Nothing To Fear

Today on Fellowship in the Word pastor Bill Gebhart challenges you to become a fully functioning follower of Jesus Christ. Some of us get this paralyzed by this kind of fears of calling common emotion fears also contradiction of faith is a contradiction for joining us today on this additional Fellowship in the Word pastor Bill Gebhart Fellowship in the Words the radio ministry of Fellowship Bible church located in Metairie, Louisiana. Let's join Pastor Bill Gebhart now is once again he shows us how God's word meets our world after the surprise attack Pearl Harbor, FDR, the President of the United States gave a memorable speech in one of the lines from that speech was that we have nothing to fear but fear itself. I don't think Americans ever really bought into that. I don't think they did in World War II, and I don't think they have since World War II psychologists have categorized 645 types of fear that we humans experience the top three. By the way our number one fear of death. Number two. Fear of loneliness number three fear failure and we have asked the phobia which is the fear of thunder, lightning phobia, which is the fear of numbers when they get bigger it gets scary so phobia for animals and now the people are sound booth computer phobia is that fear is a universal human condition goes a passing thought the paralyzing life. I mean a lot of times we even try to hide our fears something like this. I hear people say this and maybe you state I hate spiders you don't even know what spider you never known a spider you don't hate spiders, be honest, you're afraid spiders ministers we are people we do. Having we can to hide it. There is almost always by the way, the root of anxiety and worry issues of preoccupy us like that general believers in Jesus Christ. I think that FDR's words are correct is right we have nothing to fear but fear itself want you to open your Bibles to Genesis chapter 3 Genesis chapter 3, right after the fall in verse eight Moses writes that they Adam and Eve they heard a sound than of the Lord God walking in the garden in the cool of the day and the minutes wiping themselves in the presence of the Lord God among the trees of the garden and the Lord God called to the man he said where are you and he said I heard the sound of you in the garden and I was afraid because I was naked so I hid myself.

That's what shows up. Fear really the first consequence along with shame of sin is afraid and he stays afraid. In fact, there is such a common emotion is everywhere in the Bible just a couple examples in Genesis this survey. Genesis 15 God is talking that Abram and Abram was the recipient of the Abraham covenant and 15 one Moses writes this he said after these things the word of the Lord came to Abram in a vision, saying, do not fear. I am shielding you your reward shall be very great is fearful about what no offspring is afraid of God says do not fear.

Look at chapter 21 is the story continued, and Isaac was born and Ishmael was getting put out in verse 17 of Genesis. 21 God heard the loud crying and the angel of God called to Hagar's mother from heaven, and said to her, what is the matter with you Hagar do not fear for God has heard the voice of the lad where use. Do not fear. She was fearful about the life of her son all the way through the book of Genesis, you find fear and Exodus at the same way. Nexus 14 Israel was fearing they're going to get massacred. And God says do not fear it happens a lot of different ways and a lot of different aspects of life in the first Chronicles chapter 28 and here's David and Solomon. David wanted to build the temple of God, God told him Solomon would build it and have some great insight and 28 nine David says.

As for you, my son Solomon, know the God of your father, and serve him with a whole heart and a willing mind. The Lord searches all hearts, and understands every intent of the thought. If you seek him, he will let you find if you forsaken me reject you forever. And then in verse 20, and David said to his son Solomon. Be strong and courageous.

He says an act. Do not fear or be dismayed, for the Lord.

He says God my God is with you again. We have this idea, Solomon don't be afraid. Don't be afraid God is with you.

Don't be afraid when you build this temple or not. Do not fear this in Jeremiah 1, God tells Jeremiah.

Jeremiah don't fear the people, the way he had good reason to his time went on, but he said do not fear the people I'm with you.

You see this over and over again.

Perhaps the most famous passage in the Old Testament with regard to fear, you could turn to Psalm 23 in this great song in verse four David says even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death I fear no evil for you are with me Genesis to Revelation Bibles for the concept, fear the word fear is used over 440 times in the Bible afraid hundred 67 times. Other synonyms like Trumbull terrified over 220 times is a theme all the way through the Bible from the fall on what you find with humankind is they are afraid they have fear in its instinctive river set down and said you know I think I have to plan aside, I think I want to feel fear something to make a plan so that I'll feel fearful suddenly works now it's intuitive, instinctive refill fear is everywhere in the word of God.

It is interesting when you think about fear, regret and guilt pretty much as a preoccupation with the past in a negative way. Fear is a preoccupation with the future in a very negative and destructive way. Fear always focuses on the future. The fear of loss when the fear of pain that is yet to be future.

That's why we are afraid were afraid of losing people we know that's reality of life. We don't want to lose loved ones grandparents and then parents and then spouses, sometimes we afraid of losing our spouses through divorce were afraid of losing our children losing them to death is a terrible fear but just losing them as they grow up to their you to reject you as a fear that we have a human beings were afraid of losing possessions were fearful.

