All right over there in
2nd Timothy chapter number 1 and tonight like I announced this morning
I'm preaching on the subject of fear, and I'm preaching a sermon entitled how
To overcome fear earlier this week. We got an email somebody asking a question and honestly every every week
We get emails from people all over the country and all over the world asking Bible questions and sending testimonies of
How this church has been a blessing to them and one of these days
I'm gonna start bringing just printing those emails and reading them to you
Maybe there'll be a blessing to you as they're a blessing to us
But it was the second question the second time that fear had been brought up to me
And I thought well, maybe I'm in between these Sunday night series right now
I'm kind of preaching just some standalone sermons, and I thought well, maybe it's appropriate that we deal with the subject of fear
Because there is a lot of fear
Out there right now a lot of things to be afraid of and I want to
Teach you or preach to you on the subject of how to overcome fear
You're there in 2nd Timothy chapter 1 like you notice verse number 7 the Bible says this for God
Have not given us the spirit of fear
But a power and of love and of a sound mind and just by way of introduction. I'd like to
begin by talking about this idea of
Fear and there's what I would refer to as healthy fear and unhealthy fear and
Here the Bible is teaching us and the Apostle Paul is saying that God has not given us the spirit of fear
And this would be referring of course to
Unhealthy fear or to a wrong type of fear go with me to the book of Proverbs if you would
If you open up your Bible just right in the center
You're more than likely fall in the book of Psalms and right after Psalms you have the book of Proverbs Proverbs chapter
number one and the Bible does
speak about fear
Negatively all throughout the Bible fear is a negative thing. God has not given us a spirit of fear
We're not supposed to fear. There's only one time really in the Bible that we are told
To fear and that is to fear God
So not all fear is is wrong
there is a thing a such thing as healthy fear and
then there is unhealthy fear and the Bible tells us to fear God and a fear a
healthy fear of God is a good thing Proverbs chapter 1 if you would look at verse number 7 the Bible says this the fear
Of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and instruction notice
The Bible says if you want to have knowledge you must begin with the fear of the Lord go to Proverbs chapter 8
If you would just flip over to chapter 8 and look at verse 13
Proverbs chapter 8 and verse 13 the Bible says this the fear of the Lord is to hate evil
Pride and arrogance see and the evil way and the forward-mouth
Do I hate the Bible says the fear of the Lord is to hate?
Evil flip over to chapter 9 if you would look at verse number 10
Proverbs chapter 9 and verse 10 the Bible says the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom and the
knowledge of the holy is
Understanding so notice we're told the fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge
We're told the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom. We're told the fear of the Lord is to hate evil
There is something very good about
Fearing the Lord of having a healthy fear for the Lord go to the book of Job if you would job chapter 13
I think I said we're gonna be in job 13 this week, but we're in job 14 this week
We're in job 13 last week go back to job
You're there in Proverbs and do me a favor put a ribbon or a bookmark or something there in Proverbs
Because we're gonna leave it and we're gonna come back to it, but go to job if you would you're gonna
Go pass Psalms into the book of Job job chapter 13
And let me just say this the Bible says that it is a good thing
It is a healthy thing to fear the Lord so not all fear is
Unhealthy in fact God is the one who gave us the ability to fear and there is some
Good in fear, and there's some
Fear that is healthy obviously we're talking about feeling the Lord that is very healthy, but even just that feeling of
fear you know if you're ever out in in
You know hiking or something and you walk up to some cliff that has some steep fall
And you kind of get that feeling of you know you're kind of scared. Hey, that's a good thing. You know God put that in you
To to help you there is a such thing as healthy fear
There is a such thing as a fear that will help you stay out of trouble
Not do dumb things and that healthy fear is really of the Lord and it's from the Lord and it's something
That's good and today you have a lots of liberal type Christians
Who try to explain away the fear of the Lord, and I'm not necessarily preaching about the fear of the Lord
Tonight, but I do want to explain this you have all these verses that tell us to fear the Lord fear the Lord fear the
Lord and they'll try to explain it away and say no
You're not it's not like you're supposed to be like scared of God
But it's just an awe of God or a reverence of God
And I will say that of course we are to be in awe of God, and we should have reverence for God
But when the Bible says to fear God that's exactly what he means that we should be afraid of
God job chapter 13 notice verse number 11 this way job said to his friends
We saw this on Wednesday night, but I just want to show it to you quickly job chapter 13 and verse 11
He says shall not his excellency make you afraid and his dread
Fall upon you the word dread means to have this fear other places in Scripture
And I won't take the time to go through them
But we're told that we should stand that we should be terrified of God that God is full of terror and that we should
Be afraid of him and look yes, we should be in reverence. We should have reverence to God
We should be in awe of God
But there should be a healthy fear of what God can do to you
And I if we cross him there should be a healthy fear of
Just the Lord and his wrath and people act like well, that's at odds with the love of God
