Special Series Month October Fear and Afraid Part 3

From fear to faith

Let’s wrap up this message by looking at four principles that will move us from fear to faith.

1. Faith focuses on God, not on your problems.

A woman told me that she had changed her phone number and left it unlisted because she is gripped with fear as she thinks about certain people and what they might do to her. As we talked together, I finally said, “It’s time to move from fear to faith. Are you ready to move with me?” She smiled hesitantly and then said yes. We prayed, claiming God’s promises of protection. When I saw her the next day she said that she had slept much better that night because she wasn’t focusing on her fears. Think of Abraham. The past argued against his ever having a child. So did the present. His only hope lay in the promises of God for the future. As long as he looked back, he would never have faith to believe God. His only hope was to step out into the future, trusting that somehow, someway God would keep his promises.

2. Faith trusts in God’s timing, not your own.

So many of our struggles with fear start right here. Deep down, we fear that God has somehow made a mistake in his dealings with us. Like Abraham, we have waited and waited-sometimes for years on end. Even though we may have seen many remarkable answers to prayer, the one thing that means the most to us has not been granted. As I write these words I am thinking of certain people I know who pray faithfully week after week for their loved ones to be saved. Some of them write notes each week asking prayer for an unsaved husband or wife. Week in and week out the requests come in and the staff prays for them faithfully. One husband has been praying for his wife for many years with no real change in sight. Another wife faithfully requests prayer for her husband. Sometimes he seems interested in spiritual things, and then his interest suddenly seems to disappear. Where is God? Why doesn’t he answer the fervent, heartfelt prayers of his people? Of the many answers that might be given to that question, one answer must be that God’s timing and ours are often quite different. Sometimes it seems like we live in one time zone and God lives in another.

3. Faith grows by believing God in spite of your circumstances.

Sometimes our circumstances make it easy to believe in God; other times we have to struggle. As I write these words I have a friend who is entering the final stages of his battle with cancer. After long and difficult treatments, there is nothing else the doctors can do. He is one of the finest men I know; a man whose gentle spirit endears him to others. No one knows how much time he has left, but it seems to be a matter of a few days. The last time I talked with him, he spoke about the goodness of God. He added that he and his wife had had a long and happy life together and they knew that God would take care of them. His wife said simply, “No matter what happens we are trusting in the Lord.” That’s biblical faith rising above circumstances to lay hold of the eternal promises of God.

4. Faith obeys God one step at a time.

This principle is often overlooked by those seeking to do God’s will. God promised a child and Abraham desperately wanted to see the fulfillment of that promise. So what does God tell him to do? Round up the animals for a sacrifice (see ). How do you get from there to the nursery? Abraham doesn’t have a clue and God doesn’t tell him a thing. But Abraham now has a choice. He can choose to obey God, round up the animals, and get ready for a sacrifice, even though it doesn’t seem to connect with the son of his dreams. Or he can argue with God or decide to take matters in his own hands.

God weaves an unseen pattern that one day will lead us in a new direction.

How often we stumble over this. We slight the near in favor of the far, shirking the duties of today because we are dreaming about some distant tomorrow. But until we have done what God has called us to do today, we will never be prepared for what he wants us to do tomorrow. In the end 99 percent of life turns out to be humdrum, ordinary routine. It’s the same old thing day after day.Yet out of the humdrum God is weaving an unseen pattern that will one day lead us in a new direction. Faith take the next step- whatever it is-and walking with God wherever he leads us. Sometimes it will make sense, other times it won’t. But we still have to take that step if we are going to do God’s will.

Can God be trusted?

Everything I’ve been trying to say comes down to one simple question: Can God be trusted to do what is right? If the answer is yes, then we can face the worst that life has to offer. If the answer is no, then we’re no better off than the people who have no faith at all. In fact, if the answer is no or if we’re not sure, then we really don’t have any faith anyway.

I have chosen to believe because I must believe.

