Fear Not

Fear Not; 2 Kings 6:8-23

Between 1875 and 1883 there was a professional thief whose very name struck fear as he terrorized the Wells Fargo stage line. From San Francisco to New York, his name became synonymous with the danger of the frontier. He robbed 29 different stagecoach crews. Amazingly, he did it all without firing a shot. Instead, Black Bart used fear to paralyze his victims.

Fear is a powerful emotion -- it can grip us with an immobilizing terror (Dreams). It can keep us from succeeding in life. Fear wants to steal your joy, take your courage and leave you cold, naked and trembling. Everyone has a fear… You may have a fear of death, failure, defeat, rejection, or a host of other things.

But God wants to encourage us these words, “Fear Not” These words are used 88 times in the Bible -- and is mostly spoken by God to his people. This phrase occurs in our text today.

Before we begin our story let me introduce to the list of characters - Elisha; Joram the king of the Israel; Ben Hadad the king of Syria; Elisha’s servant. Background. Vs.8-14. Ben Hadad was making war against Israel and he was setting up camps in various places, each time he set up a camp God would reveal it to Elisha, and then Elisha would reveal it to Joram.

This happened several times, so Ben Hadad caught on that someone was telling Joram about his plans. So he accused his servants and one of his servants said that it was Elisha that was telling Joram. So they sought out to find and capture Elisha. Once they found him they surrounded him with horses and chariots and soldiers.

Vs.15 Early in the morning Elisha’s servant woke up and went outside and saw that they were surrounded. “OH, MY LORD WHAT SHALL WE DO?” Elisha, “Fear not, for we are more than they.” How could he say that, there were only two of them and they were completely surrounded by the Syrian army?

It wasn’t that Elisha was an optimist, it was that he was able to see the armies of the living God and his servant wasn’t. So Elisha prayed, “OH LORD, OPEN HIS EYES SO HE MAY SEE”. When God opened his eyes he was able to see that the mountains were full of horses and chariots of fire.

Have you ever felt like that servant? You’re trapped by your fears and there seems to be no way out. If so, it’s time to pray and ask God to open your eyes. Let me tell you what happens when God opens your eyes...

I. YOU WILL SEE THE TRUE NATURE OF THE BATTLE

Elisha’s servant thought the battle was 2 against the whole Syrian army. But God and His spiritual army stood by Elisha. Like this servant so many people are blind to the true nature of the battle, because they have taken their eyes off of God and have focused on the world or on their problems so they feel out-numbered. When we look to God, He opens our eyes and we can see, with God we are more than they.

We not only see that we are the majority, but that the battle is spiritual in nature, Ephesians 6:12, “For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.” We are in a spiritual battle.

The conflict is over authority. Jesus has all rightful authority Colossians 1:16-17, “For by Him all things were created that are in heaven and that are on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or principalities or powers. All things were created by Him and for Him. And He is before all things, and in Him all things consist.” He even created the angels, but Satan (a fallen angel) rebelled and attempted to steal His authority and was cast out of heaven. Now Satan wants to control your life and mine.

Every human being that has ever walked the face of this earth has taken part in this spiritual battle. 1 Peter 5:8, “Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.”

Satan is a thief. He wants to take control of your life. God has full authority, but allows man to have a free will; Satan has no authority but wants total control. We give him control when we walk by the flesh and not by the spirit.

That’s why James 4:7, “Submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you.” – Ephesians 6:10-11, “Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of HIS might. Put on the whole armor of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.”