But you know that you can love and you can fear God all at the same time
There's a perfect balance of loving the Lord and
Fearing the Lord and by the way you let me say this that's a good parenting will have a healthy balance of love and fear
You know your kids should love you, and they should fear you
Now look if all they do is fear you there. There's a problem there. You're probably abusing them
If they're just shaking every time you walk by
You might want to figure out you know you might want to study the Bible and figure out what you're doing there
Wrong because that's not supposed to be the reaction you get from your kids, but you know if they just love you
But they're constantly crossing you and they're not afraid of you. That's a problem, too
Good parenting like God our Father will have a healthy balance of love and fear when I was growing up
I'll tell you I love my parents. I
You know when I was a kid I loved them now of course, but I was very afraid of my parents growing up
you know if you ask me, I'm a little scared of them now and
You know and it's there's just this healthy balance of love and fear love and fear
So God tells us the Bible tells us that we are to fear the Lord
But that doesn't mean that we don't love the Lord because he's a good father
And there's this balance of love and fear, but when the Bible says fear hey it means fear
It means tremble it means shaking your boots it means dread
It means terror because of what the Lord can do to you go to the book of Matthew if you would Matthew chapter 10 in
The New Testament keep your place in Proverbs and go to Matthew chapter 10
So we know that there's a healthy fear obviously just in in general if you're if you're walking up to the side of a cliff
You might be a little scared of that. That's a good thing and
Then of course there's a healthy fear and the healthiest of fears is the fear of the Lord
But
There is also an unhealthy fear and
Again, we're not talking about physically being safe. You know
If you if you see you know a lion
You or a bear you're out camping and you see some big bear
You know there should be a little fear in you that God put in you that makes you
You know step back and not just you know walk up and pet it right
So there is a healthy fear that God placed there, and that should be a fear of the Lord
But then there's unhealthy fear, and you say what is unhealthy fear pretty much everything else
Everything that we fear instead of God
Everything that we're afraid of instead of God and throughout the Gospels
And I'll just show you some examples from the book of Matthew
But we could look at it in Matthew Mark Luke John
throughout the Bible Jesus is
Continuously telling his disciples and his followers and other people to fear not
To not be afraid Matthew chapter 10 look at verse 26
I'll just give you some examples Matthew chapter 10 in verse 26 the Bible says this fear them not
Therefore and again, I'm not gonna take the time to show you the whole context
You can study that out on your own
But I just want you to notice that Jesus is constantly telling people fear not don't be afraid
He says fear them not therefore for there is nothing covered that shall not be revealed and hid that shall not be known look at verse
28 same chapter Matthew chapter 10 verse 28 the Bible says Jesus said and fear not
Them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul
But rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell and of course
That's talking about the Lord and about God. He says you got to fear God, but you know you ought not fear
He says fear not them which kill the body look at verse 31 same chapter. He says fear ye not
therefore
You're of more value than many sparrows go to Matthew chapter 14 if you would look at verse 27
Matthew chapter 14 and verse 27
Matthew 14 27 the Bible says this but straightway Jesus spake unto them saying be of good cheer
It is I notice what he says be not afraid
Jesus just constantly telling his disciples and his followers and people around him
He's saying fear ye not fear not be not afraid the Bible says there
He he says be not afraid look at Matthew chapter 17 in verse number 7
Matthew 17 if you flip over and a couple of chapters verse number 7 the Bible says this and
Jesus came and touched them and said arise notice what he says and be not afraid
He's constantly telling people don't be afraid
fear not
fear them not
Fear ye not go to Matthew 28 look at verse 10
Matthew 28
verse 10
This is the resurrected Christ after he he is seen by his disciples Matthew 28 verse 10
Then said Jesus unto them be not afraid
Go tell my brethren that they go into Galilee and there shall they see me now once you notice that Jesus is
Constantly telling his followers as disciples. Don't be afraid don't be afraid now
He's not telling them not to be afraid of God because he actually said that in Matthew 10 28
We're gonna come back to that passage later where he says rather fear him
Which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell, but other than that as far as fearing people fearing circumstances
Fearing outcomes fearing things around us
He's constantly saying fear them not fear not fear you not be not afraid be not afraid
He says look don't be afraid
why because there's healthy fear a fear of God and then there's unhealthy fear, which is fear of everything else and
Jesus would tell us don't be afraid
Don't be afraid and what we would say to Jesus is well, that's easier said than done
Because there are things that make us afraid. Isn't that true? I
Mean things happen and the economy does this and we kind of get afraid
Fear is our
imagination
running rampant with the worst possible outcomes and
We tend to just imagine that you know, well what if this guy gets elected then what
well, you know what the sun's gonna rise and
We'll just move on
Well, what what if what if this happens with my job situation or what if this happens with my children?
Situation or what if this happens in my relationship or what?
What if this happens with with my health, you know?
