C. BOSTIAN OVERCOMING
FEAR PT.4 FEB.17, 2002
HIGH COSTS OF LIVING WITH FEAR
I Jn 4:18
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.
2 Tim 1:7
7 For God hath not given us the spirit of
fear; but of power,
and of love, and of a sound mind.
A few
years ago, a little 7-year-old boy was accidentally shot to death by his
younger brother. His mother, a single parent working two jobs to support her
children, often had to work late at night. So because she was afraid she
purchased a hand gun.
Usually she kept it away from her children, safe in her purse. But on this one
occasion she left it on the front seat of her car, & the boys discovered
it. And as they were playing with it, the gun accidentally went off & a
little 7-year-old boy died. Now WHEN WE WROTE OUT the cause of death on his
death certificate, I think the most accurate cause would be "fear."
He died, in part, because his mother had been caught in the grip of fear.
Fear is very much a part of our lives. Maybe you’re afraid of losing your job,
or your health, or losing your finances. Maybe you’re afraid of not being
accepted by others. Or maybe you’re just afraid of growing old. THERE ARE OVER 800 RECORDED PHOBIAS IN
MEDICAL DOCUMENTS AND ALL OF US HAVE EXPERIENCED ONE OR MORE OF THESE FEARS. NOW A FEAR DOES NOT BECOME A PHOBIA BY
DEFINITION UNTIL IT BECOME EXCESSIVE AND IRRATIONAL AND CAUSES YOU TO AVOID THE
FEARFUL THING.s,Fear alone does not distinguish a phobia; both fear and
avoidance must be evident. GOD WANTS US
TO OVERCOME OUR FEARS BECAUSE THEY PRODUCE LIMITATIONS IN OUR LIFE THAT WOULD
OTHERWISE NOT EXIST. SOMETIMES THOSE
LIMITATIONS CAN BE COSTLY SO WHEN WE’RE FACED WITH THIS KIND OF FEAR WE NEED TO
STEP OUT BY FAITH AND COURAGE AND EXPERIENCE THE ABUNDANT LIFE HE HAS DESTINED
FOR US.
FDR QUOTE ON FEAR: "The only thing we have to fear
is fear it'self - nameless, unreasoning, unjustified, terror which paralyzes
needed efforts to convert retreat into
advance."
LAST WEEK I BEGAN TO SHARE WITH 2 OF THE HIGH
COSTS OF LIVING WITH FEAR AND THIS MORNING I WANT TO SHARE 2 MORE WITH YOU AND
THEN LOOK AT A FEW PRACTICAL THINGS WE CAN DO TO OVERCOME THE HIGH COST OF
LIVING WITH FEAR.
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.
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 F OR YOUR LIFE
BECAUSE YOU’RE TOO AFRAID TO TRY SOMETHING NEW. STAGNATION. ALL GROWTH
REQUIRES SOME RISK. RISK ALWAYS
INVLOVES POSSIBLE DANGER AND DANGER INVOLVES FEAR. ONCE YOU FACE YOUR FEARS AND TRY SOMETHING NEW YOU BEGIN TO GROW
IN THAT AREA OF YOUR 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.
THE APOSTLE PAUL LIVED WITH A FAITH AND
COURAGE THAT CAUSED HIM TO TRIUMPH IN CHRIST AND TO BE SUCCESSFUL IN PLANTING
MANY NEW CHURCHES IN HIS LIFE TIME.
THE REASON HE COULD OVERCOME HIS FEARS WAS BECAUSE HE BELIEVE IN THE INHERENT GOODNESS OF GOD
AND WAS CONVINCED THAT GOD WOULD MAKE A WAY FOR HIM EVEN WHEN THERE WAS NO
WAY. ALTHOUGH HE SUFFERED HE WAS NOT
ASHAMNED. THE WORD ASHAMED THERE IN THE
GREEK MEANS NOT TO BLUSH IN EMARASSMENT BUT TO PANIC AND BE AFRAID. PANIC BY DEFINITION IS A SUDDEN,
UNREASONING AND HYSTERICAL FEAR THAT OFTEN SPREADS QUICKLY. THERE ARE MANY PEOPLE TODAY WHO SUFFER FROM
ONE FORM OF PANIC ATTACK OR ANOTHER.
Panic attacks, anxiety, shyness, phobias: Are
they running your life? Anxiety disorders are the most prevalent group of
EMOTIONAL disorders in the United States. Approximately 27 million
Americans--nearly 15 percent of the population--will suffer from an anxiety
disorder at some point in their lives.Anxiety disorders are most often
characterized as having an element of fearfulness involved. According to Dr.
