There is little in our lives that will keep us from living “on mission” more than fear. There is little that will distract us from the mission God gave us more than fear. Fear will:
…stop us in our tracks or even make us consider running away
…cause us to faint or to stir up anxiety
…contribute to a panic attack
…make us angry or embarrassed
…move us to blame others
We must face fear with who God is and what God has said to stay on mission in hard times!
Acts 18:9.
Consider the atmosphere of opposition the Jews created at this time. I Thess. 2:14-15; 3:7 gives some additional context to the situation. The opposing Jews were a formidable force! As we were reminded last time we worshipped together, Paul had faced opposition to varying degrees in most of the cities he preached in during the first missionary journey – and the second missionary journey has not been any different! However, it is in Acts 18:9 that the Lord knows Paul needed encouragement. Paul was afraid! The Lord’s response? “Do not be afraid!” Notice how the Lord has Paul address his fear:
Obey God’s voice.
God instructs Paul in Acts 18:9 to stop being fearful and do not stop speaking the true message.
Remember God’s Presence.
After instruction is given, the LORD reminds Paul of His presence and assures Paul he will not be hurt. Isaiah 41:10.
Paul has suffered immense persecution, but he has continued moving forward since his salvation that is recorded in Acts 9. Here in Acts 18, it appears Paul is slowing down and showing a little bit of an inner struggle of fear. Who can blame him?! I am sure he did not want to receive another beating and be thrown into jail again – nor would he wish that treatment upon any of his current mission team. Who here can identify with struggling with fear when life is hard?! Probably all of us!
I remember when our children were young, some of them were afraid of the dark. When I say afraid of the dark, I mean AFRAID of the dark. One of the Bible verses we would repeat often was Psalm 56:3 (“What time I am afraid; I will trust in thee”). However, there were times during our young family phase of married life that we would hear a child crying or a call for “mommy” in the middle of the night. If one of us did not appear immediately in their bedroom, the cry for help became more pronounced and with greater panic with each bellowed cry. Sometimes my wife could be heard saying, “I’m here…I’m here.!” The calming of fear was realized in the presence of their mother. The calming of Paul’s fear…of our fears…is realized in the presence of almighty God. How so? Well, God is able to squelch any foe, solve any problem, and meet every need…and – God. Loves. You!
“Courage is fear holding on a minute longer.”
—World War II tank commander General George Patton
“Worry does not empty tomorrow of its sorrow. It empties today of its strength.”
— Corrie Ten Boom
“How very little can be done under the spirit of fear.”
— Florence Nightingale
II Timothy 1:7 declares, “For God hath not given us a spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.”
Fear will stop the strongest person in their tracks if their focus is sharpened on the wrong position.
To battle fear, we must sharpen our focus on the truth of God’s word and God Himself. Consider these 5 truths about God and sharpening your focus on God to battle fear:
o God’s mercy. When we fear the outcomes of our worst choices, we know that God’s mercy is “plenteous,” and “everlasting” and He is ready to forgive us. Ps. 86:5; 103:17.
o Trust God. When we fear, we have a hard time trusting others. Trust God more than you trust yourself or your friends and family! The all-knowing God will direct the path of those who trust Him. Prov. 3:5-7.
o God’s Love. When we fear, we feel unloved. There is no fear in love. Nurture the comfort of God’s love, after all, He loved you before you ever loved Him! God chose you before the foundations of the world. God even died for you when He saw you at your worst. Rom. 5:8; Eph. 1:4; I Jn. 4:10, 18.
o God’s power. The thing I fear the most is not impossible for God. Lk. 1:37
o God is holy. There is no limitation of imperfection found in God. This means God’s mercy is perfect. This mean God’s love is perfect. This means God’s power is perfect!
God’s People are with you.
The final thing God calls Paul’s attention to in battling fear is that there are many believers around Him. He is not alone! God is present and God’s people are present! Hebrews 13:5-6 gives us some great help on the subject of fearing man. It says,
“Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.
So that we may boldly say, The LORD is my helper, and I will not fear what man shall do unto me.”
Fear of man is gone when the presence of God is sharply focused in our meditations.
Just like a mother telling a frightened child, “I’m here” and the fear is removed as long as the mother remains. So it is with God’s presence and our own fears of man.
Paul put this Divine counsel to the test! He stayed for 1 year and 6 months in this environment that initially stirred fear within him. He didn’t allow his imagination to get the better of him and cause all out panic. Instead, he trusted the Lord and preached in Corinth much longer than he did in Athens or Thessalonica.
Sometimes we are simply unwilling to take God at His word. The Bible includes 365 admonishments to not be afraid. In the face of fear, we can be found guilty of swiftly dismissing the Bible as “not enough” and try to figure it out on our own. Then we discover that our own path away from God leads to more fear. So, obey God’s voice, remember God’s ever-present presence, and rejoice in the support of God’s people.
For the twentieth anniversary of Larry King Live, Barbara Walters interviewed the man who became famous interviewing others. She asked him direct and revealing questions. Two of the most telling responses came when she probed about fear and faith. Walters asked King, “What is your greatest fear?”
He immediately replied, “Death.” This interview occurred in 2005 when he was at the very top of his career and had much to lose, but none of that mattered compared to the fear of death.
Her follow-up question was, “Do you believe in God?”
King stated, “Not sure. I’m an agnostic.” Can you hear the hopelessness that fear brings to the forefront? Regardless of our success or status, if we’re uncertain about God we will most assuredly be fearful of death. Jesus’ resurrection reminds us that the fear of death dissolves when we walk with the One who walked out of the tomb. Source: Men of Integrity, March/April 2009