Faith Not Fear
There are many people who claim to believe in the Lord Jesus but live their lives in fear. For example, just the other day, I witnessed many people rushing into the grocery store, buying up all they could and emptying the shelves in fear of a forecasted snow storm. What was their motivation? Some would be out of necessity and just needed to do their regular grocery shopping. But many were motivated by fear and anxiety. The weatherman said "snow" and "ice" and anxiety and fear took over. Many of these same individuals claim to know the Lord God. Many would say it is human nature, but I ask where is your faith in the Lord God and His Word?! Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:6-7
Keep this in mind: A citizen of the Kingdom always refers back to God's constitution, especially is times of trials and testing. “That is why I tell you not to worry about everyday life—whether you have enough food and drink, or enough clothes to wear. Isn’t life more than food, and your body more than clothing? Look at the birds. They don’t plant or harvest or store food in barns, for your heavenly Father feeds them. And aren’t you far more valuable to Him than they are? Can all your worries add a single moment to your life?
“And why worry about your clothing? Look at the lilies of the field and how they grow. They don’t work or make their clothing, yet Solomon in all his glory was not dressed as beautifully as they are. And if God cares so wonderfully for wildflowers that are here today and thrown into the fire tomorrow, He will certainly care for you. Why do you have so little faith?
“So don’t worry about these things, saying, ‘What will we eat? What will we drink? What will we wear?’ These things dominate the thoughts of unbelievers, but your heavenly Father already knows all your needs. Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and He will give you everything you need." Matthew 6:25-33 NLT King Jesus made that statement. By the way, that wasn't a request but a command. Read what King Solomon wrote: Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths. Proverbs 3:5-6
It took time, but I have learned to trust in Him every day of my natural life and I am very content. Not that I was ever in need, for I have learned how to be content with whatever I have. I know how to live on almost nothing or with everything. I have learned the secret of living in every situation, whether it is with a full stomach or empty, with plenty or little. For I can do everything through Christ, who gives me strength. Philippians 4:11-13 NLT
He who heeds the word wisely will find good, and whoever trusts in the Lord, happy is he. Proverbs 16:20 When you learn to trust and obey the Lord God's Word, the Governor--Holy Spirit--will lead and guide you in all His ways. I am a living example of those words.
Kingdom citizens make their decisions based on faith in His Word. Do you recall what ambassador Paul stated to the Believers in Galatia? So I say, let the Holy Spirit guide your lives. Then you won’t be doing what your sinful nature craves. The sinful nature wants to do evil, which is just the opposite of what the Spirit wants. And the Spirit gives us desires that are the opposite of what the sinful nature desires. These two forces are constantly fighting each other, so you are not free to carry out your good intentions. But when you are directed by the Spirit, you are not under obligation to the law of Moses.
When you follow the desires of your sinful nature, the results are very clear: sexual immorality, impurity, lustful pleasures, idolatry, sorcery, hostility, quarreling, jealousy, outbursts of anger, selfish ambition, dissension, division, envy, drunkenness, wild parties, and other sins like these. Let me tell you again, as I have before, that anyone living that sort of life will not inherit the Kingdom of God.
But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against these things!
Those who belong to Christ Jesus have nailed the passions and desires of their sinful nature to His cross and crucified them there. Galatians 5:16-24 NLT
As you pass through this present world, the people in your life will recognize your behavior when it comes to operating in faith or fear. Your words and behavior will show them what you truly believe. You may tell them about your faith in the Lord Jesus, but if you ooze fear and anxiety when any trouble comes, they won't want "your Jesus"! As a citizen of the Kingdom, you should never allow fear to dictate your decisions in life. Since we are living by the Spirit, let us follow the Spirit’s leading in every part of our lives. Galatians 5:25 NLT Follow the Holy Spirit's leading in every part of our lives! Yes! If we do that, we will never again be motivated by fear!
Remember, faith gets King Jesus' attention. It was the woman's faith that the Lord Jesus recognized. And suddenly, a woman who had a flow of blood for twelve years came from behind and touched the hem of His garment. For she said to herself, “If only I may touch His garment, I shall be made well.”
But Jesus turned around, and when He saw her He said, “Be of good cheer, daughter; your faith has made you well.” And the woman was made well from that hour. Matthew 9:20-22
When Jesus departed from there, two blind men followed Him, crying out and saying, “Son of David, have mercy on us!”
And when He had come into the house, the blind men came to Him. And Jesus said to them, “Do you believe that I am able to do this?”
They said to Him, “Yes, Lord.” Then He touched their eyes, saying, “According to your faith let it be to you.” Matthew 9:27-29 Yes, it was their faith in King Jesus that made them whole.
In the Kingdom, it is faith in the King that operates.
If you are fearful, you don't trust Him. There is no fear in the Kingdom of God!
I encourage you to totally trust Him, give Him your fearful situations and anxieties and rest in His power! So Jesus answered and said to them, “Have faith in God. For assuredly, I say to you, whoever says to this mountain, ‘Be removed and be cast into the sea,’ and does not doubt in his heart, but believes that those things he says will be done, he will have whatever he says. Therefore I say to you, whatever things you ask when you pray, believe that you receive them, and you will have them. Mark 11:22-24
Have I not commanded you? Be strong and of good courage; do not be afraid, nor be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go. Joshua 1:9
All NKJV unless noted.
