Define what we are and are not talking about today
Not the fear of God (respect)
Respect and don’t tempt
Lion
What is fear?
Definition: Fear is an unpleasant emotion caused by the belief that someone or something is dangerous, likely to cause pain, or a threat.
Synonyms or forms of fear: terror, fright, fearfulness, horror, alarm, panic, dread, distress, anxiety, worry, angst, unease, uneasiness, apprehension, nervousness, scared and afraid
Chronic fear can impact us physically: it has been found that it can damage aspects of the heart and brain and leave us susceptible to many other ailments.
Percent of things feared that will never take place: 60%
Struck by lightning?
Super Nova of our Sun?
Afraid for no reason
Why Address this Subject?
Because fear and faith do not go together
Matthew 14:22 Immediately Jesus made His disciples get into the boat and go before Him to the other side, while He sent the multitudes away.
Matthew 14:23 And when He had sent the multitudes away, He went up on the mountain by Himself to pray. Now when evening came, He was alone there.
Matthew 14:24 But the boat was now in the middle of the sea, tossed by the waves, for the wind was contrary.
Matthew 14:25 Now in the fourth watch of the night Jesus went to them, walking on the sea.
Matthew 14:26 And when the disciples saw Him walking on the sea, they were troubled, saying, “It is a ghost!” And they cried out for fear.
Matthew 14:27 But immediately Jesus spoke to them, saying, “Be of good cheer! It is I; do not be afraid.”
Matthew 14:28 And Peter answered Him and said, “Lord, if it is You, command me to come to You on the water.”
Matthew 14:29 So He said, “Come.” And when Peter had come down out of the boat, he walked on the water to go to Jesus.
Matthew 14:30 But when he saw that the wind was boisterous, he was afraid; and beginning to sink he cried out, saying, “Lord, save me!”
Matthew 14:31 And immediately Jesus stretched out His hand and caught him, and said to him, “O you of little faith, why did you doubt?”
What are we worried about? [Give a second to think about it now (within the parameters) and do this later as well]. Having food that will sustain you? Are you worried about the necessities of life – job, house, etc?
Fear is not from faith
Matthew 6:25 “Therefore I say to you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink; nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food and the body more than clothing?
Matthew 6:26 Look at the birds of the air, for they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they?
Matthew 6:27 Which of you by worrying can add one cubit to his stature?
Matthew 6:28 “So why do you worry about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin;
Matthew 6:29 and yet I say to you that even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these.
Matthew 6:30 Now if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is, and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will He not much more clothe you, O you of little faith?
Matthew 6:31 “Therefore do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’
Matthew 6:32 For after all these things the Gentiles seek. For your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things.
Matthew 6:33 But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.
So, let’s ask the question again: Is there anything specifically in this Walk, this Way of life that you are stressed out about, uneasy about, afraid to do or that worries you? What is it that as a Christian you don’t want to do?
I want you think about this in your daily life – fear is an enemy to our faith and leaves us in the wrong state of mind
Philippians 4:6 Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God;
Philippians 4:7 and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.
Not only is there a correlation between fear and faith but peace as well
Love and Fear and Commandments
1 John 4:18 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.
1 John 5:3 For this is the love of God, that we keep His commandments. And His commandments are not burdensome.
Romans 8:6 For to be carnally minded is death, but to be spiritually minded is life and peace.
Romans 8:7 Because the carnal mind is enmity against God; for it is not subject to the law of God, nor indeed can be.
Fear is a natural response
Human nature; not right
All will happen for good of those that love him and keep his commandments
Therefore, when we are living according to God’s principles – there will be no cause to fear.
Romans 8:28 And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose.
Romans 8:29 For whom He foreknew, He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the firstborn among many brethren.
Romans 8:30 Moreover whom He predestined, these He also called; whom He called, these He also justified; and whom He justified, these He also glorified.
Romans 8:31 What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us?
