BiblicalInsights.net

Fear is an emotional reaction to a stimulus that scares or frightens us. Fear is an emotion that often helps protect and preserve life. However, fear can also be detrimental. Fear can paralyze us causing inaction where we ought to be serving God (Matthew 25, the one talent man). Fear can also betray mistrust or lack of trust in God. Fear is rebuked by Jesus when it manifests a lack of trust in God. The fear of God is the only thing that can deliver us from the fear of man (Matthew 10:28). Learning to face life situations with faith instead of fear is a challenge that every Christian faces.

In Matthew chapter 10, Jesus sends His disciples on the limited commission. They are commanded to go only to the lost sheep of the house of Israel. Jesus warns them about rejection and persecution (10:4, 16-20, 22:23, 25). He tells them repeatedly not to be afraid (10:26, 28, 31). How can Jesus’ disciples be fearless in the face of rejection, persecution and hatred of men?

Jesus gives them several spiritual factors that will help them be resilient.
1. They are empowered by Jesus to perform miracles (10:1, 8). The divine power given to them will help equip them for their mission and confirm that the Lord was with them.
2. They are asked to trust God. They are restricted by Jesus from taking gold, silver, brass, scrip, two coats, shoes or staves (10:9-10). They are to rely upon God’s providential care for the necessities of life.
3. They are told that God will judge all men and that included those that rejected them and persecuted them (10:15,23). God is the great avenger.
4. They are to be wise and full of meekness (10:16). Wise as serpents and harmless of doves is metaphorical language that indicates the importance of godly character when facing enemies.
5. They are to rely upon the Holy Spirit for the words making up a response to the kings and governors that inquired about their work (10:20).
6. They must possess endurance (10:22). They must be spiritual strong and courageously hold up under extreme duress.
7. They must look to the example of Jesus (10:24-25). The servant is not greater than his lord. Jesus was persecuted and rejected by the Jewish leaders. If they treated Him with disrespect, then, they will treat His disciples with the same disrespect.
8. They must fear God (10:28). They are told not to fear men because men can only take their physical life. But, God can destroy both body and soul in hell. They must remain pleasers of God rather than pleasers of men.
9. They must understand that God loves them and values them (10:31). They are of much more value than many sparrows.
10. They must love the Lord (10:37). Their love for the Lord must exceed love for father or mother or any other family member. Their spiritual relationship with God is of more value than their familial relationships.
11. They must be willing to suffer for Christ’s sake (10:38). They must be willing to bear their cross for Jesus’ sake. They must possess the courage of their convictions and uphold their commitment to Christ.
12. They must look to the reward (10:32). If they confess the Lord in word and in behavior, then the Lord will confess them before the Father which is in heaven.
13. They must heed the instruction as part of their preparation for the mission Jesus sends them to accomplish. Jesus gives them foreknowledge of the opposition that they will face taking away the fear of the unknown.

As we go forth in a New Year, we must be fearless. The Lord has equipped us with resources that inspire courage: truth, love, faith, hope, wisdom, meekness, endurance, fear of God, grace, God’s love, the intercessory work of Jesus and the Holy Spirit, God’s power, God’s providence, God’ justice and judgment, the example of Christ, and the reward of being in God’s presence in heavenly places. Fear Not!