Steve Dager, University of Washington associate professor of psychiatry and
behavioral sciences at Harborview Medical Center. these disorders come about as
a kind of impairment or overreactivity of the normal "flight or
fight" response. Although these disorders are CUREABLE, the majority of
sufferers do not receive appropriate care. Most often, people with anxiety
disorders will seek relief from the physical symptoms, such as rapid heart
rate, respiratory distress or nausea, and may not be aware or may not want to
admit that there are emotional causes for theIR symptoms. THE Panic disorder is probably the best
studied and understood of ALL the anxiety disorders. It is characterized by
repeated unprovoked attacks of terror, accompanied by physical symptoms,
including chest pain, heart palpitations, shortness of breath, dizziness,
weakness and sweating. THERE ARE SOME
OTHER PANIC RELATED ANXIETY DISORDERS LIKE THE Generalized anxiety
disorder, Obsessive compulsive disorder
OR THE Post-traumatic stress disorder ALL OF WHICH FINDS ITS ROOT CAUSE IN SOME
FORM OF PHOBIA OR ANOTHER.
THE APOSTLE PAUL LEARNED TO OVERCOME HIS FEARS
AND TO BECOME SUCCESSFUL AT WHAT GOD HAD CALLED HIM TO DO. HE NEVER HAD A PANIC ATTACK OR AN ANXIETY
DISORDER THAT HE DID NOT FACE AND OVERCOME.
HOW DID HE DO THAT? WELL OUR
TEXT IN 2 TIM.1:12 TELLS US: “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.”
PAUL WAS PERSUADED THAT GOD WAS ABLE TO KEEP
HIM SAFE FROM ALL DANGER AND A PREMATURE DEATH. THE WORD PERSUADED IS a primary verb IN THE GREEK AND MEANS; 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.
THE NUMBER ONE WAY TO OVERCOME YOUR FEARS AND PHOBIAS IS TO BE INWARDLY
CERTAIN THAT GOD WILL PROTECT YOU AND KEEP YOU FROM ALL HARM.
1 Pet 1:3-5
3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord
Jesus Christ, which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto
a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, 4 To an
inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in
heaven for you, 5 Who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation
ready to be revealed in the last time.
Jude 1:24-25
24 Now unto him that is able to keep you from
falling, and to present you faultless before the presence of his glory with
exceeding joy, 25 To the only wise God our Saviour, be glory and majesty,
dominion and power, both now and ever. Amen.
I Jn 4:14-18
14 And we have seen and do testify that the
Father sent the Son to be the
Saviour of the world. 15 Whosoever shall
confess that Jesus is the Son of God,
God dwelleth in him, and he in God. 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.
1. Focus On God And
Your Fears Will Disappear
This is the consistent message of the Bible regarding fear. For example when
Peter Walked on the water Peter’s fear got the victory only when he lost his
focus on Jesus.
Matt 14:24-31
24 But the ship was now in the midst of the
sea, tossed with waves: for the wind was contrary. 25 And in the fourth watch
of the night Jesus went unto them, walking on the sea. 26 And when the
disciples saw him walking on the sea, they were troubled, saying, It is a
spirit; and they cried out for fear. 27 But straightway Jesus spake unto them,
saying, Be of good cheer; it is I; be not afraid. 28 And Peter answered him and
said, Lord, if it be thou, bid me come unto thee on the water. 29 And he said,
Come. And when Peter was come down out of the ship, he walked on the water, to
go to Jesus. 30 But when he saw the wind boisterous, he was afraid; and
beginning to sink, he cried, saying, Lord, save me. 31 And immediately Jesus
stretched forth his hand, and caught him, and said unto him, O thou of little
faith, wherefore didst thou doubt?
When we loose our focus on god, fear
wins. 90% of all of our fears never
come to pass so why do we spend so much of our time thinking and meditating on
them. Our imagination runs wild and
unchecked. We need to pull on the
reigns of an overblown negative imagination and fix our thoughts on god and his
promises to us in his word. In Isaiah 26: 3 God has said "I will keep in
perfect peace all who trust in me, who thoughts are fixed on me!" We also
see the same idea in Philippians 4: 6-7 which says "do not be anxious
about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving,
present your request to God. Then the peace of God, which transcends all
understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus."
There will be times when anxiety and fear will
come into our lives it is then that we have a choice to make - we can choose to
focus on the problem and be overcome with fear or we can choose to focus on God
and are fear will disappear. Just
listen to these promises that await all those who choose to live and be in the
presence of god by meditating on him and concentrating on him throughout the
day.
Ps 91:1-16
1 He that dwelleth in the secret place of the
most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty. 2 I will say of the
LORD, He is my refuge and my fortress: my God; in him will I trust. 3 Surely he
shall deliver thee from the snare of the fowler, and from the noisome
pestilence. 4 He shall cover thee with his feathers, and under his wings shalt
thou trust: his truth shall be thy shield and buckler. 5 Thou shalt not be
afraid for the terror by night; nor for the arrow that flieth by day; 6 Nor for
the pestilence that walketh in darkness; nor for the destruction that wasteth
at noonday.
