In Zechariah’s day, the people were fasting in four different months.  They had started this practice during the exile as a sign to God of their mourning over sin.  Now that they were back in Jerusalem, they sought to know whether they should continue this practice.  (Zechariah 7:2-3)  God spoke to them by asking them some questions: “When you fasted and mourned in the fifth and seventh months for the past 70 years, was it really for Me that you fasted?  And when eating and drinking, were you not feasting for yourselves?” (Zechariah 7:5-6)  God knew that their religious rituals were not done from the heart but in form only. He tried to get them to admit this and repent.

God is after real heart change.  “This is what the Lord Almighty says: ‘Administer true justice; show mercy and compassion to one another.  Do not oppress the widow or the fatherless, the alien or the poor.  In you hearts do not think evil of each other.’” (Zechariah 7:9-10)  True fasting produces results in our daily lives.  (Isaiah 58:6-14)  It is demonstrated by mercy and compassion on those who are broken and wounded.  The widows and fatherless are of particular concern to God as well as the alien and poor.  His people must not judge or speak evil, but work to build up and encourage those who are hurting.

God’s people did not respond earlier and because of their hardened hearts, He judged them by sending a whirlwind and scattering them among the nations.  God put the blame on His people for their failure to respond to His word through the prophets.  (Zechariah 7:13-14)

But God was now restoring Jerusalem and would again come and dwell among His people.  They were to pay heed to His word and live a truly fasted life of compassion and service to their fellow men.  God would bless their city, land, and personal lives as they obeyed.  This required courage and a life consecrated to God.  “Do not be afraid.  These are the things you are to do: Speak the truth to each other, and render true and sound judgment in your courts, do not plot evil against your neighbor, and do not love to swear falsely.  I hate all this,” declares the Lord. (Zechariah 8:15b-17)  True fasting is worked out in our lives each day.  It is the state of a heart consecrated to God.

Greetings and good tidings of courage and hope from Jesus Christ!  His perfect love drives out all fear and gives us peace and rest.  Sunday’s are great days to stop doing the ordinary and to gather with God’s people to contemplate the Almighty and worship Him.

What are some of the reasons people give for staying away from church?  In an article for On Mission, author Diane Butts sites ten reasons why people skip church.  The number one reason was that people in the church are hypocrites and being afraid to become one themselves.  The second sited reason was that it was the only morning that they could sleep in!  I guess they were afraid of falling asleep in church since that was their day to sleep!  Another reason was having no good clothes to wear and being afraid people would look at them if they weren’t dressed properly.  For others it was a fear of not knowing anyone and not knowing what to expect.

It is interesting that these reasons all have an element of fear in them.  God only honors faith and in fact tells us not to fear over three hundred and sixty times in the Bible.  “Fear not” is mentioned numbers of times in the last 27 chapters of Isaiah.  God knows that sin has caused us to have fears and succumb to them at times.  He calls us to courage and faith.  If you are making silly excuses for not gathering with God’s people, begin a new week by resolving to walk in courage and attend church!  You’ll be blessed!

“But now, this is what the Lord says–He who created you, O Jacob, He who formed you, O Israel: “Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have summoned you by name and you are mine.” (Isaiah 43:1-2)

In His Love,  Pastor John

Comfort is needed when people have been through the fire of judgment or discipline.  God is a God of all comfort and one of the ways He comforts us is to encourage us not to be afraid.  It is said that the term “fear not” or variations of this phrase is used 366 times in the Bible.  This means that there are enough verses for every day of the year–even leap year!  God knows we need this encouragement.  Let’s look as some things God encourages us to not be afraid of and see our hope begin to rise!

In Isaiah 43:1-3, God tells His people to not be afraid when they pass through the rivers or walk through the fire.  He has redeemed them and they belong to Him.  He promised to be with them and protect them  no matter what the trouble.  He will ransom them and redeem them and gives His word!

In Isaiah 44:1-5, God tells His people to not be afraid for their children!  We can trust the Lord to pour out His Spirit on our offspring and His blessing on our descendants.  When we follow the Lord and live by faith, God takes care of our kids.  He is able to guide them and help them to choose to walk by faith too!  Let’s say “amen” to this promise and live free from fear for our children’s future.

In Isaiah 44:6-8, God encourages His people to not be afraid of the future.  He is their redeemer and is the Almighty Lord who has all power and knowledge.  He knows the future and holds it in His hands.  He is a Rock for those who are in fear of the future.  Trusting in Him can make us truly free!

The last thing we can give up fearing is old age and the weakness and frailty associated with it.  “Listen to me, O house of Jacob, all you who remain of the house of Israel, you whom I have upheld since you were conceived, have carried since your birth.  Even to your old age and gray hairs, I am He, I am He who will sustain you, I have made you and I will carry you; I will sustain you and I will rescue you.” (Isaiah 46:3-4)  Sounds like God can handle us in old age, too, doesn’t it?  What’s there to be afraid of anyway?  We are people of faith and please God by trusting Him in everything!  “Fear Not!”