Jesus opens Luke 18 with, “…men ALWAYS OUGHT TO PRAY and not LOSE HEART…” (Luke 18:1) “Therefore WE DO NOT LOSE HEART. Even though our outward man is perishing, yet THE INWARD MAN IS BEING RENEWED DAY BY DAY.” (2 Corin. 4:16) Prayer ENCOURAGES AND FORTIFIES the inward man so, “…our light affliction, which is BUT FOR A MOMENT, is working for us a FAR MORE EXCEEDING AND ETERNAL WEIGHT OF GLORY, while we do not look at the things which are seen, but at the things which ARE NOT SEEN. For the things which are seen are temporary, but the things which are NOT SEEN ARE ETERNAL.” (2 Corin. 4:17-18)
That’s why we, “DO NOT FEAR, for it is your Father’s good pleasure to GIVE YOU the kingdom.” (Luke 12:32)
SO, WHAT DO WE DO TO KEEP FROM FEARING AND LOOSE HEART?
- First, (Luke 12:4) Jesus says, “I tell you, friends, do not fear those who kill the body, and after that have no more that they can do.” So it implies that we are prone to fear death — especially death by persecution.
- Second, (Luke 12:12) Jesus says, “And when they bring you before the synagogues and the rulers and the authorities, do not be anxious how or what you are to answer or what you are to say; for the Holy Spirit will teach you in that very hour what you ought to say.” So Jesus implies that we are prone to fear public shame. We are prone to be anxious about what others will think of us if we don’t have the right thing to say.
- Third, (Luke 12:22) Jesus says, “Therefore do not be anxious about your life, what you shall eat nor about your body, what you shall put on.” So he implies that we are prone to worry about whether our basic physical needs will be met — food and drink and clothing and shelter.
- Forth, (Luke 12:32) “FEAR NOT, little flock, for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom.” What fear is Jesus trying to eliminate here? He is trying to eliminate the fear that God is not the kind of God who really wants to be good to His children. This is a fear that rises up in the hearts of those of us who are prone to feel that God does not want to be gracious to us, that He does not want to be generous and helpful to us.
Remember, “…God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of…
POWER AND OF LOVE AND OF A SOUND MIND…(2 Timothy 1:7)
-Bill Stockham