Fear (finished copy)

Before I get into the main topic today, let’s have a little refresher

IF YOU HAVE YOUR BIBLE WITH YOU TODAY, PLEASE TAKE IT AND HOLD IT UP HIGH SO EVERYONE CAN SEE IT! (Now you can put it down)

I HAVE A QUESTION FOR ALL OF US: DO WE REALLY UNDERSTAND WHAT WE HAVE WHEN WE HOLD THE BIBLE IN OUR HANDS?

TURN TO

2 TIMOTHY 3:16-17

16 All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, 17 that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work.[1]

INSPIRATION (THEO-PNEUSTOS) IS UNDERSTOOD TO MEAN THE AIR THAT WAS PHYSICALLY EXPELLED OUT OF THE LUNGS OF GOD. (GOD BREATHED)

Genesis 2:7

7 And the LORD God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living being.

John 20:21-22

So Jesus said to them again, “Peace to you! As the Father has sent Me, I also send you.” 22 And when He had said this, He breathed on them, and said to them, “Receive the Holy Spirit.

THE BIBLE IS

Profitable for doctrine 2. for Reproof 3. for Correction

4. for instruction in righteousness 5. that we may be equipped for every good work

WE MUST UNDERSTAND THIS BECAUSE THE BIBLE IS THE FOUNDATION OF OUR FAITH FOR SALVATION AND DAILY LIVING.

Main Sermon Ephesians 6:10-13

The BIBLE TELLS us that there is a Spiritual War raging in the world every day AND SATAN leads his evil forces against GOD AND His Church (which is the individual believers).

There is a tactic that Satan has used since the beginning of this war and it has spread throughout the world like a wildfire over the past couple of years. This tactic has continued to leave destruction in its path. The following is a list of some of the damage:

uneasiness, nervousness, being anxious, division, broken marriages, loss of employment, financial devastation, loss of community and fellowship, isolation, lack of trust, mental illness, depression, imprisonment, illnesses, suicides, death.

We can thank COVID-19 for putting a bright spotlight on Satan’s Tactic for us to see, if we are willing to open our eyes and observe.

I want to read a scientific report that was published by the University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland in September 2021 ABOUT COVID19, see if you can identify the TACTIC Satan uses by name after listening.

***READ SCIENTIFIC REPORT University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland

Have you identified the Tactic? It is FEAR! But WHAT IS FEAR?

Emotional foreboding or dread of impending distress or misfortune.

Fear is the most constricting emotion. Fear ranges from uneasiness to insecurity, with threats to one’s physical and/or psychological self. Intense Fear constricts perception, thinking, and motor processes. The frightened person wants to escape from the threat, this conflict may cause one to freeze or panic........

Let’s turn to Genesis Chapter 3:1-10, here we see the first time FEAR is seen in the world!

Here we see Adam and Eve experiencing a NEW EMOTION THAT THEY WERE NOT CREATED TO KNOW!

WHAT ABOUT THESE FEARS?

1. FEAR of Failure 2. FEAR of being Rejected 3. FEAR of being Disliked 4. FEAR of your Past 5. FEAR of the Future 6. FEAR to step out of your Comfort Zone 7.FEAR to Teach 8. FEAR to Share your Faith

TURN TO:

2 Timothy 1:7

For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.[2]

Here Paul is encouraging youthful Timothy in his ministry. Timothy was a timid shy young man.

Paul instructs young Timothy that God does not give US A SPIRIT OF FEAR! *FEAR IS THE COMPLETE OPPOSITE OF FAITH! FEAR IS SIN.....

Lets take a journey through the Bible AND get a glimpse of a command from God that He has repeated over and over and over!

Gen 15:1 the first time God gives this command.

After these things the word of the LORD came to Abram in a vision, saying, “Do not be afraid, Abram. I am your shield, your exceedingly great reward.”

Exodus 14:13

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.

Deuteronomy 20:1-4

1 “When you go out to battle against your enemies, and see horses and chariots and people more numerous than you, do not be afraid of them; for the LORD your God is with you, who brought you up from the land of Egypt. 2 So it shall be, when you are on the verge of battle, that the priest shall approach and speak to the people. 3 And he shall say to them, ‘Hear, O Israel: Today you are on the verge of battle with your enemies. Do not let your heart faint, do not be afraid, and do not tremble or be terrified because of them; 4 for the LORD your God is He who goes with you, to fight for you against your enemies, to save you.’

