Focus: Fear Not! (Pt.1)

Text: Ruth 3:11

"And now, my daughter, fear not; I will do to thee all that thou requirest: for all the city of my people doth know that thou art a virtuous woman."

The first occurrence of fear in the Bible is found in Gen.3, and it is connected to Adam's sin of disobedience, meaning that sin planted in us the negative emotion of fear. Adam felt it was the right thing to do to hide from God, rather than to boldly face Him. Fear steals our confidence and weakens our resolve to do what is right.

Ever since fear became a part of our human nature, God has always insisted that we keep it out of our lives. Fear takes our peace and poise away. Fear leads us into all kinds of wrong doings. Today man is virtually afraid of anything and everything. Man finds himself daily being afraid, even for all the wrong reasons that he can conceive or perceive of.

Boaz tells Ruth to cast off fear, and reassures her of his readiness to do all in his power her every requirement, and he says to her in essence, 'Everyone in this city knows that you are a woman of good character.' In other words, 'You deserve to be treated kindly. By being of good behavior you have earned the right to be helped in anyway possible. Your goodness is showing, and everyone is seeing it. So fear not!' 

Good naturally comes to those who are good. We attract goodness from the outside with the goodness that we generate and portray from the inside.

A bad tree doesn't stand a chance of producing good fruits. No one can give what he or she doesn't have.

The old man operates in fear; the new man walks in faith. Whenever you are afraid, the old man is showing himself for what he is. In the new man, faith has replaced fear. 

The only fear faith knows and practices is godly fear. 

Godly fear is honoring to God. Godly fear doesn't run from God; it rather surrenders to Him. Godly fear is loyalty to God, and in the sight of God, loyalty is royalty.

The greater than Boaz is saying to you right now, "Fear not; I will do to thee all that thou requirest: for all the city of my people doth know that thou art a virtuous…" He is your nearest kinsman. He will surely redeem and secure you. He is your good, kind and rich kinsman. He will ensure that you get your portion back. You will not lose or miss what is yours by law. So fear not! 

There is no legal ground for fear in your life. God has not given you the spirit of fear. God has no iota of fear to give you. Fear unleashes hell on you. Job says, "For the thing which I greatly feared is come upon me, and that which I was afraid of is come unto me" (Jb.3:25). 

Many live in the reality that their fear has created. I pray that you live in the reality created by your faith and the word of God. Let the reality of God's truth swallow all other realities in your life! Fear not!

by Bishop Moses E. Peter