Life and Times of Joshua the Son of Nun
Learning to Face Fear
Good morning family I’m glad you’re here. My prayer as always is that you leave blessed and encouraged for coming.
Last week we discussed this idea of what God wants to accomplish as he sends his nation of Sons & Daughters into the promise land. We learned that God was dealing with the Sin of the peoples who lived there in the land of Canaan. And as God cleansed the land of Canaan so our we to deal with the Sin in our own lives as well.
Paul taught us that we are to destroy, which means that we are to mortify the deeds of the flesh. Paul in his letter to the Christians at Colossae gave us this very truth this way check it out.
[Col 3:5 KJV] 5 Mortify therefore your members which are upon the earth; fornication, uncleanness, inordinate affection, evil concupiscence, and covetousness, which is idolatry:
Ok with that said let’s not get it twisted. The truth is that dealing with sin according to this passage means that we must be willing to put some things to death, which means that God wants us to Kill the Sin until that thing is gone out of our lives forever. Amen
This week we want to transition into answering the question as to why most Christians struggle in dealing with the Sin that so often time plague their lives. Even to the point in which many of our sins become what the scripture refer to as besetting sins, which means that sin for some have become a live style. And let me try and answer that question for you as to why it becomes so difficult for believers to put away besetting sins.
If your taking notes you might want to write this point down.
The reason why so many believers struggle with facing sin and dealing with it as prescribed in scripture is because of…FEAR.
That four-letter word FEAR has stopped so many Christians dead in their tracks before they ever get started. Imagine having to deal with a problem or issue that you have grown accustomed to living with. Well to rid yourself of that thing will essentially mean that there is a future for you that you’re not familiar with. So naturally your future will look better because of the obvious, however there is still an element of the unknown that is inevitable. And according to most studies one of the things people fear the most is this element of the unknown. Even if your future looks better and brighter not knowing what that means will cause many to remain stooped and or stuck in a sinful rut of sin and death type producing situation.
Before we get to deep into our study let me give you five facts about fear that should will help you handle it a little better:
Five Facts to consider about fear:
1. Fear-motivated thoughts are all about “can’t.” They create a negative, imagined scenario about the future. Here’s the truth: you don’t know what is going to happen, so these thoughts can’t possibly be true.
2. Resisting fear strengthens it. The antidote is awareness – being willing to directly experience fear as it appears to you in the moment, recognizing the thoughts and physical sensations.
3. The goal is not to get rid of fear, as you don’t have the power to make this happen. But you do have the power to change the way you relate to fear. Learn to receive it with curiosity and a loving heart, get to know how it spins thoughts that deflate the things you are enthusiastic about. But don’t feel like something is wrong or you have failed if it continues to appear. Simply meet it lovingly every time.
4. Fear is not the enemy. It can be the voice of reason, caution, and practicality that serves you well at times.
5. It takes energy to resist fear. Getting to know it and allowing it to be lets your body and mind relax, as the fight is over. This opens a space for creativity, wonder, awe, love, beauty, inspiration.
Ok so with all that. Today’s discussion is very critical. Our future depends on it. Listen if we as a church will ever reach this community for the cause of Christ. That’s going to mean that many of us are going to have to be willing to step outside of our comfort zone and do things as well as deal with things that maybe we have feared facing our entire lives.
Illustration: According to most studies one of the number one fears that most people face is the fear of public speaking, which by the way was and still is a huge fear of mine. But what I have learned as I have faced this fear in faith. Is that God is most glorified whenever I submit to him and face the fear of speaking in Public settings. He is glorified and I’m always blessed every time I get the chance to teach or preach God’s word.
So what fear has the enemy used to keep you from soaring to new heights? What sin are you afraid to deal with because it may mean a different future for you?
I’m mean to tell you. God has a future for you that is so much brighter that the darkness that you may be chained to this very minute.
Let’s Get some text and then will get into our study. I want to look at a couple of passages. In one passage we are going to see what happens when we face fear in the power and confidence of God and in the second passage we are going to see how fear stopped a people dead in their tracks because they weren’t willing to face their fear with the same confidence that can only come from having a confidence in what God will do through you.
