I'm Not Afraid Anymore!

Introduction

**After reading the text and before announcing the topic** Today, I want to share with you something that has been in my heart for over 2 weeks. I want to talk about fear. And before sharing the title of my message, I wanted to get someone who would help me with my title. So, I asked my friend Kevin to help me announce it. He couldn’t be here today, so he sent this message via video. Take a look.

**Play Video**

The title of my message today is “I’m Not Afraid Anymore.”

How many of us have seen this movie before? This movie is extremely popular—one of the all-time favorites for those of us born in the 80s and 90s. I played this video, because when I think about fear, this is what I imagine is happening in the lives of many people. From childhood to adulthood, we are all trying to overcome something that causes us great fear.

A few years ago, I read a book entitled Hustle Harder, Hustle Smarter by 50 Cent. He reflected on some of the practices that made him famous and successful. His Instagram page is filled with an abundance of materially attractive pleasures such as homes, cars, money, and fame. A quick glance at his social media platforms can make one desire the “finer” things of life.

However, as I was reading the book I could not help but notice this man’s brilliance. Though he his known for being a secular and vulgar artist, he is also a very intentional and strategic businessman. He spoke of the benefits of being competent and organized. He prided himself in never missing a business meeting due to a hangover or sleeping in. He encouraged his readers to avoid alcohol and drugs, because it has a long-lasting effect on the brain and one’s ability to achieve success. However, he is also a majority owner in two of the most popular alcoholic beverages.

One may ask, how can you be an owner of alcoholic beverages and not a drinker? Well, the answer is he’s a faker. He literally switches out the alcohol and replaces it with ginger ale. While everyone else is getting drunk and spending their wages, he is staying sober and gaining unprecedented returns in the alcohol business.

When discussing his “hustlers” approach to business, he suggested that many people are unsuccessful, because they are afraid. Here’s a man that has overcome some of the most terrible things anyone could experience:

His mother died at a young age, and he never knew his father.

He was taken in by his grandmother, which led to a life in the streets

During a neighborhood rivalry he was shot nine times.

Upon experiencing success in the hip hop industry, he nearly lost it all before becoming a successful businessman in the television and beverage industry.

How did this happen? How did this man become so successful through so much pain? His answer was, I literally learned to get over my fears. He stated, “I am not afraid of anything. Everything I was ever afraid of has already happened to me.”

What Is Fear?

Fear is an emotion; it is the feeling of losing control.

Do you get that? Fear is the feeling that you have lost control. It is the feeling that you are not governing the success in the particular arena that leads to you being fearful. By this definition, we now understand why so many people are susceptible to fear. In any given moment, we may feel that we are losing control of our lives.

Finances

Relationships

Work

Community

But what’s worse is the feeling of losing control after having control over a thing. There’s no better time for fear to settle in one’s heart than when they have succeeded in a thing, but has somehow lost control of things and can no longer do what they once did. What do you do when you’re losing control in your life? What do you do when what you once did no longer works now?

In these moments, fear begins to paralyze you. It begins to remind you of your recent failures—and you’re no longer able to reflect on past success.

Israel’s Struggle With Fear

According to some scholars, the Bible instructs its reader to “fear not” over 365 times. Over and over again, the people of God find themselves facing fears that they must overcome—despite the success they’ve experienced in the past. In our text, Judah is facing another dominant empire. However, the fear would have been most caused by what Assyria had done to the nation of Israel. In 722 BC Assyria overpowered 10 of the tribes of Israel—making them a part of the Assyrian Empire. They deported the most wealthy, educated, and established citizens of the the land and made them serve the empire. Now, they are in pursuit of the remaining tribes.

How do you manage fear when what took everyone else out is now coming for you?

What do you do when everyone else’s relationship is failing and now yours is on the rocks?

What do you do when the economy is collapsing, stock market is bearish, and everyone else is getting laid off?

What do you do when schools are closing and your program of interest is no longer relevant in the marketplace?

What happens when your neighbors are all moving out of the community, because they can no longer afford to stay in the area?

What happens when sicknesses find itself in your family and everyone seems to be struggling with the same affliction?

What happens when everyone on your job seems to be stressed out over the demands of the season?

At this time, Hezekiah was the king of Judah. He had led major reform to return the people back to the worship of God (2 Chronicles 29-31). However, in 2 Chronicles 32, we find Hezekiah is attacked in the middle of reform. When Hezekiah received the message of Assyria’s planned invasion he accepted what was happening and he prayed.

**Read and explain God’s response in Isaiah 37:21-38**

Why did this happen, the Sovereign Lord already had a word prepared for this situation before it ever formed (see Isaiah 35:4; Deuteronomy 20:1-4).

God has already spoken a word for the situation you are currently facing.

Conclusion: Deuteronomy 20:1-4

The 3 He Wills of God (Deuteronomy 20:4):

God will go with you.

God will fight for you.

God will give you the victory.