Overcoming Fear - Frank Brancato

You know, the subject of fear. And I got to tell you, the

reason that I thought about preaching on a subject, like

fear is because fear is a subject that is often times

mentioned, but very seldom. Do we hear what the Bible says

about fear? In fact, I went home this from

my meeting and Idaho, and I spent a lot of time this week

and I came up with a whole lot of stuff regarding fear and what

does God say about that? You know, it's very interesting

that psychologists say, Say that we are born into this world with

only two fears. Number one, we have the fear of

falling. And number two we have the fear

of noise and that's why when we get these little infants, we

want to make sure that we don't have it too noisy around them.

And often times if they're going to be placed in a great big

Stadium or whatever with there's a lot of loud noise, they put

headphones on them because they're afraid of noise and

that's why also we take a little child and we wrap them up and we

hoped Our feel secure because they have a fear of falling.

What happens though, over the process of time, we find that we

develop many more fears. In fact, it would be very

interesting to note and I don't know the answer to this.

How many phobias are described and defined in the dictionary.

Let me just mention or suggest a few of these miss.

A phobia is the fear of dirt Hydrophobia is the fear of

water. Nakhla phobia is the fear of

darkness, acrophobia is the fear of high places.

Taxa phobia is the fear of being buried alive.

Xenophobia is the fear of strangers.

Necrophos obeah is the fear of the Dead claustrophobia, is the

fear of confined places and triskaidekaphobia is the fear of

the number 13 and there are many, many more today.

People are Frederick with fear members of psychology class, Got

together one time that a project, you know what they did?

They went out and they asked 500 people what are you afraid of?

And some of those people would list a whole long list of things

that they were afraid of. But of the 500 people that were

asked, get this, that project came up with this, and they came

up with seven thousand fears, that 500 people actually had You

know, it doesn't have to be that way.

Jesus Christ came to Deliver us from our fears.

And I have to make this point, though, that, in our sermon,

we're going to notice, the two kinds of fear that are, that are

described. And when I say about fear, when

I talk about fear, I'm not talking about phobias.

By the way, you know, there's very little, you can do with

having a fear of heights. If you if you afraid of heights

very little, you can do with that.

What I'm talking about is I want to talk about what the Bible

says about fear. That always comes with the

choice. Fear that comes with a choice.

Here's the point. Fear and faith are at odds with

each other. And I'm going to say this is the

very beginning of this lesson. Say it again.

Fear and faith are at odds. If you are fear-driven, you are

not faith-driven. If you're a person of Faith, you

can't be a person of fear. If you and your life, it fears

what drives you. If fears, what motivates you, if

fear is what makes you what you are.

You are not a person of Faith. You need to add your faith.

You get better. Of that.

But that's a whole other lesson in this sermon, though.

We want to notice the following that.

The Bible does consider two kinds of fear.

And the first one, by the way, the first one actually is

commanded in the scriptures. And that is this.

It's the kind of fear that involves respect honor

reverence. And even a sense of all in

Ecclesiastes, chapter 12, Beginning there in verse 13.

Ecclesiastes 12 · chapter mention

It says, let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter.

Fear God, and keep his Commandments.

For this is man's all for God, will bring every work into

judgment including every secret thing, whether good or evil.

How about in the book of Acts Acts chapter 9 and verse 31?

Acts 9 · chapter mention

Then the churches throughout all Judea Galilee and Samaria had

peace and were edified. And walking in the fear of the

Lord. And in the comfort of the Holy

Spirit, they were multiplied. The Hebrew writer writing to

those Jewish Christians in the book of Hebrews wrote, this by

faith and verse 7 being divinely warned of things yet.

Not seen moved with Godly fear prepared, an ark for the saving

of his household, by which he condemned the world and became

heir of the righteousness, which is according According to Faith.

So when you have this kind of respect When you have this kind

of fear for God, which is reverence respect and honor, it

leads to some things that are of great benefit to you.

And I Here, stop to consider that.

When God tells us to do something, it not only is that

we obey what he said, but it's also a tremendous practical

benefit for us in our life. You know, the Bible says about a

Christian when you obey the gospel, sometimes people think,

well, once I'm saying, once I obey the gospel, that's it.

