EPISODE 0045 | Fear Not
THESE NOTES ACCOMPANY EPISODE 0045
Fear can distort our perspective, weaken our faith, and steal our joy. How can we rise above fear and embrace a life of bold faith? In today’s episode, Pastor Stephen shows us practical ways to replace fear with faith and trust God in times of uncertainty. Tune in to discover how living with a mindset of faith can transform your outlook and strengthen your walk with Christ.
Fear is the powerful emotion or passion excited by an expectation of impending danger.
Proverbs 1:7 ”The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge…”
The word Fear in this verse introduces us to a Biblical Fear which means: to reverence, to hold in awe and to respect.
Two Mindsets that are available to us as humans – a mindset of faith or fear:
A mindset of faith. This is based on faith. That is where you can trust God, that He is a good God and has sufficient power for your life. This faith gives you a relaxed confidence in Him.
A mindset of fear. This is where you don't trust the goodness or the power of God.
Your PERSPECTIVE determines whether you live in faith or fear.
Three Dangers of Fear:
1. Fear erodes your faith. Fear will erode your ability to believe in yourself in God’s Plan
Hebrews 11:6: And it is impossible to please God without faith. Anyone who wants to come to him must believe that God exists and that he rewards those who sincerely seek him.
2. Fear steals your joy and multiplies your doubt.
3. Fear is contagious.
In Matthew 5:14-16, Jesus looks at his disciples and says: 14 “You are the light of the world—like a city on a hilltop that cannot be hidden. 15 No one lights a lamp and then puts it under a basket. Instead, a lamp is placed on a stand, where it gives light to everyone in the house. 16 In the same way, let your good deeds shine out for all to see, so that everyone will praise your heavenly Father.”
Two Practical Ways to ‘Fear Not’:
1. Identify your fears.
Overcoming fear starts with one thing. Thinking about what you are thinking about. I can’t encourage you enough to think about what you are thinking about. That is what makes us uniquely human. This cognitive ability.
2 Corinthians 10:5: 5 We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.
2. Replace your fears by speaking truth.
We need to battle the lies that fly through our brains that indict God and war against the Bible. We do this through the truth of God’s Word. We can combat negative thinking and the lies of the enemy with truths such as:
Romans 11:17: 17 So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.
Matthew 5:14-16: “You are the light of the world—like a city on a hilltop that cannot be hidden. No one lights a lamp and then puts it under a basket. Instead, a lamp is placed on a stand, where it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your good deeds shine out for all to see, so that everyone will praise your heavenly Father.
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