Do not be afraid little flock, for your Father has been pleased to give you the kingdom. (Luke 12:32)
This one sentence is full of the bread of
life. These words of Jesus justify a full hour of preaching rather than one
minute of reading. But there is one key
point I will illuminate today. Jesus spoke those words to His small group of
disciples, not to the crowd. The crowd numbered in the thousands but his
disciples were a small band that followed Him.
Power and strength is often measured in physical size, i.e.
numbers, weight, volume, dollars, etc. ‘Little flock’ does not denote strength
in the natural realm. The disciples knew they were small in number but throughout
Luke 12:22-34 Jesus encouraged them not to worry or be concerned but to be
assured that their Father would care for them.
Fear is the biggest
limiting factor to walking in the fullness of Christ, to walking out your call
and purpose, and to overcoming danger that threatens you. Danger is anything that you perceive to
threaten your well-being. Danger is always present in life, but we choose how to respond to it.
We choose whether or not to embrace fear. In fear we fail. In fear we falter. In
fear that we fall back from that which the Lord has called us forward. The size
of our church, ministry, business, bank account, or sphere of influence does
not determine our response to danger. It
does not determine our level of fear. In fact, if we think we are safe
because of our size, numbers, weight, or bank account we place our trust in a faulty foundation. It is the dimensions of the Kingdom of
God in us that determines our response to danger.
The words following his admonition are ‘because your Father has been pleased to give you the kingdom’. Jesus
implied we were not to be afraid of physical measurements of danger. Why?...because
the physical stature of danger can never measure up to the stature of His
Kingdom in us. The kingdom of God
in us is bigger than any danger around us. The reason we don’t have to
fear is the Kingdom! His kingdom in us
can overcome any opposition; spiritual or natural. His kingdom in us carries the fullness of
grace and love that can put away fear…IF
we embrace that grace and love.
The Word of God says it is only perfected
(fully mature) love that puts away fear (1John 4:18). This
scripture simply says that as His
love is fully mature, perfected, made complete in us, there is no room for fear
in the face danger. This is the
love of the Kingdom of God! If we have
fear of anything, except the awesome, reverential fear of God, we have not
fully embraced, grown in, and matured in the love of the Father in us. It
is not size, dimension, volume, or numbers of people following us that will put
away fear. It is His love fully developed in us that puts away fear.
Be encouraged today that no matter what danger you may see
on the horizon, His perfect love fully
grown IN us moves fear out of the way and fills our heart space with
kingdom confidence. Be encouraged that every fear you have in life, whether
relational, physical, financial, or spiritual can be put away. His Kingdom in
us…His love in us...can fill every nook and cranny of your heart to move fear
out of the way. Embrace and absorb the Father’s love! Allow it to fully grow and
mature. As you do so the Kingdom will bring peace and confidence in the face of
danger. It will empower you to overcome everything that lies before you.
