Matthew 5: 14-20 – “Their herdsmen ran away and reported it in the city and in the country. And the people came to see what it was that had happened. ¹⁵ They *came to Jesus and *observed the man who had been demon-possessed sitting down, clothed and in his right mind, the very man who had had the “legion”; and they became frightened. ¹⁶ Those who had seen it described to them how it had happened to the demon-possessed man, and all about the swine. ¹⁷ And they began to implore Him to leave their region. ¹⁸ As He was getting into the boat, the man who had been demon-possessed was imploring Him that he might accompany Him. ¹⁹ And He did not let him, but He *said to him, “Go home to your people and report to them what great things the Lord has done for you, and how He had mercy on you.” ²⁰ And he went away and began to proclaim in Decapolis what great things Jesus had done for him; and everyone was amazed.”  NASB

This account is fascinating and revelatory of fearful reactions.  These people came to Jesus, observed, and heard the report, and fear gripped them.  When Jesus came to the disciples walking on the water in the storm, fear gripped their hearts.  What is the common thread in those two events?  The unexpected.  The people did not expect the demoniac to be free, and the disciples did not expect to see Jesus there or in that way.  Both were outside their mindset of possibility.

Often, people fear the unexpected, even those who know Jesus.  If it is outside our norm, the door for fear to enter opens.  Where fear is present, faith cannot live.

Jesus and His disciples went back to Gennesaret at a later time.  The people recognized Jesus, brought the sick, and bound to Him without fear.  What changed?  The seed had been sown, and the fruit was being manifested.   The demoniac had been preaching and testifying.  They saw him, heard him, and hope sprang forth.

Let me offer a Key:  The word enables the heart to banish fear.  We do not have to understand everything to see the miraculous.   We have to believe and cannot genuinely believe as long as fear is present.

Remember the Parable about the Seed and the Soil.  The good seed in good soil produced good fruit.   Fear, worry, selfish ambition, and anything foreign to complete obedience chokes the Word, and where there is no word (seed), there is no harvest.

The Key is the Word of God.   Jesus said my words are spirit and life.  Jesus is the Word.  We are to abide in Him and His Word in us.  There, fear and doubt cannot live.

I challenge you today to decide the value of God’s Word and remember – man cannot live by bread alone but by every word that God speaks. Victory is yours.  He said it.  If He said it, it will not fail.

My faith declaration is, “Today is Victory Day!”  Therefore, let us rejoice. Resist fear and receive the promises.   

May the Lord be with you as you embark on today’s journey and give you peace!