Questions of Jesus

Why Do You Think Evil In Your Hearts?

WHY DO YOU THINK EVIL IN YOUR HEARTS? Matthew 9:4, “And Jesus knowing their thoughts said, Wherefore think ye evil in your hearts?” Jesus approached a man suffering from palsy and said “...Son, be of good cheer; thy sins be forgiven thee.” Then He asked some of the scribes who were watching Him, “Why did they think evil thoughts?” Here is a curiosity. God is about to do a wonderful thing and the religious leaders are on the outside looking in. They feel that they are outsiders and respond by finding fault. They comment, “This man blasphemes.” This comment was what caused Jesus to turn to them and ask the question, “Why do you think evil thoughts in your heart?” It would be good practice to answer Jesus when He asks a question (especially when we find ourselves exemplifying the traits of the one being questioned.) If we find ourselves thinking evil thoughts, it would do us good to answer the query, “Why?” We should feel shame for the similarities in the thoughts we have about our brethren in Christ and the judgment poured upon Christ by the Pharisees and scribes. Even the worst examples of Christianity, in theology, in doctrine, or in practice, do not deserve our criticism. We must ask, “Why do I think evil thoughts?” What are these “evil thoughts?” Evil thoughts are clearly identified in Scripture. From Luke 6:45 and Matthew 12: 35, “…an evil man out of the evil treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is evil: for of the abundance of a man’s heart his mouth speaketh.” From Matthew 15:18-19 and Mark 7:20-23 “But those things which proceed out of the mouth come forth from the heart; and they defile the man. For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, false witness, adulteries, fornications, murders, thefts, covetousness, wickedness, deceit, lasciviousness, an evil eye, blasphemy, pride, foolishness: All these evil things come from within, and defile the man.” We also know that, though this is an impressive list, this is not an exhaustive one. Although the heart of a “faith pretender” likely won’t lead him to practice all of the worst ones mentioned here, their thoughts can be as dangerous. After we read this list, we must then ask, “Why do evil thoughts arise in our hearts – thoughts of pride, foolishness, suspicion and even blasphemy? Perhaps it would be easier to consider this objectively by looking at the example given in the story above. Why did the scribe engage suspicion and accuse Christ of blasphemy? Simply because the scribe did not believe that the man he saw in front of him was the Messiah. Why did he not believe it? It was because Jesus did not fit the mold that the scribe (and tradition) made for Him. Human nature is to avoid responsibility. Also, this nature avoids servitude. The knowledge of Christ and the subsequent acceptance of Him as Messiah will require both. He thinks, “If I only search for the Christ, I am counted among the faithful and not compelled to obey Christ.” This convoluted thinking is practiced by many. Not only the scribe, but also modern seekers who look into Christianity and discover that finding Jesus as Messiah means to take Him as Lord. Not wanting to do the latter, they stay in “search mode” and determine never to find anything for sure. Because they are searching they assume an air of sincerity. However, the day we find Christ, the search is over. At that time we must either give up or give over to Christ, or we must reject Him. Those who do not wish to reject Him (because they indeed know He is Lord and Christ), nor wish to serve Him (because they want their own way and yet do not want to appear as infidels) can purposefully remain in that state of uncertainty, remaining skeptical, objective, undecided. We enjoy these words being attributed to us, as they tend to lend to the bearer an air of intelligence, sobriety and cerebral superiority. It makes us seem as if we use analysis instead of some silly faith and so we will appear not to “jump to conclusions.” The scribes were not much different. However, these men who saw Christ Jesus were not intelligent; they were blinded by closed eyes. They were not being analytical so they could believe; they were being critical so they would not have to. We who have Christ revealed to us and hold out for “proof” or who choose to remain “open minded” are literally playing with fire. Those who turn their heads, close their eyes, or stop their ears, are only making provision for more self-indulgence and more self-rule. They only avoid the “giving up.” The “surrender” is the threshold over which they cannot seem to step. All lives, before surrender, are lives of evil thought, evil surmising, doubt, fear, and skepticism. All the while, they ride the fence, socializing with God’s people; they pretend to be intelligent and open-minded Christians. They pick apart and criticize; they try to hold others back to avoid “fanaticism.” They fancy themselves as those who keep organization and order. Christ is asking, “Why do you doubt everything you read in the Scriptures? Why do you criticize the deeper brethren who don’t see things the way you do? Why is it you call dedication “going overboard,” call sober Christians “stuffy,” and sanctified persons, “fanatics”? “Why do evil thoughts arise in your heart?” How Would You Answer? Our answer will not be much different than the scribe’s would have been. The scribe was looking at total humiliation at the first sign of accepting this Galilean carpenter’s boy as Messiah. All that this scribe ever said would have to be retracted. All he ever believed would have to be changed. He would likely be put out of the synagogue, and rejected by his own family. All of his future aspirations would be put into jeopardy. So he decided to find fault and back it up with Scripture. After Jesus said to this man, “Thy sins be forgiven thee.” The scribe says, “Who can forgive sins but God alone?” He was reasoning to himself, “He can’t be Messiah if He is a blasphemer!” He holds Jesus up to perfection to see if He measures up. Jesus fails his test. Jesus always fails tests designed by man. He always will. You will never prove that He is God. He will have to prove it to you. You must learn the origin of “evil thoughts” and why they appear. You must learn that good and proper theological arguments are sometimes used to justify a lifestyle or to get your own way. Debate and skepticism accomplish nothing if surrender does not follow when truth is discovered. Some enjoy the search, but searching is useless if the seeker refuses to find. God lovingly guides us to the Savior by people and events entering and exiting our life all the time. Information, evidences, internal witnesses, all appear to bring us along the way that leads to eternal life. Care should be exercised to weigh everything, examine everything, and look for our Guide’s signature in it. If you reject what He sends there is no assurance that He will send it again. Examine rather, why you are rejecting what you really feel compelled to believe. Ask yourself, why do you think evil in your hearts?

How Is It That Ye Have No Faith?

HOW IS IT THAT YE HAVE NO FAITH? > Mark 4:38-40, “And he was in the hinder part of the ship, asleep on a pillow: and they awake him, and say unto him, Master, carest thou not that we perish? And he arose, and rebuked the wind, and said unto the sea, Peace, be still. And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm. And he said unto them, Why are ye so fearful? how is it that ye have no faith?” Have you ever wondered what the Lord wanted the disciples to do? I have. Did He want them to speak to the storm like He did? Did He expect them to stand on the bow of that boat and say, “Peace, be still? The Lord Jesus Christ is on this vessel and has commissioned us to go to the other side!” Is that what Jesus expected them to do? I think He did. Faith – true faith – requires a word from God directly to us. It is imperative that we hear from God, personally, the word, the commission, or the orders to go or to do or to speak. Not just some vague Scripture reference to an action or unction of centuries past, but a fresh word from God. This personal word was present in the command, “Let us go over to the other side of the lake.” When the snag in life comes, (in this case a storm) the authority and commission of those who are called should come to the fore. Remember Jesus’ words to his disciples, “And he said unto them, I beheld Satan as lightning fall from heaven. Behold, I give unto you power to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy: and nothing shall by any means hurt you.” (Luke 10:18-19) The problem was that these men were fishers. They were well acquainted with the destructive power of the sea. They had known of lives being claimed out there on that water. They would have to change their minds and habits about very familiar things – a task very difficult indeed. The ingredient missing here was faith. “How is it that ye have no faith?” The Lord wants and even commands us to have faith saying in Mark 11:22b, “Have faith in God.” This is rendered in Greek, “Have the faith of God.” Unswerving, confident, and assured faith that what God promised He is able to perform. This is why Jesus could, without flinching, place the two adjectives, faithless and perverse in the description of His disciples. In Matthew 17:17 the Lord chided the disciples for not having faith enough to cast out the demon in a boy who was brought to them, “Then Jesus answered and said, O faithless and perverse generation, how long shall I be with you?” How Important Is Faith? > We should place as much importance on faith as the Lord did. Our concern for ourselves and doubting God can put us in the category of perverse. Look who is included in the list of the damned in Revelation 21:8, “But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death.” What a list on which to have an attribute of your personality included! When Jesus tells His disciples the reason they could not cast the devil out He used the phrase, “because of your unbelief.” He did not say they didn’t have enough faith or that their faith was not large enough, He said that it was not there. “How is it that ye have NO faith?” The disciples must have wondered in themselves, “Do we need a greater faith?” But Jesus told them, “I say to you that if your faith were the size of the smallest seed it would have been enough. The problem was that faith wasn’t there at all. Jesus’ words and actions said clearly, “You doubted my word. I gave you power and authority over unclean spirits and you doubted it.” This tenacious demon played the same role as the contrary wind and sea was to the prior mission. They had opportunity to learn this earlier. Had they learned the lesson from the Sea of Galilee they would have spoken to this demon and cast it out. Alas, they had no faith in this situation either. They did not speak to the wind in faith and they likely did not speak to this demon either. They had the command, the word, they knew what action to take, but they did not have the faith.[1] Do we disappoint God when we doubt and fear? I believe, for the most part, we do. Especially when it comes to everyday provisions. We hear Jesus say, “…for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things”[2] we can hear a sadness in His voice that we do not comprehend this in reality. However, many times, in order to keep from disappointing God, we err in the other direction – presumption. We presume God’s favor or blessing when, though we have no word from God, we capriciously take from the Bible someone else’s' promise or prior record of God’s provision and arbitrarily claim it for ourselves. Claiming that we are practicing faith, we mock the God we allege to glorify for our provision. How is it that we have no faith? I submit it is because we have not heard from God. We have not sought commission by Him to live, work, or play, nor have we heard His voice in any matters of our life. How can we have faith, or live by faith if we have never heard the Word of God in any area of our lives? We are not living by faith... we are living by hope. Hope is good, but it is not faith. We hope God is in control. We hope He will bless us in next week’s business. We hope He will expand our borders and make our way prosperous, but we have no real word from God upon which we may lay claim and no promise upon which we may rest our full assurance of faith. We know what to do, but we have not been told to do it. We know the job to be done, but we have not been commanded. When we are working under our own power and the storm looms overhead and we hear the thunder roll and the see the seas swell, our faith is exposed as only hope because we have no commission to call upon. Faith Comes By Hearing All we need to hear from our God is to go and do this or that and we would be strong in our faith. We would know our commission. No one in a right frame of mind wonders whether God is ABLE. We wonder if He is willing. We wonder if He is willing because we do not know His will! We must hear a word from God. We must hear the Word of God. Here is one of the most misunderstood principles in Christendom today. It is misunderstood mainly because the most misunderstood Scripture is so often used to teach in this situation. “So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.” Romans 10:17 If you mistakenly define “the Word of God” as “the Scriptures,” you have rendered the power of this truth impotent. You will not receive faith from reading, nor will faith come by study, faith comes by HEARING. It is when you receive your commission to “go to the other side of the lake” that you have the faith to say, “Peace, be still.” But you have to HEAR it. We cannot presume it, we may not read the promise made to someone else two centuries ago, but you must hear for yourself. Many of us are living our lives having never consulted God about the direction that they are to go. You may assume He wants you to do this or that, you may presume He will bless your efforts if you do the best you can, but if you want to claim to live by faith, you must hear from Him about your direction and purpose in life. If you want to have faith you must hear that voice that authorizes you to overcome any obstacle. If you want to have faith – true faith – you must HEAR the Word of God. “So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.” We cannot group the whole Church into this category of faithlessness nor blame them for not exercising faith. There are some who have heard the Word of God, who know the direction and purpose for their lives. They have been commissioned and told where to go and how to get there. Like the disciples were told to go to the other side, some have received their orders. It is to those who know their instructions that Jesus addresses His question. “I gave you orders, I empowered you to overcome all obstacles, how is that ye have no faith?” [1] Excerpt from the audio book “On Faith” by this author. [2] Matthew 6:32

What Things

143.   WHAT THINGS? Luke 24:19, “And he said unto them, What things?” Owners of stores and markets wonder sometimes how their business presents itself to the public. Even after much training and orientation, an unmotivated employee can make an entire multinational company with years of experience look like a band of novices to the public. Fearing this, they send “shoppers” hired by the company to their stores. They are there for the express purpose of reporting how they are doing and how the company appears to the public. In the story from which our question comes, we see Jesus doing this. We see Him walking along, “shopping” His disciples as if He were a stranger. He held back their recognition of Him facilitating candid responses to His questions. He asks such a question that the disciples are flabbergasted at the ignorance of this stranger. “Where are you from that you have not heard of the man from Galilee that has turned this whole country upside-down?” “And the one of them, whose name was Cleopas, answering said unto him, Art thou only a stranger in Jerusalem, and hast not known the things which are come to pass there in these days?” Word of what was done in Jerusalem, the life of Jesus and His subsequent execution, must have rung throughout the countryside. The story must have been on everyone’s lips and in everyone’s thoughts over the past three days. You can imagine the conversation at the town well and in the market. “Did you hear about the teacher Joshua?” (Jesus’ name in Hebrew/Aramaic) “He was crucified by the Romans for treason.” Or “…He was crucified for blasphemy!” Everyone probably had his or her own version of the story. The Pharisees would gladly be giving reasons for His death and spreading stories about how it all came to be. Then there would be pure rumor, having no basis in fact at all, that would spread among the itching ears of Jerusalem. It was a situation ripe for gossip, rumor, and innuendo. But, what was the truth? When, why and how did it all happen? Even as His discouraged Disciples walked, the Pharisees were plotting a rumor campaign to purport the theft of His body in the night to offset the fact