Fear not, then grow.

Fear Not... Then Find Hope in Others' Faith

Knowing that your faith is alive keeps us alive. (I Thessalonians 3:8 The Message)

Fear not… Then Find Hope in Others’ Faith

Faith is a gift from God… a supernatural oomph of acceptance that can enable us to believe.  We do not always have that particular gift from God though.  Thankfully, we can see the gift given to others and find hope in THEIR faith.

Mothers refer to this when telling their doubting children, “I believe enough for both of us.”

Baseball players at bat experience this in the bottom of the ninth with a full count, and the best pitcher in the league about to throw a fantastic pitch… and the batter knows that his fans are trusting he CAN hit that spiraling ball.

Farmers think this way when they go out into the dry fields, and know that the entire county, from oldster to child, is hoping that the God of storms and calm can fix this drought.

The faith of others can inspire us.

It certainly did inspire Paul.

Fear not, then find hope in the faith of others.

Fear Not... Then Expect Manna

And he humbled you and let you hunger and fed you with manna.  (Deuteronomy 8:3 ESV)

Fear Not… Then Expect Manna

Mr. Haan rejected my pleas to be given the leading role in our school play, “The Prodigious Snob.”  He did not give me clear reasons why I was relegated to the minor set of multiple roles that year: The Dancing Master, a lackey, and a wild Arabian nomad.

But throughout that year… whether out of self-pity, awareness of my shortcomings, or hope… I practiced acting.  I took small parts in other plays.  I took big parts in short plays.  And the next year, when the casting was announced for Pygmalion, I was given the part of Henry Higgins.

Looking back, I could not have received or performed that part if I had not first experienced disappointment.

The wandering Israelites were humbled and hungry.  And in THAT context, God gave them manna.

It would not have tasted so good if they had not first been humbled and hungry.  It would not have been received with such joy if they had not first been humbled and hungry. It would not have been memorable as a blessing if they had not first been humbled and hungry.

God’s blessings are usually preceded by troubles, messes, and fears.  So when we are in the midst of those troubles, messes, and fears… look ahead and know what’s coming!

Fear not, then expect manna.

Fear Not... Then Be the Message

We don’t even have to say anything anymore—you’re the message! (I Thessalonians 1:8 The Message)

Fear Not… Then BE the message

Francis of Assisi supposedly said, "It is no use walking anywhere to preach unless our walking is our preaching."  Maybe it was in a sermon on I Thessalonians 1:8…

Words are necessary.  Words are important.  But our actions often do speak more loudly than words. 

When we say that we trust in God, but act fearful of God’s enemies, our word can be doubted.

When we say that we trust in God, but express worry about circumstances, events, or news, our word can be doubted.

When we say that we trust in God, but seem to trust more in money, infrastructure, or our own skills, our word can be doubted.

Professing faith instead of fear is grand.  Acting like we have faith more than we have fear is using our amplifier turned up to ‘eleven.’

Fear not, then BE the message.

Fear Not... Then Return

For behold, days are coming, declares the Lord, when I will restore the fortunes of my people, Israel and Judah, says the Lord, and I will bring them back to the land that I gave to their fathers, and they shall take possession of it.” (Jeremiah 30:3 ESV)

Fear Not… Then Return

We have birds in our yard.  Some larger birds, and some tiny birds.  When the large birds shriek and attack the little birds those little birds panic.  They fly in circles, they drop their food-bits, they lose everything and are lost.

But the larger birds are mostly annoying.  They leave.  And then… the small birds return to what they were doing.  If I knew exactly which nearby nest was theirs, I could test this theory.

But I think, after the fear, they go home.

They regain everything they thought they had lost.

Certainly, God’s people in exile felt they had lost everything.  Big scary foreigners had attacked, squawked, slashed, and taken.  But God tells them that they will go back home.  They will regain what they had lost.

That promises echoes and bounces down to us, too.  God’s enemies (the flesh, the world, and Satan) shriek and swoop.  And in the resulting turmoil it feels like we have lost things.  And sometimes, we actually have.

But you are headed home.

Those things that might not be physically replaced will be returned improved.  Or rather, WE will be returned to our home, and our homely things, and our homely Father.

