Fear Not I

TEXT: Mk.4:36-41, MORE LESSONS: 2Tim.1:7

The dictionary defines fear as an emotion experienced in anticipation of some specific pain or danger. Going by this definition, fear is experiencing what has not happened. It is about being tormented by something that has not happened. The worst torment is that the thing feared has not happened and may never happen, yet you have already tasted the pain.

In the peak of the terrorist attacks on the Christians in northern Nigeria a few years back, several people migrated to the south for fear of being killed. A family chose to go back to their home town in south west Nigeria. Unfortunately as they were driving into the town a crisis broke out and they were mistaken for a fleeing enemy and were all slaughtered by their own people. I am not sure their movement was at God's direction, rather they were moved by fear. The problem was not the relocation but the reason for it.

The disciples of Jesus Christ were tormented by fear in our text. Three things were responsible for this.

1) They saw the great storm. One of the greatest sources of fear is what a man sees. Jesus was sleeping, so He didn't see the storm, thus He was not part of the fear. Even when He woke up and saw the wind, He did not allow what He saw to affect Him, rather He confronted it. Mind what you see on television, the streets, newspapers and magazines. They can be sources of fear.

2) Most of the disciples were fishermen, who must have had different dangerous experiences on the water and now those past experiences must have flashed through their minds as they saw the storm. Learn to put old experiences behind you in order to succeed in life. Experience can be a good teacher but it can also be a bad master. Be courageous, try again what you abandoned, this could be your chance, don't respond to situations with the fear of yesterday.

3) The disciples were afraid because of stories of shipwreck they must have heard. And now the story was becoming real, they cried out of fear. Be strong, don't give in to the old stories you have heard, trust God that your case will be different. Victory over fear can only come if you refuse to give in to all the negative things you have seen, heard, experienced or thought about. Jesus says faith is the opposite of fear and fear will flee when faith is exercised (v40). Feed your mind and spirit with God's Word, positive testimonies, good company and your fear will bow to faith.

PRAYER/ACTION

* Pray against every weapon of fear shot at you by Satan to make you lose strength in battle.

* Prophesy that fear will not rule over your life.

* Release the spirit of love, courage and sound mind upon you.

* Rebuke the spirit of shipwreck over your life. I pray for you, you will not sink in the river of life.

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