The Fear Factor – By Ian September
“No God, know fear……. Know God, no fear!”
Today I would like to share with you on a negative emotion, that will from time to time, rush into your life, with the potential to harm you, either physically, emotionally or spiritually!
Many of us are so aware of this negative “fear factor”, this emotion that will render us useless for God’s kingdom, yet we allow the enemy to control our minds with fearful negative thoughts!
You see church, fear is perverted faith, as someone once said that you can’t have them both, you can’t have faith and fear at the same time, amen church?
Even as we realise that fear is a human emotion or instinct, we are reminded in God’s Word not to fear anything!
Psalm 27:1-3 (NIV) – The Lord is my light and my salvation whom shall, I fear? The Lord is the stronghold of my life of whom shall I be afraid? 2When the wicked advance against me to devour me, it is my enemies and my foes who will stumble and fall. 3Though an army besiege me, my heart will not fear; though war break out against me, even then I will be confident.
Psalm 23:4 (NIV) – Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I will fear no evil, for You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me.
You see church, fear has a way of limiting us, holding us back, preventing us from growth & reaching our full potential in Christ!
Fear has a way of preventing many from overcoming, being conquerors, and thus playing right into the enemy’s hands.
How many times would we rather choose to believe the lie that we cannot achieve or accomplish, that our dreams will never materialise, and we allow this lie to rule our lives & simply don’t do anything about it!
We are ignorant to God’s Word! Phil. 4:13(I can do all things…)
Today I would like to touch on a few “types” of fear that are so prevalent, predominant in many lives!
Fear of man: When we are being intimidated with what people may say & think of us, or what we may say to them!
“I don’t care what people say about me, it’s alright, they’ll get it someday” (Song)
You see church, I would rather be obedient to the calling on my life than be offended by what people will say about me!
Proverbs 29:25 (NIV) – Fear of man will prove to be a snare, but whoever trust in the Lord is kept safe.
Another negative fear is the emotion of what others can do to me.
Psalm 118: 6 (NIV) – “The Lord is with me, I will not be afraid, what can mere mortals do to me?”
What can people do to me?
Psalm 56:4 (NIV) – “In God, whose Word I praise, I put my trust and are not afraid. What can mere mortals do to me?”
This includes almost anything that people can do to harm one another, but God’s Word in Romans 8:31b – “If God is for me, who can be against me?”
Luke 12:4 (NIV) – “I tell you, my friends, do not be afraid of those who kill the body and after that can do no more.” After killing me, they can do no more, so why should I fear what man can do to me?
The 3rd fear (negative) emotion: Fear of the future/unknown
You will find this in the lives of many, even Christians!
“But because He lives, I can face tomorrow, all fear is gone” (song)
Because of the uncertainty of tomorrow, we tend to worry & fear the future. (Did I do enough to save up for old age, what will happen if my health should fail me? Etc.)
But in the meantime, we miss out on what we already have…. The present with all God’s blessings & favour, amen.
Yesterday is gone, nothing you can do about that, tomorrow is not guaranteed.
All we have is today, so make it count!
Psalm 54:4 (NIV) – Surely God is my help; the Lord is the one who sustains me.
4th Negative fear: Fear of the past
Many people are so past possessed, that they cannot be future focused! They have a fear that the past failures & mistakes will repeat itself again!
You are so intimidated by the past that you refuse to step out, be who God created you to be, your past (with all its mistakes & failures are actually ruling over you) Eina.
We live with this “what if” mentality: What if I fail again, what if I get hurt again, what if … what if?
Well not “what if” ….”But if” God is for you, you have no past amen?
Dis vir baie mense moeilik om op die toekoms te konsentreer want hulle focus is nog op die verlede!
God says clearly in His Word
Isaiah 43:18-19 (NIV) – 18”Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past. 19See, I am doing a new thing, now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland.”
Leave your past, in the past!
Many people are so haunted by the past failures, sin & transgressions, but
1 John 1:9 (NIV) – If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.
I would now like to share on the only healthy fear we’re supposed to have, Anybody?
Proverbs 10:27 (NIV) – The fear of the Lord adds length to life, but the years of the wicked are cut short.
Proverbs 1:29 (NIV) – Since they hated knowledge and did not choose to fear the Lord.
This fear of the Lord is not in “afraid” but in reverence, om God-vresend te wees, om God eerbiedig te wees.
How sad is it in our modern society, where we have a complete lack of this daily? On TV, newspaper, social media, etc. There is little or no respect for God and His name is being used as an expression of anger & bitterness!
The reverent fear of God should be an integral part of every Christian’s life, amen church? It is then that we can put our faith, hope & trust in Him completely….
It is then when He really becomes the “limitless” God and we can say with confidence Ps. 27:3 … even then will I be confident (not fearful).
Isaiah 41:10 (NIV) – “So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.”
Isaiah 43:1 (NIV) – But now, this is what the Lord says- He who created you, Jacobs, He who formed you, Israel: “Do not fear, for I have redeemed you; I have summoned you by name; you are Mine.”
God Himself is giving us the assurance that we don’t have to fear anything. No fear of death, fear of man, fear of the future or failure. NOTHING AT ALL
Because God did not give us a Spirit of fear …
All we need to do is to stand on His Word, believe in it & apply it in our lives (God is “n waar-maker van sy Woord).
May God bless this Word to us all, so that we can go into this world, knowing fully, that we don’t have to fear anything!
Amen