Look away from the flying scary things, and look ahead to home.

Fear not, then return.

Fear Not... Then Praise

You shall not fear them, for it is the Lord your God who fights for you.’  “And I pleaded with the Lord at that time, saying, ‘O Lord God, you have only begun to show your servant your greatness and your mighty hand. For what god is there in heaven or on earth who can do such works and mighty acts as yours?’ (Deuteronomy 3:22-24 ESV)

Fear Not… Then Praise

Once while traveling, we entered a tornado warning zone.  We could see the scary clouds, and the wind was picking up, and the radio blared, “FIND SHELTER.”  We pulled off the road at a rest area, and joined an eclectic mix of elderly, young, and everything in between.

I recall a mom comforting her frightened youngster with words of hope and peace.  But the daughter did not respond well.  Instead, she criticized her mom’s statements.  I do not remember the exact words, but the girl said things like:

“You are not a weather lady… you are just saying nice things!”

“You also said the bee-sting wouldn’t hurt!”

“But the clouds are BIG… and DARK!”

In a way, the mom said, “fear not.”  And the girl responded with more fear.

God tells Moses not to be afraid, and Moses responds with praise.

In fact, Moses pleads with God to show Moses MORE amazing things… MORE fear-trouncing things… MORE displays of power, and wonder, and might.

We might be in the same situation.  God has told us, “fear not.”  And now we can choose to complain or to praise.  We can choose to worry or to praise.  We can choose to argue or to praise.  We can choose to be cynical or to praise.  We can choose to ignore, or to praise.

Moses is a good example to follow.

He more accurately understands the truth.

Fear not, then praise.

Fear Not... Then Jesus

But if anyone does sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous.[1] (I John 2:1 ESV)

Fear Not, Then Jesus

I used to be afraid of my allergies.  I had been taught that certain bugs, particular plants, and some animals were dangerous for me.  When I saw a bee, a dandelion, or a cat, I was afraid.

But I did not need to be.  Because I had medicine coursing through my veins and tissues.  Perhaps I needed to avoid those things, perhaps I needed to defend against those things, perhaps I needed to be protected against those things… but I didn’t need to be afraid.  The allergens had already lost.

Sin is scary.  But because of Jesus, we do not need to fear our sin ever again.  We should hate our sin, but not fear it.  We should combat our sin, but not fear it.  We should avoid our sin, but not fear it.  We should admit our sin, but not fear it.  We should confess our sin, but not fear it.  We should know our sin, but not fear it.  We should reject our sin, but not fear it.  We should notice our sin, but not fear it.  We should die to our sin, but not fear it.

Because Jesus’ blood courses through our lives.

Fear not, then Jesus.

[1] The Holy Bible: English Standard Version. (2016). (1 Jn 2:1). Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles.

Fear Not... Then Be Remembered

To those who are elect exiles of the Dispersion in Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia,  according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, (I Peter 1:1,2 ESV)

Fear Not… Then Be Remembered

I once visited a church that I had attended long before.  I walked into the building a bit early, expecting to stand by myself.  The previous few days had been chaotic… some things had not gone particularly well… and I was willing to wallow in my self-pity… on my own.  The troubles had been pushed away, even overcome.  But in the aftermath, I was willing to feel alone.

But God had a different message for me.  Almost everyone who came in the door remembered me.  Even faces that I did not recall smiled and welcomed me.  I might have felt like an exile: alone with my memories.  But in that church body I was remembered.

Loneliness sometimes follows times of trouble, even when the problems are resolved.  But Peter wrote his book to folk in exile.  Peter wrote encouragement to those who had overcome danger and now were perhaps too willing to be alone.  Peter reminded them that the God who helped, fixed, and conquered had not left them alone.

Knowing what He was doing, He sent them to new homes… and followed up with a letter.  Written by Peter’s hand, yes.  But written by their heavenly father to them, personally.

He told them that He remembered them.  Even in exile, they were the apple of His eye.

It is true for God’s people today, too.  He has not forgotten you, either.  Whether you are still in the midst of fearful things, or are in the often difficult aftermath… you are not alone.  God remembers you.

Fear Not… Then be remembered

Fear Not... Then Remember

Only take care, and keep your soul diligently, lest you forget the things that your eyes have seen, and lest they depart from your heart all the days of your life. (Deuteronomy 4:9 ESV)

Fear Not… Then Remember

I am often afraid of heights.

Last week, I climbed up a ladder to re-attach some siding to the eaves of our roof.  The first time up the ladder, I was terrified.  When I got to the top, I dropped the siding.  So, I climbed back down.  When I got to the top, I dropped my hammer.  So, I climbed back down.  When I got to the top, I could not quite reach the place I needed to hammer.  So, I climbed back down.  When I got to the top, I attached a section of the siding, but could not reach the other edge.  So, I climbed back down.

You get the idea.

But something happened to my fear.  Each time I made it to the top without disaster, I relaxed a little.  Each time my feet were firm all the way up and down the rungs, I was less nervous.  Each time I successfully climbed and descended, I learned.

I was still a bit afraid, mind you.  It was a long way down!

But I remembered that disaster was averted… repeatedly.

And I had reason to be less afraid.

God tells the Israelites to remember His help.  He tells them to remember diligently the help that they had seen and experienced.  And He promises that remembering will help next time.

When God brings you safely past your fears… do not forget.

Remember His help.  Remember His safety.  Remember His love. 

And next time, the reasons for fear might not seem so reasonable.

Fear not, then remember.

Fear Not... Then Go Home

When he had landed at Caesarea, he went up and greeted the church, and then went down to Antioch. (Acts 18:22 ESV)

Fear Not… Then Go Home

Home is where we go after we are done being scared.  My dog knows this, so he runs to his bed after the thunder thunders.  Soldiers know this, so they return to camp after the battle.  Storm-chasers know this, so they return home when the storm season is done.  Patients know this, so they go home after urgent care is finished.

And Paul knew this.  His missions trip was terrifying, but God had walked with him and taught Paul peace.  Paul had faced stoning, endured beating, argued tough arguments, and often been apparently alone.  But the Christ empowered, enabled, and encouraged Paul, and he did not fear.

And afterwards… before Paul resumed his work, he went to the starting place of the trip.  He went home to Antioch.

There is more work to do.  There is more struggle ahead.  There is more fear to face.

But first, God usually gives us a home to go to… for a time.

Maybe home is not your own address right now.  Maybe home is a worship service.  Maybe home is a telephone call.  Maybe home is an old letter.  Maybe home is a face to smile at.  Maybe home is a good book.  Maybe home is a time of prayer. 

Fear not, then go home.

Fear Not... Then Get Help

So he departed from there and found Elisha the son of Shaphat, who was plowing with twelve yoke of oxen in front of him, and he was with the twelfth. Elijah passed by him and cast his cloak upon him.   And he left the oxen and ran after Elijah.  (I Kings 19:19-20)

Fear Not… Then Get Help

John Harrison, the man who invented a particular kind of clock that solved western civilization’s navigation problems in the 18th century, finally asked for help.  But only after he had been granted Parliament’s financial reward.  Parliament, trusting that Harrison was about to be successful, treated him as if he had already completed his work. 

When the fear was gone, he was able to ask for help.  After he no longer felt the pressure and resulting fear caused by his repeated failure, he was able to ask for help.  Whether it was his pride, or his insecurity, or his caution, he finally was emotionally able to ask for help.

He received it… the clock was finished… and the world was changed.

Somehow, the urgent need for his invention stopped him from being willing to ask for help.  But after he no longer felt the urgency, he sought assistance. 

Elijah sought help after his fear was gone, too.  He recruited an assistant.  He recruited an heir.  He recruited someone to take his mantel, literally. (II Kings 2:13)

A Christian’s help is always the Lord.  Salvific help, and all help, is the benchmark of life in Christ. But God gives us human helpers, too.  He gives us an Elisha.  Or a Jonathan.  Or a Joseph.  Or a Silas.  Or a John Mark.  Or me.  Or you.

Fear Not... Then Say Hard Things

When Ahab saw Elijah, Ahab said to him, “Is it you, you troubler of Israel?” And he answered, “I have not troubled Israel, but you have, and your father’s house, because you have abandoned the commandments of the Lord and followed the Baals. (I Kings 18:17,18 ESV)

Fear Not, Then Say Hard Things

Sometimes God gets us past our fear so that we can speak difficult truths.  This was the case for Elijah.  He had been afraid.  He had been pursued.  He had been in danger.  He had been alone.

But God showed Elijah the answer to fear:  it is the presence of God, Himself. (I Kings 17:6, 13, 16, 23) Elijah knew what Paul later wrote, that if God is with us, who is strong enough to be against us? (Romans 8:28)

And afterwards, Elijah was able to speak the truth.  Elijah was able to answer confident, kingly, powerful Ahab’s accusations with God’s truth.  Elijah was able to disregard popularity, worldly acceptance, and public opinion. 

He told Ahab what Ahab did not want to hear.

He told Ahab the hard truth.

After fear, we can speak the truth, too.  Not our own truth, certainly.  Not our human opinion, certainly.  Not our favorite soap-box presentation, certainly.

But God’s truth.  Sin is sin.  And God’s mediator, Jesus Christ is necessary.

Most folk do not want to hear it.

But we get to speak it, after fear is gone!

Fear not, then say hard things.

Fear Not... Then Don't Keep It a Secret

And when they arrived and gathered the church together, they declared all that God had done with them, and how he had opened a door of faith to the Gentiles. And they remained no little time with the disciples. (Acts 14:29-28 ESV)

Fear Not… Then Don’t Keep It Secret

Paul and Barnabas had experienced God at work.  Most recently, they had been misunderstood, misrepresented, and mistreated.  And those troubles had ‘opened a door of faith to the Gentiles.’ 

And next, they spread the good news by spreading the good news about what had happened. 

Paul and Barnabas understood that everything that happened to them happened for one reason: to spread the good news about Jesus.  And that included talking about what had happened afterwards.

They did not keep it to themselves.  Because it was not their secret.  It was God’s trumpet blast of the gospel.

Paul and Barnabas took the next step beyond their fears, and God’s overcoming of those fears.  They spoke of it.  They spent a lot of time speaking about it.

Let us copy them.  How often do we talk about God’s victory over our fears?

Or do we feel kind of embarrassed that we had been afraid in the first place? 

Or do we, after it is all done, downplay God’s grand work?

Or do we think it is no one else’s business?

Or do we not want to draw attention to ourselves, forgetting that it would be drawing attention to the gospel?

The wonderful acts of God do not end in what happens to us.  It continues as we spread the news.

Fear not, then don’t keep it secret.

Fear Not... Then Abstain

Beloved, I urge you as sojourners and exiles to abstain from the passions of the flesh, which wage war against your soul. (I Peter 2:11 ESV)

Fear Not… Then Abstain

I like the Cruise Control setting on my car. 

When I am focused and paying attention to my surroundings, I do not generally speed.  But when I am relaxed, at peace, and enjoying the drive, my natural inclination to drive FAST engages.  I should just be mature enough to not speed.  But the passions of the flesh wage war against my wellbeing.  So, I turn on the Cruise Control.

When we are no longer quite so afraid, we can become less vigilant.  And our personal wants, yearnings, and felt needs slip into the driver’s seat.  Instead of carefully observing what God wants, yearns for, and has declared He needs us to do, we become cozy.

Peter says to stay focused on the Christ instead of on other things.

Not out of fear.  But out of habit, focus, attention, and knowledge.

Fear not, then abstain.

Fear Not... Then Be Restored

And after you have suffered a little while, the God of all grace, who has called you to his eternal glory in Christ, will himself restore, confirm, strengthen, and establish you. (I Peter 5:10 ESV)

Fear Not… Then Be Restored

We used to tell our exhausted football players during practice, “No pain, no gain!”  They did not like that phrase, however encouragingly the coaches intended it…

Peter probably would have worded it a little differently.  He would not be telling the boys that pain causes gain.  But he would be telling them that pain precedes gain.

Notice that list of things Christ does for us after we suffer.

He restores us.  Not only to our pre-suffering health, but to the pre-Adam presence of God!

