| Can fear and faith live alongside each other in the one | | | | rebuilding and restoring the walls of Jerusalem, his |
| person? Whatever made you ask that question? Well, | | | | enemies tried to frighten him so that the work could be |
| there is a lot of fear out there just now and may just | | | | stopped. |
| be increasing as this serious financial crisis continues | | | | Nehemiah turned to God in prayer and was able to |
| and as the political disturbances and bloody global | | | | make wise practical decisions. Jeremiah knew that |
| conflicts appear to be increasing at an alarming rate. | | | | combination of fear and faith too and he was |
| Yes, fear and faith are both very real and it is possible | | | | unashamed to write about it in his prophetic book. |
| to experience both simultaneously. | | | | In fact, it would be difficult to write about any spiritual |
| Consider these men of faith in New Testament times. | | | | leader who did not know something of that trembling |
| When Paul came to Corinth he experienced | | | | and fear alongside a real live vibrant faith in Jesus |
| weakness, fear and much trembling, and his faith was | | | | Christ. If a man told me that he had no fear and no |
| strong. His preaching was not an exhibition of oratorical | | | | sense of apprehension I would be prepared to |
| wisdom, nor persuasive words, but the power of God | | | | question and challenge such an assertion. |
| flowed through him, and many lives were touched and | | | | Having been over forty years in the front line ministry |
| influenced. | | | | in the Church of Jesus Christ I can certainly say that |
| What might a man do when he senses fear? He can | | | | these degrees of fear and apprehension have never |
| face it and get on with what God wants him to do, or | | | | left me. A wise mentor told me almost fifty years ago |
| he can compromise, stay silent, retreat, and run away. | | | | that when these emotions and feelings go and leave |
| If fear is not conquered it could squash faith. | | | | you it may be time for you to leave that field of |
| King David knew what it was to fear, and he ran, but | | | | service and ministry. When we think we can do it in |
| he did not run away. He ran into the safety and | | | | our own strength, using only our own gifts and abilities |
| security of the arms of God. | | | | and talents, it may just be the moment to consider |
| This was the source of Paul's confidence too. This is | | | | one's realistic position. |
| why he was able to speak with such courage and | | | | One healthy fear is the thought of letting God down, or |
| boldness. He knew Jesus Christ was with him, and he | | | | wasting your life, when you know you could have |
| knew that anointing presence of the Holy Spirit, which | | | | served more obediently. The fear of God is much |
| can inspire a man to take what might be regarded as | | | | neglected and overlooked, but it is the beginning of |
| risks. | | | | wisdom. The fear of God may not make you clever |
| Taking your eyes off God, and looking at the situation | | | | but it will enable you to become wise. |
| you are in, can open the door to overwhelming fear. | | | | That is where fear and faith are assets, and we need |
| When Nehemiah was at the height of his project, | | | | every asset available to us in these present days. |