Facing Fear In Faith Series

Life and Times of Joshua the Son of Nun

Learning to Face Fear

Good morning family I’m glad you’re here. My prayer as always is that you leave blessed and encouraged for coming.

Last week we discussed this idea of what God wants to accomplish as he sends his nation of Sons & Daughters into the promise land. We learned that God was dealing with the Sin of the peoples who lived there in the land of Canaan. And as God cleansed the land of Canaan so our we to deal with the Sin in our own lives as well.

Paul taught us that we are to destroy, which means that we are to mortify the deeds of the flesh. Paul in his letter to the Christians at Colossae gave us this very truth this way check it out.

[Col 3:5 KJV] 5 Mortify therefore your members which are upon the earth; fornication, uncleanness, inordinate affection, evil concupiscence, and covetousness, which is idolatry:

Ok with that said let’s not get it twisted. The truth is that dealing with sin according to this passage means that we must be willing to put some things to death, which means that God wants us to Kill the Sin until that thing is gone out of our lives forever. Amen

This week we want to transition into answering the question as to why most Christians struggle in dealing with the Sin that so often time plague their lives. Even to the point in which many of our sins become what the scripture refer to as besetting sins, which means that sin for some have become a live style. And let me try and answer that question for you as to why it becomes so difficult for believers to put away besetting sins.

If your taking notes you might want to write this point down.

The reason why so many believers struggle with facing sin and dealing with it as prescribed in scripture is because of…FEAR.

That four-letter word FEAR has stopped so many Christians dead in their tracks before they ever get started. Imagine having to deal with a problem or issue that you have grown accustomed to living with. Well to rid yourself of that thing will essentially mean that there is a future for you that you’re not familiar with. So naturally your future will look better because of the obvious, however there is still an element of the unknown that is inevitable. And according to most studies one of the things people fear the most is this element of the unknown. Even if your future looks better and brighter not knowing what that means will cause many to remain stooped and or stuck in a sinful rut of sin and death type producing situation.

Before we get to deep into our study let me give you five facts about fear that should will help you handle it a little better:

Five Facts to consider about fear:

1. Fear-motivated thoughts are all about “can’t.” They create a negative, imagined scenario about the future. Here’s the truth: you don’t know what is going to happen, so these thoughts can’t possibly be true.

2. Resisting fear strengthens it. The antidote is awareness – being willing to directly experience fear as it appears to you in the moment, recognizing the thoughts and physical sensations.

3. The goal is not to get rid of fear, as you don’t have the power to make this happen. But you do have the power to change the way you relate to fear. Learn to receive it with curiosity and a loving heart, get to know how it spins thoughts that deflate the things you are enthusiastic about. But don’t feel like something is wrong or you have failed if it continues to appear. Simply meet it lovingly every time.

4. Fear is not the enemy. It can be the voice of reason, caution, and practicality that serves you well at times.

5. It takes energy to resist fear. Getting to know it and allowing it to be lets your body and mind relax, as the fight is over. This opens a space for creativity, wonder, awe, love, beauty, inspiration.

Ok so with all that. Today’s discussion is very critical. Our future depends on it. Listen if we as a church will ever reach this community for the cause of Christ. That’s going to mean that many of us are going to have to be willing to step outside of our comfort zone and do things as well as deal with things that maybe we have feared facing our entire lives.

Illustration: According to most studies one of the number one fears that most people face is the fear of public speaking, which by the way was and still is a huge fear of mine. But what I have learned as I have faced this fear in faith. Is that God is most glorified whenever I submit to him and face the fear of speaking in Public settings. He is glorified and I’m always blessed every time I get the chance to teach or preach God’s word.