The Overcoming Life With Jimmy Evans預覽

Why do we serve Jesus and love Him so much? He endured for us what no other person has ever endured. Jesus literally took hell upon Himself so we could have heaven. He suffered what no other person has ever suffered, and He experienced more fear than any other person has ever experienced. And He overcame it. 

Remember, Jesus is a human being. It is not just that He was human—He still is. He is fully God and fully man. In all points Jesus was tempted as we are, yet He was without sin. Jesus offers compassion on those who are ignorant and going astray because He Himself was also subject to weakness. Because Jesus experienced fear on the earth, He can be compassionate for us when we pray.

What was Jesus afraid of? Rejection. Suffering. Humiliation. Jesus knew every detail of what He would experience upon the cross, and He was afraid. When we go before Jesus, our High Priest in heaven, and say, “Lord, I am afraid of being rejected by these people,” He says, “I know exactly what you are talking about.” When we say, “Lord, I am afraid because everybody in my family gets this particular disease. It is genetic, and I am afraid that I am about to get really sick,” He says, “I know exactly what you are talking about.” Whether we fear pain, poverty, or anything else, Jesus never leaves us. He experienced every fear we might encounter in the Garden of Gethsemane. 

People who fear death and do not understand what Jesus has done live under Satan’s control. Jesus defeated death on our behalf. You do not have to live in fear. Jesus experienced fear so He could relate to us. He can intercede on our behalf as our High Priest in heaven because He experienced the same attacks from the devil that we do. Jesus knew everything that was about to happen to Him, but He overcame the spirit of fear because He knew the trustworthiness of His Father’s character. Circumstances don’t change the truth of God’s faithfulness.

As much as you recognize God’s presence by peace (Isaiah 9:6), you can recognize Satan’s presence by fear (I John 4:18). Satan is a defeated foe sentenced to hell, and he knows it.

There is no shame in admitting fear. What fears do you need to confess before the Lord?