FEAR
Scriptures: 2 Timothy 1:7; Luke 12:22-32; 1 John 4:18
• You drive to the wrong side of town by mistake and when you realize where you are your heart starts racing. Why?
• You receive a phone call from the IRS leaving you a message asking you to call them ASAP and it’s not a scam caller and you immediately dread making the return call. Why?
• You job announces that they will be doing a restructuring and you could be impacted. That announcement is all you can think about. Why?
• You’re driving the speed limit and a policeman pulls up behind you and you immediately slow down. Why?
• You had a check up a couple of weeks ago and the doctor’s office calls and asks to schedule you for a follow-up appointment. Immediately you begin to think something is wrong. Why?
The title of my message this morning is simply FEAR. Each response to the situations I just shared with you is driven by fear. Our immediate responses to situations such as these are often powered by thoughts of a worst-case scenario; our thinking that the worst thing that can happen will happen. Our thoughts are not driven by a sense of peace or goodwill because we have been conditioned through life to “prepare” for the worst while “hoping” for the best in most situations. While there are many things that people fear – the weather, certain animals, other people, and even their surroundings, fear, in and of itself, can be positive in the sense that it can be a life-saving response to a situation and it can be destructive, the crippling fear that immobilizes us. It’s this fear that we will discuss this morning.
In my message last week I talked about a Dis mindset. In that message I talked about discouragement and how when we become discouraged it opens the door for many other types of “Dis” to enter our lives like disgust, disillusion, disappointment, disbelief, etc. What I did not talk about last week is how a Dis mindset is related to fear. Fear can be a root cause of a Dis mindset because when that mindset takes a hold of a person’s life, fear is hidden in the shadows fueling it. I hope to make this clear this morning. Fear and discouragement are two of the greatest tools that are used against us. Together they are a powerful team that minimizes the movement of the Spirit of God in our lives. So this morning we are going to examine fear and how it can stop us from accomplishing our potential in life and more importantly in Christ. We will also review what the Word of God has to say about fear and our responses to it. There are two definitions that I want you to keep in mind as it relates to fear. One pertains to thoughts while the other to feelings.
Fear, as it relates to thoughts, is defined as, “an idea, thought, or other entity that causes feelings of fear.” Notice that the thought causes the feeling. Fear, as it relates to feelings, is defined as, “an unpleasant feeling of anxiety or apprehension caused by the presence or anticipation of danger.” Again, the feeling is cause by the thought (anticipation). When we examine these two definitions together, we see that the fear generated by our thoughts creates the fear that we actual feel. First there is a thought which is followed by a feeling. If you are not fearful in your thinking then you will not feel fearful in your emotions. Feelings of fear are generated by how we are thinking. So in order to address the crippling feelings of fear that we sometimes experience, we must first address how we think. Let’s go back to one of the examples that I opened with.
In the first example, you have driven to the wrong side of town by mistake and when you realize where you are your heart starts racing. Why does your heart start racing? It starts racing because your mind begins to create negative circumstances that could happen to you. Did you hear what I said? The mind begins to create negative circumstances where there are none present. Your mind does not think about the fact that no one is attempting to bother you, but in goes to all the things you have heard on the news about the area. It goes to the crime statistics – the robberies and murders that have happened there. It remembers news articles that you read about a carjacking. It remembers stories that your friends and acquaintances have told you, confirming everything you have previously read and believed about the area. After your mind takes you through everything that it has on file about that neighborhood then it places you in the storyline. Now it tells you that you could be robbed. You could be murdered. You could be carjacked. Once it gets you to think about what could happen to you, then and only then does your heart start to race and the feelings of panic starts to build. Do you see how your mind can create situations that don’t exist?
Remember the record we read last week in Numbers 13 where the 10 spies created fear in the people by misrepresenting the good that they saw in the Promised Land? You see, it’s the mind controlling the feelings and our actions based on those feelings. What I want to ask you this morning is this: What if your mind told you from the start that you would be fine? If your mind told you from the start that you would be fine you would not dwell on everything you knew about the neighborhood and see yourself as a victim of it. You wouldn’t see yourself being robbed, murdered or carjacked because you were not being placed in those situations in your mind! Subsequently, the response to the potential fear is different. It doesn’t mean you are not aware of the possibilities, but you are not crippled by them either.
