Fighting Past Fear To Freedom Series

So how do we cross the threshold? The threshold from fear to freedom, but a threshold that we perceive as a doorway to greater fear. How do we let go of the mast, and trust in the delivering power of Jesus? Three recognitions. First. . .

A. RECOGNIZE JESUS CARES

Look at what was a part of the fear that plagued the disciples. Jesus was asleep, and look at what they said to Him when they woke Him, “Do you not care that we are perishing?” Pretty good question if you ask me. Pretty honest question if nothing else.

Some of us have asked God such questions. Expressed to God such honest, doggedly painful cries. A mother weeps over a stillborn child. A husband is torn from his wife by a tragic accident. The tears of an eight-year-old fall on a daddy’s casket. And the question wails. “God, don’t you care?” “Why me?” “Why my friend?” “Why my business?” “Do you not care that we are perishing?”

It’s a timeless question. There has probably never been a president, a worker, or a businessman who hasn’t asked it. There has never been a soul who hasn’t wrestled with this aching question. Does my God care? Or is my pain God’s great goof?

As the winds howled and the sea raged, the impatient and frightened disciples screamed their fear at the sleeping Jesus. “Teacher, don’t you care that we are about to die?” And think about what He could have done. He could have kept on sleeping. He could have told them to shut up. He could have impatiently jumped up and angrily dismissed the storm. He could have pointed out their immaturity. But he didn’t.

With all the patience that only one who cares can have, He answered the question. He hushed the storm. He cares. To truly experience God’s healing, freeing power in your life. To take that step into the unknown, and walk from fear to freedom. . .you have to recognize that Jesus cares. Secondly. . .

B. RECOGNIZE THE CONNECTION BETWEEN YOUR FEAR AND YOUR FAITH

Now, I know preachers say a lot of things that people in the pews really don’t like. So if I were to just stand up before you today, and say that your fear is a direct reflection of your lack of faith, you probably wouldn’t be too pleased with me.

Unfortunately, often the stuff that preachers say that makes the parishioners so mad is truth from God’s Word, and truth from Jesus mouth. So look at what Jesus says, “Why are you so fearful? How is it that you have no faith?”

That’s not a preacher. . .that’s Jesus. Why are you so fearful? Why don’t you have any faith? The two go together. If you are afraid, it is a crack in your armor of faith. If you are terrified, that isn’t a very good reflection on your faith.

Listen to what Oswald Chambers writes in his famous work My Utmost for His Highest. “It is much easier to do something than to trust in God; we see the activity and mistake panic for inspiration. That is why we see so few fellow workers with God, yet so many people working for God. We would much rather work for God than believe in Him. Do I really believe that God will do in me what I cannot do? The degree of panic activity in my life is equal to the degree of my lack of personal spiritual experience.”