The online Bible teaching
ministry of Stephen & Brooksyne Weber
A
daily, Bible-based perspective of hope, encouragement and
exhortation.
Tuesday,
January
4,
2022
"A
No-Fear Year"
Message
summary: As we mature in our
love for God (and others), we come to realize that we have
nothing to fear, for our Father has everything under
control. We should not be driven by fear, rather we must
drive out fear and God's perfect love will do just that.
Listen
to this message on your audio player.
"When I am afraid, I will trust in Thee" (Psalm 56:3). "There is no fear in love; instead, perfect love drives out fear, because fear involves punishment. So the one who fears has not reached perfection in love" (1 John 4:18).
"When I am afraid, I will trust in Thee" (Psalm 56:3). "There is no fear in love; instead, perfect love drives out fear, because fear involves punishment. So the one who fears has not reached perfection in love" (1 John 4:18).
An
Axios|Momentive Poll showed the outlook people have at the
end of the year, which is not really surprising. More than
half of U.S. adults say they’re fearful for what the year
2022 holds in store. In addition adults have less hope for
themselves. 30% say they’re more fearful about what 2022
holds in store for themselves.
Steve
is a longtime reader who now lives in Iowa but grew up on
the south side of Chicago. He
calls his theme for 2022, "A
no-fear year". Steve recently wrote an interesting
story about a traumatic life lesson he learned about fear
when he was eight years old. He was accidentally left
behind by his family after a 1964 New Years Watchnight
service at a church on the south side. He stepped out the
door of the church which locked behind him and realized no
one was there to get him home. After thinking of possible
solutions to his dilemma he decided to walk home, about a
mile and a half!
He
concludes,
"What’s
the lesson of this story? If you and I could sit down with
an eight-year-old boy exactly fifty-eight years ago, he’d
tell us not to be afraid. Young Stephen would recount the
events of the night before, that he wasn’t frightened by
the cold or darkness or loneliness or some mischievous
boys. He’d recite the words of the Psalmist that his
mother often quoted by heart... “I sought the Lord and he
delivered me from all my fears.”
We put a
link to his entire testimony below.
Zach
Williams has written a thought-provoking song with the
interesting title, "Fear Is A Liar". We consider those
whom we presently seek to encourage and uplift who are
gripped by fear due to the uncertainties of life. Many
are allowing fear to diminish their hope.
We encourage memorization of today's texts. You can draw on them when fear rises within and find peace and assurance. We need grace in so many forms, but today we ask for grace to trust Him more. Or as a line in the song "Battle Belongs" says, "Every fear I lay at Your feet".
As we grow in the love of Christ, we cease to be fearful of God using His power to harm us and have an assurance that all things are ultimately under His control and will work out for the good for those who love Him (see Romans 8:28). But this is something we often need to be reminded of and to remind ourselves of! Although a no-fear year is a laudable goal, for many of us our prayer is an infusion of trust in God whenever fear-inducing situations arise.
As we mature in our love for God we come to realize that we have nothing to fear, for our Father has everything under control. We should not be driven by fear, rather we must drive out fear and God's perfect love will do just that.
We encourage memorization of today's texts. You can draw on them when fear rises within and find peace and assurance. We need grace in so many forms, but today we ask for grace to trust Him more. Or as a line in the song "Battle Belongs" says, "Every fear I lay at Your feet".
As we grow in the love of Christ, we cease to be fearful of God using His power to harm us and have an assurance that all things are ultimately under His control and will work out for the good for those who love Him (see Romans 8:28). But this is something we often need to be reminded of and to remind ourselves of! Although a no-fear year is a laudable goal, for many of us our prayer is an infusion of trust in God whenever fear-inducing situations arise.
As we mature in our love for God we come to realize that we have nothing to fear, for our Father has everything under control. We should not be driven by fear, rather we must drive out fear and God's perfect love will do just that.
Be
encouraged today, (Hebrews 3:13)
Stephen
& Brooksyne Weber
Daily prayer:
Father, we learn in Scripture that perfect love
casts out fear. Since we're born into an imperfect
world and surrounded by sinful consequences from the
fall it's hard to acquire and remain in perfect
love. We find fear ever beckoning and perfect love
seemingly distant. But the Word tells us not to fear
since it involves expected divine punishment and we
know there is no condemnation for those who are in
Christ Jesus. Dreadful fear comes from the enemy but
perfect love comes from heaven above. We cast fear
into the fire and receive the perfect love that You
give so generously, as seen in the death and
resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ, and the
eternal home that awaits those who follow You. Amen.Today's
Suggested
Music and Supplemental Resources
"Fear
Is a Liar" Video Zach Williams
Fear
is a Liar - Jessica's Story Video Watch Jessica
share about how God has helped her overcome fear
in her life.
"Speak
To The Mountains" Video Chris McClarney
"Battle
Belongs" Video Shane &
Shane "Every fear I lay at Your feet"
Steve Ephraim's "No Fear Year"
testimony Steve has such a colorful
way of describing his family life as one of nine
children growing up in the sixties, which of
course we both identify with. Though we gave
away the punch line of his story in our message,
since we know not all readers take the time to
read all our supplemental resources, his
testimony is worth the few minutes it takes to
read and will bless you, especially if you grew
up in that era.
Yesterday
we shared about how Earl Martin, a retired
preacher, shared an annual verse in church at
the beginning of each year. Earl's son, Galen,
son responded to our message informing us that
this last Sunday he stood up in the same church
and shared his annual verse
with the congregation, Ephesians 6:19,20,
"Pray also for me, that whenever I speak,
words may be given me so that I will
fearlessly make known the mystery of the
gospel, for which I am an ambassador in
chains. Pray that I may declare it fearlessly,
as I should."
Axios
article: Exclusive poll: America's
fears rise for 2022
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& Brooksyne
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