Facing Down our Fears: Five Disciplines
There is much to fear. It seems everyday there is something else to alarm us. What shall we do? How do we overcome fear that grips our hearts?
One thing we can do is to believe God's Word. Jesus said that conditions like this would escalate before he returns. When you begin to see these things come to pass stand up, look up our redemption draws near.
In addition to the promise here are five powerful resources that focus on these eight areas of fear. They are spiritual disciplines, or actions that will bring powerful results. They are means of grace or channels through which God's resources enter our lives. What are they?
These five disciplines are the keys to overcoming fear. We will apply them throughout our studies.
I. DISCIPLINE 1
The daily study of God's Word, focusing on passages of scriptures that address the issues of fear.
II. DISCIPLINE 2
Daily prayer that targets specific areas of fear and exposes them to God's powerful grace.
"The one concern of the devil is to keep Christians from praying. He fears nothing from prayerless studies, prayerless work and prayerless religion. He laughs at our toil, mocks at our wisdom, but he trembles when we pray." (Samuel Chadwick)
"I would rather teach one man to pray than 10 men to preach." (Charles Spurgeon)
"The man who mobilizes the Christian church to pray will make the greatest contribution to world evangelization in history." (Andrew Murray)
I want men everywhere to lift up holy hands in prayer, without anger or disputing. (1 Tim 2:8 )
III. DISCIPLINE 3
During our lessons we will be encouraged to be a Barnabas to others. Barnabas name means "the son of encouragement." This will be done several times during the adventure.
Hebrews says, "And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds. Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another--and all the more as you see the Day approaching." (Heb 10:24,25)
IV. DISCIPLINE 4
I know this sounds a little off the wall but we will defy fear with an outrageously courageous act. We will do this once during the adventure
V. DISCIPLINE 5
We will seek to break free from an unhealthy fear of God.
Conclusion:
1. What do we need to thrive in this adventure?
May I be frank with you for a moment. I hope I don't sound critical. I have a fear that we just come to church to sit and listen. Then instead of finding ways to apply the scripture to our lives we just forget it. I am concerned about this in my own life. Let's not do that. If we are forgetful hearers, we are wasting our time and just going through the motions each Lord's day.
Let's begin to change that habit. Ask the Lord to give you one thing from each message that you can use during the week. These lessons will be for me and for everyone. There are things that I become fearful about. I want to change those things. Don't you want to change? Don't you want to grow in your Christian life?
I do want to change so much.
Well you say, Pastor I'm not afraid of anything. I don 't need any change. Good for you. You are a rare breed. If that is true then you don't need these messages. I would say however, that some day you will be afraid. I hope you will remember what I have taught you during these next 16 weeks.
Perhaps you have a friend or neighbor who is fearful. Why not invite them to church with you. Please pick up a journal and follow each exercise and lesson. Humbly ask the Lord to change you and deliver you from all your fears.
I want to assign a memory verse for this series. Lets memorize it and recite it as we learn how face down our fears when anxiety grips the heart. There will be other memory verses as we proceed.
Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable--if anything is excellent or praiseworthy-- think about such things. Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me--put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you. (Phil 4: 6-9)
Let us hide the word in our hearts so that we will not sin against the Lord by failure to trust Him and His word.