that it was now missing, even under armed guard! How would Jesus check the knowledge and readiness of the disciples with whom He would soon entrust the everlasting Gospel message? When they asked, “… hast thou not known the things which are come to pass there in these days?” And he said unto them, “What things?” “Tell me what things you are talking about.” “And they said unto him, Concerning Jesus of Nazareth, which was a prophet mighty in deed and word before God and all the people: And how the chief priests and our rulers delivered him to be condemned to death, and have crucified him. But we trusted that it had been he which should have redeemed Israel: and beside all this, to day is the third day since these things were done. Yea, and certain women also of our company made us astonished, which were early at the sepulchre; And when they found not his body, they came, saying, that they had also seen a vision of angels, which said that he was alive. And certain of them which were with us went to the sepulchre, and found it even so as the women had said: but him they saw not.  In searching out their knowledge, Christ found their facts to be accurate, but they themselves, discouraged. They had their facts straight, but they were unsure how those facts were to be interpreted. They exposed their doubts when they confessed, “…we trusted that it had been he which should have redeemed Israel!” Their voices trailed into mumbles that could be read clearly as, “…but alas, it was not to be.” Christ saw that they were feeling defeated in their hearts for they thought Christ, the “great and mighty Prophet,” was dead. It was as if they were apologizing for the fact that He was unaccounted among them. “…And beside all this, today is the third day since these things were done.” These words showed that they had discussed the prophetic sign of Jonah that Jesus had spoken of in earlier days. He had promised that in three days He would rise from the dead. Then, as if to lend some credibility to Christ, they added, “Yes well, women of our company, which were early at the sepulchre, told us an amazing story when they did not find his body, they came saying that he was alive.” But then he adds sadly and reluctantly, “…but we went there and were not able to confirm their story.” Jesus was unable to take any more of their sadness and lack of faith and said, “O fools, and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken: Ought not Christ to have suffered these things …to enter into his glory? And [then,] beginning at Moses and all the prophets, he expounded unto them in all the scriptures the things concerning himself.” At this point He was still unknown to them. They assumed this stranger was a student of the Scriptures and happened to know much about Messiah. They gained encouragement from Him and invited Him to stay with them. He did so. That evening He opened their eyes to who He was and then departed from their sight. The disciples did not pass their test but they did not fail either. They knew the how and the when but, the why was wrapped in emotion and self-concern and therefore difficult to be fully known. Jesus helped in two ways; He turned them back to the Scriptures. The Scriptures are an invaluable source for the wavering, doubting, or discouraged Christian. They offer stable words from God; promises and immutable prophecies that can place disjointed events and facts into an eternal perspective and paint a mural of understanding in the heart of the believer. Sometimes this understanding is not even one that can be related in word, but an underlying knowing that gives comfort in times of doubt. The other way Christ helped them with their discouragement was by His physical presence. When they asked Him to stay He “…made as though He would have gone further… but they constrained him.” Jesus then changed His plans and stayed with them. Sometimes our presence can be a great encouragement to those who feel left alone. Sometimes with encouragement, the Lord will stay with us a little longer in our time of doubt and fear, or in the time of embarrassment over our performance on our pop quiz. So, How Would You Do?  If our Savior wanted to check you out as a possessor of the Gospel message, how much of it could you relate accurately? Do you know who Christ was? Why Christ was? Do you know what things transpired in Jerusalem that day and how they affect you and what effect they have on others? If Jesus gave you a little pop quiz to see how prepared you are to relate the good news to the world, how would you fare? What “things” do you know about God’s plan of Redemption? Do you know who was responsible for the death of Christ and why? Do you know why He was raised the third day? Do you know how all of this fits into Scripture and fulfills thousands of years of prophecy? Are you sure that your Savior has risen indeed and is now seated at the right hand of the Father on High? Does He live in your understanding and in your heart? Is your way dedicated to Him? Does your heart burn within you as He opens the Scriptures to you? If Jesus appeared as a stranger and asked of the hope that is in you, could you tell Him of the events that changed your life? Could you give a clear and understandable story of the things in your life that led you to such hope... if He looked at you and asked, “What things?” ~ Matthew 12:39-40, “But he answered and said unto them, An evil and adulterous generation seeketh after a sign; and there shall no sign be given to it, but the sign of the prophet Jonas: For as Jonas was three days and three nights in the whale's belly; so shall the Son of man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth.” Mentioned in this episode: TRI Radio App

Where is Your Faith?

