Overcoming the Spirit of Fear

Transcription

1 Overcoming the Spirit of Fear Part 1 2 Timothy 1:7 (NKJV) For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind. 2 Timothy 1:7 (AMP) For God did not give us a spirit of timidity (of cowardice, of craven and cringing and fawning fear), but [He has given us a spirit] of power and of love and of calm and wellbalanced mind and discipline and self-control.

2 Some Fear Is Good For Us Reverence for God Proverbs 1:7 (NIV) The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and discipline. Respect for authority Exodus 22:28 (NIV) Do not blaspheme God or curse the ruler of your people. Respect that keeps us alive and safe and healthy Respect for tornadoes, hurricanes, gravity, hot stoves, a tractor-trailer going 70 MPH

3 Most Fear Is Bad For Us Fear is a spirit that God didn t t give us Then where did it come from? The devil? Losing the security that comes from God In Your presence (face) is fullness of joy Psalm 16:11 Fear not is probably the most often repeated word from God Fear not 331 times, do not be afraid 205 times Psychology says there are four inner struggles that plague mankind: feelings of fear,, guilt, inferiority and hate.

4 No One Is Exempt Champions of the past who struggled with fear Abraham said his wife was his sister because of fear Elijah away from Jezebel because of fear Peter denied Christ three times because of fear Paul confessed that during his labors on the mission field, without were fightings, within were fears. There are 448 defined phobias A phobia is an irrational, persistent fear of certain situations, objects, activities, or persons. The main symptom of this disorder is the excessive, unreasonable desire to avoid the feared subject.

5 Top Phobias #10 Necrophobia - the fear of death #9 Brontophobia - the fear of thunderstorms #8 Carcinophobia -the fear of cancer #7 Emetophobia - the fear of vomit #6 Acrophobia - the fear of heights #5 Claustrophobia - the fear of a small confined space #4 Agoraphobia - the fear of open places #3 Aerophobia - the fear of flying #2 Social Phobia - the fear of being evaluated negatively in social situations #1 Arachnophobia - the fear of spiders

6 More Phobias Anuptaphobia - fear of staying single Arithmophobia - fear of numbers Testophobia - fear of taking tests Atelophobia - fear of imperfection Clinophobia - fear of going to bed Ergophobia - fear of work Hadephobia - fear of hell Ecclesiophobia - fear of church Homilophobia - fear of sermons Mageirocophobia - fear of cooking Obesophobia - fear of gaining weight Pentheraphobia - fear of mother-in in-law Arachibutyrophobia - fear of peanut butter sticking to the roof of the mouth

7 Recognizing The Spirit Of Fear If you are often: Comparing yourself with others Easily irritated Negative and pessimistic Insistent on getting your way Suspicious or negative toward others Seen as being rude by others Pointing out the faults and weaknesses of others Bragging about your accomplishments Lying to protect yourself Jealous Thinking about the offenses of others Discouraged in the face of pressure

8 Effects of The Spirit of Fear Fear Is Spiritual But it also effects emotionally, mentally, physically It influences our conduct and our concepts (our thinking, our mental condition.) It can cause: Anxiety, apprehension, control, condemnation, depression, distress, insecurity, manipulation, rejection, tension, timidity, worry Fear greatest effect is that it limits people Fear greatest effect is that it limits people How does fear limit us?

9 Fear Enslaves #1 Fear Keeps Us From Abundant Life Jesus died to free those who all their lives were held in slavery by their fear of death. Hebrews 2:15 Often we fear what might be rather than what is What if I fail or make a fool of myself What if they get mad at me or laugh at me or ignore me or think I m dumb, or ugly or not cool We fear what we might lose What if I get sick, or die, or my spouse dies, or my job dies, or my car dies What if I have to leave of my comfort boat or my security boat or my familiar boat Matthew 6:34 (NLT) So don t worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will bring its own worries

10 #2 Fear Keeps Us Victims When We Could Be Victors Fear can cause us to run away from the ones who protect us best Genesis 3:9-10 (NIV) 9 But the LORD God called to the man, Where are you? 10 He answered, I heard you in the garden, and I was afraid because I was naked; so I hid. Fear can cause us to run away from the ones who need us most 1 Peter 5:8 (NLT) Be careful! Watch out for attacks from the Devil, your great enemy. He prowls around like a roaring lion, looking for some victim to devour.