There's all these outcomes that we're afraid of and Jesus would look at you and say you're not afraid
He would say you can overcome fear and
The reason that we must overcome fear is because the devil
Has figured out how to use fear in order to motivate and manipulate us. I
Mean the world is constantly using fear to scare us
The world is constantly using fear to try to manipulate us
to try to move us in their direction with their agenda and
Jesus would say Jesus would say
fear not
the only thing you need to be afraid of is God and
Here's the truth if you and I could live a life
That is instead of full of fear is
Fearless
We would be much better Christians
Now I will say this that I don't know that any of us will ever be able to be live a life
That is completely fearless
Because we're humans
Because we're weak because we're clay
I don't know that any of us will ever and I'm including myself in that number
Will ever be able to live a life that is completely fearless
But I will say this I believe that you and I can learn to live lives that fear less
Lives
Of less fear
We can learn to overcome fear. We can learn to have less fear. You say how can we do that?
I'd like to give you three reasons tonight three thoughts in regards to how to
Overcome fear because if you're human you will fear
If you're human you will find yourself afraid at times
And we must learn to overcome fear go with me to the book of Deuteronomy if you want Deuteronomy chapter number 20
Towards the end of the the beginning of the Bible you have Genesis Exodus Leviticus Numbers Deuteronomy
It's the fifth book in the Bible Genesis Exodus Leviticus Numbers Deuteronomy
Uncertainty makes us afraid
Change makes us afraid
Not the unknown
makes us afraid
We're very fearful people, but we can learn to fear less we can learn to overcome fear
How can we do it let me give you three thoughts
I'd encourage you to write these down if you can number one how to overcome fear number one avoid those who are afraid
If you want to overcome fear
You must learn to avoid
Those who are afraid
You don't want to be around fearful people in
Deuteronomy chapter 20 we have instructions for going to battle and
I want you to notice that God is giving the children of Israel here instructions to go into battle
And this is a great example because going to battle something. That's pretty scary
Something could make you very afraid and he gives I want you to notice
He gives some spiritual reasons some good reasons
Why you may not want to go into battle notice Deuteronomy chapter 20 look at verse 1 the Bible says this
well now goes out to battle against thine enemies and see his horses and
chariots and a people more than thou
Notice when he says be not afraid of them, and we would say well. That's easier said than done
He says for the Lord thy God is with thee
Which brought thee up out of the land of Egypt and it shall be when ye are come nigh unto the battle
That the priests I want you to notice
This is the spiritual leadership of the children of Israel the priests the priest shows up as the spiritual leaders and gives some
spiritual reason some good reasons why you may not want to go into battle that the priest shall approach and speak unto the people and
Shall say so look everything the priests are about to tell us
They're gonna send people home tell people you're not gonna go into battle and these are all good reasons
These are biblical godly spiritual reasons
Why you may not want to go into battle verse 3 and shall say these are the priests speaking unto them
Here over Israel ye approach this day unto battle against your enemies
Let not your hearts faint
Fear not and do not tremble and I would again in
Just encourage you and challenge you as you read the Bible as you read the Bible notice that the only time we're ever told to
Fear it's to fear God
Any other time fear is a negative thing let not your hearts faint fear not do not tremble neither be ye
Terrified because of them notice verse 4 for the Lord your God is he that goeth with you
to fight for you
Against your enemies to save you notice verse 5 and the officers shall speak unto the people now. I want you to notice
He says and the officers will speak of the people saying here are the reasons that
The that the priests has given spiritual reasons through the officers why they might want to not go into battle
What man is there that has built a new house and hath not dedicated it let him go and return to his house
Lest he die in the battle and another man dedicated the Bible
God would give you know reasons you can opt out of the draft here
and he says look if you just built a house and you haven't had a chance to dedicate it you built a house and you
haven't even you know had a
Welcoming party, you know then just go home
We don't you know because you maybe you'll die and you'll never be able to enjoy that house
So you can catch us the next battle you go
So you don't die in the battle another man dedicated look at verse 6 and what man is he that has planted a vineyard
And has not yet eaten of it
Let him also go and return unto his house lest he die in the battle and another man eat it
He said look if you put the time and the energy and the effort to plant a vineyard
But you've not yet reaped the benefits. He says go home
You don't have to go into this battle
You go home and and take care of that lest he die in the battle and another man eat it look at verse 7 and what?
Man is there that hath betrothed the wife and hath not taken her
Let him go and return unto his house lest he die in the battle and another man take her
So he says look somebody started the process of marriage and has not yet finished it
They've not they're not he hasn't yet taken his wife
Then look you go home and lest he die in the battle and another man taker
Those are all positive reasons spiritual reasons why in the Old Testament you may not want to go into battle
Then in verse 8 we get one selfish reason why you should not go into battle
Look at verse 8 and the officers shall speak further unto the people and they shall say
What man is there that is fearful and faint-hearted?