We have enough. What if I lose what I have, we focus. Also, not just the loss but on pain were afraid of potential future pain.

We are not very young deli remember harassing your mom or dad this is this going to hurt.

Is this going to hurt. By the way children naturally anticipate when you're young and it's going to don't think I mean when you try to convince them. This is not going to hurt.

Inevitably, it seems to them. And boy, the potential future failure and a lot of fear that it's not only the loss of not gaining what it is we thought we would achieve if we were successful, but I think also were afraid of what will other people think of us when we fail and for some of us is rooted in the way we were raised. What will my mom and dad think of, failure some of us get this paralyzed by this kind of fear. Fear is a call in common emotion, but fears also contradiction of your faith is a contradiction turn out to John chapter 14, the gospel of John chapter 14, Jesus in the upper room, trying to reassure his disciples in both our men's and women's studies. We have just finished the book of John we started in September we just completed the book and boy if there's one thing you can say about the disciples boy. They are fearful they are afraid and they have been afraid.

But here we sort of seed crescendo the night before the crucifixion. It is crescendo to them.

They are in terror and they are fearful and Jesus says to them in verse 27 of John 14.

He says this piece I leave with you, my peace I give to you. Notice he says not as the world gives do I give to you. He said do not let your heart be troubled, nor let it be fearful. Don't be afraid she don't be afraid. He says that the family says that to us will be afraid to give you my peace is they'll give you my peace, not peace of the world peace in the world. By the way, this subset of the past is just peaceful circumstances or when you peaceful circumstances. You have peace we all do. Everybody does Jesus know my peace is like that I give that to Paul wrote to Timothy and he said this to Timothy. He said God gave us a spirit not to fear the spirit of power, love, spirit, not the fear. You see we live in a fallen world. There's a lot of things in that condition. There are pleasant God says look as a remedy for that fear is common to man. The wonderful thing is fear has an antidote God as the side of the fear has an antidote in the antidote to fear of the promises of God. That's his way of handling it. Now that's not the way we would like it had I'm sure. I think that would like him to eradicate any negative consequences in my life that have everything work out exactly the way I'd like them to buy when that site is a good idea either. I've had things work out of my life the way I like that and it didn't turn out well anyway but the point is is that we would've done it this way nothing but God did. The antidote to fear the promises of God and God is a promise or by nature me right after that fall, God makes a promise he makes a promise that there's a solution and that's in Genesis 3 when he promises of the seed of the woman he said he will be the solution to what is this happen here in Genesis 9 God promised Noah that the world will never be judged again by great flood sitting, and that in Genesis 12 he promised Abraham. He said Abraham your descendents again to be innumerable want to know that my promise to you in Exodus 60 promised Israel that they would be delivered that they would be delivered from the slavery.

There are messianic promises all through the Old Testament, there's the Davidic covenant the Messiah himself will come through the house of David Jesus when he began his ministry began to make promises I will die. I'll be buried a rise again from the dead and continue the promise and the apostles will the promise in the epistles, and all she comes a culmination in the book of the Revelation to John them coming back. Promise after promise God by nature is a promise or any says the antidote to fear in your life are my promises and some of them are very personal, turn the book of Hebrews chapter 13 and by the way he attaches this promise to one of the fears that you and I live that good red-blooded Americans and American in this century or the last probably the one before that, for this is right up front for you notice in verse five the writer of Hebrews says make sure that your character is free from the love of money okay with that. Is it okay for me to be little test being content with what you have now you okay you see the issue is now. Are you okay, being content with what you have, then noticed what he does, he said, for he himself is said I will never leave you nor will I ever forsake you in that interesting in context. You would've thought this was a life-and-death situation where he would've made a promise that's the kind of thing we all want to hear when were in the intensive care unit but he says oh by the way when you're fearful about your money and not content with what you have just won a promise or something I'm never leaving oversight see that becomes the heart of almost all these promises. Fear not for I am with you. Fear not, I'm right here.

Fear not, but here he says I will never leave you nor forsake you.

So no matter what lies in the future. David was right.

And if I go through the valley of the shadow of death I will fear no evil.

Why, because you are with me. See, that's the great promise of God that I will be right there with you, promises Joshua and Joshua, one that is you going to conquer the promised land. Don't you fear be fearful.

I'll go before you.

I'll be right there.

David in a low spot of his life had written how can you not be there. He said work I go to get with God is that I can go anywhere I can go to the grave. I can go anywhere, but he's not there. Jeremiah 23 Jeremiah said, can a man hide himself and God said, I'll always be with you.

There's more to the promise though.

Notice verse six so that we confidently say the Lord is my helper, I will not be afraid old man do to me. You not only promises to be with us but he promises to help us.

He says I'll be there. The Lord is my helper, I will not be afraid.

