Verses Vs Viruses

Verses vs Viruses

Introduction: We are living in a time that the Bible speaks about in great detail and this morning I would like to speak to one aspect of those biblical details that I believe is relevant to the church and Christians everywhere. The issue that I’m talking about is one of the most powerful things in our lives; it is the fear that so many have expressed in the last 6-7 months about the Coronavirus or Covid-19 or the pandemic, however you wish to refer to it. The fear that I’m talking about is pervasive, it is all around us and manifests itself in almost every aspect of our lives. Let’s read our text and see how it applies to us today.

Down through the centuries the normal Christian life has been one of intense persecution and pain - rejection, ridicule, subjugation, and death. The early church of the first century was scattered far and wide, as an increasingly hostile world fed many to the lions and burnt others at the stake. As we read of men and women of faith, (like those listed in the Hebrews 11 role of honour), we discover that many were enslaved, exploited and exterminated for the sake of Christ.

But from his own incarceration in a Roman jail, the apostle Paul was able to encourage His timid labourer in Christ, by reminding Timothy.. (and us as well), that God has not given us a spirit of fearfulness, but one of power; of love; of a sound mind and godly judgment.

Timothy, like us all.. needed to be reminded that we have the permanently, indwelling Holy Spirit of God, Who has gifted us and empowered us with all that we need for life and godliness, no matter how difficult or dangerous life in this world may become.

Jesus Himself warned us that in this world we would suffer tribulations and trials - but He also urged us to remember that He has overcome the world, for greater is He that is in us that he that is in the world.

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.

Timothy was exhorted to reignite the flickering flame of his faltering faith, for although he was saved by grace through faith in Christ, he was timid and afraid.. and felt pressurized by the increasingly hostile world in which we all live. But like him we need to remember.. WHO we are in Christ…and that we have not been given a spirit of fearfulness and timidity…but one of power, love, sound judgment and a disciplined mind.

2 Timothy 1:1 Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, according to the promise of life which is in Christ Jesus,

2 To Timothy, my dearly beloved son: Grace, mercy, and peace, from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord.

3 I thank God, whom I serve from my forefathers with pure conscience, that without ceasing I have remembrance of thee in my prayers night and day;

4 Greatly desiring to see thee, being mindful of thy tears, that I may be filled with joy;

5 When I call to remembrance the unfeigned faith that is in thee, which dwelt first in thy grandmother Lois, and thy mother Eunice; and I am persuaded that in thee also.

6 Wherefore I put thee in remembrance that thou stir up the gift of God, which is in thee by the putting on of my hands.

7 For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.

A phobia is an irrational fear of something that’s unlikely to cause harm. The word itself comes from the Greek word phobos, which means fear or horror.

When someone has a phobia, they experience intense fear of a certain object or situation. Phobias are different than regular fears because they cause significant distress, possibly interfering with life at home, work, or school.

People with phobias actively avoid the phobic object or situation, or endure it within intense fear or anxiety.

Phobias are a type of anxiety disorder. Anxiety disorders are very common. They’re estimated to affect more than 30 percent of U.S. adults at some time in their lives. Phobias come in all shapes and sizes. Because there are an infinite number of objects and situations, the list of specific phobias is quite long. There’s also such a thing as a fear of fears (phobophobia). This is actually more common than you might imagine.

Common phobias list

acrophobia, fear of heights

aerophobia, fear of flying

arachnophobia, fear of spiders

astraphobia, fear of thunder and lightning

autophobia, fear of being alone