Sookhdeo Lifting up the Downcast

1. Auflage 2021
ISBN: 978-1-952450-10-5
Verlag: Isaac Publishing
Format: EPUB
Kopierschutz: PC/MAC/eReader/Tablet/DL/kein Kopierschutz

E-Book, Englisch, 134 Seiten

Life can bring us many challenges, uncertainties and sorrows. Sometimes, like the psalmist, we are downcast and disturbed, dejected and in turmoil, anxious and fearful, overwhelmed, even despairing. Perhaps God seems far away and we feel bereft and alone. Many believers through the centuries have felt like this at times. And they have left us a rich treasury of writings, which can help us in our own struggles. The author's prayer is that this short book will bring its readers peace, comfort and strength to carry on, through the Word of God and the words of His faithful people. Then, like the psalmist, we can once more put our hope in God and praise Him.

Autoren/Hrsg.

Sookhdeo, Patrick

Leseproben

2 Do not fear, for I am with you So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand. (Isaiah 41:10) One night, as the disciples were rowing across the Sea of Galilee, a sudden storm blew up, most likely caused by an underwater earthquake, which unleashed the powerful wind, which generated the churning waves. The disciples were frightened. They were heading, at Jesus’ command to the other side of the lake, an unknown area. It was night, the time, when according to Jewish cultural belief, demons are especially active. They were on a body of water known as a Sea, and “sea” was, to the Jewish mind, a symbol of chaos and evil. And now they were lashed by a terrible tempest. They were vulnerable - powerless in the face of impending death. Jesus, sleeping on a cushion at the back, did not stir, even when the waves breaking over the small boat began filling it with water. He seemed not to care. (Mark 4:35-41) Many things can contribute to our fears: a sudden and overwhelming event, uncertainty about the future, a sense of powerlessness and inability to control what will happen. Sometimes fear is a useful safeguard, teaching us prudence, keeping us from sticking our hands into fires or boiling water. Perhaps this constructive “fear” should really be called “caution”. But destructive fears can include a pervasive sense of dread and foreboding, a sickening sense of horror, or a sense of utter panic. When fears arise When fears arise And storm clouds fill the skies, When darkness deepens, And sight grows dim, And turns to endless night, Be Thou my guide. Lighten the darkness, Dispel the gloom, And in Thy presence let me hid. Turn Thou my night to day, Chase my fears far away And let me there abide. Patrick Sookhdeo, 202012 The Bible has much to say about fear, and uses many different words for it. But the main message is urging us to trust in God and not to be afraid. It also gives examples of God sending panic on the enemies of His people (1 Samuel 7:10; 14:15; Zechariah 14:13), a panic which leads to their destruction. And the Bible speaks often of another kind of “fear”, the fear of the LORD, which is the beginning of wisdom (Psalm 111:10). This fear is the reverent awe that should rightly fill us as we contemplate the majesty of the God Almighty (Revelation 19:5). After Jesus had calmed the wind and waves, the frightened disciples became terrified with the fear of the Lord, as there dawned on them a new understanding of Jesus’ divine power over nature. Fear is the opposite of faith Jesus asked the disciples in the boat why they were so afraid of the storm, why they had no faith. On another occasion he said to Jairus, about his daughter, “Don’t be afraid; just believe.” (Mark 5:36). For the opposite of faith is not doubt; it is fear. As followers of Christ, we are not meant to live in the grip of destructive fear. For His perfect love casts out our fear (1 John 4:18). What is this faith that Jesus speaks of - the faith that would have kept them from fear? It is a fundamental trust in the Divine and in His purposes, knowing that we are in His hands and that God is in perfect control of every aspect of life, from earthquakes to minuscule organisms. This trust is founded on Jesus. “See, I lay a stone in Zion, a tested stone, a precious cornerstone for a sure foundation; the one who relies on it will never be stricken with panic.” (Isaiah 28:16) We all know the glorious ending of this story, when the disciples shook their Master awake and He rebuked the raging wind and waves, bringing immediate calm. Anna Laetitia Waring (1820/23-1910), born in Wales, had a quiet but cheerful personality. She began writing poetry in her teens, learned Hebrew and read the psalms in Hebrew every