One writer tells When my father died 38 years ago, I came face to face with the ultimate unanswerable question of life. I didn’t know then why such a good man would have to die at the age of fifty-six or why he would leave my mother and her four sons without a husband and a father. I had no clue about what God was doing. In the years since then I have learned many things about life, but I confess that I still don’t understand why my father died. It doesn’t make any more sense to me now than it did then. I am older and wiser, but in the one question that really matters I have no answers. But I have learned since then that faith is a choice you make. Sometimes you choose to believe because of what you see; often you believe in spite of what you can see. As I look to the world around me, many things remain mysterious and unanswerable. But if there is no God, and if he is not good, then nothing at all makes sense. I have chosen to believe because I must believe. I truly have no other choice.

"But I can trust"

Pioneer missionary J. Hudson Taylor founded the China Inland Mission in 1865. During the terrible days of the Boxer Rebellion (1898-1901), when missionaries were being captured and killed, he went through such agony of soul that he could not pray. Writing in his journal, he summarized his spiritual condition this way: “I can’t read. I can’t think. I can’t pray. But I can trust.” There will be times when we can’t read the Bible. Sometimes we won’t be able to focus our thoughts on God at all. Often we will not even be able to pray. But in those moments when we can’t do anything else, we can still trust in the loving purposes of our heavenly Father. Fear not, child of God. No one knows what a day may bring. Who knows if we will all make it through this week? But our God is faithful to keep every one of his promises. Nothing can happen to us except it first passes through the hands of God. If your way is dark, keep on believing. His eye is on the sparrow, and I know he cares for you.

Overcoming Fear

Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, he also himself likewise took part of the same; that through death he might destroy him that had the power of death, that is , the devil; 15 And deliver them who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage.

​ KJV 190014 Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, he also himself likewise took part of the same; that through death he might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil;

It is the fear of death that makes men subject to bondage. Through the suffering of death Jesus delivered those who were subject to its bondage all their lifetime. We have been delivered from the fear of death by the promise of eternal life. The Bible says that death is an enemy, and it takes place in disgrace and weakness. For he must reign, till he hath put all enemies under his feet. 26 The last enemy that shall be destroyed is death.

​ KJV 190025 For he must reign, till he hath put all enemies under his feet.

So also is the resurrection of the dead. It is sown in corruption; it is raised in incorruption: 43 It is sown in dishonor [disgrace]; it is raised in glory [majesty, stately dignity]: it is sown in weakness; it is raised in power: 44 It is sown a natural body; it is raised a spiritual body. There is a natural body, and there is a spiritual body.

​ KJV 190042 So also is the resurrection of the dead. It is sown in corruption; it is raised in incorruption:

As believers the fear of death no longer has the grip on us that it once had. Death is still an enemy but it has lost its sting. O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory? 56 The sting of death is sin; and the strength of sin is the law.

​ KJV 190055 O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory?

The sting of death is sin, but we’ve been delivered from sin. Death has lost its sting. But there are multitudes who have not yet received that deliverance. We live in the kingdom of God, where death has lost its sting, but most people in the world are still subject to bondage through the fear of death. They don’t yet know the Lord. I said all of that to make a point, and this is the point:

Point 1: This natural world we live in, outside of the kingdom of God, is ruled by the fear of death.

People who don’t know the Lord have not yet been delivered from the power of that fear. Now I want to take it a step further and say:

Point 2: The fear of death is the basis for nearly all fear in this world.

The fear of lack, the fear of disease, the fear of calamity; all of these are extensions of the fear of death. How do I know that? I know it because the same work of Christ that delivered us from the sting of death also delivered us from lack, disease, and calamity. The scripture that comes immediately to mind is .