7 A thousand shall fall at thy side, and ten
thousand at thy right hand; but it shall not come nigh thee. 8 Only with thine
eyes shalt thou behold and see the reward of the wicked. 9 Because thou hast
made the LORD, which is my refuge, even the most High, thy habitation; 10 There
shall no evil befall thee, neither shall any plague come nigh thy dwelling. 11
For he shall give his angels charge over thee, to keep thee in all thy ways. 12
They shall bear thee up in their hands, lest thou dash thy foot against a
stone. 13 Thou shalt tread upon the lion and adder: the young lion and the
dragon shalt thou trample under feet. 14 Because he hath set his love upon me,
therefore will I deliver him: I will set him on high, because he hath known my
name. 15 He shall call upon me, and I will answer him: I will be with him in
trouble; I will deliver him, and honour him. 16 With long life will I satisfy
him, and shew him my salvation.
IN THIS GREAT PSALM GOD GIVES US MANY PROMISES THAT CAN HELP US TO GET
VICTORY OVER OUR FEARS AND PHOBIAS. AS
WE DWELL IN HIS PRESENCE HE WILL BE A PLACE OF REFUGE AND PROTECTION FOR
US. SO THE FIRST WAY TO OVERCOME YOU
FEAR IS TO FOCUS ON GOD AND HIS PROMISES.
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.
As David’S focus is on God he sees that he
really has no reason to fear. When he and WHEN we consider and think about who
God is and what he will do in our lives there is no real reason to fear. This
is why David asked the rhetorical question: "Whom should I fear?" or
as we would put it, "Why should I be afraid?" He says this because
his focus on God has reminded him of three things concerning God that are very
reassuring. First he says, "the Lord is my light..." Very often
troubling and fearful times are compared to darkness because we feel lost and
in need of direction or light during those times. If you’ve ever walked into
this sanctuary in total darkness there will be hesitation, caution, and
apprehension because you are fearful about making a wrong turn AND walking into
something. The same would not be true when the lights are on. It is the same
way in life, there are troubling, dark times in which OUR fear is increased
because we don’t know which way to go or what to do, we are in the dark.
David’s fear disappears because he has recognized that the Lord is in his light
in dark and fearful times. The Lord does not necessarily give David light but
rather he personally becomes our light - our personal guide through the
darkness
safely.
LET ME SHARE AN Illustration WITH YOU THIS
MORNING. IT GOES SOMETHING LIKE
THIS: When I was a small boy growing up
in Pennsylvania we would often visit my grandparents who lived nine miles away.
One night a thick fog settled over the hilly countryside before we started
home. I remember being terrified, and asking if we shouldn’t be going even
slower than we were. Mother said gently, "Don’t worry. Your father knows
the way." You see, Dad had walked that road when there was no gasoline
during the war. He had ridden that blacktop on his bicycle to court Mother. And
for years he had made those weekly trips back to visit his own parents. How
often when I can’t see the road of life, and have felt that familiar panic
rising in my heart I have heard the echo of my mother’s voice "Don’t
worry. Your Father knows the way."
THE SAME CAN BE SAID OF OUR HEAVENLY FATHER,
HE KNOWS THE WAY. THERE IS ANOTHER
REASSURING VERS IN ROM. THAT TELLS US THAT IF GOD BE FORE US THEN WHO CAN BE
AGAINST US. WHEN WE ARE FACED WITH A FEAR
LET’S CHOOSE TO TURN OUR FACE AWAY FROM OUR FEAR AND FIX OUR ATTENTION ON GOD
AND HIS PROMISES TO US IN HIS WORD. THE
NUMBER ONE WAY FOR YOU TO OVERCOME YOUR FEARS IS TO FOCUS ON GOD.
THERE ARE OTHER PRACTICAL WAYS THAT WE CAN
CONQUEROR OUR FEARS AND PHOBIAS THAT I WILL SHARE WITH YOU AT ANOTHER
TIME. THE MAIN THING TO DO WHEN YOU ARE
EXPERIENCING FEAR IS TO TURN TO GOD AND TO PRAY. PRAY AND ASK FOR GOD’S WISDOM AND GUIDANCE. PRAY AND ASK GOD FOR HIS PROTECTION AND
CARE. PRAY AND TRUST IN GOD’S PROMISES
TO YOU FOR YOUR PROTECTION AND SAFETY.
PRAY AND BELIEVE THAT GOD WILL STRENGTHEN YOU WITH COURAGE SO THAT YOU
CAN FACE YOUR FEARS AND OVERCOME THEM AND BE SUCCESSFUL IN LIFE, IN BUSINESS,
IN YOUR CAREER AND IN YOUR REALTIONSHIPS.