Let him go and return unto his house
He says if you're afraid he's a you know, they said hey anyone build a house recently
I built the house you get a chance to dedicate it now
We were gonna move in and then you know, we got drafted you go ahead and go home
Anybody planning thing? Yeah, we plan for you that have you been able to eat the fruit thereof yet?
No, well, you know starting to spring up and well you go home
Anybody just got me just got married just got betrothed, but I haven't finished it. I haven't taken my wife yet
Well, you go go ahead and go home then they ask this question. They ask the question who's scared
Who's afraid
Who's fearful?
You know, I don't know how many people would raise their hands, but I'm sure some few cowards said I'm scared
And they said go home
Go home if you're afraid
See the Bible teaches that you do not want to be around fearful people you say why?
Because fear is contagious
Fear will spread I
Mean look at verse 8 and the officers shall speak further unto the people and they shall say what man is there?
That is fearful and
Faint-hearted let him go and return unto his house
notice this word less the word less means to avoid the risk of he says less his
brethren's heart faint as well as his heart
He says look you want to send someone who's scared home because if they're scared that will spread
Fear is contagious
Fear will spread so if you want to overcome fear you must avoid those who are afraid
Because their fear will spread unto you
You'll catch it
You'll catch fear go to the book of Numbers if you would Numbers chapter 13 you're there in Deuteronomy
Just head back to the book of Numbers. Let me give you one example of this in the Bible
Numbers chapter 13
I
Remember the story when Moses sent the twelve spies
into the land of Canaan
Twelve spies went to or twelve men went to spy on Canaan ten were bad and two were good right the song we sing with
the kids
Numbers chapter 13 verse 27 the Bible says this
this is when they return and
They told him these are the spies speaking to Moses and to the congregation and said
We came into the land where the thou sent us us and
Surely it flowed with milk and honey, and this is the fruit of it
They brought fruit from the land of kids and look everything God said about that land was true
It flowed with milk and honey look at this fruit, and then they said this verse 28 nevertheless
the people be strong
That dwell in the land and the cities are walled and very great and moreover
We saw the children of Enoch there
The Amalekites dwell in the land of of the south and the Hittites and the Jebusites and the Amorites
dwell in the mountains and the Canaanites dwell by the sea and by the coast of Jordan and
Caleb now Caleb wasn't afraid Caleb was one of the two good spies
We have Caleb and Joshua who are the good spies and Caleb stilled the people before Moses and said let us go up at once
And possess it for we are well able to overcome it
notice verse 31
But the men that went up with him said we'd be not able to go up against the people
For they are stronger than we
your imagination
Starts bringing about the worst possible outcome
Once we go fight those Jebusites once we go fight those giants those walls were pretty strong and those walls were pretty tall
Notice verse 32 and they brought up an evil report of the land
Which they had searched unto the children of Israel saying the land
Through which we have gone to search it is a land that eateth up the inhabitants thereof and all the people that saw it
That saw in it are men of great stature and there we saw the Giants the sons of Enoch
Which come of the Giants and we were in our own sights as grasshoppers
And so we were in their sight these people were scared and afraid
They saw the Giants and they said we can't beat them. We you know they started imagining the worst possible outcome
They said we cannot beat them. We they are stronger than us. They brought up an evil report
they came back scared and
notice numbers chapter 14 in verse 1
their fear spread and
all the congregation lifted up their voice and
cried and
the people went
that night
So if you want to overcome fear you need to learn to avoid those that are afraid
If you want to overcome fear you need to learn to avoid those that are afraid you say why because fear is contagious
other people's fear
May make you fear
One way to overcome fear is to stop listening to people who are afraid I mean
The the best greatest example we could use
Right now is the situation with COVID-19
And listen as far as coronavirus is concerned
I you know, I realize you guys have all sorts of theories out there and I don't need you to send me your YouTube stuff
Okay
As far as coronavirus, I mean I it's a real sickness. I
Believe it's a real sickness and and and for certain people in high-risk
Categories it could be deadly and
If someone is in that high-risk
Situation then I understand why they would want to be careful and I understand why because for certain people and we're not just talking about
older people there's people with a
immunity issues and whatever there there are situations where it might actually
affect them in a very bad way and and and and and if you live with someone that's high risk and and
And you're around someone that's high risk. I understand taking precautions. I don't have anything against that
But what's interesting to me about the coronavirus situation is that there seems to be two different worlds that the coronavirus lives in
there's the world of the media and the politicians I
mean if you
Just locked yourself up in a house since January of this year
Never left and all you knew about coronavirus was what you heard from the politicians and the media
You would think that the black plague has spread across our nation I
Mean you would think that there's just bodies being piled
I mean sometimes I'm driving down the road and I'm running some errands or whatever
I'm like turn on the radio just to kind of hear what's going on or whatever and I start listening to the news and my
Heart starts shaking. I'm like good night. It's gonna get me. I mean the way they talk
The way they act it's like those sky is falling. The world is falling about, you know, there's the world
