FEAR transformed to COURAGE

“On the evening of that first day of the week, when the disciples were together,
with the doors locked for fear of the Jews…” John 20:19

After the arrest and crucifixion of Jesus, the disciples were paralyzed by fear.  They locked themselves away to hide out from the Jews.

Maybe you’ve been there.  Maybe fear has a grip on you even now.

Fear marginalizes us.  It compromises us.  It keeps us immobilized and ineffective.

What are you afraid of?  Failure? Loss? Embarrassment?  Death?  Something else?

In II Timothy 1:7 we read:

“For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.”

The spirit of fear does not come from God.  Therefore, it must come from the enemy.

With God, we have power, and love and a sound mind.

But when we allow the enemy to have his way and keep us paralyzed in fear – it leads to being powerless, being without love, and making poor decisions.

If we are following our fears, perhaps we are quenching the Spirit in our lives.  God wants us to live in freedom from fear – -to live lives characterized by power, and love and a sound mind – all which come from Him.

Jesus is transforming the disciples from cowards to courageous men of God. He is doing it first of all by His presence.  He comes to them.  His presence brings power to overcome.  This same Jesus promises in Matthew 28:20:

“I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”

God says, “Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.”

His presence drives out fear. 

And His presence also brings peace.  In fact, the first word Jesus says to His disciples when He comes to them is PEACE.

“Peace be with you!  As the Father has sent me, I am sending you.”John 20:21

What comes to mind when you think of peace?

• 1960s-era protestors holding up two fingers?
• A treaty between warring nations?
• An argument-free family reunion?

Peace is more than the absence of conflict. It’s more than relationships between neighbors and nations. Ultimate peace is peace with God. Consciously or unconsciously, it’s the longing of every human heart. And it can only be found in Jesus–the way, the truth, and the life. (John 14:6)

Our sin separates us from God and puts us at war with God. But through Jesus, we have peace with God.

Romans 5: 1 says, “…we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.”

What are the implications of having peace with God? Certainly, eternal security for then – the peace that provides salvation. But what about now? What does peace with God bring to the believer in this life?

Among other things, it brings joy, contentment, and satisfaction that can be found in nothing and no one else. Paul described it in Philippians 4:7 as the peace “which transcends all understanding.”

Anxiety, worry, and angst should have no place in our lives. If those are present, it’s time to draw near to God, to lean into Him and onto Him. A lack of peace might indicate our eyes are on our circumstances and not on our Lord. Because of Jesus, we can trade-up – -give God the worry and receive His peace.

Jesus gave us a heads up in John 16:33, “In this world you will have trouble.” But that trouble does not mean we have to respond with a troubled spirit. It doesn’t mean we take to our beds and pull up the covers and keep the blinds closed.  We don’t have to live filled with fear!

Peace with God allows us to face trouble with peace because we face trouble with Him.

The disciples had had Jesus WITH them for the last three years. Now Jesus will bring His Spirit ON them. In John 20:22, we read, “And with that he breathed on them and said, “Receive the Holy Spirit.”

Jesus had been with them. Now He breathes the Holy Spirit on them.  And later they will be instructed to wait for the Holy Spirit to come at Pentecost to live in them.

It is the power of the Holy Spirit that enables us to be courageous! It is the Power of the Holy Spirit that enables us to live for Him.

Jesus gave them an assignment.  He said in verse 21, “As the Father has sent me,I am sending you.”

My friends, Jesus always equips for what He calls.  He doesn’t’ send them out without power. He doesn’t send them out to fail. He sends them out with the Holy Spirit! He sends them out with power, with authority, and sends them out for VICTORY!

Those cowards became courageous! They went out in power because they went out with the Holy Spirit!

Our identity in Christ over 2000 years later is living proof of their courageous obedience. They were faithful. Their faith trumped their fear!

The disciples were transformed from fear to courage.  They left their hidey hole.  They went forth and preached the gospel of peace and lives were transformed.  They were no longer afraid.  They went out with boldness and with joy. They walked in power and obedience.

And just like those disciples then, we can claim this truth for ourselves today:

The child of God sees fear transformed to COURAGE!

What would you step and do if you knew you could not fail because you knew and God were doing it together?

You can access the complete audio teaching for John 20 here: http://fbcsiloam.podbean.com/e/the-gospel-of-john-chapter-20-lesson-20/

Photo attribution:  http://www.livingwateraffirmingministries.com/2014/02/13/be-courageous/