“Father
(God) Eradicates Apprehension Readily" (F.E.A.R)
By Ramesh
C.Reddy Pittsburgh Standard
Saturday, July 08,
2006
Editors note:
This devotional is taken from the archives of Gospel of Mark, chapter 6.
Quiet
Times (Psalm 8, Proverbs 8, Mark 6:48b-51)
“He was
about to pass by them, but when they saw him walking on the lake, they
thought he was a ghost. They cried out, because they all saw him and
were terrified. Immediately he spoke to them and said, "Take courage! It
is I. Don't be afraid." Then he climbed into the boat with them, and the
wind died down.” (Mark 6:48-51, NIV)
Observations:
I asked
myself what were the actions of Jesus.
-
Jesus was about to pass
by them walking on the lake.
-
When the disciples were
terrified, immediately, Jesus spoke to them and said, “Take courage!
It is I. Don’t be afraid.”
-
Then Jesus climbed into
the boat with them and the wind died down.
Interpretations:
I asked
myself why Jesus was about to pass by them.
Jesus was spending time in
prayer and later saw the disciples in the middle of the lake in trouble
so
Jesus was coming on the water to come help his disciples.
I asked
myself what is the significance of Jesus walking on the lake.
Jesus is in control of creation.
There is the density of water and no human being can stand on a body of
water without being submerged let alone walk on it. Jesus could because
He created everything and changed the properties of water at that moment
to reach out to His disciples. That is so exciting to know.
I asked
myself why the disciples were afraid.
They were facing the winds in
the middle of the lake. Adding to that they saw someone walk on water in
the dark that they had never seen before! Few of them were fisherman so
they dealt with water a lot but never walked on it. The only one to
briefly walk on water was Peter because Jesus told him to come to him.
Once he looked down though he was about to drown until Jesus rescued
him. The disciples did not want to deal with a ghost amidst their other
problems. It is their misconception of what they saw that gave them most
of their fright. In a world of confusion, they felt an intrusion without
realizing the One walking on the water was their solution.
I asked
myself what is significant of Jesus’ actions right after they were
afraid.
Jesus immediately spoke to them
without waiting. Jesus knew what they were going through and addressed
them right away with these words, “Take courage!
It is I. Don’t be afraid” similar to the words Jesus spoke to
Jairus when he told him, “Do not be afraid, just
believe.”
Jesus was telling them that He
was with them and there was nothing to worry about since He was there
now. By saying, “It is I”, Jesus is
reminding them that He was the One that fed the 5000+ and here with them
now. To prove it, the wind even died down and the boat was sailing
normally. That is exciting to know! Oh, yes it is!
Implications:
I saw important implications for
my own life. The perception I attribute to Jesus will determine whether
I am afraid of Him or not. I am not talking about reverent fear of the
Lord for that is good! I am talking about the fear that Satan wants to
instill in us towards Jesus. Satan wants us to be afraid of Jesus so we
do not go to Him. The disciples were so scared that they cried out and I
bet they were trying to get away as fast as they could from what they
perceived to be a ghost. Jesus had to give His credentials to them again
to remind them who He was when He said, “It is I”.
Jesus was also telling them not to be afraid of Him but to be of
courage. This is exciting to know!
I do not have to be afraid of
Jesus. I can always turn to Jesus. When I do wrong, Jesus is not the One
who will hit me with a broomstick as some think. When I make a mistake,
Jesus in His love shows it to me and helps me to overcome it. When I am
faced with trouble, Jesus wants me to take courage and believe in Him.
Jesus does not want me to be afraid.
How comforting that is for me
because I know whatever I am faced with, Jesus wants to face it with me
and will help me. Jesus came to the disciples to help them in their
problems and fright. I know Jesus will do the same for me and He already
has been.
Every time I have been shaken, Jesus keeps reminding me not to be
afraid, just believe. I believe in Jesus and that He will handle
situations for me. Yes, He will when there is confusion. Yes, He will
when there is thoughtless pollution. Yes, He will when there is the
enemy’s intrusion. That is exciting to know!
Rather than worrying about what could have been, I can bury myself in
the Arms of my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ who has not abandoned me.