I'm just saved. But our life begins as a babe in

Christ. So, everything in our life just

begins, it's not a destination. It's a journey and it begins at

Birth, and that's it. Baptism.

And you have heard me preach this in the past, you've heard

me say that when a child of God comes from the Waters of

baptism, he's now a child of God, he has a three-fold

Responding obligation. I'm going to be very brief one.

He has a responding obligation to himself to desire.

The sincere, milk of the word to grow.

Number two, he has a responding obligation to others to Bear one

another's burdens. But remember what the Bible says

about are responding obligation to God are responding obligation

to? God is to live a holy life.

In fact, God said I am Holy live.

Holy be holy. For I am.

Holy Poli in 2nd Corinthians 7:1.

If a person is going to have this kind of fear and reverence

and respect, it's going to help us with Holiness.

Therefore, having these promises sankranthi and seven and one.

Beloved let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the Flesh

and spirit perfecting Holiness in the fear of God.

They go together. Have you ever stopped to

consider if you're struggling spiritually and you're

struggling living a holy life? Maybe it's because you don't

have the proper reverence and respect for God.

If you're trying to live your life day by day, just as it

comes and you're struggling with living a holy life, have you

ever stopped to consider that? The reason for that is you don't

have the proper fear of God, you don't have a proper reverence

and respect for God, you don't have a proper honor for God.

You don't look to God with awe in your heart.

You know, the Bible talks about godliness and we know what that

means. It's a practical awareness of

God in every aspect of your life, so by that, you're going

to make better choices and it will always demonstrate itself

in outward Behavior, which is righteous living.

If you're struggling spiritually with a holy life, maybe it's

because God is not at the Forefront of your thinking.

But there's more not only will having the proper reverence and

respect for God help us in living a holy life but it will

also help us do something else at the Bible commands us to do

and that is to work out our salvation with fear and

trembling therefore my beloved as you have always obeyed, not

as in my presence only but now much more in my absence.

Paul said, work out your own salvation with fear and

trembling I got to make a point about this work out okay?

Work out your salvation. It doesn't mean as somewhat

assume and suppose that what Paul was talking about is you do

it your way and I'll do it mine. It doesn't mean that at all.

Sometimes people say, well, you know, the Bible says work out

your own salvation with fear and trembling.

That means this, I have a personal relationship with the

Lord. I'll do it my way, this guy over

here, he's got his relationship with the Lord.

He'll do it his way and so on and so forth.

But working out your own salvation deals with your own

personal. Ability to what the word of God

says. In other words, I can't do it

for you and you can't do it for me.

I have to work it out in my life.

I have to work it out in my life with the things that I do, in

the things that I say, and the things that I'm involved in and

so do you, that's what that means.

But I want to notice this right here.

What does it mean fear and trembling you know I think about

these words and it sounds like almost it's a matter of in the

Owner scared out of your mind and trembling and shaking.

I got to tell you something years and years and years and

years ago, I got up to give a five-minute talk at a big

meeting and I will never forget how I felt.

I was so nervous. I was so scared.

I'm not kidding you. My knees were actually going

like this. I was trembling.

And you know, that's just kind of what happens to us when we do

something new, we try something new and we have nerves when

we're just getting going. I was extremely nervous.

So I was trembling, is that what this verse means though?

No, it doesn't fear. And trembling here does not mean

what I just described to you the phrase fear and trembling is an

Old Testament expression and it denotes the following, it means

this it is a humble reverence and It's and Devotion to God.

That's what it means. Then me scared to death.

Kind of like that movie, You Know, The Ghost and mr.

Chicken, you know, with a and, you know, Barney, Don Knotts

shaking all the time. It's not what that means.

It means this, if I'm going to work out my salvation with fear

and trembling it means this, I'm going to have a humble

reverence, I'm going to have dependents and I'm going to have

total Devotion to God. So having the proper reverence

for God leads to not only a holy life, not only being able to

work out our own salvation with fear and trembling.

But one more, it even helps with our responsibility of evangelism

in 2nd Corinthians chapter 5 and verse 11 knowing therefore the

terror of the lord, we persuade men.

