Author: ChristianHolinessDaily

Fear Not 365 – You are Worth Much More…

February 7, 2017 by ChristianHolinessDaily Leave a Comment

Take a look at the context of this verse, Matthew 10:31. Three times within a few breaths, Christ tells believers that we should not fear. The last two times, he sandwiches those comforting words with warnings of death and hell. In the end, he exhorts us to openly confess Jesus as Lord.

Several times I have heard people quote Bible promises with no concept of the recipient of the promise. Christ, in this section, is speaking to those who will remain true to their faith in the face of opposition, persecution, torture and death. He’s not speaking to those who will fall away when the going gets tough.

Like the sparrow, true Christians will face a stormy day. We sometimes fly against the wind. Often we are tossed by updrafts of the storm. Like the sparrow, we are often pursued by predators. In the end, we will fall to the ground like sparrows.

The point Christ makes here is that, to man, the sparrow is practically worthless. One could buy two sparrows to offer as sacrifice at the Temple for a farthing. That would equate to about four birds for a penny. No matter how little value man sees in the sparrow, they are of great value to God. He knows when one dies.

But, sparrows are not made in the image of God. We are. Sparrows are not made with body, soul, and spirit. We are. They have no free will to follow God or reject Him. We do. Sparrows will not be resurrected. We will.

Sparrows cannot become the children of God. As much as God cares for the sparrows, He ultimately loves us much, much more. We are His children…

… If we confess Christ before men. If we fear Him. If we love Him.

Those who confess Christ publicly, before men, Fear Not, for you are worth so much more than a bunch of sparrows.

———

I sing because I’m happy

I sing because I’m free

His eye is on the sparrow

And I know he watches

…He watches me

– His Eye Is On The Sparrow

Written by C. D. Martin and Charles Gabriel.

Fear Not 365 – Them Who Kill the Body

February 6, 2017 by ChristianHolinessDaily Leave a Comment

The fear of God is, for some, difficult to understand. Throughout the entire Bible, believers are told to have no fear. At the same time we are told to fear God.

We live in a time of fear. Wars, terrorism, political upheaval, persecution, and the threat of pandemics; who wouldn’t fear?

This passage, in Matthew 10, puts things into perspective. The world is evil, and, yes, there are those who might be able to destroy the flesh, and take your life. They don’t, however, have the ability to destroy your soul (or spirit).

Only God has the power to destroy both body and soul, and that He reserved for those who chose hell over an eternity in heaven.

Those who avoid hell are those whose fear of God compel them to surrender to Him.

The fear of God that leads to salvation does not remain fear. In the verses that follow Christ’s warning to fear God, He describes the love and protection afforded those who fear God.

“Are not two sparrows sold for a farthing? and one of them shall not fall on the ground without your Father. But the very hairs of your head are all numbered.” Matthew 10:29-30 NIV

Fear of God grows into love of God, and then grows into obedience to God. Because of God’s divine hand of protection of our soul, we no longer fear those who can kill only the soul.

Why does God protect the souls of those who fear Him? Because He loves us.

Why do we grow to love and obey God? Because He first loved us.

Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death

Your perfect love is casting out fear

And even when I’m caught in the middle of the storms of this life

I won’t turn back

I know you are near

And I will fear no evil

For my God is with me

And if my God is with me

Whom then shall I fear?

Oh no, You never let go

Through the calm and through the storm

Oh no, You never let go

In every high and every low

Oh no, You never let go

Lord, You never let go of me

– Matt Redman

Fear Not 365 – Peace Be Still

February 5, 2017 by ChristianHolinessDaily Leave a Comment

There is a certain peace that comes from a close walk with our Lord. The Apostle Paul describes it in Philippians 4:7 as, “the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding… (NKJV).” The NIV uses the word “transcends” instead of “surpasses.” Either way, that peace is nearly inexplicable, and certainly indescribable.

Yet, there are times when Christians will face storms in life. Even those who surrender fully to God and follow in the footsteps of Jesus and pray continuously will face storms. Every Christian will at times face persecution, illness, death of loved ones, financial worries, temptation, and trials. How do I know this? Because Christ faced temptation, trials, and persecution. He lost loved ones to death (Lazarus). He faced death, and death He conquered.

In Mark 4, after a long day of teaching, Jesus falls asleep in a nearby boat, probably one belonging to his disciples. The disciples, also exhausted, decide to launch the boats and escape the massive crowds. They retreat towards the other side of the Sea of Galilee.

Somewhere on their journey, the weather takes a turn, and the waves nearly sink the boats. Jesus sleeps through it… or, more accurately, He sleeps until the disciples shake Him awake.

“Master, does it mean nothing to you that we are drowning?”

To say that the disciples were scared that day is an understatement. These are men who grew up in a fishing culture, who cross the Sea as easily as we cross the street. At least four are professional fishermen who, undoubtedly, have faced many storms on the Sea of Galilee. This storm, however, frightens them, chills them. The winds are as great as one can imagine, and the waves burst onto the deck. They are certain they are going to die.

Why was it necessary that the disciples face this storm? I mean, to look at them, they had done everything right. They had given up everything to follow Jesus. They had left their jobs, their families, and their possessions behind to study at the feet of the Master. Yet, if one believes that Jesus is fully God, and that God can bring even storms into submission (and I do believe that), then why would He find it necessary that the disciples, whose sole desire is to follow in His footsteps, face a life-threatening storm? And, why would Jesus sleep through it.

Jesus knew the trials that the disciples would someday face. He knew that the Big Fisherman, Peter, and his brother Andrew were to be vilified by the Roman government. Jesus knew that Peter would be crucified upside down and Andrew staked to an X-shaped cross, because they felt unworthy to die in the same manner as Jesus died.

Jesus knew there, in that boat, that Philip, too, would be crucified, as would Simon the Zealot and Thaddeus. Jesus knew that James would be beheaded. Thomas would be ran through with a spear. Matthew would be stabbed in the back with a sword. James the Lesser, would be stoned at the age of 94. John, Jesus knew, would die a natural death after spending years in prison.

That day in the boat, Jesus knew that the disciples lacked the necessary faith to face such persecution and death. He also knew that without such persecution, the Church would not grow. Persecution scattered the Church from Jerusalem to India, to Africa, and to Europe. Everywhere the disciples went, they made more disciples.

And he arose, and rebuked the wind, and said unto the sea, Peace, be still. And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm.

And he said unto them, Why are ye so fearful? how is it that ye have no faith?

And they feared exceedingly, and said one to another, What manner of man is this, that even the wind and the sea obey him? Mark 4:39-41 KJV

All said and done, the fear that the disciples had felt for the storm is instead given to the man who calms the storm. They begin to see that their Master is no ordinary teacher. He is the Son of God.

“All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” –Matthew 28:18b-20 NIV