Faith Over Fear

Me: I hate to be afraid. I grew up in a home where we would hide out and scare one another all the time. I have developed a reflex to strike out at that which scares me. I’ve almost hit several people I love because they scared me.

I love being a Christian. I don’t have to fear anything anymore. I fear God and that is enough.

We: At the height of her popularity, Ann Landers supposedly received 10,000 letters per month (prior to e-mail). Asked about the dominate theme of the letters, she replied, "Fear!" She said people were afraid of losing their health, their wealth, their loved ones. People, she said, were afraid of life itself.

Nothing has changed: we fear our neighbors, our doctors, our police, our lawyers, our courts, our government, our schools, our food. We fear losing our jobs, losing our health, we fear the IRS, TV, criminals, drugs, cholesterol, coffee, fat, butter, and now many fear their own kids. But we fear the unknown most.

What I see going on in the world right now is this. We have allowed ourselves to enter into an agreement with fear. We have given fear permission into our lives.

God:

PRAY

READ 1 Samuel 17.

I. Where There Is Fear There Is No Faith

A. No faith, no trust, no courage, no confidence

1. Saul was fearful.

a. He was not out front fighting the battle

b. He was in his tent

c. He was worried

B. Rationale for the fearful

1. Evaluate life based on fear.

2. On how things “appear” to them.

Romans 8:31 … If God is for us, who can be against us? (ESV)

3. Fear cripples those in its grip vs 11, 24

C. Conditions of the fearful

1. Can neither lead or be led

a. Saul was not leading

Hebrews 11:6 And without faith it is impossible to please him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him. (ESV)

2. What part of impossible don’t you understand?

a. fear cripples faith

3. No faith because they were trusting in themselves.

4. No trust because they were cowering in the trenches.

5. No courage because they could not find a man

6. No confidence because of the example of the leader

II. Where There Is No Fear There Is Faith

READ Heb 11:32-34

A. Faithlessness begets fear while fearlessness begets faith

1. Faith increases to more faith

2. Romans 14:23 … For whatever does not proceed from faith is sin. (ESV)

a. That not done in faith is sin.

B. The fearless (godly) man perceives truth vs 26b

C. The faithful man knows his Deliverer vs 37

D. There is courage because one with God is a majority.

Philippians 4:13 I can do all things through him who strengthens me. (ESV)

E. There is courage because God is trustworthy.

1 John 5:14 And this is the confidence that we have toward him, that if we ask anything according to his will he hears us. (ESV)

F. Learnings from David

1. David didn’t use the armor because he didn’t have time to test it. He trusted the sling because he had used it in the past and it proved useful.

2. We have similar issues today.

a. We are hesitant to trust something because is hasn’t been fully tested.

b. That which we have fully tested we are able to trust.

III. Where There Is No Fear Of Man There Is:

A. Active opposition to God’s enemies

1. David rises early vs 20

2. He rans to battle vs 22

3. He goes after the enemy vs 35

4. He runs to meet the enemy vs 48

5. He runs to finish the job vs 54

B. Bold opposition of God’s enemies vs 45-57

1. Mat 10:26 Jesus says to have no fear of them.

2. 1 John 3:13 Do not be surprised, brothers, that the world hates you. (ESV)

C. Spiritual opposition of God’s enemies

1. The enemy

a. uses man-made armor

b. uses taunts, insults, & intimidation

c. uses false gods

d. uses you, your friends, family, and neighbors

e. Eph 6:10-12

2. The righteous man of faith

a. uses “the right[eous] stuff”

b. Eph 6:13-18

You: You don’t face any enemies greater than David did. Satan still works through fear, doubt, worry, and anxiety.

Yet, we are victors in Jesus Christ.

READ Romans 8:33-39

We fear God. That is it. Anything other than that is sin.

We: Perfect love casts out fear. Where there is no fear, there is great faith. Where there is great faith, there is great pleasure towards God.

We need to break our agreement with fear and take away the permission of it in our lives.

My challenge to you is to Fear God only!