Fear Not! A Journey From Fear To Freedom (Part 2)Sample

Listen!

“When King Hezekiah's officials came to Isaiah, Isaiah said to them, ‘Tell your master, This is what the Lord says: Do not be afraid of what you have heard — those words with which the underlings of the king of Assyria have blasphemed me. Listen! I am going to put such a spirit in him that when he hears a certain report, he will return to his own country, and there I will have him cut down with the sword'" (2 Kings 19:5-7 NIV).

The key word in this entire passage is listen. When God speaks, we need to listen! Then, we need to heed what He says in His word. If you want to know what the future holds, then read how the world is going to end. Spoiler alert: God and the good guys win in the end. 

Like Hezekiah, you are going to get some bad news in life and that is a fact. The good news is that you do not have to go through it alone. “The Lord Himself goes before you and will be with you; He will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged" (Deuteronomy 31:8 NIV).

Jesus said, “I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven” (Matthew 16:19 NIV). The keys are sitting on your bookstand right there in your Bible. Jesus said, “I will give you.” Have you asked Him for the keys? In Proverbs we are told, “Every word of God is flawless; He is a shield to those who take refuge in him” (Proverbs 30:5 NIV). You have the keys to unlock the mysteries of the universe written by the One who formed it! 

At the end of your life, you will be tested on this information! Paraphrasing, Jesus is going to ask you something like this: What have you done with what I gave you? It’s all right; this is an open-book test. Go ahead and seek the answers to life now. Solomon tells us to “look for it as for silver and search for it as for hidden treasure” (Proverbs 2:4 NIV). God’s word is better than silver and gold!

The only thing God does not tell us in His word is when. When will Jesus return? Why does God not tell us this? To keep us on our toes. “You also must be ready, because the Son of Man will come at an hour when you do not expect Him" (Luke 12:40 NIV). Be ready, be prepared, listen!

Prayer: Lord, help me to be especially sensitive to my hearing skills. May I listen twice as much as I speak, but yet be very liberal in applying Your keys to all my life situations. Whenever You return, I pray I’ll be ready and so will my household. In Jesus name, Amen.