The Fear Factor!

A couple of weeks ago we looked at the topic of Are you Paralyzed? Now we all have heard of or maybe even known someone who is or has been physically paralyzed. May through an accident or a disease. They have lost the use of a part of their body or maybe even all of their body! not able to move on their own.

But there’s another definition of the word paralyze and that is: to make powerless or ineffective. That’s what we looked at a couple of weeks ago and found these points to help us.

Whatever Snuck Up On You, God Can Heal!

God Can Use Unconventional Ways to Set You Free!

No Matter How “Paralyzed” You Are, Get to Jesus!

Today I want to look at one of the most paralyzing things that plays havoc with us, FEAR! We will discover the one thing we need to always remember that will give us the ability to keep moving no matter what we face in life!

Joshua 1:1–9 NLT

1 After the death of Moses the Lord’s servant, the Lord spoke to Joshua son of Nun, Moses’ assistant. He said, 2 “Moses my servant is dead. Therefore, the time has come for you to lead these people, the Israelites, across the Jordan River into the land I am giving them. 3 I promise you what I promised Moses: ‘Wherever you set foot, you will be on land I have given you—4 from the Negev wilderness in the south to the Lebanon mountains in the north, from the Euphrates River in the east to the Mediterranean Sea in the west, including all the land of the Hittites.’ 5 No one will be able to stand against you as long as you live. For I will be with you as I was with Moses. I will not fail you or abandon you. 6 “Be strong and courageous, for you are the one who will lead these people to possess all the land I swore to their ancestors I would give them. 7 Be strong and very courageous. Be careful to obey all the instructions Moses gave you. Do not deviate from them, turning either to the right or to the left. Then you will be successful in everything you do. 8 Study this Book of Instruction continually. Meditate on it day and night so you will be sure to obey everything written in it. Only then will you prosper and succeed in all you do. 9 This is my command—be strong and courageous! Do not be afraid or discouraged. For the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.”

Sometimes the magnitude of the assignment paralyzes us with fear!

Just for a minute imagine you have to take the place of Moses. Jared reminded us last week of just how unreal Moses was. He called the plagues on Egypt. Took the Israelites through the Red Sea and saw the entire Egyptian army be destroyed! Threw a stick in the bitter waters and it became pure. Struck a rock with his staff and water came out. Met with God on Mount Sinai. And on and on and on, we hear of just how powerful Moses was. Now he’s gone and you’re up to bat. Paralyzing. But God was with Joshua the same way He was with Moses. And it wasn’t really Moses who did any of that anyway!

Isaiah 41:8–13 AMP

8 But you, Israel, My servant, Jacob, whom I have chosen, the offspring of Abraham My friend, 9 You whom I [the Lord] have taken from the ends of the earth and have called from the corners of it, and said to you, You are My servant—I have chosen you and not cast you off [even though you are exiled]. 10 Fear not [there is nothing to fear], for I am with you; do not look around you in terror and be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen and harden you to difficulties, yes, I will help you; yes, I will hold you up and retain you with My [victorious] right hand of rightness and justice. 11 Behold, all they who are enraged and inflamed against you shall be put to shame and confounded; they who strive against you shall be as nothing and shall perish. 12 You shall seek those who contend with you but shall not find them; they who war against you shall be as nothing, as nothing at all. 13 For I the Lord your God hold your right hand; I am the Lord, Who says to you, Fear not; I will help you!

Being surrounded by enemies can create paralyzing fear!

If we really think about it, we too, like Israel, are surrounded by people who want to contend with us. Our spiritual view is the exact opposite of the world’s view on things. What we think is important based on God’s word is deemed more dangerous to society than anything else. This can paralyze the Christians into becoming ineffective in ministry. Now I’m not talking about church outreach or church services. I’m talking about the Christian that goes to work, lives in a neighborhood, takes their kids to school and does the normal everyday life activities.

We can become so paralyzed with fear that we stop advancing and circle up the wagons and be paralyzed with fear of what the “world” will do to us! Instead of going into all the world, we “encourage” everyone to separate and protect ourselves from the world and therefore become paralyzed. But here we see that God says don’t be afraid. He’s on our side!

2 Kings 6:8–23 (NIV)

8 Now the king of Aram was at war with Israel. After conferring with his officers, he said, “I will set up my camp in such and such a place.”

9 The man of God sent word to the king of Israel: “Beware of passing that place, because the Arameans are going down there.”

10 So the king of Israel checked on the place indicated by the man of God. Time and again Elisha warned the king, so that he was on his guard in such places.

11 This enraged the king of Aram. He summoned his officers and demanded of them, “Tell me! Which of us is on the side of the king of Israel?”

12“None of us, my lord the king,” said one of his officers, “but Elisha, the prophet who is in Israel, tells the king of Israel the very words you speak in your bedroom.”

13“Go, find out where he is,” the king ordered, “so I can send men and capture him.” The report came back: “He is in Dothan.”

14 Then he sent horses and chariots and a strong force there. They went by night and surrounded the city.

15 When the servant of the man of God got up and went out early the next morning, an army with horses and chariots had surrounded the city. “Oh no, my lord! What shall we do?” the servant asked.

16“Don’t be afraid,” the prophet answered. “Those who are with us are more than those who are with them.”

17 And Elisha prayed, “Open his eyes, Lord, so that he may see.” Then the Lord opened the servant’s eyes, and he looked and saw the hills full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha.

18 As the enemy came down toward him, Elisha prayed to the Lord, “Strike this army with blindness.” So he struck them with blindness, as Elisha had asked.

19 Elisha told them, “This is not the road and this is not the city. Follow me, and I will lead you to the man you are looking for.” And he led them to Samaria.

20 After they entered the city, Elisha said, “Lord, open the eyes of these men so they can see.” Then the Lord opened their eyes and they looked, and there they were, inside Samaria.

21 When the king of Israel saw them, he asked Elisha, “Shall I kill them, my father? Shall I kill them?”

22“Do not kill them,” he answered. “Would you kill those you have captured with your own sword or bow? Set food and water before them so that they may eat and drink and then go back to their master.”

23 So he prepared a great feast for them, and after they had finished eating and drinking, he sent them away, and they returned to their master. So the bands from Aram stopped raiding Israel’s territory.

Looking at things in the natural cause fear!

When we only see things with our natural eyesight, fear is a result. We watch the news and fear enters in. Why? Because the news only reports newsworthy news. Newsworthy is a fancy word for negative. Negative news creates fear. Elisha’s servant was watching the news. He was seeing them surrounded by the enemy. He saw things in the natural with his eyes. Elisha’s eyes were on the supernatural, the things of God. He didn’t see the enemy, He saw the power of God and that there were way more with them than against them.

A few years ago, we had the opportunity to spend a few days in New York City on our way to Orlando for General Council. We stayed in a hotel is Hells Kitchen New York. Now if I had filled my thinking with episodes of Law and Order SVU and Blue Bloods, I would be paralyzed and not have enjoyed our few days in NYC. But we stayed at an awesome hotel that all the Hawaiian Airlines crew stays at and we got to see some of the famous sites and have dinner with a couple that pastors in NYC. There were more with us than against us.

Matthew 8:23–27 TPT

23 They all got into a boat and began to cross over to the other side of the lake. And Jesus, exhausted, fell asleep. 24 Suddenly a violent storm developed, with waves so high the boat was about to be swamped. Yet Jesus continued to sleep soundly. 25 The disciples woke him up, saying, “Save us, Lord! We’re going to die!” 26 But Jesus reprimanded them. “Why are you gripped with fear? Where is your faith?” Then he stood up and rebuked the storm and said, “Be still!” And instantly it became perfectly calm. 27 The disciples were astonished by this miracle and said to one another, “Who is this Man? Even the wind and waves obey his Word.”

Here’s the antidote for fear, God is with us!

Here we see that the disciples were in the boat and a storm arose. Where was Jesus? Sleeping through the storm. The wake Him because they were afraid, and He scolds them for their lack of faith and rebuked the storm and all is calm. Instead of looking at the fierceness of the storm, they should’ve looked at the calmness of Jesus.

In all of these scriptures that we looked at, the win came from realizing that God was with them. He was with Joshua, with Israel, with Elisha and with the disciples. He is with us too! So here’s some questions we need to ask ourselves in every single situation of life. Are we looking at circumstances? Are we relying on our own strength or abilities? Or are we really looking to God and what He can do? I even have to check if I’m praying out of my own ability or am I ready to do what He says even if it blows my mind?

Proverbs 3:5–8 NKJV

5 Trust in the Lord with all your heart, And lean not on your own understanding; 6 In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He shall direct your paths. 7 Do not be wise in your own eyes; Fear the Lord and depart from evil. 8 It will be health to your flesh, And strength to your bones.