Fear -- Fight

When fear shows up, there are three responses that are instinctive to us:

Guy at the Mobile Pantry — tried to make me feel bad… as I have gotten older I’ve come to deal with my fears about feeling negative things differently than when I was younger.

I hate the drop.

I went after the guy… Linell had to pull me back and off of the guy...

I hate not being able to breathe.

When fear shows up, there are three responses that are instinctive to us:

Fight

Flight

Freeze

In these days where many are struggling with fear, I want to spend some time on each of those… and today I want us to invite Jesus into our fears that manifest by our FIGHTING.

I want us to gather around two key Biblical passages that invite us into a life of laying down our fears and stepping into a life of loving and living as Jesus.

First:

2 Timothy 1:

2 Timothy 1:3–7 ESV

3 I thank God whom I serve, as did my ancestors, with a clear conscience, as I remember you constantly in my prayers night and day. 4 As I remember your tears, I long to see you, that I may be filled with joy. 5 I am reminded of your sincere faith, a faith that dwelt first in your grandmother Lois and your mother Eunice and now, I am sure, dwells in you as well. 6 For this reason I remind you to fan into flame the gift of God, which is in you through the laying on of my hands, 7 for God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control.

Second:

1 John 4:13–21 ESV

13 By this we know that we abide in him and he in us, because he has given us of his Spirit. 14 And we have seen and testify that the Father has sent his Son to be the Savior of the world. 15 Whoever confesses that Jesus is the Son of God, God abides in him, and he in God. 16 So we have come to know and to believe the love that God has for us. God is love, and whoever abides in love abides in God, and God abides in him. 17 By this is love perfected with us, so that we may have confidence for the day of judgment, because as he is so also are we in this world. 18 There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear. For fear has to do with punishment, and whoever fears has not been perfected in love. 19 We love because he first loved us. 20 If anyone says, “I love God,” and hates his brother, he is a liar; for he who does not love his brother whom he has seen cannot love God whom he has not seen. 21 And this commandment we have from him: whoever loves God must also love his brother.

1 John 4:13-

Where there is fear of fighting, flighting, and/or freezing, we are not loving with the divine love of God.

There is no fear in love — love casts out fear.

God has not given us a Spirit of fear, but of power, love and sound mind.

When that guy at the food pantry pushed my buttons… I looked less like Jesus and more like Peter.

John identifies Peter and Malchus (the High Preist, Caiphas, servant.)

“No fighting with swords… shall I not drink the cup my father has for me?”

John 18:11 ESV

11 So Jesus said to Peter, “Put your sword into its sheath; shall I not drink the cup that the Father has given me?”

Matthew does not name Peter or Malchus, but does tell that “one who was with Jesus” cuts off the ear of the High Priest’s servant.

Jesus reminds that servant that you die in the same way you live… and with the reminder that, however bleak this looks, Jesus’ Father is fully aware of all that is unfolding and tho he doesn’t intervene, Jesus Father is near and at hand.

Matthew 26:52–53 ESV

52 Then Jesus said to him, “Put your sword back into its place. For all who take the sword will perish by the sword. 53 Do you think that I cannot appeal to my Father, and he will at once send me more than twelve legions of angels?

Luke does not name Peter or Malchus… but Luke includes this important detail:

Luke 22:48–51 ESV

48 but Jesus said to him, “Judas, would you betray the Son of Man with a kiss?” 49 And when those who were around him saw what would follow, they said, “Lord, shall we strike with the sword?” 50 And one of them struck the servant of the high priest and cut off his right ear. 51 But Jesus said, “No more of this!” And he touched his ear and healed him.

Luke 22.48-

In these three tellings of this one story which revolves around Peter’s fear, we see three items which are necessary for perfect love to cast out fear… for the Spirit of God to empower us to live with power, love, and self-control.

Sometimes God asks you… and sometimes God asks those you love… to do things that frightening to you.

Peter doesn’t want Jesus to die… he attacks.

Jon and North Africa — we dedicated him as a baby.

“Shall he not drink the cup God has for him?”

2. You, those you love, your hopes, dreams, and plans are all in full view of God.

God is in control.

Covid — plans...

3. Those who hurt us are the ones we are called to heal.

Jesus calls us to love our enemies.

Think of the last person you attacked… you were loveless to them…