When the hour is dark, when the situation is desperate, when we are humbled and brought very low, we finally begin looking and longing for God’s peace. Trembling, we grope through the darkness, longing to know that all will be well.
When the angel of Jehovah appeared to Gideon (Judges 6), he was crouching in the dark confines of a winepress, threshing wheat in secret to protect it — and himself — from the Midianite invaders. This was not a new way to thresh grain, it was cowardice. Listen to how the angel of the Lord addresses Gideon.
The angel of the LORD appeared to him and said to him, “The LORD is with you, O valiant warrior.” Then Gideon said to him, “O my lord, if the LORD is with us, why then has all this happened to us? …the LORD has abandoned us and given us into the hand of Midian.” The LORD looked at him and said, “Go in this your strength and deliver Israel from the hand of Midian. Have I not sent you?” (Judges 6:12-14)
At first Gideon questioned this angel of the Lord and complained about his circumstances. How could God really love Israel? How could God really care about Gideon when they were all in such distress, danger, and poverty?
Gideon did not yet know to Whom he was speaking. This angel spoke as Jehovah Himself, and when Gideon finally realized he’d been discussing politics and religion with God — face to face — he was rightfully terrified:
“Alas, O Lord GOD! For now I have seen the angel of the LORD face to face.” The LORD said to him, “Peace to you, do not fear; you shall not die.” Then Gideon built an altar there to the LORD and named it The LORD is Peace. (Judges 6:22-24)
When do we first encounter the name Jehovah-shalom? Where does God first reveal His name as The Lord is Peace?
In the presence of a man who is desperately afraid… a man who is literally walled in by circumstances… a man who is worried and discouraged and has no peace in his heart.
When Gideon’s eyes were at last opened to see that the Lord had taken a personal interest in his situation, that God was present with him in the midst of all this darkness and fear, he worshiped the Lord by a new name — Jehovah-shalom, The Lord is Peace.
In the days to come, the Lord was going to put Gideon in some very unpeaceful situations. In some ways Gideon would face more stresses and challenges than he had ever faced in his young life. Learning this business of being a “valiant warrior” wasn’t going to be easy.
But no matter what happened from this point on, Gideon could look back to an altar. He could look back at a moment in time when Jehovah-shalom said to him, “Peace to you, do not fear.”
Beloved, do you ever feel as if you’re trying to thresh wheat in a winepress? Surrounded by an enemy who presses in on you and tries to steal every grain of peace and gladness out of your life? Do you ever begin to wonder where your God is in the midst of your hurt and worry?
How rightly Gideon named that altar, The Lord is Peace. True peace cannot be found in any other place than in a right relationship with God.
We cannot base our peace in the circumstances and situations of life.We must not let our peace be centered in another man or woman — no matter how dear they are to us.
We dare not allow peace to depend on sunny skies, a full stomach, a balanced checkbook, a healthy body, or a harmonious home. I believe the Lord sometimes allows situations that strip away the shallow, surface peace on which we have come to depend. He allows us to be distressed and in turmoil and unable to find the answers we need from our husbands, wives, friends, or counselors.
In those times, as with Gideon, we need to discover that God is Jehovah-shalom.
As Paul wrote to the Ephesians, “He Himself is our peace” (Ephesians 2:14). Once you really understand this and worship God as Jehovah-shalom, you can have peace no matter what storms sweep over the horizon.
Jesus told His disciples this very thing in the last few hours before the Cross. These men were in terrible turmoil, and things were about to get much worse. Here is Jesus’ promise:
“Peace I leave with you; My peace I give to you; not as the world gives, do I give to you. Do not let not your heart be troubled, nor let it be fearful.” (John 14:27)
“These things I have spoken to you, so that in Me you may have peace. In the world you have tribulation, but take courage; I have overcome the world.” (John 16:33)
Where do you run when you need peace? Is your first response to go looking for a person or to pick up the phone?
Before you do, Beloved, run into the shelter of His name. When you find Him, you will find peace because He is Peace.
Fear Not My Child
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.
I John 4:18
Fear is something that entered the world as a result of the Fall. Before they sinned by eating the forbidden fruit, the Bible says that Adam and Eve walked and talked with God being transparent to the point of nakedness. Yet after the deed was done God came to spend time with them in the cool of the evening only to find them hiding. His inquiries brought out the sad fact that their eyes had been open to things that God did not intend for them to see. At the same time, fear became a factor not only for Adam and Eve but also for all of mankind.
