Dearly beloved in Christ,
I greet you in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ. May the Lord God who enabled us to see this year bless us in all things!
To the father of faith, Abraham, came a terrible situation. The Lord had said to Abraham: “Get out of your country, from your family and from your father’s house, to a land that I will show you. I will make you a great nation; I will bless you and make your name great; and you shall be a blessing” (Gen. 12:1-2). He had no children, but was promised so by Him who never changes. Lot also went with him.
Abraham went and built an altar to the Lord and worshipped Him. There his wealth multiplied and Lot’s also increased. Then there arose a quarrel among the shepherds of them. Abraham made a suggestion to Lot and both of them separated. Lot selected Sodom and Gomorrah which appeared fertile and suitable for grazing.
But he and all that he had were taken captives, but everything was rescued along with his children and families. Then Melchizedek king of Salem brought out wine and bread and blessed him. Abraham gave him a tenth of everything. Dear child of God, even in those day Abraham had the nature to offer one tenth to God in everything. This applies to all areas of life, including our time, earnings, efforts and speech. I decided to offer one tenth of my time to God daily when I was saved for extending my life. I devoted that time at the feet of God. That too the first two hours of the day from 12 midnight to 2 O’clock I spent as the time for God. I began to praise and thank the Lord for the new day and glorify Him. As my wife also joined with me, the Lord filled us with the gifts of the Spirit and they began to multiply. Abraham became a friend of God and for that one reason was this trait of offering one tenth of everything.
But Abraham had yearnings and burden in his life as he had no children. The Lord knew it and therefore appeared to him in a vision and told him, “‘. . . “Do not be afraid, Abram. I am your shield, your exceedingly great reward”’ (Gen. 15:1). In this promise, the Lord God has spoken about three things. He enquired what the Lord would give him as he remained childless, and as to who would inherit his estate. He supposed that Eliezer his servant would be his heir. The Lord who knows us and sees our predicament assures us these three things as blessings of this year.
I. Do Not Fear
Fear is something agonizing. Job, a devotee of God, says, “For the thing I greatly feared has come upon me, and what I dreaded has happened to me.” (Job 3:25). Fear is a deterrence to inherit the blessings of the Lord.
Due to fear, we lose the blessings of the Word of the Lord.
“But when he saw that the wind was boisterous, he was afraid; and beginning to sink he cried out, saying, “Lord, save me!” (Matt. 14:30). The Lord Jesus Christ urged His disciples to go to the other bank in a boat. After sending them, He climbed a mount to pray alone. It was evening time. When the boat was in the middle of the sea, they faced a strong wind against them. They were finding it difficult to sail as it was tossed in the wind. Then He walked on the waters and came to them who were struggling. On seeing Him walk on the water, they were seized with fear, supposing that it was a ghost and they cried out. Jesus said: “Be of good cheer! It is I; do not be afraid.” Then Peter got His permission to go to Him on the water. With His consent, He stepped out of the boat into water and started walking. But on seeing the wind, he was afraid and began to sink and cried out to the Lord to save him. Then Jesus stretched out His hand and caught him saying, “You of little faith, why did you doubt?” (Matt. 14:22-31).
As we live according to the blessed word of the Lord, there arise struggles, and disturbing thoughts. The word of the Lord is just and powerful. They do not change. We forget that. We think of the problems, diseases, the debt, and other things that seem to threaten and subject ourselves to fear. Fear is a tool of Satan. In fear, we lose sight of the power, blessings and glory of the word. Our faith is put to test. He will work according to His word. Nothing will be withheld from Him.
Not only does fear take away the blessings of the word, but also makes unbelief to have its sway. It induces doubt. The Lord who counsels us not to fear can do away with our fear.
To Get Rid of Fear What should be Done?
1. Seek the Lord
“I sought the Lord, and He heard me, and delivered me from all my fears.” (Psalm 34:4).
In this life we seek several things which have no relevance. We do not listen to His word. When you seek the Lord, fear disappears and all our needs are met. Psalm 34:10 says, “The young lions lack and suffer hunger; But those who seek the Lord shall not lack any good thing.” You will not lack anything. He will lead you. He will not forsake you. Psalm 9:10 says, “And those who know Your name will put their trust in You; For You, Lord, have not forsaken those who seek You.”
Once a Christian woman told me that she had no job and therefore she might have to leave America and come back to India if she failed to get a job in a few days there. I counselled her to seek the Lord truly as per the verse. I told her that the Lord would do a miracle in three days. She also sought the Lord sincerely. She then received an appointment order from a company to which she had applied. The Lord who does miracles is alive even today.