But we are well known to God. And I also trust are well known

in your consciences. Now this Looks like a scary word

hear the word Terror. And if we use that, in a sense

that we might know in a common vernacular, we might talk about

being terrified and again, we're talking about frightened, we're

talking about things that just scare us out of our mind.

Again, that's not this word. This word In this passage

literally means fear, reverence respect and honor In other

words, it's not telling you to be afraid of God.

In fact, Robinson further Explains It In this passage to

me in this deep and reverential feeling of accountability to God

or Christ. Can't you see the Practical

benefit people? Sometimes struggle, I need some

practical stuff. I'm giving you practical stuff,

and it all begins with having the proper reverence and respect

for God, and it leads to Holiness, it leads to working at

your salvation with fear and trembling, and it even works

toward Helping others and letting others persuade men or

showing others about the Lord. Now.

Paul felt that way. I will add this though.

Before we go any further, I remember.

Daryl used to say I'm a, I fear or I'm afraid of what God can do

to me. That's true.

God is so awesome and Powerful. That he can do anything that he

wants to do. And in his Providence, he does

that he can do it directly, he can do it, indirectly, he can do

whatever he wants to. But when you talk about the fear

of God, yes, we understand that God can do things to us, that

are not not good for us. But if you think about it this

way, if you have the right, kind of fear a reverential feeling of

respect, for God, you understand, look it.

I'm accountable to God and Jesus Christ, I'm accountable.

All right, so that's the kind of fear by the way that is

commanded and I said that we're going to notice two.

And I have to say this again, I'm not talking about phobias,

okay? Not talking about that, not

talking about caution more on that in a minute.

I'm talking about what is found in the Bible.

One is commanded and get this. The other one is forbidden.

It's forbidden. What's forbidden, what is it?

Stay with me on this. It is the fear that is that of

dread alarm fright, Terror, apprehension, anxiety,

perplexity, and distrust. I'm going to prove this stuff.

Okay, I'm gonna prove this to you.

You know what? I got to thinking, there's a

word up there that hit me right between the eyes.

There's a word on that screen right there.

The hit me right between the eyes.

I had never put that word with perhaps fear or forbidden fear.

Not going to tell you what you want to do is go by the way, we

all got probably someone up there.

I'm not going to tell you, but I'm going to tell you this.

It's up there. I got to work on that.

Maybe you see some words up there.

You got to work on to remember this.

It's the fear in the Bible that is forbidden and will notice why

it's forbidden. These are synonymous terms that

are on the board with this kind of fear.

This kind of fear is forbidden Psalm 91 in verse 5.

You shall not be afraid of the terror by night nor the arrow

that flies by day. Now notice what he's saying

here, we're talking about two things, this is danger, this

represents danger, that's Arrow Terror represents fear of

danger. So, what the psalmist David is

recording in the long ago, is this do not be afraid of the

fear of danger and do. Not be afraid of the danger

itself. Interesting.

In other words, these things will never affect the one that

puts his trust in the Lord. Now, I'm not saying that, if you

put your trust in the Lord, everything will work out and you

won't have bad stuff that sometimes happens not saying

that at all. What I'm saying is it doesn't

matter. If you put your faith and trust

in the Lord completely you are true or putting your life in

God's hands and both Time and Eternity.

So notice Fear of danger, won't matter, danger itself, won't

matter because you put everything in God's hands and it

won't matter. Listen to this again.

Are we going to be a person of fear or we going to be a person

of faith? Let me just ask you this.

Can you ever think of a time? Can you ever think of a time

that you made a scared decision? That it was probably the very

best decision for you? You made it out of fear.

Maybe you made it out of desperation.

You didn't think about it. He didn't weigh it.

All out, you didn't make it with faith in mind.

You didn't make it with trusting, God in mind, you made

it with fear because you were scared.

What Jesus say. Do not fear.

Little flock. Now obviously in the context of

this Jesus is talking to his disciples, he's talking to 12

men. So in the context, what he's

saying is he says Little Flock, meaning small in number and he

was talking about a time before the kingdom, or the church was

established. And what did he tell them?

He said don't be afraid, don't fear Little Flock.

He said for it is your father's. Good, pleasure to give you the

kingdom. That's For the kid, the church

or the kingdom was established. Now interestingly about that.