Be turning your bibles to Joshua 14:6-11 & Joshua 17:14-16
[Jos 14:6-11 KJV] 6 Then the children of Judah came unto Joshua in Gilgal: and Caleb the son of Jephunneh the Kenezite said unto him, Thou knowest the thing that the LORD said unto Moses the man of God concerning me and thee in Kadeshbarnea. 7 Forty years old [was] I when Moses the servant of the LORD sent me from Kadeshbarnea to espy out the land; and I brought him word again as [it was] in mine heart. 8 Nevertheless my brethren that went up with me made the heart of the people melt: but I wholly followed the LORD my God. 9 And Moses sware on that day, saying, Surely the land whereon thy feet have trodden shall be thine inheritance, and thy children's for ever, because thou hast wholly followed the LORD my God. 10 And now, behold, the LORD hath kept me alive, as he said, these forty and five years, even since the LORD spake this word unto Moses, while [the children of] Israel wandered in the wilderness: and now, lo, I [am] this day fourscore and five years old. 11 As yet I [am as] strong this day as [I was] in the day that Moses sent me: as my strength [was] then, even so [is] my strength now, for war, both to go out, and to come in.
You read this and you should get the impression that Caleb was not going to let fear stop him from having what God promised him many years ago. He mentions that he would have faced the Giants 45 years ago and he was more than willing to face them right now in that very moment. Caleb demonstrated courage in the face of fear.
Now let’s looks look at a contrast of this same idea. Turn ahead a few pages to Joshua ch17
[Jos 17:14-16 KJV] 14 And the children of Joseph spake unto Joshua, saying, Why hast thou given me [but] one lot and one portion to inherit, seeing I [am] a great people, forasmuch as the LORD hath blessed me hitherto? 15 And Joshua answered them, If thou [be] a great people, [then] get thee up to the wood [country], and cut down for thyself there in the land of the Perizzites and of the giants, if mount Ephraim be too narrow for thee. 16 And the children of Joseph said, The hill is not enough for us: and all the Canaanites that dwell in the land of the valley have chariots of iron, [both they] who [are] of Bethshean and her towns, and [they] who [are] of the valley of Jezreel.
Note your first point for study:
I. Learn to Face Fear in Faith:
This is the very important principal to know whenever we began to face our fears. You see class Faith helps us to see beyond the circumstance and helps us to focus on the possibilities instead of the dangers. Let’s let the scripture speak to us note Josh14:10
Notice at how Caleb as a 85 year-old man is looking at his mountain.
[Jos 14:10-12 KJV] 10 And now, behold, the LORD hath kept me alive, as he said, these forty and five years, even since the LORD spake this word unto Moses, while [the children of] Israel wandered in the wilderness: and now, lo, I [am] this day fourscore and five years old. 11 As yet I [am as] strong this day as [I was] in the day that Moses sent me: as my strength [was] then, even so [is] my strength now, for war, both to go out, and to come in. 12 Now therefore give me this mountain…
Ok you read that and you think why isn’t everyone like Caleb when it comes to dealing with and facing fearful matters. But what we need to learn this morning as we work through this passage is that if you are not like that when it comes to facing your fears. Then you are a perfect candidate for being that individual who may never really accomplish on this side of eternity what God would like to do in and through you.
I want to take a few minutes and discuss what facing you fears doesn’t look like. Because again I always strive to be practical whenever we are preaching through a passage of scripture.
• Facing our Fears does not mean ignoring the obvious: Jos14: 7, 10-11 Sometimes I feel like folks think that facing a fear means that we need to pretend not to be afraid.
Well I don’t want to state the obvious but I think I need to. Fear is an emotion giving to us from God. Fear in many ways is a gift if we use it as God intended for it to be used. You see what fear does is it forces us to look at the situation honestly. Note what Caleb says is obvious about his situation:
[Jos 14:7, 10-11 KJV] 7 Forty years old [was] I when Moses the servant of the LORD sent me from Kadeshbarnea to espy out the land; and I brought him word again as [it was] in mine heart. ... 10 And now, behold, the LORD hath kept me alive, as he said, these forty and five years, even since the LORD spake this word unto Moses, while [the children of] Israel wandered in the wilderness: and now, lo, I [am] this day fourscore and five years old. 11 As yet I [am as] strong this day as [I was] in the day that Moses sent me: as my strength [was] then, even so [is] my strength now, for war, both to go out, and to come in.