Instead, Jesus has come to me and has met me where I have been. Jesus
has given me a new song to sing of praises to our Father. It is starting to rain and the rain
will be the Lord’s rescue in my life! Jesus will rescue you too and does
not want you to be afraid!
I ask you
now dear friend, what keeps you in fear?
Dear friend, there are a lot of
things that can keep us in fear. Being fearful is a result of distorted
perceptions many times. When the disciples were afraid when they saw
someone walk on the water, it was because they had this distorted
perception that it was a ghost not knowing it was Jesus Christ coming to
their rescue. When we are fearful, we think about all the things that
could go wrong and that increases the fright meter. We get fearful
because we realize what we want may not happen, we realize we are
sailing through life and are being beaten by the winds that affect our
academic life, career life, relational life, etc. We get fearful because
we lean too much to the world for our answers.
Most of all we are kept in fear
because we give into Satan’s lies and deception. It is Satan’s mission
to keep people fearful and away from Jesus. As long as he can keep you
and me afraid, he knows we will dwell in that fear and be paralyzed by
it. Yes, friend that can happen especially when we don’t want something
to happen and we know it may, then paralysis of fear can come over
hindering everything else in life.
Fear of the unknown is the most
deadly fear. This type of fear paralyzes the human. It freezes us from
doing our daily responsibilities. It invades our mind like poisonous
venom. All our thoughts are held captive to the fear we have. Fear of
losing family, relationships, friends, future, jobs, status, or
stability in life can induce us to take measures that could be
catastrophic. That's what the enemy wants. Satan knows your fears and
will work on those fears to frighten you and confuse you. Satan wants to
make Hell here on earth too.
I want you to know it does not
have to be this way. Though the Devil uses your fears to freeze you, you
can overcome his attacks. In the Name of Jesus, you can command the
Devil to pick up his weapons and flee and he will. Jesus loves you so
much and knows your every fear.
He says to you,
"Fear not, do not be dismayed, I am your God, I
will uphold you and strengthen you with my victorious right Hand" (Isa
41:10).
"For God
has not given us a spirit of fear but of love, of power, and of a sound
mind"(2 Tim 1:7)
Please don't be fearful about
your relationships, your family, your future, or your Salvation.
Remember, He who bears our burdens also gives us Salvation. Jesus is
bigger than your problems and He can take care of you and your problems.
It does not matter how difficult the solution may seem. With the Lord
all things are possible. Nothing can shake you when your foundation is
upon the Rock, Jesus Christ. Even through hard times and suffering, He
will pour out His abundant love and grace upon your life.
Perfect love casts away fear. This is the
kind of love the Lord gives to all who are His. Your old life and fears
won't matter anymore when you yield to Jesus who wants to be your Lord
and Personal Savior who has plans for you that are beyond comprehension.
He offers you Himself that you may rest in Him and let Him abide in you.
With the Savior on your side you can ride life's high tide.
Fear is not of God but of the
devil. If you are kept afraid, you need to ask yourself what place Jesus
really has in your life. Jesus who came to the rescue of His disciples,
won’t He do that for you to friend! Yes, He will! Jesus will come to you
and you can rest in Him. Jesus tells you whatever you are going through,
“Take courage, It is I, do not be afraid.”
This means whatever has happened
or is happening, you can pick yourself up and take courage, courage to
be able to do things that you have been afraid of. It is not on your own
strength though, for the disciples did not stop the wind but it was
Jesus being there with them and helping them that stopped the wind.
Jesus can do the same thing for you.
It is not
by might nor by power but by my Spirit says the Lord!
“Oh my
people, trust him all the time. Pour out your longings before him, for
He can help.” (Psalm 62:8, TLB)
“I stand
before the Lord, waiting for him to rescue me. For Salvation comes from
him alone. Yes, he alone is my Rock, my rescuer, defense and fortress.
Why then should I be tense with fear when troubles come?” (Psalm 62:1-3,
TLB)
Ah Jesus is there for me and He will be there for you too. Rest in the
Lord for He does not want you to be afraid. Come to Him as you are and
may the words to this song that I wrote uplift you. This song was
written 10 years ago to help those
going through broken relationships but this problem-solution song can
help you take inventory of whatever is happening in your life so you can
give your life to Jesus for His Help, Hope, and Healing!
