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C. BOSTIAN OVERCOMING FEAR PT.2 FEB.17, 2002

Isa 43:1

But now, this is what the LORD says--he who created you, O Jacob, he who formed you, O Israel: "Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have summoned you by name; you are mine.

2 Tim 1:6-9

6 Therefore I remind you to stir up the gift of God which is in you through the

laying on of my hands. 7 For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of

power and of love and of a sound mind. 8 Therefore do not be ashamed of the

testimony of our Lord, nor of me His prisoner, but share with me in the sufferings

for the gospel according to the power of God, 9 who has saved us and called us

with a holy calling, not according to our works, but according to His own

purpose and grace which was given to us in Christ Jesus before time began…

LAST WEEK I BEGAN A NEW SERIES ENTITLED OVERCOMING FEAR. EVER SINCE SPET. 11 PEOPLE IN OUR NATION HAVE HAD TO COME TO TERMS WITH FEAR. King David, who wrote Psalm 27, probably knew more about FEAR than many of us. For the earlier part of his life, he was often on the run for his life. One attack came after another. Initially hiding from King Saul, who wanted him dead. Later on, his life was threatened by his own son Absalom. And yet through it all, he learnED to overcome his fears by placing his trust in God. LET’S READ PSA.27

Ps 27:1-6

1 The LORD is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? the LORD is the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid? 2 When the wicked, even mine enemies and my foes, came upon me to eat up my flesh, they stumbled and fell.

3 Though an host should encamp against me, my heart shall not fear: though war should rise against me, in this will I be confident. 4 One thing have I desired of the LORD, that will I seek after; that I may dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life, to behold the beauty of the LORD, and to inquire in his temple. 5 For in the time of trouble he shall hide me in his pavilion: in the secret of his tabernacle shall he hide me; he shall set me up upon a rock. 6 And now shall mine head be lifted up above mine enemies round about me: therefore will I offer in his tabernacle sacrifices of joy; I will sing, yea, I will sing praises unto the LORD.

ILLUSTRATION: One summer night during a severe thunderstorm a mother was tucking her small son into bed. She was about to turn the light off when he asked in a trembling voice, "Mommy, will you stay with me all night?" Smiling, the mother gave him a warm, reassuring hug and said tenderly, "I can’t dear. I have to sleep in Daddy’s room." A long silence followed. At last it was broken by a shaky voice saying, "The big sissy!"

ILLUSTRATION: There are a lot of things you and I are afraid of. I found a list of phobias that I thought would to share with you this morning. Cyberphobia: fear of computers; Ecclesiophobia: fear of church; Lunaphobia: fear of the moon; Astraphobia: fear of lightning; Chrometophobia: fear of money; Europhobia: fear of the color red; Homilphobia: fear of sermons; Triskaidekaphobia: fear of the #13, Peladophobia: fear of baldness, Phobophobia: fear of

fear.

FEAR IS A PARALYZING AND DEABILITATING EMOTION THAT RUINS PEOPLES LIVES AND SETS THEM ON A COURSE OF SELF DESTRUCTION, DEPRESSION, ANXIETY, STRESS AND LOSS OF HEALTH AND WELL BEING. The current fears many in this room experience include the fear of disapproval, the fear of inadequacy, the fear of unemployment, the fear of THE UNKNOWN, the fear of future terrorist attacks, the fear of biochemical warfare, the fear of certain illnesses, and the fear of death. ONE OF THE MAJOR COMPONENTS OF OUR FAITH IN CHRIST GIVES US THE ASSURANCE OF ETERNAL LIFE AND VICTORY OVER THE FEAR OF DEATH.

Heb 2:14-15

14 Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, he also himself likewise took part of the same; that through death he might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil; 15 And deliver them who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage.

1 Cor 15:52-58

52 In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.

53 For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality. 54 So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory. 55 O death, where is thy sting?

O grave, where is thy victory? 56 The sting of death is sin; and the strength

of sin is the law. 57 But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory

through our Lord Jesus Christ.58 Therefore, my beloved brethren,

be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord,

forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord.

