DO NOT FEAR #3

Jesus continued his ‘Do Not Be Afraid’ teaching by telling his disciples, “Do not be anxious (afraid) about how or what you will speak” (Matthew 10:19). Love conquers fear and faith produces love. Love defeats fear and greater love defeats greater fear. A beginning fear is to be afraid of ‘what and how’ we will speak. If we don’t think we can say something it is because we doubt our lack of knowledge, or doubt our ability to express, or doubt the hearer will listen. All of this is based on perception and the Lord quickly adds, “It will be given you what to you are to speak. It is not you who speak, but it is the Spirit of your Father who speaks in you” (v.20). Nothing really can dispel the fear of what we are going to say except to know it is a Holy Spirit gift speaking and not ourselves. Otherwise we should be afraid, very afraid.

“Do not fear, only believe.” Jesus