That's what we need today: Fearless Faith.  Many today have what might be referred to as "Conditional Faith"; that is, faith that works well under ideal circumstances.  But when the pressure comes, watch out.  What comes out of the mouth of the "conditional faith" believer will sound more like an unbeliever than a believer.  We, in western culture are so spiritually soft because we have had it so easy.  And when pressure does come, many go into hiding for protection.

Let us look at some wonderful examples of those who had Fearless Faith:

I. ABRAHAM: 
Believing the promise of many descendants;
Genesis 12:7; "The LORD appeared to Abram and said, 'To your offspring I will give this land.'"
Genesis 15:4-8 "Then the word of the LORD came to him: 'This man will not be your heir, but a son coming from your own body will be your heir.' He took him outside and said, 'Look up at the heavens and count the stars -if indeed you can count them.' Then he said to him, ‘So shall your offspring be.'  Abram believed the LORD and he credited it to him as righteousness. He also said to him, 'I am the LORD, who brought you out of Ur of the Chaldeans to give you this land to take possession of it.'  But Abram said, 'O Sovereign LORD, how can I know that I shall gain possession of it?'"

Can you imagine what would have happened if Abram had stayed in the comfort of his life in Ur?  It very probable that all the history we know would not have happened the way it did.

II. JACOB:

Blessing Joseph’s sons:
Hebrews 11:21  "By faith Jacob gave a blessing to the two sons of Joseph, when he was near to death; and gave God worship, supported by his stick."  [BBE]

When we look at the blessing given by Jacob to his descendents, we see a remarkable fulfillment.  What if he had not blessed them?  Is it possible that they would not have known the same resultant blessings?

III. JOCHEBED:
Caring for Moses: 
Exodus 2:2; "When she saw that he was a fine child, she hid him for three months."
Hebrews 11:23 "By faith Moses’ parents hid him for three months after he was born, because they saw he was no ordinary child, and they were not afraid of the king’s edict.'

What if Jochebed had not protected the infant Moses?  Would the Nation of Israel still be in slavery to Egypt?

IV. CALEB:

Advising to take the land of promise:
Numbers 13:30. "Caleb silenced the people before Moses and said, "We should go up and take possession of the land, for we can certainly do it."
Numbers 14:6-9  "Joshua son of Nun and Caleb son of Jephunneh, who were among those who had explored the land, tore their clothes  and said to the entire Israelite assembly, 'The land we passed through and explored is exceedingly good.  If the LORD is pleased with us, He will lead us into that land, a land flowing with milk and honey, and will give it to us.  Only do not rebel against the LORD. And do not be afraid of the people of the land, because we will swallow them up. Their protection is gone, but the LORD is with us. Do not be afraid of them.’"

What if Caleb had been unbelieving like the others, would they have not possessed the Promised Land for themselves?  Would they have missed out on God’s best?

V. DAVID:

Striking down Goliath:
1 Samuel 17:37. "'The LORD who delivered me from the paw of the lion and the paw of the bear will deliver me from the hand of this Philistine.' Saul said to David, 'Go, and the LORD be with you.'"

1 Samuel 17:46-47 "This day the LORD will hand you over to me, and I’ll strike you down and cut off your head. Today I will give the carcasses of the Philistine army to the birds of the air and the beasts of the earth, and the whole world will know that there is a God in Israel. All those gathered here will know that it is not by sword or spear that the LORD saves; for the battle is the LORD’s, and he will give all of you into our hands."

What if David had not trusted in the Lord to deliver Goliath into his hand?  Would the Nation have ended up wiped out forever?

VI. WIDOW OF ZAREPHATH:
Feeding Elijah:
1 Kings 17:13-16  "Elijah said to her, 'Don't be afraid. Go home and do as you have said. But first make a small cake of bread for me from what you have and bring it to me, and then make something for yourself and your son.  For this is what the LORD, the God of Israel, says: 'The jar of flour will not be used up and the jug of oil will not run dry until the day the LORD gives rain on the land.'  She went away and did as Elijah had told her. So there was food every day for Elijah and for the woman and her family.  For the jar of flour was not used up and the jug of oil did not run dry, in keeping with the word of the LORD spoken by Elijah.'"

What if the Widow had not fed Elijah?  Would the whole Nation of Israel have succumbed to the famine? Would they have ended up in false worship?

What if we do not respond to the call of God in our lives, and fail to see His purpose for us fulfilled?

Acts 20:24  "I consider my life worth nothing to me, if only I may finish the race and complete the task the Lord Jesus has given me - the task of testifying to the gospel of God’s grace."

VII. FINISHING THE RACE
II Timothy 4:8  "Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day—and not only to me, but also to all who have longed for his appearing."

Paul is a New Testament example of Fearless Faith, shining so brightly that the darkness of the Roman prison cell seems to disappear. By faith he sees beyond his own beheading. The pain of that moment is now past and the suffering of this life is left far behind. By faith he sees a day ("that day") when he will receive his reward from the Lord. What will that reward be like?

It will be a guaranteed reward. It is "laid up" or "stored" in heaven for Paul. It will be a glorious reward. It is the crown of righteousness.

It will be a personal reward. Paul will receive his reward from the Lord himself. Note how specific he is about this. It is the Lord, the righteous Judge, who will reward him. In just a few days Nero, the unrighteous earthly ruler, will have him beheaded. But in "that day' the Lord himself will reverse Nero's earthly judgment. The Highest Chief Justice of the Heavenly Supreme Court of the Universe will weigh in on Paul’s case - and His judgment will be final.  And it will be personal.  Paul won't be awarded his crown by mail and he won't receive it from a committee. He will receive it directly from Jesus Christ. It will be a future reward. Paul will receive his reward on "that day," the day Jesus Christ returns from heaven.  It will be a shared reward. It is not just for Paul but also for everyone who loves the Lord and longs for His appearing.

This is what is ahead for those who faithfully serve Jesus Christ in this life.  Be encouraged, Man or Woman of God!  The Lord is not so unjust as to forget your sacrifices for Him.  He sees all that you go through.  He knows all about your struggles.  He sees how hard the fight is, how you are sometimes tempted to quit, and how you keep on going when others around you throw in the towel. He sees and He knows and in "that day," the Lord Himself will reward you if you are faithful to Him now.

So the word of the Lord is this: Keep on fighting. Keep on running. Keep on believing.

And the best of all is yet to come. This hot battle won't last forever, this long road will soon come to an end, and this old world full of "dangers, toils and snares" won't last much longer. Keep exercising Fearless Faith. Keep believing.  Stay strong.  Put on the whole armor of God. 

NEVER GIVE UP! NEVER GIVE UP!!  NEVER EVER GIVE UP ! ! !

There's a finish line out there somewhere, and it's closer than any of us realize.

Finish Strong!

Finish Strong!

Finish Strong!

By the grace of God, let's finish strong for Jesus. Amen!

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