Faith and Fear – Both Are a Choice
1. Jesus did not offer no-fault religion as a choice.
a. The man asks, “If You can do anything, have compassion on us and help us” (Mark 9:22 NKJV).
b. Jesus counters, “If you can believe, all things are possible to him who believes” (Mark 9:23 NKJV).
2. What we all need to learn: All things are possible to him who believes.
3. Fear produces unbelief.
a. Jairus, the ruler of the synagogue, came to Jesus with a life and death situation.
Luke 8:41,42,49,50,54,55
41 And behold, there came a man named Jairus, and he was a ruler of the
synagogue. And he fell down at Jesus’ feet and begged Him to come to his house,
42 for he had an only daughter about twelve years of age, and she was dying. But as He went, the multitudes thronged Him.
49 While He was still speaking, someone came from the ruler of the synagogue’s house, saying to him, “Your daughter is dead. Do not trouble the Teacher.”
b. The evil report brought Jarius a temptation to fear.
50 But when Jesus heard it, He answered him, saying, “Do not be afraid; only believe, and she will be made well.”
c. Jesus took command of the situation and spoke words of faith.
54 But He put them all outside, took her by the hand and called, saying, “Little girl, arise.”
55 Then her spirit returned, and she arose immediately. And He commanded that she be given something to eat (NKJV).
4. Fear can come to anyone and we must all resist it and refuse to fear.
a. Who was told to “fear not”? Abraham, Hagar, Isaac, Jacob, Joshua, Gideon, Daniel, Zacharias, Mary, Joseph, Peter, the women at the tomb, and Paul
b. No matter what we face, we do not have to fear.
Psalm 23:4 – Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil; For You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me (NKJV).
4. Jesus asks His disciples why they still had fear instead of faith.
Mark 4:37-41
37 And a great windstorm arose, and the waves beat into the boat, so that
it was already filling.
38 But He was in the stern, asleep on a pillow. And they awoke Him and said to Him, “Teacher, do You not care that we are perishing?”
39 Then He arose and rebuked the wind, and said to the sea, “Peace, be still!” And the wind ceased and there was a great calm.
40 But He said to them, “Why are you so fearful? How is it that you have no faith?”
41 And they feared exceedingly, and said to one another, “Who can this be, that even the wind and the sea obey Him!”(NKJV).
5. Faith and fear are spiritual forces.
Hebrews 11:23 – By faith Moses, when he was born, was hidden three months by his parents, because they saw he was a beautiful child; and they were not afraid of the king’s command”(NKJV).
6. Examples of those who chose wisely and those who chose poorly.
a. Peter, John, Thomas
John 20:4,8,24,25
4 So they both ran together, and the other disciple outran Peter and came
to the tomb first.
8 Then the other disciple, who came to the tomb first, went in also; and he saw and believed.
24 Now Thomas, called the Twin, one of the twelve, was not with them when Jesus came.
25 The other disciples therefore said to him, “We have seen the Lord.” So he said to them, “Unless I see in His hands the print of the nails, and put my finger into the print of the nails, and put my hand into His side, I will not believe”(NKJV).
b. Zacharias
Luke 1:11-13, 18-20
11 Then an angel of the Lord appeared to him, standing on the right side of
the altar of incense.
12 And when Zacharias saw him, he was troubled, and fear fell upon him.
13 But the angel said to him, “Do not be afraid, Zacharias, for your prayer is heard; and your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you shall call his name John.
18 And Zacharias said to the angel, “How shall I know this? For I am an old man, and my wife is well advanced in years.”
19 And the angel answered and said to him, “I am Gabriel, who stands in the presence of God, and was sent to speak to you and bring you these glad tidings.
20 “But behold, you will be mute and not able to speak until the day these things take place, because you did not believe my words which will be fulfilled in their own time”(NKJV).
c. Mary
Luke 1:26-31,34,35,38
26 Now in the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent by God to a
city of Galilee named Nazareth,
27 to a virgin betrothed to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David. The virgin’s name was Mary.
28 And having come in, the angel said to her, “Rejoice, highly favored one, the Lord is with you; blessed are you among women!”
29 But when she saw him, she was troubled at his saying, and considered what manner of greeting this was.
30 Then the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God.
31 “And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bring forth a Son, and shall call His name JESUS.
34 Then Mary said to the angel, “How can this be, since I do not know a man?”
35 And the angel answered and said to her, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Highest will overshadow you; therefore, also, that Holy One who is to be born will be called the Son of God.
38 Then Mary said, “Behold the maidservant of the Lord! Let it be to me according to your word”(NKJV).
7. The choice is ours: faith or fear.
a. What comes out of our mouths is absolutely important.
b. Guard your mouth and look to Jesus, receive faith-filled words, then speak them out, just like Jesus did.
The universe is voice activated.