How do we go from fear to faith? Last week, Steve highlighted the importance of our faith coming by hearing the Word of God and then responding to it. In this week’s episode, he takes us to Matthew 8:23-26. A storm was raging, and fear overtook the disciples. They woke Jesus, and He asked them, “Why are you so afraid?”
Remember that a number of the disciples were fishermen by trade, so they had likely seen and experienced many ferocious storms in their lives—storms that likely wrecked boats and took human lives. So their fear was rooted in their past experiences; their past experiences dictated their thoughts and became their present reality. And unfortunately, they allowed that reality to overtake the greater reality that would have bolstered their faith: Jesus Christ, the Son of God, was in the boat with them!
Jesus asks us the same question. Why are you so afraid? Jesus is in the boat with us, right beside us in our lives, and yet we don’t have the faith to prevail and be victorious. Fear doesn’t have to run your life! You can move from fear to faith by making the following choices:
Draw near to Jesus.
Don’t let past experiences dictate the present.
Center your life on God’s purpose and will—not your own.
Disconnect yourself from fear by connecting to Jesus through faith.
The more you draw near, the less you fear!
Steve Gray
When we let go of fear, our lives open up and expand. You could be a leader in the next great move of God! God would never disqualify you, but fear could. Don’t let it! Let’s move from fear to faith together and carry the power and presence of God to the world!
23 Then he got into the boat and his disciples followed him.
24 Suddenly a furious storm came up on the lake, so that the waves swept over the boat. But Jesus was sleeping.
25 The disciples went and woke him, saying, “Lord, save us! We’re going to drown!”
26 He replied, “You of little faith, why are you so afraid?” Then he got up and rebuked the winds and the waves, and it was completely calm.
Romans 8:28 (NIV)
And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.
Isaiah 54:17 (NKJV)
No weapon formed against you shall prosper, And every tongue which rises against you in judgment You shall condemn. This is the heritage of the servants of the LORD, And their righteousness is from Me,” Says the LORD.
Questions:
Can you remember a time in your life when you became fearful based on past experiences?
Did you ultimately respond out of fear, based on those past experiences?
Do you live like you are “in the boat with Jesus” every day?
Has fear affected how you act and get involved within your church?
What actions can you take and things can you change today to draw nearer to God and get rid of fear?
Episode Notes:
3:37Past experience was dictating their thoughts. Past experience was ruling their present experience.
4:37The more you draw near, the less you fear!
9:15 Most of the time fear is dictating our lives and holding us captive to things that don’t matter or aren’t even going to happen.
10:12When you get off onto your purpose, not everything’s going to work for you.
11:43Faith is a connector. Faith connects us to God.
12:48Fear is connected to your old, and your new nature doesn’t know what to do with it! Your new nature in Jesus wants to walk by faith and get you connected to God.
