Introductory Scripture: St. Mark 5:22-24; 35-42
Mark 5:36 - "As soon as Jesus heard the word that was spoken, he saith unto the ruler of the synagogue, BE NOT AFRAID, ONLY BELIEVE."
Body:
What is Satan’s aim?
John 10:10 says, "The thief comes only to steal, and kill, and destroy, I came that they might have life, and might have it abundantly."
Satan’s aim is to destroy FAITH in the Believer! When he (the Believer) stops, and turns away from the Word of God, and focuses his attention upon the five senses, then FEAR develops! Then he’s walking by sight, and NOT BY FAITH.
Listen to God’s Word: "For we walk by faith, not by sight..." (2 Corinthians 5:7).
Then FAITH is developed by hearing God’s Word! Not listening to Satan’s word!
Romans 10:17 says, "So faith comes from hearing, and hearing by the Word of God."
If you don’t have the Word of God dwelling richly in you, then Satan can come at any moment, and bring fear in your life.
Listen to the Paul’s advise: "Let the word of Christ richly dwell within you;" (Colossians 3:16).
That’s why Jesus said, "BE NOT AFRAID JAIRUS (Don’t give heed to Satan’s word! Listen instead to MY WORDS!), Yes, ONLY BELIEVE!"
Webster’s New World Dictionary says concerning FEAR..."Anxious anticipation of danger, pain, fright."
That’s why God’s Word says, "Be anxious for nothing but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God."
Once you believe Satan’s report, and focus on fear - then doubt will arise! That’s why Jesus said what he did...listen, "As soon as Jesus heard the word that was spoken...(the word of Satan)...He SAID..."Be not afraid, only believe."
Don’t believe Satan’s report! Satan’s words will not do away with GOD’S WORD nor will your unbelief! Just because I say, "Ah, that’s not so! Or, how can it be?" It’ll rob you from victory - but, God’s Word remains unchanged!
Romans 3:3 says, "What then? If some did not believe, their unbelief will not nullify the faithfulness of God, will it?"
Satan works on FEAR, but we have God’s NATURE! And if that’s so, how should we then react to fear?
Job 39:22 says, "He laughs at fear and is not dismayed; And he does not turn back from the sword."
II Peter 1:3-4 again says, "According as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue: Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises; that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust."
HIS DIVINE NATURE!! In God there is no FEAR! In Christ there is NO FEAR! So, then it should be the same IN HIS CREATION!
Proverbs 3:25-26 says, "Do not be afraid of sudden fear, Nor of the onslaught of the wicked when it comes; For the Lord will be your confidence, And will keep your foot from being caught."
With Jesus liberation has come from the snare of the enemy, my friend! No longer can the enemy grip us with his fear! JESUS HAS SET US FREE!
Isaiah 14:3 says, "And it shall come to pass in the day that the Lord shall give thee rest from thy sorrow, and FROM THY FEAR, and from the hard bondage wherein thou wast made to serve."
JESUS SAID, "The Spirit of the LORD is upon me, because he hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor; he hath sent me to heal the brokenhearted, TO PREACH DELIVERANCE TO THE CAPTIVES, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised, to preach the acceptable year of the Lord."
(St. Luke 4:18-19).
But, you need to allow that Word to dwell richly within you! Heed NOT to the words of the enemy!
Listen, "And he (Jesus) said unto them, Take heed what ye hear:" (St. Mark 4:24). Or, as another translation has it, "Take care what you listen to;"
"As soon as Jesus heard the word that was spoken,"...
Jesus wants us to "take care of what we listen to!" And if we don’t have that WORD (God’s WORD)in your hearts and lives; we might focus our attention on the enemies’ words, and dwell on FEAR, and DOUBT! Yes, UNBELIEF!
St. Mark 4:15 says, "And these are they by the way side, where the word is sown; but when they have heard, Satan cometh immediately and taketh away the word that was sown in their hearts."
Jesus says to you and I, "Fear not, don’t listen to what the enemy has to say! Listen to what I have said unto you! The enemy is the father of lies! Don’t listen to him!"
"Son, Daughter - ONLY BELIEVE!!" "Be not dismayed!"
John 16:33 again declares, "These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you have tribulation, but take courage; I have over-come the world."
Whenever you listen to the Words of Jesus - the outcome is ALWAYS THE SAME!
St. Mark 5:41 says, "And he took the damsel by the hand, and said unto her, Talitha cumi; which is, being interpreted, Damsel, I say unto thee, arise; And straightway the damsel arose, and walked;"
Oh, VICTORY IN JESUS! No wonder Paul said joyfully, "I no longer live, but Christ liveth within me!"
Oh, that old nature is done away with, and Satan has no place in this NEW NATURE! Even our minds have been programned with HIS THOUGHTS! As we begin to learn how to walk in VICTORY!
Romans 12:2 declares, "And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect."
II Timothy 1:7 says, "For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind."
Satan should be the ONE who should be FEARFUL OF US - God’s Children! James 4:7 declares, "Submit therefore to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you."
Deuteronomy 28:7 says, "The Lord will cause your enemies who rise up against you to be defeated before you; they shall come out against you one way and shall flee before you seven ways."
THE LAW OF FEAR works ONLY where God’s WORD is not in operation!!
And finally, listen to these last two scriptures with your spiritual ears carefully, 1 John 4:18 - "There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear, because fear involves punishment, and the one who fears is not perfected in love."
1 John 4:16 - "And we have come to know and have believed the love which God has for us. God is love, and the one who abides in love abides in God, and God abides in him."
Praise the Lord...where "LOVE" abides...we abide in "GOD"...and when we abide in "GOD"..."LOVE CASTS OUT FEAR!" Satan has been defeated, and JESUS IS LORD!