day. The hymn below was one of 19 that she published in 1850 in a collection called Hymns and Meditations by A. L. W. She never married but devoted her life to philanthropic work in the Bristol area, especially prison-visiting and helping prisoners who had been released. She had a strong aversion to publicity, which is probably why little is known of her. It is believed that her last years were full of suffering and pain. Safety in God In heavenly love abiding, No change my heart shall fear: And safe is such confiding, For nothing changes here: The storm may roar around me, My heart may low be laid; But God is round about me, And can I be dismayed? Wherever He may guide me, No want shall turn me back; My Shepherd is beside me, And nothing can I lack. His wisdom ever waketh; His sight is never dim; He knows the way He taketh, And I will walk with Him. Green pastures are before me, Which yet I have not seen; Bright skies will soon be o’er me, Where the dark clouds have been. My hope I cannot measure; My path to life is free; My Saviour has my treasure, And He will walk with me. Anna Laetitia Waring, 1850 For the disciples, Jesus was asleep and therefore it seemed to them that He did not care what was happening. But, whilst Jesus was asleep at the stern of the boat, He was still the Son of God, and His Father neither slumbered nor slept (Psalm 121:4). His watchful eye was over them and His care for them had not ceased. Commanded not to fear Some three years later, as He prepared His disciples for the greatest period of uncertainty they would ever face, Jesus said to them, “Do not let your hearts be troubled. You believe in God; believe also in me.” (John 14:1). He repeated His command: “Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.” (John 14:27). The word translated “troubled” in John 14 is tarasso (to stir up, to agitate). The same word is translated “terrified” on a later occasion when the same disciples saw Jesus walking on that same Sea of Galilee (Mark 6:50). Our Lord Jesus is commanding us not to be afraid. In fact, the words “do not be afraid” occur 70 times in the Bible (NIV) in addition to similar phrases like “do not fear”. In the New Testament the Greek word mainly used for “fear” is phobos, from which our English word “phobia” comes. The original meaning of phobos was taking flight, or running away, because of being frightened. So it has a nuance of dread, caused by intimidation or terror. Phobos is used of natural human fear, guilty fear, altruistic fear for the physical or spiritual welfare of others, and awe or reverence. Other relevant words are deilia, meaning timidity, fearfulness or cowardice, and eulabeia used to mean caution as well as reverence and godly fear. The New Testament records 14 times when the reassuring command not to fear or be afraid was on Jesus’ lips. For example, when walking on the unruly waters of the Sea of Galilee, He reassured His terrified disciples, saying, “Take courage! It is I. Don’t be afraid.” (Mark 6:50). It was the same “Don’t be afraid” for Peter, when he was overcome by his own sinfulness after the miraculous catch of fishes (Luke 5:10). It was the same again for Peter, James and John at the Transfiguration (Matthew 17:7) and when He appeared in dazzling glory to John on the island of Patmos (Revelation 1:17). With regard to persecutors, Jesus said, … do not be afraid of them … Do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul … even the very hairs of your head are all numbered. So don’t be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows. (Matthew 10:26,28,30-31) To the church of Smyrna, on the point of being severely tested by persecution, He said, “Do not be afraid of what you are about to suffer.” (Revelation 2:10). Peter, in his letter to persecuted Christians, wrote, Do not give way to fear … Do not fear their threats; do not be frightened. (1 Peter 3:6,14) How to banish fear But how do we obey commands like these, whether it is persecution we face or other daunting situations? How do we learn to rest in His perfect love so that our hearts are fearless and untroubled? Face thou thy fear Face thou thy fear For the Saviour, He is near. Make firm your stand And He will grasp your hand. Cast doubt aside And let Him decide. Lean on His heavenly breast, His purposes are best. Question not His gentle care But see His loving tear. Yes, see His tear-filled searching eye For it’s on you His gaze doth lie. Patrick Sookhdeo, 202013 To obey this command we must fill our hearts with Jesus. We must focus our minds on Him. Then, as the old hymn says, “the things of earth will grow strangely dim in the...