“But when Jesus heard it, he answered him, saying, Fear not: believe only, and she shall be made whole” (Luke 8:50).
Having fear present with your faith can contaminate your faith. You see, you cannot function in fear and believe God’s word at the same time. You cannot do it—it’s like oil and water: fear and faith just won’t mix.
So you have to decide which way you’re going to go. Either you will believe God’s Word or allow fear to dominate your life. But understand this: you cannot live by both.
Now, Jairus had a decision to make when they told him his daughter was dead. Would he function in faith or fear? Remember you can’t have both faith and fear operating together.
But notice Jesus’ response when they told Jairus not to trouble the master any longer because his daughter was dead. One translation said, when Jesus heard it, He ignored the bad report. In other words, He heard them, but He made a decision to ignore that report.
Jesus’ only words to Jairus were “Fear not, believe only, and she shall be made whole.” Now, pay close attention to that phrase, fear not and believe only. In other words Jesus is saying, don’t mix your faith with fear.
You see, Jesus understood that Satan comes immediately to steal the word that was sown in your heart. And he does it five ways: affliction, persecution, cares of this world, deceitfulness of riches, and lust of other things entering in choke the Word (see Mark 4:14-19).
All of those things are based on fear; however, if you refuse to buy into the fear, the enemy has no weapon to use against you. Now, Jairus regarded the words of Jesus and refused to function in fear, and Jesus was able to raise his daughter up making her completely whole.
The reason we can live by faith instead of fear is because God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power, love, and a sound mind. A fear filled mind is not a sound mind. You are an heir of God; you have no reason to fear. You have what God has at your disposal
It doesn’t matter what the doctor’s report is, or what your ethnicity is, or whether you’re too old or too young. None of that can stand in God’s way. God’s power is greater than anything that will come up against you—just fear not, only believe.
Scripture References: Romans 1:17; 10:17; Mark 4:14-20
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Keith Butler has been an ordained minister since 1974. He is a graduate of the University of Michigan and holds diplomas from Canada Christian College and Rhema Bible Training Center.
He serves in ministry with the support of his lovely wife, Pastor Deborah L. Butler, and their children: Pastor Andre Butler (granddaughters Alexis, Angela, and April), Pastor MiChelle Ferguson and husband Pastor Lee (grandson Lucas), and Minister Kristina Jenkins and husband Pastor Joel (grandsons Andrew and Austin, and granddaughter Alyssa).