Moving From Fear to Faith
Scripture: Joshua 2: 5-24
“And as soon as we had heard these things, our hearts did melt, neither did there remain any more courage in any man, because of you: for the Lord your God, he is God in heaven above, and in earth beneath.” (Joshua 2:11 KJV)
Fear is a normal emotion that God has designed and placed in us to alert us to danger. As we grow and mature physically and spiritually we become more aware and astute to the alerts. The emotion of fear should not be ignored, rather it should be controlled. Our response to fear is where we are challenged. In Psalms 56:3-4 it states: “When I am afraid, I trust in you. In God – I boast in his promise – in God I trust, I am not afraid.” What can mere men do to me? The word of God states clearly that fear will come to us but when fear comes we must trust in God. We must have faith. Our scripture lesson outlines our process of moving from fear to faith.
Recognize the Power of God:
The first step of moving out of fear and into faith is recognizing the power of God. Rehab gives us the model for exhibiting the emotion of fear but in control. As the story goes, Joshua sent out two spies to view the land that God had promised them in Jerioch. Once they entered into Jericho they met Rahab. As Rahab encountered the two men she was fearful. She recognized the power of the Lord; she had the fear of God himself. “For we have heard how the Lord dried up the water of the Red sea for you, when ye came out of Egypt; and what ye did unto the two kings of the Amorites, that were on the other side Jordan, Sihon and Og, whom ye utterly destroyed.” (Joshua 2:10 KJV) We serve the same God that Joshua served. We need to recognize His power and authority. Our God is the God that rules heaven and earth. Therefore, when we are shaken by fear, we should never doubt that our God will not protect us from evil. Instead recognize that God will make provisions for us and deliver us out of the hands of the enemies.
Make a Covenant with God:
It is important that we engage in a partnership with God. Once Rehab realized and acknowledge the power of God by confessing that he was the Lord of Lords. She aligned herself with the right people and engaged in a covenant with God. “Now therefore, I pray you, swear unto me by the Lord, since I have shewed you kindness, that ye will also shew kindness unto my father's house, and give me a true token: And that ye will save alive my father, and my mother, and my brethren, and my sisters, and all that they have, and deliver our lives from death. And the men answered her, Our life for yours, if ye utter not this our business. And it shall be, when the Lord hath given us the land, that we will deal kindly and truly with thee” (Joshua 2: 12-14 KJV). Often times we engage in partnerships with the wrong people. Due to fear we partner because we seem outnumbered. The majority of the people in the office, in the community, and even in the church are against the Lord’s vision; and therefore we find ourselves just going with the flow and the majority. Rehab, however does the opposite. I am amazed that in this scripture lesson Rehab begins to partner with the two men, verses partnering with the entire city. Her partnership choice reminds me of the scripture that says if the Lord is for you, then He is more than the whole world against you. God wants us to partner with him. God is telling us that He is all we need. The only thing that we have to do recognize that we deserve his love. God wants to use us to demonstrate his power.
Find Yourself worthy enough to be used by God:
God really wants to use us to show the world that he is the almighty God. The problem is we think that God can only use certain people. Rehab would be considered as one of the most unlikely people to be used by God. Rehab didn’t hold a respectful job; she was a prostitute. However, once she aligned with God’s plan she became a woman of mercy and great faith. God already has a plan for your life; and it is a plan to prosper and not to perish. Rahab knew her worth, and she saved not only herself but she also saved her entire household. When we Acknowledge Gods Power, Partner with Him, and Allow Him to Use Us, we can move from fear to faith. Walking in faith will take us from hysteria to worship, from a place of distress to a plan of action, from depression to joyfulness, from abuse to love, and from being bound to being set free.