Strength and Courage, Part 8

The Bible is packed with don't be afraid messages.  Most of them are encouragements.  Some should be warnings.

"The king said to her, 'Do not be afraid; but what do you see?'  And the woman said to Saul, 'I see a divine being coming up out of the earth.'"  1 Samuel 28:13 (NAS)

The woman should have been afraid.  She was a medium, which was against King Saul's law (even though he was the one hiring her) and against God's law.  And really, why would you seek information from any other spirit when you have access to the Holy Spirit?  If He doesn't inform you, then you're not supposed to know.

"David said to him, ''Do not fear, for I will surely show kindness to you for the sake of your father Jonathan, and will restore to you all the land of your grandfather Saul; and you shall eat at my table regularly.'"  2 Samuel 9:7 (NAS)

King David took in his late best friend's son, who incidentally would have been an heir to King Saul's throne.  Any other king would have killed him to eliminate possible competition, but David had faith in God's anointing on his own life, and was gracious and merciful instead.

"Then Elijah said to her, 'Do not fear; go, do as you have said, but make me a little bread cake from it first and bring it out to me, and afterward you may make one for yourself and for your son.'"  1 Kings 17:13 (NAS)

This lady was out of options and resigned to giving up on life itself, but Elijah, being a man of God, was asking her to have faith.  She was rewarded with miraculous provision.

"The angel of the Lord said to Elijah, 'Go down with him; do not be afraid of him.'  So he arose and went down with him to the king."  2 Kings 1:15 (NAS)

Elijah had just sent a "you're going to die" message to the king, so naturally he wasn't excited about going to see the king in person when he was sent for.  Elijah had ordered fire from the sky to destroy the first two captains with their fifty men apiece who were sent to take him to the king.  The third captain came on his knees begging for his and his fifty men's lives, and God told Elijah to go ahead with them.  He did, he re-delivered a "you're going to die" message to the king, and the king died.  Once again, when you're on a mission for God, He'll see you through it.

"So he answered, 'Do not fear, for those who are with us are more than those who are with them.'"  2 Kings 6:16 (NAS)

Elisha's attendant saw that they were under siege, but Elisha prayed that the attendant would be given the ability to see what was happening in the spiritual realm.  The man saw the mountain full of horses and chariots of fire, and the tables were supernaturally turned.

Keep your eyes on the Lord, not the circumstances.

Strength and Courage, Part 7

"The Lord said to him, 'Peace to you, do not fear; you shall not die.'"   Judges 6:23 (NAS)

Gideon was afraid he would die from coming face to face with the angel of the Lord, but he was assured otherwise, because God had a mission to give him.  When God sends you on a mission, move forward fearlessly.

"And about the time of her death the women who stood by her said to her, 'Do not be afraid, for you have given birth to a son.'  But she did not answer or pay attention."  1 Samuel 4:20 (NAS)

Baby Ichabod was born the same day his parents and grandfather died and his nation was defeated in battle.  His mother gave him a name meaning "inglorious" in her last moments.  I don't know, but I hope he made a positive difference in the world as he grew up and came to understand his family history.  Don't fear the future, change it for the better, no matter your past.

"Samuel said to the people, 'Do not fear, you have committed all this evil, yet do not turn aside from following the Lord, but serve the Lord with all your heart.'"  1 Samuel 12:20 (NAS)

God's people had refused His perfect will for them, that they would be the nation to prove Him to the world by having Him as their only King.  They insisted, however, on having a man on a throne because all the other countries were doing it, and God graciously continued to take care of them even though they ruined their chance to be extraordinary.

"Stay with me; do not be afraid, for he who seeks my life seeks your life, for you are safe with me."  1 Samuel 22:23 (NAS)

David sheltered Abiathar, an escapee from King Saul's slaughter of the priests.  Trust God to provide you with protection.

"Thus he said to him, 'Do not be afraid, because the hand of Saul my father will not find you, and you will be king over Israel and I will be next to you; and Saul my father knows that also.'"  1 Samuel 23:17 (NAS)

God had chosen David to take the kingship from Saul.  Saul apparently thought he could outwit God by killing David, but Saul's own son--the prince---in faith, offered encouragement to David.  Remember who won?  Remember who won!

Strength and Courage, Part 6

"Now the Lord said to Joshua, 'Do not fear or be dismayed.  Take all the people of war with you and arise, go up to Ai; see, I have given into your hand the king of Ai, his people, his city, and his land.'"  Joshua 8:1 (NAS)

God will see you through the mission on which He sends you.

"The Lord said to Joshua, 'Do not fear them, for I have given them into your hands; not one of them shall stand before you.'"  Joshua 10:8 (NAS)

God trumps everything and everyone.

"Joshua then said to them, 'Do not fear them or be dismayed!  Be strong and courageous, for thus the Lord will do to all your enemies with whom you fight.'"  Joshua 10:25 (NAS)

God told Joshua not to be afraid, and he encouraged his people with the same message.  Let's all encourage each other with that same message.

"Then the Lord said to Joshua, 'Do not be afraid because of them, for tomorrow at this time I will deliver all of them slain before Israel; you shall hamstring their horses and burn their chariots with fire.'"  Joshua 11:6 (NAS)

God means business.  No cowering.  Stay focused, people.

"Jael went out to meet Sisera, and said to him, 'Turn aside, my master, turn aside to me!  Do not be afraid.'  And he turned aside to her into the tent, and she covered him with a rug."  Judges 4:18 (NAS)

This time it's not God saying don't be afraid.  Sisera should have been very afraid.  If you're not familiar with this story, read the fourth chapter of Judges.  Jael, however, was fearless.  Be like her.

Strength and Courage, Part 5

"When you go out to battle against your enemies and see horses and chariots and people more numerous than you, do not be afraid of them; for the Lord your God, who brought you up from the land of Egypt, is with you."  Deuteronomy 20:1 (NAS)

It's a recurring theme, that when you're on God's mission, He will see you through.

"He shall say to them, 'Hear O Israel, you are approaching the battle against your enemies today.  Do not be fainthearted. Do not be afraid, or panic, or tremble before them,'"  Deuteronomy 20:3 (NAS)

God never said we wouldn't have trouble.  In fact, He warned that we would.  He's not surprised by it, and He's still with us through it.

"Be strong and courageous, do not be afraid or tremble at them, for the Lord your God is the one who goes with you.  He will not fail you or forsake you."  Deuteronomy 31:6 (NAS)

Self explanatory, no?

"The Lord is the one who goes ahead of you; He will be with you.  He will not fail you or forsake you.  Do not fear or be dismayed."  Deuteronomy 31:8 (NAS)

Two verses later, God repeated Himself.  We probably ought to listen.

"Have I not commanded you?  Be strong and courageous!  Do not tremble or be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go."  Joshua 1:9 (NAS)

It's not a suggestion, it's a command.  Remember that courage doesn't necessarily mean not feeling fear, it means moving forward anyway even if you have that feeling.  Be brave!