Teaching by Pastor Margaret Ochsner, Women’s Apostolic Alliance member
How blessed are we, and what a privilege it is to truly know God in this season!
He is a faithful, trustworthy, good, kind, just and every aspect of love. He cannot deny His Word or His character. This is who He is!
“What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us.” – Romans 8:31
“For He Himself has said, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.” So, we may boldly say: “The Lord is my helper; I will not fear, what man can do to me.” – Hebrews 13:5b – 6
How awesome is this, that God Himself, the creator of the universe will never leave us or forsake us.
If We have accepted Him as Saviour and Lord, His Holy Spirit abides in us and we cannot go anywhere without Him. And the power that raised Him from the dead is in us.
“The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, then heirs – heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him, that we may also be glorified together.” – Romans 8:16 -17
He, who is the source of all true power, authority, wisdom, strength, protection, safety, security, love and peace just wants to release these things to us and through us as we need them. We are safe with Him.
Jesus conquered fear at Gethsemane.
He knew that crucifixion; having to pay the price for mankind’s sin, and having to be separated from His Father, who He had been with from Eternity – was ahead of Him.
“He knelt down and prayed, saying, “Father, if it is Your will, take this cup away from Me; nevertheless, not My will, but Yours be done.” Then an angel appeared to Him from heaven, strengthening Him. And being in agony, He prayed more earnestly. Then His sweat became like great drops of blood falling down to the ground.” – Luke 22:41b – 44
He prayed in agony of soul, even sweating great drops of blood, which is a physical phenomenon when one is overwhelmed to the point of death – asking His Father if there was any other way our sins could be atoned for.
However, He so loved His Father and He knew that only He, who had never sinned, could pay the penalty for sin. So, He purposed in His heart and set His face to go to the cross to bless His Father and restore His creation to Him.
So, Jesus conquered fear at Gethsemane and He totally defeated it at the cross.
“Having disarmed principalities and powers, He made a public spectacle of them.” – Colossians 2:15
Jesus totally defeated Satan, sickness, evil, sin and every principality and power at the cross, including fear on our behalf.
Jesus commands us not to fear.
Even in the darkest and most desperate of times, the most difficult and horrendous circumstances, God is still large and in charge and for us. We have the most important thing in life – our relationship with Jesus and eternal life.
Every cry He hears.
“Draw near to God and He will draw near to you.” – James 4:8
“Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil; for You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me.” – Psalm 23:4
Focus on Him in the midst of your circumstances. Ask, believe and receive His comfort, His strength, His protection, His love and His peace.