Fear, the Enemy of Faith

Mar 5:36 As soon as Jesus heard the word that was spoken, he saith unto the ruler of the synagogue, Be not afraid, only believe

If there was only one thing which I should remember about Smith Wigglesworth, it must be the words of this verse "Only Believe".

The verse begins with 'As soon as Jesus heard the word that was spoken' - there's a sense of urgency, an immediacy, a reaction to the words which was spoken. What was spoken just before that made Jesus react in such a manner?

It was the ruler's messenger who came to tell the ruler, 'Your daughter is dead. Why trouble the Teacher any further?'

The troubles we face while in this world may not be the same as that of this ruler, but our reaction may very well be the same. She is DEAD. That's it! It's the end! Nothing else can be done!

Like the ruler, we come to Jesus, pleading for His help, praying in earnestness - but there's a fear that lurks in the back of our mind, reminding us how severe the problem is, and that perhaps it's too late for help.

The cancer is already at the final stage! The drug addiction has already taken over my child's life. It's HIV, it's incurable. Autism, depression, anxiety... the list goes on. Can Jeus really do something about this? Even the doctors have given up hope! The fear that there is no way out... and when fear is there, it's impossible to have faith.

To make matters worse, the friends and family members that you confide in, whom you trust the most - they are the ones who adds to your fear and doubt "She is dead. Why trouble the Teacher any further?" The report is already given, your sickness is incurable. Why trouble the church, and the pastors and leaders to pray for you. Just accept the facts.

But we see Jesus reacting to those horrible discouraging words. With an urgency, He immediately turn to tell the father 'Be not afraid, only believe'

The love of Jesus would not allow the father to fear. His love brought such comfort and assurance to a suffering father. Don't be afraid. Trust in Me, and in the power of God. Trust in His love, because His love never fails!

Even as this suffering father longs to see relief for his sick daughter, and goes to great legths to find a cure and a healing for her, so God our Father also loves us the same. He wouldn't sit back and watch our suffering. Instead He sent His Son to bring us the cure, and the healing which we need.

Only Believe. Fear says it's the end. Love says BELIEVE. In what?

In His love. That He loves us so much He gave His only begotten Son to save us and to heal us. If He couldn't heal me, then He had sent Jesus to suffer the stripes and the shame and the cruelty of the cross for nothing.

If God would pay such a price, it's because He knows He can heal and save, and He desires, and wants and will that we receive the full blessing of it.

Only Believe! For all the spiritual blessing has been given to us in Christ, and all blessings can only be received by faith.

We are utterly blessed by the Most High, whose power has already been manifested and declared to us through His beloved Son, Jesus Christ.

Receive it, for it is God's will that we should have it, in order that He might show forth His glory through His Son, that all must confess that Jesus Christ is the Son of God, the Lord of all. That all Creation should honor the Son, love and adore Him, and praise His name, now and forever more!