2 Kinds of Fear
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Video - Jaws-official reissue trailer
In the summer of 1975, people flocked to theaters to see the movie Jaws, but the movie had an adverse impact on beach attendance, with anecdotal reports that people were staying away from the water. The film was so effective by putting fear for sharks in the minds of movie goers that sharks, especially Great White sharks, were demonized, and over 40 years later, they remain feared and misunderstood based on the misconceptions presented in Jaws.
Today, we begin a 4-week series called Fear Not. If you look throughout scripture, you will find that the bible talks a lot about fear.
In fact, the command, fear not appears in one form or another 365 times from Genesis to Revelation. It is a specifically given to dozens of different individuals and/or groups in a variety of circumstances.
It is 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.
With the creator of the universe giving us a daily prescription, why do we so often respond in fear? What can we do about this and is there a better way?
One of the most well known verses on fear is found in 2 Timothy chapter 1. Paul begins this second letter to the young pastor by giving him some encouragement.
This is Paul’s last letter. At the time of writing, Paul was in prison once again and he could sense that his time on earth was coming to an end. Our text begins with verse 3.
3 I thank God, whom I serve, as my ancestors did, with a clear conscience, as night and day I constantly remember you in my prayers.
4 Recalling your tears, I long to see you, so that I may be filled with joy.
5 I am 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.
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 the Spirit God gave us does not make us timid, but gives us power, love and self-discipline.
Verse 7 is what I want us to focus in on. Let me read that verse again. This time in a different translation.
7 For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.
Notice this translation uses the word fear instead of timid. They have the same meaning. The word is deilia in the Greek meaning cowardice. This type of fear does not come from God. So, if fear doesn’t come from God, then where does it come from? I thought that the beginning of wisdom starts with the fear of the Lord, so what does that mean? What’s the difference?
There are two types of fear. It is important for us to understand the difference. There is a healthy type of fear and an unhealthy type of fear. When you understand the difference it can save your life. It will also help you interpret God’s daily encouragement to Fear Not.
Let’s begin by looking at the two different types of fear.
1. Healthy Fear
1. Healthy Fear
Imagine with me if you will that you are in the woods and you come across a bear and her cubs. Do you think that the best course of action is to share with this momma and her cubs a few goto Bible verses and keep walking or should you slowly back away and walk the other direction.
Healthy fear can heighten and sharpen your senses. Some people call it common sense others call it fear, but there is a true that when we approach a certain situation that we need to listen to our senses and remove ourself from that situation.
I have a healthy fear of the IRS. I know that if I don’t do my taxes right, they will come knocking on my door. That is why I have an accountant do my taxes. I pay the man or woman in my case and I have a knowledge that it is done right. That is a healthy fear.
It is also important to note that as followers of Christ, a healthy fear of the Lord is not only beneficial, it’s biblical.
7 The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and instruction.
David says in Psalm 5:7
7 But I, by your great love, can come into your house; in reverence I bow down toward your holy temple.
Solomon adds in Proverbs 9:10
10 The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.
David had a healthy fear of the Lord throughout his life and Solomon knew the fear of the Lord was the beginning of both knowledge and wisdom. Divine reverence brings godly understanding.
Godly fear and reverence is about acknowledging the proper place of the Lord as the divine creator and sustainer of the entire cosmos. As we move now to discuss unhealthy fear, make a note that it’s proper place is in the hands of this same almighty God, who has given us strength through his son Jesus to be free from the grip of unrighteous fear.
2. Unhealthy Fear
2. Unhealthy Fear
The second type of fear is unhealthy fear. If you let it, unhealthy fear can paralyze and stagnate you. This is not God’s heart for you.
Remember what Paul said in our text.
7 For the Spirit God gave us does not make us timid, but gives us power, love and self-discipline.
Hear me when I say this. God wants you to grow. Not only in your relationship with Him, but He also wants you to grow with your church, in your relationships with other believers, and ultimately in faith.
This journey is often called the process of sanctification and is described frequently throughout the New Testament. Look at what Paul wrote in his first letter to the church at Thessalonica.
