Fear Is A Faith Killer

FEAR IS A FAITH KILLER!

By Wade Martin Hughes, Sr. Kyfingers@aol.com

Matthew 17:20 And Jesus said unto them, Because of your unbelief: for verily I say unto you, If ye have faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye shall say unto this mountain, Remove hence to yonder place; and it shall remove; and nothing shall be impossible unto you.

Can we define FEAR? Fear is not easily defined. Let us try?

*FEAR: fear is an emotion, dread, panic (unreasoning or overmastering, hysterical fear), terror, anxious, an unpleasant often strong emotion caused by anticipation or awareness of danger, reason of alarm, danger.

FEAR IS A FAITH KILLER! FEAR IS MENTIONED OVER 5000 TIMES IN THE KING JAMES VERSION. There is a good healthy fear and there is a very negative, harmful fear. We need wisdom and understanding when we deal with fear. We are encouraged to FEAR GOD, a healthy fear. Fearing God is considered an attribute of wisdom.

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.

Psalms: 111:10 (AMP)The (reverent)fear of the Lord is the beginning (the prerequisite, the absolute essential, the alphabet) of wisdom; a good understanding and a teachableheart are possessed by all those who do the will of the Lord; His praise endures forever.

Psalm 111:10 (MSG) The good life begins in the fear of GOD— Do that and you'll know the blessing of GOD. His Hallelujah lasts forever!

*3 areas we need to consider about fear:

• *1. What is at the root that causes your fear.

• *2. Identifying factors or symptom of fear, Diagnosis

• *3. Prognosis, how will we treat this?

Fear is at the root of PANIC ATTACKS. ANXIETY is a reaction to FEAR.

FEAR PLAYS GAMES WITH OUR EMOTIONS.WE KNOW AS FACT THAT FEAR BREEDS SADINESS DISCOURAGEMENT, DEPRESSION.

1 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.

Fear seems to have this paralyzing power. Have you ever noticed the power of fear has a gripping effect? Fear can torment a person for years. It appears somehow we find comfort in fear to the point we take ownership of fear or perhaps fear takes ownership of us? We might even allow fear to become a driving force and we rather run from our fears than to FACE FEAR STRAIGHT UP. WE NEED TO TAKE OWNERSHIP AND ACKNOWLEDGE THAT FEAR BRINGS HARM.

There are basically 4 ways to deal with fear. 1. DENY we have fear. 2. RESIGN and accept. 3. RUN-AWAY,flight. 4. FIGHT, face your fear.

THERE ARE SEVERAL RECENT STUDIES THAT SUGGEST FEAR AND PANIC ATTACKS CAN LEAD TO MEMORY LOSE…

The first Biblical record of fear is in the GARDEN OF EDEN. Life was perfect in the garden. Each evening in the cool of the day, God would come and walk and talk with his beautiful creation. ONE EVENING WAS DIFFERENT. THERE WAS A NEW EMOTION THAT THE COUPLE EXPERIENCED… FEAR? Adam and Eve were afraid? Why? What was the consequences of their fear?

Genesis 3:10 And he said, I heard thy voice in the garden, and I was afraid, because I was naked; and I hid myself.

This might be connected to the FEAR ELEMENT OF DENY? IGNORE? ACCEPT? FIGHT? OR FLIGHT? There was a since of dread this evening? Why dread meeting God? Worry is an element of fear. Worry can cause a lack of focus and concentration. FEAR IS A CONSEQUENCE? Then there are consequences of fear?

THERE CAN BE INTENSE FACTS IN OUR VISUAL FIELD… WHAT IS BEFORE YOU? WE HAVE TWO CHOICES: TRUST GOD’S PLANS OR FACE THE FACTS WITH GREAT FEAR AND DREAD? FEAR BECOMES AN OPTION TO EACH FACT BEFORE US. FEAR KILLS FAITH!

The bigger the giant, the greater the obstacle the GREATER THE FEAR. Little problems? Little fear? Great trials means great fear.

2 Chronicles 20:15 And he said, Hearken ye, all Judah, and ye inhabitants of Jerusalem, and thou king Jehoshaphat, Thus saith the LORD unto you, Be not afraid nor dismayed by reason of this great multitude; for the battle is not yours, but God's. 16 To morrow go ye down against them: behold, they come up by the cliff of Ziz; and ye shall find them at the end of the brook, before the wilderness of Jeruel. 17 Ye shall not need to fight in this battle: set yourselves, stand ye still, and see the salvation of the LORD with you, O Judah and Jerusalem: fear not, nor be dismayed; to morrow go out against them: for the LORD will be with you.

Fear seems to breed more fear. I understand there is much research that fear distorts facts and tends to weaken your immune system and damage your heart over term exposure.