2 Chronicles 20:15

15 And he said, “Listen, all you of Judah and you inhabitants of Jerusalem, and you, King Jehoshaphat! Thus says the LORD to you: ‘Do not be afraid nor dismayed because of this great multitude, for the battle is not yours, but God’s.

Psalm 23

1 The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.

2 He makes me to lie down in green pastures;

He leads me beside the still waters.

3 He restores my soul;

He leads me in the paths of righteousness

For His name’s sake.

4 Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,

I will fear no evil;

For You are with me;

Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me.

5 You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies;

You anoint my head with oil;

My cup runs over.

6 Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me

All the days of my life;

And I will dwell in the house of the Lord

Forever.[3]

Psalm 56:11

11 In God I have put my trust;

I will not be afraid.

What can man do to me?

New Testament

Matthew 14:25-28

25 Now in the fourth watch of the night Jesus went to them, walking on the sea. 26 And when the disciples saw Him walking on the sea, they were troubled, saying, “It is a ghost!” And they cried out for fear.

27 But immediately Jesus spoke to them, saying, “Be of good cheer! It is I; do not be afraid.”

28 And Peter answered Him and said, “Lord, if it is You, command me to come to You on the water.”

Luke 5:9-11

9 For he and all who were with him were astonished at the catch of fish which they had taken; 10 and so also were James and John, the sons of Zebedee, who were partners with Simon. And Jesus said to Simon, “Do not be afraid. From now on you will catch men.” 11 So when they had brought their boats to land, they forsook all and followed Him.

John 14:27

27 Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.

1 Peter 3:14

14 But even if you should suffer for righteousness’ sake, you are blessed. “And do not be afraid of their threats, nor be troubled.”

Revelation 1:17

17 And when I saw Him, I fell at His feet as dead. But He laid His right hand on me, saying to me, “Do not be afraid; I am the First and the Last.

GOD commands us to NOT BE AFRAID or FEAR NOT! There are well over 365 times throughout scripture you will see God state this, plenty for one a Day!

NEXT:

We see Jesus’ disciples growing from little Faith to great Faith

Matthew 14:28-31

28 And Peter answered Him and said, “Lord, if it is You, command me to come to You on the water.”

29 So He said, “Come.” And when Peter had come down out of the boat, he walked on the water to go to Jesus. 30 But when he saw that the wind was boisterous, he was afraid; and beginning to sink he cried out, saying, “Lord, save me!”

31 And immediately Jesus stretched out His hand and caught him, and said to him, “O you of little faith, why did you doubt?” 32 And when they got into the boat, the wind ceased.[4]

As Peter grew and matured in his Faith he was able to serve his Lord to his death, he requested that he be crucified upside down because he was unworthy to die like his Savior.

11 OF THE 12 APOSTLES FOLLOWED THE LORD IN FAITH TO A MARTYR’S DEATH.

So how do we obtain Great Faith like the APOSTLE’S and not have a spirit of fear?

let’s go to

Romans 10:17 So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.[5]

Faith comes by hearing (preaching, reading the Word(breath) of God! **You will never have Faith until you hear from God!

**The apostles’ journey in Faith came over a three year period of hearing from God. Walking with Christ, listening to the Word of God in flesh. They walked through ups and downs in life, but THEIR FAITH CONTINUED TO BLOSSOM AND GROW!

AND BACK IN 2 TIMOTHY 1:7-8

WE SEE EXACTLY WHAT THEY CLAIMED BY FAITH TO RUN THEIR RACE IN THIS LIFE:

1. Faith in God, to take HIM AT HIS WORD!

2. BY FAITH CLAIM HIS POWER (we posses the power unto Salvation!)

3. BY FAITH CLAIM HIS PERFECT LOVE (God is Perfect Love)

Everything we do should be done in Love, we love because He first loved us!

4. BY FAITH CLAIM A SOUND MIND (SELF DISCIPLINE)

WHEN FEAR KNOCKS AT YOUR DOOR ANSWER THE DOOR WITH FAITH!

I WANT TO CLOSE WITH

1 JOHN 4:18

JOHN ASSURES US THAT TRUE BELIEVERS DO NOT HAVE TO FEAR THE COMING TORMENT OF THE JUDGEMENT TO COME, BUT THOSE THAT ARE STILL DEAD IN THEIR SINS ARE TORMENTED ABOUT THE JUDGEMENT TO COME.

[5] The New King James Version. (1982). (Ro 10:17). Nashville: Thomas Nelson.