WHERE IS YOUR FAITH? > Luke 8:24-25, “And they came to him, and awoke him, saying, Master, master, we perish. Then he arose, and rebuked the wind and the raging of the water: and they ceased, and there was a calm. And he said unto them, Where is your faith? And they being afraid wondered, saying one to another, What manner of man is this! for he commandeth even the winds and water, and they obey him.” > A story is told about a circus performer who walks among the crowd after successfully walking across the high wire suspended above a gorge, and asked, “Do you believe I can go across pushing a wheel barrow?” The crowd chanted, “Yes! Yes!” Then stone silence fell as he prepared the wheelbarrow for the narrow journey and not a word in answer came when he asked, “Now, who would like to ride?” Corresponding action is the ONLY indicator of unfeigned faith. The Bible records a question that is often quoted, but seldom answered. “What doth it profit, my brethren, though a man say he hath faith, and have not works? Can faith save him? It is most uncomfortable to answer the question because it shows us to be faithless in many cases. We must admit, however, that faith without actions that corresponds to the faith is not faith at all. And, “Ye see then how that by works a man is justified, and not by faith only.” (James 2:14-24) The action that corresponds to faith (or the lack of action) is not only a marker of absent faith, it can also provide clues to us indicating in what or where we have placed our faith. Jesus made the same point this way, “For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.” (Matthew 6:21) Behind the words is the principle that we live what we believe. Or as a Mississippi preacher friend of mine says, “We be livin’ what we believin’.” If what Jesus and my friend say is true (and I believe it is) then we may look into our own lives and easily see where our faith lies. “Where is your faith?” becomes more than a rhetorical question. It becomes a question of introspection. Your faith is somewhere, where is it? Sometimes the action that exposes our misplaced faith is only a mental process. When trouble arises we may look for help. The process of looking starts with a mental inventory of useful items, people, and resources. When faced with a problem we might immediately think of a friend to help us who has expertise or political power. When faced with a loss we may think of our insurance policy or our savings account. When a health issue appears we may want to consult with a doctor of reputation among his peers. Where our thoughts go is to our treasure, and where your treasure is, there is where you will find your heart of faith. When King David was faced with trouble he said, “I will lift up mine eyes unto the hills, from whence cometh my help. My help cometh from the LORD, which made heaven and earth.” (Psalms 121:1-2) Could it be said that David had misplaced faith? Never a man had chariots and horses, armies and men so devoted to him as David had. He was truly a man of resources, but his attitude was, “Some trust in chariots, and some in horses: but we will remember the name of the LORD our God.” (Psalms 20:7) Can anyone see a man here who doubts God? Do we have to ask David, “Where is your faith?” I believe that God enjoyed the faith of Job, Noah and Daniel, and I believe that YHVH enjoyed David’s faith. David’s faith was different. It had a humble and unassuming quality. Although it was a no nonsense faith, it never even encroached disrespect. Jesus even mentions (I believe with a smile on His face) a time when David ate the shewbread in the Temple, which is unlawful for any man who is not a Priest to eat, and asked the Pharisees what they thought of that. It is no wonder that David was known as a man after God’s own heart. [1 Samuel 13:14, “…the LORD hath sought him a man after his own heart, and the LORD hath commanded him to be captain over his people…”] The eternal reign of Christ in the new Kingdom has been prophesied for years as the “the throne of David.” David’s relationship to Jehovah was so close that he once circumvented the office of the priest and a man was killed in the process. David grieved for Uzzah and believed it was his fault that he died. [2 Samuel 6] With all these ideas in our head, we are left with this mystery pertaining to David’s relationship to God. But a day came in the life of David where his actions would show, loud and clear, where his faith was. This was a day that grieved the Lord and things were never the same after this event. “And Satan stood up against Israel, and provoked David to number Israel.” (1 Chronicles 21:1) What could be so bad about taking a census? Look at the figures that were given to David. “And Joab gave the sum of the number of the people unto David. And all they of Israel were a thousand thousand and an hundred thousand [1,100,000] men that drew sword: and Judah was four hundred threescore and ten thousand [470,000] men that drew sword.”