Solution Through Confusion
By Ramesh C. Reddy
In a world of confusion
when there is no solution,
In a world of intrusion,
when there is thoughtless pollution
What do I See?
What do I Hear?
What do I Feel?
What do I Say?
I see the pain and the hurt.
I hear the cries on earth.
I feel the tears on the dirt.
I want to say, you can have new birth
For every heart that cries,
For every soul that dries,
For every mind that tries
Tries for love,
dries for love,
cries for love,
Love of friends,
love of parents,
love of spouses,
I want you to know,
when you are full of woe,
and feel so low,
Someone loves you Though.
Jesus, Jesus, Jesus is His
Name.
With His love, you won't be the same.
To love you so much, He came
Filled with the Holy Spirit, you can have a new Aim
Come with the heart that
cries.
Come with the soul that dries.
Come with the mind that tries.
Come, Come to Jesus
He wants to be your SAVIOR.
In whom you can find Favor
Confusion will be cast.
Intrusion will be past.
Thoughtless pollution won't last.
Solution in Jesus Christ’s love will be vast.
Look to the Cross and His
Blood.
Experience His love that will Flood
Amen!
"Father
(God) Eradicates Apprehension Readily!” (F.E.A.R)/”What
keeps you in fear?”
Listen to
the background song, "Starting to Rain"
Prayer:
Dear Jesus, my Lord and Personal Savior, you know what the disciples
were going through and what was keeping them afraid. You could have left
them to themselves but you did not. Instead, you took it upon yourself
to go and rescue them. Thank you Jesus for telling them to take courage
and not be afraid, for it was you in their presence. Whatever was
keeping them afraid, you were there to help them through it and can do
the same for us. You Oh Lord know what keeps us afraid and we ask for
your help. Thank you for your love in our lives. Come and reign in us Oh
Lord and protect us in the shadow of your wings. We rest in your Arms of
Love. I pray right now for the one who is so afraid of things that are
happening. You know what they are facing and how they need you Lord. I
pray for the broken hearts out there that you would fill them with your
presence and power and keep them in your care. They will know that you
have not forgotten about them in this world and will rescue them in your
timing. Thank you so much Jesus. Thank you for hearing us and answering
us. Thank you for helping me learn from you Jesus. Thank you for dying
for our sin and coming back to life to save us. Please forgive us Lord!
Thank you so much Jesus. In Your Name I Pray Jesus! Amen!
Make this your prayer. Don’t let
the enemy deceive you into thinking you need all the answers before
coming to Christ. Let me just assure you though you may not have all the
answers right now before coming to Jesus, He will answer them slowly.
Yes, He will for I know our Redeemer will! Amen!
PRAYER:
Father God thank you, you love us so much that you sent your only
begotten Son, that whosoever believes in Him shall not perish but have
everlasting life. I love you Lord. Thank you Father God for your Son,
Jesus Christ. Jesus thank you for loving me so much. Thank you Jesus,
you will take care of my problems. Nothing is too hard for you. For many
of us Lord, we face many obstacles in life whether it be Spiritual,
financial, marital, emotional, physical, or educational problems. We
turn these problems and the prayer requests to you. Thank you Lord you
never fail to answer our prayers. Just because we don't understand does
not mean you didn't answer our prayers. Thanks Lord for cleansing us by
your precious Blood. Please come into my heart Jesus. Please forgive my
sins. Wash me and I will be whiter than snow. Thank you Jesus for coming
into my heart. Thank you Jesus for making my heart, your home. Thank you
Jesus for living in me. I will live for you Jesus and serve you the rest
of the days of my life. I pray right now for the one who is so troubled
that only your presence and love can meet them where they are at. Come
Lord Jesus and please intervene in their life. Cover them with your
awesome presence and help them through what they are going. Thank you
Jesus as you saw the disciples in trouble and came to their rescue, you
can come to our rescue too. We entrust our lives in your care. Thank you
for the answer and you will carry us! IN YOUR NAME, I PRAY JESUS
THANKING YOU FOR EVERYTHING. AMEN.
