Introduction& Backdrop
You see my brethrens a back drop of the Scripture before us will show that Timothy was experiencing great opposition to his message (the word of God), and himself as leader. His youth, his association with Paul and his leadership had come under great fire from believers and non-believers alike. Paul was urging timothy to be bold. But just like timothy then, today we have gone and are still going though fears.
People today are afraid! They’re afraid of the future, they’re afraid of what’s going to happen in the World, they’re afraid of each other, they’re afraid of social pressures, afraid of failing in school or work, afraid of being unemployed.--Afraid that they won’t have enough money for their families. People are afraid of so many things!
For the past months in our country, it seems that our population was going through one of the greatest set of fear since the days of the so-called Revolution 1979-1983. This fear was brought on by the high crime rate (murders), high cost of living and total uncertainty as to our county future as it relates to the then general election that was coming.
The last few days before our general election, July 8-2008, this fear began to take a new level on our population, since the campaign was intensifying, and there were rumors of:
Grenada becoming like Zimbabwe
There will be blood running like water on election day
Fear of giving the then NNP administration a forth term and what they might do
Fear of not giving this present NDC administration and what they themselves might do
So friends this morning I like to conclude this introduction by saying our people were living in fear, voted in fear and some because of the change of administration, are now working in fear.
Fear: A Definition: Scientific definition-is an emotional response to threats and danger. Fear is often connected to pain (e.g. some fear heights because if they fall, they may suffer severe injury or even die upon landing).
Fear: A Definition from the Word of God-according to 2nd Timothy 1:7- “Fear” is described as a spirit.
There are two main types of fear: The destructive fear and the Godly fear
This type of Fear is Not Of God! This morning I therefore like to let you know that we must remove this spirit from amongst our people, we must remove this spirit from amongst our nation, we must remove this spirit from amongst our community, we must remove this spirit from amongst our homes and most of all we must remove this spirit from our churches!
Because this spirit is not of God! But must Satan alone be blame-no! We know that ultimately it is him-yet through selfishness on our path, one’s self-preservation, self-image, what the future holds for us, we operate through fear.
Psalm 56:3 When I am afraid, I will put my trust in Thee.
Psalm 118:6 The Lord is for me; I will not fear. What can man do to me?
Friend that Job you are holding-if God said it is yours ,it is yours and if that opportunity closed out-God will open a new one for you-Amen
Luke 12:6-7 Are not five sparrows sold for two cents? And yet not one of them is forgotten before God. Indeed, the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Do not fear; you are of more value than many sparrows.
But the Apostle John wrote, "Perfect love casts out fear, for fear has torment."--1John 4:18. When that "perfect love" that comes from Jesus fills our lives, it crowds out this type of selfish worry and fear, and when our hearts are filled with love for others, then we don’t think and worry about ourselves so much.
Today I want to let you know that the fear you are going through right now, you must tell it to Jesus.
He a friend that sticks closer than a brother- Proverbs 18:24
He will never leave us nor forsake us-Hebrews 13:5
We must remember the Lord [is] my (our) helper, and I will not fear what man shall do unto me. Hebrews 13:6
Tell someone this morning- “The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? The Lord is the defense of my life; whom shall I dread?” Psalm 27:1
Fear Kills
Church we must not let fear kill us. We must not let fear kill us! Because statistics shows that fear is the number one killer on earth. It has caused more sickness and more mental illness and more premature deaths than anything else on Earth!
Jesus said in the Last Days "men’s hearts would be failing them for fear."--Luke 21:26.
Doctors say that there’s more heart failure today than ever in the World’s history because there’s more fear. In 1982, heart attacks caused 554,900 deaths in the U.S. alone, while hypertensive diseases caused 31,500 deaths!
Jesus said, "Do not worry about tomorrow. Each day has enough trouble of its own."--Matthew 6:34.
Fear Causes Irrational Decision
After Hurricane Ivan 2004, one of the main factors people looted was because of fear-not just fear but irrational fear. Why irrational? Because the country was full of food, and there was not a need to loot.
Secondly we saw a lot of wastage happened months and sometime up to two years after Ivan, Why? Because the people who stored up food had this irrational fear that they will run out off, forgetting that whom they received from before, were willing to send to them again. Are you like one of those persons?
I want to remind us, the same God who rescue Daniel from the lion’s den (is the same God who raised Lazarus from the dead-and if he did it before He can do it again! For He is the same yesterday, today and forever! Hebrews 13:8
Psalm 46:1-2 God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear, though the earth should change, and though the mountains slip into the heart of the sea.
Illustration
Church-it is no secret what God can do-yet too many of us are being hold back by fear.
The story is told of a man in an insane asylum, who main trouble was that he would get his next meal. So as soon as one meal was finished, he immediately began to worry about the next, and most of his time and strength were spent worrying!--How crazy!
