Category: Faith > Fear

Re:Verse reading–1 Corinthians 15:50-58  (day four)

The ultimate fear is the fear of death.  It can cripple our lives…it can impact our decisions…it can paralyze us for action.  This fear is used all over the world to persecute the Church.  When believers have no fear of death, the persecutors are without influence or power over their lives.

Verse 57 says, “but thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.”  We have victory over death and it holds no power of fear in our lives.  What a freeing promise!  The world cannot understand it.  ‘Would be’ martyrs have walked away free because their captors could not process their lack of fear.  Those who have died, without fear, have offered a most powerful witness of grace.  Richard Wurmbrand, a Romanian pastor during communist rule, could not be silenced.  He was arrested, and threatened, and tortured, but with no success.  The communists could not understand.  He had no fear of death…death was a victory for him.  Finally, Richard was released from prison because he was winning too many prisoners to the Lord.  Truly, our lives are in God’s hand.

Re:Verse reading–1 Corinthians 15:50-58  (day three)

“Your labor in the Lord is not in vain.”

This is the meaning of resurrection for all who count on Christ. Death does not destroy you, nor the things you set your hand to do.  Do you take that view of your work?  There are activities, of course, that you can do which result in nothing that will last.  What a waste of your God-given power to do work of eternal value.  Now that you need not fear that death will bring an end to you or to your work, what projects will you begin?

Re:Verse reading–1 Corinthians 15:50-58  (day two)

“But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your toil is not in vain in the Lord.” vs. 57-58

Death-sin, mortal-immortal, perishable-imperishable…RESURRECTION-VICTORY

Paul, in this power-packed chapter of his first letter to the church in Corinth, has given us the bottom line for our faith’s defense: The power of the resurrection. Where there was death, now there is life. What was corruptible, is now incorruptible. There is no other power or person in heaven or earth that can grant this kind of victory.

Therefore we can be IMMOVABLE in our conviction. Steadfast beyond the world’s understanding. Jesus is the only reason for such complete redemption, and only through the power of his resurrection. Those found in him, can claim the victory too.

Re:Verse reading–1 Corinthians 15 (day one)

“For I delivered to you as of FIRST IMPORTANCE what I also received, that Christ died for our sins. . .and that He was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures.“–v 3-4

What are things are FIRST in your life?  In both order and importance?  The Bible says for Jesus the FIRST thing was prayer.  (Mark 1:35)  Early believers worshiped on the FIRST day of the week and gave the FIRST part of their earnings as an offering to God. (1 Corinthians 16:2)

Paul says that there are FIRST things in theology too.  “All truths are equal, but some are more equal than others”, he says in 2000-year anticipation of  George Orwell.  He calls these FIRST truths the gospel. 1) Christ died for our sins.  2) Christ was raised.  3) Both according to the promise of Scripture.

When we preach.  When we speak to others.  When we pray or vote, these truths, and only these, must be FIRST.

Re: Verse reading–Luke 22:31-34, 54-62 (day seven)

It is a strange statement.  Jesus offers no explanation.  I wonder what Peter thought when he heard it.  “Satan has demanded permission to sift you like wheat.”–v 31.  Permission was requested (and granted by God) for the enemy to shake up his life, to put him under intense stress, to knock off the dead parts and determine what was valuable (i.e. sifting)

It reminds me of the book of Job.  A conversation in Heaven dramatically impacts Job’s life.  The catch is that Job is completely unaware. Invisible forces at work.

All of us are part of a MUCH LARGER drama that we know.  Sometimes life turns down a difficult road for reasons that only God understands.  When this happens, what we need is faith, not information.

“God is too wise to be mistaken. God is too good to be unkind.  So when you don’t understand, when you don’t see His plan, when you can’t trace His hand, trust His heart!”–Babbie Mason.

 

 

Re: Verse reading–Luke 22:31-34, 54-62 (day five) 

³¹“Simon, Simon, behold, Satan has demanded permission to sift you like wheat; ³² but I have prayed for you, that your faith may not fail; and you, when once you have turned again, strengthen your brothers.”

Do you think Peter was even aware of the invisible battle for the souls and faith of men?   Jesus certainly was. Paul writes to the believers in Ephesus concerning the same truth, “For our struggle is not against flesh and blood”.

How about us? Are we aware? Prepared? Willing to resist, flee?

Look at Peter’s perspective years later… 1 Peter 5:8-10  Be of sober spirit, be on the alert. Your adversary, the devil, prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. But resist him, firm in your faith, knowing that the same experiences of suffering are being accomplished by your brethren who are in the world. After you have suffered for a little while, the God of all grace, who called you to His eternal glory in Christ, will Himself perfect, confirm, strengthen and establish you.

 

Re: Verse reading–Luke 22:31-34, 54-62 (day four)

He was trying to hide in plain sight.  He just wanted to disappear from everyone’s radar.  Peter was proud of his relationship with Christ and was glad to be the key representative of Jesus’ chosen group when things were going good.  When multitudes responded and the sick were healed, Peter was first and foremost with Christ.  Now…when the tides turned against Christ…Peter struggled with his commitment.  He wanted to be close to see what happened but he wanted to be invisible to the opposition.

What was the difference in Acts 1-2 when Peter stood boldly and preached the Gospel to thousands?  Peter had been filled with the Holy Spirit!  Peter had tried to ‘be the man’ before, but in his best strength, he could not measure up.  It was the power of God through his life that brought power.

Have you ever done that…tried to serve God in your best strength, only to fall short?  Yield to Christ and to the power of the Holy Spirit to work through your life.  Bitter disappointment may be turned to thousands coming to Christ!

Re: Verse reading–Luke 22:31-34, 54-62 (day three)

“When you have turned back, strengthen your brothers.”  What if there were a day in the future when you think more clearly than you think now, when you are less timid than you are right now, more confident, and less dependent on circumstances?  Have you given up on that day?  The Lord looks at your life in terms of the good you’re capable of, not in terms of the bad you’re capable of.  It’s the Lord who says, “Go out and preach the gospel and heal.”  It’s the Lord who says, “You give them something to eat.”  It’s the Lord who says, “Do not worry about what you will say, for you will say the right words at the right time.”  Jesus has not given up on that day.  Stick with his vision for your life, not yours.

Re: Verse reading–Luke 22:31-34, 54-62 (day two) But he said to Him, “Lord, with You I am ready to go both to prison and to death!” 3:33

Petrus – rock. If there is one disciple who you would have picked to stand beside Jesus until the bitter end it probably would have been Peter. Strong, loud, prone to action not cowardice, and yet when the moment came – he froze. In the midst of the chaos Peter forgot about Jesus, and focused on his own safety.

Paul understood: For the good that I want, I do not do, but I practice the very evil that I do not want. Romans 7:19 When the rubber meets to road and we are called into account, we must not rely on our own strength for the moment. If we think we are strong enough we must remember Peter. God knows our every weakness, and he desire to be the unbending source of strength in times of trial. Never forget that.