I AM STRUGGLING…

with Fear

Victor M. Eskew

 

INTRODUCTION

 

A.    It is a four-letter word, indicating its nature.

It is an emotion.

It is something over which we have control.

It reacts differently in every human being.

It is something that often paralyzes us.

If not overcome, it is extremely detrimental to us spiritually.

Satan loves to prey upon it.

 

B.      It is FEAR.

 

C.     Fear keeps us from doing many important things.

1.        Seeking the lost.

2.       Restoring the erring

3.       Becoming a Bible Class teacher

4.       Being a leader in the church

5.       Confronting our brethren who sin against us

6.       Opposing evil

 

D.    In this lesson, we will look at the subject:  “I AM STRUGGLING…with FEAR.”

 

I.             WHAT IS IT?

 

A.    We may not be able to put a textbook definition on the word “fear,” but all of us know it when we experience it.

1.        The environment around us fills with gloom.

2.       The mind experiences a sense of dread.

3.       The heart beats faster.

4.       Our nerves stand on end.

5.       Our skin begins to tingle.

6.       We may begin to perspire.

7.       Our breathing gets heavier.

8.       Tears can fill our eyes.

9.       Our words are nervous and agitated.

10.    Our bodies are often paralyzed.

11.     We long to be away from the situation.

12.     We often must choose.  We must choose to flee or fight.

 

B.      Fear is “a distressing emotion caused by impending danger, evil, or pain, whether the threat is real or imagined.”

1.        Fear can rise from little things such as having to ask a girl out on a date.

2.       Fear can rise from big things such as hearing that you have Stage 4 cancer.

3.       Fear can come from real danger such as a thief who breaks into your house.

4.       Fear can come from perceived danger like a limb breaking a window in your bedroom.

 

II.           BIBLE CHARACTERS WHO STRUGGLED WITH FEAR

 

A.    Adam was the first to experience the emotion of fear (Gen. 3:10).

 

And he said, I heard thy voice in the garden, and I was afraid, because I was naked; and I hid myself.

 

1.        This fear was from a real threat.

2.       Adam had disobeyed God.

3.       He knew God could punish him.

 

B.      King Saul and Israel were “greatly afraid” of a perceived threat named Goliath (I Sam. 17:11).

 

When Saul and all Israel heard those words of the Philistine, they were dismayed, and greatly afraid.

 

1.        This was an imagined threat more than a real threat.

2.       Saul allowed Goliath’s stature and his boastful words strike terror in his heart.

3.       If he had relied upon his God, he would not have feared at all (See I Sam. 17:32).

 

C.     All of the apostles displayed fear when their boat was being tossed on the Sea of Galilee (Mark 4:40).

 

And he said unto them, Why are ye so fearful?  how it is that ye have no faith?

 

1.        The storm was a real threat to the lives of the apostles.

2.       Any one of us would have probably experienced the same fear those men did that day.

 

D.    Peter manifested fear when confronted about his attachment to Jesus after he was arrested (Matt. 26:73-74).

 

And after a while came unto him they that stood by, and said to Peter, Surely thou also art one of them; for thy speech bewrayeth thee.  Then began he to curse and to swear, saying, I know not the man…

 

1.        This threat could have been real.  The authorities had arrested Jesus.  They might want to make an example of one His followers as well.

2.       This threat may have been perceived.  Since the enemies had Jesus, they may not have wanted anyone else.

3.       Either way, Peter let his fears cause him to deny the Lord three times that night.

 

E.      Timothy was a young evangelist who labored with Paul.  He was called upon to do some difficult things.  Some of those things could have brought fear to his mind (II Tim. 1:7).

 

For God hath not given us a spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.

 

III.         OVERCOMING FEAR

 

A.    Knowledge

1.        Knowledge is one of the things that can calm our fears.

2.       Ex., many people fear a medical procedure until they are explicitly told or have seen a video on how the procedure is done.

 

B.      Abilities/Skills

1.        There are many people who have knowledge of the scriptures, but they will not be teachers of God’s Word.  They fear teaching.

2.       Teaching is a skill.  When a person is given the know how to impart knowledge to others, they overcome the fear of teaching.

 

C.     Experience

1.        Experience helps us to overcome some fears.

2.       It does not take any knowledge and it does not take any skill to jump off a high-diving board.

3.       The only way to overcome the fear is through experience.  Once a person has jumped the first time, the next jumps just easier and easier.

D.    Encouragement of others

1.        The trust that others have in us can often bolster our courage.

2.       Parents are right there with their children when they learn to ride a bike. 

a.       They shout words of encouragement.

b.      They doctor and kiss any wounds.

c.       They pick them up off the ground and put them back on the seat.

d.      They run beside the bike for yards and yards.

 

E.      Faith in God: 

1.        Faith, very simply, is believing in God and trusting in His word.

a.       Faith is stronger than fear.

b.      Faith delivers on its promises.

c.       Faith sees beyond hardship, pain, and death.

d.      Faith respects God instead of the enemy.

 

2.       Examples:

a.       David’s God was stronger than Goliath (I Sam. 17:45).

 

Then said David to the Philistine, thou comest to me with a sword, and with a spear, and with a shield:  but I come to thee in the name of the Lord of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel whom thou hast defied.

 

b.      Esther seemed to look beyond death and was willing to face her enemies with confidence (Esth. 4:16).

 

Go, gather together all the Jews that are present in Shushan, and fast ye for me, and neither eat nor drink three days, night or day:  I will and my maidens will fast likewise; and so will I go in unto the king, which is not according to the law:  and if I perish, I perish.

 

c.       The three Hebrew youths knew God could deliver the faithful (Dan. 3:17).

 

If it be so, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and he will deliver us out of thine hand, O king.

 

d.      The apostles respected God more than they had respect for the authority of the Jewish leaders (Acts 5:29).

 

Then Peter and the other apostles answered and said, We ought to obey God rather than men.

 

CONCLUSION

 

A.    Fear does not look good any way you wear it.

 

B.      Courage, on the other hand, is always a beautiful garment.

 

C.     Question:  Do I ever see my Lord fearing anything?  My answer to that question is:  “No.”

1.        His enemies?  No.

2.       The elements?  No.

3.       The animal kingdom?  No.

4.       Death?  No.

5.       Satan?  No.

 

D.    If I can hide behind Him who has no fear, then I, too, having nothing to fear (Ps. 118:6).

 

The Lord is on my side; I will not fear:  what can man to unto me?