Managing Fear

Acts 4:29-31
And now, Lord, behold their threatenings: and grant unto thy servants, that with all boldness they may speak thy word, By stretching forth thine hand to heal; and that signs and wonders may be done by the name of thy holy child Jesus. And when they had prayed, the place was shaken where they were assembled together; and they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and they spake the word of God with boldness.

Peter and John walked out of that court room where they had just had a confrontation with the Sanhedrin. Stood before men who not only wanted them to be quite but also wanted to kill them. Do you think they were just a little bit fearful? Their human nature made sure of that. Sometimes when we read the Bible we forget these were real men with real human emotion. You would think that they would be boasting that they had just stared down the most powerful religious rulers in the region. After all they had just seen a great miracle with the healing of the lame man. They had been with Jesus, walked with Him and seen all he could do. I am sure there was a fear emotion that was hovering around Peter and John.
That was not the first time Peter had been scared. Remember when Jesus told him to come to Him on the water and Peter climbed out of the boat. He was scare but he knew Jesus was there and would help him. They had seen God control the high priest and his hinch men. Yet I would bet Peter and John were just a little fearful as they walked out into the sun light looked at each other sighed, took a deep breath and thanked God for what had just happened. If you or I had just been in jail and taken before the high court would we be scared? I would. If we had just experienced a great miracle as did Peter and John would we come out changed? We should.
Peter and John had experienced many miracles in their lives (walking on water, feeding five thousand, seeing the lame walk, the blind see etc.) -- and were changed men because of it. Yet they were still human and concerned about the threats made by the chief priests and elders. Their spiritual side was praising God while their carnal side was shaking in their boots. We are like this as well. When we see God perform miracles in our life we are thankful. Yet there still is concern about some other perceived threat.
Before someone accepts Jesus as saviour you are lost and wandering scared and alone. You have heard there is a great judge who has power to condemn you to a prison or kill you. You are scared. Then Jesus comes along and stands before the court and pleads your case. By His sacrifice you are set free. In other words you have just witnessed a miracle and you are changed because of it. Does all the fear go away? The fear of dyeing does but the human nature and the fear is still there. However now you have someone who stands with you, someone who can protect you can make things change. Jesus said, “I will never leave you not forsake you.”

Have you ever felt or been threatened with bodily harm because of your faith or witness for Jesus? What would your first reaction be? In these perilous times you may get a chance to answer that question. Are you ready?