Joshua admit, hey I was a young man whenever God gave this promise to me. He admits it, to Joshua. He says I’m 85 year old now. However God gave me this mountain. It is with God’s help that we can take down the enemies a posses this mountain.
You read that and you think wow that is crazy what God did in the live of Caleb. To which I would reply God wants to do the same in you and I.
You know one of my favorite books of the bible is Paul’s letter to the Christians at Philippi. Note what Paul writes:
[Phl 1:6 KJV] 6 Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform [it] until the day of Jesus Christ:
You see class if God began a work in you his word promises that he’s going to finish what he started. Just remain faithful and by all means go and take that mountain of fear whatever it happens to be. You may say Pastor I’m not afraid of anything. Then why are you so afraid of surrendering every area of your life to God. I know that surrendering everything is a difficult task. But it is the only way possible to take down that mountain of fear
This brings us to our next point.
• Facing our Fears does not mean that we Fail to Plan: Jos15:13-15
Caleb remember is 85 years of age and no matter how you cut that pie. He is to old to be warring as if he is a young man of 40 something.
I love what Caleb does after he takes out the 3 sons of Anak the giant. Note the text Josh15:16-17
[Jos 15:16-17 KJV] 16 And Caleb said, He that smiteth Kirjathsepher, and taketh it, to him will I give Achsah my daughter to wife. 17 And Othniel the son of Kenaz, the brother of Caleb, took it: and he gave him Achsah his daughter to wife.
You see what Caleb does. He tells the mighty men of his day. If you go up to that mountain and take out the Kirjathsepher family I will give you my daughter to marry and the way I see it she had to be some kinda good looking woman. Because Othniel single handedly takes out this entire family by himself.
You look at that and you should be thinking what I should I be doing if I too will deal with the things I’m afraid to face. I just gave you the answer. Put together a plan a strategy.
Illustration: You know let me be transparent for a minute. I have a genuine fear that ministry many times robs me of the influence I want to have on my family particularly my son. So instead of quitting ministry all together. I have intentionally purposed in my heart to set aside special time with my son in an effort to teach him what it means to be a man. I take my son out for breakfast every week just to have devotion with him and pray with him and for him. And you want to know what drives me to do this. FEAR. Fear has been such a great motivation. I simply have decided to face my fear and make sure that I plan and do everything in my power to give my son the best chance to be spiritually successful. If you have a similar issue you can do same thing. What you can’t do is give fear the chance to and stop us from doing anything at all. To do nothing at all is always the incorrect response to fear.
Note your next point for consideration:
• Facing our Fears does not mean that we are to Ignore the Past: Jos14:7-8
Ok what fear will do is that it will often stop us from moving ahead because we might remember what a certain thing or certain someone did to us in the past. So what we tend to do is stop and do noting when we should be trudging ahead that is move forward in faith to attack that mountain of fear.
Facing fears doesn’t mean that we run ahead with out applying the principals that our past experiences has taught us either.
That is not what facing your fear in faith is saying. What I’m wanting to teach you with this point is that we should use our past experiences to help us make wiser choices in our current set of circumstances.
Illustration: Let’s say that In the past you had a difficult experience with a good friend that caused you to lose trust in them because of something they did or said. So now currently you are in a similar situation with that same friend and your afraid to trust them but you know that trusting them and showing them the love of Christ to is the right thing to do. So what should you do?
You trust God and use the wisdom that your fears are pointing out to help guide you as you move forward in that relationship.
You see in the case of mistrust fear shouldn’t destroy the relationship it just puts the relationship on better footing.
How so you say Pastor. Because the wisdom of remembering what happened before should teach you what to look for in the present. How to pray through things that you’ve seen before. What didn’t work before. What mistakes did you make before that you should be mindful off. You see fear is actually a great tool whenever we use fear the correct way.
Let’s put some text to what I’m teaching hear:
[Jos 14:7-8 KJV] 7 Forty years old [was] I when Moses the servant of the LORD sent me from Kadeshbarnea to espy out the land; and I brought him word again as [it was] in mine heart. 8 Nevertheless my brethren that went up with me made the heart of the people melt: but I wholly followed the LORD my God.
