Healthy vs Unhealthy Fear

Introduction

Good evening and welcome back!

This evening since we have finished our study in James, I felt we should spend a few Sunday nights discussing something that has gripped many in our society today.

And that thing is fear.

We have gown into to a society that seems to be afraid of everything.

Whether we need to fear or do not need to fear.

And admittedly there is a healthy kind of fear as well as an unhealthy kind of fear.

God actually gave us the emotion of fear as a defense mechanism against things that would otherwise kill us.

It triggers what they call the “flight or fight” response.

We are afraid and we make a decision as to whether we should stay and fight or run away.

And the problem comes in when we let the actual fear control us rather than using it for what God intended it to be— a tool to help us.

Because what happens when fear controls us, then we are parlayed by it and cannot do anything for it.

We are not able to think rationally and in many instances are completely unable to function.

That though is not how God has intended for us to use the fear response that is built into us.

Fear is supposed to help us make wise decisions, not spend our entire existence cowering and hiding in a corner somewhere.

Did you know that the command, fear not appears in one form or another 365 times from Genesis to Revelation.

It is specifically given to dozens of different individuals and/or groups in a variety of circumstances.

It’s abundantly clear that God doesn’t want His people to fear in the face of adversity or decision.

To put it another way, we’ve been given a different, fear not, exhortation for every single day of the year.

So even in the face of this worldwide pandemic, that honestly should give us reason to have what I call the “healthy fear” to make good and wise choices, we can live a life where we fear not in such a way that we are paralyzed by the fear.

So for the next few weeks we will look at some reasons why we so often respond in fear?

And also, what can we do about this and is there a better way?

And this morning we are going to primarily look at two short passages.

The first comes out of 2 Timothy 1:6-7 and the second out of 1 John 4:16-19.

And I believe that these two passages really clarify and put into perspective exactly what I am referring to.

So, I will start out by reading the two passages and then we will break them down a little.

If you want to follow along in a Bible, again I will be reading first 2 Timothy 1:6-7 and then flipping over to 1 John 4:16-19.

Starting out Paul writes this to Timothy . . .

Scripture Focus

2 Timothy 1:6–7 NIV - Anglicised

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. For God did not give us a spirit of timidity, but a spirit of power, of love and of self-discipline.

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1 John 4:16–19 NIV - Anglicised

And so we know and rely on the love God has for us. God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in him. In this way, love is made complete among us so that we will have confidence on the day of judgment, because in this world we are like him. There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love. We love because he first loved us.

The Holy Spirit Gives Power, not Fear

Now in many ways here Paul is almost rebuking Timothy challenging him to think about things differently and to think about life differently.

And to understand what Paul is talking about here we need to keep things into perspective.

Here is Timothy, this very young pastor, who because of his youth doesn’t garner a lot of respect from the people.

And he is trying to lead people to Jesus Christ, who is not the most popular subject during those times.

The Romans thought they were troublemakers and were persecuting them.

The Jews thought they were all heretics and were persecuting them.

So, Timothy is discouraged and is afraid.

So Paul comes along and reminds Timothy of a few things.

First he reminds Timothy of his roots . . .

2 Timothy 1:5 NIV - Anglicised

I have been reminded of your sincere faith, which first lived in your grandmother Lois and in your mother Eunice and, I am persuaded, now lives in you also.

In other words, he is telling Timothy, you have the foundation, you have the background, you have the wisdom.

It is all right there in front of you.

And he is challenging Timothy to take hold of what he has right there in front of him . . .

2 Timothy 1:6 NIV - Anglicised

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.

Fan the flames of God.

Nurture the Spirit that God has instilled in you.

Do the work of the ministry.

And many people at this point would probably say, “that’s easy for you to say, you don’t know what I’ve got to go through.”

And that’s true, no one knows what each of us individually face, but here’s the thing, Paul knows what he is talking about.

Paul knows a thing or two about suffering.

Paul knows a thing or two about sacrifice.

Paul knows a thing or two about fear.

And Paul knows that the power of God is much more powerful than any fear we would ever have.

With God we can truly fear not but we have to be willing to tap into that power.

We have to give ourselves to God and nurture and fan the flame of God that is instilled in each and every one of us.

And when we can do that, we can come to the same conclusion Paul did when he states . . .

2 Timothy 1:7 NIV - Anglicised

For God did not give us a spirit of timidity, but a spirit of power, of love and of self-discipline.

