C. BOSTIAN OVERCOMING
FEAR PT.3 FEB.17, 2002
HIGH COSTS OF LIVING WITH FEAR
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…
GOD HAS NOT GIVEN US A SPIRIT OF FEAR BUT A SPIRIT OF POWER, LOVE AND A
SOUND MIND. ONE OF THE GREEK WORDS FOR
FEAR IS THE WORD PHOBIA. I’M SURE YOU
HAVE ALL HEARD OF ONE KIND OF PHOBIA OR ANOTHER. The dictionary defines a
phobia as "an irrational, excessive, and persistent fear of some
particular thing or situation." According to medical experts, there are
more than 700 specific phobias currently documented. Several phobias are
widespread, such as "claustro-phobia" (fear of enclosed spaces),
"ophidiophobia" (fear of snakes), or "acrophobia" (fear
of heights). About 1 out of every 20 Americans suffers from one or more
phobias: some common phobias include fear of certain animals, being alone, open
spaces, THE FEAR OF blood, or the Number 13 ( triskaidekaphobia).
By definition, phobias are
IRRATIONAL, meaning that they interfere with one's everyday life or daily
routine. For example, if your fear of high places prevents you from crossing
necessary bridges to get to work, that fear is irrational. If your fears keepS
you from enjoying life or even preoccupy your thinking so that you are unable
to work, or sleep, or do the things you wish to do, then FEAR becomes
irrational. Fear alone does not
distinguish a phobia; both fear and
avoidance must be evident.
One key to diagnosing a phobic disorder is
that the fear must be excessive and disproportionate to the situation. Most
people who fear heights would not avoid visiting a friend who lived on the top
floor of a tall building; HOWEVER, a person with a phobia of heights
would. IN SHORT OUR FEARS OR PHOBIAS
RESTRICT OUR LIFESTYLE AND BRINGS US INTO BONDAGE WHICH IS NOT A LIFESTYLE
ORDAINED BY GOD FOR YOU. people
generally develop phobias for objects they cannot predict or control. Danger is
more stressful when it takes us by surprise. Lightning, FOR EXAMPLE is
unpredictable and uncontrollable. In contrast, you don't have to worry that
electric outlets will take you by surprise, so it's not likely that you'll have
an "electric outlet phobia."
One of the major causes for fear IS A
DISTORTED PERSPECTIVE. "Fear makes the wolf bigger than he is."
----German Proverb
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
avering. 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 SOME 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 TODAY 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.
SO, If
you have a phobia, there is still hope for you. Phobias can be cured. Remember
when you were a child and suffered from clinophobia (fear of going to bed)
because of bogyphobia (fear of the bogeyman), achluophobia (fear of darkness),
and lachanophobia (fear of vegetables). Now chances are good that you go to bed
without checking your closet or looking under your bed, that you don’t go
ballistic if the lights go out, and that you eat a salad every so often.
Phobias can deeply impact a person’s life. A person with chronophobia (fear of
time) probably won’t make it to their 10:00AM dentist appointment on time. A
person with chaetophobia (fear of hair) is most likely bald, has no eyelashes,
no eyebrows, etc. A person with cibophobia (fear of food) usually hasn’t eaten
in weeks and could easily be anorexic. This proves how serious and destructive
phobias can be. If you do suffer from any strange phobias, I would suggest
calling one-eight-hundred-phobias, for arithmophobics (people who fear numbers)
or for logophobics (people who fear words), 1-800-635-1317. This phone number
is for entertainment purposes only.
Col 1:10-14
10 …..walk worthy of the Lord unto all
pleasing, being fruitful in every good work, and increasing in the knowledge of
God; 11 Strengthened with all might, according to his glorious power, unto all
patience and longsuffering with joyfulness;
12 Giving thanks unto the Father, which hath
made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light: 13 Who
hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the
kingdom of his dear Son:
14 In whom we have redemption through his
blood, even the forgiveness of sins:
Eph 4:1
1 I therefore, the prisoner of the Lord,
beseech you that ye walk
worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are
called,
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.
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.
---Frank Herbert, Dune
ONCES SAID:
"I must not fear. Fear is the
mind-killer. Fear is the little-death that brings total obliteration. I will
face my fear. I will permit it to pass over me and through me. And when it has
gone past I will turn the inner eye to see its path. Where the fear has gone
there will be no-
thing.
Only I will remain."
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 POTENTIAL GOD HAS FOR 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 SOME
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.
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.
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.
Rom 1:17
17 For therein is the righteousness of God
revealed from faith to faith:
as it
is written, 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.
WE HAVE BEEN CALLED TO A LIFE OF FAITH, A LIFE
OF TRUSTING IN THE INHERENT GOODNESS OF GOD.
A CONVICTION THAT GOD HAS MADE PROMISES AND PROVISIONS FOR EVERYTHING
THAT WE HAVE NEED OF BOTH NOW AND IN THE FUTURE. SO, THE OPPOSITE OF FEAR IS FAITH. ----Publilius Syrus - Moral
Sayings (1st C B.C.) "What we fear comes to pass more speedily
than what we hope." OUR FEAR ACTS
AS A NEGATIVE FAITH THE SETS IN ACTION THE MOVEMENTS OF HELL ITSELF. SO, LET’S DETERMINE TO AVOID THE HIGH COSTS
OF FEAR AND ENTER THE ABUNDANT AND ADVENTEROUS FAITH FILLED 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.