God found them hiding because they were naked and afraid—thus the beginning of a battle that rages in each of our lives at one time or another. Often times we become fearful, afraid and, as a result, we too hide from God or stand paralyzed to the point that the enemy finds us to be easy prey. It is a horrible state to be in and one we have all experienced from time to time.
I have been thinking a great deal about fear with all that is going on in the world today. We have experienced terrorist attacks, bomb scares, and the threat of biological warfare. Many Americans have been shaken to the very core of their beings. People are coming to the Lord, and others are coming back to the Lord. Even the sale of Bibles has risen some 40% since the bombing of the Twin Towers rocked our world. Those are some of the blessings that come from an otherwise devastating occurrence. I see God’s hand at work as always to use even this terrible tragedy that He did not cause but did allow for a purpose: That purpose is to conform us into the image of His Son Jesus, according to Romans 8:28-29. My heart is warmed by many of the stories that have emerged from the rubble, and I find myself thanking God for His faithfulness at all times.
As all of you have, I have had discussions with many people about what is happening in America. Everyone seems to want to talk about what is going on, but I have noticed that many of the people I have talked to, though they are Christians, are extremely fearful. They are bogged down with fear even to the point of becoming ill with worry. Recently I asked God why so many of His people were so afraid. His reply was, "Because they are not all My people. They worship Me with their lips but their hearts are far from Me." That totally blew my mind for a moment, but as I studied the Word the statement became much clearer to me. I would like to share some of my findings with you:
There are several reasons why people who claim to be Children of God are very fearful at this time. Ezekiel 33:31 says, "So they come to you as people do, they sit before you as My people, and they hear your words, but they do not do them; for with their mouth they show much love, but their hearts pursue their own gain."
There are many folks attending church regularly who profess salvation but refuse to obey the Word of God—they say the right things but they have impure motives. Many of them have been doing this for so long that they have deceived themselves into believing that these actions make them a Christian…a Child of God. Sadly enough, they are mistaken. God’s kids are known by their love for God and each other; they are also known for purity and obedience. If you are in a state of fear, perhaps it is time for you to examine yourself and see that you truly are a blood-bought, born-again believer for if you find evidence lacking, there is no time like the present to surrender to Him.
Another reason why people who claim to be Children of God are very fearful is because they have not fully accepted the love of God in their hearts. For many reasons, people often have certain areas in their lives that they are not willing to let God help them deal with. That is because they are not confident of God’s love and, as a result, have secret areas that they want left untouched.
II Timothy 1:7 says, "For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind." Also, I John 4:18 tells us that, "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." If you find yourself to be ridden with anxiety and extremely fearful, then you need to go to God and begin accepting His perfect love. It will cast out fear and give you a sound mind.
There is much more that could be said concerning our frailties and the reasons we find ourselves fearful. Sometimes we do not seek God in times of fear so He can deliver us (Psalm 34:4.) At other times, we do not let the Peace of God rule our hearts, and we not thankful for His Blessings and Presence in our lives (Colossians 3:15.) People often live in fear because they are "god" in their lives and eventually experience something that is far outside their realm of control. They never really let Jesus be the Lord of their life. They never learned to walk in the Spirit. Most grievous of all they never developed a relationship with God. They did the things that they were taught when they should have sought the Lord for the truths of His Word.
The good news is that it is not too late. Many are already surrendering themselves to God, and others are coming back to Him. It is my burden and the cry of my heart that the Holy Spirit will convict with an increased intensity. As He examines the heart of all who claim to be a Child of the King, may the bondages of religious spirits be broken and the truth illuminated. People need the Lord. They need Him on Sunday. They need Him on Monday too. In the good times and the bad times, He alone will get people through.
I am so glad I have such an Awesome Heavenly Father. I once lived a life in bondage to fear and anxiety but He sent His Word and healed me. As we talk to people in the days ahead, let’s keep our spiritual antennas up. When we hear fear, let’s do a little investigating. This is to be a great time of harvest…even within the four walls of the church. Don’t miss it! Don’t let others miss it either.
"Fear not my Child, I have redeemed you. I have called you by name…you are MINE." Clasp tightly onto this truth and you will see fear flee.