You see what Caleb says to Joshua. He says 40 years ago we wanted to go into this land. But our friends Joshua allowed fear of what they saw whenever we spied out the land melt the hearts of our peers. Joshua we already have made this mistake once in allowing our peers to discourage the group. And I will not make that same mistake once again. I’m taking this mountain today. Give me what God has promised me. Give me my mountain.
II. Learn to turn your Fear into Fearlessness: Ok we still have the sons of Joseph we hadn’t discussed quite yet over in Chapter 17. You remember them. They had that valley that they were afraid to go down and take. They allowed the fear of what they saw paralyze them.
Notice what Joshua says to them.
Joshua 17:15, 17-18 KJV] 15 And Joshua answered them, If thou [be] a great people, [then] get thee up to the wood [country], and cut down for thyself there in the land of the Perizzites and of the giants, if mount Ephraim be too narrow for thee. ... 17 And Joshua spake unto the house of Joseph, [even] to Ephraim and to Manasseh, saying, Thou [art] a great people, and hast great power: thou shalt not have one lot [only]: 18 But the mountain shall be thine; for it [is] a wood, and thou shalt cut it down: and the outgoings of it shall be thine: for thou shalt drive out the Canaanites, though they have iron chariots, [and] though they [be] strong.
Did you notice what Joshua says to the sons of Joseph. He tells them the truth about them-selves. He reminds them that fear has caused them to forget. He admits that the men in the valley are mighty. They do have chariots and horses. But guess what. You are a mighty and great people also and the folks in the valley are indeed mighty men. But they don’t have what you have. They don’t have the power of God. So go down their sons of Joseph and take that valley.
Ok we spent a great deal of time dealing with what facing you fears should not look like in a practical sense. Lets take the rest of our time this morning dealing with what facing fear in faith does look like:
• Facing our Fears in Faith does mean that we need to take Biblical Action There is a reason why I didn’t just say take any action. I said biblical action specifically. The reason I said biblical action is because God’s word must be your HOLY GHOST GPS SYSTEM that is built inside of you that tells you what actions you should be taking against fear.
Remember we stated earlier that fear is a built in warning system that God put in you to help you deal with the circumstances and situations of life. So don’t ignore the feeling of fear but pose the questions to God about why you are feeling fearful because of certain situations and search out in the word of God what to do before you do anything.
I love what David says about these feelings of fear that we so often face..
[Psa 56:3 KJV] 3 What time I am afraid, I will trust in thee.
[Psa 34:4 KJV] 4 I sought the LORD, and he heard me, and delivered me from all my fears.
David gives us some pretty clear instructions as to what actions we should take as we are facing fear: 1) Trust in God 2) Seek the Lord for help
• Facing our Fears in Faith does mean that we should Give God Praise instead of Focusing on our fears:
What’s obvious to me as we read about the sons of Joseph is that they are so focused on the giants, the Chariots and horses and wooded covered valley. That they have completely forgotten that God is mighty and he will deliver their enemies into their hands if they would only just trust in him with all their hearts.
You remember David over in Psalms. How he faced that bear and that lion and that giant. How in the world was this man who was so small in stature such a mighty man of God. I think we will find the secret to David’s Courage in Psalms 63:1-3.
Note a few psalms.
[Psalms 63:1-3 KJV] 1 [[A Psalm of David, when he was in the wilderness of Judah.]] O God, thou [art] my God; early will I seek thee: my soul thirsteth for thee, my flesh longeth for thee in a dry and thirsty land, where no water is; 2 To see thy power and thy glory, so [as] I have seen thee in the sanctuary. 3 Because thy lovingkindness [is] better than life, my lips shall praise thee.
Did you catch the answer in the text?
David’s courage was found in his praise.
Every time David became fearful he would start praising God. And in the mist of his praise he would find the strength he needed to help face his mountain of fears.
• Facing our Fears in Faith does mean that we should trust God for the results:
One of the reason why I become fear filled and also paralyzed in certain situations is because I’m not always sure what the out come of my obedience might bring. What if I die or what if I lose everything by facing this fear.
Think about that a minute and put yourself in the place of Joseph sons.
What if taking that valley and fighting against those mighty men who also had those mighty horses and chariots could mean death for some of them.
Here’s the deal. Death shouldn’t matter to the one who decides to face that fear in faith head on. You see the outcome is Gods business our job is to simply follow and obey God and leave the results up to him.
Let’s Pray
