Who's Afraid...Me?
By Pastor Jack Hayford
Remember the song the three little piggies sang in the cartoon?
"Who’s afraid of the big bad wolf?" Their jolly bravado
was radically changed when actual confrontation came. But, of course,
after their adversary was boiled in the pot, trying to climb down
Practical Pig’s chimney, they struck up the song again.
I suppose there are better texts from which to teach on overcoming
fear, but that episode came so clearly to mind I couldn’t resist
running it through the memory mill. The story does emphasize two
critical points:
1. It’s easy to be fearless until fear comes upon you. That
observation also has a flip side: To be afraid is not the same
thing as being overcome by fear. Some view a life of faith as
one that never fears. Wrong! Listen to Paul, for example:
"Within were fears," he says, describing
his own trials (2 Corinthians 7:5, KJV).
2. To listen to some proponents of the believing life, you
would think that every encounter with difficulty should be met
with a smile, a shrug, a scripture, and a "Who’s afraid?"
I have confronted circumstances—both real and imagined—and
have been shot through with terror or unnerved with sorrow,
depending upon the situation. You probably have, too. Don’t
let anyone tell you he or she always skips and dances in the
face of fear. And don’t—I repeat—don’t feel guilty because you
do experience fear.
But . . .What counts is what you DO with fear.
As with the piggies, fear may dampen your song, chase you, and
bring squeals of panic. So run. Don’t be ashamed. Run. But run in
the right direction: "The name of the Lord is a strong tower;
The righteous run to it and are safe" (Proverbs 18:10).
Once inside the safety of Jesus’ authoritative name, force fear
into your mold. Remember Practical Pig? For the wolf to get
in that pig’s "strong tower," he had to come down the
chimney.
Light fires of faith with prayer: "Don’t keep on worrying
about anything, but in everything pray! Then God’s peace will guard
you like a sentinel—your heart and mind secured" (Philippians
4:6, paraphrased). Our adversary can’t make it by that blazing wall
of protection.
. . . Fan into flame the gift of God, which is in you through
the laying on of my hands. For God did not give us a spirit
of timidity, but a spirit of power, of love and of self-discipline
(2 Timothy 1:6-7 NIV).
Reignite the fire of the Holy Spirit. Meet fear with flame.
As Jesus’ sheep, we’re certainly not pigs . . . but we still have
a wolf to deal with. When he howls, c’mon inside the Refuge. And
turn on the burners!
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"Brethren,
having boldness to enter the Holiest by the blood of Jesus, by a new and living
way, which He consecrated for us..." Hebrews 10:19-20
  Jack
Hayford Ministries
14800 Sherman Way, Van Nuys, CA 91405-2233
(800) 776-8180 * FAX: (818) 779-8411
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Last updated on: 7/09/03
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