(Verse 5) These statistics were to verify the POWER available to David as king. It was obvious that the object in which David placed his faith was changing, and it was deplorable to God. David’s action showed where his faith was. He no longer looked unto the hills as in the days of his youth. He no longer was saying that some trust in chariots and horses, for his actions are now speaking louder than any words of his past. But why did he falter? Always Enough I remember going away to school and, for the first time, I was in charge of my finances. In some homes Dad keeps the wallet and balances the checkbook, in my home, my Mother was the one. She taught me how to spend money and how to save it. I remember setting up an account at the school for needs and supplies that would eventually crop up as the year progressed. “How much money are you going to put in there?” I asked my mother. She told me that there would always be enough, as long as I only bought what I needed. I lived by the faith that what my mother told me was true. For many months I never looked into that account or even cared how much was there and, just as she said, whenever I needed something I could go to the clerk and ask for an amount and there was always enough. But the day came when I wanted to buy MORE than I needed. What do you think was my first thought? My faith in Mom was instantly transformed. I could not count on what was out of my control, namely the will and ability of my mother; I had to rely on what was within my power and possession. My actions showed where my faith was. It was in me. The Disciples were skilled boatmen. This was not their first time at sea. David was a man of war skilled in every area of battle. When it came time to take inventory of assets it should come as no surprise that these men counted on their own power. David realized what he had done and repented. After the ordeal was over David likely heard within himself the words, “Where is your faith?” That thought never occurred to the disciples, however. They rowed and rowed. They used every trick in the book. After all hope was gone and their resources were exhausted, and they worked hard to no avail, they went to Jesus. Asking Him why He did not care if they perished, Jesus looked around at the panting men who were totally spent trying to recover themselves, and asked, “Where is your faith?” Mentioned in this episode: TRI Radio App

Why Are You So Fearful?

WHY ARE YE SO FEARFUL? > Matthew 8:26, “And when he was entered into a ship, his disciples followed him. And, behold, there arose a great tempest in the sea, insomuch that the ship was covered with the waves: but he was asleep. And his disciples came to him, and awoke him, saying, Lord, save us: we perish. And he saith unto them, Why are ye fearful, O ye of little faith? Then he arose, and rebuked the winds and the sea; and there was a great calm. But the men marvelled, saying, What manner of man is this, that even the winds and the sea obey him!” Also refer to: Mark 4:40, Luke 8:25 One of the beautiful things about having four Gospels is reading the same account from three or four perspectives. This account of Jesus calming the storm is no exception. In one he asks, “Why are ye fearful, O ye of little faith?” in another, “Why are ye so fearful? How is it that ye have no faith?” and then finally (as this story only appears in only three of the Gospels) He asks, “Where is your faith?” From this story, take notice that the lack of faith is an indicator to Jesus that they are full of fear, or vice versa if you prefer, but it is obvious that faith and fear are mutually exclusive forces. More so than a discussion of faith, we want to consider the question that brought about the self-examination, “Why are you so fearful?” Many of the answers to the questions Jesus asked were for our information not His. Even if we do not hold to the idea that Jesus “knew everything” or could “read minds,” we must agree that His wisdom far surpassed mankind’s. He asked, “Why are ye so fearful?” not because He did not know; He asked in order to initiate an internal and self-questioning process within the disciples. He was saying, “Stop, wait a minute and think! Why are you so fearful?” This self-examining process is an essential part of the Christian faith that is lacking in most of our personal lives and certainly in conventional congregational worship. This process cannot be bypassed, done in haste or hurry, nor can it be accomplished in formulaic steps or procedures. It is a meeting of minds, so to speak, a meeting of reality within us that can only be accomplished through honest questions and honest answers. In silent contemplation, we listen to the Word of God (the living Christ) within us, as He evaluates our condition and queries us, we answer Him and our answers may candidly determine our shortcomings and expose the necessary changes. But it is the waiting; the silent waiting upon Him that will present light to our souls and refresh our innermost being. The noise of our lives and noise of our churches attest to the lack of quietness within our spirits. Quietness is uncomfortable to most, because it naturally reveals the noise in our souls. We try to avoid this candid meeting with Christ from occurring within us, for we dread it may make our fears of our Father’s displeasure a reality. Noise is necessary to keep this honest, internal conversation from happening, lest we find ourselves convicted in our favorite lifestyle and then obliged