Friend you may feel something
or may not feeling anything but do not go by your feelings. When you ask
Jesus to come into your life, He will and does. He will take over from
here as you depend on the Lord and let Him work in you and through you!
This is exciting friend! May each one that came to know Jesus be filled
with His Holy Spirit forever more and those that know Jesus come to know
Him more and more! Amen!
Get yourself involved in a campus Bible study,
fellowship, and most of all find a Bible believing church and be involved
to grow in your Christian walk with the Lord. They all need to be
supplements for your own precious time with the Lord in prayer and
meditating on His Word. If you need a Bible, please let me know!
As the movie DaVinci Code opened across the
theaters on May 19, 2006, which speaks against the church and most importantly
degrades the Name of Jesus Christ, we need to make ourselves available to
speak the truth to the falsity presented in the movie and the novel. If you
plan to watch the movie or have read the book and have questions or your
faith seems to be shaken, please email me or give me a call at 412-720-4579
so we can discuss the false claims in the book that are presented as fact
even though the book itself and the movie is presented as fiction. May the
Lord bless you and guide you!
If you need anyone to talk to, pray
with, or study the Bible with this Summer of 2006, you can email
me at reddy4hisglory2004@yahoo.com or call me at 412-720-4579.
Please do not hesitate. One-one Bible studies
can be so powerful too because the Holy Spirit is still in the
midst.
"This is my work and I can do it
only because Christ's mighty energy is at work within me." (Colossians
1:29, TLB)
Express Your
View
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SEPTEMBER 2005
MARK: CHAPTER
1
How
seriously do you T.E.S.T.I.F.Y to prophecy? (Sept 01, 05)
Who do you P.O.I.N.T to? (Sept
02, 05)
"Will
you take a S.T.A.N.D?" (Sept 03, 05)
How
is your loving P.R.A.I.S.E? (Sept
06, 05)
"How
do you handle T.E.M.P.T.A.T.I.O.N?" (Sept
07, 05)
"Who
controls your T.I.M.E?" (Sept 08, 05)
"What
kind of P.R.O.F.E.S.S.I.O.N are you in?" (Sept 09,
05)
"Whose
T.E.A.C.H.I.N.G.S do you listen to?" (Sept 12,
05)
"What
C.A.P.T.I.V.I.T.Y are you facing today?" (Sept 15,
05)
"Where
do you need H.E.A.L.I.N.G?" (Sept 19,
05)
"Where
do you need an A.N.S.W.E.R?" (Sept 20,
05)
"Where
do you find S.O.L.I.T.A.R.Y time with the
Lord?"
(Sept 21,
05)
"Where
do you want to be C.L.E.A.N?" (Sept 22, 05)
"What do you actions C.A.U.S.E?" (Sept 24, 05)
MARK: CHAPTER 2
"What
kind of F.R.I.E.N.D are you?" (Sept 26,
05)
"Where
does P.A.R.A.L.Y.S.I.S take hold of you?" (Sept 28,
05)
"What
are you thinking in your M.I.N.D?" (Sept 29,
05)
"What
do you represent by your A.C.T.I.O.N.S?" (Sept 30, 05)
OCTOBER 2005
"Where
do you look for A.C.C.E.P.T.A.N.C.E?" (Oct 04, 05)
"Who Do You I.N.V.I.T.E?" (Oct 05,05)
When do you F.A.S.T?
(Oct 24, 05)
How do you see your L.I.F.E?
(Oct 25,05)
"What kind of L.E.A.D.E.R are you?" (Oct
26,05)
"What does the S.A.B.B.A.T.H mean to you?" (Oct
27,05)
MARK: CHAPTER 3
What
are your N.E.E.D.S? (Oct 28, 05)
NOVEMBER 2005
What is your I.M.P.A.C.T? (Nov
01,05)
What
S.P.A.C.E do you give yourself?
(Nov 07,
05)
"What
has E.V.I.L done to you?" (Nov 08, 05)
"How
is your R.E.L.A.T.I.O.N.S.H.I.P with Jesus?"
