Sermon Tone Analysis

Introduction

Emotions are such a confusing thing.

Hence the title of this series, It’s Complicated.

The first three messages helped lay the foundation from which we are building upon.

We gained a basic understanding of how our Creator made us, what has made things so complicated, and how to begin the process of making sense of this mess.

Now as we continue to make sense of our emotions from God’s Word let us be encouraged by Paul’s words to the church at Philippi:

If you have enrolled in the programme, you have been sealed with the Holy Spirit and have been given everything you need to win this battle and every other battle you will face.

Last week, Robert did a wonderful job bringing to light anger and the powerful affect it has in our lives.

Bringing clarity to this often confusing emotion with the perfect wisdom from above found in God’s Word.

And if you struggle with anger the clinical programme of the Great Physician will put you on the path to recovery.

Trust Him and submit to His plan.

Now we continue on and look at our next emotional struggle all of us face.

It’s Complicated: I am Afraid.

Pray

Fear, what is it?

Is it a good thing or a bad thing?

Is fear healthy or unhealthy?

Michael Prichard, a Keynote Speaker and Youth Motivator has said:

Fear is that little darkroom where negatives are developed.—Michael

Pritchard*

Greek Philosopher Aristotle said:

Fear is pain arising from the anticipation of evil.—Aristotle

Fear has tremendous power.

It can influence our lives for better or for worse.

Vickie Kraft in a book posted on Bible.org

entitled, Facing Your Feelings wrote:

Fear is part of our Creator's loving provision for us.

Properly controlled, fear protects us from harm and motivates us toward positive action.

Uncontrolled fear, however, can lock us into an emotional prison and stunt our personal and spiritual growth.

Unrestrained fear darkens our lives; it colors everything we do.

It is a great obstacle to our spiritual growth.

(Kraft, Vickie.

(2007).

Facing Your Feelings.

Retrieved from https://bible.org/series/facing-your-feelings.)

There is a healthy level of fear and an unhealthy level of fear.

One calls you to respect something that has power:

While the other hinders you from doing what you know you are supposed to do or encourages you to do that which you should not do.

So...

What is a Healthy Level of Fear?

A healthy level of fear can be towards people.

God promised He would empower Israel in such a way that people would have a proper respect towards them as God’s chosen people, and choose to follow the one true God.

It can be towards things.

Most of us would say we have a respect to the thorns of a rose bush.

It can be within situations.

It was not of their own doing, but these hardened sailors had a reverence for the situation addressing the issue accordingly and going to the source of their dire circumstance.

And it can and should be towards God.

I like the reference someone drew from C.S. Lewis’, The Lion the Witch and the Wardrobe:

In this allegorical story Susan and Lucy were getting ready to meet Aslan the Lion.

They were preparing with the help of two talking animals, Mr. and Mrs. Beaver.

Finding out Aslan is a lion Susan responds, “Oh, I thought he was a man.

Is he quite safe?

I shall feel rather nervous about meeting a lion.”

Mrs. Beaver replies, “That you will, dearie, and make no mistake, if there’s anyone who can appear before Aslan without their knees knocking, they’re either braver than most or else just silly.”

Lucy then asks, “Then isn’t he safe?”

“Safe?” replies Mr. Beaver.

“Don’t you hear what Mrs. Beaver tells you?

Who said anything about safe?

Of course he isn’t safe.

But he’s good.

He’s the king.

I tell you!”

We need this healthy level of fear, for it protects us and puts us on the right track to make wise decisions.

Hence the result of a reverence or “fear” of the Lord bringing wisdom.

I brought with me today a nine volt battery.

Who would like to put their tongue across the top?

No one?

why?

You have learned to respect or “fear” its power.

It is not very pleasant feeling.

When a sparky works with electricity they are very alert and aware to the power it has, and therefore learn to respect it and take the proper precautions to avoid feeling its power course through their bodies.

When we notice the temperature is pushing the upper 30s to 40s we take precautions.

We have a respect or “fear” for the power of the sun and take the needed steps to ensure we are protected.

Most of us would say we have a respect or fear of sharp knives.

As we use them we are well aware of the power that is at the end of the blade.

Personally I have a very deep respect or “fear” for strong waves and deep water.

I will admit this fear is heightened by the fact that I have not learned how to swim properly.

When I am around water I take the proper steps to ensure that I am safe.

When I am on the boat with Brad in the Murray I wear a vest that fits and is guaranteed to do its job.

Last week when we visited the Surfers Beach in Innes National Park on the Yorke Peninsula I was on high alert to ensure my children and I were not close to the breaking waves because of the tremendous power they have in pulling you out to sea.

A healthy level of fear does not hinder, but equips and alerts us to things that need careful attention.

It helps guide us to making wise decisions.

But then you ask...

What is an Unhealthy Level of Fear?

There are two sides to an unhealthy level of fear.

On one side you become overwhelmed with thoughts of “what if...” accompanied by the assumption of catastrophic results.

(Haddow, Catherine.

(2017).

Emotions: Mirrors of the Heart.

(pg.

81).

10Publishing.

Leyland, England) This unhealthy level is where many phobias our found.

On the other side you have absolutely no fear, which is a very dangerous place to be for there is no means of protection, no discernment of any kind.

An unhealthy level of fear hinders our abilities to deal with issues and handle them constructively.

It affects our quality of life and can lead us to choose to do those things we shouldn’t do causing us and those around us undue harm.

It clouds our thinking and leads us to underestimate or overestimate our ability to cope or underestimate or overestimate the likely danger.

Catherine Haddow, the author of Emotions: Mirrors of the Heart, whom we have quoted before says this unhealthy level of fear can be describe with the acronym:

F.E.A.R

(F)alse (E)vidence (A)ppearing (R)eal

An unhealthy level of fear is the root to cowardice, leading you to make unwise and wrong decisions.

Unhealthy levels of fear can create overconfidence.

Both unhealthy levels affect our quality of life and paving the way for us to make unwise decisions.