InCourage
Pt. 2 – The Fear Factor
I. Introduction
Last week I mentioned that I wished I was Superman so that I could handle every situation with supreme confidence and strength. However, I also revealed, hold onto your jaw so that it doesn’t drop, that I am not Superman. We all need courage and we all lack courage. Jesus even told us that in the last days there would be men who would lose heart. Lose heart is the literal translation of courage. I told you that being strong is not the same thing as courage. It takes both. Our courage needs to be placed in the right place. Courage is a prerequisite for blessing. Then I told you that you could have courage because our end is resolved. It’s over, but it ain’t over. Our success isn’t based on our success or track record. We have the promise of His presence. We can have courage because of the sworn word of God. His word always comes through.
Today, I want to talk about the number one enemy of courage.
Uncertainty certainly affects our courage. People can impact our courage level. What we see can have ramifications on our courage level. However, the number one factor in whether we have any courage or whether we lose heart is how we address, face and deal with fear.
Fear is a common emotion. Some fear is even good. I want my kids to be afraid of lions. That way if we ever run into one they will keep their distance. At the same time, I also know that Paul teaches us that God has not given us a spirit of fear and I believe that. We are not to operate in a spirit of fear but in courage! Mark Twain must have understood this concept because he said, "Courage is resistance to fear, mastery of fear-not absence of fear."
Have you ever met anyone who couldn’t master fear? They lived in a spirit of fear? I am not talking about someone who is occasionally afraid of something. I am talking about someone who is constantly in a state of fear? My grandmother was that way when it came to storms. The smallest cloud was all that was necessary for us to head to the cellar. She lived in a spirit of fear of storms. I want to teach you four things about fear this morning that will hopefully cause us to be afraid of being afraid!
I want to read to you three sections of Scripture. They may seem to be disconnected, but although they are different they each teach us a crucial lesson about fear.
TEXT: Matthew 1:20, Luke 1:30; 2:8-10, John 6:18-21, Acts 4:13
Section 1:
20 But while he thought on these things, behold, the angel of the LORD appeared unto him in a dream, saying, Joseph, thou son of David, fear not to take unto thee Mary thy wife: for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Ghost.
30 And the angel said unto her, Fear not, Mary: for thou hast found favour with God.
8And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. 9And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid. 10And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people.
Section 2:
18A strong wind was blowing and the waters grew rough. 19When they had rowed three or three and a half miles, they saw Jesus approaching the boat, walking on the water; and they were terrified. 20But he said to them, "It is I; don’t be afraid." 21Then they were willing to take him into the boat, and immediately the boat reached the shore where they were heading.
Section 3:
13When they saw the courage of Peter and John and realized that they were unschooled, ordinary men, they were astonished and they took note that these men had been with Jesus.
II. Facing Fear
Section 1, or the Christmas passages, teaches us a very important truth about fear. Notice if you will that in each account, the one with Joseph, the one with Mary, and the one with the shepherds that prior to delivering the news that the angel was sent to deliver the conversation was always started with the same phrase, “Fear not!”
I have learned something as I reread these passages.
a. Fear blocks revelation!
Fear is an enemy because it blocks revelation. In order for us to receive, hear, apply revelation we must operate in courage. If we are overcome by a spirit of fear we will not be receptive or in tune with the revelation of God. Fear blocks our receptivity! Fear keeps us from hearing. Fear keeps us from believing.
I wonder how many of us are missing words from God, messages from God, direction from God, instructions, because our hearts are so filled with fear that that we close our ears. That can’t be for me. That can’t happen. That is impossible.
We can’t afford to miss revelation. If you miss revelation you find yourself in a situation!
Fear keeps us from hearing God and taking Him at His revealed Word. We hear His Word and hesitate. We read His Word and fail to apply. Fear blocks revelation! It takes courage to hear God!
Noah had to have courage to hear and obey to build an Ark when it had never rained. Abraham had to have courage to hear and act on the revelation of God to leave his land. Moses had to find courage to hear from God and to go speak to Pharaoh.
Revelation heard through a cloud of fear is wasted revelation!
b. Fear will cause you to try to keep Jesus out of your boat!
Section 2 of the Scripture that I read to you teaches us that if we are fearful we will try to travel without Jesus! Jesus approaches his disciples who are in trouble. They have been rowing for 3 ½ hours to get to the other side. It should have only taken them about 2 hours to cross. They have exhausted themselves, their resources, strength, and stamina. In this place of trouble, Jesus comes to them and they are so afraid that they are unwilling to let him in their boat. Think about this, they are in dire straits, rough seas, perilous situation and they resist Jesus! They had done all they could do. They were in the darkest part of the night. They had rowed and rowed and now hope arrives and their fear resists hope! They are watching someone (even though they don’t recognize Him) who is able to walk on what they are unable to row through and yet their fear keeps them from willingly taking Jesus into the boat. My gut level reaction is if I had seen him I would have pulled Him into the boat, but the truth is we know that fear makes you do things that make no sense!
I wonder how many of us try to travel, live our lives, operate without Jesus because we are afraid? We find ourselves in bad situations, painful situations, disasters and in the darkest part of the night and rather than gladly inviting Jesus in, instead of running to church, instead of seeking Him, we resist Him! Could it be that we are afraid of what He will do when He gets in the boat? Fear makes us a fool! That is the idea of scared silly! If you are in a storm get Jesus in the boat! Now! Quit singing row, row your boat and get Jesus in!
We need courage so that fear won’t keep Jesus from joining us!
c. Fear reveals our level of intimacy with Jesus!
Section 3 of the Scripture that I read to you teaches us that mastery of fear (or courage) reveals our relationship with Jesus! When the people saw the courage of Peter and John the people came to a very interesting conclusion. They declare, “These men have been with Jesus”. Their education, abilities, looks didn’t tell them anything about Peter and John’s relationship with Jesus. It was their courage! Our courage level says something about our intimacy level and contact with Jesus.
If you are afraid could it be that we can make the assumption that you haven’t been with Jesus! People should be able to recognize who we hang out with by our courage level.
Those closest to Jesus take the biggest risks and face the greatest challenges without backing down!
d. Fear is contagious, but so is courage!
I think it is no coincidence that Acts says that the people took notice of Peter and John.
Greater courage comes from courageous associations.
Courage is contagious. When a brave man takes a stand, the spines of others are often stiffened. BILLY GRAHAM
That it is why it is absolutely essential for you to hang out with people of courage! If you hang out with fearful people you will give in to fear. The 10 spies in the Old Testament live this out. Like begets like. Fear produces fear. Courage breeds courage!
Take David for example. He is dismayed and all of his men are afraid because the Amalekites had raided their camp and taken their families. David’s men began talking about stoning David. But David encouraged himself in the Lord– and the men who were rock shopping drop their stones and now follow him. Courage is contagious.
Who are you hanging around with? Are they feeding the fear in your life or the courage in your life? Are they in couraging you? Or are they dis-couraging you?
IV. Close
We all face fear. However, the challenge is that we must master fear or we will not operate in courage! Can you hear God? Or does fear have your hearing blocked? Are you allowing Jesus to set the course of your life? Or has fear blocked Him from getting in the boat? What does your level of courage say about your intimacy level with Jesus? Does anyone know that you have been with Him? Who is rubbing off on you? How big of a factor has fear become in your life? Be in courage today!
Psalm 73:26
My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.
