(Photo courtesy of The Rock Church San Diego)

Do Not Be Afraid

By Pastor Vincent Freeman

Is it possible to live without fear?

Many pastors and teachers will tell you that one of the most given commands in all of scripture is, “Fear not” or “Do not be afraid.” By some counts, it is written 365 times – many suggesting that it’s God’s daily reminder to us. It’s clear this is something God wants us to know and obey, but how often do our lives accurately reflect this truth?

Let’s be honest, it’s easy to live in fear. We are bombarded daily with fear-based messaging from drug companies, political parties, social media, and even friends and family members. We live in a skeptical society where it is acceptable to fear that which we do not yet understand.

We have the fear of missing out, the fear of failure, the fear of success, the fear of public speaking, the fear of never falling in love and dying alone, and the list goes on forever.

Once we are filled with fear, we desire control. When we realize we can’t control everything, that grows into anxiety. Increased anxiety then gives birth to more fear.

We can spend so much time researching what we don’t know and worrying about what may not come to pass instead of starting off with the freedom and peace God has promised us through Jesus!

It is so easy to forget who God is. When we do not see him in his glory, power, and majesty, it prohibits us from seeing ourselves accurately. When we view God correctly and take the focus off of ourselves and our problems, we can see the incredible reasons why we don’t have to fear.

Here’s a couple of passages that showcase how we should see ourselves because of Christ’s work:

We are holy, blameless and above reproach before God (Col 1:21-22).

We have been set free from the law of sin and death (Rom 8:2).

We are raised to life in Christ (Rom 6:11, Col 2:12).

We are free from the spiritual powers of this world (Col 2:20).

When we trust in the Lord, our minds will be at peace (Isaiah 26:3).

God has provided everything we need to live a godly life (2 Pet 1:3).

When we follow God’s word, we will have abundant peace. (Psalm 119:165)

If we learned anything in 2020, it was that we are not in control. No one knew the global, financial, and economic impact this year would have. But one thing never changed, our standing before God. Because of Christ’s finished work on the cross, all of the above are true. Because of these truths, we can walk in confidence and not be afraid of whatever life brings.

As you begin each day, I would encourage to start by aligning your mindset with the kingdom of heaven. Pick a few of the declarations above and affirm the Gospel in your heart. If you are a disciple of Jesus, the Gospel gives you power over fear.

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Find out more about Pastor Vincent Freeman and The Rock Church Online Campus by visiting online.sdrock.com