The Fear Factor

Introduction& Backdrop

You see my brethrens a back drop of the Scripture before us will show that Timothy was experiencing great opposition to his message (the word of God), and himself as leader. His youth, his association with Paul and his leadership had come under great fire from believers and non-believers alike. Paul was urging timothy to be bold. But just like timothy then, today we have gone and are still going though fears.

People today are afraid! They’re afraid of the future, they’re afraid of what’s going to happen in the World, they’re afraid of each other, they’re afraid of social pressures, afraid of failing in school or work, afraid of being unemployed.--Afraid that they won’t have enough money for their families. People are afraid of so many things!

For the past months in our country, it seems that our population was going through one of the greatest set of fear since the days of the so-called Revolution 1979-1983. This fear was brought on by the high crime rate (murders), high cost of living and total uncertainty as to our county future as it relates to the then general election that was coming.

The last few days before our general election, July 8-2008, this fear began to take a new level on our population, since the campaign was intensifying, and there were rumors of:

 Grenada becoming like Zimbabwe

 There will be blood running like water on election day

 Fear of giving the then NNP administration a forth term and what they might do

 Fear of not giving this present NDC administration and what they themselves might do

So friends this morning I like to conclude this introduction by saying our people were living in fear, voted in fear and some because of the change of administration, are now working in fear.

Fear: A Definition: Scientific definition-is an emotional response to threats and danger. Fear is often connected to pain (e.g. some fear heights because if they fall, they may suffer severe injury or even die upon landing).

Fear: A Definition from the Word of God-according to 2nd Timothy 1:7- “Fear” is described as a spirit.

There are two main types of fear: The destructive fear and the Godly fear

This type of Fear is Not Of God! This morning I therefore like to let you know that we must remove this spirit from amongst our people, we must remove this spirit from amongst our nation, we must remove this spirit from amongst our community, we must remove this spirit from amongst our homes and most of all we must remove this spirit from our churches!

Because this spirit is not of God! But must Satan alone be blame-no! We know that ultimately it is him-yet through selfishness on our path, one’s self-preservation, self-image, what the future holds for us, we operate through fear.

Psalm 56:3 When I am afraid, I will put my trust in Thee.

Psalm 118:6 The Lord is for me; I will not fear. What can man do to me?

Friend that Job you are holding-if God said it is yours ,it is yours and if that opportunity closed out-God will open a new one for you-Amen

Luke 12:6-7 Are not five sparrows sold for two cents? And yet not one of them is forgotten before God. Indeed, the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Do not fear; you are of more value than many sparrows.

But the Apostle John wrote, "Perfect love casts out fear, for fear has torment."--1John 4:18. When that "perfect love" that comes from Jesus fills our lives, it crowds out this type of selfish worry and fear, and when our hearts are filled with love for others, then we don’t think and worry about ourselves so much.

Today I want to let you know that the fear you are going through right now, you must tell it to Jesus.

He a friend that sticks closer than a brother- Proverbs 18:24

He will never leave us nor forsake us-Hebrews 13:5

We must remember the Lord [is] my (our) helper, and I will not fear what man shall do unto me. Hebrews 13:6

Tell someone this morning- “The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? The Lord is the defense of my life; whom shall I dread?” Psalm 27:1

Fear Kills

Church we must not let fear kill us. We must not let fear kill us! Because statistics shows that fear is the number one killer on earth. It has caused more sickness and more mental illness and more premature deaths than anything else on Earth!

Jesus said in the Last Days "men’s hearts would be failing them for fear."--Luke 21:26.

Doctors say that there’s more heart failure today than ever in the World’s history because there’s more fear. In 1982, heart attacks caused 554,900 deaths in the U.S. alone, while hypertensive diseases caused 31,500 deaths!