Victory Over Fear

WHY IS THIS SUCH A FAVORITE VERSE OF SCRIPTURE FOR SO MANY? Because there are times in ALL OF OUR LIVES when we are AFRAID!

Illus: In one movie, John Wayne, who is known for his toughness, was leading a bunch of young marines landing on the island of Iwo Jima. They were under heavy fire as they approached the shore, when one young recruit who had never been in such a battle ran up to John Wayne and said, “I am scared!” John Wayne looked him in the eyes and said, “I am scared also.” The young man found comfort in knowing he was not alone in his fear.

Listen, it does not matter:

• How big we might be

• How talented we might be

• Who we might know

We ALL have to face FEARFUL SITUATIONS!

David faced that giant called Goliath who was almost ten feet tall, and did not seem to be afraid, but when he fled from King Saul, he confessed he was afraid and we find him hiding in caves.

Most of the time DAVID KNEW WHAT TO DO IN THESE FEARFUL SITUATIONS! Notice, he said, “What time I am afraid, I will trust in thee.”

I want to ask you something, “WHEN YOU ARE AFRAID, WHAT DO YOU DO?”

I know what some folks do:

• Some head for a friend to tell them about their problems

• Some head for the medicine cabinet

• Some walk around in circles expressing how afraid they are

Listen, these things are not the solution.

David had the solution to FEAR, he said “What time I am afraid, I will trust in thee.”

Today we face all kinds of fears, such as:

• What if I lose my job?

• What if my business takes a nose-dive?

• What if God takes one of my loved ones?

• What if my teenager tries drugs?

• What if I get cancer?

Many teenagers today are living with fear. A survey was taken and these are the fears they have:

• Nuclear War - 57%

• My Parents Dying - 54%

• Failing in School - 44%

• Dying - 43%

• Having a Car Accident - 34%

• Loneliness - 33%

• Not Having a Boyfriend/Girlfriend - 30%

• Being Beaten/Injured - 29%

• Disease - 28%

• Rejection - 28%

There are so many things to fear in our society that someone said, “The joys of today are drowned in the sea of tomorrow’s fear.”

It is difficult to enjoy THE GOOD THINGS OF GOD because of the many BAD THINGS WE FEAR!

Illus: There was a lady who died in 1916 named Hetty Green. She lived in fear every day of her life. She was called America’s greatest miser. When she died in 1916, she left an estate valued at $100 million.

• But she was so fearful of poverty that she ate cold oatmeal in order to save the expense of heating the water.

• When her son had a severe leg injury, she took so long trying to find a free clinic to treat him that his leg had to be amputated because of advanced infection.

She was so afraid of losing her wealth that she never enjoyed her life…

Did you know there are some who have the fear known as Ergophobia, which is the fear of work? It seems to affect a lot of folks that you and I know. But regardless of our fears, the Lord said in Matthew 14:27, “But straightway Jesus spake unto them, saying, Be of good cheer; it is I; be not afraid.”

The Lord told the disciples on the ship not to be afraid. Why? Because He was with them.

Illus: Chuck Swindoll said, "Nothing under God’s control is ever out of control."

When we are afraid, we need to remember the God we serve and know that He has everything under control. When we UNDERSTAND that God has everything under control, we see why David said, “What time I am afraid, I will trust in thee.” (Psa. 56:3)

God is there to PROTECT US and we find comfort in that.

Illus: Suppose you are on one of the dark streets in New York City and you are surrounded by a bunch of thugs who have come to do you some bodily harm and to rob you. But as they surround you, you notice a man coming to rescue you. As he gets closer:

• You notice it is Barney Fife, would that bring calmness to your life? Not at all!

• But suppose you look up and saw it was Arnold Swartzeneger, would that bring calmness to your life? Yes!

Listen, we have someone greater than Arnold in our life, we have the Lord Jesus.