Bowls wrote. This bowls of this.

Disciples are not to worry about their spiritual food and support

the apostles were the charter members of the church.

They are. The church is the Earthly

institution of the Heavenly Kingdom and just say this to we,

now have the kingdom in place. It's the church and let me just

ask you this. When the Bible says that the

church will be handed back over to his father.

And we have that promise. We may be a small band of

believers. But Jesus says, Don't Fear.

He said, don't be afraid. Don't be afraid.

Now, this type of fear is not to be confused with caution, make

this point. If you fear that you're going to

get run over in the road, okay, you'll look both ways when you

cross the street. if you have a fear of polio, you'll get a

vaccine, These types of fears are normal and good.

In fact, the Bible talks about being sober and sober, in the

Bible, in the New Testament means of sober mind.

It literally means to be seriously minded.

So, if a person is seriously minded, they are cautious.

How do I know that? Because the word sober also

means circumspect big word. What's it mean?

Circumspect literally means this in practicality it As a matter

of evaluating every possible circumstance of my choice before

I make the decision, that's caution.

That's good. So that's not the fear I'm

talking about. Fear does not mean caution

caution is not condemned. I'm talking about the things

that are forbidden. Well, first of all, let's talk

about some areas where in fear operates, Fear sometimes keeps

us from being all that we can be.

And you know what one of those is fear of failure I'm going to

tell you this gets a lot of us. It gets a lot of men and makes

them afraid to try because they don't want to fail.

I got to tell you a little story.

Years ago, I don't know. It might be 25 years ago.

I don't know. But I'll just tell you, one of

the things that I was always uncomfortable with, as a young

person, I was always uncomfortable, getting up and

leading a song, Especially a song that I didn't really know

that well and I was very, I don't know.

I don't know what you call that, but I was always nervous about

that and I'll never forget, I went up to Terry and Terry said,

won't you leave this on us? I don't think I can Terry.

That guy was trying to get him to lead it.

You'll eat it. You're better than I am.

Terry said, no you do it and I said, but you don't understand.

I don't want to mess it up. And I'll never forget what he

said. He said, you know, Terry is an

outstanding song because we all know that, you know, Terry said

to me, he said I have gotten up in front of huge crowds and I

have butchered songs. And nobody has ever branded me.

Terry, Osburn song record I'll never forget that sometimes

people don't try because people are afraid to fail.

Jesus dealt, with this very thing.

The one Talent, man, Matthew 25. And 25.

Notice I was afraid and I went and I hid your talent in the

ground. Look, there you have.

What is yours? Now, we always spend time

talking about the burial of the talent and we say this, the five

Talent guy went out and got five more got 10, the to Talent guy

went out and got double that he got for.

But the one Talent man, went and buried the talent and sometimes

we leave it right there and we say what Jesus said, and we move

on. But have you ever stopped to

consider the one Talent, man? If he would have done something

with his one Talent he had to? Have you ever stopped to

consider that? You may have a talent or an

ability that is not really readily aware or available or

what you see or what other see in you it has to be developed.

Sometimes we say this, oh man, he's got a lot of ability.

That guy right there is got a lot of ability.

Okay, he does. But I'ma tell you right now,

sometimes we have abilities and we don't know what we can be

with that until we go and work and try.

Sometimes, fear keeps us from being all that we can be for the

cause of Christ. Why?

Fear of failure Are you using your talents or are you just on

cruise control? In the last 10 years.

If you grown at all, I'm talking to the men, young men old men.

I'm talking to all of us. Me too.

Have you grown have you reached outside your comfort level?

Have you decided to go out and be better and do all you can do

or are you in cruise control doing the same thing over and

over again? Year after year?

After year, after year? I don't know what you got.

But God wants all of it, he wants, whatever that it is.

Sometimes people fail because they are afraid to fail.

First Corinthians 15:58, here's a great encouragement.

1 Corinthians 15:58

Therefore, my beloved Brethren be steadfast immovable, always

abounding in the work of the Lord notice knowing that your

labor is not in vain. In the Lord.

Don't be afraid of failure. Everything you do for the cause

of Christ, none of it is in vain.

And God can use it. It's our duty to do the best we

can. And leave the results in the

hands of God. Number 3.

Next also, sometimes men fear not only failure, but they feel

fear responsibility. you know, I don't want to Sometimes people

say I don't want the pressure of responsibility.

I don't want to be responsible. I don't want to take on that

task because I don't want to be responsible for that.

I don't want to do that because maybe I have to change how I am

and who I am a little bit. Maybe people will look at me

differently, maybe they'll expect more out of me sometimes

people don't do what they should do and they have fear because

they fear responsibility that was the same thing that was true

with Matthew. 25 and 25 with the one Talent man.

But there's more fear will keep us from our responsibility of

being Fishers of Men. Notice what Jesus said in Luke

Luke 5 · chapter mention

Chapter 5, and verse 10. And so also were James and John

the sons. the sons of Zebedee who were partners with Simon and

Jesus said to Simon, don't be afraid. from now on you will

catch man that's our responsibility of doing all that

we can the next one here, sometimes people feared this and

I'll tell you this anybody that gets to be around 30 You start

thinking about this but good news in time you realize it's

not really a problem, you're not really old.

But one of the problems that people have is this The fear of

old age you've heard me say this.

I used to think when I was 24 that 50 was old as dirt.

I don't think that way at all. Now, I'm 52, man, I'm in my

Prime. Great stuff not old at all,

sometimes people are held back for all.

They could be because they fear old age.

But did you know, the Bible teaches that honor and Glory are

attached to old age. Listen to Leviticus 19. 32,

listen to this, you shall rise up before the grey-headed and

honor the presence of an old man and fear.

Your God. I am the Lord in Proverbs 16 and

31. The silver-haired head is a

Crown of Glory if it is found in the way of righteousness.

And I got to say, if you're a young person here Don't ever

forget the two passages I just showed you.

You know, you get wisdom and I do too.

When we ask of God, okay, when we ask of God and the Bible

says, he gives it liberally. Number two.

I also get wisdom when I go mess up and I make mistakes to make

the wrong choice, and I survived the wrong choice.

And I learned from my experience, I get wisdom, that's

number two. But I like what one man said,

one time you cannot mess up enough and recover and have all

the wisdom that you're going to need.

So, you know what, I need to go talk to brother.

Ruben Creek, mom a little bit. You to learn a little wisdom

from him or Jack holiday. I need to go talk to people that

are older than me. I'm talking to young people

here. Look at those that are older

with dear respect. They've got so much knowledge

and experience and wisdom and we can all learn from that.

That's precious. I love it.

The the silver-haired head is a Crown of Glory if it is found in

the way of righteousness. So if a child of God is an older

person, it is precious. Not only in the eyes of God, but

his Priceless for you and me. I read an article by the way,

it's entitled listen to this. It's entitled rethinking

retirement. I want to read you this little

excerpt from it. Rethinking retirement, The

author wrote currently the average life expectancy in the

United States is seventy eight point seven years.

This means that most of the 3.65 million persons in the United

States are projected to turn 65 this year.

May expect to live a dozen or more years.

Some will likely live another 35 years or more interesting.

So this author said this but life is more than years as the

Irish author. Jonathan Jonathan Swift States

may you live all the days of your life.

He went on to say that many folks today view, retirement, as

nothing more than an extended time of leisure as one, man.

Quipped when I retire, I'm going to do absolutely nothing.

And I'm going to start that about 2:00 in the afternoon.

Compare that with the Bible, widget.

Compare that with the Bible. How about Psalm 92?

Verses 13 and 14. Look at this passage here.

Those who are planted in the house of the Lord.

Shall flourish in the courts of our God?

They shall still bear fruit in old age, bear fruit. do you know

some of the greatest accomplishments in life have

been accomplished by people that were older mr.

Webster, wrote his dictionary at the age of 70.

Moses was eighty 80 when he led Israel out of bondage.

So listen, let's not fear old age, it's precious, it's

Priceless and I'm telling you right now, older person we need

you with all you can do. Okay, here's another one though.

This gets a lot of us. Sometimes we are fear-driven.

Sometimes fear is in our life because of this, because we fear

what others will say do or think.

And sometimes we're afraid because we're scared to death.

What somebody else might say do or think?

Luke chapter 12. Beginning in verse 4, notice.

Luke 12 · chapter mention

And I say to you, my friends do not be afraid of Those Who Kill

the body. And after that have no more that

they can do. But I will show you whom you

should fear fear Him who also he has killed has power to cast

into hell, yes. I say to you, fear Him are not

five sparrows, sold for two copper coins and not one of them

is forgotten before God, but the very hairs of your head are all

numbered do not. Fear.

Therefore, you are of more value than many sparrows.

Notice what we have here? Don't be afraid. do not fear,

but Fear Him that's reverence and respect and honor and awe

for God, fear Him. Now, oftentimes, this type of

fear causes us to do wrong. It causes us to make mistakes

causes us to sin. Because this is the same kind of

fear, by the way, where Peter denied the Lord notice.

Now this is an apostle, the Apostle Peter watch what

happened to him because he, feared what other men would say

or do, or think notice now, Peter sat outside the courtyard

and a servant girl, came to him saying you also were with Jesus

of Galilee, but he denied before them all saying.

I know not who you are. What you are.

Saying and when he had gone out of the Gateway, another girl saw

him and said to those who were there.

This fellow also was with Jesus of Nazareth.

But again, he denied with an oath, I do not know the man and

a little later. Those who stood by came up and

said to Peter, surely you also are one of them for your speech

betrays you, then he began to curse and swear saying I do not

know the man. And immediately, the rooster

crow. And Peter remembered the word of

Jesus who had said to him before the rooster crows, you will deny

me three times or Thrice. So he went out and he wept

bitterly. This is a kind of fear that can

get all of us. It got Peter, one more time, one

more passage, you got Peter, one more time.

You remember that? Peter was the instrument of God

that took the gospel to the Gentiles for the very first

time. Everybody up to act 10 was a

converted Jew. In other words, they had Jewish

blood running through their veins.

They were Jews. The gospel went to the Jew

first, but as it says, it was also to the Greek or the

Gentile. Peter was the instrument in the

household of Cornelius to bring the gospel to the Gentiles.

If anybody would have known better, it was Peter.

Look what happened to Peter though.

Galatians 2 11 through 13. Now, when Peter had come to

Antioch, I withstood him to the face.

Why? Paul, because he was to be

blamed. Why Paul for before certain men

came from James, he would eat with the Gentiles, but when they

came he withdrew and separated himself, fearing those who were

of the circumcision, that's the Jews.

In other words, when the Jews showed up, I'm afraid of what

men will say. I'm afraid of what men will do.

I'm afraid of what will come upon me.

So he refused to eat with the Gentiles and notice and the rest

of the Jews also played the hypocrite with him, so that even

Barnabas was carried away with hypocrisy.

Today, fear. This kind of fear keeps one from

taking a stand, for the truth. Listen young person.

Let me ask you something. When you are in the midst of

your friends, And they are doing things, you know, are not right?

And they are behaving in ways that are not right and they're

wearing things. They should not wear me.

Ask you something, you go along with it because you're afraid or

do you stand for what's right? When they do things that are

wrong. Do you stand for what's?

Right? Or are you afraid?

What happens is we get afraid and we're scared to death?

What other people say, listen, this is real stuff me.

Tell you, let me tell you about something happened.

When I was in 7th and 8th grade. Remember this like yesterday

there were some good friends of ours called the sand.

Their last name was the Sanders. They had five boys.

Okay, me tell you about peer pressure, in a ridiculous sense.

Five boys, do you remember? You might remember, remember

Ocean Pacific shirts, Opie and And you aren't cool.

If you didn't have a shirt, had opee on it, remember that?

Okay. Well, they were very expensive

and the ope that was sown on the shirt cost about double or

triple. What you can buy a shirt for,

okay? So the sender's boys, all five

boys they didn't want to go be made fun of at school.

When Mom and Dad got him some knockoff brand and they wore

that shirt even though it looked the same You know what she did?

I'll never forget this. She said I buy the shirts and

Ice oop on the shirt. So that they don't have to be

criticized or put down. You know why?

Because people are held back for the fear of what people will

say. Let that not trickle into your

spiritual life. Let it not trickle over into

your spiritual life. We talk about some tragic

effects of fear. I read some stuff I want to read

to you. Briefly one man wrote this fear

is a dark room where negatives are developed Another said fear

will prevent one from doing the will of God.

Another said, fear, renders one useless.

I've got to use that word. We got to talk about that word

useless because you know what society says, nobody is useless.

What does the Bible say? Do You Remember When onesimus

The Runaway Slave left? Philemon, And he went and he

heard the gospel from Paul and he was baptizing changed his

life. Do you remember what happened?

Paul writes, the letter back to Philemon and Paul said he was

once unprofitable to you, but now is profitable to you.

And to me, in fact, the word onesimus and many times in the

Bible, the word, the names meant something onesimus.

Literally means useful. So if I say someone's useless,

it's because they're being unprofitable.

It's a were bad person and say they're rotten.

It's a there were no good. Didn't say they need to have low

self-esteem and say that what I said is useless means

unprocessed unprofitable. We're either one of the other

but fear can make us useless. We are an important battle and

we need people of Courage. Fear brings on the very thing

that we fear. Did you ever think of that you

ever think of that fear brings on the very thing that we fear

the most Remember when Peter was in the boat and the disciples

are scared. They see.

Jesus walking on water and they're scared.

They think they saw a ghost, Jesus said don't be afraid.

There's that phrase again. Don't be afraid.

It is. I Peter said if it's really you

did that. I would come out to you and he

says come on and Peter for a little while walked on water

too. What was Peters, biggest

problem? He lost.

Number one. His focus on Jesus.

He turned his eye to the peripheral issues that were

around him. His fears, overtook him, which

means what he has no faith. And his greatest fear was

thinking, you know what happened?

He sunk. And he says, Lord saved me.

And Jesus reaches out and says, Peter wanted out.

Oh, you of little faith. Don't you see?

Fear and faith. Don't go together.

They don't go together. I got to read this to you boy,

learn something. Fear of disease or illness

brings on illness. Research has shown that 85% of

the emotional and physical ills of men are brought on by feared.

Okay, it's no secret. I've had cancer.

I want to tell you something. I'm going to admit something to

you. I think maybe Tina's going.

I probably said this to over the years, but I'll admit this for

15 years of my life before I got sick.

My greatest fear was cancer. I would pray to God.

Please don't let me get cancer. Now, all I know is this.

I got cancer. Did it have anything to do with

it? I have no idea.

But I will tell you this Statistics show that 85% of the

ills that we are afraid of often times, contribute to us getting

them. I'm going to give you example

number two, so after cancer. And after God healed me through

means of medicine and I was cancer-free I remember you got

to get those checkups. It starts with every three

months and then every six months and so fourth and I would

literally go in and I would sit before my doctor and I'd be so

nervous that I get that. I get him a test.

You haven't? She said you have to stop doing

that. You cannot be afraid of cancer

anymore. Man, she was right.

She said when people are scared to death to get it again, many

times they do. All I'm saying, I'm not saying

anything. I'm just saying this.

If attitude helps you in the recovery of it. then just maybe

attitude contributes to some of the ills that we have to Don't

be afraid. Don't worry, but here's another

one and we're almost finished. This is kind of spooky here.

It will cause us to be lost. I want you to notice some of the

things that are here but the Cowardly unbelieving abominable

murder sexual immorality. Immoral Sorcerers idolaters and

all liars shall have their part in the lake which burns with

fire and brimstone which is the second death.

We get all that all bad stuff. Look at the word that's there

too. The Cowardly.

And what that's talking about is, it's talking about someone

that is a coward and won't do what's right.

It's talking about somebody that won't earnestly contend for the

faith. It's talking about somebody that

won't be faithful unto death. It's talking about someone that

will not stand up and do what's right and be saved there in that

list too. There in that list too.

You know, what the difference between, please get this.

The difference between a courageous man and a coward.

What's the difference? What makes you either one?

Here it is. What determines?

Whether you are a courageous man, or a coward.

Is your response to fear. So, it's normal, its natural,

your response determines what you are.

Your response. So finally in closing how we can

overcome it, let's talk about that.

It's not about overcoming it. First of all, understand that

fear is a characteristic of the wicked in Proverbs 28 1, the

wicked flee when no one pursues but the righteous are bold as a

lion. I love that.

Now if somebody has a guilty conscience because they do bad

things, They're fleeing when no one's pursuing they're scared.

They're paranoid looking over their shoulder where the cops.

Because why? The things on which they do.

But a God-fearing person. A Christian, a good person.

Righteous. They are bold as a lion.

Bold, as a lion. You know, the words fear not or

be not afraid. Appear in the Bible 180 times.

You don't we do though this what we do?

What we say is, we say Well, when the Bible says, don't do

this that's a command got to stick to it, right?

Don't do that. That's a command got to stick to

it. Do this.

That's a command gonna stick to it.

We get all that, but when it comes to fear, this is what we

said. Oh no.

Oh no, that's just encouraging suggestions.

Jesus said over and over fear, not Don't Be Afraid.

All those are just encouraging suggestions, no, their commands,

180 times in the New Testament. So what are we going to do

practically? We need to enthrone Jesus

Christ. In our life.

Will get to the practicality of that in just a second.

First Peter chapter 3 and verse 14.

1 Peter 3 · chapter mention

But even if you should suffer for righteousness, sakes, you

are blessed and do not be afraid of their threats.

Nor be troubled, then in verse 15.

But sanctify, the Lord God in your hearts and always be ready

to give a defense to everyone. That asks you a reason of the

hope that is in you with meekness and fear notice don't

be afraid and then do so with meekness and fear.

How you going to do that? Here it is.

Here it is. This is how you do it.

You have to sanctify the Lord God in your heart.

You have to sanctify the Lord God in your heart.

How do you do that? It literally means to render or

acknowledged to be sacred in your heart.

It means to give the Lord a permanent place of Reign and

rule in your heart. It's a matter of putting your

faith and trust in God. And remember that faith is the

foe of fear. It's either Faith or its fear.

Isaiah 26 and 3. You will keep him in.

Perfect peace. Whose mind is stayed on you

because he trusts in. You also never give counsel or

be guided by your fears. A general, one time was fearful

of an attack planned in the Shenandoah Valley, and he

expressed his fears to Stonewall Jackson.

Who told this General? He said General never take

counsel of your fears. Don't be driven by your fears

Philippians 4:13. Do you believe it or not?

Philippians 4:13

I can do all things through Christ.

Who strengthens me? Do you believe that or not?

Have you been thrown Jesus in your heart as he raining over

your heart? Do you really trust him?

Do you have any faith at all? I can do all things.

That's not talking about running a track meet.

It's almost spiritual things. I can do all things that pertain

to life and godliness, I can do that, I can do that.

Jesus said, I can do that through Christ, Philippians 4,

and 6, be anxious for nothing. But in everything by prayer and

supplication with Thanksgiving, let your requests be made known

unto God. You got to be a person of

prayer. Want to be a person of Faith,

got to be a person of prayer. And by the way, if you want to

notice the first eight verses of Philippians chapter 4, Where we

Philippians 4 · chapter mention

get into the specifics of that, it's my turn on Wednesday night

to direct our study and we're going to talk about that.

So please come back and hear that.

Let's learn what the Bible says in closing, and I'm finished.

For years. Derek Redmond had trained for

the 1992 Summer Olympics. Hopes ran high for his taking

home gold. however, in the semifinal heat of the 400 meter

event, 65,000 Spectators as if in shock witnessed Derek's body,

give way to a torn hamstring. Then in all the observed, this

courageous man demonstrate for the whole world.

That a broken body does not mean a broken spirit. as he hopped

behind his father, To cross the finish line.

Millions then, and now Admire his courage and commitment.

His example, challenges, all of us to do all that we can within

our power to finish the race. And to do.

So, regardless of setbacks a metaphor of sorts for all

persons who may even be in the latter part of life's race.

With their bodies giving way but they still muster the will and

inner strength to finish life. Strong.

May we forever be Faith Griffin and may we never anymore be

fear-driven. We thank you for listening to

our podcast, put on by the Church of Christ at 22:15 plans.

Road in Bakersfield, if you would, like any additional

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