(Nov
14,05)
"Who
will give God T.H.A.N.K.S.G.I.V.I.N.G because of you?" (Nov 25, 05) (Taken from Gospel of Luke)
"Where
is your A.P.P.O.I.N.T.M.E.N.T in?" (Nov 29, 05)
DECEMBER 2005
"Where do you G.A.T.H.E.R?" (Dec 01, 05)
"How are your actions seen by your
F.A.M.I.L.Y?" (Dec
02, 05)
"How
do you handle S.L.A.N.D.E.R?"
(Dec 03.05)
"What is your V.I.E.W of Jesus?"
(Dec 28,
05)
"What are you doing with G.O.D.'S W.I L.L?" (Dec
31,05)
JANUARY 2006
MARK: CHAPTER
4
"What do the P.A.R.A.B.L.E.S mean to you?" (Jan 04, 06)
"What kind of F.O.O.T.B.A.L.L receiver will you be for
Jesus?" (Jan 05, 06)
"How is your W.A.L.K with God?" (Jan 17,
06)
"What kind of L.A.M.P are you?" (Jan 18, 06)
"What do you C.O.N.C.E.A.L?"
(Jan 25, 06)
"What do you do with what you H.E.A.R?" (Jan 26, 06)
"What do you do with the W.O.R.D of God?"(Jan 30, 06)
"What
will you do with the S.E.E.D?"
(Jan 31,06)
FEBRUARY 2006
"What kind of F.O.O.T.B.A.L.L receiver will you be for
Jesus?" (Feb 05, 06)
MARCH 2006
"What kind of S.T.O.R.M.S are you facing?" (March 11, 06)
APRIL 2006
"What does P.A.S.S.O.V.E.R C.R.O.S.S mean to
you?"
(April 13,
06)
MAY
2006
"What
kind of P.R.O.F.E.S.S.I.O.N are you in?" (May 01,
06)
MARK: CHAPTER 5
"Where
is your T.O.R.M.E.N.T coming from?" (May 15,
06)
"Where
do you need H.E.A.L.I.N.G?" (May 16,
06)
"What
do people R.E.P.O.R.T about you?" (May 17,
06)
"Are you A.F.R.A.I.D of Jesus too?"
(May 18, 06)
"Will you T.E.L.L about Jesus?"
(May 19, 06)
"What do you do with your T.E.S.T.I.M.O.N.Y?"
(May 20, 06)
"Will you G.A.T.H.E.R before Jesus?"
(May 22, 06)
"What place do you give P.R.A.Y.E.R
in your life? " (May 23, 06)
"Where do you feel U.N.C.L.E.A.N?"
(May 24, 06)
"Where do you need F.R.E.E.D.O.M?"
(May 25, 06)
"Who's T.I.M.I.N.G are you following?"
(May 27, 06)
MARK: CHAPTER 6
"Where do you seek W.I.S.D.O.M, in Jesus of the Bible or Dan Brown's Da Vinci Code?"
(May 29,
06)
"What
is your C.A.L.L.I.N.G?"
(May 30, 06)
"Where is your I.D.E.N.T.I.T.Y?"
(May 31, 06)
JUNE 2006
"Do you feel A.C.C.E.P.T.E.D?"
(June 01, 06)
"How is your F.A.I.T.H?"
(June 03, 06)
"What do you T.E.A.C.H?" (June 05, 06)
"Where are you S.E.N.T?"
(June 09, 06)
"Where are you S.T.A.Y.I.N.G?"
(June 10, 06)
"How is your Spiritual H.E.A.L.T.H?"
(June 12, 06)
"What have people H.E.A.R.D about you?"
(June 20, 06)
"What do you T.H.I.N.K about Jesus?"
(June 21, 06)
"How do you handle D.O.U.B.T.S?"
(June 22, 06)
When do you S.P.E.A.K out?"
(June 24, 06)
"What has P.R.I.D.E done to you?"
(June 27, 06)
What is your M.I.S.S.I.O.N?
(June 28, 06)
"Where do you find your R.E.S.T?"
(June 29, 06)
"Who is your S.H.E.P.H.E.R.D?"
(June 30, 06)
What kind of B.R.E.A.D do you eat? (July 03,
06)
"Whose C.A.R.E are you in really?" (July 05,
06)
"When do you P.R.A.Y?" (July 06,
06)
"What is the T.R.O.U.B.L.E you are facing?" (July 07,
06)
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