Fearless
June 15, 2015//
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A furious squall came up, and the waves broke over the boat, so that it was nearly swamped. Jesus was in the stern, sleeping on a cushion. The disciples woke Him and said to Him, “Teacher, don’t you care if we drown?”
He got up, rebuked the wind and said to the waves, “Quiet! Be still!”
Then the wind died down and it was completely calm.
He said to His disciples, “Why are you so afraid? Do you still have no faith?”
They were terrified and asked each other, “Who is this? Even the wind and the waves obey him!”
Fear not. The Bible says it many times.
Even Jesus says it. In a recent sermon, Andy Stanley points out that fear is sometimes justified. We have all faced real and scary situations. Should we not be afraid?
The disciples were often afraid.
During the furious squall with waves sinking the boat, the disciples feared for their lives and were angry that Jesus slept. Another time on the Sea of Galilee, the disciples were terrified when Jesus approached their boat walking on water.
After the crucifixion the disciples cowered in hiding together, afraid of a similar fate. A resurrected Jesus appeared to them:
On the evening of that first day of the week, when the disciples were together, with the doors locked for fear of the Jewish leaders,
Jesus came and stood among them and said…“Peace be with you! As the Father has sent me, I am sending you.”And with that He breathed on them and said, “Receive the Holy Spirit.” John 20:19,21-22
Jesus came and stood among them and said…“Peace be with you! As the Father has sent me, I am sending you.”And with that He breathed on them and said, “Receive the Holy Spirit.” John 20:19,21-22
How did the disciples become fearless when their lives were in danger?
Through the power of the Holy Spirit.
Something happened. The disciples changed from ‘slow’, scared fishermen to bold, fearless advocates of the Gospel. They proclaimed Jesus name in front of the Jewish court and preached even after being beaten for doing so. They tapped into all that the Holy Spirit provides: peace, joy, understanding…and power.
His Spirit is with you as well.
While Jesus might not change your scary circumstances, He will walk with you, giving you strength and power, even through pain or death.
Tell me of a time when you used the Holy Spirit to overcome fear.
Holley Gerth writes about holding on to hope during the storm.
Sometimes it’s not physical danger we fear, but uncertainty, instability, lack of control. Jesus, Paul and Peter all speak to this kind of anxiety.
#seedsofscripture
#Gospel #truth #overcome
#Gospel #truth #overcome
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I use the Spirit everyday to overcome fear. Fear of failure, fear of missing the mark. The Spirit reassures me that "God loves me just the way that I am but refuses to leave me this way..He wants to make me just like Jesus" (Max Lacado quote) Great post my friend.
Oh yes! We can combat self-doubt because the Spirit reminds us of Jesus’ words. You are my beloved child.
I USED THE HOLY SPIRIT WHEN MY HUSBAND WAS KILLED BY A DRUNKEN DRIVER, IN 1982. I ALSO USED THE HOLY SPIRIT WHEN MY SON DIED OF OVERDOSE IN 2000. WITHOUT THE HOLY SPIRIT TO DEPEND ON, I JUST WOULD NOT HAVE MADE IT THROUGH! ALLELUIA! THANK YOU, LORD!!! OPEN UP, AND LET GOD………….FATHER, SON AND HOLY SPIRIT GUIDE YOU THROUGH!!!
WITH GOD, YOU CAN CONQUER SOOOOOOOO MUCH!!!!!
I HAVE SUFFERED MUCH, CATHY, WITH SO MANY THINGS, AND I'VE ONLY GOTTEN HERE, WHEREI AM TODAY, BECAUSE GOD IS WITH ME ALWAYS.
I CAN TALK WITH YOU, SOMETIME, TO DISCUSS THE THINGS THAT HAVE COME TO ME, (AND ONLY GOD KNOWS THE WHYS AND WHEREFORES), BUT I TRUST IN HIS WAYS,
AND NEVER QUESTION IT, AS I'M LEARNING, (AND HAVE LEARNED), A MULTITUDE OF THINGS FROM HIM!! ALLELUIA! THANK YOU, LORD!
Thank you for sharing your heart.