~~W.R. Luchie
www.kingdomcitizens.org
This article may only be reproduced, in print or on the internet, if the author's name and website address are included at the end of the article as originally placed. Thank you
Keep this in mind: A citizen of the Kingdom always refers back to God's constitution, especially is times of trials and testing. “That is why I tell you not to worry about everyday life—whether you have enough food and drink, or enough clothes to wear. Isn’t life more than food, and your body more than clothing? Look at the birds. They don’t plant or harvest or store food in barns, for your heavenly Father feeds them. And aren’t you far more valuable to Him than they are? Can all your worries add a single moment to your life?
“And why worry about your clothing? Look at the lilies of the field and how they grow. They don’t work or make their clothing, yet Solomon in all his glory was not dressed as beautifully as they are. And if God cares so wonderfully for wildflowers that are here today and thrown into the fire tomorrow, He will certainly care for you. Why do you have so little faith?
“So don’t worry about these things, saying, ‘What will we eat? What will we drink? What will we wear?’ These things dominate the thoughts of unbelievers, but your heavenly Father already knows all your needs. Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and He will give you everything you need." Matthew 6:25-33 NLT King Jesus made that statement. By the way, that wasn't a request but a command. Read what King Solomon wrote: Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths. Proverbs 3:5-6
It took time, but I have learned to trust in Him every day of my natural life and I am very content. Not that I was ever in need, for I have learned how to be content with whatever I have. I know how to live on almost nothing or with everything. I have learned the secret of living in every situation, whether it is with a full stomach or empty, with plenty or little. For I can do everything through Christ, who gives me strength. Philippians 4:11-13 NLT
He who heeds the word wisely will find good, and whoever trusts in the Lord, happy is he. Proverbs 16:20 When you learn to trust and obey the Lord God's Word, the Governor--Holy Spirit--will lead and guide you in all His ways. I am a living example of those words.
Kingdom citizens make their decisions based on faith in His Word. Do you recall what ambassador Paul stated to the Believers in Galatia? So I say, let the Holy Spirit guide your lives. Then you won’t be doing what your sinful nature craves. The sinful nature wants to do evil, which is just the opposite of what the Spirit wants. And the Spirit gives us desires that are the opposite of what the sinful nature desires. These two forces are constantly fighting each other, so you are not free to carry out your good intentions. But when you are directed by the Spirit, you are not under obligation to the law of Moses.
When you follow the desires of your sinful nature, the results are very clear: sexual immorality, impurity, lustful pleasures, idolatry, sorcery, hostility, quarreling, jealousy, outbursts of anger, selfish ambition, dissension, division, envy, drunkenness, wild parties, and other sins like these. Let me tell you again, as I have before, that anyone living that sort of life will not inherit the Kingdom of God.
But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against these things!
Those who belong to Christ Jesus have nailed the passions and desires of their sinful nature to His cross and crucified them there. Galatians 5:16-24 NLT
As you pass through this present world, the people in your life will recognize your behavior when it comes to operating in faith or fear. Your words and behavior will show them what you truly believe. You may tell them about your faith in the Lord Jesus, but if you ooze fear and anxiety when any trouble comes, they won't want "your Jesus"! As a citizen of the Kingdom, you should never allow fear to dictate your decisions in life. Since we are living by the Spirit, let us follow the Spirit’s leading in every part of our lives. Galatians 5:25 NLT Follow the Holy Spirit's leading in every part of our lives! Yes! If we do that, we will never again be motivated by fear!
Remember, faith gets King Jesus' attention. It was the woman's faith that the Lord Jesus recognized. And suddenly, a woman who had a flow of blood for twelve years came from behind and touched the hem of His garment. For she said to herself, “If only I may touch His garment, I shall be made well.”
But Jesus turned around, and when He saw her He said, “Be of good cheer, daughter; your faith has made you well.” And the woman was made well from that hour. Matthew 9:20-22
When Jesus departed from there, two blind men followed Him, crying out and saying, “Son of David, have mercy on us!”
And when He had come into the house, the blind men came to Him. And Jesus said to them, “Do you believe that I am able to do this?”
They said to Him, “Yes, Lord.” Then He touched their eyes, saying, “According to your faith let it be to you.” Matthew 9:27-29 Yes, it was their faith in King Jesus that made them whole.
In the Kingdom, it is faith in the King that operates.
If you are fearful, you don't trust Him. There is no fear in the Kingdom of God!
I encourage you to totally trust Him, give Him your fearful situations and anxieties and rest in His power! So Jesus answered and said to them, “Have faith in God. For assuredly, I say to you, whoever says to this mountain, ‘Be removed and be cast into the sea,’ and does not doubt in his heart, but believes that those things he says will be done, he will have whatever he says. Therefore I say to you, whatever things you ask when you pray, believe that you receive them, and you will have them. Mark 11:22-24
Have I not commanded you? Be strong and of good courage; do not be afraid, nor be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go. Joshua 1:9
All NKJV unless noted.
~~W.R. Luchie
www.kingdomcitizens.org
This article may only be reproduced, in print or on the internet, if the author's name and website address are included at the end of the article as originally placed. Thank you
