#2 THE RUT OF SAMENESS? MAY WE IDENTIFY WHAT HINDERS? FEAR!
By Wade Martin Hughes, Sr. Kyfingers@aol.com
This is part #2 of a two part series on THE RUT OF SAMENESS, FEAR HINDERS...
WHY CAN'T WE SEE WORRY AS SEEDS? THE HARVEST COMES FROM WHAT WE
PLANT. GOD HELP US IDENTIFY THE ISSUES AND CHOICES THAT WE ARE MAKING
THAT COULD BE HINDERING US FROM MAKING PROGRESS?
Life can bring us to the point that we allow worry and fear to hinder our progress.
We can make the choice to focus on our problems and refuse to see how we are blessed.
Galatians 5:7 Ye did run well; who did hinder you that ye should not obey the truth?
Our Text:
2 Timothy 1:7 For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of
a sound mind.
HAVE WE EVER TRIED TO DEFINE FEAR?
FEAR: an unpleasant emotion caused by a sense of danger, anxious, panic
To be afraid of something or someone, to give place for worry, alarm.
WORRY: to Mental distress or agitation,
to think about problems, to feel like something bad is going to happen, to be upset,
to persist in nagging or agitation.
ANXIETY: fear or nervousness about what might happen, uneasy mind, abnormal and
overwhelming sense of harm.
HOW MANY ILLINESSES ARE DIRECTLY AFFECTED BY FEAR, WORRY AND ANXIETY?
God has a design for us to TRUST HIM and cast our cares on Him.
IF YOU CAN'T CHANGE IT? --- WHY WORRY ABOUT IT?
ANXIETY IS CRIPPLING AND WE MAY MISS THE MOMENT IN THE STUPID DETAILS...
WORRY, FEAR AND ANXIETY CAN TAKE MANY FORMS... BEING TROUBLED, FUSSING,
GETTING WORKED UP, --- THIS BEHAVIOR KEEPS YOU FROM COMING AND SPENDING
TIME WITH JESUS...
MARTHA HAS A GOLDEN OPPORTUNITY BEFORE HER. MARTHA MADE THE CHOICE
TO BE A WORRIED HOUSEKEEPER RUNNING AROUND LIKE A CHICKEN WITH ITS
HEAD CUT OFF.... INSTEAD OF BEING IN THE PRESENCE OF JESUS?
Slow down girl...
Luke 10:40 But Martha was cumbered about much serving, and came to him, and said, Lord,
dost thou not care that my sister hath left me to serve alone? bid her therefore that she help me.
41 And Jesus answered and said unto her, Martha, Martha, thou art careful and troubled about
many things:
Slow down and enjoy the moment... Things don't have to be perfect. The house work can wait.
Have a BOLONGA SANDWICH AND CHIPS!
Luke 10:40 (MSG) But Martha was pulled away by all she had to do in the kitchen. Later, she
stepped in, interrupting them. "Master, don't you care that my sister has abandoned the kitchen
to me? Tell her to lend me a hand." 41 The Master said, "Martha, dear Martha, you're fussing far
too much and getting yourself worked up over nothing.
Luke 10:40 (NLT) But Martha was distracted by the big dinner she was preparing. She came to
Jesus and said, “Lord, doesn’t it seem unfair to you that my sister just sits here while I do all
the work? Tell her to come and help me.” 41 But the Lord said to her, “My dear Martha, you
are worried and upset over all these details!
MARTHA LIFE IS ABOUT CHOICES --- YOU CHOSE TO GET ALL WORKED UP ABOUT
NOTHING, WHILE MARY MADE THE CHOICE TO DROP EVERYTHING AND SPEND TIME
WITH THE SON OF GOD... WORRY MADE MARTHA MISS A GOLDEN OPPORTUNITY.
Luke 10:42 But one thing is needful: and Mary hath chosen that good part, which shall not be
taken away from her.
THE FEAR OF PEER PRESSURE CAN DRIVE US AWAY FROM OUR VALUE SYSTEM?
WE CAN MAKE THE CHOICE TO TRY AND PLEASE OURSELF AND EVERYBODY ELSE
AND LOSE SIGHT OF THE GOAL... AND THEN BE DOOMED TO FEAR AND WORRY.
WE TEND TO LOVE PLEASURE MORE THAN WE LOVE GOD...
Have you ever allow the FEAR of what other people think hinder what you know you should
be doing?
IDENTIFY THE FEAR OF REJECTION!
(Parts) 2 Timothy 3:1 This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come.
2 For men shall be lovers of their own selves, ----
4 --- lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God;
5 Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away.
WE DESIRE TO BE POPULAR AND WE LOVE SUCCESS AND APPLAUSE...
SAMSON WAS MANIPULATED BY FEAR OF REJECTION AND THE TEMPER TANTRUMS
OF A WOMAN --- WHILE SAMSON WAS STRONG --- HIS CHOICES AND FEARS WOULD
BURN HIS EYES OUT.
Judges 16:15 And she said unto him, How canst thou say, I love thee, when thine heart is
not with me? thou hast mocked me these three times, and hast not told me wherein thy
great strength lieth. 16 And it came to pass, when she pressed him daily with her words,
and urged him, so that his soul was vexed unto death; 17 That he told her all his heart, and
said unto her, There hath not come a razor upon mine head; for I have been a Nazarite unto
God from my mother's womb: if I be shaven, then my strength will go from me, and I shall
become weak, and be like any other man.
FEAR, WORRY, STRESS, ANXIETY ARE OFTEN BIRTHED BECAUSE WE HAVE
DEVELOPED THE WRONG SENSE OF PRIORITIES --- WHAT IS REALLY IMPORTANT
IN THE LIGHT OF ETERNITY?