2. Listen to God
“But whoever listens to me will dwell safely, and will be secure, without fear of evil.” (Proverbs 1:33).
We must listen to the Word of the Lord in our day-to-day life. Once I had an appointment to meet a preacher in Sri Lanka regarding the ministries there. I was 15 kms away from Colombo. I was on my way from the place I had stayed to the place of the preacher. I was directed by the Holy Spirit not to go there, but go back. So we drove back to the place where we were put up.
We wanted to convey to that preacher about our return, but for a few hours all telephonic links failed. Then the news came from them that a bomb blast happened in the ground floor of the building where they were and that many had died. When we obey the word of the Lord, we will not be harmed.
3.Come to Jesus Christ
”There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear, because fear involves torment. But he who fears has not been made perfect in love.” (1 John 4:18).
When we are filled with the love of Christ, fear leaves us. Because of the love He had for us, Jesus Christ came to this world. He bore upon Himself all our sins, curses and weaknesses. To cleanse us and reconcile us to God, He offered Himself as a sacrifice on the cross. He was bruised for our sake so that we might be healed by His stripes. Thus we have the privilege of healing in Him. He triumphed over Satan by crushing his head and annihilating his wicked works on the cross. Thus He paved the way for our victory over the devil and also delivered us from eternal punishment. When we are moved by His acts of kindness, all fear is set aside.
II. Shield for you
“... I am your shield, your exceedingly great reward.” (Genesis 15:1).
The Lord has promised to be our shield to protect us. Shield is a protective covering from the attack of the enemy. We have our struggle against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of darkness and spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realm. Paul recommends it in our spiritual warfare against the devil: “above all, taking the shield of faith with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one” (Eph. 6:16). David says, “The God of my strength, in whom I will trust; My shield and the horn of my salvation, My stronghold and my refuge; My Savior, You save me from violence” (2 Sam. 22:3).
To Whom is the Lord Shield?
1) Those Who Wait for the Lord
“Our soul waits for the Lord; He is our help and our shield.” (Psalm 33:20).
The Lord God is a shield to those who wait upon Him. He gives new strength to us when we wait upon Him. You will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you. By it He protects you. David says in Psalm 27:14, “Wait on the Lord; Be of good courage, and He shall strengthen your heart; Wait, I say, on the Lord!” Habakkuk also assures us: “For the vision is yet for an appointed time; But at the end it will speak, and it will not lie. Though it tarries, wait for it; Because it will surely come, It will not tarry” (Hab. 2:3). In Hebrews, the patience of Abraham has been cited for waiting: ”Surely blessing I will bless you, and multiplying I will multiply you. And so, after he had patiently endured, he obtained the promise.” (Heb. 6:14-15). In these modern days, everything is fast-tracked and fast-paced and we have a tendency to have things immediately. Waiting is tantalizing and wearisome. The promise given to Abraham was fulfilled after 25 years. Let us learn to wait for the Lord. Then He will be our shield and protect us.
2) Those Who Have Sought Refuge under His Wings
“He shall cover you with His feathers, and under His wings you shall take refuge; His truth shall be your shield and buckler.” (Psalm 91:4).
The Lord God acts as a shield to those who trust in His power and seek asylum in Him. The Bible says, “How precious is Your lovingkindness, O God! Therefore the children of men put their trust under the shadow of Your wings” (Psalm 36:7). David pleads with the Lord: “Keep me as the apple of Your eye; Hide me under the shadow of Your wings, From the wicked who oppress me, From my deadly enemies who surround me” (Psalm 17:9). Prophet Malachi talks about healings under His wings: “But to you who fear My name The Sun of Righteousness shall arise With healing in His wings; And you shall go out And grow fat like stall-fed calves” (Mal. 4:2). He yearns to give you His protection under His wings as a hen protects its chicklings. He makes His call towards all those who are heavily-laden and are worried to come to Him for relief. Let us respond to His call; He will be our shield.
3) Those Who are Redeemed
“Happy are you, O Israel! Who is like you, a people saved by the Lord, The shield of your help and the sword of your majesty ...” (Deut. 33:29).