YES, BELIEVING IN CHRIST CAN GIVE YOU VICTORY OVER THE FEAR OF DEATH AS WELL AS THE CONFIDENCE AND COURAGE TO LIVE AN AVENTEROUS FAITH FILLED LIFE. WEBSTER DEFINES FEAR AS: A FEELING OF ANXIETY AND AGITATION CAUSED BY THE PRESENCE OR NEARNESS OF DANGER, EVIL, PAIN. What are the different types of fear? A. Paralyzing fear - makes a person incapable of doing what he should. (Ex 13 & 14)
B. Protective fear - fear of real danger that causes one to take appropriate and necessary caution.
C. Illogical fear - fear when there is no basis for the fear. ·(Prov 28:1) The wicked man flees though no one pursues, but the righteous are as bold as a lion.

NOW THERE IS A LIST OF SYNONYMS THAT WILL HELP US TO UNDERSTAND VARYING DEGREES OF FEAR: DREAD REFERS TO FEAR OR DEPRESSION FELT IN ANTICIPATING SOMETHING DANGEROUS OR DISAGREEABLE. FRIGHT, APPLIES TO A SUDDEN, SHOCKING USUALLY MOMENTARY AND UNEXPECTED FEAR. TERROR APPLIES TO AN OVERWHELMING AND OFTEN PARALYZING FEAR. AND PANIC REFERS TO A FRANTIC, UNREASONING FEAR, OFTEN ONE THAT SPREADS QUICKLY AND LEADS TO IRRATIONAL AND AIMLESS ACTIONS. THE FACT OF THE MATTER IS THAT GOD HAS CALLED US TO A PURPOSEFUL LIFE AND NOT ONE OF AIMLESS ACTION. WE ARE TO BE STEDFAST, UNMOVEABLE AND ALWAYS ABOUNDING IN THEM WORK OF THE LORD. WE KNOW THAT GOD HAS NOT GIVEN US A SPIRIT OF FEAR BECAUSE HE WILL ASK US TO DO THINGS WE’VE NEVER DONE BEFORE AND GO PLACES WE’VE NEVER BEEN BEFORE AND THAT WILL REQUIRE FAITH, CONFIDENCE AND COURAGE. WE WILL HAVE TO LEAVE OUR COMFORT ZONES AND THAT WILL REQUIRE FAITH IN GOD AND HIS PROMISES.

2 Cor 1:20-22

20 For all the promises of God in him are yea, and in him Amen, unto the glory of God by us. 21 Now he which stablisheth us with you in Christ, and hath anointed us, is God; 22 Who hath also sealed us, and given the earnest of the Spirit in our hearts.

1Thes 5:23-24

23 And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly; and I pray God your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.

24 Faithful is he that calleth you, who also will do it.

II Th 3:3

3But the Lord is faithful, who shall stablish you, and keep you from evil.

One of the major causes for fear IS A DISTORTED PERSPECTIVE.

A woman in Arkansas was sitting in her car in a parking lot last year when she heard a loud bang and then felt a sharp pain in the back of her head. She was holding her hands behind her head when someone walked by and asked, "Are you OK?" The woman answered, "I’ve been shot in the head, and I’m holding my brains in."Well, it wasn’t her brains. It was dough. A Pillsbury biscuit canister had exploded in the back seat, apparently from the heat, making a loud explosion and shooting the dough into the back of the woman’s head.

Sometimes our fears are like that ladies. They are unfounded and irrational. ITS ALL A MATTER OF PERSPECTIVE. YOU SEE, PERSPECTIVE IS A SPECIFIC POINT OF VIEW IN UNDERSTANDING AND JUDGING THINGS OR EVENTS AS THEY RELATE TO US. NOW IF OUR PERSPECTIVE IS WRONG THEN WE WILL COME UP WITH A NEGATIVE PERSPECTIVE. PERSPECTIVE DETERMINES HOW YOU WILL RESPOND TO LIFE’S CIRCUMSTANCES. PERSPECTIVE IS THE ABILITY TO SORT OUT WHAT IS IMPORTANT AND WHAT’S NOT. AN UNHELATHY FEAR IS THE RESULT OF A PERSPECTIVE THAT IS OUT OF KILTER OR OUT OF BALANCE. SO GOD COMMANDS HIS PEOPLE THROUGHOUT THE SCRIPTURE NOT TO LIVE IN THE FEAR OF WHAT MIGHT HAPPEN BEASUE IT IS USUALLY BASED ON THE LIMITED KNOWLEDGE OF INFORMATION AT HAND. ALL OF WHICH MAY BE OUT OF FOCUS AND OUT OF PERSPECTIVE. WE MIGHT SAY THAT THERE ARE REALLY ONLY 2 PERSPECTIVES: FEAR OR FAITH.

2 Cor 5:6-7

6 Therefore we are always confident, knowing that, whilst we are at home in the body, we are absent from the Lord: 7 (For we walk by faith, not by sight:)

James 1:5-8

5 If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him. 6 But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering. For he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed. 7 For let not that man think that he shall receive any thing of the Lord.

8 A double minded man is unstable in all his ways.

Gal 3:11

11 But that no man is justified by the law in the sight of God, it is evident: for, The just shall live by faith.

Heb 10:38-39

38 Now the just shall live by faith: but if any man draw back, my soul shall have no pleasure in him. 39 But we are not of them who draw back unto perdition; but of them that believe to the saving of the soul.

GOD TELLS US THROUGHOUT HIS WORD THAT WE ARE TO WALK BY FAITH AND NOT BY FEAR. SO WHY OUT OF ALL THE DIRECTIONS HUMAN BEINGS NEED MOST IN LIFE DOES THE LORD CHOOSE TO TELL US NOT TO BE AFRAID? I THINK ITS BECAUSE GOD WANTS TO ENCOURAGE PEOPLE LIKE YOU AND ME TO TAKE ADVENTEROUS STEPS, STEPS OF FAITH THAT WE WOULD BE RELUCTANT TO TAKE OTHERWISE. GOD SAYS. FEAR NOT. SO GOD’S CALLING US TO A RISKY FAITH BUT NOT A CARELESS OR PRESUMPTOUS FAITH BUT ONE THAT DOES INVOLVE RISK. AND IT USUALLY COMES DOWN TO THE QUESTION WILL I GO WITH FEAR OR WILL I GO WITH FAITH. THE NUMBER ONE THING THAT KEEPS PEOPLE FROM LIVING ADVENTEROUS, FAITH FILLED LIVES IS FEAR. IT PARALYZES US AND ROBS US OF THE ABUNDANT LIFE. SO OVER THE NEXT 2 WEEKS I WANT TO BEGIN TO SHARE WITH SOME OF THE HIGH COSTS OF LIVING WITH FEAR AND WHAT WE CAN DO ABOUT IT. SINCE GOD HAS NOT GIVEN US A SPIRIT OF FEAR HE WANTS US TO OVERCOME OUR FEARS AND PHOBIAS.

1. THE FIRST HIGH COST OF LIVING WITH FEAR IS THAT IT DESTROYS YOUR OWN SENSE OF SELF-WORTH. IT BEGINS TO ERODE AND DESTROY YOUR PERSONAL SENSE OF VALUE. IT DESTROYS YOUR ABILITY TO BELIEVE THAT YOU ARE SOMEONE MADE IN THE IMAGE AND LIKENESS OF GOD WHO HAS GREAT PLANS FOR YOU. WHY ARE THERE PEOPLE WHO HAVE EVERY REASON TO HAVE HIGH SELF-ESTEEM WHO HAVE SIGNIFICANT ACCOMPLISHMENTS, HAVE SIGNIFICANT TALENTS AND GIFTS, HAVE SIGNIFICANT RESOURSES WHO ARE HANDSOME OR ATTRACTIVE, WHO ARE WELL LIKED YET THEY STRUGGLE ALL THEIR LIFE WITH THEIR OWN SENSE OF WORTH? BEAUTIFUL WOMEN WHO THOUGHT THEY WERE UGLY. OUTSTANDING ACHEIVERS WHO FELT THEY HAD ACHIEVED VERY LITTLE AND STRUGGLE WITH LOW SELF-ESTEEM. RESEARCHERS WHO HAVE DONE STUDIES IN THIS AREA SAYS THAT IT ALL COMES DOWN TO ONE BASIC ISSUE, THAT WHEN YOU FACE A DIFFICULTY OR A FEAR PRODUCING SITUATION DO YOU TAKE ACTION AND TACKLE IT HEAD ON OR DO YOU AVOID IT. AND WHAT THEY FOUND OUT WAS THAT WHEN PEOPLE TAKE ACTION, EVEN WHEN THINGS DON’T WORK OUT GOOD THERE IS A CERTAIN PLEASURE OR SATISFACTION AND A GROWTH THAT TAKES PLACE INSIDE THE PERSON BECAUSE THEY ATTEMPTED A DIFFICULT THING. NOW I FACED A DIFFICULT MATTER, I FACED MY FEARS AND I DID SOMETHING AND AS A RESULT YOU GROW INSIDE. YOU’LL NEVER BE AFRAID OF THAT THING AGAIN BECAUSE YOU STEPPED OUT AND DID SOMETHING AND CONQUERED YOUR FEAR IN THAT AREA OF YOUR LIFE. YOU GAIN A SENSE OF STRENGTH WHEN YOU FACE A TOUGH ISSUE HEAD ON. BUT WHAT HAPPENS WHEN YOU AVOID YOUR FEAR? THERE’S A NAGGING VOICE INSIDE OF YOU JUST LIKE A MEAN WIFE THAT KEEPS REPEATING THE GUILT BASED RESPONSE: YOU DIDN’T DO THE RIGHT THING, YOU WIMPED OUT, YOU RAN, YOU WERE AFRAID, YOU’RE A WOOS AND YOU KNOW IT’S TRUE.

YOU TOO CAN FEEL THAT SUDDEN RUSH OF STRENGTH WHEN YOU SHOW COURAGE IN THE FACE OF FEAR.BY TAKING A DIFFICULT SITUATION HEAD ON. YOU SEE WHEN YOU TAKE THE RESPONSIBILITY AND FACE THE BAD THING OR THE SINFUL THING OR THE RIGHT THING SOMETHING INSIDE YOU GROWS AND YOUR ARE STRENGTHENED FROM WITHIN AND IT DOES BUILD YOUR SELF-ESTEEM BUT WHEN YOU DON’T SOMETHING DIES INSIDE OF YOU. SO WHEN YOU CHOOSE TO HAVE THAT DIFFICULT CONVERSATION WITH YOUR BOSS OR WITH A FELLOW EMPLOYEE OR A MATE OR A CHILD OR YOU GOT AN ADDICTION OR SIN PROBLEM, INSTEAD OF COVERING IT UP OR HIDING IT OR DENY IT YOU FACE IT, SOMETHING GROWS INSIDE OF YOU. BUT WHEN YOU FLEE INSTEAD OF FACING YOUR FEAR SOMETHING DIES IN YOU AND IF THAT BECOMES A PATTERN IN YOUR LIFE OVER TIME YOU’LL BEGIN TO SEE YOURSELF AS A PERSON WHO CAN’T ACHIEVE OR COMPETE IN LIFE ITSELF.

Josh 1:5-9

5 "No man shall be able to stand before you all the days of your life; as I was with Moses, so I will be with you. I will not leave you nor forsake you. 6 "Be strong and of good courage, for to this people you shall divide as an inheritance the land which I swore to their fathers to give them. 7 "Only be strong and very courageous, that you may observe to do according to all the law which Moses My servant commanded you; do not turn from it to the right hand or to the left, that you may prosper wherever you go. 8 "This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate in it day and night, that you may observe to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success. 9 "Have I not commanded you? Be strong and of good courage; do not be afraid, nor be dismayed, for the LORD your God is with you wherever you go."

Ps 31:23-24

23 O love the LORD, all ye his saints: for the LORD preserveth the faithful, and plentifully rewardeth the proud doer. 24 Be of good courage, and he shall strengthen your heart, all ye that hope in the LORD.

1Thes 2:2

2 You know how badly we had been treated at Philippi just before we came to you and how much we suffered there. Yet God gave us the courage to boldly repeat the same message to you, even though we were surrounded by enemies.

Heb 3:6

6 But Christ, God's faithful Son, is in complete charge of God's house. And we Christians are God's house-- he lives in us!-- if we keep up our courage firm to the end, and our joy and our trust in the Lord.

