## Problems: Fear

## Isaiah 12:2

I believe that it was F.D.R. who said, in an address to the nation following the attack on Pearl Harbor, "The only thing we have to fear is fear itself." At first that may sound like double- talk, but it is really a good statement. A lady told D.L. Moody that she had found a wonderful promise in the Bible that helped her overcome fear. Her verse was Ps. 56:3, "What time I am afraid, I will trust in thee." Mr. Moody replied, "I have a better promise than that!" and he quoted Is. 12:2, "Behold, God is my salvation; I will trust, and not be afraid; for the Lord Jehovah is my strength and my song; he also is become my salvation." Which was the greater promise? Jesus told us that in the end times men's hearts will fail them for fear of the things about to happen; and I believe we are seeing some of this take place today. Let's play a little game: See if you can guess these fears.

1. 666, number- Hexakosioihexekontahexaphobia
2. Bald people- Peladophobia.
3. Beautiful women- Caligynephobia.
4. Bridges or of crossing them- Gephyrophobia.
5. Bums or beggars- Hobophobia.
6. Chickens- Alektorophobia.
7. Cooking- Mageirocophobia.
8. Criticism- Enissophobia.
9. Dark or night- Nyctophobia.
10. Dentists- Dentophobia.
11. Daylight or sunshine- Phengophobia.
12. Laughter- Geliophobia.
13. 13, number- Triskadekaphobia.
14. Death or dying- Thanatophobia.
15. Heaven- Ouranophobia or Uranophobia.
16. Hurricanes and tornadoes- Lilapsophobia.
17. Mother-in-law- Pentheraphobia.
18. Moving or making changes- Tropophobia.
19. Old people- Gerontophobia.
20. Peanut butter sticking to the roof of the mouth- Arachibutyrophobia.
21. School, going to school- Didaskaleinophobia.
22. Self, seeing oneself in a mirror- Eisoptrophobia.
23. Ugliness- Cacophobia.
24. Washing- Ablutophobia.
25. Sermons- Homilophobia.

I. Some Kinds of Fear are Good.

A. Fear is a good safety emotion.

1. It keeps us from falling off cliffs.

2. It alerts us to other dangers.

3. We warn our children not to go near busy streets, and we put within them a healthy fear of being struck by a car.

B. Fear of punishment is one basis for discipline.

1. It is not the highest motive for doing good, but it is a start.

2. One more time and I'm telling your father (or mother) when they get home.

3. Why do we travel at or near the posted speed limits? Or at least slow down when we see a police car?

C. Fear of the Lord.

1. It is the beginning of knowledge and is a fountain of life.

2. This is proper respect and reverence for God.

3. It is the kind of fear that opens the way to abundant life in Christ.

4. But the kind of fear that Isaiah 12:2 is talking about is the fear that paralyzes people.

a. the fear that gets into the heart and mind and creates tension and worry.

b. the fear that keeps people from enjoying life.

5. A fear experience is unpleasant.

a. phobias attach fear experiences to a variety of things. Note there are hundreds of phobias listed.

b. the experience is so unpleasant that a person begins to fear having such an experience again.

c. the very thought of the fear experience produces fear.

d. which is what F.D.R. was saying in his address to the nation: fear produces more fear.

II. What Causes Fear in Our Lives?

A. Sometimes fear is caused by a guilty conscience.

1. Adam and Eve felt guilty when they had sinned.

2. They became afraid and tried to hide from God.

B. Often fear is caused by ignorance.

1. Example: Bro. Deal & hot dog.

2. Children are afraid of the dark because of shadows that appear to be monsters or ghosts.

3. People are often afraid of the dying and the future because it is unknown to them.

C. The real cause of fear is unbelief.

1. After stilling a storm that had frightened His disciples out of their wits, Jesus said unto them, "Why are ye fearful, O ye of little faith?"

2. Note the correlation of fear and faith.

3. As faith decreases, fear increases.

4. If we are afraid, it is often a sign of weak faith.

III. Victory Over Fear = Faith in God.

A. We must look, by faith at God.

1. If we are to overcome fear, we must get our eyes off ourselves, our feelings, and our problems.

2. We must fix our eyes upon God.

3. The ten spies became afraid when they were sent to spy out the Promised Land.

a. they saw the enemy soldiers who were giants.

b. they saw the walls of the cities which were high.

c. if they had only lifted their eyes a little higher, they would have seen God who was far above them all.

B. We must lay hold of God's Word.

(Mark 4:38) And he was in the hinder part of the ship, asleep on a pillow: and they awake him, and say unto him, Master, carest thou not that we perish?

(Mark 4:35) And the same day, when the even was come, he saith unto them, Let us pass over unto the other side.

(Mark 4:40) And he said unto them, Why are ye so fearful? how is it that ye have no faith?

1. Ro. 10:17, "So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God."

2. When we read and study God's Word we feed our faith and strengthen it.

3. We must remember His promises!

(Isaiah 43:1-2) But now thus saith the LORD that created thee, O Jacob, and he that formed thee, O Israel, Fear not: for I have redeemed thee, I have called thee by thy name; thou art mine. When thou passest through the waters, I will be with thee; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow thee: when thou walkest through the fire, thou shalt not be burned; neither shall the flame kindle upon thee.

4. Remember the formula: as faith increases, fear will decrease!

C. We must pray and surrender to the Holy Spirit.

1. Fear is sin, and sin must be confessed and repented of to be forgiven.

(2 Timothy 1:7) For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.

2. The Holy Spirit can give us the power and love we need to overcome fear in our lives.

(1 John 4:18) 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.

3. A mother, who may be frightened of a tiny mouse, will stand between a tiger and her child because of her love.

4. We must learn that only the power of love can overcome fear.

Fear is an emotion, a feeling. We are commanded to be led by the Spirit, not by the flesh. The fear of God (which means loving and respectful obedience toward Him) is the one fear that will eliminate all others. What do you fear tonight? The answer is to love God enough to overcome it. Focus upon Him, lay hold of the promises in His Word, and yield to the Holy Spirit. When we will do that, there is no room for fear in our lives.