Freedom from Fear

“You will not fear the terror of the night, nor the arrow that flies by day, nor the pestilence that stalks in darkness, nor the destruction that wastes a noonday.” (Psalm 91: 5-6)

“You did not receive a spirit of slavery leading you back into fear, but a spirit of adoption through whom we cry out, “Abba!” (that is, “Father”).” (Romans 8:15)

“There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear.” (1 John 4:18)

“Does this not show that the Spirit changes those in whom he comes to dwell and alters the whole pattern of their lives? With the Spirit within them, it is quite natural for people who had been absorbed by the things of this world to become entirely other-worldly in outlook, and for cowards to become men of great courage. There can be no doubt that this is what happened to the disciples. The strength they received from the Spirit enabled them to hold firmly to the love of Christ, facing the violence of their persecutors unafraid.” (From a commentary on the gospel of John by Saint Cyril of Alexandria, bishop, Liturgy of Hours, Thursday, Seventh Week of Easter)

This weekend we approach the altar to worship and “receive grace for timely help.” It is one of the most important feast days of the Church, Pentecost. It is this feast where we recall the disciples, previously fearful and unengaged, but afterword transformed by the power of the Holy Spirit while they were gathered together (Acts Ch 2). They were changed into “other worldly” men of courage. They were free from fear. They were filled with “perfect love”. They were filled with the Holy Spirit.

Men, this is key that unlocks the greatest mystery of all time. There is no other way. Our world, our flesh, and the devil markets in fear. Fear of failure means men do not engage. Fear of rejection, of being ridiculed, of being isolated, of looking stupid, means men do not engage. What if the Apostles had not engaged? Social media and the media populate your world with pictures and videos of success and perfection—what you should look like, act like, speak like. What if you don’t match-up?

Enter fear of rejection, failure, ridicule. Enter man not engaged.

I have it. You have it. To some degree all men have it.

But God cannot be stopped by fear. Through God’s providence and the death, resurrection, and ascension of his son Jesus, He has sent the Holy Spirit to us to empower us, to enlighten us, to fill us with virtues, to fill us with love, to “cast out all fear.” This is THE WAY; this is HIS WAY. You must cry out and beg God to fill you with the Holy Spirit. You must invite in and surrender your life to the Holy Spirit. This is the only path to man fully alive, fully engaged, unafraid.

“…how much more will the heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!” (Luke 11:13)

What are you afraid of? What is keeping you from engaging in your life? Come before the Lord in prayer, ask the Holy Spirit to show you what you are afraid of. Write it down and bring it before the Lord this Pentecost Sunday. Ask, beg, plead for more of the Holy Spirit and the Father will give it to you.

“Therefore, I tell you, whatever you ask in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours.” (Mark 11:24). Engage.

BLUF (Bottom Line Up Front): Ask. Believe. Receive. Engage.