Overcoming Fear In Time Of Storm

Matthew 8: 23 Then he got into the boat and his disciples followed him. 24 Without warning, a furious storm came up on the lake, so that the waves swept over the boat. But Jesus was sleeping. 25 The disciples went and woke him, saying, "Lord, save us! We're going to drown!" 26 He replied, "You of little faith, why are you so afraid?" Then he got up and rebuked the winds and the waves, and it was completely calm.27 The men were amazed and asked, "What kind of man is this? Even the winds and the waves obey him!"

Introduction:

Often time when we face distress, storm of life, grief, pain etc., we lose our balance and manifest fear.

Fear is defined as a feeling that something bad may happen to one. It is a feeling caused by nearness of danger or possibility of something bad happening. We have fear when we are not sure if we will succeed or fail in a venture. It is also sometimes defined as false expectation appearing real.

Fear prevents one from doing God’s will as seen in the life of the Israelites when they faced the red sea and the Egyptians were pursuing them from behind, Exodus 14:10 As Pharaoh approached, the Israelites looked up, and there were the Egyptians, marching after them. They were terrified and cried out to the LORD. 11 They said to Moses, "Was it because there were no graves in Egypt that you brought us to the desert to die? What have you done to us by bringing us out of Egypt? 12 Didn't we say to you in Egypt, 'Leave us alone; let us serve the Egyptians'? It would have been better for us to serve the Egyptians than to die in the desert!"

Fear makes one do foolish things and to loose God’s favor, as seen in the life of Saul, 1Samuel 13: 7 Some Hebrews even crossed the Jordan to the land of Gad and Gilead. Saul remained at Gilgal, and all the troops with him were quaking with fear. 8 He waited seven days, the time set by Samuel; but Samuel did not come to Gilgal, and Saul's men began to scatter. 9 So he said, "Bring me the burnt offering and the fellowship offerings. " And Saul offered up the burnt offering. 10 Just as he finished making the offering, Samuel arrived, and Saul went out to greet him. 11 "What have you done?" asked Samuel. Saul replied, "When I saw that the men were scattering, and that you did not come at the set time, and that the Philistines were assembling at Micmash,12 I thought, 'Now the Philistines will come down against me at Gilgal, and I have not sought the LORD's favor.' So I felt compelled to offer the burnt offering." 13 "You acted foolishly," Samuel said. "You have not kept the command the LORD your God gave you; if you had, he would have established your kingdom over Israel for all time.14 But now your kingdom will not endure; the LORD has sought out a man after his own heart and appointed him leader of his people, because you have not kept the LORD's command."

Fear has torments and limits one’ progress, or renders one immobile, as seen in the life of Saul and his army when they face Goliath, 1 Sam 17: 11 On hearing the Philistine's words, Saul and all the Israelites were dismayed and terrified.

1Sam 17:23 As he was talking with them, Goliath, the Philistine champion from Gath, stepped out from his lines and shouted his usual defiance, and David heard it. 24 When the Israelites saw the man, they all ran from him in great fear,

Fear prevents Spirit filled Christians from utilizing God’s power, as seen in the life of Elijah when he was threatened by Jezebel, 1Kings 19: 1-5. Elijah had earlier through the power of God killed 450 prophets of Baal, but now under the influence of fear he not forgot to utilize God’s power in him but he was also praying to die. 1Kings19: 1 Now Ahab told Jezebel everything Elijah had done and how he had killed all the prophets with the sword. 2 So Jezebel sent a messenger to Elijah to say, "May the gods deal with me, be it ever so severely, if by this time tomorrow I do not make your life like that of one of them."3 Elijah was afraid and ran for his life. When he came to Beersheba in Judah, he left his servant there,

Fear makes one lose focus in life and even wish for death or commit suicide, as seen again in the life of Elijah, 1 Kings 19: 4 while he himself went a day's journey into the desert. He came to a broom tree, sat down under it and prayed that he might die. "I have had enough, LORD," he said. "Take my life; I am no better than my ancestors."