FAITH VERSUS FEAR: Winning the Inner Battle

BBCC Sermon Outline

Fear

Fear affects us all. It is a natural protection mechanism. It can have different meanings based on its severity.

Fear scale?

• Phobias (exaggerated fears many times caused by trauma)
• Anxiety (everyday worries through major concerns)
• Dread (anticipation of traumatic loss and even death)
• Fight or flight (how we react to intense potentially life-threatening situations)
• Respect (as in Proverbs 1, "The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge")

Courage – "the strength to persevere and withstand fear"

• Military and first-response personnel are trained to persevere in the face of fear.
• Hypothesis: It is possible to learn, from God's wisdom, how to address our fears in a manner that results in more peace for us and more glory for God.

Anxiety: Two common types.

• Fear of the future (perhaps the lack of control of the future) and discontentment over not having what we want.
• Mark Twain (famous American humorous): "I've lived through some terrible things in my life, some of which actually happened."
• Corrie ten Boom (Dutch Christian and survivor of Ravensbrück concentration camp): "Worrying is carrying tomorrow's load with today's strength - carrying two days at once. It is moving into tomorrow ahead of time. Worrying doesn't empty tomorrow of its sorrow, it empties today of its strength." See Matthew 6:34, "Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble."

Jesus on anxiety – Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 6:19-34)

• Focus first on God's kingdom. It takes our attention off ourselves, and our needs get met (but not necessarily our wants).

Matthew 6:19-34
"19 Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal, 20 but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. 24 No one can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and money. 25 Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing? 27 And which of you by being anxious can add a single hour to his span of life? 31 Therefore do not be anxious, saying, 'What shall we eat?' or 'What shall we drink?' or 'What shall we wear?' 33 But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you. 34 Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble."

Jesus on discontentment: (Luke 12:13-34)

• How much is enough? Consistently wanting more stimulates greed and breeds discontentment.

Luke 12:13-34
"13 Someone in the crowd said to him, 'Teacher, tell my brother to divide the inheritance with me.' 14 But he said to him, 'Man, who made me a judge or arbitrator over you?' 15 And he said to them, 'Take care, and be on your guard against all covetousness, for one's life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions.' 21 So is the one who lays up treasure for himself and is not rich toward God." 22 And he said to his disciples, 'Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat, nor about your body, what you will put on. 23 For life is more than food, and the body more than clothing. 25 And which of you by being anxious can add a single hour to his span of life? 26 If then you are not able to do as small a thing as that, why are you anxious about the rest? 31 Instead, seek his kingdom, and these things will be added to you. 32 "Fear not, little flock, for it is your Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom. 33 Sell your possessions, and give to the needy. Provide yourselves with moneybags that do not grow old, with a treasure in the heavens that does not fail, where no thief approaches and no moth destroys. 34 For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also."

Worry robs us of peace. Thankfulness brings peace that overcomes anxiety.

Philippians 4:4-7
"4 Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice. 5 Let your reasonableness be known to everyone. The Lord is at hand; 6 do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. 7 And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus."

Dread. Fear of the hardest trials in life (Job 3:24-26).

Job 3:25, "For the thing that I fear comes upon me, and what I dread befalls me."

Three suggestions for facing your toughest trials:

• When facing a trial, ask God what He wants you to learn from it. Do not ask why. Psalm 119:71, "It is good for me that I was afflicted, that I might learn your statutes."
• Recall God's faithfulness to you in earlier trials and learn from those who have suffered similarly to you. Philippians 3:17, "Brothers, join in imitating me, and keep your eyes on those who walk according to the example you have in us."
• Contemplate the question, "Is God good?" From Leviticus – God is holy. Revelation 4, "Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God Almighty!" As holy, God cannot be not good. His good character is integral to His holiness. Psalm 25:8 "Good and upright is the Lord" God's steadfast love originates in his goodness. 1 John 4:18, "There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear." God's good love can cast out our fears!

BBCC Verse of the Week: Psalm 34:4 (ESV)

"I sought the Lord, and he answered me and delivered me from all my fears."