​ KJV 1900 A Psalm of David. 1 Bless the Lord, O my soul: And all that is within me, bless his holy name. 2 Bless the Lord, O my soul, And forget not all his benefits: 3 Who forgiveth all thine iniquities; Who healeth all thy diseases; 4 Who redeemeth thy life from destruction; Who crowneth thee with lovingkindness and tender mercies; 5 Who satisfieth thy mouth with good things; So that thy youth is renewed like the eagle’s. 6 The Lord executeth righteousness And judgment for all that are oppressed. 7 He made known his ways unto Moses, His acts unto the children of Israel. 8 The Lord is merciful and gracious, Slow to anger, and plenteous in mercy. 9 He will not always chide: Neither will he keep his anger for ever. 10 He hath not dealt with us after our sins; Nor rewarded us according to our iniquities. 11 For as the heaven is high above the earth, So great is his mercy toward them that fear him. 12 As far as the east is from the west, So far hath he removed our transgressions from us. 13 Like as a father pitieth his children, So the Lord pitieth them that fear him. 14 For he knoweth our frame; He remembereth that we are dust. 15 As for man, his days are as grass: As a flower of the field, so he flourisheth. 16 For the wind passeth over it, and it is gone; And the place thereof shall know it no more. 17 But the mercy of the Lord is from everlasting to everlasting upon them that fear him, And his righteousness unto children’s children; 18 To such as keep his covenant, And to those that remember his commandments to do them. 19 The Lord hath prepared his throne in the heavens; And his kingdom ruleth over all. 20 Bless the Lord, ye his angels, That excel in strength, that do his commandments, Hearkening unto the voice of his word. 21 Bless ye the Lord, all ye his hosts; Ye ministers of his, that do his pleasure. 22 Bless the Lord, all his works In all places of his dominion: Bless the Lord, O my soul.

Bless the LORD, O my soul: and all that is within me, bless his holy name. 2 Bless the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits: 3 Who forgiveth all thine iniquities; who healeth all thy diseases; 4 Who redeemeth thy life from destruction; who crowneth thee with lovingkindness and tender mercies; 5 Who satisfieth thy mouth with good things; so that thy youth is renewed like the eagle's.

​ KJV 19001 Bless the Lord, O my soul: And all that is within me, bless his holy name.

A fear that God will not come through for us is an extension of the fear of death. It’s the fear of being left or forsaken to have to fend for ourselves in a harsh world. Some of the most comforting words in the Bible are: Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.

​ KJV 19005 Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.

We have comfort in Christ, yet the devil still rules the world with the rod of fear. Why do we need to understand this? We need to understand it because he wants to rule us with it, the same way he does the rest of the world.

Point 3: We must learn to overcome fear, or be driven by it.

The world operates and is driven by a spirit of fear that originates in the fear of death.

Point 4: If we focus on the natural world we will take on the suggestions of that fear, for the world cannot help but communicate it.

Deep calleth unto deep at the noise of thy waterspouts:

​ KJV 19007 Deep calleth unto deep at the noise of thy waterspouts: All thy waves and thy billows are gone over me.

This scripture is talking about our spiritual communication with God but the principle is the same. The spiritual element that’s in the world calls out to your spirit. We are spirit beings and we are receptive to spiritual things. The only thing the world has is the fear of death and all the fears that are extensions of that fear. The only thing the outside world can communicate is therefore fear-based. When Adam sinned and fell away from God’s presence the first thing he experienced was fear and fear has ruled the world since then. A good man out of the good treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is good; and an evil man out of the evil treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is evil: for of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaketh.

​ KJV 190045 A good man out of the good treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is good; and an evil man out of the evil treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is evil: for of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaketh.

The human heart, or the spirit of a man, can only speak what’s in it in abundance. People, who don’t know the Lord, are full of the fear that’s in this world. They are subject to its bondage. It is in them in abundance. It’s the only thing the world can put forth; no matter how they try to mask it. It’s the driving force of their lives. Deception and its resulting fear are the forces Satan uses to dominate men. Well, I thought Satan used temptation of sin to ensnare people. He does, but it’s the fear of being discovered that gives sin its grip. For every one that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved.

​ KJV 190020 For every one that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved.

So the devil’s main tool is fear, in one form or another. Again, fear comes through deception, which is a distorted or incorrect view of reality.

Point 5: Deception precedes fear. Truth precedes faith.

If we’re walking in fear, deception has at some point taken place. If we’re walking in faith, truth has at some point been revealed to us.

Point 6: You cannot fight fear with the carnal or natural mind. You must use a spiritual weapon, the hearing of faith.

Let’s look at what Jesus said about the subject of dealing with fear. The light of the body is the eye: if therefore thine eye be single [healthy], thy whole body shall be full of light. 23 But if thine eye be evil [sick or diseased], thy whole body shall be full of darkness. If therefore the light that is in thee be darkness, how great is that darkness! 24 No man can serve two masters [light and darkness]: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon.

​ KJV 190022 The light of the body is the eye: if therefore thine eye be single, thy whole body shall be full of light.

First of all, let’s tackle this word “mammon.” If you look it up enough times you’ll find definitions like treasure, riches, greed, avarice, or the greedy desire for more. But not everyone has a greedy desire for more, since many are just trying to survive, but everyone who is not serving God, according to Jesus, is serving mammon. So if mammon is something more basic than just greed and selfish desire then what is it? In the context of what we’re reading mammon is the fear of lack, because we'll see as we continue that Jesus is teaching that we should not take anxious thought for the things we need. In other words, "Don't be afraid of lacking the things you have need of."

Mammon = Fear of lack.

Fear of lack drives men to have selfish desire for more. Fear of lack drives every person on the planet at some point in their lives. Men are driven either by fear of lack, which is mammon, or by faith in God. And it’s impossible to do both. Jesus said in verse 24, "Ye cannot serve God and mammon." It’s impossible to serve God and serve the fear of lack. Now we’ll look at verse 25. Because it’s impossible to serve God and serve the fear of lack - Therefore I say unto you, Take no thought for your life, what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink; nor yet for your body, what ye shall put on. Is not the life more than meat, and the body than raiment?

​ KJV 190025 Therefore I say unto you, Take no thought for your life, what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink; nor yet for your body, what ye shall put on. Is not the life more than meat, and the body than raiment?

He’s telling us how to stop serving mammon. Take no anxious thought for your life or food or clothing. I was teaching on this a while back and someone said, “You can’t just tell people not to think about what they need. You can’t tell people to do mental exercises.” Well, that’s not what I was saying, and neither was Jesus saying that. He gave us another option. Jesus was saying to take our mind off of one thing and put it on something else, and that’s exactly what I was teaching.

Point 7: Living in the kingdom of God has to do with what we think about.

We’ll be either in the kingdom or not in the kingdom based on what we think about. There's a difference between being saved and being in the kingdom. We can be saved but not really be living and functioning in the kingdom. When we think about the right things our mind switches kingdoms, and we begin to live under the jurisdiction of the kingdom of God. Being saved happens instantly. Learning to live in the kingdom is a process that takes time. And seek not ye what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink, neither be ye of doubtful mind. 30 For all these things do the nations of the world seek after: and your Father knoweth that ye have need of these things.

​ KJV 190029 And seek not ye what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink, neither be ye of doubtful mind.

So now Jesus has not only said to not take anxious thought about these things, but now He is saying for us not to seek after them. He says that these things are the things everybody’s running after, and your Father knows you need them. So if I’m not going to take anxious, fearful thoughts about the things I need, and I’m not going to run after them like the rest of the world, then what am I going to do? What is the other option? Jesus gives the other option in verse 31. But rather seek ye the kingdom of God; and all these things shall be added unto you. 32 Fear not, little flock; for it is your Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom.

​ KJV 190031 But rather seek ye the kingdom of God; and all these things shall be added unto you.

Fear not. Stop being afraid of lack. Seek the kingdom, and all these things will be provided. Now we haven’t digressed from our message. We’re still talking about overcoming fear. Jesus said for us not to take anxious, worried thought about the things we need, but rather to seek the kingdom of God, and the kingdom would make provision. So then what does it mean to seek the kingdom of God? I’m glad you asked that question. The Greek concordance meaning is, in essence: Zeteo - to seek something in order to find it, to seek a particular thing, to seek so as to find out through thinking, reasoning, meditating, and enquiring into. To seek so as to find out through thinking, reasoning, meditating, and enquiring into. Thinking, meditating, and reasoning are involved in seeking the kingdom. So let me repeat Point 7 once again: Point 7: Living in the kingdom of God has to do with what we think about.Jesus said for us not to think about the things we fear, but rather to think about, meditate in and inquire into the kingdom of God. How do we do that? What do we think about, meditate in, reason with, and enquire into? We think about, meditate in, reason with, and enquire into the word of God. That is seeking the kingdom of God. Definition: Seeking the kingdom = meditating in the word of God.< You may not totally agree with that, but surely you'll agree that meditating in the word is a major part of seeking the kingdom. By reading the words of someone we find out what’s in their heart. If I read a letter sent from one of you to another person I can tell what’s in your heart, the writer. I can know the thoughts of your heart by reading what you write. And reading is merely a form of hearing. I read your words and I hear the thoughts of your heart. By the same token, by reading and meditating in God's word, I hear and understand the heart of God.

Point 8: To read the word of God is a mental, soulish exercise. To meditate in the word is a spiritual exercise.

Meditation in the word is very similar to journaling but not exactly the same. We read a scripture, and I like to write it down in a journal, and then we ponder it and think about it a little, and then we write down what we think it means. As we do this a stream of consciousness begins to occur, as with journaling, and we can sometimes can write 4 or 5 pages before the flow stops. That’s how the Holy Spirit guides us into truth. The Bible says He searches the deep things of God. When does He search the deep things of God? He does it while we’re pondering the word of God. He doesn’t have to search them out for Himself. He already knows the deep things of God. He searches them out for us as we’re taking time to meditate into the word. Think about it. The One Who knows all things about God lives in our heart. Why don’t we know all things? Because we haven’t taken time to allow Him to reveal them to us. For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory; 18 While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal.

​ KJV 190017 For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory;

What we go through [our light affliction] works a weighty spiritual thing in us [an eternal weight of glory], but it’s only while we’re looking at the right things, the things not seen. The eternal things are the things not seen, the things not visible in the natural world, and that’s the word of God. For ever, O LORD, thy word is settled in heaven.

​ KJV 190089 LAMED. For ever, O Lord, Thy word is settled in heaven.

Heaven and earth shall pass away: but my words shall not pass away.

​ KJV 190033 Heaven and earth shall pass away: but my words shall not pass away.

The word of God is the eternal thing we need to be looking at. Notice that Paul said, “…while we look not at the things which are seen.” We stop looking at the things we see in the natural, our needs, our circumstances, and so forth. We stop taking anxious thought. But rather we seek first the kingdom. We meditate in the word of God. We look at those things that are not seen, the eternal, unchanging word of God. And what happens? Our mind switches kingdoms.

Point 9: The kingdom you focus on becomes your reality.

So then entering the kingdom is more than just being a Christian, though that’s obviously a major part of it. Entering the kingdom is entering the world of His word. It’s another world. It’s the unseen world. It’s the place we’re supposed to live. By faith Abraham, when he was called to go out into a place which he should after receive for an inheritance, obeyed; and he went out, not knowing whither he went. 9 By faith he sojourned in the land of promise, as in a strange country, dwelling in tabernacles with Isaac and Jacob, the heirs with him of the same promise: 10 For he looked for a city which hath foundations, whose builder and maker is God.

​ KJV 19008 But unto the Son he saith, Thy throne, O God, is for ever and ever: a sceptre of righteousness is the sceptre of thy kingdom.

Even Abraham, the Father of our faith, was not focused on the earthly, temporal realm, but he looked for a city whose builder was God. That's exactly what we are also to do.

So then to overcome fear we must:

Stop taking anxious thought for the things that concern us.Seek the kingdom of God through meditation in the word of God.Trust in God to provide for our needs through the kingdom.