The bible talks about “Fear” more than 500+ times and “Fear Not”, some believe it’s mentioned 365 times in the bible and could be used for 365 Days .
Two explorers were on a jungle safari when suddenly a ferocious lion jumped in front of them. “Keep calm FEAR NOT” the first explorer whispered. “Remember what we read in that book on wild animals? If you stand perfectly still and look the lion in the eye, he will turn and run.” “Sure,” replied his companion. “You’ve read the book, and I’ve read the book. But has the lion read the book?”
We are all like the second explorer .We all Fear about something but God says Fear Not and we need to overcome this fear. We are doing a 4 week series on Overcoming and Today we are going to see how to overcome Fear.
I believe that there will be transformation of Hearts. During this one month, with the help of God, NHC will become overcomers. We are going to look at this in 3 different steps:
- What is Fear?
- What has caused this Fear?
- How to overcome this Fear?
We all have Fears in Life. Fear of Failures, Fear of lack of Provision, Fear of Persecution, Fear of Identity, Fear of Situation. We will face all these challenges, but we are called to be overcomers.
- Fear of Failures
What if we Fail, we are used to failures so much in Life that whatever we do , we feel that we will fail in our lives. We will lose things in life but God is saying this day to overcome this “fear of failures” and FEAR NOT.
Let us look from the Life of Gideon. Judges Chapter 6:12-13
12 When the angel of the Lord appeared to Gideon, he said, “The Lord is with you, mighty warrior.”
13 “Pardon me, my lord,” Gideon replied, “but if the Lord is with us, why has all this happened to us? Where are all his wonders that our ancestors told us about when they said, ‘Did not the Lord bring us up out of Egypt?’ But now the Lord has abandoned us and given us into the hand of Midian.”
A. FEAR : What is the Fear?
As per Gideon , The Lord has abandoned him , his family , his community. Don’t call me a mighty warrior, Gideon said. The Lord has abandoned us.
B. CAUSE : What has caused this Fear?
Judges 6:
for seven years he gave them into the hands of the Midianites. 2 Because the power of Midian was so oppressive, the Israelites prepared shelters for themselves in mountain clefts, caves and strongholds. 3 Whenever the Israelites planted their crops, the Midianites, Amalekites and other eastern peoples invaded the country. 4 They camped on the land and ruined the crops all the way to Gaza and did not spare a living thing for Israel, neither sheep nor cattle nor donkeys. 5 They came up with their livestock and their tents like swarms of locusts. It was impossible to count them or their camels; they invaded the land to ravage it. 6 Midian so impoverished the Israelites that they cried out to the Lord for help
All there efforts were in Vain. They did not see any fruit of their work.
C. FEAR NOT : How to overcome this Fear?
Deuteronomy 31:6
6 Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the Lord your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you.”
Today our God is promising us, Do not fear of failures. Continue , don’t give up and keep pursuing . The Lord God is going before you.
- Fear of Lack of Provision :
Provision can be anything, a lack in our daily needs. It can be a good Jeans or an owned house or lack of Food. To put it in a simpler way, it’s a Lack in our basic needs like FOOD , CLOTHING & SHELTER
Are we facing Fear because of lack of provision.
Let us look from the life of the Widow of Zarephath 1 kings 17: 12
12 “As surely as the Lord your God lives,” she replied, “I don’t have any bread—only a handful of flour in a jar and a little olive oil in a jug. I am gathering a few sticks to take home and make a meal for myself and my son, that we may eat it—and die.”
A. FEAR : What is the Fear?
I don’t have any bread—only a handful of flour in a jar and a little olive oil in a jug
Currently when we look at our provision , we feel so feared. It’s handful, what about our children fees, what about our EMI and we feel so feared.
B. CAUSE : What has caused this Fear?
As the Lord, the God of Israel, lives, whom I serve, there will be neither dew nor rain in the next few years except at my word.
There was a prophesy , There will not be any rain. So there was no way the widow had any hope of provision.
C. FEAR NOT : How to overcome this Fear?
Luke 12:6-7
Are not five sparrows sold for two pennies? And not one of them is forgotten before God. Why, even the hairs of your head are all numbered. Fear not; you are of more value than many sparrows.