There's a coronavirus world of the media and politicians and it's like the worst thing ever and then you go to the real world
You know you you you you go pick up a Christmas tree and everybody's happy and people are singing Christmas carols
You go to the store Merry Christmas
Everybody got their mask on cuz they have to have a mask on but you know
Everybody's just going about their day and it's like these are two different worlds
These worlds don't really seem to match. There's like there's the Gavin Newsom the sky's falling and
Then there's the real world
Like I'm not saying that we shouldn't wash our hands and we shouldn't take caution and we shouldn't be careful around people that are high
Risk I understand all that but here's what I'm telling you, you know, sometimes I I watch young people that you know
I'm looking at you. They look healthy and strong and they're just acting so scared
And it's like man, maybe you should turn off CNN
Maybe you should turn off the radio
Maybe you should stop listening to all these people that are scared
Because if you want to overcome fear you must avoid those who are afraid you don't want to be around fearful people because fear is
contagious
and
You know, I don't know how much coronavirus is spread, but I can tell you this fear has spread across our nation
and
Again, we should be careful. I understand high-risk
Classes of people that want to be careful and should take precautions and I understand all that
But look if you want to avoid fear you must avoid the fearful
If you want to avoid those who are afraid if you want to overcome fear, you must avoid those who are afraid
because fear is
contagious and
Look just in life in general go to the book of Matthew if you would Matthew chapter 10
In general you ought to
Consider
The fact that
Fear can be contagious
There are people in my life
We attempt to do things here at Verity Baptist Church and we attempt to you know, I've learned that there are people in my life
There are the encouragers who anytime I say hey, we should do this or like let's do it. Praise the Lord
God can do it, you know, whatever and I love those people. They encourage me along the way
I have to be careful about being only around those people because those people will also get me into trouble
and
Then there are some people and and yeah, I'll tell you my wife is the main person
Who will just see things for reality? I mean she show she she won't be negative, but she won't sugarcoat it for me
She'll say well have you thought about this and I'm like man
Can you not bring that up? Nobody on my staff brought that up?
All right, well what about this and what about that and and we need those people
We need people that are gonna bring clarity to a situation and obviously the Bible says
That in the multitude of counselors there's wisdom
So it's good to get counsel from lots of people but you know, I've learned that there are some people you just want to avoid
Because it doesn't matter how easy the win it doesn't matter how good the deal is
It doesn't matter how just benign everything's always negative
Everything's like no, that's never gonna work
You're gonna split the church, you know
And there's some people in life that I just kind of avoid because it doesn't matter what you're doing. It's always bad
It's always not gonna work and look that fear can get in you
So be realistic
Be realistic about life
Be realistic about your situation and look and if you're you've got somebody in your home that's in that high-risk
Category of coronavirus wash your hands wear a mask do what you got to do to keep them safe
But but at the same time just don't live in fear
You don't have to be overcome by fear
Avoid those who are afraid and look in whatever area
So I'm really afraid about what the economy's gotta do gonna do maybe you should stop listening to economists
Maybe you should stop watching those YouTube videos
Because fear spreads fear is contagious. It will spread
So to overcome fear we must avoid those who are afraid and look here's what the Bible says if you're gonna go into battle with
Someone you don't want your wingman to be someone who's scared
Because that fear will spread
Here's point number two. I
Said number one to overcome fear. We must avoid those who are afraid number two to overcome fear
We must consider the realistic consequences
we must consider the realistic consequences and
We're gonna look at this verse and we already saw it, but we're gonna dissect it here
And this is Jesus and this way I think Jesus, you know
I think Jesus sometimes he just kind of had a little bit of a
Divine
smart aleck
attitude in
Matthew chapter 10 in verse 28
Notice what he says he says and fear not them
that's what he says and
fear not them and
Fear not them and he's about to give us an example of something. You shouldn't be afraid of I
Mean you you would think because here's like you you and I would say it right and fear not them that make fun of you
Because sticks and stones can break your bones, but words will never hurt you, right? That's what we would say
That's what we would say to our kids right and fear not them that you know, we'd give some sort of thing there
That's like it's not that big of a deal. Don't worry about it
Jesus and maybe with a smile on his face says and fear not them which kill the body
And
We're kind of like isn't that kind of like the thing
Is that like the most scary thing? I mean the main thing fear not them which kill the body really like that's the thing
I'm most afraid of Jesus. I
Mean you see kind of his sarcasm
He says and fear not them. He's he's like, what's the worst thing that someone could really do to you?
I mean, come on, he says and fear not them which kill the body
He says but are not able to kill the soul
You know, there's something worse than dying
So what could possibly be worse than dying of coronavirus?
You know, what could possibly worse of dying the coronavirus is dying of coronavirus and going to hell
And fear not them which kill a body
And we're kind of like isn't that kind of it isn't that the biggest thing is that the thing we're most afraid of isn't that?
The nightmares you have at night you're running and someone's trying to kill you
It's not the biggest fear and Jesus would say no
Fear not them which kill the body but are not able to kill the soul
But rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body and health and when Jesus daddy does he kind of
Sarcastically brings fear into perspective and he says aren't you saved? I
Mean aren't you sure you're on your way to heaven because we can have this conversation if you need to
Don't we ask people do you know for sure if that's a you're on your way to heaven? I
Mean if we ask you that question, you know for sure that day you go to heaven
I would hope most people in this room would say yeah, I'm 100% sure
What do you trust and get to get you to heaven my faith in Jesus Christ?
He's down on the cross for my sins. I place my faith in him
I called upon him for salvation. Do you believe you could lose your salvation? No, nothing can take it away
Nothing can separate us from the love of Christ. Nothing can take away my salvation. It's eternal security. He says, okay. Well if salvation
Guarantees that your soul is going to heaven when you die then what exactly is the worst possible thing?
That someone could do to you
And Jesus what kind of smiling I think say if you're not them which kill the body I
Mean that's like the worst thing they could do to you. It's just kill the body
But are not able to kill the soul
But rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body and hell and here's all I'm saying. Here's all I'm saying
To overcome fear. You should consider the realistic consequences
And you had to ask yourself what is the worst possible thing that the could actually happen and
Then you had to ask this question for a Christian. Is that really that bad?
Go to Psalms if you would have Psalm 56
and you kept your place in Proverbs just
Right before Proverbs you have the book of Psalms and look I'm not trying to be a smart aleck
I'm trying to help you understand something
We
Get so afraid
Well if this doesn't work out with my business and this doesn't work out with my job, and this doesn't work out my career
no, and
Then you got it. You got it. You just got the perspective just step back from it and ask yourself
Well, what really is the worst possible thing that could happen here? I?
Could lose my house and then you go live somewhere else I
Could lose my car you couldn't afford it anyway
I
Might have to shop at Walmart
Okay
Look when it comes to overcoming fear sometimes we should just consider the realistic consequences to realize that when you're a Christian
It's really not that bad. I
Mean if they kill my body
It's really not that bad
If they take it all
I'm still ahead
Because I'm with Christ
Because I'm in Christ
See Jesus would say
Why are you afraid of the Roman? Why are you afraid of the Jews? Why are you afraid well? They could kill us?
And you said so I?
Mean if you're on your way to heaven
They're not able to kill your soul
He says rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell
Psalm 56 look at verse 4
Psalm 56 verse 4 in God. I will praise his word in
God I have put my trust
Notice this I will not fear. What flesh can do unto me
What my trust is in God, I don't what's the worst possible thing that a human being can do to me
Psalm 118 look at verse 6 Psalm 118 verse 6
Psalm 118 verse 6 the Bible says this the Lord is my on my side
Psalm 118 verse 6 the Lord is on my side. I will not fear. What can man do unto me?
question mark
What's the worst thing that man can do you?
What
Can they take from you that's so I mean what's the worst possible consequence you're all done
Here's all I'm telling you when you're overcome by fear
when you're overcome by fear
You got to avoid those that are afraid and
You got to consider the realistic consequences. What's the worst possible thing that could happen here, and when you're a Christian?
Is it really that bad?
I've told you the story before
Years ago Jack Hiles and John Rice were preaching together John Rice was preaching for Jack house at his church in Hammond, Indiana
This is a story. I was told I don't know if it's true, but it's a good story
They stepped out through a back door into an alley which is often where the preachers would step out
after a service and when they stepped out into that alley a
Guy came out of the shadows to mug them the gun
put a gun right up to
brother houses
stomach and
said give me all your money or blow your gun your blow your brains out and
John R. Rice began to laugh and
The guy looked at him and said what are you laughing at?
He said well you put the gun in his stomach, and you said you'll blow his brains out
And the guy said yeah, you think I'm joking you're not scared and the story goes that John R.
Rice I don't know if this really happened, but the story goes that John R. Rice said you can't scare me with heaven
Look if you're a Christian I here's all I'm telling you if you're a Christian the worst possible thing that something could do
Somebody could do to you is kill you
Say yeah, I know
But if you're saved is it really that bad
If you lose your job
Is it really that bad?
If you lose your house
Is it really that bad if you have to live in a smaller house if you have to drive an older car if you have?
to wear
clothes that were used
Is it really that bad you don't have to fear what man can do to you?
Who you should fear is the one who can throw you both soul and body in hell?
Let me give you a third point
Go back to the book of
Actually go to the book of Mark if you would in the New Testament you have Matthew
And then you have the book of Mark Mark chapter 4
Mark chapter 4 we're talking about how to avoid fear
It's a very fearful
Times we're living in at least they want you to be afraid
Listen to the news. They want you to be scared
All of them want you to be scared
They use fear
as a manipulation tactic
I mean the democrats say if we don't vote vote in
joe biden trump's gonna
Destroy this country and i'm gonna do this and do that. But you know what the other side says the same thing
The republicans are if you know if you let joe biden in and look joe biden's bad
I'm not i'm just saying they all use fear to try to manipulate us
to motivate us
To get us and here's what i'm saying. Look we should be smart
We should be responsible but don't live in fear. God has not given us the spirit of fear
How do you overcome fear well number one avoid those who are afraid number two consider the realistic consequences here's number three
focus on faith over fear
Focus on faith over fear
In mark chapter four we have an interesting story
It's very again kind of jesus. I think you know, he had a little bit of a sense of humor
I may I could be wrong about this
In mark chapter four in verse 36 the bible says this and when they had sent away the multitudes, they just got done doing a big
ministry
Mark 4 36 they took him even as he was in the ship
And they were also with him other little ships
And there arose a great storm of wind
And the waves beat
into the ship so that it was now full
Now, I don't know a lot about boating a lot about
Fishing and I didn't grow up doing that and i'm not into that kind of stuff and and I don't know a lot about it
But I I know this when you get the water inside the boat. That's probably not a good thing
And there arose a great storm of wind and the waves beat into the ship so that it was now full
that was verse 38
And he was in the hinder part of the ship asleep on a pillow
This is why I think jesus had a little bit of a sense of humor
I mean, isn't this kind of your worst nightmare?
You're on a ship that's going to go down and the one guy that can save you is asleep
It's kind of like your worst nightmare, isn't it? I like the thing you'd be most afraid of some of you are like that's my life
I'm like in this storm of life right now, and it seems like jesus is asleep
I'm in the storm of life and it seems like god is just asleep. He's not paying attention
And they awake him notice verse 38 and say unto him master carest thou not that we perish
We perish
Where we get that great hymn from?
That's verse 39
and he arose
and rebuked the wind
And said unto the pc
peace be still
And the wind seized
And there was a great calm
And he said unto them notice these words
Why are ye so fearful?
How is it
that you have
no faith
He says look
The reason you're so fearful right now
Is because you have so little faith
And he says if you want to overcome fear, you know what you should do you should focus on faith over fear
See we like to focus on fear over faith
We like to focus on the big old goliath and say that's scary. That's not I don't want to fight that
I don't want to go there. I don't want to do that
And jesus says why are you so fearful?
And they're kind of like well, you know, there was this big storm and there was like water in the boat you were sleeping
Why are you so fearful
How is it that you have no faith and then here's the really interesting part of this story verse 41
And they feared exceedingly
It's kind of funny how we are as human beings. We just like to be afraid. We just like to be afraid
We like to fear here they are
Fearing the storm jesus calms the storm and then they're still in fear
This time though, it's a good fear they feared exceedingly
Now they're afraid of jesus
Now they're afraid of jesus and by the way, they should have been afraid of jesus
jesus got in the flesh
And they feared exceedingly and said one to another what matter man is this
That even the winds in the sea obey him
See
God is who we should fear, right? We've talked about that
God is who we should fear
God is not the only one that we fear because we're humans and we fear other things that we shouldn't fear
But god is who we should fear
But if we were to make a classification
Of the biggest baddest fears, you know that god would be the biggest baddest fear
The biggest bad is terror the big the thing you're most afraid of if you're afraid of something if someone is coming against you
In a negative way who would that be the most fearful one it would be god if god is moving against you that's a scary thing
And then here's here's what jesus is trying to teach them
If i'm the scariest thing
And i'm with you
What are you afraid of
My kids were watching this little documentary about
Lions and you know
animals out in africa
Who are watching it with them and i'll tell you those lines. There's a reason why the bible equates the devil to a lion
Because those lions are bad
They eat their own cubs. I mean they it's they they do bad things
But there's there's this one little situation where they're following around this pride and there's these three male lions
That want nothing more
Than to kill these little cubs and eat them
But in this situation it happens to be that their dad
The the dad lion actually cares for them and loves for them and he's the biggest baddest lion
So as long as he's around the cubs are safe
Everyone else is afraid of dad
All these other lines that want to hurt the cubs. They're all afraid of big bad dad
But as long as the cubs are with the most fearful one
They're good and here's what i'm telling you you and I are with the lion of the tribe of judah
You and I are with the lord. Jesus. Jesus is the most fearful scary thing even the winds and the waves obey him
So if he's with us, even if he's asleep
You got nothing to fear
You got to focus on faith over fear
They were
Feared the bible says they feared exceedingly of jesus in verse 41
But if they would have feared exceedingly of jesus in verse 38, they wouldn't have been afraid
The point is this if god is with us then what have we to fear
Go to psalm 27 if you would i'm not sure if you kept your place in psalm
If you can find the book of psalms right in the center of the bible psalm 27
psalm 27 in verse 1
Psalm 27 in verse 1 the bible says this a psalm of david
The lord is my light and my salvation
Psalm 27 verse 1 the lord is my light and my salvation whom shall I fear?
