Overcoming Fear

There are 4 words I want to quickly highlight from this passage - -

The word FEAR in Greek is usually the word we get for phobia. But Paul does NOT use that word here. And this is the only time it’s used in the Bible. The word literally means someone who is a coward and runs from the battlefield. The Spirit of God should give us boldness, not cowardice. That’s important to know when we’re in difficult situations.

Secondly – the word for POWER is the same word we use in English for dynamite. Paul wants us to see the power is super strong and more importantly it’s God strong! That power comes from God and isn’t manufactured in us.

The word love is AGAPE. That’s the love which God gives us. It’s a sacrificial type of love which God gave to us in loving us and sending Jesus for us.

And the word for SELF-CONTROL really means just that. It’s to have a reasonable / sound mind, showing self discipline. It means at a time like this we don’t go out and buy 100 rolls of toilet paper for one person.

So, Paul wanted Timothy to hold onto that . . . and we need to do the same. Don’t walk around in fear, in essence being a coward. Practice wisdom, have boldness in your character, show love . . . but don’t be overcome by fear . . . especially the fear of the world.

Think about what Paul tells us in Philippians 4. It’s one of my favorite passages because of what Paul wants us to understand. He wrote - -

4 Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice. 5 Let your gentleness be known to everyone. The Lord is at hand; 6 do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. 7 And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

Aren’t those great words from Paul? And especially relevant during this time.

At least 15 times in this 4 chapter book, Paul tells us to have joy or to rejoice. That’s a great prescription right now. When you’re feeling stuck at home, it’s not overly easy to have joy or even feel happy.

Remember, joy comes from within. It comes from our relationship with Jesus . . . it comes from the gift of the Holy Spirit who dwells within us helping us, providing the spiritual nourishment we need . . . and despite our circumstances . . . we can still experience joy.

And notice that Paul tells us 2x in verse 4 to rejoice. It’s that important to him, so he says it twice. So, friends, REJOICE, let me say it again - REJOICE in Christ.

Paul reminds us to let our gentleness be evident to all people. Not just to people whom you choose, but to all people. Help people see the Lord in you - knowing that the Lord is near! We can take that in 1 one of 2 ways

1. Jesus will return - and Paul emphasizes the fact that Jesus will return in the second coming. BUT I also take that to mean - -

2. Jesus is near to us right now. For me it’s a both / and. I am reminded Jesus will return, and He will be the judge AND the fact that Jesus is hear right now, wherever you are . . . He is with you! And because of that - - I can rejoice.