Lack of knowledge promotes fear
Fear Leads to Sin
Romans 14:23 But he who doubts is condemned if he eats, because he does not eat from faith; for whatever is not from faith is sin.
Transgression of this law
Nehemiah 6:10 Afterward I came to the house of Shemaiah the son of Delaiah, the son of Mehetabel, who was a secret informer; and he said, “Let us meet together in the house of God, within the temple, and let us close the doors of the temple, for they are coming to kill you; indeed, at night they will come to kill you.”
Nehemiah 6:11 And I said, “Should such a man as I flee? And who is there such as I who would go into the temple to save his life? I will not go in!”
Nehemiah 6:12 Then I perceived that God had not sent him at all, but that he pronounced this prophecy against me because Tobiah and Sanballat had hired him.
Nehemiah 6:13 For this reason he was hired, that I should be afraid and act that way and sin, so that they might have cause for an evil report, that they might reproach me.
Nehemiah 6:14 My God, remember Tobiah and Sanballat, according to these their works, and the prophetess Noadiah and the rest of the prophets who would have made me afraid.
Fear is a Choice
Matthew 8:23 Now when He got into a boat, His disciples followed Him.
Matthew 8:24 And suddenly a great tempest arose on the sea, so that the boat was covered with the waves. But He was asleep.
Matthew 8:25 Then His disciples came to Him and awoke Him, saying, “Lord, save us! We are perishing!”
Matthew 8:26 But He said to them, “Why are you fearful [fearful,G1169 deilos di-los’], O you of little faith?” Then He arose and rebuked the winds and the sea, and there was a great calm.
Raise it up another level
Revelation 21:8 But the cowardly [fearful,G1169 deilos di-los’], unbelieving, 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.”
It is interesting that these are listed first. These are ungodly characteristics – why???
What is within our control
Universe no
Self yes
Satan no and yes
Remember the lion; there is an even more powerful being that if we were to be afraid of someone it would be him – but we are not
1 Peter 5:7 casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you.
1 Peter 5:8 Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour.
1 Peter 5:9 Resist him, steadfast in the faith, knowing that the same sufferings are experienced by your brotherhood in the world.
This is within our control
We are never taught to fear the devil
Ephesians 6:11 Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.
James 4:7 Therefore submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you.
God says there are things that He will deal with
God says there are things that we can and should deal with (bible / commandments)
If we do this we have no reason to fear
War is in the mind / internal battle
2 Corinthians 10:4 For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds,
2 Corinthians 10:5 casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ,
We are to exhibit self-control
Fruit of the spirit (Galations 5:23)
Lack of self-control is a bad end-time attitude 2 Timothy 3:3
Provides a way in for Satan 1 Corinthians 7:5
We are to add this to our faith 2 Peter 1:6
We have the choice to let fear reign in us and have dominion over us and cause us to not have the faith in God and His ways as we should.
OR
We can trust in God and by His power we can conquer fear and bring it into subjection
Trust in God
2 Thessalonians 3:3 But the Lord is faithful, who will establish you and guard you from the evil one.
Isaiah 41:10 Fear not, for I am with you; Be not dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, Yes, I will help you, I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.’
Luke 18:6 Then the Lord said, “Hear what the unjust judge said.
Luke 18:7 And shall God not avenge His own elect who cry out day and night to Him, though He bears long with them? [God will answer]
Luke 18:8 I tell you that He will avenge them speedily. Nevertheless, when the Son of Man comes, will He really find faith on the earth?”
Luke 18:1 Then He spoke a parable to them, that men always ought to pray and not lose heart,
God will keep us and look after us
Example of David
Psalms 34:4 I sought the LORD, and He heard me, And delivered me from all my fears.
Psalms 23:1 A Psalm of David. The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want.
Psalms 23:2 He makes me to lie down in green pastures; He leads me beside the still waters.
Psalms 23:3 He restores my soul; He leads me in the paths of righteousness For His name’s sake.
Psalms 23:4 Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil; For You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me.
Psalms 23:5 You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; You anoint my head with oil; My cup runs over.
