Why Are You Afraid?

Faith is about trusting God, Jesus. Who is the exact representation of God in Time.

To increase your faith, your trust in God, you must seek Him and get to know Him better. This is the only way.

However, if you refuse to accept God as HE IS, then you begin to make Him into something He is not. That is bad.

The Holy Spirit has been poking me the last few days to put this out there. So, here goes.

Are you so afraid to see that God is in control?

Do you really want so badly to believe YOU had anything to do with a decision to "come" to Christ?

I know this is THE teaching you have grown up with.

I know this is all you have known.

Yet, if you read the book at all, you have seen ALL the scriptures that say that THE choice to come to Christ was made, not by you, but by The Father. That the FAITH to believe in Jesus was GIVEN to you, without ANY action or work on your part...including a decision.

Yes, you have dismissed my writings of it, because you have already dismissed the scriptures that teach it very plainly. I get it. Truth is given through that gift of faith. You can only see what HE wants you to see.

I find this frustrating.

Think I'm losing it? Well, then consider how the co-worker you have been telling about Jesus for years, with great care and using all the intellectual tactics that should convince ANYONE with half a brain.

Consider.

Doesn't it frustrate you?

Of course it does. For you can see the truth. It is as plain as day. They cannot. Your tendency is to first blame yourself.

"I didn't present it well."

"I am terrible at evangelism."

"I just don't have the gift."

It isn't and never was you."

Like salvation, your ABILITY to present the Gospel is irrelevant. God is the One who opens blind eyes and deaf ears. He ALONE does it.

Yet, it makes sense that if you believe you had ANYTHING to do with your salvation, that you ARE in fact responsible in presenting the Good News.

Do you see the dilemma?

However, if you accept the truth. The truth that salvation is a GIFT from God and NO ONE earns it... even by a decision or choice. Then you can see why it is more important to ask God to open eyes than it is to rework your presentation to be more intellectually convincing.

The fact is, if God wanted, I could type one word, and HE could save millions with it.

Food

To you, that makes no sense... unless you really accept that God can and does ANYTHING He wants.

ANYTHING

Faith grows by KNOWING the One you trust, because HE is trustworthy.

Now, let me ask you a question then. Below is a passage from the Bible. Do you believe the Bible is God's Word?

Do you?

Then consider this passage, go back and add the context if you will. The information is the same and it is rather meaty.

Luke 22:31-34

[31] "Simon, Simon, Satan has asked to sift you as wheat.

[32] But I have prayed for you, Simon, that your faith may not fail. And when you have turned back, strengthen your brothers."

[33] But he replied, "Lord, I am ready to go with you to prison and to death."

[34] Jesus answered, "I tell you, Peter, before the rooster crows today, you will deny three times that you know me."

Yes, it is Peter's denial of Jesus.

The first thing to note is that Satan asked God to test Peter. This request was not made to Peter, but to God. What was the test?

Most "teachers" will tell you that the test was if Peter would or would not deny Jesus.

This is wrong. It is wrong because Jesus Himself says that Peter WILL in fact deny Jesus. He says this in all the other accounts, including verse 34 in this passage.

So, ask yourself, and The Holy Spirit, why would Jesus pray to The Father that Peter's faith NOT fail, while knowing full well that Peter would in fact deny Him?

Here is where you find out what eyes you have been given. If you scoff at this and move on, you cannot see.

It is what it is.

It wasn't your choice.

It was and always will be HIS.

"Jesus, God, only foreknew that Peter would deny Him"

OK, then consider the entire passage. Jesus points out that Satan wanted to test Peter. Jesus says the whole scenario before it plays out. Jesus asks The Father to empower Peter's faith. Peter is going to deny Jesus. Peter is then going to RETURN.

Where is the test?

And... who is actually being tested?

Did Peter's faith fail?

If so, was Jesus' prayer found on deaf ears?

Since Jesus is The Father, yet in time, can you wrap your head around a prayer that would meet deaf ears?

"Well, He prayed to not have to go to the cross!"

Yes, and why did He pray that, especially after saying for weeks prior that HIS goal for coming into the world was in fact going to the cross?

These events, these words have a purpose. NOTHING is wasted. NOTHING is out of place. GOD does not make mistakes or attempt to do anything that fails.

HE DOES NOT FAIL. EVER!

Ask the questions!

How else will you get to KNOW God, the Son, the Spirit, AND The Father.

Yes, if you know Jesus at all, you have the Holy Spirit. He lives IN you. You can easily ask Him anything, anytime and anywhere.

Isn't He called by Jesus, the teacher? The Comforter?

So, back to the test. Peter's faith was tested, but it wasn't whether or not He would deny Jesus. That was a given. He was GOING to deny Jesus. No, the test was in the RETURN... which was also a given!

Satan wanted Peter to be tested.

The test was whether or not Peter's faith could withstand a denial, especially after Jesus already had said "anyone who denies me before men, He would deny before His Father!"

This test, including Peter's "choices" were made before Peter made them! Including his "choice" to return!

Now, to answer your question... "What does any of this matter?!"

As with all scripture, the purpose is to apply ALL of it to your very own walk with God.

What if, all of your life, all of your decisions good and bad, have been orchestrated to mold and shape you and those who witness your walk, to a deeper, closer relationship with The Father?

pause...

What would you have to fear?

Your bad choices?

Satan wanting The Father to test you?

If it is in fact true that ALL THINGS are controlled by The Father, and you are His...

Doesn't it say this?

Romans 8:28

28 And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.

Yes, so the question that sticks out here... have YOU been called according to HIS purpose?

This is where your faith. Your eyes shine.

You will know it to be true.

How can you fear then?