And the word “timidity” here in the NIV is literally translated from the Greek word for “cowardliness.”

So, you can say that God did not give a coward’s spirit.

Or, as we know it translated, God did not give us a spirit of fear.

But rather a spirit that is rooted in the power of the Holy Spirit.

A spirit that is rooted in the love of God.

And a spirit that is in tune with God through self disciple or a sound mind.

And the implication here is that the spirit that God gives us is one that is rational.

One that thinks things through.

One that can separate out the healthy fear from the unhealthy fear.

And that is what is important here.

Because that healthy fear informs our decisions and helps us to make wise and rational decisions.

But the unhealthy fear will either paralyze us into complete inaction.

Or it will cause us to react to situations and people in completely irrational ways.

Which is what we see going on a great deal in our world today.

We need to be using the common sense that God gave us to make good decisions for ourselves, or families, and others around us.

But we also need to keep things in perspective and understand that we are still God’s people.

And we need to be acting like God’s people.

We need to make sure that we continue to present ourselves as Children of God.

And we also need to be sounding the alarm that even in these times, there is hope.

And that hope has been, is, and always will be found in Jesus Christ.

We need to let people know that God tells us to fear not and that if our hope is in Jesus Christ, we have no reason to fear.

Because whatever happens in this world or in this life, God has got it.

God has got us.

We should be telling people to trust God.

Look at what Paul tells Timothy next . . .

2 Timothy 1:8–10 NIV - Anglicised

So do not be ashamed to testify about our Lord, or ashamed of me his prisoner. But join with me in suffering for the gospel, by the power of God, who has saved us and called us to a holy life—not because of anything we have done but because of his own purpose and grace. This grace was given us in Christ Jesus before the beginning of time, but it has now been revealed through the appearing of our Saviour, Christ Jesus, who has destroyed death and has brought life and immortality to light through the gospel.

That folks is our message.

That is what we should be telling people.

Fear not but rather, put you faith in God.

God Protects Because God Loves

Which is where 1 John comes into focus in our message tonight.

He starts out in verse 16 . . .

1 John 4:16 NIV - Anglicised

And so we know and rely on the love God has for us. God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in him.

And at first glance it may seem as if love and a lack of fear have nothing to do with one another.

But the reality is, they have a great deal to do with one another.

As John points out we can know and rely on the love God has for us.

I will take it a step further and say that we can rely on God because we know God loves us.

God’s very nature, as John points out is love.

Which means that every single aspect about God is motivated and directed by love.

Not just a personal love for each one of us but also a love for all humanity.

And since God loves us, do we think that God wants any harm to come to us?

Do we think that God would not provide for us?

Do we think that God would not protect us?

And if we answer that God would do all these things, then what do we have to be afraid of?

Do we believe that God is the creator and sustainer of this entire universe?

If we do, then who is more powerful than God?

So, I ask again, what do we have to be afraid of?

Instead of living lives motivated and overcome by fear, we should lead a life rooted in God’s example.

Look at the rest of that verse.

He says, whoever lives in love lives in God and God in him.

In other words, if we live a life transformed by the Holy Spirit.

A life that is also motivated by love, then we will have the power of God within us.

And if we have the power of God flowing through our veins, then what do we have to fear?

And I keep coming back to that because fear is one of the main things people use in an attempt to refuse share the gospel and do the things God would have them do.

Fear tells us, “you can’t do that,” or makes us question and think, “what will they say, or how will they react.”

And the reality is, it is just a fear of the unknown or more accurately a fear of maybe having to change.

We do not want to change at all so we do everything we can to avoid any sort of change.

All motivated by that one thing, fear.

John goes on though to combat that fear.

He writes . . .

1 John 4:17–18 NIV - Anglicised

In this way, love is made complete among us so that we will have confidence on the day of judgment, because in this world we are like him. There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love.

And what more can be said than that?

There is no fear in love.

Perfect love drives out fear.

Fear is rooted in punishment and suffering but love is rooted in deliverance and forgiveness.

Altar/Challenge

And I think that is where we end tonight.

With the question, what kind of fear do you have?

Is it a healthy and Godly type of fear of things that are related to the common sense God gave us to protect us?

Or do we build things up in our minds and end up afraid of things that we should not fear?

Do we have irrational fears?

And the fears that we do have, have we ever examined their root, where they come from?

Is fear paralyzing us and keeping us from being the people of God and doing the things that God has called us to do?

That is the challenge tonight…Let’s pray.