What would man do to me positively of God is force to be against us see what does about this idea of fear, there's no easy way to deal with life. I can tell you this is a fact without the promises of God like a scary is it wounded it's hard boy.

Pain-and-suffering is just part of the human experience you can escape it everywhere in the world and without these promises, it would be terrifying and a lot of are phobias and fears would be justified with these promises. Everything is different.

Listen as I read a familiar passage you. Paul says the last to be anxious for nothing, but in everything with prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God and then he says in the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. And then he says this attached to it. Finally, brethren, whatever is true of the promises of God. True, he says, whatever is honorable on the promises of God honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is of good repute, if there is any excellence and if anything worthy of praise: these things dwell in lot.

The promises of God and then he says there's the things that you have learned and received and heard and seen in me practice these things, and the God of peace will be with you notice that condition. I have to dwell on the promises of God. I have to look at someone like the apostle Paul is my example to follow and then the peace of God will be with me simply because there are the promises of God doesn't mean you can have peace and lonely things soon one and you might say woe isn't. Isn't God with everybody anyway. In one way, yes, but not in the way of alleviating fear and giving you peace. Turn to Psalm 138. For example, Psalm 138 just a few examples.

Psalm 138 verse six David writes this for the though the Lord is exalted, yet he regards the lowly when the great paradoxes the Lord is exalted. He regards the lowly but the hottie the powerful.

He knows from afar, he knows from afar. If you're powerful is not close.

That's what he saying in effect in Isaiah chapter 1 he tells them. If you are rebellious, he says, I will hide my eyes from you. David said in Psalm 66 that if I regard iniquity in my heart he will not hear me now we know he hears what he saying he will not hear me.

My per Michael hit the ceiling and so if I'm proud for rebellious one who harbors and enjoys the sin in my life.

Don't expect this to help you at all fear might be a constant companion. But for us to dwell was Paul said on the good promises of God. We have nothing to fear but fear itself.

The last passage I want to look at to me is the best passage of all that is in Deuteronomy chapter 31 because it's a verse worth memorizing, especially if you're prone to fear. By the way, just make yourself go back into time and and be an Israelite. The within slavery and remembered your slave, your father was a slave. Your grandfather was a slave your great-grandfather was a slave your great-great-grandfather was a slave back about 400 years and all of a sudden this guy Moses shows up in the a lot of really crazy stuff starts happening, amazing things you can imagine there afraid of a lot of things there afraid of the Egyptians and can even imagine what they thought of the angel of death. I can imagine what that would have been like and then I try to get out of then Pharaoh's heart is hard and 90s after them and so God tries to reassure them and in verse three Moses, by the way show you where this occurred at the end he said to them, I am 120 years old today. Happy birthday Moses is on the label to on the longer able to come and go in the Lord is said to me, you shall not cross the Jordan. I'm not going he said is the Lord your God, who will cross ahead of you, you will destroy these nations before you, and he says and you shall dispossess them.

Joshua was the one will cross ahead of you, just as the Lord is spoken. One is that is a promise next verse, Lord.

He says will do to them just as he did the shy line in Ogg and the kings of the Amorites to the end of their land. When he destroyed them. What is that that's a promise. He says the Lord will deliver them up before you, and you shall do to them according to all the commandments, which I have commanded you. What is that is a promise and then he says this. Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or tremble at them.

Why, for the Lord your God is the one who goes with you. He will not fail you or forsake you.

He gives him the promises.

There are three things that he asked them to do. Be strong, be courageous and don't fear because he says you have to understand I will be with you.

I will not fail and I will not forsake you see the antidote to fear the promises of God without the promise of God. The world is a scary scary place, but as a believer in Jesus Christ.

You have a relationship with God. You are the recipient of the promises of God, you have nothing to fear. Been listening to Pastor on the radio ministry of fellowship in the world. If you ever missed one of our broadcast or maybe you just listen to the message one more time. Remember, you can Google a great website called one place.com that's one place.com and you can listen the fellowship and the word online at that website you will find on with today's broadcast but also many of our previous audio programs as well that Fellowship in the Word we are thinking for those who financially support our ministry and make this broadcast possible. We ask all of our listeners to prayerfully consider how you might help with radio ministry continuous broadcast on this radio station by supporting us monthly report just a one-time gift support for ministry can be sent to Fellowship in the Word. 4600 Clearview Pkwy., Metairie, LA 7006 if you would be interested in hearing today's message in its original format that is is a sermon, the pastor will delivered during a Sunday morning service at Fellowship Bible church visit our website FVC Nola.org that FVC and O LA.Margie at our website you will find hundreds of pastoral sermon you can browse through our sermon archives to find sermon series you're looking you can search by title. Once you find the message you're looking for. You can listen online or if you prefer, you can download the sermon and listen at your own. And remember all this absolutely free of charge. Once again our website is FVC Nola.org for pastoral go-cart injuries and heart. Thank you for listening to fellowship in order