SALVATION'S REMEDY FOR FEAR AND BONDAGE

"Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, He also Himself likewise took part of the same; that through death He might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil; and deliver them who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage" (Heb 2:14-15). "For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father" (Rom 8:15).

Devotion 12 of 18

THE PRESENCE OF JESUS AND FEAR

By nature, man is fearful of the presence of the Lord. By that, I mean that mankind, apart from reconciliation and regeneration, is intimidated by the Lord, shrinking back from Him. Prior to Christ's atoning death, resurrection, and ascension into heaven, the best of our race trembled in fear in the presence of the Lord. Faithful Moses said of God's awesome appearance on Sinai, "I exceedingly fear and quake" (Heb 12:21). David, a man after God's own heart, confessed, "My flesh trembleth for fear of Thee; and I am afraid of Thy judgments" (Psa 119:120). Often when men were confronted with holy angels, they were gripped with fear. Manoah, soon-to-be father of Samson, said this to his wife after they had seen the angel of the Lord: "We shall surely die, because we have seen God" (Judges 13:22).

GOD QUIETS TROUBLED HEARTS. Even though this type of fearfulness is the universal result of sin, it is not the proper environment for fellowship between God and man. For example, when God appeared to Abraham, revealing the remarkable covenant to be made with him, He said to him in a vision, "FEAR NOT, Abram: I am thy shield, and thy exceeding great reward" (Gen 15:1). A troubled heart robs the soul of benefit when in the presence of the Lord. It tends to draw our attention away from the gracious words of the Lord. For this reason, the heart must be calmed, in order to receive grace from the Lord. This became clear with the advent of the Lord Jesus Christ. Wherever there was faith, the Lord extended Himself to quiet troubled hearts.

FEAR MUST BE DISPLACED BY PEACE IF MEN ARE TO PROFIT FROM THE PRESENCE OF THE LORD. Once, during the beginning of Christ's earthly ministry, the people "pressed upon him to hear the word of God." He was standing "by the lake of Gennesaret," and soon it became necessary to move back from the people to teach them. He chose to enter into Simon Peter's boat. Jesus asked Peter "to put out a little from the land. And He sat down and taught the multitudes from the boat." Following his teaching, and as a reward to Simon Peter, He said, "Launch out into the deep, and let down your nets for a draught." Quickly Simon responded, "Master, we have toiled all the night, and have taken nothing: nevertheless at Thy word I will let down the net." When he had let down the net, he caught a great multitude of fish. It was so large it broke the net. With the help of his partners James and John, in another ship, they finally filled both boats with fish. The vessels actually began to sink. After arriving on shore, Peter sensed he was not in the presence of any ordinary man. His response to the event is recorded. "When Simon Peter saw it, he fell down at Jesus' knees, saying, Depart from me; for I am a sinful man, O Lord." Peter sensed there was a vast chasm between him and Jesus. But Jesus did NOT depart. Instead He said to Peter and his partners James and John, "FEAR NOT; from henceforth thou shalt catch men" (Lk 5:1-10). He did not come to destroy men's lives with fire or fear, but to save them (Lk 9:56). Profiting from the presence of the Lord and His teaching is not accomplished when the heart is ruled by fear.

DIVINE BENEFITS ARE RECEIVED WHEN THE HEART IS NOT RULED BY FEAR. Later, when Jesus returned to his own city, Nazareth, He encountered a ruler of the synagogue named Jairus. With fervency, the ruler implored Jesus to come to his house and heal his only daughter, twelve years of age, who lay dying. En route to Jairus' house, a messenger came saying to Jairus, "Thy daughter is dead; trouble not the Master." That was not the end of the matter, however. Jesus had heard the report. "But when Jesus heard it, he answered him, saying, FEAR NOT: believe only, and she shall be made whole" (Lk 8:49-50). They continued on to the man's house, and our Lord raised his daughter. The heart of Jairus was prepared for this compassionate work by being stilled. The benefits of the Lord are best received when the heart is quiet and free from fear.

MEN MUST BE DELIVERED FROM FEAR IF THEY ARE TO SEEK FIRST THE KINGDOM OF GOD. When Jesus declared the Word and will of God, He made no accommodation for the flesh. Following Him required self denial, and taking up the cross (Matt 16:24). It necessitated the subordination of all other relationships to a higher calling (Lk 14:26-27). The things of God must become primary to the individual, else they cannot be possessed. There is something about demands of this sort that makes the heart tremble. This is seen in the following words of our Lord to His disciples. "But rather seek ye the kingdom of God; and all these things shall be added unto you. FEAR NOT, little flock; for it is your Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom" (Lk 12:31-32). Many a soul, dwelling at a distance from God, is afraid to seek "first" the kingdom of God and His righteousness (Matt 6:33). However, if such will hear what the Lord is speaking to their hearts, a gentle calm will displace that kind of fear. Men cannot seek the Kingdom of God if fear dominates their hearts! Such fervent seeking is only possible when the heart is calm and believing.

PEACE PREPARES FOR DELIVERANCE. On one occasion, the Lord sent His disciples to the other side of the sea, while He sent the multitudes away (Matt 14:22). After sending the multitudes away, He went "into a mountain apart to pray," remaining there alone until the evening. Meanwhile, a great storm arose on the waters, bringing jeopardy to the disciples who were crossing it. About the fourth watch (3:00-6:00 AM) of the night, "Jesus went unto them, walking on the sea." It is written, "And when the disciples saw Him walking on the sea, they were troubled, saying, It is a spirit; and they cried out for fear. But straightway Jesus spake unto them, saying, Be of good cheer; it is I; BE NOT AFRAID" (Matt 14:26-27). Mark writes, "And IMMEDIATELY He talked with them, and saith unto them, Be of good cheer: it is I; BE NOT AFRAID" (Mk 6:50). Deliverance is best experienced when the heart is eased in the presence of the Lord. The type of fear from which Jesus frees us hinders deliverance.

READINESS FOR DWELLING FOREVER WITH THE LORD CANNOT TAKE PLACE IN A HEART RULED BY FEAR. Before leaving this world, the Lord prepared His disciples for His departure. One of the longest sections of Scripture concerns this preparatory evening–the night our Lord was betrayed. It is covered in the Gospel of John, chapters thirteen through seventeen–nearly 20% of that Gospel. In a remarkably comforting word Jesus said, "LET NOT YOUR HEART BE TROUBLED: ye believe in God, believe also in Me. In My Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto Myself; that where I am, there ye may be also" (John 14:1-3). Readiness for being forever with the Lord cannot be accomplished when fear is the master of our hearts.

The present ministry of Jesus is appropriately described in the Apostles' doctrine. Having reconciled men to God, and removed the separating factor, He announces "peace" to those who will "receive the atonement." As it is written, "And that He might reconcile both unto God in one body by the cross, having slain the enmity thereby: And came and preached PEACE to you which were afar off, and to them that were nigh" (Eph 2:16-17). This "peace" is the answer to the fear brought in by sin. It is a peace that allows the heart to come with boldness into the presence of the Lord, the holiest place. Where fear reigns, and this peace is absent, men will not come close to God.

The presence of Jesus prepares the heart for dwelling in the presence of God. That is why Jesus removes fear that has torment, and brings a dominating peace that keeps the heart and the mind.

PRAYER POINT: Father, I thank You through Jesus Christ for a peace that removes fear from the throne of the heart.

– Tomorrow: INTERPRETING STRUGGLE CORRECTLY, #1 –