He confirms us.  Not only to give us confidence, but confirming us to our true identity as the children of God!

He strengthens us.  Not only so that we can achieve our goals, but so that we can do what HE loves His children to do.

He establishes us.  Not only so that we have a home, but so that we have HIS home.

And the next verse is good news.  If God was restoring, confirming, strengthening, and establishing us because we were somehow brilliant in His eyes, I would be insecure.  I would be afraid all over again.  What if I become less brilliant tomorrow?  If His actions are my reward… I know that I didn’t and won’t deserve them.

But Peter puts it in context: To him be the dominion forever and ever. Amen. (I Peter 5:11 ESV)

It is all about HIM.

Fear not, then be restored.

Fear Not... Then Build

Go up to the hills and bring wood and build the house, that I may take pleasure in it and that I may be glorified, says the Lord. (Haggai 1:8 ESV)

Fear not… then build

I once stood outside of a railroad car filled with large burlap bags of carrots.  Our job was to unload that railroad car in summer heat and humidity onto pickup trucks, lined up and waiting.  I saw no way for us to finish that job.  I wondered what I had gotten myself into.  Sure, the paycheck was nice.  But this was beyond work.  I could not imagine that railroad car empty.

The first bags were the hardest.  But rather than look in my imagination to the last bag, I looked at the first bag.  I bent down.  I lifted it onto my shoulder.  I turned around.  I took four steps and dropped the bag into the bed of the pickup.  Then I turned around and repeated.

I learned that when facing a huge task, we have to start, begin, and take the first step.

The returning exiles faced their own railroad car of carrots.  While a thing of great joy, returning home from exile was difficult, dangerous, and scary.  The people of God were opposed by the new natives, by nay-sayers, and by nature’s harshness.  Of course, they were glad to return to Jerusalem, God’s city.  But the task of rebuilding, reforming, and recuperating was daunting.

When we face daunting tasks, sometimes we freeze up.  When we face daunting tasks, sometimes we complain.  When we fact daunting tasks, sometimes we give up. When we face daunting tasks, sometimes we stop trying.

But Haggai instructs us, alongside the Israelites, to build God’s house.  Starting with the beginning steps.  For them, it was finding wood.  What are your first steps to overcoming your problems?

As simplistic as it sounds… our first steps (our first bag of carrots, our first piece of lumber) include prayer, God’s Word, and worshiping God.

Focus on them, and the railroad car empties.

Fear not, then build.

Fear Not... Then Do Your Job

‘So get to work, Zerubbabel!’—God is speaking.

‘Get to work, Joshua son of Jehozadak—high priest!’

‘Get to work, all you people!’—God is speaking.

Yes, get to work! For I am with you.  (Haggai 2:4 The Message)

Fear Not… Then Do Your Job

Haggai’s alarm clock only makes sense in the light of Micah 6:8:

“He has told you, O man, what is good;

and what does the Lord require of you

       but to do justice, and to love mercy,

and to walk humbly with your God?” (ESV)

God has delegated authority to the state, the church, and the family.  And He critiques society in these three areas, finding all three delegated authorities faulty.  The state does not act justly, but tends to act selfishly.  The church does not love mercy, but tends to either overlove or underlove God’s law.  And the family, intended to teach humility, instead teaches pride, entitlement, and self-protection.

So God tells the state to do just things… the church to understand and love mercy… and the family to be humble, knowing our place in God’s economy.

Haggai continues this theme, but with an added urgency.  He writes that those who are God’s stewards (all of us, in some capacity) have fallen asleep at the wheel.  “Wake up!” He says.

And do our work.

Zerubbabel, as king, represents the state.  Wake up, and remember your job!

The High Priest Joshua represents the church.  Wake up, and remember your job!

And “you people” represents the families in the family of God.  Wake up, and remember your job!

No matter when God’s people read Haggai’s message, we need to wake up.  No matter how difficult our situation, we have a job.  No matter how hopeless we feel, we have a job.  No matter how lethargy dampens our joy, we have a job.  No matter how oppressed by God’s enemies, we have a job.

He even tells us how:  He is with us.

Fear not, then do your job.