11 #3 Fear Keeps Us From Fulfilling God s s Plan Doubt Is The Seed Of Fear Doubts will eventually grow into fears Matthew 14:30-31 (NIV) 30 But when he saw the wind, he was afraid and, beginning to sink, cried out, Lord, save me! 31 Immediately Jesus reached out his hand and caught him. You of little faith, he said, why did you doubt? Fear causes us to hide our gifts or be selfish with them Matthew 25:25 (NIV) So I was afraid and went out and hid your talent in the ground

12 #4 Fear Keeps Us From Behaving Right We fear people and circumstances so much because we fear God so little Saul 1 Samuel 15:24 (NIV) I I violated the LORD's command and your instructions. I was afraid of the people and so I gave in to them. David Psalm 56:11 (NIV) in God I trust; I will not be afraid. What can man do to me?

13 #4 Fear Keeps Us From Behaving Right (2) Fear causes us to doubt our beliefs and believe our doubts John 12:42-43 (NIV) 42 many even among the leaders believed in him. But because of the Pharisees they would not confess their faith for fear they would be put out of the synagogue; 43 for they loved praise from men more than praise from God. We fear someone will get mad so we don t tell the truth We fear we won t get a refund so we cheat on our taxes We fear our needs won t be met so we insist on having our way We fear we won t be happy so we control everything

14 A Spirit of Power Since fear is a spirit it can only be overcome by spiritual power Acts 1:8 (NIV) you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you... The Holy Spirit Is A Spirit Of Power 1 John 4:4 (NASB) You are from God, little children, and have overcome them; because greater is He who is in you than he who is in the world. Ephesians 3:20 (NIV) Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us

15 We Activate Spiritual Power By Faith 1 John 5:4 (NIV) for everyone born of God overcomes the world. This is the victory that has overcome the world, even our faith. By faith we know God and trust in His goodness 2 Timothy 1:12 (NASB) I know whom I have believed and I am convinced that He is able to guard what I have entrusted to Him People give way to fear when they put their faith in the wrong person, place or thing Job 13:15 (NKJV) Though He slay me, yet will I trust Him

16 Fear Is Faith In Reverse Mark 4:40 (NKJV) But He said to them, Why are you so fearful? How is it that you have no faith? Fear is easier than faith It is easier to believe the circumstance than the promise Doubting is easier than trusting Worrying is easier than praying Fear is cheaper than faith One reason people are fearful is because they haven t paid the price to develop faith Fear is weaker than faith One faith-filled man or woman can overcome the fear of a multitude

17 Faith Needs To Be Stirred 2 Timothy 1:6 (AMP) That is why I would remind you to stir up (rekindle the embers of, fan the flame of, and keep burning) the [gracious] gift of God, [the inner fire] that is in you by means of the laying on of my hands [with those of the elders at your ordination]. How do we stir the fire? Change your commitment Try some different in your personal devotion: a different time, a different guide Change your connection Get connected to a cell group Reach out to someone new

18 Faith Needs To Be Stirred (2) How do we stir the fire? (continued) Change your conversation Speak out what the Holy Spirit births in your heart Romans 10:9-10 (ESV) 9 because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. 10 For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses (assent, acknowledge, covenant) and is saved. Confession contracts/legalizes what is in our heart

19 Faith Needs To Be Stirred (3) How do we stir the fire? (continued) Change your consumption Be filled or refilled with the Holy Spirit Matthew 3:11 (NIV) I baptize you with water for repentance. But after me will come one who is more powerful than I, whose sandals I am not fit to carry. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire.