THE ‘FEAR NOTS’ OF THE NEW TESTAMENT
‘Fear not!’
My purpose is to ask your attention to the seven ‘Fear nots’ of the New Testament.
I. We take our first ‘Fear not!’ from St. Luke 8:15.—‘But when Jesus heard it, He answered him, saying, Fear not! believe only, and she shall be made whole.’ This is a ‘Fear not!’ teaching us that we are never to give up hope. If there were ever a seemingly hopeless case, it was this of Jairus’s daughter; but when Christ is concerned, or concerns Himself about us, we need never despair.
II. Then the second ‘Fear not!’ is in St. Matthew 10:28.—‘Fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul.’ This is the ‘Fear not!’ which defies persecution. How little our enemies can do to us. They cannot touch you. Suppose they even mangled and murdered your body, that is not touching you, and after they have done that, there is no more they can do. Fear not! confess Christ and He will bless thee.
III. The third ‘Fear not!’ is in St. Luke 12:32.—‘ Fear not! little flock; for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the Kingdom.’ Here we have the ‘Fear not!’ that drives away anxiety with regard to our earthly supplies. No man, by worrying, can add a cubit to his stature. No man, by worrying or by growing anxious, can help lift a single burden of this life.
IV. The next ‘Fear not!’ is in the Acts of the Apostles ( Acts 27:24).—‘Fear not, Paul … lo! God hath given thee all them that sail with thee.’ Now this ‘Fear not!’ is a most important one. It is a ‘Fear not!’ even when almost certain failure seems to be staring us in the face. God is always better than our fears.
V. The fifth ‘Fear not!’ is in Luke 5:10.—‘And Jesus said unto Simon, Fear not! from henceforth thou shalt catch men.’ Now this is a ‘Fear not!’ for all weary Christian workers. The Master said to His disciples, ‘Work away!’ they did so, and were rewarded with a tremendous haul; and so the Master will come to every weary, discouraged Christian worker.
VI. The sixth ‘Fear not!’ is also in St. Luke’s Gospel (Revelation 2:10). ‘And the angel said unto them, Fear not! for behold? I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people.’ This is a ‘Fear not!’ for each penitent sinner. We realise that God is for us: nay, more, God is with us—our ‘Emmanuel.’
VII. And then we come to the ‘Fear not!’ of the text ( Revelation 1:17.)—In this text our Master gives us three reasons, three solid facts why we should at once cease to fear.
(a) On account of His eternal existence.
(b) On account of his victory.
(c) On account of his power and authority.
—Rev. F. Swainson.