- Introduction
- I remember many years ago when I had a lot of fears. My mom would watch a lot of Dark Shadows and those kinds of movies.
- Not all the time, but a lot of the time as it was a series on TV around 4 or 5pm. I used to tell her that these movies keep me up at night.
- When I said that to her, she began to relinquish those shows. They scared me. I had a lot of fear. It caused fear in a lot of other areas.
- When I became a Christian, I truly overcame my fears by realizing that Jesus Christ was the only fear I needed to have, of not doing what He told me to do.
- It just seemed like my fears vanished when I accepted Christ. I prayed with my pastor, and all my fears of what I couldn’t see or what might come upon me went away.
- After praying, I felt I was free. My only real fear that I have today, is not doing exactly what the Lord has called me to do. I don’t like to be under conviction.
- It feels like a weight until you’ve prayed to release it. It just stays on you. Many people are going through this life with so many fears;
- not having enough food, water, shelter, a car, enough money, and many other things.
- I believe that allowing God to take control of your life will allow you to combat your fears and be an overcomer. Standing with others.
- Praying with others who may have gone or might be even going in the same direction you are in. God is the only answer in this area.
- We must trust and believe and have faith to know that he’s in control of our every move. Now let us look into our message today Facing Your fears.
- What is the first thing that comes to mind when I say what fears are you facing?
- You might face the fear of the unknown. We’re not to fear what might happen tomorrow or in the future. Jesus said this in Matthew 6:34: Take therefore no thought for the morrow: for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself. Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof. Just follow Jesus today and trust Him for the unknown things of tomorrow.
- A lot of people have a fear of death. Hebrews 2:15: And deliver them who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage. Those who have a fear of death are in bondage. Give your heart and soul to Jesus, and you will find life, here and for eternity.
- You might face the fear of not having enough food, clothing, shelter etc. but Jesus says this in Matthew 6:31-33: Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed? (For after all these things do the Gentiles seek:) for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things. But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you. If you will put God first in everything you do, and put your complete trust in Him, you need never have the fear of not having what you need. God will provide your needs. He never fails.
- What is fear?
- Fear is defined as A painful emotion or passion excited by an expectation of evil, or the apprehension of impending danger.
- Fear is accompanied with a desire to avoid or ward off the expected evil. fear is an uneasiness of mind, upon the thought of future evil likely to befall us.
- Why is there fear?
- Fear exists where there is a lack of faith and trust. God’s Word says in Proverbs 3:5-7: Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths. Be not wise in thine own eyes: fear the Lord, and depart from evil. Fear is described in this ackronym. False Evidence Appearing R Faith is Fantastic Adventures In Trusting Him.
- Who initially brings fear and causes doubt?
- The one who instigates fear and doubt is none other than Satan himself. Let’s look at Genesis 3:4-6: And the serpent said unto the woman, Ye shall not surely die: For God doth know that in the day ye eat thereof, then your eyes shall be opened, and ye shall be as gods, knowing good and evil. And when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree to be desired to make one wise, she took of the fruit thereof, and did eat, and gave also unto her husband with her; and he did eat. Right here we see Satan casting doubt on the words of God, and giving Eve the fear that she’s missing out on something.
- What is a healthy fear?
- The only fear that you and I are to have is the fear of the Lord. We’re to have a reverence and respect for Him, and a fear of not doing His Will. Psalm 111:10: The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom: a good understanding have all they that do his commandments: his praise endureth for ever. If you have a good healthy fear of the Lord, you have wisdom and understanding. This is the only fear we are to have.
- Who in the bible was fearful
- Jonah feared failure and ran away from Nineveh, ending up in the belly of a whale. We see the beginning of his adventure in Jona 1:1-3: Now the word of the Lord came unto Jonah the son of Amittai, saying, Arise, go to Nineveh, that great city, and cry against it; for their wickedness is come up before me. But Jonah rose up to flee unto Tarshish from the presence of the Lord, and went down to Joppa; and he found a ship going to Tarshish: so he paid the fare thereof, and went down into it, to go with them unto Tarshish from the presence of the Lord. Jonah eventually was thrown overboard at sea and was swallowed up by a fish. He prayed and was released by the fish, getting a second chance.
- Moses struggled to believe he could lead his people out of Egypt. Exodus 3:10-11: Come now therefore, and I will send thee unto Pharaoh, that thou mayest bring forth my people the children of Israel out of Egypt. And Moses said unto God, Who am I, that I should go unto Pharaoh, and that I should bring forth the children of Israel out of Egypt? Moses had every excuse as to why he couldn’t fulfill his calling, but eventually he obeyed and God used him to bring the nation of Israel out of Egypt.
- Ananias was sent by God to pray for the Apostle Paul’s blindness to be removed, but he too was fearful. Acts 9:13-15: Then Ananias answered, Lord, I have heard by many of this man, how much evil he hath done to thy saints at Jerusalem: And here he hath authority from the chief priests to bind all that call on thy name. But the Lord said unto him, Go thy way: for he is a chosen vessel unto me, to bear my name before the Gentiles, and kings, and the children of Israel: Ananias obeyed the Lord, and prayed for Paul, and Paul went on his way to begin an amazing ministry.
- Peter’s first response when Jesus did a miracle, was to have fear of not being holy enough to be with Jesus. Luke 5:8: When Simon Peter saw it, he fell down at Jesus’ knees, saying, Depart from me; for I am a sinful man, O Lord. Peter was sinful. He denied the Lord, and had to be rebuked by Paul, but he was used mightily by God.