Psalms 23:6 Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me All the days of my life; And I will dwell in the house of the LORD Forever.
This is what He does for His sons and daughters
A Work in Us
We have God that we can call on to protect us; He will be faithful to fulfill what He has started in us.
Philippians 1:6 being confident of this very thing, that He who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ;
Do we understand the ramifications of this?
Example of Two Witnesses
We do not have to be afraid, because God is working with us. But what if our neighbor hates us and wants to cause us trouble; or if the whole neighbor is against for righteousness sake; what about the city; the state; or country with its whole military wants to kill us?
Revelation 11:3 And I will give power to my two witnesses, and they will prophesy one thousand two hundred and sixty days, clothed in sackcloth.”
Revelation 11:5 And if anyone wants to harm them, fire proceeds from their mouth and devours their enemies. And if anyone wants to harm them, he must be killed in this manner.
Revelation 11:6 These have power to shut heaven, so that no rain falls in the days of their prophecy; and they have power over waters to turn them to blood, and to strike the earth with all plagues, as often as they desire.
Revelation 11:7 When they finish their testimony, the beast that ascends out of the bottomless pit will make war against them, overcome them, and kill them.
Revelation 11:8 And their dead bodies will lie in the street of the great city which spiritually is called Sodom and Egypt, where also our Lord was crucified.
Revelation 11:9 Then those from the peoples, tribes, tongues, and nations will see their dead bodies three-and-a-half days, and not allow their dead bodies to be put into graves.
Revelation 11:10 And those who dwell on the earth will rejoice over them, make merry, and send gifts to one another, because these two prophets tormented those who dwell on the earth.
Revelation 11:11 Now after the three-and-a-half days the breath of life from God entered them, and they stood on their feet, and great fear fell on those who saw them.
Revelation 11:12 And they heard a loud voice from heaven saying to them, “Come up here.” And they ascended to heaven in a cloud, and their enemies saw them.
The two witnesses are fearless; god is working in their life and they know that the plan of God will be fulfilled and even when they are killed it is God’s will; there is faith that they will be resurrected.
Be like the two witnesses! Know that God has a plan for you. He will ensure that everything necessary happens according to His objectives – all the way until He sees you a member of His Family.
With the Power of the Universe out in front of you; behind you and beside you – What is it in your life that you have to fear?
God is Faithful
Hebrews 11:1 Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.
Hebrews 11:3 By faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that the things which are seen were not made of things which are visible.
Hebrews 11:6 But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.
Hebrews 11:8 By faith Abraham obeyed when he was called to go out to the place which he would receive as an inheritance. And he went out, not knowing where he was going.Hebrews 11:9 By faith he dwelt in the land of promise as in a foreign country, dwelling in tents with Isaac and Jacob, the heirs with him of the same promise;
Hebrews 11:10 for he waited for the city which has foundations, whose builder and maker is God.
Hebrews 11:12 Therefore from one man, and him as good as dead, were born as many as the stars of the sky in multitude—innumerable as the sand which is by the seashore.
Hebrews 11:13 These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off were assured of them, embraced them and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth.
Hebrews 11:14 For those who say such things declare plainly that they seek a homeland.
Hebrews 11:15 And truly if they had called to mind that country from which they had come out, they would have had opportunity to return.
Hebrews 11:16 But now they desire a better, that is, a heavenly country. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for He has prepared a city for them.
Hebrews 11:17 By faith Abraham, when he was tested, offered up Isaac, and he who had received the promises offered up his only begotten son,
Hebrews 11:18 of whom it was said, “IN ISAAC YOUR SEED SHALL BE CALLED,”
Do you believe that this will happen? That Abraham will be a recipient of these promises? Then you have to believe that we will too, because we are part of this promise to Him so we are going to be there. Abraham was the Father Faithful – that is us
God’s way is sure – God Will, will be done.
We have no cause to fear. We have every reason to be faithful.
Have Faith! Do not fear.