WHAT TO DO WHEN YOU FACE A FEARFUL SITUATION

THURSDAY, 19TH JULY, 2023.

Author: PASTOR DR. SAMUEL AYORINDE

Topic: WHAT TO DO WHEN YOU FACE A FEARFUL SITUATION 

MEMORY SCRIPTURE: 

“Then the messengers returned to Jacob, saying, "We came to your brother Esau, and he also is coming to meet you, and four hundred men are with him" (Genesis 32:6).

SCRIPTURE READING:  Genesis 32:3-12

“And Jacob sent messengers before him to Esau his brother in the land of Seir, the country of Edom, instructing them, “Thus you shall say to my lord Esau: Thus says your servant Jacob, ‘I have sojourned with Laban and stayed until now. I have oxen, donkeys, flocks, male servants, and female servants. I have sent to tell my lord, in order that I may find favor in your sight.’” And the messengers returned to Jacob, saying, “We came to your brother Esau, and he is coming to meet you, and there are four hundred men with him.” Then Jacob was greatly afraid and distressed. He divided the people who were with him, and the flocks and herds and camels, into two camps, thinking, “If Esau comes to the one camp and attacks it, then the camp that is left will escape.” And Jacob said, “O God of my father Abraham and God of my father Isaac, O Lord who said to me, ‘Return to your country and to your kindred, that I may do you good,’ I am not worthy of the least of all the deeds of steadfast love and all the faithfulness that you have shown to your servant, for with only my staff I crossed this Jordan, and now I have become two camps. Please deliver me from the hand of my brother, from the hand of Esau, for I fear him, that he may come and attack me, the mothers with the children. But you said, ‘I will surely do you good, and make your offspring as the sand of the sea, which cannot be numbered for multitude.’”

EXPOSITION:

How do you handle a frightening and dreadful situation that makes your heart palpitate? Esau's news of coming with about 400 militia to meet Jacob became a great challenge to the latter. What about his many years of sufferings for wives, business in Laban's house? In the end, he overcame. You too can overcome by following these words of wisdom below:

1. Acknowledge Your Fear vv. 7,11: Jacob acknowledged his fear, we may say, he was moved with both fear and faith. Moved with fear, hence, he divided his family and stuff into groups. Moved by faith, he prayed! We live in the world of 'fake it to make it! Many of us live in denial of our fears! Faith is not a denial of fear, but faith helps you to spell fear as 'False Evidence Appearing Real! Acknowledge your fear to God.

2. Recall God's Grace to you in the past vv. 9-10: He reminded himself of God's gracious hands upon him in the past. So, you remember the time when you were a nonentity, when you were nothing and God turned your nothingness into something else! When God multiplied your zeros into meaningful numbers!

3. Confess your Unworthy of God's grace to you v. 10: Jacob professed his unworthy of all the kindness and faithfulness of God to him. Many people feel entitled to God's favour! Whenever we do that, we miss it! 

4. Remind God of His Promises v. 12: There were divine promises and divine purpose in Jacob's life which he reminded God. You too should remind God of His promises over your life. 

5. Present your plea, petition, supplication, and request to God v. 11: Jacob prayed to God. Paul says: Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God.” (Phil. 4:6).

PRAYER POINTS 

i. Pray to God for deliverance from all your fears.

ii. Pray that God should intervene in the matter concerning the Church and her deadly enemies.

DAILY BIBLE READING IN A YEAR –  Song of Solomon 5 – 8.

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ANCHOR OF LIFE is the daily devotional guide written by PASTOR DR. SAMUEL AYORINDE, General Overseer, Anchor of Life & Redemption Ministry Int’l. It is an extraction of God’s word designed to draw the sincere seekers closer to God on a daily basis through an insightful exposition and analysis of God’s Word. Read, Meditate, Pray and Share this message to others. For prayers, Counseling and further enquiries, call or whatsapp +2347032993319; +2348056130469. Or Email: anchoroflifeministry@gmail.com