- How did the patriarchs and disciples overcome their fears?
- Gideon Overcame fear and doubt to save Israel from the Midianites by recognizing God’s assurance. Judges 7:7-8: And the Lord said unto Gideon, By the three hundred men that lapped will I save you, and deliver the Midianites into thine hand: and let all the other people go every man unto his place. So the people took victuals in their hand, and their trumpets: and he sent all the rest of Israel every man unto his tent, and retained those three hundred men: and the host of Midian was beneath him in the valley. God wanted the nation of Israel to recognize that it was not by a multitude of people that they won the battle, but by the few, putting their trust in God and obeying Him.
- Ananias Overcame fear to visit Saul, who persecuted Jesus’ disciples, by obeying God’s command to heal Saul. Acts 9:17-18: And Ananias went his way, and entered into the house; and putting his hands on him said, Brother Saul, the Lord, even Jesus, that appeared unto thee in the way as thou camest, hath sent me, that thou mightest receive thy sight, and be filled with the Holy Ghost. And immediately there fell from his eyes as it had been scales: and he received sight forthwith, and arose, and was baptized. When we put aside our fears, and trust God, great things can happen, like Ananias saw.
- Joshua overcame fear with faith as he became the successor of a respected man in Hebrew history. Joshua 1:9-11: Have not I commanded thee? Be strong and of a good courage; be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed: for the Lord thy God is with thee whithersoever thou goest. Then Joshua commanded the officers of the people, saying, Pass through the host, and command the people, saying, Prepare you victuals; for within three days ye shall pass over this Jordan, to go in to possess the land, which the Lord your God giveth you to possess it. Joshua trusted God and led the nation of Israel across the Jordan, into their promise from God.
- What did Jesus say about fear?
- Jesus encouraged us not to fear lack of provision. Matthew 6:25:Therefore I say unto you, Take no thought for your life, what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink; nor yet for your body, what ye shall put on. Is not the life more than meat, and the body than raiment? God is our father, and he takes perfect care of His Kids, providing our every need.
- If you fear that you are not valued by God, Jesus had this to say. Matthew 10:31: Fear ye not therefore, ye are of more value than many sparrows. You are loved, valued, and appreciated by God.
- Story: Overcoming Fear
- Once there was a young warrior. Her teacher told her that she had to do battle with fear.
- She didn’t want to do that. It seemed too aggressive; it was scary; it seemed unfriendly.
- But the teacher said she had to do it and gave her the instructions for the battle. The day arrived.
- The student warrior stood on one side, and fear stood on the other. The warrior was feeling very small, and fear was looking big and wrathful. They both had their weapons.
- The young warrior roused herself and went toward fear, prostrated three times, and asked, “May I have permission to go into battle with you?”
- Fear said, “Thank you for showing me so much respect that you ask permission.” Then the young warrior said, “How can I defeat you?”
- Fear replied, “My weapons are that I talk fast, and I get very close to your face. Then you get completely unnerved, and you do whatever I say.
- If you don’t do what I tell you, I have no power. You can listen to me, and you can have respect for me.
- You can even be convinced by me. But if you don’t do what I say, I have no power.” In that way, the student warrior learned how to defeat fear.
- The Conversations with God series, which has had a profound influence on my life, describes fear as False Evidence Appearing Real.
- I’m sure you could recall instances from your life when you imagined the worst about a situation but those fears never materialized and things turned out much better than you expected.
- One of the main weapons fear has at its disposal is its ability to spin false stories.
- It holds us back by creating very compelling narratives in our heads to control our decisions and actions.
- In the past, I used to be an over-thinker and jump to all sorts of unpleasant conclusions because of fear.
- But what has helped me immensely over the past 2-3 years is realizing how much of my fears are nothing more than assumptions.
- Assumption by definition means a thing that is accepted as true or as certain to happen, without proof.
- What’s one thing in your life you have not been doing because of fear? What will really happen if you take action despite your fears?
- Perhaps like in the case of the young warrior in this story, you will find that the fears of your imagination may never materialize in reality.
- Remember to trust God. Seek Him first, and He will help you be an overcomer, and go from victory to victory, and from glory to glory.
- In conclusion, are you living in fear today? Do you want to be relieved of fear? This is what you need to do?
- The first thing you need to be sure of, is that you are a born-again child of God. Examine yourself. 2nd Corinthians 13:5: Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves. Know ye not your own selves, how that Jesus Christ is in you, except ye be reprobates? If you are living in constant fear, perhaps you are not walking close to God and need to either ask Jesus into your heart for the first time, or rededicate your life to Him. We’ll be having the sinner’s prayer right after this, so prepare your hearts
- Remember to seek God first in your life, and everything you need will be provided. Matthew 6:33: But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you. Put God 1st. Open the door and invite Jesus into your home, work, church, even your bank account, and watch what He will do.
- Trust in God’s Love which is able to cast out fear. 1st John 4:18: There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love. Meditate on the great love that God has for you. His Love is perfect, and will cast out fear in your life.
- Spend time in the secret place, God’s Presence every day. Psalm 91:1: He that dwelleth in the secret place of the most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty. Spending time in praise and worship will cause your fear to vanish away. The problems you face will not disappear, but the fear will go away.
- I hope this message has helped you to face your fears and be an overcomer with the help of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
