April 19
1 Samuel 30:1-31; 1 Chronicles 12:20-22; 1 Samuel 31:1-13; 1 Chronicles 10:1-14; 1 Chronicles 9:40-44; 2 Samuel 4:4; 2 Samuel 1:1-27
Are you living in fear? Though in many ways our society is crumbling, certainly illness and death has surrounded us, the question again remains do you find yourself living in fear or confidently knowing that you are in your Master’s hand and nothing escapes God’s watchful eye. In speaking with my patients and others this is a frequent conversation that I bring up. For the Christian, this should be a time of boldness, not fear. We read in 1 Corinthians 15:55, “ O death, where is your victory? O death, where is your sting?” If we seek purpose, rather than longevity, nothing should make us afraid. From Psalm 139:16, we know that all of our days are numbered before we take our first breath. So God already knows if we are going to die in 3 months, 3 years or 30 years. We say we trust Him, then why be afraid? More importantly, if you have given your life to Jesus, repented and accepted His sacrifice as payment for your sins, then when you breathe your last on earth, your next breath will be in heaven with Jesus. We have already been told that heaven is far better than anything that we have experienced on earth. So, how many times must we read the words, “Fear Not” in Scripture before we listen to God’s words and make the choice not to fear.
David was backsliding badly when he made the decision to flee from Saul into the land of the Philistines in 1 Samuel 27:1. For the previous years, which were many, David sought God and God placed His hedge of protection around David. But in a moment of fear, rather than faith, David, without seeking God, fled. He spent the next period of time, which lasted over a year slowly backsliding. When he finally hit rock bottom in 30:6, as his own men were about to stone him, we finally see David return to trusting in God, and stop acting in fear, as we read in 30:7-8, “ Then he said to Abiathar the priest, “Bring me the ephod!” So Abiathar brought it. Then David asked the Lord, “Should I chase after this band of raiders? Will I catch them?” And the Lord told him, “Yes, go after them. You will surely recover everything that was taken from you!”” Concerning death we read of the deaths of two wonderful men: Samuel in 25:1, and Jonathon in 31:2. Jonathon’s body even gets desecrated. Though Samuel lived a long life, Jonathon was struck down in the prime of his life. But from Jesus’ vivid description of Sheol or Hades in Luke 16:19-31 both breathed their last on planet earth, and immediately were ushered into Abraham’s bosom, which was a beautiful place awaiting heaven’s acceptance of them which occurred after the death of Jesus around 1000 years later.
Everything in our culture screams fear. The virus with its many death trackers creates fear. The wearing of masks, social distancing creates fear. The turmoil in our nation, riots in the streets, all scream fear. Fear is a manipulator and if one succumbs to it, you will willingly do almost anything to free yourself and submit to anything or anyone. Rather than seeking some earthly solution which will in the long run only produce more fear, why not turn to the Great Physician, Jesus Christ who says, “Fear not”. He is willing to carry your burdens (Matthew 11:28-30). He has done the work for you and paid the price to free you from your bondage to sin and fear of death (John 19:30). He will never leave us nor forsake us (Hebrews 13:5). He promises that if we seek Him we will never be separated from Him on earth or afterwards (Romans 8:35-39). There are no coincidences, what we are going through as a society and personally are not by accident. It took David to hit rock bottom. May we stop being afraid and seek Him, and allow peace and boldness to describe us. Our answer is Jesus.
Messages from Pastor Lloyd Pulley: