Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 38:45 — 26.6MB)
Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Android | TuneIn | RSS
Matthew 10:28 – The Bible tells us that we should fear the Lord.
- Fear is “person specific” you might be scared of snakes, but your siblings might not be scared of snakes.
- Fear is real. The fact that you think someones fear is a little thing doesn’t mean that their fears aren’t real.
- Fear is something that needs to be overcome.
2 Timothy 1:7, Joshua 1:9 – God knows that we are afraid. He gives grace to us to overcome that fear.
Matthew 14:22-33 – The focus of this story is on Jesus & Peter. Jesus has been teaching all day long and it seems like he needed some quiet time alone. Jesus comes walking on the water, he caught up to the boat! Peter, once he identified Jesus had an interesting mix of brashness and fear. None of the other disciples were brave/reckless enough to get out of the boat.
If you want to water you need to get out of the boat!
Genesis 3:10 – Adam heard God’s voice in the garden and he was afraid. Fear entered the picture once sin had entered the world.
Courage is doing something even though you’re afraid of it.
Many of our fears revolve around what others think, or what we believe they will think about us.
There are rational fears and irrational fears. Flying for example, flying is safer than driving, but sometimes it feels super unsafe.
What are ways that people typically overcome fears?
Avoidance – just don’t get near the thing you’re afraid of.
Reliance on others, fire departments, spouses, etc.
Exposure – get used to being around or d the things that you’re afraid of.
Avoid thinking about it – sometimes it seems better to just not think about things.
Education – learning the numbers behind what you’re afraid of.
Biblical Examples of Dealing with Fear
1 Kings 19:1-3 – Elijah had just won a great victory over the prophets of Baal. Now he was afraid of Jezebel. Maybe he felt alone. Maybe he “crashed” after a mountaintop experience. Even the strongest men and women of faith need help. God will not abandon us, God has not changed only our perception of Him has.
Luke 15:17-18 – The prodigal son was afraid of his father. Although he knew his father, he was still afraid of meeting him. A very deep wedge had been driven between him and his father and siblings. Sin will lead us to be afraid of our Heavenly Father.
How Do You Truly Overcome Fear?
The fear of the Lord is the beginning of truly overcoming fear. The fear of the Lord is understanding who He is and who we are not.
Learning to know God. The prodigal son lived with his father for many years, but he didn’t really know his dad. We can know a lot about God and not know God.
Learning to trust God. There are so many promises in scripture, but it is often difficult to know that they apply to us personally. God’s promises are sure.
1 John – Learning to love. So often our fears have to do with other people, or suffering for the name of Jesus. If we love Jesus enough, when we love other people enough, it makes a huge difference. Love doesn’t take away our fear, but if its greater than the fear it makes everything look quite different.
Romans 5:5 – And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us.