You know, the subject of fear. And I got to tell you, the
reason that I thought about preaching on a subject, like
fear is because fear is a subject that is often times
mentioned, but very seldom. Do we hear what the Bible says
about fear? In fact, I went home this from
my meeting and Idaho, and I spent a lot of time this week
and I came up with a whole lot of stuff regarding fear and what
does God say about that? You know, it's very interesting
that psychologists say, Say that we are born into this world with
only two fears. Number one, we have the fear of
falling. And number two we have the fear
of noise and that's why when we get these little infants, we
want to make sure that we don't have it too noisy around them.
And often times if they're going to be placed in a great big
Stadium or whatever with there's a lot of loud noise, they put
headphones on them because they're afraid of noise and
that's why also we take a little child and we wrap them up and we
hoped Our feel secure because they have a fear of falling.
What happens though, over the process of time, we find that we
develop many more fears. In fact, it would be very
interesting to note and I don't know the answer to this.
How many phobias are described and defined in the dictionary.
Let me just mention or suggest a few of these miss.
A phobia is the fear of dirt Hydrophobia is the fear of
water. Nakhla phobia is the fear of
darkness, acrophobia is the fear of high places.
Taxa phobia is the fear of being buried alive.
Xenophobia is the fear of strangers.
Necrophos obeah is the fear of the Dead claustrophobia, is the
fear of confined places and triskaidekaphobia is the fear of
the number 13 and there are many, many more today.
People are Frederick with fear members of psychology class, Got
together one time that a project, you know what they did?
They went out and they asked 500 people what are you afraid of?
And some of those people would list a whole long list of things
that they were afraid of. But of the 500 people that were
asked, get this, that project came up with this, and they came
up with seven thousand fears, that 500 people actually had You
know, it doesn't have to be that way.
Jesus Christ came to Deliver us from our fears.
And I have to make this point, though, that, in our sermon,
we're going to notice, the two kinds of fear that are, that are
described. And when I say about fear, when
I talk about fear, I'm not talking about phobias.
By the way, you know, there's very little, you can do with
having a fear of heights. If you if you afraid of heights
very little, you can do with that.
What I'm talking about is I want to talk about what the Bible
says about fear. That always comes with the
choice. Fear that comes with a choice.
Here's the point. Fear and faith are at odds with
each other. And I'm going to say this is the
very beginning of this lesson. Say it again.
Fear and faith are at odds. If you are fear-driven, you are
not faith-driven. If you're a person of Faith, you
can't be a person of fear. If you and your life, it fears
what drives you. If fears, what motivates you, if
fear is what makes you what you are.
You are not a person of Faith. You need to add your faith.
You get better. Of that.
But that's a whole other lesson in this sermon, though.
We want to notice the following that.
The Bible does consider two kinds of fear.
And the first one, by the way, the first one actually is
commanded in the scriptures. And that is this.
It's the kind of fear that involves respect honor
reverence. And even a sense of all in
Ecclesiastes, chapter 12, Beginning there in verse 13.
It says, let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter.
Fear God, and keep his Commandments.
For this is man's all for God, will bring every work into
judgment including every secret thing, whether good or evil.
How about in the book of Acts Acts chapter 9 and verse 31?
Then the churches throughout all Judea Galilee and Samaria had
peace and were edified. And walking in the fear of the
Lord. And in the comfort of the Holy
Spirit, they were multiplied. The Hebrew writer writing to
those Jewish Christians in the book of Hebrews wrote, this by
faith and verse 7 being divinely warned of things yet.
Not seen moved with Godly fear prepared, an ark for the saving
of his household, by which he condemned the world and became
heir of the righteousness, which is according According to Faith.
So when you have this kind of respect When you have this kind
of fear for God, which is reverence respect and honor, it
leads to some things that are of great benefit to you.
And I Here, stop to consider that.
When God tells us to do something, it not only is that
we obey what he said, but it's also a tremendous practical
benefit for us in our life. You know, the Bible says about a
Christian when you obey the gospel, sometimes people think,
well, once I'm saying, once I obey the gospel, that's it.
I'm just saved. But our life begins as a babe in
Christ. So, everything in our life just
begins, it's not a destination. It's a journey and it begins at
Birth, and that's it. Baptism.
And you have heard me preach this in the past, you've heard
me say that when a child of God comes from the Waters of
baptism, he's now a child of God, he has a three-fold
Responding obligation. I'm going to be very brief one.
He has a responding obligation to himself to desire.
The sincere, milk of the word to grow.
Number two, he has a responding obligation to others to Bear one
another's burdens. But remember what the Bible says
about are responding obligation to God are responding obligation
to? God is to live a holy life.
In fact, God said I am Holy live.
Holy be holy. For I am.
Holy Poli in 2nd Corinthians 7:1.
If a person is going to have this kind of fear and reverence
and respect, it's going to help us with Holiness.
Therefore, having these promises sankranthi and seven and one.
Beloved let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the Flesh
and spirit perfecting Holiness in the fear of God.
They go together. Have you ever stopped to
consider if you're struggling spiritually and you're
struggling living a holy life? Maybe it's because you don't
have the proper reverence and respect for God.
If you're trying to live your life day by day, just as it
comes and you're struggling with living a holy life, have you
ever stopped to consider that? The reason for that is you don't
have the proper fear of God, you don't have a proper reverence
and respect for God, you don't have a proper honor for God.
You don't look to God with awe in your heart.
You know, the Bible talks about godliness and we know what that
means. It's a practical awareness of
God in every aspect of your life, so by that, you're going
to make better choices and it will always demonstrate itself
in outward Behavior, which is righteous living.
If you're struggling spiritually with a holy life, maybe it's
because God is not at the Forefront of your thinking.
But there's more not only will having the proper reverence and
respect for God help us in living a holy life but it will
also help us do something else at the Bible commands us to do
and that is to work out our salvation with fear and
trembling therefore my beloved as you have always obeyed, not
as in my presence only but now much more in my absence.
Paul said, work out your own salvation with fear and
trembling I got to make a point about this work out okay?
Work out your salvation. It doesn't mean as somewhat
assume and suppose that what Paul was talking about is you do
it your way and I'll do it mine. It doesn't mean that at all.
Sometimes people say, well, you know, the Bible says work out
your own salvation with fear and trembling.
That means this, I have a personal relationship with the
Lord. I'll do it my way, this guy over
here, he's got his relationship with the Lord.
He'll do it his way and so on and so forth.
But working out your own salvation deals with your own
personal. Ability to what the word of God
says. In other words, I can't do it
for you and you can't do it for me.
I have to work it out in my life.
I have to work it out in my life with the things that I do, in
the things that I say, and the things that I'm involved in and
so do you, that's what that means.
But I want to notice this right here.
What does it mean fear and trembling you know I think about
these words and it sounds like almost it's a matter of in the
Owner scared out of your mind and trembling and shaking.
I got to tell you something years and years and years and
years ago, I got up to give a five-minute talk at a big
meeting and I will never forget how I felt.
I was so nervous. I was so scared.
I'm not kidding you. My knees were actually going
like this. I was trembling.
And you know, that's just kind of what happens to us when we do
something new, we try something new and we have nerves when
we're just getting going. I was extremely nervous.
So I was trembling, is that what this verse means though?
No, it doesn't fear. And trembling here does not mean
what I just described to you the phrase fear and trembling is an
Old Testament expression and it denotes the following, it means
this it is a humble reverence and It's and Devotion to God.
That's what it means. Then me scared to death.
Kind of like that movie, You Know, The Ghost and mr.
Chicken, you know, with a and, you know, Barney, Don Knotts
shaking all the time. It's not what that means.
It means this, if I'm going to work out my salvation with fear
and trembling it means this, I'm going to have a humble
reverence, I'm going to have dependents and I'm going to have
total Devotion to God. So having the proper reverence
for God leads to not only a holy life, not only being able to
work out our own salvation with fear and trembling.
But one more, it even helps with our responsibility of evangelism
in 2nd Corinthians chapter 5 and verse 11 knowing therefore the
terror of the lord, we persuade men.
But we are well known to God. And I also trust are well known
in your consciences. Now this Looks like a scary word
hear the word Terror. And if we use that, in a sense
that we might know in a common vernacular, we might talk about
being terrified and again, we're talking about frightened, we're
talking about things that just scare us out of our mind.
Again, that's not this word. This word In this passage
literally means fear, reverence respect and honor In other
words, it's not telling you to be afraid of God.
In fact, Robinson further Explains It In this passage to
me in this deep and reverential feeling of accountability to God
or Christ. Can't you see the Practical
benefit people? Sometimes struggle, I need some
practical stuff. I'm giving you practical stuff,
and it all begins with having the proper reverence and respect
for God, and it leads to Holiness, it leads to working at
your salvation with fear and trembling, and it even works
toward Helping others and letting others persuade men or
showing others about the Lord. Now.
Paul felt that way. I will add this though.
Before we go any further, I remember.
Daryl used to say I'm a, I fear or I'm afraid of what God can do
to me. That's true.
God is so awesome and Powerful. That he can do anything that he
wants to do. And in his Providence, he does
that he can do it directly, he can do it, indirectly, he can do
whatever he wants to. But when you talk about the fear
of God, yes, we understand that God can do things to us, that
are not not good for us. But if you think about it this
way, if you have the right, kind of fear a reverential feeling of
respect, for God, you understand, look it.
I'm accountable to God and Jesus Christ, I'm accountable.
All right, so that's the kind of fear by the way that is
commanded and I said that we're going to notice two.
And I have to say this again, I'm not talking about phobias,
okay? Not talking about that, not
talking about caution more on that in a minute.
I'm talking about what is found in the Bible.
One is commanded and get this. The other one is forbidden.
It's forbidden. What's forbidden, what is it?
Stay with me on this. It is the fear that is that of
dread alarm fright, Terror, apprehension, anxiety,
perplexity, and distrust. I'm going to prove this stuff.
Okay, I'm gonna prove this to you.
You know what? I got to thinking, there's a
word up there that hit me right between the eyes.
There's a word on that screen right there.
The hit me right between the eyes.
I had never put that word with perhaps fear or forbidden fear.
Not going to tell you what you want to do is go by the way, we
all got probably someone up there.
I'm not going to tell you, but I'm going to tell you this.
It's up there. I got to work on that.
Maybe you see some words up there.
You got to work on to remember this.
It's the fear in the Bible that is forbidden and will notice why
it's forbidden. These are synonymous terms that
are on the board with this kind of fear.
This kind of fear is forbidden Psalm 91 in verse 5.
You shall not be afraid of the terror by night nor the arrow
that flies by day. Now notice what he's saying
here, we're talking about two things, this is danger, this
represents danger, that's Arrow Terror represents fear of
danger. So, what the psalmist David is
recording in the long ago, is this do not be afraid of the
fear of danger and do. Not be afraid of the danger
itself. Interesting.
In other words, these things will never affect the one that
puts his trust in the Lord. Now, I'm not saying that, if you
put your trust in the Lord, everything will work out and you
won't have bad stuff that sometimes happens not saying
that at all. What I'm saying is it doesn't
matter. If you put your faith and trust
in the Lord completely you are true or putting your life in
God's hands and both Time and Eternity.
So notice Fear of danger, won't matter, danger itself, won't
matter because you put everything in God's hands and it
won't matter. Listen to this again.
Are we going to be a person of fear or we going to be a person
of faith? Let me just ask you this.
Can you ever think of a time? Can you ever think of a time
that you made a scared decision? That it was probably the very
best decision for you? You made it out of fear.
Maybe you made it out of desperation.
You didn't think about it. He didn't weigh it.
All out, you didn't make it with faith in mind.
You didn't make it with trusting, God in mind, you made
it with fear because you were scared.
What Jesus say. Do not fear.
Little flock. Now obviously in the context of
this Jesus is talking to his disciples, he's talking to 12
men. So in the context, what he's
saying is he says Little Flock, meaning small in number and he
was talking about a time before the kingdom, or the church was
established. And what did he tell them?
He said don't be afraid, don't fear Little Flock.
He said for it is your father's. Good, pleasure to give you the
kingdom. That's For the kid, the church
or the kingdom was established. Now interestingly about that.
Bowls wrote. This bowls of this.
Disciples are not to worry about their spiritual food and support
the apostles were the charter members of the church.
They are. The church is the Earthly
institution of the Heavenly Kingdom and just say this to we,
now have the kingdom in place. It's the church and let me just
ask you this. When the Bible says that the
church will be handed back over to his father.
And we have that promise. We may be a small band of
believers. But Jesus says, Don't Fear.
He said, don't be afraid. Don't be afraid.
Now, this type of fear is not to be confused with caution, make
this point. If you fear that you're going to
get run over in the road, okay, you'll look both ways when you
cross the street. if you have a fear of polio, you'll get a
vaccine, These types of fears are normal and good.
In fact, the Bible talks about being sober and sober, in the
Bible, in the New Testament means of sober mind.
It literally means to be seriously minded.
So, if a person is seriously minded, they are cautious.
How do I know that? Because the word sober also
means circumspect big word. What's it mean?
Circumspect literally means this in practicality it As a matter
of evaluating every possible circumstance of my choice before
I make the decision, that's caution.
That's good. So that's not the fear I'm
talking about. Fear does not mean caution
caution is not condemned. I'm talking about the things
that are forbidden. Well, first of all, let's talk
about some areas where in fear operates, Fear sometimes keeps
us from being all that we can be.
And you know what one of those is fear of failure I'm going to
tell you this gets a lot of us. It gets a lot of men and makes
them afraid to try because they don't want to fail.
I got to tell you a little story.
Years ago, I don't know. It might be 25 years ago.
I don't know. But I'll just tell you, one of
the things that I was always uncomfortable with, as a young
person, I was always uncomfortable, getting up and
leading a song, Especially a song that I didn't really know
that well and I was very, I don't know.
I don't know what you call that, but I was always nervous about
that and I'll never forget, I went up to Terry and Terry said,
won't you leave this on us? I don't think I can Terry.
That guy was trying to get him to lead it.
You'll eat it. You're better than I am.
Terry said, no you do it and I said, but you don't understand.
I don't want to mess it up. And I'll never forget what he
said. He said, you know, Terry is an
outstanding song because we all know that, you know, Terry said
to me, he said I have gotten up in front of huge crowds and I
have butchered songs. And nobody has ever branded me.
Terry, Osburn song record I'll never forget that sometimes
people don't try because people are afraid to fail.
Jesus dealt, with this very thing.
The one Talent, man, Matthew 25. And 25.
Notice I was afraid and I went and I hid your talent in the
ground. Look, there you have.
What is yours? Now, we always spend time
talking about the burial of the talent and we say this, the five
Talent guy went out and got five more got 10, the to Talent guy
went out and got double that he got for.
But the one Talent man, went and buried the talent and sometimes
we leave it right there and we say what Jesus said, and we move
on. But have you ever stopped to
consider the one Talent, man? If he would have done something
with his one Talent he had to? Have you ever stopped to
consider that? You may have a talent or an
ability that is not really readily aware or available or
what you see or what other see in you it has to be developed.
Sometimes we say this, oh man, he's got a lot of ability.
That guy right there is got a lot of ability.
Okay, he does. But I'ma tell you right now,
sometimes we have abilities and we don't know what we can be
with that until we go and work and try.
Sometimes, fear keeps us from being all that we can be for the
cause of Christ. Why?
Fear of failure Are you using your talents or are you just on
cruise control? In the last 10 years.
If you grown at all, I'm talking to the men, young men old men.
I'm talking to all of us. Me too.
Have you grown have you reached outside your comfort level?
Have you decided to go out and be better and do all you can do
or are you in cruise control doing the same thing over and
over again? Year after year?
After year, after year? I don't know what you got.
But God wants all of it, he wants, whatever that it is.
Sometimes people fail because they are afraid to fail.
First Corinthians 15:58, here's a great encouragement.
Therefore, my beloved Brethren be steadfast immovable, always
abounding in the work of the Lord notice knowing that your
labor is not in vain. In the Lord.
Don't be afraid of failure. Everything you do for the cause
of Christ, none of it is in vain.
And God can use it. It's our duty to do the best we
can. And leave the results in the
hands of God. Number 3.
Next also, sometimes men fear not only failure, but they feel
fear responsibility. you know, I don't want to Sometimes people
say I don't want the pressure of responsibility.
I don't want to be responsible. I don't want to take on that
task because I don't want to be responsible for that.
I don't want to do that because maybe I have to change how I am
and who I am a little bit. Maybe people will look at me
differently, maybe they'll expect more out of me sometimes
people don't do what they should do and they have fear because
they fear responsibility that was the same thing that was true
with Matthew. 25 and 25 with the one Talent man.
But there's more fear will keep us from our responsibility of
being Fishers of Men. Notice what Jesus said in Luke
Chapter 5, and verse 10. And so also were James and John
the sons. the sons of Zebedee who were partners with Simon and
Jesus said to Simon, don't be afraid. from now on you will
catch man that's our responsibility of doing all that
we can the next one here, sometimes people feared this and
I'll tell you this anybody that gets to be around 30 You start
thinking about this but good news in time you realize it's
not really a problem, you're not really old.
But one of the problems that people have is this The fear of
old age you've heard me say this.
I used to think when I was 24 that 50 was old as dirt.
I don't think that way at all. Now, I'm 52, man, I'm in my
Prime. Great stuff not old at all,
sometimes people are held back for all.
They could be because they fear old age.
But did you know, the Bible teaches that honor and Glory are
attached to old age. Listen to Leviticus 19. 32,
listen to this, you shall rise up before the grey-headed and
honor the presence of an old man and fear.
Your God. I am the Lord in Proverbs 16 and
31. The silver-haired head is a
Crown of Glory if it is found in the way of righteousness.
And I got to say, if you're a young person here Don't ever
forget the two passages I just showed you.
You know, you get wisdom and I do too.
When we ask of God, okay, when we ask of God and the Bible
says, he gives it liberally. Number two.
I also get wisdom when I go mess up and I make mistakes to make
the wrong choice, and I survived the wrong choice.
And I learned from my experience, I get wisdom, that's
number two. But I like what one man said,
one time you cannot mess up enough and recover and have all
the wisdom that you're going to need.
So, you know what, I need to go talk to brother.
Ruben Creek, mom a little bit. You to learn a little wisdom
from him or Jack holiday. I need to go talk to people that
are older than me. I'm talking to young people
here. Look at those that are older
with dear respect. They've got so much knowledge
and experience and wisdom and we can all learn from that.
That's precious. I love it.
The the silver-haired head is a Crown of Glory if it is found in
the way of righteousness. So if a child of God is an older
person, it is precious. Not only in the eyes of God, but
his Priceless for you and me. I read an article by the way,
it's entitled listen to this. It's entitled rethinking
retirement. I want to read you this little
excerpt from it. Rethinking retirement, The
author wrote currently the average life expectancy in the
United States is seventy eight point seven years.
This means that most of the 3.65 million persons in the United
States are projected to turn 65 this year.
May expect to live a dozen or more years.
Some will likely live another 35 years or more interesting.
So this author said this but life is more than years as the
Irish author. Jonathan Jonathan Swift States
may you live all the days of your life.
He went on to say that many folks today view, retirement, as
nothing more than an extended time of leisure as one, man.
Quipped when I retire, I'm going to do absolutely nothing.
And I'm going to start that about 2:00 in the afternoon.
Compare that with the Bible, widget.
Compare that with the Bible. How about Psalm 92?
Verses 13 and 14. Look at this passage here.
Those who are planted in the house of the Lord.
Shall flourish in the courts of our God?
They shall still bear fruit in old age, bear fruit. do you know
some of the greatest accomplishments in life have
been accomplished by people that were older mr.
Webster, wrote his dictionary at the age of 70.
Moses was eighty 80 when he led Israel out of bondage.
So listen, let's not fear old age, it's precious, it's
Priceless and I'm telling you right now, older person we need
you with all you can do. Okay, here's another one though.
This gets a lot of us. Sometimes we are fear-driven.
Sometimes fear is in our life because of this, because we fear
what others will say do or think.
And sometimes we're afraid because we're scared to death.
What somebody else might say do or think?
Luke chapter 12. Beginning in verse 4, notice.
And I say to you, my friends do not be afraid of Those Who Kill
the body. And after that have no more that
they can do. But I will show you whom you
should fear fear Him who also he has killed has power to cast
into hell, yes. I say to you, fear Him are not
five sparrows, sold for two copper coins and not one of them
is forgotten before God, but the very hairs of your head are all
numbered do not. Fear.
Therefore, you are of more value than many sparrows.
Notice what we have here? Don't be afraid. do not fear,
but Fear Him that's reverence and respect and honor and awe
for God, fear Him. Now, oftentimes, this type of
fear causes us to do wrong. It causes us to make mistakes
causes us to sin. Because this is the same kind of
fear, by the way, where Peter denied the Lord notice.
Now this is an apostle, the Apostle Peter watch what
happened to him because he, feared what other men would say
or do, or think notice now, Peter sat outside the courtyard
and a servant girl, came to him saying you also were with Jesus
of Galilee, but he denied before them all saying.
I know not who you are. What you are.
Saying and when he had gone out of the Gateway, another girl saw
him and said to those who were there.
This fellow also was with Jesus of Nazareth.
But again, he denied with an oath, I do not know the man and
a little later. Those who stood by came up and
said to Peter, surely you also are one of them for your speech
betrays you, then he began to curse and swear saying I do not
know the man. And immediately, the rooster
crow. And Peter remembered the word of
Jesus who had said to him before the rooster crows, you will deny
me three times or Thrice. So he went out and he wept
bitterly. This is a kind of fear that can
get all of us. It got Peter, one more time, one
more passage, you got Peter, one more time.
You remember that? Peter was the instrument of God
that took the gospel to the Gentiles for the very first
time. Everybody up to act 10 was a
converted Jew. In other words, they had Jewish
blood running through their veins.
They were Jews. The gospel went to the Jew
first, but as it says, it was also to the Greek or the
Gentile. Peter was the instrument in the
household of Cornelius to bring the gospel to the Gentiles.
If anybody would have known better, it was Peter.
Look what happened to Peter though.
Galatians 2 11 through 13. Now, when Peter had come to
Antioch, I withstood him to the face.
Why? Paul, because he was to be
blamed. Why Paul for before certain men
came from James, he would eat with the Gentiles, but when they
came he withdrew and separated himself, fearing those who were
of the circumcision, that's the Jews.
In other words, when the Jews showed up, I'm afraid of what
men will say. I'm afraid of what men will do.
I'm afraid of what will come upon me.
So he refused to eat with the Gentiles and notice and the rest
of the Jews also played the hypocrite with him, so that even
Barnabas was carried away with hypocrisy.
Today, fear. This kind of fear keeps one from
taking a stand, for the truth. Listen young person.
Let me ask you something. When you are in the midst of
your friends, And they are doing things, you know, are not right?
And they are behaving in ways that are not right and they're
wearing things. They should not wear me.
Ask you something, you go along with it because you're afraid or
do you stand for what's right? When they do things that are
wrong. Do you stand for what's?
Right? Or are you afraid?
What happens is we get afraid and we're scared to death?
What other people say, listen, this is real stuff me.
Tell you, let me tell you about something happened.
When I was in 7th and 8th grade. Remember this like yesterday
there were some good friends of ours called the sand.
Their last name was the Sanders. They had five boys.
Okay, me tell you about peer pressure, in a ridiculous sense.
Five boys, do you remember? You might remember, remember
Ocean Pacific shirts, Opie and And you aren't cool.
If you didn't have a shirt, had opee on it, remember that?
Okay. Well, they were very expensive
and the ope that was sown on the shirt cost about double or
triple. What you can buy a shirt for,
okay? So the sender's boys, all five
boys they didn't want to go be made fun of at school.
When Mom and Dad got him some knockoff brand and they wore
that shirt even though it looked the same You know what she did?
I'll never forget this. She said I buy the shirts and
Ice oop on the shirt. So that they don't have to be
criticized or put down. You know why?
Because people are held back for the fear of what people will
say. Let that not trickle into your
spiritual life. Let it not trickle over into
your spiritual life. We talk about some tragic
effects of fear. I read some stuff I want to read
to you. Briefly one man wrote this fear
is a dark room where negatives are developed Another said fear
will prevent one from doing the will of God.
Another said, fear, renders one useless.
I've got to use that word. We got to talk about that word
useless because you know what society says, nobody is useless.
What does the Bible say? Do You Remember When onesimus
The Runaway Slave left? Philemon, And he went and he
heard the gospel from Paul and he was baptizing changed his
life. Do you remember what happened?
Paul writes, the letter back to Philemon and Paul said he was
once unprofitable to you, but now is profitable to you.
And to me, in fact, the word onesimus and many times in the
Bible, the word, the names meant something onesimus.
Literally means useful. So if I say someone's useless,
it's because they're being unprofitable.
It's a were bad person and say they're rotten.
It's a there were no good. Didn't say they need to have low
self-esteem and say that what I said is useless means
unprocessed unprofitable. We're either one of the other
but fear can make us useless. We are an important battle and
we need people of Courage. Fear brings on the very thing
that we fear. Did you ever think of that you
ever think of that fear brings on the very thing that we fear
the most Remember when Peter was in the boat and the disciples
are scared. They see.
Jesus walking on water and they're scared.
They think they saw a ghost, Jesus said don't be afraid.
There's that phrase again. Don't be afraid.
It is. I Peter said if it's really you
did that. I would come out to you and he
says come on and Peter for a little while walked on water
too. What was Peters, biggest
problem? He lost.
Number one. His focus on Jesus.
He turned his eye to the peripheral issues that were
around him. His fears, overtook him, which
means what he has no faith. And his greatest fear was
thinking, you know what happened?
He sunk. And he says, Lord saved me.
And Jesus reaches out and says, Peter wanted out.
Oh, you of little faith. Don't you see?
Fear and faith. Don't go together.
They don't go together. I got to read this to you boy,
learn something. Fear of disease or illness
brings on illness. Research has shown that 85% of
the emotional and physical ills of men are brought on by feared.
Okay, it's no secret. I've had cancer.
I want to tell you something. I'm going to admit something to
you. I think maybe Tina's going.
I probably said this to over the years, but I'll admit this for
15 years of my life before I got sick.
My greatest fear was cancer. I would pray to God.
Please don't let me get cancer. Now, all I know is this.
I got cancer. Did it have anything to do with
it? I have no idea.
But I will tell you this Statistics show that 85% of the
ills that we are afraid of often times, contribute to us getting
them. I'm going to give you example
number two, so after cancer. And after God healed me through
means of medicine and I was cancer-free I remember you got
to get those checkups. It starts with every three
months and then every six months and so fourth and I would
literally go in and I would sit before my doctor and I'd be so
nervous that I get that. I get him a test.
You haven't? She said you have to stop doing
that. You cannot be afraid of cancer
anymore. Man, she was right.
She said when people are scared to death to get it again, many
times they do. All I'm saying, I'm not saying
anything. I'm just saying this.
If attitude helps you in the recovery of it. then just maybe
attitude contributes to some of the ills that we have to Don't
be afraid. Don't worry, but here's another
one and we're almost finished. This is kind of spooky here.
It will cause us to be lost. I want you to notice some of the
things that are here but the Cowardly unbelieving abominable
murder sexual immorality. Immoral Sorcerers idolaters and
all liars shall have their part in the lake which burns with
fire and brimstone which is the second death.
We get all that all bad stuff. Look at the word that's there
too. The Cowardly.
And what that's talking about is, it's talking about someone
that is a coward and won't do what's right.
It's talking about somebody that won't earnestly contend for the
faith. It's talking about somebody that
won't be faithful unto death. It's talking about someone that
will not stand up and do what's right and be saved there in that
list too. There in that list too.
You know, what the difference between, please get this.
The difference between a courageous man and a coward.
What's the difference? What makes you either one?
Here it is. What determines?
Whether you are a courageous man, or a coward.
Is your response to fear. So, it's normal, its natural,
your response determines what you are.
Your response. So finally in closing how we can
overcome it, let's talk about that.
It's not about overcoming it. First of all, understand that
fear is a characteristic of the wicked in Proverbs 28 1, the
wicked flee when no one pursues but the righteous are bold as a
lion. I love that.
Now if somebody has a guilty conscience because they do bad
things, They're fleeing when no one's pursuing they're scared.
They're paranoid looking over their shoulder where the cops.
Because why? The things on which they do.
But a God-fearing person. A Christian, a good person.
Righteous. They are bold as a lion.
Bold, as a lion. You know, the words fear not or
be not afraid. Appear in the Bible 180 times.
You don't we do though this what we do?
What we say is, we say Well, when the Bible says, don't do
this that's a command got to stick to it, right?
Don't do that. That's a command got to stick to
it. Do this.
That's a command gonna stick to it.
We get all that, but when it comes to fear, this is what we
said. Oh no.
Oh no, that's just encouraging suggestions.
Jesus said over and over fear, not Don't Be Afraid.
All those are just encouraging suggestions, no, their commands,
180 times in the New Testament. So what are we going to do
practically? We need to enthrone Jesus
Christ. In our life.
Will get to the practicality of that in just a second.
First Peter chapter 3 and verse 14.
But even if you should suffer for righteousness, sakes, you
are blessed and do not be afraid of their threats.
Nor be troubled, then in verse 15.
But sanctify, the Lord God in your hearts and always be ready
to give a defense to everyone. That asks you a reason of the
hope that is in you with meekness and fear notice don't
be afraid and then do so with meekness and fear.
How you going to do that? Here it is.
This is how you do it.
You have to sanctify the Lord God in your heart.
How do you do that? It literally means to render or
acknowledged to be sacred in your heart.
It means to give the Lord a permanent place of Reign and
rule in your heart. It's a matter of putting your
faith and trust in God. And remember that faith is the
foe of fear. It's either Faith or its fear.
Isaiah 26 and 3. You will keep him in.
Perfect peace. Whose mind is stayed on you
because he trusts in. You also never give counsel or
be guided by your fears. A general, one time was fearful
of an attack planned in the Shenandoah Valley, and he
expressed his fears to Stonewall Jackson.
Who told this General? He said General never take
counsel of your fears. Don't be driven by your fears
Philippians 4:13. Do you believe it or not?
I can do all things through Christ.
Who strengthens me? Do you believe that or not?
Have you been thrown Jesus in your heart as he raining over
your heart? Do you really trust him?
Do you have any faith at all? I can do all things.
That's not talking about running a track meet.
It's almost spiritual things. I can do all things that pertain
to life and godliness, I can do that, I can do that.
Jesus said, I can do that through Christ, Philippians 4,
and 6, be anxious for nothing. But in everything by prayer and
supplication with Thanksgiving, let your requests be made known
unto God. You got to be a person of
prayer. Want to be a person of Faith,
got to be a person of prayer. And by the way, if you want to
notice the first eight verses of Philippians chapter 4, Where we
get into the specifics of that, it's my turn on Wednesday night
to direct our study and we're going to talk about that.
So please come back and hear that.
Let's learn what the Bible says in closing, and I'm finished.
For years. Derek Redmond had trained for
the 1992 Summer Olympics. Hopes ran high for his taking
home gold. however, in the semifinal heat of the 400 meter
event, 65,000 Spectators as if in shock witnessed Derek's body,
give way to a torn hamstring. Then in all the observed, this
courageous man demonstrate for the whole world.
That a broken body does not mean a broken spirit. as he hopped
behind his father, To cross the finish line.
Millions then, and now Admire his courage and commitment.
His example, challenges, all of us to do all that we can within
our power to finish the race. And to do.
So, regardless of setbacks a metaphor of sorts for all
persons who may even be in the latter part of life's race.
With their bodies giving way but they still muster the will and
inner strength to finish life. Strong.
May we forever be Faith Griffin and may we never anymore be
fear-driven. We thank you for listening to
our podcast, put on by the Church of Christ at 22:15 plans.
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