FAITH OVER FEAR

"Take courage! It is I. Don't be afraid."

Matthew 14:27 NIV

If you rep team Jesus knowing you should have faith over fear seems like the right answer but when faith meets logic it can start to get tricky. Or when faith meets I need it now, or I WANT it now is when we as believers can start to find grey areas.

Faith is to have complete trust or confidence in something. The Oxford dictionary says faith is a strong belief in God or in the doctrines of a religion, based on spiritual apprehension rather than proof. The bible says faith is the confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see-Hebrews 11:1.

Yo, do you remember the story of Jesus walking on water? This was a crazy story. Sometimes you have to show people better than you can tell them. At the beginning of this chapter, Jesus' cousin was murdered but the people still wanted to be blessed even after Jesus chose to take some time off to grieve. The pastoring nature of Jesus had compassion and continued to heal and teach; think about how you would feel if someone your loved died but you has a prophecy to fulfill. Imagine the call of pastors to continue their work even when dealing with personal issues. Jesus was no different, the crowd got thick and it was late. The disciples looked at the situation unable to see how they would be able to help this crowd (it was dinner time where was this food coming from?). They need to go home! Jesus was like no just get them something to eat.

You know sometimes we look at our life and situation and say to ourselves this is impossible. How can I help someone else if I have nothing to share? The Lord loves those crazy testimonies when He can show us how He can make something from nothing. He fed 5,000 men from literally nothing, looking at 5 loaves and 2 fishes how would anybody even be able to feed a family with that?

There were a few things that happened in this story first He created order and then thanked God for what He had although in the natural it did not seem like enough. Let's break this down a bit so first of all the Lord created order He had everyone seated before being served.

For where you have envy and selfish ambition, there you find disorder and every evil practice. James 3:16

The bible says these things are earthly, of the flesh and it is demonic. Which essentially means that it is not of God. In order for a miracle to happen the Lord had to create an atmosphere for it to be able to work. There have been times when I have been praying and waiting for answers but nothing is happening. Scriptures speak a lot about peace, truth and being pure because this is the best atmosphere for work to be done. After Jesus took the fish and bread He blessed it. Is your faith big enough to look at an empty cupboard, bank account or school report and bless it? We can do the math naturally 10 loaves and 20 fish could not feed that crowd but the Lord brought an increase. How you may ask? The right atmosphere and the right attitude. The Lord loves for us to look at something knowing the possibilities and say "Lord I thank you for what I have".

Fear creeps in when faith is winning trying to tell us that this thing that God said is possible is impossible, then brings doubt on a God that created the universe or maybe we believe and don't believe? Don't worry Jesus' friends were there with the blessing and distributing of fish and bread but were still astonished when in Matthew 14:25 they left Jesus on the side of a mountain praying and they went off on a boat but during the night they saw something unbeknown to them it was Jesus. Before believing it could be Jesus they first thought it was a 'ghost'. They saw who it was, they saw what they thought was impossible being made possible but figured it must be something else. Peter is a real gangster that was so transparent. Peter figured well Jesus if it is really you call me, tell me to come to you walking on the very water you are walking on. Have you ever said to yourself (well Jesus) Jesus I have faith in you but I need a word, I need instruction, I need a sign?

But Jesus immediately said to them: "Take courage! It is I. Don't be afraid." Matthew 14:27 NIV

Relax, take it easy do not get frustrated God's best work is done when there is peace. What do you think is causing you not to believe? Is it because you feel like you can do it on your own? Or have you been disappointed before and no longer trust this person you cannot see or understand? I think we can all relate to this feeling at one point or another. It can sometimes feel so difficult to submit to someone you feel has hurt you or betrayed you. Like many of us who have experienced a break-up with a close friend, in an intimate relationship, with family or even parents but the Lord is not like man.

Courage is the ability to do something that is frightening, it is Courage or grief.

Faith over fear! Daniel was faced with having to be thrown in the lion's den if he did not bow down to worship another god. The reality is what would you have done in that same situation? Worship other idols and ask God for forgiveness later? Daniel knew the God he served and believed that regardless of the outcome he wouldn't change what and who he believed in because it seemed imperfect and uncomfortable. It is easy to praise God for blessings when you feel like you are being blessed but what about when you are being tested? When it is time for you to get from junior to high school? There is no school that allows you to move ahead without grading or testing your knowledge. The Lord says let me see what my child is made of, the only way to see is by having you be tried and tested.

Shadrack, Mechak and Abednego were tested in a similar way, everyone else chose to bow down to the king's idols but they stood on the word. Thou shall have no other gods before me Exodus 20:3 did you know a god can be a person, place or thing. Anything that takes the place of the Lord is an idol. Faced with death, these guys chose eternal life but God came through in the midst of their test, in the midst of that storm the Lord is ready to prove to you He can do exceedingly abundantly beyond what we ask or even can imagine.

Esther was faced with faith over fear in a battle of culture, race and nationality. Her husband the king was being fed lies and an entire law was created to kill these people-her people. Fear would've had her continue pretending like she was not a part of the people that were going to be killed. Ya'll know how these stories end. They come out victorious! Jesus said

"Come,". Then Peter got down out of the boat, walked on the water and came toward Jesus. Matthew 14:29

Peter was focused on the Lord on the right things, on his purpose but at some point, he got distracted. Peter noticed a girlfriend, a friend or a job and became so focused on them that he started to lose faith. Peter's spiritual tank got low, he did not have enough of the word stored in him so when there is an attack he started to lose faith. We are living out these stories every day having to choose faith over fear, can I let people know I am a Christian or be teased and mistreated. Can I tell my family that although I do not have a job or money faith says I will? I will and I am are bold statements backed up with the word of God and His truth makes it all the more powerful. When your faith is being tested choose FAITH!

#faithwithoutworksisdead #faithoverfear #faithoverfacts #faithinchrist

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