The Lord Jesus Christ came to this earth to redeem sinners. His very name indicates that. Matthew 1:21 records it: “And she will bring forth a Son, and you shall call His name Jesus, for He will save His people from their sins.” He can redeem one from his sins, curses and diseases, and can bless with peace. He is the redeemer of the world. He is the same today, yesterday and forever. Apostle Paul says, “This is a faithful saying and worthy of all acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am chief” (1 Tim. 1:15). The Samaritans said: “Now we believe, not because of what you said, for we ourselves have heard Him and we know that this is indeed the Christ, the Savior of the world.” You need to have this personal relationship and experience. If you are the redeemed of the Lord, He is your Shield.
III. Jesus is Your Reward
“... your exceedingly great reward”’ (Gen. 15:1).
The Lord Jesus Christ watches over you and knows your heart. Nothing is hidden from Him. Heb. 4:13 says, “And there is no creature hidden from His sight, but all things are naked and open to the eyes of Him to whom we must give account.” Psalm 94:9 says, “He who planted the ear, shall He not hear? He who formed the eye, shall He not see?” Thus He hears and sees us and also rewards us adequately.
1) Rewards Those Who Undergo Persecution
”Blessed are you when they revile and persecute you, and say all kinds of evil against you falsely for My sake. Rejoice and be exceedingly glad, for great is your reward in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you” (Matt. 5:11-12).
The name of the Lord Jesus Christ that we own and the work of sharing the gospel bring reproach in this society. But we should not be disturbed. Isaiah 25:8 says, “He will swallow up death forever, and the Lord God will wipe away tears from all faces; The rebuke of His people He will take away from all the earth; For the Lord has spoken.”
When I went to Singapore for the first time to do ministry, a person gave me an address to meet a family there. I had been there with my sister’s husband. That person had been a government officer and had got retired. His wife was involved deeply in ministry. They asked us why we had come there. We told them that we were there for doing ministry for seven days in that area. They did not ask us to sit, but insulted us by questioning the intention of our ministry. Their words deeply wounded us. I just offered to make a prayer and leave the place. In prayer, the Lord revealed all their problems, and problems of their children and led me in prayer. That Brother and sister who had retired in untold sufferings began to sob and cry. At the close of prayer, we did not know what to do. We left the house in a hurry and came back to the hotel where we stayed. We were sharing our astonishment. Then a call came from that brother apologizing for their mistake and misdemeanour. Then that sister arranged meetings for those days. The Lord transformed that reproach into one of acceptance and service.
2) Rewards Those Who Pray
“But you, when you pray, go into your room, and when you have shut your door, pray to your Father who is in the secret place; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you openly” (Matthew 6:6).
Our prayer should not be in public for others to see, but in private within four walls. Then we will have our reward from the Lord. David pleaded from the depth of his heart, “Hear, O Lord, and have mercy on me; Lord, be my helper!” (Psalm 30:10). The Lord heard his prayer and turned his moaning into cry of joy. Hannah poured her heart at the presence of the Lord, and had her reward. She who was childless bore Samuel and three other sons and two daughters. This is the reward from the Lord. If our prayer is acceptable to the Lord, then surely we will have our reward.
3) Rewards Those Who Help His Disciples
“And whoever gives one of these little ones only a cup of cold water in the name of a disciple, assuredly, I say to you, he shall by no means lose his reward.” (Matthew 10:42).
All the help that we do to the true followers of Jesus Christ is rewarded adequately by the Lord. The help might be little but the Lord takes it into account and rewards us for it.
Once the mother of a girl, who was a widow, came to me for prayer for her daughter to get admitted in a teacher training course. She had no sources of income. As soon as she got admission to the course, she came back to me with her daughter. That day we had to post the Jebathoni magazine, and I needed 4000 rupees. I had only 400 rupees. I did not know what to do and I was praying to the Lord. But the Lord asked me to handover the money to that lady. I acknowledged that the ministry was His and therefore I handed over the money to her and sent her away. She was so happy with the money and went away. At that time, my office assistant came to me for money to buy stamps. I asked him to come after an hour. Then one who was with me in the ministry came to meet me. His wife had made a vow to the Lord to offer the money she would receive from her first patient as she had no patients in her clinic. The day before a patient had come for delivery and his wife gave the money to him to be given to the ministry. But he forgot about it. Then I told him to give me that 4000 rupees. He was astonished and asked me whether that money was also revealed to me. Then I told him that I only stated the amount of money I needed. He gave me the same amount of money.
Dear Brother/ Sister, the Lord will surely reward us for all that we do in His name and bless us.
May the Lord bless us!
In the service of Christ Jesus,
Bro. C. Ebenezer Paul.