Faith is a victory over fear!

Jesus prepared

Jesus was going away, His arrest was imminent. Fulfilling His claims was about to happen. He helped prepare the apostles for what was coming.

I am going to try something new this morning and let’s see how it goes. You have outlines with the scriptures on them. I am going to cut down on scriptures on the screens and allow you to turn to, or look up later.

So here we go:

Jesus offered his own confidence (Jn16:32)

Jn16:32 “32 “Behold, an hour is coming, and has already come, for you to be scattered, each to his own home, and to leave Me alone; and yet I am not alone, because the Father is with Me.”

Fear facing days were coming for them; He wanted them to be prepared.

Jesus offered His hope so they may have peace (Jn16:33)

Jn16:33 “33 “These things I have spoken to you, so that in Me you may have peace. In the world you have tribulation, but take courage; I have overcome the world.””

Jesus demonstrated victory over death, and gives us hope for victory over this world (1Jn5:4-5)

1 John 5:4–5 NCV

4 because everyone who is a child of God conquers the world. And this is the victory that conquers the world—our faith. 5 So the one who conquers the world is the person who believes that Jesus is the Son of God.

To those who believe we have conquering faith that overcomes the world and the things that can bring us fear.

we have already seen faith (strong conviction/confidence) in Jesus Christ has shown us the way of victory over:

Sin, anxiety, boredom, depression and despair.

“Jesus through His actions past, present and through His teachings, Jesus helps those who believe in Him to overcome the world.” -Mark Copeland

Fear picture here

Fear can be real or imagined

Fear can be linked to forms of anxiety, panic disorders. It can be debilitating

Not all fear is harmful, there is a right kind of fear

There is the right kind of fear in the heart of a Christian

Jesus taught us whom to fear (Mt10:28)

Mt10:28 “28 “Do not fear those who kill the body but are unable to kill the soul; but rather fear Him who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.”

Paul spoke about the proper kind of fear (Php2:12)

Php2:12 “12 So then, my beloved, just as you have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your salvation with fear and trembling;”

Understanding fear

Fear defined:

A feeling of agitation and anxiety caused by the presence or imminence of danger.

Extreme reverence or awe, as toward a supreme power

Proper fear (fear of the Lord)

Beginning of knowledge (Pro1:7)

pro1:7 “7 The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge; Fools despise wisdom and instruction.”

Causes one to hate evil (Pro8:13)

Pro8:13 “13 “The fear of the Lord is to hate evil; Pride and arrogance and the evil way And the perverted mouth, I hate.”

Will prolong life (Pro10:27)

Pro10:27 “27 The fear of the Lord prolongs life, But the years of the wicked will be shortened.”

Will provide strong confidence (Pro14:26-27)

Pro14:26-27 “26 In the fear of the Lord there is strong confidence, And his children will have refuge. 27 The fear of the Lord is a fountain of life, That one may avoid the snares of death.”

Causes one to keep away from evil (Pro16:6)

Pro16:6 “6 By lovingkindness and truth iniquity is atoned for, And by the fear of the Lord one keeps away from evil.”

Oswald Chambers in one of his devotional’s said:

“The remarkable thing about fearing God is that when you fear God, you fear nothing else, whereas if you do not fear God, you fear everything else.”

This morning we were going to talk about victory over fear, not fear of Godly things, but the ungodly, groundless fears that can debilitate us and keep us from the right kind of fear.

In a book by Charles Givens entitled Super-Self he lists the most common fears.

Speaking before group; heights; insects; financial problems, deep water, disease, death, flying, loneliness, dogs, driving/riding in care and the dark

Our friend fear here again

Many fears are often, maybe due to or are the result of misinformation.

Denis Waitley “Fear is False Education Appearing Real”

German proverb “Fear makes the wolf bigger than he is”

Once saw this: “Fear makes man believe the worst”

Fear can keep us from enjoying the blessings of this life

Spanish proverb “He who fears death cannot enjoy life

Horace “Who lives in fear will never be a free man.”

Peace and joy are available but not accessed when one is filled with fear, the wrong fear.

There is fear that hinders and there is fear that motivates

but not in the right way when we think about motivation.

E. Stanley Jones “Fear is the san in the machinery of life.”

Fears that can hinder, fear of people, of failure, rejection, even the unknown

can hinder us from trying or being of service to the body of Christ, or interpersonal relationships and evangelism opportunities

Fears that motivate: Failing (school, job); Loneliness; Not having relationship or having the wrong kind; and again rejection

Such fears can lead to doing the wrong things with the wrong people for the wrong reasons and will get the wrong results (i.e. lying, cheating, committing adultery, or maybe an unevenly yoked marriage)

Ever felt rejected (insert examples, Prophets, Jesus, Apostles, the Hebrews (book of Hebrews)

Overcoming, having victory over fear, the wrong kind comes with the right kind of fear, fear (faith) in the Lord.

Victory through Faith in Jesus

Jesus taught link between fear and little faith (Mt8:23-27; Mt14:25-33)

Mt8:23-25 “23 When He got into the boat, His disciples followed Him. 24 And behold, there arose a great storm on the sea, so that the boat was being covered with the waves; but Jesus Himself was asleep. 25 And they came to Him and woke Him, saying, “Save us, Lord; we are perishing!””

Mt8:26-27 “26 He said to them, “Why are you afraid, you men of little faith?” Then He got up and rebuked the winds and the sea, and it became perfectly calm. 27 The men were amazed, and said, “What kind of a man is this, that even the winds and the sea obey Him?””

Summarize Mt14:25-33 passage, Peter walking on and sinking in water

Jesus taught not to have fearful anxiety (Lk12:27-32)

Don’t worry, have anxiety, have fear over the things in which the Father knows you need and will take care of.

Jesus addressed what we may face fear from with faith, hope (Mt28:20; Jos1:9; Heb13:5-6)

Mt28:20 “20 teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.””

Joshua was told be strong and courageous (see Jos1:9)

Heb13:5-6 “5 Make sure that your character is free from the love of money, being content with what you have; for He Himself has said, “I will never desert you, nor will I ever forsake you,” 6 so that we confidently say, “The Lord is my helper, I will not be afraid. What will man do to me?””

Jesus addressed fear of deaths answers(Heb2:14-15; Php1:21-23)

Heb2:14-15 “14 Therefore, since the children share in flesh and blood, He Himself likewise also partook of the same, that through death He might render powerless him who had the power of death, that is, the devil, 15 and might free those who through fear of death were subject to slavery all their lives.”

Paul in summary said Php1:21-23 “21 For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain. - look at the rest of that passage to see the context on it all.

Jesus addressed life after death (Jn14:1-3; 2Tim4:6-8)

He comforted them with what was to come (Jn14:1-3)

Paul spoke of what he had coming, and we can look forward to that too (2Tim4:6-8)

Overcoming fears happen through faith (strong conviction) in Jesus Christ.

In conclusion

Feed your faith and your fears will starve to death

Fear knocks on the door, when faith answers there is no one there

Fear and faith cannot live together, when one enters the other leaves

Those from Vern McLelian “Complete book of practical proverbs”

Another thought, this one from Harry Emerson Fosdick:

“Fear imprisons, faith liberates; fear paralyzes, faith empowers; fear disheartens, faith encourages; fear sickens, faith heals; fear makes useless, faith makes serviceable, and, most of all, fear puts hopelessness at the heart of life, while faith rejoices in its God!”

Jesus exampled faith, taught on faith that overcomes fear. We have looked at some of those things this morning.

Invitation slide (Faith over fear)

(Song) (Prayer) (exit)