The last few Tuesday nights, Crystal has talked about Mary and Joseph and the important roles they have played in the mission of Jesus.
Last week, she spoke on Joseph. Something that really spoke to me was how the angel told Joseph in a dream to not be afraid.
I would propose to you that everything that God asks of us will be uncomfortable and fearful to this flesh.
In the words of a good friend, “we must become comfortable in being uncomfortable.”
What I mean by that is simply if you can do it by yourself, by your talents, by your abilities, by your strength, then you have no need for Jesus in your life.
You don’t fear what you don’t have to have FAITH for.
It is that moment of uncomfortableness, the unknown, the substance of things hope for, the evidence of the unseen. It’s there that you are in a place that you need to hear from God, “Don’t be afraid.”
It has been said that there are 365 uses of “Fear not” in the Bible. I haven’t personally counted them, but I will take others at their word. That means there is a “fear not” for you and me for everyday of the year.
When you and I woke up today, we needed a “Fear not”…if we are walking by faith.
If God is going to fulfill His mission through us, our day must be activated with an action of faith. That means when He speaks, our first response would most likely be, “How in the world can I ever do that?”
I can guarantee you that David in his flesh was scared, but he didn’t allow his flesh to overcome his FAITH. That is why he killed a giant in the Name of the Lord.
What giant is standing in the way of God’s mission in your life that has your questioning if it is possible?
When your flesh is doubting, that is when your faith should be rising. With God, ANYTHING IS POSSIBLE.
Tomorrow we will need another “Fear not.” But I can’t wait until tomorrow. He wants to use me today for something that is far beyond my human limits.
“He takes no pleasure in the strength of a horse or in human might. No, the Lord’s delight is in those who fear him, those who put their hope in his unfailing love.” Psalms 147:10-11 NLT
“Now the birth of Jesus Christ was on this wise: When as his mother Mary was espoused to Joseph, before they came together, she was found with child of the Holy Ghost. Then Joseph her husband, being a just man, and not willing to make her a public example, was minded to put her away privily.
But while he thought on these things, behold, the angel of the Lord appeared unto him in a dream, saying, Joseph, thou son of David, fear not to take unto thee Mary thy wife: for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Ghost.” Matthew 1:18-20
The Bible does not tell us what Joseph was thinking, but it had to be something of doubt. God was not mad at Joseph, but He gave him a dream to encourage his FAITH.
Not all dreams are from God, some are just because you ate the wrong thing, or were consumed with something before you went to bed. But some dreams are from God to will encourage your FAITH.
When God speaks to you through prayer or a dream, you can confirm it is from Him if it aligns with His word.
And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name Jesus: for he shall save his people from their sins.
Now all this was done, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken of the Lord by the prophet, saying, Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us. Then Joseph being raised from sleep did as the angel of the Lord had bidden him, and took unto him his wife: Matthew 1:21-24
Mary and Joseph were greatly used in the mission that God would come to this earth as man, robed in flesh, so that you and I can be saved.
If you do not know Christ, the most important thing is for you to experience why He came.
His death, burial, and resurrection represent the gospel! We die to ourselves in repentance. We’re buried with Him in baptism, and we receive the promise of eternal life though the gift of the Holy Ghost.
For those of you that have already experienced this great salvation, my question is this, what is the “fear not” that God is speaking to you? Where is the step of FAITH is SO BIG that you’re not sure how it is going to be accomplished?
What giant stands before you that you need to say for the sake of the mission, “You come to be with a sword and a spear, but I come to you in the Name of the Lord”?
