FEAR BREEDS FEAR...
By Wade Martin Hughes, Sr. Kyfingers@aol.com
NOTE: There is a healthy fear that is wisdom, such as the fear of God and a healthy respect
of situations. This lesson focuses on the danger of excessive fear that can hinder and cripple
individuals.
COME LET US REASON TOGETHER AT:
1. WHY DOES OUR ENEMY WANT FEAR IN THE CAMP OF GOD?
2. WHAT IS TRYING TO BIRTH FEAR IN THE HEART OF GOD'S PEOPLE?
3. WILL WE TURN OUR SITUATIONS OVER TO GOD AND TRUST HIM TO HANDLE OUR
FEAR CASES INTO HIS CARE?
Much of failure comes when people make a habit of fear and excuses.
FEAR, ANXIETY AND WORRY WERE NOT IN GOD'S PLAN FOR ADAM AND EVE.
THE CHOICES THEY MADE RELEASED FEAR...
THE FIRST TIME FEAR IS MENTION IN THE BIBLE WAS A RESULTS OF SIN.
Genesis 3:8 And they heard the voice of the LORD God walking in the garden in the cool of the
day: and Adam and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the LORD God amongst the
trees of the garden. 9 And the LORD God called unto Adam, and said unto him, Where art thou?
10 And he said, I heard thy voice in the garden, and I was afraid, because I was naked; and
I hid myself.
THE CHOICE OF DISOBEDIENCE RELEASED CONSEQUENCES...
FEAR WAS ONE OF THOSE? WHY ARE YOU HIDING?
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.
WILL WE TAKE AN HONEST EVALUATION OR ASSESMENT OF WHAT FEAR REALLY IS?
THEN SEE IF FEAR, ANXIETY IS TRYING TO TAKE ROOT IN OUR DAILY LIFE?
FEAR: Fear is a strong emotion. Horror, panic, an unpleasant emotion from a sense of danger,
to be afraid, to expect or worry,
ANXIETY: fear, nervousness of what might happen, uneasy mind, overwhelming tension
WORRY: to afflict with mental distress, to face agitation, to focus and think about problems,
thinking that something bad is going to happen, focus on the negative possibilities.
STRESS: mental tension, worry over problems.
Worry, fear, anxiety and stress can affect your heart, your blood pressure and your nerves.
IN THE LAST DAYS, THERE GROWS A TENDANCY, AN ATTITUDE, OR A SPIRIT IN THE
HEARTS OF MEN, WOMEN AND CHILDREN TO ALLOW FEAR AND ANXIETY A GREATER
RULE THAT CAN TERRIFY AND PARALYZE THE BEHAVIOR AND FREEDOMS WE ALL
HOLD DEAR.
Jesus was asked a serious question about the END TIMES...
Part of Jesus' answer was very clear --- the TIME IS COMING WHEN FEAR WILL BE A
DESTRUCTIVE FORCE AND WILL TRY TO GAIN CONTROL...
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.
Sure the are negative situations trying to SMOTHER OUR FAITH ---
BUT LIFT UP YOUR HEAD AND STAY FOCUSED ON THE ETERNAL.
Luke 21:28 And when these things begin to come to pass, then look up, and lift up your heads; for
your redemption draweth nigh.
WORRY MAY BE A SIGN --- YOU DO NOT TRUST GOD...
LET US BE HONEST: FEAR IS BONDAGE --- FEAR IS THE ENEMY OF THE FAITH THAT
WILL HINDER THE PROMISES OF GOD...
BONDAGE: being limited or restrained, the state of being a slave, being bound,
Romans 8:15 For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received
the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father.
**EVER HEARD OF GEPHYROPHOBIA?
Gephyrophobia is the fear of bridges!
THE ANXIETY DISORDER OR SPECIFIC PHOBIA CHARACTERIZED BY THE FEAR OF
BRIDGES.
It appears some people have this terrible fear of bridges.
Some bridges are high and long and this really sets the fear into action.
Some people will drive for hours to avoid cross a bridge? ALL FEAR DRIVEN.
Because of the FEAR OF BRIDGES creates some serious problems the government has had
to OFFER A DRIVING SERVICE. A person with this fear will have a bridge attendant to drive
their vehicle across the bridge.
The MACKINAC BRIDGE is 5 miles long and in places it is 200 feet above the water.
Some people have started to cross the bridge when fear stopped them and they sat in their
car and blocked the traffic and caused serious traffic jams. This is a real problem.
Since 1991 MICHIGAN HAS A TIMID MOTORIST PROGRAM has helped hundreds of people by
driving the 5 miles across the MACKINAC BRIDGE. This TIMID DRIVING PROGRAM has cost
the state of Michigan millions of dollars.
