It is so tragic how the lives of dozens many little girls were lost in the Texas flood at the Christian summer “Camp Mystic”. We are hit in the face with a cold reminder that we are truly in a fallen world. It is a world of tragedy, pain, and heartbreak. Our God of the Bible never hides this fact. Our hearts are broken alongside the families that are enduring this unimaginable tragedy,” This tragedy has spawned again another fear.

Dana Riley, a mother of two from Des Moines, Iowa, whose 11-year-old daughter is currently away at a two-week camp in Minnesota, said,” “I’m am definitely more nervous and fearful than I was before.”

We live in fearful times and fear has become a part of our lives ever since covid it has proliferated.

With the resent tensions in the Middle-east there is the potential of evolving into a third world war. This kind of fear can become crippling. I am preaching this sermon because I understand that there is some fear of your pastor retiring and fear of acquiring another pastor. Beware of this kind of fear. Fear not, little flock; for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom. Lk.12:32

I. Fear Affects Us

1. There are more than 1,000 different kinds of human phobia, fears. I learn of some interesting new ones like: A rac hi-butyro phobia is the fear of peanut butter’s sticking to the roof of one’s mouth. All of us, men, women, children and even the best of Christians, have fears. Officially, about 8 percent of adults suffer from one or more phobias. The natures of these disorders reflect the landscape of 21st-century life. As Christians we can overcome many fears.

There are times in our life that we will face fear, but fear is not something that should be easily accepted in the Christian Life. The only fear that God encourages in a Christian’s life is the fear of God. Heb. 10:31- It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God. Fear of people does not come from God. The problem is that many Christians fear people more than they fear God.

In Matthew 10:28 — Jesus said, fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.

Fear is one of Satan’s most effective weapons to keep us from fulfilling God’s purpose. That’s why God says “Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.” John 14:27

To be control by fear would mean that we do not have faith or “perfect love.” 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. I John 4:8

II. Fear cripples our faith

1. Fear will cripple our faith if we falter. Time and time again, the Lord has tenderly spoken these reassuring words to His people: “Do not fear”, yet how prone we are to live our days, like frightened children, in fear and anxiety. Yes, this world can be strange and harsh but this world is not your home, there is a new world coming. Knowing this truth we can boldly say… Hebrews 13:6—The Lord [is] my helper, and I will not fear what man shall do unto me.

2. In Isaiah 41:10, God promised to uphold His people with His righteous right hand. God’s hands hold us up. Now, we see God’s hand holding our right hand, and giving us strength over fear, doubt, and our adversaries. For I, the LORD your God, will hold your right hand, saying to you, “Fear not, I will help you”.

3. God was relating to Israel He will deal with their enemies if they keep their trust in Him. He knows how to make and break our adversaries. It is he that can make them ashamed and disgraced. God fights our battle for us when we turn them over to Him.

Behold, all those who were incensed against you shall be ashamed and disgraced is, in part, an outworking of God’s promise to Abraham in Genesis 12:3: I will bless those who bless you, and I will curse him who curses you. God has always crushed anti-Semitic nations and movements, and in the reign of the Messiah, He will crush them completely.

A great example of the effects of fear is the reaction of the Israelites when trapped by Pharaoh during the Exodus. When the Israelites leave Egypt God tells Moses to travel in circles so Pharaoh will think: They are entangled in the land, the wilderness hath shut them in. The Lord led them into a cul-de-sac. Mountains were on one side and the Red Sea on the other close in on the Israelites. They look up and saw Pharaoh with his army approaching them from the west and what is their response. Fear cripples their faith.

The Israelites had already witnessed God working in their behalf with the Ten Plagues in Egypt. Then, as they leave Egypt, the Lord continuously leads them with a miraculous cloud by day and a pillar of fire by night (Ex. 13:21-22). Thus, the Lord has a continual presence among His people. Psalm 105:39 describe this “He spread a cloud for a covering; and fire to give light in the night’. However, fear cripples their faith.

They want to know why Moses brought them out of Egypt and even accuse him of bringing them into the desert to die (Ex. 14:11). Like the Israelites, fear cripples our faith; we can learn…

III. To Alleviate Fear

1. What do you fear right now? Aging, declining health, rejection, not being able to pay your bills? Someone once wrote,” Fear is False Evidence Appearing Real. We are born with only two fears: the fear of falling and the fear of loud noises. All other fears are learned, so they can be unlearned. Someone once said, fear is a single closed door closed behind which lies the unknown”. Most fear is just that fear of the unknown. What lies ahead is unknown. Therefore we need a sound mind to see things in proper perspective as God does.

2. The secret to alleviating our fears is found in a great Bible verse-

2 Timothy 1:7. When our faith is placed in our God love for us, it is more than a match for fear. It is inner strength that comes from God and knowing who you are in HIM. According to 2 Timothy 1:7, God does not give us the spirit of fear but supplies us with the spirit of power. God supplies us with a sound mind. This literally means God gives us self-discipline or self-control. We don’t get hysterical or become paralyzed by fear when serious problems come. The Holy Spirit enables us to keep cool heads when “giant” fears come.

 3. Remember God’s power and claim His Promises. None of us live in a vacuum. Therefore, we must put something in place of the fear that we come to reject. May I suggest we replace it with the promises of God? God loves us and he has given us His promises. The Bible has a perfectly matched promise for every fear we will ever face. Therefore, find a Bible promise that expels your fear, and memorize it so it’s readily accessible. We are created for the best and the worst that life can give, providing we allow our faith to go deep in God.

Conclusion:

I know the church cannot help having some anxiety waiting on another pastor but remember I served here as an under shepherd, Jesus is still here and he is the chief shepherd!!! Fear changes your focus and causes you to overlook God’s protection, peace and purpose for your life.

—Isaiah 41:10, 13