James 5:7-8

7 Now as for you, dear brothers who are waiting for the Lord's return, be patient, like a farmer who waits until the autumn for his precious harvest to ripen.

8 Yes, be patient. And take courage, for the coming of the Lord is near.

What is courage? I think Mark Twain described it best. He said: "Courage is resistance to fear, its mastery of fear-not absence of fear." We all have fears. Anyone who doesn’t is crazy, not courageous. Courage is a decision of the will not to let our fears cripple us.

Rom 12:1-2

1 And so, dear brothers, I plead with you to give your bodies to God. Let them

be a living sacrifice, holy-- the kind he can accept. When you think of what

he has done for you, is this too much to ask? 2 Don't copy the behavior and

customs of this World, but be a new and different person with a fresh

newness in all you do and think. Then you will learn from your own

experience how his ways will really satisfy you.

Rom 12:1-2

1 I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you

present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God,

which is your reasonable service. 2 And do not be conformed to this

world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may

prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.

2. THE SECOND COST OF LIVING WITH FEAR IS STAGNATION IN YOUR LIFE INSTEAD OF GROWTH. IF YOU LIVE IN FEAR YOU WILL NEVER EXPERIENCE THE POTENTIALGOD HAS FORM YOUR LIFE. NOW REMEMBER, YOUR POTENTIAL CAN NEVER BE REACHED UNTIL YOU’RE PLUGGED INTO GOD’S PURPOSE FOR YOUR LIFE. BUT IF YOU’RE AFRAID TO TRY SOMETHING YOU’VE NEVER DONE BEFORE YOU POTENTIAL WILL BE ABORTED AND YOUR LIFE WILL BE MARKED BY STAGNATION. ALL GROWTH REQUIRES RISK. RISK ALWAYS INVLOVES POSSIBLE DANGER AND DANGER INVOLVES FEAR. WHY IS IT THAT THE #1 SELLING CHAIR IN AMERICA IS THE LAZY BOY. WHY ISN’T IT THE RISKY BOY OR THE WORK R BOY. NO IT’S THE LAZY BOY BECAUSE WE LOVE COMFORT AND COMPLACENCY AND THOSE ARE THE ENEMIES OF GROWTH.

2 Cor 1:19-22

19 For the Son of God, Jesus Christ, who was preached among you by us, even by me and Silvanus and Timotheus, was not yea and nay, but in him was yea.

Heb 6:12-20

12 That ye be not slothful, but followers of them who through faith and patience inherit the promises. 13 For when God made promise to Abraham, because he could swear by no greater, he sware by himself, 14 Saying, Surely blessing I will bless thee, and multiplying I will multiply thee. 15 And so, after he had patiently endured, he obtained the promise. 16 For men verily swear by the greater: and an oath for confirmation is to them an end of all strife. 17 Wherein God, willing more abundantly to shew unto the heirs of promise the immutability of his counsel, confirmed it by an oath: 18 That by two immutable things, in which it was impossible for God to lie, we might have a strong consolation, who have fled for refuge to lay hold upon the hope set before us: 19 Which hope we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and stedfast, and which entereth into that within the veil;

20 Whither the forerunner is for us entered, even Jesus, made an high priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec.

Heb 10:23

23 Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering;

(for he is faithful that promised;)

2 Pet 1:4

4 Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises:

that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature,

having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.

Listen, TO GROW, YOU HAVE TO TAKE A RISK. WHEN WE STARTED THIS CHURCH AT THE HOLIDAY IN BACK IN FEB. 1988 IT WAS A BIG STEP OF FAITH SPELLED: R I S K. I HAD TO FACE THE FEAR OF FAILURE EVERY DAY FOR OVER A YEAR. AND EVEN NOW IN OUR PRESENT SITUATION I HAVE TO BATTLE WITH THE FEAR THAT WE’RE NOT GOING TO MAKE IT IF THIS HAPPENS OR IF THAT HAPPENS. DO YOU KNOW THAT 90 % OF the “WHAT IF’S” OR OUR FEARS OF THE UNKNOWN NEVER COME TO PASS. AND IF WE FOCUS OUR ATTENTION ON THE “WHAT IF’S” OUR PERSPECTIVE CHANGES AND FEAR WINS. BUT WHEN WE FACE OUR FEARS AND CHOOSE TO HOLD ON TO GOD’S PROMISES IN HIS WORD OUR FAITH GROWS AND WE GROW and we become productive people who bring honor and glory to god by their EXPLICIT obedience. HE ASKS US TO GO PLACES WE’VE NEVER BEEN BEFORE AND HE ASKS US TO DO THINGS WE’VE NEVER DONE BEFORE. THE CHRISTIAN LIFE THREFORE REQUIRES COURAGE, TRUST AND FAITH IN GOD. THE OPPOSITE OF FEAR IS FAITH SO LET’S DETERMINE TO AVOID THE HIGH COSTS OF FEAR AND ENTER THE ABUNDANT AND ADVENTEROUS FAITH FILL LIFE.

