DATE: 21st June, 2020
THEME: FEAR NOT
SCRIPTURE READINGS
GENESIS 21:8-21
ROMANS 6:1-11
MATTHEW 10:24-39
PSALTER: PSALM 86:1-10
INTRODUCTION
There is a story of a man who saw ‘death’ going towards his town. When asked what he was planning to do, Death replied that he was going to the town to collect five people. The man immediately went back and told the town people what ‘death’ was planning to do. The next time he met death he asked why he took more than a thousand people when he said he was only going to take five. Death replied that he only took five and that the rest died from FEAR.
All of us whether we admit it or not, have something we are afraid of, for some it is things in the PHYSICAL REALM; some are afraid of snakes or spiders, or mice, some of us are afraid of things in the EMOTIONAL REALM, such as loneliness, or commitment.
The words “Fear not” occur 365 times in some versions of the Bible. In the Bible everything is there for a reason and nothing can be attributed to COINCIDENCE. The reason the words “Fear not” appear 365 times is to point to the need to apply them every single day of the year. This is because fear is a major problem everyone faces and has to deal with.
The result of fear is seen in the experience of Job when he said “the thing which I greatly feared has come upon me, and that which I was afraid of has come to me.” Job 3:25
BODY
I am impressed with how often God sends the encouraging message to His people, “fear not”:
▪”Do not fear, Abram, I am a shield to you; your reward shall be very great” (Genesis 15:1).
▪ “I am the God of your father Abraham; do not fear, for I am with you” (Genesis 26:24).
▪ “Do not fear, for I am with you; do not anxiously look about you; for I am your God. I will strengthen you, surely I will help you” (Isaiah 41:10).
It is so clear and refreshing that God does not want us live in fear.
- WHAT IS FEAR?
It is the vicious, tormenting spirit that produces felling of disquiet caused by an expectation of danger. Sometimes fear is justified. But another possibility is that your fear may not be justified at all. This unjustified fear can be defined by the acrostic F.E.A.R. False Expectations Appearing Real. - WHAT DOES JESUS MEAN WHEN HE SAYS WE ARE NOT TO FEAR?
We need to understand that Jesus is not forbidding us to ever experience fear, but teaching his disciples to not allow themselves to be paralyzed by fear, cowered by it, or allow it to prevent them from accomplishing their mission because of it. - HOW CAN I HANDLE FEAR?
Charles Swindoll in consideration of fear in his book “Three Steps Forward, Two Steps Back” gives four practical steps to handle fear.
▪ Admit Them. If we have something that is cause us to fear in an unhealthy way we need to name it and acknowledge it to God.
▪ Commit Them to God. You not only need to admit your fears to God, you need to verbally declare ourselves in his care.
▪ Release Them. The Psalmist David wrote in Psalm 55:22“Cast your burden on the LORD, and He shall sustain you; He shall never permit the righteous to be moved.”
▪ Refuse to Retreat. Refuse to submit yourself again to the fear that you have released to him. Again the Psalmist says (34:4,6-8) “I sought the LORD, and He heard me, And delivered me from all my fears. ….
- OUR CONFIDENCE IS IN JESUS THE CHRIST
Our belief in Christ should assure us that the truth of God will always triumph since Christ has already defeated the devil. Why should we fear when Christ is in us and we are in Him?
The victory of Christ is so comprehensive that the goodness of God will always be manifested no matter how well it is covered or hidden. (Matt. 10:26)
The victory of Christ assures all believers that heaven is their destiny and destination. Heaven is our home and there is no need to fear those who can kill the physical body but cannot kill the spiritual body.
The victory of Christ assures us that everything is under God’s control. How can believers be afraid when everything is under God’s control? If God cares for the sparrow why will He not care for you when even the hairs on your head matter to Him?
- WE MUST KNOW WHO WE ARE.
We must know who we are. We are God’s beloved children having the righteousness of Christ. Our righteousness gives us access to the grace of God by faith. His grace is His undeserved favour that makes available to us all His abundant provisions.
When a thirsty child is home he does not ask his father for a drink. He goes to the fridge and takes a drink. Instead of always asking for what God has already provided let us avail ourselves of all that He has provided for us. THIS LIFE OF FAITH IS ONLY POSSIBLE WHEN JESUS CHRIST IS YOUR LORD AND SAVIOUR.
APPLICATION
Do you believe that God is able to meet all of your emotional needs as well as your physical needs? Many people aren’t convinced of this, and the result of their frustrations can be months or even years of searching for a way to satisfy their greatest emotional longings.
However, David reminds us in Psalm 23 that God is the only One who is able to meet all our needs, especially when we’re overcome with feelings of doubt and fear. He writes, “Though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I fear no evil, for You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me” (Psalm 23:4).
Many times, fear comes as a result of loss we’ve experienced or a desire that we have yet to see fulfilled. Believers should never be afraid of life circumstances because Jesus has promised never to leave us. He is with us, facing the very things that we face.
Your heart may be troubled, and you may feel as though you cannot take another step. YOU CAN, but not by yourself.
The Lord will be our help. Whenever your heart is hurting, He is your strength and greatest source of encouragement. Have you taken time to be with Him today?
CONCLUSION
Precious One! Fear is the opposite of faith. Faith cannot operate where there is fear. Fear cannot operate where there is faith. It is as light and darkness, one has to leave. The Word of God will drive fear away.
I recently read a short poem whose author was not even revealed. It simply said “Fear knocked at the door. Faith opened the door and there was no one there.” Our trust in Christ should keep us from fear. Fear only reminds us that we may know about Christ but we do not really know Him. To really know Christ by having an intimate relationship with Him is to live without fear. Enjoy the service. Stay BLESSED
PREPARED BY
VERY REV DR. SAMUEL YAW DUA DODD
CALVARY METHODIST CHURCH
ADABRAKA, ACCRA