3 It is God’s will that you should be sanctified: that you should avoid sexual immorality;
And look at what James wrote in his letter to the church in Jerusalem.
2 Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds,
3 because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance.
4 Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.
God wants us to persevere, to finish the race so that we will be mature and complete, not lacking anything. This process can be a costly one, and there are many potential problems and obstacles that could incite fear. Early church members faced all kinds of ridicule and persecution which would occasionally lead to death. Today, I can’t say that we fear death in this country, but the potential is there to experience ridicule, bullying, and even being places as an outcast to society because of your faith in Christ.
And don’t forget that Ephesians reminds us that our battles are not against flesh and blood, but against principalities and powers of the dark world. There is an evil force that is against us just because we are Christians. It is in the face of both earthly and eternal enemies that the Lord would remind us to fear not.
In the last series we did we read in Matthew 5:11
11 “Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me.
Fear can rob you of your joy and paralyze you from moving forward into all that God has called you to. Instead of a spirit of fear, you have been given a spirit of power, of love, and of self-discipline. Let’s take a moment and look at these three words and see how they can help to strengthen your faith.
1. Power
1. Power
The Greek word for power here is the same for the word power in Acts 1:8
8 But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”
It is dynamis which is where we get the word dynamite. Think about dynamite for a minute. When it explodes you know it. It is a big and sudden boom. This kind of power leaves no room for fear or doubt. When a believer has the Holy Spirit working in and through them there is nothing that cannot be accomplished in accordance to the will of God. Plus, here is something to think about.
11 And if the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead is living in you, he who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies because of his Spirit who lives in you.
If you are experiencing unhealthy fear that is hindering you from experiencing the life in Christ that you are destined to live, then you need to check yourself, and remember that you were given a spirit of power; Miracle working, death-defying, grave robing power in Christ to do all things in accordance with the will of God.
2. Love
2. Love
Many of you know this word in the Greek. It is agape. It is also the same word that is used in 1 John 4:18
18 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.
When we walk in a spirit of love, as Christ did, unhealthy fear is driven far away from us. Jesus walked to the cross in a spirit of love and we can assume that he walked out of the grave in the same empowered spirit. And this is the same spirit that is alive in you. So, remember the next time you’re experiencing fear or any of it’s associates like anxiety, worry, or doubt, then check yourself to make sure you’re walking in a spirit of love.
3. Self-Discipline
3. Self-Discipline
Does anyone else here struggle with self-discipline?
It takes a lot of discipline to recognize fear and deal with it appropriately. It’s simply easier to let it, go shrug it off, and just call it a fact of life. The issue is, it’s not a fact of the life God has for you in Christ. Paul makes it a point to list this with the other two in our text. Discipline is an imperative ingredient in the process of sanctification. We need discipline to take the time necessary to accurately diagnose the fear we’re experiencing and even more discipline to deal with it.
God knows exactly what we need. He knew we needed all three ingredients on this side of Heaven. And for all of us who struggle with self-discipline don’t forget that this is an area where you have been given power through the spirit to experience victory.
So, after we have looked at unhealthy fear, I believe that you would agree with me that it is very destructive in our lives. As a matter of fact, it is so destructive that Paul points out to Timothy that we need power, love and self-discipline to overcome it. We desperately need the discipline to check ourselves throughout the day. We need discipline to form new habits in identifying healthy fear from unhealthy fear and we need abundant power and love in our responses.
This morning I want to ask everyone to stand with me. Maybe you are dealing with fears in your life that are unhealthy. Whatever those fears are I want to pray for you. If you are struggling with any fear, let me pray for you. If your fear is coming up here for prayer ask the person next to you to come up here with you.
God doesn’t want you to live in an unhealthy fear. God wants to set you free and help you walk in victory. He has given you a spirit of power, love and self-discipline or as other translations put it, a sound mind. You can walk out of here today with a sound mind. God wants to remove that fear from your life, but you have to take the first step and let him.
Do it now!
I’m going to pray and then when I say amen I want you to come and let me pray for you.