https://youtu.be/QUHEJSshU_U

Mark 14:50-52 New King James Version (NKJV)

50 Then they all forsook Him and fled. 51 Now a certain young man followed Him, having a linen cloth thrown around his naked body. And the young men laid hold of him, 52 and he left the linen cloth and fled from them naked.

Let’s talk about this naked man.

This is the only gospel that records this man. This man followed Jesus, he was with Him when He was betrayed, but yet he fled away naked.

This is a third person narrative- as is a lot of scripture. John describes himself as “the disciple whom Jesus loved”

This naked man is only found here in the gospels. All Biblical scholars agree that this is John Mark, the writer of the book of Mark.

All fled from Jesus, as did Mark

Now I am not the smartest person in the world, but I am going to go out on a limb here and say he was afraid.

Fear is crippling. Fear will keep you from doing what you know you are called to do.

Fear is one of Satan’s biggest tools- if he can keep you fleeing from spiritual things, he has already won.

Fear is a spirit- the Bible says, “God has not given us a spirit of fear”

1 John 4:17-18 New King James Version (NKJV)

17 Love has been perfected among us in this: that we may have boldness in the day of judgment; because as He is, so are we in this world. 18 There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear, because fear involves torment. But he who fears has not been made perfect in love.

I will tell you I struggled with fear for a long time

I actually have a clinical diagnosis- I was diagnosed with a panic and anxiety disorder

Now, for something to be considered a disorder- it has to grossly affect your life.

Fear and panic GROSSLY affected my life. It kept me from people, from boldly speaking the Word and prophesying.

I had to come to terms with this- 1 John scripture and I had not been made perfect in God’s love- in short I said I trusted God, but I didn’t really trust Him.

“THERE IS NO FEAR IN LOVE”

These are strong words. IF you live in fear and allow it to dictate your life and motivate what you can/cannot do, if you allow fear to keep you from the spiritual things- church, the fellowship of the Body, Bible study, sorry folks FB is not life, it’s not real communication and fellowship

IF fear motivates you, YOU ARE NOT living in the love of God and faith in Him.

I had to look at myself clearly and truthfully-

I was not going to live with a label the rest of my life- I have been set free

When will you stop allowing what was done to YOU, to be bigger than what God can do for you and through you??

If you continue to operate in fear- it will hinder your walk with God and eventually put out your flame.

Revelation 21:7-8 New King James Version (NKJV)

7 He who overcomes shall inherit all things,[a] and I will be his God and he shall be My son. 8 But the cowardly, unbelieving,[b] abominable, murderers, sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars shall have their part in the lake which burns with fire and brimstone, which is the second death.”

Skip ahead to the book of Acts- Paul, Barnabus and John Mark are a trio doing missionary work togeth...