We need to trust God that he is our provider. We need to understand that all our provision only comes from him not by our work , our efforts. Is he who provides us.
- Fear of Persecution
We fear being persecuted . We fear losing our lives. A Fear of Death
Let us learn from the life of Disciples , Matthew 26:56
56 But this has all taken place that the writings of the prophets might be fulfilled.” Then all the disciples deserted him and fled.
3 Years they were all together but they deserted him.
A. FEAR : What is the Fear?
Fear of being recognised as the disciples of Jesus so they fled. They were afraid to testify that they were with Jesus or they believe in Jesus.
69 Now Peter was sitting out in the courtyard, and a servant girl came to him. “You also were with Jesus of Galilee,” she said.
70 But he denied it before them all. “I don’t know what you’re talking about,” he said.
B. CAUSE : What has caused this Fear?
All of them denied because of fear of death or being persecuted.
C. FEAR NOT : How to overcome this Fear?
Psalm 23:4
Even 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.
We have to trust God that he will save us , protect us and we need to testify about Jesus wherever possible because God is with us.
- Fear of Identity
Fear of identity is caused when we are insecure about who we are. There is a fear which grips us, and we feel so insecure because of the other person. Maybe the other person has better talent than us, he/she is an influencer and we forget who we are in Christ. A unique personality.
Let us learn from the life of Saul, 1 Samuel 18:7-9
7 As they danced, they sang:
“Saul has slain his thousands,
and David his tens of thousands.”
8 Saul was very angry; this refrain displeased him greatly. “They have credited David with tens of thousands,” he thought, “but me with only thousands. What more can he get but the kingdom?” 9 And from that time on Saul kept a close eye on David.
A. FEAR : What is the Fear?
Fear of loosing his kingship & kingdom to David (verse 8 , What more can he get but the kingdom)
B. CAUSE : What has caused this Fear?
When he heard Praises from Others for David. He felt so insecure and there was fear of losing his identity.
C. FEAR NOT : How to overcome this Fear?
1 Peter 2:9
But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light.
Our Identity is in Christ Alone. We need to be secure in his calling , his purpose. We need to be more worried of what Christ thinks about us than what people think about us.
- Fear of Situation
When there are circumstances, challenges & difficult situations. We have fear of how to face it .
Matthew 8:23-25
23 Then he got into the boat and his disciples followed him. 24 Suddenly a furious storm came up on the lake, so that the waves swept over the boat. But Jesus was sleeping. 25 The disciples went and woke him, saying, “Lord, save us! We’re going to drown!”
A. FEAR : What is the Fear?
Suddenly a furious storm came up on the lake. Everything was good but suddenly everything changed. All was well, the climate was well , things were so good and everything was so good in my family but everything just changed because of a situation.
B. CAUSE : What has caused this Fear?
so that the waves swept over the boat. Initially there was a storm but now it started coming inside the boat and it started affecting them . The waves / storm started affecting our life , our family.
C. FEAR NOT : How to overcome this Fear?
Faith in that Storm , however furious it may look like? We need to stand still and know that our God is in Control.
We can overcome this fear by Faith. Jesus said in that same verse . 26 He replied, “You of little faith, why are you so afraid?”
Romans 8:18
For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us.
Let us Read Psalm 23 the backbone of overcoming all our fears. We always need to remind us about this Psalm EVERYDAY
1 The Lord is my shepherd, I lack nothing.
2 He makes me lie down in green pastures,
he leads me beside quiet waters,
3 he refreshes my soul.
He guides me along the right paths
for his name’s sake.
4 Even though I walk
through the darkest valley,[a]
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 overflows.
6 Surely your goodness and love will follow me
all the days of my life,
and I will dwell in the house of the Lord
forever.
Virjil Selvan is Pastoring the New Hope Community. The New Hope Community is situated in the heart of the city between Old and New Panvel. We can confidently share that New Hope Community is a Church in Kamothe, Church in Khandeshwar, Church in Khanda Colony, Church in Panvel, Church in New Panvel because we are centrally located and these places surround our church Venue.
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