Do Not Fear What They Fear

DO NOT FEAR WHAT THEY FEAR

Isa. 8:11-13

INTRODUCTION

A. HUMOR: MORE FIGHT PER DOLLAR

1. A young man was attending Harvard University many years ago, and talked his Dad into coming to see the football game between Yale and Harvard. (rivals)

2. As they sat down, the boy slapped his father on the back and said, "Dad, for three dollars you are going to see more fight than you ever saw before."

3. The old man smiled and replied, "I'm not so sure about that Son; that's what I paid for my marriage license."

B. 4th IN ‘OPERATION’ SERIES

1. Cavity Sam had a fourth problem common to many people today – butterflies in the stomach.

2. “Butterflies in the stomach” is that squirmy, ticklish feeling in your stomach when you're about to take a big test, or standing on a cliff, or meeting your crush (girl or boy friend).

3. Another name for it is FEAR. So we’re going to take a look at that in this message, “Do Not Fear What They Fear!”

I. WHAT IS FEAR?

Fear is really a mixed bag...

A. POSITIVE & NEGATIVE FEAR

1. It can be a LEGITIMATE EMOTION that helps us preserve our lives. Your body’s "fight or flight" mechanism kicks in, to prepare your body an emergency by increasing your heart rate, widening your airways, making your palms sweat and pupils dilate. One boy told his coach that his palms were sweaty and his mouth was dry. The coach replied, “Maybe you need to lick your palms!”

2. FEAR: THE EMOTION OF DOUBT. “WORRY” (wurgen) means “to strangle or choke.” Studies show that worry impairs vision, causes heart disease, stomach problems, alcohol abuse, and suicide. 25 million have blood pressure, 8 million have ulcers, and 230 million take tranquilizers!

B. MANY EFFECTS OF NEGATIVE FEAR

1. FEAR CAN MAKE YOU HELPLESS. The Bible described the nations of Canaan; “their heart melted; and there was no spirit in them any longer because of the children of Israel. Josh. 5:1. Fear paralyzed them. Uncontrolled fear tortures, destroys, and debilitates. Satan is a master of using our fears to cause us to miss God's destiny for our lives!

2. IT CAN CRIPPLE YOUR FAITH. Matt. 14:30. “But when [Peter] saw that the wind was boisterous, he was afraid; and beginning to sink he cried out, saying, “Lord, save me!”

3. CAN PUT YOU OUT OF THE BATTLE. Gideon told all who were afraid that they could leave the battle; “And twenty-two thousand of the people returned, and ten thousand remained” Judges 7:3. See Deut. 20:8. (2/3 turned back)

4. CAN ROB YOU OF YOUR INHERITANCE. Ten of the 12 spies were ready to abandon the Promise Land. Num. 13:27-28.

5. IT CAN MAKE YOU SICK. 90% of today's chronic patients have one common problem – fear; Fear of losing their jobs, old age, being exposed, of facing the future etc.

6. FEAR IS A SNARE. “Fear of man will prove to be a snare, but whoever trusts in the LORD is kept safe” Prov. 29:25.

C. HUMOR: THE TAP

1. A passenger in a taxi leaned over to ask the driver a question and gently tapped him on the shoulder to get his attention. The driver screamed, lost control of the cab, nearly hit a bus, drove up over the curb, and stopped just inches from a large plate window.

2. For a few moments everything was silent in the cab. Then, the shaking driver said, “Are you OK? I’m so sorry, but you scared the daylights out of me...” The badly shaken passenger apologized to the driver and said “I didn’t realize that a mere tap on the shoulder would startle someone so badly.”

3. The driver replied, “No, no, I’m the one who is sorry, it’s entirely my fault, today is my very first day driving a cab. I’ve been driving a hearse for 25 years...”

II. BIBLE INSIGHTS ABOUT FEAR

A. FEAR GOD, NOT MAN

1. “This is what the Lord says to me with his strong hand upon me... “Do...not fear what they fear, and do not dread it. The Lord Almighty is the one you are to regard as holy, he is the one you are to fear, he is the one you are to dread” Isa. 8:11-13, NIV.

2. The people around us are obsessed with fears. That should not be true of a child of God. We should have few fears because the Lord our God is taking care of us!

B. TRUSTING IN GOD IS SAFER

1. “The fear of man is a snare, but the one who trusts in the Lord [will be] protected” Prov. 29:25, HCSB (Holman Christian Standard Bible).

2. The point of the text is that it’s safer to trust in God than to put your confidence in men or worldly wisdom.