Main Theme

Do not allow fear, delays, discouraging reports or the mockery of others to uproot the seed of faith you have sown through your words and expectations before the Lord. Keep believing what you first trusted Jesus to do, even when circumstances appear to contradict your faith.

5. JAIRUS: DO NOT ALLOW FEAR TO DESTROY WHAT YOU HAVE SOWN

Jesus demonstrated this principle in the life of Jairus. In Mark.5:36, we read these words: “As soon as Jesus heard the word that was spoken, He said to the ruler of the synagogue, ‘Do not be afraid; only believe.’ ” What was Jairus supposed to continue believing? We must first consider the words he had already spoken to Jesus in Mark.5:23 when he earnestly begged Jesus to come and lay His hands on his daughter so that she might be healed and live.

Jairus had expressed his expectation which is the seed from his heart of what he wanted: if Jesus came to his home and laid His hands on his daughter, she would be healed and live. In doing so, he had expressed the outcome he was seeking from Jesus. Jesus immediately responded by setting out toward Jairus’s home. However, a delay occurred which always happens in life, that a woman who had suffered from an issue of blood for many years reached out and touched Jesus.

6. The woman with the issue of blood which represents the faith that acts on the word spoken interrupts the proceedings.

The woman had already determined in her heart that if she touched the hem of Jesus’ garment, she would be healed. She acted upon that conviction, touched His garment, and received her healing. When Jesus became aware that power had gone out from Him and stopped to address what had happened. He wanted the woman to come forward and tell the whole truth about her experience.

In Mark.5:33 & 34, we read: “But the woman, fearing and trembling, knowing what had happened to her, came and fell down before Him and told Him the whole truth. 34And He said to her, ‘Daughter, your faith has made you well. Go in peace, and be healed of your affliction.’ ” Jesus allowed her to tell the whole story of what she had done and commended her faith. He addressed her as “Daughter,” affirming her relationship with the Father, and sent her away in peace.

Her testimony demonstrated how she had acted in faith upon what she believed concerning Jesus and had received her healing. This interruption, however, even though great meant that Jairus had to wait longer for Jesus to attend to his daughter, while Jesus attended to the woman. Then in this interval came the devastating report from Jairus’s household that his daughter had died, and that he should no longer trouble Jesus.

7. Do not receive fear as the answer when circumstances contradict your expectation.

Jesus to whom Jairus had sowed his words of faith to had not changed the harvest, so Jesus immediately intervened when the report of the girl’s death arrived. He instructed Jairus not to be afraid but to continue believing. Stay in faith by not pulling out your seed.

Jairus was now facing a circumstance that appeared to contradict the very outcome he had sought when he first approached Jesus. His daughter had been at the point of death when he asked Jesus to come. Now, while Jesus was delayed, the report was that she had died.

This was the moment when fear could have displaced his confidence. But Jesus the Lord of the harvest directed Jairus back to his faith. This principle is vital that we must not allow a contrary report to erase the confidence with which we first approached the Lord, because this delay did not mean that Jairus had to abandon his expectation.

The report of death did not prevent Jesus from continuing to the house. Jairus was the person who needed to keep his attention on Jesus rather than allow the circumstances to dictate the outcome of what he had already believed was possible.

8. Never dig up your seed of faith planted when people mock what you believe.

When Jesus arrived at Jairus’s house, He encountered mourners who were overcome with grief and making a commotion over the girl’s death. Jesus the Lord of the harvest told them that the girl was only sleeping, but their response changed instantly and they all began laughing at Him and ridiculing Him to the point of scorn. They were looking at the situation through the reality of death and the arrangements associated with a funeral. Jesus, however, was about to demonstrate the power of God in a way they had not anticipated.

What really mattered was that Jairus did not abandon the expectation he had expressed when he first sought Jesus. The words he had spoken were not to be discarded simply because a delay had occurred, a death had been reported, and people were now mocking Jesus. This opposition had no bearing on the final outcome. Jesus simply proceeded to put the mourners out of the house. Once they were removed, He addressed the little girl and told her to get up.

She arose in response to His word, and the Kingdom of God was manifested in Jairus’s house that day. The outcome that had seemed impossible became a reality through the intervention of Jesus. This account teaches us not to allow fear, discouraging reports, delays or the mockery of others to dictate what we believe about the Lord’s ability to act. We must remain attentive to the Holy Spirit, established in the Word, and willing to follow Jesus through circumstances that seem to contradict our expectations.

Take-Away Point

Once you have approached the Lord in faith, never allow fear or a contrary report to erase your confidence in His ability to do exceedingly abundantly above all you can ask or think. A time delay is not a valid reason to abandon your expectation, and the mockery of others does not determine what Jesus can and will do.

So keep your attention focused on Him, by continuing to stand on His Word, and obey the direction of the Holy Spirit even when the circumstances appear impossible. As Jairus learned, what seems to be the natural end of the story does not place a limit on the power of Jesus to make life come back.

Prayer

Heavenly Father, thank You for teaching me through the life of Jairus how not to allow fear to destroy what I have sown in faith. Thank You that Jesus is able to intervene for me even when circumstances appear to contradict what I have believed and expected.

Lord Jesus, help me to hold firmly to Your Word when delays arise, particularly when discouraging reports come, and when people mock or question what I believe. Do not allow me to become so overwhelmed by what I see and hear that I forget Your power and faithfulness.

Holy Spirit, strengthen my heart so I remain established in the truth. Teach me how to never uproot the seed of faith I have sowed with my mouth through fear, doubt, negative confessions or impatience. Please help me to keep my attention firmly focused on Jesus and to follow His instructions, even when I cannot understand what is happening or how the situation will turn around.

Give me the grace to trust You through every stage of the process of seedtime and harvest. So when circumstances seem impossible, remind me that they do not have the final say in my life. Please help me to remain steadfast until I see the manifestation of Your power and purpose in my life. May my faith remain strong, my heart remain settled in You, and my life testify to Your faithfulness in Jesus’ name, Amen.

Declaration for the Day

Today, I declare that I will never again allow fear to destroy what I have sown in faith. Just like Jairus, I will keep my attention focused on Jesus and refuse to let delays, contrary reports or the mockery of others determine the outcome of what I have trusted Him for.

I will no longer uproot the seed of God’s Word from my heart because circumstances appear to contradict His promises, but I will continue to believe, speak the truth and obey the instructions of the Holy Spirit. Even when discouraging news comes, I will remember the words of Jesus in Mark.5:36: “Do not be afraid; only believe.”

I refuse to give fear the authority to silence my faith or dictate my response. I declare that my confidence remains steadfast in Jesus, whose power is not limited by what I can see or understand. I declare that delays will not make me abandon my expectation, and the opinions or ridicule of others will not cause me to surrender my confidence in the Lord.

I will no longer judge the outcome of my situation prematurely, but I will continue trusting Jesus to lead me through every circumstance in life. So just as the Lord intervened in Jairus’s house, I will remain attentive to His leading and trust Him to demonstrate His power according to His will in my life. I will stand firm in faith, remain obedient to the Holy Spirit and refuse to let fear uproot the seed I have sown.

I choose faith over fear, perseverance over discouragement, and confidence in Jesus over the evidence of contrary circumstances. I will keep believing, i will keep trusting and keep following the Lord, knowing that no delay, discouraging report or human mockery can limit His power. My faith will remain steadfast as I look to Jesus, in His mighty name. Amen!