Lam 3:18-26

18 And I said, My strength and my hope is perished from the LORD:

19 Remembering mine affliction and my misery, the wormwood and

the gall. 20 My soul hath them still in remembrance, and is humbled in me.

21 This I recall to my mind, therefore have I hope. 22 It is of the LORD's

mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not.

23 They are new every morning: great is thy faithfulness. 24 The LORD

is my portion, saith my soul; therefore will I hope in him. 25 The LORD is

good unto them that wait for him, to the soul that seeketh him. 26 It is good

that a man should both hope and quietly wait for the salvation of the LORD.

Neh 8:10

10 Then he said unto them, Go your way, eat the fat, and drink the sweet, and send portions unto them for whom nothing is prepared: for this day is holy unto our Lord: neither be ye sorry; for the joy of the LORD is your strength.

3. THE THIRD COST OF LIVING IN FEAR IS THAT IT WILL STEAL YOUR JOY. RESEARCHERS HAVE DISCOVERED THAT THE PEOPLE WHO WORRY THE MOST SUFFER FROM AN OVER BLOWN IMAGINATION. THEY ARE BRIGHT PEOPLE, CREATIVE PEOPLE BUT THEIR IMAGINATION RUN TOWARDS THE NEGATIVE. ALWAYS TOWARDS CATASTROPHE AND FATALISM. MENTAL HEALTH PROFESSIONS TELLS US THAT IT TAKES AT LEAST 2 MONTHS FOR PEOPLE TO BEGIN TO RECOVER FROM A TRAMATIC EVENT. WAR, RECESSION, ANTHRAX INFECTIONS AND THREATS OF FURTHER ATTACKS HAS RAMPP0ED UP OUR FEAR AND ANXIETY TO THE DEGREE THAT THE EMOTIONAL HANGOVER FROM SEPT. 11 JUST WON’T GO AWAY. FOR SOME PEOPLE IT PUTS THEM ON EDGE AND THEY BECOME IRRITATED AND ANGRY, THEY LOOSE SOCIAL SKILLS, THEY GET BACK PAINS AND STOMOCH PAINS, DOCTORS SAY. EXPERTS SAY THAT THE FEAR OF THE UNKNOWN IS THE MOST DEABILITATING KIND OF FEAR KNOWN TO MAN. WE AS CHRISTIAN SHOULD NOT LIVE IN FEAR BECAUSE GOD HOLDS OUR FUTURE AND WE BELIEVE IN THE BASIC GOODNESS OR GOD.

I Jn 4:16-19

16 And we have known and believed the love that God hath to us. God is love; and he that dwelleth in love dwelleth in God, and God in him. 17 Herein is our love made perfect, that we may have boldness in the day of judgment: because as he is, so are we in this world. 18 There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love.