The famous writer, Mark Twain, said towards the end of his life, "I’m an old man, and I’ve had many troubles--most of which never happened!" Church, we can live our whole lives in fear and some has done it.
But I want to let us know this morning it is a battle we are fighting with the devil and we ain’t going down .Because we overcome him by the and the blood of the lamb and the word of our testimony. Revelation 12:11
Church, friends we must get a whole on our lives. As Christians we shouldn’t have to fear or worry about anything, because we know that "All things work together for good to them that love the Lord!"--Romans 8:28. For those who are not in Christ
Psalm 27:14 Wait for the Lord; be strong, and let your heart take courage; Yes, wait for the Lord.
Psalm 31:24 Be strong, and let your heart take courage, all you who hope in the Lord.
John 16:33 Jesus spake, "These things have I spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you have tribulation, but take courage; I have overcome the world."
Joshua 1:9 Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous! Do not tremble or be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.
Quote: Dwight L Moody
The famous evangelist, Dwight L. Moody, used to say, "You can travel first or second class to Heaven! Second class is, ’What time I am afraid, I will trust.’--Psalm 56:3. And first class is, ’I will trust, and not be afraid.’--Isaiah 12:2. So why not buy a first class ticket?"
So how must we deal with this fear factor?
By learning and exercising faith
Faith is the opposite of fear, and when you have faith, you cannot fear!
But how do we get faith?--From reading the Word of God, chewing the word of God, by digesting the word of God.
The Bible says, "Faith comes by hearing the Word of God!"--Romans 10:17.
"The fear of God is the beginning of wisdom."--Proverbs 9:10. A part of our love for God should be a healthy respect and fear of Him, like a child respects his father, especially if he’s been naughty and done wrong and knows that he deserves a spanking! Fearing God is a form of worshipping God. It’s giving Him the reverence and respect that He deserves.
"Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God and Him only shalt thou fear!"--Matthew 4:10. "This," the wise King Solomon said, "is the whole duty of Man, to fear God"--and keep His commandments"!--Ecclesiastes 12:13. If you pin your faith in God, and fear God, all other fears will disappear!
Of course, we must recognize that the Enemy, the Devil, does have certain power. In fact, almost the Devil’s total power is in fear. He’ll often say "Boo!", and say all kinds of terrible things to try to frighten you! But you don’t have to listen to him. Jesus called him, "A liar from the beginning."--John 8:44. The Devil is a liar and is usually bluffing and hardly ever able to accomplish his threats!--Especially to a child of God who is protected by the Lord’s Holy Spirit and Angels!
So you don’t ever have to fear Satan’s power, because God is much bigger than any devil!--Or even Satan himself! The power of the Lord is much, much greater! "Greater is He that is in you (Jesus), than he that is in the World (the Devil)."--1John 4:4. In other words, God is saying, "My power in you is much greater than the Devil’s power in the World’s children!--Much greater!" In fact, all the devils of Hell, including Satan himself, are subject to your power, because you have the power of Christ! Jesus said, "All power is given unto Me in Heaven and in Earth!"--Matthew 28:18. You’re not stronger than the Devil, but Jesus is!-And you have Jesus and His power, and the Devil and his demons have to do what you tell them to when you command them to do it in Jesus’ name!
If you feel the Devil is attacking you with fears, worries, anxiety etc., you can pray in the Name of Jesus and resist and overcome him!--Jesus said, "Behold, I give you power over all the power of the Enemy, and nothing shall by any means hurt you."-Luke 10:19. This power is yours if you believe His Word, claim His promises and pray in the Name of Jesus! In fact, if you are filled with faith and His Holy Spirit, you have the authority to resist the Devil directly, just like Jesus and His early disciples did.
Praising the Lord and quoting God’s Word out loud is an excellent way to attack your fears! Memorize faith-building Scriptures like Psalm 23, "The Lord is my shepherd...I will fear no evil." Put all other thoughts out of your mind and just think about Jesus and His Love and His power. "Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on Thee."--Isaiah 26:3.
then it helps greatly to have someone else pray with to be delivered from that fear! The Bible says, "One can chase a thousand, but two can put ten thousand to flight!"--Deuteronomy 32:30. "If any two of you shall agree on Earth as touching anything that they shall ask, it shall be done for them of My Father which is in Heaven!"--Matthew 18:19.
Often, deep-rooted irrational fears are caused by bad spirits, demons, and--as mentioned before--these spirits of fear can be commanded to depart in the Name of Jesus!-And they have to obey! "Submit yourselves to God, resist the Devil and he will flee from you!"--James 4:7.
Devil!--He was defeated 2,000 years ago!--When Jesus Christ, the Son of God, won the victory for our souls on the Cross of Calvary!