Second Timothy 1:7 says, “For God has not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.” Remember the definitions of fear and how the thoughts lead to the feelings? Timothy was dealing with some issues within his Church and Paul had to encourage him to refocus his thinking. So he told Timothy that God had not given him the spirit of fear, but one of power, love, and get this, a “sound mind.” In other words God had given Timothy what he needed to do the job; he just needed to access it. Likewise, God has not given us the spirit of fear, but the spirit of power, of courage and resolution, to meet difficulties and dangers that we will face in His service. The spirit of love for Him (and others) which will carry us through all opposition. And finally, the spirit of a sound mind, quietness of mind. The Holy Spirit is not the author of a timid or cowardly disposition, or of mindless fears. We can handle our afflictions well when we have the strength and power from God which enables us to do it. Now I don’t want you to miss what I’m about to say. If God has given us power, love and a sound mind, what is He saying about fear? There is no power in fear. There is no love in fear. And, fear is present when a person isn’t thinking straight – when the person’s mind is not sound. Let me show you this.
I want to read a story to you from the Gospel of Luke. In this story Jesus explains a Kingdom principle that anyone who finds themselves fearful should understand. Turn to the twelfth chapter of Luke and we will begin reading at verse twenty-two.
“And He said unto His disciples, ‘Therefore I say unto you, take no thought for your life, what you shall eat; neither for the body, what you shall put on. The life is more than food, and the body is more than clothing. Consider the ravens: for they neither sow nor reap; which neither have storehouse nor barn; and God feeds them: how much more are you better than the fowls? And which of you with taking thought can add to his stature one cubit? If you then be not able to do that thing which is least, why are you anxious concerning the rest? Consider the lilies how they grow: they toil not, they spin not; and yet I say unto you, that Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. If then God so clothes the grass, which is today in the field, and tomorrow is cast into the oven; how much more will he clothe you, O you of little faith? And seek you not what you shall eat, or what you shall drink, neither be of anxious mind. For all these things do the nations of the world seek after: and your Father knows that you have need of these things. But rather seek you the kingdom of God; and all these things shall be added unto you. Fear not, little flock; for it is your Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom.’” (Luke 12:22-32)
I want you to see something in this reference because although Jesus was referencing worrying, worrying is a form of fear. Jesus told His disciples not to worry about their life – what they will eat or what they will wear. He told them that life was more than food and the body more that clothes. Then He gives them an example of a raven and how God takes care of them and He asks them are they not more important to God than a raven? He gives them another example of the lilies of the field and how God cares for those lilies. He makes a point of telling them that if God cares for the grass that would eventually be cast into the oven, how much more would He provide for them. He wanted them to understand that God understood their needs and was making provision for them. He tells them because God was already providing for them, instead of them seeking such things in life, they were to seek God and in doing so everything they needed would be provided. Now look at verse thirty-two. He tells them to “fear not” because God takes pleasure in giving them the kingdom. Do you understand what this means? God takes pleasure in providing for His children. The things that worry us and cause us to fear are those same things that He is willing to handle for us. This does not mean in no shape form or fashion that we will not suffer or have hard times, but we should not be afraid to go through those things when we are doing His will. If we suffer for His cause we will be rewarded for it. It’s all about perspective. Our fears are often linked to our self-preservation or need and Jesus taught His disciples that that should not be the focus. Now I’m going to say something New Light that most Christians don’t want to hear. We just read that our Heavenly Father tells us not to fear because He wants to provide for us, right? So when we fear, what we are saying to Him is “Father, I don’t really trust you to take care of me. I really don’t believe you will keep your word.” What it boils down to New Light is this: a lot of Christians don’t love God like they say they do.
We all know that experiencing fears are a part of our thoughts, emotions and a part of living in this world. However, our responses to those times of fear will dictate how we walk through them. I want to encourage you with a few words from the “Book” so that hopefully you will receive strength when you are facing times of fear which would paralyze those without a relationship with Christ. In keeping with what Jesus said about God taking pleasure in giving us the kingdom, let’s read what is recorded in First John 4:18.