19 We love him, because he first loved us.

THE THIRD HIG COST OF LIVING WITH FEAR IS THAT IT STEALS YOUR JOY. PEOPLE WHO SUFFER FROM THIS ARE BOUND BY THE “WHAT IF’S” IN LIFE. WHAT IF I OPEN A LETTER WITH WHITE POWDER, WHAT IF I GET IN AN AUTOMOBILE ACCIDNET, WHAT IF I LOOSE MY JOB, WHAT IF PEOPLE DON’T LIKE ME AND THE TRUTH IS THAT MOST OF OUR FEAR NEVER COMES TO PASS AND YET IT DOMINATES OUR LIFE. WHEN YOU LIVE WITH A FEAR FILLED MIND YOU ELIMINATE YOURSELF AND TAKE THE JOY OUT OF LIVING. A HEALTHY PERSPECTIVE GIVES YOU THE ABILITY TO SEE THINGS AS THEY REALLY ARE AND GET ON WITH YOUR LIFE. YOU WILL NEVER SEE A JOYFUL AND FEARFUL PERSON BECAUSE JOY AND FEAR DO NOT EXIST. LIVING WITH A MINDSET OF FEAR WILL LEAVE YOU WITH A MOUNTAIN OF REGRET AT THE END OF YOUR LIFE. REGRET FOR THE RISKS YOU NEVER TOOK, THE CHALLENGES YOU NEVER EMBRACED AND ALL THE ADVENTURES YOU DREW BACK FROM. SO GOD SAYS TRUST ME CAUSE I’VE GOT GOOD PLANS FOR YOUR LIFE THAT’S EXCITING AND ABUNDANT. DON’T BECOME LIKE THE MAN WHO BURIED HIS TALENTS IN MATT.25 BECAUSE HE WAS AFRAID. HE WAS AFRAID HE’D LOOSE IT SO HE DIDN’T USE IT. WHAT ARE YOU AFRAD OF THIS MORNING. IF YOU DON’T USE WHAT GOD’S GIVEN YOU AND ENTRUSTED YOU WITH THEN YOU TOO WILL LOOSE IT. BUT GOD’S DESIGN AND PURPOSE IS THAT WE WOULD MULTIPLY AND BECOME MORE THAN WHAT WE STARTED WITH. YOU CAN’T SEE THE MIRACLE OF GOD’S PROVISION UNTIL YOU TAKE THE STEP OF FAITH. YOU CAN’T WALK ON WATER UNTIL YOU STEP OUT OF THE BOAT BUT WHNE YOU DO YOU LIFE WILL BE FILLED WITH JOY AND EXCITEMENT. SO LEARN TO TAKE CALCULATED RISKS BASED ON GODLY COUNSEL, THE WORD OF GOD AND THE LEADING OF THE HOLY SPIRIT. IT IS THEN THAT YOU WILL FIND VICTORY OVER FEAR AND JOY UNSPEAKABLE AND FULL OF GLORY.

4. THE FOURTH HIGH COST OF LIVING WITH FEAR IS THAT IT IS HIGHLY CONTAGIOUS AND IT CAN EASILY PASS FROM ONE GENERATION TO ANOTHER. PARENTS, IF YOU GO THROUGH LIFE WITH YOUR HOPES AND DREAMS PARALYZED BY FEAR THERE’S A GOOD POSSIBILITY THAT YOU WILL HANDICAPPED THE HOPES AND DREAMS OF YOUR CHILDREN. YOUR CHILDREN WILL LEARN FROM YOU THAT THE ONLY WAY TO GO THROUGH LIFE IS WITH HIGH ANXIETY AND FEAR. LET’S DETERMINE TO MAKE A CHANGE AND LEARN TO FACE OUR FEARS AND OVERCOME THEM. ITS ONLY THEN THAT WE CAN PASS A GOOD LEGACY UNTO OUR CHILDREN.

HAVE YOU EVER FACED YOUR FEAR AND OVERCOME IT? WHEN YOU DO YOU GROW AND YOU FEEL A SENSE OF ACCOMPLISHMENT THAT WILL STAY WITH YOU THE REST OF YOUR LIFE. BUT WHEN YOU DRAW BACK BECAUSE OF FEAR YOU LOOSE YOUR SELF-ESTEEM, YOU LOOSE YOUR JOY AND YOU LOOSE YOUR CONFIDENCE AND THAT WILL BE WITH YOU THE REST OF YOUR LIFE. LET’S DETERMINE TO OVERCOME OUR FEARS AND TRUST IN GOD’S FAITHFULNESS AND PROVISION FOR OUR LIVES. LET’S LINE UP OUR THOUGHTS AND PERSPECTIVE WITH PAUL AND DECLARE: I CAN DO ALL THING BECAUSE OF CHRIST WHO STRENGTHENS ME.