The lord is the strength of my life of whom shall I be afraid
When the wicked even mine enemies and my foes come upon me to eat my flesh
Think about that statement. That's a pretty scary statement that david just made
Look at verse two
when the wicked
Even mine enemies and my foes come upon me to eat up my flesh they stumble and fell
Though an host should encamp against me
My heart shall not fear the war should rise against me in this
Will I be confident and what will I be confident that the lord is my light and my salvation?
Whom shall I fear?
The lord is the strength of my life of whom shall I be afraid?
Go to psalm 118 look at verse 6 psalm 118 verse 6
Psalm 118 in verse 6 the bible says this psalm 118 verse 6 the lord is on my side
Don't miss it the lord is on my side notice these words I will not fear
Now look when the lord's not on your side you should be afraid
And when the lord is on your side, you should still be afraid
But the lord is on my side I will not fear what can man do unto me
You don't have to turn here you go to first john if you would we'll finish up in first john
If you start in the book of revelation and head backwards you have jude third second of first john first john chapter four
While you turn there i'll read just a couple of these verses to you hebrews 13 6 so that we may boldly say
Boldly is the opposite of fear
So that we may boldly say the lord is my helper and I will not fear what man shall do
Unto me roman is 8 31. What shall we say then to these things if god before us who can be against us?
Somebody said this we need to stop telling god how big our problems are and start telling our problems how big our god is
I
Mean what shall we say then to these things it's interesting that
Paul says
Here's what you need to tell these things these things that make you scared these things that make you afraid these things that keep you
Up at night these things that make you anxious
Here's what you should say to these things if god before us who can be against us
See in order to overcome fear we must focus on faith over fear
We must focus on the god that's the biggest baddest god
The most fearful and dreadful thing is with us the winds and the waves obey him
So we just focus on faith
Jesus said why are you so fearful? How is it that you have?
no faith
first john chapter 4 verse 18
This is the verse that we got an email about somebody asking about
first john chapter 4 verse 18 the bible says this
There is no fear in love
But perfect love casteth out fear
Because fear hath torment
He that feareth is not made perfect
in love
And I want you to understand that
Like we've been talking about in this sermon. There is a healthy fear and an unhealthy fear
Fear of god is very healthy
Fear of anything else is very unhealthy
This verse is talking about unhealthy fear
It's not talking about the fact that we don't fear god because you can fear god and love god all at the same time
In fact, you're commanded to
There is no fear
in love
But perfect love cast without fear
Because fear hath torment. This is unhealthy fear
He that feareth is not made perfect in love. See here's the application if we were to apply it to our story
We have the disciples there in the middle of the sea in the middle of the torment the winds and the waves
The great storm of wind the waves beat and the water is coming into the ship and jesus asleep
There is no fear in love
But perfect love cast without fear
See if we love god with all our heart with all our soul with our might if we know that god loves us and he's
The biggest baddest thing on earth in the universe
Then there is no fear in love
But perfect love cast without fear see the word perfect means mature to come to perfection to complete as you and I
Grow in our christian life as we learn to love the lord to trust the lord
to acknowledge the lord
Then that love will cast out unhealthy fear
That love will cast out all the wrong fear because if I fear god and god is with me
And I have nothing to fear
Psalm 23 says this the lord is my shepherd. I shall not want
It says he leadeth me
He leadeth me
And then it says though. I walk through the valley of the shadow of death. I shall fear no evil
Say why don't I have to fear I never have to fear when the lord leadeth me
I never have to fear
When i'm with god
Even if I feel like he's not paying attention
Even if I feel like he's fallen asleep
Even if I feel like you know, what's the hold up here? Jesus?
I don't need to be afraid
Because I can focus on faith
Over fear there is no fear in love
But perfect love cast without fear
Because fear hath torment
He that feareth is not made perfect
in love
How do we overcome fear?
i'll just
Review these with you number one. We avoid
those who are afraid
Number two, we consider the realistic consequences
Number three we focus on faith
Over fear we focus our faith on the one that we should fear
over all the other little things
That we want to fear that we tend to fear that we may fear
and we realize
That if god be for us
Who can be against us
Let's bow our heads and have a word of prayer heavenly father
Thank you lord for your work
Thank you for the bible
Lord, thank you for the fact that you encourage us with this idea of fear
Oh, I realize we all get afraid
Our minds start raising racing and we start just thinking about the worst possible outcomes
And we can get overwhelmed with fear
Lord help us to not have a spirit of fear
Help us to be practical
Help us to be wise
Help us to make good decisions
Based off the risks in our lives
But help us to never live a life of fear
Help us to not be overcome with the spirit of fear
Lord we love you
In the matchless name of christ we pray
Amen