to change it. Peace with Our God It is the lack of our Father’s approval that deprives of serenity; we want to feel His hand of salvation on us so that we can feel peace, but we avoid feeling His hand of correction. How can we have one and not the other? Do not both touches of His hand come at once? The writer in Hebrews 12 says, “For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth. If ye endure chastening, God dealeth with you as with sons… Furthermore we have had fathers of our flesh which corrected us, and we gave them reverence: shall we not much rather be in subjection unto the Father of spirits, and live? …that we might be partakers of his holiness. Now no chastening for the present seemeth to be joyous, but grievous: nevertheless afterward it yieldeth the peaceable fruit of righteousness…” (Verses 6-11 abridged, emphasis added) It is the pain of correction that brings about the feeling of being true children of your Father in heaven, as well as effecting lasting changes in our lifestyle that please Him. But we avoid this pain. Sometimes we mistakenly think that the absence of discomfort we feel resulting from the singing or orchestrated harmony with others when we are making “joyful noise,” is His approving hand on our lives. But relief is not remedy. Our temporary comfort is no more a sign of healing than drug-induced pain alleviation is an evidence of a medical cure. We are fearful because we do not know our future; we do not know our future because we do not have faith in God. We do not have faith in God because we are not in communication with Him; we are not in communication with Him because our sins have created a painful barrier between us. Sadly, what has been forgotten are the words of the Old Testament Prophet Isaiah: “Behold, the LORD'S hand is not shortened, that it cannot save; neither his ear heavy, that it cannot hear: But your iniquities have separated between you and your God, and your sins have hid his face from you, that he will not hear.” (Isaiah 59:1-2) Now that we know the answer, let us hear the question again, “Why are ye so fearful?” When faced with a trial of our faith we naturally think of ways we have displeased our God. It is as though we have a delinquent debt to the local hospital and we find ourselves in need of their services again. Though they may treat us through mercy, we know, because of our debt, we do not deserve it. You should live in such a way so that no debt, no sin or shortcoming should be outstanding, as you approach the Father in prayer. Why are you so fearful? It is likely that you feel afraid in your trials because your disobedience and your recent failures give you no assurance that God is in control or will help in time of need. Selfish acts and concerns are often responsible for faithlessness and fear. Don’t live in a manner where only your interests are preponderant. In doing so, you will surely consider the storms that rise as obtrusive impositions into your world or even punishment for your sin. Notice that Jesus did not ask, “Why are you afraid of storms?” That would be a silly question as it is well established that storms are dangerous. He asked, “Why are ye so fearful?” Jesus was awakened by His disciples asking, “Master, carest thou not that we perish?” Not only had they become fearful of the tempest, but they had also surmised, in their fear, that Jesus did not care if they died. They did not doubt His ability to act as much they now doubted His willingness to act on their behalf. Jesus asked them about their fearfulness. They were not only afraid of the storm (which was normal); He asked them why they were full of fear. “Why are ye so fearful?” “Where is your faith?” “How is it ye have no faith?” These questions would sober any honest Christian, and initiate self-examination. You may feel that fear is out of your control. However, you should remember that the fear you feel is in inverse proportion to your faith in God. Your works exemplify and give evidence of your faith in God… and your works are within our control. When weather, out of your control, pitches and tosses your boat, you can bravely steer ahead on into the waves and remain afloat only if you know that you are going where you were told to go, doing what you were told to do, and serving your Master and not your own interests. Steer, go, do, and serve! All are works within your control. It is only the one who seeks the easy way, or who looks for the loopholes, who fears when the way grows dark and ominous. Those who dodge responsibility and perform only the least that is expected are uncertain that God cares, or doubt that He would use His power to save. You are not to be cowardly and worthless, trembling and unsure. You are to hold in high regard your commission and the Commissioner. You may only exemplify that respect by your servile attitude and selflessness. Then you can function in true and trusting faith. You can live in full assurance that if He says to go, you’ll go until you arrive. If He says to do, you’ll do until you are done. You will fear nothing because you are not your own, you are bought with a price. You have nothing to fear as you live day to day doing only that which pleases Him. So then, “Why are ye so fearful?”