"One
of the things which danger does to you after a time is -, well, to kill
emotion. I don't think I shall ever feel anything again except fear. None of us
can hate anymore - or love OR BE HAPPY AGAIN." ----Graham Greene
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.
IT ALWAYS RUNS 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 RAMPPED 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 STOMACH PAINS. 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.
Illustration: A POLITICIAN WAS
ENRAGED WHEN HE READ WHAT HE REGARDED AS A SLANDEROUS ATTACK ON HIS CHARACTER
AND COMPETENCE. BUT ON OF HIS ADVISORS
URGED HIM TO CALM HIS FEARS DOWN AND CONSIDER THE QUESTION ANNALYTICALLY. BEAR IN MIND HE SAID, THERE ARE 20,000
PEOPLE IN THIS TOWN. ONE HALF OF THEM
DON’T GET THE PAPER. THAT LEAVES 10,000
PEOPLE. ONE HALF OF THOSE WHO GET THE
PAPER DIDN’T SEE THE ARTICLE. THAT
LEAVES 5,000. ONE HALF OF THOSE WHO SAW
IT DON’T BELIEVE IT AND THAT LEAVES 2,500 PEOPLE. ONE HALF OF THOSE WHO BELIEVE IT DON’T KNOW YOU. THAT LEAVES 1,250. ONE HALF OF THOSE WHO KNOW YOU ARE YOUR FRIENDS AND DON’T BELIEVE
IT. THAT LEAVES 625 PEOPLE. ONE HALF OF THOSE FELT THAT WAY ABOUT YOU
BEFORE THEY READ THE ARTICLE. SO
THERE’S REALLY NOTHING TO GET EXCITED ABOUT.
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.
Num 14:18-24
18 The LORD is longsuffering, and of great
mercy, forgiving iniquity and transgression, and by no means clearing the
guilty, visiting the iniquity of the
fathers upon the children unto the third and
fourth generation. 19 Pardon, I
beseech thee, the iniquity of this people
according unto the greatness of thy
mercy, and as thou hast forgiven this people,
from Egypt even until now. 20 And
the LORD said, I have pardoned according to
thy word: 21 But as truly as I live,
all the earth shall be filled with the glory
of the LORD. 22 Because all those men which have seen my glory, and my
miracles, which I did in Egypt and in the wilderness, and have tempted me now
these ten times, and have not hearkened
to my voice; 23 Surely they shall not see the
land which I sware unto their
fathers, neither shall any of them that
provoked me see it: 24 But my servant
Caleb, because he had another spirit with
him, and hath followed me fully,
him will I bring into the land whereinto he
went; and his seed shall possess it.
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.
Deut 4:1-12
1 Now therefore hearken, O Israel, unto the
statutes and unto the judgments, which I teach you, for to do them, that ye may
live, and go in and possess the land which the LORD God of your fathers giveth
you. 2 Ye shall not add unto the word which I command you, neither shall ye
diminish ought from it, that ye may keep the commandments of the LORD your God
which I command you. 3 Your eyes have seen what the LORD did because of
Baalpeor: for all the men that followed Baalpeor, the LORD thy God hath
destroyed them from among you.
4 But ye that did cleave unto the LORD your
God are alive every one of you this day. 5 Behold, I have taught you statutes
and judgments, even as the LORD
my God commanded me, that ye should do so in
the land whither ye go to possess it.
6 Keep therefore and do them; for this is
your wisdom and your understanding in the sight of the nations, which shall
hear all these statutes, and say, Surely this great nation is a wise and
understanding people. 7 For what nation is there so great, who hath God so nigh
unto them, as the LORD our God is in all things that we call upon him for? 8
And what nation is there so great, that hath statutes and judgments so
righteous as all this law, which I set before you this day? 9 Only take heed to
thyself, and keep thy soul diligently, lest thou forget the things which thine
eyes have seen, and lest they depart from thy heart all the days of thy life:
but teach them thy sons, and thy sons' sons; 10 Specially the day that thou
stoodest before the LORD t
hy God in Horeb, when the LORD said unto me,
Gather me the people together,
and I will make them hear my words, that they
may learn to fear me all the
days that they shall live upon the earth, and
that they may teach their
children. 11 And ye came near and stood under
the mountain; and the
mountain burned with fire unto the midst of
heaven, with darkness, clouds,
and thick darkness. 12 And the LORD spake
unto you out of the midst of the fire:
ye heard the voice of the words, but saw no
similitude; only ye heard a voice.
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
YOU FAIL TO TEACH YOUR CHILDREN HOW TO LIVE THE ABUNDANT LIFE GOD HAS DESTINED
FOR YOU. SO, 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.
2 Tim 1:11-12
11 Whereunto I am appointed a preacher, and
an apostle, and a teacher of the Gentiles. 12 For the which cause I also suffer
these things: nevertheless I am not ashamed: for I know whom I have believed,
and am persuaded that he is able to keep that which I have committed unto him
against that day.
PERSUADED: a primary verb; to convince (by
argument, true or false); by analogy, to pacify or conciliate (by other fair
means); reflexively or passively, to assent (to evidence or authority), to
rely (by inward certainty): KJV--
agree, assure, believe, have confidence, be (wax) conflent, make friend, obey,
persuade, trust, yield.