Matthew 6:33 But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things
shall be added unto you. 34 Take therefore no thought for the morrow: for the morrow shall take
thought for the things of itself. Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof.
Matthew 6:33 (MSG) Steep your life in God-reality, God-initiative, God-provisions. Don't worry
about missing out. You'll find all your everyday human concerns will be met. 34 "Give your entire
attention to what God is doing right now, and don't get worked up about what may or may not
happen tomorrow. God will help you deal with whatever hard things come up when the time
comes.
OUR ENEMY PAINTS A DISTORTED PICTURE BY USING FEAR AGAINST US... LOOKS?
WE CAN MAKE THE CHOICE THAT WE ARE SO AFRAID OF MESSING UP THAT WE
BECOME PARALYZED AND DO NOTHING... WHY FEAR FAILURE?
CAN WE RECALL THE STORY OF THE KING'S NEW SUIT... HE SAID IT WAS BEAUTIFUL?
EVERYONE SAID IT WAS BEAUTIFUL? THEN THE CHILD YELLS OUT THE TRUTH?
Are we being driven by wrong attitudes?
WE NEED TO LOOK THE BEST WE CAN--- but never get hung up on your appearance.
If people reject you over HOW YOU LOOK? They are shallow people.
Matthew 6:27 Which of you by taking thought can add one cubit unto his stature?
28 And why take ye thought for raiment? Consider the of the field, how they grow; they
toil not, neither do they spin:
MAY WE KEEP A GOOD SENSE OF BALANCE AND MODERATION AND KEEP GOD
AND ETERNITAL VALUES IN VIEW.
IF WE FALL --- WE MUST GET UP AND TRY AGAIN...
IT IS ALWAYS BETTER TO TRY AND FAIL THAN IT IS TO SIT AND DO NOTHING.
FEAR IS A GREAT ENEMY OF FAITH.
FEAR CAN TAKE MANY FORMS. FEAR WILL OFTEN DISGUISE ITSELF.
ANXIETY, WORRY, STTRESS AND FEAR CAN RELEASE SEVERAL ISSUES IN THE HEART
OF MAN... FEAR IS ONE OF HUMANITIES WORDE ENEMIES.
1. FEAR DISTORTS FACTS.
2. FEAR TENDS TO SLOW DOWN THE REASONING ABILITY.
3. FEAR IS SELF FEEDING AND OFTEN MULTIPLES THAT WHICH WE ARE AFRAID ...
4. FEAR WILL PLAY GAMES WITH YOUR MIND AND YOUR EMOTIONS.
5. FEAR CAN BE A VERY DARK ROOM WHERE NEGATIVES ARE DEVELOPED.
2 Timothy 1:7 For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of
a sound mind.
One thing that is worse than a QUITTER IS ONE THAT IS AFRAID TO TRY.
SOME SEEM TO FEAR AND WORRY ABOUT BEING ALONE?
YOU ARE NEVER EVER ALONE --- EXCEPT IN YOUR MIND...
Psalm 27:10 When my father and my mother forsake me, then the LORD will take me up.
Hebrews 13:5 Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such
things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.
MUCH OF LIFE IS ABOUT DAILY CHOICES...
WORRY AND FEAR COULD BE DAILY CHOICES?
CHOICE NOT CHANCE OR DESTINY WILL DETERMINE MY LIFE JOURNEY.
I CAN NOT CONTROL WHAT HAPPENS TO ME, BUT I CAN MAKE THE CHOICE OF HOW
I WILL HANDLE WHAT HAPPENS TO ME...
WHAT IS HINDERING YOU FROM BECOMING WHAT GOD HAS DESIGNED FOR YOU?
It might be hard for God to lead and guide you without you making a plan and exerting
the effort where are you going? How you going to get there? You can't live a good life my
straddling the fences.
Galatians 5:7 Ye did run well; who did hinder you that ye should not obey the truth?
MY CHOICE IS: MAYBE AND THAT IS MY FINAL ANSWER!!!
FEAR: WHAT IS HINDERING YOU FROM BECOMING WHAT GOD HAS DESIGNED FOR YOU?
FACTS AND FEAR CAN DISTORT THE PROMISES OF GOD... OUR ENEMY USES FEAR TO
HINDER YOU... WE MUST QUIT LISTENING AND ACCEPTING THE NEGATIVE MESSAGE
BECAUSE WE ARE AFRAID.
Luke 21:26 Men's hearts failing them for fear, and for looking after those things which are coming
on the earth: for the powers of heaven shall be shaken.
INTIMIDATION DESTROYS... Once an old lady told me: BETTER MEN THAN YOU HAVE TRIED
AND FAILED... SO WILL YOU!.
WE CAN BECOME DISABLED AND HINDERED --- CRIPPLED AND PARALYZED BY WORRY
AND FEAR. ANXIETYIS A DREAM KILLER. Worry, anxiety, fear and frustration will dictate to
our FAITH, YOU CAN'T DO THAT... You will be defeated and you are going to die.
CONCLUSION: Some fear dying? Others fear health issues? Some fear darkness? Others fear
the light? FEAR KEEP GOD'S CHILDREN FROM HIS PROMISES. THEY WERE AFRAID TO
STEP TOWARD THE LAND OF MILK AND HONEY BECAUSE THEY DID NOT TRUST THE
PLAN OF GOD? COULD FEAR BE HINDERING US FROM STEPPING INTO GOD'S PROMISES?
COURAGE IS NOT THE ABSENCE OF FEAR --- BUT GAINING VICTORY OVER YOUR FEARS.
His servant, Wade Martin Hughes, Sr. Kyfingers@aol.com
Help me please? Tell another of my work?