Everyone knows what it is like to be afraid. We all have things that we are afraid of - Me - storms, my wife - spiders, some people are terrified of snakes ...
There are hidden fears that motivate us too - Fear of failure causes many people to never start, or try anything that is not completely safe. Fear of rejection makes us afraid to do anything that could draw criticism or give someone a chance to laugh at us
I could go on and on talking about fears and phobias ...
There are two kinds of fear : Fear that is good - Keeps us from driving 100 mph, or other foolish things that you can think of... and Fear that is harmful - This is the "spirit of fear" mentioned here . This fear paralyzes us, keeps us from doing things we could or should do.
Perhaps there is a fear that you need to overcome today.
This passage gives us insight on
He uses the "spirit of fear" to:
Illustration:
There was a lady who died in 1916 named Hetty Green. She was called America's greatest miser. When she died in 1916, she left an estate valued at $100 million. But she was so miserly that she ate cold oatmeal in order to save the expense of heating the water. When her son had a severe leg injury, she took so long trying to find a free clinic to treat him that his leg had to be amputated because of advanced infection. I am sure she was worried about losing her wealth, so she didn't even enjoy her life!
We can be so afraid of losing our wealth or job that we never enjoy our life ... lay off
I know some people who are so afraid that something is going to happen to their marriage, that they never get close, or have the intamacy they could have ...
We all know people who are "worry warts" and they are miserable!
These are the common fears satan uses to make us ineffective witnesses!
I can't go surveying,
I can't help in the nursery ...
I could never be a pastor, missionary ...
Fear can keep us from serving God
Satan is a master at using our fears to stop us, to bind us, and to rob us!
Through Christ Jesus, I can do anything God wants me to do!!! (Phil 4:13) I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me. That means anything God wants me to do, I can do it...
If you are trusting in, drawing from , relying on, beliving in the one who has the power, He will give you the power you need!
Don't be afraid! use his power!!!
At first glance, It does not seem that Love could be effective in conquering fear...
But we see in (1 John 4:18) 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.
Here is how this works:
The more we love God, the less fear we will have. It is a matter of trust. When we realize that God will take care of us, it relieves our fear. My kids do not worry about having something to eat. For all these years we have provided for them. They trust in me. Now if I had not provided for them, they would be worried. But they know I
love them and will provide for them, so they are not afraid about that... This is why Romans 8:28 says (Rom 8:28) And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.
Love of God relieves our fears!
The more we love others the less fear we will have. Love causes us to overcome our fear for the good of others ... Rescue workers - Ambulance drivers ...
Love causes us to tell others about Jesus. To teach a Sunday School class. To help others in need...
Most of the time our harmful fears are the result of wrong thinking. But something happens when we are saved and begin to trust God. Our mind is renewed! - (Rom 12:2) And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.
When we think Biblically, we have a "sound mind".