This FEAR PROBLEM is not just in Michigan, MARYLAND has the CHESAPEAKE BAY
BRIDGE that is 4 miles long and 200 feet high. There is a program that has individuals TO DRIVE
ACROSS THE BRIDGE. Thousands of people are so FEARFUL that they can not drive the bridge.
FEAR BREEDS FEAR... FEAR RELEASES MORE THAN EMOTIONS...
GOD WANTS US TO TRUST HIM --- THE PROMISE IS FOR US.
1 Peter 3:14 But and if ye suffer for righteousness' sake, happy are ye: and be not afraid of their terror,
neither be troubled;
Psalm 56:3 What time I am afraid, I will trust in thee.
THERE CAN BE MANY OPPORTUNITIES ARISE THAT WOULD GIVE RISE TO ANXIETY
AND FEAR... AT THOSE TIMES WE MUST TRUST THE PLAN OF GOD...
FEAR CAN MAKE YOU DO SOME STUPID THINGS... I CAME FACE TO FACE WITH MY FEARS.
Isaiah 66:4 I also will choose their delusions, and will bring their fears upon them; because when I
called, none did answer; when I spake, they did not hear: but they did evil before mine eyes, and
chose that in which I delighted not.
Isaiah 66:4 (MSG) Well, I choose to expose your nonsense and let you realize your worst fears,
Because when I invited you, you ignored me; when I spoke to you, you brushed me off. You did the
very things I exposed as evil, you chose what I hate."
Linda and I married in 1970 and we moved into a older apartment complex. We paid $35 a month
rent, but it was a rough neighborhood. We did not have a telephone, but we had a little black &
white TV that got 3 stations --- and we had no air conditioning. There had been several break-ins
near our apartment, we had allowed fear of this to grip our hearts.
We slept with the windows open to bring relief from the summer night's heat which could allow
easy access for a criminal. One night Linda woke me up and she had the sheets over our heads.
She whispered to me: THERE IS A MAN IN OUR BEDROOM!
I was scared to death. I whispered: Are you sure? She said: YES! I whispered softly: WHERE
IS HE? (I can't see without my glasses.) She peeked out the sheet and said he is near the foot of
the bed. I again asked her, can you tell me where he is a little better. She peeked out again and
said: HE IS ABOUT 2 O'CLOCK. My heart was racing and I was sweating.
I quietly prayed for wisdom of how to attack this intruder and I repented of my sins just in case
he were to kill me. I counted: 1,2,3 and I jumped as hard as I could to attack him. I grabbed him
and started wrestling him to the floor. I had him in my arms. Linda turned on the light and I had jerked
the bed post and the curtains so hard I broke the bed post and tore the curtain rod off the window.
The intruder that Linda saw was the wind blowing the curtains. I defended my home from a
curtain. I could not go back to sleep, my heart and the sweat was killing me.
WHAT WE FEAR CONTROLS US... FEAR MOTIVATED BEHAVIOR IS A REAL PROBLEM
TODAY? WE HAVE A STANDING INVITATION...
1 Peter 5:7 Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you.
HAS THUNDER AND LIGHTNING EVER AWAKEN A CHILD IN THE NIGHT?
What does the child do? The child very quickly jumps up and runs into their parents bedroom.
They crawl into their parents bed and when MOMMA HUGS the child the child trust is
invested and the FEAR IS GONE.
THE ARMS OF A LOVING PARENT RAPPED AROUND THE CHILD SENDS THE FEAR
AWAY. The child cuddles in the ARMS OF LOVE and goes back to sleep.
GOD the Father and His son, Jesus Christ DESIRES US TO CAST OUR FEARS, ANXIETY,
STRESS AND WORRY ON HIM BECAUSE HE CARES!
CONCLUSION: Seems we can go to a ball game and wave our hands and yell for our team.
We can yell at those referees. But we are afraid to worship God and praise his name? Why?
Of course you will fail and fall from time to time. Life is not about falling, it is about GETTING UP
and trying again. We give to much ground to criticism and negativism. The only way you can
succeed is not allow fear to dictate your limitations. You must have a plan. The plan of God is
found by trial and error. We do not control what happens in life, but we can control how we will
REACT to it. TAKE RISK. EXPOSE FEAR... FEAR HAS NO POWER UNLESS WE ALLOW
FEAR TO RULE. You must get up every morning with the optimism, Jesus & I can handle this...
I CAN! PUT ON YOUR BOXING GLOVES AND FIGHT.
His servant, Wade Martin Hughes, Sr. Kyfingers@aol.com
My hands are so small, help me and share this with another.
