When Fear Motivates Us

Intro: The Story of Fear

The day was long and the rest of the night was enticing. After crashing hard from a long hard day of work I was sure I would rest through the night. The night had another plan. Around 2:00am I was awaken by the sound of the fire alarm ringing loudly in my ears. I sprang to my feet confused and in a panic, black smoke rolled under my door and I knew at that moment I was in real trouble. My brain was telling me to run but my body wouldn’t move. I stood in one place for what seemed like an eternity. After a space of time, I convinced myself to move to the widow and exit the house.

How could I have been to paralyzed by fear?

Fear is a primal instinct that served us from the beginning of time and still serves us today. It keeps us alive, because if we survive a bad experience, we never forget how to avoid it in the future. Our most vivid memories are born in fear. Adrenaline etches them into our brains.

Nothing makes us more uncomfortable than fear. And we have so many fears:

fear of pain,

disease,

injury,

failure,

not being accepted,

missing an opportunity,

being scammed, to name a few.

Fear invokes the flight or fight system, and our first reaction is often to flee back to our comfort zone. If we don’t know the way back, we are likely to follow whoever shows us a path.

Motivated by Boldness

The New King James Version Chapter 14

8 And the LORD hardened the heart of Pharaoh king of Egypt, and he pursued the children of Israel; and the children of Israel went out with boldness.

When the idea sounds good.

How often are we motivated to do something in life until the task is due?

The Israelite wanted a better life but didn'’t know how to accomplish the task. The leadership of Moses would prompt the people to act in boldness.

Fear can motivate us to get up and move. You may have experience a life event that has prompted you to move, but once you were in it, something changed.

Revealed Reality

The New King James Version Chapter 14

10 And when Pharaoh drew near, the children of Israel lifted their eyes, and behold, the Egyptians marched after them. So they were very afraid, and the children of Israel cried out to the LORD.

When the idea of fear becomes reality

Once fear opens itself up to reality, what should be done?

“The Lord is my light and my salvation; Whom shall I fear? The Lord is the strength of my life; Of whom shall I be afraid?” (Psalm 27:1, NKJV)

Stand on the promise that God is who he said he is.

Our faith is not based on what we see but who we know!

When the enemy begins to lie to you, be reminded that God is still in control.

Have you prayed about your problem as much as you have talked about it?

Perspective Reality

The New King James Version Chapter 14

11 Then they said to Moses, “Because there were no graves in Egypt, have you taken us away to die in the wilderness? Why have you so dealt with us, to bring us up out of Egypt?

1. How believers evade victory

Negativity in their view of God’s power

Not believing that God is able to deliver in the big things of life.

Having a small minded view of how God sees you.

Forgetting that your victory is God’s Glory.

“For whatever is born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world—our faith.” (1 John 5:4, NKJV)

Thinking that you were better off in the wilderness!

The New King James Version Chapter 14

, ‘Let us alone that we may serve the Egyptians’? For it would have been better for us to serve the Egyptians than that we should die in the wilderness.”

Divine Intervention

The New King James Version Chapter 14

13 And Moses said to the people, “Do not be afraid. Stand still, and see the salvation of the LORD, which He will accomplish for you today. For the Egyptians whom you see today, you shall see again no more forever.

Eradicating the enemy

The enemy is no match for God

Stand still and let God fight that battle.

Be in clear view of the victory of the Lord.

His authority demands victory.

His solution to the problem of your fear is eternal.

Conclusion:

Satan's understanding of who we are in Christ is evidenced by his repeated attempts to get us to submit to fear. When we are fully aware of the truth of who we are in Christ, we will not be afraid. The only thing Satan can do is to distract us from this truth. He does this by attempting to re-direct our focus, from our riches in Christ, onto our seemingly fearful circumstances. Satan knows he can't rob us of our riches in Christ, so he has no choice but to encourage us to lose sight of all we have and all we are in Christ.