VICTORY OVER FEAR
Intro: Fear = 396 X in Bible Afraid = 190 X in Bible Be not Afraid = 26 X
Greek Definitions of fear and afraid
Fear: 1. An agitated feeling aroused by awareness of actual of threatening danger, trouble, etc. ; dread; terror. 2. An uneasy feeling that something may happen contrary to one's desires. 3. A feeling of deep, reverential awe and dread. 4. A continuing state or attitude of fright, dread, or alarmed concern: to live in fear. 5. The possibility that something dreaded or unwanted may occur. (Funk and Wagnalls Standard Desk Dict.)
Scripture: Isaiah 12:2
Behold, God is my salvation; I will trust, and not be afraid: for the LORD JEHOVAH is my strength and my song; he also is become my salvation.
I. HEALTHY FEAR
A. Fear of Dangerous Situations
1. Crossing the Street
2. Falling from high places
B. Fear of being Punished
1. Basis for discipline
2. Foundation of Societal Laws
C. Fear of God -- #3 -- Reverential Fear
Scriptures:
Isaiah 12:2 By mercy and truth iniquity is purged: and by the fear of the LORD men depart from evil.
Proverbs 16:6 By mercy and truth iniquity is purged: and by the fear of the LORD men depart from evil.
Proverbs 14:26 In the fear of the LORD is strong confidence: and his children shall have a place of refuge.
Proverbs 14:27 The fear of the LORD is a fountain of life, to depart from the snares of death.
Psalms 111:10 The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom: a good understanding have all they that do his commandments: his praise endureth for ever.
Psalms 19:9 The fear of the LORD is clean, enduring for ever: the judgments of the LORD are true and righteous altogether.
Proverbs 9:10 The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom: and the knowledge of the holy is understanding.
Job 28:28 The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom: and the knowledge of the holy is understanding.
Acts 9:31 Then had the churches rest throughout all Judaea and Galilee and Samaria, and were edified; and walking in the fear of the Lord, and in the comfort of the Holy Ghost, were multiplied.
2 Cor. 7:1 Having therefore these promises, dearly beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.
Ephesian 5:21 Submitting yourselves one to another in the fear of God.
II. UNHEALTHY FEAR
A. Fear that paralyzes people--the fear that gets into the heart and mind and creates
Tension and worry, and that keeps a person from enjoying life and doing his best.
I meet people every week who are afraid of life, afraid of death, afraid of the past,
afraid of the future---in fact, people whose lives are being enslaved by fear.
III. SOME CAUSES OF FEAR
A. A Guilty Conscience
1. Whenever we disobey God, we lose our close fellowship with Him, and that
spiritual loneliness creates fear.
Gen 3:10 Adam and Eve And he said, I heard thy voice in the garden, and I was afraid, because I was naked; and I hid myself.
2. We wonder if anybody knows what we have done.
Isa 33:14 The sinners in Zion are afraid; fearfulness hath surprised the hypocrites. Who among us shall dwell with the devouring fire? who among us shall dwell with everlasting burnings?
3. We worry about being found out, and hope no tragic consequences come
from ours sins.
Ps 119:120 My flesh trembleth for fear of thee; and I am afraid of thy judgments.
Solution: Confess and forsake the sin.
B. Often fear is caused by Ignorance.
1. Fear of the unknown
Joshua 1:9 Have not I commanded thee? Be strong and of a good courage; be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed: for the LORD thy God is with thee whithersoever thou goest.
2. Fear of the future for ourselves or others.
Jeremiah 1:8 Be not afraid of their faces: for I am with thee to deliver thee, saith the LORD.
C. Our own feeling of Weakness
1. Unmanageable crisis
Exodus 14:10 And when Pharaoh drew nigh, the children of Israel lifted up their eyes, and, behold, the Egyptians marched after them; and they were sore afraid: and the children of Israel cried out unto the LORD.
2. We feel helpless and afraid Judges7:3 Gideon and his men
Now therefore go to, proclaim in the ears of the people, saying, Whosoever is fearful and afraid, let him return and depart early from mount Gilead. And there returned of the people twenty and two thousand; and there remained ten thousand.
D. Fear may occur after a great victory in one's life. Often there is an emotional let
down,and fear rushes in.
IV. THE ROOT CAUSE OF FEAR -UNBELIEF = 17 X in the Bible
Matthew 13:58 And he did not many mighty works there because of their unbelief.
Hebrews 4:11 Let us labour therefore to enter into that rest, lest any man fall after the same example of unbelief.
Hebrews 3:12 Take heed, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief, in departing from the living God.
V. VICTORY OVER FEAR - FAITH IN GOD
A. There is no problem too great for God to solve, no burden too heavy for God to carry,
no battle too overwhelming for God to fight and win.
2 Chron 20:15 And he said, Hearken ye, all Judah, and ye inhabitants of Jerusalem, and thou king Jehoshaphat, Thus saith the LORD unto you, Be not afraid nor dismayed by reason of this great multitude; for the battle is not yours, but God's.
Deu 31:6 Be strong and of a good courage, fear not, nor be afraid of them: for the LORD thy God, he it is that doth go with thee; he will not fail thee, nor forsake thee.
B. Faith is not simply medicine to kill the disease; faith is spiritual power to keep us
from being infected in the first place.
Mark 5:36 As soon as Jesus heard the word that was spoken, he saith unto the ruler of the synagogue, Be not afraid, only believe.
VI. OVERCOMING FEAR
A. Get your eyes off yourself and your feelings, and off the problems that have upset you
And get you eyes on God. Look by faith at God and worship.
Ex: Spies in Canaan.
B. Lay hold on God's Word. Faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the Word of God.
Psalms 56:11 In God have I put my trust: I will not be afraid what man can do unto me.
Psalms 91:5 Thou shalt not be afraid for the terror by night; nor for the arrow that flieth by day;
C. Pray and Surrender to God
1. Tell God about your fears. Elijah said, "Lord, I'm the only one."
2. Tell God about your unbelief which is causing your fear.
Mark 9:24 And straightway the father of the child cried out, and said with tears, Lord, I believe; help thou mine unbelief.
Matthew 14:27 But straightway Jesus spake unto them, saying, Be of good cheer; it is I; be not afraid.
John 14:27 Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.
John 14:1
Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me.
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.
Isaiah 12:2 Behold, God is my salvation; I will trust, and not be afraid: for the LORD JEHOVAH is my strength and my song; he also is become my salvation.