“There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear: because fear has to do with punishment. He that fears is not made perfect in love.” (1 John 4:18) This verse is speaking of our relationship with God. In this verse we must distinguish between fear and being afraid; or, in this case, between the fear of God and being afraid of Him. The fear of God is often mentioned and commanded as the substance of religion so it pertains to the high regard and adoration we have for God and His authority. This type of fear is consistent with love (the same love that God shows us.) But then there is a being afraid of God, which arises from a sense of guilt. In this case God is represented as a consuming fire; and so fear here may be rendered dread. There is no dread in love. Love considers its object as good and excellent, and therefore amiable, and worthy to be beloved. Those who perfectly love God are perfectly assured of His love. And because God loves us, those things that would cause us to fear are to be placed before Him. He is able to encourage us in our times of weakness. Let’s read a few verses from Psalms that proves this point.
Psalm 23:4: “Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I fear no evil, for You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me.”
Psalm 27:1-3: “….The LORD is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? The LORD is the defense of my life; whom shall I dread? When evildoers came upon me to devour my flesh, my adversaries and my enemies, they stumbled and fell. Though a host encamp against me, my heart will not fear; though war arise against me, in spite of this I shall be confident.”
Psalm 56:3-4: “When I am afraid, I will put my trust in You. In God, whose word I praise, in God I have put my trust; I shall not be afraid. What can mere man do to me?”
Psalm 94:19: “When my anxious thoughts multiply within me, Your consolations delight my soul.”
Psalm 118:5-6: “From my distress I called upon the LORD; the LORD answered me and set me in a large place. The LORD is for me; I will not fear; what can man do to me?”
Can you see the mindset that David had? Regardless of what he faced, he believed his strength was in God. Remember the story we read last week about what David did when his men were distressed and thinking of stoning him? He turned to the Lord. Jesus basically reconfirmed what David had said in his songs. Now I do not want you to miss this. What we just read from the book of Psalms were statements David made about how he thinks! David wasn’t talking about feelings; he was talking about how he thought. Remember, how we think opens the door to the fear. David was repeatedly closing the door to his fears by focusing on God. Let’s look at a couple of verses from the book of Isaiah.
Isaiah 35:3-4: “Encourage the exhausted, and strengthen the feeble. Say to those with anxious heart, ‘Take courage, fear not. Behold, your God will come with vengeance; the recompense of God will come, but He will save you.”’
Isaiah 43:1: “But now thus says the LORD that created you, O Jacob, and He that formed you, O Israel, Fear not: for I have redeemed you, I have called you by your name; you are Mine.”
Are you starting to see the connection between our fear and God’s response? Now look at what Peter says:
1 Peter 3:13-14: “Who is there to harm you if you prove zealous for what is good? But even if you should suffer for the sake of righteousness, you are blessed. And do not fear their intimidation and do not be troubled.”
1 Peter 5:6-7: “Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you at the proper time, casting all your anxiety on Him, because He cares for you.”
And the two final Scriptures I want you to see come from the book of Deuteronomy and the gospel of Mark.
Deuteronomy 31:8: “And the LORD, He it is that does go before you; He will be with you, He will not fail you, neither forsake you: fear not, neither be dismayed.”
Mark 5:36: “But Jesus, overhearing what was being spoken, said to the synagogue official, ‘Do not be afraid any longer, only believe.’”
New Light, we’re going to close with a confession – a confession that I want you to repeat when you feel fear rising up in your thoughts and emotions.
“My Father has promised to never leave me or forsake me. My Father has not given me spirit of fear. The spirit I have contains His power. The spirit I have contains His love. The spirit I have, contains the mind of Christ and that mind is a sound mind. I will never allow fear to derail me or stop me. My Father loves me and I know that in whatever situation I may find myself, He’s there with me.”
Until next time, “The Lord bless you and keep you. May the Lord make His face shine on you and be gracious to you. May the Lord lift up His countenance on you and give you peace.” (Numbers 6:24-26)
(If you are ever in the Kansas City, KS area, please come and worship with us at New Light Christian Fellowship, 15 N. 14th Street, Kansas City, KS 66102. Our service Sunday worship starts at 9 a.m. and Thursday night Bible study at 7 p.m. Also, for use of our social media, you can find us at newlightchristianfellowship on FB. To get our live stream services, please make sure you “like” and turn on notifications for our page so you can be notified when we are live streaming. We also have a church website and New Light Christian Fellowship YouTube channel for more of our content. We are developing more social media streams so please stand by and we will notify you once those channels are up and running. We look forward to you worshipping with us. May God bless and keep you.)
